As mentioned in a previous post when we were in Nassau we visited the Pirate Museum which I really liked.
Yes. I know. The following pictures all suck.
But if I had just posted the following text everyone would have wanted more:
I measured the barrel. 55 inches.
They had breech loaded flintlocks in the early 1720’s!
And grenades!
Yeah we get it gun nuts…”yer rahts” are WAY more important than the rights of innocent victims of gun violence, and even though you zealots absolutely SPAZZ if people are allowed to vote without twelve federally-approved IDs, you think it’s just too Communistic to require you to PROVE who you are to buy a WEAPON OF DEATH.
Sadly, you will only learn the pathetic and embarrassing stupidity of your stance the hard way…like when you lose a loved one to a criminal who bought his gun at a gun show…you know, the way the overwhelming majority do?
Sten Deadio
February 2014
Comment to Supreme Court rejects NRA appeals
[This is a typical, error filled, caricature of what they think of you.—Joe]
We spent most of week of February 17th on the Disney ship Magic in the Bahamas. I had been on Disney’s sister ship Wonder several years ago but this was Barb’s first cruise. As with me Barb had never had much interest in going on a cruise until after having actually been on one. Part way through the cruise Barb was talking about “the next cruise we go on”.
This was the entrance to the ship. Notice the resemblance to Mickey Mouse?
This was the going away party. There was loud music and some of the Disney crew were doing cheerleading. I found it an interesting psychological study.
After observing the party from an upper deck Barb and I found a little quieter spot and watched Port Canaveral fade away in the distance.
The next morning we arrived in Nassau. As we approached the harbor a pilot was brought out to our ship to guide us in.
Arrival of the pilot.
Departure of the pilot’s transportation.
This was the flag near the bow of our ship.
This is the harbor at Nassau as we arrived. Do you think maybe they have a lot of tourists?
The last time I was here a tour guide said the walkway between the buildings was a hotel room for rent—at $20,000/week IIRC.
We did a self guided walking tour through parts of Nassau and “fought” off the aggressive tour guide who really, really wanted to give us a tour in his limo. The most fun thing we did at Nassau was go through the Pirate Museum.
The next day we arrived at Disney’s island Castaway Cay.
The first thing we did was rent bicycles and go for a ride across the island.
This picture was taken from an observation tower on the far end of the island.
From the same observation tower.
They claim the highest point on the island is less than 16’ above sea level. I can believe it.
We also fed the sting rays and went snorkeling with them. Barb thought they were “SO CUTE!” I thought they were a little ominous but it was fun to swim above them as they went “flying” through the water just above the bottom.
Most of the rest of the time we spent on the adult beach. It was very pleasant.
Someone had used shells to make an outline of something.
I’m not sure what the name of this bird is but it was pelican like. Taking pictures of it while we were on the beach gave me something to do.
I’m not sure if it was diving for fish or just making very ungraceful landings.
This was how it looked as we left the island.
The next day we spent the entire time cruising around in a circle. Then during the night we returned to port. We were off the ship and back to the airport by 9:00 or 10:00. I didn’t know how long it would take to get there when I made the airplane reservations and we were scheduled for something like a 6:00 PM departure. There were no seats available on an earlier flight so we waited in the airport. We flew to Houston and found out our connecting flight was something like five hours late. We didn’t leave Houston until after midnight. It was something like 2:00 AM Pacific time when we finally made it home and into bed. And, of course, we were fully adjusted to Eastern time. We were really, really tired.
The vacation was totally worth it. Much of the rest of the nation was enduring snow and bitter cold. And best of all I sent some of the bloggers who were discussing the cold an email sympathizing and included this picture from Nassau:
While in Las Vegas a couple weeks ago we also visited Hoover Dam. I had driven by a time or two but had never stopped and took pictures and went on a tour. I’ve been on tours of Grand Coulee and Dworshak which are also very impressive but Hoover, for some reason seems to generate more awe for most people. It is an impressive piece of engineering.
We took a tour of the power plant which involved going through some tunnels near the base of the dam.
This was on the ceiling of some of the tunnels to keep the tourists from getting dripped on from some minor leaks.
Two weekends ago we visited Zion National Park in Utah. We were visiting Las Vegas and since gambling doesn’t hold that much interest for us we drove to Zion National Park and spent most of the day there.
As Barb said, more than once, “When you see it you understand why they made certain areas National Parks.” Zion has a resemblance to Yosemite in that what Barb said about it also applies, “Meh. Maybe I’m getting spoiled but one stunning view looks pretty much like another.”
Yup. That pretty much describes Zion. It’s not surprising the park gets over a million visitors per year.
This was on our drive to Zion Canyon. I think it might have actually been in Arizona. We crossed the Northwest corner of it on our way.
Another picture that probably is in Arizona.
You just expect to see Wiley Coyote and Road Runner zip by you any moment. Is the dust in the picture below from them?
Again, probably in Arizona or outside the park near St. George Utah.
It’s beautiful to visit but Barb and agree there is no way we would want to live there. We like the tree covered mountains, rivers, and lakes too much to spend much time away.
The rest of the pictures are from inside the park and I’ll mostly let them speak for themselves.
Close up of the upper right corner of the picture above it. Notice the size of the trees to get a clue as to the scale.
There were some people climbing the cliffs. A small group of people were pointing at someone on this cliff. I couldn’t really see it so I took a picture with my telephoto lens, then zoomed in on the spot they were point at then asked them if this was what they were looking at:
Yup. Just as I thought. It was just a rock formation.
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been the best membership recruitment tool the NRA could hope for: a walking, talking, Big Gulp-banning embodiment of government overreach. And look what he’s done now, given the NRA yet another gift on the eve of its national convention.
Mary Sanchez
April 18, 2014
Bloomberg’s The Wrong Guy To Lead Gun Safety Push
[She’s anti-gun but she’s not politically stupid.—Joe]
Moms are afraid our children will be taken away and in the end, I think that’s the emotion that will win the debate.
Shannon Watts
Founder of Moms Demand Action and a board member for Everytown for Gun Safety
April 16, 2014
Can $50 Million Buy Michael Bloomberg Gun Control?
[There you have it. In their world view debates can and should be won on emotions.
Of course in her emotion fogged view of the universe she cannot comprehend the emotion of those that feel threatened that the government is going to restrict their ability to defend themselves and their children. So even if we were forced to debate strictly on an emotional battle field we have some powerful weapons and a lot of ammunition.—Joe]
Our Government in Washington,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on all the U.S., as it is in Washington.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into responsibility,
but deliver us from the constitution.
Obama is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Government maketh me to lie down in green pastures: case-workers leadeth me beside the still waters.
Government restoreth my self-esteem: bureaucracy leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for its name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no tea-bagger: for government art with me; government’s rod and staff they comfort me.
Government preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: government anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely welfare checks and subsidies shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in public housing for ever.
(OK, now I feel kinda icky)
Others could do better with the wording, but you get the point.
Interview here. Horse’s mouth and all (not that I’m calling anyone a horse).
Peaceful, cool-headed, principled resistance always works best, but it only works when backed by a substantial, credible force. Doubly so when you’re up against un-principled, arrogant foes. A thousand militia, just being there, will drain the sense of impunity right out of an aggressor. A was said elsewhere;
“No more free Wacos.”
I still don’t fully understand this particular conflict, but it is clear that these people and their supporters have grit, and that’s refreshing to see.
I hope the militia had night vision, some fifties, and some form of aerial surveillance. It’ll be needed next time. This is how the peace is kept.
Cobb describes how the increasing use of federal law against lynchings in the 1950s played a part in restraining the most outrageous forms of anti-black violence, but the relatively relaxed gun control laws of the South and the widespread culture of gun ownership played a part as well. “Nighttime marauders had learned to keep a more respectful distance from their targets because the targets were increasingly prone to shoot back.” The return of so many combat-experienced black soldiers from the two wars meant that terrorizing blacks was no longer a risk-free activity (pp. 123-4). Indeed, it could and sometimes did get Klansmen killed.
Clayton Cramer
April 11, 2014
‘This Nonviolent Stuff’ll Get You Killed:’ Guns and the Civil Rights Movement
[Cramer is referring to Charles E. Cobb Jr. book This Nonviolent Stuff’ll Get You Killed: How Guns Made the Civil Rights Movement Possible (not yet released).
As was reported in Armed and Considered Dangerous: A Survey of Felons and Their Firearms (Social Institutions and Social Change) by Wright and Rossi (there is a second edition out too: Armed and Considered Dangerous: New Second Edition) violent criminals are far less concerned with the possibility of being caught, convicted, and sent to prison by the police than they are with a private citizen shooting them. The reason for this is that punishment via the legal system is at some nebulous point in the future, of relatively low probability, and most likely, of non lethal consequence. Whereas the private citizen with a gun, motivated by a violent attack on their person or a family member, is able and willing to deliver a lethal blow in seconds.
I expect the average Klansmen was of similar intelligence to the average violent criminal, of which he was subset, and could do the probabilistic calculations necessary to appropriately conclude there were more healthy life choices available.—Joe]
@SPQRzilla @wallsofthecity if there is inconsistency in gun laws it was created by a lax TN government. Remove inconsistent by removing guns.
John Hayes
Tweeted on April 15, 2014
[Don’t ever let anyone tell you no one wants to take your guns.—Joe]
There can be no compromise with the gun haters. They want to ban all firearms and disarm everyone except the servants of the State. First vilification of firearms in the name of “safety”, then registration,then confiscation.
The Constitution is very clear. What part of “the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed” is so hard to understand?
Danny Ross
April 15, 2014
Comment to America needs to find middle ground on gun control issue
[There are some issues for which there is no compromise. Can we compromise on the 13th Amendment (which made slavery illegal)? The Second Amendment is for the restraint of a tyrannical government. Almost any compromise on the Second Amendment is compromise with a tyrant.
The scale of the tyrant can vary from an individual criminal, to a gang, to a corrupt city government, to an entire nation. Anti-gun people are the allies and/or useful idiots of tyrants. You don’t negotiate or compromise with tyrants of any scale. You defeat them.—Joe]
This last weekend Barb and I did some Boomershoot 2014 prep. We installed some new LED lights in the target production facility (Mecca). We cleaned up the benches and Barb swept the floor. We are close to ready for target production in about two and half weeks.
One of the critical chores was an inventory of the target stakes:
This was just a jumbled pile of stakes and we stacked them in a neat pile to aid in counting and distribution for this year.
We also checked on the status of the daffodils we transplanted last June. They seem to be doing okay:
I suspect many of the bulbs didn’t have enough mass to support blooms this year and will build up this spring and bloom next year. But some have already bloomed. Barb and I were encouraged by the results.
The ground was generally dry and even if Boomershoot were to have been last weekend there wouldn’t have been a problem with weather:
We did make a trip across a section of another field that is unrelated to Boomershoot and nearly got stuck. We left some deep ruts, we were bounced around quite a bit and muddied up the sides of my vehicle that remained even after some fairly heavy rain on Saturday evening:
Obamacare claimed another victim with one of the biggest supporters and promoters of Boomershoot canceling his trip to Idaho after his insurance premiums nearly doubled. He is now unable to afford attending Boomershoot. “Squirrel Hunter” and some of his crew will not be attending this year. This could be a good thing for you because this means there are now some premium positions open.
The Usian love of guns. Basically all the immigrants from Europe left because they had small penises and were forced to leave their countries because women would laugh at them. In the New World they could play around with guns and religion to compensate for this and to impress the girlies.
So taking away a gun from a small dicked Usian is tantamouint to emsaculating him and thus the howls of outcry it produces.
Only countries with males who are secure about their dick size tend to ban guns for example the UK.
“Richard Nixon”
July 26, 2001
Comment to The Terrible Truth About Gun Owners
[It’s another Markley’s Law Monday!
“Usian” is their code word for people in the United States. “Richard Nixon” is the handle for someone other than President Richard Nixon who died in 1994.—Joe]
The pro-gun lobby is predictably using the recent school shootings as an opportunity to ask, “What if the teachers and students had been armed?” That is the wrong question.
The right question is, “What if the perpetrator had NOT been able to obtain those firearms? How many lives would have been saved?” Instead of asking what the U.S. would be like with more guns, shouldn’t we be asking what our country would be like with fewer guns? Guns do not solve problems, they create problems. A handgun is designed for the sole purpose of taking human life.
Michael Beard
April 21, 2008
The Wrong Question
[In answer to the question “What our country would be like with fewer guns?” The answer is that those with evil intent and willingness to break the law will always be able to acquire a firearm. And it will never be more difficult that it is to acquire illegal recreational drugs. Which, in case Mr. Beard doesn’t have the social awareness or intelligence to answer for himself, is so easy that any, and most, high school dropouts can acquire within a few minutes any hour of any day in any city in the country. And therefore if people with evil intent can easy get a gun then those not willing to break the law will be the ones without the skills and the tools to defend themselves from evil.
Gun do solve problems. I like R. A. Lafferty’s response to people who come with things like Beard’s asinine assertion.—Joe]
Yesterday’s shooting at a major tourist attraction in the nation’s capital provides stark proof that no one is safe in any public place; not in school, in church, or at the zoo; until we deal with our nation’s gun problem. And the only rational response is a national ban on handguns.
Josh Sugarmann
April 25, 2000
Shooting at National Zoo Latest Proof of Need for Handgun Ban
[Don’t ever let anyone tell you that no one wants to ban guns.—Joe]
Via Dave Workman:
Lyrics:
Ohhh, people why don’t you come
in here and let me talk to you
a while.
That’s right, step right up and
listen to a concerned citizen speak
his piece.I’ll tell you a little something
that my daddy told to me.
My basic fundamentals if you want to be free.
‘Cause son, there’s something wrong internally.
So, if you want your freedom son.
Don’t want your country to be overrun.
You got to keep America number one.(CHORUS)
My daddy told me “Son, don’t
let ’em take your gun.
That’s what they tryin’ to do.
Son, don’t let ’em take your gun.
They’re takin’ your Bill of Rights away from you.”
My daddy said “Son, don’t
let ’em take your gun.
That’s what they tryin’ to do.
Son, don’t let ’em take your gun.
Don’t let ’em take your gun away from you.”Ohhh, this year is our anniversary.
Two hundred years, people we’ve been free.
Won’t be nobody takin’ over our land.
If everybody’s brother’s got a gun in his hand.
I’m tellin’ you we learned to fight for justice.
We’re willing to die for freedom.
Hand in hand.
You got to understand.
We are American men.Said they want your gun.
Said they want your gun.
Send ’em on the run.
Send ’em on the run.
Hip-hurray for fun.
Hip-hurray for fun.
If they do we’re done.
If they do we’re done.(CHORUS)
The summit will feature experts, thought leaders, key advocates from across the country, and fellow Americans who have been personally impacted by gun violence. Participants will hone the skills needed to effectively engage friends, neighbors, media and elected officials in our national conversation about gun violence, and learn about what they can do in their community to help reduce gun violence.
The summit will close with a powerful day of citizen lobbying, as we join together to spread our message throughout the halls of Congress!
Brady Campaign
April 2014
2014 Brady National Summit: Bring It Home!
[I find the language used very interesting. “Thought leaders”? “Hone the skills needed to effectively engage…”? “Spreading our message”?
We don’t want people to have their “thoughts led”. We want people think for themselves.
We don’t “hone our skills” to engage people. We arm ourselves with facts.
We don’t “spread messages in congress”. We demand our congress critters obey the law and respect our rights.
They think differently from me. Perhaps more different than I can think.—Joe]
Via email from Daniel S.
While I am opposed to the war on some drugs and the militarization of the police I just don’t understand why the whole guns/penis thing resonates with so many people. The only thing I can come up with is that their psychological development stopped when they were about 10 years old.