When I was fourteen I was fallin' fast...

1st Inning.
Funny Videos...I ran across this funny bit on YouTube.  'The Johnny Lawrence Story' as told by Patton Oswalt (who is one helluva funny comic and actor).  If while listening to the story you can name the movies referenced then you are a true child of the '80s!  Enjoy!




2nd Inning.

American History Lesson...D-Day.  This past week on June 6, the nation remembered D-Day on its 70th Anniversary.  Per History.com, "Although the term D-Day is used routinely as military lingo for the day an operation or event will take place, for many it is also synonymous with June 6, 1944, the day the Allied powers crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, beginning the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control during World War II. Within three months, the northern part of France would be freed and the invasion force would be preparing to enter Germany, where they would meet up with Soviet forces moving in from the east."  At that time, Hitler and his Nazi army controlled most of the European mainland.  The Allied forces needed a successful invasion of Europe to have any chance of winning the war.  Adolf Hitler also knew that the possibility of an invasion existed and was what the Allies would be organizing and he planned for a strong counterattack force that would repel them and cause delays on any future attempts.  By doing that, Hitler hoped to focus his forces on defeating the Soviets on the eastern front.  Upon defeating the Soviets, Hitler felt victory would soon be in his reach.

It was on the morning of June 5, 1944 that the supreme commander of Allied forces in Europe, U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, gave the final go-ahead for Operation Overlord.  The mission would be the largest amphibious military operation in history.  The operation consisted of  6,000 landing craft, ships and other vessels carrying over 175,000 troops, which began to leave England for France.  The night of June 5th saw 822 aircraft full with parachutists headed for drop zones in Normandy.  In addition, 13,000 aircraft were used to provide air cover and support for the D-Day invasion.

By 6:30 a.m. on June 6, there were already 18,000 parachutists on the ground in Normandy when the land invasions began.  The Gold, Juno, and Sword beaches were captured by the British and Canadians with light opposition while the Americans took Utah.  But Omaha beach would be much tougher to capture.  Though 2,000 troops were lost, it was eventually captured and by the end of June 6, 155,000 Allied troops had successfully repelled the Nazis and invaded Normandy.  By June's end, there would be 850,000 men and 150,000 vehicles in Normandy as part of the Allied march across Europe.

Due to the absence of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the Germans suffered confusion in the ranks.  Hitler first believed that the Allied invasion was a ploy designed to distract the Germans from another attack he felt was going to come from north of the Seine River.  He refused to release nearby divisions to join the counterattack which lead to reinforcements being called from further away.  Hitler also hesitated in requesting armored divisions to assist in the counterattack and due to an effective Allied air support and efficient Allied naval support, many key bridges were taken out and forced the Germans into long detours while the advancing Allied troops were protected in their advance.

The movie 'Saving Private Ryan' and the tv mini-series, 'Band of Brothers' displayed the heroism and bravery shown on the that June day in 1944 as many men faced certain death to complete their mission.  A short video from History.com is below, as well as, a movie clip from 'Saving Private Ryan' showing the D-Day invasions.




3rd Inning.
Articles of the week...

• Who needs a steering wheel?..."Google has finally built its own car from scratch. And it looks 
  like a gondola with wheels."  This technology is amazing.  Think about all the implications--emergency services, delivery businesses, vacation businesses, overall traffic congestion relief.  Limitless!
• The League has spoken..."With the lifetime ban by the NBA of despicably racist Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, the door is wide open to further sports bans on people who say offensive things in private."  It really is amazing at what you can do in the NBA and not be banned.  I see the same thing in MLB and Pete Rose.  Crazy standards...
• It's a mental health problem..."Nearly every mass shooting incident in the last twenty years, and multiple other instances of suicide and isolated shootings all share one thing in common, and its not the weapons used."  There are many connections that each of these mass shooters had but there is very little discussion of it and that is the mental health and other home factors.  We need to look closer at why they want to kill instead of banning anything and everything.
• This house is not clean..."A Pittsburgh family is telling their troubling story about living life inside of a demon possessed house in a new book."  I need to buy this house....
  
• Violence by the Violent..."While people like Michael Bloomberg lump suicides and firearm-related murders together to inflate gun violence numbers in a bid for more gun control, the FBI issues reports like the 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment to demonstrate that, on average, "48 percent of violent crime in most jurisdictions" is gang-related."  A major aspect of gun violence stats that always gets overlooked and rather than deal with the gang problem the politicians would rather take away my rights.  Seriously disturbing...
• I'm talking BBQ, Man..."One man's 10 best barbecue dishes in Kansas City" Jack Stack beans, Gates brisket, Oklahoma Joes Pulled pork sandwich.  I really need to do a rib-run to make that call.

  
  Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2014/05/08/5010844/ardie-davis-10-best-barbecue-dishes.html#storylink=cpy

• Who will build the roads?..."A new company called Solar Roadways is developing a ground-breaking new road surface that could revolutionize the entire energy and transportation industries. The solar panels could theoretically produce more energy than the entire United States uses if it were deployed nationwide."  I've always wondered why our road surface material hasn't progressed to the point of making the roads less hazardous and needing constant upkeep.  Well, wait no further!  I would love to have my driveway resurfaced with this new technology.
  
• Gun Show Loophole..."MRCTV’s Dan Joseph recently traveled to a gun show to “see how their safety and sales operate.” What he found is antithetical to the left’s claims about the so-called “gun show loophole.” I say it all the time...the anti-gun crowd really has no idea what they are talking about when they 'want this' and 'want that' with regard to new laws when what they want to accomplish is already a law.
• Fun with the Black Rifle..."...in New York, “assault weapons” are “evil” arms, a reason for limousine liberals to deride our founders for not having foresight regarding the power of modern weapons while they where crafting the Second Amendment.  But is that really what the AR-15 is? Or is it an endlessly customizable platform that, because of its modularity, will be almost impossible for the government to ban in all of its forms?"  Barbie doll for guys!
  

4th Inning.

Highlights of the Brew Crew...Five years ago I sat down with my two oldest daughters when they were 4 and 6 years old to interview them as a Father's Day present for myself.  I came across that old interview and decided to conduct the interview again to compare their responses.  They had so many laughs hearing their answers from five years ago that they want to do it again in five years.

Here are Kylie(K) and Dixie(D)’s answers.

1. What is something dad always says to you?

K(6):it’s time for bed, K(11):Go clean this, go clean that;

D(4):clean up, D(9): Go do your chores (Cont.)

5th Inning.
What I'm Reading...'1776' by David McCullough.  Well, after a year of on-again, off-again picking this book up in between reading others (I have reading ADHD) I finally finished it.  If you are a fan of history or a fan of David McCullough (I have also read his 'Truman' and loved it too) you will enjoy this news-like account of the events from October 1775 to Spring 1777.  It starts in England during the debates in Parliament over whether to go to war and then takes you to the Colonies and the Continental Congress and General George Washington.  When we think of 1776, most educated people think of July 4th and the Declaration of Independence.  Well, this book takes you through the ups and downs of Washington's campaign to fight back and defend the Colonies against the greatest army and navy in the world at that time. Throughout the year it would seem that Providence had a hand in many events that lead to uncanny luck that lead to an American victory.

The Book Reporter.com describes it as, "1776 is not an historical narrative that bogs itself down in minutiae or incredible detail. There are no lengthy discussions of troop maneuvers or combat casualties. Instead, the reader is introduced to real people who may not be the best-known heroes of the revolution but are important participants in the war effort."  McCullough describes Washington's struggles throughout the book but he also gives important attention to the men who served under Washington whether they had success or not such as Israel Putnam, Nathanael Greene, Henry Knox, and Charles Lee.  He also sheds light into Washington's relationship with his secretary and aide-de-camp, Joseph Reed, who would at one point during the year reveal his lack of faith in Washington through correspondence with Lee.

Highlights of the year that I learned more about were:

• Henry Knox's expedition to bring back artillery from Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York during the Siege of Boston
• The demoralizing retreat from New York by Washington
• Washington's ability to constantly question himself but when it counted to uplift and command his men
• Nathanael Greene's mistakes that Washington overlooked with continued confidence
• The strategic moves that lead to victory in Trenton (Crossing the Delaware)
• And the uncanny ways that weather played a part during the course of the year that enabled Washington's forces to gain the advantage or slip away

Overall, I highly recommend this book.  It has enhanced my knowledge of the early struggles for our nation's independence and should be required reading in high school or college.  

"Our own Country's Honor, all call upon us for a vigorous and manly exertion, and if we now shamefully fail, we shall become infamous to the whole world. Let us therefore rely upon the goodness of the Cause, and the aid of the supreme Being, in whose hands Victory is, to animate and encourage us to great and noble Actions - The Eyes of all our Countrymen are now upon us, and we shall have their blessings, and praises, if happily we are the instruments of saving them from the Tyranny mediated against them. Let us therefore animate and encourage each other, and shew the whole world, that a Freeman contending for Liberty on his own ground is superior to any slavish mercenary on earth." - General George Washington, General Orders, July 2, 1776

6th Inning.

Firearms Corner...M1 Carbine.
Per Wikipedia,
"The M1 carbine (formally the United States Carbine, Caliber .30, M1) is a lightweight, easy-to-use semi-automatic carbine that became a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and was produced in several variants. It was widely used by U.S. and foreign military, paramilitary and police forces, and has also been a popular civilian firearm.  In selective-fire versions capable of fully automatic firing, the carbine is designated the M2 carbine. The M3 carbine was an M2 with an active infrared scope system. Unlike conventional carbines, which are generally a version of a parent rifle with a shorter barrel (like the earlier .30-40 U.S. Krag rifle and carbine and the later M16 rifle and M4 carbine), the M1 carbine has only one minor part in common with the M1 rifle, a short buttplate screw, and fires a different cartridge.

One of the most produced long rifles in American history, only 2nd to the M16, the M1 Carbine (and all of the variations) saw just about every combat experience during an almost 50 year service.  The carbine was developed as part of a requirement for a lighter rifle for clerks, cooks, machine gunners, etc.  These were typically soldiers that would not normally be issued a handgun but were in positions that would not be best for the larger and bulkier M1 Garand.  

Per Garry James over at Guns & Ammo, "The M1 Carbine was designed by one of the most colorful firearms inventors of the 20th century, David Marshall Williams, who formulated many of his ideas while serving a term in prison for second-degree murder. After he was released, he went to work for Winchester and in collaboration with others came out with the new gun. He has the distinction of being the only gun designer who had a movie made about him, MGM’s biopic Carbine Williams, starring James Stewart. The M1 Carbine didn’t spring full blown from Williams’ workshop. It was the result of intensive experimentation and reworking by him and others....M1 Carbine production began in September 1941 with very few changes to Williams’ original design. Though the first guns were made at Winchester, Pearl Harbor caused manufacture to be stepped up. Contracts and sub-contracts were let out to a number of other makers, including such unlikely non-firearms companies as Rock-Ola (jukeboxes), U.S. Postal Meter, Quality Hardware, the Inland Division of General Motors, Underwood (business machines), Standard Products (automobile parts), International Business Machines, Irwin-Pedersen Arms Co. (furniture) and Saginaw Steering Gear Division of General Motors. By the end of the war, more than 6 million M1 Carbines had been churned out to satisfy an enthusiastic demand by American and Allied forces in various theaters of operation."

Although they are not longer used by the U.S. military, you can still find them at gun shows and possibly at your local gun/pawn shop.  The paratrooper models with the folding wire stock can bring a premium but I have seen most in the $500-800 range (depending on condition and manufacturer).  I came to own mine, a Universal civilian model, from my father-in-law when he passed away.  The stock had seen better days so I ordered a replacement black synthetic stock from Cabela's.  It has been my back up deer rifle for many years and is fun to shoot as there is almost no recoil.  My plan is to someday pick up another one and thankfully the Auto-Ordnance division of Kahr Arms is currently producing them.  A short video on the history of the M1 Carbine is below.  Enjoy!

7th Inning.

Music...Lost Country Stars of the 90s Top Ten countdown #7.  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 John Michael Montgomery.  John Michael was very successful right out of the gate in 1992 with his debut CD, 'Life's A Dance', which produced hits such as 'I Love the Way You Love Me', 'Beer and Bones', and the title track.  His follow up CD in 1994, 'Kickin It Up', saw hits with 'I Swear', 'Be My Baby Tonight', 'Rope the Moon', and 'If You've Got Love'.  His third CD (self titled) was released in 1995 with hits from 'I Can Love You Like That' and 'Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident).  It was later in 1995 that John Michael put his career on hold due to an injury to his vocal cord.  After 1995, John Michael had limited success on the country charts.  He would release seven more CDs from 1996 to 2008 with his best country single being 'Letters From Home' in 2004.

One of my first CDs I owned was a copy of his 'Life's a Dance'.  I remember going to his concert out at old Sandstone Ampitheater and meeting him backstage.  He was a tall fella.   It's interesting how his career started to take downturn at about the same time his brother's began to kick off (his brother being Eddie Montgomery with Montgomery Gentry).  

Those early hits were good 'working man's country' and were good for either beer drinkin' or woo-ing your date.  A great voice that probably had many newly married couples dancing that first dance to one of his songs.  The video for 'Life's A Dance' is below.  Enjoy!



8th Inning.
FFL Factoid...Top 8 Questions Asked by FFLs on the ATF website.  #6: Are FFLs required to maintain security proce­dures at their place of business?

Although not required by law, ATF strongly recom­mends that you enact security measures to protect your business as well as maintain effective internal controls to prevent missing firearms.  By increasing your security, you make it more difficult for those who would do harm to your business or to the general public. Physical security measures, such as alarm systems, locked showcases, video monitoring, and cable locks, etc. help prevent theft and loss of firearms from inventory and deter unauthorized removals of firearms.

By increasing your business’ security and conduct­ing regular inventories, you can:

• Stay in compliance with Federal laws and regulations; 
• Provide timely trace information to assist law enforcement with criminal investigations; 
• Ensure the accuracy of inventory balances which ensures accuracy of your bottom-line profits;
• Determine if firearms have been stolen by customers or employees; 
• Identify security issues; and
• Provide quick reporting of lost or stolen firearms.• 

For additional information about enhancing your business’ security, please review ATF P 3317.2, Safety and Security Information for Federal Firearms Licensees: http://www.atf.gov/files/publications/download/p/atf-p-3317-2.pdf.


In addition, please review ATF’s webinar regarding firearms accountability: http://www.atf.gov/training/firearms/webinar-firearms-accountability.html.

9th Inning.
Baseball Video...Royals top ten highlights over the years...This week's entry--Ole #9, Dane Iorg delivers a walk-off hit in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series.