Can't Be Done, Joe

Biden, during the Town Hall last night:

"So instead of anybody coming at you and the first thing you do is shoot to kill, you shoot them in the leg."

Look, let's break this down: Hitting a moving target is hard enough under the best of circumstances.  Actually, hitting a stationary target the size of a normal human leg is a decent enough challenge.  I know my shooter friends will agree: Sometimes, you simply MISS the target.  I'm talking about standing still, the leg-sized target not moving, no adrenaline dump, hands steady, good lighting, no distractions... 

Now, let's add some complicating factors: Bring in sub-optimal lighting.  Maybe the target is backlit, where there's a bright light shining in your general direction.  And let's get your hands shaking a bit and your heart rate up and perhaps some labored breathing:  So, we'll have you drink several cups of high-octane coffee and then sprint for 100 yards.  

At this point, I'll wager a bottle of good Scotch that fully 90% of "average" shooters will miss more often than not at hitting a STATIONARY human-leg-sized target.

Now make that target move.  

(And no, I'm not going to address the "shoot to kill" part... Cops are trained to shoot to stop the threat, not to kill.  You and I both know that.)

More Smoke

 The sky over Fort Collins today:

Getting a bit tired of this.  

Update: New Mandatory Evacuations have been released.

Update #2: Fire grew 29,000 acres yesterday, now 164,000+ acres, making it the largest wildfire in Colorado history.

Good

 “From 2015 to 2019/2020, in the four states that provide data by race over that time period, the number of black people with permits increased almost 55.6% faster than the number of whites with permits. Asians appear to be the group that has experienced the largest increase in permitted concealed carry, growing 62.9% faster than whites.”

Good.  The Second Amendment is for all citizens.  

Shoulda Stayed on Vacation

Home yesterday from Blogorado, which was an amazing time as it always is.  There's a catharsis feeling when spending a few days away from work, away from the computer, email sync on the phone disabled, and just being with my Tribe.  Guns were shot, clays were busted, prairie dogs were obliterated, beers were drank, food was ate, and laughter and smiles and hugs a plenty were traded freely.

However, all good things must come to an end, and so did my vacation.

Got to the office this morning to find three servers down, one mission critical PC at a customer had a BSOD, and some 290+ emails in my inbox.  

Should have stayed on vacation.  

I'm Out For a Few Days

 Tomorrow morning (Thursday, 8 October), I'm headed to Sooper Sekrit Lokayshun, Colorado, for Blogorado 2020.  

No blogging shall take place here until after my return late Monday.  I'd suggest you go read some of the folks in the side bar, but be aware that a fair number of them will be at Blogorado as well, so they might be a bit quiet as well.

Or, ya know, you could get away from the damn computer, go for a walk in nature, and live life in the real world instead of the cyber-world.

Anyway, see ya Tuesday at the soonest.

Ciao.

Requiescat In Pace

Edward Lodewijk Van Halen.

Jump back, what's that sound?  Here he comes, full blast and top down...

Thanks for so many years of great music and memories, Eddie.  

Maybe you and Neil Peart can put a band together in the after-life.

2020 just keeps establishing new levels of Worst Year Ever. 

Finally, an Honest Politician

 And he's rather handsome as well.

Modern Policing

A police officer in a large American city has a rather bleak, but, sadly, quite accurate summation of what it is like to be a cop in today's America.

You have mayors bowing to the political pressure from a small, very vocal, minority that wants to defund (read: abolish, in many cases) the police.

Some mayors have made it known to their department brass they’d rather endure the optics of Revolutionary Communists (read: ANTIFA/BLM) rioting, looting, and burning their cities down, than have their police officers be seen wading into the fray with riot batons in hand.

You realize that if cities abolish police departments, gated communities are going to hire private police forces, made up of nearly all ex-police from the agency that just disbanded (see Minneapolis when that happens) and ex-military guys. The city won’t have oversight and their rules and regulations are going to be way more relaxed. Less area to patrol and a large pay raise? Less crime? Sign me up!

You really should read the whole thing. 

(UPDATED):  One of the local TV stations has an article along the same lines:

“I think it’s important for the citizens of aurora to understand everything he wrote is true and that’s exactly the stance that council takes with us. There’s no support whatsoever,” Sears said. “They are way out of their lane when it comes to council trying to make decisions on how to run a police department. None of them have any idea how to run a police department or be a police officer. They need to learn to stay in their lane.”

That's accurate.  

That's Not How This Works, ABC News

 These people do not understand how things work:

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, has not been consulted on Trump's treatment, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Permit me to ask if I understand this position: ABC's "source" is claiming that a non-practicing physician, whose primary role is administrative and viral research, not patient care, should be practicing patient care, despite the President already having a team of patient care practicing physicians?

Is that about right?

Covidiots.

New Book

 Several of my friends have contributed to this book.  Do, please, get a copy.  And when you've finished it, be kind and leave them a review on Amazon.  

Credit When Due

 I'm generally not a fan of the Governor of Colorado, but I try to be a man of honor, and to do that I must give credit when it is due, and I think this is a good move by Polis. 

Colorado Governor Jared Polis announced on Thursday, October 1, 2020, that he has pardoned 2,732 individuals convicted of marijuana possession of one ounce or less.

Overheard at Chateau JBro

A friend: "I'm trying to watch some of the debate, but it isn't easy..."

Me: "I'm slamming my testicles in the utensil drawer.  Easier than watching the debate and far less painful."

Yeah, Pretty Much

 From a post over at Tam's:

"Why was he even charged?!?" 

He wasn't charged. 

"But why was the case even brought before a grand jury!" 

Texas requires all homicides to be brought before a grand jury. 

"But think how much he had to pay to defend himself!" 

Nothing. You aren't represented before a grand jury. 

"Why did it take nine months? It should have taken nine minutes!" 

If you'd take two seconds to type 'Tarrant County grand jury' into Google like I just did, you would see that Tarrant County grand juries, of which two are empaneled at any time, hear 14,000+ cases a year. They meet three days per week. And that's not taking into account disruptions caused by the Time of the 'Rona.

"But...but...!" 

I hate the internet.

That's accurate.  I've pretty much bailed on FB entirely, save the occasional check to see if there's news about Blogorado that I need to know.  I used to TRY to engage people in civilized, intelligent conversation, but it seems that a large swath of folks have forgotten the two adjectives in front of conversation and just like to spew forth whatever they think.  

And, frankly, I'm tired of putting in the effort.