Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young...

1st Inning.

Highlights of the Brew Crew...Year Look Back.  Well, as 2014 comes to an end here is my 'look back' at some of the highlights (or lowlights) of my year.

• 15th Wedding anniversary--I made it.  Fifteen years of marriage.  It may have seemed like a roller coaster but in the end it has been well worth it.  Growing up a child of divorce, I always wanted to have one of those marriages that you saw on the '50s/'60s sitcoms.  I think I have one.
• Lifetime membership in Beta Psi Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon Alumni Association--Entering the year, my college fraternity's alumni association was holding a membership drive for lifetime dues paying members. The association is putting forth a grand effort to re-establish our chapter back on the campus of Arkansas State University.  I felt that by becoming a Lifetime member rather than an annual dues paying member it would show others my commitment (Lead by example).  I believe it did.  That fraternity showed me so much and molded me into the man I am today. Brothers, I love this fraternity!
  
• Lifetime membership in the National Rifle Association--Another organization with a Lifetime membership and another organization that I respect and support so it was a no-brainer.  I firmly believe that the NRA has been vital in preserving my 2nd Amendment rights and I am proud to be a member and now a Life Member.
• Kansas City Royals--The love for my first professional sports team fan-craze is deep.  I grew up during the glory years of the Royals franchise and during the time when there was an NBA team in KC and the Chiefs sucked.  I have remained a loyal fan through all the bad trades, bad free agent signings, bad managers, and all the 100-loss seasons.  To see what they did this year (even though they came up short in the World Series) gave me hope that the franchise can turn things around and be a competitive ball club.  Here's to the American League Champions...the Kansas City Royals!
  
• Trip to Mt. Rushmore--I'm an American history buff (hell, I have an inning for American History in each blog post) and therefore I have a desire to visit as many American historical places.  Places that yell out loudly, 'Merica!'.  Places that are on my personal bucket list to visit before I die.  Well, this year I got to cross a big one off during our big family summer vacation to South Dakota. Even though I didn't get to stay as long as I wanted (the females in my family were ready to go) I do plan to go back someday when I can stay longer.
  
• Puppies--Right after celebrating my 15th wedding anniversary, we added two new members to the Brew Crew...Willy Wonka and Augustus Gloop.  Willy and Augie have finally adjusted pretty good to our home.  But I have it on good authority that our children who begged and pleaded with us to finally adopt a dog (or in this case 'dogs') are really not up to the full responsibility of caring for the dogs. Thankfully my wife (who also begged and pleaded for them) has been there to fill in for the girls during the morning and evenings when the dogs need attention. I like the dogs, especially when they take naps...
  
• John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band--Another item on my personal bucket list presented itself finally when back in the spring I saw that a band that I have wanted see live since I was a kid and first saw 'Eddie & The Cruisers' would be playing a venue in Missouri.  Over the years, I had been tracking their tour dates but nothing really ever popped up this far west (they are an East coast/New England band), until this year.  In a small canoe-resort town in south central Missouri they performed for one night.  I made it there and with front row center seats had one of the best times of my life.  Scratch another one off the bucket list!
  
• Broken leg--After 39 years and 306 days, I suffered my first broken bone.  During the opening weekend of this year's firearms deer hunting season, I received a text from my cousin that he downed a doe and needed help dragging it out of the woods. I wasn't seeing much so I climbed down out of my stand and headed across our hunting land.  On a path that I have walked 100+ times before I slipped going down a hill and BAM! Broke my right fibula right above the ankle.  End of hunting season.  No venison in the freezer.  Deer 1, Jeremy 0.  As I write this I have two more weeks of wearing this aircast boot (hopefully) then back to the woods!
• Loss of job--On September 30th, 2014, I became unemployed after 12 years with my now former employer, USIS.  Upon suffering from a cyber security breach from what they claimed was a hostile nation, our government customer, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, decided to not renew our contract and therefore lead to USIS laying off around 3,000 employees across the nation.  I spent the first 4 years of my employment working background investigations in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas; the next 4 years assigning cases to investigators in the Midwest; and the final 4 years in a Logistics & Planning position working on national projects for USIS. I have now experienced filing for unemployment and I have applied to many, many companies and agencies.  Here's to an employed Jeremy in 2015! 
  
  

2nd Inning.

American History Lesson...Crossing the Delaware and Trenton.  During the late evening on Christmas in 1776, General George Washington and his army began crossing a half-frozen Delaware River.  They crossed at three different locations to ferry 2,400 soldiers across an icy river to reach New Jersey before dawn on December 26th. Washington left behind two other divisions, accounting for 3,000 more soldiers and artillery, due to them not reaching the meeting points to cross the river at the set time.
Once across, the army marched towards Trenton. It was around 8 a.m. when Washington's men reached the outer limits of the town and with the Hessians (British paid mercenaries from current Germany) numbering 1,400 and not suspecting an attack, Washington was able to lead his soldiers in an overwhelming surprise win. The Hessians had spent Christmas night celebrating a bit too much while also disregarding the threat of the Patriot forces due to months of British victories throughout New York. At approximately 9:30 a.m., Trenton was surrounded and almost 1,000 Hessians were taken prisoner while Washington only lost four soldiers.  Without his remaining forces that failed to cross the Delaware River, he was forced to withdraw from the town.

The victory at Trenton was not a strategic or significant one but due to many defeats to the British

leading up to it, it became the right victory at the right time. As word spread of the victory, it raised the spirits of the Patriots in the colonies and showed that the Continental Army was capable of taking on the British.  On December 31st, many of his troops' enlistments would end and Washington needed this moral victory to keep soldiers in the ranks. The victory at Trenton, and later at Princeton, would prove to the Colonists supporting the Continental forces that they were capable of victory and worthy of their support.    

Per History.com, "The image of ragged farm-boy Patriots defeating drunken foreign mercenaries has become ingrained in the American imagination. Then as now, Washington's crossing and the Battle of Trenton were emblematic of the American Patriots' surprising ability to overcome the tremendous odds they faced in challenging the wealthy and powerful British empire."

A great video about the Crossing and Trenton is below and is from the movie, 'The Crossing', starring Jeff Daniels as George Washington.  Enjoy!





3rd Inning.
Firearms Corner...New firearms for 2015.  The annual SHOT Show in Las Vegas is next month and kicks off the year for new firearms that make it to the commercial market.  A few of those firearms that will be available for purchase are below.

Winchester XPR Rifle--Winchester has finally entered the bolt action rifle market with an entry

level, black polymer stock rifle.  The Winchester XPR will be competing with the Ruger American, Weatherby Vanguard S2, Mossberg ATR, and the Savage Axis lines. It will be initially chambered in .270, .30-06, .300, and .338 calibers but I would imagine those expanding quickly if sales are good.  I have wondered for awhile now why they haven't produced a rifle like this as their Model 70 line and lever action lines have just become too expensive for the average working man.  So, I'm glad to see they have joined other manufacturers in offering a cheaper, yet still reliable rifle for us hunters.  For more info check out this page.

POF ReVolt Bolt Action Rifle--For those states that have highly restricted AR-15 style rifles,

the folks over at Patriot Ordnance Factory have answered with the ReVolt rifle. Take the AR-15 and remove the semi-automatic part of it and replace it with a bolt-action system and you pretty much have the ReVolt.  For those folks that like the AR platform and would like to use it when going out to the deer woods to hunt in those states that have the above mentioned restrictions then this rifle is for you.  It will be offered in 5.56/.223 and 7.62/.308.  For more info check out his page.

Taurus Curve--As the conceal carry market continues to see growth, Taurus' new entry is the

Curve.  If you surf the 'Net for any reviews you will probably read more negative than positive reviews on this firearm but not so much on performance but more on the look.  Having a curved frame, this small handgun chambered in .380 seems to be targeted more toward a specific demographic that would like to have an accessory to match their new iPhone.  It comes with an on-board red laser and LED light made by LaserLyte. This one should be interesting to watch and see if it makes it past 2015.  For more info check out his page.

Browning 1911-380--Another new entry into into the conceal carry market is the Browning

1911-380.  A scaled down version of the iconic 1911 but chambered in .380, this handgun follows the popular Browning 1911-22 line of pistols and operates and field strips just like a full-size 1911. Now this is one that I would not mind having in my collection (Browning has produced a commemorative model in the iconic .45ACP that I'm hoping leads to them mass producing in the near future). This handgun should be a crowd-pleaser for all those 1911 afficionados. For more info check out this page.

American Tactical Imports Omni Hybrid MAXX--If you were looking for an AR-15 that shoots .410 shotshells, well, American Tactical Imports has the firearm for you. Based on their Omni Hybrid AR-15 platform, this new long gun will feature an 18" barrel and will use Remington chokes.  It will ship with a 5-round magazine but ATI will also be selling 15-rounders.  This is another one I would like to add to my collection. Beware Squirrels! For more info check out this page. 

4th Inning.

Have You Seen It?...Streets of Fire.  There are many movies from our youth that slip through the cracks and don't always become the 'Big Hit' but stick with you as a personal favorite.  An example of one of those and a favorite of mine is 'Streets of Fire'.  This was one of those weekend HBO movies that I caught as a kid. A mix of action, drama, comedy, and music...a rock-n-roll fable, where per IMDB.com describes the plot as "A mercenary goes after his ex-girlfriend, a singer who has been kidnapped by a gang." 

Starring a cast of relatively young unknowns, the movie did poorly at the box office but due to video it became a cult classic. 'Streets of Fire' stars Michael Pare (filmed a couple of years after 'Eddie and the Cruisers') as the mercenary good guy, Diane Lane (a year after 'The Outsiders') as the ex-girlfriend and damsel in distress, Rick Moranis (yes, that Rick Moranis) as Lane's new boyfriend/manager, Amy Madigan (the wife from 'Field of Dreams') as Pare's sidekick, Willem Dafoe (a couple of years before he filmed 'Platoon') as the bad guy, and a young Bill Paxton as Pare's old friend and local bartender.   

If a movie that showcases some great music during the concert scenes with Diane Lane (vocals provided by Holly Sherwood, the female Meatloaf), shootouts with lever action rifles, bikers, pompadour hairstyles, and a straight-up mano y mano duel between Pare and Dafoe, then this movie is for you!  The trailer is below.  Enjoy!




5th Inning.
Cool Videos...

The Wanderers...A great little space exploration 'fan-film' narrated by the one and only Carl Sagan.



All About That Base...Who doesn't like parodies...who doesn't like the Star Wars franchise???




6th Inning.
Movie I would like to see... Avengers: Age of Ultron. Next May, the second installment of the Avengers franchise will hit the theaters to kick off the summer blockbuster season.  The plot per CinemaBlend, "When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure."

I'll admit, I am a huge fan of the Marvel Movie Universe and I have seen each one of the entries in their Phase 1 and Phase 2 projects, as well as watching the tv show, 'Marvel's Agents of Shield'.  As I have mentioned in past posts, I grew up a comic book fan so seeing these characters on the big screen is an awesome experience for me.  What is also exciting is how they are taking story lines from the comics and using those as the plot templates.  I look forward to the remainder of the second season of 'Agents of Shield' and how it will lead into Avengers 2 this Spring.  Another thing to keep in mind is that in this installment, we will be introduced to the 4 new characters--the villain, Ultron (voiced by James Spader); Scarlet Witch (played by Elizabeth Olsen); Quicksilver (played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson); and The Vision (voiced by Paul Bettany--Jarvis gets a body!).

The trailer is below.  Enjoy!




7th Inning.
Articles of the Week...

• A.I. is the End..."The eminent British physicist Stephen Hawking warns that the development of intelligent machines could pose a major threat to humanity. 'The development of full artificial intelligence (AI) could spell the end of the human race," Hawking told the BBC.' " Here come those damn robots again...
• Speaking of Robots..."Next time you go out to eat, a new kind of waiter might serve you.  One restaurant owner in China has replaced his traditional wait staff with robots." If China is making these, just think what Google or Elon Musk could create!
• Abandoned..."After receiving a lot of emails and comments about my latest video Tennessee Mountain View, it came as a nice surprise when I received a message from someone letting me know that he made it to the top of the mountain."  An interesting pictorial of an abandoned property in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  Places like this turn me into part treasure hunter/part amateur archaeologist.  For more abandoned places check here. 
• Marvel Time... A simply breathtaking video of a guy painting.  Just wait till the end.
• Rewarding the Illegals..."Like millions of other Americans, I appreciate the plight of billions of people throughout the world who would like nothing more than to find themselves in the United States, where they could enjoy a much higher standard of living and wonderful opportunities for advancement."  When Dr. Ben Carson speaks, you ought to listen. 
  
• 10-Year Old Inspiration..."The ABC News profile of ten-year-old Shyanne Roberts, a young firearms enthusiast, seemingly raised the blood pressure of the reporter covering the story."  I love stories like this one.  I have a goal to educate my children in gun safety while also making it an enjoyable time.  
• The Fall of America..."What can a chronicler of barbarian invasions, writing in the 18th century, explain to Americans in the 21st century?What lessons can we learn today from the fall of an ancient empire? Plenty. Many. Indeed, as immigration is a hot issue today, we might look to long-ago scholarship to remind us that the basic patriotic loyalty of the home population can never be taken for granted. In particular, if the demography of the population changes, its loyalties will change. " There are so many lessons to be learned from history but we as a civilization seem to forget or ignore our past too easily.
  
• Obama Speaks..."In his 967-word statement to the nation about the Ferguson grand jury decision on Tuesday night, President Obama devoted precisely one sentence to the risks and sacrifices police officers make to keep the peace."  January 20th, 2017 can't get here fast enough...
• C'mon Frank..."On the biggest night of baseball this city has seen in nearly 30 years, the man responsible for so many great moments here was just like the 40,000-plus people losing their minds around him. About a dozen rows back of the third-base dugout, Frank White sat anonymously – or as anonymously as Frank White can sit in his city – and relished the Kansas City Royals clinching a spot in the World Series for this suddenly baseball-mad town."  Maybe the Royals lost the World Series because there is a curse on them because of this Frank White business...
  

8th Inning.
FFL Factoid...From the National Shooting Sports Foundation's ATF Q&A page:

Q:When purchasing a firearm from a licensee is an approved Request and Approved for Permanent Change of Station (PCS) form sufficient for an active duty member of the Armed Services to prove their state of residency after the reporting date stated on this form?

A:Yes as long as the PCS form has been signed and authenticated by the approving official stated on the form. A member of the armed services on active duty is a resident of the state in which their permanent duty station is located. However military orders approving only temporary duty (TDY or TAD) at another location are not sufficient state of residency when it comes to member of the military when trying to purchase a firearm. Also a valid picture Military Identification must accompany the PCS orders. It establishes the identity of the military service member.


9th Inning.
Baseball  Sports Video...“It's hard to beat a person who never gives up.”--Babe Ruth.   Gotta love this kid's attitude!

'We Gotta Play Them One Day At A Time..."

1st Inning.

Highlights of the Brew Crew...After a VERY disappointing deer hunting season that ended before I could harvest a deer due to breaking the fibula bone in my right leg, I lay about my house, unemployed and broken, but with my wife there to take care of my every need!  It wasn't but a week later that we were once again loading up the ole RV and heading south to the southeast Arkansas town of Rohwer to spend a few days over the Thanksgiving holiday with my wife's sister and her family.  After a delicious lunch of turkey breast, cornbread dressing, green beans, 7-layer salad, and sweet potato casserole, we settled in for a day and a half of movie watching because, well, I couldn't do much on crutches.  The kids played outside taking turns driving their cousins' Polaris Razr utv around the yard and making up an entertainment extravaganza for Friday night.   

Movies watched and recommendations are as follows:

Let's Be Cops--Starring Damon Wayans, Jr. (did you know Damon Wayans had an adult son...makes me feel old), Jake Johnson (star of the tv show 'New Girl' and oddly the principal from the 21 Jump Street movie), Rob Riggle (the man who shot Bin Laden--YouTube it), and Andy Garcia (looking good in a beard).  Per IMDB.com, "Two struggling pals dress as police officers for a costume party and become neighborhood sensations. But when these newly-minted "heroes" get tangled in a real life web of mobsters and dirty detectives, they must put their fake badges on the line." A funny 'copycat' to the 21 Jump Street franchise in my opinion but still full of laughs.  Recommendation is 3 out of 5 Pumpkin Pies. 

22 Jump Street--Starring Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, and Ice Cube.  Per IMDB.com, "After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt and Jenko when they go deep undercover at a local college."  Using many of the same gags from the first installment this one still brought laughs but you could see them coming. A great movie for the college crowd but I am glad I didn't pay to see it in a theater. Recommendation is 2 out of 5 Pumpkin Pies.  

The Expendables 3--Starring (get ready for this ensemble) Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Harrison Ford, Kelsey Grammer, Mel Gibson, Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, Glen Powell, Victor Ortiz, Jet Li, Kellen Lunz, and the beautiful Ronda Rousey. How's that for a cast?  Per IMDB.com, "Barney (Stallone) augments his team with new blood for a personal battle: to take down Conrad Stonebanks (Gibson), the Expendables co-founder and notorious arms trader who is hell bent on wiping out Barney and every single one of his associates."  This movie suffered at the box office due to a hack and leak of the movie online prior to it being released.  I saw somewhere that it had been illegally downloaded close to 200,000 times.  I would definitely have paid money to sit in a cushy theater seat and watch this action-packed movie.  Great cast and a plot that delivers for guys like me.  I look forward to the next installment. Recommendation is 3 out 5 Pumpkin Pies.

A Million Ways to Die in the West--Starring Seth McFarlane (famous for 'The Family Guy' and 'Ted'), Charlize Theron, Amanda Seyfried, Liam Neeson, Sarah Silverman, Giovanni Riobisi, Neal Patrick Harris, and a collection of cameos from other stars.   Per IMDB.com, "As a cowardly farmer begins to fall for the mysterious new woman in town, he must put his new-found courage to the test when her husband, a notorious gun-slinger, announces his arrival."  Funny scenes throughout the movie had me laughing and if you liked the humor from 'Ted' then you will like this movie. This is definitely a RedBox or PPV type movie.   Recommendation is 3 out 5 Pumpkin Pies.

2nd Inning.

American History Lesson...Washington Monument completed, December 6th, 1884.  On December 6th in 1884, workers finished the construction of the monument named after our nation's first president.  Those workers placed a nine-inch aluminum pyramid at the top of the tower of the grand monument in our nation's capitol, Washington, D.C. on that day to complete the construction.

Per History.com, "As early as 1783, the infant U.S. Congress decided that a statue of George Washington, the great Revolutionary War general, should be placed near the site of the new Congressional building, wherever it might be. After then-President Washington asked him to lay out a new federal capital on the Potomac River in 1791, architect Pierre L'Enfant left a place for the statue at the western end of the sweeping National Mall (near the monument's present location)."

In 1832, long after Washington's death, a private Washington National Monument Society was formed. They held a design contest which was won by architect Robert Mills.  Per the National Park Service, "The Washington Monument, designed by Robert Mills and eventually completed by Thomas Casey and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, honors and memorializes George Washington at the center of the nation's capital. The structure was completed in two phases of construction, one private (1848-1854) and one public (1876-1884). Built in the shape of an Egyptian obelisk, evoking the timelessness of ancient civilizations, the Washington Monument embodies the awe, respect, and gratitude the nation felt for its most essential Founding Father. When completed, the Washington Monument was the tallest building in the world at 555 feet, 5-1/8 inches."

The initial fundraising effort for construction of the monument was lead through a drive by the country's schoolchildren.  Their efforts saw $230,000 raised of the $1 million needed for complete construction. On July 4, 1848, the private monument society laid the 24,500 pound white marble cornerstone to begin the construction.
Later in 1854, construction was halted due to low funds. Progress did not continue until 1876 when President Ulysses S. Grant ordered the monument be completed.

The monument is comprised of 36,000 blocks of marble and granite. At the time of completion, the structure was the tallest in the world.  Originally, stairs were needed to ascend the monument but eventually an elevator was installed. In 1910, a law was passed to restrict the heights of any new buildings to keep the monument the tallest structure in Washington, D.C.

Per the National Park Service, "At the dedication of the Washington Monument in 1885, a speech by then-elderly Robert Winthrop, who had attended the opening ceremony in 1848, was read by Rep. John D. Long of Massachusetts. He said of the Washington Monument, 'The storms of winter must blow and beat upon it ... the lightnings of Heaven may scar and blacken it. An earthquake may shake its foundations ... but the character which it commemorates and illustrates is secure.' "

For more information, check out the National Park Service's web page for the monument here.

3rd Inning.

Firearms Corner...Field Dressing a Deer.  Since it is the fall season and still deer hunting season around the nation, whether it be with/without a rifle or bow or muzzleloader or shotgun (there are soooo many varying hunting laws & rules around this great nation), I felt it was a good opportunity for some deer hunting education in regards to field dressing a deer. Now I'll be honest, I've only been hunting regularly each season since my mid to late 20s and I hit 40 next month so I don't have a lifetime of experience when it comes to this topic as opposed to those folks that have been hunting since they were old enough to walk.  But I have made sure to pay attention when others have and through my experiences hunting in south Arkansas and western Missouri I've noticed some different techniques but it all comes down to the same process.

The goal is to remove the inner contents so the deer can start to cool off and keep from spoiling the meat that you hope to take home and enjoy.  I have seen folks hang the deer first, either by the head or by the hind legs then proceed to field dress it.  I have seen folks just do it while the deer is on the ground which is the option I choose where I hunt due to not having the proper equipment to hang it first.  You will need a good, sharp knife (preferably a fixed blade) and either a small hatchet or bone saw.  Some folks like to use latex gloves to keep from getting too messy which is always good if you don't have running water and it is really cold outside.  There is also the rib spreaders which help to keep the rib cage open to help it cool off and then there is the infamous 'Butt Out' tool which is always useful for some fun around your deer camp! Bass Pro put together a really good web page listing safe and best practices which I recommend.

For a good tutorial check out this great instructional video brought to you by the fine folks at RealTree.  Enjoy and good luck hunting!




4th Inning.

Sports...2014 Royals Season.  So, it is the baseball off-season.  I figure my mourning period is winding down now as the playoffs concluded back in October and my Kansas City Royals came up short after making it to the World Series to face the San Francisco Giants.  After going on a sweeping tear through Anaheim and Baltimore, they ran into a National League 'Dynasty' team as the Giants had recently won the World Series in 2012 & 2010. There were heroes and there were goats...there was Billy Butler and there was Madison 'Every Sports Announcer Wants to Make Love To Me' Bumgarner...there was good pitching and there was great pitching...there was outstanding outfield catches...there was the freakin' Marlins guy behind home plate at every game...there was a panda and there was a moose...and in the end there was a magical season that finished after seven games in the World Series with a Royals loss.  I will go to my grave saying that 3rd base coach, Mike Jirschele, should have sent Alex Gordon home in the bottom of the 9th of Game 7 down 3-2 after he caught the outfield with their thumbs up their butts.  But after 29 years this city deserved this either way.  Hopefully they can keep the momentum going and return to the playoffs on a more regular basis (2015 would be a good start, please!). As I write this, Billy Butler has moved on to the Oakland Athletics; James Shields is gone; Luke Hochevar will be back and maybe in the starting rotation; and Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer, and Salvador Perez each received Gold Gloves.  The Major League Baseball winter meetings are currently ongoing so we shall see if the Royals are players in any capacity to try and get back to the World Series.

Here's to you, Royals, for making this a year to remember!



5th Inning.
Cool Videos...

Thomas Jane as the Punisher...One of my favorite comic book characters is the Punisher and this short-film by Thomas Jane (who played the character in a full-length feature) screams 'Make a Sequel With ME!!!'.  Enjoy!



If you have seen those hilarious bad lip reading NFL videos (heck, if not then I might have to post one of those for you) AND if you are a fan of The Walking Dead like me then you will appreciate the humor in this video.  Enjoy!




6th Inning.

Random Thoughts...Never, ever trust a fart after taking a laxative...The day I am folding my daughters' clean socks while doing laundry and I have a complete set I am buying a lottery ticket...Would women that hunt buy a bra with pockets in the cups for those Hot Hands warmers?...There should be a bar & grill called 'Racks' with a hunting theme and a waitstaff to rival Hooters with gals wearing a little camo...
We have officially entered a world where 11/12 year olds are
getting busted at school 'smoking' e-cigs...The motorized carts at Sam's Club are the slowest and have the worst battery lives...Citizens should get an annual opportunity to line up and punch a politician like the scene out of 'Airplane'...I need a job that pays me to go on vacation in my RV...World War III will probably happen during my lifetime--Wolverines!!!...





7th Inning.
Articles of the Week...

• Annabelle..."On the night Hollywood released the horror movie, “Annabelle,” a sell-out audience at Lauralton Hall was spellbound, hearing about the real Annabelle — a demonic doll — from paranormal investigator Lorraine Warren, who cracked the real-life case, along with her late husband, Ed Warren." Creepy dolls scare me.  That is all... 
• Tea, Crumpets, & Violence..."Gun control in Britain passed in stages, beginning just after World War I and continuing in a reactionary fashion with increasing strictness through the 1990s." An eerie preview for where certain parts of our nation are headed with their gun control measures. 
• Hacker Dawn..."The Obama administration has faced a larger threat of cyber attacks from foreign enemies than any administration before it, yet has demonstrated a continuing de facto policy in dealing with the onslaught of cyber attacks against our nation: doing nothing. Not only does our current administration mostly ignore the intrusions and sabotage entirely--they carry on like nothing ever happened." I have a bad feeling about this.  Everyone is gunning for us and our cyber networks are vulnerable no matter what we tell ourselves.
• Too Many Damn People..."A new report from UN statisticians says their earlier predictions about global population stabilization are wrong and that we are on the cusp of major and dangerous growth." Get ready for some population control. Soylent Green is people!
  
• Presidential First Class..."The story of Columbine II, a Lockheed Constellation, which was the very first aircraft designated as Air Force One."  A great little piece on the history of the first Air Force One.
• Beware of our Betters..."Jonathan Gruber's several videotaped remarks about the gross deceptions that got ObamaCare passed in Congress should tell us a lot about the Obama administration. And the way that the mainstream media hesitated for days to even mention what Professor Gruber said, while they obsessed over unsubstantiated charges against Bill Cosby, should tell us a lot about the media."  When Thomas Sowell speaks, it's good to listen.
• What Would You Do..."Last night at 92Y, our favorite Robert F. Kennedy Junior-High-Schoolers — Kevin Arnold, Winnie Cooper, and Paul Pfeiffer — waxed nostalgic before 200 fans during their “first public appearance together in front of a live audience,” promoting season one of The Wonder Years on DVD."  One of my favorite tv shows when I was a kid. Some good behind-the-scenes/trivia stuff!
  
• Put The Trash Out, Please!!!..."Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) on Wednesday released a grim report that finds the federal government guilty of wasting billions of dollars of taxpayer money each year — in many cases, the report argues, because federal agencies have completely lost sight of their missions."  A highlight reel of government waste brought to you by the retiring Senator from Oklahoma, Tom Coburn.
• BILLY.BUTLER.BILLY.BUTLER..."In the annals of sports, many players who joined a new team have gone to great lengths to get the jersey number they had with their previous teams. There have been instances of cash changing hands, as well as a motorcycle, an autographed Babe Ruth ball, a Rolex watch and even a baby nursery for another player’s house."  Billy Butler's adventures post-Royals begins!
  
  
  Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article4273454.html#storylink=cpy

8th Inning.
FFL Factoid...From the National Shooting Sports Foundation's ATF Q&A page:

Q:How many firearms must be sold to be considered "engaged in the business"?

A:The Gun Control Act (GCA) does not identify or define a specific number of firearms that a person can sell or transfer before they must obtain an FFL. If a person is devoting time, attention and labor to engaging in firearms sales as a regular course or trade of business with the principle objective of livelihood and profit, they would be considered 'engaged in the business" and would consequently be required to have an FFL. Neither the ATF nor the courts have identified a specific number of firearms that would establish a need for a license. However, if the intent underlying the sale of firearms is predominantly one of obtaining livelihood and pecuniary gain, then a license must be obtained or the unlicensed individual will be in violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(a)(1).


9th Inning.
Baseball Video..."People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." - Rogers Hornsby.  Well, while you are waiting, practice your cliches!

You might be the parent of a toddler if..

Recently, I read a list from a fellow parent documenting the characteristics of being a parent of a toddler (You can read it here).  It was a funny article that I could relate to as a parent of a 3 year old (as of this week). So, I decided to compile a list of my own tailored towards my birthday girl.  Enjoy!

1st Inning.
I hate you....There aren't many days that go by where either my wife or I have not conducted ourselves in an appropriate manner and have unleashed Satan.  This usually occurs, well it can occur with anything--from not being the requested person to help her go to the bathroom to not giving her candy for dinner to not having chocolate milk on tap ALL.THE.TIME.  These unfortunate circumstances release the Krakken and we get a "I hate you, momma!" or an "I hate you, dadda", followed by a scowl look from her then a stomp off.

2nd Inning.
I don't like these clothes...Somewhere between infanthood and toddlerhood, there is a switch that has gone off and it involves I LIKE THESE CLOTHES and I DON'T LIKE THESE CLOTHES. You never know which you are gonna get.  Unlike a light switch where off/on are always in the same spot getting our toddler dressed is like playing Russian Roulette.  Hell, we have even taken her to the store so she can pick out clothes and watch her get so excited then the next day putting them on is like throwing holy water on a vampire.  This usually ends up being a week of non-stop 'Wear Mismatch Clothes' days.  There is really nothing wrong with wearing a Sunday School dress with sweatpants and snow boots in August, right?

3rd Inning.
I don't like this dinner...You work all day and rush home to make dinner.  Through the flurry of boxes, oven/microwave beeps, and empty food cans, you holler at the family that dinner is ready only to have your 3 year old tell you she doesn't like it and it's yucky then fall to the floor kicking and screaming until you make her a peanut butter sandwich with a side of shredded cheese, oh, and a glass of chocolate milk.

4th Inning.

I love you...with kisses...Even Satan has to take a break and when he does take one from possessing my toddler it is quite enjoyable.  Whether it is pretending you have a boo-boo that requires HER kisses to make it feel better or telling her you missed her while she was at day-care, once you pick her up and hug her while whispering 'I love you' in her ear all your troubles from that day drift away as she returns the hug and the 'I love you' along with a kiss on the cheek. Those tiny little hugs are powerful!

5th Inning.
I want to go to the store...We have entered a phase in her life where she LOVES to go to the store and if you attempt to leave the house without her you can expect a crying/stomping--you-forgot-Christmas-like scenario.  So, she accompanies me to the store as my miniature sidekick.  She has named the stores by their colors--Home Depot is the orange store, Lowes is the blue store, Target is the red store, etc.  She has even memorized the types of carts they have and she MUST have when we go to them.  If there is not a 'car' cart in the parking lot cart returns she starts to get nervous and if there is not one available when you enter the store then all HELL is about to break loose!  There is nothing like having a meltdown at the entrance of the store as a plethora of strangers enter and try to get a cart while trying to dodge your toddler as she tries to escape your capture so you can put her in a normal cart.

6th Inning.
Watch me!..With two older sisters, she is always fighting for attention.  On many nights she will enter our living room while we are all sitting around watching the television and she will holler at me, "Watch me, dadda!". She will then line up at the entry to the living room and sprint to the tv on the opposite far wall, touch the tv, then sprint back to the entry way.  The kid will do this several times before going into her gymnastics routine where she starts doing somersaults, all while repeatedly yelling at me, "Watch me, dadda!".  Then she moves into the stunt girl routine where she lines up, has me countdown from 3 and she runs and leaps like Supergirl onto our cushioned ottoman. The entire display of toddler olympics ends with her standing up and bowing while saying, 'Thank you...thank you'. Occasionally, before or after bath time, she will do all of this while nekkid which adds to the excitement for her. I'm not sure whether to be insulted or not as she does her nekkid bow when facing away from me and I get a toddler moon.

7th Inning.
Spank my sisters...Now understand, the 3 year old has two older sisters (ages 11 & 9) and since she is the youngest things don't always go her way.  This is true when it comes to watching tv, playing with certain toys, or even going outside to play.  When the situation doesn't go her way or the older sisters take things a bit too far and taunt her, well, the 3 year old Dictator emerges and she will storm off to find my wife or me and request that we go find her sisters and immediately begin the spanking. It is quite humorous when she comes and tattles on her sisters and I tell her to tell them that if they don't stop I will come and spank them.  She then runs back to her sisters and with the most authoritative voice declares, "Dadda says if you don't (enter the violation of the day) he is going to come SPANK you!".  Afterwards I really get the feeling she wants to run a bedroom check on them to look for contraband.

8th Inning.
I don't want to sleep in my room...Every night seems to be an Everest-like challenge for us to get her to go to sleep, preferably in her own room, in her own bed. We can tuck her in within the comfy confines of her double bed with stuffed animals and a night light, but give it 20 minutes and she will be creeping into our bedroom telling us her tummy aches because she has to sleep in her bedroom. So, we make her a bed on her comfy Elmo fold-out couch on our floor only to have her creep over to the side of our bed 10 minutes later to tell us her tummy aches because she has to sleep on her Elmo couch.  So, we scoop her up into our bed, tuck her in, and try to fall asleep only to have her tell us 5 minutes later that she has to go potty.  Then it's a quick game of  'Not it!' to see who takes her. After her bathroom break she is back to the bed, sleeping between her mom and me.  The problem is I can't roll over to face her during the night or I am faced with a repeated kick to the crotch.  Oh, the joys of playing a game of roshambo for a bed to sleep in.

9th Inning.
Be quiet, I'm watching my movie...Unlike my childhood when riding in the backseat of my parents' car there were no DVD players to watch my G.I.Joe or Transformers cartoons.  Today's kids have it easy.  Sit back, have mom or dad pop in a DVD of your favorite cartoon or movie and drift away during those long road trips.  Now, our toddler pretty much is the only one that watches the DVD player in my wife's van (thank God there is not one in my truck), but you CAN.NOT.TALK. during her shows.  You can't sing along to 'Let it go' while she watches 'Frozen' and you can't hum to it either.  You can't say the Penguins dialogue while it plays 'Madagascar' either.  Complete silence is required at all times. If you violate this rule you will get a 'Shush' or a 'Be quiet, dadda' or a 'Stop talking...I hate you!'.  

Party Like It's 1985!

1st Inning.

Sports...Royals and the Playoffs.  So, I've been wanting to write about the Kansas City Royals success this postseason.  If you hadn't noticed they won a few games here and there and made it to the playoffs for the first time in 29 years.  You read that correctly...29 years...not since they won the 1985 World Series.  Most of the players on the current team were not even born yet the last time the club saw October ball.  The last weekend, hell the month of September was basically playoff baseball for the Royals as they chased the Detroit Tigers for the American League Central Division crown and tried to stay atop the Wild Card standings.
The last weekend of the regular season presented an opportunity to take 1st place in the division but due to being 'Yosted' on the last Saturday night of the regular season, the Royals could only hope for a tie for the division lead but that didn't even happen and they ended the season 1 game back of the first place Tigers.  At that point the playoffs were set.  The Royals finished at the top of the Wild Card Standings along with the Oakland Athletics.  Since KC had the better record they would host a one-game playoff as part of the first round of the postseason.  The atmosphere around the city was crazy!  This time of year is typical football time with folks wearing the Kansas City Chiefs red attire but not this year.  You have had folks decked out in head to toe blue, whether it be an actual Royals shirt/hat or just anything blue.

That Tuesday night watching the Wild Card game, well, it had its ups and downs.  It was a back and forth game that at one point had me thinking the season was completely over. But the boys in Blue battled back to tie it and send it into extra innings.  In the 12 inning, the A's scored the go ahead run but the Royals were not done yet.  Eric Hosmer hit a one out triple and then scored on an infield single by Christian Colon to tie the game again.  Colon was able to steal second with Salvador Perez at the plate. Reaching out to hit a low and away pitch, Perez lined it down the 3rd base line just out of the reach of the A's third baseman and scored Colon for the walk-off win. This city erupted!

Up next were the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, California (longest name in Major League Baseball). The Angels finished the regular season with the best record in the American League and all of baseball this year. This is obviously turning into an underdog story. Two games in Anaheim were decided in the 11th inning by home runs from Mike 'Moose' Moustakas in the first game and Eric Hosmer in the second game.  The third game brought the teams back to Kansas City and in front of the home crowd the Royals won and swept the series.

Moving on to the American League Championship Series, the Royals have faced the Baltimore Orioles. Playing the first two games in Baltimore, the Royals won both.  Game 1 went to extra innings and after a leadoff homer by Gordon and then a 2-run shot by Moose the Royals walked away winners. Game 2 did not go to extra innings but saw some 9th inning magic.  Tied 4-4, Omar Infante beat out an infield single and was replaced on base by speedster, Terrance Gore.  Gore moved to 2nd on a Moose sacrifice bunt and scored on a double by Alcides Escobar.  Lorenzo Cain, 4-4 that night, hit in Escobar for an insurance run as the Royals won.  Game 3 saw the teams play in KC with Jeremy Guthrie taking the mound for the Royals after 18 days rest.  It was a nail-biter but the Royals pulled of a 2-1 win and took a 3-0 series lead.

As I write this the Royals are 1 game from going back to the World Series. That 4th game (in KC) will be played in about, oh, three hours from now. I will turn the tv on, grab a beer, and hold on tight as the 2014 Kansas City Royals (built on speed, pitching, & defense) look to close the door on the O's and look to move on in the playoffs.  Being a lifelong fan of the Royals, this season has had its ups and downs, thankfully more ups than in recent years/decades and it has been so much fun watching them play. A great little video I found about the Royals is below. Enjoy!




2nd Inning.
American History Lesson...Daniel Boone. With hunting season upon us, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at one of America's first and premier frontiersman, American explorer, and hunters of his time, the legendary Daniel Boone. Famous for discovering the Cumberland Gap trail, Boone's life began on November 2, 1734.  He was born to parents, Squire Boone, Sr. and Sarah Morgan in a cabin near Reading, Pennsylvania.

Boone was educated by his mother in reading and writing and the outdoors by his father.  At the age of 12, he was given his first rifle and quickly showed that he had the skills to survive and hunt in the American wilderness.  He moved to Rowan County, North Carolina along the Yadkin River with his family when he was 15 years old.  It was there where he started a hunting business (can you imagine if they had hunting tv shows back then and what he would have shown?).

During the French and Indian War in 1755, he went on a military expedition and served under Brigadier General Edward Braddock. After the defeat at Turtle Creek (near Pittsburgh), Boone was able to escape the French and Indians.  In 1756, Daniel married Rebecca Bryan and laid down roots in the Yadkin River Valley, where they lived and raised 10 children.  In 1767, Boone began leading his own expeditions westward into the Kentucky territory which also lead to the discovery of the Cumberland Gap in 1769.  This pass would be the primary means through which the American public would travel west into the nation's frontier.

Per Biography.com, "Boone took his discovery a step further in April 1775. While working for Richard Henderson's Transylvania Company, he directed colonists to an area in Kentucky he named Boonesborough, where he set up fort to claim the settlement from the Indians. That same year he brought his own family west to live on the settlement and became its leader."  His settlement encountered resistance from the local Native American tribes, the Shawnee and the Cherokee. In the summer of 1776, Boone's daughter, Jemima (no relation to the syrup), and two friends were able to sneak out of Fort Boonesborough but ended up getting caught by the local indian tribes. Using his expert tracking skills and knowledge of the terrain, he was able to lead a party to free the girls.  

During the American Revolution, Boone was an active participant for the American rebel side. Per Wikipedia.org, "Boone was a militia officer during the Revolutionary War(1775–83), which in Kentucky was fought primarily between the American settlers and the British-aided Native Americans. Boone was captured by Shawnee warriors in 1778, who after a while adopted him into their tribe. Later, he left the Indians and returned to Boonesborough to help defend the European settlements in Kentucky/Virginia. Boone was elected to the first of his three terms in the Virginia General Assembly during the Revolutionary War, and fought in the Battle of Blue Licks in 1782. Blue Licks, a Loyalist victory over the Patriots, was one of the last battles of the Revolutionary War, coming after the main fighting ended in October 1781."


After some disastrous land speculation deals, Boone moved west to Missouri and continued his hunting and exploring of the frontier.  He died in September of 1820 at his home in Femme Osage Creek, Missouri.  Daniel Boone lived to be 85 years old.  He lived to explore the unknown frontier of this British Colony and eventual American nation and in doing so become an American legend.




3rd Inning.

 This Ole...Moth in my ear.  The time was around late 1999/2000...the place was married student housing at Arkansas State University.  The wife and I returned home one night after finishing our laundry at the campus laundromat. With the porch light on and my hands full carrying in a basket of clothes, I approached our door.  But there surrounding the porch light, buzzing, flying, attacking, was an aerial armada of moths coming at my head.  My bride, slow to insert the key into the door lock, was a moment too late.  A suicide bomber nailed my ear canal like Luke Skywalker shooting proton torpedoes into a thermal exhaust port.  I pushed my wife out of the way as I dropped the basket and went into a frenzied mad man mode.

As I began flapping my arms wildly and yelling at my bride "It's in my ear!!! It's in my ear!!", all she

could do was look at me with a strange and bewildered look.  I begged her to get some tweezers and try to pull it out.  While I waited for her to find the tweezers I was going crazy as the moth flapped its wings against my ear drum. When she found me lying on the bed in the fetal position, she went to work. Failing miserably at playing a real-life version of the game "Operation", I pleaded with her to do anything to get it out. She vanished only to return with a bottle of rubbing alcohol and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide.  Pouring the rubbing alcohol down into my ear only pissed it off and it began buzzing fiercely but the follow up dose of hydrogen peroxide sealed its fate.  I'm pretty sure at that point I curled up with my thumb in my mouth.  But my wife told me to get up and that we needed to go to the emergency room and see if they can get it out.

The moth from that night.

We arrived at the ER and put our name on the list with the reason we were there and found a seat. Shortly thereafter we were taken to a room and we waited. The surprise and look on the nurse and doctor's faces was priceless.  They told us that after looking at the chart and before entering the room they pictured a 5 year old sitting there only to find me.  The doc asked me to lie on my side and be very still while he pulled out a set of extremely long tweezers and proceeded to remove the moth.  Well, being a doctor he knew what he was doing and removed it without me buzzing him like in 'Operation'.  They put the moth in a specimen cup and let me take it home.  I recently found that cup while rummaging through our basement storage room.  Let me tell you this--forget waterboarding, just put a moth in a terrorist's ear and he will begin telling you his deepest darkest secrets.
    



4th Inning.
Game...One Way Trip to Mars. So, I ran across this article that discussed a one way trip to Mars and what five luxury items (other than the essentials) you would take with you if you chose to go on that mission.  It is one of those 'make you think' moments, especially with the continued talk about a mission to the red planet.  I have listed my five below.  What would yours be?

1. Video/pictures of my family.  I will have to agree with the article on this one.  
2. Baseball equipment.  Glove, bat, baseball.  The crew and me are gonna play some ball!
3. Polaris RZR.  Like the article's dune buggy, with all that open terrain, you have to take some time to hop in and go 4-Wheelin'!
4. AR-15 and Ammo.  At some point when (not if) you discover Mars game animals you will need to eat...or possibly defend your colony from invaders.
5. Beer making kit.  After that long day of Mars colony maintenance I would like to kick back and drink a tall cold one.

5th Inning.
Firearms Corner...Kirstin Joy Weiss.  As a father of 3 girls, I have and will continue to educate and expose my daughters to firearms, hunting, and shooting.  Through social media circles, I discovered a young lady that seems to embody the characteristics I would love for my daughters to look up to as a role model.  Her name is Kirstin Joy Weiss.  I believe I first ran across one of her YouTube videos while reading the latest and greatest from TheTruthAboutGuns.com and was truly impressed with her skill and knowledge about firearms.
Per her website (www.kirstenjoyweiss.com), "Starting later than the norm for most competition shooters, she began her Olympic-style rifle career in the latter part of her high school days, but made up for time swiftly. She won gold at the international cup at Bisley, Enlgand and received a collegiate rifle scholarship to the University of Nebraska Lincoln. From there she made the national development team, competed in the World Championships, made the Olympic short-list, won national titles, and the list continues...But listing accomplishments falls flat. It doesn’t even hint at the stories behind the success. The obstacles. The sabotage of her guns, though tragic, just made her work harder. The necessity of coaching herself for most of her career, and experimenting beyond the accepted shooting culture norms. The underdog grit, yet national and international success. The joyful revelation of the trick shot thread interwoven throughout her tenacious career, revealed through natural (and imposed) struggles. The off the beaten path travel, living in far corners of the globe, as she studied and learned secrets under tested masters of ancient arts. And this only barely scratches the surface. To say that Kirsten isn’t your stereotypical shooting enthusiast, is an understatement."

So, if you are looking another inspirational person that believes in the 2nd Amendment and someone that your daughter can relate to if they are starting to get into hunting or shooting, Kirstin is a great choice.  If you have some time to kill and want some good old fashioned entertainment, then head on over to her YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/KirstenJoyWeiss) and check out some of her trick shots and shooting skills.



6th Inning.

Have you seen it?...Remo Williams. There are many movies from our youth that slip through the cracks and don't always become the 'Big Hit' but stick with you as a personal favorite.  An example of one of those and a favorite of mine is 'Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins'.  This was one of those movies that for a kid during the dawn of video rentals was a 'must have' during a weekend sleepover party.  The movie is based on 'The Destroyer' novels by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir.  I remember back when I was a kid collecting comic books that a series came out after this movie to capitalize on it's cult-like popularity.  

A plot summary from Rotten Tomatoes, "Adapted from the "Destroyer" series of novels and comic books (not exactly the level of Ian Fleming), Remo Williams (Fred Ward) is a New York cop who works for a top-secret government agency accountable directly to the President of the U.S. After his reluctant induction into this agency, Remo is trained in a near-magical Korean martial arts form by Chiun (Joel Grey) in great sequences where walking on water is taken in stride. After his training, Remo goes after a corrupt arms manufacturer with connections in the U.S. military and acquires the necessary help-mate in the form of Major Rayner Fleming (Kate Mulgrew). Antics at the Statue of Liberty and other stunts enliven the action, but cannot make up for comic-book level characters."

'Remo Williams' stars Fred Ward (notable roles include playing Gus Grissom in 'The Right Stuff', Earl in 'Tremors', and Joe Dirt's Dad), Wilford Brimley (starred in 'The Thing', 'The Natural', 'Cocoon' and those Braniff Airlines commercials), and Joel Grey (a multitude of character roles on tv).  This movie provides some good laughs as Remo goes through his training and some good action as he battles the forces of evil.  Take a Saturday night and check this one out and you won't be disappointed.  If you missed it in 1985 and can't find it on DVD, they are 'rebooting' the character and with 37 novels there should be plenty of plot material.  The trailer is below.  Enjoy!






7th Inning.
Articles of the Week...

• Six Californias..."Venture capitalist Tim Draper submitted the necessary signatures on Tuesday to require a vote on whether California will split into 6 separate states. Draper believes the state is too big to be competitive because the big government in Sacramento can’t effectively govern such a large, diverse area. The plan is being called the 'Six Californias' plan, and each of them would have their own government and set of elected officials."  Whether it is an earthquake or just their suicidal policies, it's pretty inevitable that California is going down. Now if this plan was to go through there might be a chance for survival.  A great video in the article helps explain the plan.
• Confessions of a Liberal Gun Lover..."Gun nuts aren't always creatures of the political right. Consider your heavily-armed author's position: I say gun ownership is a necessary line of defense against investment bankers, Wall Street lawyers, big business, the corporatized wing of the Democratic Party, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable, ALEC, Nazis, gangbangers, meth fiends, cops and politicos who cut welfare and education programs while refusing to downsize the military or raise taxes on the rich."  It's interesting to hear from someone on the Left about their passion for the 2nd Amendment and the reasons they feel it is vital to them.
• Motor City Mayhem?..."Anti-gun advocates routinely argue that more guns will result in more crime — but the exact opposite appears to be happening in one of the most progressive cities in the United States. The city of Detroit has seen 37 percent fewer robberies in 2014, compared to the same period in 2013. Further, there have been 22 percent fewer break-ins of businesses and homes, and 30 percent fewer carjackings. Detroit Police Chief James Craig says the dramatic drop in these crimes is partly due to more residents arming themselves and fighting back against criminals."  Gee, armed citizens deter crime?!?  Who woulda thunk it?
  

• Johnson's Failed War..."For the past 50 years, the government’s annual poverty rate has hardly changed at all. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 15 percent of Americans still live in poverty, roughly the same rate as the mid-1960s when the War on Poverty was just starting. After adjusting for inflation, federal and state welfare spending today is 16 times greater than it was when President Johnson launched the War on Poverty. If converted into cash, current means-tested spending is five times the amount needed to eliminate all official poverty in the U.S. How can the government spend so much while poverty remains unchanged?"  Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
• Feel Good Story..."An Amazing Gentleman Bought Her Deceased Son’s Crib at a Garage Sale. Wait Until You See What He Brought Back a Week Later."  If this doesn't make you tear up then you are a cold, cold, cold person.
• Celebrity Gunslingers..."As the gun debate rages on, many Hollywood celebrities have come out against our Second Amendment rights and supported the anti-gun crowd’s stance that private ownership of firearms is a bad thing. There are some, however, who take our constitutional rights seriously, despite the common stereotype that most celebrities are foaming-at-the-mouth liberals."  A great little pictorial about 17 celebs that are 2nd Amendment friendly.
  
• Speak the Truth..."Johnathan Gentry became an Internet sensation when he went on rant against the black community following the riots in Ferguson, Missouri, and the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown. Friday, he doubled down in a passionate appearance on Fox News, calling out everyone from President Obama to the NAACP and Al Sharpton." You may have seen this story or seen the video as it went viral but it needs to stay on the frontlines.  You CAN change yourself and your circumstances.  You just have to put in the hard work so you can reap the rewards.
• Didja Know?..."Is it a boogeyman? Is it a barely-legal military weapon? Is it America’s best-selling rifle? Find out for yourself." A list of 10 things you probably didn't know about the AR-15.  Good information to keep in your back pocket.
• Don't Finish Last...If you participate in a Fantasy Football League then you are probably aware of the repercussions for finishing last.  In one of the leagues I belong to, last place buys beer for next year's draft.  Now this guy may have set the bar for last place finishes and the consequences for having a horrible season. He made a calendar reenacting famous scenes. (You will need to look for the pics from August)
  

8th Inning.
FFL Factoid...From the National Shooting Sports Foundation's ATF Q&A page:

Q: During compliance inspections, can the inspecting officer physically take all of the dealer’s Forms 4473 back to his office for further review at his convenience?

A: The Forms 4473 are the property of the licensee until that licensee goes out of business and submits the records to the ATF Out of Business Records Center. ATF may, with the licensees consent, take the Forms 4473 off premises. If done, ATF will issue a receipt for the forms, which the licensee is expected to retain in his permanent records until the forms are returned. The receipt, at a minimum, should contain the date the forms are being removed from the premises and the total number of forms involved.


9th Inning.
Baseball Video..."One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something."--Nolan Ryan