Nov 16, 2010

Economics

The gloom in the financial markets echos the pig weather around here. The experts are blaming my Irish kin today. Seems as though my beloved Celtic brothers have discovered that they are broke, just like the Greeks,

Funny thing about that. You expect the ordinary Greeks to lay around doing Greek stuff while their big banks burn and their intellectual betters are still yakking about men of gold and philosopher kings and suchlike. But we expect the Irish to be Paddy on the Spot and start shooting each other. That's always been their version of an economic stimulus.

Nov 12, 2010

The Shoot-At

In the great pheasant plains of the semi-west this morning,  22 legs are stalking through soaked fields of corn stubble,  brome, and native weeds. Ten shanks are accounted for by son, grandson, son-in-law and friends. The other 12 are distributed among the shorthair, the vizla, and the yellow-ish lab. I am keeping camp. I am hoping the boys' Filson  gear is keeping them comfortable.

It is the Great Annual Clan Pheasant Shoot-At and Group Dog Hug which is headquartered at Camp J, a tradition I cherish. It is also a tradition in which I do not  participate totally due to the approach of the time when I must concede that I nearing my mature years. Breaking through dense cover for hours is a fine way to stay young, or to remind yourself that you no longer quite are.

Although I did enjoy yesterday morning in the field. One of the  dogs treated us to a classic point and flush. She also had the manners to remain straight of face when the ringneck continued his impromptu flight to Terril, several miles to the south. My lads policed up the three expended 12-gauge rounds. I was on the far end of the search and destroy line, too far away to justify a shot. This prevented the need to dream up a creative excuse for missing. We never saw another bird.

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In fact, I own marksman-of day honors. It happened like this:

I was carrying one of my spare shotguns, just because I had never shot it and decided it was time to blood it.  On the first rest break it occurred to me that I should see if it would go bang. One of the boys tossed a can for me. Boom. Can reveals a cluster of No. 6 holes. This means that I have +never+ missed with this gun, and I'm tempted to carve "Ol' Sure Shot" on the stock and retire her to pegs on the wall.

The bird dearth didn't seem to dampen the evening of food, beer, and stories which were, in nearly every case, at least nearly true.

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If the next rain holds off, I'll be out again this afternoon. If a pheasant jumps in my zone, I'll try to remember to lead him.

Nov 11, 2010

George Will at the Cato Institute

Just go read it.

EDIT: The link takes you to "The Smallest Minority." Scroll down a few entries to those for Nov. 5.  It is  a transcript of the podcast. (And, by the way, welcome, TSM, to my little blog roll.)

Sample: "(James) Madison said rights pre-exist government.  (President Woodrow) Wilson said government exists to dispense whatever agenda of rights suits its fancy, and to annihilate, regulate or attenuate or dilute those others. Madison said the rights we are owed are those that are necessary for the individual pursuit of happiness. Wilson and the progressives said the rights you deserve are those that will deliver material happiness to you and spare you the strain and terror of striving." (Emphasis mine.)

Nov 10, 2010

Flash! Iowa Lawmen Decide to Obey Law on CCW Permits

Even the sheriffs who don't like the new shall-issue law have agreed to comply with it, according the the Newspaper All Iowa Used to Depend On. 

The laugh here probably results more from the journalistic emphasis than from the sheriffs themselves.

The Headline:

Iowa sheriffs will issue new gun permits despite worries about consequences, association says.


No shit Sam Spade?

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Despite the sniff of reportorial disapproval, it is not a terribly bad explanation of the law that goes into effect in January.

Jennifer does seem to get a little damp because sheriffs can deny permits for a "short" list of state and federal disqualifiers. If she wants to have a beer with me, I'll be glad to explain why the list of things that cancel Constitutionally recognized  rights is supposed to be short.

In fact, it probably isn't short enough.