A Great Read

During the numerous conversations this weekend, I was made aware that some people are unaware of the three-part tales, one part each told by law enforcement bloggers Lawdog or Matt at Better and Better, Ambulance Driver and Babs, the emergency room nurse. There are two of these stories (and I hope for more some time) and you can access each through this link. They explain the concept this way:

The following events are not fictional, but they may have happened at different times, with different patients, at different places. Each one of the authors has had patients just like these, in situations just like those described. If you want to know what it’s like to live a day in the life of an ambulance driver, or a small town cop, or a small town ER nurse, join us for the story.

It’s the same story. On the same night. With the same people.

This is what we do, and working with paramedics and cops like these is part of the reason we do it.

The first story, “Bobby,” begins here. Part 2 is here and Part 3 here.

Read. Things like this make the internet.

UPDATE:

The second “Perspectives” trilogy can be found here, here and here.

Kipling

TOMMY by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

I went into a public-‘ouse to get a pint o’ beer,
The publican ‘e up an’ sez, “We serve no red-coats here.”
The girls be’ind the bar they laughed an’ giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:
O it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, go away”;
But it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins”, when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but ‘adn’t none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-‘alls,
But when it comes to fightin’, Lord! they’ll shove me in the stalls!
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, wait outside”;
But it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide,
The troopship’s on the tide, my boys, the troopship’s on the tide,
O it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide.

Yes, makin’ mock o’ uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an’ they’re starvation cheap;
An’ hustlin’ drunken soldiers when they’re goin’ large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin’ in full kit.
Then it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, ‘ow’s yer soul?”
But it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll.

We aren’t no thin red ‘eroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don’t grow into plaster saints;
While it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, fall be’ind”,
But it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind,
There’s trouble in the wind, my boys, there’s trouble in the wind,
O it’s “Please to walk in front, sir”, when there’s trouble in the wind.

You talk o’ better food for us, an’ schools, an’ fires, an’ all:
We’ll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don’t mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow’s Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace.
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But it’s “Saviour of ‘is country” when the guns begin to shoot;
An’ it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;
An’ Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool — you bet that Tommy sees!

We don’t treat our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines as second-class citizens anymore, unless you’re an academic Leftist convinced they only sign up for the military because they’re too stupid to do anything else:

You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq. — John Kerry

Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool, Mr. Kerry.

While we honor those who gave their lives for their country today, remember also to honor those still with us who, with eyes open, make the same offer.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUrf6Qg4T4E&w=425&h=349]

Thank a vet. Make a contribution to Soldiers’ Angels or The Wounded Warrior Project.

And enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Quote of the Day – Mencken Edition

It is not a fact that all men are created equal, it is not a fact that they are able to choose their rulers wisely, and it is not a fact that their judgments on public matters, taking them in the mass, are prudent and valid, or even worth hearing. But it is a fact that they are better off, the stupid with the intelligent, when the scope of government is rigidly limited, and its agents have no prerogative outside the narrow and clearly marked bounds. — Henry Louis Mencken

Found via Van der Leun at The Clairemont Institute.
This quote will also appear in the next überpost, but it was too good not to use now.

Bulletfest 2011!

We’re here!  As we pulled up the hill to park, the “range hot” siren sounded, and all hell broke loose.  Full auto and cannon fire galore.  When we got to the top of the hill we were face-to-face with an M3 M5 Stuart tank and a halftrack with a pintle-mounted M2.  The firing line starts on the left with not one, not two, but three muzzle-loading civil-war era cannon, and proceeds to the right with station after station containing more firpower than I’ve ever personally witnessed, including my trip to the Big Sandy shoot.

Many, many pictures to follow.

Time to get Ready

Well, my body says it’s 05:00, but that’s when I normally get up.  Breakfast starts in 30 minutes, and then we’re off to the range to start burning through a couple of pallets of ammo!

I love this hobby avocation.