Desert Cat's Paradise


Felis desertus

Felis desertus




"The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it." - Proverbs 27:12.

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Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Reinventing Jesus Christ 

Free online book--Reinventing Jesus Christ: The New Gospel

I'm just now beginning to read it. Certainly those of us who are watching the skies are looking for evidence of one of the events called the "great apostasy". This is one event that must take place before Jesus Christ returns.

If in fact it is already well underway as the title of this book suggests, this may go some distance to explaining why so few biblical scholars seem to be willing to consider the perspective on current events that Herb Peters brought to our attention.

Alternative Jesusses have been around for some time. But there does begin to appear a confluence of events that suggest a heating up of the war against core Christian truths. This includes the "Alliance of Civilizations" that I've written about before, and even the recent flap when Ann Coulter was directly queried about her beliefs and answered honestly what most evangelical Christians believe.

I mean really now, if we cannot believe that Jesus came to fulfill the Law perfectly, and that in and through Him we share in his perfect fulfillment of it, then what of any use *can* we believe? That is *very* core to our concept of salvation.
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Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Meme meme meme 

Another meme to fill the void, this one nabbed from Sue's site:

Love Will Keep Us Together


1. Who is your partner?
Daisycat.

2. How long have you been together?
Twenty years as of last June 18--that being the day she arrived in St. Mary, Montana. Technically it was a couple of weeks later, but the gears were already rolling from day one.

3. How long did you date?
We married the following January.

4. How old is your partner?
3 years younger than me.

5. Who eats more?
Me. Unless it is pasta, in which case she is capable of consuming an entire pot of spaghetti at a sitting. Needless to say, she tries to avoid it these days.

6. Who said "I love you" first?
I don't recall, but probably me. I've always been the "falling headfirst" sort.

7. Who is taller?
Me. She's the short and cute sort.

8. Who sings better?

Me. Which is ironic because she was in choir in high school and has sung in the church choir, and I rarely sing outside of the shower.

9. Who is smarter?

Ahem.

10. Whose temper is worse?
Mine. I tend to tick off easily and calm down quickly. Although on those very rare occasions when she does flip out, I fear for my safety.

11. Who does the laundry?
She does.

12. Who takes out the garbage?
She does (read it and weep, guys).

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
I do, although I don't know what significance this question has. It's a matter of which side of the bed has space for whose dresser.

14. Who pays the bills?
I used to. But there is so much else for me to worry about, I turned over the monthly bill paying to her some time ago.

15. Who is better with the computer?
Me.

16. Who mows the lawn?
We have no lawn, this being Arizona. She helps with the yardwork, and recently did a big front yard cleanup. But usually the outdoor world maintenance belongs to me.

17. Who cooks dinner?
Neither one of us usually. I have to fend for myself most of the time. When we do get an actual dinner together it is more often her than me that cooked it.

18. Who drives when you are together?
I do usually. I am uncomfortable in the passenger seat. But when we go out to eat, she often drives home if I decided to drink and she didn't.

19. Who pays when you go out?
We draw from a common pool of dough. Although she calls me "The Producer", and I call her "The Consumer".

20. Who is most stubborn?
She is. I can dig in too, but I'm far easier to move than she. I feel like a wave crashing against Gibraltar when she's dug in.

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong?
Very complicated dynamic here. She will often say so just to get out of further discussion, but not actually mean it. I will not admit to being wrong if I don't actually believe I am, ever. When I am actually in the wrong and know it, and have decompressed from the "discussion", I am willing to say so. But so is she on occasion.

22. Whose parents do you see the most?

My parents have lived in the guest house on our property for a number of years. She disowned her mom a number of years ago as a matter of self protection.

23. Who kissed who first?
She kissed me first. A very pleasant surprise.

24. Who asked who out?
Where we met, the activity of choice was hiking after work. I asked her to join me and a couple other people, and it took off from there.

25. Who proposed?
I did, though it wasn't the "on one knee with a ring" thing. We had moved in together and I felt that we ought to make this official.

26. Who is more sensitive?
Again, a complicated issue. I am definitely the sentimentalist of the two of us. But she has a tough-as-nails exterior with a very sensitive core. It is easy to forget that core when one is dealing with the exterior. As a result, sometimes I have caused her hurt without realizing it.

27. Who has more friends?
She does. I tend to be a solitary cat.

28. Who has more siblings?
We both have two each.

29. Who wears the pants in the family?
Mister Producer is the pants-man.

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Monday, October 29, 2007

xkcd 



What is distinctly disturbing to me is how very much like the characters in this comic I really am.

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Sunday, October 28, 2007

Freiheit 

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"Live"blogging to the end... 

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Friday, October 26, 2007

Reincarnated 

If Jesus had been a Hindu...



...watching for thunderbolts now...

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Not Mine 

...but posting it because it is a rather remarkable piece that Pretty Lady and Chris are discussing here:

Rufino Tamayo--Tres Personajes

(clicka for larger)

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Thursday, October 25, 2007

Resources 

Another one for my "don't want to lose track of it" file. Electrical Wire, Electrical Supplies, Automotive Wire, Wire Terminals, Wire Loom

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Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Art (or whateveryacallit) 

Digging through my sketchbook, I came across these pastel chalks I did a couple years ago.

Home


Bruise


More stuff--these are done in that venerable colored wax medium.

Howl Butterfly

And a partial answer to the question of "who is 'baby'?"

Baby's Loose!

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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

New Blogger 

Just in case you hadn't noticed. Pretty Lady brought her to my attention, and I added her to my sidebar.

She is the real deal: Supernatural Christian
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posted by Desert Cat @ 5:40 PM | permalink

HAH! HAH! 

sisu: "Animal fats are nutritious, satisfying and they taste good":
"'Detailed research -- much of it done at Harvard -- shows that the total amount of fat in the diet, whether high or low, isn't really linked with disease,' explains the Harvard School of Public Health's 'The Nutrition Source,' acknowledging the cascade of consensus fifty years ago that led the sheeple to accept the notion that fatty foods 'were causing coronary heart disease and other deadly ailments.' Instead, according to the latest thinking, 'What really matters is the type of fat in the diet'
...
"Whatever is the cause of heart disease," said the eminent biochemist Michael Gurr in a recent article, "it is not primarily the consumption of saturated fats." And yet the high priests of the lipid hypothesis continue to lay their curse on the fairest of culinary pleasures -- butter and Bernaise, whipped cream, souffles and omelets, full-bodied cheeses, juicy steaks and pork sausage."


Take THAT, food nazis! Your niggardly, miserable, tasteless excuse for food ISN'T EVEN MORE HEALTHFUL!

Take THAT, Nurse Sadie* with your outdated opinions on low-carb diets!

Animal fats fare much better than most of the so-called "healthy alternatives" (hydrogenated vegetable oils) that have been foisted on us over the last fifty years. The proof is in my arteries. I was on the Atkins diet for several years, and then for the next couple years or so I've been back to eating everything, but still including all the animal fats I wanted. My recent heart tests show no blockages at all, and my cholesterol levels are normal and in balance.

Bring home the bacon, baby!



*Nurse Sadie is my nickname for the sadistic nurse at the heart hospital who gave me a full dose shot of blood thinner in one side of my belly (instead of splitting it into two smaller doses on both sides like *all* the nurses before her did), told me not to rub the spot or I'd bruise, then ordered me up out of bed to take a walk around the ward.

Well. Guess where the shot was in relation to my belt? Yep. Rub rub rub with each step I took. A week and a half later I'm still very very sore there, and the bruise is just now surfacing at the skin from the deep down wound she caused me.

This same nurse wanted to argue with me about the Atkins diet and even threatened to sic the staff dietician on me if I wouldn't believe her. Nah lady. Two of you feeding off the same outdated paradigm aren't going to convince me any more than just one of you. My test results proved my correctness on the matter.

And yes, Daisycat, you're going to keep hearing me lambaste and carp about this nurse for some time to come yet.

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Monday, October 22, 2007

For K 

Here be dragons...



With nasty, poison-tipped spines! AAIGHH!!

They have changed color a bit from a few weeks ago. They used to be lighter in color and more greenish. Now they look browner. Or maybe I forget.

Many of them are in metamorphosis--some beginning to weave a loose cocoon, others already having shed their skin and become a chrysalis. Oddly they neither weave a tight cocoon nor rely only on their hard chrysalis shell as some butterflies do.

But I was able to avoid all contact with them this week. Not that they didn't try. But I was alert and they're getting sluggish.

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Progress Pics 

Trenches no mo



Courtesy of Li'l Kitty!

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Friday, October 19, 2007

Musical Interlude 



"When they appear in the stratosphere you know the end is near at hand..."

Hee hee, do taht bring back teh memories!!11

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posted by Desert Cat @ 12:26 AM | permalink

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Sprouted Wheat Breakfast Cereal 

Remember this article about the "Perfect 3.3 cent Breakfast"? Well something as genius as this won't just lay around in my archves forever. I had to put this into practice, and now I've been eating this breakfast most mornings for a couple of weeks now.


The process is simple and takes maybe 10-15 minutes maximum every evening, and 5 minutes in the morning. Here's what you need (and where to get it--start shopping at the links!):

Two standard size lid pint or quart-size mason jars--available at most grocery stores. Make sure they're standard lid and not wide mouth lid. Quart jars might be preferable as they would give the wheat more room to spread out while sprouting. I had pint jars available so I'm using them for now to save space.

Stainless Steel Mesh Screens precut to fit a standard mason jar lid. Good luck finding these locally. This is the only source I was able to find them at. The article says you can use regular nylon window screen material. So sue me. I wanted something a bit better.

Stanley 1.1 Qt. Thermos Per that article, this one is the only kind that has efficient enough heat retention qualities to stay hot long enough to cook the food.

Funnel that fits inside mouth of thermos. This size is not easy to find either, surprisingly. You might be able to find this at your local Target store, but I wouldn't count on it. There's plenty of funnels with larger or smaller openings, but neither works particularly well for this purpose.

1.5 quart (or thereabouts) saucepan, spatula or spoon, etc.

Whole wheat grains (or berries) from your local co-op or whole foods store.

1) The first evening you measure out about 3/4 c. wheat grains into a jar and fill it with water.


2) The next morning you dump out the water, rinse the grains, pour out the water and set the jar on it's side with the screen held on with the lid ring. That evening you rinse and drain the grains one or more additional times.


3) The second morning you rinse/drain before you head out again. Repeat the second evening and the third morning.


4) Also on the second evening you take your second jar, pour 3/4 cup of wheat grains into it and soak overnight. Follow the same steps with this jar that you have been following with the first jar, only one day later. This way you will have a continuous supply of sprouted wheat ready to cook every night.

5) The third evening you rinse the grains from the first evening (which have now sprouted) one more time, then dump them in your saucepan and add enough water so that the total volume is a bit more than 1.1 quarts. After a couple tries you'll know where to fill it to, but it is not critical if you don't get it exactly right.


5-a) Bring the grains and water to a boil, then dump the grains and water into your Stanley thermos using the funnel you bought that fits.


5-b)Check the level of the water in the thermos. If you need a bit more to bring the level all the way up to the point where the cap goes in, boil a bit more water in the saucepan or a teakettle. If you have a bit too much, carefully pour out the excess.


5-c) Cap the thermos, shake gently and lay it on it's side 'til morning. That's it!


Rinse out the empty jar, pour in 3/4 cup of fresh wheat grains and fill it with water like you did the first night (back to step 1). Tomorrow the jar you started the second day will be ready.

Lather, rinse, repeat!

How to eat it:
In the morning, open your thermos and pour out about half the water that is left, being careful not to pour out any of your cooked wheat. The article says to save this water and drink it but... If I *were* going to do something with it, I'd be tempted to save several days worth of this water and see if it would cook down into something like a malt syrup, as it is slightly sweet from the malting (sprouting) of the wheat.

You can now eat the cereal straight, or add milk, fruit, cream, sugar, salt and butter or maybe a cup of fat-free sugar-free yogurt if you're anal. What *I* do at this stage is pour out the contents into my blender, add a half teaspoon of salt, a pat of butter and a quarter cup of half and half and blend 'til smooth. Ok, it will never get quite completely smooth because the bran doesn't chop up in the blender. But that just adds texture (and much needed dietary fiber).

This may seem to be a very plain breakfast the first time you try it, but listen to your body the morning after you eat it. See if there is more than a little bit of extra sustained energy. See if you don't notice a bit more vigor in your frame from having eaten this whole sprouted food.

I love it, and have come to crave it big time.

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Firstborn of Creation 

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1 (NIV)

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Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Resources 

I was doing a search for how to use mylar bags for long-term food storage and came across this site:
Survival Supplies, Survival Equipment & Emergency Preparedness. Survival Unlimited .com

Lots of useful stuff there.

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Monday, October 15, 2007

Get Back! 

Tucson where you belong.

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Root Canal 

I think the fear thereof is overrated. Or maybe modern dentistry has rendered it routine and relatively non-traumatic. But that was the solution to my problem. I need to follow up with a cap in a couple of weeks.

What a load of crap I had to go through to get to this point though. At least now I do have positive confirmation that my heart is in good shape.

I tell you what: today made me ever so grateful to be living in this greatest country on earth and working at a job that affords me decent dental insurance. Those who are secretly wishing for the collapse of society to realize their dystopian dreams need a good whack upside the head. Prepare for it, yes. Wish for it? No.

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posted by Desert Cat @ 5:13 PM | permalink

Blogthings 

You Are Not Scary

Everyone loves you. Isn't that sweet?


But you know what? This quiz misses me completely. There's parts of me that resemble "Nice Pete" of Achewood fame. You might never expect it, but I have a streak of scary that lurks under the surface.

Example 1: My recent little doggie tale.

Example 2: A couple years back now, I was just getting out of the shower on a Sunday morning when I saw someone snooping around my sideyard gate in the driveway. I watched him go next door and snoop at my neighbor's driveway, waited patiently for him to reappear. Sure enough, he came out from behind the car, carrying a toolbox. Well, I was naked, so I wasn't about to go outside to confront him. I opened my front door, inflated my lungs down to my belly, drew upon that "scary" that I have access to, and started hollering at him.

Did it work? Damn right it did! I got him to put *down* the toolbox and get his sorry gangsta ass lost down the street. Neighbor heard all the commotion and came hurrying out to retrieve his toolbox. I closed the door, snickering at how effective that little ruse turned out to be.

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Sunday, October 14, 2007

Conversation 

Desert Cat: "Am I a Tigger? Or more like Hobbes (of Calvin and Hobbes)?"

Daisy Cat: "You're more like Fleshy, I think."

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Friday, October 12, 2007

Change of Plans 

Send up a prayer for me, won't you folks?

I'm heading to the Tucson Heart Hospital. Been having cardiac symptoms for a while and I'm getting concerned.

See you soon, (I hope).

UPDATE: There And Back Again--(Sunday October 14, 2007)

Thanks everyone!

Turns out there's nothing wrong with my heart. The nuclear stress test was clear, and the echocardiogram shows nothing wrong with my ventricles either. Plus, the dietary supplements my PCP prescribed six months ago appears to have brought my cholesterol levels back into normal range.

What I do have is a sore left shoulder (from doing who knows what), that was causing me some shooting pains, and the beginnings of a painful tooth abscess (left side of my jaw) that were causing some excruciating shooting pains in my jaw and neck. Combine that with blood pressure readings that were much higher than I've ever seen before, and that is a cluster of symptoms too serious to ignore.

Thankfully it was nothing so serious as a heart attack, and other than feeling like a human pincushion and/or a feeding station for giant mosquitoes, I'm none the worse for wear. I have a prescription now to bring down my blood pressure, another prescription for an antibiotic to tide my abscess tooth over until I can see my dentist, and a nice pile of percocet to boot!

Plus, now I can tell my dentist that he has to get me in ASAP because I spent the weekend in the hospital for a toothache!

Update: *And* an excuse for a day off work. :)

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There It Be! 

Tantalizing. Making me itch like a schoolboy in a pew.

But I can wait. I am good at waiting. Today is Friday. Tomorrow I unpack and unload it down at the farm.

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posted by Desert Cat @ 10:35 AM | permalink

Aw, Da Cyoote Li'l Fuzzy Catapilla! 

More like poison ivy on the hoof!

See those nice four rows of pustules beginning to form? What you can't see is the edema that affected my entire thumb for a few days and the excruciating pain that brushing against this nasty critta caused me.

What's worse is after I brushed him with my thumb, he somehow got onto my shirt and was stinging the side of my belly (*through* the shirt!) and my arm before I discovered him and flicked him off.

K says they might be a species of Io moth. I don't know. I do know they are "AAOWH!!" caterpillars at this stage.

Here is how it looks about a week later:


Fortunately these buggas are nearing the end of their current life cycle. I expect within a few short weeks they'll be cocooning and removing their hazardous carcasses from my (accidental) reach.

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Thursday, October 11, 2007

And What Is the UN "Alliance of Civilizations" About? 

Fighting Islamophobia through tolerance and understanding - Turkish Daily News Oct 10, 2007

Yes, that's right folks! It's us evil intolerant non-Muslims that are the big problem in the world.

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more resources 

I keep losing track of these sites. I think I have them bookmarked, or I think (bizarrely enough) that I will somehow remember them.

Walton Feed--bulk foods, "Rainy Day Brands" foods.
Pleasant Hill Grain--kitchen tools and equipment, supplies and more. Country Living grain mill. Canned meats & other preparedness food.
Best Prices Storable Foods. The name says it, however they supply primarily the Walton Feed "Rainy Day Brands" foods. Check prices including shipping carefully between the two. (I think I put this one on a previous "resources" post already.)
Homegrown Harvest--grains, foods, supplies.

And not to slight local suppliers, I called my local food co-op to inquire about bulk wheat and learned that 25 lb bags of hard red winter wheat went for about $11. I didn't inquire, but I suspect they could supply a wide range of bulk foods for reasonable prices.

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Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Bardo 

Perusing the archives of my favorite artist's site, I came across a word I did not recognize--Bardo--and Googled it. The Wikipedia entry was first up, and within that entry, this text caught my attention:
Used somewhat loosely, the term 'bardo' may refer to the state of existence intermediate between two lives on earth. According to Tibetan tradition, after death and before one's next birth, when one's consciousness is not connected with a physical body, one experiences a variety of phenomena. These usually follow a particular sequence of degeneration from, just after death, the clearest experiences of reality of which one is spiritually capable, to, later on, terrifying hallucinations arising from the impulses of one's previous unskillful actions. For the spiritually advanced the bardo offers a state of great opportunity for liberation, since transcendental insight may arise with the direct experience of reality, while for others it can become a place of danger as the karmically created hallucinations can impel one into a less than desirable rebirth.


Sounds like Salvia, except in reverse order. The terrifying part comes first, then the space opens out into the transcendent experience of glory.

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Freedom 

"If you don't love my freedom as much as you love your freedom, it's not freedom you love.

I said that. Quote me.
Art"


Duly quoted.

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Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Musical Interlude 

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Who is Jesus? 

A prophet? A teacher? A yogi? A good man who was killed for his beliefs? Does it matter? Can you believe whatever and it is all the same?

Perhaps. Who am I to say? But I'd like to take a look at what scripture says about who he is, and then what he himself said.


Gabriel's announcement to Mary:
26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[c] the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God."

38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
Luke 1:26-38

The angel's announcement to the shepherds:
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke 2:8-12

The testimony of Simeon and Anna:
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you now dismiss[d] your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared in the sight of all people,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.
"

33The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

36There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Luke 2: 25-36

The testimony of John the Baptist:
16John answered them all, "I baptize you with[c] water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Luke 3:16-17

32Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' 34I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." John 1:32-34

31"The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God[k] gives the Spirit without limit. 35The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."[l] John 3:31-36

The testimony of the Holy Spirit:
21When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." Luke 3:21-22

The testimony of the demon-posessed:
33In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil[g]spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34"Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"

35"Be quiet!" Jesus said sternly. "Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
Luke 4:33-35

40When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. 41Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.[h] Luke 4:40-41

27When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!" 29For Jesus had commanded the evil[c] spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

30Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"

"Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

32A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. 33When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
Luke 8:27-32

The testimony of his miracles and healings:
Too numerous to list. However in this story Jesus gives an object lesson in who he is without directly making the statement:
18Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

20When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

21The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

22Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 24But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 25Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.
Luke 5:18-25

Jesus implies his special relationship to the Father, which is not lost on the Pharisees:
17Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." 18For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. John 5:17-18 (and also the remainder of that chapter)

Jesus affirms Peter's testimony:
18Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"

19They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."

20"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Peter answered, "The Christ[a] of God."

21Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.
Luke 9:18-21

Jesus reveals himself to the Samaritan woman:
25The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

26Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."
John 4:25-26

The testimony of the Father at the Transfiguration:
28About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)

34While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." 36When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.
Luke 9:28-36

Jesus befuddles the Pharisees and demonstrates from scripture that the "Son of David" they are expecting is in fact the Lord Himself:
39Some of the teachers of the law responded, "Well said, teacher!" 40And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Whose Son Is the Christ?

41Then Jesus said to them, "How is it that they say the Christ[d]is the Son of David? 42David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:
" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
43until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet." '[e]

44David calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?"

Luke 20:39-44

Jesus answers the Pharisees challenge and again alludes to Who He is:
12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

13The Pharisees challenged him, "Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid."

14Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. 18I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me."

19Then they asked him, "Where is your father?"

"You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also." 20He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.

21Once more Jesus said to them, "I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come."

22This made the Jews ask, "Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, 'Where I go, you cannot come'?"

23But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be,[a] you will indeed die in your sins."

25"Who are you?" they asked.

"Just what I have been claiming all along," Jesus replied. 26"I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world."

27They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him." 30Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.
John 8:12-30

Jesus makes it perfectly clear to the crowd:
54Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."

57"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"

58"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am*!" 59At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.
John 8:54-59 *("I AM" is the name by which the Lord referred to Himself to Moses. Jesus meant exactly that, and it wasn't lost on the crowd.)

Jesus tells them again Who He is:
22Then came the Feast of Dedication[b] at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. 24The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ,[c] tell us plainly."

25Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[d]; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30I and the Father are one."

31Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?"

33"We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."

34Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'[e]? 35If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken— 36what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? 37Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. 38But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." 39Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
John 10:22-39

Again the Father testifies:
27"Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!"

Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

30Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." 33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

34The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ[f] will remain forever, so how can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?"

35Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
John 12:27-35

At the last supper, Jesus makes it plain to his disciples:
5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."

9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
John 14: 5-14

After Jesus' arrest, before the Sanhedrin Jesus makes the plain language confession of Who He is:
66At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67"If you are the Christ,[d]" they said, "tell us."

Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."

70They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?"
He replied, "You are right in saying I am."

71Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips."
Luke 22:66-71

Before Pilate, Jesus affirms the "charge" against him:
33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

34"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"

35"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"

36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

37"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

38"What is truth?" Pilate asked.
John 18:33-38

7The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God."

8When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"

11Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."
John 19:7-11

The testimony of nature:
44It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:44-46

The testimony of the resurrection, and the witnesses thereto:
Luke 24 (the whole chapter) and John 20 (the whole chapter).

Of course, there is more in the books of Matthew and Mark which I haven't taken the time to extract, as well as additional testimony of the apostles after his resurrection in the book of Acts and beyond.

Make of this what you will. But it seems to me that it would be prudent to take his claims about himself, and the testimony of others about who he is into account when formulating one's own opinion.

He made some very bold and exclusive statements about himself, and it ought to be difficult to discard these out of hand while accepting his other teachings. In fact, I would challenge you to consider that if his claims of sonship are false (a son is an heir, and an only son is an undivided heir of all the father owns, and thus coequal with the father--this point may be easily lost to modern readers) then the remainder of his teachings are suspect, and more than that he would be a raving lunatic who got himself killed unnecessarily!

But if his claims are true, then his teachings have power and authority.

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posted by Desert Cat @ 5:21 PM | permalink

UN Takes Up Regulation Of Religion 

...masked by fancy, pretentious titles and high sounding goals.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEARS 52 ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS DURING HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE ON INTERRELIGIOUS, INTERCULTURAL UNDERSTANDING, COOPERATION FOR PEACE
All great religions were equal streams of a civilized human coexistence, he said, stressing that none could say that one faith was "the only way".

Interreligious tolerance and respect is fine and dandy, and I support it on an individual level between persons of different faiths. However, it is plain to see when one looks deeper into the UN's "Alliance of Civilizations" that there is a more sinister aspect to it's ultimate aspirations. There will come a day when these bureaucrats will believe that they have the authority to compel adherence to certain codes and standards that, from the perspective of Christians, will require us to deny one of the fundamental truths of our faith as summed up in Jesus' statement that "I am the way and the truth and the life" and "no one comes to the Father except by me."

Because you see, if you believe that Jesus is who he says he is, then his statement is self-evident. If you do not believe that he is who he says he is, then it is just an arrogant, chauvinistic statement of a narrow-minded bigot. To deny the statement is to deny the faith, yet that is what will be required.

Expect persecution to follow.

UPDATE: More here--Muslims say: Make peace with us or the world is DOOMED!

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posted by Desert Cat @ 10:24 AM | permalink

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Can haz cheezburger? 

Irony Cat

Well...I'm off then. Abandoned here on a Saturday morning by a spouse who feigned to be pleased that I was home Friday night. This morning? I'm supposed to be at the ph-hro-Ject already. She's got her preplanned plans and no time for the old Cat. Some boy she's meeting at the range she wants to have fondle her gun...

No can haz cheezburger.

CUL8R

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posted by Desert Cat @ 8:27 AM | permalink

Friday, October 05, 2007

Care For A Nice Heaping Platter of Statism With Your War? 

Soon You'll Have To Ask Permission Before You Fly

Can U say "Soviet-style internal passport"?

Not kidding. Read the link.

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posted by Desert Cat @ 9:49 PM | permalink

Buggy 

More from a couple weekends ago:



Three praying mantises in a peculiar configuration. The small ones on the back of the large one are winged. They also appeared to be mating. Go figga...

I set the flashlight on the ground pointed at this trio because it was attracting flying insects. I watched for a while until a hapless flying critter of some sort ventured too close. Dinn dinn! Common flies appear to be too fast for her though. She tried and missed a couple times.


On the ceiling of my tool trailer I saw this walking stick.

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posted by Desert Cat @ 4:41 PM | permalink

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Are The Republicans Planning For a 2008 Defeat? 

Because this here logo for the 2008 Republican convention sure as heck looks like a dead elephant who's been backed over by a Mack truck!


ROADKILL!!!

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posted by Desert Cat @ 4:50 PM | permalink

Predators versus Prey 

Deputies compete in arrest contests - Los Angeles Times

Clicka clicka.

Does anyone else think this smacks of something like a bass tournament or a deer hunting contest? How about a buffalo shoot?

Anyone else have a problem with the mindset this kind of thing a) reveals and b) instills in law enforcement officers?

I for one am *not one bit comfortable* with being viewed as meat-on-the-hoof for some bogus law "enforcement" contest.

No, not at all. This is wrong.

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posted by Desert Cat @ 4:45 PM | permalink

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Margarita 

No one anywhere has any clue how to make a really good margarita, except the erstwhile Margaritavilla in Rocky Point, Sonora, and yours truly.

Ok, and my coworker Mike from whom I obtained the original recipe that I've since modified.

I've taken to making myself a margarita most evenings in lieu of having a beer or two, and I just finished one now as I'm preparing to head off to bed. Here is my recipe:

1 serving:
10 standard sized ice cubes
1 heaping teaspoon frozen concentrated limeade (straight from the freezer, undiluted)
1/3 c. good quality Triple Sec
1/3 c. good quality Tequila
Blend until smooth. If you want it "on the rocks" I can't help you there--it's not how I have it. Multiple servings, just multiply. Caution, 1 serving is quite enough. More than one and you better have a high tolerance or I can't be held liable for the consequences.

The quality of the tequila *and* the triple sec make a big difference in the quality of the drink. El cheapo Triple Sec just tastes like corn syrup. Get something where you can actually taste the orange. Hiram Walker puts out a decent product that's a cut above. Want something akin to cleaning fluid? Go for the store brand tequila. For me? Jose Cuervo Gold is the *minimum* requirement. Better is better of course.

Most places that serve you a "margarita" serve this insipid, tart, flavorless or disgusting concoction. You really do need the salt to schwag it down. Pah! They give the margarita a bad rap. You'll notice I have more triple sec than most recipes call for. I like it that way. It makes for a very pleasant, modestly sweet drink. And the ratio of ice and mixer to liquor is probably low comparatively. Yes. If I wanted to drink a pitcher of half melted, crushed ice with a faint hint of tequila all dang night to get my buzz on, I could do that. But what a waste when I could have one glass of this marvelous concoction instead!

What inspired this? We went to Texas Roadhouse Cafe this evening (whose service has gone downhill since opening), and I suffered through one of the insipid, disgusting specimens of a so-called margarita with my meal.

When will I learn?

I keep hoping...
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posted by Desert Cat @ 11:28 PM | permalink

Fall is Finally Falling 



Temperatures have moderated from the torrid heights of August, but September has still been a bit hot for comfort. Check out this weekend though!

Yes, I think we can call those the first fall days of the season here in the desert.
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posted by Desert Cat @ 11:13 PM | permalink

Musical Interlude 

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posted by Desert Cat @ 10:57 PM | permalink

allAyurveda.com 

Source for healing herbs that are difficult or impossible to find in the US: ayurveda information and products

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posted by Desert Cat @ 9:53 PM | permalink

Ron Paul Report 

Congressman Raises $5 Million in (Presidential) Bid - New York Times
The presidential campaign of Representative Ron Paul of Texas, a candidate for the Republican nomination, announced yesterday that it had raised a surprising $5 million in the quarter that ended Sunday.

Though Mr. Paul, who ran as the Libertarian presidential candidate in 1988, continues to perform poorly in state and national polls, his supporters tend to show fierce enthusiasm, and they have a strong presence on the Internet.

Jesse Benton, a campaign spokesman, described Mr. Paul's political base as people on the "old right with a good mixture of tech-minded people" as well as younger adults.

By comparison, two candidates considered contenders in the Republican field, Mitt Romney and Fred D. Thompson, raised $10 million and $8 million in the quarter that ended Sept. 30, according to advisers, while Senator John McCain of Arizona reported raising $5 million.

The support has allowed the Paul campaign to expand both in reach and in size, and it has planned a second round of television spots (the first were broadcast in Iowa in August). And the campaign staff has been increased to 44 people from 10 over the last 10 weeks.

The $5 million figure more than doubled Mr. Paul’s first-quarter donations, and came in a period when most candidates reported a slowing in donations.


YES-S! Matching the McCainiac and not that far behind the quasi-conservatives.

Take that you statist disparagers!

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posted by Desert Cat @ 9:17 PM | permalink

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Can't Hold Back... 

Ooh! I cahn't stahnd it annimoir! I have to tell.

New tool for the farm:


Shipping Thursday, arriving early next week. The disk is not included, but shown by the seller as a demonstration of it's pulling ability. Not shown is the front bucket that replaces the front blade.

Those last trenches still open? First task to tackle with this new machine!

Update: Toy? Toy? Hmph! I don't see it says Tonka anywhere. You girls...

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posted by Desert Cat @ 9:43 AM | permalink

Monday, October 01, 2007

My Turn 

Ok I promised a view of my buffoonery too. Here it be. And since I tried and failed to add subtitles last night, I will just have to add my commentary here until I figure out how to do it right.

First though, I need to inquire. There is a gun or shooting accessory available for nearly every imaginable contingency. Therefore it must be true that someone, somewhere must be marketing a device that keeps one's brain from falling out when the buzzer sounds.

Right?

Because the first thing you notice is my brain rolling out and plopping on the table when the stage begins.


What? I just started and already the Range Officer is coaching me about the target I failed to engage. Then whatinnaSamHill am I doing going back again?? Aagh...I wasn't sure I hit 'im.

See part of my limitation in this stage is that I have three magazines for my .45 that hold a total of 23 rounds (if I start with one round in the chamber). There are thirteen paper targets to neutralize, and neutralization requires two shots anywhere or one shot in the small central "A" zone. So two times thirteen is twenty-six--three more shots than I have bullets. So I'm trying to conserve ammo here at the beginning by taking careful "A" zone shots. But that backtrack was really lame.

Next up, whatinnaSamHill am I doing engaging the targets in the *OPPOSITE ORDER THAT I CAREFULLY PLANNED TO* within each window. I'm telling ya, I'm working here with just the capacity of my brainstem and amygdala.

The idea is to engage the targets in the order they appear. Which means I'm supposed to be sweeping from left to right across each window. Am I doing that? Nope.

Remember that move Daisycat was doing, peering through the portal, trying to decide if she hit or not. Yup. See me doing the same thing? D'oh! Waste of time that.

Now watch carefully on the shotgun half. See after the last shot in the first window. Did I rack it? No. This becomes important in a minute.

Next window I'm trying to load a fourth shell and the damn thing won't go. WTF? Whatever. Move in and engage targets. **click** D'OH! Empty shell in the chamber. That explains it, eh?

By the time I get to the end of the stage I'm finally in my groove...a little bit late. (I should note however that I did finish fourth out of seven in my tactical class. That is an improvement.)

Ok, now that you have suffered through my video, go back and re-watch that vid of Jon to clear your palate.

Now on a serious note, this kind of stuff is invaluable for teaching you where your weak points are and hardening your skills for a real-world self-defense situation. Those of you who go to the range and shoot at stationary paper targets from a perfect stance at your booth, who think you are a good shot and skilled with your firearm...well, frankly you are deluded. Get your butt out to a competition like this, put yourself under the pressure of a competitive stage, and watch yourself fall apart. And even becoming skilled at these competitions provides you with only limited useful instincts for survival. Real world situations are even more complicated and fraught with hazard.

But at least it may make you humble enough to understand your limitations when the rubber meets the road for real.

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posted by Desert Cat @ 9:41 PM | permalink

Large Cast Iron Pots For Outdoor Cookery 

That would be..."cauldron". And apparently they're not found at kitchen stores or camping stores, but at "witch supplies" stores: Cast Iron Cauldrons

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posted by Desert Cat @ 5:53 PM | permalink





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