Daddy Radar

At three AM I woke up in a perfectly quiet house for apparently no reason. Something was wrong, but what was it? It was then I heard the coughing from my daughters room. I got up and gave her some mucus medicine and cough syrup and hopefully she'll be able to get back to sleep soon. She was awake enough to tell me she liked "Jacky Legs" (from the movie 'Kangaroo Jack') and asked me to keep the bathroom light on long enough so she could get her blankets back on, before telling me goodnight. She's cute. *grin* Anyway, I've got to call her doctor again later this morning and try to get her seen again. She was seen five days ago for the same thing and she hasn't gotten any better. I think it's time to bring out the big guns, medicinally speaking. If you'd keep her in your thoughts I'd appreciate it.

It's weird how I can sense somethings wrong even in my sleep. It's that way also when I'm out and about, especially when I'm with my kids. Not only do I have to worry about cars and such, I'm constantly scanning the area for threats. Parking lots are the worst. Kids are impulsive to begin with, so it's important to keep an eye on them. The youngest always has me hold her hand until we're inside, where she takes her seat in the cart if it's a grocery store. My vigilance doesn't stop in fact until we're back home, not even in the car.

Some might call me paranoid, like a smart-assed Aussie blogger (what a maroon!)I read recently, but unlike him, I don't expect the government to take care of me 24/7. I guess it all boils down to personal responsibility versus blundering through life in Condition White and expecting your betters (yeah right) to keep you from harm. Some may say I'm paranoid, but I say I'm only being realistic. It's funny how the same people who accuse you of being paranoid because you own/carry a gun, will think it perfectly appropriate for you to have fire extinguishers and smoke alarms. What, are you expecting a fire? It's a cold and dark world out there and you have to be prepared.

The world doesn't care whether you live or die. It's not fair and it sucks, but that's just the way it is, and it's up to you to protect yourself and your family. Pretending the world is all teddy bears, vanilla fluff and unicorns does no one any favors and can get you killed. Even in Utopian Australia.

Stay Safe!

Wear protection!

Nope, I'm not talking about condoms, though I'd say they're a good idea as well, I'm talking about safety glasses and hearing protection.

As a demonstration in regards to wearing safety glasses, I'm reminded of a round of Bulgarian brass cased 7.62x54R which ruptured in my Mosin Nagant M91/30 one day, several months back. When I pulled the trigger there was a weird sound like a high pressure air hose had been cut and my face felt like it did when I got badly sunburned at an air show a few years back. I looked down at my rifle and there was smoke coming out of places where it didn't normally come out of. I worked the bolt and out popped the spent case with a "T" shaped rupture. The bore turned out to be clear so the bullet had made it out just fine. I double checked the rifle just to make sure everything was alright, it was. Those M91/30's are built like tanks. For that matter, most firearms should be able to handle a case rupture. Anyway, a picture of the case is below. I keep it to remind me of the other important firearm safety rules beyond the basic four. If' I hadn't been wearing eye protection I doubt I'd be able to see today.

Learn Gun Safety With Eddie Eagle!

There goes that evil NRA gun lobby again! Teaching gun safety to kids. Of all the nerve! How dare they!

*snark*

Worry About the Right Things

Yet another thought provoking article by John Stossel about truth and perceptions. Of interest to gun owners is the following quote:

"Here's another example. What do you think is more dangerous, a house with a pool or a house with a gun? When, for "20/20," I asked some kids, all said the house with the gun is more dangerous. I'm sure their parents would agree. Yet a child is 100 times more likely to die in a swimming pool than in a gun accident.

Parents don't know that partly because the media hate guns and gun accidents make bigger headlines. Ask yourself which incident would be more likely to be covered on TV."

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