Step inside, walk this way, you and me babe, hey, hey...

1st Inning.




Upon our return with the grill Friday night we
discovered Josh' camper had visitors.

Highlights of the Brew Crew...A couple of weekends ago I took a man-trip down to Jonesboro, Arkansas to Arkansas State University for a fraternity alumni gathering we call 'Goat Roast'.  I drove the RV down on a Friday with a fellow fraternity brother, Greg, to keep me company.  We arrived in mid-afternoon and stopped by Wal-Mart to get a few groceries and beer...oh, wait, Jonesboro is in dry county...doh!  I forgot all about that distinction and so we left without any brew.  We then headed to campus to set up camp at the Arkansas State University tailgate area that provides electric and water hook-ups.  Another fraternity brother, Josh, had already arrived with his nice pull-behind camper and so the two of us set up TKE Camp.  Since the Goat Roast was going to be at our location it was our responsibility to get things set up for the Saturday event.  But first, a Friday night social event at the Upper Crust Pizza Co. with many other fraternity brothers.  Back at the camp we kicked back with a few adult beverages and relaxed until we received an emergency phone call from the fella towing the big daddy smoker grill to the camp.  The grill had a flat tire and although he had the spare he did not have a 4-way that would fit the lugs.  So, at a bit past 11pm, Greg, Josh, and our driver, John, loaded up in Josh's pickup and headed off into the night down some backroad highway to change a flat and get that grill back to our campsite.  On Saturday we enjoyed good food and beverages along with great fellowship among the brothers of our fraternity.  There was a day-long baggo game tournament for doubles and singles.  Gifts were given to many brothers and guests throughout the day.  Another highlight was for the group to get a tour of the athletic facilities on campus including the football stadium, Convocation Center, and baseball stadium.  I really enjoyed finishing the day sitting around and chatting with my old college buddies.  Sunday morning found Greg and me loaded up and headed back home.  A great weekend!


A couple of weeks ago, the local Parks & Rec department held closing ceremonies for the summer youth baseball and softball leagues.  My daughter's softball team picked up a first place trophy this year.  It was really nice to see them achieve that accomplishment after putting in all the hard work.  Congratulations again, Ladies!




Last week my two oldest daughters spent several days in southeast Arkansas staying with my wife's sister.  During one of those days they got to drive down to West Monroe, Louisiana and visit Duck Commander headquarters.  They were very excited at getting to visit a place they see on television.  You have to love wholesome tv programs like Duck Dynasty! 

2nd Inning.

What I'm reading...So, I received a present from my brother-in-law, Stephen recently.  The present--'The Walking Dead Book One' graphic novel.  If you have read some of my past posts you will know that I am a fan of the television show and I am a former comic book geek. I quickly devoured this book and enjoyed it quite well.  I imagine that most fans of the show have searched the Internet for spoilers and have read Wikipedia or other entries on the comic book and particular plot details that have occurred or have a possibility of occurring in future episodes/seasons.  With that said, any fan of 'The Walking Dead' knows there are differences between the books and the show.  I will highlight a few from Book One (spoiler alert!):

• Rick does not get trapped in the tank in downtown Atlanta
• Shane is killed by Carl in the Atlanta camp
• Tyreese shows up when Rick's group leaves the Atlanta camp
• Carol and Tyreese become a couple
• Andrea and Dale become a couple
• Rick's group does not leave Hershel's farm with Hershel and his daughters
• THERE IS NO MERLE OR DARYL!!!! (Well, at least in Book One)

3rd Inning.

American History Lesson...On July 21, 1925 John Scopes was found guilty of teaching evolution in a Tennessee High School classroom.  The Scopes Trial, also known as the 'Monkey Trial' and 'The Trial of the Century', was planned courtroom drama before we had 'Law & Order' and 'Boston Legal'.  This courtroom battle pitted two famous men of the day in William Jennings Bryan for the prosecution and Clarence Darrow for the defense.   Per Wikipedia, "The trial was deliberately staged in order to attract publicity to the small town of Dayton, Tennessee, where it was held. Scopes was unsure whether he had ever actually taught evolution, but he purposely incriminated himself so that the case could have a defendant.  The ACLU was looking for a defendant so they could challenge the recently passed Butler Act, which made it illegal to teach evolution in a public school, in Tennessee and once Scopes agree to play the role of defendant they were ready to go forward with the legal spectacle.  The trial opened on July 10 and the public was presented with speeches by both Bryan and Darrow as they listened by their radios across the nation.  With the judge obviously biased against the defense and not allowing most of their witnesses, Darrow put Bryan in the witness stand and proceeded to pick apart Bryan's literal interpretation of the Bible.  Per History.com, "Darrow's performance didn't save Scopes from a conviction and $100 fine (it was later overturned on a technicality), but in the mainstream press, the theory of evolution clearly won the debate."  The trial inspired a play and movie called 'Inherit the Wind'.  You can watch a brief video on the trial here. 

4th Inning.

Random facts about me...I sleep best in a very cold room with a good blanket and a fan blowing on me...My first Transformers toy when I was a kid was 'Hound', a green Army jeep...I once worked as an ice cream man trainee for one day...One of my childhood nicknames was 'Beaver' as in 'Leave it to Beaver'...I was on a restaurant league bowling team and we were called 'The T-Boners' (we worked at Ponderosa Steakhouse) and we had shirts with a logo and our names...I have been to the Southfork Ranch while Dallas was still on-the-air...I scream like a girl when my wife dumps ice water on me in the shower...I have never suffered a broken bone...I have had the same personal email account since 1997...

5th Inning.

Articles of the Week...

• Ghost Story...The Blaze sits down with one of the real-life daughters portrayed in the new movie "The Conjuring" and discuss her haunted experiences in her family's farmhouse.  Can you say vacation destination???
• Kansas City Story...28 Signs you grew up in Kansas City, Missouri.
• Marvel Comics Story...With Marvel Comics making blockbuster movies there are a few storylines from the comics world that would be awesome if transferred to the movie screen.
• Mosquito Story...With summer upon us those of us in the Midwest and South know very well that it is full-blown mosquito season.  Be careful drinking a brew outside!
  
• Mystery Story..."Mysterious, pyramid-like structures spotted in the Egyptian desert by an amateur satellite archaeologist might be long-lost pyramids after all, according to a new investigation into the enigmatic mounds."  Too bad the current political situation in Egypt will prevent much further study for the near future.
• Cougar Story...I'm not sure what's more interesting...the fact that there is a Cougar match-making site or the fact that someone wrote a story based on a survey of where Cougars like to go on vacation.  BTW--"According to the Cougar Life website, a cougar is a woman 35 or older and seeking or involved with a "cub," a man at least five years younger."
  
• Politics Story..."Remember when President Obama famously promised that if you like your health-care plan, you'll be able to keep your health-care plan? It was a brilliantly crafted political sound bite. Turns out, the statement is untrue."  A good, little op-ed piece by Bobby Jindal and Scott Walker.
• Congress Story..."Tax reform is apparently so treacherous for senators these days that they require the utmost protection from the public -- half a century's worth."  Coming Soon--Secret Voting in both chambers of Congress on all matters!  Will the madness ever stop?!?!?
• Science Story..."Scientists have used sound waves to suspend objects in midair for decades, but the new method, described Monday, July 15, in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, goes a step further by allowing people to manipulate suspended objects without touching them."  Bring on the McFly hoverboard!
  

6th Inning.

Cool & Funny Videos...

The 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon' show had some fun during the MLB All-Star Break.  Enjoy!



Below is a cool little film short called 'The Flying Man'.  With Hollywood running out of original ideas I think it's nice to see there are still filmmakers that show originality.  Enjoy!



7th Inning.

Firearms Corner...This week I want to spend a moment discussing the difference between 'Clip' and 'Magazine' as they pertain to firearms.  When I first became interested in firearms and started hanging around others that have lived and breathed it all their lives, I quickly tried to pick up as much terminology as possible.  Sitting around the campfire at deer camp, I remember being educated after using my 'movie knowledge' of guns and the ignorant use of improper terms for clips and magazines.  Also, with the growing debate on gun control in this country, there is widespread disinformation coming from those that support gun control.  So let's educate!  Simply put (and follow along with the picture to the left) a magazine contains ammunition cartridges that automatically feed into the firearm which could be a rifle, shotgun, or handgun.  Magazines utilize a spring that pushes the ammunition up into the firearm as you fire each round.  A clip holds ammunition cartridges along a metal strip...there is no spring and there is no way for the cartridges to automatically feed into the firearm.   You can use clips to store ammo or to load a magazine.  There you go.  The difference is quite simple but the terminology misconceptions still exist.  At every gun show where I have worked a table as a dealer you still have many, many people that stop to chat and act like they know what they are talking about and simply do not.  The video below provides a good explanation if you require additional information.  Enjoy!  

8th Inning.

FFL Factoid...Over the next several posts under this inning I will be posting the 'Top 10 Frequently Asked Firearms Questions and Answers' per the ATF.

1. Can a person prohibited by law from possessing a firearm acquire and use a black powder muzzle loading firearm?   The Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA) prohibits felons and certain other persons from possessing or receiving firearms and ammunition ("prohibited persons"). These categories can be found at 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) and (n) in http://atf.gov/publications/download/p/atf-p-5300-4.pdf.

However, Federal law does not prohibit these persons from possessing or receiving an antique firearm. The term "antique firearm" means any firearm (including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898. The definition includes any replica of an antique firearm if it is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition, or uses rimfire or conventional centerfire ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the United States, and which is not readily available in ordinary channels of commercial trade. Further, any muzzle loading rifle, shotgun, or pistol which is designed to use black powder or black powder substitute, and which cannot use fixed ammunition, is an "antique firearm" unless it (1) incorporates a firearm frame or receiver; (2) is a firearm which is converted into a muzzle loading weapon; or (3) is a muzzle loading weapon which can be readily converted to fire fixed ammunition by replacing the barrel, bolt, breechblock, or any combination thereof. See 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(3), (a)(16).

Thus, a muzzle loading weapon that meets the definition of an "antique firearm" is not a firearm and may lawfully be received and possessed by a prohibited person under the GCA.  In addition, the GCA defines the term "ammunition" to mean "ammunition or cartridge cases, primers, bullets, or propellant powder designed for use in any firearm." Because an "antique firearm" is not a "firearm," it would is lawful for a prohibited person to receive or possess black powder designed for use in an "antique firearm." Also, the Federal explosives laws do not make it unlawful for a prohibited person to acquire and possess black powder in quantities not exceeding fifty pounds if it is intended to be used solely for sporting, recreational, or cultural purposes in "antique firearms." See 18 U.S.C. § 845(a)(5)

By contrast, a prohibited person may not receive or possess black powder firearms that can be readily converted to fire fixed ammunition by replacing the barrel, bolt, breechblock, or any combination thereof. ATF has classified certain muzzle loading models as firearms. All of these models incorporate the frame or receiver of a firearm that is capable of accepting barrels designed to fire conventional rimfire or centerfire fixed ammunition. These muzzle loading models do not meet the definition of "antique firearm" as that term is defined in 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(16), and are "firearms" as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(3). Furthermore, as firearms, these and similar models, regardless of the barrel installed on the firearm or provided with the firearm, are subject to all provisions of the GCA. Persons who purchase these firearms from licensed dealers are required to fill out a Firearms Transaction Record, ATF Form 4473, and are subject to a National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check. Felons and other prohibited persons may not lawfully receive or possess these firearms or ammunition.

 

The following is a list of weapons that load from the muzzle and are classified as firearms, not antiques, under the GCA, because they incorporate the frame or receiver of a firearm: Savage Model 10ML (early, 1st version) ; Mossberg 500 shotgun with muzzle loading barrel; Remington 870 shotgun with muzzle loading barrel; Mauser 98 rifle with muzzle loading barrel; SKS rifle with muzzle loading barrel; PB sM10 pistol with muzzle loading barrel; H&R/New England Firearm Huntsman; Thompson Center Encore/Contender; Rossi .50 muzzle loading rifle

This list is not complete and frequently changes. There may be other muzzle loaders also classified as firearms. As noted, any muzzle loading weapon that is built on a firearm frame or receiver falls within the definition of a firearm provided in 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(3).

Finally, even though a prohibited person may lawfully possess an antique firearm under Federal law, State or local law may classify such weapons as "firearms" subject to regulation. Any person considering acquiring a black powder weapon should contact his or her State Attorney General’s Office to inquire about the laws and possible State or local restrictions. A list of State Attorney General contact numbers may be found at www.naag.org.
  
9th Inning.

Baseball video...Last week saw the 30th Anniversary of the 'Pine Tar Incident'.  If you are not familiar with this baseball memory then please watch the video.
 

Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

1st Inning.

Lounging in the pool

Highlights of the Brew Crew...Over the Fourth of July holiday the Brew Crew loaded up in the RV, along with my mother-in-law and headed to southeast Arkansas to Rohwer where my sister-in-law lives.  It was a long weekend vacation and it was very enjoyable.  Our little Lucy didn't seem to enjoy the ride down as much as the rest of us but once we arrived and jumped in the pool she seemed to be doing better.  The in-laws just put in a very nice in-ground pool and the girls were in it before I had the RV parked and plugged into the garage electric outlet.  We arrived on the 4th in the evening but didn't shoot any fireworks that night. 

A peek at my home away from home a few steps from the pool.

On Friday the 5th, after a morning swim with the kids, my brother-in-law, Stephen, took me for a day long ride in his new Polaris Razor complete with sound system.  We stopped to fill up the cooler with some beverages then headed out for a tour of the crop fields then off to the levee.  With the iPod cranked up and playing some Bocephus were on our way!  The only thing missing was orange paint, rebel flag on the roof, and a 01 on the doors.  I believe at one point we had that sucker at 60mph as we 'flattened the hills and straightened the curves'.  We stopped in Watson to watch a fire on the railroad tracks and to visit with Stephen's aunt that lived across and a few houses down.  A helluva day for a fire!  We headed back to the house and a few donuts in the gravel drive along with a tip over of the Polaris and we were back in the pool.  Later on we took it out again and ran into one of Stephen's old friends that farms in the area.  As we traded stories and drank a few cold ones we were back on the road at dark and on the levee headed for the house.  At some point an animal jumped out and nudged the passenger side rear panel.  We turned around thinking it was a deer but saw no sign.  I figured it was either an armadillo, raccoon, or possum but there was no damage to the Razor.  Back at the house we jumped in the pool and I swear I heard it was skinny dippin' time with the wives but apparently I was the only one that got that message and after a few hundred skeeter bites I was fully clothed again and resting inside with some cold A/C. 

The in-laws have a great doormat/door draft stopper.

Saturday was a stay-at-home day as the wives didn't appreciate all the fun we had the day before.  So, we just lounged in and around the pool ate bbq and drank adult beverages.  Then it was time to watch a couple of movies from the RedBox--the latest Die Hard installment and Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters.  It was a very lazy day.  Sunday saw us drive back home and all said it was a good little vacation.

2nd Inning.

Articles of the week.

• Museum Mystery..."Manchester Museum bosses have been left puzzled by the mystery of an ancient Egyptian statuette which - a video reveals - seems to turn itself around 180 degrees in its display case."  Can you say spooky?  Is Ben Stiller working security at that museum?
  
• Hypocrisy?...Bush...Obama...not really much difference on policy.
• Underground fort..."After most of the world’s population is wiped off the map by a wayward meteorite or hail of nuclear missiles, the survival of the human race might just depend on a few thousand people huddled in recreational vehicles deep in the bowels of an eastern Kansas mine."  Just up the road from my deer camp.  I need to reserve a spot now.
• What would Andy Jackson do?..."As long as our government is administered for the good of the people, and is regulated by their will; as long as it secures to us the rights of persons and of property, liberty of conscience, and of the press, it will be worth defending."
  
• Life of Julia..." What would the Schumer-Rubio amnesty bill look like from the perspective of an illegal alien named Julia?"  Interesting slideshow.
• Thomas Sowell..."We all know that guns can cost lives because the media repeat this message endlessly, as if we could not figure it out for ourselves. But even someone who reads newspapers regularly and watches numerous television newscasts may never learn that guns also save lives-- much less see any hard facts comparing how many lives are lost and how many are saved."
• In the year 2025..."As technology advances, some physical crimes -- such as kidnapping, armed robbery, and post office scams -- may decline or disappear entirely, experts say." 
• The secret of Pixar..."Jon Negroni spent one year untangling the secret world hidden deep within Pixar films..."  Prepare to have your mind blown!
  
• Everyone's a lawyer now..."The result of a verdict today in a criminal trial is that everyone with a twitter or Facebook account gets to let the world know how ignorant they are of the criminal justice system."  A great piece by Brian Tannenbaum (criminal and Bar defense attorney in Florida).

3rd Inning.

Politics...Okay, time for one of my tirades on a political/cultural/socio-economic subject--Poor and entitlements.  We keep hearing about the entitlements in our country and the ever rising costs of those entitlements.  Whenever any person or politician makes a statement about making cuts to them then there is a huge outcry over the poor and how they will be left out in the cold and won't be able to survive in today's society.  Well, I personally can speak to being poor and living in America.  A little background on me: I grew up in a suburb on Kansas City and spent the majority of my youth living in an apartment complex that accepted Section 8.  We didn't use Section 8 but lived there anyway.  My mom was and is a waitress at local restaurant.  My parent's divorced when I was very young and my dad was a sheet-rocker.  My step-dad has played the role of mechanic with a variety of employers.  Blue collar folks.  My relatives were all blue collar, living paycheck to paycheck.  My mom at one time owned the restaurant where she had worked for a number of years but issues with the IRS lead to her losing that dream.  We were poor but got by.  Our annual vacation was usually to Branson staying at a Best Western and going to Silver Dollar City.  We were on the school lunch program but never any food stamps or other entitlements.  I bought my first car with money I earned from washing dishes in that restaurant my mom owned.  There was a time after they lost the restaurant that they went through vehicle repossessions and furniture repossessions.  

At every corner my family turned was an opportunity to get on the government teat but we didn't.  My parents didn't waste money on tattoos, fancy material items, cigarettes, or other wasteful items.  Our circumstances didn't deter me.  I still graduated high school and after a bit of soul searching went to college and graduated.  I was the first grandchild on my mom's side of the family to graduate college.  I did use student loans to pay for college and I am paying those back...no defaults.  I applied myself.  I have several cousins and relatives that walked the same road and are on food stamps and using other government entitlements to get by.     

So that brings me to the point of this soap-box tirade...we don't have a problem with running out of money for entitlements or need to continue to raise taxes to pay for them.  What we need is more people applying themselves.  We need more parents teaching their children (not schools) good morals and what is right from wrong and that they should be striving to make their lives better through self-responsibility.  There is a great article by Neal Boortz that I have been reading and re-reading since last fall that really explains the issue.  Per Boortz, "What’s it like to be poor in America?  Dare I say it?  Not all that horrible, actually.  First – in a general sense – the average poor person in America has a higher standard of living than the average European.  Read that sentence again – you need to understand what I’m saying there.  Read it until it sinks in.  Take the average POOR person in America and tell them they’re going to have to live like the AVERAGE EUROPEAN .. and they’ll start screaming racism, discrimination, oppression, and every other leftist trigger word they can remember.  Tell a poor person in America that they’re going to have to lower their living standard to that of the average European, and the proggies will tell you that you be “hatin’” on the poor."  So, you are probably thinking that Boortz doesn't have a clue or any specifics to back up his comments.  Well, in his article he references a re-tread story in the local Atlanta newspaper where a poor person is complaining about not getting her heating entitlement money...all while pictured with a large screen tv, gaming console, and a space heater. 

 

Want more? A two-year old study from The Heritage Foundation reveals the following:

• The typical “poor” household in America has a car
• 78% of “poor” households in America have air conditioning
• 64% of “poor” households in America have cable or satellite TV .. most have two TVs, along with a DVD player and  VCR
• Most “poor” households in America with children have a gaming system such as an Xbox or PlayStation
• 38% of “poor” households in America have a personal computer
• Most “poor” households in America have a refrigerator, an oven and stove, and a microwave. They also have other household appliances such as a clothes washer, clothes dryer, ceiling fans, a cordless phone, and a coffee maker.
• The typical “poor” American has more living space than the average European.
• The typical “poor” American family is able to obtain medical care when needed.
• The average “poor” household in America claims to have sufficient funds to meet all essential needs.

Boortz lays out a great example of disposable income between a one-parent household of four compared to a two-parent household of four.  You guessed it the single parent living on minimum wage has more disposable income through all the government assistance picking up the tab for the basic needs.  What is wrong with our government and society?  I always seem to hear from those on the left, "Should we just kick them to the curb for making bad choices?" But how many times do we keep allowing them to make bad choices and still catch them in the government safety net?  A few things Boortz points out as the bad choices people make that put them in the poor bracket:

• Having unprotected sex so that your boyfriend can knock you up, and then having a child you absolutely cannot afford to raise
• Ignoring your education and job training opportunities to the point that you can’t qualify for a job that earns more than minimum wage
• Getting hooked on drugs
• Spending your spare money on lottery tickets and at your local Tresses and Talons shop
• Taking money you could use to buy your kids a book .. and spending it instead on a cool tattoo
• Getting a job --- and then making a habit of not showing up for work on Monday’s and Fridays
• Refusing to move out of a crime-ridden inner city environment and relocating, by whatever means necessary, to an area with better schools, less drugs and crime, and some basic job opportunities...And don’t give me this “can’t afford it” crap.  Our ancestors did that walking alongside covered wagons with a few tables and chairs and maybe a bed inside.  They had to dig holes in the ground to drop a deuce along the way.  You have a car.  There’s rest areas on the expressways.  Load it and use it.
• Embracing the “no snitching” culture so that the police can’t do an effective job of ridding your neighborhood of the thugs that shoot your friends on street corners

Tough love, people.  At some point we are going to have to employ that method to save this nation.

4th Inning.

American History Lesson...July 14th, 1798, Sedition Act becomes Federal law.  With the current environment of government scandals and controversial legislation, it is eerie to think that we have 'been there, done that' with regards to the actions of the government in 1798 under the Adams administration.  The Sedition Act was part of the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 and was the fourth act passed.  The first 3 Acts dealt with the rights of immigrants but the Sedition Act was an attempt to silence political opposition.  Per History.com, "the Sedition Act permitted the prosecution of individuals who voiced or printed what the government deemed to be malicious remarks about the president or government of the United States."  Fourteen Democratic-Republicans were imprisoned under this law with most being journalists.  Madison and Jefferson drafted resolutions in opposition to this law referencing outright violations of the First and Tenth Amendments.  The main proponent of these acts was Alexander Hamilton and many Federalists in the Adams administration and in Congress.  By signing the Act into law, Adams forfeited any chance at reelection in 1800 due to the controversy.  The Sedition Act expired in 1801 but not before Jefferson himself used it to imprison a few of his opponents.  Some good commentary by Mark Levin on the history of the Sedition Act and its current relevance is below.  Enjoy!   

5th Inning.

Movie I want to see...Anchorman 2.  Ron Burgundy is BACK!  The rumors have been floating since the first installment came out and this year we will finally see the follow up to Anchorman.  Ron, Champ, Brick, and Brian are back for more fun and craziness.  Per Wikipedia, "After the 1970s brought prosperity to the Channel 4 news team, the group disbands and hits rock bottom until a 24-hour news channel is being put together and the group is recruited to join the channel."  Expect the same good humor and hilarious situations that Ron and his buddies always seem to find themselves in.  The movie is expected to be released in theaters around Christmas.  Trailer is below.  Enjoy!
 

6th Inning.

Uncle Jeremy's Tips to Get the Nation Back on Track...If you burn our flag then no more foreign aid to your country...Cut the umbilical cord on the Post Office and fully privatize it and let other carriers delivery mail...No politicians at any level of government can exempt themselves from any law...Start having more 'Pay it forward' situations in our personal connections with other citizens...Reduce the power of the worker's unions...Replace the singing competition shows on tv with science/invention competitions with the same amount of monetary payoff(let's kick start a science revolution!)...Promote hard work and education over a government program...Eliminate the Federal Reserve and its unelected power over this country...Repeal the Patriot Act...






7th Inning.

Firearms Corner...In one of my earlier posts I discussed the AR-15 rifle and all its features.  Well, this week I bring to you a handy video that shows you how to clean that AR-15.  Enjoy!



8th Inning.

FFL Factoid...NICS Background Checks.  FFLs have the following three methods of performing background checks depending upon the state in which the FFL is conducting business:

1. In states where the state government has agreed to serve as the POC for the system, the FFLs contact the NICS through the state POC for all firearm transfers. The state POC conducts the NICS check and determines whether or not the transfer would violate state or federal law.

2. In states where the state government has declined to serve as a POC, the FFLs initiate a NICS background check by contacting the NICS Call Centers for all firearm transfers. The FBI conducts the NICS check and determines whether or not the transfer would violate state or federal law.

3. Finally, in states where the state government has agreed to serve as a POC for handgun purchases but not for long gun purchases, the FFLs contact the NICS through the designated state POC for handgun transfers and the NICS Section for long gun transfers.

***Each state decides whether the FFLs in its state call a state POC or the FBI to initiate firearm background checks.***


9th Inning.

Baseball video...Two great Kansas City Royals had birthdays last week.  Hal McRae (July 10) and Willie Wilson (July 9).  Happy Birthday, fellas!

 

Happy Birthday to the U.S.A.!

1st Inning.

 

American History Lesson...4th of July.  With our nation's birthday this week I felt it would be a good time to look over some interesting facts about Independence Day and the Declaration of Independence.

• The average age of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence was 45.
• After signing the Declaration, John Hancock remarked that Congress must now “all hang together”. Benjamin Franklin replied, “Yes, we must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”
• The initial date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress was July 2, 1776.  But Congress revised the Declaration for final approval on July 4, 1776.
• The only two signers of the Declaration of Independence who later served as President of the United States were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
• Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson (bitter rivals) died on the same day, July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration.
• Congress made Independence Day an official unpaid holiday for federal employees in 1870. (In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday)
• John Hancock was the first and only person to sign the Declaration on July 4, 1776.
• The names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were withheld from the public for more than six months to protect the signers. If independence had not been achieved, the treasonable act of the signers would have, by law, resulted in their deaths.
• Eleven places have “independence” in their name. The most populous of these is Independence, Missouri, with 113,288 residents.
  

2nd Inning.


Bucksaw Marina

Highlights of the Brew Crew...Bucksaw weekend.  This past weekend I headed down without the other members of the Brew crew to the Bucksaw Marina Resort on Truman Lake.  The purpose of this trip was for a manly gathering of Uncles, Nephews, and male cousins to gather for a sort of 'going away' fishing trip for my Uncle Daryl.  You see, Daryl has cancer and was diagnosed back in March and given 3-6 months to live.  So, this was a good ole fashioned guys' weekend at the big fishing hole!  The person that orchestrated the festivities was cousin Corey and he rented several of the floating cabins that are connected to the marina in addition to renting the suite above the marina store/restaurant for us to stay in over the weekend.  

 



Sittin' & visitin'

I made it down Friday night after work and the headcount then was around 30, so we had a good gathering of relatives and friends of the family to have a good time.  Many beers were consumed as many of us got to reacquaint ourselves with cousins and their sons that we had not seen in too many years.  Great Uncles and Cousins from Sarcoxie, Missouri...Cousins from Bolivar, Missouri...and Uncles and Cousins from around the Kansas City area all sitting around visiting and checking out each other's boats and the catch of the day from the catfish trot lines.  I ended up in the suite with my Great Uncles and had the chance to visit with them as they talked about the 2011 Joplin tornado (Sarcoxie is right down the road from Joplin).

 

My Great Uncle Frankie standing with Uncle Daryl fishing to his right

Sleeping on the couch in the suite with the old men meant I was getting the light turned on in the room when they got up and they got up at 5:30am.  So, I went down and had breakfast with them in the marina restaurant and after that I hopped on my Great Uncle Frankie's pontoon boat along with my Uncle Daryl and Cousin Sonny.  We headed out that day to catch some perch for use as bait on the trot lines and jug lines.  We caught a small mess of perch then headed back into the dock.  Eating lunch with our large group at the marina restaurant's outdoor patio on the water I had a good time visiting until my chair fell through one of the cement tiles and I tumbled to the floor.  Embarrassed, I worked my unfortunate circumstances into a free cheeseburger and fries with a slight limp and neck ache. Later that afternoon, and after a young boy there with his family caught a whole stringer of perch and sold them to us for bait, I headed out with my Cousin Corey, Cousin Sonny, and Corey's friend Jerry to check the trot lines and bait the hooks.  With nothing on the lines worth keeping we headed back to the dock for some dinner at the marina restaurant.

 

My Uncle Daryl

The next morning after breakfast a bunch of us loaded onto my Great Uncle Frankie's boat to go check his jug lines.  Well, the night before a little rainstorm came through and blew his jugs from where he dropped them.  This lead us to playing a unique hybrid game of fishing and hide and seek.  He had dropped out 9 jugs and after finding the first 7 and nothing on the lines we were getting a bit disappointed.  Number 8 had a gar fish that we ended up throwing back and after a bit of searching we found number 9.  Pulling up the final jug we had a nice catfish dangling and jumping around.  With our catch on the boat we headed back to the marina to meet up with the other fellas that went out to check and bring back the trot lines.  They ended up bringing back a few to add to their stringers from Friday and Saturday morning.  Once everyone had emptied their rooms a group set out to clean the fish while a few of us loaded up and headed home.  It was a fun weekend and I enjoyed visiting my Great Uncles and  meeting cousins I had not seen since my childhood and to see their sons.  It was good to see My Uncle Daryl visiting with everyone.  I believe he had a really good time around family and friends.   

 

3rd Inning.

 

Random facts about me...I own and wear a pair of Captain America underwear...My favorite color is blue...I believe the United States of America can return to be a great nation as a global leader all-around and with global respect...I wore cowboy boots in high school...My dream job after graduate school was to be a Foreign Service Officer for the State Department...I believe the best chicken philly sandwich is made by Huey's in Memphis...I once had a moth fly in my ear and had to go to the emergency room to have it removed...I had Empire Strikes Back bed sheets as a kid...I was once an accomplice to giving a good friend a sandwich we found on a street curb without telling him...


4th Inning.

Cool videos...
Batman vs. Deadpool.  If you have read comic books, played the comic book related video games, or seen the comic book character movies then you have probably wondered what a live-action battle between characters would look like and who would win.  Well, the folks over at Bat in the Sun productions have put together a video pitting Batman versus Deadpool.  Very entertaining!  Enjoy!



Batman vs Alien vs Predator.  Let's stay with the Batman theme and mix in some sci-fi via Predator and Aliens.  Enjoy!




5th Inning.

What I'm watching...Falling Skies.  A show that is in it's 3rd season on the TNT channel and that the wife and I enjoy watching is 'Falling Skies'.  This show is about survivors of an alien invasion of Earth.  A few days after the invasion, the aliens have wiped out our militaries, power grids, and killed over 90% of the world's population.  This show follows a group of survivors from Massachusetts, known as the 2nd Massachusetts Militia Regiment (2nd Mass), as they fight back.  This show stars Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgood, and Will Patton (I always recognize him from Armageddon and Remember the Titans). 

 

The show premiered in June 2011 but after it's 10 episode season completed we had to wait a year for season 2 and likewise for season 3.  Even though there is a big gap between each season it has been a great sci-fi show to watch.  It's sort of an alien version of 'The Walking Dead'.  The first two seasons saw the 2nd Mass make their way from Boston to Charleston, South Carolina while fighting a race of aliens that are insect-like and are controlled by another race of aliens called the Espheni.  At the end of the 2nd season the 2nd Mass are greeted one night by another race of aliens that have been battling the Espheni across the cosmos and offer their assistance on Earth.  So, if you are looking for another good show to watch and if you love sci-fi, then check out 'Falling Skies' on Sunday nights on TNT! 

6th Inning.

TV shows that ended good countdown. As the month of May closed and I found a few shows going off the air after their series finales were played it got me thinking about my favorite television series finales.  I've compiled the list with videos over here.


7th Inning.

Firearms corner...1000 yd shot.  I came across this article and video a couple of weeks ago.  Once you purchase your first firearm and head to the range to practice you get that rush of adrenaline and you want to try shooting from farther and farther away to see how accurate you can be, especially for the hunters.  Also, our military obviously needs folks that can shoot from long distances when we find our forces needing to eradicate threats from long range distances and that is where this fella learned to shoot.  Former Army Ranger, Ryan Cleckner, takes a 1,000 yard shot with a Barrett M107 in .50 caliber (big boy caliber) while shooting off-hand (no means of rest support while standing) and hits the target with one shot.  Truly amazing!  Check out the video below and don't forget to aim small, miss small!
 

8th Inning.

FFL Factoid...Buying/Selling Online.  Not so much a factoid this week but more of an FYI for the new home-based dealers and new storefront dealers.  In the last 7 months as anti-gun legislation has been proposed there has also been discussion of buying and selling guns online.  As a relatively new Federal Firearms Licensed dealer, I have been partaking in the selling of firearms and accessories online during all this legislation discussion and I have learned quite a bit in that time.  There are numerous sites that are designed for buying/selling such as GunsAmerica.com, GunBroker.com, GunCycle.com, and Armslist.com.  For most sites, you have to set up an account and usually you have to identify yourself as a dealer or private seller.  Most sites offer extra services for a dealer but at an extra cost.  This can be a great tool for a home-based dealer that doesn't want to pay for a business website.  After setting up your account you can post ads or start buying.  Each site has a fairly easy walkthrough process on how to post ads or auctions.  To make selling easier, posting pictures of your firearms will get your ad more views and aid in selling them.  Try not to use stock photos from the Internet because many scammers will use those in 'selling' firearms and the majority of buyers want to see the actual firearm you are selling.  When it comes to the financial part of the transaction, most sites have a system set up for you take credit cards if you are a dealer but others recommend U.S. Postal money orders.  Most private sellers will be selling local but for dealers or anyone that sell across state lines an FFL transfer will need to be made where the seller sends the firearm to a licensed dealer where the buyer will pick it up and complete the background check paperwork.  For more details on the process click here and happy selling and happy buying!      

9th Inning.

Baseball video...With the 4th of July this week and All-Star Game around the corner I saw it fitting to present a great singer doing justice to the National Anthem.  Carrie Underwood at the 2006 MLB All-Star Game.  Enjoy!

Extra Inning.
10th Inning.

A great video that ESPN put together showing members of the military returning home and reunited with their families.  Remember those in the military.  Pay them respect by buying them a meal, their gas, groceries, etc.  I'm going to make an extra effort to do it.