. . . from a proud gun owner's blog. . . [with my reactions]
Because It's Cool This is a fairly weak reason in comparison to others. . . Someone goes shooting with a friend, loves it (and/or thinks the gun is just groovy). . .
[GROOVY???]
Family Legacy (Because my Parents Owned Guns) A family legacy of gun ownership is often a factor in determining whether one will become a gun owner. . . If you have had a bad experience with a gun in the past, that may be a valid reason for you not to own a gun - but probably not. It's more likely that you have an irrational attitude towards guns, and unreasoned bias is never good.
[What IS a valid reason for me to NOT own a gun, in your opinion?]
Just For Hunting Hunting is a fine reason to own a gun . . .
[OK]
Target Shooting Only . . . Shooting accurately is challenging, and many of us feel a sense of achievement from being able to put our shots exactly where we want them to go. . .
[also for sport]
For Social Reasons Some gun owners may own guns simply so they can take part in social shooting activities, such as sporting clays, cowboy action shooting, and the like. . .
[Is this how Dick Cheney shot his own friend?]
For Self Defense This one is by far the most powerful, and universal, reason for anyone to own a gun. . . To deny a human the right to defend him- or herself from any threat is the most grievous crime against humanity that I can think of. . .
[read: Paranoia. I can think of worse crimes against humanity without much effort.]
Because the Founding Fathers Wanted me to This is another excellent reason to own a gun. . . It's the fear of retaliation that keeps the corruptive (sic) nature of political power from sweeping our land . . .
[Considering the current crop of politicians, this theory has already been proven untrue.]
As an Investment Guns rarely decline in value. . .
[Buy real estate]
Historical Reasons Some gun owners like guns merely for their historical value. . .
[OK. They're not automatic or semi-automatic though.]
Interest in The Mechanics of Firearms Most firearms are mechanical marvels. . .
[So are refrigerators.]
My Own Reasons
. . . we Americans are still free to do as we choose, to some extent. Don't let politicians, TV news anchors, me, or anyone else do your thinking for you.
[I won't. Thanks.]
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. . . growing two feet high
Casting awful shadows
Bicycles, cupboards all awry
Pieces of linoleum pie flash by
His family had nothing to say
So embarrassed
Helpless too
What makes a man turn out this way
Can he change or is this how he'll stay
There's just no talking to the junk man
There's just no talking to the junk man
With shelves and pottery stacked to the sky
He won the lottery back in 05
Now he's a millionaire
But he can't find anything
In all the junk
The neighbors don't know what to do
They've got visions of a jungle
No one thought they'd see the neighborhood
In this state
You know this can't be good
There's just no talking to the junk man
There's just no talking to the junk man
With shelves and pottery stacked to the sky
He won the lottery back in 05
Now he's a millionaire
But he can't find anything
In all the junk
Cry for the cameras but put your conscience where your [fake?] tears are. Maybe after guns, we can discuss all the children (of other nations) that the U.S. has killed with drone strikes. True, outlawing guns won't completely get rid of the violence. It sure could help though. Isn't that a GOOD thing? And don't we have to start SOMEWHERE???
Is it me, or might what you see below be UNNECESSARY - not to mention criminal???
(from http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?cycle=2012&id=D000000082)
National Rifle Assn: All Recipients
Name Office Total Contributions
Adams, Sandy (R-FL) House $2,000
Aderholt, Robert B (R-AL) House $1,000
Akin, Todd (R-MO) House $1,000
Alexander, Rodney (R-LA) House $2,000
Allen, George (R-VA) Senate $6,450
Altmire, Jason (D-PA) House $2,500
Altschuler, Randy (R-NY) House $2,500
Amodei, Mark (R-NV) House $4,000
Archer, John H Jr (R-IA) House $2,000
Austria, Steve (R-OH) House $1,000
Baca, Joe (D-CA) House $2,500
Bachmann, Michele (R-MN) House $1,000
Bachus, Spencer (R-AL) House $3,000
Barletta, Lou (R-PA) House $2,000
Barr, Andy (R-KY) House $2,500
Barrasso, John A (R-WY) Senate $5,308
Barrow, John (D-GA) House $4,950
Bartlett, Roscoe G (R-MD) House $4,000
Bass, Charles (R-NH) House $2,000
Benishek, Dan (R-MI) House $4,950
Berg, Rick (R-ND) House $7,450
Biggert, Judy (R-IL) House $2,000
Bilbray, Brian P (R-CA) House $2,500
Bilirakis, Gus (R-FL) House $1,000
Bishop, Rob (R-UT) House $1,000
Bishop, Sanford D Jr (D-GA) House $3,650
Black, Diane (R-TN) House $2,000
Blackburn, Marsha (R-TN) House $4,500
Boehner, John (R-OH) House $2,500
Bonner, Jo (R-AL) House $2,000
Bono Mack, Mary (R-CA) House $1,500
Boustany, Charles W Jr (R-LA) House $1,000
Brady, Kevin (R-TX) House $1,000
Brooks, Maggie (R-NY) House $1,000
Brooks, Mo (R-AL) House $2,000
Broun, Paul Jr (R-GA) House $2,000
Bruning, Jon (R-NE) Senate $1,000
Buchanan, Vernon (R-FL) House $1,000
Bucshon, Larry (R-IN) House $4,000
Buerkle, Ann Marie (R-NY) House $2,500
Burgess, Michael (R-TX) House $1,000
Burton, Dan (R-IN) House $2,000
Calvert, Ken (R-CA) House $2,000
Camp, Dave (R-MI) House $2,000
Campbell, John (R-CA) House $1,000
Canseco, Francisco (R-TX) House $4,950
Cantor, Eric (R-VA) House $7,450
Capito, Shelley Moore (R-WV) House $1,000
Cardoza, Dennis (D-CA) House $2,500
Carter, John (R-TX) House $6,950
Cassidy, Bill (R-LA) House $1,000
Chabot, Steve (R-OH) House $2,000
Chaffetz, Jason (R-UT) House $1,500
Chandler, Ben (D-KY) House $4,000
Coble, Howard (R-NC) House $4,000
Coffman, Mike (R-CO) House $7,450
Cole, Tom (R-OK) House $3,500
Conaway, Mike (R-TX) House $2,000
Cook, Paul (R-CA) House $1,000
Coors, Joe (R-CO) House $1,000
Corker, Bob (R-TN) Senate $4,950
Cornilles, Robert (R-OR) House $1,000
Cravaack, Chip (R-MN) House $2,000
Crawford, Rick (R-AR) House $2,000
Crenshaw, Ander (R-FL) House $2,000
Critz, Mark (D-PA) House $3,500
Cruz, Ted (R-TX) Senate $250
Cuellar, Henry (D-TX) House $2,000
Culberson, John (R-TX) House $1,650
Daines, Steven (R-MT) House $2,000
Davis, Geoff (R-KY) House $1,000
Davis, Rodney (R-IL) House $1,000
Delong, Gary (R-CA) House $2,000
Denham, Jeff (R-CA) House $3,000
Dent, Charlie (R-PA) House $1,500
Desjarlais, Scott (R-TN) House $2,000
Diaz-Balart, Mario (R-FL) House $1,000
Dingell, John D (D-MI) House $5,000
Duffy, Sean P (R-WI) House $3,500
Duncan, Jeff (R-SC) House $2,000
Duncan, John J Jr (R-TN) House $1,000
Ellmers, Renee (R-NC) House $3,000
Emerson, Jo Ann (R-MO) House $1,000
Farenthold, Blake (R-TX) House $2,000
Fincher, Steve (R-TN) House $9,900
Fischer, Deb (R-NE) Senate $3,000
Fitzpatrick, Michael G (R-PA) House $2,000
Flake, Jeff (R-AZ) House $2,000
Fleischmann, Chuck (R-TN) House $2,000
Fleming, John (R-LA) House $1,000
Flores, Bill (R-TX) House $4,500
Forbes, Randy (R-VA) House $2,000
Fortenberry, Jeff (R-NE) House $1,000
Foxx, Virginia (R-NC) House $2,000
Franks, Trent (R-AZ) House $2,500
Gardner, Cory (R-CO) House $1,000
Gerlach, Jim (R-PA) House $2,000
Gibbs, Bob (R-OH) House $3,000
Gibson, Chris (R-NY) House $2,500
Gill, Ricky (R-CA) House $2,000
Gingrey, Phil (R-GA) House $1,000
Goodlatte, Bob (R-VA) House $2,000
Gosar, Paul (R-AZ) House $5,950
Gowdy, Trey (R-SC) House $2,000
Granger, Kay (R-TX) House $3,500
Graves, Sam (R-MO) House $1,000
Graves, Tom (R-GA) House $3,000
Griffin, Tim (R-AR) House $4,000
Griffith, Morgan (R-VA) House $4,150
Grimm, Michael (R-NY) House $1,000
Guinta, Frank (R-NH) House $2,000
Guthrie, Brett (R-KY) House $2,500
Hall, Ralph M (R-TX) House $1,000
Hanna, Richard (R-NY) House $1,000
Harper, Gregg (R-MS) House $1,000
Harris, Andy (R-MD) House $3,000
Hartzler, Vicky (R-MO) House $2,000
Hastings, Doc (R-WA) House $2,000
Hatch, Orrin G (R-UT) Senate $5,000
Hayworth, Nan (R-NY) House $2,500
Heck, Joe (R-NV) House $2,500
Heller, Dean (R-NV) Senate $6,950
Hensarling, Jeb (R-TX) House $3,000
Herrera Beutler, Jaime (R-WA) House $2,000
Higgins, Brian M (D-NY) House $1,000
Hochul, Kathleen (D-NY) House $3,000
Holden, Tim (D-PA) House $4,950
Holding, George (R-NC) House $2,000
Huelskamp, Tim (R-KS) House $2,150
Huizenga, Bill (R-MI) House $3,000
Hultgren, Randy (R-IL) House $2,000
Hunter, Duncan D (R-CA) House $2,000
Hurt, Robert (R-VA) House $3,000
Issa, Darrell (R-CA) House $2,000
Jenkins, Lynn (R-KS) House $2,000
Johnson, Bill (R-OH) House $2,000
Johnson, Ron (R-WI) Senate $1,000
Johnson, Sam (R-TX) House $3,000
Johnson, Timothy (R-IL) House $4,000
Jones, Walter B Jr (R-NC) House $2,000
Jordan, James D (R-OH) House $2,000
Kelly, Jesse (R-AZ) House $2,500
Kelly, Mike (R-PA) House $2,000
Kind, Ron (D-WI) House $2,000
King, Steven A (R-IA) House $5,950
Kingston, Jack (R-GA) House $2,500
Kinzinger, Adam (R-IL) House $2,000
Kissell, Larry (D-NC) House $3,000
Kline, John (R-MN) House $2,500
Labrador, Raul (R-ID) House $7,100
LaMalfa, Doug (R-CA) House $2,000
Lamborn, Douglas L (R-CO) House $2,000
Lance, Leonard (R-NJ) House $1,000
Landry, Jeff (R-LA) House $1,000
Lankford, James (R-OK) House $2,000
Latham, Tom (R-IA) House $3,000
LaTourette, Steve (R-OH) House $3,000
Latta, Robert E (R-OH) House $2,150
Lewis, Jerry (R-CA) House $1,000
Lingle, Linda (R-HI) Senate $1,000
LoBiondo, Frank A (R-NJ) House $2,000
Long, Billy (R-MO) House $2,000
Lucas, Frank D (R-OK) House $2,000
Luetkemeyer, Blaine (R-MO) House $1,000
Lujan, Ben R (D-NM) House $1,000
Lummis, Cynthia Marie (R-WY) House $2,150
Lungren, Dan (R-CA) House $1,000
Manchin, Joe (D-WV) Senate $4,500
Mandel, Josh (R-OH) Senate $9,450
Manzullo, Don (R-IL) House $1,000
Marchant, Kenny (R-TX) House $2,500
Marino, Tom (R-PA) House $2,000
Massie, Thomas (R-KY) House $1,000
Matheson, Jim (D-UT) House $6,950
McCarthy, Kevin (R-CA) House $2,500
McCaul, Michael (R-TX) House $3,150
McClintock, Tom (R-CA) House $2,000
McCotter, Thaddeus G (R-MI) House $2,000
McHenry, Patrick (R-NC) House $1,000
McIntyre, Mike (D-NC) House $2,000
McKeon, Buck (R-CA) House $2,000
McKinley, David (R-WV) House $2,500
McMorris Rodgers, Cathy (R-WA) House $2,000
McSally, Martha (R-AZ) House $2,150
Meehan, Patrick (R-PA) House $1,000
Messer, Luke (R-IN) House $2,000
Mica, John L (R-FL) House $1,000
Michaud, Mike (D-ME) House $3,000
Miller, Candice S (R-MI) House $1,000
Miller, Gary (R-CA) House $2,500
Miller, Jeff (R-FL) House $4,000
Moran, Jerry (R-KS) Senate $3,000
Mourdock, Richard E (R-IN) Senate $4,950
Mulvaney, Mick (R-SC) House $1,000
Murphy, Tim (R-PA) House $5,000
Myrick, Sue (R-NC) House $1,000
Neugebauer, Randy (R-TX) House $2,000
Noem, Kristi (R-SD) House $2,000
Nugent, Richard (R-FL) House $138
Nunes, Devin Gerald (R-CA) House $2,500
Nunnelee, Alan (R-MS) House $3,150
Olson, Pete (R-TX) House $2,000
Owens, Bill (D-NY) House $1,000
Palazzo, Steven (R-MS) House $2,000
Paulsen, Erik (R-MN) House $2,250
Pawlenty, Tim (R) Pres $1,000
Pearce, Steve (R-NM) House $2,000
Perry, Rick (R) Pres $1,500
Perry, Scott (R-PA) House $3,000
Peterson, Collin C (D-MN) House $2,500
Petri, Tom (R-WI) House $1,000
Pittenger, Robert (R-NC) House $2,000
Pitts, Joe (R-PA) House $1,000
Poe, Ted (R-TX) House $2,000
Pompeo, Mike (R-KS) House $2,000
Posey, Bill (R-FL) House $1,000
Price, Tom (R-GA) House $1,000
Quayle, Ben (R-AZ) House $2,600
Rahall, Nick (D-WV) House $2,000
Reed, Tom (R-NY) House $1,000
Renacci, Jim (R-OH) House $9,900
Ribble, Reid (R-WI) House $3,000
Rigell, Scott (R-VA) House $4,950
Rivera, David (R-FL) House $1,000
Rogers, Hal (R-KY) House $5,000
Rogers, Mike (R-MI) House $2,500
Rogers, Mike D (R-AL) House $1,000
Rokita, Todd (R-IN) House $1,500
Romney, Mitt (R) Pres $5,850
Rooney, Tom (R-FL) House $1,000
Roskam, Peter (R-IL) House $3,000
Ross, Dennis (R-FL) House $2,000
Ross, Mike (D-AR) House $5,000
Royce, Ed (R-CA) House $1,000
Runyan, Jon (R-NJ) House $5,000
Ryan, Paul (R-WI) House $2,000
Ryan, Tim (D-OH) House $3,000
Scalise, Steve (R-LA) House $2,000
Schilling, Bobby (R-IL) House $3,500
Schmidt, Jean (R-OH) House $2,000
Schock, Aaron (R-IL) House $2,000
Schrader, Kurt (D-OR) House $3,000
Schweikert, David (R-AZ) House $2,000
Scott, Austin (R-GA) House
Scott, Tim (R-SC) House $2,000
Sensenbrenner, F James Jr (R-WI) House $2,000
Sessions, Pete (R-TX) House $4,950
Shimkus, John M (R-IL) House $2,000
Shuler, Heath (D-NC) House $4,950
Shuster, Bill (R-PA) House $1,000
Simpson, Mike (R-ID) House $5,000
Smith, Adrian (R-NE) House $1,000
Smith, Lamar (R-TX) House $4,500
Southerland, Steve (R-FL) House
Stearns, Cliff (R-FL) House $4,950
Stewart, Chris (R-UT) House $1,000
Stivers, Steve (R-OH) House $1,000
Strickland, Tony (R-CA) House $2,000
Stutzman, Marlin (R-IN) House $1,500
Sullivan, John (R-OK) House $3,000
Tavaglione, John F (R-CA) House $2,000
Terry, Lee (R-NE) House $4,500
Thompson, Glenn (R-PA) House $2,000
Thompson, Tommy G (R-WI) Senate $7,000
Thornberry, Mac (R-TX) House $2,000
Tipton, Scott (R-CO) House $4,500
Turner, Michael R (R-OH) House $1,000
Turner, Robert L (R-NY) House $1,000
Upton, Fred (R-MI) House $3,500
Valadao, David (R-CA) House $2,000
Wagner, Ann L (R-MO) House $2,000
Walberg, Tim (R-MI) House $2,000
Walden, Greg (R-OR) House $3,000
Walorski, Jackie (R-IN) House $3,500
Walsh, Joe (R-IL) House $2,000
Walz, Timothy J (D-MN) House $2,000
Webb-Edgington, Alecia (R-KY) House $1,000
Webster, Daniel (R-FL) House $1,000
Wenstrup, Brad (R-OH) House $2,000
West, Allen (R-FL) House $2,000
Westmoreland, Lynn A (R-GA) House $2,000
Whitfield, Ed (R-KY) House $1,000
Wicker, Roger (R-MS) Senate $4,950
Wilson, Joe (R-SC) House $1,000
Wittman, Rob (R-VA) House $2,000
Womack, Steve (R-AR) House $2,000
Yoder, Kevin (R-KS) House $4,000
Young, C W Bill (R-FL) House $1,000
Young, Don (R-AK) House $2,000
Young, Todd (R-IN) House $1,500
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(from wikipedia.com)
Marshall Belford Allen (born May 25, 1924) is an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz alto saxophone player. He also performs on flute, oboe, piccolo, and EVI (an electronic valve instrument made by Steiner, Crumar company).
Allen is best known for his work with eccentric keyboardist/bandleader Sun Ra, having recorded and performed mostly in this context since the late 1950s, and having led Sun Ra's Arkestra since 1993. Critic Jason Ankeny describes Marshall as "one of the most distinctive and original saxophonists of the postwar era."
He is best known for his mastery of pyrotechnic effects on the alto - he has said that he "wanted to play on a broader sound basis rather than on chords" (1971 interview with Tam Fiofori cited in[3]). The opportunity came through his long association with Sun Ra, with whom he performed almost exclusively from 1958 to Ra's death in 1993, although he did record outside the Arkestra, notably with Paul Bley's group in 1964 and with Olatunji's group during the mid-1960s. Critic Scott Yanow has described Allen's playing as "Johnny Hodges from another dimension".
Since the departure of Sun Ra and John Gilmore, Allen has led the Arkestra, and has recorded two albums as their bandleader. In May 2004, Allen celebrated his 80th birthday on stage with the Arkestra, as part of their performance at the Ninth Vision Festival in New York City. Allen gave another performance on his birthday in 2008 at Sullivan Hall in New York City.
Allen often appears in NYC-area collaborations with bassist Henry Grimes and has also participated in the "Outerzone Orchestra" together with Francisco Mora Catlett, Carl Craig and others in an appreciation of Sun Ra's music.
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AMBIENCE & WINE
(from http://www.newser.com/story/158804/up-for-auction-charles-schulzs-forbidden-love-letters.html The Associated Press)
'. . . The late Peanuts creator Charles
Schulz was once so infatuated with a young woman 23 years his junior he
sent her dozens of romantic letters and drawings of his beloved cartoon
characters. Many of the themes of that correspondence made it into his
daily comic strips at the time, and now those love notes from 1970-1971
are being offered for sale at Sotheby's in New York by the family of
Tracey Claudius, who the auction house says is ill at her home near
Philadelphia. It's estimated the notes will fetch $250,000 to $350,000
at the Dec. 14 auction.
Claudius
met the cartoonist on March 16, 1970, while accompanying a friend on an
interview assignment, ostensibly as a photographer but really for a
chance to meet her idol. She was 25. The married Schulz was 48. There
are 44 letters totaling 56 pages, including 22 original drawings of some
of the characters, primarily Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Lucy. Many are
signed "Sparky," a Schulz nickname. Sotheby's says it the most
significant collection of correspondence and drawings by Schulz to come
to auction. . . "
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AMBIENCE & WINE
. . . and gas (yes, water too). . . that's what they're made of. . .
. . . that come once a year, quite a show of fireworks when you're
there to see them. . . shooting stars fantastically glow. . . all too soon, no
one can say where they are or gone to . . . back on earth, we average
reside. . . most of us will never know such adoration. . . so I go my ordinary
way, do my job and feed my kids in this world and wonder. . . dust and gas,
that's what they're made of. . . dust and gas, that's what they're made
of. . . dust and gas, that's what they're made of. . . why all the
fascination?
Fabulous, they'll take your breath away. . . they will dazzle with their style and their savoir faire. . . improvise,
they make their own rules. . . all the cattle follow close behind from the
pasture. . . dust and gas, that's what they're made of. . . . dust and gas,
that's what they're made of. . . dust and gas, that's what they're made
of. . . why all the
fascination?
Why couldn't I be one among
these many millions?. . .why can't someone see my astrological worth?. . . what
causes the sea of heavenly bodies to glow like they do; show off so
brightly for me and you? . . . sooner or later they burn themselves out but
oh, so beautifully. . . beautifully.
Meteors have nothing
to fear. . . from their distant firmament, they shine for the masses. . . safe
above, removed from earthly life, from uncertainty that lines the cloth
of our mortal existence. . . dust and gas, that's what they're made of. . . . dust and gas,
that's what they're made of. . . dust and gas, that's what they're made
of. . . why all the
fascination?
