"Not Guilty by Reason of Celebrity"

I have been enjoying this series of excellent reportage on the issue of David Gregory and his illegal possession of an empty AR-15 magazine on TV.  It is amusing and relevant in a number of ways.  The comments are enlightening and entertaining as well.

Here, here, and then here.  I think the observation that if David Gregory were not a celebrity journalist he would already have been arrested is spot on.  I was not a fan of his before this dust-up, but I am even less so now.

As a bonus, here is a great follow-up article by Glenn Reynolds on the Newtown, CT tragedy from USA today.

Boomsticks

Sleeping in, shooting guns with buddies, BBQ for lunch...I must be on vacation.

In both pics, JP is holding Jeff's rifle, a Rossi replica of the .45, lever-action, short-barrel carbine that Chuck Connors used on The Rifleman.  Very cool gun.  We blew through 300+ rounds of varying kind and calibre this morning. 

---

Sharpshooting

Interesting article from Sky News about a British soldier who recently set a remarkable, if somewhat grisly marksmanship record in Afghanistan.  This guy's story is impressive.

To compensate for the distance, he aimed 6 ft. higher, and 20 in. to the left.  Here is his rifle:

Click on the picture above for more detail.  Here is an informative link to more info on the weapon.
-----------------

District of Columbia vs. Heller

"The same folks who can read the Constitution and Bill of Rights and find an unassailable right to abortion and gay marriage can't find a right to possession of a firearm."

Well said.  Why didn't I think of that?  I recommend that you click through the link above to Megan McArdle's very brief but substantive observation on how the protection of gun rights is also pro-feminist.  

h/t:  Instapundit, of course.

"Armed customer thwarts grocery robbery"

I have two visceral responses every time I read a story like this, today from the Indianapolis Star.

First, situations like this unfold not just on TV crime dramas or the movie screen, but in front of real people going about their everyday, otherwise normal lives. And it happens all the time. People who think that it could never happen to them or that it only happens somewhere else are living in fantasy. It just makes sense for responsible, law-abiding people to carry firearms to protect ourselves from irresponsible, law-breaking people and their pernicious ways.

Secondly, it reminds me that I need to stop being lazy and get my concealed carry license. It's not expensive and it's not hard; it's just a bit of paperwork and a visit to the county sheriff''s office.

Gun control is hitting what you are aiming at.

Titular prepositional termination misplacements notwithstanding, this is still quite funny to me.

"At one point, Huckabee’s party turned toward a cluster of reporters and cameramen and, when they kicked up a pheasant, fired shotgun blasts over the group’s heads. "

Yeah, yeah...so his aim is a little high. Then the article goes on to whine a bit about gun safety. Jibber-jabber.

Fred probably wouldn't have missed. Which reminds me of this hilarious video about Fred Thompson. Go check it out.

Pic at left from one of my favorite sites, "How Stuff Works" and their wonderful description of shotgun technology. A smart, fun, and useful website.

"You sneeze and you're dead, man."

I like this guy's attitude. So do his wife and neighbors.

pensieri nel passare...

...which means "thoughts in passing", in Italian. I don't really speak much Italian, mostly just musical terms. But I hope to go there soon, probably Rome. We want to celebrate our 25th anniversary (next year) in Italy. Because we think that would be really cool. What follow is a stream-of-consciousness spiel:

This seminar thing that I'm attending, which I mentioned previously, is alternatively interesting and then sometimes not-so-much. Which reflects not in the slightest on the presenters and their program so much as it reflects on my perceptions of how applicable it is to my vocation. The quality and content of the teaching is quite commendable. At the end of it, Lord willing, be a Certified Church Consultant. We had reasonably engaging sessions today on demographics and marketing. And one guy, Bob Adams, conducted a very interesting overview of contemporary myths and trends relating to megachurches, emerging and missional type churches, multiple site and multiple venue churches... Okay, I know that may all sound very boring, but it wasn't. Bob is a really smart guy who has compiled a lot of bonafide research about such things and he presents it very well. I was pleasantly surprised that some of my personal notions about these things were actually at odds with the facts. Who knew!?!? Learning is good even though my brain is now tired.

I have eaten twice now at my favorite Mexican restaurant en todo el mundo. Danal's Mexican Restaurant is on O'Connor Road, a couple of miles south of Hwy 183, down the street from Irving High School (from whence Nancy graduated) in Irving. I took a picture but can't get it online at the moment. When you are in the D/FW area, you must eat there. We always do. Once, after driving all night straight through from Indiana on the way to my in-laws house in Hillsboro, we stopped at Danal's in the early morning and waited in the parking lot until they opened. I hope to go at least one more time before I leave on Saturday. It is not fancy, but it is just the best Mexican food anywhere. The tortillas are made fresh on-site daily and the warm salsa is like none other. Everything they make is great, but I recommend any of the enchilada dishes.

After attending Gateway Church's 10:30 AM service on Sunday morning, I went straight to the big gun show. My brother-in-law, Steve Hockett, is an antique firearms dealer and one of the best gun shows in Texas is the semi-annual one at Market Hall in downtown Dallas. It was a lot of fun, hanging out with Steve and his friend, One-armed John. There were some amazing guns for sale and show, both old and modern, of every size and description. There were a couple of interesting museum-type displays, too, including an impressive collection of large calibre antique machine guns. Another booth had a terrific display of some 2 dozen vintage Kalashnikov AK-47's, modified, in various versions, and collected from all over the world. And there were some gorgeous, authentic, old Cowboy gun collections. It was great. Guns are cool. I am going to have to go shooting more when I get home.

Last Friday, I visited one of my friends here, Buzzy Murphy, of Murphy's Music. Buzzy has a great music store. He is a customer of mine, I've known him for years, I graduated from high school with his big sister, and his family has had a music store in Irving since just after Texas declared independence from Mexico, I think. Any way, business-wise, I take care of him and he takes care of me. I had brought one of my guitars with me on this trip to practice, but when I got here I decided I wanted some type of small, personal headphone practice amp device. So I called Buzzy and then stopped by so that he could make me a crazy deal on a Boss Micro-BR digital recorder. It's a tiny little thing, but the Micro-BR makes the perfect personal practice tool, with it's built-in drum machine, excellent guitar tone, and (really basic) 4-track recorder built in. It also plays and records mp3's, and will even do "time-stretching", which means you can load in, say, Stevie Ray's version of "Mary Had A Little Lamb" and slow the playback speed way down so you can play along with it and learn the tune. It was cheap, it sounds great, it is smaller than a Louis L'Amour paperback, and it is very shiny. I am pleased.

That is all...I've got to get to bed. Today was long, tomorrow will be longer.

Some Pig

In Arkansas, an 11-year old hunter killed a feral pig that weighed half a ton. He used a Smith & Wesson Model 500 .50 caliber pistol.

That is a lot of sausage.

People Don't Stop Killers, People With Guns Do.

The inimitable Glenn Reynolds has a good essay on what is likely the only reasonable protection against random mass shootings on school campuses and other vulnerable public places.

Dave Kopel's Wall Street Journal op-ed says much the same, with somewhat more background and context, even.

It is almost certain, though, that the one safety measure that could work effectively will never be implemented. I do expect we will see a massive amount of discussion on things that won't work and that more impotent policy will probably be enacted. Sadly, there will probably be some good people scapegoated in Virginia before it's done, sent undeservedly into forced retirement or otherwise disgraced. Such gestures are merely symbolic, promoting an illusion of efficacy, but meaning nothing and doing nothing to make anybody any safer.

Short Riffs Given Short Shrift

Here are some random thoughts. Drive-by blogging.

1) I could be in Orlando, but I'm not. In my job I am not required to travel much on behalf of my company. I actually like to travel for fun, but typically, when you're profession is sales or marketing, regardless of your industry, travelling for work is exactly that. Work, and a lot of it. Now, having said that, the one trade show for which I am customarily responsible happens to be one that I very much enjoy, the National Religious Broadcaster's convention, being held this weekend in Florida. This convention is a fascinating convergence of radio/tv, publishing, technology, engineering, programming, media, church ministry, and music. Folks come from all over the planet, from every imaginable background. My company usually has a booth and a display, underwritten by a handfull of the more 300+ manufacturers we represent. It is a lot of work, but it is a lot of fun, too, especially when my wife accompanies me which she often has.

I've met some interesting folks, famous, notorious, and unknown. And I've heard some wonderful music and amazing preaching by some of the best. I heard President Bush speak there shortly after 9/11, and got to see the pre-release version of Passion Of The Christ another year. There is always something cool going on, plus I always get to see some of my best customers and good friends. But I'm glad I'm home this year.

-------------

2) Below is something my wife sort of gave me last year. Actually, she bought it to sell in her antique store, but she made the mistake of bringing it home first, and so I, uhm, appropriated it. It is a very small, very old 4-string banjo. It is 21" long from stem to stern and the head is a mere 7.5" across, about the size of a mandolin.



It is presently strung with nylon strings and I may leave it that way. It is difficult to keep in tune and the action is decent only down in first position near the headstock, but it has a really cool sound. The head is genuine cowhide and, although the quality of the construction and condition is quite good, there is no identifying maker's mark.

-------------

3) This is a little bit of found art in my office. As I walked in today, what normally would pass for clutter and mess struck me more as a collage.



It consists of a framed poster that we got at the Leopold Museum in Vienna a couple of years ago, featuring one of Egon Schiele's landscapes. I also have a Gustav Klimt poster downstairs which we got at the same exhibition. We had the most wonderful time in Vienna and visiting the art museums there was one of the highlights.

Propped up against this poster is an interesting primitivist original work entitled The Winter Lands (how appropriate!) by an artist named Dick Shoemaker. It is dated 1965 and, I'm sorry to say, I don't know the name of the technique used to created it. Most of the image appears to have been first drawn on the paper with some kind of sharp object, perhaps a stylus, and then filled in and expanded with some kind of thick black ink. Perhaps I will scan this and dedicate a separate post to it, soliciting an expert opinion, perhaps, to tell me what might be known about this technique.

Below that is a map taken from a 1959 National Geographic entitled "Lands of the Mediterranean". It includes the Holy Lands, Turkey, most of northern Africa, and the Middle East. I love maps. I keep meaning to frame and hang this one.

There is also a book of Vineyard worship music and an audio cable in the lower right hand corner. The whole mess is atop an antique glass case that houses my modest collection of (mostly) antique knives.

---------

4) The coolest thing we did, musically, at church this weekend was a song called Bread by Ginny Owens, from her album Beautiful. A very simple, very funky, sparsely orchestrated tune. My wife sang it beautifully, nuanced and soulful. One of the coolest things about it was the fact that the whole song required that I play no more than 4 simple two-note chords...unbelievably minimalistic, but a very fun, expressive vehicle for some great R&B poetry about Jesus as the Bread of Life, and what that means. We got to hear Ginny Owens play piano and sing at the NRB convention in Nashville a couple of years ago. Exceptional. Here are the lyrics:

Man cannot live
By bread alone,
He needs something stronger
To feed his hungry soul,
So he'll try everything
Under the sun,
But nothing will end his hunger
Nothing but Your love.

He'll acquire treasure,
But it won't amount to much,
He'll fall in love with pleasure,
But none will fill him up,
And when he has exhausted
All this world can give to him,
Still he'll not grow weary of chasing after the wind-
I looked in the mirror,
Just the other day,
I was so surprised,
I hardly recognized the change,
So restless and so hurried,
I've spent so much time,
Running after things
I'm gonna have to leave behind

Good stuff, that. My son, JLP, played keys with us this weekend, too, which is always great. The kid's got it goin' on. He sounds better every time I hear him. Even though he never updates his blog these days .

--------

5) Heather has an interesting, thought-provoking post on her website about how certain books, music, film, and art experiences seem to resonate with us in an especially personal way, while others do not. And I left one of my annoyingly long comments over there already so I'm not going to elaborate. Just go check it out.

Listening: "Old Wells...New Wine", an album of contemporary piano improvisations on classic hymns by my friend, Mark Bovee. Mark is a world class jazz and gospel pianist as well as a gifted arranger, composer, and worship leader. While I hate making these kinds of comparisons because its just soooo lame, if you like George Winston or Jim Brickman, you will like MB's album. Guaranteed.

SureFire Delta

One of the things in life in which I find inordinate joy in is a high-quality pocket knife. There is almost nothing more useful and practical in life than a good pocket knife, and there is something intrinsically aesthetically pleasing about a razor-edged piece of hand-honed steel. It is a thing of beauty and grace.

This is the new Delta, a production knife made by SureFire. They also make some of the most amazing tactical flashlights in the world, by the way. Everyone, boy & girl, man & woman, needs to carry a knife. I have longed wished that it was a federal law that, upon birth, every baby is issued a multi-tool of some sort, like a Leatherman or even a Swiss Army Knife. How useful would that be to grow up learning self-reliance and resourcefulness through the use of such a handy tool?

My personal pocket knife is a Spyderco SC-16PS Wayne Goddard folder which I have had for several years. It is extraordinarily durable, has a pocket clip, and keeps an extremely sharp edge. Some folks find it a bit large, with a 3 3/8" half-serrated blade, but the reason for that is simple. I have lost or damaged at least half-a-dozen small, normal-looking pocket knives over the years, some of them rather valuable and one of them irreplaceable. But I have never lost my Spyderco, or at least not for more than a day or so, and then I invariably find it in the laundry. Spyderco doesn't make this model any more, but they do make a wide selection of excellent knives. A good friend, Wray Reed, turned me onto Spyderco about 10 years ago and I have been completely happy with this knife.

With knives, the conventional wisdom applies that the good ones aren't cheap and the cheap ones aren't good. If you want a sharp blade, and why would you not, then you need a knife made of some serious steel, not some crappy Pakistani alloy clamped between some cheesy-looking wood-stained handles.

Here is a cool exploded diagram from the Surefire website showing off some of the Delta's practicals.

For more details on this knife, as well as a wealth of great info and pictures on everything knife-related, please visit the Knifeart.com website. It is a well-designed site that features some of the most beautiful handmade, as well as general production knives in the world. If you have never explored the artistic side of edged instruments, you are in for a real eye-opening treat.

Scourge of the Yard Varmints

Personally, I think the .17 caliber round is a worthless thing, but I really like what these guys have done with it.

Yes, I want one...the world's smallest machine gun.