The Grand Old Company puts a happier face on it, but the truth is that S&W can't build fences anyone wants to buy. Seems the gates don't quite close, the posts aren't straight, and the finish wears off the first Thursday after installation.
Sorry. That may not be quite accurate, but a guy who +finally+ made near-new SW 59 work right can be forgiven for the speculation.
Anyway, SW can't make a dime on its "Perimeter Security" business, so it's trying to sell it. The PR department hopes you don't remember its hyperflack of a couple years ago, promising the new fence business would make you rich if you bought some SWHC.
Last month the company fired the boss by kicking him upstairs to become "vice-chairman of the board of directors. "(Please. It's impolite to giggle.)
The new boss has been running the firearms end of the business and says SW needs to concentrate on its -- cliche alert --"core competency." Uh huh.
I'll believe they're competent when they bring back the Model 25.
Oct 7, 2011
Spengler Didn't Know Jack Schidtt About the Decline of the West
I see by my electrical teevee that some pitcher for some team dramatically struck out a guy named Rodriguez who batted for some other team. According to the report, this sends the pitcher's team to the "American League Championship Series." Note the date of the event: October 6.
This explains 21st Century American lassitude and its secret application for a loan from the IMF Third-World Bailout Fund.
When the Universe was a finer place, the World Serious* was history by early October. We didn't call it the "September Classic" for nothing in the days when America could make radios and steel pistols; the era when we chose our wars more carefully and could, in general, win most of them with reasonable dispatch.
A nation abandons cherished tradition at its peril, and I suggest President Obama order a return to the diamond game as God intended it. Sixteen teams,** two leagues, no goddam "divisions," and 154 games plus the Series which, in case I haven't mentioned it yet, dammit, should be played in September.
(At the same time he might also outlaw television, although that might raise Constitutional questions.)
That's change you can believe it.
---
*Thank you, Mr. Lardner, and while I'm here may I mention that if you and your buddy Mencken were still around, things would be a whole lot better.
**I mean, what the Hell ever gave anyone the idea that Tampa, for instance, was "major league?"
This explains 21st Century American lassitude and its secret application for a loan from the IMF Third-World Bailout Fund.
When the Universe was a finer place, the World Serious* was history by early October. We didn't call it the "September Classic" for nothing in the days when America could make radios and steel pistols; the era when we chose our wars more carefully and could, in general, win most of them with reasonable dispatch.
A nation abandons cherished tradition at its peril, and I suggest President Obama order a return to the diamond game as God intended it. Sixteen teams,** two leagues, no goddam "divisions," and 154 games plus the Series which, in case I haven't mentioned it yet, dammit, should be played in September.
(At the same time he might also outlaw television, although that might raise Constitutional questions.)
That's change you can believe it.
---
*Thank you, Mr. Lardner, and while I'm here may I mention that if you and your buddy Mencken were still around, things would be a whole lot better.
**I mean, what the Hell ever gave anyone the idea that Tampa, for instance, was "major league?"
Oct 6, 2011
Herding the Elephants Update -- Iowa Caucuses 2012
Bumped up for convenience again, and including an adieu to Ms. Palin:
Also, it's nearing the time to create a cleaner list -- retaining only those candidates still twitching with residual life. It's high on the to-do list for a time when our northern plains weather is less lovely.
----
Also, it's nearing the time to create a cleaner list -- retaining only those candidates still twitching with residual life. It's high on the to-do list for a time when our northern plains weather is less lovely.
----
(Bumped up, just for convenience.)
Even dedicated political geeks have a hard time keeping track of all the White House hopefuls trying out their pickup lines in Iowa. For one thing, it is hard to find a complete list of the serious, semi-serious, and loony trying on overalls and looking for a comfortable hay-bale perch. So, here's an alphabetical list of these statesmen as culled from published sources, but I haven't gotten around to ferreting out all of the more obscure dimwaddiedoowops yet.
---------------------
--Michele Bachmann, 55, congresswoman, Minnesota
--(OUT) Haley Barbour, 64, Mississippi governor (Dropped out April 25)
--John Bolton, 63, former ambassador, Bush II's point man in Iraq. (Dropped out September 26.)
-- (OUT) Herman Cain, 66, Godfather's Pizza. (Dropped out -- "suspendd campaign" -- December 3
-- (OUT) Mitch Daniels, 62, Indiana governor (dropped May 21)
--John Davis of Grand Junction, Colorado, lumber yard owner, builder (added May 3)
--Newt Gingrich, 68, former U.S. House speaker, Georgia
--(OUT) Mike Huckabee, 56, former Arkansas governor, Fox teevee star (dropped May 15)
--Jon Huntsman, 51, former Utah governor, ambassador to China
--Gary Johnson, 43, former New Mexico governor (added April 22)
---------------------
--Michele Bachmann, 55, congresswoman, Minnesota
--(OUT) Haley Barbour, 64, Mississippi governor (Dropped out April 25)
--John Bolton, 63, former ambassador, Bush II's point man in Iraq. (Dropped out September 26.)
-- (OUT) Herman Cain, 66, Godfather's Pizza. (Dropped out -- "suspendd campaign" -- December 3
-- (OUT) Mitch Daniels, 62, Indiana governor (dropped May 21)
--John Davis of Grand Junction, Colorado, lumber yard owner, builder (added May 3)
--Newt Gingrich, 68, former U.S. House speaker, Georgia
--(OUT) Mike Huckabee, 56, former Arkansas governor, Fox teevee star (dropped May 15)
--Jon Huntsman, 51, former Utah governor, ambassador to China
--Gary Johnson, 43, former New Mexico governor (added April 22)
--Fred Karger, California, GOP politcal consultant, openly gay. (Added August 14)
--(OUT) Thaddeus George "Thad" McCotter, 45, Michigan congressman (added June 24, dropped out September 22.)
--Judge Roy Moore, 64, disrobed, two-time loser for Alabama governor (added May 19)
--Sarah Palin, 47, former Alaska governor, VP candidate 2008 (Out. Withdrew Oct. 5.)
--Judge Roy Moore, 64, disrobed, two-time loser for Alabama governor (added May 19)
--Sarah Palin, 47, former Alaska governor, VP candidate 2008 (Out. Withdrew Oct. 5.)
--(OUT) George Pataki, 66, former New York governor. (Added august 25 and dropped August 26)
--(OUT) Rand Paul, 48, Kentucky U.S. senator (if his dad opts out). (Dropped April 26 in anticipation of Ron's formal "in" announcement)
--Ron Paul, 75, Texas congressman, former LP presidential candidate
--Tim Pawlenty, 51, former Minnesota governor (Dropped August 14; withdrew after Ames straw poll)
--(OUT) Mike Pence, 52, Indiana congressman (dropped May 15)
--Rick Perry, 61, Texas governor, (added June 19)
--Buddy Roemer, 68, former Louisiana governor
--Mitt Romney, 64, former Massachusetts governor
--Rick Santorum, 53, former U.S. senator, Pennsylvania
--( OUT?) John thune, South Dakota senator. (Dropped from list,with reservations, May 21)
--(OUT) Donald Trump, 65, businessman, casino operator, teevee star (dropped May 16)
-0-
The list will change, and I'll try to keep it more or less up to date.
EDIT: May 5:Red ink identifies those who bailed after having been considered players or possibles. I thought of just deleting them, but that seems so cold.
EDIT: John Thune was Xed out May 21. He said in February he wouldn't run, but the weasel words(not planning at this time, etc.)suggested he desired begging. No one has begged yet, and he hasn't been spotted scouting our hog lots, so TMR crosses him off with the caution that things are silly enough that he might change his mind.)
--(OUT) Rand Paul, 48, Kentucky U.S. senator (if his dad opts out). (Dropped April 26 in anticipation of Ron's formal "in" announcement)
--Ron Paul, 75, Texas congressman, former LP presidential candidate
--Tim Pawlenty, 51, former Minnesota governor (Dropped August 14; withdrew after Ames straw poll)
--(OUT) Mike Pence, 52, Indiana congressman (dropped May 15)
--Rick Perry, 61, Texas governor, (added June 19)
--Buddy Roemer, 68, former Louisiana governor
--Mitt Romney, 64, former Massachusetts governor
--Rick Santorum, 53, former U.S. senator, Pennsylvania
--( OUT?) John thune, South Dakota senator. (Dropped from list,with reservations, May 21)
--(OUT) Donald Trump, 65, businessman, casino operator, teevee star (dropped May 16)
-0-
The list will change, and I'll try to keep it more or less up to date.
EDIT: May 5:Red ink identifies those who bailed after having been considered players or possibles. I thought of just deleting them, but that seems so cold.
EDIT: John Thune was Xed out May 21. He said in February he wouldn't run, but the weasel words(not planning at this time, etc.)suggested he desired begging. No one has begged yet, and he hasn't been spotted scouting our hog lots, so TMR crosses him off with the caution that things are silly enough that he might change his mind.)
Michele at Grinnell, The Voiltaire Perspective
I'll be glad to join a protest against the kind of culture which allows people like Michele Bachmann to be taken seriously as secular leaders. I'll wave a sign against empowering the Morals Police. I'll chant slogans against requiring kids to be taught that creationism is an exact science. If the weather is nice I'll join a nude flash mob opposing foreign adventurism, nation-building, and the designated hitter rule.
Those kinds of statist stupidites ought to be the subject of protest, 24/7/365, in one way or another.
But the wholesale creation of a new generation of Cotton Mathers is not very directly Michele's fault. If she panders to the dimdippitydoowops who make up the Neocon Right, she is merely reacting to market forces in her industry, just like Barack Obama does on the flipside of the same political racket.
I will not join a protest designed to shut her up, and I like to think that even if I were one of a starry-eyed liberals infesting the city of Grinnell, Iowa, and its famously collectivist college, I would have retained enough respect for Amendment One to shut up and let her prate.
---
Both sides handled the aftermath stupidly if media reports are anywhere near accurate.. Bachmann's Iowa handler, Danny Carroll, claimed, almost certainly falsely, that the pumpkin farm gathering was always intended to be a strictly private fundraiser. The students claimed, almost certainly falsely, that they had gathered to listen respectfully to Bachmann's remarks.
Michele mingled with the visitors who coughed up $25 to be there, strolled around the farm quickly, and left. But not before feeding a goat, speaking of pandering.
Those kinds of statist stupidites ought to be the subject of protest, 24/7/365, in one way or another.
But the wholesale creation of a new generation of Cotton Mathers is not very directly Michele's fault. If she panders to the dimdippitydoowops who make up the Neocon Right, she is merely reacting to market forces in her industry, just like Barack Obama does on the flipside of the same political racket.
I will not join a protest designed to shut her up, and I like to think that even if I were one of a starry-eyed liberals infesting the city of Grinnell, Iowa, and its famously collectivist college, I would have retained enough respect for Amendment One to shut up and let her prate.
---
Both sides handled the aftermath stupidly if media reports are anywhere near accurate.. Bachmann's Iowa handler, Danny Carroll, claimed, almost certainly falsely, that the pumpkin farm gathering was always intended to be a strictly private fundraiser. The students claimed, almost certainly falsely, that they had gathered to listen respectfully to Bachmann's remarks.
Michele mingled with the visitors who coughed up $25 to be there, strolled around the farm quickly, and left. But not before feeding a goat, speaking of pandering.
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