Foolishness Time

UGH! Preppin's taking some wind outta all our sails, I think. Pressure may be getting to us, so here's a little fun for the day. Stole this off Brigid's site- golly, hope she doesn't mind. (If she does, I'll hold out my hand and she can slap it. Umm, my hand? HA!) Anyway, have fun.

The meme going around. 100 things I've done. (Well, maybe.)

1. Started your own blog. (Ummmm...no? LOL! Good question, tho.)
2. Slept under the stars. (Yes, and it's coming again soon!)
3. Played in a band. (Yes.)
4. Visited Hawaii. (Don't go to no island I can't swim to shore from.)
5. Watched a meteor shower. (Yes, Leonid showers quite often.)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity. (Not more than I can afford, but been on both ends, so thank all who do.)
7. Been to Disneyland. (And people go there because.....?)
8. Climbed a mountain. (Yes, and still am crazy.)
9. Held a praying mantis. (I think it's actually spelled 'prEying mantis', but no.)
10. Sang a solo. (Sang as part of group for a while...wanna know why I ain't with them now?)
11. Bungee jumped. (Tie WUT to my WUT? You NUTS?)
12. Visited Paris. (Yes, in a more civilized world.)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea. (Nope- but was over one once.)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. (Scratching is an art form.)
15. Adopted a child. (Tried to, wife wasn't willing.)
16. Had food poisoning. (Yes, and got a free day off work for it.)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.

18. Grown your own vegetables. (Very popular at home: grow whatcha eat.)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train. (All the way to Kentucky.)
21. Had a pillow fight. (How about pie tins? Works for me.)
22. Hitch hiked. (All over the world- but it was a more sane place those days.)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill. (You never know how good a free day is til you lie to get one!)
24. Built a snow fort. (I was a kid growin' up in MN..and your response is...?)
25. Held a lamb. (Held my new-born son, if that counts.)
26. Gone skinny dipping. (OOOOlala, yes...:-P )
27. Run a Marathon. (Puff-puf-pant-pant.)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice. (Don't get in any boat unless I'm the pilot.)
29. Seen a total eclipse. (Yes, about thrice.)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. (Numerous times for both. Best time of the day.) 31. Hit a home run. (Damn third-baseman is GOOD!)
32. Been on a cruise. (Cruisin' the drag must count.)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person. (Not in person, see no reason to, either)
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. (Yes, France.)
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language. (Yes, hadda learn Kraut in self-defense.)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. (Money don't satisfy but it can sure make you think you are. Yes.)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person. (Don't stand under no leaning buildings.)
39. Gone rock climbing. (Yes- used to love it.)
40. Seen Michelangelo's David.
41. Sung karaoke. (Yes- but was told the mic was off.)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt. (Yes.)
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant. (Yes.)
44. Visited Africa. (Define 'Africa'...does Egypt count?)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight. (MMMMMMMMMMMMM :-P )
46. Been transported in an ambulance. (Yes, once- don't want a repeat.)
47. Had your portrait painted. (How about 'painting with light'? AKA 'photography'.)
48. Gone deep sea fishing. (Yes, visiting friends in Houston took me out.)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling. (Yes, Jacques Cousteau was my tenth grade hero in 1962.)
52. Kissed in the rain. (Never been kissed in sunshine, either. :( )
53. Played in the mud. (Dang Army- taught me to enjoy being a pig in mud!)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater. (First movie ever seen was Elvis in Love Me Tender at drive in; worked security for drive in also.)
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business. (Define 'start': does it rhyme with 'help'?)
58. Taken a martial arts class. (Took and taught.)
59. Visited Russia. (Only if I was a prisoner.)
60. Served at a soup kitchen. (Yes, a fave holiday experience. Been on both sides of the line.)
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies. (No, but sold Brownies in the Boy Scouts.)
62. Gone whale watching. (There'd be a reason for this?)
63. Got flowers for no reason. (Any Ladies feel like sending flowers, feel free- I'll pay postage!)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma. (I should, I'm O- )
65. Gone sky diving. (Only birdshit and buzzards fall outta the sky... guess I'm a buzzard.)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp. (Yes, not pretty sight.)
67. Bounced a check. (What day is it?)
68. Flown in a helicopter. (Both on purpose and unwillingly.)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. (Still have it, too!)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar. (Ptooie! Stuff is terrible!)
72. Pieced a quilt. (Does sleep under one count?)
73. Stood in Times Square. (Couldn't pay me enough.)
74. Toured the Everglades. (Actually wanna live in them.)
75. Been fired from a job. (Dang, they get personal! A few more than once should suffice!)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London.
77. Broken a bone. (Nose, hands, feet, shoulders.)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. (Well, I dunno that my 750 would go fast enough to 'speed', but 130 was fast enough.)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person. (Yes, nearly got lost in it.)
80. Published a book. (Working on it.)
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car. (What a lemon it was, too!)
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper. (Yes, more than once.)
85. Read the entire Bible. (Several times.)
86. Visited the White House. (Nope)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. (Lemme think here...are fish animals? Otherwise: numerous times.)
88. Had chickenpox. (Was hospitalized from them.)
89. Saved someone’s life. (Yes- former EMT.)
90. Sat on a jury. (No, ain't looking forward to it, either.)
91. Met someone famous. (Nixon.)
92. Joined a book club. (I know howda read without help.)
93. Lost a loved one. (Yes, too many times.)
94. Had a baby. (Well..can guys have babies? Did hold my son at birth.)
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake. (You can't swim in water heavier than you.)
97. Been involved in a law suit. (Don't remind me.)
98. Owned a cell phone.(Ummm...DUH?)
99. Been stung by a bee. (Too many times to count.)
100. Read an entire book in one day. (Often.)

Paranoia: Real or Imagined?

Okayyyy, Class: now we're going to have a lesson in the proper use of aluminum foil.

I found this tidbit at Newsmax.com and think it's time we got the tinfoil out, lined our wallets and purses, perhaps even our hats. You do wear a hat, don't you? Oh, well- artile follows this link >>> Newsmax.com – New ID Scanners at Borders Raise Privacy Alarm

If I lived near a border, I'd seriously consider... wait! I do live near a border. Scratch that: I'm getting out the tinfoil..brb.

Done. Now I can get back to business.

Had the Clan Christmas gathering today and I'm not certain I enjoyed myself. Oh, I definitely ate my share of good food and had some interesting chats. It was the conversations I was hearing on the side that piqued my interest, though.

This country is right in the middle of iron country and lay-offs are being reported daily by the various mining interests. Yet the people I was listening to seemed to have no concern about them- and the majority are working in the mines. "They're living in a bubble," I remarked to one brother-in-law, who works in a mine but is very aware of the times. (I think he's a secret prepper. Smart man, and sister.) He agreed with that assessment.

It bothers me that family of mine is ignorant of the world situation beyond their personal lives. How many times do Sheople have to be hit before they begin to understand? Dang.

Enough whining.

The December issue of S.W.A.T. magazine has a couple of articles Preppers may be interested in: Down and Dirty and Malfunction Reduction, both pertinent to keeping one's bod in one piece, as well as those of loved ones. Also, I heard a rumor that S.W.A.T. magazine will be giving out DVDs of proper handgun tactics with the January issue- keep an eye out for it if you're interested in how the Best LEO utilise their tools.

And now I have to close cuz I forgot what else I was gonna rant about. (No, nothing as good as Mayberry does.) Anyway...

Bless God, God bless-

Shy

Firearms Refresher Course

FIREARMS REFRESHER COURSE

1. An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.
2. A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone
3. Colt: The original point and click interface.
4. Gun control is not about guns; it's about control.
5. If guns are outlawed, can we use swords?
6. If guns cause crime, then pencils cause misspelled words.
7. If you don't know your rights, you don't have any.
8. Those who trade liberty for security have neither.
9. What part of 'shall not be infringed' do you not understand?
10 The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others.
11. 64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.
12 Guns have only two enemies; rust and politicians.
13. Know guns, know peace, know safety. No guns, no peace, no safety.
14. You don't shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.
15. 9-1-1: Government sponsored Dial-a-Prayer.
16. Assault is a behavior, not a device.
17. Criminals love gun control; it makes their jobs safer.
18. If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson.
19. Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to control them.
20. You have only the rights you are willing to fight for.
21. Enforce the gun control laws we ALREADY have; don't make more.
22. When you remove the people's right to bear arms, you create slaves.
23. The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.

I don't know who came up with these but they're good reasons to maintain the fight against gun control. But the best reasons are our own lives and those we love. Our fight against oppression begins with rhetoric, progresses to armed rebellion.

Bless God, God bless,

Shy

Reality Check On Mental Attitude

Reading some of the reports on the terrorist action that went down in Bombay/Mumbai last week, I had to shake my head in wonder. Then I started wondering.

Some of the reports mentioned the photographer whose shot graced the pages of many world newspapers: the young terrorist, carbine in low carry, proudly waltzing through the corridors of the train station (I think it was train, anyway). Hiding beside the police, the photographer was screaming for them to shoot the attackers- yet all held their fire. Too, most of the SWAT people in attendance also did not fire when the opportunity arose.

My radar flicked on and I began to wonder about this situation, did some poking around and found a couple stats that surprised me.

Seventy percent of soldiers in combat will not fire their weapons at a human being.

Utterly astounding.

And it's even worse for police, who are not- theoretically- trained to kill folks, but to help.

Yet it goes along with another study I read where-in American Marines were asked if they'd fire upon other Americans. I forget the number, but the majority said they would not. I'm thinking it was along the lines of 60%+/- .

So, grinding the worn out gears in my head, I was/am more convinced than ever why there will be either: A) UN 'blue' helmets brought into the country, or B) a foreign nation will have troops 'smuggled' in country (such as China- I feel- is doing now as it controls some of our ports, especially in California); or C) our new fearless leader will be arming his Ghetto ACORNS, who have no fear or loathing to shoot anyone, or D) troops are now being amassed near our borders (recall the huge gun cache found in Mexico and everyone is thinking 'drug wars'? uh-huh...drug wars, all right), or possibly E) a combination of 'all the above'.

As I think of this, I smell 'conspiracy theory' rambling through my noggin.

Then I remember who our new Fearless (uh-huh, you bet) Leader will be next month. Maybe not so conspiratorial after all. At least, not on my part. (Shhhh...I can hear you laffin', so knock it off!)

Now, what has this to do with prepping? you hadda ask, din'tcha?

Consider those hordes of the Dark Lord's Gestapo tramping through the cornfield, taking whatever they want, killing whatever they want, imprisoning whomever they want.

Consider the Mad Max group of motorcycle Zombies coming to do even more damage- cuz they don't take prisoners. Well, male ones, anyway.

Now look in the mirror at that sweet, honest, hard-working American who wants only a few things: freedom and liberty, love and family, to be left alone to prosper or fail. Does that person you're looking at seem to be the kind who can actually shoot someone who's just stealing some food from the larder? Can that person looking back actually send a bullet at someone who's probably thinking of doing the same at you? More, does that face in the mirror look as though it can slip a knife into the ribs of someone who is attacking them? Will that sweet, kind, loving person be able to purposely throw a kick at someone's knee and smash it, crippling them for life? Or, after putting five bullets center-mass, will that person be able to lower the sights and put a final shot in the middle of the attacking abdomen? (No, not the head- it's a moving, small target too easy to miss under duress.)

In all the women's self defense classes I taught, I always had to ask the participants up-front if they believed they could hurt someone on purpose when that person was trying to hurt them? Then I got a bit down and dirty, wanting to know if they could poke someone in the eye while that someone was attempting to rape them. Or could they bite off an appendage that found its way to their mouth? What about grabbing a man's gonads and tearing them off if they had the opportunity. (The classes were gritty, trust me. And we didn't pull our punches.)

If anyone felt they would be unable to do it, I told them the class was not for them.

Reason being, if you can't see yourself protecting yourself, then you won't protect yourself. Simple. Sad, though sometimes it doesn't work that way in reality.

Same with pistol practice, or rifle. Is all you're shooting at a bullseye on a piece of paper? If so, the next time you're around town, check the number of people wearing bullseyes on their chest.

It's mental conditioning: you have to see yourself shooting a person (IF you have to) not a target. It's the same with military and law enforcement. They begin with weapons zeroing on targets, then quickly switch to human silhouettes. The smart ones sometimes even put clothes on the manikins to prevent training the eye to look for bullet holes instead of sighting for a second/follow-up shot.

Psychology in action.

And they fire thousands of rounds in practice knowing they're practicing to kill human beings.

Logically, the next question has to be: Are you going to be one of the 60-70% who can't shoot at another person?

Or are you going to fight to live another minute, a day, a week- until the next time?

It's going to take some hard, hard people if the SHTF the way some are imagining or intimating it's going to be. And quite possibly, as FerFal has pointed out in Argentina, life could get very, very bad, very fast in America.

A gun is only as good as the person operating it. It has no mind of its own to decide for us, to know when to and when to not shoot: it's all in the hands of the driver.

Next time you shave yourself, ask if that is the face of a man who will go to all lengths to protect those he loves.

The next time you put on your rouge, ask if that's the face of a woman who can do anything she has to that will save the lives of those she loves.

Tough questions. Tough choices. Tough lives ahead. Let's be tough enough to do what we need do.

Bless God, God bless- let us pray our lives never need those answers.

Shy