I Hitchhiked Up To Memphis, A Young Boy In My Prime...

1st Inning.
Highlights of the Brew Crew....About a month ago, I attended a presentation hosted by Infragard of which I am a member.  The speakers that night were two FBI Special Agents from the local Kansas City office.  The promotion flyer that went to members described the evening as such, "Have you ever watched 'Criminal Minds' and wondered, 'Just how do they do the things they do?' Special Agent Dirk Tarpley, a Criminal Investigative Analyst will provide information on how the process of 'profiling' offenders was initiated and how it has evolved over the years. Did you see the movie “The Informant” starring Matt Damon? If so, you know this movie was based on a true story about the Archer Daniels Midland Company, the largest antitrust case ever conducted by the FBI. Hear the inside story from Special Agent Robert Herndon of how this case was worked from a small two-man FBI office and why this investigation was made into this movie."  The evening was very entertaining and informative although Special Agent Tarpley's presentation, which focused on child abductions, left me with the overwhelming feeling and desire to never let my children out of the house again.  I had not seen the movie, 'The Informant', prior to this evening but I did recall when it came out in the theaters.  It was quite hilarious to see actual undercover footage compared with how it was portrayed in the movie.  Overall, it was a good evening and it was nice to run into a couple of old coworkers there as well.

With the spring season fully upon us it brings on kid sports.  My oldest daughter is wrapping up her spring volleyball season and her team has a firm hold on first place and had a 15-0 set record going into last weekend but ended up losing a few sets and their first match.  They have one more regular season match before the end-of-season tournament.  Last year they made it to the championship match but ended up losing. Time to return and bring home the GOLD!  Along with volleyball, we also have softball.  My oldest and my middle daughter are both playing this year and on separate teams which makes it an adventure to get everyone to their practices and soon to their games.  It's amazing at the way kids sports equipment has changed over the years since I played little league.  Back then, you had to be awful special to have a baseball bag whereas nowadays walking into the ballpark is like being at an airport with kids rolling their ball bags down the sidewalk and all over.  We stocked up on new bats, gloves, helmets, and bags this year after making them use the same stuff for the first few years.  I hate to invest a whole bunch of money into gear and have them end up hating the sport but since they have stuck with it and enjoy it, they have earned it.  If you want to find us on a June evening check the ball fields in Belton, Harrisonville, or Pleasant Hill.

The kids were not the only ones playing sports this spring.  I had a cousin talk me out of retirement last fall and into playing adult men's slow-pitch softball.  My body took a bit to break the rust off but I ended up having fun and we ended up winning the league during the end-of-season tourney in a bottom of the 7th walk-a-thon by the opposing pitcher who blew up at one point and stormed off the field while throwing his glove at their dugout. Jump forward to this spring and he talked me out of retirement again to play in a 4 team league.  The season started off on a night where it was windy, cold, and rainy.  We won the first game of a doubleheader and then the opposing team forfeited the 2nd game.  We went on to take a firm grasp of 4th place in the league and going into the end-of-season tourney.  We started the tourney by winning a back and forth game with the 2nd place team.  That win put us in the championship game.  Our team gave up 14 runs in the top of the first inning and had us shaking our heads at the hope of coming back to win the game. But chip away we did, inning after inning until the bottom of the 7th when we tied the game but couldn't get the winning run across.  Extra innings we went!  The top of the 8th saw the bad guys go ahead with 1 run but we were not finished.  In the bottom of the 8th, we were able to get two across the plate and win the game.  All in all, after they scored 14 in the 1st inning, we held them to only 4 runs the rest of the game while we scored 19.  One helluva a nail-biter and ...Screwballs WIN!



2nd Inning.

Firearms Corner...Mossberg 500 12GA shotgun.  In 1961, O.F. Mossberg & Sons began production on the Model 500 pump-action shotgun. Since that first year, the gun company has produced over 10 million Model 500s (2nd only to the Remington 870 in total production) and is currently the number one seller of shotguns.  Even though they are common now, as an industry leader in shotguns, Mossberg produced the first camo stock for a shotgun back in 1986.  The Model 500 has served many purposes over the years, from hunting, home defense, to law enforcement and military use.

Per Guns&Ammo, "...more than 10 million of these pump guns have rolled off the assembly line in North Haven, Conn., and Eagle Pass, Texas. For the last 30 years, the 590 has been the shotgun of choice for the U.S. military, and more than 100,000 units have been supplied to the armed forces. The 500 and 590 lines also have the distinction of being the only shotguns ever to pass the rigorous Mil-Spec 3443 torture test, proving what generations of shooters already knew: Mossberg guns are tough."  

The Model 500 can be found in 12GA, 20GA, or .410GA and can be found in multiple configurations and finishes.  This shotgun can be found in just about every pawn shop, gun shop, online, and every sporting goods store that sells firearms, including Wal-Mart.  Another great selling point is the price.  Per Michael J. Simpson with  About.com, "A brand new Mossberg 500 can range in price from about $400 for a basic model with few bells and whistles on up to more than $800 for a nine shot, special purpose, tactical model. Used Mossberg 500s can be found for as low as $150 depending upon the age, condition, and features. Vintage models in excellent condition generally cost somewhat more."

Last year I purchased my first Mossberg 500 for turkey season and I can tell you from personal experience that the shotgun is solid.  I like the tang safety on top of the receiver and the fit and finish are perfect for the purpose of the shotgun.  Next time you are out and about looking for a new shotgun check out the Mossbergs!  A great video explaining the Mossberg 500 series is below.  Enjoy!





3rd Inning.
Articles of the week...

• Aim Small, Miss Small..."Regardless of what the media says, kids who are taught gun safety are generally less likely to commit crimes with guns. But when to teach your child to shoot is a question best answered by you. If you weren’t raised with guns, however, you may need the following advice."  As a parent of 3 children I know how important it is to instill gun safety in their young minds and I believe you can do it while having fun during target practice or hunting.
• You Gotta Fight For Your Right..."Northern states carried out arguably the most successful non-compliance campaign defying a federal act in history with their opposition to the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. Today, a Missouri bill takes a page from that playbook to stop state cooperation with federal enforcement of unconstitutional gun laws."  There is a struggle emerging once again that pits States vs. the Feds.  It is part of our unique system of government that is suppose to be a balance of power as outlined in the Constitution but has unfortunately been tipped too far to the Federal side.
• Miracle on the Diamond..."Only once in five Olympic baseball tournaments did the U.S. win a
  
  gold medal in its national pastime. That team, in Sydney in 2000, put together such a remarkable run to gold that it inspired ideas for a film,as well as a book titled 'Miracle on Grass.'"  If you are not familiar with this story then take a moment to read it!
• I, Robot..."US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel got a first-hand look at a life-size robot that resembles Hollywood's "Terminator," the latest experiment by the Pentagon's hi-tech researchers."  The Skynet Funding Bill is passed. The system goes on-line August 4th. Human decisions are removed from strategic defense. Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. In a panic, they try to pull the plug...
• Justice Scalia..."'A freedom-destroying cocktail.'  That’s how Justice Antonin Scalia characterized Tuesday’s Supreme Court ruling that law enforcement officers may pull over and search drivers based solely on an anonymous tip."  Scalia has to be my favorite Supreme Court Justice.  He keeps it entertaining!
  
• Our Nation's Future?..."His name is Mark A. Smith II, and he is the political director of the Morehouse College Republicans."  If the Republican Party can shine the spotlight on folks like this young man then things will be fine.
• Sheriff David Clarke, Jr..."Sheriff David Clarke Jr. may not be a household name…yet. But he’s well on his way after his rousing speech at the 2014 NRA convention. Consider the standing ovation he received after revealing the seven words he would add to the Second Amendment: 'Keep your hands off our guns, dammit.'"  The kind of sheriff we all need!
• Our Nation's Future, pt2?..."I've found more tolerance, acceptance and inclusion from social conservative groups who have to reconcile that I'm a Republican who happens to be gay...versus the intolerance the LGBT leaders see me as a gay man who happens to be a Republican," DeMaio said."  A great example of a fiscal conservative that breaks the stereotype of the Republican party cast upon it by the Left.
• Phone Home..."A decades-old urban legend was put to rest Saturday when workers for a documentary film production company recovered "E.T." Atari game cartridges from a heap of garbage buried deep in the New Mexico desert."  The Atari game system was my first and I vaguely remember the E.T. game drama but it sure sounds like it will make an interesting documentary.
  

4th Inning.

American History Lesson...Mother's Day.  This upcoming Sunday is Mother's Day.  Do you know the history behind the holiday?  Per History.com,
"On May 9th in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation that officially establishes the first national Mother's Day holiday to celebrate America's mothers."

"The idea for a 'Mother's Day' is credited by some to Julia Ward Howe (1872) and by others to Anna Jarvis (1907), who both suggested a holiday dedicated to a day of peace. Many individual states celebrated Mother's Day by 1911, but it was not until Wilson lobbied Congress in 1914 that Mother's Day was officially set on the second Sunday of every May. In his first Mother's Day proclamation, Wilson stated that the holiday offered a chance to '[publicly express] our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.'"

"In 2002, President George W. Bush echoed Wilson's sentiments by acknowledging mothers in his official statement on Mother's Day in 2002. He commended foster mothers as well as his own 'fabulous mother' for their 'love and sacrifice.' He also mentioned past presidents' expressions of appreciation for their mothers. He quoted John Quincy Adams as having said 'all that I am my mother made me' and Abraham Lincoln's sentiment that 'all that I am or hope to be I owe to my angel mother ?[my mother's prayers] have clung to me all my life.' Bush's own mother, Barbara, was a popular first lady when the elder Bush served as president from 1989 to 1992."

So take a moment on Sunday to call or visit your mom and let her know how much she means to you. For those of you that are married with children, make sure you spend the day doing something your wife enjoys doing...it is her day!


5th Inning.

Music...Lost Country Stars of the 90s Top Ten countdown #6.  The next entry into my Top Ten review of country artists from the mid-1990s that came and went is Confederate Railroad.  Founded in 1987, Confederate Railroad worked as a road band for such artists as David Allan Coe and Johnny Paycheck until signing their own record deal in 1992.  That same year saw them release their self-titled debut album which produced six hit singles.  Among those were: 'She Took It Like a Man', 'Jesus and Mama', 'Queen of Memphis', 'When You Leave That Way You Can Never Go Back', 'Trashy Women' and 'She Never Cried'.
   

Their second album, 'Notorious' (released in 1994), found hits with 'Daddy Never Was the Cadillac Kind' and 'Elvis and Andy'.  In 1995, the band released their third album, 'When and Where' which was not as successful as their previous two albums.  The only single to break the Top 40 was the title track, 'When and Where'.  They released a Greatest Hits album in 1996 and a fourth album, 'Keep on Rockin'' in 1998.  The success of their first and second albums would not be seen again, even after signing with a new studio and releasing a fifth and sixth album.    


I would categorize their music as 'fun country' which can be heard with numerous artists nowadays including Toby Keith and Brad Paisley and are always great sing-a-long songs.  My favorite song that they released is 'Queen of Memphis'.  Video is below.  Enjoy! 

6th Inning.
Uncle Jeremy...This week let's take a break from saving the nation and look at proper or not proper Mother's Day gifts for your wife (if you have kids) to save you from sleeping on the sofa.  

Do not show up after turkey hunting all weekend with a bag of soil, tomato seed packets, and a topsy turvy planter...A 100-round box of .38 special ammo is perfect for the mom who has her CCW...A visit to the local petting zoo with your wife and kids should always be considered...Depending on her sense of humor, a pair of t-shirts with the words "With Stupid ->" & "Stupid" could be called for...I hear Arthur Court grape serveware/tableware is always a WIN...If you forget to buy a card prior to Mother's Day--use cash to buy it (she will be checking the bank account online and see the transaction date and you will be busted)...Breakfast in bed is always a plus (just make sure it's not some pop tarts with a Coke)...Make her lunch or dinner and don't go out because EVERYONE will be going out to eat and you will be waiting & waiting & waiting for a table...Depending on the recent behavior of your children, a large bottle of wine or a 12-pack of beer might be a wise choice...


7th Inning.
Cool Videos...

I've been a YouTube subscriber for this guy's channel for a while and he always seems to have something cool to show.  This video is for all those chicken wing-eaters like myself!



There is this kid on YouTube that makes fan trailers.  Here is one involving the Marvel Universe.  Pretty cool stuff!  




8th Inning.
FFL Factoid...Top 8 Questions Asked by FFLs on the ATF website.  #5: How do I renew my Federal firearms license?

• Under § 478.45, Renewal of License, if a licensee intends to continue the business or activity described on a license issued under this part during any portion of the ensuing year, the licensee shall, unless otherwise notified in writing by the Chief, FFLC, execute and file with ATF prior to the expiration of the license an application for a license renewal, ATF Form 8 Part II, in accordance with the instructions on the form, and the required fee. In the event the licensee does not timely file an ATF Form 8 Part II, the licensee must file an ATF Form 7 as required by § 478.44, and obtain the required license before continuing business. A renewal application will automatically be mailed by ATF to the “mailing address” on the license approximately 90 days prior to the expiration of the license. If the application is not received 30 days prior to the expiration date, the licensee should contact the FFLC.
• When you have sent your Federal Firearms License (FFL) Renewal Application, ATF Form 8 Part II, to ATF prior to the expiration of your federal firearms license and the application form has been postmarked before the expiration date, you may request a Letter of Authorization (LOA) from the Federal Firearms Licensing Center (FFLC) to facilitate and carry on your business operations while your renewal application is in a pending status. The LOA provides evidence to your distributors that you may continue your business operations under your current license until ATF has completed the processing of your renewal application, even if the time needed by ATF to process the application extends beyond the expiration date of the current license. The LOA will state that operations may continue under the existing license for a period of up to six months. If the FFLC does not complete processing of the application within the six month period specified in the LOA, you may request the FFLC to extend the LOA. You may also provide copies of the LOA to your suppliers. 

(For more information go to: http://www.atf.gov/content/firearms/firearms-industry/firearms-how-renew-FFL)

9th Inning.
Baseball Video...Saberhagen No-Hitter.  My favorite pitcher of all time for the Royals.  I firmly believe the team is cursed for trading him to the Mets for a couple of has been's and never-will-be's...

Couldn't Roll Me A Seven If You Gave Me Loaded Dice...

1st Inning.

Highlights of the Brew Crew...Over the Easter holiday we loaded up the ole RV once again with Mother-in-law in tow (this is becoming a pattern) and headed south down the interstate to the southeast Arkansas town of Rohwer to spend a few days with my wife's sister and her family.  We made it down on Friday just in time for supper then as the kids played I retreated back to the RV for an early bedtime.  On Saturday, the kids decided the weather was not too cool and they spent the day in the pool.  They had a bucket of water balloons ready the entire weekend and made many attempts to get me to come outside to ambush me with them.  I spent most of the day inside watching movies with my brother-in-law (movies and reviews below) but did make it to the grocery store with my wife where I finally photographed evidence of the different types of pork products sold in southeast Arkansas versus the suburbs of Kansas City, Missouri.   Anyone in the mood for pig ears, pork tails, pork neck bones, or pigs feet?  

Pig Ears!  Yum?

Sunday came and went with a morning Easter egg hunt, lots of candy, and an afternoon dinner of ham, cornbread dressing, green beans, 7-layer salad, and sweet potato casserole.  After dinner we settled in for a an evening of getting everything gathered up for our drive home on Monday.  There were plenty of Reese's Peanut Butter eggs consumed along with a few Moon Pies! 

Movies watched and recommendations are as follows:

Anchorman 2--Ron Burgundy is back!  Ron gets the news crew back together for a new 24 hour news channel in New York.  Per IMDB.com, "With the 70s behind him, San Diego's top rated newsman, Ron Burgundy, returns to take New York's first 24-hour news channel by storm."  To be honest it was not as funny as the first one but it had many laughs nonetheless .  Recommendation is 3 out of 5 Easter Eggs. 

Delivery Man--Starring Vince Vaughn and Chris Pratt.  Per IMDB.com, "An affable underachiever finds out he's fathered 533 children through anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years ago. Now he must decide whether or not to come forward when 142 of them file a lawsuit to reveal his identity."  A cute, little movie.  Recommendation is 3 out of 5 Easter Eggs.  

Ride Along--Starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart.Per IMDB.com, "Security guard Ben (played by Hart) must prove himself to his girlfriend's brother, top cop James (played by Ice Cube). He rides along James on a 24-hour patrol of Atlanta."  A great ode to the buddy-cop genre!  Recommendation is 3 out of 5 Easter Eggs.  Lots of action and laughs!  

2nd Inning.
Politics...Pork Barrel Spending.  With tax day this past week I felt it was a great opportunity for another inning of wasteful government spending. When examining these items we need to ask a few questions such as 'Can we afford this at this time?' and 'Could this money have been better spent or not spent at all?' and 'Is this a national priority or is this something benefiting a special interest?' and 'Does this fit the role of the federal government, as outlined in the U.S. Constitution?'.  This week's entries:

1. One federal agency has charged other offices and taxpayers $50 million to provide government reports that are largely available free of charge on the Internet. It is essentially the “let me Google that for you” office of the federal government.  Home to more than three million records, the Department of Commerce’s National Technical Information Service (NTIS) collects “government-funded scientific, technical, engineering, and business-related information” and reports and sells them to other federal agencies.  Only it turns out most of what it sells can also be found for free on the Internet with little effort.  Established more than 60 years ago, NTIS is a vestige of the pre-Internet era when a lot of the reports the agency collects were not widely available; however, as times have changed agency has not.  Required by law to be largely self-sustaining, NTIS charges other federal agencies to access its collection of reports. However, a November 2012 review of the office by GAO uncovered that about three-quarters of the reports in the NTIS archives were available from other public sources. Specifically, “GAO estimated that approximately 621,917, or about 74 percent, of the 841,502 reports were readily available from one of the other four publicly available sources GAO searched.”
2. Here is a status update no one will “like” – one of America’s largest companies avoided paying
   
   federal or state income taxes, and is poised to do so again this year. In fact, they will likely receive a check from the federal government in the form of a tax refund. Despite bringing in more than $1 billion in U.S. pretax profits last year, the social-media giant Facebook reported a combined $429 million refund from their federal and state tax filings.  Uncle Sam cut a check to Facebook for roughly $295 million in 2012, according to one analysis of the company’s 10-K filing.  Facebook’s first annual 10-K report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for 2012 details the company’s use of the employee stock option tax deduction, which lowered the company’s income taxes owed to federal and state authorities by $1.03 billion last year. By providing stock options as a major form of their compensation, to date, Facebook has claimed $3.2 billion in federal and state stock option deductions, $1.03 billion of which was used to offset their total U.S. pretax profit of $1.1 billion in 2012, and $429 million was refunded from its 2010 and 2011 tax bills. The remaining $2.17 billion in stock option tax deductions can now be carried forward by the company and used to offset future tax liabilities. This rollover, in addition to currently outstanding employee stock options, may once again make this year’s tax bill disappear. 
3. Sometimes working in the Senate is stressful and means staying up all night to get your projects done. Fortunately, overworked and under-slept staffers can take one of dozens of lifestyle coaching classes offered by the Senate to ensure they’re okay. The Senate Office of Education and Training offers Senate employees a wide variety of free courses on everything from the “Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep” to “Pressure Point Therapy Workshop,” in which students are taught “how to locate and relieve active pressure.  For its efforts, the office was provided $1.9 million in 2013 according to information provided by the office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms. 
4. When Americans borrow money from banks, they are usually also required to pay them back
   
   with money. When U.S. sugar producers borrow money from the taxpayer, however, they can pay it back with sugar. It’s all part of a convoluted, money-losing scheme to sweeten sugar producers’ bottom lines – known as the U.S. Sugar Program. In 2013 alone, the government lost $171.5 million because sugar companies could not pay back the government for money it borrowed.  The 2008 Farm Bill created the Feedstock Flexibility Program (FFP) to increase the use of ethanol and biofuels. Under this program, the government is required, in times of surplus, to buy sugar from processors and to re-sell the sugar to ethanol plants.  Since the 2012-2013 sugar harvest season is the first to yield a surplus, taxpayers are witnessing the program’s wastefulness for the first time. In August, the first use of the FFP, the USDA bought only 7,118 tons out of 100,000 tons of sugar offered for resale. USDA then sold this sugar to an ethanol maker at a $2.7 million loss.

3rd Inning.

Random Facts About Me (Jobs I have held during my 39 years on this planet--with commentary)...Mowed Junior Teague's lawn every week (that guy had the most trees in one big ass yard)...Dishwasher in my mom's restaurant (never eat out of the bus cart, even on a bet unless you are a girl from Ruskin)...Short-order cook in my mom's restaurant (I made the best damn dinner cinnamon rolls!)...Waiter at Ponderosa Steakhouse (I applied as a cook but did every other job there but cook)...Ice Cream man (for a day my buddy, David, and I rode around in a crappy van ringing a bell)...

Background Investigator with my current employer (Classified)...Information Booth attendant at the Reng Center (We gave directions, sold newspapers, and made popcorn), Arkansas State University...Picture framer assistant (Got to help frame some very cool items including some historical documents from before the Civil War)...Park Maintenance worker with the City of Grandview and also with the City of Leawood (I was the guy that got to hose out the park bathrooms where apparently toilets were optional and got to dump the trash cans full of maggoty meat from your weekend picnic)...

4th Inning.
American History Lesson...Income Tax.  As another April 15th comes and goes and too many of us cross our fingers that we understood the tax forms and completed our returns correctly, do we know the origin of this infamous ritual?  Per the Library of Congress, "The origin of the income tax on individuals is generally cited as the passage of the 16th Amendment, passed by Congress on July 2, 1909, and ratified February 3, 1913; however, its history actually goes back even further. During the Civil War Congress passed the Revenue Act of 1861 which included a tax on personal incomes to help pay war expenses. The tax was repealed ten years later. However, in 1894 Congress enacted a flat rate Federal income tax, which was ruled unconstitutional the following year by the U.S. Supreme Court because it was a direct tax not apportioned according to the population of each state. The 16th amendment, ratified in 1913, removed this objection by allowing the Federal government to tax the income of individuals without regard to the population of each State. April 15th has not always been the filing deadline. March 1st was the date specified by Congress in 1913, after the passage of the 16th amendment. In 1918 Congress pushed the date forward to March 15th, where it remained until the tax overhaul of 1954, when the date was again moved ahead to April 15th."

The problem with the current tax system is all the loopholes that special interests have lobbied for and received that allow for confusion among most and favorable reception among few.  This was designed from the beginning and has continued to the present as the tax code gets more complex and is written by old and new special interests.  Per the LatterDayConservative.com, "The tax bill which the Sixteenth Amendment authorized was introduced as House Resolution 3321 on October 3, 1913. It turned out to be somewhat of a legislative potpourri for tax attorneys, accountants and the federal courts. In the ensuing years, untold millions of dollars have been spent trying to figure out exactly what this tax law, and those which followed it, were intended to provide. However, tucked away in its inward parts was that precious key which safely locked up the riches of the super wealthy. Here are the magic words under Section 2, paragraph G: 'Provided, however, that nothing in this section shall apply…to any corporation or association organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific or educational purposes.'  All of the foundations of the super-rich were designed to qualify under one or more of these categories." 

If you take a moment to study the history of this amendment and the chaos it has left in its path, as well as, the political football that gets thrown back and forth between the Democrats and Republicans over how "they are going to fix it" or how "they are going to make (enter political/socioeconomic class) pay their fair share" you should know the game is fixed.  What we need is a replacement of the tax system.  There are others out there and we should be able to do better than our current one.  For more information on the history of the amendment you can click here.   

A good little video explaining the history of the income tax and what could be done or not done in today's society is below.  Enjoy!


5th Inning.

Music...Lost Country Stars of the 90s Top Ten countdown #5.  The next entry into my Top Ten review of country artists from the mid-1990s that came and went is Doug Supernaw.  After moving to Nashville in 1987 to be a session songwriter, he moved back to his home state of Texas in 1991 and founded a band called 'Texas Steel'.  In 1993, Doug would go on to release his debut CD after being discovered by an RCA Records executive and signed to BNA Entertainment.  His debut CD, 'Red and Rio Grande', saw hits with 'Reno' and 'I Don't Call Him Daddy'(#1 Single).

Per Wikipedia, "A series of injuries nearly ended Supernaw's career after his first album's release. After recovering from a broken neck suffered while surfing, he was involved in a head-on car collision. Finally, he was hospitalized after a nearly-fatal case of food poisoning. Once he had recovered from the food poisoning, he recorded his second album for BNA, 1994's Deep Thoughts from a Shallow Mind. Of the album's three singles, only the Dennis Linde-penned "What'll You Do About Me" (previously a single in 1984 for Steve Earle, and in 1992 for The Forester Sisters) entered Top 40 on the country music charts."

In 1995, Doug signed with another record label and recorded his 3rd CD, 'You Still Got Me'. That CD saw a #3 hit on the Country Singles chart with, 'Not Enough Hours in the Night'.  Supernaw ended up with a third record label and released 'Fadin' Renegade' in 1999. The CD saw some success on CMT and GAC with the video for the single, '21-17'.

Supernaw has seen some issues with the law in recent years.  He was committed to a mental institution in 2007 after making bizarre statements in court, with claims of a "political economic conspiracy" against him, international kidnapping, and being subjected as a marijuana"test monkey" by the government, along with other wild accusations.  Doug's hit, 'Reno' is my favorite. The video is below. Enjoy!



6th Inning.
Articles of the week...

• REPEAL 16..."It is time for the FairTax and Flat Tax supporters to unite behind a plan to eliminate the IRS, repeal the 16th Amendment, and start over."  I am a supporter of the Fair Tax and I believe we can do better than the current tax system.
• Prepping..."Water is the most crucial and diverse aspect of preparing for the breakdown of our society. Where do you get your water now? Is it from the city? Is it from an artesian well? A shallow well? Do you have lakes or streams near your house? Are those your sense of water security? Is your swimming pool an ever-available water backup? All of these pieces mesh into a fairly large body of possibilities, and points of failure." Just because I prep doesn't mean the aliens won't invade Earth...
• Unions on the Right Side..."A construction trades union is jumping into the 2014 midterms. While it isn't surprising when a union engages in politics, this particular union is going against the usual grain for union political expenditures by using its campaign dollars to threaten Democrats. The union is going after those who oppose the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline."  Now there has been much discussion in the media about the political infighting on the right between the Tea Party folks and the GOP establishment but let's not forget the left has its own internal mess.
• Tesla..."Governor Chris Christie’s administration blocked Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA), the
  
  electric-car maker that doesn’t have franchised retail dealers, from direct auto sales in a move the company said could shutter its only two stores in New Jersey."  I'm torn on this subject as I don't want the government picking winners and losers in the free market but come on you New Jersey idiots!
• Yelling 'Fire'..."Every time there’s a discussion about gun laws in the United States, someone invariably brings up the old line about how you “can’t yell fire in a crowded building” as the example of a reasonable restriction on rights. But where does that phrase come from? What does it mean? And what’s the appropriate parallel for gun rights in the United States? I’m no lawyer, but having read the applicable case law and possessing a modicum of common sense, I think I finally have a handle on this."  A great piece on the 1st and 2nd Amendments.
• Movin' South..."In the past six months, three preeminent firearm manufacturers—Ruger, Beretta, and Remington—announced plans to build new gun factories, and it’s no coincidence that all three chose not to expand at current locations."  I always wondered why some of the oldest and major firearm manufacturers still operate in some of the strictest gun control states...I am also amazed at how those same states are where the American Revolution began.
• Star-Hunters...A cool little pictorial on Hollywood stars that like to hit the outdoors and hunt!
• Searching for ballplayers..."Cam Perron was Googling himself (hey, we've all done it) when he came across an Internet article about the death of his friend, John Dawson.  Though Perron is only 19, this happens every so often. He finds out another one of his pen pals or phone buddies is dead and gone, and he is reminded of the shelf life that accompanies his peculiar-yet-impactful passion for tracking down former Negro League players and learning about their history in the game."  A very cool kid doing a very cool thing!
• Right to Bear Arms...A very cool national GIF image on the right-to-carry in every state since the 1980s!
  

7th Inning.
Firearms Corner...To follow up on the article above...As more and more people make their first firearm purchase with plans to get a conceal carry license, it is important to know how misrepresented the statistics are against those pro-2nd Amendment legislation and how much the scare tactics play a part in limiting our rights, especially when it comes to where/when we can take our concealed firearm.  Dom Raso with NRA News has a good video to set things straight.  You can check out more of his videos here or here.



8th Inning.
FFL Factoid...Top 8 Questions Asked by FFLs on the ATF website.  #4: How do I add responsible persons to my FFL?

• Neither the Gun Control Act (GCA) nor its implementing regulations specifically define the term “responsible person.” ATF derives its interpretation of that term from 18 U.S.C. § 923(d)(1)(B), to mean an individual who has the power to direct the management and policies of the business entity for which the Federal firearms license is being applied. Reference the March 2006 FFL Newsletter: http://www.atf.gov/files/publications/newsletters/ffl/ffl-newsletter-2006–03.pdf.

• An existing responsible person (RP) under the applicable Federal firearms license must request the addition of the new RP in writing. Written correspondence can be addressed directly to the appropriate Federal Firearms Licensing Center (FFLC) examiner on letterhead or by email. The addition of a new RP does not have to be submitted on a Form 7. Photographs and fingerprint cards (FPC) must be submitted in addition to all required personal information. This required information includes full legal name, position, social security number, home address (including addresses the person has had for the last five years), country of citizenship (list more than one, if applicable), place of birth (City and State or Foreign Country), date of birth, race and ethnicity, sex, and home telephone number. If the RP being added to the license is currently an RP on an existing license, no new photographs, or FPCs need to be submitted, however a new background check must be completed before approval of the addition can occur.

• To find your FFLC examiner, please visit http://www.atf.gov/files/contact/service-centers/fflc-distribution-map.pdf. Corporate account examiners and a staff directory can be found at http://www.atf.gov/contact/service-centers/index.html.

• To delete an existing RP under the applicable license, each licensee must also request this deletion in writing to the FFLC.

9th Inning.
Baseball Video...Royals top ten highlights over the years...This week's entry--Justin Maxwell Game-Walk Off Grand Slam 2013 to end the season's homestand...

Neon lights draw me like a moth to a flame...

1st Inning.

Highlights of the Brew Crew...Day at the Zoo.  This past weekend, the Brew Crew visited the Kansas City Zoo for the first time in 2014.  It was the first time my 2 year old had the chance to visit where she knew the animals and what they were called so that made it fun as we made our way around the zoo. It was a Sunday during the Royals first home stand and the weather was hovering in the 60s (not much of a crowd to worry about).  Even though it was not a 'Free Day' at the zoo I was still packin'.  Everyone had a good time and many people were impressed with our red wagon with a trailer.  We packed a lunch and enjoyed it in the Australia section while watching kangaroos and wallabies.  The kids wanted to ride the train but we decided not to on this trip but instead we rode the skylift chairs across the Africa section.  We wrapped up the day with a march from Africa back to the entrance that had the kids pouting because we didn't get tram tickets.

A few observations on this trip to the zoo:

• A wagon is an essential when taking young kids to the zoo and a trailer for that wagon comes in even handier
• That trailer is pointless if your 2 year old won't sit in the wagon
• I understand the KC Zoo is in the middle of a multi-year remodel so I hope there is something in the plans to make long walks between sections enjoyable with animal exhibits
• Beware of single-toothed moms/grandmas on that skylift that may be yelling at their kids/grandkids to quit horseplaying in the seat
• Sometimes you will be going through the penguin exhibit and while going through the auto-circular doors your wife will break them and blame it on the 2 year old
• You can try to dare your kids to run out on the kangaroo field and touch one but they will chicken out
• No matter how many times you tell them to hush, your 9 year old will continue to make loud observations about how big the chimp's butt is
• It was nice of one of the employees driving by in a golf cart to stop and chat with me (while wearing my Royals pullover) about the Royals game going on while we were there
• At least once before I die I want to sneak into the polar bear exhibit and catch a ride on the polar bear while it swims and pretend I am Bastian riding Falkor
  

2nd Inning.

American History Lesson...Benjamin Banneker.  Recently, I was reading an American History book, 'Don't Know Much About American History' by Kenneth C. Davis, and I came across a section on Benjamin Banneker.  Born in 1731 to former slaves, Banneker grew up free in Maryland.  A self-taught man who had interests in astronomy and mathematics, he published almanacs from 1792-1797.  Two of his great achievements involved a clock and the nation's capitol.





Per BlackInventor.com, "One day his family was introduced to a man named Josef Levi who owned a watch. Young Benjamin was so fascinated by the object that Mr. Levi gave it to him to keep, explaining how it worked. Over the course of the next few days, Benjamin repeatedly took the watch apart and then put it back together. After borrowing a book on geometry and another on Isaac Newton's Principia (laws of motion) he made plans to build a larger version of the watch, mimicking a picture he had seen of a clock. After two years of designing the clock and carving each piece by hand, including the gears, Banneker had successfully created the first clock ever built in the United States. For the next thirty years, the clock kept perfect time"

After becoming friends with the Ellicott family that lived nearby and who had built mills along a local river, Banneker continued his studies of astronomy by borrowing books from George Ellicott.  Through the Ellicott family connection he was hired by Major Andrew Ellicott to assist with surveying the land that would become the nation's capitol.  Per BrookhavenNationalLaboratory.com, "After a year of work, the Frenchman hired by George Washington to design the capital, L'Enfant, stormed off the job, taking all the plans. Banneker, placed on the planning committee at Thomas Jefferson's request, saved the project by reproducing from memory, in two days, a complete layout of the streets, parks, and major buildings. Thus Washington, D.C. itself can be considered a monument to the genius of this great man."

Other notable accomplishments per BannekerMemorial.org:

• Banneker was the first to disclose in his writings that the Star of Sirius is two stars rather than one. His hypothesis was not confirmed until the event of the Hubble Telescope two centuries later at NASA
• Banneker was the author of the first publicly documented protest letter. The letter was written to then Secretary of State , Thomas Jefferson , denouncing the Bill of Rights as disingenuous. Banneker questioned the rationale of the imperialistic position taken by the Founding Fathers, especially in light of their rebellion against the tyranny imposed on them by England as settlers seeking a better life in America.
• Banneker was the first to track the 17 year locust cycle, a valuable revelation to farmers enabling them to prepare for attacks by locusts on their crops.

3rd Inning.

Music...Lost Country Stars of the 90s Top Ten countdown #4.  The next entry into my Top Ten review of country artists from the mid-1990s that came and went is Wade Hayes.  Per Wikipedia, "Hayes dropped out of college in 1991 in pursuit of a career in country music, after seeing bluegrass musician Ricky Skagg perform on the 1991 Country Music Association awards show." Wade released his debut album, 'Old Enough to Know Better', in 1994.  That album saw hits with the title track along with 'I'm Still Dancing With You' and 'What I Meant To Say'.

His second CD (released in 1996), 'On A Good Night', saw success with the title track 'On A Good Night'. His 3rd CD, 'When the Wrong One Loves You Right' was released in 1998 limited success with a #5 hit, 'The Day She Left Tulsa (In a Chevy).

Wade's hit, 'Old Enough to Know Better' is probably my favorite with its honky tonk vibe.  Reminds me of a few nights in my youth with a six pack and some buddies out trying to get into trouble.  The video is below.  Enjoy!




4th Inning.

Cool Videos...With Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier arriving in theaters this week I felt it appropriate to have a couple of cool videos related to ole Cap.

Kid Captain America...It is a car commercial but pretty cool anyway.




Everything wrong with the first Captain America movie.




5th Inning.

Firearms Corner...Assault Weapons and High-Capacity Magazines.  I came across this video and other ones by David Kenik that do a great job of explaining the components and definitions of firearms that the anti-gunners love to demonize.  Take a moment to watch the video below and others by him over on YouTube and learn that much, if not all, of the words that come out of the mouths of people like Dianne Feinstein or Michael Bloomberg is pure nonsense aimed at driving fear.




6th Inning.

Movie I want to see...Guardians of the Galaxy.  In August, Marvel will release another installment of their Phase projects that expands their character universe to, well, the Universe with 'Guardians of the Galaxy'.  Per USA Today, "The movie teams five disparate personalities: Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), aka Star-Lord, was taken from Earth as a 9-year-old, possesses a mysterious orb artifact and pilots the Milano, a muscle car of a spaceship. Gamora (Zoe Saldana) is connected to Thanos, arguably the cosmos' biggest baddie. Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) is a muscular dude you don't want to upset. And then there are the aliens Rocket Raccoon and Groot (computer-generated characters voiced by Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel, respectively), who are best pals and potentially the biggest things to happen to pop culture since Chewbacca.  Their stories converge in the space prison Kyln. After the characters break out, they venture to Knowhere (the severed head of a celestial being that serves as a hangout for aliens) and visit the weird menagerie of the Collector (Benicio Del Toro). They also have to avoid two villains, Ronan (Lee Pace) and Nebula (Karen Gillan), who are in hot pursuit of Quill's orb, which has the power to destroy the galaxy."

The cast they have assembled for this 'Avengers in Space' ensemble looks really good.  I was not much of a reader of the Guardians comics but since the movie was announced I have been searching the Internet for information on them.  From what I have gathered in the comics, Iron Man eventually joins them on a few adventures which would be a good way to tie them into the rest of the Marvel/Disney Universe.  If you saw the end-credit scene of Thor 2, then you were introduced to the Collector which also ties them into the M/D Universe.  From the looks of the trailer (and the fact that I like Chris Pratt as an actor--hilarious as Andy on Parks & Recreation on NBC), this film should be a great sci-fi/fantasy adventure/comedy with comedic elements similar to what we have seen in the Iron Man and Avenger movies.  The trailer is below.  Enjoy!




7th Inning.

Hunting camp game...My perfect hunting camp guests.

With Spring Turkey season starting later this month and the fact that I yearn for the outdoors and hunting camp, I decided to list my perfect celebrity hunting camp mates.

• Davy Crockett (See Bio here).  The oldest of the bunch and the trademark hunter.
• Jim Bridger (See Bio here).  The next oldest and one of the hardest living men to ever live on the frontier.
• Teddy Roosevelt (See Bio here).  A president, a conservationist, and a hunter.
• Ted Nugent (See Bio here).  A rock star and hunter.
• Bo Jackson (See Bio here).  A sports star and hunter.
• Jim Shockey (See Bio here).  A hunting show star.
• Phil Robertson (See Bio here).  A reality tv star and hunter.
• Sarah Palin (See Bio here).  A political star and hunter. (I added her just to tick off my wife!)
• Hank Williams, Jr. (See Bio here).  A country star and hunter.

There would likely be some great stories around that campfire along with some great music.  Who would make up your dream hunting camp?

8th Inning.

FFL Factoid...Top 8 Questions Asked by FFLs on the ATF website.  #3: How do I maintain an acquisition and disposition (A&D) record compliant with Federal firearms regulations?

• If you are a licensed dealer or pawnbroker, the A&D requirements can be found at 27 CFR 478.125(e).
• If you are a licensed importer, your A&D recordkeeping requirements can be found at 27 CFR 478.122. Also, reference ATF Ruling 2011–1 (http://www.atf.gov/files/regulations-rulings/rulings/atfruling-2011–1.pdf).
• If you are a licensed manufacturer, your A&D recordkeeping requirements can be found at 27 CFR 478.123. Also, reference ATF Ruling 2010–8 (http://www.atf.gov/regulations-rulings/rulings/atfrulings/atf-ruling-2010–8.htm).

For those licensees listed above, you may maintain a computerized A&D record if the record meets the criteria outlined in ATF Ruling 2008–2 (http://www.atf.gov/files/regulations-rulings/rulings/atf-rulings/

atf-ruling-2008–2.pdf).

• If you are a licensed collector, your A&D record requirements can be found at 27 CFR 478.125(f ).

In order to maintain computerized records, you must receive approval from ATF prior to doing so. Please reference the questions and answers (Q&As) related to the Firearms Accountability webinar for helpful information regarding entries in the A&D record: http://www.atf.gov/files/training/firearms/0924-webinar-firearms-accountability-questions-and-answers.pdf.

9th Inning.

Baseball video...Royals top ten highlights over the years...This week's entry--The infamous Pine Tar Incident of 1983.