Author Archives: Joel

…It’s deeply ironic to me that, having just spent a couple of days working very hard on the chickens’ behalf, for the first time in six months I just bought a dozen eggs. The ladies are molting, you know. …If … Continue reading →

I just finished my first reading of an excellent resource on chicken raising, The Small-Scale Poultry Flock. Not something anybody’s likely to pick up and read just for laughs – as the name implies, it’s about raising chickens. A few … Continue reading →

I now have a firmly-rooted square (Okay, it’s more of a rectangle) of concrete blocks, roughly 20 X 7, fenced with chain-link. I need to let the concrete set up on the gateposts before I can connect the last ends … Continue reading →

Reminded me of my childhood in dear old Scarfolk*… — *ETA: Okay, I’m actually from Detroit. Not that different.

Daddy’s moping around the Lair, and Little Bear’s all “Daddy, let’s go do something fun!” And he’s right. Brain the size of a raisin, and he’s smarter than me.

Click was sick for a long time. The Secret Lair smells like a crazy cat lady’s apartment, and while I’m working on it I’m not sure there’s enough baking soda in the world to completely remove the stench. It certainly … Continue reading →

Because they’re all trained, and stuff. CLEVELAND, Ohio — A November car chase ended in a “full blown-out” firefight, with glass and bullets flying, according to Cleveland police officers who described for investigators the chaotic scene at the end of … Continue reading →

So the Colorado legislature wants to pass a law outlawing standard capacity magazines. Magpul Industries, one of the foremost makers of those magazines, is based in Colorado. Oops. The management of Magpul publicly stated it wouldn’t stay where it wasn’t … Continue reading →

Of all the times for everything to fall into place. I intended to make arrangements for Click’s euthanasia, figuring I’d have at least the weekend to get used to the idea – which I had honestly not been seriously contemplating, … Continue reading →

I’ve scrubbed the complaining post that was here before, because the vet called back very promptly and gave me the bad news. According to what we discussed Wednesday, there were two possibilities for Click’s condition: infectious meningitis, or a brain … Continue reading →

But at least we’ve achieved flying people! Never underestimate the ingenuity of the American geek.

You seem to assume that everybody who carries a pistol is on facebook and/or twitter. You’re wrong. And your determination that I can’t even learn something about your “Carry On Movement” unless I join said facebook and/or twitter? Way wrong, … Continue reading →

I went looking for recordings of old radio shows, and found this. Old science fiction shows from the golden age! The foley sound effects are laughable, as are most of the plots. And yet, here and there…

One of the things that has always depressed me about the gun control battle is that the gun manufacturers are generally on the wrong side of it. Gunmakers sell guns to governments for the same reason Willie Sutton used to … Continue reading →

I love this place where I live. Yesterday my neighbor D and I took my cat Click to the vet, in this little town about 35 miles away. (there’s a vet in the very little town nearest where I live, … Continue reading →

My big problems with Chris Dorner, as I’ve mentioned, were twofold: First, he targeted innocents and that’s a big no-no in my imaginary ROE. I don’t care if they are related to somebody you hate, you don’t get to do … Continue reading →

And as expected, it’s not good news. Exactly how bad the news is will depend on the test results. She’s got big, degenerative nervous system problems as opposed to a spinal injury. No surprise there. Maybe a parasite, maybe a … Continue reading →

Hee. Courtesy of Robb Allen.

…is how completely it has come to resemble parody. To the point where it’s hard to tell the difference. I got an embarrassing distance through this piece on yet another Socal cop shooting before I stopped buying it. H/T to … Continue reading →

I just got a kick out of this iconic shot of one of our brave protectors, bravely being protective. Found here, while surfing around trying to get the latest on the Rambo manhunt. Rambo, alas, turned out to be just … Continue reading →