Things That Make Me Laugh

I have a different kind of family now, but in many ways it is the same. The silliest things make me laugh. If you have a partner that makes you laugh…I mean crying, hurt-the-gut laugh, well then you are lucky indeed.

Chainsaw loves movies and likes to re-enact his favorite scenes. The ones that make me laugh the most are:

Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump:
'I can run like the wind, and from then on, everywhere I went, I ran."

Billy Bob Thornton as Karl in Sling Blade:
"Some people calls it a Kaiser blade, I call it a sling blade, uh huh. I don’t reckon I need to be killing anybody, emmmh. Awright, then, emmmh. I like the way you talk, emmm hmmm."

I remarked that while he did a fantastic job on both Forrest and Sling Blade, I wondered if it meant anything that both of these characters were a might, uh, tetched in the head as they say.

But then he also does:

Katherine Hepburn in Rooster Cogburn:
"Mister Cogburn, you’re a credit to your gender ! It’s been an honor and a privilege to make your acquaintance !"

“So what does that tell you?”, he asked.

“That you’re gay?”

“No, I did it in a man’s voice.”

“So did she”.

Over the past few days we have gotten into this silly thing of telling each other to STFU. It started when I was really getting into a movie and Chainsaw had already seen it and started telling me about it and I told him to STFU so I could hear, and I wasn’t interested him telling me every last living moment of something I hadn’t seen yet.

I managed to see the movie, but at just about every opportunity the last two days we have told each other to STFU for no apparent reason.

“Do you want breakfast?”

“You better just STFU.”

I don’t know why it makes me laugh so.

Today we went to Booth’s Corner Farmers Market. There is a tiny store in there called Cajun Kates and we got and order of Crispy Cajun Mac & Cheese and a Gator On A Stick. On the way out, Chainsaw made a left and I asked him where he was going and he said Wal-Mart.

“Wal-Mart ??? No way ! This is Black Friday ! Are you kidding me? No way I’m going there.”

He thought I was a silly girl, but came home anyway and munched on his Mac & Cheese and his Gator On A Stick. I got online, and the CNN headline read:

Wal-Mart Worker Dies In Black Friday Store Rush.

“See?”, I harrumphed. “This could have been us ! These people are whacko out there !”

“Oh, STFU”.

The Elusive Nature of Budgets

Government budgets at all levels are being examined. The state of Delaware is no exception. The financial situation worldwide is forcing everyone to hunker down and take a closer look at incomes and expenditures.

Budgets can be very funny things. Those that joke about the smoke and mirrors that can be done by bean counters with the jot of a pencil or the flip of an eraser are often not far from the truth.

A few things on budgets.

On WDEL’s Al Mascitti show yesterday, Mr. Mascitti criticized Department of Education head Valerie Woodruff for being quoted as saying, “What’s the point in asking for more money when we know we’re going to have cuts?”

Mr. Mascitti was quite snarkily damning of this statement, saying to the effect (paraphrasing here) that you should always ask for more money so that you have something to cut. He pretty much dismissed Ms. Woodruff’s statement as bordering on ridiculous.

While this may be common practice, it is exactly this kind of thinking that is part of the problem. Budgets should be based on reality. What occurs in state agencies is that at budget time, agency heads instantly go into “protect mode”. They protect their budgets and their turf. The elaborate chess game that is the budgetary process is more often than not based on those factors rather than the reality that exists within the agency. I’ve seen it.

The worst people in the world to evaluate a budget are those who are in charge of it. An independent examination is always best, for however noble and thrifty an agency may be, the instinct to protect often blinds them to any real efficiencies that could be attained.

A union negotiator I know once told me that when he went into salary negotiations, he always asked for way more than he knew he could get. That way, they could get what they reasonably could achieve while at the same time presenting the illusion of compromise. Everyone knows this is done, and everyone does it. But this mentality, compounded over time, serves only to result in an unrealistic value being placed on labor that has no bearing on the true value of the labor itself. After awhile, no one knows what is real. It is a long and tedious game.

Another thing about budgets, and this story is true although some details have been changed.

An agency has a $100,000 line item in its budget for “Computer Fees”. This is the amount that the agency pays to the State for maintenance on the state-run computer system that the agency uses. Year after year, the same old line item appears. It even appears after the state computer system has been decommissioned and the fee is no longer being paid. No one cares, because it is “part of the budget” and of course budgets over time get fooled with and monies from one line item can be moved to another.

Finally the time comes when, for whatever reason, budgets must be reduced. The agency scours their budget and notices this line item. They “slash the budget”, reducing it by $100,000 and become heroes for their efficiency.

But, do you see?

They got rid of something that wasn’t really there to begin with.

Another point I would like to make about budgets is that almost immediately the thought is that layoffs have to occur and programs cut. This is the easiest and the most publicly palatable was of doing things, but more often than not savings are achieved more through reviewing processes rather than cutting personnel and services. Not that there aren’t do-nothing positions that can be done away with, and we all know that government agencies tend to be administratively top-heavy, but this in and of itself is indicative of burdensome (and often ridiculous) policies and procedures that must be followed. By streamlining these, one could not only reduce the administrative burden, but those people may be used more effectively in positions that provide real value to the organization.

I empathize with the agencies that are going through this difficult process. The financial meltdown caught everyone by surprise. But let us look closely, with a good dose of common sense at the process, and not let ourselves get fooled by nonexistent savings and taking the easy way out when great gains can be made through process review.

Governor-elect Jack Markell made a good point the other day when he noted that calling for a flat percentage of cuts across the board for all agencies tends to penalize those that are already efficient. I knew there was a reason I voted for him.

By making realistic assessments and taking the long-term approach, we can not only deal with the present financial crisis, but be better positioned for the future.

What Happens When A Country’s Entire Financial System Collapses?

Take a look at Iceland. Not only are they extremely cold, they are also extremely screwed. The banks got bigger than the government. The banks failed. The people are pissed.

This is worth watching to the end (3:55):



The protests, which have been happening weekly for over a month, are getting more violent:

Police in riot gear used pepper spray to drive back an attempt to free the protester during which several windows at the police station were shattered. The pro-tester was later released after his fine was paid.

A 36-year-old office worker says

"I've just had enough of this whole thing. I don't trust the government, I don't trust the banks, I don't trust the political parties, and I don't trust the IMF. We had a good country and they ruined it."

Isn’t that perhaps how we all are feeling right about now?

But there is something about these people in Iceland. In looking at them, their anger, their frustration, I also sense something else. Something in their stock and in their bones.

The will to survive.

I see in their faces something that goes beyond the uncomforting pronouncements of legislators and ministers and bank officials.

If I were a betting woman, I would bet on the Icelandic people themselves.

Just a feeling.

GOP Names Tom Kovach to Run in Special Election for 6th Representative District

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF DELAWARE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 25, 2008 WILMINGTON--- At Monday night’s meeting of the Brandywine Republican Committee, the GOP named Weldin Park resident Tom Kovach as its candidate in the 6th District Special Election to be held on Saturday, December 20. Kovach, a 1987 graduate of Brandywine High School and 1992 University of Delaware grad, is a Director in the Delaware law firm of Parkowski, Guerke & Swayze. Kovach and his wife of 15 years, Sandi, have two daughters, ages 11 and 10, and a son, age 5. A former environmental enforcement officer for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Kovach now practices commercial litigation, concentrating in areas of environmental and administrative law. “I will be an independent voice representing the people of the 6th District.” Kovach said. “Our state desperately needs creative ideas to get our economy back on track, fix our schools, and protect our environment. I look forward to making a positive difference in Dover and fighting for what is right for the citizens of Delaware. As a legislator, I’ll demand responsible and accountable management of our tax dollars, work to improve the quality of our children’s education, and work to bring redevelopment and new opportunities for businesses in Delaware.” Active in his community, Kovach is an Eagle Scout, and former assistant Scoutmaster in North Wilmington. For the past five years, Kovach has coached youth soccer for the Concord Soccer Association and, for the past ten years, has advised Delaware High Schools in their Mock Trial program. He is an active member of the Delaware State Bar Association, a member of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, the Committee of 100, and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Brownfields Advisory Committee. Kovach continued, “I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve the community in which I grew up, and where Sandi and I chose to raise our family. If elected to serve, I’ll work every day to be responsive to the needs and to be worthy of the trust the voters in the 6th District have placed in me.” Kovach and his team of cross-party volunteers intend to campaign intensely throughout the district leading up to the December 20th election. The special election was necessitated by the resignation of former state Rep. Diana McWilliams. Door Knocking Saturday November 29 Meet at 10AM at GOP Headquarters in the Branmar Shopping Plaza on Marsh Road Sunday November 30 Meet at 1PM at GOP Headquarters in the Branmar Shopping Plaza on Marsh Road Phone Banks Monday December 1 thru Thursday December 4 7-9PM at GOP State Headquarters, 3301 Lancaster Pike, in the Cannery Shopping Center in Wilmington To sign up and get involved, contact Republican State Headquarters at 302-651-0260.

Post-Election Advice from Dave Barry

You should really read the whole thing:

You know what I miss? I miss 1960. Not the part about my face turning overnight into the world's most productive zit farm. What I miss is the way the grown-ups acted about the Kennedy-Nixon race. Like the McCain-Obama race, that was a big historic deal that aroused strong feelings in the voters. This included my parents and their friends, who were fairly evenly divided, and very passionate. They'd have these major honking arguments at their cocktail parties. But unlike today, when people wear out their upper lips sneering at those who disagree with them, the 1960s grown-ups of my memory, whoever they voted for, continued to respect each other and remain good friends. What was their secret? Gin. On any given Saturday night they consumed enough martinis to fuel an assault helicopter. But also they were capable of understanding a concept that we seem to have lost, which is that people who disagree with you politically are not necessarily evil or stupid. My parents and their friends took it for granted that most people were fundamentally decent and wanted the best for the country. So they argued by sincerely (if loudly) trying to persuade each other. They did not argue by calling each other names, which is pointless and childish, and which constitutes I would estimate 97 percent of what passes for political debate today.

h/t Instapundit

How Chainsaw Got His Name

Commenter and blogger Jules (check her out) remarked that "Chainsaw is an interesting name."

Heh.

Well, there is a story about how Chainsaw got his name. Unfortunately, I cannot relay it here, as this is a family-oriented blog :)).

But let's just say he was 17. In Florida. And he knew a bunch of old-ass wiry ZZ-Top-Lookin' scooter-trash bikers. Impressionable youngster, he was.

Maybe someday, if you meet up with us, you can ask him to tell the story.

As for me, I just don't even like thinking about it. It was way before my time. Suffice it to say that if we had been in the same place at the same time, well........I don't think we'd be together right now.

If you know what I mean.

Just Close Your Eyes, Honey...This Won't Hurt a Bit

The latest version of an economic stimulus plan is calling for $700 billion over the next two years.
Seven. Hundred. Billion.

I can’t even fathom that in my brain. I have no way to grasp what $700 billion looks like, feels like, or tastes like.

As the Washington Post points out, this is more than we have spent in the last six years in Iraq. It is an enormous sum of money, which many are comparing to the New Deal. Along with the gigantic price tag, there are gigantic risks:

There are downsides to such a dramatic increase in government spending, especially at a time when the annual federal budget deficit already is spiraling toward $1 trillion -- about 7 percent of the gross domestic product -- a level not seen since the end of World War II. Increasing the deficit means increasing the national debt, which eventually will have to be repaid, with interest, to largely foreign creditors. It also means the nation will be even less prepared to cover the skyrocketing costs of Medicare and Social Security as the baby boomer generation retires. Washington also could overshoot its target, sparking rampant inflation when the economy recovers. Or the money could be poorly directed and fail to efficiently stimulate the economy.

Economics professor Tyler Cowen seems to think that New Deal-type economics is simply a matter if spinning one’s wheels.

In short, expansionary monetary policy and wartime orders from Europe, not the well-known policies of the New Deal, did the most to make the American economy climb out of the Depression. Our current downturn will end as well someday, and, as in the ’30s, the recovery will probably come for reasons that have little to do with most policy initiatives.

The truth of the matter is anyone’s guess.

I don’t pretend to be in a league with the Robert Reichs, Lawrence Summers, and Austan Goolsbees of the world. But I am heartened by the fact that even Goolsbee has no clue as to how big this economic stimulus is going to be:

"Look, it needs to be as big a number as it needs to be. I really mean, it's got to meet the task at hand," Goolsbee said on MSNBC.

Heh.

But despite their credentials I can’t help feeling that if you got each of them in a room alone and asked their opinion that they would, to a man have to concede that with all of the projections, charts, economic indicators, and high-sounding rhetoric, well I think they would say that it’s all pretty much of a giant crapshoot, a Hail Mary with three seconds left on the clock and the proverbial stop at the Last Chance Saloon all wrapped into one giant “WTF, let’s try it”.

But at least we don’t have to worry about paying for it. That will be the job of our children and grandchildren.

Whew, thank goodness for that.

Perspective

Since my Mother died, our family hasn’t really been that big on Thanksgiving. It was our favorite holiday, and it just doesn’t seem the same. I think it hurts all of us too much. We keep seeing her and her ways. So we all do our own little thing in our own little lives, knowing that each of us, wherever we are, are thinking about all of the times that someone had to run to the 7-11 at the last minute for the critical item that Mom always seemed to forget. It was a family tradition.

Nonetheless, I love to cook, and Chainsaw said that he had a hankering for a big old ham. I’m not a big ham person, but can tolerate it and the leftovers are good for all sorts of things. So I’ll be doing the ham, brussel sprouts, yams, and a cherry cobbler on Thursday. It’s just me and Chainsaw, but I’ll put the tablecloth on and we might actually sit at the table and eat. Maybe I’ll even light a candle.

I did my shopping; it was about $50.00 for the two of us, but like I said there will be plenty of leftovers.

It was 4:00 PM, and I was grabbing a quick smoke before heading for the trains. A guy who appeared to be homeless came up to me, gesturing a bit and asking me something. Usually they want a smoke, but I couldn’t understand him. He seemed about 50 or so; I think his face was weathered beyond his years. I couldn’t understand what he was asking me, and I started to be afraid. I was afraid of him. He could stab me, for all I knew. I shook my head and turned my back on him, and he gave me look of resignation and walked away. A minute later I realized he was asking for spare change. I looked down the alley, but he had gone.

Jeez, it’s been bitter cold the last few days. I wish that dang global warming would start to kick in. Both of us were sneezing a bit, and not wanting to get sick we turned the heat up and after a while it got right toasty. We turned it down last night, snuggled up, and watched a bunch of rented movies. I have a few afghans that my Mom made which serve us well.

In the alley behind the building, where me and my fellow miscreants go to smoke, I saw a guy reaching into the dumpster. He looked about 30, and I supposed that he was reaching in to see if there was anything useful or edible. I was wrong. His intent was to go into the dumpster. I think he was making it his home for as long as it could be had. It was right windy and cold on Friday; that dumpster would be a good place to be. Maybe not warm, but it would block the wind.

Yesterday, Chainsaw went to the supermarket for a few last minute items, and surprised me with a cheesecake sampler. Not that my waistline needs it, but it sure tasted good with that extra-strong coffee this morning. We have some chicken thighs in the refrigerator, and today I think I’ll bake them up with some olive oil and spices. It’s easy, and it warms the place up to have the oven on.

Food Bank of Delaware has stopped its emergency feeding program. Too much demand, not enough food.

I wonder if I have enough yams. I think I do. Chainsaw doesn’t like them sweetened up; just plain butter will do. The ham will have a sweetened crust, with pineapple and cherries and a brown sugar glaze. I’ll do the brussel sprouts in some kind of cheese sauce so we have all sorts of different textures.

I was mopping the kitchen floor and the damn cheap-o mop just fell apart on me. We hustled off to Target for another one, and I got into a discussion with a similar lady-mop-seeker. We both decided on the same one. I remarked that it was sad that my conversation of the day was relegated to a mop discussion. She laughed. When I got home and was hitting the kitchen floor full force with my new mop, one of the little plastic thingies that holds the whole thing together just popped off into oblivion. I have no luck with mops. I think that means that I was destined to have a maid.

Our friend Jack in Sussex County is having a bit of a hard time. Medical problems, legal problems. The whole gamut. He doesn’t say anything; just puts on a funny face. Says the mortgage company is a bunch of fuckoffs. Another friend of ours started on a mission for Jack, just so he could have some kind of Thanksgiving. Big Tiny took down a turkey. Chainsaw and I coughed up $100 each. Not that it was easy, but just knowing Jack is at the brink was enough, and even though he gets on my last nerve there is no way a friend can be in need and you can look the other way. Meh, could very well be moving in with us soon if things get too bad. That would be OK, as long as he could STFU for 5 minutes, LOL.

The Eagles will be coming on soon. They are such losers, but I have this weird fixation on them. I think somehow, some way they will be the team they are supposed to be. Buncha losers.

It’s going to be a tough couple of months. My job is tenuous, and I’m not exactly at the hiring age. Eh, Chainsaw and I will make it; as long as we’re together. I hope so, anyway.

So many things to worry about ! So many things. Oh my, it's just to be too much for me.

Do I have enough yams? OMG, such worries I have.

Dammit, Janet !

Presumptive DHS nominee in the Obama administration, Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona must be wishing pretty hard that she gets that job, as the citizens in her state are staging a mini-revolt of sorts over the statewide speed camera program:

Arizona's ambitious statewide speed camera program faces increasing resistance both from the public and from state and local officials. At least half a dozen speed cameras have been temporarily taken out of service by ordinary citizens using nothing more Post-It Notes and silly string. A video released yesterday documented a speed camera having its lens covered with silly string. Vigilantes then labeled with signs variously reading, "scamera," "scamera: ka-ching!" and scamera: smile." Over the past month other cameras have had their lenses covered with multiple yellow notes with the phrase "honest mistake" written on them. This is a subtle dig at camera operator Redflex which had argued that the importation, marketing and use of certain radar equipment in violation of federal law was an honest oversight. The Post-It Notes refer to a July incident where Redflex angered the office of Secretary of State Jan Brewer (R) which had been investigating a citizen's complaint against the company. According to Brewer's office, a Redflex employee "wrote a short response to the complaint on a post it note," making light of an official inquiry into the company's falsification of legal documents.

It was Napolitano who lobbied for the law, resisting efforts to have it submitted to voters as a ballot initiative. Local politicians are none to happy about it, as the number of angry phone calls from constituents are on the rise.

Here’s the video (remember, the cameras are from Australia). 0:56

Oh, there is much ado in Arizona over this. People are pissed. Janet better high-tail it out of Dodge real quick. What better place to hide than the Department of Homeland Security?

When Your Relatives Start to Get On Your Nerves

After gorging yourself on a big turkey dinner and watching the Eagles lose on Thanksgiving night, you may want to get away from it all.

All graduating classes of Concord, Brandywine, Mt. Pleasant and surrounding area high schools are welcome to an informal get together on Friday, November 28th:

The Reef
18 Carpenter Plaza
Meetinghouse Road
Wilmington, DE 19810
Phone: 302-529-1985

Heck, it's really more of a party so everyone and anyone is welcome. Bring the kids (until 9:00 or whenever the bands start), bring the parents, neighbors, etc. We don't care. Just have fun!!

Music is provided by fellow classmates...more like one big assed jam session.

Dress is casual so throw on your jeans and join the fun! No charge; food and drinks are on you.

Chainsaw and I have been stay-at-home fuddy-duddies lately, and this is only a mile up the road from where we life, so we may take a gander. I didn't have such a great high school experience, so I wont know but a few people, but the last time we were there Chainsaw sang a bit with the band, so you never know what might happen.

If your in the neighborhood, stop in for a few ! It doesn't matter if you have gravy stains on your sweatshirt. Nobody cares.

Guess Who Disagrees with the Heller Decision?

One of the most cogent statements in the Supreme Court’s District of Columbia v. Heller decision is found on Page 13:

Giving “bear Arms” its idiomatic meaning would cause the protected right to consist of the right to be a soldier or to wage war—an absurdity that no commentator has ever endorsed.

In other words, the “right to keep and bear arms”, if it were to apply only to “well-regulated militias”, means that our founders conceived of the Second Amendment to mean that armies have the right to carry weapons.

That is just silly.

An amicus brief filed on behalf of former Department of Justice officials prior to the final decision states: (PDF, 47 pages)

Amici disagree with the current position of the United States Department of Justice that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms for purposes unrelated to a State’s operation of a well-regulated militia.

The brief was signed by, among others, Eric Holder, the Obama administration’s nominee for Attorney General of the United States.

Is it any surprise that this is happening?

Ways You Can Describe Your Motorcycle, But Not Your Girlfriend

What Is It That They Don't Understand?

I am ceasing to be amazed anymore. I am tired of shaking my head.

What is it that these people don't understand, and when will the time come that people are so pissed off about it that they start rioting in the streets?

Times are tough, but evidently not so tough New York couldn't spend $21,000 on an antique Turkish rug for the governor's mansion. That purchase came as Gov. David Paterson was ordering state agencies to cut spending and warning of dire economic hardships to come as budget deficits mount to $2 billion this year alone. The Times Union of Albany reports Thursday that Office of General Services records show the 10-foot-by-15-foot custom-stitched rug was shipped July 31. An OGS spokesman said the purchase was part of routine maintenance. Critics say government should cut waste before asking citizens to sacrifice. Elsewhere, the Texas House of Representatives recently ordered about $140,000 in items for its lounge, including antique chandeliers and big screen televisions.

Is This a Real Democrat?

Thankfully, Ted Stevens lost his Senate reelection bid in Alaska to Democrat Mark Begich. A loss of a Republican seat to be sure, but how much of a loss is it really?

As the Los Angeles Times reports Begich as saying:

"I think anyone who knows me knows I'm a different Democrat. I'm from Alaska. I'm a believer, a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, a supporter of drilling in ANWR. Alaskans are very liberal [in their belief that] government should not interfere in their personal life.” "I'm definitely different from a New York Democrat -- you can bank on that," he said in response to a question from the New York Times.

So, I’m wondering. Did the Republicans really lose anything here? If anything, he sounds more libertarian than Democrat.

Time will tell.

Priorities

General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner has his priorities:

Wagoner's trip to Washington in a G4 private jet cost his struggling company an estimated $20,000 roundtrip. A commercial flight booked online would have cost about $576 for coach and $1,674 first class round trip.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has its priorities:

The U.N. Human Rights Council, frequently accused of coddling some of the world's most repressive governments, threw itself a party in Geneva Tuesday that featured the unveiling of a $23 million mural paid for in part with foreign aid funds. In a ceremony attended by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Spanish artist Miquel Barcelo told the press that his 16,000-square-foot ceiling artwork reminded him of "an image of the world dripping toward the sky" — but it reminded critics of money slipping out of relief coffers.

In other news from the United Nations, we find that there are nearly 1 billion people going hungry worldwide.

The “real problem of hunger” is not linked to inadequate food supplies, but rather that many people lack the purchasing power to buy available food......

Priorities. They seem somewhat askew.

Soon-To-Be-Famous South Carolinian Named to Governor's All Star Band !

Woo-Hoo ! I am so proud !

My nephew (who obviously takes after me, kind of) has been selected as one of about 200 high school musicians in the state of South Carolina to be in the Governor's All-Star Band.

I remember when Jefferson (he's the one in the purple shirt) first got his tuba. It was bigger than he was, I believe. He stuck with it (as did his parents), and now he has earned this great honor.

Way to Go, Jefferson ! Hey, instead of Duke, why don't you go to the U of D? We can party ! LOL.

On another note, I have just been informed that my niece who is in first year at the University of South Carolina got her nose pierced. I have yet to see the picture; I am told it looks like a zit.

Oh dear. Nevermind...you go girl !

How Obama Got Elected

Zogby Poll Results: (PDF, 10 pages)

512 Obama Voters 11/13/08-11/15/08 MOE +/- 4.4 points

97.1% High School Graduate or higher, 55% College Graduates

Results to 12 simple Multiple Choice Questions

57.4% could NOT correctly say which party controls congress (50/50 shot just by guessing)

81.8% could NOT correctly say Joe Biden quit a previous campaign because of plagiarism (25% chance by guessing)

82.6% could NOT correctly say that Barack Obama won his first election by getting opponents kicked off the ballot (25% chance by guessing)

88.4% could NOT correctly say that Obama said his policies would likely bankrupt the coal industry and make energy rates skyrocket (25% chance by guessing)

56.1% could NOT correctly say Obama started his political career at the home of two former members of the Weather Underground (25% chance by guessing).

And yet.....

Only 13.7% failed to identify Sarah Palin as the person on which their party spent $150,000 in clothes

Only 6.2% failed to identify Palin as the one with a pregnant teenage daughter

And 86.9 % thought that Palin said that she could see Russia from her "house," even though that was Tina Fey who said that!!

Only 2.4% got at least 11 correct.

Only .5% got all of them correct. (And we "gave" one answer that was technically not Palin, but actually Tina Fey)

Zogby's statement on the results.

Shoutout to Steve: Here's a Third Party Alternative That Will Get Your Motor Running

Libertarian Party? Yawn.

Boston Tea Party? Meh.

From the land down under, here's a real third party alternative.

How about it, Steve? Want to start a Delaware chapter?

A Little Too Cocky for their Own Good

A recent study published in Psychological Science suggests that the “self-esteem” movement may have gone to far, and that American high school students are pretty much full of themselves:

"What this shows is that confidence has crossed over into overconfidence," said Jean Twenge, an associate professor of psychology at San Diego State University. She believes that decades of relentless, uncritical boosterism by parents and school systems may be producing a generation of kids with expectations that are out of sync with the challenges of the real world.

When compared to responses in the 70’s, today’s students seem to think that they will make stellar spouses, parents and workers, and also tend to overstate their IQ.

When I was a high school student back in the late 60’s and early 70’s, it seems to me that I never thought I was good enough and always tried harder. I remember one of my Dad’s typically sardonic responses to the question,

“Hey, Dad, what do you think of this?”

He would answer,

“As compared to what?”

Heh. Good question.

A teen’s ego gets assailed at every turn, but these days we have a remedy for all of that. Take the example of a recent incident in Sweden, where hurt feelings were certainly not to be taken lightly

A Swedish school that confiscated invitations to an eight-year-old boy's birthday party after learning he had invited all of his classmates except two was chastised by parliament Thursday. The school however argued that it had an unwritten policy that either all children, or all the boys, or all the girls in a class, had to be invited to parties when invitations were handed out at school.

Anyone who has been the last one chosen for a pick-up game knows the feeling. This Swedish school wanted to make sure no one’s feelings were hurt. A dumbass parent actually filed a complaint.

And a New York school is prohibiting the wearing of scarves, lest sometime inadvertently be display what could be perceived as gang colors:

It all began last Thursday when a student wore a scarf to school. An administrator looked at the scarf and decided it was some kind of show of support for gangs. Students say the boy denied supporting gangs. "We asked him, 'Why do you wear scarves?' And he said, 'Because they match my outfit!'" Smith told CBS 2. "It's suspicion, it's discrimination, and it's not fair." A day later, the principal announced a new policy: no scarves of any kind could be worn inside the school building.

Musn’t have anything that makes anyone slightly uncomfortable, must we? It seems to me that it is the administrators rather than the students in this case who had bug up their behinds.

And in that monolith of nannyism, jolly old England, what we eat and how we eat it is being monitored by all sorts of idiotic government agencies, including the “packed lunch police”.

The attempt to stop staff buying sandwiches is the latest in a series of state-backed efforts to make families and workers more environmentally friendly at meal times. This time last year WRAP encouraged families to drop Christmas pudding - said to produce too much waste - and eat ice cream after the turkey instead.

So, we eat what is proper, get invited to every party, and are not oh-so-dismayed by someone’s attire. Everything is all right, all the time.

Was that how it was when you were growing up?

It is no wonder that bright teenagers are a disappearing breed:

The intellectual ability of the country's cleverest youngsters has declined radically, almost certainly due to the rise of TV and computer games and over-testing in schools. The 'high-level thinking' skills of 14-year-olds are now on a par with those of 12-year-olds in 1976.

We’re raising a nation of coddled whiners.

To this I say: Thank You to the bully who knocked me off of my seat on the schoolbus in eighth grade.

Thank You to my first love who dumped me unceremoniously and with great ease.

Thank You to my Dad who made me mow the grass and taught me how to pee in the woods, and who, faced with a loss of lifetime, handled it with such amazing grace amid the grief…never denying his struggle, but handling it anyway.

Thank You to my teachers who, faced with a bright student that could do no wrong, nevertheless questioned and challenged me with annoying observations.

Thank You to tough challenges in the workplace. Thank You for allowing me to be laid off in the days before the internet and right in the middle of a newspaper strike so that want-ads were unavailable.

Thank You for allowing me to break my wrist, and to camp in the freezing rain. Thank You for allowing me to be in a body cast for three of my formative years where friends were few and far between, but deliciously true.

Life, Thank you for all of this. Because what I learned was that I will not always be the prettiest or the smartest. My car will not always start. I learned that there are mean people out there; not everyone is nice. I learned to sometimes depend on friends and family, but I also know that at times I will be all alone and it will be up to me.

So, in this age where people sue if their daughter doesn’t get invited to the prom, I just have to say:

Be careful what you wish for. When you are no longer there to dig her path, will she even know how to handle a shovel?

Fun at The Franklin Institute

We really lucked out with the weather on Saturday for Chainsaw's birthday present: a trip to The Franklin Institute. While the morning was gloomy, the afternoon was pretty nice and we didn't get caught in any rain. The sun even peeked out for a bit, and it wasn't too cold.

This was Chainsaw's first trip on the train. Here he is waiting at Claymont station, umbrella in hand:

If you've never experienced the IMAX Theatre at the Institute, you really should. We saw Grand Canyon Adventure, and it lived up to the hype. I actually felt a little queasy at times, and there is no way I could have stood up during the show. It really made us want to head west and experience the area, plus it opened our eyes to the effects of drought and man-induced problems in the area. The rivers are really drying up.


The coolest exhibit was Amazing Machine. It was all about gears and gadgets, which was nirvana to Chainsaw. Many of the exhibits were hands-on so you could really see and understand how things work. Here's Chainsaw checking everything out at a few of the displays:

And, of course we had to go through The Giant Heart. Some of those passages are quite narrow!

Now, since this was Chainsaw's birthday it was my treat. My entertainment budget is about $0.00, but this was a special occasion so here's how it panned out with rounding everything up: with transportation, admittance fee, and lunch for two it came to a total of $80.00. That's really not bad for a day of entertainment, and if you want to bag your lunch you can save about $20.00 off of that.

Well worth the price ! Chainsaw was able to see a little bit of Philly, play with guy-things, and ride the train.

Waaaaa....I Want MY Bailout

Detroit needs $10-billion bailout:

“The resolution specifically requests the council meet with Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr., Gov. Jennifer Granholm, the state’s congressional delegation, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and officials from President George W. Bush’s office and President-Elect Barack Obama’s transition team.”

Comments from the citizens of Michigan:

“How did the council come up with that big fat round number? There is no accounting of revenue or expenditures in the city. No one knows where the money went.” Let's reward people for working and being responsible/not naively believe sending citizens a check will solve a pattern of irresponsible spending. Why don't we just drop $10 billion from a helicopter, the end result is the same. What is being done with the $47,000,000 the city recently received from Housing and Urban Development? Let's reward people for working and being responsible/not naively believe sending citizens a check will solve a pattern of irresponsible spending. This article is a joke, right? I reread it 3 times and still can't figure out if it was serious.Is this real? Is everybody just lining up with their hand out for money now that the Democrats are in charge? But the point is, a huge percentage of Detroit is essentially unworthy of a bailout.

I fear there is no end in sight, and that The Onion was right….it’s all one big hole:



And I was right. California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D) says that some of that bailout money should go to the states:

“We think that with the state of California about to go over a cliff," Bass says, "we ought to be part of the bailout as well. Can we have $5 billion or $10 billion?

The pigs are lining up at the proverbial trough. Even Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, a rumoured choice for attorney general in the new administration is chiming in on the Mo Money Mantra:

"...she urged the federal government to include funding for state governments in any stimulus package it considers."

One, big, happy family. May heaven help us.

Jindal Administration Unveils Government Spending and Accountability Database

Less than one year after Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed Executive Order BJ 2008-2, the administration has launched LaTrac, Louisiana’s Transparency and Accountability Portal and Online State Spending Database. Its unveiling was two months ahead of schedule.

Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis stated:

“With the launch of this web portal, Louisiana will now lead the nation in government transparency. By improving performance indicators, providing that information to the public, and tying spending to performance, Louisiana will also lead the way in government accountability.”

LaTrac has the following capabilities:

Allows citizens to drill down to see every expenditure to date during current year, and previous year totals The detailed expenditure item will have the amount spent and vendor information Analytical tools allow sorting by category alphabetically (departments, agencies or vendor) or by amount The website also features bar and pie charts of the expenditure and expenditure categories Citizens searching expenditures by department can also click to open a link to that department’s performance measures Lists cabinet and appointed position salary information.

The system is still a work-in-progress, and a number of improvements are being planned. Of special interest is the fact that the performance measures for each department and agency are clearly stated. As Governor Jindal states on the LaTrac homepage:

An honest government has nothing to fear from openness, and I hope you will use this site to ensure that your government is working for you, the people, and not special interests.

Delaware, are you listening?

Just Wondering....

Listening to WDEL on the way home from work, there was a piece on the New Castle County budget which, like many state, county, and municipal budgets is in a worrisome state right now. I don't think this can be "blamed" on any one person; the state of the real estate market as well as the economy in general has thrown everyone back.

What grabbed my attention was that in addition to service cuts and projected tax increases, part of the plan to address the situation is to institute a hiring freeze on non-essential positions.

I will repeat that:

Institute a hiring freeze on non-essential positions.

I am curious as to why any position in government would be created that was not essential. I can see a private household when times are flush maybe making an extravagant purchase or two on a whim (and possibly paying for it later), but in matters of government and in matters dealing with taxpayers' monies, there should be no such thing as a non-essential position.

It makes chills run down my spine even writing that phrase.

How many non-essential positions are out there? Since this is just a freeze on those positions, it means that some existed in the past and presumably are still being held by non-essential personnel doing non-essential jobs.

Just wondering why that is so.

Attention Republican Morons: Drink Your Troubles Away !

From Ace of Spades HQ:

Sean requests a thread where depressed morons can arrange local meet-ups to drink their worries away, and celebrate the fact that President Barack Hussein Obama will give them each, Oprah-like, a brand new ca-aarrrr!

Moronopolooza Meetups are going on all across the country. A few of us morons here in Delaware have planned our own pity-party:

Date: Saturday, 12/13

Location: Dover, DE (still deciding on W.T. Smithers, Lobby House, Doc McGrogans, Public House in Dover Downs, or McGlynn’s)

Time: TBD

If you are interested in this post-mortem, send me an e-mail: svandever at gmail dot com, with the subject line “Republican Morons”.

Why Libertarians Have Better Sex

I am convinced that libertarians have the best sex.

There is absolutely no way I can prove this. It’s just a feeling from reading all of the ultra-liberal and ultra-conservative blogs and publications that I have a real funny feeling that if you want a really good time, call a libertarian.

Imagine this, ladies. You are in an intimate moment, and in your desire to take it a notch higher you whisper to your partner:

“So why don’t you take this and……..”

If your partner is a left wing libtard, the response would be:

“Wait, I mean like are those batteries biodegradable? I mean, like it’s the friggin’ planet we’re talking about here, man.”

If your partner is a right-wingnut, the response would be:

“Did you buy those batteries in quantity so as to get the best price? I can get you such a deal…let me call Herb…hold on a minute.”

If your partner is a libertarian, the response would be:

“Yeeeeee-Hawwwwww !”

So, as we wring our nuts over saving the planet and cutting the budget to the bone, the libertarians are having a good old time.

The lib-tards are reveling in their domination. The right-tards are wondering how to get it back. Both sides worry and fret and strategize and calculate.

Want to know about domination?

Ask a libertarian. Heh.

Chainsaw's Birthday

This Thursday will be Chainsaw’s 49th birthday, and I asked him what he wanted. Birthdays aren’t a big deal with us, but this is his last one before he hits the big 5-0 (at which time there will be a major blowout), so I thought we could do something special.

So what does a no-good, long-haired, tattooed, bearded, big hairy biker want to do for his birthday?

Terrorize a small village, perhaps? Maybe a little raping and pillaging with a few of his favorite jazzed-up hoodlum friends? (1:38):



Yeah, that’s it. A night out on the town with the boys. Maybe hit a tittie bar (are there any in Wilmington?). Get fired up, knock a few heads, drink a few Buds and call it a night. Keep the bail money by the nightstand.

So, like I said I asked him what he wanted for his birthday. He didn’t hesitate. He wants to go to The Franklin Institute.

Geez.

Chainsaw had been turned on to The Franklin Institute a few years ago when he heard about a light show at IMAX Theatre (which is part of The Institute) that was done to Pink Floyd. He had been checking out the Institute’s site, and when he got to The Amazing Machine exhibit all I heard was”Cooooool, man !”. And can you believe he has never been through The Giant Heart? Geez, that opened in 1954, the year I was born. You just can’t go through life without seeing it.

So to all you people in Claymont and Brandywine Hundred and Arden and thereabouts, don’t you fret. Next weekend this biker family will be spending the day in Philly and we won’t be out and about causing any havoc.

I doubt we’ll be able to fit it in on the same day, but another thing we’ve been shining on is Crawdaddy’s Bayou Bar & Grill in West Chester. Both of us are keen on all things Cajun, though Chainsaw is more knowledgeable about it, having working in the Louisiana shipyards for a time. I just know what I like. Maybe we’ll save that trip for the next special occasion, like my 55th in January.

Sigh.

Ron Paul Promises To Return When Country Needs Him Most

The Onion is known for its biting and merciless satire. This piece has a ring of sad and almost respectful truth to it (edited for style):

WASHINGTON—After piling the last of his Campaign for Liberty signs in the back of a beat-up Ford truck Thursday, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) once again abandoned his candidacy for president and rode on out toward the low western sun, but not before vowing to come back to Washington "when [the country] is ready." "When the river swirls and the wind blows, and when uncontrollable inflation forces us to revert to the gold standard, and the Federal Reserve bank is exposed as the unconstitutional, neofascist cabal it really is, you'll see me coming over that hill," said Paul, leaving a dusty cowboy hat and a stack of "no" votes on his seat in the House of Representatives. "But don't you fret, America. If you ever feel like your government is getting too big or too intrusive, just give a little whistle, and there I'll be. I'll be there quicker'n you can spit." Although no one has seen or heard from the Texas congressman since Thursday, sources report the Ron Paul for President campaign has gained an additional $2.3 million in contributions since his disappearance.

Heh.

You Need a Hardass as Chief of Staff, But…….

I have to disagree with House Minority Leader John Boehner’s somewhat whiny assessment of the selection of Rahm Emanuel as Obama’s chief of staff:

“This is an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil and govern from the center.”

Waaa waaa waaa. Truth be told, you need a hardass in this position. With all of the competing agendas, not to mention enormous egos that will be vying for the President-elect’s time and energies, you need someone who will cut through the bullshit and make things happen. You need someone who doesn’t care about making friends, only about getting things done.

For those who may have been under the delusion that an Obama administration’s background music would be a constant rendering of Kumbaya, you had better face the fact that these are politicians, politicians can be nasty, and Emanuel takes no quarter on getting what he wants:

He's a foul-mouthed ballet dancer and a civilian volunteer in the Israeli Defense Force who once sent a decomposing 2 1/2-foot fish to a pollster who displeased him. Paul Begala, a friend and fan of Emanuel's, has described his take-no-prisoners approach as a "cross between a hemorrhoid and a toothache."

Heh, sounds like my kind of guy. A White House chief of staff needs to be a tough administrator, not a make-nice mama’s boy. Sure, owes his soul to the Daley Machine, but that is part of growing up in politics. Especially in Chicago. Emanuel seems to me to be the perfect man for the job.

And if certain progressives consider this “Republican lite” pick to be “screwing the base”, well it can’t be all bad:

Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel is a member of the so-called New Democrat Coalition (NDC), of group of center-right pro-business Congressional Democrats affiliated with the Democratic Leadership Conference, which is dedicated to moving the Democratic Party away from its more liberal and progressive base."

There are more things to be concerned about than someone’s irascible personality.

One of these might be Emanuel’s association with Freddie Mac:

President-elect Barack Obama's newly appointed chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, served on the board of directors of the federal mortgage firm Freddie Mac at a time when scandal was brewing at the troubled agency and the board failed to spot "red flags," according to government reports reviewed by ABCNews.com.

Although somewhat troubling, at which much political hay will be made (and quickly forgotten), it must be said that Mr. Emanuel was only on the Freddie Mac board of directors for 13 months. It was during this time however that the board was accused of having “failed in its duty to follow up on matters brought to its attention.”

We may excuse Mr. Emanuel’s lack of diligence as a board member, since he was gearing up to run for election. And since he only received $231,655 in director’s fees in 2001, he may have had other wage-earning pursuits going on that took his attention away from his director duties. Since his service was prior to the enactment of Sarbanes-Oxley, it wasn’t as if he had to actually put his name to anything that would hold him accountable, so there is no paper trail.

So, in the spirit of hope and change, let’s give him a slide on his Freddie Mac association, and consider it to be a slightly uncomfortable nagging feeling rather than an outright indictment of the man.

But, what is this?

According to the Cook County Assessor’s website, the Chicago home of four-term Democrat Congressman and likely new White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, doesn’t exist. While the address of 4228 North Hermitage is listed as Emanuel’s residence on the Illinois State Board of Elections’ website, there seems to be no public record of Emanuel ever paying property taxes on this home.... Why wouldn’t 4228 North Hermitage property owners Rahm Emanuel and wife Amy Rule not pay property taxes? One reason may be because Emanuel and Rule declared their 4228 North Hermitage home as the office location for their non-profit foundation appropriately called the “Rahm Emanuel and Amy Rule Charitable Foundation”. As a non-profit headquarters, they may consider their home as exempt from paying taxes.

Now, let me get this straight: if I establish a non-profit foundation, and designate my personal residence as the office location for that foundation, then I don’t have to pay property taxes? Cool ! Come to think of it, if you want your charitable donations to be directed to where you want them to go instead of where the government wants them to go, this is the way to do it. I have seen this called “tax evasion” by some nasty conservative writers, but I prefer to think of it as system manipulation. Probably perfectly legal. And perfectly smart.

A more salacious, admittedly sketchy, but nonetheless disturbing revelation about the new chief of staff is his alledged knowledge of the existence of Rep. Mark Foley’s inappropriate e-mails to male pages. The charge is that Emanuel knew of the e-mails in 2005, but waited until midterm elections were near to bring them up. He is accused of making a strategic decision to maximize the impact on the election and of course minimize the amount of time that Republicans would have to offer up and promote an alternative candidate.

Emanuel flatly denied the charge of prior knowledge which was made by Matt Miller, a member of the Democratic campaign committee. Did Emanuel sit on this information for political gain? It depends on who you believe, Mr. Emanuel or Mr. Miller.

This can all be pretty much chalked up to a miscommunication. Surely Mr. Emanuel would not knowingly subject the House pages to inappropriate contact for the purpose of political gain. And the alleged e-mails sent to his committee may have not been appropriately handled or their impact not sufficiently assessed. Surely.

So, we have an irascible, take-charge kind of guy who likes to serve on Boards (but doesn’t apparently do much on them besides draw a salary), who doesn’t pay property takes on his home, and who may or may not have been complicit in sitting on information for the purpose of political advantage. Nothing outright illegal, Nothing earth-shattering or beyond the norm of political operatives, nothing beyond the pale of what we expect from politicians.

So take what you will from this in assessing the character of the future tone of the administration of Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Take what you will, and tuck it away for future reference. This may be an anomaly, a payback for prior support and favors, but it could also portend a trend.

A trend we may not want to believe in.

Proposition 8 in California: The Challenge Begins

The passage of Proposition 8 which limits marriage to unions between a man and a woman in California apparently will be subject to some challenges. At issue is whether the ballot measure was a “revision” or an “amendment” to the state constitution. The bar is much higher for a revision, which requires previous approval by the legislature, followed by a majority popular vote. An amendment has the requirement of a majority vote only.

Was Proposition 8 a revision or an amendment?

For a complete understanding and some quite interesting analysis, turn to The Volokh Conspiracy. It is fascinating not only for those interested in gay marriage but in state constitutional law as well. Would a successful challenge to Proposition 8 be in the best interest of the gay marriage movement? Could there be a backlash? What does it all mean?

A quite fascinating (though lengthy) read.

Heh. Looks Like Philly.

Voting Today

I got to the polling place, Trinity Presbyterian Church at Marsh & Naamans, at 6:40 AM. There was already about 30 people in line. Everything moved quickly. When I came out there was probably 100 people in line.

The Cumudgeon household voted:

3 Republicans
2 Democrats
1 Libertarian
1 "No Vote"

It is interesting that my company (about 300 employees, heavily Democrat) gave us all 2 hours of paid leave to vote. I live farther away from work than probably anyone. I didn't need it. Was into work on time.

Others voted early as well, but didn't hesitate to take their "paid time" and leave early.

Mike Munger: The Most Biker-Friendly Candidate in North Carolina, and Possibly the Country !

Full Throttle Magazine will have an article on Mike Munger, Libertarian candidate for Governor of North Carolina in its December issue. The election will be over by then, Professor Munger is a person to be watched. If he’s not elected Governor, he’ll certainly be on the scene, and you can expect to see more from him in the future.

At least I hope so.

Here is an excerpt from the Full Throttle article written by publisher Mark Infield which can be found in its entirety here:

Yes, Mr. Munger was not embarrassed to say motorcycle helmet in the same sentence as freedom to choose and individual responsibility. Actually, he seemed quite comfortable with it. He has vowed to support efforts to allow motorcycle riders and other citizens the right to choose what safety equipment they think is appropriate for the activities that they are participating in. He also has some disdain for elected representatives who think that the general populace is not bright enough to make these decisions on their own, which is a common thread among the Libertarian candidates.

Are there more libertarian and freedom-loving candidates out there? For sure. We just have to find them and support them. See Jan MacKay’s analysis and insights on the growing of the party here. Jan MacKay is a candidate herself, running for Senate District 15, and she states the case here:

The politics to the left want to HELP individuals lead moral lives. The politics to the right want to MAKE individuals lead moral lives. Where are the politics that LET people live their lives?

Where, indeed ?

As an added bonus, be sure to check out the 2-minute MUST SEE VIDEO of Mike Munger on the last days of the campaign. It is a gem (link is in the middle of the page).

Saturday with Delaware Patriot

Chainsaw and I usually spend our weekends doing things together, but this past Saturday I was on my own, spending the bulk of the day taking the NRA Basic Pistol Course at the Delaware State Pistol Club in New Castle.

It was after much consideration that I decided to take this course. Over the past few years I have witnessed the steady erosion and dilution of our Constitutional Rights. I fear that this trend will continue, as citizens no longer have the will to fight the interests which wish to subjugate them. It is happening almost imperceptibly, bit by innocuous bit. Soon, we will not have any rights left and will become merely agreeable wards of a State, and within its cloak of perceived generosity will humbly accept its every edict.

As a citizen, and as one who accepts the tenets of the Constitution, I felt that I needed to be responsible in maintaining my 2nd Amendment right while it still exists. I am a novice, having been exposed only peripherally to firearms. Taking the NRA Basic Pistol Course is my first step among many that I must take.

I can’t say enough about Rob Witbank, owner of Delaware Patriot. We had some exchanges in the past, and when I was finally ready to take the course, he was more than accommodating. Rob has a passion for teaching firearm safety, which was evident during the course. Aside from his outstanding qualifications, let me just say that this young man has a dedication to living life itself, which gave this old girl some inspiration even though I probably have 25+ years on him. He has a growing family, a full-time job as a computer programmer, a part-time job as a computer teacher, runs his own business, and is a competitive shooter. Besides all that, he is a musician as well ! Listening to all of these different aspects of his quite interesting life, it sure made me feel like I don’t get out much and don’t do as much as I should. Heck, I have some years left, and Rob was just the person to wake me up a bit.

Rob prefers small classes, and with just one other person taking the course it was perfect. I felt immediately at ease. The course ran from 8:30 to 3:00, with classroom instruction broken up with range time. The major emphasis is SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY. Over and over, Rob pounded into our heads the importance of treating the firearm with respect, and all of the protocols for proper handling. Being a beginner, I had somewhat of a fear of pistols; I wanted to lose the fear, but keep the respect. Rob managed to help me do this.

On the range, Rob was able to observe my tendencies, and quite correctly determined that I was firing the wrong type of firearm for a beginner. There was too much recoil, and my body tended to anticipate that which in turn made my accuracy pretty lame. When he switched me to another firearm with a longer barrel, I improved significantly. So, I’m either going to have to get used to what I have or change my firearm of choice. Time will tell. It will take hours and hours of range time for me to conquer my deficiencies. I am dedicated to doing that over the next few months.

Besides being skittish with the sound and recoil, another deficiency I have is very poor hand strength. The fact that I fractured my right wrist a little over a year ago doesn’t help (I can barely operate a manual can opener), and I felt a little stupid when I had to load a semi-automatic clip; loading the ammunition in was quite difficult for me. I think I can overcome this by becoming more comfortable with the firearm, and of course, PRACTICE.

I am so proud of the target that I brought home. The shots with the 4-inch barrel gun were not good, but once I was using the 6-inch barrel I was right there ! I may have to hang it up on the wall, and as I get more range time I can compare to monitor my progress.

I highly recommend Delaware Patriot as the place to go in Delaware for firearms training. I couldn’t have asked for a better trainer. I learned so much, and still have much to learn. Rob told me that anytime I had any questions or concerns about anything, to give him a call.

How cool is that ?

Advance Notice to All of the Winners on November 4th

Every move you make. Every breath you take. Every bond you break. Every smile you fake.



I'll be watching you.