This one is worth watching, no matter which "side" you're on
 

Start at the 38 minute mark. It was live streamed about 15 hours ago. It is clear, interesting, entertaining and, most importantly, VERY educational.

This lecture is worth your time.

Understanding the Culture with William Federer


History used to explain how we got to where we are today and where, exactly we are today.

I understant that some will mock this, and probably without watching any of it. But I believe there are some adults on this site that will take a different position. It is for them that I post this.

Actually glad to see you back, NI. Been a little worried about you. Maskless in Dixie is getting to be kind of chancy again.

Nope. I'm fine.

I retired a month ago and just don't have much reason to argue politics on the internet during boring meetings any more. Also, I got so many childish responses here that it just wasn't worth the effort, hence my reference to "adults" in one of my posts. They are here, but this is, at the end of the day, a pretty small water cooler.

I've been focusing more on hobby stuff and, in all seriousness, doing "less talk and more action". That is, now that I'm retired and have time to focus on DOING stuff, I'm organizing the guns I got from my dad's estate and the ~7,000 rounds of ammo and I've set up a shooting range on my property to get proficient at using the darned things.

Not that I expect to do anything beyond maybe shoot a few local deer, if necessary. But If I'm gonna carry that Glock in my car, I darned well need to be comfortable with using it.

BTW, I'm reading the book, "Emergency" by Neil Strauss right now. I'm about a quarter of the way through and he's covering all the reasons I left the R party during the Bush years. The loss of our freedoms under Bush after 9/11 were shocking, and the culmination of what Strauss was worrying about happening when he published this book (2009) is what I believe we are seeing unfold before us this year. And next. In all seriousness, If I were not Christian in my beliefs, I'd be terrified. But I am so, frankly, I'm really not worried at all. It all has to happen, after all. Evil needs to reach full fruition before God takes it out. That is His MO. And we're seeing some spectacular blossoms as I type this. Stay safe!

Edit: No, I'm not going "survivalist". I'm really enjoying getting my LP collection in order and even started pulling out and cleaning all the 45's and I keep pulling boxes of cassettes out of storage, so it's all good. Finishing up the shop and large mancave really changed things. And now I have time to enjoy them. :) The gun stuff is sort of a background noise. It's a bit frustrating because, truth be told, I don't really enjoy shooting. It's just plain boring for me. I consider getting up to speed with the Glock to be "work".

So you are hoping to be the fastest gun alive?

Nope. I'm hoping to be proficient.

When I was in high school I liked to spin donuts in the school parking lot in the snow. It gave me instinctive moves that I've used my entire life on the road. Training makes you comfortable with what machinery does when you take certain actions.

With cars, you know to correct, but not over correct when you go into a drift. You know not to hit the brakes when it feels like you are losing traction. It becomes second nature and has saved me many times on the road.

With a gun, you learn to expect a certain kick when you pull the trigger. Stuff like that. You get comfortable enough with the tool that things don't surprise you when you use it. And when necessary, you do what you've trained yourself to do. It becomes second nature.

That's all I'm talking about. I apply the same thinking to my shop tools.

BTW, on my commute from my home to Louisville (75 miles one way, about 2/3 of which is two lane twisties with virtually no traffic), in 186,000 miles on my FR-S I went through nine sets of tires. Usually Michelin Super Sports, though I currently have mounted the tire Michelin replaced that tire with. S4's, I believe. Now the car is only driven by an old guy to church on Sundays. Dead serious. I'll probably sell it.

Good to know that you are just trying to be proficient.

Too many fall in love with the gun.

BTW "Fastest Gun Alive" is an old flick with Broderick Crawford. He is obsessed with being the top dog.