The Smallest Minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities. – Ayn Rand
So, I get on the internet when I get home, and discover that there’s been a blast at Widener’s. Thankfully, apparently no one was killed.
And today I received a call at work from my doctor. My lab tests say I’m a diabetic.
Oh boy.
(At least I don’t need to worry about my porphyria any more.)
UPDATE: Widener’s says “Wasn’t Us!!”
The latest update from the upcoming Gun Blogger Rendezvous (Sept. 9-12, Reno, NV):
As the Gun Bloggers Unite this month in Reno Nevada, MidwayUSA would like to extend our special appreciation for what they accomplish in shooting industry. First, we would like for each Blogger to receive a special gift from MidwayUSA when they arrive at the Rendezvous. Second, we would like to extend some exclusive discounts for each of the Bloggers and their respected communities/following to take advantage of. We hope these exclusive discounts help as many people and Bloggers as possible to enjoy the shooting sports industry.
Mr. Completely, would you please forward the following promotion codes and guidelines along so that people can start saving on shooting and outdoor gear.
1) Place regularly priced in-stock products in your shopping cart and receive:
* $10 off a Purchase of $100 or more – Use Promotion Code 19410
* $50 off a Purchase of $500 or more – Use Promotion Code 59410
* $100 off a Purchase of $1,000 or more – Use Promotion Code 1094102) Enter the promotion code in the box entitled “Promotion Code” on the shopping cart page.
3) You will see the discount on the Confirmation page before placing your order
4) Remember, this promotion code is valid for orders placed on MidwayUSA.com.
5) Limited to one per Customer and one promotion code per retail order.
6) Offer cannot be combined with Birthday, Special or Dealer Pricing.
7) Offer not valid on MidwayUSA Gift Certificates, Nightforce, Sale and Clearance products.
8) Offer valid on regularly priced products only.
9) Hurry, offer ends at 11:59 PM CT September 15, 2010.
Cool!
Oh, and here’s a list of blogs and websites that will have representation at this year’s Rendezvous. More of y’all need to pull the trigger and come on up!
Random Nuclear Strikes
True Blue Sam
Traction Control
The Smallest Minority (Me!)
The Molly Minute
The Packing Rat
Our Gun Thing
(Yes, we’re being “infiltrated” by a gun-owning Lefty! Come show him the error of his ways!)
The Clue Meter
Anthroblogogy
AR15.Com
NSSF Blog
NRA Blog
* Joe’s Crabby shack (Inactive)
CS Tactical
* Gunup blog (launching soon)
Mr. Completely
Keewee’s Corner
Hell, all we need now is Oleg Volk and his cameras. And, of course, YOU. You don’t need to BE a blogger, just read one or more of us. We don’t bite! And we’ll let you shoot our guns!
Our kids have become cannon fodder for two rival ideologies battling to control America’s future.
In one camp are conservative Christians and their champion, the Texas State Board of Education; in the other are politically radical multiculturalists and their de facto champion, President Barack Obama. The two competing visions couldn’t be more different. And the stakes couldn’t be higher. Unfortunately, whichever side wins — your kid ends up losing.
That’s because this war is for the power to dictate what our children are taught — and, by extension, how future generations of Americans will view the world. Long gone are the days when classrooms were for learning: now each side sees the public school system as a vast indoctrination camp in which future culture-warriors are trained. The problem is, two diametrically opposed philosophies are struggling for supremacy, and neither is willing to give an inch, so the end result is extremism, no matter which side temporarily comes out on top.
Both visions are grotesque and unacceptable — and yet they are currently the only two choices on the national menu. Which shall it be, sir: Brainwashing Fricassee, or a Fried Ignorance Sandwich?
Zombie – Ideological War Spells Doom for America’s Schoolkids
Homeschool if at all possible.
UPDATE: Read ALL FIVE PARTS of Zombie’s Überpost. I mean it. He’s done parts I and II. I await with bated breath the rest of this magnum opus.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CY5aFvRe2E&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1&w=640&h=385]
But you’ve got to admit, he drew an impressive crowd.
The media, however, has found its buzzphrase.
And we’re supposed to believe that JournoList was some kind of unique aberrant behavior among that crowd?
This time from Mostly Cajun:
Then there’s our own upcoming election. The republican party may indeed win the house. They may indeed get a secure, cloture-proof number of seats in the senate. And then it’ll be back to the same old tricks as the bright, enthusiastic newbies hit the capitol all filled with Tea party enthusiasm. forgive my cynicism, but I’ve seen it all before, back when Newt and the Gang rolled in with the Contract with America. And in one term, the bright faces of the iconoclasts were stilled, replaced every one with the steely glare of the Beltway commandos, happily buying into the idea that a seat in Washington was the single greatest expression of one’s worth on the planet, and said seat could be secured by pork and pander.
Except that “pork and pander” has bankrupted the country, and about the first time that Billy Bob’s paycheck fails to buy groceries due to the inflation of a failed monetary system, and the first time DaMarcus’s food stamps don’t work, there’s going to be a new game being played.
I’m an old (well, getting there, anyway) man, and I’m an optimist on many things, but I fail to see a peaceful way out of this present unpleasantness. I can hope. I can keep trying, and do my little bit. I can remain watchful. But I’m thinking things will get MUCH worse before they get better.
I’m not quite as old as Dale, and I’m not an optimist, and I think he’s accurately described exactly what’s coming.
Are you going? Still plenty of time to make travel arrangements. Here’s some more incentives to come:
As you’ve already been told, Hi-Point is donating a pistol caliber carbine, Glock is donating a certificate for any standard model handgun, Ruger is sending a factory representative, the NRA is sending a representative, the National Shooting Sports Foundation is sending a rep, SFC Toby Nunn will be representing Project Valour IT, and Molly Smith will be there again, so you too can be beaten by a little girl at the game of Steel Challenge.
But in addition, Leupold has donated one of their new VX3 scopes, and Derek of The Packing Rat (who has won, I believe, two firearms at previous GBRs) is donating a Venturi Bronco air rifle for the raffle.
And last but not least, Mr. Completely says that something major is going to be announced at GBRV:
At this year’s Gun Blogger Rendezvous the head of a major internet start up endeavor will be announcing something new and big and cool! It will involve the internet, guns, shooting, hunting, shooting sports, forum-ing (is that a word? Should it be?), 2nd. Amendment Issues, blogging, and a lot of other stuff too.
Sounds interesting!
Make your plans. It’s one of the most enjoyable weekends you’ll ever have.
From the comments to the announcement that the EPA has decided not to consider a ban of lead in ammunition:
I wonder how many Donk congresscritters were calling up the EPA and screaming “NOT NOW! NOT F*&KING NOW!” — Ragin’ Dave
From the NRA:
EPA Denies Ammo Ban Petition
Friday, August 27, 2010
Responding to a grassroots outcry from gun owners, the Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it has denied a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity and other radical groups that had sought to ban the use of lead in ammunition.
Agreeing with the position of the NRA and the firearms industry, the agency explained in a news release that it “does not have the legal authority to regulate this type of product under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).” Further crushing the hopes of anti-gun and anti-hunting activists, the release added: “nor is the agency seeking such authority.”
I guess somebody told them about the sudden rush on Wookie suits.
Via email today:
In the coming days and weeks, the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) will be announcing endorsements and candidate ratings in hundreds of federal races, as well as thousands of state legislative races. Unless these announcements are required by the timing of primary or special elections, the NRA-PVF generally does not issue endorsements while important legislative business is pending. The NRA-PVF also operates under a long-standing policy that gives preference to incumbent candidates who have voted with the NRA on key issues, which is explained in more detail here.
The U.S. Senate recently considered a number of issues important to NRA members, including the confirmation of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court. Out of respect for the confirmation process, the NRA did not announce its position on Ms. Kagan’s confirmation until the conclusion of her testimony before the Senate Judiciary committee. Her evasive testimony exacerbated grave concerns we had about her long-standing hostility towards the Second Amendment. As a result, the NRA strongly opposed her confirmation and made it clear at the time that we would be scoring this important vote.
The vote on Elena Kagan’s confirmation to the Court, along with the previous year’s confirmation vote on Sonia Sotomayor, are critical for the future of the Second Amendment. After careful consideration, the NRA-PVF announced today that it will not be endorsing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for re-election in the 2010 U.S. Senate race in Nevada.
The NRA, contrary to the beliefs that it is a exclusively Republican organization, has endorsed Harry Reid in the past because of his support of the right to arms, at least when voting on specific legislation. However, there’s more to it than just that, and the NRA has at long last weighed the balance of Reid’s behavior (or, on the other hand, sees which way the political winds are blowing) and has dropped that support like a hot rock.
About time.
Tam expresses precisely my feelings about the EPA considering a ban on lead ammunition:
This would make me want to get my wookie on. This would make me want to saddle up and bust caps. If the .gov was wondering what it would take to turn me into a wild-eyed militia kook, well, they’ve found it.
And:
*There is anecdotal evidence that the banning of traditional ammunition would have an adverse impact on government bureaucrat populations.
Re-read Personal Sovereignty and “Killing Their Asses” if you don’t believe me.