Articles of the week...
- Convention time is ahead..."Though a convention of states has not been held since the nation’s founding, it has grown increasingly popular as a response to what many see as overreach from the federal government. Through Article V of the U.S. Constitution, states can propose amendments to the Constitution if two-thirds of states submit applications for such a convention." The time is now!
- Senator Tim Scott has something to say..."Growing up poor in a single parent household in North Charleston, South Carolina, Tim learned the importance of faith, hard work, and living within your means. By understanding the basic economic principles Washington so often forgets, and with the same determination he brings to advancing conservative principles in the Senate, Scott grew from his humble beginnings to build one of the most successful Allstate agencies in South Carolina." In my opinion, Senator Scott is a rising star on the political scene.
- Anti-Semites are among us..."On Tuesday evening, Loyola University of Chicago became the first Catholic institution, and the first from the state of Illinois, whose student government has passed an anti-Israel divestment resolution." It is becoming a bit alarming at the rise of anti-semitism on our college campuses especially at elite institutions.
- More robots..."The US Army is considering replacing thousands of soldiers with robots as it deals with sweeping troop cuts." Time to get Johnny Five locked and loaded!
- Thomas Sowell has something to say..."If anyone wanted to pick a time and place where the political left's avowed concern for minorities was definitively exposed as a fraud, it would be now -- and the place would be New York City, where far left Mayor Bill de Blasio has launched an attack on charter schools, cutting their funding, among other things." Mr. Sowell always has something enlightening to say.
- Voter ID please!..."There were voting precincts in Philly where the combined vote was Obama over Romney by about 30,000 to 0. In those precincts GOP poll watchers were forcibly removed for several hours, until judges ordered them back in." If we can create a health care program to give everyone insurance why can't we have a program to give everyone an ID?
- We need more kids like this..."Like most 8-year-olds, Myles Eckert was already dreaming up ways he could spend a $20 bill he had just discovered laying in a Cracker Barrel parking lot earlier this month." A fine, upstanding, young man!
- Insight from the inside..."A Health and Human Services official has resigned after dealing with the frustration of the “profoundly dysfunctional” federal bureaucracy, which left him “offended as an American taxpayer.” Government efficiency means less $$$ needed which means less power.
- Robert Duvall has something to say..."A century from now, when Venice is underwater, reality TV has gone the way ofThe Hunger Games, and Russia’s president is a dead ringer for Johnny Weir, a budding cinephile will enroll in an American Studies course entitled, “Legends of Cinema.” And an entire section of that class will be dedicated to the work of Robert Duvall." One of my all-time favorite actors gives a great interview.
2nd Inning.
American History Lesson...Stamp Act. On March 22, 1765, the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act on the American Colonies. The motive behind passing the act was to raise money to pay off debts incurred to defend the colonies during the French and Indian War (1756-1763) where the British fought the French for control of territory on the American continent. The result of the Stamp Act was a tax on all paper materials printed for commercial and legal use in the American colonies. Items that were taxed included newspapers and pamphlets to playing cards and dice.
Per History.com, "Though the Stamp Act employed a strategy that was a common fundraising vehicle in England, it stirred a storm of protest in the colonies. The colonists had recently been hit with three major taxes: the Sugar Act (1764), which levied new duties on imports of textiles, wines, coffee and sugar; the Currency Act (1764), which caused a major decline in the value of the paper money used by colonists; and the Quartering Act (1765), which required colonists to provide food and lodging to British troops.""With the passing of the Stamp Act, the colonists' grumbling finally became an articulated response to what they saw as the mother country's attempt to undermine their economic strength and independence. They raised the issue of taxation without representation, and formed societies throughout the colonies to rally against the British government and nobles who sought to exploit the colonies as a source of revenue and raw materials. By October of that year, nine of the 13 colonies sent representatives to the Stamp Act Congress, at which the colonists drafted the "Declaration of Rights and Grievances," a document that railed against the autocratic policies of the mercantilist British empire."
"Realizing that it actually cost more to enforce the Stamp Act in the protesting colonies than it did to abolish it, the British government repealed the tax the following year. The fracas over the Stamp Act, though, helped plant seeds for a far larger movement against the British government and the eventual battle for independence. Most important of these was the formation of the Sons of Liberty--a group of tradesmen who led anti-British protests in Boston and other seaboard cities--and other groups of wealthy landowners who came together from the across the colonies. Well after the Stamp Act was repealed, these societies continued to meet in opposition to what they saw as the abusive policies of the British empire. Out of their meetings, a growing nationalism emerged that would culminate in the fighting of the American Revolution only a decade later."So, as you can see our nation has deep-seeded roots towards over-taxation and taxation without representation. Yes, we have elected representatives, but in today's world of rich lobbyists that have surrounded the District of Columbia and control much of the legislation that is either directly voted on or hidden in the 1,000 page documents that no one reads before casting their Congressional vote, you could fairly say that we are now in a new age of 'taxation without representation' as those in Congress are not representing us but the lobbyists and special interest groups that line their campaign coffers each election cycle. Below is a short video on the Stamp Act. Enjoy!
3rd Inning.
Music...Lost Country Stars of the 90s Top Ten countdown #3. Jeff Carson.That era of the mid-1990s was busy producing country artists left and right. This week's entry into my personal Top Ten list of artists who were getting record deals and radio play time but ended up fizzling out of the national scene is Jeff Carson. Jeff got started in the music biz in Branson, Missouri before heading to Nashville and cutting his first CD in 1995. He released 3 CDs over his career before retiring to become a police officer in Franklin, Tennessee. He had the most success with his first CD, which was self-titled, 'Jeff Carson'. That CD saw hits with 'Not On Your Love' and 'The Car'.
His second CD (released in 1997), 'Butterfly Kisses', saw limited success and included the title track (a track that was previously recorded by Bob Carlisle). His 3rd and final CD, 'Real Life' was released in 2001 and saw limited success with a Top 40 hit, 'Real Life (I never was the same again)'.
Jeff's song 'The Car' was a favorite of mine and I really liked the video which featured an old Ford Mustang which was my first car. The video is below. Enjoy!
4th Inning.
Firearms Corner...Machine guns.
This past week I came across an article from TheTruthAboutGuns.com that discussed opening up the machine gun registry to allow for new production items that have a full-auto switch along with the semi-auto one. Would I like to own a full auto firearm? Sure. Why not? But with ammo shortages these days I would probably be conservative on flipping that switch while at the range. It is interesting to note that the system is rigged in a certain class-warfare method which is how it is in most gun control crazy cities where the poor are priced out of being able to afford the necessary licenses/permits/firearms to protect themselves or their families.
The article mentions items that have been invented to get around the registry and one of those is a bump stock item by Slide Fire. This is a simple designed rifle buttstock and pistol grip that allows you to get a full auto feel from your regular semi-auto rifle. These popped up on my suppliers website in the last part of 2013 and I have been interested in them but to be honest they are still a bit pricey with a stock for an AR-15 running around $300-400. A regular collapsible stock can run in the $50-150 range depending on the manufacturer. It is an interesting topic that really needs more discussion/debate. But I can tell you this, I would be for opening the registry even if it came with an NFA tax stamp. A video review of the Slide Fire stock by Hickock45(one of my favorite Youtube celebrities) is below. Enjoy!
5th Inning.
6th Inning.
7th Inning.
These ole...Patriotic pictures. A couple of items that have been in my possession for the last 12 years are two framed pictures that are very recognizable for many Americans. One is of 'Washington's Crossing of the Delaware' and the other is titled 'Spirit of '76'. I purchased these while working at an old fraternity brother's picture frame shop right after I graduated and he framed them for me. These pictures showcase my interest in American history and particular the American Revolution. 
At the time I got them framed, the wife and I were living in faculty housing at Arkansas State University in a small 3 bedroom house. The master bedroom was for us, the smallest bedroom was a office/guest bedroom, and the third we turned into a themed guest bedroom. We decorated it with Americana with these pictures, framed replicas of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Gettysburg Address. Other furnishings included many pieces we picked up at local flea markets/antique shops in and around Jonesboro, Arkansas: commemorative plates featuring scenes/paintings from the Revolutionary War, mini busts of presidents and Ben Franklin, and porcelain figurines of Continental Army soldiers. Along with those flea market items we took an old desk/vanity table that my wife had and painted it all white then painted the top in the pattern of the Betsy Ross flag. The themed room traveled with us as we moved from Jonesboro to both of our apartments in Memphis, Tennessee but unfortunately as we started expanding our family with children the themed room was no more. I then moved these pictures into my home office where they have been hanging the past 9 years. I see them everyday and appreciate being immersed in American patriotism on a daily basis.8th Inning.
FFL Factoid...Top 8 Questions Asked by FFLs on the ATF website.
What fees are required for obtaining an FFL?
9th Inning.
Baseball video...Royals top ten highlights over the years...This week's entry--Frank White, anything and everything.
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