This past weekend Ktreva and I headed to Kalamazoo Michigan for the Kalamazoo Living History Show. We were meeting Wil and Red there Friday night. Ktreva and I made great time and beat them there by a couple of hours, so we ended up checking out some of the local bar scene to find places to possibly go.

The first place we went to was the Old Peninsula Brew Pub It was a bit pretentious of a brew pub. Most of their beers were okay. Out of the four different beers I tried there, I only really thought the stout would be one I'd drink on a regular basis, and their stout was a really mild and bland stout. The one thing they had that I really liked was a cozy for their growlers. I bought one so I could show it to Carlyle's as an idea for them.

After there, we found a Buffalo Wild Wings and went there for 2 dollar 23oz miller lites. They were trying to drain off their green beer from St. Pats. I was more than happy to comply. While we were drinking there, we received the message that Big Trouble and Lil' Irish Wil and Red were about out. Of course that was after 5 glasses of Miller lite.

We hooked up with Wil and Red at the hotel, got them checked in and went over to a Texas Corral across the parking lot from the hotel. We just went in to sit at the bar. I would tell you more, but I really don't remember. Allegedly I spoke with Wil and Red's daughter and promised we'd stop by on the way back. Then allegedly I was loud and belligerent. I really don't recall any of this. I think that was all of them making stuff up.

Saturday morning, after we could get Ktreva out of bed (she will sleep for 12 hours you know), we headed to the show. We ran into a lot of friends there, including Smokepoles and his wife. Ktreva and I hadn't been there in three years, I was wondering if they would be dead. Nope, they were busy as ever! I really wasn't looking for much, other than a canteen. Now I'm sure many people will laugh and ask why I traveled so far for a canteen. I'll tell you why, I've been looking for two year and couldn't find one. Well I have one now.

I ended up buying the canteen, a couple of more buckets, more historically accurate than the one I had. An all natural hand woven belt, a wooden barrel with brass spigot, a belt knife and canned Haggis. Ktreva bought some wooden dice, more accurate glasses and some Poppen Moccasins. I was also measured for a a new great coat.

Now most of what I bought was just something I found and liked, I really wasn't looking for it. Like the wooden barrel, which when I got home found out that the guy selling it lied through his teeth. The damn thing leaks like a sieve! I let it soak for over twenty four hours in water and some of the small leaks sealed like expected, but there is a couple of big leaks that just wouldn't seal. I think I can fix it. I'm really glad I only paid $40.00 for it. Because I'll get the money's worth out of it from the base and brass spigot if I can't fix the leak.

After the trade fair all of went to this Irish pub in Kalamzoo called Gallagher's. To make a long story short. The food was really, really, really good. The beer selection was fantastic... the price on the beer was ungodly! I had a Blacksmith (half Guinness and half Smithwicks), then I had a Kelpie (A Scottish seaweed beer, that was pretty good) and a Black Douglas (A Scottish Ale). The Blacksmith was about $6.00, the Kelpie was $9.50 and the Black Douglas was $10.90. Now I'm not a hundred percent sure about the price on the Blacksmith and the Kelpie, but the Black Douglas I know for a fact. Wil bitched about it for the rest of the weekend to anyone who would listen. The service there was also ungodly slow. I couldn't believe how long it took for them to get us beer, take our orders, bring us the check. It was a horrible experience. The sad thing is that I recommended this place because I had been there before. Not this one, they have a sister bar in Paw Paw, that Ktreva and I had eaten at in years past. Again, the food is excellent and reasonably priced.

Then we hit a brewpub called Bilbo's. It was a Lord of the Ring's themed brewpub. We tried three different beers there: Duff (as in from the Simpson's), Return of the King and Sledgehammer. To be honest all three tasted remarkably similar, and were rather plain. We had the manager serving us beer and neither Wil nor myself were quiet about our opinions. Yea, I do believe she thought we were going to start some trouble.

After there we tried finding another bar, but had no luck. We ended up going back to the room, drinking there for a while and then going back to Texas Corral. Were we drank and and joked and the waitress (with a broken foot) not only remembered us, remembered our drinks and was the best waitress we had the whole weekend.

On Sunday we visited with Wil and Tina's daughter in Indiana. We spent a good couple of hours there before having to head back home. It was good seeing her again. She's getting ready to graduate from Law School and make a new and exciting life for herself on the east coast.

Overall, we had a great time. It's just a shame it couldn't have lasted any longer.

Posted by: Contagion at 08:05 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Monday night my mother called to ask if I could help her and dad move a recliner into the basement of their house. My mother had hurt her neck and the chair they had just wasn't comfortable enough for her anymore. She bought a new recliner and was getting rid of this huge white chair they had in the basement. She offered it to us. As soon as Ktreva heard mom was getting rid of the huge white chair, Ktreva was all over it.

She had coveted this chair for years. Now it could be all hers. The catch is that I had to come get it tonight.

I told Ktreva that if she wanted the chair, she would need to find a way to get rid of the couch. After a half day of calls, she discovered that the cheapest and easiest way to get rid of the couch is to throw it out in the trash, but we can't put it out until Tuesday.

I contacted Bruce and called in a favor. So tonight after work we came to my house and moved the blue couch out onto the front porch ala white trash. Went to my parents house, pulled the white chair up out of the basement. Took the new leather recliner into the basement.Then we came to my house and moved the white chair into the living room.

Of course the hardest part was moving the couch out. The thing weighs a ton. It has a metal frame and motors for the massagers. It barely fit through the door frames. IT was a pain in the arse to get out.

The new recliner weighed about 20 pounds and was easy to move. The white chair which is about the size of a small love seat, was right in the middle.

Of course afterwards I took Bruce to Old Chicago for Beer in appreciation.

Now I'm thinking it's time to get me my own recliner.

Posted by: Contagion at 08:10 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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I was going to review another beer tonight, but when I poured it into a glass, there was some kind of unreasonable floating bits in it. When I say bits, I mean chunks! I went online before drinking the beer to make sure that wasnÂ’t normal. (IÂ’ve had beers that were supposed to have floater) After confirming that no, it was wrong on so many levels I had to dump the beer down the drain. (Sorry Petey, it was one of yours) Fortunately last week Bruce and I went to a Beer tasting here in town and I happened to pick up a six pack of beer to do a review on based on the tasting. So tonight IÂ’m reviewing BellÂ’s Cherry Stout by BellÂ’s Brewery in Comstock, MI.

Mine came in the standard 12 oz brown bottle. There is a tan paper label that has a picture of a cherry tree with three huge cherries under it. The company logo is at the top, the beer name is at the bottom. They have a brief description of the beer, “Stout brewed with cherry juice.”

The color is a nice dark ebony. There is a slight reddish tint to it. ItÂ’s so dark and thick that light doesnÂ’t pass through the beer. Even when held to the light you can barely see light passing through the edge of the beer. Almost no head formed when poured into the glass. What head formed was thin and tan. It faded quickly to nothing. There was some very minimal lacing on the side of the glass.

The smell is a combination of Chocolate and rich Coffee malts. A mild cherry mild scent enhances the malt scent. The flavor was much like the scent. The main flavor is a strong coffee and chocolate malt combination that is common with stouts. A slight tart cherry flavor rounds the flavor out. The cherry flavor really does enhance the rest of the beer. The aftertaste is very pleasant and fades quickly.

This is a full bodied beer. There is some creaminess, but for a stout there could be a bit more to it. Still there is more than what you get in most American stouts.

Anyone that has been drinking with me has heard me say, “Fruit does not belong in beers” or “If you have to add fruit to a beer to make it drinkable, then it is not a good beer.” This, however, is the exception to the case. The cherry flavor is so mild, that it just enhances the richness of the malts. It opens up the taste buds to really appreciate the total experience. Even if you are like me and am not a fan of fruit beers, I would recommend at least giving this one a chance. Overall I give it 7.5 out of 10.

Posted by: Contagion at 09:27 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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All right folks, I know tomorrow is the big day. So to help you all get into the mood I'm leaving you a couple of video's from the Dropkick Murphys. Over the last couple of days I've gotten quite a few people singing these songs. I will warn you that the lyrics are pretty much NSFW..

Yea, it's not traditional Irish music, but dammit, sometimes I like the new stuff!

There, that's a more traditional Irish song...

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Yesterday I hooked up with Bruce and Wes for a day of drinking fun. We started at Fritz's for lunch and some beer. While down there we were talked into doing a shot that was called an Irish Trash Can... It was a shot of Blue Curacao dropped into a glass of Red Bull. The glasses in each other made the drink green in color. It was way too sweet for my taste, in fact none of us liked it very much. Of course I gave out beads to all the ladies and children! No, there was no showing of breasts for beads!

After there we went to Carlyle to have a couple of drinks. I had their new one called Creme Brewlee (get it?). It was way too sweet for my taste and at 9.9% ABV, you could taste teh alcohol in it. Carlyle was right along the route for the St. Pat's parade in town. There were a lot of people in there with their kids waiting for the parade to start. I couldn't help but to give beads to all the kids and ladies. Again, there was no showing of breasts for beads!

After there we went to Muligan's in Rockford. This is were our behavior started to go down hill. That probably had something to do with the Irish car bombs we started doing. Others started showing up to join us. Not going into details, but that's when glassware and bar signs started to "disappear". This is also were the good beads started to come out and the we started giving out beads for breasts. Yes, there was showing of breasts for beads!

All in all it was a good time. Now I'm just taking a break before going out and starting today's celebration!

Liver Don't fail me now!

PS. Barry O'Bama did not get his arse kicked

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I know I've been gone for a couple of days, and not posted. I promise to tell you about IGOLD when I get some time.

Right now however, I'm going to be taking the next couple of days to celebrate St. Pats day. Yea, I know, it's early.

Yesterday I started at Old Chicago doing a mini-tour. Today I'm doing a bar crawl across the Rockford Area, I know we are hitting Fritz's and Mulligan's, maybe some others.

And for the next couple of days my alter leprechaun ego will be coming out. I put a picture of him in the extended entry. more...

Posted by: Contagion at 09:39 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I know I haven't been around much. I took Ktreva into Chicago last weekend for a little romantic weekend away. After all she went through with the Cancer, we had decided back in January that we needed a weekend alone. Unfortunately we had to wait until we both had a free weekend to do it, which was this past weekend.

As I said it was a romantic weekend, so I'm not sharing any details. Let's just say I could have bought a shirt that said, "I went to Chicago, and I got way more than this T-shirt"... if you know what I mean.

Work has been full of drama. I've pretty much put in my notice there. I haven't quit yet, but they know that my long term plans no longer involve working there.

Now tomorrow I'm heading down to Springfield with Bruce and our friend J-man. We are heading down for IGOLD to help lobby for pro-firearm rights, and to lobby against some laws that are trying to make firearms prohibitive. I'll be gone for a couple of days having some fun.

If any of you are down in Springfield, IL at the time... e-mail me and we can get together.

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Over at Bad Example, Harvey has a post up regarding The Blood of Patriots and Tyrants. It's a short read, but it gives his take on how the next American Revolution could be done via the ballot. The title of his post is in reference to a famous Thomas Jefferson quote "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." In his comments the debate has been a rather back and forth with both sides giving their opinion.

I for one believe that at some point there is going to be an uprising of American citizens against the government. Why? Because no one has any faith left in politicians and the government anymore. I've been saying for years that it is coming. If you know where to look and talk to the right people you could see the movement growing. It's not just liberal or conservative whack jobs. It's your everyday person, you neighbors, bosses, employees and friends. It may even be members of your own family.

I've talked to individuals that are liberals, conservatives and moderates. People from every political affiliations have said they are just waiting for the right time and they would be more then willing to join the cause. There is only two things I can figure out at this time that is preventing anything from happening. The first is that so far there hasn't been any reliable movement with a competent leader. The second is that there is a fear that will the military side with the patriots/rebels or will they fire upon them.

Each year, month, week and day I receive more an more information about various people deciding that the time is getting nearer for the citizens to take back their country. I know that for last least 9 months various new groups have been forming. Back in July this video first started making the rounds:

Folks, I admit I agree with most of what he says. I had originally been sent this video back in August while in Oklahoma. It was sent to me again in October, December and now just today. I hadn't shared it at the previous times because I was waiting for the right time. Well, Harvey's post made this the right time.

In the video they are calling for a peaceful revolution by putting pressure on the government. Honestly, I don't know if that will work. I hope it does, but honestly I'm more prepared for the other.

Posted by: Contagion at 10:50 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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My friend Smokepoles was upset over the whole stimulus plan that the government has proposed. With Billions of dollars being spent frivolously and wastefully that will have to be paid back in the future by our children and grand children. Feeling it was his civic duty he sent a letter to US Senator Dick Durbin D-IL expressing his opinion. Attached is the response he received. Unfortunately the original letter was sent by Senator DurbinÂ’s website so he couldnÂ’t forward it to me. This response is so helpful.

March 3, 2009

Mr. Smokepoles
1000 Main St.
YourTown, IL 60000


Dear Mr. Smokepoles:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the economic recovery package. I appreciate hearing from you.

We are facing tough economic times. Americans across the country are feeling the squeeze of this recession as hardworking men and women lose their jobs, state and local governments cut services to avoid deep deficits, and credit is cut back.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) (P.L. 111-5) enacts a broad mix of tax cuts and incentives aimed at individuals and small businesses. The act also makes investments in infrastructure, moves forward on alternative energy development, and provides tax relief to working families across the country. These provisions are designed to help our economy on the road to recovery.

Critics of the recovery bill argued that the measure does nothing to scale back foreclosure - the number one cause of the economic downturn. The Obama Administration has announced an aggressive new policy to stem foreclosures, and Congress is considering legislation to help homeowners stay in their homes and strengthen regulation of the mortgage market.

Some have expressed concern that the bill adds to the federal budget deficit. While we need to address the deficit over time, the first order of business is to put our economy back on track. No earmarks were included in this bill.

This legislation is a necessary step toward economic recovery.
Thank you again for writing to me. I will keep your thoughts in mind as Congress considers legislation to address the downturn. Please feel free to keep in touch.

Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator

RJD/ms

Smokepoles did NOT like the vagueness of the response. He responded with the following:

Senator Durbin,

I appreciate you taking the time in responding to my letter. It saddens me however as I do not believe that you really have listened to the voters. The stock market and economists do not believe in your plan and America continues to suffer.

Companies that run their businesses into the ground deserve to fail. If my company fails would you and Mr. Obama be there holding my hand and giving me millions? That answer is a resounding "NO" and we both know it. It would appear that this plan does nothing to benefit the everyday tax paying American, only the people that made huge donations to certain campaigns.

No earmarks you say? Please take the time and re-read the document in which you back. There are too many hands in the cookie jar and the cookie jar is empty. We have borrowed so much money from foreign countries that even China will lend us no more. What is being used as collateral? Our county's national parks perhaps?

Do you want to help stimulate our economy? Do away with the many draws on it. Here is something that should be of great interest.

Back during The Great Depression, President Herbert Hoover ordered the deportation of ALL illegal aliens in order to make jobs available to American citizens that desperately needed work.

Harry Truman deported over two million Illegals after WWII to create jobs for returning veterans.

And then again in 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower deported 13 million Mexican nationals! The program was called 'Operation Wetback' so that American WWII and Korean veterans had a better chance at jobs.

It took 2 Years, but they deported them!

If you have doubts about the truth of this information, enter "Operation Wetback" into your favorite search engine and like I tell my many friends, confirm it for yourself.

Now, if they could deport the illegals back then you can sure do it today!! I might suggest naming something else though.

This would help the health care system lower their costs, insurance companies would be able to lower our premiums as well as the costs to the taxpayers of the many welfare programs that get abused. Thanks to the banking institutions and their loan practices, Illegal immigrants were able to buy homes in neighborhoods that I would not be able to buy in.... and then there is surprise when the loans default?

This is but one aspect where funds can be found and used.

I am sorry that you have taken this stand on this topic and America will be even more sorry in the long run. Your plan will only build skyscrapers on a foundation of sand.

I understand that I am but one person but be certain that I am a voter. Many citizens have forgotten that this is a republic, but I have not. Do you really think that we aren't smart enough to figure out that socialism is where you are leading us?

I love my country, but my government disgusts me.

Sincerely,
Smokepoles Name changed to protect the innocent, the rest of the letter is as originally written

Now Smokepoles sent me this letter, because he knows that I share his disdain for the bailouts and stimulus package. Now before his letter I had never heard of Operation Wetback, in fact I thought he was making it up, but he wasnÂ’t. Operation Wetback actually existed.

As for the rest of the letter, I agree with him 100 percent. I think the whole package in and of itself is a bad idea, and that itÂ’s just going to cause more problems in the long run.

These letters reprinted with permission of Smokepoles

Posted by: Contagion at 09:59 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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1 Nice. "Some are concerned that this spendulous package doesn't actually address the cause of the problem. No worries - Obama has another spendulous package in the works to address that as well."

Posted by: Shadoglare at March 04, 2009 06:12 AM (qtT/A)

2 The reason why these things get passed is that the wealth earners don't have time to go and protest in the streets. This will change as those wealth earners free up some time because they were layed off.

Posted by: Dr. Phat Tony at March 04, 2009 08:35 AM (fk/lm)

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Yesterday was the first pre-season game for the Rock River Raptors. It was held at the Victory indoor sports center in Loves Park. Now just to give everyone an idea of what has been going on with the Raptors. I had to contact them to find out about renewing my tickets this year. Then I had to call them to find out about when I should be getting my tickets. They hadn't contacted me about anything at all. If I hadn't called them I wouldn't have known about this game and when to pick up the tickets.

Their communication has been severely lacking.

My initial plans were to get there, pick up the tickets, watch a quarter and then leave. Before we left Graumagus stopped by the house and decided to attend the game with Ktreva and I. When we got the to game, we met up with Bruce and another friend of ours. We all had the same idea. Watch until half time, then go to Fritz's for some drinking. Well, we ended up having a lot of fun watching the blow out of an exhibition game that we stuck around for the whole game. Then after the game we were all going to go to Fritz's.

I don't know what happened to Bruce and our other friend, but they never showed up. Grau, Ktreva and I ended up staying until closing time and had a great time talking and catching up.

I hope that the Raptor's get their act together before they doom the team, because as it stands right now I will not be renewing my season tickets next year.

Posted by: Contagion at 06:29 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Okay, I know I normally do the beer reviews on Wednesday, but that didnÂ’t happen, and I wasnÂ’t about to let it go three weeks without one. This is a beer that was given to me by Petey of PeteyÂ’s Powderhorn. He really wants to be the first enabler to hit 24 beers donated! HAHAHA! He had given me a box filled with various beers to try. The reason I selected this one tonight was because at Winter Camp Petey and the rest of the gang from his neck of the woods showed up with cases of it. I did a quick evaluation of it up there, but I held off on a full review until I got home. Tonight IÂ’m reviewing the 1888 Bock by the LeinenkugelÂ’s Brewery in Chippewa Falls, WI.

It came in a standard 12 oz brown bottle. The label is green and yellow and itÂ’s hard to tell, but it appears to be a stream running along the edge of a forest, or in a clearing, or something. ItÂ’s hard to tell because the name of the brewery and the beer take up most of the label.

There is a nice dark reddish brown/burnt amber coloring to it. ItÂ’s clear and light passes through it easily. Yet it is dark enough that you canÂ’t make out images on the other side. The head poured was about a quarter inch thick. It was made up of fine white bubbles, and faded to a film on the top of the beer. Minimal lacing formed on the edge of the glass.

The smell is a basic combination of caramel roasted malts with a slight toasted nut scent. A very mild fruit scent can also be detected. The taste has a thin taste of roasted caramel malts with a hint of a hop bitterness. You can also detect a bit of a grape like fruitiness to it in the finish. The aftertaste is a bit of a week bitter fruit combination.

ItÂ’s got a thin body to it. There is no coating to the mouth. There is a mild carbonation that fits this style of beer.

Overall, IÂ’m less than impressed with this LeinieÂ’s creation. A lot of their beers are pretty good, and this one is not bad, but itÂ’s not what I would expect from them. ItÂ’s a sub-par beer for them. ItÂ’s not a bad beer, but I just donÂ’t think IÂ’d go out of my way to grab one. If you are a leinieÂ’s fan, then I would recommend trying one, if notÂ… IÂ’d avoid this one. I give it 4 out of 10.

Posted by: Contagion at 09:04 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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The beer review has to be postponed for one night, I forgot to put it in the fridge to cool it off! I don't want to review a warm beer. So stay tuned and tomorrow we'll have a good one!

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I've received numerous emails from friends, aquantances and as a part of mailers for groups in which I belong. They were regarding the HR 45 Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sales Act of 2009. Which was introduced by Bobby Rush D-IL. I'm not surprised that this started in Illinois. If there is anything that involves the restriction of freedom, individual rights, or firearms an Illinois politician will be all over it like a pack of wolves on a wounded deer. The only thing that might distract them would be a way for them to make money.

Let me give you the basics as to what this bill is going to do:

*Prohibit possession of any handguns or any semiautomatic firearms that can accept detachable ammunition-feeding devices (excluding antiques) by anyone who has not been issued a firearm license.

*Require all sales of those types of firearms to go through licensed dealers

*Direct the Attorney General to establish and run a federal record-of-sale system.

*Require the possessors of firearms to secure them (by secure gun storage or safety devices) when they are kept in locales where children might be capable of gaining access to those firearms.

Basically this would make it illegal to own a firearm (any rifle with a magazine or ANY pistol) unless you have a license and it is registered.

That might not sound too bad to some, but if you look at what you need to get that license you need the following:

(a) In General- In order to be issued a firearm license under this title, an individual shall submit to the Attorney General (in accordance with the regulations promulgated under subsection (b)) an application, which shall include--

(1) a current, passport-sized photograph of the applicant that provides a clear, accurate likeness of the applicant;

(2) the name, address, and date and place of birth of the applicant;

(3) any other name that the applicant has ever used or by which the applicant has ever been known;

(4) a clear thumb print of the applicant, which shall be made when, and in the presence of the entity to whom, the application is submitted;

(5) with respect to each category of person prohibited by Federal law, or by the law of the State of residence of the applicant, from obtaining a firearm, a statement that the individual is not a person prohibited from obtaining a firearm;

(6) a certification by the applicant that the applicant will keep any firearm owned by the applicant safely stored and out of the possession of persons who have not attained 18 years of age;

(7) a certificate attesting to the completion at the time of application of a written firearms examination, which shall test the knowledge and ability of the applicant regarding--

(A) the safe storage of firearms, particularly in the vicinity of persons who have not attained 18 years of age;

(B) the safe handling of firearms;

(C) the use of firearms in the home and the risks associated with such use;

(D) the legal responsibilities of firearms owners, including Federal, State, and local laws relating to requirements for the possession and storage of firearms, and relating to reporting requirements with respect to firearms; and

(E) any other subjects, as the Attorney General determines to be appropriate;

( an authorization by the applicant to release to the Attorney General or an authorized representative of the Attorney General any mental health records pertaining to the applicant;

(9) the date on which the application was submitted; and

(10) the signature of the applicant.

What a load of baloney! Trust me folks, this is just the first step to the actual banning. See, they will use this to get all of us legal gun owners to go register our firearms with the government so that when they do the ban, they know exactly where to go and what to look for when they confiscate our firearms. If you think I'm kidding, look at what happened in England, and the history of how their firearm ban went.

It started with the Pistols Act of 1903. This seemingly reasonable law forbade selling pistols to minors or felons and established that handgun sales were to be made only to those who had a license. The Firearms Act of 1920 expanded licensing to include not only handguns but all firearms except shotguns. Later laws passed in 1953 and 1967 outlawed the carrying of any weapon by private citizens and mandated the registration of all shotguns.

Then in Dunblane Scotland an incident happened where a man killed 16 children and a teacher at a school. After that incident laws were passed that banned firearms. Citizens who owned handguns were given three months to turn them over to local authorities. Being good British subjects, most people obeyed the law. The few who didn't were visited by police and threatened with ten-year prison sentences if they didn't comply. Police later bragged that they'd taken nearly 200,000 handguns from private citizens.

How did the authorities know who had handguns? The guns had been registered and licensed. Kinda like cars.

Why would we want to let this start to happen to us in the US? Can't we learn from the UK's mistakes and not repeat them? Please contact your congressmen and have them oppose this bill.

Right now it's only in committee and realistically has a small chance of going to the floor. It doesn't even have a co-sponsor. That doesn't mean you shouldn't let your voice be known. Prevent this from turning into something bigger.

Posted by: Contagion at 09:56 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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After spending four fun, and alcohol, filled days in northern Wisconsin with some good friends I returned to civilization and had to go back to work. That is where I discovered, like every other time I'm out of the office, drama ensues. I was getting ready to let it start to get to me when a feeling came washing over me, and a bit of news changed everything.

Change, it is a comin'

I really can't go into any details right now, because I don't have any... but there is some change coming. Enough change that it moved up doctor's appointments and clear out my calendar for the rest of the year.

I'm not talking small changes either, I'm talking really big, huge changes.

Posted by: Contagion at 09:12 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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Alright! I'm off to winter camp! We'll be just a little northwest of Trego, WI. There will be beer, booze, food and friends. There will be a lot of guys there that I haven't seen since last October. It'll be good to get back in touch with them.

I just hope that everyone that reads this is has as good of a weekend as I'm about to have!

I just hope that I don't drive up there and back in a snow storm like I did last year, but if I do... it'll be worth it!

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I pulled another short night last night. I didn't get much sleep. I'm sitting here trying not to pass out on the couch and I haven't even had a beer. Right now I'm trying to get ready for the ONW Wintercamp this weekend, but I'm having a hard time keeping my mind on the task.

I'd do my beer review, but I'm having a hard time keeping my eyes open to do it. I don't think I could accurately review any beer, so instead of giving an inaccurate review, I'd rather go a second week with out one.

If you don't hear from me before I leave, I'll tell you more next week.

Posted by: Contagion at 08:13 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Last week my work sent me to Springfield (state capital) for an overnight visit. I have an easy time finding my hotel, but when I get there, the entire parking lot is blocked off. There is no way in or out. Now I'm not a fan of the hotel I was staying at, I only went there because that was the only hotel my company would cover the expenses. I have to park in the overflow lot.

After a nice long trip, I really wasn't in the mood for this crap, so I focused on getting to the door. I tried to keep my frustration and annoyance under control. Then when I get to the door with my one small bag. It was only an overnight trip. I'm stopped by a guy asking me, "What is your business here at the hotel". Of course I'm a little miffed because I'm thinking what a bunch of pretentious bastards. There hotel isn't that swag that they have to keep people out. I explained to the guy that I have a reservation to stay the night and that I need to check in. So he lets me go.

I'm swearing under my breath.

I get to the desk and check in. So I can't help but to ask, "Hey, what's up with the parking lot?" The girl at the desk responded with, "Obama's coming". I knew he was coming to Springfield for Lincoln's 200th birthday, but what does that have to do with their parking lot? When I asked her, she clarified, "No, Obama is coming HERE, he's staying in the hotel." When she said that, little things started to stick out in my memory. What vehicle's that were parked in the roped off area were all black and some kind of nice heavy SUV. The guy at the door, all the activity. It started to make sense.

After putting my bags in my room, I headed out to dinner. As I'm walking out I look at the guy(s) at the door and notice the ear pieces this time. I look at the plates on the big heavy SUVs, and they all have government plates. Some were senate plates, some where house plates, some were just Fed and State government plates.

When I checked out Wednesday apparently I missed Obama by a couple of hours. Honestly, that's as close as I ever want to get to the man.

Then the fun really began when I got to work on Wednesday. I walk into the office at 8:00 AM to hear that the entire building is being besieged by a computer virus. I spent the next 16 and a half hours helping coordinate the clean up with the IT guys that my company shipped in from all over the state. Yes, I said 16 and a half hours. I started my job at 8:00AM and didn't get off of work until 12:30 AM. I was tired as all hell.

I get home, and crash at 1:00AM only to get up at 4:30AM so I can get to work by 5:30AM. I needed to finish up what we started the night before. I was so tired that I kept making some very interesting verbal mistakes. Like telling one of my bosses that "this virus sucks the sweat off of a stump broke donkey". Yea, she gave me the same look you probably have on your face right now.

Since then I've still been doing some clean up on the computers at work. Which is why I haven't been my normal chatty and active self. It's also why there was no beer review last week.

Posted by: Contagion at 08:14 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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This guy just doesn't have the right idea on how to win her over.

Posted by: Contagion at 10:49 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I know I haven't been around. There are a couple of really good stories that go with the reason why. Unfortunately I just don't have the time nor energy to write them up right now.

Posted by: Contagion at 05:24 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I leave today to head to Springfield, Illinois on business. My company is sending me down there for a seminar. It sounds like it's going to be a really interesting one too! I'm pretty sure I'm going to be sleeping through most of it. They had two dates for this seminar, February 11th and February 12th. I had to attend on one of those dates.

All of my peers are supposed to attend as well. They, being undecisive lemmings that they are, decided to wait and "discuss it at our meetings" before signing up for a date. Me, I choose the date that worked best for me and signed up right away. When they finally got around to making a decision, they all had to go on the 12th. So I'm the only one from my office going on the 11th! Not that I have a problem with that at all.

For a week now they were all planning on leaving at noon on the 11th so they could go shopping when they got to Springfield. They included our office manager. When they said that, and I knew I was going to be going by myself I thought I would leave early to scout out Springfield for my trip next month for IGOLD.

I a meeting they were discussing when they were going to leave and it turned out they couldn't leave until 3:00 because of anotehr meeting our manager was in. Then I was asked what time I was leaving today. I told them, "I'm leaving at 2." I didn't figure it was a big deal.

When one of my peers asked kind of snottily, "Why are you leaving so early?", I was a little taken back because she was one of the ones pushing to leave at noon to go shopping. So I responded with, "Well I don't shop, but I decided to go down early to get some range time in."

Another one of my peers responded with, "I didn't know you golfed"

I responded smugly, "No, shooting range."

At that point they let it drop and wouldn't make eye contact with me for the rest of the meeting. Hopefully they learned to let their double standards go.

Posted by: Contagion at 07:10 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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