In The News: December 2014

Comedian Jay Leno was scheduled to appear at the annual dinner of the National Shooting Sports Foundation 2015 SHOT Show in Las Vegas on January 20^th. He gave in to pressure from the Michael Bloomberg funded Mom's Demand Action anti-firearm group when they organized a social media campaign against Leno. Shannon Watts heads the group and has armed security people protecting her, just as Bloomberg has his security people. Watts has been caught lying in several interviews. Watts also has said that open carry in restaurants is an example of anger and hatred of women – and other nonsensical statements. In the following video Watts will not respond to questions by Loesch because she said she was insulted by Blaze – but has frequently, in her hypocrisy, has wrongfully accused others, insulting anyone who do not believe that Americans have Second Amendment rights, as shown in this video:

Gun Control Should Not Be a Health Issue

One of the things about the government getting involved with health care that I warned folks about was that 'medical professionals' have gotten into the gun control fray; which started when the CDC (Center for Disease Control) got involved with gun control using the excuse that it concerned 'public health'.

Mike Weisser at a Huffington Post blog calls himself “Mike the Gun Guy” - but it is misleading like 98% of what progressives write about. It should be: 'Mike the Anti-Gun Guy'. Oddly, he states he has been in the gun business as a retailer, wholesaler, importer, and firearms trainer with an NRA life membership – having a Ph.D. In economic history. Is it not hypocrisy to make a living for 35 years selling firearms and then provide ammunition for the anti-gun movement?

Heroes: Louis Zamperini

Louis Silvie “Lucky Louie” Zamperini was born on January 26, 1917 and died July 2, 2014. He was an Olympic distance runner, World War II prisoner of war survivor and inspirational speaker. His story was told by Laura Hillenbrand who wrote the best-selling book, Unbroken; which was adapted into a film that will be released December 2014, directed and co-produced by Angelina Jolie. Hillenbrand also published another best seller, Seabiscuit: An American Legend. The stars of the film are: Jack O'Connell, Garrett Hedlund, and Domhnall Gleeson.

Kitchen Herbs and Homeopathic Remedies

When religion was strong and medicine was weak, men mistook magic for medicine; Now when science is strong and religion is weak, men mistake medicine for magic.

• Thomas Szasz, The Second Sin

Doctors and patients today have returned to the knowledge of homeopathic medicine, the ancient world of herbs and spices as preventives and methods of maintaining the needs for a healthy body. 

Herbology (Herbalism) has become a scientific genre, not just something listed in a Harry Potter novel. Indeed, there are courses one can take on the subject and even obtain a degree.

Finding Quality in the High-Tech Era

Old-Fashioned Quality

I have always liked gizmos and gadgets, it seems a lot of males do for some reason. The world of electronics has come a long way over the decades with all sorts of bells and whistles – and a growing price tag. One could live with that if the quality remained the same as, say, thirty years ago. But overall it has not.

My mother had a toaster that lasted for twenty years and a coffee maker (early Mr. Coffee) that lasted almost ten years.

Today I threw out my coffeemaker that lasted a little over two years before the electronics went haywire. I am replacing it with an old fashioned peculator, since the toaster hardly two years old was shorting out. What good is the UL Approved symbol when manufacturers don't make quality products? It may have been one that slipped by the inspector, but I think it just was not made to last.

Sherlock Holmes: Elementary

Signet Paget illustration, 1893

A recent article about Stacey Solomon, former Queen of the Jungle and English singer, who is a bookworm and fan of Shakespeare and Sherlock Holmes. It struck me how a fictional character could have such fans after so long. Indeed, the character Indiana Jones may well be another immortalized character.

Sherlock Holmes has been a world renown figure, an English icon, popular in the United States for more than a century depicted on film by various actors; especially famously portrayed by Basil Rathbone. He was created by an imaginative Scottish author and physician, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a graduate of the University of Edinburgh Medical School. Holmes is known for his logical reasoning, his talent for disguise, and the first use of forensic science in solving mysterious cases of crime. His nemesis, Moriarty, is also famous along with Holmes' companion and friend, Dr. John H. Watson who introduces the famous sleuth detective and narrates in all but four stories published as a series from 1887 to 1927. The stories take place from 1880 to 1914.

Weapons of Choice: S&W Model 66 - K-Frame Returns

Model 66 (Click to enlarge)

Smith & Wesson Model 66 revolver has a rich history, once widely used by law enforcement until the semi-automatic took over in popularity. It is still a good handgun for concealed carry and home defense. In .357 Magnum caliber, you can shoot the cheaper .38 Special ammunition at the range.

S&W made the Model 66 has a light trigger with smooth action and now is available in the original K-Frame that made it so popular. It is an all stainless steel revolver that is a beauty to own and rugged for constant range use.

Code of the West and American Society

John Wayne was the embodiment of the silver screen cowboy, and was quoted saying:

A man's got to have a code, a creed to live by, no matter his job.