Where's Obama?

  Weirdest story of the month is the President ignoring the disastrous ice storm through the central mideast.  Some parts of Kentucky have been without power or water for more than a week now, in freezing weather.  

  Obama's response?  Turn up the Whitehouse thermostat to orchid-growing temps and serve 100.00 a pound Waygu steaks for everyone.  Some staffer should remind him that Kentucky and Ohio are some of the 57 states.

  Enter David Strange, hustler, hard working entrepreneur and (happy to report) a Texan.

  Obama may be indifferent to freezing white people who didn't vote for him, but David sees an opportunity.

Update:  I'm calling Kay Bailey Hutchinson's office and ask why David Strange isn't nominated for the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Update:  Remember when Bush staff moved into the West Wing and the "w" was missing from most of the keyboards?  Didn't hear anything about "o" being missing.  Did anyone?

The Audacity of Hope and the Reality of Pork

  Mark Steyn not only gets it, he's funny.   Instapundit, many others link this same article.

Shooting while Rome Burns

  While congress and the president are busy driving the Republic into a shallow grave some of us are busy informing and enlightening our fellow men without enslaving them or future generations.

  New video up of Rol Coggins and Richard Schultz shooting the Texas Concealed handgun course of fire.  Rol handles the commentary and Richard shoots the heck out of the target with a Les Baer 45acp.  

   Rol Coggins teaches this class.  You could do a lot worse than having him teach you.

  Unlike government programs this didn't cost anything, nor does it infringe on anyones freedom or pocketbook.  It just promotes safe and responsible pistolry.

Update:  61 hits on Rol by Sunday night.

My Political Day

  A week or two ago, driving in from College Station, the Senate Republican Committee called.  John Cornyn is the head of it, my Senator.   Sounded fine and I have sent money before to politicians, (though I would like to have it back in several cases).

  I was driving so no credit carding- I asked them to send a notice by US mail.

  Today they called asking where their money was.  Funny thing, about the time I got the notice I also read that Senator Cornyn had voted FOR the appointment of Obama's Treasury guy, Geithner, who was tax cheat.  I sat at my desk and asked myself, "would Cornyn hire a guy for HIS staff whom he knew to be a tax cheat and a lame liar?"  

  The answer seemed to be "NO" and the paperwork got set to the side.

  So today, on the phone, without using profanity or abusing the person on the phone, I went off.  Vote to help fools without my help, thanks.

  I've had it with half-measures.  If the Republicans want my money they are going to have to grow some big, hairy balls and dangle them in the faces of the enemies of the Republic.

  I'm sending the money to the Texas State Rifle Association.   

Update:  Stimulus?  Remember the Dopeler Effect?  That's the tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter as they come at you rapidly.  

Daily Deercam

  They sure cut it close.  Four coons on cam in one photo.  Too many.

  It's like they know where the trigger plate is.  Trap was still open this afternoon.  May have to go to catfood, the secret weapon.

  Quorum at the other cam.

  Actually SAW some deer today- the big doe with two buck fawns.  They look hale and healthy.

  Pileated Woodpeckers in the bottom along with may Great Blue Herons setting up their rookery.  Noisy down there.

  Too many coons on both cams. 

Update:  Crows all over both cams.  Eventually I'm going to catch one.

Capitol Views

  GW as Governor next to Ann Richards.  The Texas Governors are in order around the Rotunda.

  The Texas House Chamber.

  Surrender of Santa Ana in the Rotunda Lobby.

  Crockett in the Rotunda Lobby.

 Many horses and guns outside.  This is Terry's Texas Rangers.

  All images with my Nikon D300 and 18-200 lens.  No problem photographing, as long as you don't use a flash.

Austin Visit.

  Liberty looking South off the top of the dome.

Inside Rotunda.

  I think this is in the Senate Chamber, which seemed to have slightly better art than the House.

   Painting of San Jacinto in the Senate.

  Rotunda detail at the top of the dome.

   Down to the Texas Capitol with Tyler Junior College folks for Community College Day.  

  Very impressive staff at TJC.  The Director or Student Activity and the Provost are very impressive folks, along with TJC President and other staff.  First rate people.  Sharp group of students along as well.  They took about 30 folks.  There were a thousand or more students from 50 community colleges on hand.

  We toured the Capitol inside and out including the new extension.  I'd never been in the underground extension before and it was quite nice, though a little supermaxy for me.  Had that buried feel.  Be interesting to know what else is hewn out of the chalk back there. 

  Watched the Senate and House in action and Rep. Bryan Hughes had time to meet with the group and take questions.  Senator Eltife saw us for a moment, but was locked in financial meetings.  We missed Rep Berman.

  Iconic paintings all around.  Big staircases and wonderful views.  It's a classic working building.

  Security was run by the Texas dept of Public Safety.  Officers posted all over where they could be in eye contact with each other.  They wore really thick body armor.  I don't know if they are expecting trouble or just being ready.  They all were professionally friendly.  Good folks, though of course, the usual holes in security.  Bag check and metal detector to get into Senate and house Chambers.  They did about as well as you can expect without turning into a travesty like the TSA.

  Everyone ought to visit the Texas Capitol.

Daily Deercam

  Squirrel on the cam.  Happens all the time.  They keep the cam case sandy.

  Two deer walking past the cam.

  Unhappy young coon.

  Crows at the cam later in the day.

  Saw a crow flying with a twig in its mouth.  The Great Blue herons are fighting and clacking in the tall pines over the creekbottom.  It's the edge of spring.

  One young coon in the trap.  Cutting the war off after tomorrow.  He made six and that's enough.

Local Self Defense Against Burglars.

  A little LSDAB.  14-year old burglars and no mention of what type gun.  I think this is subsidized housing.  Lucky no one was hurt worse.  Shooting through doors pretty sketchy tactics, though burglars deserve whatever happens to them.

  She could have just called for help.

Update:  Sailorcurt has the correct approach in comments.  SLAP leather, you polecats!

Yep

  Heartless folks.  Arrogant too.

Bird Cam

  Just a LGB* on the wing frozen by the deercam flash.

  Other news: the Good Doctor floated another nutria with his .177 for a total of five.  Nice shooting.

  One of the hunters shot a doe at Clarksville.  Hope to hunt there before the end of Feb.  300 lb pig entered Nirvana as well.

  Up to five in the current Butler Creek coon war.  Going to move the trap I think.

  New Lyman Flash hole deburring tool in.  Wonderful.  The Sinclair is better, but 2X the cost.

*Little Gray Bird.

Update:  The Doctor makes it a six pack of death.  How many Nutrias in a lake do you think?  The obvious answer is:  Not as many as a few days ago.

Update:  Eight.  Only 500 rounds in a tin of ammo....He says the buzzards are not bothering to leave between meals.

End Times

  It's not just the Bush/Rove destruction of the Republicans and the election of Obama.