Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Price Gouging
Here we go again. The states that were affected by the hurricanes this year are passing laws against "price gouging." A few months ago, I wrote a post about price controls and how they are bad. Laws on so called price gouging are just another form of price controls.
It's an emotional issue. Nobody wants to be taken advantage of during a crisis or catastrophy. But, the people who are making these laws are making a big mistake. The net effect of these laws will be a scarcity of the very goods and services the lawmakers are trying to control prices on.
I was having a discussion with someone about this one time. He was adamant that it was ethically wrong for people to profit from the hardship of others. While intuitively, I couldn't disagree with his premise, economically I did. To make a point, I asked him one simple question.
Which is worse? Having access to a particular good or service at a seemingly exhorbitant price, or having no access period?
Like I've said before, "This ain't rocket surgery." You see, economics doesn't really care about ethics. There is something called "the law of supply and demand" that supersedes all others. For example, if I can sell ice to people for five times what I normally can sell it for, I will be more than happy to go through whatever hardships I come across to be able to get the ice to the buyers. If the law says I can't sell it for that much, I won't go to the trouble. That means the ice will no longer have a way to get to the market.
When supply and demand changes, prices change. If laws control what the prices are, the supply will dry up and there will be shortages which will hurt everyone.
Another example is motel rooms. Why should motels be able to charge more for rooms? It's supply and demand. Let's assume both motels and homes have been damaged or destroyed by a hurricane. Now there will be more people searching for fewer rooms.
What if the laws froze the rates the motels could charge? The rooms would be gobbled up on a first come basis and a lot of people would be without. Okay, let's assume the motels were allowed to rent the rooms at a higher price.
A family of four or five might have to double up and rent just one room when they would ordinarily rent two rooms. This would leave another room for another family that might need it.
If a family's home was damaged and not destroyed, rather than pay the high price of a room. they might stay home and make do with less than ideal conditions, thus leaving a room for someone else whose home was totally destroyed.
The bottom line is that supply and demand works a lot better when people don't try to mess with it. It's basically the same whether we're talking about ice, generators, water, plywood, gasoline, or motel rooms. Price controls will not help supplies to come in to an emergency situation nearly as fast as higher prices will.
It's an emotional issue. Nobody wants to be taken advantage of during a crisis or catastrophy. But, the people who are making these laws are making a big mistake. The net effect of these laws will be a scarcity of the very goods and services the lawmakers are trying to control prices on.
I was having a discussion with someone about this one time. He was adamant that it was ethically wrong for people to profit from the hardship of others. While intuitively, I couldn't disagree with his premise, economically I did. To make a point, I asked him one simple question.
Which is worse? Having access to a particular good or service at a seemingly exhorbitant price, or having no access period?
Like I've said before, "This ain't rocket surgery." You see, economics doesn't really care about ethics. There is something called "the law of supply and demand" that supersedes all others. For example, if I can sell ice to people for five times what I normally can sell it for, I will be more than happy to go through whatever hardships I come across to be able to get the ice to the buyers. If the law says I can't sell it for that much, I won't go to the trouble. That means the ice will no longer have a way to get to the market.
When supply and demand changes, prices change. If laws control what the prices are, the supply will dry up and there will be shortages which will hurt everyone.
Another example is motel rooms. Why should motels be able to charge more for rooms? It's supply and demand. Let's assume both motels and homes have been damaged or destroyed by a hurricane. Now there will be more people searching for fewer rooms.
What if the laws froze the rates the motels could charge? The rooms would be gobbled up on a first come basis and a lot of people would be without. Okay, let's assume the motels were allowed to rent the rooms at a higher price.
A family of four or five might have to double up and rent just one room when they would ordinarily rent two rooms. This would leave another room for another family that might need it.
If a family's home was damaged and not destroyed, rather than pay the high price of a room. they might stay home and make do with less than ideal conditions, thus leaving a room for someone else whose home was totally destroyed.
The bottom line is that supply and demand works a lot better when people don't try to mess with it. It's basically the same whether we're talking about ice, generators, water, plywood, gasoline, or motel rooms. Price controls will not help supplies to come in to an emergency situation nearly as fast as higher prices will.
posted by Dash | 3:10 PM | |
Leading Man Test
Which classic leading man are you?
H/T to ZiPpo the Pirate.
H/T to ZiPpo the Pirate.
| John Wayne You scored 42% Tough, 19% Roguish, 23% Friendly, and 14% Charming! |
| You, my friend, are a man's man, the original true grit, one tough talking, swaggering son of a bitch. You're not a bad guy, on the contrary, you're the ultimate good guy, but you're one tough character, rough and tumble, ready for anything. You call the shots and go your own way, and if some screwy dame is willing to accept your terms, that's just fine by you. Otherwise, you'll just hit the open trail and stay true to yourself. You stand up for what you believe and can handle any situation, usually by rushing into the thick of the action. You're not polished and you're not overly warm, but you're a straight shooter and a real stand up guy. Co-stars include Lauren Bacall and Maureen O'Hara, tough broads who can take care of themselves. |
 Link: The Classic Leading Man Test written by gidgetgoes on OkCupid Free Online Dating |
posted by Dash | 7:50 AM | |
Saturday, August 27, 2005
More Bull Crap Series (BCS)
College football is here again. The hair on the back of my neck stands up just saying that. However, we still have the BCS to contend with.
Last year when the Associated Press announced it had had enough abuse and would no longer be party to the fiasco called the BCS, the college football world wondered what would happen.
Would the BCS as we knew it be kaput? Would this cause a much needed overhaul of the system? After all, the AP poll was a vital part of the BCS poll. Would we finally take a hard look at some sort of playoff system that most players, coaches and fans have been yearning for?
The answer was none of the above. The BCS announced it would simply replace the AP poll with another. The voters of the Harris Interactive poll were named this week.
Besides the names that jumped out at me like Terry Bradshaw and Boomer Esiason, I noticed a few former coaches on the list.
This could be a problem for teams like Texas. Now, one of their former coaches who was fired will be among those making the call in the reconfigured BCS poll. Instead of those who were instructed to vote their consciences by AP, a panel of 114 voters, including John Makovic, will decide college football's championship contenders. Well, isn't that special.
This is the same John Makovic who was humiliatingly fired at UT and later resurfaced at ESPN and then back to coaching at Arizona. I wonder how he'll vote when it comes down to the nut cutting?
The same goes for my man Redneck's team, Ohio State. Will the Buckeyes fans be wondering how Earle Bruce will vote? Will he be propping up his old team, or sticking a knife in its back when he votes this year? Hmmmm. Gives you something to think about, eh?
There have already been a lot of members dropping off the list. Former coaches Lou Holtz and Gerry Dinardo were told they couldn't participate because their ESPN contracts forbid them from associating with the BCS poll. This is probably good news for my LSU Tigers. Dinardo was fired as head coach before Nick Saban came along. Do you think he could still have a bad taste in his mouth?
The strangest resignation I've seen belonged to a guy named Jason Rash, who owns a masonry supply company in Atlanta. He was nominated by Troy coach Larry Blakeney. It turns out that Blakeney happens to be Rash's father-in-law and told CBS Sportsline that his kin would be "credible and accountable" for the poll. Yeah, okay.
Former Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes says he's not going to change his typical Saturday activities. One weekend he plans to be in Abilene watching his grandsons play high school football and another weekend he'll be in Austin with his old friend Darrell Royal watching UT. He even plans to go see his old pal Barry Alvarez who is coaching his final season at Wisconsin. Dykes says, "I'll be watching football, you can guarantee that."
Dykes said he didn't hesitate to vote when asked by Harris officials, even though he is a strong proponent for a college football playoff system. "When it's a vote between old ugly and old nothing, you vote for old ugly," Dykes said. "It's far from the best way to do it. But if they aren't going to have a playoff, I don't know of a better way."
Former Southern Cal player Anthony Munoz chuckled that his association would force him to watch some games other than those involving his alma mater or Tennessee where his son was a star player.
In my opinion, this week's announcement and the resulting fallout is another indication that the BCS still has some problems. But it's the system we have this year, so we'll see how it plays out.
Geaux Tigers!
Last year when the Associated Press announced it had had enough abuse and would no longer be party to the fiasco called the BCS, the college football world wondered what would happen.
Would the BCS as we knew it be kaput? Would this cause a much needed overhaul of the system? After all, the AP poll was a vital part of the BCS poll. Would we finally take a hard look at some sort of playoff system that most players, coaches and fans have been yearning for?
The answer was none of the above. The BCS announced it would simply replace the AP poll with another. The voters of the Harris Interactive poll were named this week.
Besides the names that jumped out at me like Terry Bradshaw and Boomer Esiason, I noticed a few former coaches on the list.
This could be a problem for teams like Texas. Now, one of their former coaches who was fired will be among those making the call in the reconfigured BCS poll. Instead of those who were instructed to vote their consciences by AP, a panel of 114 voters, including John Makovic, will decide college football's championship contenders. Well, isn't that special.
This is the same John Makovic who was humiliatingly fired at UT and later resurfaced at ESPN and then back to coaching at Arizona. I wonder how he'll vote when it comes down to the nut cutting?
The same goes for my man Redneck's team, Ohio State. Will the Buckeyes fans be wondering how Earle Bruce will vote? Will he be propping up his old team, or sticking a knife in its back when he votes this year? Hmmmm. Gives you something to think about, eh?
There have already been a lot of members dropping off the list. Former coaches Lou Holtz and Gerry Dinardo were told they couldn't participate because their ESPN contracts forbid them from associating with the BCS poll. This is probably good news for my LSU Tigers. Dinardo was fired as head coach before Nick Saban came along. Do you think he could still have a bad taste in his mouth?
The strangest resignation I've seen belonged to a guy named Jason Rash, who owns a masonry supply company in Atlanta. He was nominated by Troy coach Larry Blakeney. It turns out that Blakeney happens to be Rash's father-in-law and told CBS Sportsline that his kin would be "credible and accountable" for the poll. Yeah, okay.
Former Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes says he's not going to change his typical Saturday activities. One weekend he plans to be in Abilene watching his grandsons play high school football and another weekend he'll be in Austin with his old friend Darrell Royal watching UT. He even plans to go see his old pal Barry Alvarez who is coaching his final season at Wisconsin. Dykes says, "I'll be watching football, you can guarantee that."
Dykes said he didn't hesitate to vote when asked by Harris officials, even though he is a strong proponent for a college football playoff system. "When it's a vote between old ugly and old nothing, you vote for old ugly," Dykes said. "It's far from the best way to do it. But if they aren't going to have a playoff, I don't know of a better way."
Former Southern Cal player Anthony Munoz chuckled that his association would force him to watch some games other than those involving his alma mater or Tennessee where his son was a star player.
In my opinion, this week's announcement and the resulting fallout is another indication that the BCS still has some problems. But it's the system we have this year, so we'll see how it plays out.
Geaux Tigers!
posted by Dash | 8:45 AM | |
Friday, August 26, 2005
Flight Plans
One more week! That's all we have left.
In Texas, dove hunters have waited patiently through the month of August, watching the skies as thousands of doves have zigged and zagged in flights over highways and homes.
In the mornings the birds head out to the fields to feed and in the afternoons, they fly back to the suburban back yards to roost for the night. No matter their direction, they've been flying under the protection of a closed season.
That protection ends on Thursday with the opening of the Central Zone dove season. Thousands of wing shooters and their trusty retrievers will brave the summer heat in search of their quarry.
To hunt birds in Texas, a hunter will need a few things to be successful. First, a current and valid state hunting license is important. Doves are migratory birds which means they're protected by federal as well as state authorities and game regulations. Believe me - you don't want to get caught hunting doves without a proper license.
Next is a shotgun. There are a lot of options here, but the most common shootin' iron used for these birds is a 12 gauge. The type of shotgun is a personal preference. I've seen everything from an inexpensive pump-action gun to a semi-automatic to a high dollar over-under field or sporting clays gun. My gun of choice is my old reliable Beretta 12 gauge semi-automatic. It can take a lot of abuse and still come out firing every time. It's the same gun I use for duck hunting, too.
Type of ammo also falls under personal preference. There are basically two schools of thought here. One is to use the cheapest load you can find and plan on shooting a lot of shells. The other is to use a more expensive load and not have to shoot as much to fill a limit. Since I like to shoot a lot, I lean toward the cheaper shells. After all, that's why I'm out there - to throw some lead into the air. The shot size you should use is either #7-1/2 or #8. Anything larger would damage the tender meat and anything smaller would not ensure a proper kill at any distance over about 20 yards. Most dove shots are going to be from 20 to 35 yards out.
You'll need some clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. While most hunters wear camo, it's not as important as one might think. Obviously, you wouldn't want to wear brightly colored clothes, but if you don't move around a lot, you can get by without having to camo up too much. I usually wear tan, khaki, brown or drab green colors that help me blend in with the field I'm hunting in. I also wear a baseball cap with similar colors and some sort of glasses for eye protection.
In South Texas where I hunt a lot, snake proof boots are a must. The weather is still hot and rattlesnakes are abundant. They might be hot and uncomfortable to wear, but the feeling of safety overrides the discomfort. If you were bitten by a snake, it might be more than an hour's ride to the nearest hospital. Safety first.
A retriever is definitely a plus. A lot of dove hunters don't want to go to the trouble of training and maintaining a good bird dog. Personally, I love it. I wouldn't want to go afield without mine. Yes, you have to be very careful to keep them from overheating and train them to avoid snakes. But the enjoyment I get from watching my dog do what he was naturally bred to do is indescribable. Plus, with a good retriever, you'll avoid losing downed game. In the high grass and brush of Texas, it's almost impossible to find some birds without a dog. I never lost a single bird last year and my dog picked up nearly 100 birds during the season. That's reliability.
The last thing you need is a place to hunt. Around here, a lot of farmers lease their fields by the day. If you know someone who has been to a particular field before, it's relatively easy to get in on that deal. In dove hunting, the more shooters you have, the better (within reason). The key is to find a field the birds have been coming to and set up in that field. For safety, shooters should be stationed no closer than 75 to 100 yards apart. Also, warn hunters about the dangers of shooting horizontally. After you've been peppered a few times by hunters in your field, you'll remember to warn them.
So, starting next Thursday, my huntin' buddy and I'll be hitting the dove fields. Wish us luck.
In Texas, dove hunters have waited patiently through the month of August, watching the skies as thousands of doves have zigged and zagged in flights over highways and homes.
In the mornings the birds head out to the fields to feed and in the afternoons, they fly back to the suburban back yards to roost for the night. No matter their direction, they've been flying under the protection of a closed season.
That protection ends on Thursday with the opening of the Central Zone dove season. Thousands of wing shooters and their trusty retrievers will brave the summer heat in search of their quarry.
To hunt birds in Texas, a hunter will need a few things to be successful. First, a current and valid state hunting license is important. Doves are migratory birds which means they're protected by federal as well as state authorities and game regulations. Believe me - you don't want to get caught hunting doves without a proper license.
Next is a shotgun. There are a lot of options here, but the most common shootin' iron used for these birds is a 12 gauge. The type of shotgun is a personal preference. I've seen everything from an inexpensive pump-action gun to a semi-automatic to a high dollar over-under field or sporting clays gun. My gun of choice is my old reliable Beretta 12 gauge semi-automatic. It can take a lot of abuse and still come out firing every time. It's the same gun I use for duck hunting, too.
Type of ammo also falls under personal preference. There are basically two schools of thought here. One is to use the cheapest load you can find and plan on shooting a lot of shells. The other is to use a more expensive load and not have to shoot as much to fill a limit. Since I like to shoot a lot, I lean toward the cheaper shells. After all, that's why I'm out there - to throw some lead into the air. The shot size you should use is either #7-1/2 or #8. Anything larger would damage the tender meat and anything smaller would not ensure a proper kill at any distance over about 20 yards. Most dove shots are going to be from 20 to 35 yards out.
You'll need some clothes that you don't mind getting dirty. While most hunters wear camo, it's not as important as one might think. Obviously, you wouldn't want to wear brightly colored clothes, but if you don't move around a lot, you can get by without having to camo up too much. I usually wear tan, khaki, brown or drab green colors that help me blend in with the field I'm hunting in. I also wear a baseball cap with similar colors and some sort of glasses for eye protection.
In South Texas where I hunt a lot, snake proof boots are a must. The weather is still hot and rattlesnakes are abundant. They might be hot and uncomfortable to wear, but the feeling of safety overrides the discomfort. If you were bitten by a snake, it might be more than an hour's ride to the nearest hospital. Safety first.
A retriever is definitely a plus. A lot of dove hunters don't want to go to the trouble of training and maintaining a good bird dog. Personally, I love it. I wouldn't want to go afield without mine. Yes, you have to be very careful to keep them from overheating and train them to avoid snakes. But the enjoyment I get from watching my dog do what he was naturally bred to do is indescribable. Plus, with a good retriever, you'll avoid losing downed game. In the high grass and brush of Texas, it's almost impossible to find some birds without a dog. I never lost a single bird last year and my dog picked up nearly 100 birds during the season. That's reliability.
The last thing you need is a place to hunt. Around here, a lot of farmers lease their fields by the day. If you know someone who has been to a particular field before, it's relatively easy to get in on that deal. In dove hunting, the more shooters you have, the better (within reason). The key is to find a field the birds have been coming to and set up in that field. For safety, shooters should be stationed no closer than 75 to 100 yards apart. Also, warn hunters about the dangers of shooting horizontally. After you've been peppered a few times by hunters in your field, you'll remember to warn them.
So, starting next Thursday, my huntin' buddy and I'll be hitting the dove fields. Wish us luck.
posted by Dash | 1:20 PM | |
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Chain of Command
Basil has a great post up on the Chain of Command.
By the Way: If you're not familiar with Basil's Blog, you should be. It's the place for one-stop-shopping for today's current events. Go check it out. Now, back to my point...
It's amazing to me how the leftists and a lot of so called moderates think it's okay to call Bush vile names when talking about the war on terrorism. It's so very transparent that the only reason they're against the war is because Bush is the president.
There is no doubt in my mind that if we were in this war under a Democratic president, we wouldn't be hearing half of the protests. No, he would be held up as a great humanitarian, someone who's not afraid to deal with terrorists who want to take away man's God given freedoms.
While I don't agree with all of his policies, I do recognize that he is the Commander in Chief and that he is the one this country elected to command our troops. If you bad mouth our commander, you bad mouth our troops in the same breath.
By the Way: If you're not familiar with Basil's Blog, you should be. It's the place for one-stop-shopping for today's current events. Go check it out. Now, back to my point...
It's amazing to me how the leftists and a lot of so called moderates think it's okay to call Bush vile names when talking about the war on terrorism. It's so very transparent that the only reason they're against the war is because Bush is the president.
There is no doubt in my mind that if we were in this war under a Democratic president, we wouldn't be hearing half of the protests. No, he would be held up as a great humanitarian, someone who's not afraid to deal with terrorists who want to take away man's God given freedoms.
While I don't agree with all of his policies, I do recognize that he is the Commander in Chief and that he is the one this country elected to command our troops. If you bad mouth our commander, you bad mouth our troops in the same breath.
posted by Dash | 10:08 AM | |
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Politically Correct
HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT WOMEN AND BE POLITICALLY CORRECT:
1. She is not a "BABE" or a "CHICK." She is a "BREASTED AMERICAN."
2. She is not a "SCREAMER" or a "MOANER." She is "VOCALLY APPRECIATIVE."
3. She is not "EASY." She is "HORIZONTALLY ACCESSIBLE."
4. She is not a "DUMB BLONDE." She is a "LIGHT-HAIRED DETOUR OFF THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY."
5. She has not "BEEN AROUND." She is a "PREVIOUSLY-ENJOYED COMPANION."
6. She is not an "AIRHEAD." She is "REALITY IMPAIRED."
7. She does not get "DRUNK" or "TIPSY." She gets "CHEMICALLY INCONVENIENCED."
8. She does not have "BREAST IMPLANTS." She is "MEDICALLY ENHANCED."
9. She does not "NAG" you. She becomes "VERBALLY REPETITIVE."
10. She is not a "TRAMP." She is "SEXUALLY EXTROVERTED."
11. She does not have "MAJOR LEAGUE HOOTERS." She is "PECTORALLY SUPERIOR."
12. She is not a "TWO-BIT HOOKER." She is a "LOW COST PROVIDER."
HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT MEN AND BE POLITICALLY CORRECT:
1. He does not have a "BEER GUT." He has developed a "LIQUID GRAIN STORAGE FACILITY."
2. He is not a "BAD DANCER." He is "OVERLY CAUCASIAN."
3. He doe s not "GET LOST ALL THE TIME." He "INVESTIGATES ALTERNATIVE DESTINATIONS."
4. He is not "BALDING." He is in "FOLLICLE REGRESSION."
5. He is not a "CRADLE ROBBER." He prefers "GENERATIONAL DIFFERENTIAL RELATIONSHIPS."
6. He does not get "FALLING-DOWN DRUNK." He becomes "ACCIDENTALLY HORIZONTAL."
7. He does not act like a "TOTAL ASS." He develops a case of "RECTAL-CRANIAL INVERSION."
8. He is not a "MALE CHAUVINIST PIG. " He has "SWINE EMPATHY."
9. He is not afraid of "COMMITMENT." He is "RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGED."
10. He is not "HORNY." He is "SEXUALLY FOCUSED."
11. It's not his "CRACK" you see hanging out of his pants. It's "REAR CLEAVAGE."
H/T to my man Wayne in Crawford, Texas.
1. She is not a "BABE" or a "CHICK." She is a "BREASTED AMERICAN."
2. She is not a "SCREAMER" or a "MOANER." She is "VOCALLY APPRECIATIVE."
3. She is not "EASY." She is "HORIZONTALLY ACCESSIBLE."
4. She is not a "DUMB BLONDE." She is a "LIGHT-HAIRED DETOUR OFF THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY."
5. She has not "BEEN AROUND." She is a "PREVIOUSLY-ENJOYED COMPANION."
6. She is not an "AIRHEAD." She is "REALITY IMPAIRED."
7. She does not get "DRUNK" or "TIPSY." She gets "CHEMICALLY INCONVENIENCED."
8. She does not have "BREAST IMPLANTS." She is "MEDICALLY ENHANCED."
9. She does not "NAG" you. She becomes "VERBALLY REPETITIVE."
10. She is not a "TRAMP." She is "SEXUALLY EXTROVERTED."
11. She does not have "MAJOR LEAGUE HOOTERS." She is "PECTORALLY SUPERIOR."
12. She is not a "TWO-BIT HOOKER." She is a "LOW COST PROVIDER."
HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT MEN AND BE POLITICALLY CORRECT:
1. He does not have a "BEER GUT." He has developed a "LIQUID GRAIN STORAGE FACILITY."
2. He is not a "BAD DANCER." He is "OVERLY CAUCASIAN."
3. He doe s not "GET LOST ALL THE TIME." He "INVESTIGATES ALTERNATIVE DESTINATIONS."
4. He is not "BALDING." He is in "FOLLICLE REGRESSION."
5. He is not a "CRADLE ROBBER." He prefers "GENERATIONAL DIFFERENTIAL RELATIONSHIPS."
6. He does not get "FALLING-DOWN DRUNK." He becomes "ACCIDENTALLY HORIZONTAL."
7. He does not act like a "TOTAL ASS." He develops a case of "RECTAL-CRANIAL INVERSION."
8. He is not a "MALE CHAUVINIST PIG. " He has "SWINE EMPATHY."
9. He is not afraid of "COMMITMENT." He is "RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGED."
10. He is not "HORNY." He is "SEXUALLY FOCUSED."
11. It's not his "CRACK" you see hanging out of his pants. It's "REAR CLEAVAGE."
H/T to my man Wayne in Crawford, Texas.
posted by Dash | 10:44 AM | |
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Bush Should Meet With Sheehan
This is my last post on the subject.
I think President Bush should meet with Sheehan... again. I know he already had a closed door meeting with her to try to console her and tell her that her son did not die in vain.
He should meet with her again. Only this time, it should be in an open and public setting. If he did agree to another private meeting, the left would say he was just patronizing her and use it against him. It would be easy for her to say he was cold and nonresponsive to her questions.
The president should have an open session with Ms. Sheehan along with a dozen other parents who are in the same situation. He should invite their entire families to come. He should invite some of the soldiers who fought alongside her son to speak. He should ask some of his superior officers to speak.
Maybe he could even get some Iraqis to speak about how it was to live under the tyranny of Saddam. They could remind her of the millions of Iraqi mothers whose sons were murdered by the dictator before we stopped him.
Bush could answer the questions from the mothers in a respectful way. He could further explain that the war on terror is a noble cause. He could remind them that we live free along with millions of Iraqis because of the bravery of their sons and daughters. We should be proud of their efforts - not disgrace them with demagoguery.
I think if he did this in public, it would go a long way toward diffusing this volatile situation. Maybe then she would go home and let her son's memory be a good one.
I think President Bush should meet with Sheehan... again. I know he already had a closed door meeting with her to try to console her and tell her that her son did not die in vain.
He should meet with her again. Only this time, it should be in an open and public setting. If he did agree to another private meeting, the left would say he was just patronizing her and use it against him. It would be easy for her to say he was cold and nonresponsive to her questions.
The president should have an open session with Ms. Sheehan along with a dozen other parents who are in the same situation. He should invite their entire families to come. He should invite some of the soldiers who fought alongside her son to speak. He should ask some of his superior officers to speak.
Maybe he could even get some Iraqis to speak about how it was to live under the tyranny of Saddam. They could remind her of the millions of Iraqi mothers whose sons were murdered by the dictator before we stopped him.
Bush could answer the questions from the mothers in a respectful way. He could further explain that the war on terror is a noble cause. He could remind them that we live free along with millions of Iraqis because of the bravery of their sons and daughters. We should be proud of their efforts - not disgrace them with demagoguery.
I think if he did this in public, it would go a long way toward diffusing this volatile situation. Maybe then she would go home and let her son's memory be a good one.
posted by Dash | 10:06 AM | |
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
A Message to Cindy Sheehan
Cindy Sheehan's personal crusade to end the war in Iraq continues to get ugly. She's been disowned by her entire family for her activism. Her living children have implored her to come home and help them deal with their grief over losing their beloved brother. Her husband has filed for divorce. Apparently he can't live with her craziness any longer, either.
Here's a good letter to Cindy Sheehan.
It's time for Cindy to go home and stop preaching against our country.
Here's a good letter to Cindy Sheehan.
We did not choose war for the sake of war itself and we didn't sacrifice a million lives for fun! We could've accepted our jailor and kept living in our chains for the rest of our lives but it's freedom ma'am.Freedom is not an American thing and it's not an Iraqi thing, it's what unites us as human beings. We refuse all kinds of restrictions and that's why we fought and still fighting everyday in spite of the swords in the hands of the cavemen who want us dead or slaves for their evil masters.
It's time for Cindy to go home and stop preaching against our country.
posted by Dash | 10:25 AM | |
Monday, August 15, 2005
Another Sporting Clays Tourney
A week ago or so I wrote about Sporting Clays. It's a great way for bird hunters like myself to "tune up" before the wing shooting season gets cranked up. So far, I have about four bird hunts lined up. Two in Central Texas and two in South Texas. I'm still working on setting up a Mexico trip.
This weekend I went to a clay shoot in East Texas. It's an event I've been shooting in for the last 23 years. It's a smaller event, so I have a little better chance of winning. Consequently, because it's a smaller event, the prize money is a lot less. But, that's okay.
The event has become more of a reunion than a competition. Don't get me wrong. The whole reason for going to this thing is to shoot against other bird hunters; but, I've gotten to be best friends with some of these people over the years. We've seen each other's children grow up. We've commiserated with each other regarding illnesses, deaths in the families, divorces, etc. We're all good friends.
This year was a good one. Most of us met up at the cabin Friday night for some catching up over a few brews and a cigar. It's always fun to visit and carry on a little before the seriousness of the next day. The rest of the group showed up the next morning by about 9 A.M.
Once we got everything set up for the tournament, it was time for a couple of practice rounds to get everybody loosened up, make sure the guns are working okay, and make sure all the other equipment is working properly. Since it's about 95 degrees out there, we do as much planning as possible to avail ourselves of all shade. Even with that, we know it's going to be a damn hot ordeal. We've been doing this so long, everyone knows what to expect from the weather.
This year, we had a little different weather than normal. We had a rain delay about halfway through the day. That did a couple of things. One, it gave us a chance to rest and cool off a little, and two, it changed the air from hot and dry to hot and humid. It also gave us a chance to start up the pit and throw some chickens on the smoker for the rest of the afternoon. These guys are good shooters, but they're even better eaters.
So, we made it through the day after the rain. I came in second place behind the guy who has taken first place three out of the last four tournaments. He is one of my best friends and I hunt with him a lot during the year. So, I'm not too disappointed in losing to him. I wish I could find a way to beat him just once, though. Over the years I've won this event about five times, so I can't really complain. I think it was easier for me to win in my younger days when I could see better. That's my excuse, anyway.
Saturday night we always have a big party with lots of food and drink. Usually a washer pitching competition will break out. That's always a lot of fun.
Over all, it was a great weekend. I made it home yesterday by about 4 o'clock. Then it was time to get back to the real world.
I have another tournament scheduled for this coming weekend in north Austin. After that one, I should be ready for the birds come September.
This weekend I went to a clay shoot in East Texas. It's an event I've been shooting in for the last 23 years. It's a smaller event, so I have a little better chance of winning. Consequently, because it's a smaller event, the prize money is a lot less. But, that's okay.
The event has become more of a reunion than a competition. Don't get me wrong. The whole reason for going to this thing is to shoot against other bird hunters; but, I've gotten to be best friends with some of these people over the years. We've seen each other's children grow up. We've commiserated with each other regarding illnesses, deaths in the families, divorces, etc. We're all good friends.
This year was a good one. Most of us met up at the cabin Friday night for some catching up over a few brews and a cigar. It's always fun to visit and carry on a little before the seriousness of the next day. The rest of the group showed up the next morning by about 9 A.M.
Once we got everything set up for the tournament, it was time for a couple of practice rounds to get everybody loosened up, make sure the guns are working okay, and make sure all the other equipment is working properly. Since it's about 95 degrees out there, we do as much planning as possible to avail ourselves of all shade. Even with that, we know it's going to be a damn hot ordeal. We've been doing this so long, everyone knows what to expect from the weather.
This year, we had a little different weather than normal. We had a rain delay about halfway through the day. That did a couple of things. One, it gave us a chance to rest and cool off a little, and two, it changed the air from hot and dry to hot and humid. It also gave us a chance to start up the pit and throw some chickens on the smoker for the rest of the afternoon. These guys are good shooters, but they're even better eaters.
So, we made it through the day after the rain. I came in second place behind the guy who has taken first place three out of the last four tournaments. He is one of my best friends and I hunt with him a lot during the year. So, I'm not too disappointed in losing to him. I wish I could find a way to beat him just once, though. Over the years I've won this event about five times, so I can't really complain. I think it was easier for me to win in my younger days when I could see better. That's my excuse, anyway.
Saturday night we always have a big party with lots of food and drink. Usually a washer pitching competition will break out. That's always a lot of fun.
Over all, it was a great weekend. I made it home yesterday by about 4 o'clock. Then it was time to get back to the real world.
I have another tournament scheduled for this coming weekend in north Austin. After that one, I should be ready for the birds come September.
posted by Dash | 10:07 AM | |
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Today's Question
What does a dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac do?
He lies wide awake at night wondering if there really is a dog.
He lies wide awake at night wondering if there really is a dog.
posted by Dash | 8:38 PM | |
Friday, August 12, 2005
Picture Paints 1000 Words
Silk at Just Breathe has picked up the torch and is in a full sprint. She has continued the 1000 word fiction extravaganza started by Feisty Christina.
This one has a new flair, though. Silk posts a picture and the designated writers have to write a story (in no more than 1000 words) which describes the picture.
This is brilliant! Go check out Chrissy's story along with all the others. She sure knows how to pull on the old heart strings with this one. Powerful stuff!
This one has a new flair, though. Silk posts a picture and the designated writers have to write a story (in no more than 1000 words) which describes the picture.
This is brilliant! Go check out Chrissy's story along with all the others. She sure knows how to pull on the old heart strings with this one. Powerful stuff!
posted by Dash | 10:51 AM | |
School Daze
El Capitan at Baboon Pirates has a post up that reminded me of some events that happened when I was in college.
I was a Frat Boy, and although my fraternity was a rather diverse group, we were pretty "normal" as far as some of the shenanigans we pulled were concerned.
As a member of the '78 pledge class, our first outing as a pledge class was to go see the newly released movie "Animal House." The script from that movie pretty much substituted as a fraternity handbook for us.
We had our fair share of toga parties complete with several cases of cheap Chianti and the standard trash cans full of "Jungle Juice", the recipe of which is still a secret. I can tell you there are at least four types of alcohol and one of them is Ever Clear. Food fights were limited to once a week or whenever the actives decided the pledges needed a little more exercise in "unity" to clean it up.
Hazing (mostly mental) of pledges was perfectly acceptable to everyone except the Dean of Students. The board of the Intrafraternity Council would periodically make the obligatory declarations against such barbaric practices. The common response from those accused was strict denial. It was like profiling drug couriers - everybody did it, but nobody admitted to doing it. Mum was the word.
The pledges came to expect a certain amount of hazing. It came with the territory. It was kind of like boot camp or being a freshman in the corps of cadets at a military school or ROTC. Once you made it through the initiation period, it was all gravy after that and it was your turn to jack with the next crop of neophytes.
Pledges had to do things like clean up after parties, clean toilets, work on projects for upcoming events, learn fraternity history and learn certain amounts of personal information about each and every person in his pledge class and active member in his chapter. That could possibly be over one hundred people. It was called the "four essentials." These included: 1) Full Name; 2) Hometown; 3) Major; and 4) Class( i.e. Junior, Senior, etc.).
Some of the actives were more aggressive in trying to break pledges than others, though. These hard-asses would add things for the pledges to do and memorize. For example, some actives required pledges to do their laundry, let them pick food from their plates at meals served in the house, go out to buy their booze for upcoming parties, etc. Some of them made the pledges memorize their girlfriends' names and majors, etc.
As you can see, this kind of thing could get out of hand. Sometimes the pledges would have enough and would plot acts of revenge against the most extreme hazers. These were usually carried out in the middle of the night and there was little the target could do to prevent it.
One of the payback events that comes to mind is one in which an active was kidnapped in the middle of the night. He was quickly blindfolded and hogtied so that he wouldn't be able to escape or see where they were taking him.
On I-10 between Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana, there is a huge swamp called the Atchafalaya Basin. It is a place only native fishermen know how to navigate. This guy was taken out in a boat to a small oil rig platform about 300 yards from the bridge and stripped naked. He was given a small towel and a dime for a phone call if he could find a pay phone. At 4 A. M. on a cool November morning, he was left out there... alone.
Once he got his bearings, he had to swim back to the bridge in the cold, snake and alligator infested water with only his towel and his dime. Once he made it up to the highway, he was able to flag down a driver who brought him the 20 miles back home.
Needless to say, this was a very embarrassing and chilling episode in his young life. As a result, he was never agressive to another pledge again. The word was out. "If you go over the line, we will take care of you."
I have some more of these "road trips" in my memory banks, but I've been sworn to secrecy and threatened with bodily injury if I divulge any of them. If you don't hear from me again, you'll know why.
I was a Frat Boy, and although my fraternity was a rather diverse group, we were pretty "normal" as far as some of the shenanigans we pulled were concerned.
As a member of the '78 pledge class, our first outing as a pledge class was to go see the newly released movie "Animal House." The script from that movie pretty much substituted as a fraternity handbook for us.
We had our fair share of toga parties complete with several cases of cheap Chianti and the standard trash cans full of "Jungle Juice", the recipe of which is still a secret. I can tell you there are at least four types of alcohol and one of them is Ever Clear. Food fights were limited to once a week or whenever the actives decided the pledges needed a little more exercise in "unity" to clean it up.
Hazing (mostly mental) of pledges was perfectly acceptable to everyone except the Dean of Students. The board of the Intrafraternity Council would periodically make the obligatory declarations against such barbaric practices. The common response from those accused was strict denial. It was like profiling drug couriers - everybody did it, but nobody admitted to doing it. Mum was the word.
The pledges came to expect a certain amount of hazing. It came with the territory. It was kind of like boot camp or being a freshman in the corps of cadets at a military school or ROTC. Once you made it through the initiation period, it was all gravy after that and it was your turn to jack with the next crop of neophytes.
Pledges had to do things like clean up after parties, clean toilets, work on projects for upcoming events, learn fraternity history and learn certain amounts of personal information about each and every person in his pledge class and active member in his chapter. That could possibly be over one hundred people. It was called the "four essentials." These included: 1) Full Name; 2) Hometown; 3) Major; and 4) Class( i.e. Junior, Senior, etc.).
Some of the actives were more aggressive in trying to break pledges than others, though. These hard-asses would add things for the pledges to do and memorize. For example, some actives required pledges to do their laundry, let them pick food from their plates at meals served in the house, go out to buy their booze for upcoming parties, etc. Some of them made the pledges memorize their girlfriends' names and majors, etc.
As you can see, this kind of thing could get out of hand. Sometimes the pledges would have enough and would plot acts of revenge against the most extreme hazers. These were usually carried out in the middle of the night and there was little the target could do to prevent it.
One of the payback events that comes to mind is one in which an active was kidnapped in the middle of the night. He was quickly blindfolded and hogtied so that he wouldn't be able to escape or see where they were taking him.
On I-10 between Baton Rouge and Lafayette, Louisiana, there is a huge swamp called the Atchafalaya Basin. It is a place only native fishermen know how to navigate. This guy was taken out in a boat to a small oil rig platform about 300 yards from the bridge and stripped naked. He was given a small towel and a dime for a phone call if he could find a pay phone. At 4 A. M. on a cool November morning, he was left out there... alone.
Once he got his bearings, he had to swim back to the bridge in the cold, snake and alligator infested water with only his towel and his dime. Once he made it up to the highway, he was able to flag down a driver who brought him the 20 miles back home.
Needless to say, this was a very embarrassing and chilling episode in his young life. As a result, he was never agressive to another pledge again. The word was out. "If you go over the line, we will take care of you."
I have some more of these "road trips" in my memory banks, but I've been sworn to secrecy and threatened with bodily injury if I divulge any of them. If you don't hear from me again, you'll know why.
posted by Dash | 10:20 AM | |
Who's On First?
George: Condi! Nice to see you. What's happening?
Condi: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China.
George: Great. Lay it on me.
Condi: Hu is the new leader of China.
George: That's what I want to know.
Condi: That's what I'm telling you.
George: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes.
George: I mean the fellow's name.
Condi: Hu.
George: The guy in China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The new leader of China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The main man in China!
Condi: Hu is leading China.
George: Now whaddya' asking me for?
Condi: I'm telling you, Hu is leading China.
George: Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China?
Condi: That's the man's name.
George: That's who's name?
Condi: Yes.
George: Will you, or will you not, tell me the name of the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought he's dead in the Middle East.
Condi: That's correct.
George: Then who is in China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir is in China?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Then who is?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Look Condi. I need to know the name of the new leader of China. Get me the Secretary General of the U.N. on the phone.
Condi: Kofi?
George: No, thanks.
Condi: You want Kofi?
George: No.
Condi: You don't want Kofi.
George: No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk. And then get me the U.N.
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Not Yassir! The guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi?
George: Milk! Will you please make the call?
Condi: And call who?
George: Who is the guy at the U.N?
Condi: Hu is the guy in China
George: Will you stay out of China?!
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: And stay out of the Middle East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi.
George: All right! With cream and two sugars.
H/T to my boy, Bob.
Condi: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China.
George: Great. Lay it on me.
Condi: Hu is the new leader of China.
George: That's what I want to know.
Condi: That's what I'm telling you.
George: That's what I'm asking you. Who is the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes.
George: I mean the fellow's name.
Condi: Hu.
George: The guy in China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The new leader of China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The main man in China!
Condi: Hu is leading China.
George: Now whaddya' asking me for?
Condi: I'm telling you, Hu is leading China.
George: Well, I'm asking you. Who is leading China?
Condi: That's the man's name.
George: That's who's name?
Condi: Yes.
George: Will you, or will you not, tell me the name of the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought he's dead in the Middle East.
Condi: That's correct.
George: Then who is in China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir is in China?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Then who is?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Look Condi. I need to know the name of the new leader of China. Get me the Secretary General of the U.N. on the phone.
Condi: Kofi?
George: No, thanks.
Condi: You want Kofi?
George: No.
Condi: You don't want Kofi.
George: No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk. And then get me the U.N.
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Not Yassir! The guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi?
George: Milk! Will you please make the call?
Condi: And call who?
George: Who is the guy at the U.N?
Condi: Hu is the guy in China
George: Will you stay out of China?!
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: And stay out of the Middle East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi.
George: All right! With cream and two sugars.
H/T to my boy, Bob.
posted by Dash | 5:55 AM | |
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
More Hate Speech
Linda Chavez has a good article on what happened in Atlanta on Saturday. It boils down to more demagoguery from the left.
On what should have been a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, the extremists used it as a chance to spew more hate.
Bush "stole" the last two elections from those who should rightfully be in power right now. The "thieves" should be "locked up." The blacks in this administration are "black tyrants."
These folks wonder why they continue to lose elections.
On what should have been a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, the extremists used it as a chance to spew more hate.
Bush "stole" the last two elections from those who should rightfully be in power right now. The "thieves" should be "locked up." The blacks in this administration are "black tyrants."
You'd think by the vicious rhetoric at the march that President Bush was trying to revoke the Act. Nothing of the sort is true. Most sections of the landmark legislation are permanent, including the ban on literacy tests, once a favorite method to keep qualified black voters from exercising their right to vote. Certain provisions of the Act -- most notably Section 5, which requires covered jurisdictions to submit even the most minor changes in voting procedures to the Department of Justice for pre-clearance -- will expire in 2007, but they were always meant to be temporary. Indeed, these provisions might have been declared unconstitutional, despite the incredible recalcitrance of Southern politicians in 1965, but for the promise that they would expire after a time.
The irony is that no prominent Republican politician is even suggesting that Section 5 or the bilingual ballot provisions of the Voting Rights Act not be extended when they expire in 2007. To the contrary, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Majority Leader Tom Delay and Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner want these provisions extended another 25 years. But that won't stop some demagogues from spewing hate and spreading lies.
These folks wonder why they continue to lose elections.
posted by Dash | 10:04 AM | |
Mugged Liberal
In announcing last week a sweeping crackdown in Britain on the "evil ideology" of coming to be known as Islamofascism, Prime Minister Tony Blair declared that "the rules of the game have changed." So, it would appear has he.
The article goes on to assert that if Tony Blair now sees the errors of his ways in previously holding a more politically correct viewpoint regarding Islamists, he should rethink his support of Israel pulling out of the West Bank. The article says that the move is giving in to terrorism and that the Palestinians will not stop until they have taken over all of Israel.
I guess we'll see how Mr. Blair's new attitude about terrorists plays out regarding the struggle for the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in general.
In fact, Mr. Blair has become an exemplar of the old adage that a "conservative is a liberal who has been mugged." The two bombing attacks on London's mass-transit systems, perpetrated mostly by home-grown Islamist suicide bombers (actual or would-be), not only mugged Britain's recently reelected leader, but his country, as well.
The article goes on to assert that if Tony Blair now sees the errors of his ways in previously holding a more politically correct viewpoint regarding Islamists, he should rethink his support of Israel pulling out of the West Bank. The article says that the move is giving in to terrorism and that the Palestinians will not stop until they have taken over all of Israel.
The evidence is now unmistakable. Tony Blair is as wrong about the foreseeable prospects for Palestine as he was, pre-mugging, about the wisdom of ignoring Islamofascism in Britain. Islamists will soon hold unchallenged sway over Gaza and parts of the West Bank, rightly claiming that their terror forced Israel to withdraw and that its continuation will result, in due course, in the "liberation" of the rest of the "occupied" territory (meaning all of Israel).
Mr. Blair has long been courageous and visionary on Iraq and Afghanistan. Lately, he has become so with respect to the terrorist footprint in Britain. It is in the interest of all freedom-loving people that he and President Bush act now to prevent a worse "mugging" by far and encourage Israel to suspend its impending, ominous retreat in the face of Palestinian terror.
I guess we'll see how Mr. Blair's new attitude about terrorists plays out regarding the struggle for the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in general.
posted by Dash | 5:50 AM | |
Monday, August 08, 2005
Who Ya Gonna Call?
The Russians are very happy they called the likes of England and the U. S of A. The guys who were on that sub are especially happy. Hell, I'm happy for them. Nobody can stand to sit there and watch people die.
Isn't it funny that with all the bad mouthing we get from other countries, we're the first ones they call to come to their rescue? Isn't interesting that even after the trash talking about the evil capitalists that we are, we're the ones who give billions of dollars in aid and countless hours of volunteer help when they get into a bind?
Our guys were only too happy to go in there, risking their lives to help out their fellow men in a time of desperate need. They did this with no expectations other than a thank you.
This week we're the heroes. Next week, we'll be back to being the bad guys.
Isn't it funny that with all the bad mouthing we get from other countries, we're the first ones they call to come to their rescue? Isn't interesting that even after the trash talking about the evil capitalists that we are, we're the ones who give billions of dollars in aid and countless hours of volunteer help when they get into a bind?
Our guys were only too happy to go in there, risking their lives to help out their fellow men in a time of desperate need. They did this with no expectations other than a thank you.
This week we're the heroes. Next week, we'll be back to being the bad guys.
posted by Dash | 3:03 PM | |
Saturday, August 06, 2005
PC Run Amok
The NCAA has put a ban on Indian mascots during post season play. They say the nicknames are "hostile" and "abusive" to American Indians.
Starting in February, any school with a nickname or logo considered racially or ethnically hostile or abusive by the NCAA would be prohibited from using them in post season events. Mascots will not be allowed to perform at tournament games, and band members and cheerleaders would not be able to use American Indians on their uniforms starting in 2008.
Major college football teams would not be subject to the ban since there is no official NCAA tournament.
In my opinion, this is ridiculous. What's next? Are we going to change the names of states like Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Arkansas? Are we going to have to change street names, too? We wouldn't want to offend the Indians who these things were named for.
Someone needs to tell me how this is "hostile" and "abusive", because I just don't see it. If I were an American Indian, I would be proud that a college or university would want to associate with my heritage.
The next thing you know the animal rights whackos will say we shouldn't degrade animals by naming our sports teams after them. No more Tigers, Lions, Gators, and Dawgs. It might hurt their feelings.
Give me a break!
Starting in February, any school with a nickname or logo considered racially or ethnically hostile or abusive by the NCAA would be prohibited from using them in post season events. Mascots will not be allowed to perform at tournament games, and band members and cheerleaders would not be able to use American Indians on their uniforms starting in 2008.
Major college football teams would not be subject to the ban since there is no official NCAA tournament.
In my opinion, this is ridiculous. What's next? Are we going to change the names of states like Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Arkansas? Are we going to have to change street names, too? We wouldn't want to offend the Indians who these things were named for.
Someone needs to tell me how this is "hostile" and "abusive", because I just don't see it. If I were an American Indian, I would be proud that a college or university would want to associate with my heritage.
The next thing you know the animal rights whackos will say we shouldn't degrade animals by naming our sports teams after them. No more Tigers, Lions, Gators, and Dawgs. It might hurt their feelings.
Give me a break!
posted by Dash | 1:25 PM | |
Friday, August 05, 2005
Sporting Clays
Bird season starts in about four weeks around here. That means it's time to start practicing those tough shots that even the best wing shooter will miss on occasion.
The best way I've found to practice is by shooting a few rounds of Sporting Clays. Most people have heard of shooting Skeet and Trap, but Sporting Clays is a little different.
The game of Sporting Clays is challenging, fun, and competitive, which accounts for its surge in popularity. The lure lies in its realism. It is a clay target game that simulates actual field hunting and it is shot on specially designed courses that are identical to actual field conditions.
Sporting Clays uses a number of different types of clay targets. Combining different speeds and angles along with the different types and sizes of targets is what makes the game so challenging.
The targets might be crossing, climbing, incoming, outgoing, quartering away, streaking high overhead, or any combination of the above. Throw in some good topographical features, and you can simulate almost any game bird or field condition. This definitely is a game that truly tests a shotgun hunter's abilities.
I was invited to shoot in a Sporting Clays tournament yesterday. I had known about this event for a while and had been looking forward to it. I was going to be able to shoot with some guys I hunt with. The plan was for us to meet at a restaurant near the range for a leisurely lunch and then go to the event. While on my way to meet them, I got a call from the one of the guys.
Dale: Hey, Dash. I've got some bad news. One of the guys just bailed on us. We're short handed. Do you know anybody that might be able to shoot on short notice?
Me: Oh, man. That's a pisser. Yeah, I know a couple of guys that might be able to sneak away for a shoot. Let me make a phone call and I'll call you back in 10.
Dale: (Half joking) Find somebody who can shoot.
Well, I called a buddy of mine from work who I knew would be interested and this guy is really good. It would just be a matter of getting away from work on short notice.
Me: Hey, Doug. I got us a shoot lined up. Can you make it? It's today at 2 o'clock.
Doug: (Without hesitation) Hell yes! I'll be there.
That was easy. Cool! I called Dale back and let him know I had a ringer lined up.
The shoot was set up kind of like a golf tournament where each team had four shooters. The teams went through the course and added up the total number of "kills" for each team. There were a total of 25 teams of guys who shoot a lot. I was excited about our team's chances because I've seen these guys shoot and they're all really good. I'm pretty good, but I figured I had to be the worst shot on our team.
Well, we came in First Place. We won the whole thing. Here are the totals:
Dale: 35 (out of a possible 50 targets)
Kevin: 36
Dash: 38
Doug (the last second fill-in shooter): 48
I was pretty impressed with my score, but I was in awe of Doug all day. He missed 2 targets! Needless to say, along with our team coming in first, Doug won the individual high scorer. The second best score of the day was 45. My 38 was an anomaly. I usually average about 33 to 35. I think following Doug at each station gave me incentive to focus a little more and it paid off.
So, we had a great day. If you ever want to do some fun shotgunning, try Sporting Clays. I've never met a wing shooter who didn't love it.
Now I'm ready for bird season.
The best way I've found to practice is by shooting a few rounds of Sporting Clays. Most people have heard of shooting Skeet and Trap, but Sporting Clays is a little different.
The game of Sporting Clays is challenging, fun, and competitive, which accounts for its surge in popularity. The lure lies in its realism. It is a clay target game that simulates actual field hunting and it is shot on specially designed courses that are identical to actual field conditions.
Sporting Clays uses a number of different types of clay targets. Combining different speeds and angles along with the different types and sizes of targets is what makes the game so challenging.
The targets might be crossing, climbing, incoming, outgoing, quartering away, streaking high overhead, or any combination of the above. Throw in some good topographical features, and you can simulate almost any game bird or field condition. This definitely is a game that truly tests a shotgun hunter's abilities.
I was invited to shoot in a Sporting Clays tournament yesterday. I had known about this event for a while and had been looking forward to it. I was going to be able to shoot with some guys I hunt with. The plan was for us to meet at a restaurant near the range for a leisurely lunch and then go to the event. While on my way to meet them, I got a call from the one of the guys.
Dale: Hey, Dash. I've got some bad news. One of the guys just bailed on us. We're short handed. Do you know anybody that might be able to shoot on short notice?
Me: Oh, man. That's a pisser. Yeah, I know a couple of guys that might be able to sneak away for a shoot. Let me make a phone call and I'll call you back in 10.
Dale: (Half joking) Find somebody who can shoot.
Well, I called a buddy of mine from work who I knew would be interested and this guy is really good. It would just be a matter of getting away from work on short notice.
Me: Hey, Doug. I got us a shoot lined up. Can you make it? It's today at 2 o'clock.
Doug: (Without hesitation) Hell yes! I'll be there.
That was easy. Cool! I called Dale back and let him know I had a ringer lined up.
The shoot was set up kind of like a golf tournament where each team had four shooters. The teams went through the course and added up the total number of "kills" for each team. There were a total of 25 teams of guys who shoot a lot. I was excited about our team's chances because I've seen these guys shoot and they're all really good. I'm pretty good, but I figured I had to be the worst shot on our team.
Well, we came in First Place. We won the whole thing. Here are the totals:
Dale: 35 (out of a possible 50 targets)
Kevin: 36
Dash: 38
Doug (the last second fill-in shooter): 48
I was pretty impressed with my score, but I was in awe of Doug all day. He missed 2 targets! Needless to say, along with our team coming in first, Doug won the individual high scorer. The second best score of the day was 45. My 38 was an anomaly. I usually average about 33 to 35. I think following Doug at each station gave me incentive to focus a little more and it paid off.
So, we had a great day. If you ever want to do some fun shotgunning, try Sporting Clays. I've never met a wing shooter who didn't love it.
Now I'm ready for bird season.
posted by Dash | 10:36 AM | |
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Funny Story
If you want to read a funny and very well written story, go read Country Revival by Christina at Feisty Repartee.
You can almost feel the heat inside that building and smell the smell in the air.
I'm sure it wasn't as funny when the events were taking place, but damn, it's funny now.
Go check it out.
With every third step he took there was a distinctive plop of offensive matter marking their trail.
You can almost feel the heat inside that building and smell the smell in the air.
I'm sure it wasn't as funny when the events were taking place, but damn, it's funny now.
Go check it out.
posted by Dash | 5:53 AM | |
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Twenty Things
20 THINGS IT TOOK ME 40 YEARS TO LEARN
1. Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
2. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings."
3. There is a very fine line between "hobby"; and "mental illness."
4. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours.
5. And when God, who created the entire universe with all of its glories, decides to deliver a message to humanity, He WILL NOT use, as His messenger, a person on cable TV with a bad hairstyle.
6. You should not confuse your career with your life.
7. No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.
8. When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that individual is crazy.
9. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
10. Never lick a steak knife.
11. Take out the fortune before you eat the cookie.
12. The most powerful force in the universe is gossip.
13. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.
14. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
15. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.
16. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.
17. The main accomplishment of almost all organized protests is to annoy people who are not in them.
18. A person who is nice to you, but is rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.
19. Your friends love you anyway.
20. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic.
Hat tip to Jerry in the daily e-mailbag.
1. Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
2. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings."
3. There is a very fine line between "hobby"; and "mental illness."
4. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours.
5. And when God, who created the entire universe with all of its glories, decides to deliver a message to humanity, He WILL NOT use, as His messenger, a person on cable TV with a bad hairstyle.
6. You should not confuse your career with your life.
7. No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.
8. When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that individual is crazy.
9. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
10. Never lick a steak knife.
11. Take out the fortune before you eat the cookie.
12. The most powerful force in the universe is gossip.
13. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.
14. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
15. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.
16. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.
17. The main accomplishment of almost all organized protests is to annoy people who are not in them.
18. A person who is nice to you, but is rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.
19. Your friends love you anyway.
20. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic.
Hat tip to Jerry in the daily e-mailbag.
posted by Dash | 7:06 PM | |
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
A Man and His Dog
An old friend of mine e-mailed this to me this morning. In his e-mail he said, "I know this is really old and you've read it many times before. But, I knew you wouldn't mind reading it again."
He was right. I have seen a lot of stories and jokes over the years and most of them I read once and that was good enough. This one is a little different. In this world of "Me First" attitudes, I think this story has a great message.
I was talking to a fellow blogger last night about how the older I get, the more I appreciate my friends. Even if you've read this before, read it again. You won't have good luck if you read it and send it to 12 people in the next 20 minutes, and you won't have bad luck if you don't. But, hopefully it will touch your heart just a little bit... the way it did mine.
A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.
He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.
After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.
When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.
When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"
"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.
Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.
"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I' ll have some ice water brought right up."
The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.
After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.
As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.
"Excuse me!" he called to the man. "Do you have any water?"
"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in."
''How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.
"There should be a bowl by the pump."
They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.
The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.
When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.
"What do you call this place?" the traveler asked.
"This is Heaven," he answered.
"Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."
"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell."
"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"
"No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind."
He was right. I have seen a lot of stories and jokes over the years and most of them I read once and that was good enough. This one is a little different. In this world of "Me First" attitudes, I think this story has a great message.
I was talking to a fellow blogger last night about how the older I get, the more I appreciate my friends. Even if you've read this before, read it again. You won't have good luck if you read it and send it to 12 people in the next 20 minutes, and you won't have bad luck if you don't. But, hopefully it will touch your heart just a little bit... the way it did mine.
A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.
He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.
After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.
When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.
When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"
"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.
Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.
"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I' ll have some ice water brought right up."
The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.
After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.
As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.
"Excuse me!" he called to the man. "Do you have any water?"
"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in."
''How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.
"There should be a bowl by the pump."
They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.
The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.
When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.
"What do you call this place?" the traveler asked.
"This is Heaven," he answered.
"Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."
"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell."
"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"
"No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind."
posted by Dash | 1:30 PM | |
Monday, August 01, 2005
Cochon de Lait
"Cochon de lait" is what the cajuns call a pig roast. Translated literally it means "pig in milk" or suckling pig. You can roast a pig anywhere from 25 to 150 pounds, but I think the smaller, younger pigs are the tastiest. From the cook's perspective, the smaller ones are easier to handle, too. It really boils down to how many people you intend to feed and how much time and effort you want to put into it.
I ordered a small pig on Monday and picked it up on Friday after work. The butcher did a fine job of cleaning it. The one I bought was 42 pounds (dressed), just right for the number of folks I was planning to feed. I cooked a large brisket and some venison/pork sausage to go along with it. We also had a wide assortment of other goodies to eat like fried wontons, sausage fried rice, potato salad, baked beans, and of course all kinds of desserts like pecan pies, chocolate cakes, brownies, etc.
The only thing the butcher forgot to do for me was split the backbone so I could splay the pig out flat on the grill. So, I made quick use of a machete and a hammer to do the work. Also, they left the eyes in the head which I removed before cooking. I thought about putting some cherry tomatoes in the eye sockets and an apple in the mouth, but my main goal at the time was to get the thing ready to cook. I rubbed the pig down real well with seasoning and put it in a large cooler overnight. I did the same to the brisket while I was at it.
The next day I roasted the pig on my large pit with regular charcoal and some soaked hickory chunks for smoke. I cooked him bone side down for about 3 hours and then flipped him over for 2 more hours. I maintained a pit temperature of about 200 to 225 degrees for the entire time. Once the meat temperature in the thickest part of the ham reached about 165 degrees, I wrapped him in foil and pulled him away from the heat for one more hour.
When it was getting close to eatin' time, I unwrapped him and put him on a foil lined table to pull apart. Here's what he looked like before I started.
Cochon de lait
The meat just fell off the bones and was tender and juicy. A small crowd gathered around the chopping table for any available scraps. The kids who had never seen this before were giggling and tasting the meat. After the pork was pulled and cut, it was time to slice the brisket that had been smoking on another smaller pit. The sausage was about ready, too.
Then it was time to dig in. What a feast! At last count, we had 27 adults and 14 kids. Everybody ate as much as they could and we even sent some home with a few folks.
Thanks to everybody who helped put this thing on. Also, I need to thank all the friends, family and neighbors who came over. We even had a few of my favorite bloggers there.
The one and only Feisty Christina was there. Thank you so much for everything. The party was a success mainly because of your world famous cooking and organizational skills. There are very few people I know who would have been able to get that many people together for a meal. You're the best! Here's an example of what she brought.
After a day of toobing the Comal River, ZiPpo the Pirate came over with his clan. Everybody already knows how I feel about this family. They came with Cohibas and watermelon in hand. Thanks for the Jolly Roger, ZiPpo. I'll proudly display it in your honor. You and yours are always welcome in my home.
The lovely Shoe from Chou Chope came over with her kiddos. She brought some Real Ale from Blanco, Texas, that was great. Thanks for coming, Shoe. It was a real treat to see you. I hope you'll come again.
Oh, and I almost forgot. We got to talk to Sam at The Brier Patch and Zonker from Thunder and Roses on the telephone, too. Great to talk with you guys. Wish you had been there.
Overall, we had a great time eating all this good stuff and drinking cold Shiner Bocks. I'm thinking this might be the ticket for the next Hill Country Blogmeet.
I ordered a small pig on Monday and picked it up on Friday after work. The butcher did a fine job of cleaning it. The one I bought was 42 pounds (dressed), just right for the number of folks I was planning to feed. I cooked a large brisket and some venison/pork sausage to go along with it. We also had a wide assortment of other goodies to eat like fried wontons, sausage fried rice, potato salad, baked beans, and of course all kinds of desserts like pecan pies, chocolate cakes, brownies, etc.
The only thing the butcher forgot to do for me was split the backbone so I could splay the pig out flat on the grill. So, I made quick use of a machete and a hammer to do the work. Also, they left the eyes in the head which I removed before cooking. I thought about putting some cherry tomatoes in the eye sockets and an apple in the mouth, but my main goal at the time was to get the thing ready to cook. I rubbed the pig down real well with seasoning and put it in a large cooler overnight. I did the same to the brisket while I was at it.
The next day I roasted the pig on my large pit with regular charcoal and some soaked hickory chunks for smoke. I cooked him bone side down for about 3 hours and then flipped him over for 2 more hours. I maintained a pit temperature of about 200 to 225 degrees for the entire time. Once the meat temperature in the thickest part of the ham reached about 165 degrees, I wrapped him in foil and pulled him away from the heat for one more hour.
When it was getting close to eatin' time, I unwrapped him and put him on a foil lined table to pull apart. Here's what he looked like before I started.
Cochon de lait
The meat just fell off the bones and was tender and juicy. A small crowd gathered around the chopping table for any available scraps. The kids who had never seen this before were giggling and tasting the meat. After the pork was pulled and cut, it was time to slice the brisket that had been smoking on another smaller pit. The sausage was about ready, too.
Then it was time to dig in. What a feast! At last count, we had 27 adults and 14 kids. Everybody ate as much as they could and we even sent some home with a few folks.
Thanks to everybody who helped put this thing on. Also, I need to thank all the friends, family and neighbors who came over. We even had a few of my favorite bloggers there.
The one and only Feisty Christina was there. Thank you so much for everything. The party was a success mainly because of your world famous cooking and organizational skills. There are very few people I know who would have been able to get that many people together for a meal. You're the best! Here's an example of what she brought.
After a day of toobing the Comal River, ZiPpo the Pirate came over with his clan. Everybody already knows how I feel about this family. They came with Cohibas and watermelon in hand. Thanks for the Jolly Roger, ZiPpo. I'll proudly display it in your honor. You and yours are always welcome in my home.
The lovely Shoe from Chou Chope came over with her kiddos. She brought some Real Ale from Blanco, Texas, that was great. Thanks for coming, Shoe. It was a real treat to see you. I hope you'll come again.
Oh, and I almost forgot. We got to talk to Sam at The Brier Patch and Zonker from Thunder and Roses on the telephone, too. Great to talk with you guys. Wish you had been there.
Overall, we had a great time eating all this good stuff and drinking cold Shiner Bocks. I'm thinking this might be the ticket for the next Hill Country Blogmeet.
posted by Dash | 5:52 AM | |
About Me
- Name: Dash
- Location: Gruene, Texas
Just your average, everyday, conservative, red-blooded American family man from Texas.
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