2Cellos: Music Sensation of the Decade

I know I am off track from firearms, weaponry and its history; but Second Amendment patriots enjoy music like other folks ...

Music can soothe the wild beast, so the legend goes; but it can also bring the beast out in us …

In the early years of Rock-N-Roll and then on to Classic Rock, musicians saw a resemblance to some music to the “revolutionary” Beethoven of the day; and indeed, a R&R hit was introduced as Roll Over Beethoven.

When I went to grade school, now called “Middle School”, there was classes on Music Appreciation, which covered the gamut from classical to jazz and so on. For after school curriculum and a few dollars, a class was offered that taught traditional dances like square dancing, polka, waltz, et cetera. I doubt if this is available to students today. The faculty is too busy with National Condom Week and what the progressive-socialists have in mind that control our educational system.

Old West: Mountain Men and Their Weapons

The Mountain Men of the Old West have lived on in legends written in books and depicted on film, and honored by reenactments in modern-day Rendezvous. Behind the legends and myths there is real history. One of the best books written about the American West and the Mountain Men is – Virgin Land: The American West As Symbol and Myth by Henry Nash Smith; Harvard College, 1950. E-Text of the books is available at the University of Virginia website, part of the American Studies created by Emily Zimmerman. 

History: Battle and Evacuation of Dunkirk, 1940

As part of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact in August of 1939, Germany conceded that the Soviets would gain parts of Poland and the Baltic States. For the Nazi, it prevented a two-front war – one in the west as German forces advanced towards France and against the Soviet Union, whom Hitler despised. Both Stalin and Hitler knew the pact would not last.

When the Battle of France began on May 11^th, 1940, the German armor units surprisingly broke through the Ardennes region and advanced north. At the same time the Germans advanced in the east, controlling the Netherlands and into Belgium. This divided the combined forces of the British, French, and Belgian and the advance of the powerful Panzer divisions trapped Allied soldiers along the French-Belgium border.

The British, seeing that the effort to save France was lost, planning of an operation to evacuate was made, so troops could return to England for its defense. 

From the Foxhole: Firearms and Self Defense

Elko, Nevada: Four people were setting up Christmas trees in a lot and while doing so they were joking and laughing. A stranger approached them and became agitated, thinking they were laughing at him. They apologized to him and told him that they had not been laughing at him. He left, but returned with a knife and advanced toward the group. One of the group drew his handgun and warned him to stop while another called the police. Officers arrived and subdued the man with the knife. It was believed he had been under the influence of narcotics. [Elko Daily Free Press, 12/3/2013]

Dallas, Texas: What was supposed to be a routine Craiglist transaction turned out to be dangerous. Two men arranged to meet each other about a motorcycle for sale at Craiglist. When the meeting took place, the person who posted the ad pulled gun on the buyer who had his daughter with him. The buyer pulled his own pistol and fired at the armed man, which prompted him to flee. The family called the police and reported the incident and officers located the suspect and was treated for gunshot wounds. Investigators found ski masks and batons in the suspects car. He had previous convictions of various crimes that included arson, theft, and aggravated robbery. [Dallas News, 12/3/2013]

American Historical Figures: Shirley Temple Black

Shirley Temple Black famed child star and diplomat, died on February 10th, 2014. She was 85 years old. Surrounded by her family and friends, she passed in her Woodside, California home.

She was born on April 23^rd, 1928 in Santa Monica, California, her birth name was Shirley Jane Temple, her mother, Gertrude Temple. Her father was George Temple, a banker. Shirley began her film career at age 3 in 1932. By 1934 she had gained international fame after her film Bright Eyes. In 1935 she received an outstanding contribution award for the 1934 films Curly Top and Heidi. 

Michael Behenna Receives Parole But NO Clemency From Commander-in-Chief

Michael Behenna, 1^st Lt, US Army was convicted of the “murder” of a terrorist responsible for an IED attack on his platoon, which left two US soldiers dead. The prosecution, Department of Justice, stated he “forfeited” his rights to self-defense. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Last year, Diana West, a columnist attended a hearing that was unsuccessful to get the military court of appeal to overturn his conviction of premeditated murder. Ms. West reported that what she had witnessed during Behenna's Washington DC hearing -

...was enough to make the gold eagle on top of the American flag in the courtroom shake and then hang its head. …

Stephen King, Contemporary Horror Author, Joins Progressive Movement to Ban Firearms

First his biography and his accomplishments:

Stephen King is a contemporary author of horror fiction that includes science fiction and fantasy genre, whose books have sold more than 350 million copies and he continues to write more. Many of those stories became adaptations of films, television movies, and comic books. To date, he has written fifty novels that include early works written under a pen name Richard Bachman (seven books) and five non-fiction titles. He has written 200 short stories that have been put together to make nine collections. Most of his stories occur in his home state of Maine. He will go down in the history of American literature in the ranks of Poe and Lovecraft; along with the Gothic horror style of Anne Rice. He is well-known in the academic world of literature and has taught university classes and given lectures. His renown is international. I have a complete collection of his works that I passed on to his family; and despite his skewered look at the liberties of the Second Amendment, I admire him as a writer and intellect.

Aircraft Laser Pointing is Dangerous and a Felony and Animals Can Be Fun

The FBI has begun a program for deterring people from pointing lasers at aircraft, which is a felony punishable by five years in jail, or more if the laser shooting person causes an air crash.

Ron Hosko, assistant director of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division stated:

Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a serious matter and a violation of federal law. It is important that people understand that this is a criminal act with potentially deadly repercussions.

The program includes a campaign to educate the public about the dangers of “lasing” that will operate for 60 days in twelve FBI field offices where laser strikes against aircraft have been occurring most frequently. Part of the program is the offering of a reward up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of any individual who intentionally aims a laser at an aircraft.

Firearm History: Kentucky Long Rifle

Back in 1776, American colonial patriots were an unlikely bunch to be taking on the greatest military might of that period in history. They were men (and a few women) who came from all walks of life: tradesmen, farmers, plantation owners, mixed in with some veterans of the French and Indian War and French volunteers who came across the sea to help win the revolution. Backwoods colonials were among them from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and the Carolinas with their long Kentucky rifles. While the colonial military leadership and their tactics decided the outcome, the patriots played a substantial role with a few thousand militiamen against seasoned British troops that outnumbered them as they arrived by ship to quell the rebellion.

Cooking with Peanut Oil

Grill Sergeant

Peanut Oil may be expensive, but in my book it gets an “A” on flavor, high smoking point with high temperatures, resistance against spoiling, and retaining the flavor of what it is cooked with.

It also has the benefit of keeping longer than other cooking oils. Unopened peanut oil lasts at least one year, and when opened about 4-6 months – even longer if it is refrigerated and in a tightly sealed container.

Peanut Oil overheats less easily than my other favorite and healthy cooking oil – Olive Oil.

Within the six-month storage period, can be reused several times as long as you take the precaution of sterilizing it before using by allowing the oil temperature to reach 350 degrees Fahrenheit before adding the food to cook. Also you need to strain the oil after each use to ensure that food particles do not remain with the stored reused oil.

Illinois Justice: Man Defends Home from Invaders and Charged with Expired Firearm Registration Card

After defending his home and daughter, a man on crutches was charged by the police for an expired firearm owner identification card. Expired? When was the Second Amendment declared to have an expiration date?
Here's the story.

Weapons of Choice: The High-Tech TrackingPoint Smart Rifle

In the last article I covered what you thought was the ultimate rifle as far as technology … think again.

Back in the fall of 2013, just in time for the January 2014 SHOT Show in Las Vegas debut, TrackingPoint introduced to the world a rifle that is computerized making everyone an expert at the range and hunting field. The first prototype was created in March of 2011 by John McHale, Founder-CEO of TrackingPoint. The cost runs from a kit for an assault rifle starts at $10,000. Like modern jet fighters and helicopter pilots, the rifle has a HUD (Heads Up Display) that indicates and calculates range, wind, and has zoom capabilities as well as Wi-Fi connections, a compass and battery life readout. You can record images on your smartphone or tablet from the scope (to a computer) and even transmit via email or social media. You can record that great shot you made of a Grizzly bear at 1000 yards or show just how accurate your five-shot grouping can be.

Weapons of Choice: Barrett M82

M82

The M82 designated by the US military as M107 is a recoil-operated, semi-automatic sniper rifle produced by Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Company in the United States. It has a heavy-duty SASR (Special Application Scope) and is considered a light fifty despite its .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO) chambering. It is produced in two models, the original M82A1 and M82A3 as well as a “bullpup” model M82A2 that is no longer manufactured. It is an anti-material as well as long-range anti-personnel weapon, able to rip through vehicles like butter.

Weapons of Choice: Remington M24E1

The Remington M24 Sniper Weapon System (SWS) was originally produced in the 7.62mm (.308-caliber), but in 2010, it was upgraded to .300 Winchester Magnum ammunition for precise engagement and improved capabilities and range. The initial upgraded rifles, 3,600, were produced and classified as M24E1 with a five-year contract. The effective range increased from 800 meters to 1,200 meters, important in operations in Afghanistan for long-range sniper activities, especially for the 10^th Mountain Division. Civilian hunters have used that caliber for big game hunting and required long-range shooting of the American western states.

Groundhog Day 2014: Six More Weeks of Winter Weather

Today is Groundhog Day, originating in Pennsylvania via the German immigrants where the folklore and tradition comes from. The Pennsylvania German description is Gundsaudagg, Murmeltiertag. It occurs every February 2^nd. If it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, then spring will come early; if it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat back into its burrow, which means that winter weather will continue for six more weeks.

In southeastern Pennsylvania, Grundsow Lodges celebrate the holiday with fersommlinge – social events that include food, speeches and entertainment. During the event only Pennsylvanian German is spoken and anyone caught speaking English pay a penalty (nickel, dime or quarter) for every English word spoken and the money is put into a bowl at the center of the table.