The Stories and Novels By Derek Ward
I came across this post on The Firearms Blog.
Kurds? Hell yes. Let’s send them all sorts of stuff (up to and including Abrams and MLRS). Let them take over Syria and turn it into a Kurdish version of Israel. FSM knows they wouldn’t put up with the Palestinians causing problems.
This week’s Metal Tuesday is Tyr’s “By the Sword In My Hand.” Mostly because it’s been stuck in my head for the past week. Still, it’s more in that strong Germanic/Nordic power metal.
Lyrics in the Youtube video.
First and foremost, my condolences to the families of the slain and my best wishes to the injured and their families.
I have learned that unless an event is in close proximity to me, I’m not going to take any news reports as anything more than rumor for at least the first 24-48 hrs.
Sebastian demonstrates why I have taken this position.
Michael Z. Williamson has an excellent post on arming soldiers on base. After all, Freehold soldiers are required to carry their weapons on and off base.
Mad Mike then takes to task those already developing the conspiracy myths around the shooting.
Recent indictments of journalists for talking with whistleblowers (the charges are for stealing classified info, but really for talking with whistleblowers) have led to a demand by the press for a federal shield law. Since the Democrats in The Senate want to keep their public relations firms (ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN) happy, they have been debating a shield law in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The caveat is that the new law would define who is and who is not considered a “covered journalist.” Read: authorized journalist.
From David Codrea:
Defining “covered journalists” as those who are “an employee, independent contractor or agent of an entity that disseminates news or information,†the bill would also “extend to student journalists,†the report continues, meaning it will also codify who is an “Authorized Student.â€
Under that definition, most bloggers (particularly gun bloggers) don’t qualify as “covered journalists.”
Here are some problems:
1. Freedom of the press is not limited to professional journalists any more than the freedom of speech is limited to professional speakers. “The press” includes everyone from the professional reporter to the guy blogging in his or her free time.
2. If the government is allowed to say who is not a journalist, expect them to crackdown when non-authorized people discusses topics that the government doesn’t want discussed.
3. If the only protection a journalist has is a government-issued permission slip, expect the media to report only what the government wants reported, less the permission slip is withdrawn.
I don’t expect the mainstream media to fight this much. After all, they get theirs under the current definition. Plus, they can get rid of those annoying bloggers taking their readers.
If anyone still has the fantasy that you’ll always be treated as a hero after a clean shoot, this case teaches us the reality. It’s often an ordeal of lies, misunderstandings, and false accusations…and, as seen here, your family will go through that ordeal with you.
Massad Ayoob, expert on use of firearms in self defense on the Zimmerman trial
Massad Ayoob has done a detailed assessment of all aspects of the Zimmerman trial. If you have a gun for self-defense, you should really read all 19 parts, plus any others that Mas decides to write.
A TSA screener resigned and then decided to get stupid.
After Onuoha resigned the position he had held as a Transportation Security Administration screener since 2006 on Tuesday morning, he then returned a few hours later to the TSA’s LAX headquarters with a sealed express-mail envelope addressed to the screening manager, according to an affidavit filed in federal court and written by FBI Special Agent David Gates.
Shortly thereafter, Onuoha called a TSA terminal checkpoint to say the manager should open the package immediately — and that authorities should begin evacuating two airport terminals immediately, Gates wrote. Onuoha said he would be watching to ensure the terminals were evacuated, authorities said.
A bomb squad responded and cleared the package Onuoha had allegedly left. It contained an eight-page letter titled “The End of America, The End of satan, we were not defeated†that detailed Onuoha’s thoughts on a suspension he faced in July over a confrontation with a 15-year-old girl regarding her apparel, the affidavit stated.
Just after the package was cleared, Onuoha called his manager, again warning that three airport terminals needed to be evacuated, Gates wrote in the affidavit.
He also allegedly called LAX police to urge evacuation, saying he was “going to deliver a message to America and the whole world,†the affidavit stated.
And apparently he was supposedly suspended last summer for inappropriate remarks to a 15-year-old girl.
This year we not only remember the September 11, 2001 attacks, but we are also remembering the attack in Benghazi.
First for all of you 9/11 Truther imbeciles (yes, ad hominen, fuck off!), Popular Mechanics has done a bang-up job of dealing with your conspiracy myths. Note, I said myths, not theories. Theories require rigorous scientific testing to be valid.
Next, for those who want to understand the what and why of the Benghazi attack, I would recommend Brandon Webb’s short ebook on the subject. It’s never as simple and partisan as the chattering class makes it out to be.
From Reuters:
Poland said on Wednesday it will transfer to the state many of the assets held by private pension funds, slashing public debt but putting in doubt the future of the multi-billion-euro funds, many of them foreign-owned.
The changes went deeper than many in the market expected and could fuel investor concerns that the government is ditching some business-friendly policies to try to improve its flagging popularity with voters.
The Polish pension funds’ organisation said the changes may be unconstitutional because the government is taking private assets away from them without offering any compensation.
(Emphasis mine)
This was done to shore up their sovereign debt. If Poland is successful, I wonder how long before other nations decide to nationalize those assets.
With the looming pension and Medicare crises at home, how secure do you think your retirement investments are?
One of my quirks is that I must be on time to the point I would rather be a half-hour early than be even five minutes late. I can feel my spine squiggle if I’m running late.
My brother, in contrast, does make an effort to get someplace on time, but it’s not really a big deal to him if he’s late.
Now, imagine my stress when dealing with my brother and his two coworkers when we’re running late from lunch.
I want to scream at them to hurry up, but I know it’s just me being an ass. That doesn’t stop my spine from doing the jiggly dance of stress.
This week’s Metal Tuesday is Seven Kingdom’s “After the Fall.” Those of you following Game of Thrones should recognize the character being talked about in the lyrics.
This band was a pleasant discovery when my brother and I went to go see Blind Guardian in St. Pete a few years ago. Plus, they’re a local band.
And to be honest, I have a thing for female fronted metal bands. I blame it on early exposure to Pat Benetar.
Lyrics:
I’ve seen nightmare’s wings
Flying high in feverish dreams
Break these chains of misery
No more climbing walls for me
Now wings replace these broken legs
Guide me to my destiny
I feel the cold of Northwind’s Breeze
Raven show me how to fly
Set me free in Summer’s eyes
Across the frozen land of Winterfell’s Kings
A quest to breach the Wall
To reach the land of ice and snow
After the fall
I finally realized
The future of your life
Is not always what it seems
After the fall
I fully understand
The answers that I seek
Are beyond my wildest dreams
Dark news on dark wings
Another comes to join the hall of kings
I fear the worst is yet to be
So run to the North
From the men of Iron shores
To a destiny that’s calling me
Pitch black wings of destiny
Speaking to me in nights of Summer’s dreams
Pitch black wings of destiny
Guiding me to land of ice and trees