For The Birds - No More Please!

I bought a bird feeder. I hung it
on my back porch and filled it
with seed. What a beauty of
a bird feeder it was, as I filled it
lovingly   with seed.

Within a week we had hundreds of birds
taking advantage of the
continuous flow of free and
easily accessible food.  But then the birds started
building nests in the boards
of the patio, above the table,
and next to the barbecue.  Then came the shit. It was
everywhere: on the patio tile,
the chairs, the table ...
everywhere!  Then some of the birds
turned mean. They would
dive bomb me and try to
peck me even though I had
fed them out of my own
pocket.  And others birds were
boisterous and loud. They
sat on the feeder and
squawked and screamed at
all hours of the day and night
and demanded that I fill it
when it got low on food.  After a while, I couldn't even
sit on my own back porch
anymore.

 

So I took down the bird feeder

and in three days
the birds were gone. I cleaned
up their mess and took down
the many nests they had built
all over the patio.  Soon, the back yard was like
it used to be ... quiet, serene...
and no one demanding their
rights to a free meal.  Now let's see...
Our government gives out
free food, subsidized housing,
free medical care and free
education, and allows anyone
born here to be an automatic
citizen.  Then the illegals came by the
tens of thousands. Suddenly
our taxes went up to pay for
free services; small apartments
are housing 5 families; you
have to wait 6 hours to be seen
by an emergency room doctor;
Your child's second grade class is
behind other schools because
over half the class doesn't speak
English.  Corn Flakes now come in a
bilingual box; I have to
'press one ' to hear my bank
talk to me in English, and
people waving flags other
than ”ours” are
squawking and screaming
in the streets, demanding
more rights and free liberties.  Just my opinion, but maybe
it's time for the government
to take down the bird feeder.  If you agree, pass it on; if not,
just continue cleaning up the shit! 

 

A hat tip to Jim S for this.

All the best,
Glenn B

Just Had A Dollop...

...of Mellow Corn. Had not had any of this in way too long.

Yummy kind of, sort, of, almost -  not really; although, it ain't half bad. Anyway, I drink this for effect not for taste or bouquet! It does have a definite bouquet though, of alcohol.

This post in memory of George B., aka: Buckback and the best New Year's Eve party ever!

All the best,
Glenn B

Inox Versus Stainless Steel

Happened across this piece today (see the below link) that explains Inox is nothing different than stainless steel. It goes on to explain several things about SS. While not a scientific journal article by a long shot, it was interesting nonetheless, at least to me, since I knew less about stainless steel before reading it.
https://pediaa.com/difference-between-inox-and-stainless-steel/

All the best,
Glenn B

President Trump - Please Send In The Troops

Dear President Trump,

The time to send in the troops was at least three days ago. The looting, riots and other violence has spread across our nation and is destroying it faster than could COVID-19. Cities are burning while rioters laugh at law enforcement and try to kill them at the same time. Innocent people are being savagely beaten and some have been killed. meanwhile the same mayors, governors, Congresspeople and Senators who wanted to arrest and or harshly fine people for violating so called social distancing and mask regulations have done almost nothing to stop the violence. You need to act decisively to save our country and you need to do it now. Don't take my word for it, read those allegedly written by a NYC Police Officer:

Sir, you are the man in charge, you have the authority under our Constitution, so please use that authority wisely and stop the carnage. This is not about George Floyd, God rest his soul, these looters and rioters don't give a damn about him. It is about saving our country from anarchy and those who would gleefully destroy her.

All the best,
Glenn B

Folks - Whether You Believe It Or Not...

...this whole George Floyd protest bugaboo, as of late, has morphed into a full swing insurrection - at least as far as I am concerned. I can only speak for myself when I say I have taken precautions. I suppose you could consider what I am doing as also being prudent recommendations for all to follow during these explosively violent times:

I know I am not a hero nor do I want to become one.

I know that avoiding a fight is often the best way to remain alive and unharmed. If it is reasonably possible to avoid it without putting myself at greater risk, I will avoid confrontation.

I am at and will remain at a higher level of situational awareness than regular for me. I have been keeping myself at condition orange instead of my normal condition yellow and will remain at that level until the national situation has calmed completely.

My car radio is tuned to a talk/news station and I check the news several times daily on the radio and or online for the latest developments.

I try to avoid known & suspect troublesome neighborhoods and areas.

I try to avoid areas where I see large crowds or any ongoing commotion. 

I would rather be a good witness than a dead or jailed hero.

I have been making sure my cell phone remains charged.

I have a first aid kit in my vehicle.

I have a gas mask and filters in my vehicle.

I carry spare water and food in my vehicle.

I have above a half tank of gas at all times.

My head has been on a swivel to maintain situational awareness.

I always carry a flashlight. 

I change the batteries in my flashlight before they need replacement.

I go armed - virtually everywhere. 

I carry back-up arms - note I did not say that in the singular but in the plural sense.

I carry spare ammunition, more than I think I might ever need.

I carry weapons other than only firearms. 

My vehicle can become, in essence, a guided bullet with me at the wheel if I am surrounded by rioters who give me probable cause to believe they are attempting to block or stop me and seriously harm or kill me.

I am of the absolute mindset that I will defend my lifenad family members' lives, if threatened with imminent death or serious bodily harm. I have done so before and will do so again if so threatened.

I may or may not go to the defense of all others but you can safely bet that should I see an evidently innocent young child being so threatened, or an innocent elderly person in a like situation, I probably will respond to their assistance in some way, shape or form regardless of race, color, sex, creed, citizenship, nationality or political affiliation.

I will not interfere with a Law Enforcement Officer carrying out just & constitutionally lawful duties; however, should I see a LEO breaking the law, I will be a damned good witness against the officer. 

I likely will assist a LEO in distress while the officer is carrying out lawful duties, in most cases.

I know how to get to the local hospitals (2 with Level I Trauma Centers) and urgent care centers, just in case. 

If I had someone to go out and about with, I would go out with them by my side for everyday tasks. I do not; so, I take my dog with me, as often as practical and possible, as a potential deterrent to violence from others. 

I do not want to get into a confrontation, neither non-violent or violent, but I do know how to handle myself and am prepared if either cannot be avoided.

All the best,
Glenn B

Some Thoughts On The Rioting

This is all becoming quite reminiscent of the riots of 1967 and 1968. Bunch of people killed in 1967 in those riots and thousands were injured. 1968 was another very bad year with lots of riots and other disturbances mostly related to race and the war in Vietnam. Of course, some were started due to the assassination of MLK but there were plenty of others. I remember watching them on TV and going up on our roof to watch the flames and smoke coming from neighborhoods only a couple to a few miles away. I also remember seeing a brick with a ten or twenty dollar bill attached that had been filmed by a news crew. Supposedly another news crew did that to try to get folks to hurl bricks at authorities so they could get a good shot and a story. Don't know if any of it was true or not though but can say without a doubt the media was scum then and is worse today.

Some crazy goings on back then for sure. Hope this current situation does not become as bad but today's politicians and bureaucrats are inept as ever (maybe probably more so today) and have learned little if anything from the past. Thus, I fear the past may repeat itself currently and this situation even may explode far beyond what it is now and beyond what it was back then. What with folks having been cooped up for so long and already angry at the government on all levels, the hot weather already upon some parts of the US, this apparently senseless killing of George Floyd, the recent killing of Ahmaud Arbery - it is one very bad explosive mixture that has lots of potential to become much worse. I hope not though but am keeping my self-defense equipment at the ready just in case.

On a personal note, I have experienced some - how shall I call it - I suppose racial resentment from folks is the way to say it. That from folks I have greeted in a friendly manner in the local park while out with my mongrel for a walk. One guy growled a hello back to me through clenched teeth with a look of abject anger on his face when I said good morning to him yesterday, he tensed up and I believe he balled his fists; he got me a bit concerned but he kept going. A woman today gave me a definite nasty look, pursing her face and frowning at me, when I said "hi" to her as we passed one another in the park. Racial tensions are obviously quite high even where there are no riots. Truly a sad/bad time for all of us in the USA. 

All the best,
Glenn B

The George Floyd Controversy Astonishes Me...

...or should I say the support that the police officers involved are getting from some, especially other law enforcement officers (thankfully a minority it seems ), befuddles me. I find it very hard to believe that anyone who has seen the video of the restraint used on this man (can be seen at: https:// www.facebook .com /cuapb.org/ posts/10158114619252221 - I put it in this way so you can copy and paste the address - just remember to eliminate the 4 spaces and I think you have to be logged into Facebook) and who has read the criminal complaint (looks to be genuine but I cannot say for sure), can say that Floyd caused his own death and or can otherwise show support for the officers.

Supposedly when he became unresponsive, one of the officers reportedly attempted to take his pulse but then said he could not find one. For almost a full two (2) minutes after that, the officer kneeling on his neck allegedly did not get up off of his neck or seemingly relieve any of the pressure on Mr. Floyd's neck. Again, that supposedly was after he became unresponsive and no pulse was found! Listen to the guy in the video begging for the officers to get off him and check his pulse because he obviously was unresponsive. I find it outrageous that evidently no relief was given, that no attempt to see if he was responsive was made and that no attempt was made to try to give him CPR or otherwise revive him. 

Now cities burn and a police station has been abandoned to rioters and essentially destroyed due in part to a what I believe is a total dereliction of duty and responsibility by law enforcement and elected officials; of course it is mainly due to the thugs perpetuating it but the officials are allowing it to continue essentially unabated, I believe due to either ineptness or politics or both! What next - more lives lost with officials looking the other way! This is government at its worst and government once again has proven itself pretty much useless and in need of replacement. Get the bums out and put into place someone with some spine, grit and ethics.

All the best,
Glenn B

59 Years Ago This Month...

... is when this photo was developed. I figure it was either taken in April or May that year - 59 years ago this month! Damn, how time flies and wherever it all has flown off to is beyond my grasp now. The others in the pic are my older brother, my mom (next to me) and the distant family relative (or maybe just a family friend) we called Aunt Mary. I was right around 5 1/2 years old and even then it seemed I was well on my way to getting into guns. We were standing along the side, of one of three, of my great-grandfather's and great-grandmother's apartment buildings. 

In all likelihood the rifle I am holding was an actual firing percussion rifle of sorts and was bought for me at Freedomland U.S.A. in the Bronx, NY; the time frame is perfect. I well remember begging for it and finally being the happiest kid in the world when my mom & dad got it for me. I also got a coonskin cap with a real racoon tail (don't recall if the rest of it was real fur but maybe cause that was still back in a different era). I had to beg them not only for the rifle but to go back to Freedomland a second time and that's when they got it for me; I saw it on our first trip there. 

Much like a real percussion rifle where you put the cap onto the nipple, you placed a cap on a platform where the hammer would hit it and just like on a percussion rifle there was a small hole leading to the inside of the barrel into which, from the muzzle end, I would have loaded one of several very light weight cork balls that came with it and then seated it with its ramrod (not in the photo for some reason). Amazingly, when I think of it now, it worked every time as I recall. No way you were going to shoot out anyone's eye with that though even though I got that speech despite it not being a BB gun. No clue whatever became of it, wish I still had it. It would have been an excellent first rifle for my daughter & son. As it was they were started on 22s.

All the best,
Glenn B

Plotting A Road Trip For June

What better way to spend some time with my son Brendan than on a road trip. To where? North by northwest is how and wherever we wind up with enough time to get back home within a week (all the time he has) will be where. 

I am hopeful we will make it to Shell Creek Campground near Shell, WY. That was a stopover on my first cross country road tip, destination Missoula, MT (although we stopped there, we then went on some), with some friends many moons ago. We has been heading to Yellowstone but being the idiots we were, we did not realize that week would terminate in Independence Day weekend and the roads were already jammed. So we headed toward Cody, WY on some back-roads but had to stop in Shell Creek Campground because the road ahead was closed due to an avalanche (yes there was still a good amount of snow on the mountain tops). 

Anyway, it was excellent there and I hope it still is worth sharing with Brendan. Deadwood, SD and Mr. Rushmore National Memorial are also part of our plans and maybe going as far north as just crossing into ND (one of only two states which I have never visited, Hawaii is the other) or maybe even getting to Bismarck, ND or Fargo, ND to buy a used car or wood chipper could be possible. Hoping to return through CO, NE NM, down into western TX and back home.

I've got a rental SUV reserved but am left wondering if they will even be open by then, they are not open now at Enterprise. Maybe I should make  couple more reservations at other car rental agencies to be on the safe side. Of course, there is always my Corolla but I had planned on something a bit more comfortable for us and Skye the mongrel. As for Brendan and me, I think in an SUV, one can drive and the other stretch out if need be.

All the best,
GB

In The Mood

The things I see while out walking Skye! Usually they'd be in the water in the drainage ditch but today for some reason they did it on the rocks (or at least on the pavement)! Rona V or not - they were in the mood!

All the best,
Glenn B

Remember Them On Memorial Day

I surely do miss getting my Buddy Poppy for Memorial Day each year, it might have seemed a trifle to some but was important to me as a way to honor and remember those whom this day memorializes. The Buddy Poppies used to be given out by members of the American Legion and of course I always donated something for mine. It's a small thing with which to honor our fallen but yet a rare and an exceptional thing to see today. Don't forget them, nor the reason why we honor them today, the members of our military who fell during time of war while defending out great nation!

In memory of all those who have fallen defending our great nation while in military service during time of war. 



 
All the best,
Glenn B

Maybe My MGM Stock Will Go Up...

...I am betting on it anyway, that's why I bought it in the first place. With Las Vegas about to open its casinos, I imagine the stock price can only go up. More on the opening at the source. Heck, in that event my UAL and MRO & BP stocks may also go up - I mean how long will people stay away from flying or driving to open casinos!

All the best,
Glenn B

Are You In The Market For A Used Car...

...because if so you may want to wait a little while before buying one. Car rental giant Hertz may begin selling as many as 30,000 cars per month (that is about one thousand per day) through year's end and that may spell good deals for used car buyers. That is because Hertz Global Holdings Inc., in business for over 100 years, has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy due to lack of rentals during the COVID-19 shutdowns. It currently employs over 38,000 people worldwide, who I am guessing will lose their jobs if Hertz does not receive some kind of relief and the bankruptcy goes through. More at the source.

And these liberal hardliners just want to keep our economy closed until what - maybe until many more companies go belly up and our economy totally crashes. Then what - blame it on President Trump - that would be my bet as to where they will shift the blame.

All the best,
Glenn B

Where Is The Racial Outrage Over This Attack - Woman Hit In Face?

A retail employee of a sporting goods store was attacked by another woman. The victim was not the race of preference for this to be shown as a racial incident it seems. But I must ask, where is the outcry and why is this not being reported as an attack due to race? Of course there is none and my guess is because the attacker was black and the victim white; I would bet had the races been reversed, this would be hot topic news on CNN and MSNBC and the networks with reporters lambasting all of us about racism once again. Instead those who have reported on it seemingly use everything else possible as a motive other than race. More at the source.

All the best,
Glenn B

I've Got A Hankering For...

...a really good vanilla ice cream. I have not had any ice cream in probably over a year (I could have forgotten but think that is about right, maybe even longer). Once I start on it, I usually gain a few pounds within a couple of weeks, it is a bad binge addiction. Of course, I can be careful and buy just enough for a large single serving and hopefully that would kill my craving but I'd really have to apply all of my self control and when it comes to excellent vanilla ice cream that ain't easy, at least for me. I've been having this craving for well over three months now and am thinking I am about to give in to it. If I do, I only hope my pants will still fit in a week or three.

All the best,
Glenn B

I Need A New Laptop But...

...finding one that meets the specifications I want seems impossible. First off it must run Windows whatever; second it must have at least 16MB RAM and a 512GB hard drive or SSD; then it must have a graphics card, preferably Nvidia with at least 6MB memory onboard, 17" screen, full sized keyboard and an optical drive would be nice but if it does not have one I suppose I could settle for a stand alone DVD drive. 

The thing that seems impossible to find is a laptop with a user & easily replaceable battery. Every company I have contacted says they only make laptops now with non-user changeable batteries! Why would that be since it defeats the major reason for buying a laptop which is portability. I sometimes use mine when out hiking, camping, shooting, in remote areas where there is no power available and depend on having at least one extra battery with me if not more of them. The computer companies have essentially created a laptop that tells people wanting a portable system to go screw themselves. I have queried: HP, Lenovo, MSI, Dell, ASUS.

Yes, I suppose I could buy a converter for my car, plug it into the lighter and use that as a power source to charge the laptop - if I am near my car when I need a new battery or a recharge. The thing is many professionals who do field work (and I used to be one of them) are often not anywhere near a power supply and need a laptop on which they can easily change batteries when one runs out of juice. I suppose though, it has to be this way in someone's idea of doing things in the name of progress - or in other words liberally fucking over those of us who need it the way it was once upon a time. 

Oh well, I will keep up the search. If anyone knows of a current model of laptop running windows that meets my specs, please clue me in. Thanks.

All the best,
Glenn B

Where Is The Racial Outrage Over These Killings?

Read the article here: https://www.foxnews.com/us/maryland-couple-slain-at-delaware-veterans-cemetery-visited-sons-grave-almost-daily-surviving-son-says (You may have to cut and paste the link to get it to work.)

Then tell me the answers to these questions:

Where is the racial outrage? Why is White Lives Matter not marching or for that matter why is Black Lives Matter not marching? Where are Al Sharpton and his minions? Where is the ACLU? Where is the NAACP? Why is no one marching for the cause of these two victims? Where are all the liberal media types and why are they not incessantly reporting on this apparent hate crime?

Hypocritical race baiters should gag themselves forever.

All the best,
Glenn B

The Bluntness Of Our President Is Refreshing

All the best,
Glenn B