Illegal Alien named Texas Man of the Year

Texas' immigrant population has increased over 32.7 percent since 2000, according to the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C. Now to top off everything, The Dallas Morning News has named the illegal alien "Texas Man of the Year." I guess it includes all the roofers, road crews, waiters and MS13 gang members. If I had anything to do with picking this years award, there would be some stipulations on who could qualify.

1. You must have liability auto insurance.

2. You must have medical insurance.

3. You must not violate the laws of Texas or the United States.

4. You must speak English when you are in Texas.

5. You must not be a gang member.

6. You must act like a sane person when you drive the roads of Texas.

Now that is just a few of the things I would like to see illegal aliens (political correct term- undocumented workers) do before they are eligible for such an award.

While investigating the recent “Mad Cow Disease," the federal government was able to track the history of a cow suspected of carrying the disease from the state of Washington to it’s birthplace in Canada almost three years later, right down to the stall. They were also able to track down her off-spring and locate them on the farms that they were sold to. There are 13 million illegal aliens wandering around the U.S. that the federal government seems incapable of finding. Does something seem wrong here? Don't expect President Bush to do anything about it, he is a pansy when it comes to controlling our borders. If we only had someone like the late President Dwight Eisenhower in office today, he did something about illegal aliens and the below article is good reading on how he did it.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0706/p09s01-coop.html

Bob

Give Me a Shotgun Any Day or Night

Now that Christmas has come and gone, hope all my friends had plenty to eat, spent time with family and received lots of new gadgets and toys. Old Bob made out good, new accessories for my home defense shotgun. While installing the new heat shield on my shotgun, a nephew told me that he bought a new Remington 870 shotgun and keeps it by his bed. I told him that it was a good idea but questioned him about the type of ammunition he loaded in it. After he told me it was full of #00 Buck, I had to explain the need to rethink his ammo choice.

When it comes to home defense, a shotgun is superior to a handgun in terms of being able to stop a violent intruder as quickly as possible. I would never take on an armed bad guy with a handgun if I could lay my hands on a good shotgun. There is a very wide range of ammunition for the shotgun. Most folks recommend #00 buckshot for home defense. I agree that buckshot will certainly do the job. However, buckshot has its drawbacks. Buckshot and slugs both have great penetration power but will go through several sheetrock or panel walls. You will render an intruder dead in his tracks with #00 buckshot but you'll need lots of remodeling to get your house back in order. You want to minimize wall pentetration and protect innocent victims. My advise to him was to use a lighter load #8 birdshot. You can do an effect job in detering a home invader with birdshot and not worry about too much damage to your home. Remember your children in other rooms in the house. Stray shots could easily harm the innocent bystander. One should always remember this with handguns too, a .45 caliber is going to travel through many walls if you miss your target, so caution on what handgun you arm yourself with too.

Now that I've explained why I recommend birdshot inside the home, I will tell you what type of configuration I use for home defense in my shotgun. My shotgun has a 7 magazine capacity plus one in the chamber (always one in the chamber). My first 4 rounds are #8 birdshot with 4 rounds of #00 buckshot to follow. Hopefully, I've defused the situation after the first 4 shots, if not, I have 4 heavy loads to follow and end the problem. Then I have 2 side-saddles on my shotgun, with 11 extra rounds of ammunition, a combination of birdshot, slugs and buckshot. Others may differ on my thinking but I feel this is best for me.

Back in 2005, I had the chance to meet Clint Smith, President of Thunder Ranch, an expert in firearms training. If I'm good in 2008, maybe, just maybe, Santa will bring me a gift certificate for a 5 day firearms course at Thunder Ranch. Hint, hint.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FhgwHQCJwWw

All of you have a safe week and a Happy New Year.

Bob

Port Arthur Grinch

To the grinch who stole Christmas from all the little boys and girls in Port Arthur, please come to my house because I want to talk to you. On Friday night, some of the lowest life forms on Earth broke into the Port Arthur Salvation Army Toy Distribution Center. They made off with $10,000 worth of toys, clothes and shoes. This program provides gifts for disadvantaged children at a time of year when every child should enjoy nothing but joy and happiness. So again I invite the person or persons responsible to come to my house to get the gift I have for you.

To all the honest hard working people, have a wonderful and blessed Christmas.

Bob

Criminals Beware- Texas Castle Domain

On September 1, 2007, Governor Rick Perry signed a new law that expands Texans' existing right to use deadly force to defend themselves without having to retreat in their homes, cars and workplaces. So criminals need to beware that Grandma, housewife or Bubba with a firearm isn’t going to take it anymore.


The bill is an extension of the current "castle doctrine" in Texas, under which a homeowner has the right to shoot an intruder to protect himself. The bill makes three major changes to current law. First, "castle doctrine" extends beyond the home. Second, it protects a person from being sued by his attacker or the attacker's family. Third, a jury is to presume that a defendant who has hurt or killed someone was acting in self-defense as long as the defendant wasn't breaking the law at the time, didn't provoke the attack and had reason to believe that the other person wanted to rape, kidnap, rob or kill him.

This bill restores Texans’ rights that were stripped away from us over forty years ago. I commend the Texas House for approving this bill on voice vote without debate and the Texas Senate for their unanimous support. And to Governor Perry for signing the bill into law. As for all the Texas DA’s that lobbied to defeat this bill, you can eat crow now.

Bob

Red State Update

If you haven't been paying attention to the presidential debates then you may have missed these two country boys from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Jackie Broyles and Dunlap are regular features on CNN since their debut a couple of years ago on the internet. In real life, they are comedians who have perfected the good old southern boy accent and play well to the hearts of all of us from Texas to North Carolina.
With Old Glory and the Tennessee flags drapped in the background, they start out every video with a table cluttered with Budweiser cans and Jack Daniels bottles. Jackie is usually smoking a cigarette while he sips on his beer and gives his opinion while Dunlap is on a continuous roll.

You can see all of their videos at
http://www.myspace.com/redstateupdate

Have a good one.

Bob

Parrot Warns Homeowner of Intruder

This story from The Dallas Morning News:


Dennis Baker's home security system includes three cameras that feed video to 42-inch screens in his living room and bedroom. But it was his pet parrot, he says, that alerted him to a burglar he shot and killed early Tuesday.
"Hello, hello," the parrot said, waking Mr. Baker from what he says was a deep sleep.
The 59-year-old locksmith keeps several pet birds in his northwest Dallas home, including a Mexican Red-headed parrot named Salvador. The bird says "hello" whenever he sees someone. When someone passed by a window about 2 a.m., Salvador squawked the greeting.
"It woke me up," Mr. Baker said. "I guess you could call him a stool pigeon."
Police say it appears that Mr. Baker was within his rights to shoot the burglar, but as is routine in such cases, they will turn the facts to a grand jury for review.
Mr. Baker killed 46-year-old John Woodson, whose criminal record includes charges of burglary, theft and possession of a controlled substance.
Tuesday's burglary, police say, was the fourth on Mr. Baker's property within a month. Investigators say preliminary information indicates Mr. Woodson may have been responsible for some or all of them.
Mr. Baker puts the number at five.
"I got hit five times this month. I have tools in my garage, my house and my van," Mr. Baker said. "They were coming here like they owned the place. I hate what happened, but somebody has to do what's necessary."
Mr. Baker runs a locksmith shop at the home in the 3600 block of Cortez Drive. A large safe sits on the porch. The door of the detached garage is off its hinges. He plans to fix the doors soon but has to replace some of the wood first.
Mr. Baker said he installed a video surveillance system after burglars targeted his home repeatedly. Thieves have taken $20,000 worth of locksmith equipment, saws and lawn gear, he said.
After the parrot woke him, Mr. Baker said, he got up and walked to the garage.
"He was in the very back of the garage," Mr. Baker said of Mr. Woodson. "There were no lights on. The only thing I could do was see a silhouette, and as you saw in the video, he had his hands in his pockets when he came through here. I had no idea what he had."
The security video shows a man – presumably Mr. Woodson – with his hands in his pant pockets, casually walking around the perimeter of the garage and then inside.
Neither police nor Mr. Baker would give a detailed account of the confrontation that followed, and the cameras don't capture it. But police said Mr. Woodson didn't try to flee and that Mr. Baker shot him in his midsection.
The case is one of several in recent weeks in which a home or business owner has shot an intruder.
A West Dallas business owner fatally shot a suspected burglar on Sunday, the second time in three weeks that he has killed a prowler, police say.
Last week, the owner of Joe's Cleaners in Far East Dallas shot a man who tried to rob him at gunpoint.
Last month, a Mesquite business owner shot and wounded a suspected burglar after finding him with bolt cutters and copper cable taken from the building.
Musician Carter Albrecht was shot to death Sept. 3 after he tried to kick in a neighbor's back door during a drunken rage. The neighbor reportedly thought Mr. Albrecht was a burglar and fired a pistol high through the door as a warning, but struck 6-foot-4 Mr. Albrecht in the head.
Earlier this year, Texas lawmakers approved the Castle Law, which removes any obligation for a crime victim to retreat before responding with deadly force when faced with an intruder in his or her home, vehicle or business.
Despite the new law and the recent series of intruder shootings, Dallas police homicide Sgt. Larry Lewis said he would not describe them as a growing trend.
"We get them over the year from time to time," Sgt. Lewis said.
When police officers arrived at his home after the shooting, Mr. Baker said, Salvador began greeting them with his signature "hello."
"Sometimes he says 'hi,' but you can't get him to speak on cue," Mr. Baker said. "He has a mind of his own."
Mr. Baker said police officers are doing their jobs, but are overworked and understaffed. Dallas police recorded more than 14,400 residential burglaries last year.
"I will protect my property and my life," Mr. Baker said. "The fifth time is enough. It's not something you want to do, but you have to do."

Good job, Mr. Baker.

Bob

Arlington National Cemetery Wreath Project

You have to commend a man like Morrill Worcester, a native of Maine and owner of Worcester Wreath Co. Since 1992, Mr. Worcester has donated surplus Christmas wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery for over 5000 graves. Maine Senator Olympia Snowe helped Mr. Worcester with the initial arrangements. James Prout, owner of Blue Bird Ranch, donated a truck to ship the wreaths to Virginia. Local American Legion and VFW volunteers decorated the wreaths with hand-tied red bows, while members of the Maine State Society worked with Arlington Superintendent John Metzler Jr. to organize the wreath-laying and a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The cemetery assigns a section to the project, and volunteers also lay wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknowns, the Maine Memorial and the graves of John and Robert Kennedy and former Maine Governor, U.S. Senator and Secretary of State Edmund Muskie.

In an interview in 2005, Mr. Worcester said, "We can’t do anything in this country if it wasn’t for the people who gave their lives to protect us. It’s a great honor to be able to come and pay our respects." No words better say it. I salute Mr. Worcester and all of the volunteers that did this good deed to honor our soldiers. And never let us forget.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYAneQMvEuw

Merry Christmas, my friends.
Bob

Belly Flop Fred Thompson

Something has happened to Fred Thompson in the last couple of months, even Fred doubts he'll be President of the United States. Well, only a fool would ever thought that Fred Thompson had a snowball chance in hell of becoming the 44th president. Thompson has abandoned New Hampshire after polls show that he's in 5th place so now he's concentrating all his campaign efforts in Iowa. In Iowa, he is running 3rd place and 4th place in South Carolina.

At the recent Houston Gun Collectors Association gun show, a group of Thompson supporters manned a booth in an effort to sign up supporters. I checked out the crowd a couple of times, and they weren't drumming up much business. I wanted to tell his campaign workers that I didn't think Fred was much of an actor either. I should have asked those campaign workers if Fred still supported felons, since Fred was a member of the Scooter Libby Legal Defense Trust. Scooter Libby Legal Defense Trust, the group that has been shaking down Republican donors for the money needed to maintain the convicted felon's silence until an appropriate moment arrived for Scooter to be pardoned by President Bush.

Now several House Republicans are regretting endorsing Fred. So for all of those that thought he ever had a chance, well put your bet on another horse. My advise to Fred, put your foot on the brakes because it's all downhill from here.

I getting more and more disappointed in the Republican party, there isn't a candidate out there worth voting for. I'm still looking at Ron Paul, at least he tells it straight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V00qMlQc-co


Bob

It's Christmas Time

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be hard to find the true meaning of Christmas. Once you factor in all the gift giving, busting your budget, the cooking, the Christmas card exchange and all the other Christmas duties and responsibilities you have to perform, you may forget the true meaning of Christmas. You may also forget how the true meaning of Christmas feels.

Spend some time with your children. Children are the purest form of innocence. Read to them the Christmas story and share your past Christmas memories with them. Spend time with your family and those you love. Load the family into the car and drive around town looking at all the Christmas decorations. Stop at a live naivity scene at your local church and walk up to setting. Make sure you help with the local empty stocking fund so those less fortunate can have a brighter Christmas. Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and be safe out there!
Bob

General George S. Patton

During lunch, a friend told me that he was going to add pearl handle grips to his Colt 1911 80 series stainless. I reminded him of General Patton's quote about his pistol grips, "They're ivory. Only a pimp from a cheap New Orleans whorehouse would carry a pearl handled pistol."
I think my friend is going to rethink the pearl grips idea.

If you are a fan of Gen. George S. Patton, then watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyUX6wV1lBQ

Everyone have a safe weekend and get ready for the holiday rush.

Bob

Bob Ain't Running a Taxi Service

Last week, I was fueling the company truck at RaceWay next to the old Jefferson City Shopping Center in Port Arthur. When I got ready to get back into my truck, a crack hoe approaches me and wants a ride to "bruces" as she points over to Groves. I told her that I wasn't going that way and she got mad. I drove off as she was heading over to another person at the pumps. Now tonight, I stop at RaceWay in Nederland on Hwy. 365. I'm getting back into my truck, another crack hoe approaches me and wants a ride to "the bridge", which I assume is the Rainbow Bridge but she is pointing over to Central Mall. I told her that I wasn't going that way and a flat out NO when she kept bagging me for a ride. Both of these women were probably in their late 30's but look at least 55 or older from all of the abuse from drugs.

My question to all of you, am I so darn good looking that these women want to be seen with me or is it my Ford F-350 truck that they want to ride in?

But seriously, can't Port Arthur P.D. and Nederland P.D. clean up their cities and get these menace off the streets or out of the parking lots?

The one tonight looks like this woman in the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gsPXPe7wjQ&feature=related

Bob

Mixed Emotions

Now for everyone that knows me, you know that I'm a big believer of protecting myself, friends and family, as well as my property. Now comes the incident in Pasadena, Texas where Joe Horn shoots the two burglars next door to him. This may come as a surprise to alot of you, but I'm beginning to think that Mr. Horn made the wrong decision. After listening to the 911 tape, the 911 dispatcher repeatly told Mr. Horn not to go outside because he had plain clothes officers in the area and didn't need him outside with a shotgun. Mr. Horn makes the comment that "I'm going outside", "I'm going to kill'em." Below is some of the 911 tape, you decide what needs to happen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rol7Ti3lNe0&feature=related


Do you think that he was justified and should be NO-Billed by Grand Jury?All charges

Do you think that he was justified and should be NO-Billed by Grand Jury?Some charges

Do you think that he was NOT justified, and should Indicted by Grand Jury? Murder

Do you think that he was NOT justified, but should be Indicted by Grand Jury?Negligent Homicide

Real Justice for Riley Ann Sawyers

On Sunday, news breaks that there was an arrest in the "Baby Grace" murder, I watched CNN as they told the story of the mother and the mother’s boyfriend being suspects in the murder of Riley Ann Sawyers. I looked over at my grandkids and watched the horror in their eyes as they listened to the story. The first thought was I would kill anyone that harmed my family and that goes double for my grandkids.

This no good bitch (she is no mother) who gave birth to this loving gift from God should be sentenced to death for what she did to her own flesh and blood. And for the no good bastard of a boyfriend, I would love to have ten minutes alone with him. But after the ten minutes, I would pay whatever the cost to be able to carry out sentencing on him. Mr. Coward, Royce Zeigler, helped in the torture of this little girl. They whipped Riley Ann with leather belts, held her head under water and threw her frail body against a wall. Eye for an eye, wouldn’t you like to see the same done to them? But if given the opportunity, I would like to carry out justice myself. Since I’m a fan of old cowboy movies, I could use some of what I’ve learned from watching those westerns.

Here is how I would dispense justice. Take both of them out to the Golden Triangle Gun Club range with four of my close shooting buddies, there is a good size hackberry tree out on the grounds. Two good nooses tied from the tree with wood chairs underneath for the bitch and the coward to stand on. After the nooses are placed around their no good necks, I pull out my 1911 .45 caliber and step off 50 feet. Real men carry 1911’s chambered in .45 caliber with wood grips, plastic polymer guns are for women worried about weight in their purses. Then I would slowly shoot off the legs of the chairs and watch for the chairs to collapse with those no good cowards dangling from the end of the ropes. I might even sell tickets to the public to watch and use the money for huge monument on this little girl’s grave, she at least deserves that, she surely didn’t deserve to be tortured and placed into an ice chest and dumped into Galveston Bay. One thing for sure, she is safe in Heaven now.

Bob

Happy Thanksgiving

I would like to take this opportunity to say that I am thankful for much.
I am thankful for many things this Thanksgiving.
I am thankful for my wonderful and loving family.
I am thankful for God creating me and giving me great parents.
I am thankful for all my customers and value their business.
I am thankful for all of my friends, whether gun nuts are not.
I am thankful to live in Texas.
I am thankful for my good health with the aid of medications.
I am thankful to be able to start over again after a mess up.
I am thankful to be able to move on and forgive.
I am thankful to all of our military for helping to protect our freedom.
So with that said, you are invited to pray with me this Thanksgiving.

O God, when I have food, help me to remember the hungry; When I have work, help me to remember the jobless; When I have a home, help me to remember those who have no home at all; When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer, And remembering, help me to destroy my complacency; bestir my compassion, and be concerned enough to help; By word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted. Amen.

And here is my Thanksgiving card to you.
http://www.cpmsglife.org/tg/2006tdm1.html

To everyone, be careful and remember to be safe while driving in this holiday traffic.

Bob

Huckabee and Walker, Texas Ranger

Ever notice how campaign commercials are written to insult your intelligence? I like what they are saying but both of them are stupid in the way they present it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjYv2YW6azE

Hunting Safety

There is an old poem in which a father exhorts his son to caution with the words "All the pheasants ever bred won't make up for one man dead."

For all the hunters out there, while hunting with one or more people, always keep your safety on and firearm unloaded until ready to hunt in order to prevent any hunting accidents from occurring. The primary reason for Texas hunting accidents remains swinging on game outside a safe zone of fire. This happens when a person points a firearm at another hunter while following a moving target, such as a flying bird. Hunter education teaches people to set up safe zones of fire where a gun can be safely pointed whether the target is moving or stationary. A good example is how V.P. Dick Cheney blasted a fellow hunter.

So to all my friends, please be safe with firearms when you are hunting this season. And good luck on bagging the big one.

Bob

My Salute To Veterans

http://www.cpmsglife.org/pres/vday.html

And to all of my old shipmates.
http://www.uss-newport-news.com/hist/october.htm

Bob

Did You Miss a Great Gun Show?

Man oh man, I'm tired, two days at the HGCA Gun Show in Houston! Though it was a blast, helped out a friend in his booth and met some great people. Edward, hope you enjoy the new AR-15 and Kenneth, hope you enjoy the new Springfield 1911-A1 Stainless. Both great guns and both of you got a bargain at the show.

Remember this, my friends, the right to bear arms is a tradition with deep roots in American society. Thomas Jefferson proposed that “no free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms,” and Samuel Adams called for an amendment banning any law “to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”

The Fred Thompson Campaign was at the gun show. I didn’t go over and tell them the reasons that I’m not voting for Freddy.

If you missed this show, HGCA will be back at Reliant Park in January.

All of you have a great week.

Bob

Houston Gun Show

Friends, don't forget the Houston Gun Collectors Association Gun Show at Reliant Park this weekend. I'll be working a booth with a friend that sells reloads, cases, holsters and a world of accessories.
http://www.hgca.org/show_info.htm

Have a safe weekend, my friends.

Bob

idiocy

What’s next? Six black guys beat up one white guy in Jena, Louisiana and now they're presenting awards at BET awards ceremony. And they receive a standing ovation by the audience. Maybe they will get their own late night talk show. You can give credit to Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton for making them martyrs since everyone was picking on them for being charged with attempted murder. I just don’t know, my friends, this is so bizarre to me. Well, not really, I guess you can expect it but it infuriates me. The Jena 6 has become a rally point for all the young black kids. Last year the black thug was involved in a high-speed chase in Nederland, he wrecked out and killed an innocent driver in another vehicle. When police told him that he killed someone in the wreck, he asked if the guy was white. They told him that he was and he replied, "good." I hope that no good bastard spends the rest of his no good life behind bars or one better, get a very sharp needle in the arm strapped down on a gurney.

I had to rant about that one, too crazy to leave alone.

Now on a lighter note, what a beautiful day in southeast Texas. We drove down to Crystal Beach for lunch at Stingaree. The flounder was superb. June ordered fried shrimp and oysters and I sampled a few. I like eating there, looking at the tugboats traveling down the waterway. Afterwards, we drove down the beach, a few people still out but not like the hassle of summer at the "Zoo."

Everyone have a great week.
Bob

Don't Be Fooled By Fred

It looks as if Fred Thompson is going in the hole. At first, I thought I would be a Thompson supporter. The more I looked at him, I could see that he wasn’t the one. He doesn’t have anything original to say. He starts all of his speeches with "I’m a regular guy, just like you." Well, what is so regular about me? To me, he demeans everyone by referring to them as "regular." So when he starts out using the same old line, then that tells me he's an old actor with the same old script.

Thompson also has some problems with the NRA, Nick Lampson has a better voting record with the NRA than Fred Thompson. Then there’s Fred Thompson, the actor/career lobbyist, who helped engineer the savings and loan debacle. His stand on abortion is so wishy-washy that you don’t know what he is for or against. He’s just another politician that wants you to believe that they are for you.

Thompson won’t be able to raise the money needed to run a presidential campaign anyway. He started late behind the other entire Republican candidates, so he doesn’t have the organization needed. The big donors made their commitments early in the race. Also, he has been out of the Senate for 7 years and doesn’t have his old political machine in place.
So as far as I concerned, Fred can take his red pickup truck and pull it back home behind his $250,000 campaign bus. Time to look at Ron Paul and what he stands for.

Bob

Deer Beware

What a beautiful weekend, we drove up to the old home place outside of Jasper, put out some deer corn and watched for the deer come up to the feeders. I saw a nice 8 point, now will wait for opening day. Our son-in-law, John, rode with us. John is the D-I-V-O-R-C-E lawyer in the family. John claims to be one of the best in Houston, glad that my daughter and John have a good marriage, it would be a battle and half it they ever broke up. John told us a D-I-V-O-R-C-E lawyer joke. I’ll share it with you.

A fellow walks into the post office one day to see a man standing at the counter placing love stamps on pink envelopes with hearts on them. He then sprinkles perfume on the envelopes.The fellow’s curiosity getting the better of him, he goes up to the man and asks him what he is doing. The man says, "I'm sending out hundreds of Valentine cards signed, 'guess who?'""But why?" asks the man.
The man grins and says, "I’m a divorce lawyer."

A note to all of my friends, the Houston Gun Collectors Show is Oct. 27 and 28 at Reliant Park. Edward and I went to the show in May. We had a blast, went to Top Gun Range (indoor range) after the show to try out our newest purchases. If anyone is looking for a good deal on firearms, this show usually has some bargains. They usually have dealers from Dallas that will make a good deal on new guns, you can save up to 10% compared to local gun shot prices. Bring cash if you are serious about buying because some vendors charge 3% fee on credit card. I’m thinking about looking for a Kel-Tech PF-9 at the Houston Gun Show, so if anyone has one, let me know the good and bad on this pistol.

Glad to see Buck’s Blog is up and going again. Buck, if you read this, I tried posting a comment welcoming you back online but my setexastrailerpark sign-in didn’t work on the blog. Maybe Buck banned me from the site since I rooted for the PN-G Indians last Friday night. LOL

All of you stay safe out there, crazy people on the roads and in the parking lots.

Bob

Tired of "Made in China" Crap

Is anything still made in America? Being in the construction business for over 25 years, I’ve seen good American made products fade away and now everything is made in China and it’s CRAP. I replaced my air compressor this week and bought Porter-Cable brand at Sutherland’s since it was "Made in U.S.A." On the warranty card, I checked off reason for purchase as being made in America. Hope they pay attention and remember that was the reason for my purchase.
Yesterday, I sent one of my employees to the Carquest auto parts store to get oil filters for the company crew trucks. I like using Carquest filters since Wix Filter in Georgia manufactures them. They’ve had the reputation as a good quality filter for years. Guess what, "Made in China" stamped on the boxes and filters. Lord, what is happening to this county? I wouldn’t give you 2 cents for Chinese made pistol but there are other opinions when it comes to firearms. And yes, I’m guilty, I purchased a Sig 226 last month. But try buying U.S.A. products and I’m finding out that it is hard to do so.
I could list thousands of items made overseas that should be made in the U.S.A., but all of you know what they are. Starting today, I’m going to take a harder look at everything I buy, if I can find American made in the same item, I will buy it, even if it cost more. I know the quality will be better, so I can justify the higher cost.
Also, earlier this week, I said that I was considering a Kubota tractor, well they are made in Japan. Someone left a comment to look at John Deere brand. Even smaller John Deere tractors aren’t made in the U.S.A.
So I’m making the commitment to "BUY AMERICAN", Can you take the same commitment?
Bob
http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/shoppingindex.html

Time Flies Fast When You Have Fun With Family

Time flies by fast! It's an old saying, but in today's fast paced world, it's never been so true. Before we know it, our kids are all grown and out on their own. It was great seeing our oldest son and his family this weekend. We’re proud of his promotion at Foxworth-Galbraith. Congratulations again, Gary. The Dallas group left for home, we will miss the grandkids. They had a blast at the Rice Festival despite the rain showers off and on. It’s great living in the United States, watching small town parades, livestock shows, eating good food and watching the grandkids ride everything that wasn’t scary. I took a good look at the farm equipment displays, the grandkids loved sitting in the tractor seats. I didn’t mind, it was less money spent on carnival rides. The Kubota dealer was friendly and I believe I’ve talked myself into one of those 45 h.p. tractors with a 6’ mower. When we go to the old home place in Jasper County, the old ’62 Ford with 5’ mower doesn’t do the job anymore.

Hope all my friends had a great weekend. It’s going to be a busy week for me and the crew. So I may be slow in posting. Bob

Listening to the Morning Radio

As part of my morning routine, I listen to Al Caldwell on KLVI as I sip my coffee. This morning I rolled on the floor along with Buddy Johnson. Al Caldwell was commenting about Senator Larry Craig’s restroom incident at the airport then ventured into how Buddy picks up women at the grocery stores. Poor Buddy, he was laughing so hard, he couldn’t do the birthday announcements.

I always like the Paul Harvey commentary, this morning Mr. Harvey reported Barack Obama quit wearing his American flag lapel pin in protest to the war in Iraq. My friends, this guy is no more an American than Bin Laden, so I believe that he should take off the lapel pin until he embraces some American values. Lord help this great country if Obama, Hillary or Edwards become president.

If anyone can control the weather, please give us clear skies this weekend. Gary, Debbie and the grandkids are coming in from Dallas with plans of spending all of Saturday at the Texas Rice Festival. Paw Paw Bob will be worn out by Saturday night but I will hang in there with the young ones.

That’s it for today, my friends, Bob

How to Catch a Wild Pig

Friends, I received this email that I need to pass along to all of you. With the upcoming presidential election next year, all of you need to read this and absorb what this exchange student is telling us.

Many years ago there was a Chemistry professor in a large college that had some foreign exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab, the professor noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back and stretching as if his back hurt. The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government. In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked, "Do you know how to catch wild pigs?" The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said this was no joke. "You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. The pigs, which are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd. Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity. The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America. The government keeps pushing us toward Communism/socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tobacco subsidies, cotton subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc. While we continually lose our freedoms -- just a little at a time. One should always remember "There is no such thing as a free lunch!" Also, "You can never hire someone to provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself. If you see that all of this wonderful government "help" is a problem confronting the future of democracy in America and if you think the free ride is essential to your way of life then you will probably delete this e-mail, but God help you when the gate slams shut!

Think about it, my friends. Bob

Game Warden

A game warden was driving down the road when he came upon a 14 year old Bubba carrying a wild turkey under his arm. He stopped and asked Bubba, "Where did you get that turkey?" Bubba replied, "What turkey?" The game warden said, "That turkey you're carrying under your arm." Bubba looked down and said, "Well, lookee here, a turkey done roosted under my arm!" The game warden said, "Now look, you know turkey season is closed, so what ever you do to that turkey, I'm going to do to you. If you break his leg, I'm gonna break your leg. If you break his wing, I'll break your arm. Whatever you do to him, I'll do to you. So, what are you gonna do with him?" Bubba said, "I guess I'll just kiss his ass and let him go!

OK, now it is KBMT 10 o’clock news last night with the bitching mother and father from the Manning’s Skating Rink incident. With the punch line from the above joke being "kiss his ass and let him go," I guess that is what the rowdy crowd involved in the skating rink disturbance wanted Beaumont PD officer to do to them. They filed their complaints with Bmt. PD yesterday, so let it go from there. Please, no more stories on the TV with a bunch of crybabies that can't baby-sit their own kids.

Since I brought up the subject of game wardens, it is hunting season again. Be careful out there when you’re in the deer or duck blind. Texas Park and Wildlife Game Wardens are watching closely. For those of you that remember some of the old Jefferson County game wardens, everyone should remember Bob Heitman. Bob stood about 6’5", flat top haircut and went by the book. We would joke that Bob would write his mother a ticket but was a good enough son that he would loan her the money to pay the fine. Does anyone know if Bob is still in the area? When he retired, he was still living in Port Acres. Next time I see Billy Halfin, I’ll ask him about Bob.

That’s it for today my friends, Bob

Who Is Watching The Babies?

OK, here I go my friends, if you watched KFDM 10 P.M. news on Sunday night then you saw this fiasco. There was a disturbance at Manning’s Skating Rink on College Street in Beaumont, a fight broke out, police officer working the rink needed backup. On Saturday night, Beaumont PD was handing out lollipops and pepper spray, by the time they arrived at Manning’s, they were all out of lollipops. Four adults and 5 juveniles were arrested and hauled off to jail. Now the mother and father (I use those terms loosely) are bitching on the 10 o’clock news that "These are babies. This is not a high school or a college or an adult event. These are 13 and younger that is going skating. You don't spray at children and don't pepper spray children. That is abuse," Well, Mrs. Mother, where in the hell were you? You dropped off four kids ranging in ages from 8 to 12 years young, so you should’ve been there watching these "babies." Then the father (I use that term loosely) is gripping about how he took an ass whipping from the pooolice. Well Buddy, that is what the pooolice is good at doing. He is lucky that the police officers didn’t taser his butt, just ask this guy who is now an advocate for taking a police ass whipping over tasers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOJ9_CApGfg
Now over the years, I took my kids to Manning’s for birthday parties and afternoon skating but never left them to fair for themselves. It’s called being a responsible parent and until people wake up to the fact that you can’t drop off your kids and let someone baby-sit them, then this world isn’t going to get any better.
That’s it for today my friends, Bob

Banging Away

Finally got out to the range to shoot the new Sig 226R with night sites. This is my first .40 caliber handgun and I love it. Then as the old adage goes, never go to a gun fight with a caliber that doesn't start with Point Four. Ran 300 rounds through the pistol without any failures. This gun may become my main carry weapon.

Thanks to Mr. Buck for adding my blog to his links over at Buck's Blog. Maybe Buck will talk about guns on one of his Saturday programs. To add a twist to the program, Buck may invite a Concealed Handgun License instructor on the show. I would suggest Lucy Leger, she is one of the best instructors in the state. I've had my CHL since 1997 and getting time to renew. With all the crime in Jefferson County, I would recommend everyone out there to get their CHL. And never leave home without it.

That's all for today my friends,

Bob

An update to this "Banging Away", some of you told me later that you thought this was going to be a story on Beaumont, Port Arthur, Vidor and Lumberton hookers or female escort services. Well, I don't know of any and the little woman would kill me if I did.

Don't know why I would still be able to recall this name after so many years---Mary Jo Kopechne. Wonder what she would think of this statement? Brings to mind the old bumper sticker, one of my favorites: Teddy Kennedy's Car Has Killed More People Than My Gun

With that said, makes me think about the upcoming Presidential elections. Later, I will comment on my pick to be our next President. Just glad that Teddy Kennedy isn't in the running or driving a car that I'm a passenger.

Nothing much happened today, had the day off from work. Mowed the grass, trimmed the hedges, listened to Buck's Trailer Park on KOLE-Fox radio, drove down to Port Bolivar and checked out the Hurricane Huberto damage. Still quite a bit of damage from the storm. Headed back home, stopped at Academy in Port Arthur for some ammo, ammo prices are going out of sight. Tomorrow I plan to pop a few rounds at the Golden Triangle Gun Club. Picked up a nice Sig 226 this week and want to try out the new baby. Will let everyone know the results, had to have one of these guns. Same pistol that Texas DPS and Navy Seals carry, so I know it is going to be reliable.

Until tomorrow, my friends, this was Bob's day.

Welcome my friends

Welcome to my little blog, everyone else is getting one, so here is mine. I will discuss the happenings on the Texas Gulf Coast. Thanks for stopping by. Bob