Armed Forces Day seemed an appropriate day to shake the dust off of this humble old train wreck. Instead of going to Chicago to train sailor pups, I ended up in the Pacific Northwest fixing certain assets. I must, by law, be very selective about what I publish here. The fishing here is excellent, but getting a hunting license is a pain. I started watching Duck Dynasty after the controversy over prayers and guns. I LOVE it. Happy Happy Happy. I want to be like Phil when I am old. I made lazy fried chicken tonight. Take a 1/2 cup flour and a teaspoon each of your favorite spices. Mix the dry spices together, mix some shortening and butter in a large casserole and melt it. Dredge the chicken and then cook it half hour each side, starting with the bone side.
Score one for backward hillbillies
Keith Morgan exposes a lame stream media journalist for what he is by using simple facts and logic. Hat tip to http://moonbattery.com.
Profiles in Countermoonbattery: Keith Morgan
The Scouting Trail
Pocket Monkey decided a few months back that he wanted to be a Cub Scout. I was stoked. He was thus far enjoyed it and earned a few awards. Tonight was the Blue and Gold Banquet. We had a spaghetti western theme. For the gathering activity, the boys were given a checklist of people to find(different color eyes, born out of state, Eagle Scout, etc). I was one of only a couple of Eagle Scouts in the room. As usual, I was wearing an Eagle Scout shirt with a subdued design. The boys were timid to ask me to sign their list at first. I signed each one with a smile because a Scout is cheerful. After the meal, we retired a tattered and worn US Flag in accordance with the laws and traditions governing such endeavors. It was a moving ceremony. For those wondering how to do it, here is an abridged play by play hitting the most important parts.
First the field of 50 stars must be removed from the flag by cutting neatly. Then, you cut the stripes into 13 sections. Depending on the ceremony style, at some point it must be mentioned that the flag is not being burned in anger, but out of reverence. Solemn patriotic may be played quietly in the background. The Webelos Den read a summary of the meaning of the various parts was read. As the summary was read for each piece, the appropriate portion was brought forward and placed respectfully in the fire. Most Scout troops and veteran’s organizations will do it for you if you ask. Fall out, and carry out the plan of the day,
Current events
Just like every other person on earth, sometimes I face apathy and depression. When I see what my country is coming to, sometimes I wonder, why bother? I swore an oath to defend this country from all enemies foreign and domestic. The foreign enemies are easy to defend against. The domestic ones, not so much. I have the utmost faith in the Holy Bible and the US Constitution. People are trying to undermine or destroy both. It irritates and depresses me. I will give my life to uphold both documents. That is all. Fall out and carry out the plan of the day.
Shoot back
Every time I see a shooting incident, I wish someone would shoot back
Fire Adventure
Apparently, I am not the only one in the Snipe household that knows how to perform rapid response tasks during an emergency. Mrs. Snipe and Pocket Monkey contained a brush fire until the pros arrived. I was at work late that night so I missed it.
Mrs. Snipe noticed a growing fire out the back window. She directed Pocket Monkey to call 911 and report it. Meanwhile, she filled a bucket with water and started dousing the fire. She kept going until the fire department arrived. That is US Navy Rapid Response 101. She explained that her goal was to keep the fire away from the cars in the adjacent parking lot. I teased her when she told the story later that night when I got home. She used a bucket of water, which is a lot better than nothing. There is a fire extinguisher about 10 steps from our door, that is hard to see.
As always, a crowd gathered. Nobody was helping. Mrs. Snipe is not trained. She has basic adult knowledge of how a fire works. She has heard some of my stories. Whether or not that helped her at the time, we will never know. Mama Bear’s cub was in perceived danger and she acted.
I am very proud of Mrs. Snipe, the one woman bucket brigade. I wish I would have been home to help. I would have started barking orders and doing work, much like the Good Samaritan story from a while back. Training is good. Training is not always necessary. Untrained people do extraordinary tasks all the time. To all the looky-loos, next time grab a bucket.
Basic Defense
In the local news out here, a guy in Texas that defended his daughter is in the news. I shall analyze and comment.
At a large private gathering of people, a grown man started acting inappropriately toward a young female child and it escalated. The Dad, by sheer dumb luck happened to walk in. And commenced to laying the smack down. In the process, the perpetrator died. Papa Bear was using bare hands.
The question at large is, was Daddy wrong?
I feel, based on my federal deadly force training, that the Dad was right. Some in California say that he robbed the perpetrator of due process when he killed the man. I have heard this discussion during training. I disagree strongly. The perpetrator was robbing the little girl of her due process.
This event happened in TX. The Sheriff declared it to be within the proper guidelines and turned his evidence over to the DA. Thus far, the DA is still figuring out what to do in order to make all his voters happy.
Defense of self and others is allowed in the Deadly Force chain. As is prevention of serious offenses against persons. Serious offenses against others includes rape as a primary example.
I wish to point out that the father was using bare hands. That implies no premeditation. His daughter was in danger and he reacted. I feel it was a “righteous kill”.
Some people in CA think he overreacted. I disagree. If my son or daughter was in that position, you may bet your last pair of shoes that I would probably do the same thing, if not retrieve my pistol from the stash box. I feel that the little girl’s dad was right. Feel free to add your .02 in the comments.
