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About I guess I'm one of the "old" guys on this site. I am 39. I've got a wife and 2 sons. We live in the country and due to finances have a serious DIY mentality. We homeschool the kids. When it's not hunting season you'll usually find my kids fishing. I just work to pay for their ammunition and fishing gear. My degree is in Ministry (because I have an overactive conscience). My wifes' degree is in Art (because she thinks poverty is cool). I have worked in the professional protection (private security) industry for about 10 years. I also work with 2 small non-denominational churches. Before that I was a missionary in the mountains of New Guinea for about 7 years. I speak Melanesian Pidgin (fluently), read Koine Greek (poorly), and stumble through French. I've owned over 40 motorcycles in the last 20 years as well as a few unusual cars,('70 MGB, volcano damaged Mercedes, '85 Vette, '62 Land Rover, '70 VW fastback, etc), but I really want to get my pilots' license and a small plane. I have a history of blowing stuff up, burning stuff down and a few spectacular vehicle mishaps (I ran over myself with the '62 Land Rover). Politically I'm a Constitutionalist/ Libertarian, (ie- votewaster), with a strong opposition to governmental interference (especially Federal) in private matters. My Christianity is of the "old school" variety, searching for the best way to apply the teachings (and lifestyle)of Christ in a modern world. Admittedly, it is easier said than done!
THat was great! ANd the car in the picture looks a lot like my old '70. Man I miss that car. My Vette is fun, but you could really feel the road in those old MGs. It was truly like a big boys go-cart.
Are they a fast car at all? From the engine not how small the body style? I am just glad that wasn't real, those "MSV's" that he was talking about in the story just sounded like pieces of junk.
Most of them weren't all that fast. But they did make a MGBGT with a V8. And I think there was an MGC with a 6-cyl. Mostly they were just fun because they were light, pretty good handling, easy to work on, and open topped (except the GT models).
Yeah, that would make a good swap. For a while a lot of people were dropping in GM V-6s. They were reasonably light but in the 200 bhp neighborhood. But a rotary could be even better. For anything heavy though, people had to really build up the front suspension, and still lost handling abilities.
In that photo you look so much like my mate sam I had to wonder, you with long hair and a bit extra belly, odd thing is he's 18 but looks older than you...
I'm still waiting for the next couple of years - My mother started greying at 18/19 and I have her colouring, so you may not look too bad next to me...
I had a friend that was completely grey by age 21, and another friend who started going bald by 18. At least it looks like I'll get to keep all of my hair!
You sure do! The current one, because you're holding a gigantic gun and kinda scowling, I get the feeling you're about to shoot me. I think if I saw you coming looking like that, I'd run... LOL!
Hello! Wanted to mention pseudo-publicly (if you haven't already guessed) that I'm quite enjoying our discussions. It is far more fun to "argue," in the proper Socratic sense, with someone thoughtful and intelligent, than to argue with closed-minded fools. Thanks!
By the way, thank you for the pointer to you son's I'ble! Very well done, and you've certainly raised him well. Polite and respectful; not only did he thank me for my comment, I noticed that he individually responded to everyone who made a comment. I hope I can do as well with my daughter...
He's a good kid (takes after Mrs. Skunkbait). He's in MS right now helping take care of my grandparents. It's hard to raise a kid right these days. I've always leaned heavily on morals, manners, respect for the elderly, and compassion for the helpless. It's funny, he'll rake leaves/cut grass/haul firewood for the little old ladies in the neighborhood without complaining (and without pay), but when I tell him to clean his room, you'd think I'd asked for a kidney or something!
Hey, just ran across (and read) both of your weapon-safety I'bles. Really, really impressive and professional. Sounded a lot like the briefings we used to get before going out to the range (since we reservists only got to do that once a year, we'd obviously forget everything between times :-). Do you (have you considered) actually teaching safety courses? I mean for ~~idio~~ civilians :-)
I've thought about that. I rarely have the time these days. I used to teach a "Ladies Self Defense" course, and a "Less-than-Lethal Force" (pressure points, etc.) course for security/law enforcement. If I ever get a little more time, I'd like to do more instructing. I don't want everyone to run out and arm themselves, but I sure would like to de-mystify the concept of safe gun-handling. I grew up around it, and (even though I am cautious) think of guns as just another tool, no more dangerous than machinery, electricity, and vehicles.
I see your point. I grew up in a very anti-gun (middle class suburbia) household. My first exposure to guns was visiting my aunt's farm outside of Taos, and getting to shoot Coke cans (okay, beer cans :-) off the fence, when I was 10. Then I joined the Army before college, and got some good basic weapons training. I am still very much against having weapons in my house (I live in middle-class suburbia, after all, and don't hunt), but I don't consider myself "anti-gun." I just wish some of the more vocal NRA/Second-Amendment/gun-nuts out there could read and understand some of the excellent I'bles you've written on the subject.
Kelsey, you DO take other measures to protect your family don't you? As fathers, we have to protect our families from lots of things. Certainly we don't want our (untrained) youngsters to get their hands on a firearm. But I'm always concerned about armed criminals. I don't want to be the poor guy who brings a knife to a gunfight. I'm actually mostly a pacifist, but I feel a moral obligation to protect my family at all costs. If I am being attacked, I might choose not to defend myself. But if my wife or kids are in danger, I wouldn't hesitate to respond with lethal force. About 12 years ago, someone tried to kidnap my oldest son. My wife and I immediately got concealed carry permits. We carry about 75% of the time. I actually had to show my gun once, to stop a serious crime, but I've never had to USE it. I certainly hope I never have to use deadly force, but I'd feel horrible if I were unable to defend my family in an emergency. I'm sure you understand that this is not a criticism (at all!!) of your point of view. I'm just trying to understand how other families deal with serious threats. Having been in the law enforcement/security culture for many years, I'm sure my views are coloured by my on-duty experiences.
Sure -- alarm system, deadbolts, etc. I've also lived all of my life in suburban communities with a fairly high tax base (not "affluent" per se, but not poverty-class either), so the crime rates have been low and the police response times fast. Maybe I'm just complacent.
It's probably my background and career as a scientist, but I take reliable statistics seriously.
It it not at all obvious to me that the per capita rate (I don't mean news stories, I mean the FBI's national and regional crimee stats) of successful in-home crime prevention by gun owners is any where near the cumulative rate of accidental and deliberate use of firearms against family members. The difference in 2004 was at least a factor of three, and in some urban areas more than a factor of five.
The low probability of benefit just doesn't seem worth the high risk. This is, as you note, a personal decision, and also one that is affected by individual circumstance. Put in the same position you were in (a demonstrated and specific threat), I would probably follow the same path. Thankfully I don't have to know that now.
. I don't think it's so much the LE/S culture as it is the Arkansas (and Rural South, in general) mess-with-my-family-or-property-and-you-deserve-whatever-you-get culture. Although your LE/S background probably enhances things. . Not that I want to do so, but I'm ready, willing, and able to use lethal force if someone invades my home. Taught my ex and daughter how to safely/efficiently/accurately handle rifles and handguns, too. Out on the street, I'm just as likely to turn tail and run - inside my house is totally different.
You know me too well Nacho. WHen my mother was about 10, the state claimed "imminent domain" to take a portion of my great-grandfather's farm. (He'd offered to GIVE them another portion, but that's not what they wanted.) My g-grandmother went around picking and throwing away survey-markers, as if she were just weeding the garden. My mom, got my g-grandfather's old double-barrel and sat on the porch, trying to intimidate the workers. Thank goodness she couldn't find the shells!
It's kind of funny how a society can assign moral values (good or bad) to inanimate objects and substances. I don't reckon anything (material) as "good" or "bad" in and of itself. If we try hard enough, I'm pretty sure there's nothing we can't find an "evil" purpose for.
Mr. Commonsense? Is that you? I know you'd been doing poorly for the last 15 years or so, but I was pretty sure you breathed you last earlier this week!
I think my dad would have aspired and loved to have lived a life like yours! He loves hunting and the sorts, but that can't be made possible in the location we are in Britain, laws 'n all ;) Do you pay tax? Electricity and everything?
Oh yeah. I pay plenty of taxes! I'm considering making all of my own electricity, but for right now I pay for it. We have a good well, but we also have public water too. My kids would like to move up to my hunting property. There is a spring for water and no electricity. I would enjoy it too, but it's quite far from where I work.
oohh, look what i found floating around... London Times Obituary of the late Mr. Common Sense 'Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Elastoplast to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing
if you don't have time for many instructables, how come you comment so much (just curious) p.s. i like your new avatar, i'm getting a mad scientist vibe from it, but that's just me...
I almost always comment while I'm at work. I'm really only busy when I have to make someone else do their job, or when we have an emergency. I can comment, and edit and write ibles while on the job, but can't do any real picture work or development.
Hey skunkbait! I just wanted to acknowlage your "About Me" section, it seems to be the most well-written "About Me" on the site that I have read so far!