Happy Birthday Melissa!

An amazing young woman, out on the front lines doing the Lord's work, is having a birthday today. Please join me in wishing Melissa at Psalm 19 a happy day.

Newbius

Stories

Had a wonderful evening with OldNFO. Good times. One of the things that we discussed was how much of our history, our heritage, is being lost because the stories aren't being told. If you have a family member who is of the "Greatest Generation", please get them to tell their story.

To them, it may not be anything important. To them, their life is just what they did to get by. To us, it is a touch-point of a time and a people who were more important in shaping the world as we know it than anybody realizes. Their stories, their histories, need to be captured. Lest we forget who we are as a people, a nation, an ideal.

Pax,

Newbius

DC Area Blogshoot

The Miller is hosting a blogshoot at the NRA Range in February. Go over to his place and RSVP. If you are local to me, we might be able to carpool if required.

I plan on going, The Good Lord willing (and the creek don't rise).

Good times.

Thought for the day, A Girl and her gun

Please go read A Girl and Her Gun today. Then, think about what she says.

There are stark differences between those who are in-power (or who seek it), and those who empower. My experience with the gun community, and especially the gun blogging community, is that they are folks who want to empower you, and not gain power over you.

They are friends (even the ones I haven't yet met).

Pax,

Newbius

Pizza Party Tonight

Hosting a party for about 35 college kids from GMU Cru tonight. (George Mason University chapter of Campus Crusade for Christ) Homemade pizza, lots of music and games, laughter and joy. I can't wait. :)

Pax,

Newbius

Blogroll additions

18 Wheels and a 1911, An NC Gun Blog, and DragonBlasts join the sidebar. Go read them.

Newbius

ETA: Chasing Freedom, The better half of '18 Wheels'...

Home again

Arrived home and have unpacked the car. Lots of guns to clean, maybe some pictures to post later. Thank you Breda, Heath, and Amanda for everything. NorthCoast II is in the bag. I hope to be able to play again next year

Packing Lists

Food:
Pizza Dough - check
Pizza Sauces - check
Pizza Toppings - check
Sandwich Makings - check
Beer - check
Wine - Check
Water - Check

Fun:
Rifle - Check
Other rifle - check
Other rifle - check
Shotgun - check
Shotgun - check
shotgun - check
handgun - check
handgun - check
handgun - check
handgun - check
ammo for all...oh yeah! - check

Clothes, snarky T-shirts, grooming kit, pillow... - check

Spouse - Hell Yeah! CHECK!

Off to Northcoast Blogshoot II...See you there!

Vicious Circle 106 - Disaster

Yep. That about sums it up. It'll fill some time for you.

Newbius

In the heat of the Summer

So here we are, in the heat of the summer, in the heat of passionate argument about the future path of our nation. I am watching the proceedings in Washington with bemused detachment. The Evil party wants to spend us into oblivion, in order to retain power over whatever is left after they destroy our structure. The Stupid party just wants to do the same, but more slowly, as long as they get to keep their jobs too. This delicate balance is upset by the TEA party who just want...well nobody is really sure what they want, except it better have a lower price tag on it.

And me? I am going to the range to meet up with my friends, trade some stories, and then have lunch. I might meet with a couple of 'subversives' while I am at it. Got to keep them guessing, you know.

Know who you are. Know what you stand for. Stay alert. Maintain your networks, because Tribes are important. Remember to have some fun. The bastards hate it when you are smiling...

Newbius
|||

Vicious Circle - Fast and Felonious

Find it HERE. The usual disclaimers apply: Not to be considered legal advice, may cause pain and swelling, if your "condition" persists for more than 4 hours, seek medical help immediately.

NSFW, of course...

Mission: Bolivia

Mission: Bolivia is a money bomb request Facebook support page whose goal is to send a teacher to Bolivia to instruct High School youth at a Christian mission center. I have met the teacher, and she is wonderful. Due to a time schedule that compressed unexpectedly (and not the way our economic outlook is 'unexpected'), she needs to raise more money, more quickly, than originally anticipated.

Please share the link, and support if you can. We would like to raise $25,000 in two weeks. $1 or all of it...whatever you are willing to do. Please share the link.

Pax,

Newbius

ETA: The monetary support is requested, the Facebook status updates are real, and the goal is worthy. And, yes, I have pledged my own money to the cause first before asking anybody else to join me.

Community

A couple of days ago, a good friend of mine was unintentionally (intentionally??) smeared by a link aggregator, who copied/linked/stole without attribution a picture of her and posted it as 'porn'. I won't even call that person a blogger, as there doesn't seem to be much original thought there.

My good friend politely asked that the photo that he stole be taken down, and the blog title be changed to something less misogynistic. He refused. The gun blogging community is taking action in shunning this person and contacting his advertisers.

Good for them.

In my post below, "Painting targets on our clay feet", I tried to point out that we as an interest group need to move past the need to 'porn' our sport. Especially when it comes to portraying the fairer sex and their participation in our community. There are plenty of positive examples of women in our sport who are accomplished. There is no need to 'porn' them. They should be celebrated because of their accomplishments, not because they are women. I am quite sure that Julie Golob Golosky, Molly Smith, Tam, and Breda can all out-shoot me. I am not threatened by this at all. In fact, I welcome it. Let me buy some more ammo for them if it helps advance our sport in a positive light to all women.

Some of the comments on my 'clay feet' post assumed that I objected to the Lucky Gunner 'ammo waitresses', even though I tried to be very clear that this was not the case. That post had been stewing in my brain for many months prior because of my interactions with my wife, daughter, sons, and their female friends.

The 'gun culture' has an uphill climb with women. Try and deny it, but that is a fact. Any tour through your average gun store with your wife, girlfriend, or daughter in-tow will affirm this. And, we need to fix it. It starts with us.

Speaking of Lucky Gunner: As a matter of policy, I do not accept advertising. I link to the Second Amendment Foundation prominently, but accept no money from them. I believe in what they stand for and the work that they do. Beginning today, you will see a link to Lucky Gunner right below the SAF logo, in response to their support of Breda. I will not accept any funds from them, nor will I post an ad from them. However, they have shown themselves to be a part of our community. For this, I thank them.

Pax,

Newbius

Blogger-versary

Three years ago I put my first post out there for any and all to see. It wasn't much, but it was my mission statement for what I wanted to do here. I did not know at the time that this would turn into anything. It was (and is) intended as an outlet for me to say what I feel needs to be said, without breaking televisions, or alienating my family, or scaring the pets.

Since then, I have met the most wonderful group of people-the "gun-blogger" community-through interaction on this blog. You people are amazing. I am proud to call many of you my friends.

For all who have stopped in over the past three years; for all those who have linked to this page; and for all those who have added their wisdom and insight through comments: THANK YOU.

Pax,

Newbius

Quiet Enjoyment

While at the NRA Convention, we were invited to dinner and drinks at The Tilted Kilt. JayG covered this story in some detail, but I thought I might add some context to it.

We are in a sports bar. The group size is 30-40 people. The beers have flowed a little bit. We are in the presence of three actual celebrities (Breda, Unc, and JayG), as well as two Top Shot winners (Iain Harrison and Chris Reed) and some people who are just plain glad to be alive. Into this mix, "Grumpy Old Guy" and his buddy "Pouty" sit down near our group. The noise level is well over 100dB. Pictures are being taken...

So, in this atmosphere I take the below picture and Grumpy Old Guy cold stares me and jumps up.

Click to Embiggen

I am on the other side of the tables from him, but Iain Harrison and Breda are right next to his table (and the subject of the picture taking), and Grumpy Old Guy basically gets up into Iain's grille and says we are disturbing his quiet enjoyment(!?!) of the place with our flashes. Said we should quit having fun, or something (I didn't hear the rest of the exchange). Then he stomps back to his table and grumbles at his friend...

I decide to take another picture. Then, I sit back down.

Click to Embiggen

Grumpy Old Guy is now cold-staring me like I am a criminal and maybe hoping to intimidate me into being a good little boy... (Yeah, right!). So, I get out the HD Video camera (no flash on that one) and begin filming him. Yes, I know it was childish...but I had had enough. Apparently, he did too, and called for his check and left. If he had continued being such an overt sourpuss to us, I was ready to ask the manager to put the replay of the Royal Wedding onto the big screen above us. I am sure it wouldn't have cost me more than $100 to get it up there.

No, I am not a nice guy. ;)

Pax,

Newbius

Light posting fare here

Only because the Holidays are the time that I spend entertaining family (and a few friends). So instead of reading fare, I get to do eating fare.

This week will have a pizza party for the college friends, all homemade from scratch. The recipes are posted elsewhere on the blog (tags: pizza, more pizza) and are very tasty.

This Saturday, I host an annual family party for the relatives on the East Coast. The past many years the menu has consisted of roasted prime rib, a scampi-style shrimp of my own recipe, and numerous side dishes. All of this served with good wine and loving fellowship.

This year, I am planning to mix it up slightly. Instead of the traditional baked potatoes, I will do a twice-baked version as well as a pan of Au gratin Potatoes Alfredo. And, instead of prime rib, I will be doing a couple of whole Tenderloin roasts (Chateubriand), one wrapped in bacon, one plain.

I post this only because I have not ever done a whole tenderloin before...(yes, I am living dangerously). I have researched many recipes-including Alton Brown's slow-roasted version-coming to the conclusion that there is no 'right' way to roast one, but that it is easy to do incorrectly-no matter the method. Any pointers my readers have (Brigid?) would be welcomed.

I hope you all had a merry Christmas. I pray that we will all have an amazing new year. Stay safe.

Pax,

Newbius

Driving Across Country, Part 2

After a wonderful Thanksgiving feast with family in San Diego, we packed up the car to begin the return trip. The plan was to take I-15 North, and hook up with the I-70 East in the middle of Utah. We departed around 10:30 PM local time on Thursday night, full of turkey and stuffing and new memories to cherish.

My lovely bride took us as far as Las Vegas, where we changed drivers, got some gas and some coffee, and took a slow tour through the underbelly of society. Black Friday came early in Sin City and the shoppers were out in force, as were the prostitutes. It seems as if the LVPD was only interested in traffic enforcement as the wheels of commerce were in full spin...

Leaving Las Vegas behind us, we began the long climb up into Utah. The Virgin River Gorge is very pretty (I have driven this route before), but in the dark, dodging falling rocks, and with temps below freezing, it is just a tense serpentine blur.

We got breakfast in St. George, Utah, then headed up the snow-dusted central spine of the state to Interstate 70. As the sun rose to our right, the cliffs and breaks on our left lit up in a wonderful palette of green, yellow, orange and red. The road was clear. The temperature hovered in the single-digits. The speed limit was 80... :) Time to make tracks.

Shortly after changing onto the I-70, it was time for another diver change. I got to watch as the surreal scenery of central and eastern Utah gave way to the high plains and canyons that approach the western slope of the Rockies. Although I didn't sleep, the rest was welcomed as I needed to take over driving again near the Colorado border.

Driving along the Colorado River for 2 solid hours, we got to see scenery that postcard photographers can only dream about. The temperature was below freezing and there was a dusting of snow on the rocks and plains, and the shores of the river were coated in ice. The river gorges gradually gave way to the ski towns of Aspen, Vail, and Breckenridge. The roads through the mountains were icy in spots, but no chains were required. The drivers showed as much caution for each other as the skiers do. I was driving at a black diamond pace. They were flying along much faster than I.

We exited the mountains and dropped down into the Denver metropolitan area before sundown. We toured some of the suburbs there, trying to get a feel for an area that might become our next home. As the last of the twilight faded in the west, we pulled into the driveway at our destination for the night, Monument, Colorado.

This leg covered roughly 1,175 miles in about 19 hours including stops. The visit with friends was a welcome break. Their hospitality, food, and beers were very much appreciated. The 10 hours of sleep were much needed.

More in part three...

Thanksgiving

I have many things to be thankful for. Mostly, I am thankful for the continued blessings of friends and family. I hope that your "Day of Giving and Thanks" is special. Cherish those who are close to you. Remember those whom you are away from.

Be well.

Pax,

Newbius

Vicious Circle 73 is up

Vicious Circle 73 "Crank of the Ancients". Another long, slow-motion, alcohol-fueled train wreck. 3 1/2 hours of, well, Vicious Circle. Go get you some.

Newbius

Best Gun for a Woman?

Breda asks the question. I think the answer is "Whatever she will shoot".

In Breda's case, this is just about anything (once). But, her real love is rifles. In her post "zen of the rifle", she eloquently describes the mental aspects necessary to master the rifle. So, when she posted that her favorite gun of the day at the North Coast Blog Meet was my DPMS LR-308 rifle, I was blown away.



Thank you, Breda. I am honored. Let's do it again some time.

Pax,

Newbius