Worlds largest army recently disbanded

Don't let the title confuse you, basically it could also read "Millions of deer hunters have all taken their high powered guns home". Really good post below.

http://federalistpaupers.com/index.php/2010/12/02/why-the-terrorists-can-never-win/

internal security – the age-old cry of the oppressor

The one use of “necessary” and “security” in the same sentence by government that I am not afraid of is this one:
“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”


hat tip to Blue Collar Muse

My mouth cant begin to stop watering

Hat tip to Uncle for the Meat Creche Scene.
http://www.saysuncle.com/2010/12/01/so-awesome/

Also, Brigid has a new bacon choc chip cookie recipe.
http://mausersandmuffins.blogspot.com/2010/11/bacon-launch-sequence.html

My winter diet* is going to be tough this year. sigh

*I attempt every winter, with varying levels of success, to maintain my weight between Dec 1 and April 1. Its very easy for me to pack on lbs with comfort food once the snow falls.  Seeing as how I have gained 20 lbs over the last two years snacking with my two year old Boy, my winter diet becomes ever more important. My daughter wants me to lose the 20 lbs before her birthday (April 2011), but losing weight during the winter does not come natural for this mammal. We'll see.

Bernanke Action Figure

You too can throw money away like its nothing!

One other economy related post

Oh BTW, if you haven't seen this, you should watch it. Its 7 minutes or so, but it explains the Feds money policies very clearly for anyone who is confused. Basically it boils down to Goldman Sachs is putting us all in the poor house and loving every minute of their control.

That whooshing sound....

Ross Perot had his "sucking sound" to describe job lass with NAFTA, I hear a "whooshing sound" as every price around me seems to be shooting up, especially food. Hope you've put away some tangibles like canned fruits and veggies for this winter, I have a feeling the prices will get worse before they get better and you cant go too long on vitamin supplements alone.
Giant Eagle has 20 cans of veggies for ten dollars, I'm stocking up myself before I cant afford to eat peas with my dinner and put pineapple on my pizza. Hate to be all doom and gloom, but just read one too many articles about the coming inflation tidal wave.
Well, hold on for the ride and stay warm this winter,

Posts have been lagging

OK, you got me, I got a new job and I've been focusing my energies on that. I think the InterWebz will be fine without me.  :)

Thought for the week

You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.
--Sir Winston Churchill

Phase out the dollar bill

Call your congressman and say you want the dollar bill phased out!
In this time of economic trouble, we need to look to the government to spend money where it is needed and chop it off where it isn't. We don't NEED one dollar bills, we just like them and we are creatures of habit. We could save 7 Billion dollars over the first ten years if we phased out dollar bills and then save even more the next ten years since the coins lasts for decades and the minting of dollar coins would slow to a crawl, kind of a maintenance level, eventually. We could likely save close to $12 billion dollars the second decade alone. I know people get jaded when they hear the debt is in trillions and here I am talking about Billions, but you start cutting 12 Billion Dollars here and there, and pretty soon you get a government in DC that can figure its way out of this morass.
Check out this BBC story for more info

Call your congressman and say you want the dollar bill phased out! The 1$ Coin Act of 1997 was a good start, but now we need DC to go all the way and phase it out. I know from travel in Canada, Mexico and the EU, they dont even print a $5 bill either.  If we assume similar rates of return VS the $1 phaseout, we could save ~$36 Billion dollars over the first 20 years by switching the $1 and $5 bills to coinage.

Personally I use my debit card for everything and don't carry cash money, but when I do, I carry the $1 coin, I put my money where my mouth is...literally.

My review of underwear...yeah..underwear

See orgininal post here

Uncle,


gotta agree with you, those boxers rock. Might be TMI, but I’m wearing a pair right now. I picked a couple up a year or so ago and wore them on a 5 day backpacking/kayaking trip and was very pleased. They hold your junk comfortably, they wick away moisture and they are just a lil slippery to avoid any kind of motion rash while hiking. I now own bout 7 pairs. They are expensive, but I find good deals at places like campmor and sierra trading post from time to time. I also recommend their nomad pants as they have many of the same qualities for hiking, etc. While I’m at it, I will say I have thrown out all my cotton socks and replaced them with more expensive “whicking” socks from addidas and others. Trust me, when your feet and family jewels are dry and comfortable, life is good.

As for the wearing them for more than one day, I do rinse and dry before wearing them again, hence the two pairs for the 5 day trip. I carry an extra nalgene bottle on top of my pack, attached via a caribiner, and put yesterdays socks and underwear in there with some water and camp soap. They get washed as the water rocks back and forth during the days hike. Take ‘em out at the end of the day and hang them up in your tent, near the fire, whatever, and they are nice and dry and ready for you the next morning. Modern fabrics are a wonderful thing….

Now that I have done a review of underwear and socks, and how to do your laundry, I’m going to go do something manly like kill a bear with a knife or maybe eat a cheeseburger…

Sounds about right.

You are 10% hippie.

Ok, you conservative soul. Do you even believe in global warming? Loosen that necktie a little, and try some organic food. It actually does taste better. And go to a farmer's market--they're fun.

Are you a hippie?
Take More Quizzes

I write like....really?

I'm ok with this....I actually enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale, but it was the only one her books I have ever read...have to look at some others I guess....

I write like
Margaret Atwood

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Recipe for Arroz can Pollo???

Anyone have a good recipe for arroz can pollo? I fell in love with it in Yucatan, Mexico, but all the recipes I find come out like a chicken and rice bog. Need a recipe and prep directions for the real thing.

Notes from the Box O' Truth

Found this funny,
Lessons learned:


1. Sheetrock (drywall) doesn't slow any round down much. If you shoot in the house, walls will not stop any serious round.



2. Twelve pine boards will not stop a .223 round.



3. Shooting stuff is fun.

Are you prepared?

Orange and Red are won before the battle even begins. Inlife when you get lemons, you should already have the sugar and water waiting to make lemonade. Spending a lot of time feeling sorry for yourself, especially if you have a family, isn't an option for long. You have to pick yourself up, fight back however you can and move on. If you lose your job, find another one, even if you don't like it. If you or someone you love has a medical setback, suck it up and pray for the best. We can't always be in control, but we can always control how we respond. Spend five minutes thinking about scenarios like this, or at least admit they could happen, and you're developing the mental flexability needed to help you survive and thrive.

Again, Col. Cooper's notes on the color scheme below are gun specific, thats what he did and thats who he was. But these ideas can be wrapped around anything. Give it a try. He who plans ahead has won the battle before it is even fought.

Orange - Specific alert. Something not quite right has gotten your attention and you shift your primary focus to that thing. Something is "wrong" with a person or object. Something may happen. Your mindset is that "I may have to shoot that person." Your pistol is usually holstered in this state. You can maintain this state for several hours with ease, or a day or so with effort.




Red - Fight trigger. This is your mental trigger. "If that person does "x" I will shoot them." Your pistol may, but not necessarily, be in your hand.

Are you prepared?

We should all be aware that economies, globally, nationally, and locally, are not what we would want them to be. Keep yourself aware. There may be no specific threat to you, but you should at least keep your eyes open and be on the lookout for issues. A lost job, a sudden medical emergency or a family member who has lost everything showing up at your door looking for help; how would these affect your day to day life?

Yellow - Relaxed alertness. No specific threat situation. Your mindset is that "today could be the day I may have to defend myself." There is no specific threat but you are aware that the world is an unfriendly place and that you are prepared to do something if necessary. You use your eyes and ears, and your carriage says "I am alert." You don't have to be armed in this state but if you are armed you must be in yellow. When confronted by something nasty your reaction will probably be, "I thought this might happen some day." You can live in this state indefinitely.

Weeds in the garden

OK, I am controlling the weeds for the most part and the plants look healthy, but damn if these rabitts aren't driving me crazy. Gonna have to set out some snares since I cant watch the thing 24/7. Rabbit stew anyone?
The fence I put up this year has held back the deer better than any previous year, but man the rabbits are tricky lil buggers.

Are you prepared?

Condition White
White - Relaxed, unaware, and unprepared. If attacked in this state the only thing that may save you is the inadequacy and ineptitude of your attacker. When confronted by something nasty your reaction will probably be, "Oh my God! This can't be happening to me."

Now when Col. Jeff Cooper made this system of levels of awareness popular he was talking about personal safety and possible physical injury.

I'm asking this, though; Are you paying attention to the news? Do you see how the economy is slipping towards the unknown? Does it bother you that our society is falling apart, women and children are killed every day, banks fail, businesses lay off thousands, state and local governments can't pay their bills?

Do you think this all exists in a vacuum, or do you think this will eventually impact your life if its hasn't already?

Wake up, and at least get to Condition Yellow 

Are you prepared?

I am going to post a few notes over the next few days on my thoughts on how the factors for preparedness contribute for and against your mindset for what is necessary in life. Not just talking about natural emergencies, social unrest, muggings and some such, I'm talking about how to get yourself out of the habit of being in what Col. Jeff Cooper called "Condition White". Its called paying attention, and we're going to chat about how important it is in daily life.

Some of the factors contributing to preparedness include:



1. Subject pays attention to the news

2. Subject is aware of and concerned about socio-environmental threats

3. Subject has personal experience with disasters, disorder, emergencies, etc.

4. Subject has children in the home

5. Subject has strong community ties (church, civic organizations, neighborhood watch, etc.)

Prepared

"Prepared is good. Unprepared is for losers. Know it." - American musician and philosopher Ted Nugent, in a July 2010 essay, Self Evident Nuge.

Funny story of the month

For anyone who has ever been at a "country range", which usually consists of an old quarry or field out in the middle of nowhere, this story of the Army in Korea and their range fun should make you weep with laughter.

Enjoy!

Thought for the week

Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor Liberty to purchase power.
Benjamin Franklin

Its important to remember that as times get bad, good men don't.

If anyone is actually paying attention, I have been on vacation for the past week or so, posts will resume their boring monotony soon.  :)

Funniest Web Site Ever

I literally spewed beverage on my keyboard, multiple times, reading the back history of the term "Mall Ninja".

Germans get to the point

Read this in the manual for the HK USP, it made me smile, thought I would share.

CAUTION: This pistol has been developed by capable and experienced engineers.

Its present design represents an optimization of a combination of safety,
speed of deployment, accuracy, dependability, and durability.

Do not attempt to make this pistol “better” by altering any of its components.

Guest Article- The Swiss Federal Schützenfest (Shooting Party) 2010

Swing on over to the Firearms Blog, for a cool article about one of the worlds largest shooting competitions.

Arm yourself and remain vigilant

We're going to see a lot more of this before it gets better!

Ashtabula County: Judge tells residents to "Arm themselves"

Ashtabula County Common Pleas Judge Alfred Mackey was asked what residents should do to protect themselves and their families with the severe cutback in law enforcement.

"Arm themselves," the judge said. "Be very careful, be vigilant, get in touch with your neighbors, because we're going to have to look after each other."

Full story below.

Jeff Maynor

JEFFERSON -- In the ongoing financial crisis in Ashtabula County, the Sheriff's Department has been cut from 112 to 49 deputies.  With deputies assigned to transport prisoners, serve warrants and other duties, only one patrol car is assigned to patrol the entire county of 720 square miles.
"I did the best with what they (the county commissioners) gave me. If it wasn't enough, don't blame me, don't blame this department," said Sheriff Billy Johnson. 
Johnson said he is suing the commissioners to get a determination of whether he should use his limited budget to carry out obligations defined by law or put more patrol cars on the streets.
"I just can't do it anymore," he said. "I have to have the court explain to the commissioners and to me what my statutory duties are."
The Ashtabula County Jail has confined as many as 140 prisoners. It now houses only 30 because of reductions in the staff of corrections officers.
All told, 700 accused criminals are on a waiting list to serve time in the jail. 
Are there dangerous people free among the 700 who cannot be locked up?
"There probably are," Sheriff Johnson said, "but I'm telling you, any known violent criminal, we're housing them. We've got murderers in there."
Ashtabula County is the largest county in Ohio by land area. 

Ashtabula County Common Pleas Judge Alfred Mackey was asked what residents should do to protect themselves and their families with the severe cutback in law enforcement.

"Arm themselves," the judge said. "Be very careful, be vigilant, get in touch with your neighbors, because we're going to have to look after each other."

Ashtabula County gun dealers and firearms instructors tell WKYC their business has really picked up since the Sheriff's Department cutbacks began some months ago.
"That's exactly why they are coming, so that they can protect themselves," says Tracy Williams, a certified firearms instructor in Jefferson. "They don't feel that they are protected. They want to be able to protect themselves."
Williams says interest in his classes has doubled recently, and many of those coming are people who he would not normally expect to have interest in obtaining a concealed carry permit.
"And as far as him (Judge Mackey) telling you to arm yourselves and protect yourselves, you don't have any other option," Williams told WKYC. "We don't have the law enforcement out here to handle it right now."

Ashtabula County, where unemployment is higher than the state average, is asking voters to approve a one half per cent sales tax increase in May.
The tax hike would raise the tax in the county to seven percent.

Garden update

The heat and rain have been good for the garden so far, but its also been good for the weeds. Keeping them down is a non-stop battle at this point. At least the new fence is keeping the rabbits and deer out. Cant wait for fresh squash and zuchinni. The carrots and tomatoes are coming along nicely. Oddly enough my patch of onions that is outside of the garden fence that usually runs riot is nowhere to be seen; gophers?!
Better check for burrows before they find their way into the garden proper, raise beds or no.

Oh by the way, non-shocker of the week, the SCOTUS just said the 2nd Amendment applies over local and state laws, so all of those local and state gun restrictions; they are going bye bye.

More folks licensed to pack heat

Good article at MSNBC.com, which I don't normally find to be a gun friendly website. Check out the collection of pistols this guy keeps at work. And I thought having two in the glove compartment was a lot!

Boo-Hoo: Leftists, Media Cry Out Because Filibuster May Mean End of Unemployment Gravy Train

This article swiped from here

Q: When has spending money you don't have ever gotten you out of debt?



A: Never.



It's an unassailable fact, but ideologues such as Steve Benen and Matthew Yglesias can't seem to grasp such a simple concept, as they moan and wail because it appears a Republican filibuster may finally end the unending unemployment gravy train:

Democrats control 59 seats in the Senate but expect to lose the vote of Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), meaning they would need the votes of at least two Republicans to cross the 60-vote threshold.

The package includes tax breaks for businesses and individuals, as well as emergency support for millions of jobless workers who have exhausted their regular 26-week state benefits. Unless Congress acts, an estimated 900,000 people will have their checks cut off by the end of the month.
The filibuster has support because Republicans and Nelson understand that you can't keep plunging the country further into debt and expect to climb out of a recession. By stopping unemployment benefits, the Senate will force those lazy Americans enjoying "funemployment" to get off their backsides and get back to work.

I know that many long-term unemployed people have made a sincere effort to return to work, but I know for a fact that many haven't.

As everyone like anecdotes, I can mention the stories of one of my brother and my two brothers-in-law. My brother was in construction management, one of my brothers-in-law is in auto body shop management, and the other brother-in-law is a mid-level manager.

All three lost jobs within the past two years due to their companies facing economic woes. My brother immediately sent out resumes and spoke with industry contacts in his area, and was re-employed—working longer hours at less pay—within a month. With his work ethic, I suspect he be promoted once an opportunity becomes available.

My brother-in-law the body shop manager has gone through a string of layoffs in south Florida, but never was out of work for long because he was willing to compromise and take less than he thought he was worth to support his family. He even moved from Florida to North Carolina in pursuit of work opportunities, and seems to be making a good impression at his new shop.

My brother-in-law the middle-manager has been under-employed over a year. He works a part-time job and collects unemployment.

When he does get interviews, he torpedoes them. He recently told a perspective employer that what they were offering salary-wise wasn't good enough.

These anecdotes run true almost everywhere. Those who sincerely want to work and have the drive and marketable skills are working. Those who don't want to work are coasting off what the taxpayers will allow for as long as they can.

We can't keep subsidizing such people, and it isn't right to ask others who work hard to go deeper in debt to bail out those who won't work.

The Senate seems to grasp that.

Too bad liberals don't.

World Wide Debt Forgiveness

Now, I am a Libertarian, and a fiscal consevative. I pay my bills and I don't have a whole lot of sympathy for anyone who spends more than they bring in, even my extended family. That being said, we have a massive problem internationally that needs to be addressed.
The Global Debt burden is going to crash 1st world nation economies and stymie any growth from 2nd and 3rd world nations for generations. We have let dictators, elected thugs and non-governmental entities drive us to the brink of global economic collapse.
Now don't get me wrong. When this occurs I don't personally belive that zombies will rise from the dead or that the majority of the human population will die off, I have enough faith in the human race to know we'll find a new way to keep on moving. It will however cause a short term interruption in everything. Everything. That interruption could be days, weeks, months or even a few years. I'm talking food supplies, transportation, medicine delivery, schools, social programs, health care, etc etc etc. Think I'm kidding? Hospitals in California right now can't get companies to ship them band-aids b/c they are millions in arrears. African countries can't get the food they need, even the food they have paid to import, b/c shipping companies are going bankrupt and the ships just aren't available. Open your eyes, we're approaching an economic tipping point.

There is a way out.

A simple (notice I didnt say pain free) way to avoid what will surely be a rather nasty and brutish global economic experience will be to;
A: require all countries to sign a global treaty requiring their national budgets be balanced every year, much like all 50 of the United States have in their constitutions. No deficit spending, no borrowing sums you can only afford to pay the interest on, none of it. You can only spend what you have. Automatic and draconian sanctions against any country that does not live up to this treaty. I think the treaty should require World Bank monitoring and a constitutional amendment in every single country.

B: Forgive all international and NATIONAL debt. All of it. Tabula Rasa. Every country starts from square one, using their revenue from taxes, goods, tariffs, etc to finance their government. Every single US Saving Bond would become null and void. Greek bonds? Gone. Borrowing money from tomorrow to pay for todays government? Gone as well.

This is where the pain comes in. This means everyone who owns national bonds will now own nothing. There are persons and agencies that will falter or crash without their vast sums of now worthless paper. Sucks to be them. Nothing we can do for them.  A handout or "bailout" is possible from the country they live in, but only if said country can do it without going into debt itself and feels like they want to. Within the confines of the new treaty, it's their choice how they run their country.

The world will reset governmental debt and will start a new age of fiscal responsibility and an awareness that we are all in this mess together. We will save ourselves from economic ruin and have the grace to say, hey look, we're heading towards a cliff, lets work toegther to stop this runaway train.


This won't fix everything. Countries like the US and UK that have enormous liabilities for retirees, and other EU countries that have cradle to the grave welfare for their citizens will be hard pressed to continue those programs, even with burgeoning debt being erased. They will have to sit down with their citizens and explain that the rules have changed and they now have to live within budgets. It will be tough and it will be hard to get re-elected after this, but its the right thing to do. We've seen some of what could happen by looking at the Greek people's response to a very mild reduction in social welfare to help with their debt. The United States will no longer be able to afford 100 foreign military bases or 11 nuclear aircraft carrier groups. Shit happens, but we will get through this scenario far better than a global Great Depression II. On the plus side, Zimbabwe and Haiti might actually improve considerably.

 (wakes from dream)
Fat chance, I know.

My thoughts on the 25 Questions

So if you've read the 25 Questions I posted, by this time you should notice that any “recovery” that the U.S. economy is experiencing is illusory and will be quite temporary. The entire financial system of the United States (and the EU) is falling apart, and the powers that be can try to patch it up and prop it up for a while, but in the end this thing is going to come crashing down. Buy oil, gold, silver and wheat now while the fiat money is still accepted for purchases. You are going to need those physical investment items in order to fee yourself and your loved ones until we can get through the chaos of the crash and go back to a money that is linked to gold. The worst two thigns Richard Nixon ever did to this country were to open relations with China and to take us off the gold standard. The world is still reeling from both of those actions and it wont stop until we fix both of those problems. The one will be fixed by going back on the gold standard and the other will be fixed when we stop giving most favored nation trade status to a country that gives us a sharp stick to the eye everytime we point out the unfairness of their economy to American trade. Our economy will collapse, the worlds economies are collapsing now. We will all agree internationally to wipe away all soveriegn debt and start over with a clean slate, and this time, we will not base our economies on debt products. If we don't.....well, that road is too awful to even imagine.

Creekmore, Pick Me, ooh ooh, Pick Me!

M.D. Creekmore at The Survivalist Blog – a survival blog dedicated to helping others prepare for and survive disaster – with articles on bug out bag contents, survival knife choices and a wealth of other survival information is giving away a 1,000 round case of 9mm – 124 Grain FMJ (a $200 value – donated by LuckyGunner)! To enter, you just have to post about it on your blog. This is my entry. Visit The Survivalist Blog for the details.

25 Questions

#25) 1.41 million Americans filed for personal bankruptcy in 2009 – a 32 percent increase over 2008. Not only that, more Americans filed for bankruptcy in March 2010 than during any month since U.S. bankruptcy law was tightened in October 2005. So shouldn’t we at least wait until the number of Americans filing for bankruptcy is not setting new all-time records before we even dare whisper the words “economic recovery”?

25 Questions

#24) In March, the price of fresh and dried vegetables in the United States soared 49.3% - the most in 16 years. Is it a sign of a healthy economy when food prices are increasing so dramatically?

25 Questions

#23) Defaults on apartment building mortgages held by U.S. banks climbed to a record 4.6 percent in the first quarter of 2010. In fact, that was almost twice the level of a year earlier. Does that look like a good trend to you?

25 Questions

#22) Richard Russell, the famous author of the Dow Theory Letters, says that Americans should sell anything they can sell in order to get liquid because of the economic trouble that is coming. Do you think that Richard Russell is delusional or could he possibly have a point?

Arizona doesn't like Anchor Babies

Arizona is passing/passed a measure that would prevent children of illegal immigrants born in this country from receiving State of Arizona birth certificates. No proof of birth, fat chance getting citizenship later on when you grow up. I for one am not a Con scholar, but I will says this, the 14th Amendment allows some wiggle room here:

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

That jurisdiction bit does leave some room for discussion at the very least. Since their mom is here illegally, are they, the child, subject to the jurisdiction thereof, or are they citizens of the same foreign country as their mother? Arizona is saying they are foreign citizens and as such, should receive a record of live birth from their home country.

My family has only been in this country for about a 140 years, but at the time we did enter legally, it wasnt until after WWI, I believe, that immigration was cut down and set by quota. I think everyone else should come legally as well.

25 Questions

#21) The bottom 40 percent of those living in the United States now collectively own less than 1 percent of the nation’s wealth. So is Barack Obama’s mantra that “what is good for Wall Street is good for Main Street” actually true?

We're all going to die...from snake bites..or spiders....or scorpions

So it turns out that the FDA thinks the drug used in Mexico for coral snake bites is even better and safer then the one used in the US, and now that the US company has stopped making theirs, the FDA is willing to "expedite" the process for approval in human trials. This would cost $3-5 million dollars. Now, the drug has been used for years in Mexico ON PEOPLE. Couldnt we just have a sit down with the FDA and review the results of actual useage?
Because apparently the Mexican company says it would take them decades to make their money back from a $5 Million dollar approval process, which means...prepare to be shocked...they won't do it. The FDA is afraid of approving the drug without trials for fear of being sued.
The sole source of scorpion anti-venom just retired, thats right, it was one person in a lab. And spider AV is becoming scarce too.
Maybe we should start asking all these south border drug mules to sneak in some anti-venin with them.

Be careful in your gardens people. I suggest you do like me and write your congressman to get this fixed. Not approving the drug from Mexico is insane and will get people killed.

25 Questions

#20) One new poll shows that 76 percent of Americans believe that the U.S. economy is still in a recession. So are the vast majority of Americans just stupid or could we still actually be in a recession?

25 Questions

#19) Gallup’s measure of underemployment hit 20.0% on March 15th. That was up from 19.7% two weeks earlier and 19.5% at the start of the year. Do you think that is a good trend or a bad trend?

25 Questions

#18) The mayor of Detroit says that the real unemployment rate in his city is somewhere around 50 percent. So can the U.S. really be experiencing an economic recovery when so many are still unemployed in one of America’s biggest cities?

Happy Flag Day

Quote from The (other) Boy

Actually this wasn't my son (The Boy), it was my nephew. We were in a foot race over the weekend and he looks over as I pass him and says "hey you can't pass me, I'm winning this race!". Now I take no great pride in defeating a 5 year old boy in a foot race (I did give him a 25 yard head start in a 40 yard race and still beat him) but I do find it odd that this generation coming up has "entitlement" drilled into them so much, they simply cannot believe bad things can happen to them.
He pouted to the point his lower lip nearly fell off and so we had a do-over and I let him win. What are Uncles for, if not to further engender unreleastic outlooks on life. Much like the kids playing soccer who now lose, IF THEY SCORE MORE THAN THE OTHER TEAM

For the record, my father always beat me in foot races until I was in my early teens and I legitemately beat him. He then never raced me again to this day.  :)

Animal Attacks #2

Talon Thomas beat his attacker off, this poor lady got mauled until her neighbors came to help. I keep focusing on the fox stories since they are small and most people dont see them as a threat. Stay aware of your surroundings.

25 Questions

#17) 43 percent of Americans have less than $10,000 saved for retirement. Tens of millions of Americans find themselves just one lawsuit, one really bad traffic accident or one very serious illness away from financial ruin. With so many Americans living on the edge, how can you say that the economy is healthy?

25 Questions

#16) Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac recently told the U.S. government that they are going to need even more bailout money. So what does it say about the U.S. economy when the two “pillars” of the U.S. mortgage industry are government-backed financial black holes that the U.S. government has to relentlessly pour money into?

25 Questions

#15) Existing home sales in the United States jumped 7.6 percent in April. That is the good news. The bad news is that this increase only happened because the deadline to take advantage of the temporary home buyer tax credit (government bribe) was looming. So now that there is no more tax credit for home buyers, what will that do to home sales?

25 Questions

#14) The FDIC is backing 8,000 banks that have a total of $13 trillion in assets with a deposit insurance fund that is basically flat broke. So what do you think will happen if a significant number of small banks do start failing?

Animal Attacks

Animal attacks are on the rise, as can be seen in this story from England. Many more examples can be offered in supposedly "modern" countries, especially the United States.
More and more animals are moving into suburban and urban areas. Always keep your children safe and don't "assume" all will be well, even in their own room. In this instance mom left the backdoor open for some fresh air and a fox wandered in, went upstairs and mauled the two twin infants in their beds. A screen door for $75, or a well maintained fence would have saved the entire family a lifetime of grief.
Do a walk around of your house and property, and look for evidence of local animals passing through. Protecting your children is 90% offense and only 10% defense. Think ahead, plan ahead and keep the lil' ones safe.

25 Questions

#13) The FDIC’s list of problem banks recently hit a 17-year high. Do you think that an increasing number of small banks failing is a good sign or a bad sign for the U.S. economy?

Total Suckage...or a lack thereof

So I'm on a call in my basement office and suddenly I hear an unusual alarm go off. Its not a smoke detector, its not my CO detector, not my Radon detector, all of which I have heard go off from time to time. Yep, its the H2O detector I put next to the water heater and sump pump years ago and forgot about. I dont even know when the last time was I replaced that battery. But since apparently the water finishes the electrical circuit, a 9 volt battery last a long time in one of those.
So, I turn the corner and see a 1/2 inch wall of water spreading out quite rapidly from the sump. The pump failed, hence the "lack of suckage" from the title. After jerry rigging the pump to run continously (it was the sensor that failed, so I pulled it apart and hot wired it. I don't recommend doing impromptu wiring on a water submersible pump, but hey, it worked and I didnt die) I ran to the hardware store about 2 miles away and bought a new pump and hurried the hell home. After about 20 minutes I had the old pump out, the new pump in and all was right with the world. Its been raining here almost every day for 5 weeks. Can't wait for monsoon season to be over.....
Makes me want to get a battery backup spare sump pump....

25 Questions

#12) Monstrous amounts of oil continue to gush freely into the Gulf of Mexico, and analysts are already projecting that the seafood and tourism industries along the Gulf coast will be devastated for decades by this unprecedented environmental disaster. In light of those facts, how in the world can anyone project that the U.S. economy will soon be stronger than ever?

25 Questions

#11) According to one new report, the U.S. national debt will reach 100 percent of GDP by the year 2015. So is that a sign of economic recovery or of economic disaster?

There is an AR accessory for everything it seems

What in the world? an AR Upper that is a ......crossbow?
http://www.shootingillustrated.com/Gear/Accessories/PSE_TAC-15.html

25 Questions

#10) The U.S. Treasury Department recently announced that the U.S. government suffered a wider-than-expected budget deficit of 82.69 billion dollars in April. So is the fact that the red ink of the U.S. government is actually worse than projected a good sign or a bad sign?

25 Questions

#9) Considering the fact that the U.S. government is projected to have a 1.6 trillion dollar deficit in 2010, and considering the fact that if you went out and spent one dollar every single second it would take you more than 31,000 years to spend a trillion dollars, how can anyone in their right mind claim that the U.S. economy is getting healthier when we are getting into so much debt?

Food for thought - Peak Oil

I'm not sure where I come out on the Peak Oil theory most days, depends on my mood and what I've most recently read. I have the feeling that we'll figure this one out somehow. One journal article I recently read though caught my eye. Instead of debatintg peak oil, it just asks, "Ok, what if..?".
It looks at test cases of societies that have all experienced at least a 20% reduction in petro imports. Its a harrowing look at the 4 major options of what will happen.
1: Your military will seize the remaining oil resources needed for your country.  (US and China are listed as the most likely to follow this role, Japan in 1931-1945 is the example)
2: Your elites will clamp down on everyday Joes and lots of people will go hungry and not have electricity. (North Korea, Latin American Pseudo-democracies, etc)
3:  You will all find a way to live together in harmony, with lesser reources and live happily with fewer calories. (Cuba after the Soviet Collapse)
4: Their will be winners and losers in a large country, so areas with resources will prosper other will crash. (The Southern US after the Civil War is listed as an example)
5: High % of population dies, Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling! Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes... The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria! (ok, #5 wasn't actually in there, I just added that as an homage to Ghostbusters)

But the idea I took most to heart was this:

In the event of peak oil,we should not expect

either immediate collapse or a smooth transition. People do not
give up their lifestyle easily.We should expect painful adaptation
processes that may last for a century or more.

Let me repeat...
painful adaptation processes that may last for a century or more.

That sucks.

Friedrichs, J.,Global energy crunch: How different parts of the world would react to a peak oil scenario.

Energy Policy(2010), doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2010.04.011

25 Questions

#8) In March, the U.S. trade deficit widened to its highest level since December 2008. Month after month after month we buy much more from the rest of the world than they buy from us. Wealth is draining out of the United States at an unprecedented rate. So is the fact that the gigantic U.S. trade deficit is actually getting bigger a good sign or a bad sign for the U.S. economy?

RIP Ranger Squirrel

Ranger Squirrel, a blog I enjoy reading, is no more.   Seems the Ranger wants to retire and he isn't going to pay for the site to be maintained past July 3rd, so if you have never read the eclectic musings, do so quickly this month, theres a lot of good stuff there.

I salute you Ranger, and wish you the best.
Sean

25 Questions

#7) But it just isn’t California that is in trouble. Dozens of U.S. states are in such bad financial shape that they are getting ready for their biggest budget cuts in decades. What do you think all of those budget cuts will do to the economy?

How not to exit a helicopter

Israeli commandos have taught us an important lesson, do not exit a helicopter straight into a mob of angry people with stick and knives. I'll keep that in mind for exiting any vehicle actually.....

25 Questions

#6) Do you think that it is a good sign that Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of the state of California, says that “terrible cuts” are urgently needed in order to avoid a complete financial disaster in his state?

3 items in the news....

OK, three things have caught my attention in the news:
1. You now have to say you are being silent, if you are invoking your right to silence when being mirandized. Excuse me, but if I don't say I'm being silent and I don't say anything else at all, what exactly are you going to hold against me in a court of law? My being silent? Can I be charged with non-cooperation if I just don't say anything? Seems like an odd thing to rule about, you can bet I will be reading the full case asap. Mind now, anytime an officer has pulled me over I've had trouble shutting my mouth...much less being silent....

2. Nearly 20 flags (does that mean 19?) were burned in Ohio on Memorial Day weekend
One suspect was later arrested according to my drive time radio yesterday and was quoted as saying he was utilizing his right to Free Speech. Lt. Greg Bolek (of the local po-po) says he faces possible criminal damaging and arson charges since THE FLAGS BELONG TO THE LOCAL ROTARY CLUB. You can burn flags in the US under your First Amendment rights. You just have to own the flag to avoid going to jail, dumbass.

3. The Federal Government has asked that all of the states rights movement firearm freedom acts be thrown out under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution. They say that having these weapons manufactured and sold without Federal oversight will affect inter-state commerce.
And by that they mean, there will be less inter-state commerce b/c of these states actions. So now, the Feds are saying they can regulate everything that is interstate commerce and ANYTHING THAT AFFECTS UP OR DOWN THE VOLUME OF SAID COMMERCE? Thats a pretty bold claim to be making. Me thinks we should sit back and watch the fireworks in court and see how this plays out.

BTW, the Firearms Acts arent the only States Rights issue hitting the news, Arizona's Governor has now publicly told Pres. Obama "Bring it on" as far as challenging in court the States right to pass a law that is a MIRROR OF FEDERAL LAW! Sheesh people, Eric Holder can't be bothered to read the Arizona law, and Obama doesn't even understand that he is bound by the same law at a federal level. What are these guys doing when they aren't on vacation/golfing? Obviously not picking up a law book.....

25 questions

#5) With the U.S. Congress planning to quadruple oil taxes, what do you think that is going to do to the price of gasoline in the United States and how do you think that will affect the U.S. economy?

Memorial Day

May they never be forgotten; all those who served, especially those who never came home.

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

"I wasn't born here. But I have a love for this country and its people that knows no bounds. I will forever be grateful to America for going into World War II, when it had nothing to gain, in a country that was far away... and rescued my mother from the Nazi German Concentration Camps. She is alive and I am alive because of America. And, if you have a problem with America, you have a problem with me".

Gene Simmons, Bassist and Vocalist, KISS

25 Questions

#4) How can the U.S. real estate market be considered healthy when, for the first time in modern history, banks own a greater share of residential housing net worth in the United States than all individual Americans put together?

25 Questions

#3) The Mortgage Bankers Association just announced that more than 10 percent of U.S. homeowners with a mortgage had missed at least one payment in the January-March period. That was a record high and up from 9.1 percent a year ago. Do you think that is an indication that the U.S. housing market is recovering?

Egg Making Factory

Check out this page for an "instant" chicken coop, it sure looks better than the handbuilt one I had as a kid, but not sure that makes it any better....

25 Questions

#2) According to RealtyTrac, foreclosure filings were reported on 367,056 properties in the month of March. This was an increase of almost 19 percent from February, and it was the highest monthly total since RealtyTrac began issuing its report back in January 2005. So can you please explain again how the U.S. real estate market is getting better?

Pirates, Robots and probably noodly goodness

I'm sure the FSM would approve.

Ramen.

25 Questions

Today I will start asking the first of 25 questions to ask you whether or not you feel the US Economy is recovering as the Government says.

#1) In what universe is an economy with 39.68 million Americans on food stamps considered to be a healthy, recovering economy? In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts that enrollment in the food stamp program will exceed 43 million Americans in 2011. Is a rapidly increasing number of Americans on food stamps a good sign or a bad sign for the economy?

Laughing as you sink

Everyone should watch this video to get a feel for how bad the world economy is right now......

Yikes!!

Thought for the week

In actuality, when “God closes a door,” he often epoxies the window shut, also.

Thought for the week

The 2nd Amendment, Washington didn't use his right to free speech to defeat the British, he shot them.

The Queen and her Purse

I'm not a big follower of British anything, but I did read an article about the change of power over there. I think its all rather civilized how the old PM resigns to the Queen right after the election results are tallyed, none of this lame duck president business we have in the states.

But, the point of my post today is I thought it funny that in the picture, in her private drawing room in her palace, the Queen of England, the worlds richest woman, has a golden chair, could one even say throne?, that holds her purse.  :)

See pic below of her meeting the new prime minister.

I find it funny that A: she carries a purse at all, since one would think she could have a servant carry anything she needs and B: she seems to carry it around the palace with her as she goes room to room. I tend to leave my wallet in a wooden box on a shelf by the door to the garage and dont carry it around the house, but then my house doesnt have 200 rooms, either.

The "golden throne" just made me laugh out loud.

You cant wear the US flag.....in the Peoples Republik of Kalifornia

Apparently a few youths were sent from from school in Kalifornia yesterday b/c they chose to wear shirts with the American Flag on them. The school said the boys were going to cause problems since it was the 5th of May, a big holiday for the state of Puebla, Mexico and widely celebrated in the US. This is ridiculous, and I have to ask out loud if the Asst Principal who sent them home wasn't named Miguel Rodriguez would this have even occurred? The school board has since issued a statement saying they do not support the actions of the Asst Principal. Its a sad day when American Citizens children are sent home from school for wearing T-shirts with the American flag on them. I encourage all citizens of the Peoples Republik of Kalifornia to move east to another state as soon as possible.

In all deference and respect to Mexico, a country I actually love to visit (I lived there for close to a year in the mid 90's while attending school in Merida, Yucatan), the 5th of May is not widely celebrated in Mexico, but mainly in the United States by immigrants looking for a celebration of their culture. Much as St. Patricks Day is a holiday for excess amongst the Irish-Americans and back home in Ireland it's a day to go to Mass, Cinco de Mayo is far more celebrated in the US, then it is in Mexico, where they celebrate Independence Day as their big national pride holiday. See more information at a wiki here

One other note, I have to say that usually I lean towards celebrating Cinco De Mayo since it does involve someone giving the French a beating. All kidding aside, I do love the historical French, the ones whose troops outnumbered the US Troops they were allied with during some battles and naval engagements during the War of 1812. Its the current French who only want to sell military arms to anyone with arms to hold them and money to buy them that drive me nuts.

Only in Texas

The Governor shoots a coyote on his morning jog and just leaves it where he shot it. In Ohio the Governor would have PETA down his throat in 5 minutes. In Texas no one even noticed. God Bless Texas.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36812563/ns/us_news/

You Are Doomed! :)

Fire Tornado!

Thought for the week

When they tell you not to panic.....
that's when you run.

And you thought 12G buckshot was cool....

This is going into production for the US Army and others. Its a pump action grenade launcher. Ain't this country great? We can't balance the budget or figure out what to do with terrorists, but man can we engineer some fancy munitions.

More Geek humor

Another geek humor bit, I once did this on an HP, except mine said 'Insert Coin' as in the pic below.  ;)
Really great for the office around the beginning of April.

Rabbit Stew Redux

I am re-posting this recipe mainly because I feel like it. ;) Its a favorite and I bought a couple of nice juicy kits today and I plan on making this for dinner. Have you cooked a favorite recipe lately??

Ingredients:

* 1 or 2 rabbits (3-4 months old are best)
* Salt, pepper and paprika to taste
* 1 c. sour cream
* 1 c. cream of mushroom soup
* 1/4 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
* 2 green onions - diced
* 2 carrots - chopped (don't peel, just wash)
* 6 medium potatoes - chopped (don't peel, just wash)
* 2 parsnips - chopped (don't peel, just wash)

Preparation:
Season cut up meat. Mix sour cream, soup and Worcestershire sauce. Add onions, carrots, potatoes and parsnips. Cook in crock pot on low for 8-9 hours. Always better the second day. Goes great with corn bread (as if anything doesn't).

Gardening 2010 Update

Mulching
Mulch your garden after planting.
Mulch conserves moisture, cools the
soil, and protects against water runoff
and erosion. Organic mulches such
as shredded bark need to be topped
off every couple of years as the mulch
decays. Mulches such as crushed
stone are more permanent, but they
do not improve your soil over time.

Neat Hummingbird Hat

Feed hummingbirds from your face, neat video on youtube.
Video is here

Gardening 2010

Found this site, really great info on how to plant a raised bed garden, when to plant which crops and what to cycle in after them. Get outside and plant something!

Gardening 2010 Update

Edging
Beds and borders are easier to
maintain if they’re edged to keep
surrounding grass or weeds from
growing in. Choose plastic, metal,
stone, or brick—whatever you prefer.
If you have lawn around your bed,
consider adding a 6- to 12 inch-wide
swath of masonry or stone set even
with the surrounding soil to act as a
mowing strip.

Gardening 2010 Update

Create the Bed
To lay out your bed, use a garden hose to mark the outline. (Sprinkle flour along the hose for a temporary
mark.). Using a sharp spade, dig along the marked line to set the edge of your bed.
If the spot is currently covered by lawn, remove the sod using a straight-edged shovel or sod cutter. To make
this easier, wet the area thoroughly, then use the shovel to cut the lawn into strips that are the width of the
shovel and about 3 feet long. (Sharpen the edge of your shovel frequently with a file.) Use the shovel to pry
up and roll back the strips of sod. Once the sod is removed, loosen the underlying soil with a shovel or a
power tiller.
Regardless of how you prepare your bed, use this opportunity to mix in organic matter (such as compost,
peat moss, or rotted manure) and loosen the soil at least 6 inches deep. Don’t mix in fertilizer unless your
soil test shows a need; in general, excessive amounts of fertilizer will do more harm than good.
After your bed is prepared, water it thoroughly and wait a week. This will allow weed seeds to germinate. Pull
these seedlings or dig them back into the soil. Or spray them with an herbicide. Follow the instructions on the
packaging, including the time to wait after application before planting.

Gardening 2010 Update

Preparation is the key to creating a garden that will offer a lifetime of pleasure. Before you head to the
nursery, review all garden plan materials. Ask yourself the following questions:
• Do I have a suitable spot for this plan?
• Do I have the right growing conditions? Check the plant list to see if the plan will do
best in sun, part shade, or full shade. Be sure the plants are suited to your USDA Zone.
• Do I need to amend my soil? Most plants thrive in moist but well-drained soil. If you have soil
with lots of sand or clay, amend it liberally with lots of organic matter, such as compost.
• Is my soil’s pH and fertility okay? If you’re unsure, inquire about testing at your county’s
extension service office. Follow the recommendations that come with your test results if you need to
correct the soil’s pH (how acid or alkaline the soil is) or fertility.

Pistol to a long gun fight

If you do indeed have only a pistol at your command when confronted with long gun opponents, I would suggest one with a few....upgrades. I count at LEAST 4 NFA upgrades for a total of $800 in taxes and probably a year or more in waiting time for BATF approval.  ;)
It may be hard to put in your holster, but it will definitely spice up your after action report.

Thought for the week

A pistol is for come-as-you-are gunfights; if one has time to dress for the affair, one should perhaps consider something with a shoulder stock.
I prefer the Robinson Armaments fine XCR-L in 5.56 NATO with an EOTech 5.12 myself.

Things you need to do to prepare for emergencies

 Things you need to do to prepare for emergencies:

1. A plan for water that you have practiced is the FIRST thing any newbie needs before prepping anything else. All other considerations are secondary.

2. A gun. It doesn't matter what kind, but an ancient flintlock isn't going to be as useful as a semi-auto Ruger 10/22 in .22LR, so use some common sense.

3. Food. Get what you eat. Get lots of it. Now go buy some more. This isn't rocket science, you know what you will and won't eat and you know how much storage space you have that can be kept close to 68F year round (the garage attic is a poor storage area for food). Buy some food so you have energy to gather water.

4. Seeds, a shovel, hoe, rake and a garden hose.

5. Write everything down and share it with your closest family and confidants (you might be killed in the opening moments of the crisis and if your family doesn't know the basement is full of preps, well.... it won't be pretty for them).

6. Get a hobby that involves making something useful. Can be something simple like matches or something hard like building steam engines from iron ore. Mine is making shoes. May sound odd as a hobby, but I can damn sure make money off of it in a pinch and feed my family.

7. Do yourself a favor, even in a short term Katrina style disaster or a tornado, try not to panic. Panic kills.

Has to be a southern town....oommmmnamanamanam

funny

5 Best Herbs to Repel Deer (and maybe rabbits)

Surround your garden with these and they will at least slow the deer down. Mint works as well, but next year all you will have is mint, its kind of the japanese yakuza of herbs.
1. Lavender, my #1 recommended, Deer hate it.
2. Russian Sage, grows very tall (4-5 feet), great for next to bean trellis or corn.
3. Bee Balm, great for planting next to squash and other low lying vegetables.
4. Yarrow, deer dislike the taste and it has medicinal purposes. I believe blow dart poison is made from a South American yarrow plant. Hmmm, deer, blow darts....ideas....
5. Rosemary. Deer hate it, but it needs to be babied in a pot or container, so place it around the garden as you see fit to battle deer hot spots.

Some of these will repel rabbits, but I depend on a good wire fence and a 22LR for them.

Thought of the week

"I am the Sword of my Family and Shield of my Nation. If sent, I will crush everything you have built, burn all that you love, and kill every one of you" - unknown

If pushed into a corner, it is best that you know yourself and what you will do to defend your nation, your family, your home, etc.
Think about it now so that later is is merely a foregone conclusion. To be caught tripping over your thoughts in a crisis has allowed the crisis to win at the very start. Get prepared mentally before you spend time preparing anything else.

Tax Day and The Boy's birthday

So I have mixed feelings about this particular date, I owe the state about $300 but its also the day 'The Boy' came into my life. All in all, I think The Boy wins out and outweighs the bad by a considerable margin.
Happy Birthday Son.

Love Daddy

Paid my state taxes, ugh

Seems like no matter what sort of refund I get from the Federal Govt, the state stills wants a couple of hundred bucks. Well, I always wait until the next to last minute, no reason to pay early I figure.

Thought for the week

Odd, I don't see any lemons.....

This is Geek funny, sorry if you don't get the humor

This site has a pic of a car that has a SQL injection attack on its bumper to screw with traffic cameras.
As someone who has been hit with a 'remote controlled' ticket, I applaud their ingenuity.

The basics for any emergency

Beans, Bullets, Books and Band-Aids (I would throw in some water storage, but hey...)

Baked Mac and Cheese

When I was growing up, I always looked forward to any church gathering (hell even the odd funeral even) because I knew that somewhere on the potluck food table would be at least one (and probably five) casserole dishes of baked mac and cheese. The annual Spring, Summer and Fall church picnics were never miss events in my social calendar, prompting many to consider me 'such a devout child'. It was all about the Mac and Cheese and I am sure Jesus understands. At the time, since my mother never made this delicious dish, I called it in my head 'Church Mac and Cheese' since it differed so radically from the Kraft Mac and Cheese we ate out of the blue box at home. It never occurred to me this could be made at home until years later when I was living on my own (I am a little slow sometimes, e.g. I never noticed 'The Muppet Movie' was a musical until about the dozenth time I watched it, something my wife shakes her head at when I mention since she knows I love all the songs from that pic) and it took me a while to master the recipe and to perfectly copy the ooey, gooey goodness so easily made by those lovely blue haired ladies at church. The secret to the crunchy shell of cheese is the second addition of cheese halfway through the cooking. This is perfect for a potluck at work, church or anywhere else, but I prefer to have it all for me, so I make it for the family and enjoy!

  

 

 

Ingredients

• 1 (12 ounce) package macaroni
• 1 egg
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese mild
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups cups shredded Cheddar cheese sharp

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 2-quart baking dish.
2. In a large pot of salted water, lightly boil the macaroni for about 5 minutes until half-cooked.
3. Whisk the egg and milk together in a large cup. Add butter and mild cheese to the egg and milk. Stir well.
4. Place the lightly cooked macaroni in the prepared baking dish. Pour the egg and cheese liquid over the macaroni, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and stir well. Press the mixture evenly around the baking dish.
5. Bake covered by aluminum foil, for 20 to 30 minutes.
6. Uncover, pour on the two cups of shredded sharp cheese, evenly. Cook for 10 to 20 minutes uncovered, or until top is brown.

Thought for the week

"We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." - Winston Churchill

Have you thought about what this actually means and have you considered how lucky we have been to live in a country that has enjoyed stability since virtually 1865?

Happy Birthday to my loving wife

It seems another year has rolled around my dear and I still can't take my eyes off of you. Here's hoping this year is your best one yet!
Love
ME

What won't they bling next?

A picture is worth a thousand words, so I'm done typing.