Libercontrarian

Crushed between the wheels of capitalism and big government.

Just heard on Fox News:

Don King, in an interview with Neil Cavuto, has just referred to these United States as "these United States." Correspondingly, the Libercontrarian Opinion Dynamic has just topped out the meter - Don King is a closet Libertarian!

posted by: underwhelmed at August 30, 2004 12:20 | link | comments |

Read in the email journal The Federalist today about Christianity:

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"If Christian ministers would crucify their fear of man, get solidly briefed regarding the chief political issues, not sweat necessary division, not get caught up in last days madness, maintain their hope for tomorrow, understand their liberties under God and our Constitution, not become so heavenly minded they're no earthly good, focus on the majors and blow off bowing to cash instead of convictions, then maybe...just maybe...we will see their influence cause our nation to take a righteous turn away from the secularists' putrid path." --Doug Giles
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Especially noteworthy is the comment on "last day's madness." I sense that the Christian community is so shocked by the strident anti-Chrisitan sentiment that exists in American Media today that this sentiment provokes a reaction amongst Believers that they're - we're - at the end. This isn't true. You have got to stand up for what you believe in, not hide behind your Bible. Since I'm a lapsed Christian myself, I am able to levy this criticism from the outside looking in, and encourage Christians of all kinds to be strong in both their faith and their political convictions.

After all, YOU get the government that YOU vote into office. If one comes along which votes ITSELF into office, you may utilize the Second Amendment to take care of the problem . They may get clever on us and try to take it away; remember: the day it becomes necessary to bury your guns is the day it becomes necessary to dig them up.

posted by: underwhelmed at August 30, 2004 09:20 | link | comments |

OK, this is crazy but it's funny - I can just see Christopher Lowell flitting about the ruins of some poor Iraqi's home... "I'd bet a nice amoir here could spruce this wall up, and some new window decorations... Wait! We need a new window!"

America meets Iraq - they go from dictator power to cell-phone-tower within a year! What's next? Enterprise Rent-A-Tank? Popeye's Filafel?

posted by: underwhelmed at August 30, 2004 07:33 | link | comments |

Did the French finally grow a pair?

Nah... listen to this exceprt from ABC News:

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The head scarf law goes into effect when school resumes on Wednesday. It forbids public school students from wearing "conspicuous" religious apparel. Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses will also be banned (my emphasis), but the true target of the law are head scarves seen by authorities as a sign of rising Muslim fundamentalism in France.
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OK, so to prevent excitable Muslims from hiding terrorists behind headscarves, EVERYBODY'S religion has to take the hit? How many terrorist acts were committed by French Catholics this year? French Jews? Anyone?

posted by: underwhelmed at August 30, 2004 07:26 | link | comments (1) |

Oh, CRAP. Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the Mosque...

It's just like I called it yesterday, Dear Readers - make a deal with the Devil and you'll get the short end of the stick.

posted by: underwhelmed at August 30, 2004 07:16 | link | comments |

On a happier note, I discovered the great comic relief of red vs. blue. If you've ever played the game "Halo," you know that you can place a camera outside the action and watch your character "do a number" on your enemies. Coupled with a neat trick of allowing voice-over so that you can chat real-time to your friends, what you get in the multiplayer arena is an opportunity to do damage, or to do humor.

The boys at red vs. blue chose the path of humor, scripting out ridiculous "MST3K" style-sequences between some really, really well-developed characters, and recorded these sequences into a season of short films called "The Blood Gulch Chronicles," which are a must-see. Each little Quicktime video is bulky at around 20MB, so downloading parts of "Season One" is not for the "faint-of-bandwidth." This new type of animation is called "Machinima," one of the very brandest-newest-shiniest types of media out on the web. Very cool college-boy humor!

posted by: underwhelmed at August 29, 2004 22:14 | link | comments |

Thank God I was wrong. I thought that the Iraqi Interim Government was going to have to shoot their way into the Imam Ali Shrine and kill Muqtada Al-Sadr.

It seems that a peaceful approach and Arab back-door deal-making won out over strength in Najaf on Friday, August 29th. The fighting appears to be over and the Iraqi Interim Government is attempting to assert its authority by way of restoring services and clearing the streets. They've even promised to compensate those whose businesses suffered or were ruined by the fighting - but in typical Arab fashion, they've made a deal with Al-Sistani and Al-Sadr to allow Al-Sadr to run free.

Stupid.

This malevolent animal took that city by force, endangering the lives, health, safety, and prosperity of its citizens (and yes, I know that half of them cheered his arrival). He was responsible for the deaths of over 100 people, including NINE U.S. Servicemen (I wouldn't trade a U.S. Serviceman's boot for 2,000 Al-Sadr supporters), and should be hunted down like the criminal that he is - then squashed.

Yes, Dear Readers, the Religion of Peace has scored another hit on its way to infamy. Where's the outrage in the Arab world (good news; I finally found a lonely voice here)? Why does a coward like Al-Sadr gain credit in the Arab press when he incompetently loses a battle, and the only thing he has to show for it is that he is able to con fellow Arabs into supporting him?

posted by: underwhelmed at August 29, 2004 21:57 | link | comments |

Went to the range today - it was the first time I've shot my DPMS AR-15 Carbine in six months. I was getting numerous stovepipe FTEs (boring article about jamming), and accuracy was suffering as well. I may have to rethink my choice of loads for the carbine, as I have seen the rifle produce 3/4" groups @ 100 meters. It should, too, as it has a 16" Wilson fluted .90" diameter barrel, a flat-top with an ATN scope that resolves bullet drop for .223 and range-finds @ 100, 200, 300 and 400 meters, and a Jewell two-stage Match Trigger. I'm using Remington Surplus .223 ball, which I believe is 55 gr., and which may not be heavy enough for the 8.75:1 twist of the rifling.

OK, all you part-time readers are aghast - "He's a right wing nut! He owns an "ASSUALT WEAPON!" Mildred! Call the ATF! The FBI! The FCC! The FAA! Somebody help!"

Really, Chuck Schumer, it's not that bad. Everything is perfectly legal, and if you are intimidated by any of this mundane crap, go here to read about why it's not a big deal, just another dumb gun.

Looking back on Sunday's collumn, I was reminded via newsradio in traffic that today would be the "final day" for the "Cleric" Al-Sadr and his Fruity Muslim "Mehdi Army" at the Imam-Ali Shrine. As I rolled my eyes, I kept thinking of my old used-car managers who would have us put the guests through the ringer before giving them his "best" numbers, still a crummy deal for the customers. They almost always fell for it. I wonder if Al-Sadr ever sold used cars in a prior life?

Check out this fresh piece on the ABCNEWS website; here's an excerpt:

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Sadr aide Ali Smeisim told reporters in Najaf the Mehdi Army was willing to hold talks to end the fighting.

"We are ready to negotiate to put an end to the suffering," Ali Smeisim said in Najaf.

But another aide mocked Shalaan's threat -- the latest in a series of government ultimatums.

"Let him throw his warnings in the trash along with his previous statements about last chances in the last three weeks," Aws al-Khafaji told Al Jazeera television.

"This is a new night of holy jihad against tyrannical forces trying to attack our sanctities and honor," he said. "What will Shalaan tell himself if morning comes and the Mehdi army is still defending the holy shrine?"

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A valid question indeed. See, Dear Reader, you heard it here first: When you talk big, you better DO big, our you're in some trouble when the put-up meets the shut-up.

See ya tomorrow.

posted by: underwhelmed at August 24, 2004 23:46 | link | comments |

Why is every day the "last" day that the Marine Corps or the Interim Iraqi Government or the Iraqi Police Force will tolerate the existence of Al-Sadr's Fruity Muslim Militia in the now-infamous Imam Ali Shrine? Can't the new leadership in Iraq see that by putting up with this goofball, they are defacing the new Interim Government's efforts to establish legal authority and order in their benighted country?

I keep wondering why various leaders in the region cannot stop making statements of such brainless finality. If they're conducting negotiations with that turbaned turd, they should stop the ostentatious threats of use of force, because every time that force is threatened and NOT used, it makes them look like inattentive parents. You know the type - middle thirties, career-oriented, SUV people: "Jeffery! Stop kicking that man and come over here or you're not getting any more than $10 of tokens at The Fun Zone! Now, what were you saying?"

It's a BAD THING when a nation-state fails to wield threatened power, as it invites others to take advantage of that weakness.

Say IRAN or SYRIA, perhaps.

posted by: underwhelmed at August 22, 2004 19:06 | link | comments |

I was reading on a gun group about an obscure topic called "hysteresis," (it's excellently explained in the link!) essentially systems which have imperfect "shape" or "location" memory. In this case, it is used to describe rifle scopes that don't return to zero when zoomed. Building optics is a bitch, the Germans are better at it by mistake than most other cultures do it on purpose.

posted by: underwhelmed at August 19, 2004 10:57 | link | comments |

Posted by me at this website of the potential election of John Kerry (top ten reasons to elect John Kerry, bottom of page):

"...This person will lead us down a narrow and winding path to Socialism, and will begin the cycle that leads to our nation being destroyed by cancers from within.

John Kerry will be the Costco-sized bag of Cheetos congealing in the national gut, if only we are stupid enough to elect him."

posted by: underwhelmed at August 19, 2004 10:41 | link | comments |

Buying meat today @ Costco on my day off: Complained to just some random other customer standing @ the meat counter, that while pork is always great, the beef ranges from great to awful. I was just striking up conversation, mind you. He turns to me and says, "That's because they've expanded the range of what the USDA considers Choice." I looked down, and sure enough, EVERY cut in the cooler had a "USDA Choice" decal on it.

 

He tells me that he runs a locally famous restaurant, and that he's been buying meat, and teaching others how to buy it for years. His wife, standing next to him, is a caterer. I'm thinking, "What are the chances that:

A. Anybody in Costco speaks English, and,

B. I'll randomly ask an expert a question on that subject without knowing he's an expert?"

 

John (I had to introduce myself, as I was delighted that he was giving me such valuable advice) told me that a cut of "Top Round Butt" was the thing to ask for. He bangs on the butcher's window and asks the butcher, "Where's the Top Round Butt?'' to which the butcher replies, "Oh, we DON'T PUT THAT OUT HERE!"

 

Apparently, they don't put out the highline cuts of beef "for the little people." Yep, Dear Reader, you gotta ask for them. We've been getting inferior carcass for years!

 

John gets this massive hunk of cow (easily 13 lbs., and 17" x 14" x 10) from the butcher, and tells me, "You cut here and here, cut this in any thickness to form the steaks you want, and use these leftover pieces for stews and soups." The price was only $38 and change, ($2.87/lb.!) all for a better cut of beef than is generally available to the retail public.

 

My mouth was watering as I thanked John and Susan and we made our good-byes.

 

I'll be "rolling my own" from now on. I can't believe the number of tough, rangy steaks I've gnawed on, even as I live in the heart of Cattleman's Country. No more!

posted by: underwhelmed at August 18, 2004 15:16 | link | comments |

Taylor just emailed me this link - take 45 seconds and play the game, it's a frickin' RIOT!

posted by: underwhelmed at August 18, 2004 08:38 | link | comments |

Just found on the Vice Guide:

"By the way, simply saying someone is "right wing" doesn't count as an apt criticism. Have you ever even listened to the other side's positions? Then shut your face. And Republicans, do you even know anyone in the sex industry? Then you shut your face, too. The terms "right wing" and "left wing" were created for baby boomers who had just given up religion and were looking for a new gang to join. Calling yourself Democrat or Republican is for pussies."

The whole guide was pretty goddamn funny. Me Rikey. Boy, it's late!

posted by: underwhelmed at August 18, 2004 00:45 | link | comments |

Went to lunch with my friend Taylor (not his real name) today - he's an old buddy from our days together as car salesmen. He is a master coder who couldn't find gainful employment after the Crash until lately - he's been working on a contract C++ position for about 6 months. Taylor's 20 years older than me, and has kids and grandkids, and was a Vietnam Vet. We were quick friends, having met in the car lot talking history, and about his past as a Riverine (Brown Water) Sailor. He's quite a character, with very strong Christian values coupled with a completely unusual Patriot's bent - he has all kinds of interesting ideas about money, government, guns, politics, Christ, and the Holy Roman Church. In fact, he's alerted me to a totally creepy and well-written analysis just published on the net about a resurgent Nazi Germany - it's a must read; it's scary as hell.

We had lunch at a restaurant in the tech center, and caught up on some things - he's really a great guy. If the SHTF, I'd hope to count him as my friend, as he's the only person I know with combat experience that isn't 83 years old. We talked about the Sunset, and his plans to take advantage of Congress' napping by buying some sweet hardware before Dianne Feinstein and Chucky Schumer shriek about the fate of The Children, gang shootings, or some other nonsense and baloney.

You've heard this before and it bears repeating: My AR15 has killed fewer people than Ted Kennedy's cars.

See you tomorrow.

posted by: underwhelmed at August 17, 2004 23:33 | link | comments |

<P>My opening post!

I plan on rambling here, posting my changing views of the complex world that seems to be running all together in a muck. The wholesome stuff I grew up with has been displaced by a sometimes seedy, sometimes ultra-slick-polished-corporate-whore ethic, and I am here to make commentary on it. Why? Somebody gotta done do it, dat's why! My past goan fall 'part if'n I don't, as I ain't got no kids, y'all (spent most of my life in the deeeep South, and it may Creep In from time to time).

I'm conservative, right up until Republicans start screwing shit up, and I can seldom trust the ideas of the left, as they invariably believe that they're smart enough to run "the little people's" screwed up lives by way of fiat. They ARE NOT smarter than me or any other monkey on the street - just greedy for unbridled power, and that's a dangerous thing. Creating laws does not change the deeds of men unless the laws are just and are well-enforced.

This is Koko: Gun owner. Married. Ex-Navy. Suspicious of systems, bureaucracies of ANY organization, HR Departments, hippies, some drugs, most drivers, Italian Americans from Back East wearing silk and pinky rings, Patsy Schroeder, Diana DeGette, women in general (execpt my wife, God save me if she's reading this), insurance organizations, any business with more than 40 people in it, Mexico, pharmaceutical drugs, guns sold "New In Box," gun show "know-it-alls," John Kerry's apparent inability to tell the same lie the same way twice in one day, George Bush's incapacity to be anything other than earnest (like correct, well informed, or curious), any whiskey that is not made from a single barrel.

That covers most of it, but I swear, dear reader, that this will be a frequently updated blog, so tune in, turn on, and... drop in.

And remember: Koko SMASH when Koko mad. Make mad, SMASH!

posted by: underwhelmed at August 17, 2004 08:07 | link | comments |

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