Category Archives: Unfiled

It came across my inbox earlier this week that the Big-E is headed out for her final cruise.

The Enterprise holds a special place in my family’s heart, not just for the storied history of the ships that have bore the name, but it was by far one of my fathers favorite deployments as an NFO.  There were numerous stories and she always carried a special place for both of us.  So special in fact she was directly involved in one of the most memorable moments of my young life.

A common tradition in many scout troops, especially my own, was that an Eagle Scout be presented with a flag that had been flown over the US Capitol.  It was tradition that the father get the flag and present it.

My father ever being the creative man he was knew that a flag over the capitol wouldn’t mean that much to me.  At the time this ball was rolling I had just submitted my application for appointment to Rice University for the NROTC program.  He had maintained numerous contacts within the Navy, many of whom would help me within the coming months as other events unfolded.  My dad, further being the prankster he was pretended the entire time to be constantly forgetting about the flag saying he’ll take care of it later.

I remember sitting there during my Eagle Court as he walked up to the lectern wondering what he had up his sleeve.  When he asked the audience to rise that was expected.  When the color guard carried the flag in from the back, that was expected.  When my dad took the flag from the color guard left hand on top right on bottom, that was expected.  When he turned to me and said, “Son, your journey is just beginning and I know that normal tradition says I should give you a flag flown over the US Capitol.  That however would not do, and would not instill how proud of you I am.  I know that you stand ever ready to shield and protect this National Ensign…”* That was totally unexpected.  My father after handing me the flag ensign, then proceeded to explain to those present who mostly were unaware what a National Ensign is and then proceeded to read the accompanying certificate.

At the time she had just returned to port from the first wave of Operation Enduring Freedom (I still hate that name, I don’t endure my freedom, I celebrate it and defend it).  The XO at the NROTC unit at UW was the Gun Boss on the E at the time and when I met him the following fall and he actually remembered it.

While my course has changed due to unforeseen events, the impact of that ship and ensign weigh heavily in my memory.

I am sad to see her on her final cruise, however it is not as if she is a child only a few years old.

*Or words to that effect.  I remember being in shock when he said Ensign.

**Side note: Most people who get flags flown over the Capitol have flags that were flown for all of 30 seconds.  They just run them up the pole and back down.  That Ensign went up in the morning at reveille and stayed there until dusk.

So, Joe recently proved how useless the TSA is.  His backpack, which had explosives in it the month before, I was there as he packed it across the frozen tundra, passed screening with flying colors.  We’re not talking GSR here folks, were talking Ammonium Nitrate and Potassium Chlorate with some other fuels.   His other bags which also spend copious amounts of time passed with flying colors as well.

Then tonight Joe posts this wonderful graphic.  Posted here because it’s just that awesome.

Created by: OnlineCriminalJusticeDegree.com

The TSA is pointless and nothing but a security theater.  Their whole job is to make stupid people think that some how they’re safer while destroying their rights.  All the while figuring out how to steal money from their customers.

Don’t forget about all of these incidents, or the incidents of sexual predators.  Remember though, it’s all for your protection.  If you don’t like them molesting you, your wife, or your children, well too bad they’re the state and can do whatever the hell they want.  I’ve disowned and disassociated from anyone willing to work for the thugs, have you?

Ice cream machine is currently on the fritz.  I have a few things I’d like to write up and just don’t have the time or the will right now.

I will say I spent some time cleaning up the garage and shop Saturday.  After which I decided to clean a pistol that I myself have never cleaned and was last cleaned by my father.  I knew it was about time because the grease was stiffening up.

I got everything apart no problem but I will be going to the gun show in Lewiston on Saturday in the search of a replacement part.  During reassembly my punch slipped and I sent the takedown plunger that keeps the takedown latch in place flying into never never land.  It was there one second and gone the next.  Such a simple part and so critical for function.

I spent Sunday at the indoor range doing drills.  I pushed the distance and speed this time on the dot torture.  I also did some simple drills with trying to focus on what I’m doing after what happened at the last match.  I need to be able to think while on the move so I’m doing different drills on multiple targets so I have to think about shot order.

I will say I was a bit disappointed with the 22 conversion kit this time around.  I put about 250-300 rounds through it.  It started gumming up on me so I dumped a bunch of BreakFreeCLP on the slide rails and then added a little pink grease.  It ran decently after that for the remainder of the practice with one major note.

The target sights that come on the 22 conversion kit suck.  Not because they’re inaccurate, but because when running drills and you have a miss fire you’re probably going to loose some skin.  There are multiple sharp edges and I’ve got blood blisters on my hands and a couple ripped open places on my fingers from grabbing that slide and racking it hard to clear it.

I’m going to clean it again before going back to the range on Saturday.

After my practice session I took the wife to see Act of Valor.  By the time I got home I didn’t feel like blogging yesterday and the wife is wanting attention today.  So

My heart broke when my mom called to tell me about this last night.

The shooting happened Saturday afternoon in the officer’s parked van in Stanwood. The sibling, whose age and gender have not been released, found a loaded handgun in the vehicle and fired it, striking the girl, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating.

Here’s the quick run down incase you are outside the loop, but an off duty police officer left a loaded weapon in his car with his children.  The children found the weapon and one of the children shot the other.

It is a heart breaking story and is totally preventable through a couple different means.  The most important of which is EDUCATION!  Educate your children about the use of firearms.  Instruct them they are tools, not toys and should be treated as such.  I grew up in a house with a loaded firearm on the wall for coyotes and other varmints.  My sister and I never shot each other because our parents educated us.

If you turn firearms into the forbidden fruit it just drives curiosity and removes the ability for you to demonstrate the respect they deserve.  You cannot hide your children from firearms.  The best thing you can do is educate them and remove their curiosity.

As a side note, this accident happened in the charge of one of the anointed.  The people the anti-rights cultists claim are the only people most highly qualified and trained to use a firearm.  My parents weren’t in law enforcement and properly educated their children about firearms.  Some food for thought.

*I know some might say kids are too young to understand, maybe you should actually expect something out of your child.  You might be pleasantly surprised at the result.