I just returned from running to the store to pick up some necessary items. During my travel there and back I was listening to talk radio. The host and callers were talking about how Bush was surprised to hear that they are forecasting gas to rise over $4.00 a gallon. Most of us have been hearing this for over a month now.

I'm not a Bush supporter. What he's done in office angers me on levels more than I can fathom. And no, I didn't vote for him last time. I didn't vote for Kerry either, I ended up writing in a candidate. With that being said, this really doesn't surprise me. But then again I don't think most politicians have any idea what the average American citizen pays for things and what the costs are going to be on those items in years to come.

Honestly I think if you went up to any politician and asked them the simple question of "Do you know how much it costs to fill the gas tank on a (insert car here)?" they probably wouldn't know. Now of course if I asked many of you "Do you know how much it costs to fill up a Chevy Silverado or a Chevy Venture?" you'd probably be able to get close to the ball park. Why? Because you pay for your gas.

Most of the politicians I know and have worked with have staff that fills the tanks on their cars or has someone drive them, especially at the Federal level. I'm sure career politicians probably couldn't tell you what side of the car their gas cap is on. And this is just another reason I believe they are out of touch with the American public.

So does it surprise me Bush didn't know? Not at all.

Posted by: Contagion at 03:21 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Eh, home again today. Things are starting to get better. I won't go into the details since many of you complained yesterday, but I will tell you that my arse is no longer a fire hose, it's more like a watery play-do fun factory.

Anyways I need to run to the store to pick up some supplies to last the day. I've drank all the water already and I'm not about to dehydrate myself. Oh, and maybe I should get some beer. If I'm going to have beer sqats, I might as well drink the beer too!

Posted by: Contagion at 11:02 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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There is still hope, a place fore a disenfranchised individual as myself to go. up until about 100 years ago there was always someplace for an individual to go when they were tired of their government. It was the frontier. People that wanted to get away from government persecution or what they felt where unjust laws or just to get away from others would head to the frontiers. Hell, North America was originally settled by people trying to get away from the government.

So where is this place? Why, it's Montana. That's right, Montana. According to the Washington post, "Montana insists on gun rights" Do you hear that? It's the sounds of angels singing.

Montana officials are warning that if the Supreme Court rules in the D.C. gun ban case that the right to keep and bear arms protects only state-run militias like the National Guard, then the federal government will have breached Montana's statehood contract.

I've already spoke with Ktreva and depending on how things go, we may up and move. If on the off chance they actually do try to break free of the ever tightening grasp of the Feds, I'd help them out.

Thanks to Ogre for the good news.

Posted by: Contagion at 05:58 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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If you wondered why I'm taking my time to attend the Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day (IGOLD), an article in the Rockford Register Star sums it up, Gun Control Proposal Clears House Committee. Now, this has just passed the committee, it hasn't actually passed the house or been made a law yet, but lets take a look at what this law is trying to ban.

Proposals that would ban semi-automatic assault weapons and outlaw the purchase of more than one handgun a month cleared an Illinois House committee today....

Technically these are two separate bills, one for the assault weapons and one for the handguns. We can't expect the media to get anything everything correct.
Not that I've ever bought more than one handgun a month, but I really don't think the government needs to tell me I can't. Seriously, if I went out and bought a handgun only to turn around a week later and find a really good deal on another, (estate sale, friend selling one, gun show, etc.) then I should still be able to purchase it. Hell that's how we obtained Ktreva's Colt 1991. This is just a silly piece of legislative BS brought on by people that are afraid of firearms and want to take them away from law abiding citizens like myself.

House Bill 4393, sponsored by Chicago Democratic Rep. Luis Arroyo, would limit handgun purchases to one every 30 days...

..."For years, weÂ’ve been trying to pass common-sense gun-law legislation," Acevedo said.

His House Bill 4357 would ban the sale or purchase of semi-automatic assault weapons, assault weapon attachments, .50-caliber rifles or .50-caliber cartridges.

"These military-style weapons have no place on our streets," a supporter of the bill, Nina Vinik, legal director for the Evanston-based Legal Community Against Violence, told the committee.

Common sense gun law? It's only common sense if you A) don't know much about firearms, B) Have an irrational fear of fire arms, C) What to use this as a stepping stone to disarm the masses or D) all of the above.

None of the weapons they want banned are truly "Military-style". They may look like it, but trust me our military more than likely wouldn't use them unless they had no other option. The military is more fond of fully-automatic. If you are not sure what the difference is, see this excellent video. 50 caliber is military grade? The sad thing is that if you read the actual bill, it doesn't specify modern or black powder. So any of us re-enactors wanting to buy a .50 cal black powder rifle in the future may have problems, it says there are exceptions but it doesn't list them. I wonder what they would think of my .75 caliber Brown Bess Musket. Hell it's a military style weapon, it was what the British used mainly during the Rev War. Mine has a bayonet, military sling, etc. I guess it could be considered an assault weapon.

It's because of these types of laws that I'm going to go lobby against them. I'm tired of the government taking away my rights and liberties just so they can better control me. Well I'm not going to go down with out a fight.

Thanks to Shadoglare of Refractional Darkness for getting my blood pressure up again.

Posted by: Contagion at 03:58 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Since I was home for the day, I figured I might as well finally update The Spoon and Blade. I put up the schedule of events of where I'm going to be this year. Now this schedule is subject to change. Events may be added and others removed.

Actually there are some events I'm thinking of doing that aren't on the schedule. Some of them are going to be last minute decisions or I just don't have any information on them at this time.

So if any of you want to see me in action, here is the list of where I will be.

Posted by: Contagion at 11:15 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I woke up this morning, put on one of my nice suits and was getting ready to hit the bathroom to do my hair. All of a sudden a siring pain shot across my abdomen and there was a very urgent pressure on my sphincter. Rapidly I waddled the five steps to the bathroom. I really did not want to redecorate the inside of my suit.

Ktreva is in the bathroom doing her hair. Grabbing my abdomen I urgently say, "I'm sorry, but I really need to use the bathroom." She gets out and I have enough time to get my pants down and start to squat over the thrown when the flood gates opened. A sound much like that of a fire hose spraying into a swimming pool is heard through out the house.

The whole time It felt like my body was trying to push my entire digestive tract out my arse. Severe cramping and pain continued for at least 20 minutes. Finally when everything settled down not only was I physically exhausted, but all that abdominal cramping gave me a nice set of six pack abs. Well, okay that may be a slight exaggeration but I do feel like I did 100 sit ups.

The decision was made that I shall not be going to work today. The last thing I need is a repeat performance of this in the middle of a meeting, which I had three today. Plus I don't think any amount of dry cleaning would remove the power self-enema spray from a suit. I'd have to throw it away and buy another.

Posted by: Contagion at 08:01 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Three down and three to go in “The History of Beer in America” collection my father gave me for Christmas. Tonight I thought I’d be a little wild and go for the porter. I was tired of the lighter beers and wanted something that was a little heftier. Tonight I’m reviewing the Piedmont Porter by MDII in Rochester, NY. Sorry, I still don’t have any reputable information about this alleged brewery.

We have our standard 12 oz brown bottle with a yellowed label made to look like paper from the 1860s. There is a lot of information on the label; the main thing is that there is a logo of an eagle at the top with the name of the beer under it.

When poured into a glass it has a very nice dark brown color with rich garnet highlights. A half in thick tan head consisting of a mix of fine and large bubbles formed that faded slowly into a film on the top of the beer. There was some lacing on the side of the glass that lasted for the duration.

The smell was a little weak. What was detectable was a combination of malts, coffee and a touch of sweet molasses. There were other aromas mixed in, but they were too weak to be able to discern. The taste was mostly coffee malts. There was a slight bitterness to it of burnt grains that really wasnÂ’t all that flattering. This really didnÂ’t taste like a porter.

This is a medium bodied beer. It really didnÂ’t have the typical coating or mouth feel one would think of in a porter.

If Miller or Anheuser-Busch made a porter, it probably would be like this. Nothing all that special, itÂ’s darker in color and has a slight porter taste. Over all I give this beer a 4 out of 10.

Posted by: Contagion at 06:57 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Then Tony Kornheiser can lick my... wait this is a PG-13 blog.

Tony, AKA Kornholer, originally brought about my ire for his horrible announcing during Monday Night Football games on ESPN. He was so bad he was even nominated for worst announcer of the year. Any of you that have watched football with me know that I really hate this man's inability to stay on topic, especially the game at hand.

Today I stroll over to Techography where Bloodspite has a post up about Tony calling bloggers toads.

It's a real, it's a real mistake, and it happens. And I don't want to single anybody out in this area, but, you know, some people sit at home and they watch TV and they watch radio and they "blog" about certain "things," and they think they know what they're talking about, and they think they have sources. They have no sources. They make stuff up. They're toads. They're little toads. Actually, they're pimples on the behind of the greater body politic in this country and in this city (everyone in the studio cackles for no reason). And because, because they have access to airwaves and three or four people read them, they think, 'Oh, I'm very important.'

Read the whole article and see how he really feels about us. Then remember the next time you see him to let him lick your... sorry, I forgot.

Posted by: Contagion at 06:15 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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I decided to try a new event this year called the Colonial Trade Faire & musket and Rifle Frolic at the Fort De Chartres historic site in Prairie Du Rocher, IL. (South of Saint Louis not far from the Mississippi). This is a juried event (Meaning you have to pass close scrutiny in order to get in) and from what I've heard they are strict. Actually I know there are strict, here's the rules. I had to send pictures of myself and my equipment so that they could view them and pass judgment upon me.

Today in the mail I received my acceptance letter. The only thing they had a problem with was my capote (a coat made out of wool blankets, French for Cape.) To quote the letter, "Everything looks great except for the capote. I can't see it too well in the picture, but it looks more like a Rocky Mt. Style Mt Man coat VS a more tailored 18th century style capote. If I'm wrong, please let me know as I couldn't see too clearly from the photo."

This is the photo I sent, it was the best I had:

Yea, it sucked. The capote was bought as an Eastern Style capote. I added the black leather cape to it for extra warmth. You'd be surprised how much that cape helps. I made it so it buttoned on, I can easily take it off. I responded via e-mail stating that. If I can't bring it, it stays home, if they say it's okay than I bring it with. It's not that big of a deal. I can always just use a wool blanket and one of the man kilt broaches I have.

Posted by: Contagion at 07:22 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Ogre's Politics and Views directed me to an article written by Chuck Baldwin titled John McCain is a Liberal Gun Grabber. Where as I am not familiar with Chuck Baldwin, his radio show or his principles, I do know that I agree with what he wrote here. He has a lot of good points and even some outstanding ones.

Let me say it straight out: a John McCain Presidency would be far worse than a Barack Obama Presidency. With a Democrat in the White House, conservatives and Christians suddenly find their principles and are able to offer resistance. Put a Republican in the Oval Office, however, and those same people become blind, deaf, and dumb to most any principle they profess.

I've been saying basically that same thing for a long time now. I've had the arguments that "Obama or Clinton in the white house would deliver us into a state of ruin." The problem is that, so will McCain, he'll just have an R behind his name. Shadoglare did a nice little breakdown of the candidates and which one came across as the best. It was good and informational. The only beef I had with it is that it's based on quotes not voting records and that the quotes can be interpreted differently be each reader. He ended up taking a stance that he's going to vote for the lesser of evil or the candidate that is closest to what he believes. (Albeit it none of them really are close at all.)

I've stated and sticking with my stance that I'm not casting my vote for McCain (or against his opponents). That doesn't mean I'm voting Obama/Clinton that just means I may end up writing in a candidate or seeing if there is a third party candidate I agree with more.

But if you want to know more about McCain and his voting records regarding firearms, please go read the article by Chuck Baldwin.

Posted by: Contagion at 07:04 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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As much as I appreciate everything that being a part of .mu.nu has given to me, I'm thinking it's time for me to move away from the community. The comments are down... again. I really hate when I can't get comments. For those that e-mail me their comments, I appreciate that, but I know it's frustrating. Plus trackbacks have been gone for a line time... and I miss them.

If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, I'd appreciate it. I don't want to lose my archives and honestly I don't know how to go about transferring them. That's the main reason I've never left. To be honest I'd love to move someplace and have all my old blogspot archives and here combined into one.

Posted by: Contagion at 07:27 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Wes of Bodhran Roll, Please! (The semi-irregularly updated blog) wife gave birth to their fourth child yesterday. Yes, I thats four. One more than three, and one less than five. No, really four. Yes, I'm sure. They live just down the street, I've seen all the kids and the pregnant wife. Yea, I think they're crazy too, but it makes them happy so my opinion doesn't matter.

Anyway, mom and baby are doing fine. Go over and give the proud and tired father some congratulations.

Posted by: Contagion at 09:52 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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If you're not a Sci-fi or Star Wars fan, you won't appreciate this desk. If you are, this may be the coolest desk you've ever seen.

The Han Solo Frozen in Carbonite Desk!

Yea, I wish I could get one of these for work!

Posted by: Contagion at 09:40 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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I know I have poor grammar and I misspell words, I'd like to think it's part of my charm. Some people I know find this highly annoying. That's why I found it highly amusing when a friend of mine sent me the following image after I accidentally used it's wrong.

I really do know when to use the correct one, I just made a mistake. it's not my fault!

Posted by: Contagion at 09:24 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Anyone that has ever worked in a cube farm, AKA office, is familiar with the Dilbert comics. Some of them really hit close to home, but for Dave Steward of Fort Madison, IA it summed up his feelings about management. So he posted it on the bulletin board at work and fired for it.

Steward, 50, a resident of Fort Madison, was fired by the casino last fall after seven years of employment. He had posted on an office bulletin board a "Dilbert" strip in which the protagonist compares his bosses to a bunch of "drunken lemurs."

Well I can understand the posting of the comic, I feel that way about my managers at time, especially now.

Casino managers were not amused. By reviewing surveillance tapes, they determined that Steward was responsible for posting the cartoon. They fired him and accused him of not being a "team player."

For posting a comic he's not a team player? I'd think if he blatantly and openly ridiculed management, that would be not a team player but not this.

As a result of this, Scott Adams (Dilbert's Creator) caught wind of the situation and has dedicated recent strips to making fun of the entire situation, in true Dilbert fashion.

In a new series of "Dilbert" comics that begins today, Steward's bosses — represented by the strip's infamous Pointy-Haired Boss — are lampooned for their actions. Steward is depicted by Wally, the strip's bespectacled, coffee-swilling office drone. Steve Morley is portrayed by Catbert, the evil human resources director.

That's just hilarious.

Posted by: Contagion at 09:17 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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This week started off really good. I had just spent the weekend with a group of the greatest guys I've had the pleasure hanging out with. Then I had a day off to "recover" from the fun.

Then I went to work. I walked into a maelstrom of laziness, incompetence and bullshite. On Wednesday I was given the shaft. I’m not going to go into a lot of details, but my company basically told me that I’m not a valuable employee, I’m not appreciated and that what I do is unnecessary to the benefit of the company. When I confronted them on this, they claimed “That is not the situation.” Yet actions speak louder than words and their actions spoke volumes. I caught them in some “untruths” or misinformation. I’m not saying I was directly lied to, but either the powers that be were lied to, are misinformed or misunderstood information given to them.

Then they knew they pissed me off and instead of confronting the situation they avoided it. Pissing me off more. There is nothing that annoys me more than milquetoast management. I had more meetings canceled today; in fact all of my meetings with upper management were canceled. After the last one was canceled, I forced a confrontation by stating I wanted to follow up on our conversation from Wednesday.

We sat down, discussed it and they wanted me to put my feelings and issues in writing for a formal request. After that they questioned my ability to manage my employees and they questioned my ability to continue functioning in the position IÂ’m currently in. Because of that I told them I refused to put it in writing in fear that they were going to use it against me at a later time. That set them on the defense. Denials of retaliation were flying left and right until I pulled out the examples of were they retaliated against me in the past.

I really think my time with this company is coming to an end rapidly. Either voluntarily or involuntarily. I am proud of the fact that in one of the meetings with my peers, after they pushed some of my buttons, I didn’t utter the phrase, “Don’t piss me off or I’ll rain fiery death down upon you like the gods of yore.” Especially since they have all heard me talk about my mortar and how I could shell the building from a half-mile away. Not that I would actually ever do that or anything else remotely that stupid. Just that I don’t know if they would take it as the joke it was meant as right now.

Anyway, IÂ’m getting ready to tear into a couple of cases of beer soon.

Posted by: Contagion at 06:53 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Well, I went to work today. My ID badge let me into the building, so obviously I didn't quit, or if I did they haven't removed me from the system yet. Which would be strange since it takes two months to get someone put into it, but 2 seconds to have them completely removed.

None of the upper management talked to me or looked me in the eye today. Two of my meetings were canceled and a third the upper management didn't attend like they normally do. I think they are hoping that I cool down and give it a couple of days before they approach me again. The problem is that they are making one huge tactical mistake.

I'm not illogically mad. Yes, I'm mad, but I'm not being illogical about it. Every time I went to speak with one of them regarding a decision I had made, they always had someplace they had to be and didn't have time to talk about it or were just gone from their desks. They are handling it in their normal crappy style, if we ignore it or give the problem to someone else, it will go away. I'm sure they figure give me a couple of days to "cool off" and they'll talk to me again.

The problem with this is that again, I'm not illogically mad. Their avoidance of the issue is actually throwing gasoline onto the fire. If they would buck up, act like proper management or even the adults they are supposed to be, I'd at least have some respect for them. This tactic is full of crap. It just pisses me off more.

I'm wondering what tomorrow has to bring.

Posted by: Contagion at 05:44 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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I guess I didn't resign my position after all.

Posted by: Contagion at 06:56 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I think I resigned my position at work today. I'm not actually sure as it was toward the end of a very heated hour and a half discussion about how they were giving me the shaft. Right now I'm really trying to remember what exactly I said. I know that I eluded to finding another job, but I'm not sure that I quit.

I guess I'll find out tomorrow. If I don't go to work tomorrow then I guess we'll know I didn't.

Oh, and for the readers I have that work at the same place, you're going to be getting the same shaft this summer.

Posted by: Contagion at 07:06 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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1 Sounds like a great excuse to come down here and check out the job market. Hell I might even be able to get you on at my company About as laid back as they come. We don't even HAVE a HR Department anymore We have a "Recruiting and Employee Benefit Department"

Posted by: BloodSpite at February 21, 2008 09:28 AM (pOo0j)

2 Oh crap! Be I see by the post above that all is (relatively) well. Hang in there!

Posted by: Richmond at February 21, 2008 10:11 AM (VW/9d)

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We’re back to beer from “The History of Beer in America” collection that my father gave me for Christmas. This evening’s selection is Hole in the Rock by MDII in Rochester, NY. I gave up trying to find out who this actually is. After doing some research I’m pretty sure it’s a pseudonym. It appears that different breweries are contracted to make the beer for Sam’s Club.

It came in a standard 12 oz brown bottle. The label is shaded and made to look like aged paper. There is a picture of a steamship heading down a river with a cave in the background. The name of the beer is at the top. The bottom of the label claims “Marzen Style Lager Beer”.

It is a copper colored beer. ItÂ’s clear with no signs of sediment of cloudiness. There was a thin head when poured that faded to nothing. No lacing formed on the side of the glass.

There is a slight malty scent to the beer. If you concentrate you smell breads and a sweetness that reminded me of grapes. The flavor was weak and not very notable. It tasted like a standard lager, mostly malts with a touch of citrus hops.

This is a light bodied beer. It was watery and left no coating at all. It drinks easy enough, but itÂ’s very nondescript.

This is just your standard generic beer. ItÂ’s nothing special to write about, but it is drinkable. IÂ’m not sure exactly how they figure itÂ’s a Marzen style beer, as you really canÂ’t taste it. I give it 3.5 out of 10.

Posted by: Contagion at 07:02 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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