One Lucky Dude

This video is crazy.

I believe what you are seeing fly at the camera is the bark from the tree.  I've seen a few trees that have been hit by lightning and as the pulse travels through the tree and down the trunk, it blows the bark to pieces.  Trees aren't good conductors, so the passing of this much electricity through them is a rather traumatic event.  This is why you don't stand under trees in a rainstorm.  Lucky dude there.

Ammunition microstamping into economic ruin

New York is on a roll now.

The mind of a politician has always confounded me.  They like to wield their bureaucratic power and then act absolutely and completely puzzled when people and businesses don't just fall in line or do something "unfair" like "resist sensible gun legislation."

You see, politicians don't have to make a profit.  Governments rarely have to actually follow the budget they set forth.  It's a foreign concept to them that A. a company has a duty to their shareholders to make a profit and B. a duty to their customers to provide the product and back the ideals the consumers expect.  We all know that we as consumers expect firearms and ammunition manufacturers to not back gun legislation.  It's not especially good for their bottom line.  You can ask Smith and Wesson how that turned out for them some years back.  The politicians are already trying to cast the blame on the businesses for moving and cutting all of those jobs.  Amazing how the company would much rather not spend the money to move the business, retrain a bunch of people and reinvest in a bunch of new equipment.  We all know that they have weighed the cost of all of that versus implementing the microstamping.  Obviously, the cost of the microstamping in addition to the reputational considerations are worse than moving a whole production site out of state.  But a politician just isn't ever going to get that.

Update: The video I promised

I posted it in the original post just in case, but here it is as well.

Now, my original comments went something like this:

I don't know that I'd go charging into a situation in that way.  I also know I wouldn't shoot at a fleeing vehicle unless there was a threat to me.  People go to jail for that kind of thing, even in Texas.  It's hard to know what you would do in that situation, but I can understand the frustration of a neighborhood under siege by worthless trash destroying their hard-earned property.  My actions would have been more along the line of taking a stand (oh, and not with a handgun) at the vehicle.  If they want it back, they'll have to take it.  If they want to run off, fine, but it means I have evidence for the police and they'll be a lot easier to catch on foot.  Now, maybe this just happened too fast and there was no time for that but I just can't get behind shooting at a fleeing vehicle.

On a side-note, great statement by the police officer.  You will find that kind of attitude from a lot of the police in this part of Texas, especially from those in the Sheriffs' Departments.

Just a little note to the guy...

...that left his little girls alone in front of me to go get his cell phone.  Don't worry, it's the safest they've ever been even though you don't have a clue.

For the life of me, I don't understand people.

Neighbor stops burglary using a gun - video

Well, I posted the wrong story and I can't find the one I just saw on the news.  I guess I'm a little to quick on the draw with this news since it's not even on tha interwebs, yet.  Will update very soon.

Update - the video with comments are in the post here.

In the meantime, it's crazy what I found while searching for this one.  Check this out:

Huh, well look here.  Another story very similar with different (and better) results.

Or, you could be unprepared and go about it this way and hope.  Not recommended.

I prefer them to end this way.

Or this one.  The "screaming like a little girl" comment made me laugh, but "led off one round into the ground" sounds suspiciously like a warning shot to me and those are generally not good.

Wow, a bunch of stories of defense in recent news.

"Our prophet said we should protect ourselves"

I actually learned something from this article.  It turns out the Sikhs generally have the right mindset when it comes to the relationship between peace, protection of the defenseless and self-protection .  I knew of Sikhism before this madman went stupid, but I honestly didn't know the Kirpan was religiously designated for self-protection and protection of others.  Some of them seem to have consumed the gun control koolaid, but the pro-carry guy quoted in this article really has the right ideas.  He truly understands what his religion expects of him.  Defense of self.  The Kirpan is but a tool and he understands there are other tools that are better suited for this need in today's world.  It is unfortunate more didn't consider this previous to the incident.  Also, notice that some still think four minutes to wait for help from the police is acceptable.  In reality, it is an eternity in a situation like that.

Jalapeno Lime Margaritas

I humbly admit, I make a heck of a frozen margarita.  But that's not what this is about.  This is about a cocktail adventure.  That Guy, The Enabler was down this past weekend and we went out with friends and had a great time (sans children).  So, we went to a pretty new cocktail bar in the area and I saw these jalapeno lime margaritas on the menu.  They were incredibly good, but at $6.00 a pop for a short glass, what's the first thing you usually think?  "I can make these."  At least, that's what I usually think.  The list of ingredients for the ones we had were: lime juice, tequila, agave nectar, jalapeno and sugar cane.  The flavor was sweet with a good lime flavor and just a hint of heat at the back of the throat.  They were like crack in a glass.  Well, this is my version, not as sweet because I like a more sour margarita, but if you like - a teaspoon of caster sugar (powdered sugar) or some simple syrup could sweeten it up a bit.  Also, so I don't have to write a novel in the ingredients, use GOOD tequila.  At a minimum, Sauza Gold or something equivalent.  A reposado or anejo are good options.  You don't have to spend a ton of money, but do NOT use Jose Cuervo or your drink will taste like dirt.  This is the secret to being able to crank up the tequila and still have good flavor in your margarita.

Amid the ruins, the prize

Jalapeno Lime Margarita
(Sour Dragon Margarita)

1/2 cup of fresh squeezed lime juice (approx 6 limes)
4 - 5 tablespoons agave nectar
1 part triple sec (I used 1 oz)
3 parts tequila (I used 3 oz of Sauza Anejo Commemorativo)
1/2 jalapeno seeded, chopped then crushed in garlic press
crushed ice
coarse salt (for rim of glass if desired)

If you desire salt on the rim of the glass, cut a slice of lime and run it around the rim, then turn the glass in the salt poured on a plate.  Do this before you put the ice in, please.  Pour all ingredients into a shaker with a strainer and shake well.  Yes, put the crushed jalapeno and its juice in, too.  Strain into glass with ice.  This will make about 4 small glasses (rocks glass size, about 6 ounces each).  This particular recipe yields a bit more of a jalapeno flavor than the ones we had, which I like.  It also yields a pretty strong drink and a couple will make you feel it.  Serve with a lime slice and jalapeno slice.  Enjoy!

Inspiration at Wal Mart

Cruising through the aisles of the local box store, I was inspired to take a shot at some photographic still life art.

I call this one...

Change of Plans

We always see abandoned items in the store, but I thought the ones above told a particularly intriguing story.  Then, there was the decision by the store to pile a variety of items into one display.  This display I call...

Bin of Misery

Or relief, I guess, depending on your perpective.

The Great Equalizer - Granny's Gun

I actually laughed out loud when I saw this video.  I didn't think I would.  It's pretty typical to see thugs scatter like roaches when the rounds actually start flying since they are generally a bunch of D-Bag cowards anyway picking on what they assume are defenseless victims.   Therefore, the flipping and falling didn't catch me off guard.  What made me laugh was the cartoon-esque stack up at the egress.  Now THAT is comedy gold.  Seriously, cue Yakety Sax on this video.  Also, nothing like tearing off and leaving some of your buddies behind.  With friends like these...  So, anyway, what you have here is five (you can count them  easily at the stack-up) young thugs plus a getaway driver bravely taking on an older woman.  Then, out comes the equalizer.  All of a sudden, a seriously outnumbered and overpowered lady is able to make a bunch of jerks scramble and wet their panties.  I say good for her.  I'd like to see a lot more of this and maybe a lot more range time for the citizens so they can start making more shots count.