And Baby Makes Nine.

Hello, Brigid.

Happy Birthday.

Your mother and I have been waiting for you to arrive.

Welcome home.

Election Day

Benny Napoleon is running for Mayor of Detroit.  He is making the case that until Detroit has a "Law and Order" mayor, a mayor who understands public safety, Detroit will continue to have lots of murders.  Benny is the former police chief for Detroit PD and Wayne County Sheriff.

I can't believe that Benny can say such symbolically racist things as a political candidate.

Benny Napoleon:  Symbolic Racist

I agree that public safety should be important to Detroit citizens.

I guess that makes me a symbolic racist too.

UPDATE:   I've been informed that since Benny has some melanin, he is incapable of being racist, symbolically or otherwise.  Only those without significant levels of melanin can be racist.  How this theory isn't racist itself, has yet to be explained.

UPDATE II:  Mike Duggan has won the mayoral race.  Good luck, Mike.  Hopefully you can help turn around Detroit.

UPDATE III:  Mike Duggan stated that his first priority is reducing response times for emergency calls.  Well Benny,  it seems like Mr. Duggan has the right idea.  Response times for priority one calls is now averaging 11 minutes.  Let's see what happens in six months.

Own a Gun = You're a racist! Symbolically of course.

This is what passes for science?

A published study by K. Obrien, W. Forrest, D. Lynott and M. Daly, has some wonderful statements of "science."  Below are direct pull quotes from their study.

1. "The public health importance of gun reform in the US is clear..."

Really, gun control is a public health issue?  Inanimate objects do not affect public health. Behavior does, smarty pants.

2. "Blacks are disproportionately represented in US firearm homicides...and would benefit most from improved gun controls."

The authors have not studied Chicago and D.C.  365 homicides in Chicago alone this year.  These communities have some of the strictest gun control in the nation, yet remain some of the most violent.

3. "..measures of explicit and implicit racism measures predicted opposition to Obama's health reform.."

Is it safe to assume, that measures of explicit and implicit misogyny measures predicted opposition to Hillary's attempted health reform in the '90s?   It's never about the policy.

4. "There is substantial evidence that whites associate blacks with crime, and especially violent crime." 

See FBI statistics here.  Blacks accounted for 37.9 percent of murders in 2012, 37.7 percent in 2011, and 38.2 percent in 2010.  Blacks account for 13.1 percent of the population per the 2012 census.

The authors think this is evidence of a racist mindset, I'd say the data tell the story.

5. "...conservative ideologies and racism are inherently related..."

Nothing footnoted on this statement.  Unsubstantiated charge that everyone just knows is true, right?  I mean everyone just knows that conservatives are racist.

6. "...simply owning a firearm may lead whites to develop more negative attitudes towards blacks..."

That's right, guns are so evil, just owning one may twist your white mind and make you hate blacks.  No word on how gun ownership affects those of Hispanic or Latino descent.  Again nothing in the study backs this statement up.

7. "There is some experimental research showing that participants who have recently held a firearm produce enhanced salivary testosterone levels and display increased aggression toward others."

Not only does the gun twist your mind to hate blacks, it will turn you into a drooling rage monster.

I saw this the day it was published (Halloween).  I noted that all the authors were from the UK and Australia, two countries that have banned private ownership of guns.  I think they're just jealous that we haven't disarmed ourselves yet.

I forwarded a copy to Momma Fargo and made the prediction that this study will be cited in an effort to paint opposition to gun control as racist.

Didn't take long.  Here's an article from today referencing the LAX shooting.

"As we digest the news of yet another high-profile gun crime, the conversation inevitably comes back to the question of why stricter gun-control laws are so difficult to pass in this country.

There are a variety of explanations, of course, including the political clout of the National Rifle Association. But there are also deeper, psychological reasons why so many Americans would rather endure mass shooting after mass shooting rather than agree to any restrictions on gun ownership.

And one of them, it appears, is ingrained racism."

You see, the only reason you're not submitting to being disarmed is because you're a symbolic racist.  It's not your fault, you're just a victim of your lack of melanin.

“Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.”

Well, white gun owners, you are now the target....and how does that make you feel?

Ammunition Supply Chain

Ammunition prices have dropped from last December's panic.  .223/556 was selling for over $1  a round at the peak.  Today, 1000 round bulk quantities can be had for 30 cents a round.  Granted it's steelcased ammo that has been imported, but it is available.

For a slightly higher price, 0.38 cents a round, you can get re-loaded rounds in brass.  Again this isn't pre-panic prices, but they have been stable at this level for about 4 months.

News from last Friday, regarding the Doe Run company closing their lead smelting operation in December will change that.

Those that cast their own, have had difficulty getting lead from other sources.  Two years ago, you could visit any tire store and get their discarded wheel weights.  Panic pricing on new ammo led many to reload, putting more pressure on the secondary market.  This increased pressure from the secondary market, coupled with the closure of the Herculaneum, MO smelter can only increase the price of lead.

What a country.  We've allowed ourselves to become dependent on others for energy, now we're allowing ourselves to become dependent on others for our bullets.

How long will those others accept our currency as payment as we continue to devalue it?

What happens when they don't?

Office Calls - Now on Kindle

My Dad's new book is now up on Amazon.  The Kindle version went live today, the paperback will go live in another day or so.  The story, Colonel, is taken from the book for your free preview.  It happened near the end of our stay in Harlan, Kentucky.

During those two summers in Harlan, our family of six stayed in a two bedroom apartment. We had air conditioning and a color TV with cable!  I think the only station on was TBS.   I got to sleep in the living room with the TV, so as long as I kept the volume low, I could get away with watching TV, in the early morning.  I would watch the Andy Griffith show and have a bowl of cereal.  Once my parents were up, the TV had to go off.

I was kept entertained and out of trouble by reading.  I had finished reading the encyclopedia, and tore through the Hardy Boy's series at an alarming speed.  My Mom, in desperation, put a hard bound copy of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes Mysteries (Complete and Unabridged) into my hands.  I sat in the apartment's recliner with the dictionary on one armrest and Sherlock Holmes in my lap the rest of the summer.  

Now, from my father's perspective, something else that happened that summer.....

Colonel

Many years ago, when I was a resident in family practice at the University of Kentucky, there was great competition among OB/GYN residents, family practice residents, and medical students for delivering babies at the University Hospital.  For this reason the family practice program had made an arrangement with Appalachian Regional Hospital in Harlan, Kentucky for family practice residents to work a six-week rotation there with Dr. Hurlocker, their OB/GYN attending physician.  This would enable us to gain the additional obstetrical experience needed to obtain obstetric privileges once in private practice. 

As I planned to do obstetrics in my future practice, I took advantage of this opportunity for two summers in a row.  The first time, as we drove to Harlan, we were stunned at the growth of the kudzu.  This vine had been imported from Japan by our federal government to be a ground cover for road cuts in the South.  Unfortunately, the vine had become invasive, growing up to a foot a day and now devouring over three million acres!  We saw it encasing telephone poles, power lines, and even entire houses. 

During the two summers we were there, we stayed in an apartment building located between the hospital and a strip mall with a Piggly-Wiggly grocery store.  Throughout the first - and most of the second - summer we were there, most of the people of Harlan would speak little or not at all with us.  We were outsiders, “not from around here”, and the people of Harlan county were very wary of people from the “big city”.  This was understandable given the history of Harlan County, Kentucky, and how the people had been looked down upon, used, and taken advantage of for decades past.  Nonetheless, it made our stay there seem strangely unwelcome.

Not far from the city of Harlan lies the man-made Martin’s Fork Lake, where coal companies had trucked in tons of white sand to make a swimming beach for the people of Harlan.  We did not go there the first summer we spent in Harlan, but the second summer I had to promise to take our four children swimming at the lake.  Several weeks went by, during which I had been very busy with work at the hospital.  The morning of July 4^th, tired from being on-call the night before, I walked back to the apartment only to have my wife remind me of my promise to take the children swimming.  This would be our last opportunity to keep that promise, so on that day we went to the lake. 

Though the Martin’s Fork Lake is only about fourteen miles from town, it took over a half hour to get there on the twisting, winding mountain road.  In addition, huge slow coal trucks often would slow traffic to a crawl.  Finally arriving at the lake, we parked our car under the shade of a tree and walked the children down to the beach.  We spread out our beach blanket, laid down the towels, and the children took off running to the water’s edge.  On such a warm day the water felt really cold, so it took them a while to get in, but soon they were “swimming” with delight.  Of course the two youngest ones could not really swim, so I had to stay close to them to make sure they would be all right.  The older two children were able to swim on their own. 

We had been there a few hours enjoying the coolness of the lake in the summer heat when my daughter, our eldest, ran up to me and said, “Daddy, there’s a little boy that drowned down the beach!”  I replied to her, “Sure.  That’s not such a funny joke.”  She insisted, “No really, Daddy!  There’s a boy that’s drowned!”.  At that point I realized she was in earnest.  I had her watch her two youngest brothers and took off running down the beach.

About twenty yards down the beach I saw two men leaning over a little blonde boy lying face down on the sand.  He was bluish and not moving.  Two men were pushing on his back, then pulling up on his elbows in an attempt to resuscitate him.  As I reached them, I said forcefully, “I am a doctor!  Let me have him.”  They immediately stepped aside and let me work.                       

I turned the boy over on his back and wiped the wet sand off his mouth.  I quickly gave him two rescue breaths then checked his carotid pulse; there was none.  I immediately gave him a firm “thump” on the chest.  Again I checked his pulse, and this time he had one.  I then continued giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for a few minutes until he suddenly and spontaneously began to choke and breathe on his own.  We sat him up and he vomited what seemed like a gallon of lake water and began crying and shivering.  His father, Hank, then wrapped him in a blanket and took him up by their car. 

Someone had already called the ambulance to come from the hospital, but it took half an hour for them to arrive.  Hank’s family had returned to Harlan that summer to visit with his cousin, Jake, who told Hank, “I know all the doctors at the clinic, and he ain’t no doctor.  You oughta put that boy in your car and drive fast as you can to the hospital!”   Hank said nothing, but looked at me with urgent concern in his eyes.  He had just seen his son almost die and was scared.  I took out my wallet and showed him my Kentucky medical license.  I explained to him that I was down for the summer getting extra obstetrical training.  I advised Hank not to try to hurry to the hospital.  As upset as he was, he was liable to go too fast around a curve and run head-on into a coal truck.  I pointed out that his son was breathing, his heart was beating, and although he was frightened and shivering, he was stable.  Hank looked at his cousin Jake and said, “I think I’ll do what the doctor says.”

When the ambulance crew arrived, they were almost shocked to see the young boy sitting up breathing on his own.  The driver told me, “Wow! We have a live one!  In most cases by the time we get here, the victim is already dead!”  They put the young man in their ambulance, covered him with an additional blanket, and began the drive back to Harlan, Hank following in his car, and both going slow enough to be safe.  As they left, we decided we’d had enough swimming at the lake that afternoon.  We would go back to town ourselves, clean up, and begin preparing our holiday dinner.  

After taking a shower to wash off the lake sand, the two youngest boys and I walked over to the hospital to check on the one whose life I had saved.  A chest x-ray showed he had aspirated some lake water into his lungs.  He had been started on an antibiotic and admitted to be watched for a day or two on the pediatric unit.  Again, Hank and his wife thanked me for what I had done, and I assured them I was happy I had the opportunity to be there to help. 

We left the hospital and immediately walked across the three parking lots of the hospital, the apartment building, and the Piggly-Wiggly.  We went inside to pick out hot-dogs, buns, chips, marshmallows, and a cold watermelon for our Independence Day feast.  To my complete surprise, as we pushed our cart up to the cash register to check out, the cashier turned to me and said, “Oh, Dr. Yarbrough!  That was a wonderful thing you did out at the lake this afternoon.  The people around here really appreciate when someone helps one of their own.  We all sure hope you’ll come back here to practice.  We know you’ll be very busy.”  She kept on talking, saying more than she had in two summers!  I couldn’t believe how freely she spoke to me, an outsider, or how fast she had found out what happened at the lake.  That evening we kept going over what had happened.  It was certainly a memorable Fourth of July dinner. 

The next day at the hospital, Dr. Hurlocker explained to me that once an outsider like myself had shown such care for one of their own, the people of Harlan would accept them with open arms.  This, he said, was why the cashier had spoken to me so openly about what I had done that day.  Dr. Hurlocker also confirmed her words that if I were to come back to Harlan, I would have a very busy practice.  Unfortunately, I already had made a commitment to go elsewhere and would not be able to do that.  Yet after the incident at the lake, it seemed I could go nowhere in town without people thanking me for what I had done.  After a while it got to be embarrassing to be thanked so much by so many complete strangers for doing what any decent person should have done in such circumstances.

Weeks later, back at the university, I was called to come to the office of the residency program director.  Usually such a call meant there had been some sort of complaint or problem.  Naturally, I was quite apprehensive as I entered the director’s office, as I had not heard of any problem with my work and could not recall any complaints.  As I entered the office, the director stood up and smiled at me.  Also in his office was a lady I had never seen before.  Apparently, she was from the governor’s office and was there to present me with a certificate stating that I had been named an honorary Kentucky Colonel.  It seems the mayor of Harlan, with his report to the governor’s office about the incident at the lake, had nominated me for this honor.  I was speechless. 

To this day I still have that framed certificate.  Ironically, performing CPR on that little boy was the first time I had ever done so outside of a hospital.  So many times we do it in the hospital unsuccessfully, yet when out deep in the countryside, with no equipment of any kind, I was able to save a young boy’s life with CPR.   Whenever I look at that certificate, I remember that little blonde-haired boy on the beach at Martin’s Fork Lake.

Office Calls

My dad has written another book.  The target date for publication is November 1st.  His first book, House Calls: Stories from 30 Years of Rural Medicine Among the Amish and English, was published this last April.  He had many positive reviews and some negative ones.

The most common critique is that the book was too short.  He took that to heart, and has almost doubled the number of stories in his follow up book, Office Calls.  The initial proof reading and editing has been done and the copy is now in the typesetter's hands. (That's me.)

I'm adding PAGE NUMBERS* and a TABLE OF CONTENTS* and getting the page breaks set for the printed version as well as making the links for the Kindle version.  Why?  'Cause that's how I roll.

He's also given me some pictures to use for the cover.  Careful what you ask for dad, you just might get it!  Shouldn't take more than a couple of weeks to get the typeset proofing done and approved by the author.

As a teaser, here's a picture of my dad picking a story to tell from some old charts.

Dr. Gary Yarbrough reminiscing over a patients chart.

The stories in this book aren't about the humorous, but more about the human part of medicine, and trying to do what is best for the patient as a whole despite the obstacles the legal and insurance industries put in front of the physician.  The obstacles aren't always intentional, but the law of unintended consequences is always in effect.


*Emphasis added for Momma Fargo's benefit.

Shutdown Theatre

 How to be a leader by B. Obama:

1) Spend money and manpower you don't have to shut down open air monuments.

2) Close private businesses that have a lease on public lands but use no Federal manpower resources.

3) Refuse to negotiate with the opposition party.

4) Profit?

In the immortal words of Rachel Jeantel,  "That's real retarded, Sir."

Even the Bison know it's a load of bull.

Just don't ask me what the Fox says.

Gone Fishin'

First Catch 2013 - 25lb King Salmon

The lack of post recently can be attributed to fishing.

I went on my annual salmon and steelhead trip and have spent the last week recovering.

The fish like to feed at night, which happens to be the same time I like to sleep.

Three days with about as many hours of shuteye has taken its toll.

I think I have turned the corner and am ready to resume my regularly scheduled routine.

That picture to the left is why I go fishing.

Holding the first catch is my fishing buddy CL.  We've been making the trip to Lake Michigan for about six years now.  It's a quiet weekend with a lot of time to reflect on the past year.



This year we were blanked the first two nights.  Nuthin, Nada, Zip.

The last night before we had to come back, we got into 'em.

Welcome to Nairobi

More love and healing from the "Religion of Peace."

If by love and healing you mean massacring those that aren't Islamic.

Any reason why this wouldn't happen here?  Are you sure?

I have a friend from Iraq.  He's catholic.  During one of our conversations about what was happening in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2005, I said something along the lines that we are all human beings.  Don't the Islamic people want the same things that everyone else does?  Their children to grow up happy, find love, etc.

He laughed at me and shook his head.  You don't have a clue, is what he told me.  They will smile and pretend to be your friend, he said.  But if you are not one of them, you are just a means to an end.

UPDATE:  CAIR condemns the attack, yet hinders FBI investigation.  By their actions you will know them.

UPDATE II:  You'll need to follow the news from overseas to know more.

My Favorite Actors are all Characters

It's Friday...might get to watch a film later.

Saw a video at Cracked today.  They're poking fun a Steve Buscemi's looks.  The clip is supposed to be the director giving direction to Steve while filming Fargo.  Language warning for the clip.
 
Now Steve Buscemi is one of my favorite actors.  I like him a lot, and that was before I knew he was a volunteer fire fighter in NY.

My favorite actors are typically character actors.  I don't know why that is.  Maybe it's my contrarian nature to focus on the asides and glance over the main theme of a film.

Here's a list of my favorites in no particular order.

1) Steve Buscemi:  His characters seem to know they've been given a raw deal in life, but don't effing care.  Alway making the best of the situation.  Remember, Mr. Pink was the only one to leave the barn alive.  His character in Desperado didn't make it to the end, but the film opening is just awesome.  And don't forget Fargo.

2) Oliver Platt:  Loved him in Gun Shy (2000) with Liam Neeson and Sandra Bullock.  Actually the whole therapy group was pretty good.

3) S.Z. Sakall:  A favorite curmudgeon.  Enjoy him in the film In the Good Old Summertime (1949).  Buster Keaton is in the film as well.  "I'll bring you your Stradivarius, Uncle."

4) Paul Guilfoyle:  He is your everyman.  Best known for his CSI role of late.

5) Gary Sinise:  He's less of a character actor anymore.  Will always remember Lt. Dan.  Liked him even more as the bad guy in Ransom. His character's Morlocks and Eloi reference help spell out the character's motivation.

May your weekend be what you need.

In Honor of International Talk Like A Pirate Day

Q: What's a pirate's favorite vegetable?
A: ARRRtichoke.

Q: What's a pirate's favorite fruit?
A: ARRRanges.

Q: What's a pirate's favorite grain?
A: bARRRley.

Q: What's a pirate's favorite subject in school?
A: ARRRt.

Q: What's a pirate's second career?
A: ARRRchitect.

Q: Who's the favorite late night host in the pirate demographic?
A: ARRRsenio Hall.

Q: What's a pirate's favorite Olympic Sport?
A: ARRRchery.

Q: What's a pirate's favorite State?
A: ARRRkansas.

Q: What's a pirate's favorite fish?
A: cARRRp.

Q: Where do most pirate's come from?
A: cARRRnies.

Q: What's a pirate's favorite drinking game?
A: QuARRRter bounce.

Q: What's a pirate's favorite play?
A: ARRRsenic and Old Lace

Q: What's a pirate's favorite movie?
A: FARRRgo.

Q: What's a pirate's favorite clothing?
A: cARRRgo pants.

Q: What's a pirate's favorite headgear?
A: pARRRty hat.

Q: What's a pirate's favorite smoke?
A: A cigARRR.

Q: What's a pirate's favorite weapon for CQB?
A: A cARRRbine.

Q: What's a pirate's favorite comic strip?
A: HagARRR the Horrible.

Q: How do the pirates get to the dock?
A: They cARRRpool

W: Stop it. Just stop! These aren't jokes, you're just emphasizing ARR in words.  It's not even funny.
RB: Maybe it isn't funny to you, but it is fun to do. You can make a game of it.
W: No. Stop.
RB: Okay...How about these.

Q: Where do pirate's keep their armies?
A: In their sleevies.

Q: How does the pirate Captain signal his crew it's time to plunder?
A: He makes a booty call.

Q: How much did the pirate pay for earrings?
A: Buccaneer.

Q: Why are pirates like gangstas?
A: They both say "Yo Ho..."

Q: What card game do pirates like?
A: GIN RUMMY!

W: These are worse...don't quite your day job.
RB: Don't like puns, eh?
W: Those aren't puns....they're just bad.
RB: Here's a narrative one.

A pirate returns to his home port and sees an old friend.
What happened to your leg?A cannonball hit me leg, but the surgeon fixed me up with this peg just fine.
And your hand?'Twas cut off in battle, but the surgeon fixed me up with this hook just fine.
And your eye?Ah..Looked up when a bird flew overhead.  My bad luck, it shat in me eye.
You lost your eye to bird crap?No. No...'Twas me first day with the hook.

W: Enough. Go to work.
RB: OK.

How to Host a Flag Burning

1) Be sure to dress stylishly.

2) Invite some hose draggers to get the flames going.  They like to spark things up every once in a while.

3) Once the initial smoke clears, bring in the Knights and Color Guard.

                  

 4) If the timing is right, the moon will make an appearance.

 5) Bring down the old flag.

 6) Hoist the new.

 7) A moment of silence for those who have served and are in service now.

 8) Sing God Bless America, then fire three volleys.

 9) Signal the bugler to play Taps.   Pretend the water on your cheek is from the smoke.

10) Let the hose draggers get serious about the burning.

11)  Head inside for hot dogs, cherry pie and some apple crumb tart.

And that's how you burn a flag.

Special thanks to the Vietnam Veterans Color Guard and the Selfridge ANGB fire crew.

Happy Constitution Day

On this day in 1787, the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution of the United States of America.

Howard Chandler Christy's Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States

This is the day when the United States of America put to parchment the form of government the newly founded nation would construct.

On the day of the convention, Mrs Powel asked, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” Benjamin Franklin answered, “A republic, if you can keep it.”

Benjamin Franklin also said:

“We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel; we shall be divided by our little partial, local interests, our projects will be confounded and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a byword down to future ages. And, what is worse, mankind may hereafter, from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing government by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war, or conquest.”

Emphasis added by me.

"..without His concurring aid...we shall be divided by our little partial, local interests..."

226 years on it with a few additions.  Do we still have His concurring aid?

Let me conclude by exercising my first amendment right while I still can and say,

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safegaurd against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Now, I'm off to work. Later, I will burn some flags with my sons.

Conversations with a Homeschooled Child

T:  You know who's cool?

RB: No. Who?

T: Me, Ronald Reagan, Abraham Lincoln, Irving Berlin, and Charles Langlade.

RB: Charles who?

T: Langlade, his only regret is that fought in only 99 battles.  I learned about him in Michigan History.

RB: What?

T: Yeah those were his last words. "My only regret is that I only fought in 99 battles."  People in Wisconsin say his name Long-Laid, but it's a French name and should be said Lan-glade.

RB: Oh.

T: George Washington is cool too, but I don't like him.

RB: Huh?

T: His wife was ugly.

RB: What?

T: He was shot with an arrow, but he was wearing so many clothes, it just stuck into his coat.

RB: Who?

T: George Washington.  There's a lot of stuff about him to learn.  You might think you know everything about him, but there's always something else.

RB: Oooo-kay.

T: Abraham Lincoln's wife was kinda cute.  She was short and fat, but still kinda cute.  He was tall and skinny.

RB: Hmmm..

T:  She was a rich city girl and he was a poor country boy.

RB: He became President though.

T: Yeah.  He was funny too.  That's why everybody liked him, not because of his looks.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A: Dad, guess what?

RB: 42?

A: No, Dad.  That's the answer to life, the universe and everything.  Guess what I'm doing today.

My son, A is sixteen.  That he made the connection to Douglas Adams tickled me, worried me, and made me proud at the same time.

RB: I don't know, oxidizing food into energy and poop?

A: No, Dad. That's just digestion.  I'm taking Level II driving.

RB:  Oh.

So soon.  Heck it seems like just yesterday I was taking the training wheels off his bike.

The New York Trigger

Reading over at AceOfSpades, found this post by Andy.

Meanwhile, In New York City ...... where it's difficult for anyone but law enforcement to get a gun permit and civil rights have been wantonly violated under "stop & frisk", the NYPD continues to blaze away at unarmed suspects but only manages to hit innocent bystanders. There's a pattern here.
Perhaps Ray Kelly and Mike Bloomberg could focus less on taking my guns from me and more on teaching their employees what to do with their own.

In the excerpt above, Andy links to two articles where NYPD shoot a lot of bystanders.

Andy hints that maybe NYPD needs more training.  That may be true.  NY is not considered a gun culture type of city.  I place the blame on the re-donku-lus 10-12lb trigger pulls mandated for "Safety".  With firearms, my opinion is that everyone is safer when lead hits its intended target.

 From personal experience when racing with my pistol, I tend to miss 8" plates with my first double-action shot.  Follow up shots are single-action and hit the mark.  Having a 10-12lb trigger pull in a DOA pistol in a stress situation just makes it more dangerous for everybody.

When bullseye competitors start winning with New York triggers, I might change my opinion.

The Amish Prize

The Amish Prize from MommaFargo arrived the other day.  My two oldest children were with me when I opened the box.  Here is what we saw.

The Amish Prize!

K: What is it? What is it?

RB: Looks like popcorn.

K: What else? What else?

My oldest speaks in duplicate when she gets excited.

I emptied the box.  My youngest came in the room and swiped the box for his armor.  He is eight and still likes to dress up.  He may become an actor or a LARPer.  Jury is  still out on that one.

Here is what we found inside.

The Contents!

My two oldest quickly swiped all the Amish Noise Makers.  With almost 300 pops per sheet and no flash paper or sand residue, they kept themselves occupied for the next 30 minutes making noise.

With the Amish Noise Makers out of the way, the remainder posed for a lineup.

The Prizes: In back from left to right, Gluten Free Homestyle Egg Noodles, Golden Bear Shampoo, Boetjes Stone Ground Mustard, Concannons Chicago Style Gourmet Popcorn, Culinary Lavender, Concannons Old Fashioned Peanut Brittle.  In Front:  Riverboat Whistle

The first to go was the popcorn.  My wife enjoyed it and shared a little with the children that were behaved that day.  I got the peanut brittle.  It's the kind that glues your jaw shut and keeps it shut until all the sugary goodness is dissolved.  I'm havmming smm mmmow.

Mmm Smm gmm mmusarm I hibemm amm.  Okay.. The stone ground mustard I've hidden away.  That'll will come out for brats and sauerkraut this football season.  Sorry kids, you'll have to use the yellow.

I've been using the culinary lavender on my oatmeal in the morning.  It's taken a little getting used to, but I have fresh floral scented breath ALL DAY!.  A definitive plus and a nice change from coffee breath.

The Golden Bear Shampoo doesn't make many suds, but it does have that all day hold in a Something About Mary way.  I'm also much more attractive to ants and bees after using it.

The Riverboat whistle has been overlooked by the children, and I do not intend to draw their attention to it.  I think we'll save it for the youngest due in November.

The egg noodles we're having for dinner tonight.  It's a family favorite..Beef Stroganoff.  My oldest is gluten intolerant..so she can have the noodles this time! Aw yeah...less for me..wait what?  Dang.

Thanks for the gifts MommaFargo.  Hopefully, you smiled at least once reading this.

As the Season Changes, a Reason for Hope

The Colorado recall was successful.

The Colorado recall effort was decided by Democrats.

Ronald Reagan was a Democrat. He didn't leave the party.  It left him.

This gives me hope, for a change.

To my liberal friends, look at your leadership.

Do they still represent you?

Confessing an Affair

PT, I have a confession to make.

I've found someone new.

I will always be grateful to you for teaching me the basics.  How to hold and squeeze.  Seeing the sights.

I remember fondly the times I snuck out at lunch to visit you at those places around town rented by the half hour.

The lighting wasn't always the best, but that didn't deter us.  You showed me how to get my barrel warm.

But now I've met SP and I don't see myself spending as much time with you PT.  Maybe it's a midlife crisis, I don't know.

SP is much more exiting to me.

You always wanted it the same way PT.  Slow, deliberate, taking my time.

SP wants me to go as fast as I can.  And not just down the middle every time.

With SP, I can go left to right or top to bottom, or bottom to top.  SP lets me peek from around cover, even drawing deep from inside my waistband.

I  know, I know..she's much more expensive but my barrel gets hot now, not just warm.  None of this one Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi between strokes.  Just bang bang bang.

I feel the heat on my hip afterward, my arms trembling a little, and my finger aching for more.

I can see you anytime PT.  With SP I can only visit once a week.

Don't be sad PT, with your CrazyBones and DirtyBirds, I'll still visit.

And remember PT, we will stay together to teach the kids.

The Smartest?

Intelligence in terms of ability has value.

Knowing where your knowledge ends has even more value.

Some people think they are smart, and overestimate their own intelligence and ability.

"I'm a better speechwriter, than my speechwriters."-B. Obama

Rosslyn Smith has this post over at American Thinker, it also ties into this one by Jim Geraghty at NRO.

From Rosslyn Smith:

"In the run up to WWI, European leaders were pretty much playing an insider's game of one-upmanship...... The major difference between those leaders and the West's leader's today seems to be that the leaders in 1913 felt they were entitled to rule by Divine Right. Political leaders in 2013 leaders seem to feel almost as entitled because they are certain they are smarter than everyone else."

From Jim Geraghty:

"They looked out at the world at the end of the Bush years, and didn’t see tough decisions, unsolvable problems, unstable institutions, restless populations, technology enabling the impulse to destabilize existing institutions, evil men hungry for more power, and difficult trade-offs. No, our problems and challenges were just a matter of the previous hands running U.S. foreign policy not being smart enough."

This blog is titled Fargo's Brilliant One, but I know I'm not the smartest.When I was 17, I knew everything about everything and I've gotten steadily dumber ever since.

"I may not be a smart man, but I know what foreign policy is." -F. Gump

Okay, that quote may not be exactly what Forrest said, but I think he would be making better decisions about Syria than our Dear Leader who is an embodiment of the Peter Principle.

This would be funny if it were fiction, instead it just damn scary.

Anniversaries

  L: Your card night is on our anniversary this year.  What do you want to do?

  RB: Make you happy?

I think I answered correctly.

We went to a nice restaurant.

I had the lamb, she had the veal.  Enjoyable meal on the patio.

After dessert and coffee, it was steel plate night at the range.

The load out to the parking lot was much, much lighter.

  L: That was fun, but I'm tired.  You can go play poker if you want.

  RB: Really?  That sounds like I can have my cake and eat it too.

  L: Yes.  Yes you can.

Aw yeah! That's what I'm talkin' about.

How did I get so lucky?  I guess I asked the right woman.

I love you, L.

ICYMI - Michael Yon's post on Syria

From the perspective of those that have BTDT.

"Outrage is not a strategy."

Not much I can add to that.

I Won The Amish!

The Where is Fargo contest is over.  I lost to Fire Pup, but was awarded a prize for my effort.  Fire Pup chose Fargo.  I got the Amish.

It is an appropriate prize, given my family.

The Doc Rambler Mock Up

Yeah...that's my dad and my youngest son.  My dad looks Amish and there's a reason for that.  He's actually written a book about it.  He's working on a sequel. I'll be sure to let you know when it's ready.

Details and glorious pictures of the Amish prize soon!

Thoughts on Syria

The following is rambling and disjointed.  You've been warned.

Our Nobel Peace Prize winning President is impatient to act against Syria.  That's a summary of the news I heard driving to work this morning.  We have our Navy ready to strike, and the Commander in Chief is impatient waiting for Congress to act.

Why?  Osama Bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive.  Surely this little disagreement in Syria is no cause for alarm.

Oh...Chemical weapons you say?  Is that a reason to go to war?  I remember a certain president making that same case.  And he wasn't named Bush.

William J Clinton bombed Sudan.  I guess Barry Soetoro can bomb Syria without Congressional approval.  I'm sure the watchdog media will hold him accountable.

Okay...enough sarcasm.

I understand that with Saddam and Iraq, the United States had a moral culpability for his actions.  We helped put the guy in charge, he was a bad actor.  We gave him an ultimatum, he declined to go peacefully; we changed his regime.

Captain Tightpants had this post last November.

"To be there, knowing that the world and rules you had lived by were being swept away, and unable to do much more than watch and hope to tread water through it all. To be faced daily with more and more changes, and wondering when the storm would end."

We do have a national interest in what happens in Syria with respect to the defense of Israel and preventing a safe haven for terrorists.  So what is our strategy?  Install another Saddam type leader?

Right now the US has very little credibility and we are deemed weak.  Our CIC doesn't really care about the rules.  And that is scary.

I just finished reading this book.  With Iran using Syria as a proxy, what are the chances of  the Iranians using an EMP to keep us out of it?  Does Iran have the capability? I don't doubt they have the will.

We are in a Holy War, but our side refuses to call it that.

Christians are being martyred in Egypt, and our media is silent.

Ramadan is ending...Oh noes....let's shut down our embassies.

When our ambassador in Libya was killed..it's just a video from a hateful christian that caused it.

In other news, Miley Cyrus thinks she has grown up. "At this point, what does it matter?" to quote our former SecState.

I need to go fishing.

UPDATE:  Child-In-Charge willing to throw tantrum in attempt to save face.  Adults around the world, soon to be laughing in open mockery.  Laugh till you cry folks.

In other news, FBI finds Detroit Officials are corrupt.  The Detroit FBI Office Corruption Task Force Has Job Security...For REALZ!  Look at the mugshots at the link.  Does Phillip Lockhart look like the cat that caught the canary or what?  Such a coy smile for the camera.  I guess he must be getting a 1 year misdemeanor charge instead of the 10 year felony charge.

UPDATE II: 11yr old to Obama---Bring it! (Truthiness not verified)

Overheard at the Festival

Old Man: Did you hear George Zimmerman's going to change his name now?

Gullible Man: Really?

Old Man:  Yeah.  He's changing it to Ben Ghazi.  Figures the government and media will forget all about him.

This Was a Good Day

This day wasn't today. But it was a good day!

My daughter T, with one of seven she threw back that day.

The salmon aren't running yet.  Maybe in another month.  This year...they'll go into the smoker when I get home instead of the freezer.

The Food Police - I've been notified.

Dinner was a make your own chef type salad tonight.

My middle daughter, T, speaks up.

T:"Dad.  You should be arrested."

Me: "Why's that?"

T: "You don't have any feta on your salad."

Elmore Leonard - RIP

Elmore Leonard has died.  In tribute I offer the title opening to Justified.

I've lived in both Lexington and Harlan Kentucky.  This series has a special place in my heart.

Gun Challenge Accepted

I've been challenged by MommaFargo to discuss John Lott Jr's book More Guns:Less Crime.

So I bought the book here.  It's $10.49 for the Kindle edition, and you don't need a Kindle to read it.  Momma Fargo's  questions are in black, (because black is slimming), my answers are in blue. (Cause I like that color :-P.)

M: Do you agree with the author's research?

Y: Short answer, yes. Longer answer: Studying the effects of legislation and measuring it against the intended purpose is always a "goodness thing."   It helps us learn about the unintended consequences of the laws we pass.  Can someone please take Mr. Lott's approach and apply it to the War on Poverty?

M: Do you agree with the author's studies?

Y: Short answer, yes. Longer answer: He used some outside studies for data trends to support his argument.  His own study uses the best available data from a countywide level.  This turns out to be the perfect data set for studying the statewide effect from  relaxing conceal carry permitting.  Counties that had the most restrictive permitting tended to have the highest crime rates.   A statewide "shall issue" law is passed, and by using the same countywide data set, we can track the crime rate statistics with a clear before/after point in time.  The data prior to the state wide law being passed is harder to correlate between counties because of the variances and discretion given to law enforcement in the issuing of permits.

M: Do you agree with the author's opinion on the economics of gun control?

Y: Yes.  Since I consider human life to be priceless,  the reduction in violent crime is more than worth the immediate rise in larceny and property crimes.  If you want to add in the peace of mind that being able to carry legally gives former victims of violent crime, the "cost" is even smaller.

M: Do you believe he has proven his theory with enough evidence to support it?

Y: Yes.  He even addresses Castle Doctrine / Stand your Ground laws in the 3rd edition.  He addresses every critique leveled against his first and second editions.  He has his facts down cold and his choices for inclusion/exclusion of data are well reasoned.  I admittedly read the book with a biased mind.  I think it is common sense that more law abiding people being armed makes for a safer place.

Things I Learned:

1) Substitution crime effect. Increase in petty crime with a relaxation of gun carry laws. Violent crimes are reduced, but larceny and property crimes increase.

2) Increased crime in Neighboring areas after a relaxation of gun carry laws. Criminals still do crime, but target an area that is perceived as soft. Similar to the substitution effect.

3) Rape had the sharpest reduction in rates after relaxing carry laws.  A note to all you Take Back the Night marchers - Let's work on a)Allowing 18 yr olds to carry.  They can vote, they can enlist, why not allow them to carry?  b) Ending Gun Free zones.  Don't let the campus be a criminals playground.

My favorite parts:

1) His critics misinterpret their own data, which actually confirms his thesis.

2) Catching his critic cherry picking Guns&Ammo sales data to reach a forgone conclusion.

3) Anecdotal stories about politicians and police chiefs changing their minds after the relaxed laws go into effect.  The prophecies about the OK Corral and blood baths in the street just never come true.

Family - It Can Hurt.

Family is the basic building block of society.

As the family goes, so does society.

Here's a review of a book by Nick Schultz, discussing this same axiom in economic terms. (HT Monty @ AceofSpadesHQ)

And if this song is true, my sister and mother really do love each other.

What are you doing to strengthen your family?

The Smoking Chronicles #7

Went over to Dr. Don's house to smoke some chicken today.  We've been practicing on pork most of the summer.  Our last smoke fest using pork butts took over 8 hours in the smoker with another 4 hours in a crock pot.

Today was going to be a little shorter.  Just thighs and drumsticks with some salt and pepper.

Enough pepper?

Prepped and ready to go.

Birds are loaded. Prepare for ignition.

 Tin Foil hat securely in place, drip pan filled with water, the hickory is set off.

We have smoke. Confirm visual on smoke.

Temperatures looking good.

We pass the time looking at the clouds.

Hey Everybody, It's Supper Time!!

 Bite through skin on the chicken achieved!  There is much smacking of lips and rejoicing outside my den.  Even my oldest, who tells me she is not a meat person, says, "It's really good Dad."

UnderCover Liberal - Tips For Keeping Your Cover #17

So you've mastered the art of small talk with your Liberal neighbors.  You've nodded your head.  Said "Oh, I see." and "How did that make you feel?" at the appropriate times.  Followed by ,"Oh my.  There should be a law."

In fact, you've done it so well, that they decide to drop by and invite themselves over for a cup of tea, a few games of Whist and some conversation about DownTUN Abby.  (I start to think of Abby Normal and Frau Blucher)

They come in the door and see your pile of catalogs that arrived for the fall shopping season.

You'd think your cover to be completely blown, having such publications.  Don't worry! With a little pre-planning you can avert societal disaster.

1) Northern Tool & Equipment:  This one is the easiest to explain.  Liberals want to fix everything, and this catalog has tools for just about any job around the suburbanite's home.  If they show signs of disgust, that you might actually want to do something with your hands, quickly turn to the Alternative Energy section.  Tell them you're thinking of hiring someone to put up some solar panels, or a windmill.

2) Natchez Shooter Supplies - This one is a close call, but you have President Obama and SecState Kerry in your corner for this one.  Talk about shooting trap at the club, or that you might consider "getting me a huntin' license" like John Kerry, WhoServedInVietnam(TM).

Be sure to earmark the automatic trap page for quick access.

3) Cigars International - Hey! It's been documented that Bill Clinton used cigars.  No word on whether he actually smokes them. For this one,explain to your neighbor that after a hard day of smashing the patriarchy and redefining trans-normative archetypes, you like to relax and celebrate by cutting the tip off of a phallic symbol or our oppression and reducing it to ash for your own enjoyment.  Or you could go with Freud..Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

4) Brownells - This one has tools, but they're tools for guns.  This can't be left out for anyone to see or you're cooked.  You should hide between the mattresses at the earliest opportunity.  If caught in the open, deny, deny deny.  Your identity was stolen.  You have no idea how you could have ended up on the mailing list.  Claim you signed a petition to "stop gun violence" and the NRA must have taken the names from the organizers..etc.  Be creative. 

Hopefully with these handy tips you can keep your cover deep in blue country, and remember "Never Let 'Em See You Think(TM)."

Political Identity

Gotta tell you about the formation of my political identity.(Lordy, that sounds metrosexual, and way too personal.)

I grew up in an apolitical bubble.  Dinner conversation usually involved some medical case with graphic and descriptive language.  I think my Dad always tried to make us gag.  Politics--never talked about.  Doing what was morally right, listening to your conscience was a more typical conversation.

Went away to college at the University of Michigan. During Freshmen Orientation --(should be called Political Correctness 101)-- they did this little demonstration.  Students in the group were asked if they had ever felt the effects of discrimination.  Were you female?  Step over here.  Did you wear corrective lenses? Step over here.  Were you this or that? Step over here.

There was a whole litany of victim groups.  I was the only one left that hadn't crossed the line.  "Well gee, Yuri.  You're the only one left over there.  How does it feel?" asks our PC Guide.

I crossed my arms.  "Just fine." I answered. What I felt was anger, but I didn't know why. The guide then launched into a little speech about diversity and sensitivity and how the white christian man is the root of all evil in the world. Well not quite.  I'm paraphrasing to save time.

I couldn't believe that these freshmen, having gained admittance to a top 10 university in THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA, would dare to consider themselves a VICTIM!  What a bunch of effing pussies.  They just stood their nodding their heads at the "wise words" being indoctrinated into their skulls.

I'm a conservative. I believe human life is sacred.

I take responsibility for my actions.  I expect every one else to do the same with theirs.

Your feelings are your own. No one else can "make you" feel a certain way, that is your choice.

I'm confident enough in my masculinity to cry at a movie or while reading a Momma Fargo story. :-p.

I believe that a constitutionally limited republic is best.

Having sympathy for suffering doesn't make one a liberal.  Having a desire to use government to relieve that suffering does.

Are we clear?

I don't Book the Face, or Plus the Google Circle...but if you want to really hash out some politics my sister will take you on. Tanya F Yarbrough.

UnderCover Liberal

I've been away from blogging for about three years.  Seemed to not have time.  Never stopped reading others blogs.  Found myself commenting on MommaFargo's blog quite a bit, asking some fair but tough questions about police policies and training.  Be sure to check out her blog mommafargo.blogspot.com and buy her books for some extra stories.

During a discussion on police and civilian interactions, MommaFargo referred to me by saying, "Yuri may be a liberal, but he's a good egg."

Oh..my first name is actually Yuri.  The RussianBear name is a nickname from my wrestling days.  No not the real Russian Bear, just a poor facsimile.  Mr. Koloff, if you do not like me using your picture, send me a note and I will remove.

I think MommaFargo has since deleted the comment.  It's okay, I'm not offended at all.  It did make me laugh.  I told her I'm not a real Liberal, just and UnderCover one, but my cover has been blown.

She now refers to me as Fargo's Brilliant One.