Canadians: Will They Ever Learn?

Don’t know what prompted this e-mail, but here is what I got from the Parrett Family (edited for content and humor):

Screw you, your a stupid [ronin] and you know any [maple syrup drinking] Canadian can kick your [intelligent] Yankee ass, eh.

So I responded:

Actually, I have beaten up Canadians a number of times, forcing each one to denounce his country as a worthless, frozen wasteland only notable because of its proximity to America. To disprove your assertion, I’ll beat any four-year-old Canadian girl you can find (you did say any Canadian) or you.
Anyway, thanks for using America’s internet, but please be more respectful of your superiors in the future. More e-mails like this, and Canada may be excluded from the internet entirely.
Cordially,
Frank J.
http://imao.us

October 15, 2004 Range Report (With Guest Star SarahK)

Friday, I went to the range with SarahK to teach her how to shoot. Since most of the range time was instructional, any bad shots you see on my targets were just to give SarahK examples of how not to shoot.
At the range were two other people shooting. It looked like a father and his twelve year old son, but it ended up they were sheriffs, the older teaching the younger quick reloads. This involved lots of rapid firing which made SarahK scared. Thus, I patted her on the head and said, “There there.”
When I remarked how young one of the sheriffs looked – using a phrase like, “There better not be a crime at a night club, because I don’t think he’s old enough to go in.” – the older sheriff told me that the average age for a sheriff in my area was 23 for the night shift.
Those wacky, law-enforcing kids.
Anyway, on to shooting.
It seemed like a good idea to start out with my Browning .22 target pistol, so I showed SarahK the basics of shooting.
Me Shooting the .22
My Target After 2 10rd Magazines
Now SarahK tried out shooting.
SarahK Figuring Out Which End to Point
Her Target
Notice how she didn’t waste the target like I did and instead put holes all over it.
Next we moved up to the Walther P99 .380 long (9mm for you Euro-weenies). I tried out a 16rd magazine, and got them almost all in the black.
Eat Your Heart Out, Bond
When SarahK tried it, there were some feeding problems where the bullet wasn’t getting struck by the firing pin. The sheriff recommended I clean it and grease the rails before trying again (I hadn’t fired this particular gun in a while). Sorry, SarahK (she really liked the look of the P99). When the sheriff saw my 16rd magazine, I told him out it was illegally shipped from Turkey before the AWB expired and to just keep that between him and me (no reason to get the law involved).
Onto my 1911s. For those new here, I have my Colt 1991 (old faithful), a Colt Mk IV Series 80 with adjustable sights, and a Springfield stainless steel Mil-Spec.
First I took out my Colt 1991 with Wilson Combat 8rd magazines and showed SarahK how it is done… sorta.
My Target
SarahK then tried out the .45s, starting with the 1991 and then moving to the Springfield which she thought was pretty looking. I put a sticker up the sheriff gave me to help highlight where she hit.
SarahK’s Target
I then tried the Springfield one-handed and tried the Mk IV with two hands (I’m still not sure I set the sights right).
My Target
SarahK then tried out the fancy Colt Mk IV again.
She’s so pretty… and SarahK Isn’t Bad Either
Her Target
Next was time for some dual-.45 fun. I set up two new targets and took my Colt 1991 and my Springfield (they’re pretty much symmetrical except that the Springfield is stainless steel).
Prepared for Action
Pow Pow Pow
Well, I landed six of the eight bullets on the left target, but only two on the right target even though I’m right-handed. The guy at the range, who apparently had seen people trying that before, wasn’t surprised. He said the reason was I was so focused on my off-hand that I neglected the other. Well, I’ll need more practice firing two guns standing still before I practice firing them while diving for cover.
I let SarahK put some more holes in the target I put only two bullets through using my 1991 which she thought fired the best out of the tree.
Her Results
I then took out my peacemaker and loaded it with some surprisingly expensive .45 Colt rounds. I had trouble with the gun before, so I tried to compensate for the sights. I fired at the target I had put six bullets through, but, after four shots, I hit the hanger. D’oh!
The Target
Notice the bullets at the top creeping upwards until they hit the metal clip.
I decided to let that gun be for now and took out my Colt Anaconda (.44 Magnum, baby!). The sheriff wondered why I would need a gun like that. I told him it was big and cool so I liked it. Also, what if I ran into a bear or an alligator? He admitted that if you shot an alligator with a 9mm, it would just look at you funny. Anyway, my dad had gotten a great deal on the gun ($350!). The sheriff then related how, when he was twenty, he went to buy a 1911 from a widow. It was an unused one meant for her husband who never shipped out during WWII. She then asked if $50 was too much for it. The sheriff said he replied, “No, that’s… not too much,” while knowing full well he was going to hell.
Anyhoo, look at my target after putting a dozen .44 rounds in it. Nothing but black.
My Target
It’s like it homes in on the target– except when SarahK uses it. At least she’s cute trying to hold up that heavy gun.
SarahK Holding My Anaconda
Her Target
Finally, it was time to try out my carry gun, my Kel-Tec .380.
SarahK Looking Cute
Now She Concentrates on the Target
We both used the same target (my shots are the ones nearest the center).
The Target
SarahK did very good for a beginner, and really enjoyed herself.
Isn’t She Precious?
Can’t wait to go shooting with her again.
UPDATE: Here is SarahK’s version… including a comic!

I Like Big Buts And I Cannot Lie

Best of the Web was one of the first to notice all of the buts Kerry qualifies his statements with, but each candidate does that. What I think is interesting is how the difference between Bush and Kerry can be the order of their statements around a “but.”
KERRY’S POSITION
I will never give another country veto power over our security, BUT America needs to factor in the views of other countries before making a military decision.
BUSH’S POSITION
America needs to factor in the views of other countries before making a military decision, BUT I will never give another country veto power over our security.
Here’s the challenge for my readers. Find more statements that define the difference between Bush and Kerry by just changing which side of the “but” the clauses are on (e.g. Kerry says, “a BUT b” while Bush “b BUT a”).
Have at it in the comments, ronin.

Know Thy Enemy: The Flu

With the shortage of flu vaccines, I sent my crack research staff to find out all they can about the flu.
FUN FACTS ABOUT THE FLU
* The name flu comes from the word influenza which means “flu.”
* Flu will just attack you for who you are with no regard to your stance on flu issues, much like terrorists.
* Flu is a virus and not technically classified as living, much like terrorists after they have had a run in with the U.S. military.
* If flu is after you, try running through streams to throw it off your track. You can also hide in a log. The flu never checks inside logs.
* Eventually you’ll have to make a stand against the flu. Counter its spinning flu kick with your advancing tiger claw.
* Since Vitamin C helps fight infections, drink orange juice until you puke.
* If flu is after you, have it chase you into a building. Then, sneak out and lock the door and burn the building down. The flu couldn’t have survived that… or could it!
* Flu can make you feel dizzy.
* Spinning around in a chair gives you flu.
* The reason flu hits at a particular time of year is because the flu union allows for excessive vacations. Stupid lazy flu!
* The main carrier of flu is monkeys. Kill monkeys.
* The flu can be deadly to the young or the elderly while only bothersome to the fit and healthy. At the same time, the fit and healthy can easily knock down the young and elderly and take their flu vaccines.
* I’m not getting a flu shot this year out of a combination that I’m physically fit and healthy and also lazy.
* Flu vaccines are made from a small flower that grows only once a year atop the fabled Mount Gilfindorf in England. Only one pure of heart can pluck the flower, but this year someone greedy took hold of it and it wilted. Thus we are short flu vaccines now… or so the legend goes.
* While it seems we should blame Britain for the flu vaccine shortage, it’s easier to blame Canada since they are closer. Also, angry phone calls will cost less.
* Have you killed monkeys yet?
* If you don’t have vaccine, fight off flu viruses with a bat. Remember, viruses are too small to see, so swing everywhere and smash everything!
* Symptoms of the flu are fever, vomiting, and your doctor saying, “You got the flu, dude!”
* Flu can fly. After it flies, you can say that flu flew. Did you know that as I knew?
* If you put lamb’s blood on your doorsill, the flu will pass you over and infect your stupid neighbors. Ha!
* It’s a myth that chicken soup helps cure the flu, but, if you hadn’t read this, it would have a pleasant placebo effect. Sorry.
* In a fight between Aquaman and the flu, Aquaman would have to lie in bed for days and be even more useless than usual.
* You know those creaking sounds you hear at night? That’s the flu coming for you! Run!
* The U.N. is busy trying to open talks with the flu. Soon, they should have some way of making kickbacks as it infects us.
* If you think you have the flu, you can test that out with a store bought flu test. Just vomit on the test wand, and, if the symbol turns purple, you have the flu. If it turns maroon, you’re healthy. Or vice-versa.
* People with the flu may shuffle through the streets trying to give their flu to others in their delirium. Use regular zombie handling precautions for this.
* The main thing to know about fighting the flu is to not be such a crybaby. Who cares about the flu? There are people dying in some country right now I’ve never heard of nor care to know about, so consider yourself lucky.