Saturday, December 22, 2012

SATURDAY SALMAGUNDI


If you clicked on the picture, you probably have an idea where this is going....

** Fulfilled a civic duty this week.  I doubt that very many people are overjoyed when they receive the Summons for Jury Duty, but it really is a part of what makes this country work.  Boulder has a one-day, one-trial system, and the single trial of the day was an alleged 3rd degree assault that occurred within the Boulder County Jailhouse.  So immediately there was some eye-rolling among the 20-or-so prospective jurors.  I made the random call of twelve, six of which were seated which included yours truly.  Although there was a video and testimony from the accuser and the reporting police officer, we all agreed that there was reasonable doubt that the attack was carried out by the defendant.  Acquittal.  The certificate of appreciation that we received states:

"...trial by jury is more than an instrument of justice
and more than one wheel of the constitution:
it is the lamp that shows that freedom lives..."
Duncan v. Louisiana

**  The End of the World came and went, and entirely unsurprisingly, we are all still here.  Of course for many it was indeed the last day on this earth, but for even more, it was their first day.  Having a 12-21-12 birthday should be fun for those folks - born on the day the earth was to end.

**  Another week, another mass murder - I cannot add anything to what has already been said.  However, read the Second Amendment to the US Constitution folks, you know, the part about gun ownership being tied to a well regulated militia.

**  The University of Colorado hired yet another head football coach, and now will be paying one current and two former head coaches.  I will save my rant for another day, but for a reminder about the hiring of the previous coach, John Embree, go read this previous post.

**  The Broncos and CU basketball are all on a roll.  Nuggets somewhat.  Pepperdine - not so much.

**  Trail running is one of the greatest outdoor activities.

**  The Hop Diggity at the Wild Mountain Smokehouse in Nederland is a great brew!  Right up there with Modus Hoperandi from Ska in Durango

**  And here is a song that most of you have never heard of, but was one of my favorites from a long, long time ago.








12 comments:

Pass the Gravy said...

Well regulated militia? We are the militia, and as such, should have access to the latest and greatest in firearms technology. BTW, the militia is snapping up weapons and ammo right and left these days...just in case.

hoosierdaddy said...

No argument about 'we' being the militia - it's the well regulated part that ain't happening.

Pass the Gravy said...

You got a good point there, hoosier.

S4 said...

“The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people.” (Pennsylvania Continental Congressman, Tench Coxe, 1788.)

Dr S said...

S4 - perhaps 200 or 100 years ago..... I am reminded of a movie scene, Indiana Jones I believe, where a sword-wielding middle easterner threatens Indy, and Indy simply pulls out his gun and shoots him. I think that you are gravely mistaken to think that people armed with hand guns and assault rifles have any chance whatsover against a government that controls all the big weapons including nuclear devices.

S4 said...

Am not talking about a civilian population defending against a foreign aggressor armed with tanks and bombs, but a civilian population defending itself against a domestic tyrant. Kent State comes to mind. That puny number of National Guard amateurs would stand no chance against an armed student body, the “militia.” Likewise, it would be suicidal for a tyrant to try and mobilize the National Guard, or Reserves, or active Army against an armed civilian population. They would get some of us, but we would get many more of them, those stupid enough to show up and expose themselves in a uniform. Anyone within 100 yards of the average center-fire rifle user could kiss his butt goodbye. Collectivist tyranny cannot be established unless the civilian population is disarmed, which the leftists amongst us never cease trying.

Phil L. said...

I remember the Indiana Jones scene well. In a subsequent movie, same situation, same characters, Jones reaches for his pistol and it is gone! The smirk disappeared from his face pretty quickly as he headed for the hills.

Dr S said...

S4 - I think that your scenario is a hypothetical that will never happen. There are 270 million guns in the US and there is no way that there will be a significant reduction in this number. I suppose that the biggest threat would be cutting off the ammunition supply, but again, I don't think that will happen. Besides, your so-called domestic tryant would probably have some military folks in his/her pocket, and thus providing the tanks and bombs and so on....

S4 said...

True, Dr. S., the scenario will never happen because, "There are 270 million guns..." etc. They could theoretically cut off the ammunition supply, but ammo can be made at home, like "bathtub gin" was made during prohibition. (I used to make gunpowder and rocket fuel at home as a kid.)

hoosierdaddy said...

S4 - are you sure that rockets had been invented when you were a kid?!

S4 said...

Hardy har har, hoosier, you're a laugh a minute. Lol! My rocket fuel was potassium chlorate and powdered sugar, about 3 to 1 ratio. Burns good and is safe to handle. The igniter was Jetex fuse, available at hobby shops back then. (Note to Homeland Security if you are taking this in: This mixtue is NOT expl*sive, so don't put me on your no fly list.)

Dr S said...

It's little wonder that we were so fascinated by Silver Salutes and M-80s. I remember an outing at Grandpa and Grandma Aschliman's house in New Paris - cousin Steve Heller and a few of us younger guys found a big pipe in Sam's garage and we had the bright idea of dropping a lit SS down the pipe and putting a can on top. Great sport - and then we decided to drop in some gravel as well as the can lid. And that's when the adults shut us down!!