Adventure Biking

OK, I admit it.  I'm an avid cyclist - big time.  I rode upper-end lightweight racing bikes for years - my 1975 Windsor English Racer has literally thousands of miles on it since I bought it new - and I still ride it occasionally nowadays.  It's unbelievably fast, but as age and weight has slowed me somewhat, I ride it less.  Recently my sweetie bought me a mountain bike for my birthday, and it has opened a whole new aspect for me.  I used to ride Bultaco off road motorcycles - a 1975 Alpina trials bike and a 1972 Matador enduro to be specific - so cycling in the woods was a familiar return to nature for me.  So while my Windsor and I can crank 40-plus miles per hour on a nice long paved bike trail, my new 2015 Giant Revel 3 allows me to get off road and explore some of those interesting, winding bike trails that meander through the Florida woods. Its ultra-low gearing and knobby high-grip tires can pull through even the finest white sugar sand that's common in Florida's hardwood forests.

Both of these bikes are top shelf bikes for their intended use, and I love 'em both.  But to try to figure which is the better bike is impossible:  how can you compare a Porsche 911 to a Chevy Silverado 4x4?  I've owned both, and I love both of them as well.  Each is designed for a specific purpose, and it performs that purpose perfectly.  That said, I thought I'd share some recent adventures with you as I explore the road less traveled in west central Florida's exquisite woodlands.  Trails?  I don't need no stinkin' trails!

Besides, I'm momentarily weary of commenting on the deceit, corruption and destruction being perpetrated on the county by the Democratic party and its adherents such as the Kenyan, Hillary, Harry "Cyclops" Reid and many others.  So go get your off road bike, and join me on one of these fabulous trails . . . and take a respite from the political nonsense that's being thrust upon us.

At least for now.

Watching the Titanic Sink

Well, I tried.  I really did.  I tried to stay away for a while from the global scale destruction perpetrated by our dear leader, the Kenyan. I spoke of a future for humanity on other planets in our solar system in my last post, and I spoke of the importance of being armed in the post prior to that.  But, no.  It's like watching the Titanic sink - one simply can't turn away.  Current events bring me back to reporting on the nightmare unfolding before our very eyes - and no one seems to be taking any affirmative corrective action.  Like lemmings, we follow blindly as the regressive left and its statist ideology brings us ever closer to complete and utter totalitarianism. Consider the interview the Kenyan did with the Huffington Post the other day, wherein he states, almost as if it were no big deal, that he would continue to break the law to get his way.  Charming.  No impeachment.  No arrest.  No public outcry.  Ho-hum.  Back to online gaming, we can't deal with this right now.  

Even The Flag Is Displayed Wrong

You would think that with the huge popularity of a show like House of Cards, TV-watching folks would begin to recognize the diabolical machinations at work within the Democratic party. We see they don't even pretend to act in accordance with the law, let alone for the good of the country.  Oh, it's just a fictional TV drama; it's not based on reality.  Right.  The only hope for the country is the commentary left by readers of these many news articles.  They're really pissed off at this criminal presidency and its administration's heavy-handedness, and are willing to stand with  . . . with whom?  From the relative safety and anonymity of cyberspace, they are brave, to be sure.  But where's the leadership?  The loyal opposition?  Have the Republicans been beat-dog-down so badly by a complicit press media that it actually rolls over and whimpers? The answer is yes.

Meanwhile, the immigration issue is one most folks want to ignore and hope it just goes away.  The fact is, the influx of these illegals is tearing the country apart, both in a cultural sense, as well as economically.  Among these illegals - these unwashed, uneducated, disease-ridden third-world Central and South Americans - are the vile jihadists.  That's Muslims to those of you who have been castrated by political correctness.  Immigration, among the Kenyan's other goals, is a smoke screen to help hide the influx of Islamic jihadists coming ashore in droves.  Even in the last few months, their obscene and blatant takeover of  American culture can be seen in Texas' Muslim tribunal, in Minnesota's Muslim Supremacy cell, the Mall of America threat, the ordered "hit" of 100 US servicemen, and in general virtually every Muslim community in the United States.  

MBNA's Global Terrorist Web

Don't believe that?  In Maryland in 2004, an arrest of a woman terrorist lead to a search of a Muslim cell.  From the link above, ". . . The documents FBI agents discovered [were] the archives of the Muslim Brotherhood in North America, [and] confirmed what investigators and counterterrorism experts had previously suspected and contended about the myriad Muslim-American groups in the United States – namely, that nearly all of them are controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood and, therefore, as shariah dictates, are hostile to the United States, its Constitution and its freedoms. The documents make clear that the strategic objective of the Muslim Brotherhood in North America is to implement shariah law in the United States in furtherance of establishing a global caliphate. . . "

So it seems, by its own adherence to sharia law, the Muslim Brotherhood of North America (MBNA)  is the enemy of the United States.  So what is their strategic plan?  And who is it who aids and abets our enemy?  The Kenyan's administration includes at least six members of the MBNA in high level administrative and advisory positions.  From his own words, I believe the Kenyan is a Muslim and his loyalties lie there, not with the US or its culture.  His policies have promoted and supported the Muslim Brotherhood and the implementation of sharia law in the United States.  And I think one of his goals is to implement sharia law in the United States, by force if necessary, as he has promised "by hook or by crook."  He forced immigration on us, he forced the AffordableCare Act on us, why would not also not force sharia law on us?  After all, an idea that good has to be mandatory! 

So while the truth is obvious to all all, we sit on our hands, waiting for a leader, and all the while we're just watching the Titanic sink.

Get Your Ass To Mars!

Buzz's GYATM T-shirt at Stonehenge

Yep.  I can dig it.   Get your ass to Mars.  No, not Douglas Quaid in the movie Total Recall.  This is actually what Astronaut Buzz Aldrin says, and he's serious.  Buzz, you may remember, was the second man to walk on the moon, and he and Neil Armstrong planted the United States flag there.  He was also the first person to take Holy Communion on the moon, which impresses me.  He's clearly a man of conviction, and was chosen in both NASA Gemini 12 and Apollo 11 missions.  But his campaign to incite the Kenyan and NASA to begin a manned Mars program is gaining traction, as he personally addressed congress in February.  

Moon Soil Contains Helium-3

Admittedly, a manned Mars mission is not only technologically challenging, but expensive.  But this current administration seemingly can't summon the exploratory passion to return to the moon, which I think could be a profit making event.  Our robotic rovers indicate both the Moon and Mars are rich in minerals, and a mining expedition would, in my opinion, yield windfall profits.  Aside from the minerals returned to Earth, and this includes some heavy metals such as gold, and unique isotopes of helium that we know of so far.  And the inevitable development of new technologies would be economically beneficial, as well.  Remember the avalanche of technological development during and after the Moon landings?  Everything from miniature transistors to circuit boards to air filtration systems to Velcro was developed for those missions, and now they all are prolific in everyday life.

Let's Explore Next Door!

Much has been written about the manned Mars colony project known as Mars One, but the sponsoring Dutch company has a lot of homework to do before such a venture would be possible by the year 2023.  I think mining should precede any human colonization, for two reasons:  First, such a venture would ensure a pay-as-you-go funding apparatus for mining expeditions and general exploration, and second, mining would debug and work the kinks out of life support and round trip transportation issues at the very least, as we learn to terraform around any indigenous life we may - make that will  - find there.  

There are countless reasons for man to go back to the Moon, and on to Mars.  Because they're there is only one good reason.  So NASA, get your ass to Mars!

Carrying My Piece

"An Armed Society is a Polite Society"

I'm thrilled that the Texas legislature has passed an open carry bill.  Governor Abbott says he is "warmin' up my signing pen," and I believe that's a good thing.  This bill is actually an expansion of existing Texas carry law, which allows concealed carry of handguns, and open carry of long guns.  Here in Florida we've had concealed carry laws on the books since 1988, and I've carried a sidearm every day since before and after that date.  Personally I'm a total purist, and I think that any carry law or other obstacle to a citizen bearing arms is a violation of the intent and language of the Second Amendment, but I'm reasonably, yet warily, comfortable with the requirement that background checks and licensing be in place.  That keeps everyone's crazy uncle or psychopathic wife from packing heat.  In theory, anyway.  Despite what the perpetually timid and afraid detractors maintain, open carry is a good policy for those who have met the background checks and obtained a concealed carry permit.  There are several reasons for this, not the least of which is the deterrent factor.  An armed society is a polite society.  No one is likely to challenge someone with a pistol on his hip, and random craziness like road rage episodes will be considerably deterred when a raving lunatic doesn't know for sure if the intended victim is armed.  The Brady Bunch and their ilk will try to tell us that an open carry environment will have us reliving the violence of the Old West.  Gunfight in Tombstone and the OK Corral revisited.  Right.  But with all but a handful of states issuing "shall issue" carry permits, Dodge City hasn't come to life, and remains firmly in the past.

Ruger LC9 in 9mm

Kimber Ultra Carry II in .45 ACP

The second benefit to open carry is the elimination of the need to carry ever smaller, lighter and less obtrusive handguns.  And less potent ones, too.  I'm a 1911-style, single action .45 ACP aficionado.  I'd love to carry single action pistols in that caliber, like my Kimber, or my Colt or my 15-round Para - or even my Heckler+Koch USPs.  But because of Florida's weather and the need for lightweight clothing, I'm resigned to carry my little Ruger 9mm DAO (double action only). Compare the images here.  Needless to say, if I ever need my pistol, I'd much rather have the .45 than the 9mm.  Not to say that the Ruger isn't a fine gun, it certainly is.  It's just that it's all I can lawfully - and comfortably - carry concealed.  So when Florida gets around to finally passing an open carry law, and law abiding citizens are enabled to carry sidearms openly, I'll be packing the 1911-style 45 pistol.  No doubt.

Islamamania

I can't figure it out.  Seriously.  I really don't get it.  Has the country as a whole gone completely round the bend?  It must be the case, because freedom loving Americans would never succumb to a creeping, insidious dilution and eradication of their culture, would they?  No?  They would certainly never even consider trading the US Constitution for Sharia law right here in River City, now would they?  Then why are we being pummeled by this constant drum-beat of Islamamania?  That's a term I just coined referring to the love and adoration of all things Islamic.  You know, things like Islam's intolerance of anyone not Muslim, the blatant human right inequities embedded in Sharia law,  its regressive Luddite mentality, and its extreme and pervasive brutality and violence. Perhaps it's that evil plague political correctness that's done us in.  That's the nonsense that dictates that we be "tolerant" of every known intolerable utterance or act.

Brilliant!  Point Taken!

Consider.  In just the last few days we've seen cultural institutions cave into the demands by the terrorist organization CAIR and other Islam sympathizers.  Note Facebook's cave (OK, Facebook's not a cultural institution.. . or maybe it is, to America's everlasting shame) to censor anything remotely "Islamaphobic - whatever the hell that means - yet doesn't censor the hate filled, illiterate rants posted by Muslims.

Aside from the hate this Muslim maggot spews, we have more evidence that there's insanity in the air, as the world renown publishing house in the UK, the Oxford Press, has decided to not print any reference to pork, so as to not offend Muslims. Unreal.  Tell me this:  Who cares if Muslims are offended? I certainly don't.  In fact, I'm offended that Muslims don't respect - nor are they tolerant of  - my religion and faith, which predates Islam by thousands of years.  But these savages operate within a 7th century stone-the-infidels mindset, and the entire world quakes at the thought of offending them.  They are always offended at everything, especially everything western in culture.  So what?  Their cast system treats the kafir (non-believers) as a subhuman class, and as such may be killed at will. And, if Muslims try to leave Islam, they, too, can be killed.  Of course, they love to kill each other, too.  Sunnis Muslims and Shia Muslims do kill each other, so there's some joy in that.  There's a difference between them, but as an American Christian of European and Anglo-Saxon ancestry, I really couldn't care less.  The bottom line for me is that they are the savage enemy by their own decree.  And even in my gated, upscale, relatively affluent neighborhood, Muslim sleeper cells exist.  This I know for a fact, but I will post no citation for that statement, because I don't want to see my dog's head impaled on a stick in my yard some day.  But my instincts have never failed me, and I am ever vigilant.

I hope you are, as well.

The People vs. the Federal Government

The Republic of Texas logo

For years many Americans - in fact, the vast majority of them - seem to think that the federal government is getting out of hand.  Recently federal government agencies - the vast majority of them - seem to think American citizens have gotten out of hand.  Looks like a Mexican standoff.  Pun intended.  So what happens?  Well, Americans gather together and discuss how to reign in their out of control government. Notice the use of the possessive pronoun - their government.  Oddly, mostly perpetrated by the Kenyan and his leftist panting lapdogs in the press, the government thinks it's their government.  Something's gotta give.  In Texas, a few dozen Americans gather together (hint:  First Amendment's peaceful assembly clause) to discuss seceding Texas from the union, and returning it back to its original Republic of Texas status.  Well, we can't have folks in Texas or anywhere else exercising their Constitution rights like freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, so in a "show of force," presumably to intimidate any others from challenging the federal government, the feds, along with the local police and sheriff's deputies, raided this political meeting (hint: again a violation of the First Amendment) and seized all phones, tablets computers and any and all digital recording devices, and fingerprinted every single person attending.  Wow.  Is this the America we grew up in?  Or is this a nightmare from Soviet Russia, or East Germany's Stasi? In reporting the story, Information Liberation noted the irony being lost on the jackbooted thugs when they stated:  "The raid has angered many people.The tactics used went well beyond what was necessary to address a few individuals over a matter of disputed paperwork. It is clear that full-blown raid was performed to intimidate and harass every member of the group. … The irony of the situation is that the thuggish tactics employed by the police and federal government actually validate the concerns of the members of the Republic of Texas and other Americans who would prefer independence from the United States federal government.”

Again The Past:  Must We Fight For States' Rights Again?

One hundred fifty-five years ago, eleven states decided that they too had had enough of the dictatorial northern-based federal government, and seeking independence from the heavy-handed US federal government, they elected to secede from the union to become the Confederate States of America.  It didn't work out well.  In the ensuing four-year war six hundred thousand Americans and Confederates lost their lives in an attempt -  not to preserve the Union - but to reestablish the concept of limited federal government as set forth in the original Constitution of 1787.  But as always, the victor gets to write history.  The true cause of the War of Northern Aggression was mostly due to the clash over the rights of the states and people as enumerated in the original Constitution, i.e. about limited federal government, and far, far less about any slavery issues. The northern states refer to this conflict as a civil war because they didn't recognize the Confederacy as a sovereign nation.  The southern states refer to it as the War of Northern Aggression (also know as War Between the States, or War for Southern Independence) because they did consider themselves a sovereign nation, which they were.

Nonetheless George Santayana reminded us that those who are ignorant of - or ignore - history are doomed to repeat it.  Let's hope that this regime and its lawless, illegal Marxist ideology can be brought under the people's duly elected Constitutional control before we have yet another war between the states.