I did not write this.  However, I cannot think of a more eloquent way to describe the reason and purpose of our 2nd Amendment.  In light of the tragic events that have happened over the last couple of months...this logic should not be forgotten.

why the gun is civilization

Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that’s it.
In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.
When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force. The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gangbanger, and a single gay guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender.
There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations. These are the people who think that we’d be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the mugger’s potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat–it has no validity when most of a mugger’s potential marks are armed. People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that’s the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly.
Then there’s the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser. People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don’t constitute lethal force watch too much TV, where people take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level. The gun is the only weapon that’s as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weightlifter. It simply wouldn’t work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn’t both lethal and easily employable.
When I carry a gun, I don’t do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I’m looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don’t carry it because I’m afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn’t limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equation…and that’s why carrying a gun is a civilized act.

Lightning show

Take the "Federal Reserve note" challenge

Have a little fun and try this. For me, it was a challenge, but eye opening and provoked a different thought and attitude toward the "Almighty Dollar".
For one week, instead of saying dollars or cash, substitute them by saying "Federal Reserve notes".

How would you like to pay for that sir?...cash, check, charge, debit?
I will use "Federal Reserve notes" thank you.

Hello bank teller, I would like to make a withdrawl for one hundred "Federal Reserve notes" please?

Thank you for your interest in buying my used car, but I cannot accept your offer of 2000 depreciating "Federal Reserve notes"....

I know one thing, most people do a double take, or seem flabbergasted, or even ask what you are talking about when using FRN instead of dollars.
It really changed my perspective on our currency...made me see it in a different, realistic, and shitty way. Try it and see the type of reactions you get.

A Sunday drive, a Monday morning, and a Tuesday thunderstorm....

  So this past Sunday, I actually slept in....till about 10 am.  That's actually late for me nowadays but it was nice for a change.  I finally dragged my ass out of bed, showered and got dressed, had a little breakfast and some coffee and decided to run a couple of errands.  I needed to stop over at my cousin's house and chose to drive the "back way" through the neighborhoods.  And why not, it was a lazy day, beautiful outside...I'm talking upper 50's in late Feb and I wasn't in any hurry...which is kind of odd for me.  Anyway,  I had the truck window down rollin like a typical "Sunday driver"....slow and carefree.  During this drive which was about 15-20 minutes, I noticed a few things...pleasant things, things not noticed for awhile.  Birds were singing, with the weather being so nice people were out starting the early preparations of their soil for their gardens to be.  Couples and family's were at the parks and cooking out, or there for a nice stroll around the "walking track", some even holding hands. Others seemingly were working hard to maximize their outdoor passions utilizing the ever so precious wonderous February day as its minutes ticked hastily toward evening.  Empty fields had become make shift volleyball courts that entertained dozens of friends and family.
   One particular observation was quite memorable.  A single car was parked at a small baseball field that was not being used by anyone.  An older guy, and I mean older of the two, stepped out of the drivers side as the trunk started to open.  Obviously he had popped the trunk as he was getting out.  From the passenger side of the car, a young boy anywhere from 10 -12 years old burst out of the car dressed in a complete little league baseball uniform.  As soon as his cleats hit the asphalt of the parking lot, he was off to the ball field....completely full of excitement and expectation.  I had then noticed that the "older guy".....I'm not sure whether he was an older brother or the father, was also dressed in a baseball uniform.  He had the pants, the socks, the cleats, but a t-shirt....not the "team" jersey on.  Not the kid though.....he was decked out all the way.  As they became noticeable only through the rear view mirror, I saw the man grab a bag of bats and gloves from the trunk.  A man and his boy had went out on this beautiful day to play baseball at the ball field....together....just the two of them.  Not only could I tell it made the kid's day, anyone could have seen the man was having a ball as well.  That was really nice to see.  It actually enlightened my day, put me in an even better mood, and produced a thought on my fellow man.  People were out enjoying themselves, being friendly, smiling, caring for one another, their property and neighborhoods.  Folks were exercising and making an effort to be productive and happy.
It gave me some hope for mankind.  And for me personally, there isn't or at least wasn't much of that at all (hope for mankind) before this drive.  People don't want to fight, or hurt others, or harass......they just want to do their own thing and be happy and live and eat and try to enjoy life.  At least not us everyday "common folk" as some would put it.  Such a shame that such a few can create such unhappiness for so many.  But the rest of my driving time on this wonderful Sunday afternoon, was filled with nothing but constructive, hopeful thoughts.  :)
  
Then came Monday morning.  <------speaks for itself.

 Tonight, I have been enjoying the sounds of heavy rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms pelting the house outside while I sit comfortably in my quiet basement enjoying the lateness of the evening.  I wonder what tomorrow has in store?

Who disturbed my slumber?

Wake up.  Time for some fast food breakfast.  My morning show is on.  Oh cool, I love this movie...I've seen it dozens of times, but what the hell.  Soda refill.  I just love this fluoridated toothpaste.  The water faucet will always give me water.  Leave those lights on, it might get dim in here.  Snack time...I cant pronounce any ingredients in this snack but boy it sure is delicious.  My other show is coming on.  Damn, my $300 cell phone is so outdated.  Better check my wall.  I saw these shoes on the red carpet last night.  Those depression symptoms sound familiar, I better call for my free trial.  I think they are right, I really need a bigger penis.  Soda refill.  Ooh, a $10 coffee sounds delicious.  EBT accepted here.  These chemicals really do what they say...for my hair, for my face, for my skin, for my eyes, for my teeth.  Ooh, my show is on!  News, sorry don't watch it, its too depressing.  I've waited all year for the Super Bowl!  Pizza delivery...awesome...I would go myself but I get so winded walking out to the car, besides my other show just started.  Update wall.  Mom, go get me another 2 liter please.  Why talk?...just text!  Smokes, beer, chips, and a drink refill....Vision cards are the best and they are free!  Is Dancing with the Stars on tonite?  Time to take my prescriptions, I am very sick you know.  I better call in my unemployment claim.  You have to change oil in a car? Really?  I am sure glad that the police are here to protect me.  It's not my fault I'm overweight, I have a condition.  Don't get any cheese puff cheese on the new handicap parking sticker.  American Idol is such a good show.  Time for a pill and a refill.  Gardening is so lame...who needs that boring junk?  My loved ones know I love them, even though I don't say it to them anymore, don't need to, they know I do.  10 more minutes until my favorite show!  Check wall.  Is it the first of the month yet?  I need to go shopping.  Super size all of the value meals please.....my kids won't go to bed hungry.  He said he did his homework, my child doesn't lie.  This is an election year? No shit?  My mailbox is to damn far.  Refill.   The game is on tonite!  Outside?..no thanks, it is too bright out there.  My doctor said so.  Maybe I should get lip injections to look sexy, or boobs, or a butt, maybe a new face.  My local news is the best.  I can't be in sunlight when I take these pills, but it's okay, I am getting better.  Refill.....healthier choice this time.....root beer....no caffeine.  Oh just let the dog clean off your plate.  It's the Republicans fault!  I have 20 people living within a 200 yard radius of me...naw,  I don't need to know their names.  Being neighborly is so old school.  It's the Democrats fault!  The mainstream media wouldn't lie!
Get your flu shot today!  This pretty blue pill helps me get fast asleep!  Energy drinks are so good and good for you!  Mom, what is the pledge of allegiance?  It's for the children.  Don't they realize its Global Warming? Geez.  I am so glad that my government cares for me and is looking out for my best interests.  Only whites are racists.  What do you mean...read you a bed time story?  Isn't everything just wonderful? Spending my time on all of these important things during the day sure makes me tired.

Amazon twins and the Asian sensation

Last night was spent celebrating the birthday of my beautiful girlfriend Connie and her twin sister Tina.
When one thinks of celebrating a birthday...images of birthday cake, confetti, singing and the opening of gifts may come to mind, but this was a different type of evening.  How times have changed.  None of the before mentioned b-day related things were present last night....except for one small gift wrapped in newspaper.  Maybe it is true...the older you get, the less birthdays matter and the less they are celebrated.  Personally I would have loved to take everyone out for a fun, wild night on the town. But, being that most of us are broke as hell we settled for option B.  We spent the evening together in the family bar...eating a small dinner and having a few cocktails.
The twins looked great.  Standing nearly 6' without the death heels worn by both last night, they towered over me even more than usual......and the rest of us there for that matter...lol.  Both wore cute, sexy outfits which I believe produced drool from the 2 or 3 old men regulars sitting at the dark corner of the bar.  I don't think they blinked the whole time they were there lol.    We had decided to get ready to go when the doors buzzer sounded.  In walks one of the twins' girlfriends....Kelly Wong.  Kelly, who has been a best friend of the twins since they were in grade school, is also a beautiful woman who also stands nearly 6'.  She was really the only one of the invites that showed up.  The girls sat, visited and drank for a couple of hours while us guys more or less kept at our end of the table and bullshitted with one another about....you guessed it....bullshit.  
  All in all it was nice just to get to visit, have some food and some drinks with a few friends for the girls b-day.
 Standing up to give hugs before leaving, again I was visually reminded of the long legged beauties that surrounded me and my male counterparts.  The moral of this story is......if you are sitting in a bar somewhere and the feeling of being shadowed comes upon you along with the involuntary drip that develops at the mouth BEWARE!....the hot babe trio of the Amazon Twins and the Asian Sensation are close by!    

Stop and smell.........the coffee

There is nothing like a good hot cup of coffee on a cold Saturday morning.
This morning was like the old cartoons I used to watch as a kid.  Some hypnotic odor, pleasant or putrid, would linger up to whoever and take the form of a hand or finger and drawn them to it's origin by their nostrils.  Hopefully, it is a freshly baked apple pie sitting on the window sill cooling. :)   In my case this morning, it was the first pot of today's hot brewing coffee. 

I won't even go into the mandatory, delicious first cigarette of the morning that goes with that coffee.  :)