The Countertop Chronicles

Can you believe its really been 3 years since he passed away??

I wonder what he’d make of Obama and his backing band, Nancy and the gun bigots?

I’m praying for the Iranian people.

As Uncle points out,

The pictures are amazing. People are throwing rocks at snipers. And the mullahs can’t stop the signal. The trouble for the citizens is that they will be crushed when the government decides it has had enough. That is happening now.

I wish them the best. But, more so, I wish they had rifles.

Interestingly, the NY Times editorial page (well, at least Thomas Friedman) also understands this dynamic.

Second, even if defeated electorally, the Islamists and their regimes have a trump card: guns. Guns trump cellphones. Bang-bang beats tweet-tweet. The Sunni Awakening in Iraq succeeded because the moderates there were armed. I doubt Ahmadinejad will go peacefully.

But of course, no but the government needs guns, right????

The folks who follow me on facebook may have seen this already (yeah, thats where I am these days . . . on facebook under my real name).

Anyway, I spent a most fascinating night last night. Visited a friend from East Tennessee who used to be a very active gun show dealer and is now a college professor. I had never actually seen his “collection.” I say collection cause its really like a museum.

We of course started out with his collection of fine booze. 10 different kinds of moonshine. Some other moonshine type spirits from around the world. Then about 10 kinds of Rye. He gave me a bottle of Templetons, but let me sip from a 50 year old unlabeled bottle of bootlegged Templetons (ie: before they went legit). And, he had about 25 kinds of bourbon and sour mash’s Some Pappy’s. 18 year Elijay Craig. Bookers and Bakers. Oh, and the George Dickel Special Reserve which held its own against EVERYTHING else we drank. It really is quite good. Might even become my new house whiskey.

Then, of course, after sipping and some steaks, we headed over to the guitar collection. He had some 60 or 70. Lots of old Gibsons, some Martin’s. And a bunch that I don’t know what they were. Mostly acoustics in one room, and then of course, another room full of Gibson electrics (and some early Fenders). Just what you’d expect from a good ‘ol boy from East Tennessee.

After some more bourbon, we then made it to the first safe of the evening. Which had some wonderful rifles in in - and a collection (20 or 30) of gorgeous Dan Wesson revolvers. The next safe, had a few more rifles in it, and perhaps another 20 or 30 Ruger single action revolvers of varying vintage and style. Oh, and some more rifles and a bunch of Colts and Smith and Wessons. And then of course, the assorted random calibers.

Which led to the next safe that had his collection of fine hunting rifles. Including a bunch he personally purchased from Jack O’Conner himself.

He had a bunch of fine shotguns lying outside this safe in boxes. And I thought. Wow. 250 guns (and 2 1/2 hours to look at and touch and lust over). Thats a hell of a collection. I need to get going. But no. We haven’t gotten to my vault yet.

And sure enough, there is one more. And in it he has a good 150 shotguns. All in impeccable condition. Each, nicer than the previous one. All total, about 400 guns give or take a few.

Oh yeah, and he had some knives too. They were lost on me, but all were in the $500 and up range. Which I don’t get (i have a Buck 110). And about a dozen motorcycles.

It was a drool fest.

I don’t have anything on my iPod that I am ashamed of. Every single song rocks. But if I have to pick five I’d say

-Van Halen 1984
-The Rise and Fall of Ziggystardust and the Spiders from Mars
-Neil Young - Massey Hall
-Iron Maiden Powerslave
-Eric Clapton Me & Mr Johnson.
See, I got nothing that isn’t great.

So far at least - actually, and fully in the spirit of Godwin’s law - David Brook’s pulled of two in his stunner of a fantastic NY Times Op-Ed

The first:

These events have heralded a new era of partnership between the White House and private companies, one that calls to mind the wonderful partnership Germany formed with France and the Low Countries at the start of World War II.

And the second:

These executives have been invited to make these donations in the same spirit that the Cossacks invited my ancestors to emigrate to the Lower East Side.

Yes, he’s right. It is beautiful change occuring before us. I can almost hear the Angel’s Rejoice.

Chinatown Shuffle

Lyrics and Music: Ron McKernan

Take it, you can have it
What I got baby I can’t hold
If you find the secret
Tell me how to build a mold

And I can’t handle your problems
So don’t try to handle mine
Get yourself a shotgun a pocket full of shells
And we can while away the time

Look up at the wall, do it right
If you make a mistake, you’re gonna pay for it twice
But if you need it, got to have it
Get yourself a shotgun and bring it back home

Look up at the wall, you know you gotta crawl
Before you start crawling get ready to fall
And if you fall in my direction
Don’t expect no help at all

Get it right, do it nice
But if you make a mistake you’re gonna pay for it twice
But if you need it, gotta have it
Get yourself a shotgun and bring it back home

Look up the walls
You know you gotta crawl
But if you start calling you’re ready to fall
And if you fall in my direction
Don’t expect no help at all
Don’t expect no help at all
Don’t expect no help at all
And if you fall in my direction
Don’t expect no help at all

I’ve got to give Bitter full credit for this one.

A few years ago, back when she lived in D.C. and worked on the hill for a gun/hunters rights organization she got me involved in a very special event - a Congressional shoot out. In exchange for buying lunch for a whole slew of Congressional types, I got the privilege of not only shooting clays with them, but also participating in all their festive fun. Part of which included a killer raffle.

Well, that first year I was lucky enough to buy some raffle tickets ($100 worth) and throw ‘em in the pot. I walked out a winner - with a gorgeous National Wild Turkey Federation Terry Redlin print of Turkey’s at sunrise and a killer Gerber hunting pack.

The second year, I again threw in my $100 worth of raffles, but came up empty handed.

This year . . . . well I scored. The hat trick and then some.

It started with a Bushnell 12-50 scope and membership in the Dallas Safari Club. Then, my number was called on another Terry Redlin print (this one, not as good). Finally, the grand prize - a Beretta Silver Pigeon II shotgun.

Low and fucking behold I won it!!!!!

Pics - after the jump

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Leigh Scott

Politics today is very similar to Hollywood. We have a President known more for his wife’s fashion and his great speeches than any policy achievements. After all, do you call someone lost without their script (i.e. teleprompter) anything but an actor? It’s all style and no substance. People pick politicians like they pick movies, based on the short version, the “trailer,” and not on the substance of the actual individual. It’s an emotional decision, based on immediate needs and not on actual principles.

First, I think this is the first time in over a month (well over a month) I’ve posted something here two days in a row.

Heck, yesterday’s post was the first in 3 weeks.

Anyway, things are a bit crazy on the home front. HopeChange and all that.
But one thing I’d like to do, in addition to maybe blogging a bit more, is to tidy up the appearance of things here. Snazzy it up, make it more readable, get rid of the puck color.

Any suggestions?

So this post by the Instapundit got me thinking about how Obama is gonna ban guns.

THE CHRYSLER FALLOUT: Obama Takes Sides. “The question becomes: are we just bailing out a bunch of politically-connected billionaires? Whenever you get a chance, ask anyone who will listen: Why has President Obama not told us what he plans to give Cerberus in exchange for Chrysler?”

What does this have to do with guns?

Well, Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. stands to receive Billions with a B from the forced sale of Chrysler (not to mention that they own 51% of GMAC . . . . low and behold, right now all new Chrysler financing will be handled through GMAC). They also own, amongst other firms Bushmaster Firearms, Inc., Remington Arms, Cobb Manufacturing, DPMS Panther Arms, and Marlin Firearms.

That’s not everyone, but boy is that a hefty share of the gun businesses.

And don’t think VPC/Brady/Joyce (and therefore Obama) don’t realize it.

The question is - how much does Cerberus really value our Second Amendment rights? Enough to risk tens of billions of dollars????? And will George Kollitides allow the tens of billions that Obama/VPC/Brady/Joyce are holding over his head influence the NRA??

2 Smith & Wesson M&P AR15 Lowers
Consecutive Serial Numbers
One for Each Boy
$199 each.

Obama can bite my ass!

Lost my drivers license going to the gym this weekend. It might be in our house (I suspect it is) but I got to fly to Hotlanta tomorrow and so need a new one.
thank goodness for my carry permit. After basically treating me as an illegal alien looking to take the nation down, I was able to verify my identity via Virginia concealed handgun permit. Of course, it took a supervisor to approve as the minion at the desk didn’t believe it was really a givernment document.

Bad news though, I have to take a new pic. I hate license pics. Well, I usually do. I actually didn’t mind the one I had, but suspect I really don’t like this one.

It’s April 3, and everyone knows what that means. . . .National Cleavage Day!!!

Hurrah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Nutnfancy

This just happened, 20 minutes ago. At 13th and Pennsylvania (2 blocks from White House)

Young lady (yl): Hello, can I talk to you about the ACLU?

Me: ACLU? They supporting the constitution yet?

YL: everyday. We support the constiution.

Me: Not the second Amendment you don’t.

Yl: well, that’s a state by state issue

Me: isn’t the constitution the supreme law of the land? Are you telling me my right to free speach is different in one state than another?

Yl: no. Just the 2nd amendment. Our policy varies state by state

Me: (staring dumbfounded) it does? I thought you supported the constitution

Yl: (realizing where this is going) well, no ones perfect. But what about the rest of the constitution?

Me: I support the whole thing. And my guns keep you from infringing on my speach