Why I carry a weapon

In one way or another I have been armed since I was old enough to have my own .22 rifle. When I was of age I applied for and received a carry permit, and have held one most of my years since then. Truth be told, permit or not I have always had a weapon near me.

Since I grew up with weapons as tools, the morality of being armed was never raised as an issue. You had a chain saw to cut wood, and you had a firearm to defend yourself. You learned to use the chainsaw safely because you would need the skill as a capable adult. For the same reason you learned to shoot well and safely keep a weapon, as defending oneself is what a capable adult does. Personal responsibility demands one be able to do what’s needed, and be able to use the tools to meet that need. Anything less is a failure to oneself, ones loved ones, and ones community.

Later, in adult years, as introspection grew and answers to life’s questions were sought, I faced the issue of self defense. After carrying a weapon for years I finally took the time to ask myself why, and took the time to reason out an answer, or at least one of them.

I carry a weapon because it is the moral thing to do. It meets with my definition of doing ‘right’. Being prepared to defend myself and loved ones is part of being a responsible person.

Please allow me to explain…

I believe people have a ‘moral obligation’ to take responsibility for themselves, not leaving the task as a burden to others. I know this may not be a popular concept in some circles, but that does not change it as my belief. I know we are laden with entire generations of people who honestly think they bear no responsibility for their own safety, wellbeing, and actions.

I choose not to be one of those people.

I carry a weapon for much the same reasons as I usually have a pocket knife and a flashlight around me. These are all tools I may need to take care of myself and pull my own weight. To think of them other than tools is silly. Everything a man lays his hands on to complete a task is a tool, and no morality can possibly reside in the inanimate objects we use.

Why not leave my personal defense to ‘The Authorities’?
For several reasons, as I’ll explain.

It’s simply not possible for any government authority to defend my person. There is no arguing this point. Even in the most restrictive environments imaginable, our federal prison system, there are daily physical attacks resulting in death and injury. There is no ‘civilized’ society in the world where government authority has been able to protect and defend the individual citizen from criminals bent on harm. There is an element, a breed, of humans who live as predators on their fellow humans, and they reside next door to each of us. No amount of authority can take on the task of defending the individual, no matter how well meaning. If it must be done, then I must do it myself.

This notion of ‘The Authorities’ is often a nebulous one, with folks forgetting that government service is peopled with humans no different than ourselves. Good and bad, competent and worthless, our government mirrors our population and that should cause a moments thought. When I call on the police to help me, what am I really doing? I am asking my neighbor to put his life on the line for my needs. Perhaps not when simply investigating a break in or calming a troubled situation, but often enough when danger calls. For an unreasonably small handful of dollars I should expect the officer to arrive with weapon in hand and interpose himself between trouble and I? Is this right?

It’s here that morality raises its ugly head. How can I ask my neighbor to risk his life for me when I am not willing to do so for myself? How can I in good conscience expect an officer to care more for my loved ones and me, than I do myself?

I was raised understanding that a man did for himself, and only asked for help when he had to. This went hand in hand with the idea that you always helped your neighbor when they asked, because they wouldn’t ask if they didn’t really need it. That and it was part of the contract that they would be there when you asked in return. This contract has fallen by the wayside in our society, in many places. Too many now demand ‘help’ with every problem real or perceived, and too many honestly believe that ‘help’ is owed them by society for some unknown reason. Far too often, ‘help’ is defined as ‘Someone come and do this for me because I don’t want to!’

I carry a weapon because I believe a person has a moral responsibility to take care of themselves and not be a burden on others. The pistol I carry on my belt, and the rifle stored in my safe, are nothing more than tools needed to meet my responsibility. This is not a responsibility that can be relieved by some fool wishing it so and announcing it.

It’s a moral obligation that can only be self imposed, self delivered, and self administered.

Snackers........

Mixed Greek olives and a fresh loaf of bread.

Ahhhhhhh.............

Saving.....

This morning I told my notebook PC to save all the photos to my 500 gig external drive.

I have about 20 gigs of images on this notebook, and it's getting crowded!
On the desk top, another 20 gigs of photos.... and many are dupes.
This is getting out of hand.

My plan..... (This is scary) is to get every photo I have on every machine all loaded to one huge folder. I'll back this up on my external drive just to be safe.

Then..... (gut wrenching fear) I'll delete every photo I have in my Photoshop albums, which have mostly been moved around and have broken links, and have Photoshop go snatch all the images from the big folder instead.

This should catch all the dupes, and have all my photo's cataloged in one spot. It should also let me set up a real image filing system based on the Photoshop catalog. I can use the software to set up retrieval categories and separate albums, and THIS time I'll let it store where it wishes rather than me moving all the files around so the software can't find them.

Sounds like a plan, doesn't it? Also sounds like about 30 hours of work...... cataloging all the photos, deleting the junk, making up coherent albums, and making beer runs.

I need 30 hours in one spot... just me, my computer, and the hard drive.
No distractions. Hmm........ Sounds like time for a road trip!

Insulation

In a crowded world, a crowded life, sometimes the pathways are varied and lonely. One day laughter and friendly playfulness, the next day only still born silence.

Down these roads, traveled sometimes with fearful groping and blind luck, a man finds himself stumbling along through life's battles. Occasionally a welcome hand appears to steady the progress, but most days it's a lonely road.

Some days.... it has to be that way.... and it's best that way.

My Bollinger came home!

.

I've owned this print by Richard Bollinger for a few years. Never had the spare
cash to get it framed properly, so I held off. It's lived in non-acid paper sandwiched in a closet all that time.

I bought from Bollinger himself at a gallery show, and shook his hand
after he signed it for me. I had just enjoyed an hour of him showing me
some new techniques.

Now, once framed, I will hang it where I can enjoy it.

It's strange just how happy that makes me......

Click to enlarge if you wish...

Spiders in the grass

Walking alone by the pond... the morning dew heavy
on the grass.... the ground is hazy. Looking down I see
myriad spider webs, none larger than my thumb. Thousands, as
far as I can see.... silent testament to the life passing by
beneath and around us.

Too small to be noticed, not regarded as worthy, yet there
each morning in stubborn willingness to live.

So many people live lives not much larger than these spiders.
Lost in the shuffle underfoot, but still fighting on with hard nosed
abandon.

Still carrying my camera every day......

This morning, on the way to school....

up and coming

Now THIS is relaxing!
(when it happens)

I have a new post up on Carteach0, regarding reloading rifle cartridges.
It's the first of a three part article, and the next will follow in a few days.

Over on the Bear, this evening sometime.... will be a post about tonights supper....
and it was good!

A window into time

Standing silent witness to time, an old and weathered stone wall opens a window on another age.

Whispered ghost sound of workmen laying rock, moving with deliberate care at a pace which would conquer an entire continent.

A window..... built to let in light, and for a man to look out upon the world, safe within solid stone walls. Safe from the storm, safe from attack, safe to rest.

Safe from everything..... but time.

Wood that's been marked by its travels in water has always fascinated me.
Natural wood that has migrated in the sea..... a log the river has ground along it's banks for many miles....

Most riveting for me are the remnants of mans hard work, stolen by the waters and carved into strange masterpieces by wind,water, and sand. It's as if nature has commented on our efforts, and then made it her own.

Tonight.....

I worked a hard day today.. and got a lot accomplished. One of our theory rooms has all new network, telephone, and video cable run now, in the ceiling. I also set up the 'Carteach0' command center (new desk and filing mountain). Twin projector system is up and running, sound is up, and I located a new TV/video card for my desk PC.

I actually had people come in, stand, and watch me work....... I guess it's an unusual sight there.

Since I skipped lunch and breakfast was light, I scarfed a few meatloaf sandwiches (Meatloaf with cracked bulgar wheat and balsamic marinade, on dutch potato bread). Then a quick swim to work out muscle kinks, a long hot shower..... and I feel like I'm ready to tackle the world. At least for the next few hours (g).

If I can stay awake.... I'll be on line at 11pm to catch the Gun Nuts net-radio show with Ahab and Squeakie. Promises to be interesting.

On another note... I figured out how to 'watermark' my photos, so anything I post online will now have my chop on it. Take a look at the final product here...
Is it too obvious? Should I fade it more, or change it any way? Let me know what you think.

Have a great evening!

I am a liberal, and proud of it

Terry Pratchett wrote a book titled 'The Wee Free Men'.
In it the main character (a little girl named Tiffany) does something unusual for a child. She reads the dictionary, cover to cover. She sees nothing strange about this, nor do I.

Yes, I was a child who read encyclopedias and dictionaries. For Christmas, my mother gave Webster's 'Dictionary of Dictionaries' and my father gave me Radio Shacks 'Dictionary of electronics'. I once found a large library bound edition of Funk+ Wagnall's most massive dictionary in a pile at a thrift store. I gleefully paid the asking price and left the store, laughing like Renfield. Now all twenty pounds of that book of words resides in my library.

Why would I do such things? Because words have power, that's why. They mean something. Usually something specific, unless vague or twisted.

Words must have defined meanings in order for communication to exist. Civilized society cannot exist without communication. It follows that a civilized society defines it's words. Violate this law to a certain degree, and that civilization must fall.

I believe in civilization, and that's why I read dictionaries.

I tell all this to explain why I was reading a dictionary this morning.
See, I have this theory that liberalism is a religion. I think it qualifies on all counts. It requires irrational, unfounded belief, it has it's high priests and priestess who are above all wrongs, it has it's Gods in various forms, and it's a cause for much suffering. Yup... sounds like a religion to me!

Yet.... I hadn't looked it up. I didn't check; I just went on gut instinct and experience.

This morning I changed that by looking up some of the words I was bandying about in my mind. Starting with 'Religion'.

From Websters on-line dictionary:
Main Entry:

re·li·gion

Pronunciation:

\ri-ˈli-jən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English religioun, from Anglo-French religiun, Latin religion-, religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious practice, perhaps from religare to restrain, tie back — more at rely

Date:

13th century

(1): the service and worship of God or the supernatural
(2): commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance2: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
(3): archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness
(4): a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

Perhaps we might examine that definition a bit, shall we?
"(1): Worship and serve the supernatural". Yes, that sounds about right for a liberal. Find something that does not exist and devote your time and effort towards empowering it.
"(2): an institutionalized system of attitudes, beliefs, and practices". Yes again, that matches. Liberalism is nothing if not institutionalized, with it's claws buried deep into the machinery of education and government. Do this, don't do that, can't you read the tri-lingual politically correct non-threatening communication device you bleeping red neck moron?
"(4): A system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith". Oh my, yes! Nobody is more adamant in their faith than a liberal, even if they can't define their faith any better than "Do what I say, or you are evil".

Now, this Webster's entry on religion fully supports my theory that liberalism is a religion. To my mind that is, and if you look up 'Solipsism' you'll see why this is what matters to me.

But, as in most lines of inquiry, one discovery usually leads to another question.
The next logical step here, once finding the definition of 'religion' matches my mind-picture of liberalism is to recheck the actual definition of 'liberalism.
Back to Webster's we go........ (WEEEeeeeee)

Main Entry:

lib·er·al·ism

Pronunciation:

\ˈli-b(ə-)rə-ˌli-zəm\

Function:

noun

Date:

1819

(1): the quality or state of being liberal
(2): often capitalized : a movement in modern Protestantism emphasizing intellectual liberty and the spiritual and ethical content of Christianity b: a theory in economics emphasizing individual freedom from restraint and usually based on free competition, the self-regulating market, and the gold standard c: a political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of the human race, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties dcapitalized : the principles and policies of a Liberal party

UH OH!

Awe Crap! There goes my whole theory! It turns out that the definition of liberalism (and liberal) in Webster's does not in any way match my mind-picture of todays liberals. What Webster's describes as 'Liberalism' actually mates far better with my picture of a conservative..... and.... uh....... me.

It turns out, that by literal definition, I am a liberal. I believe in a system of economics that is based on competition, a gold standard, and which remains mostly self regulated. I believe in progress through the basic goodness of mankind, even if it is a slow process. I believe in the autonomy of the individual in society, and I also believe strongly in individual liberties and rights. Especially the liberty to exercise all our rights to our own individual profit or detriment, without government interference.

Webster's definition of a 'liberal' matches me..... very closely. How can that be? Have I changed that much? Has my world view gotten that twisted and tainted by insanity?

NO! I have not changed that much...... what happened is the word 'Liberal' has been co-opted and bastardized by a religious movement that actually stands for the opposite of the true meaning of the word. Today's self professed 'liberal' believes in oppressive government control of the individual, an economy in a regulatory straight jacket, and crippling taxation on productive citizens. Today's self named 'liberal' stands for heavy restrictions on civil rights, personal property, and personal liberty.

So.... today's 'Liberalism' has nothing to do with the real definition of the word.
It's nothing but verbal theft......... as practiced by the former master of it.

This noted.... I was left to wonder; what is the proper name to gift this religion which falsely calls itself 'liberalism'...

Again I turned to our old standby Webster's dictionary. In an hours searching, I came up with only one word that is close: 'fool'.

Look it up.

Sliced Geode... It's just plain neat!

(I'll be posting this on Da Bear tomorrow.....)

Here we have a one I took slices from for a project, but getting an idea of what was inside this beastie, I made the last few at angles and saved the largest share as one big piece.





This left me with a free standing wedge shape, one side angled nicely.
The geode center is a translucent crystal structure, with the very center having
a hollow filled with crystals. The last slice I made opened the hollow for viewing, and to let light through into the stone.

Polished all the way to 3000 grit on diamond wheels, it turned out to be a thing of beauty.



Were I to sell it, it would bring about $50. That is, if I could be talked into selling it. This one might stay in my private collection.

Democrats prove their administration and planning skills at their most important event of the election year

The Democratic party has been working to their normal standards in planning their presidential convention in Denver. Millions over budget, insanely unworkable and unpopular regulations and rules, outstandingly poor choices in self aggrandizement, and an acquaintance with the truth that's par for the party.

In an amazing display of party insanity, the whacko fringe that now rules the party is doing their level best to blow the whole convention out of the water.
A twenty eight page set of rules for caterers specifying the color of the foods?
$100,000 a month for office space? $50,000 a month for office furniture?

Adding an interesting sauce to this meatloaf, a little bird from the Denver area has mentioned to me: Most venders and suppliers in the area are demanding cash in advance from the Democrats..... Seems they have looked into how the party has been dealing with their campaign expenses so far, and historically done so in the past. It can best be described as "We'll pay you....if we feel like it..... some day...maybe".

It's interesting to note the only major media outlet covering the debacle is the New York Times, long regarded as the Democrat paper of record.

The carnage was terrible!

Today I took a walk down by the Susquehanna, which I name just to prove I can spell it. The photos are over on 'Da Bear'.

Coming home, I was invigorated and anxious to do some work. Yard work, that is.

Oh... what a calamity! There was so much carnage! Flashing, slashing blades of doom ended the lives of thousands! Many a snarly thicket was wantonly and willfully mowed down like the weeds they were.

Motorized spinning blades of death were assisted in the shrieking display of violence by the demon haunted hedge trimmer from hell.

In the end, there was nothing to do but gather the fallen..... and toss their nasty butts in the woods to rot.

It was fun!

Tomorrow...

Unless the weather goes bad early, I think I will head to the range for a while.
An hour or two with a Mauser and a few bandoleers of ammunition will be enjoyable.
I think I still have about 1000 rounds of 8x57 left.......

As for tonight........ just a blah evening. I tried cutting stones, but it's not my night
for that. I read the usual blogs, catching up on what friends are doing.
I checked the news....... which was no more fun than usual, and I can't even
get excited over the political idiotations going on.

Just a quiet evening.

Funny..... Thunder just came and laid down next to me.

How the hell do dogs know?

Stoned again

I cut this one a day or so again. Ruby/Zoite in layers.
The ruby is a SOB to work, as it's just a step short of diamond
in hardness. I never get these shaped or polished as I like, but
Shirley and Al seem happy with them..... they cooed over this and
said it would sell for about $150........

Looking forward to a mostly relaxing evening, except I need footwear.
My two year old boots, the only thing I have in footwear save callouses,
are giving up the ghost. They are just plain worn out.
That means chance the dry goods store in a nearby town, or do the
hour and a half in traffic to Cabelas.

Why only those choices you ask? I have flippers where normal people
have feet. A 14EE is slightly snug on me....... a 15 fits better depending on what
province of China it was made in.

Shopping..... SHOE shopping........ SHUDDER.

Mauser day tomorrow

Weather be good, or weather be damned, I think tomorrow will be a Mauser day at the range. It seems a good way to mark the Fourth of July.

Stone work this afternoon

Work at school went swimmingly today. We got all our construction painted with Primer.... and ready to go with final painting tomorrow.

After coming home, I started with stones again. Just can't seem to stay away..... This time I was slicing some thin slabs for a special project.






The slabs are intended for display in wooden stands, with a candle behind them. These slices of geode have a crystal center, and I've polished them till the light shines through nicely.

With a candle lit behind the slab, the crystalline structures shatters the light and sends it rebounding in a beautiful pattern.













The slab pictured is just under the largest size I'll get from this geode, which is about the largest geode I have to work with. Larger would be nice, but the quality of this stone is excellent.

I lucked out, really, as I have no idea what is inside one of these things till I slice it open.

For this project I'll make nice wooden stands from fine grained hardwood. I haven't decided between Birdseye Maple or Walnut.

Excellent!

Arrived to work and found an envelope in my mail box.

An invite to an Eagle Scout induction, from one of this years students!

This will make at least one a year for the last four years....... I LOVE going to
these things.

Busy, busy day!

Today we finished the actual construction phase of our project.
No more cutting, no more nail guns... :-(
In the photos the footprint of the old risers shows against the walls.
What we built is lower and far stronger. It will suit us much better, leaving us
more floor space as well. When they built the old units they didn't have
the projectors and electronics we have now, and needed floor height. We are better suited now with what we have built, taking into account our projection equipment and computer needs.

Now we move on to electrical conduits and outlets, computer networks, communication wiring, lighting, painting, and all that other happy stuff.

We are each allotted 120 hours of work time, with more on tap as needed.
That is what the tie wearers have agreed to pay labor wise.
I expected us to have the construction done in 40 hours each.
We have it done in 25 hours each.
We are slightly ahead of schedule....... (G)

Arriving home, I staked some tomato plants. Garden attended to, and heading in to the house, I found a stone I had set aside in the garage. It's a rough cut from the end of a larger stone..... sliced off so the large stone would stand up on display while it's decided what to do with it.

This large stone, about the size of my two fists together, is ruby and zolite in layers. It's uncut value runs into the hundreds, for a rock that doesn't look all that special.

From the base, I found in the thin part something worth cutting. About two inches long at it's largest, and maybe a quarter of an inch thick, I was able to cut from the scrap this heart shaped piece.

Once it's polished (and I intend to leave the rough inclusions in it) it will probably sell for about $40 at the store, or go into a necklace that will sell for a fair amount more.