My Gun Culture

Tonight's topic on GunNuts (the fastest hour on the internet) was "gun culture." When I read that earlier today, it immediately brought to my recollection an editorial by Mike Venturino from a couple years back in American Handgunner. Thanks to Salamander over at Armed and Amphibious for his help in locating the text of the article. I think Mike says it all pretty well.

My gun culture
American Handgunner, Nov-Dec, 2007 by Mike Venturino

Recently, while browsing DVDs in a rental store, l saw one that labeled its movie as a "Look at the dark I underside of the gun culture." And in the wake of the Virginia Tech killings, the news media has made its usual references to "America's gun culture." Essentially, those with the rigid mind-set of so-called liberals love to portray people with our interests as "on the edge" just itching to put bullets into live tissue, or some place bullets don't belong.

That stuff drives me up the wall because I've been an active member of the so-called gun culture now for 40 years. Let me tell you about how I see it. In my gun culture words like honor and integrity are not obsolete, and other peoples' property is still sacred. In my gun culture someone's word is still their bond. When I came aboard this magazine three years ago, editor Roy asked me if I felt we needed anything in writing. He and I had been friends for some years already at that time and I said, "No. I know you will do exactly as you say you will, and I hope you feel the same about me." Evidently he did.
COPYRIGHT 2007 Publishers' Development Corporation
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning

I'm not so sure that the guns have so much to do with it, but the people that gunnies tend to be, and associate with, are people who're a cut above par, people who tend to believe in live-and-let-live, earning what you take, and giving back freely to those who need a deserve a little help. The Golden Rule has nothing to do with having gold. For me, the crux of my "gun culture," as it is, is associating with people I WANT to introduce to my parents, and living in such a way that I can look in the mirror each night and be proud of who I am, and look my father in the eye, and know he's proud of me.

Just do good things, because they are good.

Lokidude

Horry Clap, Man!

Perusing my sitemeter, I learned that Robb Allen over at Sharp As A Marble blogrolled me! Wow, that just feels cool!

Of course, immediately thereafter, I felt like an utter tool, when I realized that I have Robb on my reader, but not on my blogroll. This error was rectified immediately, though.

Lokidude

Interesting

It would seem I'm the number 2 result on Google for the search string "exite chemicus sum." This ranks me above Larry Corriea's blog, where the Exite! Chemicus Sum! was a winner in the MHI2 patch contest, and above the Nerds themselves, the designers of said patch. I'm truly flattered, and totally mystified as to how this actually happened.

Lokidude

You're Almost There, It's Gone

Apologies for missing last week and being late with this week, it's been a long couple.

I find myself sometimes sitting around listening to old music I'd almost forgotten, and remembering how epic it was at the time, a soundtrack to my youth, to memories that I'm sure are greater than the actual acts, and more precious than gold.



Treasure them, even if they are a bit inflated.

Lokidude

Arrrr

We at Redneck Command be reminded that today be International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Ye best be larnin to live and learn the life of ye inner scurvy buccaneer, or ye be walkin the plank right ta Davy Jones' Locker!

Yo ho!

Lokidude

You have GOT to be shitting me

From the UK, we get the story of a 12 year old boy who is prepping for a transgender operation.

I can't even manage to pull a money quote from there to show you the idiocy. I have zero problem with transgender operations. If you feel you need to alter that in you, go right ahead. But to perform such an operation on a prepubescent 12 year old is medically neglectful, entering into the realm of criminal malpractice. Such massive, elective, non-lifesaving procedures should be reserved for people who've reached the age of majority. Minors are not, and should not be, considered able to make an informed decision on matters like this. That's why we call them minors, and why they legally require guardianship.

Rule Brittania

Lokidude

Race card's gettin worn

Robb Allen once again knocks one out of the park.



Personally, I think the "card" is getting a touch worn. Hard to claim "The Man" is keeping you down when you ARE "The Man."

Lokidude

I'd call Kanye West a douche

but that would be an insult to respectable douches everywhere.

(I gotta apologize, mama, I know you'll read this, but I'm just pissed enough that some grown-up language is gonna come out, and I can't hold back any more than I am.)

Normally, I wouldn't waste the bandwidth on the waste of carbon-base that is Kanye West. I find him to be one of the worst-educated, worst spoken, and most blatantly racist people ever to disgrace this planet. I firmly feel that any respectable media establishment should be ashamed to grant him a mic, a voice, and airtime.

A quick refresher as to one of his greater moments.



Now, we learn that at the MTV VMA awards this weekend (showing how much I care, I had no clue they were even on), Kanye chooses the acceptance speech of tiny little 19-year-old Taylor Swift getting her first VMA ever to spout even more of his racist drivel.



Now, personally, him being a racist shit doesn't make a difference to me either way, and proving yourself to be nothing more than an asshat in public is something I'm all in favor of. But having to walk all over a little girl who never did a damn thing to you? Kanye West, you're officially a bitch.

May you never sell another album, and your mother deny she ever gave birth to you.

Lokidude

I haven't forgotten

I have not forgotten what today is, what happened 8 years ago, and what it all means. Honestly, I didn't post today simply because I haven't been able to form the thoughts and emotions swirling around my skull into something cohesive and sensible. There will be something posted about September 11 this weekend, as soon as I get things focused enough to write them down.

Lokidude

What's in the Arkansas water?

How the entire police department of Jericho, Arkansas isn't currently incarcerated is beyond me. After reading this, my blood was pretty much set on a rolling boil. I grew up around firefighters, for my entire childhood. Some of my very good friends are the next generation of smokeaters, and several are second generation. In the real world, cops and firefighters get along, with the exception of the yearly softball game.

The fire chief went to court to dispute a ticket, which it seems is all this department did with regards to "law enforcement." In response, he gets a second ticket, and then shot in the back while he was unarmed and surrounded by seven cops. Now, I'm normally willing to give the police the benefit of the doubt, but 7-1 against an unarmed man? No chance. If they couldn't control the situation through physical restraint and arrest control techniques (and that's assuming the chief was physically aggressive with them, which I find highly doubtful), then they have no business carrying badges. For the record: A gun is not a universal problem solver, and you are NOT authorized to shoot simply because you're angry. Lethal force is authorized and acceptable only when all other options have been ruled out in the cause of protecting yourself and others from harm.

Lokidude

Giving it right back to them

Heard today on Navy Radio News (a neat little newswire that the local AM carries), the USS New York has been commissioned. My favorite touch, personally, is this:

Steel salvaged from the World Trade Center wreckage has been used in the construction of New York. The shipyard and Navy inspected the steel and found that it was of sufficient material strength so that it could be incorporated into the bow stem of New York.

That's right. They broke it. They thought they broke us in the process. And now, we've salvaged what they've broken, reforged it, and are going to use it to send Marines, SEALs, and the associated support equipment around the world, spreading peace when possible, doing violence when necessary, and always pursuing that which is good.

And that is why we will not be broken.

Lokidude

Meet the family

Tonight, it's time for you to meet some of the family. Specifically, Baby Brother. Not Little Brother, not since he was about 11. But always Baby Brother.

Anyways, BB's a little different breed of redneck than me. I'm from the "Trans-Am, Lynyrd Skynyrd" school of redneck. He's more of the "cowboy hat, twangy country, bad moustache" breed. He's also embodied the famous last words of "Hey, watch this!" And he's a big showoff for the ladies. So, this On Stage Thursday is dedicated to the giant oaf with a heart just as big, my Baby Brother.

Chris Cagle

More CMT Music

More CMT Music Videos

Love ya, bro!

Lokidude

Might not be all that bad

When we heard that Disney bought out Marvel, all of us comic book geeks were, to put it lightly, concerned. I mean, seriously, can you say "This Week's Sign That the Apocalypse Is Upon Us?" But the whiz kids over at Unreality came up with a dark, horrible, beautiful possibility for the Princesses.

Seriously, that's pretty kick ass.

Lokidude

The Votes Are In

The voting ended for Larry Correia's Monster Hunter International patch contest, and we have the results. As per the original rules, Utah County won the most votes, and therefore won the contest, despite having an advantage best described as "unfair."

However, Larry, in his infinite wisdom, altered the terms of the deal. Pray he does not alter them further.

What it all means is that Larry has decided to also use the Atomic Nerds' patch, "Exite! Chemicus Sum!" Go Team Nerd!!! If you voted for my buddies the Nerds, you rock. If not, then you, yes, YOU, are what is wrong with America today!

Back off, man! They're scientists!

Lokidude

It really wouldn't surprise me

Circulating the tubes, we have this neato guide, handily available for any journalist who needs to write a story that mentions guns.
Sadly, I sometimes wonder if this guide isn't exactly what the press uses.

H/T to Robb Allen and Sebastian.

Lokidude

"Rodents Of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist."

Ah, but our good Westley seems to have been wrong. ROUS found in Papua New Guinea. Seriously.

Measuring 82 centimeters (32.2 inches) from nose to tail and weighing around 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds), the species is thought to be one of the largest rats ever to be found.

Folks, that's a nearly 3 foot rat. Pretty much your housecat. Wow.

Hat tip goes to the future Senator from Massachusetts, JayG.

I think we need a bigger boat.

Lokidude

More Blogroll Updates

Hey, there's a couple fresh faces on the blogroll today, send em some love. Also, I'd like to run a reciprocal blogroll, if you read/link me and I'm not repaying the favor, please, drop me a comment or send me an email to utredneck at gmail dot com and I'll add you post-haste.

First on today's list, Gay Cynic over at FreeThinker. I know, rednecks, especially in Wyberia, are supposed to be all bigoted and such, but sometimes perceptions need to be altered. Anyway, GC is good people.

FarmGirl over at Tractor Tracks got added, too. She's admitted to liking visits, so give her some!

Lokidude

Somehow, I doubt it.

Yay! My very first oh-so-amusing Google hit! I'd like to thank the Academy, and my parents, and... no, wait, that's something entirely different. Anyways, here goes...

(click to embiggen)

Somehow, I'm not sure that, judging by where you're being educated, you have much room to criticize, kid.

Lokidude

How it should be done

There are few things that hack me off more than "The Star Spangled Banner" performed by the latest no-talent, MTV fueled, video-killed-the-radio-star rejects at any particular major sporting event. In fact, many of them, I consider flat insulting. As a NASCAR fan, I get at least halfway respectful performances of the Anthem, but still not what I'd call "outstanding."

This, ladies and gentlemen, is how it should be done, performed by kids (and I can call em that, as I have almost a decade on more than a few of them) who have an intimate knowledge of what the song means, what the flag stands for, and what having the biggest stick really guarantees you.

Made it by midnight...

Sorry this week's On Stage Thursday is late, I was tinkering on the truck and then went out for chinese, because I was in the mood and haven't been down to see Christopher in forever.

So, here ya go. Some folks might call it a cop out, it's a simple tune, I can play it in my sleep.



Here's the thing, though. This is the first song I ever learned on my bass. In fact, it's the first song a great many bassists learn. Five fingerings, one string, I could pretty much teach this song in 30 seconds to anybody who can get their hand around the neck. And quite honestly, it's just a fun song to play. It's one of those songs that, when I hear it come on, if my bass is handy, I feel an unstoppable compulsion to play.

Even simple can rock.

Lokidude

Updating the blogroll

Updated the blogroll tonight, with a couple overdue ones...

First up is Newbius over at The Newbius Papers. He's just an all-around good egg.

Next up are Stingray and LabRat, the Atomic Nerds. Snark, brilliance, and funny from the glowing capitol of the world, Los Alamos.

EDIT:

How did I miss Christina over at Lucrative Pain? Man, I must be slipping.

Read em and enjoy.

Lokidude.

Exite! Chemicus Sum!

So, I have love for this book, Monster Hunter International. You should buy it, because it's a rollicking good time and the author, one Larry Correia, is just that cool. When he found out that fans were designing their own MHI unit patches, he put together a contest, the winner getting an autographed copy of the first book, and their patch getting used in the second MHI book, due out sometime in 2010.

The Atomic Nerds put together a submission that I personally think rocks monster socks. Anybody that might actually read this should go to Larry's blog and vote for the Nerds' patch, "Exite! Chemicus Sum!" Let's face it, radiation is cool, and the Nerds really should have some MHI love.

"Back off man! I'm a scientist!"

Lokidude

Hard to believe...

I almost missed it. It's hard for me to believe that it was a year ago Monday that I got on a bus and forever left my ex wife behind. I can't believe it's only been a year, it seems to have been so much longer. The U-haul ride down was the longest ride of my life. Yes, I drove her down, I needed the chaos and anger over so badly I was willing to do anything in my power.

The Greyhound ride home was an entirely different matter. I was conflicted and my head was swimming, but for the first time in a long time, I had peace. I was met by a very good friend (the future Lady of the House, though I had no clue at the time), and rode into my future.

Through the hell of it all (and never doubt for one second that divorce sucks), I've managed to learn a bit. The biggest thing I've learned is this: Uncertainty is entirely bearable, if you have good friends, good family, and the confidence in yourself to be willing to try difficult and new things.

I had no idea when I started this post that it would be so personal, but it is, and there you have it.

Peace,
Lokidude