Ugliness Gets a Handout

Sources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/opinion/sunday/ugly-you-may-have-a-case.html?_r=2&hp
http://hotair.com/archives/2011/08/29/hey-shouldnt-we-have-some-extra-legal-protections-for-ugly-people/

Before I go any further, I accept without any hesitation that I am ugly.  Those of you who know me understand this to be true.  

The first thing I wish to mention is a fairly simple, yet profound, question that begs answering:  What makes ugly people more deserving of special treatment than attractive people?  The entire point of the American system is that we are all created equally, and as such no one deserves any special treatment over any others.  To say someone deserves special treatment for any reason is to say that they are a lesser person.  That's one of the largest issues I have with the concept of affirmative action.  By it's very nature, it's encouraging the thought that those benefiting from the program are lesser humans, and as such deserve more than the rest of the human race.

There are several excellent questions surrounding this issue which would need to be addressed as well.  Who determines ugliness?  Would there need to be yet another bureaucracy established for the purpose of determining that?  What will it do to the psyche of the people who are deemed ugly?  What method of qualification will there be?  Where will that line be?  What about the people who fall just on the fair side (pun intended) of the line? 

Once we get past those questions, we get into the social ramifications, the bitterness created between yet another two classes of people, more division between Americans, and the like.  If I'm offered a job because I'm ugly, how unfair is it to someone who is far more qualified, but is just too pretty?  Or too white?  Or too young? Or too healthy?  This is just more classism being created to drive wedges between the people of this land, and destroy any semblance of unity.  Quinn speaks of classism frequently, and has some excellent thoughts.  

How do you feel about the ugly class?  Do you hate us?  Do you want to see us be given a chance to get ahead?  Please share your thoughts.

Personal Experience: Kayak Trip Gone Wrong (And how the Anti's are Wrong Again!)

On 8/20 I took a group of 14 of my friends on a kayak trip in Western PA, a place called 'The River's Edge'.  I've not worked with them in the past, but had read some good things about them.  To get the full story, we need to go back about a week prior to the trip.

I had sent an email to a different outfitter (further upstream, along the same river) that I have used in the past with a great experience, and left a voicemail to make a reservation.  Several days after both of those were sent, I received an email from them that they were booked for that day, and would be unable to meet my needs.  So, I found another outfitter (River's Edge) and made a reservation there.   I did this after reading several comments online stating that people had great experiences with them.

We arrived in time to get setup, sign the waivers, load the shuttle, etc and have plenty of time left to get to the put-in.  When my kayak ('my' meaning 'owned by me, brought from home to the outfitter) it was loaded on the bottom of the trailer.  I normally would have no issue with this, however there was a missing fender on that side.  One of my friends also pointed out the obvious issue, and I went over to inspect it.  When I asked the gentleman loading the boats onto the trailer, he said 'The straps will hold it, and it will be fine.'  I pushed my boat toward the center of the trailer, and it seemed as though he was right, I was able to push it several inches away from the exposed wheel.

Upon arriving at the put-in, we hopped out of the van, I walked around behind to the trailer, and my heart dropped.  I saw this:

I saw this hole, and realized that not only had the straps NOT held my kayak in place, but it had shifted, and laid on top of the tire.  The friction generated by the tire rubbing against the boat was sufficient to burn a hole clean through the boat.  Obviously this kayak is completely ruined.  The bodies do not lend themselves to repair of this sort of damage, and it is clearly not water-worthy as is.

I was upset.  One friend took my fiance aside immediately as she exited the second shuttle which arrived behind ours, and told her she needed to speak to me right away, and it was urgent.  She looked at me across the parking area, and realized something was wrong.  Her calming influence was sufficient to prevent me saying anything terrible, or making a total fool of myself.

One of the co-owners of the outfitter was in that second shuttle, and the fellow who had loaded my kayak so terribly pulled her aside before I was able to talk to her.  He explained what happened, and took her around to show her the damage.  Not only did the tire destroy the side of my boat, it also destroyed my bilge pump.

They returned to their store-front in order to get a boat for me to use for the day, and brought it back.  We waited about an hour for that to happen.  I had told my friends to get started, as they should not lose time on the water, and enjoying the beautiful day because of my problem.  Without exception, they all said they'd wait for me.  They are awesome people.

When the outfitter returned they had a boat for me to use, and a bilge pump as well.  I helped everyone else get into the water, loaded my loaner, and off we went for a day of floating down the river.

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves well, and I tried to as much as I could under the circumstances.  The highlight of the day was finding a rope swing, and having a blast swimming and falling into the water.  Ironically the youngest people on the trip, and one of the oldest were the ones to enjoy it most.  I did not trust the rope, the platform, or anything else there with my weight.  The others seemed to have no problems with it.

When we returned to the shop, I went to see the owners.  They were both surprised that such a thing had happened, they'd never had a problem in their 5 years of providing livery service.  They did, however, make it right.  They offered to pay me what it would cost to replace the boat.  Without going into the details on that end, they did send me a check for the cost of the boat I had, plus shipping and tax, so I am now able to replace the kayak I had with an identical boat.

They made it right.  I received the check 1 week to the day after the incident, and while the time without a boat is going to be frustrating and aggravating, I do understand that things in life DO happen, and we have to deal with issues as they come up.  They handled themselves professionally, and provided me with fair remission for the incident.  They made it right, and I look forward to doing business with them again, probably next season at this point, as it will be some time until I'm able to receive my new kayak (3-4 weeks minimum delivery time, according to the website).

On a side note, and because I have to get politics involved, I have to point out one thing in this:  The antis are wrong.  According to those who would restrict our freedoms, and take our guns, as soon as someone becomes even slightly upset about something, and they are armed, there will be bloodshed on the streets.  People will shoot each other over parking spaces, traffic jams, and the like was something we heard often recently.  Here in PA we heard it recently because of the Castle Doctrine passing.  We heard people saying such things as a method of using fear to attempt to get their way.

When I saw what happened to my boat, that someone else destroyed it through their own ineptitude, I was angry.  The fact that my property was damaged beyond use, and that my investment of money, time, effort and everything I put into that boat was gone, because of one person's mistake, I felt angry.  I wasn't just angry, I was downright livid.  I also had one of my firearms on me.

Not once did the thought of drawing my weapon ever enter my mind.  Not once did the thought of causing injury to anyone else enter my mind.  Not once did any of the things which the left and the antis claim will happen in that scenario even enter into the mind of the person in that situation.

Not once.

Sounds to me like I had more reason to be upset than over a parking space, and it also sounds to me like they are so far off base with their ideas that gun owners are violent people looking for a reason to start killing that they can not relate with ordinary people.

The important lesson to take from all this?  Be involved when someone else is handling your property, and point out issues, and don't be afraid of expressing your concerns.  At best you avoid the headache I have had, at worst you have a falling out with whomever is handling your property, and have to find a resolution.

Zo is no Dummy

Source:
http://www.pjtv.com/s/GQZTMMY

I've enjoyed AlfonZo Rachel for a while.  He has a great sense of humor, and watching him stand for his faith, and what he knows to be true about our history, and conservative values is fantastic.  He's gone after the black community as a member of it, pointing out so many of their bad choices, mostly due to believing the lies of the left.  It is well worth watching his archives to better understand what I mean.
This particular episode is from a little over a month ago (7/19/11).  The best part is his correct interpretation of 'Render unto Caesar' which he explains shortly after 3:30.
In this particular video, he is destroying the concept of income tax, and pointing out why it's such a bad idea, why the founding fathers did NOT include it in the constitution, the questionable ratification of the 16th amendment, etc.  It's classic Zo, saying exactly what's on his mind, and pulling absolutely no punches.  My hat is off to you, sir!

Tased Man Awarded Damages

Source:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11236/1169599-100.stm

I live far too close to this city for my comfort.  The short version of the story is that a police officer used excessive force, a jury found in his favor, but yet he was only awarded a couple hundred dollars compensation for it. 
The man had to go to the hospital, and we all know how cheap that is.  This is insanity.  Get me out of here.

Part of a Greater Whole

Source:
http://www.weerdworld.com/2011/blogroll-of-the-antis/

When I started this blog, all I knew was that I had a lot to say about various things.  As I started writing more, I learned what grabbed my attention most often, and ran with it.  Today, I consider this blog to be a mashing of several topics, but primarily Liberty, Politics, and Firearms.  It's only over the last several weeks that I've come to realize just how many other people are passionate enough about these topics.  It's intimidating to try to read everyone.
Last night I attempted to read all the 'current' posts listed on the Black List.  I fell asleep long before I get far into it.  The worst part, I felt badly about it.  This community is filled with people who have a passion for these things, and really understand what it means to be American.  And as I look through this list, and find other similar blogs, I realize how much of an honor it is to be included in such company.  At the same time, I am also humbled and a little intimidated as there are people far more talented, many who have been writing far longer, and those who are able to find stories and information far more efficiently than I am.
Weer'd says it best:

Meanwhile Gun Blogs you simply have to play favorites, because there is too much for any one person.

 The opposite side of the issue (I would say the "wrong" side of the issue) seems to have the opposite problem.  Take a look at the information Weer'd provides.  Quite enlightening, and frankly a bit amusing.  I know it's not polite to laugh at the expense of someone else; but sometimes I just can't help myself.

Blog List

I have finally joined the 2000's and added a list of the blogs I read daily in the sidebar.  There are a few others I read less regularly, but there's a reason these blogs are in the bookmark folder called 'daily.' 

I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do!

Unusual Holster Design

Source:
http://averagejoeshandgunreviews.blogspot.com/2011/08/versa-carry.html

First, let me clearly state that I am no expert of holsters.  I have (shamefully) tended to stick to cheaper holsters (Hello, Uncle Mike's), and of quality holsters, I've tended toward the cheap end.  However, I understand VERY well the concept of a holster.  The accepted definition is fairly simple and straightforward:  a sheathlike carrying case for a firearm, attached to a belt, shoulder sling, or saddle.  I would modify that definition by making this simple change:  a sheathlike device used for SAFELY carrying a firearm....

The goal of carrying a sidearm is to do so safely.  When one is armed, one must take reasonable precautions to verify that they are not taking foolish risks with their safety.  It's not very difficult to imagine a circumstance in which an object (arm of a chair, wooden dowel rod, etc) can apply pressure inside the trigger guard when it is only covered by a layer or two of clothing.  

I also have serious issues with inserting anything which doesn't belong into the end of the barrel.  It sounds like they attempted to make it a material which will do no damage, and it certainly sounds more delicate than the cleaning brushes I tend to use.  However, that is only done as needed, and only for a short time.  The motions which my body performs on a daily basis (walking, sitting, standing, laying, driving, breathing) will all cause motion in the pants.  This means more friction, more rubbing, and a greater possibility that it will cause damage.

Overall, while this is a very interesting concept, and I am definitely a minimalist when it comes to holsters, I do not think this is a good idea as is.  There are a couple variations which might make me more comfortable with it, however as it stands, I'd not want to carry my sidearm with it.