Upholding the Constitution

The gun ban in Washington D.C. has been overturned (a day late and a dollar short, I know). The Supreme Court Of The United States has done it's duty to the people. There are many who disagree with the decision, just as there are many applauding it. The bottom line is that the SCOTUS upheld the Constitution and it's protection of all the American people. I hope this is a trend that will continue, until all our rights are restored fully.

The Constitution is a simple document, it was written that way for a reason. I think the founding fathers understood that all citizens need to know as well as understand what their rights are, and simple words are harder to twist into new meanings.

It does trouble me, that while we have these "rights" we are told that they must be limited for the public good (i.e.. free speech) . A right is something that can not be stripped away, to me the public good would be better served by protecting the rights of the citizens not limiting them.

Election time....yay

So November is not even close and I'm already sick of election coverage. I have a bad feeling that this one is going to be much worse than the last one. Already there have been charges of racism, sexism, and ageism... Can we please give it a rest?

Instead of telling me how terrible your opponent is, how about telling me what you are going to do to make the country better. No empty slogans saying that there will be change, but not say how. No mudslinging, no media slant, no bullshit...

For once since reaching the age to vote, give me someone worth voting for.

Oddities from the weekend

My favorite restaurant has changed chefs, much to my dismay. It's not that the new chef is bad, but when you go in wanting proper Rosemary lamb chops it's a let down to not get them. Had to settle for the Cognac marinated Fillet Mignon. (Yes, I know how snobbish this sounds)

Had a very nice time teaching an attractive young lady how to play chess. Something I did not expect during a rooftop barbecue.

Answering "Wow, you are patient." with "Yes, spending a large portion of my life looking through rifle scopes has made me very patient.", will cause the drunk annoying guy at the barbecue to quickly leave you alone. This allows you to get back to teaching chess to attractive ladies.

Susan Sarandon says that she will leave the US if John McCain is elected. Oh no, what ever shall I do? Help her pack comes to mind.

Sneaking up behind the girl your buddy is trying to pick up in the bar bathroom (yep, got me some real classy friends) and taking a picture of him on the pull, is quite funny.

Plastic darts, while being safer around people drinking in pubs, are not a fun as metal darts. On a side note, don't use metal darts on the electronic dart boards made for the plastic ones (briefly more fun, but ultimately shortens the game).

Too cool for school

Faster than a speeding bullet.

"Hey, hows it going?"

I grin at the tiny red head

"Not, bad saw you out and about last night, have fun?"
"Pretty good, ended up drinking way to much."

I nod in agreement.

"I can relate, We ende..."

Before I can finish a shadow swoops in, the boyfriend is back.

Personally, I find the situation quite funny. Anytime I talk to my friend her boyfriend shows up within seconds. I have never had a relationship with this girl, have never even tried to make a move on her, but if I come withing five feet of her here he comes. I have set back and watched her talk to other guys without having so much as a sideways glance from him, so I have to wonder what the deal is?

Of course, there is that complete bastard side of me that wonders if I could get her to call him by my name during sex.

Have to agree with Johnny

So, there is a website that let's people from all over the world tell Americans how they should vote. Yep, nothing influences my decision on who will be running my country like the opinions of the French, Iranians, Burmese, ect... .

In fact, one Australian woman wonders why she can not vote in the US election. Let's see here... MAYBE BECAUSE YOU ARE AUSTRALIAN. The Brussels Journal, has an excerpt of some Liberal Europeans wanting US voting rights.

Did I get consulted when your Prime Minister, King, Despot, etc... came into power? No, well Mr. Cash here seems to express my view of your input.

Rhythm

Rap-pida-rap-pida-rap

Hands move of their own accord, shoulders burn.

Rap-pida-rap-pida-rap

A small red bag swings back and forth, keeping the rhythm.

Rap-pida-rap-pida-rap

None of the worries of the day matter, just stay with the rhythm.

Rap-pida-rap-pida-rap

Villians

O villain, villain, smiling, damnèd villain!
My tables—meet it is I set it down
That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain—

Hamlet Act 1, scene 5, 105–109

For every hero, must there be a villain? What defines each party? Is it definite, or just a matter of perspective?

In the movies it's a bit easier to tell who is who. In real life, not so much.

Enough

"I haven't seen you in awhile."

A shrug
"Got the distinct feeling that I was neither needed or wanted around. Can't ever seem to catch you outside the group, and the last dinner I was stood up."

"Don't be like that, Let's have dinner tomorrow and catch up. Give me a call when you get off of work."

Ignoring the growing feeling that I'm an idiot.
"OK, I'll give you a ring. Talk to you tomorrow."

The next day

"My friends want to join us, but they don't get off till late. Can we move things around?"

Yep, should have listened to that feeling

Surreal moments

Every now and then the everyday world throws you a curve ball. Not a good or a bad moment, just something really odd. A few weeks ago I had one, when I heard a Buddhist monk singing Frank Sinatra's "My Way". Today's kinda blew that one out of the water.

I was exiting the convenience store on base when I heard music. It was a kind of John Williams, climatic battle of a movie, classical piece (turns out the base band was practicing on the other side of the building). Turning towards the sound, I see a soldier with a similar odd look on his face.

"So, ever get the feeling you were about to join in an epic battle between good and evil?"

He gives me a quick nod and replies:

"Yeah, I really hope we're the good guys."

Now that's funny

Sometimes the universe has a great sense of humor. This particular story had me rolling, Free Tibet flags made in China. On a side note, my much ignored photo blog has had an update.

Tomorrow and Today

Tomorrow I have a fight, not one in a physical sense, but a fight to stay in my current job role. Tomorrow I have to convince people that they need my expertise, and that if I leave they can not afford to replace me. Tomorrow I have to play politician.

Today I have a fight, one of choices and consequences. Today I have to convince people that there is right and wrong. Today I have to play knight.

Maybe the day after tomorrow, I'll get to play me.

Getting too old for this crowd

"So why wasn't she at the wedding?"
"Dunno tried calling her, but her phone is off."
"Well, she went under pretty hard last night."

The temperature of the coffee shop drops.

"I'm sorry what? When I left last night she was going to be following me so she could go to the wedding."
"We kinda forced her to play drinking games."
"Why the hell would you do that?"

The question is soft, but has the stopping power of a train.
"We needed someone to do the trivia challenges."
"You had eight people at the table, and she did them all?"

The edge in my voice seems to be noticeable enough that the non English speaking people in the coffee shop are edging away from my table.

"Umm... Yeah well, we didn't want to be shot for the wedding, and I didn't want my sister and her boyfriend to do it."

"I see... so instead you make her do them all. The same girl who was trying to stay away from all the drinking. Good looking out for your friend there."

This really bothers me, the fact that it happened and the fact that I seem to be the only one bothered by it.

Doing things legally

Anyone watching the Main Steam Media, is inundated with how easy firearms are to get in the US. I would like to know where these revolving door gun shops are, I have yet to see one. It would save me time and money.

While I was home on vacation I started the process of getting my firearms license renewed. Most people who have never gone through the legal process of this probably think it is quick and easy. Those of us who take the time to "Legally" purchase and carry a firearm know the truth. Keep in mind, this is just for the renewal.

It starts off with a visit to the county probate judge, for me this was a half hour drive. After waiting in line you are given a form to fill out, this form is about 10 pages and gives the state permission to do a complete background check on you (also if you enter any false information on the form and it is found, that is a federal offense). You are fingerprinted, and then have to pay a license fee. From there you are sent to the county sheriff's office where you have to fill out another set of forms and pay another license fee, and from there it is to the county jail. At the county jail, there is yet another form and you are finger printed one more time. Total time spent was the better part of the day. As I type this I don't have the license yet since my background check is still being conducted by both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and my state's Bureau of Investigation. You would think that a background check on a veteran, with no legal or mental problems would go quick.

This process varies from state to state, but mine is one of the easier ones to get a license in. I am not complaining about the time or effort, I am quite glad that so much attention is being paid to who will have the option to carry a firearm. I am just fed up with how the media portrays the issue.

Bachelor skills

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Grains of sand

Whew, finally got time to sit down and make a post. Between being home and catching back up with things not that I'm back, barely had time to breathe. It's amazing how being completely swamped makes the time fly.

Snapshots 2

I am currently back home in Georgia for some vacation time. It's been 8 months since I have been here. It is amazing how much things change in 8 months. The infant who was sitting in her carrier, gurgling and laughing, is now crawling and trying to talk and stand. Where an old friend used to sit is now empty, with only the regret of not being able to say goodbye. A kid I watched grow up, is now expecting his first child. Familiar faces carry a few more lines and a little more grey.

It's more than a little disconcerting to have such a familiar place seem so alien.

Vultures

"4000 dead milestone reached"

The words seem to echo through the cafeteria. The anchorman goes on with mock solemness, repeating the phrase and echoing how no progress is being made. A panel of "experts" comes on, and with smug self righteousness, explain how the conflict should never have been fought and how it is the fault of the current administration. The one dissenter on the panel, is quickly singled out and brow beaten into submission.

The temperature of the room drops. I glance at one of the soldiers sitting at the tables around me, his eyes locked on the television screen. Silence descends on the room, for a few seconds a pin drop would have been deafening. The muttering starts from the different tables.

"Are you kidding me?"

"Bet that guy has never seen the sand."

"Way to celebrate our deaths, bastards."

"Fuck them, they don't know a damn thing."

"Leave it to the media, nice to know how much they value us."

"Vultures."

Seems, a good many of the people actually doing their part don't hold a pessimistic view on Iraq. Then again they are not "Experts", they have only been there in the conflict. I find it sickening that the deaths of service members are being used for politics. How dare anyone tell them that their sacrifice has accomplished nothing. Damn all the politicians, experts, and reporters that try to cash in on the blood of these men and women.

Constitutional/Unconstitutional

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

The above passage is at the center of a major supreme court case at the moment. The way the justices rule will give pretty broad precedent to the way the United States Constitution is interpreted.

Washington D.C. has made it illegal to own a handgun or own a functional rifle or shotgun for the last 32 years. This measure was enacted in the belief that it would reduce/end violent crime, woefully it did not. The law in question is now before the Supreme Court of the United States, on the grounds that it violates the Constitution.

There is much argument over the meaning of the Second Amendment, whether it it provides the individual or the state militia to own firearms. My personal opinion is that it provides for the individual, the right of the People to keep and bear arms, Shall not be infringed. To me the Washington D.C. firearm ban, is completely unconstitutional.

It's going to be interesting to see how the court rules on this issue. It will also be interesting to see how this ruling affects rulings on the other amendments.

Back to home port

Well, just got finished with another adventure. This one took me to China to celebrate a friend's birthday. A good time was had by all, and I return to Korea laden with gifts for various friends here. Curious when my next adventure will be and where it will take me.

I also have changed my rule about not wondering what is in the food I am eating when abroad, of course this is after seeing the entree "Ox penis on a hot plate" on a Chinese menu. Yep, there are some parts of an animal that even us southern boys won't eat.