Humpday Happenings...
Middle of the week, full moon is behind us, regional elections are over, Republicans mount a small offensive against "Big Brother" (and do pretty damn well), and most all of us are still HERE, alive and breathing....(whew).
Be still my beating heart.
We're also looking at about FIFTY (that's 5-0) shopping days until Christmas, and I know I've barely started.
Of course, the Internet makes the task a helluva lot easier...heh, heh, heh.
In the meanwhile, there was a story in our local rag that caught my attention this morning.
** Published: November 4, 2009 3:00 a.m.
((Scarcity, suspicion in bullet blitz
David A. Fahrenthold and Fredrick Kunkle-Washington Post
WASHINGTON – In a year of job losses, foreclosures and bag lunches, Americans have spent record-breaking amounts of money on guns and ammunition. The most obvious sign of their demand: empty ammunition shelves.
At points during the past year, bullets have been selling faster than factories could make them.
Gun owners have bought about 12 billion rounds of ammunition in the past year, industry officials estimate. That’s up from 7 billion to 10 billion in a normal year.
It has happened, oddly, at a time when the two concerns that usually make people buy guns and bullets – crime and increased gun control – seem less threatening than usual.
The explanation for the run on bullets lies partly in economics: After rounds became scarce, people hoarded them, which made them scarcer.
But the rush for bullets, like this year’s increase in gun sales, also says something about how suspicious the two sides in the gun-control debate are of each other, even at a time when the issue is on Washington’s back burner.
The run started, observers say, as people heeded warnings from the gun-rights lobby that a new Democratic administration would make bullets more expensive or harder to get. Now that the shortage is starting to ease, gun-control groups are voicing their own dark worries
about stockpiled ammunition.
In between, in the 12 months since last October, gun shops sold enough bullets to give every American 38 of them.
It was already a political truism that Democrats prompt sales of both guns and ammo.
The U.S. government taxes both to support wildlife conservation, and those receipts jumped after Bill Clinton was elected in 1992 and after Democrats retook Congress in 2006.
But the spike under President Obama seems to be on a different scale: The receipts are on pace to set a record in 2009, according to Treasury Department data, with tax revenue due from guns up 42 percent and revenue due from ammunition at 49 percent. Recently,
analysts have said earnings reports from gunmakers seem to show demand for weapons easing.))
Now that probably only means something to you gun-toting mobsters and anti-Democrats out there, but I find it refreshing to know that my purchases HELP wildlife conservation. Take THAT, you left wing radicals and ultra-right codgers! I know it's been REAL hard getting some .45 ACP ammo...in damn near ANY "flavor".
Fortunately, I've got enough 12 gauge and 9mm rounds to fend off those that NEED fending off, but I've only got 20 rds (2 mags) of .45ACP +P TAP ammo (tactical application police - close quarters), and I really should get some target rounds as well as some 185 grain personal defense rounds. Nothing says "How 'ya doin'?" like a nice slow (800fps) .45 ACP round up close & personal.
(Note to self: Ask "Santa" for some)
** And yes, Virginia there IS good news....sort of.
The "neighbors" across the street from us (north side) moved out last night (HUZZAH...!!!), the bedsheets have been removed from the windows, and it only took THREE pickup trucks (and one car), so we shouldn't be hearing any more "honkies" laying on the damn car horns when they come to call, AND no more of her (very loud) "mighty mouth" antics.
Yeah, that's the GOOD news...
Now, for the BAD news...
Without a shadow of a doubt, whatever "landlord" (and I use the term LOOSELY) is running this place (this month) will wind up moving in yet ANOTHER bunch of human flotsam (I've yet to be proven wrong here), and we get to start the "fun" all over again. And, I'll probably have to "school" them on what is meant by the phrase OTHER PEOPLE'S PROPERTY, as in stay the hell off of it.
Yes folks, the frivolity NEVER seems to end down here, does it?
And people wonder why I don't have more "upbeat" posts.
Would if I could, but when dealing with a cesspool, you just can't fool yourself into believing the SMELL is that of ROSES, no matter HOW far you stretch your imagination.
Well, at least the birds, squirrels, and rabbits are still coming by to snack out.
There, how's THAT for being more "positive"?
** It looks like we've got another "Costaplenty Square" in the works in downtown Fort Wayne.
The city recently purchased the RENAISSANCE SQUARE building for something like $14 mil, in order to consolidate city/county offices, and NOW, we're hearing the RENOVATIONS to said purchased building might cost ANOTHER $2+ mil!
So, we got a $10 million dollar building for $14 million, and after revamps, it will total out around $16 million (or probably MORE)...yeah, that's REALLY an effective use of TAXPAYER money.
I hear Bloomberg's got a BRIDGE in MANHATTAN for sale, too...worth HEAP PLENTY WAMPUM!
** And if wasting money is just your cup of tea this morning (make mine Myers rum-laced coffee, thank you), how about that wacky President of ours, hmm?
I mean, it's been a year since he was elected on this "hope and change" ticket.
And NOW, a LOT of those who voted for him ARE full of HOPE...for a CHANGE from the current agenda!
This man (and assorted cronies) has managed to do things I thought resided in the realm of fantasy and/or science fiction.
Who could dream up a plot for a novel that takes America to the brink of financial insolvency in such a shirt time?
This is the stuff of BEST SELLERS, isn't it?
Trouble is...it's ALL too real.

But it IS..."The CHICAGO WAY".
We...the people, are being pulled in so many directions, it's hard for any of us to focus on ONE issue at a time...and that's the way "they" want it. Those in power WANT us to be so damn distracted, that we'll never notice what's being done TO this nation.
You got Al Gore, the Empire's "environmangelist" spewing his "global warming"...I mean "climate change" rhetorical BS all over the place, when more and more REAL scientists are debunking the hype.
You got people in D.C. wanting to all but censor the Internet (so much for free speech).
You got others ram-rodding flawed legislation through the halls of power that will either break America's piggy bank, or severely hamper it's ability to be a world power, or BOTH.
You got foreign loons wanting to join the "nuclear club" when they can't even provide RUNNING WATER for ALL their citizens.
You got out-of-control spending on Capitol Hill, that is devaluing our dollar AS WE SPEAK.
You got CHINA, licking it's chops at OUR problems.
In essence, "You got trouble my friends...right here in River City".
And I wish it WAS all about pool.
But that's okay...we live in the United States of Entertainment, so sit back, have a brewski, and watch the next, new reality show...all will be all right. You will be "taken care of" by our warm and fuzzy (overblown) government.
You can die a slow death through government-offered entitlements via the "nanny-state" mentality, or you can live and hold those in power accountable for what they are perpetrating against our nation and it's founding documents.
You can get busy living...or get busy dying...your choice.
I've kinda gotten fond of the whole "living thing" myself...grows on 'ya after a time.
And I trust you feel likewise.
Stay safe out there, America.