Saturday, May 28, 2011

Point and click.

Took a friend of mine to the gun range. He had not fired a gun since he was 19. I always enjoy teaching people to shoot, as it is not hard to do. As they go from being off target to getting rounds where they want it, a certain joy and accomplishment comes that for most other things does not come easy. They get in touch with something the see all the time in movies, news, and in pictures, but to actually hold and use them, gives a certain appreciation and glimpse to another world.

I am by no means an expert or even a marksman. I teach them the basics of fire arm safety, how to properly line up a target. Something that a hundred years ago in this part of Texas would have been second nature to a young boy, is lost to many in the current generation. Instead, media, politicians, and special interest groups use ignorance to cause fear and convince people that guns are evil and do nothing but kill innocent people. Innocent do die, but that is because evil people do evil things, and always will, no matter the tool.

Our forefathers knew that evil people will do evil things, and set up the second amendment to guarantee that good people can protect themselves. They also set up what I personally believe is a more powerful defense, one that can make the most powerful firearm seem like a pop gun. That defense is the freedom of speech. The freedom to call something out for what it is, to say what is right and wrong of anybody without fear of death and imprisonment is a powerful right that is always in danger. In my opinion, second amendment is second only to the first in every way. Sadly I see the freedom of speech and worship get taken away bit by bit.

Some how, seems the problems of yesterday seem so much like today's. Makes one wonder what would Jefferson, Payne, and Franklin would have done with social networking, blogs, and machine guns. Makes me wonder what today's people would do with quill pens, printing presses and muskets...

- Madhat

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Tater crisps

I have been thinking of blogging for a while, but today is a good enough day to start.

I like potato chips. Why not, they are tasty, crunchy, fairly cheap, and completely unhealthy by most standards. That being said, I particularly enjoy potato crisps from our friends across the pond, the British. In what for Britain is a truly surprising feat, they have surpassed US in potato chips, specifically but not exclusively,  the Walker brand smoky bacon potato crisp. Some genius or saint, thought, what could possibly make a potato chip better? Make it taste like bacon was the answer.

Now I have been enjoying bacon crisps (crisp is the English English word for potato chip) for years, although it has been a challenge to find any as only British import stores seem to carry them, and when they do, the all get snapped up. Now, in recent times we are now faced with another menace to culinary perfection. The FDA. That is right, the FDA bans my precious Bacon crisps because they may contain "meat" products from a meat processing facility which does not participate in whatever FDA policy that must followed that allows the FDA to import meats from foreign nations (something about a crazy cow). Normally I would understand, but we are talking about is bacon flavoured. But that is the Feds for you. I can understand their concern I suppose because a mad cow did become speaker of the house once, it it devastated the country economically.

Now my next point is one time eating some Tayto brand smoky crisps (just like Walkers, though most consider them second to Walkers) I noticed it said suitable for vegetarians. What? Okay I can handle if it is artificial flavouring, because it taste darn good. Now, it concerns me on why in the world would some one who for whatever reason, swears off bacon, and other fine meats, would want to touch a chip that tastes like bacon? If they are vegetarians because they don't want to harm little piggies, why eat something that taste like murder? If it is religious, why risk blasphemy? If you can't eat meat do to some rare but terrible medical condition, why risk it? If the idea of eating meat turns your stomach, why go near it? (I have a similar opinion of vegi burgers too). I won't even go into those who eat greens only because it is "healthy".

Some idiot in a marketing office in probably London, was paid way to much to try and market something that should be repulsive to a specific group. Now in Tatyo's and Walker's defense, they put it on all flavourings I have seen thus far, including cheese and onion. Also I figure that Briton has more and more vegans running about not buying potato chips and they need to boost profits. But I have a brilliant idea that will make them millions, set up a crisp factory here in the US of A and sell those bacon crisps to millions of bacon fans here. (and by pass the FDA that way).

Last point, if it is suitable for vegetarians, does that mean that there is no bacon? If so, will the FDA kindly stop blocking import of it?

Well, hope it's a first good post.

Madhat signing off