This is the book I am following.
Another good read.
I like this one also.
Working on this book currently.
Disclaimer: I’m not your Supervisor. These are my opinions after reading through these books a few times.
Feb 19
“Remember to conduct yourself in life as if at a banquet. As something being passed around comes to you, reach out your hand and take a moderate helping. Does it pass you by? Don’t stop it. It hasn’t yet come? Don’t burn in desire for it, but wait until it arrives in front of you. Act this way with children, a spouse, toward position, with wealth—one day it will make you worthy of a banquet with the gods.”
—EPICTETUS, ENCHIRIDION, 15
I used to remind myself to be patient. I figured eventually I would get a nice house with a garage full of tools. I married at 22 and my wife didn’t work, this delayed my achievement of these things. In keeping with the banquet metaphor, I filled my plate with prime rib, so I didn’t have room for dessert. Now I have 90% of what I wanted and am very happy with that. If I had agonized over my poorness when I was younger, I might have alienated my wife and not be in the position I am today.
Feb 20
“Robbers, perverts, killers, and tyrants—gather for your inspection their so-called pleasures!”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 6.34
It’s not easy to live controlled by impulse. I have had a few opportunities to cheat on my wife, but I know following that impulse would ruin my life and destroy my wife and it’s not even close to being worth it. I have had many dumb friends that would have sex with anything that walks. That is not a good way to go through life.
Feb 21
“Remember that it’s not only the desire for wealth and position that debases and subjugates us, but also the desire for peace, leisure, travel, and learning. It doesn’t matter what the external thing is, the value we place on it subjugates us to another . . . where our heart is set, there our impediment lies.”
—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 4.4.1–2; 15
If I don’t have balance in life, something will control me. It would be very easy for me to sit on the couch all the time and enjoy myself that way, or start buying more pie and eating one everyday. Neither of these actions would improve my life and would objectively make it worse. Even something that is supposed to improve my life, like running and going to the gym could become an obsession that ruins my relationship with my wife, if I let it control me.
Feb 22
“Cato practiced the kind of public speech capable of moving the masses, believing proper political philosophy takes care like any great city to maintain the warlike element. But he was never seen
practicing in front of others, and no one ever heard him rehearse a speech. When he was told that people blamed him for his silence, he replied, ‘Better they not blame my life. I begin to speak only when I’m certain what I’ll say isn’t better left unsaid.’”
—PLUTARCH, CATO THE YOUNGER, 4
This is one thing I am good at. I don’t talk much and try really hard not to add unnecessary noise to a discussion. I noticed a long time ago that while Marines were swapping stories, most guys were just biding their time until they could tell their story and not listening to whoever was talking.
Feb 23
“You shouldn’t give circumstances the power to rouse anger, for they don’t care at all.”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 7.38
I try to remember this one when I get angry at my medical condition. I am getting physically better, and am now struggling with the realization that I am severely out of shape. I like to tell myself “nobody cares” when I feel like complaining, either to myself or at work. I do vent to my wife, but I know she actually cares and wants me to get better.
Feb 24
“Keep in mind that it isn’t the one who has it in for you and takes a swipe that harms you, but rather the harm comes from your own belief about the abuse. So when someone arouses your anger, know that it’s really your own opinion fueling it. Instead, make it your first response not to be carried away by such impressions, for with time and distance self-mastery is more easily achieved.”
—EPICTETUS, ENCHIRIDION, 20
This used to be a problem for me. I was bullied in junior high, so in high school I over compensated by being willing to fight over the slightest insult. When I was 21, my Japanese fiancee (now wife) came to America for the first time. We went out to eat and some guy at the bar saw her and yelled”Ching chang chong” in an exaggerated accent. My wife had to really talk me down, I was ready to beat his ass. I let what that racist did ruin my entire evening and could have wound up in jail if I actually fought him. I did more damage to myself and her than he ever could have done. I cannot imagine a scenario now where some stranger’s comment could make me react the same way today.
Feb 25
“Keep a list before your mind of those who burned with anger and resentment about something, of even the most renowned for success, misfortune, evil deeds, or any special distinction. Then ask yourself, how did that work out? Smoke and dust, the stuff of simple myth trying to be legend . . .”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 12.27
Anger can be a fuel, but it is not a health long term one. I use it sometimes when I don’t want to run by reminding myself how much I hate feeling fat and out of shape. It will get me off the couch, but I wouldn’t want to run angry. I like to listen to music and enjoy my run.
Excellent running music.
But you have to be careful, it might make you want to burn down the neighborhood across the highway.
Watching what is happening to the North I needed a big dose of this today. Thanks ron.
I will work on that one today.
One of the most important lessons to learn is “I have control over how I react to others’ actions and insults.”
That took a while for me.
Took me losing some teeth.
Need a chiseled marble Dodge Ram front end to join the famous philosophers for the Stoic photo
Also: The official often doesn’t see the action, but does see the reaction.
Reminds me of a game in Vegas as a yoot playing against some team or another and I yell to the ref after he calls me for slashing “guy just hooked the hell out of me!” and the ref replies “I didn’t see it”. I lifted my jersey up and had blood flowing from my rib area with a large cut from a hockey blade. “Oh…still didn’t see it”.
I still have that scar. Looks like someone took an organ out of me and that was *counts moons* many of them ago
“Remember that it’s not only the desire for wealth and position that debases and subjugates us, but also the desire for peace, leisure, travel, and learning.”
Wealth is necessary to achieve the peace and leisure. Not necessarily a lot of money but peace of mind wealth.
I had to learn to like myself, that took some doing. We can be our own worst enemies.
Stoicism reminds me a lot of Buddhist philosophy, and this week two in particular jump out.
“Remember that it’s not only the desire for wealth and position that debases and subjugates us, but also the desire for peace, leisure, travel, and learning…”
In Buddhism, the source of most of our suffering is desire. In short, we wish things were different than the way they are. We wish we had more money, traveled more, etc., and that causes us to suffer. But if we’re content with what we have, and do not desire more, then we are happier.
“Keep in mind that it isn’t the one who has it in for you and takes a swipe that harms you, but rather the harm comes from your own belief about the abuse…”
There is a Buddhist parable about The Two Arrows. If someone harms you that’s like being shot with an arrow. But if you react badly it’s like sticking yourself with another arrow. You’re hurting yourself based on your reaction.
Those are very similar.Universal truths are universal, I guess.
Usually when I see the same thing come from different sources, it’s a good sign there’s truth to it.
desire…
Desiring (or coveting – same idea) anything too much leads to all kinds of pitfalls. At best it will make you unhappy. Worse, it will lead to bad decisions, crime, violence, hate… Worst of all, it can lead to socialism and communism.
Sorry to go OT, but this just popped up: Kim Potter gets two years for shooting Daunte Wright instead of tazing him.
I don’t know if there will be any rioting over this.
In this case, it would be justified.
Rioting? justified?
I have to disagree. She deserves punishment, but a tragic accident shouldn’t result in rioting due to a reduced sentence.
I watched that whole trial, live streamed, and she was not your stereotypical cop looking for a kill or using violence as a first resort.
Okay, rioting is a bit extreme, but two years is a joke though. This deserves more attention than Floyd got.
I think Potter is a case of a legitimate mistake that occurred due to a few things. A tragic situation for sure. Had Duante Wright not attempted to flee, the police would have had no cause to use force, nonlethal or lethal, against him.
The police at the scene did not know any more than that Wright had a weapons violation warrant outstanding against him (which is why they were arresting him in the first place), but his flight was not his first. He had successfully fled from police at least once before, and had outstanding cases against him, in which he was accused of shooting two different people on two separate occasions, one in the face, and another in the leg.
He had good reason from a personal perspective for fleeing police–because he would have gone to trial eventually for those shootings if captured. When he attempted to flee, the police had a legitimate cause to stop that flight.
Now, I’d like to live in an anarchist paradise, but even in an anarchist paradise, someone who shoots other people probably would be subject to some form of “justice” involving being captured and held to account for his actions, at the very least. In our society as it stands, for good or ill, the government police are the ones charged with executing that policy.
We all agree, I think, that there are policies that ought not to be in place and that police are unjustly shielded from the consequences of their unlawful and immoral actions, however, in this case, I think the evidence showed clearly that it was a tragic accident, not a case of malice in any way. I think the clemency shown by the judge was in order, while the prison sentence handed down was appropriate for the circumstances.
I think the evidence showed clearly that it was a tragic accident, not a case of malice in any way.
I agree completely.
I’m okay with some clemency due to the victim’s criminality, and the fact he bore a significant percentage of the blame during the incident, but two years is a blink of an eye. She is still primarily responsible for someone’s death. A POS someone, but still a person.
I don’t care about the training problems, missteps, or similarities of the Taser to a pistol. That’s passing the blame. More than 90% of accidents, tragic or not, are caused by human error. A human or humans are responsible. If the victim cannot ever be compensated and made whole, the punishment should be a bit more stout. Not trying to start an argument, but would you still think two years is sufficient under other circumstances? Like someone with no criminal record behaving irrationally due some sort of medical issue, or maybe having a panic attack?
I don’t think it’s passing the blame. If we argue that there are systemic problems with police violence that come from bad policy, how does it serve us to allow all the blame and consequences to rest on individual actors and to essentially ignore the real corrective actions, which would be to revise policy?
db, I think you can do both.
Lackadaisical, you certainly can, but it’s not happening here, or in the vast majority of jurisdictions.
All the more reason to hold the individuals to account then, otherwise you’re just giving license to ‘make mistakes’.
If there are real deficiencies in their training or equipment then the department should also be subject to a lawsuit, and I don’t mean just one with monetary consequences.
A tragic accident caused by her own professional incompetence.
That said, a few years in the pen and paying Wright’s estimated lifetime earnings to his family, sounds like a reasonable balancing of the scales to me.
Wright’s lifetime earnings shouldn’t be too hard to cover. He was already on his way to the pen for some shootings and some robbery.
Yeah this is more of a tragic accident than anything else. Even if Wright was a slimeball and violent, it wasn’t right to kill him.
Life time earnings? Good luck with that. Career license plate makers get paid a lot?
What would be the sentence if she ran him over while drunk?
Well that just exposes another tangle in the law. “Vehicular ___” and “___ under the influence” creates a whole different set of crimes with their own punishment grades, even if the degree of injury is the same.
I think the accident was caused by incompetence and policy. Frankly, it’s foolish to carry two weapons, one lethal and one “less lethal,” that are shaped alike, operate similarly, and hard to distinguish in the heat of a difficult and rapidly evolving situation.
Much was made of the Taser’s dissimilarities from the Glock, but overall, the similarities overwhelm the differences, IMO. Even the newer model of Taser the department was using (and Potter was carrying) was visibly more similar to a pistol than the older model she was more used to using (certain parts of the top and backstrap that used to be bright yellow to draw attention of a wielder were changed to black, for reasons the logic of which escape me).
Another factor that gets lost is that she was the training officer for a rookie that day.
She was only going to observe the rookie cuff Wright. Then the rookie started having problems cuffing Wright. As soon as she decides to go over and help the rookie, Wright makes his move and begins to flee.
I’m not excusing Potter, but part of the problem is she was starting from a spot where she hadn’t trained for. Muscle memory doesn’t work as well when you are in a different position/situation than what you have trained for.
The rookie really screwed up in not closing the car door before trying to cuff Wright. Otherwise, Wright would never have been able to get back in the car and try to drive away.
And Potter, as the training officer, should have noticed that and told him to close the door, or have done it herself.
Getting cops to train to a reasonable standard of competence, in anything, is well-nigh impossible.
That is a pretty favorable outcome.
Two years seems about right to me.
How so?
Even if you accept she accidentally killed him, that’s awfully short time to me.
I definitely think that she got less time than a non-cop would get for an accidental homicide. But I don’t necessarily think that every accidental homicide requires decades of time. Even the law in question only specified 7 years as a statutory minimum for reckless homicide.
I agree, not every killing, even if unlawful deserves decades. I would have thought 5 years give or take would be reasonable, 7 sounds like the higher end, given the circumstances.
I think some force could reasonably be used in the circumstance, which is the primary factor ( besides assuming it was accidental) reducing from what would otherwise rightfully be a death sentence imo.
The freaky thing about the Potter case is that, had she not had a Taser (or even if she did), under the law and policies, she would very likely have had legal justification for using deadly force from the outset. Had she not said “I’ll tase you!” and instead intentionally drawn her gun and said “I’ll shoot you!” this case would have gone very differently.
You’ve been following the car closer than I have, but it seems to me some one fleeing who is not wanted for a violent crime isn’t a legitimate target for deadly force. Weren’t they arresting him for weapons violations?
They were, and in a perfect world, a weapons violation wouldn’t even be a thing (RKBA and all). The officers didn’t know it at the time, and that might be important, but he was also wanted for shooting two people, one in the face, who survived with severe injuries, including brain damage.
Seven years seems like a good starting point. Then you can adjust it from there. I think involuntary manslaughter has a max of ten years.
I’m wondering how satisfied people would be if Alec Baldwin got two years for accidentally killing someone.
Of course, it sure looks like he’s going to walk. Last I heard, the NM cops are still trying to figure out if a crime was even committed.
Negligent Homicide. Often also known as Manslaughter.
I’m suddenly having a bit of trouble with this just now.
Off-topic, but on-topic: The spousal unit just drove off with my son to get his 1st Moderna jab. [Insert string of expletives here.]
My son did his one Pfizer and lo and behold, a week and half later got sick. Not covid, but just sick. He is fine but I already told him he is not getting another.
Been through all of this with my two kids and wife. It sucks, but as much as it pains me to say so it was their decision, and I’m not sure I would have chosen differently had I been in their shoes. At this point what’s done is done. If I may ask, how old is the sprout? I’d certainly have felt differently if my kids were younger. (no need to respond, obviously)
Just turned 20. No known medical issues, except the autism thing. It would be funny if a mass of spike proteins magically cured him of Asperger’s.
It would be funny if a mass of spike proteins magically cured him of Asperger’s
My 23-year-old has been a lot better lately, but I think that has more to do with full-time employment than anything else. Also to some extent takes after his dad whose teenage years lasted until he was 35.
his dad whose teenage years lasted until he was 35
Well you’re doing better than me then. I think I’m regressing.
What a time to get it. Luckily the wife and I are in agreement, although she got her shots (for legitimate reasons) she regrets it now and is a bigger advocate against it than I am.
Luckily the wife and I are in agreement, although she got her shots (for legitimate reasons) she regrets it now and is a bigger advocate against it than I am.
Whoa, you’re married to Mrs. Dean, too?
She’s a fine lady, you know how to pick them RC. Well, except for how married me as well.
I need this this week especially. Thanks Ron!!
while stoicism helps, scotch is still better
Why not both?
I dunno, stoicism is free.
You’re welcome
“Remember to conduct yourself in life as if at a banquet. As something being passed around comes to you, reach out your hand and take a moderate helping. Does it pass you by? Don’t stop it. It hasn’t yet come? Don’t burn in desire for it, but wait until it arrives in front of you. Act this way with children, a spouse, toward position, with wealth—one day it will make you worthy of a banquet with the gods.”
—EPICTETUS
I mean why should I listen to a guy who wasn’t even emperor
You keep asking questions, I will buy that kit.
look take your share of trolling with proper stoicism
. I figured eventually I would get a nice house with a garage full of tools. – do you know how to use tools or is it a collection thing?
I married at 22 and my wife didn’t work – how very un-progressive of you. shame
This is one thing I am good at. I don’t talk much and try really hard not to add unnecessary noise to a discussion. – it’s the quiet ones you have to watch. always to something
I kind of know how to use them.
oh I thought that was a different ron73440
Remember that it’s not only the desire for wealth and position that debases and subjugates us, but also the desire for peace, leisure, travel, and learning. – was desire for travel really a thing back than? I suppose for some it was
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6gcxNFc1I0
Video unavailable
This video is not available
Yes, a lot of the rich people had multiple estates and would travel between them to show off and enjoy their wealth.
Don’t forget pilgrimages to show off their virtue.
“You shouldn’t give circumstances the power to rouse anger, for they don’t care at all.”
I’m failing miserably today.
#metoo
Anger is often the motivation to action which proves that cirumstances are not entirely out of one’s control.
That one seems to have affected a lot of us this week…
This is the one that I have to work on all the time. And it isn’t just people.
I’m pretty sure the God of Fishing Line has it out for me and on more than one occasion I have wanted to nuke everything from orbit because of snarled fishing line that had no business being that snarled. I mean an inch of slack somehow allowed my sinker to spin around and cause a bird’s nest bigger than my head? How is that just?
Speaking of fish, check your phone.
Uffda. Stop sending pics of naked fish to my phone!
*looks at phone*
Niiiiiice. Laker right? Must have been fun trying to get that bastard up the hole.
He said that they drill three or four overlapping holes.
Was is sort of like this?
Awesome.
Fuck you, tease.
Our couple days of warm weather have tricked me into thinking its spring, and Im itching to get a line in the water with Tres Ver 2.0
Then we go from 50º back to 20s and ice. Im reminded what a fickle cunte Midwest Gaia can be.
Tres v2 might enjoy ice fishing more?
I was a spazzy kid and I liked ice fishing a lot more. You could walk/run around. Can’t do that in a boat.
Its not a spazz issue. He’s hyper-focused when its something he’s interested in.
He’s cold-averse.
Tres:
Yeah, we’ve got both flood warnings, snow, and ice from the rain all day yesterday.
I’m already looking forward to getting back on the bikes when the snow melts. They’re going into the shop this weekend, so I should have them back by the time the weather warms up.
Neph- I keep telling myself that THIS SPRING im dusting off my Puch and getting back in the saddle. I need to take apart/grease everything- headset, hubs, bottom bracket. And new tires. The last time I looked @ Nashbar I couldnt find 27×1/18. Everything is metric now.
Have I ever mentioned that I did my 1st century when I was 13 ?
OT: <a href="The Insidious Historical Revisionism of ‘The Gilded Age.’ “The fact that the HBO version of Fortune has nothing to say about the corruption of the Democrats of the time, whose military arm became the murderous KKK, is unconscionable.”<The Insidious Historical Revisionism of 'The Gilded Age'
I’ve been watching the show because I like history, and I find New York during the Victorian Age interesting. But the falsification of reality to promote modern woke agenda is jarring and off-putting.
Of course the black characters must bash the Republicans, while Democrats go unscathed. Because that was reality in the late 1800s.
Damn, I don’t know what the hell I did there.
The Insidious Historical Revisionism of ‘The Gilded Age.’
I remember the end of Free State of Jones* the free blacks all voted republican, but their votes mysteriously disappeared.
*I thought it was an excellent movie, but when I was double checking the title, it was listed as the 22nd most popular Matthew McConaughey Movie.
That kind of revisionism is very egregious. Sadly it seems as though younger generations really are having to deal with genuinely Orwellian rewriting of history in which it was always the Republicans that were the bad guys. It’s happening here with an effort to rewrite Churchill as some kind of fascist, despite the fact he spent the 1930s trying to warn about the dangers of fascism, and despite the fact that, well, you know the rest. He’s a big problem for the woke agenda because he doesn’t fit their narrative at all.
Ps – I don’t mean to just advocate for a simplistic narrative myself but fortunately here I am not generally met with such bad faith that would assume as such. I don’t mind genuine, good faith discussion and inquiry, but the situation with Churchill seems to be a case of some very far left “academics” tearing him down based on their contemporary, well, you know how it goes.
well of course not. If they acknowledged history they’d have toi admit that conditions and quality of life for blacks were steadily on the rise up until they started voting democrat, then it cratered to lows not since since the antebellum days, if then.
Brooksed… Was supposed to be a reply to WTF, above.
Walter Williams asked if racism is what is holding blacks back, why was there a smaller percentage of blacks living in poverty in the 1940’s than in the 1990’s?
Still trying to work out how you fix a culture that was killed by government incentive. The ideas that come around as necessary are the sort that horrify my moral compass.
I don’t know either.
I remember the anger and vitriol that came out when some town didn’t process EBT’s on time once.
Is it possible at this point to turn it around?
Yes, but the entitlement won’t go quietly.
Step one – kill all the incentives.
If you have faith that no one is going to bring them back for cheap political points, necessity will drive some to develop the necessary work ethic, which can then be passed on by example. Others will turn to an increased degree of criminality, which will require increased enforcement against larcenies, robberies, etc. This will result in increased contact with said enforcement, and the invariable violence that entails. A few generations will have to pass before the aftereffects will subside. In the meantime, all of the negative ‘withdrawl symptoms’ will create an opportunity for grifters and politicians to undermine it all with a push for renewal of free shit.
Alternative methods will have steps two, three, and so on, but get increasingly more unsavory.
Hey Ron, this was, as always, appreciated but particularly so this week.
Good to hear
Speaking of stoicism, my neighbors with whom I have a very congenial relationship want to put up an addition to their home.
All the homes in my neighborhood are on top of each other with small yards. Essentially, they want to enlarge the existing side of their home another 6 feet as well as add a second story above it. It’s going to really cramp up my view and yard.
I just met with them over it a they are going to need a variance. As I like them and don’t want to wreck our relationship was ask them to pull it back 3 feet if possible. I’ll be curious if their architect can make it work. If they can’t make it work I’m probably going to have to bite the bullet and let them do the whole 6 feet. I’d rather deal with the structure than a strained relationship with the neighbors that I’m on top of.
Either way this is going to suck. My outside shot is the zoning board shoots it down without any input from me. Meanwhile the libertarian in me is conflicted in general on zoning and has no love of zoning boards…
You are reminding me why, when we were house hunting, I had “No neighborhoods” on my list.
My criteria for next move includes “Enough space to be able to ignore the neighbors.”
Same here. We had a whole spreadsheet of requirements and priorities that we handed to our agent. She said that the list really helped her.
Enough space to be able to ignore the neighbors
You will be surprised at how much space that requires.
More than I can afford, probably.
Trees can help.
I bought the next property over when it became available. The mobile home is gone, the well has been plugged and the power pole moved.
Since then property prices are escalating but I need the peace.
I wonder if there’s a way you could ask for compensation for the potentially reduced property value due to the restricted view?
I suppose you could ask for money in return for no objections at the zoning meeting.
My feeling is for the ill will generated there I may as well pitch a fit at the zoning meeting instead.
Either option will likely irreparably damage the relationship.
I’m not suggesting going to them with your hand out and saying “pay me or else I will fight you in the zoning board,” but rather to go to them and say, “that addition looks really nice, but please consider that it’s going to affect my enjoyment of my property and potentially the resale value of my house. Would you consider compensating me for that?”
I think that would do a lot to sour the relationship, myself.
Not to mention, the money will be long gone/forgotten while your irritation at the addition will remain.
But isn’t that what we as libertarians talk about when we say that things should be handled locally, on a personal basis, rather than through zoning boards and running to Daddy Government to mediate arguments? If we say that simply asking for compensation would sour the relationship, so it might as well not be tried, isn’t that an indictment of the argument that we should try to negotiate first?
He’s said he values the relationship. I’m just pointing out that asking for money is likely to damage the relationship.
If he didn’t value the relationship, sure, stick ’em up for as much as you can. It won’t really solve the problem of the addition, but you might as well cash in whenever you get the chance, right?
I’m on the flip side of this. Or I guess I was.
We sort of thought of adding an addition to the back of our house, but if we did we’d completely shade our neighbor’s deck. Like you we like our neighbors and the neighbor wife loves to sit on her deck and read.
That (and of course the price) was a major factor in us deciding not to do it. Now with (most of) the kids gone, I’m glad we didn’t.
Is there a libertarian defense of zoning?
I will grant one for industrial uses, maybe. But I can’t think of a reason to be conflicted in your situation.
Coase Theorem?
In confined spaces what kind of “air rights” does one have? If I put structure on 100% of my property what happens to adjoining properties with water run-off?
I’m putting all of these as questions because I don’t have the answers. I don’t like zoning either, but I’ve not found good alternatives.
US surgeon general says he and his family have tested positive for COVID-19
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
That’s gotta be
fake newsmisinformation.He followed all the rules, I am sure.
They have so eroded themselves I just believe it is a lie and actually a nugget for US media to nibble on all day while Canada beats its citizens.
Wouldn’t a stoic just laugh on the inside at that news?
OT: Looks like today is the day in Ottowa. Sounds like there have been some tangles with the riot cops already, and Viva has been documenting the sniper teams now being stationed on top of various buildings.
The fucking blue is making sure they are never backed again.
Fuckers.
Yep. People will start to see (probably too late) that the police are the ones who will enforce the tyranny against them, little by little.
Seen plently of “Oh I backed the blue but now….” Hopefully they remain steadfast in that line of thinking
Who are those snipers? Who would follow those orders?
“Look Fred go up there with your sniper rifle and pop anyone who resists”
“Huh? Those people look like happy folks who are exercising their right to protest”
Threaten someone’s paycheck and pension and it’s amazing how compliant they can become.
“I was just following orders.”
Imagine how they’d act if they were actually at risk of getting strung up or beaten by an angry mob.
Makes my release of the cartoon last night timely…too bad it won’t be scheduled here on the site for probably another few days.
I set it for 1900 tonight, moved the one previously set for tonight to next week.
Agile editing!
GTFO
I don’t believe any of the various sides as far who did and is doing what but it looks like things really perilously close to cooking off in Ukraine:
https://youtu.be/cccg_06DpHs
Not good at all.
I thought it was premature to call it over.
My take is that attributing anything to Biden is a mistake. Biden and the rest of Europe will do what they can to take credit or spread blame but ultimately have zero influence. Putin alone will make the call on the invasion. His intention has been to invade but can always fallback on the “training exercise” excuse if deciding against.
Ron, thanks for this weekly reminder to take a deep breath.
You shouldn’t give circumstances the power to rouse anger, for they don’t care at all
A lot of power in a brief sentence. In the long run, I alone am responsible for my emotions, or more accurately, the actions I take in response to stimulus. I don’t think it is possible to avoid feeling angry (or sad, or elated, or…) in the moment, but what happens after that is entirely on me.
It’s up to us if we wallow in the feeling and encourage it to grow.
So….
Apparently Newsweek is being sued for libel… by The Satanic Temple (TST).
The purportedly libelous article is hier
But some of the details are just HILARIOUS. Lie the Statnists are not just uber-proggie but were upset that their reputation would be sullied by assosciation by such notable non-proggies as Mark Randazza:
You’re Satanists. You’ve already declared yourselfs to be slander-proof.
I am cringing too hard to laugh, but I really want to laugh.
Has anyone asked Satan who he’s siding with? I’ll bet he’s pretty torn right now.
Satan be like, “Meh, they’re all assholes, and I’ll get their souls anyway.”
I’ll bet he sides with the orgies. Too bad it’s Newsweek and not CNN. They have orgies so scandalous they would make the red devil himself blush.
You know, cause of the kids.
Randazza does God’s work.
OT
Best SWORD for modern-day self defence?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qaPqfQXybU
Probably one of these.
6.5 Creedmoor sounds like a useless caliber
Geez, make the bait less obvious plz.
I was going to joke about metric guns, then I recalled I did own a metric gun at one point.
It was a Hi-Point carbine. I think I paid $119 for it. Direct blowback operation I think. Dirtiest brass I’ve ever seen get ejected from a firearm.
Oh, that’s why I have that box of 9mm, it was for the Hi-Point.
You could shoot that at USPSA matches!
Fun Fact, it’s an “Assault Weapon” under the SAFE act parameters, having a pistol grip and a detachable magazine. Mind you, the plastic of the grip is structural (and the only thing holding the magazine), so you can’t mod it to be compliant without serious gunsmithing.
Dirtiest brass you’ll see comes from open bolt submachineguns, generally.
civilians should not own those
Come and take them, Pie.
How much are Thompsons up to these days?
How much are Thompsons up to these days?
Let’s ask
SloperRolandThey are up there… http://www.machinegunpriceguide.com/html/subguns.html
Even the postwar production West Hurleys are well over $20k now. Wartime ones are much higher.
So, we gotta repeal the NFA and all the crap that followed (or preceeded).
Got it.
i would but i need to get a visa
I would gladly forgo the significant value I have in my NFA collection in exchange for all regulations on firearms being removed.
Dirtiest brass you’ll see comes from
open bolt submachineguns, generallyCCI Blazer and S&B.Oh wait, not brass, muzzle and thumbtips.
No, no, you can’t go with just a sword, you need a sword and pistol combo.
We need to develop that combo more as a martial art. Reloading in melee has got to be in there too.
Sword and pistol?
Highwayman confirmed
Business has been slow since the introduction of the horseless carriage.
I though those things were mostly a joke played on rich fops by gunsmiths
What? Are you mistaking me for talking about a pistol-sword or a sword-pistol? No, sir. I am talking about fighting with two weapons, sword in one hand, pistol in the other.
sword or pistol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDsn-RRmDXU
That reminds me, there’s a weak hand stage at the match in Maine. Should probably shoot a box a week or so to get ready for that.
I liked this item from the Royal Armouries museum in Leeds:
https://smartify.org/tours/treasures-of-the-self-defence-gallery
It has parallels to the Assault Weapons Ban (and workarounds) Where artificial limits were placed on weapons, but then evaded via technical means.
The whole gallery?
heh…
https://smartify.org/artworks/rapier-49
*looks at broken back-scratcher*
I’d worry about the strength of that mechanism.
Surprised that the first thing I saw was a Colonial Marine pulse rifle.
I am fond of my Cold Steel modified cutlass. A great option for self defense. And yes, adding a gun to it would be cool.
Ahh, knife people. Making gun people look flat fucking normal since 1950.
Gibbs’ Rule 9: Never go anywhere without a knife.
This has already been answered: the cinqueda. Easy to carry, good stopping power, plenty of space for bling.
Nonsense, the shape of the blade is all wrong. I’m not going to go around with a giant-assed triangle for a sword.
It’s the equivalent of using hollowpoints.
He takes for ever to get to the obvious point — either machete or a gladius.
I seem to recall that Shad is viewed as an idiot by most people in the HEMA community.
US surgeon general says he and his family have tested positive for COVID-19
Now is the best time to get another booster or two. Hurry!
I feel sorry for his family.
Well, I already did anyway.
Ok, Covid is over. Coachella is dropping all restrictions.
Who?
Only 23 months. We flattened the fuck out that curve!
To be fair, 2 weeks was a government estimate, and we all know how reliable those are. Off by a factor of 12 seems to be about right.
Or 26.
GAH or 23
46?
42.
Wait…what was the question ?
“What is the question to which the answer is…
Chicken Teriyaki?“
The last and oddest of Bach’s twenty-odd children.
Wow, math is hard. 🙂
In fact I think we should start using that as a standard. “This bill will cost $10B to implement”. So expect it to cost $120B.
The Big Dig waves “hi”.
If I had agonized over my poorness when I was younger
I did too for a while. I realized it wasn’t productive and instead got to working on myself, my skills, etc.
I have had a few opportunities to cheat on my wife, but I know following that impulse would ruin my life and destroy my wife and it’s not even close to being worth it.
Yes. I’ve been tempted to cheat on women I was involved with. I didn’t give into that temptation. It’s the wrong to do and causes no end of problems.
I am getting physically better
Good!
Thanks ron.
I’ve been a little scarce lately because of work and other things. Any word on l0b0t?
I have the Rebel News livestream of the police moving in Ottawa on. Police with gas masks are moving up to the front of the line.
Supposedly there are tow truck w/o license plates and the liveries covered.
So, cowards?
Black tow trucks are the 2022 version of black helicopters.
After the protestors are removed from Ottowa, I expect to see “flash protests” forming, protesting, and fading. It’s smart to be agile and keep moving.
When I was in Ottawa, they mentioned that mot of parliament has burned down once before, except for the
Great Septlibrary.It’s going to be harder for these people to sustain months long protests than it was for the Antifa and BLM people. These people have jobs.
If they rotate locations and people it might be more sustainable.
If only they had jobs that involved a great deal of travel and regulations that prevented them from working too many days in a row….
I presume we’re agreeing on this
The elites are going to do everything the can to provoke a reaction that gives them an excuse to go nuts. It’s pretty incredible how they’ve gotten this entire crowd to behave and not give them any footage they can really weaponize so far. They’re going to keep escalating though.
And now they are singing “O Canada”. Reprobates.
Timeloose’s text exchange.
Rob: Do you want a compound miter saw and a 12 pack of Genny Bock.
Time: Yes, bring it to the bar after work. Thanks Brother
Rob: Try not to use both at the same time
Time: It does sound like the transcript of an industrial accident investigation timeline.
Joe Biden kicks dog.
He didn’t kick the dog. The dog ran between his legs and nearly knocked him down. This was after the dog nearly yanked him over. Biden is feeble.
I was going to say something to that effect.
I dislike the man, but that looks like he tripped on a dog rather than intentionally kicking it.
I didn’t say he was abusing the dog.
Close enough to count.
It’s still a bad look for him, don’t his handlers think ahead?
Yes, the old man shouldn’t be handling a young, untrained dog that size.
As someone that’s owned and adores shepherds, I can confirm that they are generally functionally retarded until around age 4. That puppy is too much for the doddering old fool.
Why would you let someone that old walk a dog like that?
Doesn’t that highlight his feebleness?
That looks like the wrong type of dog to give a feeble old man anyway. Get a Bassett Hound that will be slightly more awake than yourself.
Tricki Woo would be about his speed.
He’s just confused. They were talking about Ukraine on the plane and told him to wag the dog.
At this morning’s executive team meeting:
R C: We’re good on defense against sexual discrimination claims. 2/3s of our managers and directors are women, and half the executive team. This place is basically run by nurses. Both the CEOs, the VP Ops, the CNO are all nurses. All the chicks in the C Suite are nurses, except for Dr. [Chief Medical Officer].
[Later, as we were working a New Orleans King Cake somebody brought in, and the CIO got the little plastic baby in his slice]
CIO: What is this thing?
R C: Hey, you got the baby! I think that means you get some beads. But, if I understand how Mardi Gras works in New Orleans, you have to take your shirt off first. [To VP of HR] You still have some copies of that pre-filled form for writing me up in your office? I can drop by when we’re done here.