Sunday, March 31, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Worth Listening: "Critical Warning Number 6"
JC Leahy
This guy Michael Lombardi is obviously selling something, It's a high priced electronic newsletter with a "free report" included. You get the "free" report if you buy the $1,951 newsletter. That's too rich for my budget! However, his "sales pitch" is worth a listen because it gives a pretty good explanation of our current national state of affairs. It it is, in detail, what I've been saying and thinking for around three years. He puts kind of dark spin on it, I admit, but have a listen anyway. Click Here .
By the way, if you actually have $1,951 to spend on an investment advice package like that, here's Lombardi's order page (without having to listen to the 15 minute sales pitch): Click Here For the Order Page If you buy it, I want to hear about what it says! :)
This guy Michael Lombardi is obviously selling something, It's a high priced electronic newsletter with a "free report" included. You get the "free" report if you buy the $1,951 newsletter. That's too rich for my budget! However, his "sales pitch" is worth a listen because it gives a pretty good explanation of our current national state of affairs. It it is, in detail, what I've been saying and thinking for around three years. He puts kind of dark spin on it, I admit, but have a listen anyway. Click Here .
By the way, if you actually have $1,951 to spend on an investment advice package like that, here's Lombardi's order page (without having to listen to the 15 minute sales pitch): Click Here For the Order Page If you buy it, I want to hear about what it says! :)
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
What's Up With False Reporting at CNN??!!
JC Leahy
Someone in the lunchroom had CNN on Wednesday and Thursday last week . In these two consecutive 20-minute sessions, CNN broadcast two important errors which it certainly, definitely must have know to be untrue. What the heck is up with that??!! Does CNN do this kind of thing every day??!!
On Wednesday, the CNN news anchor was reporting on a gang-related shooting in Chicago. It was a sad story about a little girl hit by a stray gang-related bullet. The news ticker at the bottom of the screen simultaneously declared "Chicago does not have strict gun control laws." Period; no elaboration. With the sad news of an innocent girl killed by gang gunfire, juxtaposed with the ticker's message that Chicago lacked strict gun control laws, the viewer, obviously, is supposed to suppose that strict gun control laws might make Chicago streets safer.. The actual truth is the OPPOSITE!!! Chicago and its suburbs have been at the FOREFRONT of oppressive gun-related restrictions since the early 1970's!! Violent crime in Chicago has not been prevented. In 1981, Chicago suburb Morton Grove became the very first locality to entirely ban the ownership, sale, and transportation of all handguns. Another Chicago suburb, Oak Grove, soon followed. Things only got worse after that! In fact, as the ultra liberal Huffington Post reports, until just a couple of months ago, "Illinois and the District of Columbia have been the only places to refuse to allow people to be armed in public" A Federal Appeals Court on December 11, 2012 struck down the Illinois ban and gave the state 180 days to come up with proposed laws that WILL allow citizens to carry guns. Sadly, despite this victory, Chicago citizens, like their counterparts in DC, will continue to live under severe restrictions. The point is that the current gang crisis in Chicago has grown up in an environment of very, very oppressive firearms-related laws in Chicago. This is an undeniable, absolute fact, and the folks at CNN must have known they were lying!!
The next day, Thursday last week, CNN reported at lunchtime about the investigation into the Benghazi attack on 9/11 last year. The US ambassador to Libya had been killed. The CNN reporter casually interjected that the "rioting" in the Middle East had been "caused" by an American anti-Muslim film called Innocence of Muslims. That fairy tale had been an Obama-administration smokescreen for several weeks after 9/11 last year. The whole Administration, from Obama down, had insisted that the Benghazi attack had been merely a protest demonstration that got out of hand. Obama insisted that the demonstration had been "caused" by this obscure little filmlet on the Internet called "Innocence of Muslims." Obama falsely but stubbornly maintained this "blame America" fairy tale for several weeks after the ambassador's killing. It later was proven, absolutely, and Obama admitted, that the Benghazi attack had been an intricate, superbly coordinated terrorist attack, pre-planned by Muslim terrorists with probable al-Queda links. The Obama Administration had know this truth since at least Day 2, if not Day 1. Really any schoolchild must have suspected the truth from the getgo, since the attack happened on 9/11's tenth anniversary. So what the HECK is CNN doing repeating this disproven "party line" on February 14, 2013??!!
Such baldfaced lies so casually asserted!!! What's up with CNN ??!!
Someone in the lunchroom had CNN on Wednesday and Thursday last week . In these two consecutive 20-minute sessions, CNN broadcast two important errors which it certainly, definitely must have know to be untrue. What the heck is up with that??!! Does CNN do this kind of thing every day??!!
On Wednesday, the CNN news anchor was reporting on a gang-related shooting in Chicago. It was a sad story about a little girl hit by a stray gang-related bullet. The news ticker at the bottom of the screen simultaneously declared "Chicago does not have strict gun control laws." Period; no elaboration. With the sad news of an innocent girl killed by gang gunfire, juxtaposed with the ticker's message that Chicago lacked strict gun control laws, the viewer, obviously, is supposed to suppose that strict gun control laws might make Chicago streets safer.. The actual truth is the OPPOSITE!!! Chicago and its suburbs have been at the FOREFRONT of oppressive gun-related restrictions since the early 1970's!! Violent crime in Chicago has not been prevented. In 1981, Chicago suburb Morton Grove became the very first locality to entirely ban the ownership, sale, and transportation of all handguns. Another Chicago suburb, Oak Grove, soon followed. Things only got worse after that! In fact, as the ultra liberal Huffington Post reports, until just a couple of months ago, "Illinois and the District of Columbia have been the only places to refuse to allow people to be armed in public" A Federal Appeals Court on December 11, 2012 struck down the Illinois ban and gave the state 180 days to come up with proposed laws that WILL allow citizens to carry guns. Sadly, despite this victory, Chicago citizens, like their counterparts in DC, will continue to live under severe restrictions. The point is that the current gang crisis in Chicago has grown up in an environment of very, very oppressive firearms-related laws in Chicago. This is an undeniable, absolute fact, and the folks at CNN must have known they were lying!!
The next day, Thursday last week, CNN reported at lunchtime about the investigation into the Benghazi attack on 9/11 last year. The US ambassador to Libya had been killed. The CNN reporter casually interjected that the "rioting" in the Middle East had been "caused" by an American anti-Muslim film called Innocence of Muslims. That fairy tale had been an Obama-administration smokescreen for several weeks after 9/11 last year. The whole Administration, from Obama down, had insisted that the Benghazi attack had been merely a protest demonstration that got out of hand. Obama insisted that the demonstration had been "caused" by this obscure little filmlet on the Internet called "Innocence of Muslims." Obama falsely but stubbornly maintained this "blame America" fairy tale for several weeks after the ambassador's killing. It later was proven, absolutely, and Obama admitted, that the Benghazi attack had been an intricate, superbly coordinated terrorist attack, pre-planned by Muslim terrorists with probable al-Queda links. The Obama Administration had know this truth since at least Day 2, if not Day 1. Really any schoolchild must have suspected the truth from the getgo, since the attack happened on 9/11's tenth anniversary. So what the HECK is CNN doing repeating this disproven "party line" on February 14, 2013??!!
Such baldfaced lies so casually asserted!!! What's up with CNN ??!!
Saturday, February 16, 2013
W-2 Box 14 Codes for Defense Finance and Accounting Service Box
JC Leahy
MA Accounting
If you are a Federal civilian employee, your W-2 may have been printed by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. You will be able to tell just looking at the employer's name on the W-2. For example, if you work for the Department of Veterans Affairs, your W-2 employer will be shown as "Defense Finance and Actg Srv, Agent for Dept of Veterans Affairs, 1240 E 9th Street, Room 1907, Cleveland, OH 44199."
Box 14 of your W-2 may contain codes and dollar numbers. You will need to interpret them. Here are the meanings:
P = Employer provided vehicle
C = Moving expense
G = Non-taxable benefits identified as Pre-Tax Transportation Equity Act
H = Home to work transportation fringe benefits
K = Non-taxable dental and vision deductions
U = Non-taxable fringe benefits
V = Non-taxable health benefits
X = Occupational Tax (civilian)
Y = Non-taxable Flexible Spending Accounts
Z = Massachusetts Retirement
MA Accounting
If you are a Federal civilian employee, your W-2 may have been printed by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. You will be able to tell just looking at the employer's name on the W-2. For example, if you work for the Department of Veterans Affairs, your W-2 employer will be shown as "Defense Finance and Actg Srv, Agent for Dept of Veterans Affairs, 1240 E 9th Street, Room 1907, Cleveland, OH 44199."
Box 14 of your W-2 may contain codes and dollar numbers. You will need to interpret them. Here are the meanings:
P = Employer provided vehicle
C = Moving expense
G = Non-taxable benefits identified as Pre-Tax Transportation Equity Act
H = Home to work transportation fringe benefits
K = Non-taxable dental and vision deductions
U = Non-taxable fringe benefits
V = Non-taxable health benefits
X = Occupational Tax (civilian)
Y = Non-taxable Flexible Spending Accounts
Z = Massachusetts Retirement
8 Good reasons to file your income taxes early !!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Nurses' Job Search Alert!! Job Fair at VA Medical Center in DC !!!!
The VA Medical Center in Washington, DC will hold a Job Fair for Nurses on Sunday, February 24, from 1PM to 5PM. They have lots of openings! For example, MICU is rumored to be short by 9 RN's!! Rumor is that at this Job Fair, the VA will be more or less hiring on the spot!
Friday, February 1, 2013
Myrtle Beach Vacation, January 25, 2013
JC Leahy
I tossed around in bed last night until I finally fell asleep at 3 AM. We slept until 10. Dali made pancakes and fruit smoothie for breakfast. I had 3 of the pancakes and a large glass of the smoothie. As breakfast commenced, Dali received a mobile phone call from a co-worker. She talked on the phone throughout breakfast.
We are going home TOMORROW!!! I realized that my mental "vacation to-do" list was mostly un-done!
We worked out in the gym. Then Dali went out. She does love to shop! She took my post cards with her and mailed them. The to-do list consumed a good part of my Friday. I went into high gear on it.
First of all, I wrote some post cards to friends -- the ones that Dali took with her and mailed. Then I renewed my Turbotax Pro software so it would be ready when I got home. I had procrastinated on the Turbotax Pro software because it costs $800. Then I pulled out the little tool kit I had brought, and a spare camera part. I repaired the film door latch on my Canon Élan IIE QD camera. Yeah!! I wasn't sure I could do that, but I tried and I succeeded! I immediately called the photo supply company and ordered an identical spare part. I have another Canon Elan IIE with the exact same problem, so I'll fix that one too at home. (I might sell it on Ebay...after all, who needs 2 Canon Élan IIE's when what I really want is a decent digital SLR ?) After that, I quickly organized some photographic slides and negatives into 3-ring-binder sleeves. Next on the "to-do" list, I transferred the contents of my aging wallet to a new wallet my mother gave me for Christmas 2 or 3 years ago, and threw the old one in the trash. Then, for the first time, I attempted transfer of video from my old Sony Digital-8 to my computer via Firewire.. It worked like a charm. (Great! so now that Firewire is obsolete, I've learned how to use it!) Now I know how to use lavalier microphones, regular microphones, and transfer video. (My only video failure of the week had been that my Muvee video editing software won't install on my laptop. I later concluded that Muvee is not the best beginner's editing software to buy, and that Ulead Video Studio was a better alternative.)
We had dinner at the townhouse, worked out in the gym, and then packed and cleaned the townhouse in anticipation of departure tomorrow by the checkout deadline of 10AM.
It's Friday Already!!!!!
I tossed around in bed last night until I finally fell asleep at 3 AM. We slept until 10. Dali made pancakes and fruit smoothie for breakfast. I had 3 of the pancakes and a large glass of the smoothie. As breakfast commenced, Dali received a mobile phone call from a co-worker. She talked on the phone throughout breakfast.
We are going home TOMORROW!!! I realized that my mental "vacation to-do" list was mostly un-done!
We worked out in the gym. Then Dali went out. She does love to shop! She took my post cards with her and mailed them. The to-do list consumed a good part of my Friday. I went into high gear on it.
First of all, I wrote some post cards to friends -- the ones that Dali took with her and mailed. Then I renewed my Turbotax Pro software so it would be ready when I got home. I had procrastinated on the Turbotax Pro software because it costs $800. Then I pulled out the little tool kit I had brought, and a spare camera part. I repaired the film door latch on my Canon Élan IIE QD camera. Yeah!! I wasn't sure I could do that, but I tried and I succeeded! I immediately called the photo supply company and ordered an identical spare part. I have another Canon Elan IIE with the exact same problem, so I'll fix that one too at home. (I might sell it on Ebay...after all, who needs 2 Canon Élan IIE's when what I really want is a decent digital SLR ?) After that, I quickly organized some photographic slides and negatives into 3-ring-binder sleeves. Next on the "to-do" list, I transferred the contents of my aging wallet to a new wallet my mother gave me for Christmas 2 or 3 years ago, and threw the old one in the trash. Then, for the first time, I attempted transfer of video from my old Sony Digital-8 to my computer via Firewire.. It worked like a charm. (Great! so now that Firewire is obsolete, I've learned how to use it!) Now I know how to use lavalier microphones, regular microphones, and transfer video. (My only video failure of the week had been that my Muvee video editing software won't install on my laptop. I later concluded that Muvee is not the best beginner's editing software to buy, and that Ulead Video Studio was a better alternative.)
We had dinner at the townhouse, worked out in the gym, and then packed and cleaned the townhouse in anticipation of departure tomorrow by the checkout deadline of 10AM.
TRAVEL IDEA: BEACH IN WINTER
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Myrtle Beach Vacation, Thursday, January 24, 2013
JC Leahy
We slept until 10:30. Dali made fruit smoothie for breakfast, to which I added a large bowl of raisin bran and a cup of coffee. After breakfast, we each did our own activities around the house. I installed optional windows updates, including drivers, on my laptop in the hopes that Muvee would install. But Muvee still gave me the same error message about the video card or driver, and refused to complete installation. I gave up on Muvee. I’ll either contact their tech support when I get back home to Silver Spring or I’ll just install on my other laptop.
At noon, Dali and I went for a walk around The Links grounds, followed by a one-hour workout in the gym. We ate lunch at 3:30: boiled butternut squash, canned sardines, couscous, and mixed vegetables.
After lunch, Dali went out to search for a Sears store. I stayed to read and study. When Dali returned, we had couscous and milk for dinner, followed by table tennis in the clubhouse, and more working out in the gym.
Time files! Tomorrow will be our last day before we have to pack it up and return home from vacation!
Friday, January 25, 2013
Myrtle Beach Vacation, Wednesday, January 23, 2013
JC Leahy
When I arose at 9, Dali was still sleeping. On second thought, I went right back to bed myself. After all, we're on vacation! We got up again at 9:45 and ate a breakfast of pancakes and fruit smoothie. We left the TV off and chatted during breakfast.
Afterwards, we disported ourselves around the townhouse. I studied income taxes. Shortly before 4, I suggested to Dali that we go out and find a shooting range for some target shooting. She said she'd go shooting if we could stop at a furniture store first. That was a deal.
There are at least 3 shooting ranges in or near Myrtle Beach. I tried to find them on Mapquest, but Mapquest doesn't do well with Route 17 addresses. However, on the way home from Huntington Beach State Park, I had seen a target range and saved its location on our Garmin GPS. We decided to go to that range.
First, we stopped at Casual Furniture World. It's a fairly small showroom stocked with furniture that looks like it belongs on a backyard patio or sun room. They have some okay things -- if that's the kind of furniture you need -- but the prices seemed steep. The saleslady said they ship nationwide.
The target range marked on the GPS turned out to be the Myrtle Beach Indoor Shooting Range. It only had two shooting stations, which were located in the rear of moderately large gun store. There was a waiting queue to shoot. We signed onto the list by filling a liability waiver. I had brought my .357 magnum revolver and .32 ACP pistol, with ammunition. They examined my ammunition, discussed it, and declared that it was okay to use it on their range. Apparently, some bullets contain iron, and those are not safe to use on this particular range. That's interesting. While we waited, Dali looked at some women's purses. She tried to negotiate a discounted price with range co-owner Connie Gragg. Mrs. Gragg refused. She seemed oddly amused that Dali was haggling about price. I engaged one of the salesmen in talk about how guns-store business is booming (for now) since Obama began his gun-control rampage. I told him (and the rest of the folks in the store) about how Bass Pro Shops down the street couldn't keep up with demand for ammunition. The salesman responded that the Myrtle Beach Indoor Shooting Range gun store couldn't keep up with demand for military-looking rifles. I told him I had just bought an AK-47 in Silver Spring, Maryland, and had a hard time finding one to buy anywhere. He showed me an AR-15, saying it was the last one in the shop and would definitely be gone tomorrow. Would I like to buy it? No, I'm a Maryland resident, so I couldn't buy it. No problem! Maryland residents can buy long guns in South Carolina. I could take it home with me. How much? $1,800. What caliber? It's a .223. Nope, a .233 is too light. I need to be able to drop a deer with whatever rifle I own. The AK-47's 7.62x39 mm will drop a deer about as well as a 30-30. But what I did need was a hunting scope for my new AK with some light gathering capability and a very wide field of view. Something to help me get a quick bead on a moving target (deer) in dim light. After some consultation with shop co-owner Ted Gragg, they recommended a NoStar 4 reticle reflex sight. They handed me a 9 mm pistol with one of these sights mounted on it. I wanted to know if it would stand up under the heavier kick of an AK-47. Mr. Gragg said it would. So I bought it. I'll have a gunsmith mount it when I get back to Silver Spring. It looks marvelous, and all the Amazon reviews confirm that it was an excellent recommendation.
=== ===
Before we entered the shooting area, I gave Dali ear plugs and ear muffs for double ear protection against loud noise. I started Dali with the Beretta Tomact .32 ACP semiautomatic pistol. She learned how it works and all about basic range safety. She didn't actually manage to hit the large target at 30 feet with 2 clips of ammo. On her third clip, she became unnerved by the difference in trigger pull between single-action mode and double-action. Flustered, she made a quick exit, back to looking at the ladies handbags. I practiced shooting with my .Taurus .357 magnum revolver for another 5 minutes. The lady at the other shooting station managed to shoot the target-handling cable apart, and the range had to be shut for 10 minutes of repairs. I went back out to the sales desk and completed my purchase of the NcSster reflex sight. Dali bought a book that Mr. Gragg had published (Guns of the Pee Dee). She had him autograph it. Then we headed back home to The Links.
On the way, we made a stop at Costco. Dali did some food shopping. I went to the Costco 1-hour photo counter and tried to turn in my roll of film for developing. The clerk advised me that they don't do film anymore. Wow! That's substandard! Costco in Maryland does a great job with film and they do it in an hour.
At The Links, we didn't even stop at our townhouse before going to the gym and exercising for 45 minutes. I'm not losing weight; I'm still at 197 pounds!!
For dinner we had leftover tomato bisque soup and crackers. We watched The Fugitive movie during dinner, and went to bed afterwards.
When I arose at 9, Dali was still sleeping. On second thought, I went right back to bed myself. After all, we're on vacation! We got up again at 9:45 and ate a breakfast of pancakes and fruit smoothie. We left the TV off and chatted during breakfast.
Afterwards, we disported ourselves around the townhouse. I studied income taxes. Shortly before 4, I suggested to Dali that we go out and find a shooting range for some target shooting. She said she'd go shooting if we could stop at a furniture store first. That was a deal.
There are at least 3 shooting ranges in or near Myrtle Beach. I tried to find them on Mapquest, but Mapquest doesn't do well with Route 17 addresses. However, on the way home from Huntington Beach State Park, I had seen a target range and saved its location on our Garmin GPS. We decided to go to that range.
First, we stopped at Casual Furniture World. It's a fairly small showroom stocked with furniture that looks like it belongs on a backyard patio or sun room. They have some okay things -- if that's the kind of furniture you need -- but the prices seemed steep. The saleslady said they ship nationwide.
The target range marked on the GPS turned out to be the Myrtle Beach Indoor Shooting Range. It only had two shooting stations, which were located in the rear of moderately large gun store. There was a waiting queue to shoot. We signed onto the list by filling a liability waiver. I had brought my .357 magnum revolver and .32 ACP pistol, with ammunition. They examined my ammunition, discussed it, and declared that it was okay to use it on their range. Apparently, some bullets contain iron, and those are not safe to use on this particular range. That's interesting. While we waited, Dali looked at some women's purses. She tried to negotiate a discounted price with range co-owner Connie Gragg. Mrs. Gragg refused. She seemed oddly amused that Dali was haggling about price. I engaged one of the salesmen in talk about how guns-store business is booming (for now) since Obama began his gun-control rampage. I told him (and the rest of the folks in the store) about how Bass Pro Shops down the street couldn't keep up with demand for ammunition. The salesman responded that the Myrtle Beach Indoor Shooting Range gun store couldn't keep up with demand for military-looking rifles. I told him I had just bought an AK-47 in Silver Spring, Maryland, and had a hard time finding one to buy anywhere. He showed me an AR-15, saying it was the last one in the shop and would definitely be gone tomorrow. Would I like to buy it? No, I'm a Maryland resident, so I couldn't buy it. No problem! Maryland residents can buy long guns in South Carolina. I could take it home with me. How much? $1,800. What caliber? It's a .223. Nope, a .233 is too light. I need to be able to drop a deer with whatever rifle I own. The AK-47's 7.62x39 mm will drop a deer about as well as a 30-30. But what I did need was a hunting scope for my new AK with some light gathering capability and a very wide field of view. Something to help me get a quick bead on a moving target (deer) in dim light. After some consultation with shop co-owner Ted Gragg, they recommended a NoStar 4 reticle reflex sight. They handed me a 9 mm pistol with one of these sights mounted on it. I wanted to know if it would stand up under the heavier kick of an AK-47. Mr. Gragg said it would. So I bought it. I'll have a gunsmith mount it when I get back to Silver Spring. It looks marvelous, and all the Amazon reviews confirm that it was an excellent recommendation.
=== ===
Before we entered the shooting area, I gave Dali ear plugs and ear muffs for double ear protection against loud noise. I started Dali with the Beretta Tomact .32 ACP semiautomatic pistol. She learned how it works and all about basic range safety. She didn't actually manage to hit the large target at 30 feet with 2 clips of ammo. On her third clip, she became unnerved by the difference in trigger pull between single-action mode and double-action. Flustered, she made a quick exit, back to looking at the ladies handbags. I practiced shooting with my .Taurus .357 magnum revolver for another 5 minutes. The lady at the other shooting station managed to shoot the target-handling cable apart, and the range had to be shut for 10 minutes of repairs. I went back out to the sales desk and completed my purchase of the NcSster reflex sight. Dali bought a book that Mr. Gragg had published (Guns of the Pee Dee). She had him autograph it. Then we headed back home to The Links.
On the way, we made a stop at Costco. Dali did some food shopping. I went to the Costco 1-hour photo counter and tried to turn in my roll of film for developing. The clerk advised me that they don't do film anymore. Wow! That's substandard! Costco in Maryland does a great job with film and they do it in an hour.
At The Links, we didn't even stop at our townhouse before going to the gym and exercising for 45 minutes. I'm not losing weight; I'm still at 197 pounds!!
For dinner we had leftover tomato bisque soup and crackers. We watched The Fugitive movie during dinner, and went to bed afterwards.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
How to Buy a Gun In South Carolina
JC Leahy
Visiting Myrtle Beach this week, Dali and I went to the Myrtle Beach Indoor Shooting Range. Located right on Route 17 in Myrtle Beach, the range, owned and operated by Connie and Ted Gragg, includes an extensive gun store. They also have an adjoining Civil War Museum.
While I was there, I interviewed staff about how to buy a gun in South Carolina. For South Carolina residents, you just bring your drivers license to the store, fill out a Form 4473, and buy your gun. This refreshingly simple procedure applies to both long guns and handguns. There is a Federal background check which from my understanding is more or less instant. For out of state buyers, the procedure is exactly the same for a long gun. Out of state residents cannot buy handguns in South Carolina.
At the range, I introduced Dali to firearms safety and handgun operation. We used my Beretta Tomcat .32 ACP semiautomatic pistol. This is a small weapon with relatively minimal noise and kickback. Mine is stamped "Made in Maryland," which is where I bought it. It was her Dali's first time to fire a gun. I can't say exactly that she took to it like a duck takes to water. In fact, I can't say, at a range of 30 feet, that she hit the target. She did, however, learn the basics of gun safety and how to operate that particular pistol. Afterwards, she purchased a copy of The Guns of the Pee Dee, a book apparently about archaeological history written by Ted Gragg, owner of the shooting range. Needless to say, she had Mr. Gragg autograph her copy of the book.
=== ===
Visiting Myrtle Beach this week, Dali and I went to the Myrtle Beach Indoor Shooting Range. Located right on Route 17 in Myrtle Beach, the range, owned and operated by Connie and Ted Gragg, includes an extensive gun store. They also have an adjoining Civil War Museum.
While I was there, I interviewed staff about how to buy a gun in South Carolina. For South Carolina residents, you just bring your drivers license to the store, fill out a Form 4473, and buy your gun. This refreshingly simple procedure applies to both long guns and handguns. There is a Federal background check which from my understanding is more or less instant. For out of state buyers, the procedure is exactly the same for a long gun. Out of state residents cannot buy handguns in South Carolina.
At the range, I introduced Dali to firearms safety and handgun operation. We used my Beretta Tomcat .32 ACP semiautomatic pistol. This is a small weapon with relatively minimal noise and kickback. Mine is stamped "Made in Maryland," which is where I bought it. It was her Dali's first time to fire a gun. I can't say exactly that she took to it like a duck takes to water. In fact, I can't say, at a range of 30 feet, that she hit the target. She did, however, learn the basics of gun safety and how to operate that particular pistol. Afterwards, she purchased a copy of The Guns of the Pee Dee, a book apparently about archaeological history written by Ted Gragg, owner of the shooting range. Needless to say, she had Mr. Gragg autograph her copy of the book.
=== ===
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Myrtle Beach Vacation, Tuesday, January 2, 2013
JC Leahy
I arose at 9. Dali was still sleeping. I got online to check e-mail. I did a little writing. I did a little shopping. I sent my friend Josh an e-mail thanking him for the invitation to his Redskins playoff party, saying I wish I could have attended, and suggesting that we get together soon, perhaps for billiards. I wrote my trip journal a bit. I went to Amazon and ordered a cheap wired microphone and a DVD of Grand Hotel.
At 10AM I got a text from Peggy at work. It said, "Call me ASAP." "Oh, no!" I said to Dali. "Trouble at work!! I called Peggy immediately. She was there with my boss Deborah on speakerphone. There was no crisis at work!!" Peggy said the text was a joke -- they just wanted to pull my chain by making me think there was a crisis. They just wanted to say "Hi." Deborah left and I chatted with Peggy for a while. I gave Peggy some pointers about how to help the new front desk secretary do a better job.
Dali made breakfast. After breakfast I spent until noon reading and writing downstairs while Dali watched TV and did her activities upstairs. At noon, we went to the gym for exercise.
Lunch was corned beef hash, fresh mixed vegetables with cabbage, and carrot juice. We watched the first part of a DVD movie while we ate. It was The Aviator, with Christopher Reeves, which I had picked up somewhere for $5.
After lunch, I suggested we go to the clubhouse. I could read and study taxes and Dali could read. Then we could play table tennis, or billiards. Dali said she would rather go out and check out a furniture store she spied along Route 17. So we went out in the minivan, Dali driving. Our first stop was a rundown little furniture shop full of rundown looking furniture, run by a rundown looking man. The next stop was the furniture store Dali actually had in mind: J and K Furniture. I amused myself with the thought that it lucky Mr. J and Mr. K didn't have a third partner named Unger. Then the place would be called J, U 'n K Furniture. Yuck, yuck !! J and K Furniture had a nice selection. We managed to escape without buying anything. Then, just to balance the shopping trip, we stopped at Bass Pro Shops for me to look around. I always like to look at sporting goods shops. I spent $10 on a camouflage colored baseball hat. I like hats and I was in the mood to look like a redneck. I thought I might pick up some .32 ACP handgun ammunition because I was planning to introduce Dali to target shooting and I didn't want to get ripped off at some shooting range on the price of ammunition. The sales clerk directed me handgun ammunition section. It was extensive. This particular Bass Pro Shops had one side of an entire aisle with shelves for handgun ammunition. However, the shelves were nearly bare, and there was not .32 ACP left at all. I went back to the sales clerk, who was helping a man with a handgun pouches. I pointed out that the shelves were empty and asked when they would be restocking. He said they just got a truckload that morning, that the shelves had been fully restocked. Now they were empty. They'd be getting another truckload in soon, but Bass Pro Shops hadn't been able to keep up with the demand for ammunition since Obama began his galactically ignorant rant about how to reduce crime with gun control. While making my counterclockwise circuit of the Bass Pro Shops store, I looked at kayaks. Dali and I have decided that the we need a pair of kayaks to offer with the new rental beach house we are outfitting for next summer. I made a note that I liked the Ascend D12 kayak, although at around $600 it seemed a little pricey. Later checking on the Internet, I discovered that Ascend is a Bass Pro Shops store brand, so you either take it at their price or find something else. The online chatter is to look for something else for a better price at Gander Mountain.
We got out of Bass Pro Shops only $10 lighter than when we entered. When we got home and I looked in the mirror, I decided that the camouflage hat made me look old. I'd have to be careful about wearing that hat. For dinner, we had instant tomato bisque soup soup, fresh vegetables, and water. We watched the remainder of The Aviator while we ate. Then we went to the gym. I weighed in at 188. Dali weighed in at 2 pounds more than Monday. We need to figure out why we're not losing weight. I think it's the generous servings of fruit smoothies. We exercised in the gym for an hour. I "officially" started my tax study, reading the first few pages of my latest tax textbook and unwrapping the 3x5 index cards I plan to use for flash-card study. We were in bed by midnight.
I arose at 9. Dali was still sleeping. I got online to check e-mail. I did a little writing. I did a little shopping. I sent my friend Josh an e-mail thanking him for the invitation to his Redskins playoff party, saying I wish I could have attended, and suggesting that we get together soon, perhaps for billiards. I wrote my trip journal a bit. I went to Amazon and ordered a cheap wired microphone and a DVD of Grand Hotel.
At 10AM I got a text from Peggy at work. It said, "Call me ASAP." "Oh, no!" I said to Dali. "Trouble at work!! I called Peggy immediately. She was there with my boss Deborah on speakerphone. There was no crisis at work!!" Peggy said the text was a joke -- they just wanted to pull my chain by making me think there was a crisis. They just wanted to say "Hi." Deborah left and I chatted with Peggy for a while. I gave Peggy some pointers about how to help the new front desk secretary do a better job.
Dali made breakfast. After breakfast I spent until noon reading and writing downstairs while Dali watched TV and did her activities upstairs. At noon, we went to the gym for exercise.
Lunch was corned beef hash, fresh mixed vegetables with cabbage, and carrot juice. We watched the first part of a DVD movie while we ate. It was The Aviator, with Christopher Reeves, which I had picked up somewhere for $5.
After lunch, I suggested we go to the clubhouse. I could read and study taxes and Dali could read. Then we could play table tennis, or billiards. Dali said she would rather go out and check out a furniture store she spied along Route 17. So we went out in the minivan, Dali driving. Our first stop was a rundown little furniture shop full of rundown looking furniture, run by a rundown looking man. The next stop was the furniture store Dali actually had in mind: J and K Furniture. I amused myself with the thought that it lucky Mr. J and Mr. K didn't have a third partner named Unger. Then the place would be called J, U 'n K Furniture. Yuck, yuck !! J and K Furniture had a nice selection. We managed to escape without buying anything. Then, just to balance the shopping trip, we stopped at Bass Pro Shops for me to look around. I always like to look at sporting goods shops. I spent $10 on a camouflage colored baseball hat. I like hats and I was in the mood to look like a redneck. I thought I might pick up some .32 ACP handgun ammunition because I was planning to introduce Dali to target shooting and I didn't want to get ripped off at some shooting range on the price of ammunition. The sales clerk directed me handgun ammunition section. It was extensive. This particular Bass Pro Shops had one side of an entire aisle with shelves for handgun ammunition. However, the shelves were nearly bare, and there was not .32 ACP left at all. I went back to the sales clerk, who was helping a man with a handgun pouches. I pointed out that the shelves were empty and asked when they would be restocking. He said they just got a truckload that morning, that the shelves had been fully restocked. Now they were empty. They'd be getting another truckload in soon, but Bass Pro Shops hadn't been able to keep up with the demand for ammunition since Obama began his galactically ignorant rant about how to reduce crime with gun control. While making my counterclockwise circuit of the Bass Pro Shops store, I looked at kayaks. Dali and I have decided that the we need a pair of kayaks to offer with the new rental beach house we are outfitting for next summer. I made a note that I liked the Ascend D12 kayak, although at around $600 it seemed a little pricey. Later checking on the Internet, I discovered that Ascend is a Bass Pro Shops store brand, so you either take it at their price or find something else. The online chatter is to look for something else for a better price at Gander Mountain.
We got out of Bass Pro Shops only $10 lighter than when we entered. When we got home and I looked in the mirror, I decided that the camouflage hat made me look old. I'd have to be careful about wearing that hat. For dinner, we had instant tomato bisque soup soup, fresh vegetables, and water. We watched the remainder of The Aviator while we ate. Then we went to the gym. I weighed in at 188. Dali weighed in at 2 pounds more than Monday. We need to figure out why we're not losing weight. I think it's the generous servings of fruit smoothies. We exercised in the gym for an hour. I "officially" started my tax study, reading the first few pages of my latest tax textbook and unwrapping the 3x5 index cards I plan to use for flash-card study. We were in bed by midnight.
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