Author Archives: Joel

Went down to the wash to get some sand for neighbor J. The wash is kinda wet, which made my usual method of scooping up a bucket of sand…problematic. Yeah. To the frame. In the wash. During Monsoon. Low point … Continue reading →

For several days somebody, or lots of somebodies, have been obsessively typing variations of “thoughts on independence day” into various search engines. It only leads them to this post, which in turn is only a link to a Claire post. … Continue reading →

(This wasn’t supposed to get so long, and it’s mostly just rambling. But read on if that’s your pleasure.) Short, sporadic bursts of activity can actually accomplish a lot. I sometimes immerse myself in a good book when I should … Continue reading →

Courtesy of your friend and mine, Professor Robert Reich One way to view Detroit’s bankruptcy is as a failure of political negotiations over how financial sacrifices should be divided among the city’s creditors, city workers and municipal retirees, requiring a … Continue reading →

I know, I know. I’ve said all along that guns should be a fashion statement. In fact, specifically, I said, When that sort of thing becomes popular, we’re seeing the re-normalization of personal weapons as a part of everyday wear. … Continue reading →

I had a joke when I lived in Socal, repeated so often close associates began avoiding me altogether: “I don’t know where I’m going when I leave here, but wherever it is I’ll never stop bitching about the weather.” The … Continue reading →

If I had to fearfully watch the sky every minute because of you, I’d really hate you. The rapid-fire developments on Tuesday came as two drone strikes killed four suspected Al Qaeda militants in the Yemeni province of Mareb, an … Continue reading →

For a brief, exclusive engagement. Once upon a time, when the big dogs were alive, we all had a tradition called Snacky Time. Every day at precisely 5 PM or as close as I could arrange, all the boys gathered … Continue reading →

There’s a bush that grows commonly around here; I don’t know what it is but I call it a Bee Bush because it attracts a lot of bees. And during monsoon it breaks out in stalks of yellow flowers, which … Continue reading →

People who’ve shot with me in the past several years could be forgiven for thinking I’m a liar, but I used to be a pretty good shot with either rifle or handgun. I competed, locally but very regularly, in combat … Continue reading →

The government has a right. The people who “benefit from being here” have a duty and obligation. The context is something called an Inclusive Prosperity Act, which will probably have Ayn Rand’s estate screaming about copyright infringement before the end … Continue reading →

I did something dumb with my ‘pooter Friday, and it ran me out of electricity. For most of last week we saw little sun. I did not take that into consideration in my electricity use, because my itsy bitsy free … Continue reading →

…when you’re standing in a checkout line in a store in the little town nearest where you live. You’re carrying a PA-63 in an IWB holster, which isn’t quite as concealed as you planned because you forgot to grab an … Continue reading →

There’s some trouble at the host server, which explains why you may have had difficulty visiting the site. I’m having the same problems, of course, plus bad weather is making my satellite connection exceedingly not good – my ability to … Continue reading →

From the Gun Violence Messaging Guide, some guiding principles. (It’s a very interesting book so far.) “When the law is on your side, argue the law. When the facts are on your side, argue the facts. When neither the facts … Continue reading →

You can relax now. I know many of you have been worrying yourselves sick, the deadline’s pounding down the stretch and still our masters and their aides had not found a plausible way to exempt themselves from the health care … Continue reading →

That lady who had cops show up at her door because she researched pressure cookers? Turns out she’s pretty well known in certain circles. And not as a terrorist. …the first successful American counterattack in the Terror War was a … Continue reading →

Turns out there literally is a playbook. Pretty slick, too. H/T to Codrea.

So you want to move out to the boonies and be fully self-sufficient? A regular Davie Crockett, but without all the politics and violent death? No problem, pilgrim! All you need is a neighbor who’ll let you sort of permanently … Continue reading →