Benedict Radcliffe’s wire-frame Lamborghini sculpture parked outside the Royal Academy of Arts, London.

h/t The First Post.

Rowlett, Texas

TODAY!~!  5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Downtown Rowlett on The Square
3809 Main Street, Rowlett Texas 75088

Fireworks at 9:00

View  Map 

Due to the scheduling conflict, the DFW Meetup – July 3 at Grapevine’s “Tap In” on Main will have to wait.

h/t to Texas Fred

The Star-Telegram has this story:

One man dead following gun battle in southwest Dallas

Possible goblin-on-goblin action:

The front door of the home appeared to have been smashed, possibly by someone’s foot, but the robbers were met by gunfire, Douglass said.

The victim, an unidentified Hispanic man in his 20s, was fatally shot in the doorway, but the violence didn’t stop there.

He wore a mask and gloves, according to a news release from Sgt. Warren Mitchell, police spokesman. Officers on Thursday were trying to determine his identity.

“We believe (the dead man) had some accomplices, but we don’t have those people either,” Douglas said. “The main evidence is a bunch of spent cartridges across the lawn and into the street for about half a block.”

He said that the spent cases were of various calibers, which suggested that more than one weapon was fired, and by more than one person.

But whoever lived at the home was nowhere to be found as police investigated the crime scene, Douglas said.

“Apparently those people have something to hide too,” Douglas said. “It’s unusual for a person to abandon a house like that and not even contact us. We don’t know if there were warrants or what the situation was.”

Dead Goblin Count: 21

Female gang may have killed midget wrestlers

Authorities say men found dead in Mexico City hotel could have been victims of botched robbery

Mexican authorities say two professional wrestlers found dead in a hotel in the country’s capital may have been fatally drugged by a gang of female robbers.

Autopsies are being performed on the two midget wrestlers, one of whom went by the name La Parkita, meaning Little Death, and wore a skeleton costume in the ring. The other was known as Espectrito Jr.

Authorities said the two women were seen leaving the men’s Mexico City hotel room before the bodies were discovered on Monday.

Miguel Angel Mancera, a prosecutor, said gangs of female robbers were experienced in using drugs to knock men out before robbing them but these robbersmay have used too strong a dose.

That may have been because of the wrestlers’ stature, although larger men have died in similar crimes.

Midget wrestling is officially featured at professional wrestling tournaments in Mexico and the US.

Dang.

Traction Control proudly presents

The Man Song

Top 25 blogs in Guns Category lists Say Uncle as WINNER!

from the Invesp Consulting About section:

About Invesp …

Read more

4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Even if you can’t make it, check out the Warrior Legacy Foundation

h/t AceofSpadesHQ.

Uncle Jimbo of BlackFive and Ace of Spades fame and TSO from This Ain’t Hell will be there.

TractionControl is planning to attend as well.

Following the crash of the Pegboard O/S, it was necessary to restore a few Tunes (50.1 GB to be exact) from a portable drive.

The problem was there were 16,270 Tune files and folders on my main computer and only 16,118 on the backup drive. My backup drive was 152 files short.

What to do? Compare folder-by-folder and file-by-file to find the missing items?

No Way, Jose.

This geekery will surely make Robb Allen proud!

I ran a bare format recursive directory listings from both drives which I piped to text files. Then I imported the text files to Access as two tables and ran an unmatched record query that created a third table of unmatched items only.

From the unmatched items table I concantenated DOS commands, “md” and “copy” plus the source / destination folder info, and quotation marks around the file names to create a batch file that I saved with Notepad.

Typed the batch file name in at the cmd prompt and voila! the 152 unmatched items leaped from the main machine onto the backup drive.

Ha! I love it when things work.

ABC News’ Sunlen Miller reports:
 
Sitting in the Oval Office with Colombian President Uribe, President Obama said that the “coup” in Honduras would set a “terrible precedent.”

The President said that the US still believes Manuel Zelaya is still President of Honduras.

“President Zelaya was democratically elected, he had not yet completed his term,” Obama said this afternoon, “We believe that the coup was not legal and that President Zelaya remains the President of Honduras, the democratically elected president there.”

Obama said that the US has joined with all the countries in the region, and with the OAS to see if this can be resolved in a “peaceful way.”

“I think it would be a terrible precedent if we start moving backwards into the era in which we are seeing military coups as a means of political transition, rather than democratic elections,” Obama said, “The region has made enormous progress over the past twenty years in establishing democratic traditions in Central America and Latin America. We don’t want to go back to a dark past.”

I disagree. 

Removing a President who oversteps his Constitutional authority is a perfectly fine precedent.

In fact, I believe we should see more of this!

P.S.:  Sunlen Miller is kind of hot.

Thanks ABC!

Yesterday evening, CHKDSK decided that there were 424 files that did not meet its exacting standards for existence on the pegboard computer and zapped them into oblivion.

Evidently, Vista relied on one or more of those files for it’s happiness and the computer entered an endless cycle of blue screen – reboot, blue screen – reboot.

Time to Nuke.The.Drive.

What’s amazing is after a format and a complete ‘ clean’ Windows re-installation is the volume of OS patch and upgrade files.  Over 80!

The .NET framework files were especially chunky.

Oh, well … windows is insisting that I re-start the system yet another time, so … later.

… more at this MIT Site.

Call this number to say, “NO” to the largest tax increase in the history of the Nation!

From Clayton Cramer:

Attorney Alan Gura is dragging the District of Columbia into the United States — and my, what a lot of work it is!

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down D.C.’s handgun ban in D.C. v. Heller (2008). There was nothing ambiguous or uncertain about the result: D.C. could not prohibit law-abiding citizens from having a handgun at home for self-defense. Predictably, D.C. government has come up with one bureaucratic obstacle after another to discourage residents from actually doing so.

Read more

Glenn says, “IT MAY BE A PHOTOSHOP, but I still like it.”

Iowahawk has this picture:

US Citizens in support of the people – not the Mullahs – of Iran.

Go Girls!

[Video]

U.S Citizens in support of Iranian Citizens right to Liberty.

h/t Allahpundit at Hot Air

Link to Video (2,962k) (wmv)

3 rounds through the same hole, before felt recoil. 

That’s some mighty fast shootin, Lou.

Update:  It looks like this was “new” in 2007.  I don’t know how I missed it until now!

This Citizen of the United States supports the Iranian citizenry in their bid for true democracy — even as our President – elected under similar suspicions, remains silent.

Ace of Spades HQ has this story. And it’s Big.

Update:  An article by Amil Imani at American Thinker has more. See Today Everyone is an Iranian.

Update 2:

[YouTube Video]

Ace of Spades HQ has this video and more commentary.

Update 3:

Obama Issues a Statement – June 20, 2009.  Source: The White House:

The Iranian government must understand that the world is watching. We mourn each and every innocent life that is lost. We call on the Iranian government to stop all violent and unjust actions against its own people. The universal rights to assembly and free speech must be respected, and the United States stands with all who seek to exercise those rights.

As I said in Cairo, suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. The Iranian people will ultimately judge the actions of their own government. If the Iranian government seeks the respect of the international community, it must respect the dignity of its own people and govern through consent, not coercion.

Martin Luther King once said – “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” I believe that. The international community believes that. And right now, we are bearing witness to the Iranian peoples’ belief in that truth, and we will continue to bear witness.

[... It's about time - Ed.]

Update 4:  Michelle has more … Saturday in Iran.

Update 5: Karim khan bridge

h/t to Wake up America who has more!

Update 6:  Protestor shot and killes at Tehran elaction rally – June 20, 2009

[You Tube Video]

Update 7:

The horrors in Iran continue as a woman is murdered in post-election violence by the Iranian Basij militia. Longer video here:  Iranian woman (Neda) killed in protests by Basiji.

Update 9: From Innocent Bystanders,  here is a full-length obituary of Neda Agha-Soltan, may her courage inspire others to perservere.

On Sunday at the Agha-Soltan residence, friends and relatives came in droves, weeping and bent over, clutching one another. A steady murmur of sobs and wails emanated from the apartment.

Mascara streamed down cheeks of the women, some in sweeping black chadors and others in shapely designer mini-coats and sunglasses.

The men’s eyes were sore and bloodshot. Two helped a distraught young man walk along the hallway, one of her two brothers, someone said.

“She died full of love,” Golshad said.

The relatives and friends piled into minivans for the hour-long trek to Tehran’s Beshesht Zahra cemetery, where she was buried. Her loved ones were outraged by the authorities’ order not to eulogize her, to loudly sing her praises and mourn her loss. But they were too afraid and distraught to speak out, except for Panahi, who said he had nothing more to lose.

“They know me,” he said. “They know where I am. They can come and get me whenever they want. My time has gone. We have to think about the young people.”

Neda, he said, was smart and loving. She had a mischievous streak, gentling teasing her friends and causing them to laugh. She was passionate about life and meant no one any harm, they said. In the election unrest, friends found in her an unexpected daring, a willingness to take risks for her beliefs.

“For pursuing her goals, she didn’t use rocks or clubs,” said Panahi. “She wanted to show with her presence that, ‘I’m here. I also voted. And my vote wasn’t counted.’ It was a very peaceful act of protest, without any violence.”

As to the person or persons responsible for her death, they will not be forgiven, he said. “When they kill an innocent child, this is not justice. This is not religion. In no way is this acceptable,” he said. “And I’m certain that the one who shot her will not get a pass from God.”

Michelle posts: They killed Neda, but not her voice.

Neda Agha-Soltan – 1982 – 2009

Update 8:

A protester shows a victory sign and white rose as people protest in front of the Iranian embassy in Brussels, Saturday, June 20, 2009.  People gather to express their solidarity with opposition supporters in Iran who risk confrontation with police if they take to the streets in their country. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)

Embassy Suites Hotels, sent word to Ms. Palin’s supporters that they had ceased advertising on CBS’s website and did not want to be associated in any way with Mr. Letterman’s comments. [story here]

I will be a continued supporter of Embassy Suites Hotels with my business.

Thanks!

There will be an anti-Letterman protest in NYC this coming Tuesday, June 16th. The details can be found here – we’re reprinting them to help spread the word:
 
DATE: Tuesday, June 16th

TIME: 4:30 PM

PLACE: Ed Sullivan Theater, 1697 Broadway, New York City

PURPOSE: To protest disgusting sexual jokes made against Governor Palin and her teenage daughtersNeed help with a couple of things – RAM spoke with John Ziegler today, and he suggests that one or more attendees should webcast the protest live.

If anyone here has the technology to do that, or knows someone who does, please contact us at editor@conservatives4palin.com.

Alternatively/additionally, we are looking for people willing to videotape/photograph the event, and upload the video/photos as soon as possible after the event.

One more thing – we’re attempting to contact the organizers of the NYC Tea Party Protests to see if their membership will be willing to provide support and assistance. As a reminder, Governor Palin is a Tea Party supporter; Andrew Breitbart even basically called her the candidate of the Tea Parties.

If any of our readers can put us in touch with New York Tea Party organizers, please let us know!

h/t RightWing Sparkle

My reaction to Letterman?  You are a disgrace to your profession and to humankind.  To paraphrase the closing line from “Bad News Bears“, “You can take you (non-) apology and stick it up your ass!”

Things to do in Denver? Reviews from Jessica Rubino - a Colorado-based freelance writer who covers lifestyle and wellness.

       Rockbar

       Because Denver’s East Colfax has undergone a makeover reminiscent of West Hollywood and the Bowery, it’s not surprising that trendy bars popped up as fast as Brangelina spawns. But owners aren’t sacrificing old for new. In 2006, former concert promoter Jesse Morreale resurrected the Rockbar, where Retro light fixtures are ornate like antique jewelry box adornments—sorry Rockbar, I know you’re much more hardcore than that. Bask in their dim lighting while sitting at an ACDC memorabilia clad booth. Then play a rollicking game of Ms. Pac-Man while noshing on a corn dog (something I can’t fully endorse with a clear conscience). I favor nights featuring purposely outdated music, though fast moving bartenders and cheap drinks ensure that here and now you’ll feel right at home.

       Lola

       Nestled in the East Highlands, which embraces an easy, breezy, laid-back bar scene, is a product of Metro bar big shot, the Big Red F Restaurant Group. Ignore that you’re indulging in a delightfully sweet libation nearly adjacent to North Denver’s historic Olinger Mortuary and you’ll feel totally at ease at Lola, a spacious Mexican-coast influenced bar and bistro. It has a large upstairs dining area, downstairs tailored for private parties and inside/outside bar providing prime no-strings-attached, no-conversation-necessary scoping opportunity. And the mojitos are excellent. Lola fits right in with Big Red’s All Star Brigade of Jax, the West End, Zolo and Centro, as it seamlessly combines an amicable bar scene with refreshing exotic drinks and a pleasing seasonal menu.

       Hapa

       Aside from fresh, creative food and a fun, modern atmosphere, Hapa offers a savvy alternative to the 3-to-5 happy hours that can be as convenient to catch as a standby red eye to JFK. Hapa, translated in Hawaiian to portion or part, gives you the most hapa for your buck on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to midnight. The happy hour menu features two for $6.50 rolls and $3.50 flasks of sake and sake cocktails like the Mango Gin Ginger. You can still order non-happy hour signatures late night too. Try the #9, a shrimp tempura, crab and salmon roll, or the Taro Poke, Hawaiian tuna chopped into small pieces and piled over a taro cake, served with cucumber and sour cream.

       Peaks Lounge at the Hyatt Regency

       An extensive wine and champagne selection, Brie with dried plums and cheesecake for dessert mean celebration, right? Not necessarily. Don’t feel ashamed if you’re not at the Peaks Lounge for a special occasion. The stunning metropolitan view from atop the Four Diamond Hyatt hotel proves reason enough to indulge in a Mile High City night. And while the environment is unexpectedly unpretentious, the sight is still the top reason to check out Peaks.

       Le Rouge

       Le Rouge has seemingly chopped up a red carpet and used it for every aspect of its restaurant and bar—sewed it to the booths, stuck it in the glasses, draped it over the walls. In this lavish and very rouge downtown atmosphere, order from the dinner menu until 1:30 a.m., attend one of the bar’s lady nights or fashion shows and enjoy bottle service every night. But you don’t need to be rolling VIP to wet your palate. Le Rouge is complete with two full bars, a decently sized dance floor and reasonably priced martinis for all.

       Grizzly Rose

       Ask any Coloradoan about a good old country bar in Denver and they’ll probably provide you with a longwinded, sentimental Grizzly Rose anecdote. Mine recalls those big blue Xs marking my under-21 status and lack of Denver bar-scene knowledge. Maybe it’s the history we have. Maybe it’s the mechanical bull, line dancing, bottled beer, plastic cups, live country music and abundance of people who are truly named Dewey, but even after outgrowing the Xs, that rose still captures my heart.

       The Funky Buddha

       Quirky clubs, music venues and lounges make up SoCo, or South of Colfax, which is another flourishing nightlife community in Denver. The Funky Buddha has a multi-level rooftop on which body-painted go-go dancers just may be the night’s entertainment. Curious about that curious name? Well, there’s a funky, rust-colored interior and, oh yeah, a bunch of colorful Buddhas too. The place is more lounge than club, but the DJ always spins upbeat music, from house to hip hop. The inside is warm and slightly mysterious. The rooftop is fresh and airy during the summer and heated when temperatures cool down, making this SoCo hotspot fit for all seasons.

       The Kitchen (Upstairs)

       Boulder’s 2004 addition, The Kitchen, has its highs and lows. Which is actually a good thing. After eating a delicious meal emphasizing local ingredients, just head up a flight of stairs to the restaurant’s cozy lounge for an ideal bar scene. Choose from 750 wine labels and 50 beers. Windows overlook Boulder’s busy downtown and long wood tables make the place feel as social as it is relaxing. Plus, The Kitchen uses wind-power generated electricity and biodegradable products so your night on the town can be guilt-free.

       Illegal Pete’s

       Let’s face it. A night at the bars can be work. Hard work. And hard work requires fuel. Illegal Pete’s stays open through the witching hour (after last call, until about 2:30 a.m.) and specializes in big beefy burritos that also come in my favorite form: the burrito bowl. The small Colorado chain recently added locations in Park Meadows and the Denver Tech Center so you can easily seek out your own favorite when your night ends.

       The Downtown Tavern

       The best part about the Tavern Downtown is that it’s just what it sounds like: A tavern downtown. The bar inside of a historic downtown warehouse has what sports enthusiasts crave—and a few gratuitous yet thoughtful extras for everyone else. Watch games on plasma TV screens and check out the view of downtown and Coors Field from one of three rooftop decks. Most nights are reserved for some sinful pleasure like karaoke, trivia or ‘80s music. And the Tavern Hospitality Group even threw in a frozen margarita machine.

Track: Gitsum

Artist: Hogjaw

Now playing at Random Nuclear Strikes. 

Tam says, “Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside … Somewhere, a hippie just vapor-locked“.  Go give it a listen.

Let The Debate Begin: The ACTIVE Bible Is Here

by Pat Dollard

From MetaFilter:

 Lea F. McCarty painted portaits of Old West killers. In 1959 he collected twenty of his paintings, each paired with an essay, in a book called The Gunfighters.

From the Foreword to the book:

“I’ve often heard tell that the gunfighter has his beginning when pistol types were changed from those old flintlocks to the cap-and-ball.  He could draw and shoot these faster and more accurately.  All the formalities of the duel were forgotten.  Draw.  Shoot.  That was it.

 I’ve often heard Wyatt Earp say Jesse James was among our first gunslingers to carry a Navy Colts six shooter, the same as Butler Hickok, or “Wild Bill,” who carried two of these cap-and-ball equalizers in his red sash.  Wild Bill was presented with these ivory-handled guns by the Vice-President of the United States – - a Senator Wilson then.

 Ben Thompson and Wes Hardin brought the draw-shoot era into prominence, in my opinion, and all our gunfighting took place in about 20 years.

 The gunfighter was a fellow with a cool nerve.  You had to have it to last.  Personal histories of the gunfighters show that the top hands had it, and the cold blue stare of a killer was unmistakable.  About 95 per cent of all the gunslingers were blue-eyed.  Many were related, like Jesse James to the Youngers, the Youngers to the Daltons, and Cole Younger, the uncle of Tombstone killer, John Ringo.  Wes Hardin had relatives all over Texas.

 Yes, the gunfighter was a product of the Civil War.  Post-war feeling, according to Earp, ran high.  The new Negro police caused a lot of trouble and actually bred gunslingers, such as in the case of John Wesley Hardin.  Railhead towns of the big cattle drives also generated the gunfighter, and many a gunman has stood before an old, dusty, warped mirror to stretch and admire himself from hat top down to his sparkling “waistband of death”, as I once heard it called.

 Anyway, it is all history now.  Yet, it happened only yesterday when you come to think of it.  There was an old boot dug up from Custer’s Little Big Horn burial ground a couple of months — sole on the boot, hooks and nails, lookin’ like you could wear it.  And when I come to think of working with Wyatt Earp not so many years ago — well, it hasn’t been too far back in history.

 Every man has a place to fill in the making of America.  The gunfighter has been no exception.  The great, in both sin and morality, stand shoulder to shoulder in stone, bronze or on canvas; and many a boy, yes even grown men, would rather hear of the deeds of Wild Bill Hickok than read all the books written on George Washington or Abe Lincoln.

  — A. M. King Wyatt Earp Deputy Arizona and California 1900

The portraits:

Joaquin Murrietta
Jesse James
Wild Bill Hickok
Bill Longley
Ben Thompson
King Fisher
Jim Courtright
John Wesley Hardin
Wyatt Earp
Doc Holliday
Clay Allison
Bat Masterson
Luke Short
Old Man Clanton
John Ringo
Curly Bill
Mysterious Dave Mather
Pat Garrett
Billy the Kid
Calamity Jane 

History has always favored the bold.

Our Government is in the process of seizing assets from the private sector wherever they can be found:

$34 million in accounts from Poker websites

$25 Billion from GM Pension funds (and taxpayer deficit commitments)

$787 billion from the taxpayers for financial institution bailouts

$9.3 Trillion of income that has yet to be earned from our children and grandchildren.

And now, the Government wants to control your WAGES with its Compensation Czar?

All without due process. All outside the law.  And how exactly did the Russian “Czar” title makes its way into our political process?

It almost looks like the Government has declared War upon the citizenry. 

From a survey today, 45% of those asked say that the stimulus money authorized so far should NOT be spent. Instead it should be used to pay down debt.

What are the chances the Government will abide by the will of its constituants?  I think that the Citizenry is now irrevalent.

Where will this lead? 

I fear that the ultimate outcome will not be swift, and will not be pretty.

Continuing with the automotive thing, Smilin’ Dave’s Quality Pre-Owned Creampuffs has an awesome ride for sale!!

Close-up view of right side completed!

The end result … click to enlarginnate.

Update:  Added Full Resolution pic here (link)

Brought to you by:

Next up?

Wheels:

DUB Drone 1-Piece Flat Black 18×8″

Tires:

Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 245/45R18

Frumpy Car: Before

Left View

Right View

Cutting Table

New Logo Added

The Wrap Begins

Alignment

 Application

Fitting the contours

To be continued …

Click over to the new http://gunbloggers.ning.com/.   + Add a Group & enter your blog’s RSS feed info.

Events, forums, blog posts, pictures, audio and more.

Hat Tip to LibertyNews.org for permission to use the Gunbloggers RSS feed in the Main page.

A high-voltage hum – more like a very loud buzz emanated from the 230 VAC pump motor for about 15 seconds, then stopped. 15 minutes later, it was repeated.  15 minutes later … same thing.

Note: My Hayward pump motor is equipped with Automatic Thermal Overload Protection. The motor will automatically shut-off, under normal conditions, before heat damage build-up, due to an improper operating condition, can occur. The motor will auto-restart when safe heat level is reached.

I cut the power and removed the electric motor from the pool filter pump, popped over to the local pool-supply house and picked up a replacement motor.  Downloaded an online service manual from the web and followed the instructions to replace the motor.

So far so good – until I turned it back on.

Circulation in pool? Good.

Pressure in the filter? Good.

Water pouring out the botton of the newly installed pump body? Not good.

Power off. Uninstall everything; check assembly for fit; reinstall everything; power on. 

Leak check? Leaks found. Not good.

Power off. Uninstall everything.  Haul Motor, Pump body (housing, seals, impeller, diffuser, and yada yada) to pool supply guy.  Lesson learned:  Replacement of the seal assembly parts – especially the ceramic seat and O-ring are required for a pump motor replacement.  The new seal somehow patterns itself to the motor shaft in ways the old seal cannot.

Also: New impeller, new diffuser, new diffusr gasket. Sadly, no impeller ring was available in the pool supply guy’s stock.

Reassemble, check connections, fill with water to prime, open air release and Power ON. Close air release when water is a steady stream.

Circulation in pool? Good.

Pressure in the filter? Good.

Water pouring out the botton of the newly installed pump body?

None = Very good.

Seven hours and $420 later it’s like it never even happened.

Meanwhile, my newest friend Mr. Jim Gilmore sent me an email; Obama apologized to the Middle East and betrayed Israel – our strongest ally in that part of the world; interest rates and unemployment soared; China laughed at Geitner’s statement ‘the Currency is Sound’; new Czars (Czars?  We Have Czars? Under what authority do we have Czars?) for Pay Monitoring in Private Industry! are appointed; another State reaffirmed its 10th Amendment Protection Rights; Obama pledged protection for Muslims in the U.S. in the wake of TWO U.S. Soldiers gunned down by an Islamic convert on his ‘personal – not part of a wider group that includes Jordan’ jihad; the Black Panthers case for voter intimidation which was WON by the Department of Justice was dropped; and my neighbor’s garage was burglerized in broad daylight – by perpetrators hid inside when his wife walked though.

Anyway, now the pool is sparkly clean and the Summer season is once again upon us.  I hope you ALL had a super great day!! 

Guns, Gays and Abortion

I am reading the comments and it seems there is actually a Reasoned Discourse happening at the New York Times!

A few commentors – except for the even-numbered ones from twelve to twenty, excluding #14, seem to have a thoughtful and civilized discussion going.

Why, it’s almost like parties with differences can discuss issues in a mature manner – provided the one who opens the discussion doesn’t dowse the other with gasoline and toss a match in his direction. Who would have thunk it?

Update: Comment #85 kinda harshed the Kum-ba-ya mellow a bit. Disclaimer: I have not read any comments beyound #100, so the above may not apply to later entries.

New logo for the Dot-Com site will also appear on the ‘frumpy no more‘ car graphics!

Quantity one (1) M107.

Newsweek: Guns, Liquor and the Age of Obama

by Jon Meacham.

Click the link for the story about Tennessee’s Governor Phil Bredesen’s veto – and the likely override of same. 

Me?  I just like the title.

Some may have noticed, the mysterious tubes that tie the Internet together flickering today at precisely 3:35 Central Time.  Oops, my bad.

You seen WolframAlpha has gone live.  WolframAlpha is the computational knowledge engine powered by Mathmatica to perform complex queries.

So what happened at 3:35 PM you ask?

I loaded WolframAlpha and entered …

Read more

Bore Patch has the 1942 War Department Training films … worth a watch here.

Hours of stuff. Good instruction.

Ah yes, the War Department (not the Department of Defense) … from the pre-politically correct era that our fathers called America.

I welcome Bore Patch to Traction Control’s Gunnies Blogroll.

[You Tube Video embedded]

Somewhat Dated … around the Holder confirmation period, but it is an otherwise thorough piece of coverage by Lou Dobbs at CNN

Closing quote: “Leave our land alone, leave our water alone and leave our guns alone.” – Sen John Barrasso, R-WY.

Here: http://marklevin.ning.com/group/gunbloggers

Our friend, “The Great One” Mr. Mark Levine has provided a home for a Gunbloggers Group at his Unofficial Fan Thingy.

Give it a visit now and go tell a friend!

Traction Control has just received confirmation – and permission to announce this Breaking News: 

Alan Gura the Attorney who won the Heller case in the Supreme Court will be attending Gunblogger Rendezvous in Reno!

Travel arrangements have been made and Traction Control is welcoming Alan to a weekend of good fun and guns at GBR IV.

If you haven’t signed up already, visit the Gunblogger Rendezvous site for details and registration info.

Gunblogger Rendezvous IV September 10-13, 2009

See you there in September!

h/t Hot Air, Protein Wisdom, Cold Fury, Libertysphere, Michelle Malkin, Washington Examiner, Jihad Watch.

FRONTAL ATTACK ON FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS!

A new White House policy on permissible lobbying on economic recovery and stimulus project has taken a decidedly anti-First Amendment turn. It’s a classic illustration of Big Government trying to control every aspect of a particular activity and in the process running up against civil liberty.

Check out this passage from a post on the White House blog by Norm Eisen, Special Counsel to the President on Ethics and Government Reform (emphasis added):

“First, we will expand the restriction on oral communications to cover all persons, not just federally registered lobbyists. For the first time, we will reach contacts not only by registered lobbyists but also by unregistered ones, as well as anyone else exerting influence on the process. We concluded this was necessary under the unique circumstances of the stimulus program.”

Further,

The key passage is the reference to expanding regulation from registered lobbyists to “anyone else exerting influence on the process. We concluded this was necessary under the unique circumstances of the stimulus program.”

This is the Camel’s nose under the tent…

Note that ANYONE, not just lobbyists, who attempts to influence process will be restricted from communicating their opinion if it is against Obama’s plans!

Just say, “Hell No!”

For the record, I hope this post is echoed to “exert influence on the process” of the economic recovery and stimulus project, which I object to as unconstitutional, undue interference of government in the private affairs of business without due process.
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