Freedom Group is the most powerful and mysterious force in the U.S. commercial gun industry
With commentary by Rick Osmon
Is it a conspiracy, a cabal, or a corporation?
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From NYT
Mystery company buying up U.S. gun manufacturers
By Natasha Singer, New York Times
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Scarborough, Maine — Lined up in a gun rack beneath mounted deer heads is a Bushmaster Carbon 15, a matte-black semiautomatic rifle that looks as if it belongs to a SWAT team. On another rack rests a Teflon-coated Prairie Panther from DPMS Firearms, a supplier to the U.S. Border Patrol and security agencies in Iraq. On a third is a Remington 750 Woodsmaster, a popular hunting rifle. Read more
HONOLULU — Lee Soucy, who lived to be 90 after surviving the attack on Pearl Harbor, is finally back with his shipmates 70 years later.
Soucy passed away just last year. On Tuesday, seven decades after dozens of fellow Sailors were killed when the USS Utah sank on Dec. 7, 1941, Navy divers took a small urn containing his ashes and put it in a porthole of the ship.
The ceremony is one of five memorials being held this week for servicemen who lived through the assault and want their remains placed in Pearl Harbor out of pride and affinity for those they left behind.
“They want to return and be with the shipmates that they lost during the attack,” said Jim Taylor, a retired Sailor who coordinates the ceremonies.
The memorials are happening the same week the country observes the 70th anniversary of the aerial bombing that killed 2,390 Americans and brought the United States into World War II. A larger ceremony to remember all those who perished will be held Wednesday just before 8 a.m. Hawaii time — the same moment the devastating attack began.
This SHOULD be a huge deal in archeology and anthropology. But don’t hold your breath…
”amazingly advanced maritime skills”
2 December 2011
Evidence of 42,000 year old deep sea fishing revealed Prehistoric humans living more than 40,000 years ago had mastered the skills needed to catch fast-moving, deep-ocean fish, new archaeological finds reveal. Jerimalai cave – a small rock overhang hidden behind foliage, a few hundred metres from the shore at the eastern end of East Timor – is where archaeologist Associate Professor Sue O’Connor from the Australian National University has unearthed the bones of more than 2,800 fish, some caught 42,000 years ago. “What the site has shown us is that early modern humans in island South East Asia had amazingly advanced maritime skills,” she said, “it seems certain that these people were using quite sophisticated technology and watercraft to fish offshore”. So far, O’Connor and her colleagues have only excavated two small test pits, but in just one of those – 1 metre square and 2 metres deep – they found 39,000 fish bones along with a number of stone artefacts, bone points, animal remains, shell beads and fish hooks. They also unearthed a small piece of fishing hook made from shell between 23,000 and 16,000 years ago – the earliest example of a fishing hook ever found, the researchers say. They are hopeful that more extensive excavations might reveal more hooks at the site. “I think Jerimalai gives us a window into what maritime coastal occupation was like 40,000 to 50,000 years ago, that we don’t really have anywhere else in the world,” Professor O’Connor said.
If you have enough food in the house to survive a week-long blizzard, you may be considered a terrorist.
If you have more than a couple guns in the house, you may be considered a terrorist.
If you have ammunition that is considered “weatherproof”, you may be considered a terrorist.
If you are missing any fingers, you may be considered a terrorist.
No, this is not some ludicrous parody of a Jeff Foxworthy standup routine. Although I bet Jeff could do wonders with this material
No, this is a blatant power grab by the Senators writing the Defense Appropriations Bill, most notably Senators McCain and Levin. And they wrote it behind locked doors, illegally and in violation of Senate Ethics Rules. The last time something like this happened, it was called the Alien and Sedition Act and it was signed into law by the second President of the United States of America. That act resulted in the 4th and 5th amendments, Senators, ever heard of those?
This is an issue that we should never, as US Citizens, have to even ponder. Yet, there it is.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency makes the following recommendation forfood stock as part of disaster preparedness: “Following a disaster, there may be power outages that could last for several days. Stock canned foods, dry mixes and other staples that do not require refrigeration, cooking, water or special preparation. Be sure to include a manual can opener and eating utensils.”
Of course, FEMA is part of the same Department of Homeland Security that is guarding us from ourselves. Almost smells of entrapment, doesn’t it?
I truly wish I could take credit for what you are about to read.
Insider Correspondent: Rick Osmon
Author of The Graves of the Golden Bear, Ancient Fortresses and Monuments of the Ohio Valley
Reporting from: Odon, Indiana U.S.A.
Even though it embodies many of my own thoughts and desires, I was not the one to put it into words and upload it originally. I received this through a group of which I am a member and it was forwarded by another member. Therefore I must attribute this piece to our good old friend “Anonymous”. And thank you, Anon, this is indeed something we all need to consider today, “Black Friday”, as the indiscriminate spending ensues.
WalMart began playing Christmas music before Halloween. There oughta be a law…
Black Friday – 2010 — The Madness of a lost Society
Christmas 2011 — Birth of a New Tradition
As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods — merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands.
Yes there is!
It’s time to think outside the box, people. [edit-crush the box!] Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone — yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?
Gym membership? It’s appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.
Who wouldn’t appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.
Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.
There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants — all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn’t the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn’t about big National chains — this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.
How many people couldn’t use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?
Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.
My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.
OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.
Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.
Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.
Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip. [edit – but at least the European-owned power company appreciates it]
You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn’t imagine. THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.
Forward this to everyone on your mailing list — post it to discussion groups — throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city — send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn’t that what Christmas is about?
Anon _______________
If, however, by Cyber Monday you still haven’t found that perfect LOCALLY made gift, may I suggest a browse to Amazon for my BOOK.
