I hope you all had a terrific and fun Christmas and that Santa left something really cool under your tree. As usual I take weekends off but I'll be back Monday with my "Weekly Check on the Bias" and lots more. I don't know if Jesus was really the Son of God but I do know that he spread some mighty fine principles on how people should live with each other. Maybe if we all just applied some of those ideas in our daily lives this could be a better, more peaceful world. Thanks for stopping by!

I have no idea why I'm blogging today except that I don't have much of a life. So I guess I'll just put my pathetic life up here for all of you who accidentally turned on your computers to read...

Some of the latest news:

Wow! I forgot all about the Beagle 2 landing on Mars today. I was going to write about the British Mars lander-probe last week that has spent six months travelling through space to soft-land on Mars to search for life. It's supposed to communicate with a NASA craft called Odyssey. And just like the American craft that "disappeared" or crashed or something in the past couple of years, British scientists have lost contact with the probe. Here's a quote:

Scientists have failed to pick up an expected signal from British-built spacecraft Beagle 2 telling them it has landed safely on Mars.

The £35m probe should have landed at 0254 GMT on Christmas Day after a 400 million kilometre, six-month flight.

Nasa's Mars Odyssey orbiter has since flown over its landing site but failed to detect the expected call sign.

Lead scientist Professor Colin Pillinger insisted that "it's not the end of the world".

The giant Jodrell Bank telescope, in Cheshire, UK, will come on line at about 2200 GMT to listen for signals.

Scientists are confident that sweep will pick up a signal from Beagle 2 - if it has made it to the planet surface in one piece and is functioning as expected.

If that option fails, the Nasa spacecraft will have a daily chance to pick up the signal until 3 January, when Europe's Mars Express craft - the mother ship now orbiting the planet - begins its mission.

However, if nothing has been received by the end of 26 December, hopes for Beagle 2 will start to fade.

*Sigh* What is the curse that afflicts spacecraft heading towards Mars? Sounds like another conspiracy to me but this time there must be Art Bell like aliens destroying these things.

I'm not trying to make light of this since I definitely have a curiosity in seeing Mars explored and the Beagle 2 was designed to search for life. But it certainly seems like there's a jinx on that front.

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Speaking of unexplained mysteries, Gov. Howard Dean has suddenly found God and plans to blather about it a lot down South:

Presidential contender Howard B. Dean, who has said little about religion while campaigning except to emphasize the separation of church and state, described himself in an interview with the Globe as a committed believer in Jesus Christ and said he expects to increasingly include references to Jesus and God in his speeches as he stumps in the South.

Dean, 55, who practices Congregationalism but does not often attend church and whose wife and children are Jewish, explained the move as a desire to share his beliefs with audiences willing to listen. His comments came as a rival, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut, chastised other Democrats for forgetting ''that faith was central to our founding and remains central to our national purpose.''

I'm sorry -- I thought pandering was against the law. Apparently not, during political campaigns. Dean served as governor of Vermont for something like 10 years as a secularist who never mentioned God or Jesus. Now he's down South and suddenly has been "born again."

I really think these candidates (and almost everyone in government service) must think we're all idiots out here who couldn't possibly see through such flimsy attempts to corral voters from all segments of society. Okay Howard, you've seen the light. According to the latest polls, it's rather dim for you in a contest versus President Bush.

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And since James Taranto is on vacation, I guess I'd better pick up the slack. From Reuters:

The body of the 32-year-old was found in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam on Sunday with the suicide note and a glass containing traces of the chemical, used for killing insects on livestock, regional police commissioner Alfred Tibaigana told Reuters.

"I've decided to end my life," Tibaigana quoted the suicide note as saying.

"I am fed up with the constant nagging of my first wife."

Oddly Enough!

So I did cook up all the hamburger meat last night. And since it comes from a "Shur Fine" type store and they get most of their food from Shur Fine, and Shur Fine is located in Washington State, and so was that "mad cow" I wrote about several posts below, ... Therefore, in conclusion, to summerize -- I could soon be wobbly. Fortunately I've sort-of been like that all along here at Alphecca so you probably won't notice the difference.

That's right, here I am blogging on Christmas Day. I've given the rest of the Alphecca employees the day off; they're in the living room enjoying their gifts -- new cat-nip sacks.

Well, everyone loves a conspiracy and I think I've found one for Christmas. NBC's morning Today Show is supposed to be a live news show broadcast. Today, except for the brief "news" with Lester Holt, it isn't!

Here's the evidence:

Suspicious behaviors...


1. All of the segments are pre-recorded.


2. They never showed an outside shot of the "crowd."


3. They don't show Lester Holt sitting at his desk, where in the background you can usually see Matt and Katie and company sitting on "the couch."


4. The hand-off to the news from Matt to Lester is clumsy, as if they know this is a farce. By the way, these fake hand-offs are common when one of the hosts "goes" to Tom Brokaw who is, of course, on tape recorded the night before.


5. There's not one live story interview in any of the segments. In addition, so far (it's about 8:13 as I write this) all the musical guests are on tape since there's no interaction between the hosts and the musicians. Even that cutie-pie Harry Connick, Jr. (Sorry for that "gayness" -- but I have to admit it, whenever I see him on Will and Grace or the Today Show or on a PBS "Capital" special, I almost swoon... He is one good-looking dude.

Lastly, while I certainly don't hope this happens, I guarantee that if something dramatic were suddenly to occur -- like a meteorite striking the Earth -- it would be Lester Holt reporting on it and maybe an hour later Katie or Matt or Tom would show up -- in different clothing -- to "take over" and anchor the news desk.

Well. Well! I expect my news shows to be live, not taped. Certainly they could have found a couple of troopers (aside from Lester, who seems to work non-stop) to show up on Christmas Day. Where's Janice Huff, who in my opinion is ten times better than Al Roker? Ah, my faith is shattered. I think I'll go have some early morning ice-cream with Rainbow. At least I know that's in real time.

Well, I guess I'll sign-off for now. Let me wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. May our good Lord bless and keep you and provide you with all that you need. May your spouses and children enjoy a better life than what we now have.

I'll be back sometime soon and in the meantime, thanks for stopping by.

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Rainbow is my almost 20-year-old cat and friend. Cats are funny animals in that they mostly (not always) will just eat what their mothers told them to eat when they were kittens. So for example, a kitten who was raised on "Friskies" will just want that at mealtime.

My youngest cats, Critter and Sambo, grew up on Friskies and that's all they really want to eat. Don't even bother with the Nine-Lives...

But my blessed Rainbow was one of my first adopted friends and I fed her my food that I was eating. And while she will gladly accept cat food, she also enthusiastically chomps down on people food because she grew up with it.

I'm a burger guy. I love and frequently make hambergers. And for Rainbow I make mini-meatballs that I cook half-done in the microwave oven. She eats them up like nobody's business. She also likes eggs, pizza, ice-cream with a passion, cottage cheese, chicken, and almost anything else I'm eating. And yes, I let her eat my food as I eat it. I'm not worried about "germs" from her. I love Rainbow and she can give me her germs anytime she wants. She only has good germs.

I digress...

So for Christmass I'll give Critter and Sambo cat food but for me and Rainbow -- what to have... A nice Swanson's Hungry Man Turkey Dinner? She loves the turkey and I like all the rest (well, not the peas...) I've got some great smoked-cheese from Garfield's of Meriden, N.H. which could send anyone into orgasm. That was also a gift from my kind co-worker who gave me the card shown a few posts down. Rainbow loves cheese.

Or maybe I'll just make my traditional Christmas Burgers (I just bought some fresh ground-round from the local store. Call me mad...

Whatever I do, I know Rainbow will love it. And that's what I want, for this rather old cat to be happy and healthy and share my dinner. That last thing grosses out some folks. A cat eating with me off of my plate. Folks, She has been with me for four months shy of 20 years. She has licked my ice-cream spoons and then I've put that spoon back in my mouth. She has curled up next to me every night for half of my life.

Rainbow will not make me sick. She only has love and good stuff like that. She can munch off of my dinner anytime, anywhere, anyway she wants to. There's nothing mad about her and I love eating and having her share my food.

Besides, I know or hope that there is a heaven and I absolutely expect Rainbow to be with me there. If she isn't there, I don't want to be there either.

Rainbow and I will spend Christmas on a food binge and we'll be sharing everything. I wouldn't have it any other way. And I can't think of anyone I'd rather spend Christmas with than her and the other two delinquents...

My buddy Jay Solo is a good friend, both blogger-wise and email-wise. He's also been clever enough to start the excellant Carnival of the Capitalists and now has a permanent page where you can always locate the latest edition. This is a terrific weekly thingie worth everyones' while to check out.

Incidentally, I also maintain a page for my "Weekly Check on the Bias" for media gun stories right here. I provide it for those bloggers who would rather not steer people to my blog because -- let's face it -- I do get out of control on some of my daily posts. I try to be on my best behavior for the "Weekly Report."

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I wish Phill at Enigmatic Mind had drawn my name! I need to apply for a job where he works. He gives great "Secret Santa" gifts. And that stuff costs! I hope his "Secret Santa" gave him cool stuff too.

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As usual, Kelley has a excellant post, a Christmas poem we can all relate to.

Kelley is a perfect example -- as are most on my blogroll -- of the astounding talent out there in the blogosphere. And aside from the BIG GUYS, these creative folks might be read by a hundred, two or three hundred people. I wish there were a way to spread the news (that is, links) about these great talents to the masses. Yes, there's the astoundingly active and generous Glenn Reynolds and a couple of others.

I just think a poem like Kelley's could easily be read on radio or TV so many more could enjoy it. Anyway, please check it out and for those bloggers out there, link to it.

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Another example of the brilliant commentators in the blogosphere is Robert Prather, one of the nice folks who blogroll me. Day after day he puts up great posts like this one about how, despite the howling of liberals who were supporting the same things!!! but are now decrying it for political purposes, the new Medicare Bill is really a pretty good thing.

Dave Tepper has more.

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Another of my good friends, Matt Rustler is asking for advice on grading papers. Now, I know I've got a bunch of teachers reading Alphecca. Head on over there and help him out.

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I mentioned Lord of the Rings a few posts back. I have -- unfortunately, and my bad -- not mentioned Ghost of a Flea. This mystery man is always posting great stuff. Add him to your bookmarks and blogrolls. And here he has advice for "Mr. Frodo."

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In days gone past, I've ranted and raved about "Eminent Domain." For awhile, so was Kin's Kouch. Now, RenPro has taken up the torch in protesting this arrogant mis-use of government power. Let me state this very clearly: Any politician or government worker who believes in or supports or exercises "eminent domain" deserves to fall into a very DEEP ditch. It's Christmas Eve so I won't elaborate. But I feel sorry for Michigan and I thank RenPro for bringing it to our attention.

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I mentioned the "Mad Cow Disease" a few posts ago. David at Proveritate is predicting lawsuits over this. That's kinda' scary. As if the farmer somehow wanted this to happen or did something that would negligently allow this terrible disease to visit his farm when NO American farm had as yet suffered this affliction.

But we live in a world controlled by evil trial-lawyers who are destroying (in my 1st Amendment Rights opinion) our great country. David might be right.

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As I write this, my secret girlfriend Madame DeFarge at one of my favorite blogs, Live From the Guillotine has more on Mad Cow Disease. She also reports that according to Google we are now an item. Some of you will shake your heads and say, "what the hell is he talking about." My Madame knows... I love her blog. Add it to your blogroll. She's great!

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Okay, I have one more post inside me that I'll post next.

One of my co-workers gave me this funny Gunnar Johnson card:

Well I like it...

Well probably not. The "mad cow disease" has struck in Washington State. It's just one isolated incident so far but if it spreads, I'll go off burgers in a hurry. I feel sorry for the beef industry and unfortunately, it's already causing other countries to cancel purchasing beef from U.S. suppliers. From My Way.Com:

The mad cow disease scare in the United States spread quickly to Asia, where Japan and South Korea - two top overseas markets for U.S. beef - blocked U.S. beef products from the domestic market after a cow in Washington state tested positive for the illness.

Japan, the number one importer of U.S. beef, imposed an indefinite ban and planned to recall certain meat products already on the market, while South Korea halted customs inspect of U.S. beef and suspended sales for meat already on supermarket shelves.

Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia followed suit.

Yes, it was a dairy cow but old dairy cows all wind up in the food supply. And I certainly can't blame these countries for banning American beef -- isn't that what the United States did to imports from Europe and Canada?

Let's hope this was a freak incident that will be resolved quickly. But I also fear that the media now has yet another "disease" crisis to prattle on about... After all, the flu crisis has run it's course. In the meantime, try chicken. It tastes like, uh... chicken.

By the way, if you're sick of all the usual Christmas movies -- you've seen them a hundred times -- go to the video store and rent The Bishop's Wife (1947), a pleasant fantasy starring Loretta Young, David Niven, and Cary Grant. I think you'll enjoy it a lot.

The Captain's Quarters succinctly explains why Gen. Wesley Clark is off his rocker if he thinks America is looking to give up it's sovereignty in making decisions that affect our security.

By the way, this young whipper-snapper blogger has the great, impeccable sense and taste to keep a copy of my uncle (really!) David Fromkin's book A Peace to End All Peace on his desk.

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I wish I had the time and money and guts to leave my safe little space here in Vermont. I'm almost agoraphobic or worse -- I just don't want to leave my neck of the woods. I admire and love reading about others who actually do enjoy life and travel. Les Jones has no such compunctions and visits Asheville, NC. From his pics, it looks like a beautiful town -- I love old architecture -- and it also looks WARM. I live vicariously through my blogger friends.

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My buddy James knows how to do it -- he gives a righteous fisking to an anti-gun fool who disses one of Alphecca's friends. Anyway, go read Jame's slap upside the head to this jerk.

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Wow! My friend Mike at Raising Sand considers Lord of the Rings to be just about the best literature ever written. It's been about 30 years since I tried to read it (I think I stalled on the second book) but what the heck, maybe I should revisit it. There certainly isn't much being written these days that has any meaning to the average intelligent adult.

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My pal Publicola is (as usual) right. Help out Keep and Bear Arms with a purchase or donation. They deserve it. And regular readers know I rely on them for many gun story links.

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Heh! And Yup!

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And I'm 7 pounds overweight these days and understand this.

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Lastly but not leastly, my blogson Eric has all sorts of good stuff up.

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Actually, since I'm not the most active of bloggers these days, I should point out that the blogroll on the left is filled with some of the most creative and smart people around, and I hope you'll take the time to visit them all, or at least some of them just at random to discover new and cool writers. Look, I'm not the most "linky" blogger around -- I tend to just write my blather about gun rights and stuff. But I ADORE the kind folks on my blogroll who actually are nice enough to link to me.

I could actually start a whole new blog just listing all the cool stuff they're all writing about. If I (warning, danger, fantasy coming up...) were to win the lottery I would have such a seperate blog of links to these great folks.

Anyway, I'll be back tomorrow night (yup! Christmas Eve) to write about something or other. Until then, thanks for stopping by. You kind visitors are the BEST!

Hey, my thanks go out to two nice people who hit the "kittys" this week. I appreciate it. And if any of you have finished your Christmas shopping and actually have a few bucks left lying around... Well, you know... And thank you!

Yes, it's that time of the week -- the Monday report on bias in the media -- specifically the Yahoo Gun Control Debate Page -- against the Second Amendment or other gun matters.

I would have liked to have given you all an early Christmas present of some semblance of balance in the selection of news stories and op-eds they choose to link to but it just isn't to be... So instead, here's Santa delivering an AK 47 to all the good little girls and boys in my audience.

Okay, fine, so my PhotoShop skills leave something to be desired. Think you can do better? (I HOPE you can do better since I'm awful at it.) I'll be needing something "New Years-ish" for next week and I invite your contributions. This is also a reminder that I welcome your links to interesting examples of bias in the media, photos you have (like that cool gun you just bought -- and I love antique guns) or links to things you've written.

Anyway there wasn't much to work with this week so let's get at it.

Yesterday's New York Times had had an article about how the NRA is awash in "red ink." Here's a quote:

Costly legal, legislative and political battles in the last decade have left the National Rifle Association with a $100 million deficit, reopening a bitter debate within the group about how it manages its money.

In the past decade the group's efforts have helped Republicans win the White House and Congress and led to laws in more than 30 states banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers. In the last year the N.R.A. helped pay for a losing legal battle against campaign finance legislation, which the Supreme Court upheld this month.

But through many of those years, according to Internal Revenue Service and N.R.A. records, the organization spent more than it took in.

Now, this story has nothing to do directly with gun control so I assume Yahoo linked to it simply because it seems to put the NRA in a "desperate light." I can understand why the New York Times would write about the situation since according to the countless anti-gun articles they've run over the years, the NRA is the most horrible organization in the world. They've made their bias painfully obvious to all.

Yahoo shows their bias by linking to it on a page supposedly dedicated to news items concerning gun control.

I am not an accountant (but I play one on TV) and I don't know if this is real or, as the writer of the story concedes through interviews way down in the story:

The N.R.A. contends that its deficit is a fiction manufactured by accounting standards. "Trying to do an analysis of the organization based on its accounting-created balance sheet is a futile attempt because it is driven by assets that aren't there, namely the quality of its members, and liabilities that aren't really there either," said Wilson H. Phillips Jr., the N.R.A. treasurer.

He said the deficit was a sign of strength, because the bulk of the liabilities reflect future obligations to long-term members. "What appears to be a growth in the deficit is actually a demonstration of membership growth and growth in longer-term commitments from members," Mr. Phillips said.

Shalom L. Kohn, a legal expert on nonprofits and bankruptcy, agreed that the deficit was of no consequence. "It sounds like these deficits are a book figure representing all their memberships," he said. "It doesn't really mean anything."

Of course, the NY Times also has lots of quotes suggesting that the NRA is in a real pinch. As I've said, I just don't know. I do know that while many in my audience have problems with some of the NRA tactics and so forth, I would hope that they realize the organization is primarily engaged in fighting for our gun rights and that maybe they deserve some support. Yes, there are others out there such as Keep And Bear Arms and Gun Owners of America and many others listed on my blogrolls doing a terrific job too. They all deserve your support. The NRA is far from perfect but they are the most powerful pro-gun lobby in the country. They get it right more than they get it wrong. Nobody is going to agree all the time with anyone.

Two weeks ago I reported on Ohio Governor Taft vetoing the concealed carry bill. The Toledo Blade has an editorial gleefully reporting the same:

Mr. Taft¹s objection to restrictions placed on public information about individuals carrying concealed loaded weapons is commendable. If his veto derails the Ohio General Assembly¹s first concealed carry bill, so much the better.

The majority of Ohioans never clamored for the right to carry hidden handguns anyway. They never rallied for the "opportunity to defend themselves against attack" as promoted by the bill¹s Republican sponsor, Rep. Jim Aslanides of Coshocton.

No, lawmakers currying favor with special interest groups like the National Rifle Association and the Ohio Gun Rights Coalition kept the issue alive. For eight years they¹ve pushed to pass a concealed weapons bill and join 45 other states that have some version of concealed carry.

There's enough bias in that quote from the middle of the editorial to eat through metal. Of course the Toledo Blade (sounds rather gay, huh?) supports the veto. That's no surprise. And then they claim that the average Ohioan didn't want concealed carry, ignoring the fact that apparently the average Ohioan VOTED for these legislaters -- we presume because of their various positions -- in the first place. Obviously they do support concealed carry. And the paper further emphasizes their disdain for the bill with, "...promoted by the bill's Republican sponsor..." as if to say, "Well, of course this horrible bill was sponsored by some Republican -- a Democrat would never do that..."

And of course, they intone that lawmakers in Ohio are beholden to groups such as the NRA and the Ohio Gun Rights Coalition, as if those who opposed the bill are not beholden to the Brady Bunch and like minded groups. As if somehow, Republican lawmakers have joined "the Dark Forces."

There were a few other stories but they were boring so let's look at some other sources...

I had mentioned in my post a couple of weeks ago about the Ohio/Taft veto that the reporter felt that Republican lawmakers would not want to over-ride the Republican governor. Ohio CCW reports on this:

Senate President Doug White continues to insist that he doesn't have the votes to override a potential veto of a bill allowing Ohioans to carry concealed handguns.

But others in his caucus disagree.

"Based on the senators I've talked to, we would have enough votes to override the governor," said Sen. Steve Austria, R-Beavercreek, the Senate's point man on the gun issue.

Austria said he did some informal polling during the end of discussions, and found the chamber could get the 20 votes needed to override Gov. Bob Taft if he decides to veto the bill.

Taft said he is still hoping a deal can be worked out with the House so a veto won't be necessary. He has lingering concerns over the openness of permitting records, and refuses to sign the current bill unless a new bill is passed to address that issue.

Here is where I'm confused. If Governor Taft's objection to the concealed carry bill is only based on the fact that he doesn't want made public the CCW permit holder's names, than I have to agree with him. Who has a CCW permit is nobody's business except law enforcement agencies. It has no business being made public. I would agree with Taft -- if that was his only objection.

Here's where I need my readers (especially in Ohio) help: Please send me email or links clarifying this. Is Taft a good guy wanting concealed carry but objecting to making the list of CCW holders public, or is this an excuse or worse, an attempt to NOT allow CCW?

Via Keep and Bear Arms comes this link to a story in the Macon Telegraph about a store owner using a firearm to to protect himself from a wild mutant robber:

Police said Khan and two other store employees were closing the store about 11:40 p.m. Tuesday when Dugger ran into the store with his face partially covered and waving a gun in front of him.

A video camera inside the store captured Dugger looking around him while Khan crouched down behind the counter. It shows Khan begging Dugger to leave the store with the money and Dugger wildly looking around the store.

When Dugger failed to leave, Khan pulled a pistol out of his pocket and shot at Dugger through the glass display counter.

According to police, Khan will not face any charges (bravo!) and kudos to the Macon Telegraph (GA) for reporting this story without bias.

Folks, you must know by now that this happens all the time across this country and yet BIG media refuses to report on it. Small newspapers have no problem with legitimate defensive uses of firearms. But when was the last time you read such a story in -- oh gosh, I don't know -- the New York Times or the Washington Post? They won't do it. It's against their agenda of hatred of our nation's Bill of Rights (unless it's the First Amendment -- which directly concerns them -- then they're all over it...) In my humble First Amendment OPINION, the New York Times and the Boston Globe and the LA Times and the Washington Post are the most dishonest, biased, misleading newspapers published anywhere in this country.

From The (S.C.) State comes another story of defensive gun use, this one during a robbery of a liquor store:

Claude Gunnels was opening at 9 a.m. Thursday when a man wearing a mask and holding a gun came in, Berkeley County Coroner Glenn Rhoad.

Charles J. Williams, Jr., 18, of Alvin, demanded money, Rhoad said. Gunnels walked behind the counter and opened the drawer to the cash register, the coroner said. When Williams turned around, Gunnels grabbed a .38-caliber revolver next to the cash register, Rhoad said.

The men exchanged gunfire and Williams was hit in the back of the neck as he ran out of the store, Rhoad said.

While Gunnels was calling police, he heard another gunshot, Rhoad said. Williams had shot himself in the head with his own gun and died, the coroner said.

Good. You know folks, I'm in tough financial times right now but I guess I was brought up with some ingrained morals by my parents. I have never, ever thought of picking up a gun and trying to get money I didn't earn -- I just can't conceive of robbing someone. And I really don't have sympathy for others who don't have such a set of ethical brakes in their brains. If you want to rob someone, you deserve to get shot. That's just my opinion but you know what? There are all sorts of liberals who would gladly make excuses for these mutants. Fortunately, in most states outside of NY, CA, NJ, MD, etc., you don't need to make excuses for defending yourself and your family and your business and hard-earned dollars from these thugs.

Okay, I think Nicki at KABA must know how much I love cats... Anyway, here's my

Story of the week!

From WNBC TV in New York:

Cheryl Walker says she and her family owe their lives to Boo-Boo the kitty. That's because two nights ago, the family was preparing dinner at home in the Inwood section of Manhattan, when a man holding a hostage at gunpoint entered their apartment demanding money -- and something else.

But Boo-Boo may have unwittingly saved the entire family from certain harm. He attacked the suspect just as he was trying to take another hostage.

Here's what happened: The suspect took Walker's husband to the bedroom, where Boo-Boo was, and upon seeing the cat, the suspect threatened to shoot Boo-Boo on the spot -- and tried to pick him up.

"No one can pick Boo-Boo up," Walker said. "So when he picked him up, that's when Boo-Boo got him right on the hand. He said, 'damn cat!' And Boo-Boo ran out."

The suspect chased the cat, and Walker's husband seized the opportunity to escape from the apartment -- running two flights downstairs and banging on Cristal Luciano's door for help.

HEH! The cops showed up and shot the suspect in the gut. He's currently in the hospital lamenting the day he ever dissed a cat. Okay fine, so this has nothing to do with gun control but it's about a CAT and in my delusional state, I assume you all love and worship cats. What!!??? You don't??? My Ghod how evil and depraved you must be...

Okay, enough of that stuff. So here is what some bloggers are chatting about...

Via Jason's Blog comes this CNN link about Cowboy Action Shooting. Here's a quote:

The dusty sagebrush desert makes a perfect backdrop for the more than 75 participants who get gussied up in 19th-century costume to socialize and compete in Cowboy Action Shooting, a fantasy sport that combines a heap of historical flavor with rapid-fire target shooting.

For a few hours a month, ordinary people become steely eyed lawmen or bad-news drifters. At least in their own minds, they become Jesse James or Wyatt Earp, or Annie Oakley or Belle Star.

This story was in the "travel section" of CNN and I have to give them (or specifically the writer) credit for just reporting on a fun outing. No condemnation or editorializing, just the facts about a great day for these folks. Bias free! Just how we like it around here...

Say Uncle reports on another defensive use of a gun (actually he reports from another website that doesn't *hurumph* acknowledge me...) about a woman who defends her father from her mutant husband. Unfortunately this was in anti-Bill of Rights New York and so she received five years probation. N.Y. is a sick state filled with diseased liberals.

Marc at Lay Lines is rich! Link not working right now so just go there -- he always has cool stuff to report on.

Over at the Kolkata Libertarian, Suman Palit is SO exactly correct about why the feds should NOT be keeping records of gun buyers. Just a truly excellent post by Suman from a blog you all should be bookmarking.

Les Jones is getting off on the new S&W N series snub-nose revolver. I can understand...

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So I guess this wraps up another edition of the "Weekly Report" and I realize it was shorter than normal but it's Christmas and there wasn't a lot to report on... I'll be back here sometime soon and until then, I thank you for stopping by. My best wishes to all of you for a wonderful Christmas holiday. I sincerely wish only wellness and good fortune for you and your families. Best to you-- the Gay Gun Nut of Vermont.