Velly velly interesting.

Especially in light of my recent fun.

HT: Uncle

And the screaming and such by the unions losers has ended,

It seems to me that the big thing we need to take from the elections in Wisconsin (and California as well) is that the people have spoken. And they have spoken against greed, and spoken against bigger government, and spoken against deficits.

And they spoke loudly.

If the margin of victory was so large in a state like Wisconsin and California, then it shows that the people are tired of the same old same old, and want some responsibility and some sense.

And, while I really don’t think that the vote will fix things, I am impressed by the sentiment that these votes demonstrates.

There may be hope yet.

We shall see.

Was today.

68 years ago, 150,000 plus men began the liberation of France in Operation Overlord.

Nearly 1 in 10 was a casualty.

But the plan worked.

And we all know the result.

I wonder if the youth of France are thankful that they aren’t required to speak German? 

So one of the few issues with driving a Dodge (Cummins) Diesel pickup is that the fuel filter goes from “fine” to “too clogged to let the truck move” in about 2 miles. Seriously. You go from driving fine to barely able to maintain 45 MPH in less than 2 miles.

Now, I love my truck. I love the power, the torque, the fuel mileage. (I get 22 MPH in mixed driving on diesel…3/4 ton, 4wd).

But the fuel filter issue means that you HAVE to keep a spare filter with you. Or get towed. Or burn shoe leather. 

It’s not a big deal, nor is it difficult to change.

So I had this happen today on the way to work. Foot to the floor, the best I could do was 45 MPH for the last 2 miles or so. I knew what was happening, and planned on changing it when I got out after my 8 hour shift.

So I get off work, go to the truck, open the hood. Rummage around in the back seat storage and find the filter and the wrench. Climb on the truck, use the wrench on the filter housing lid on the firewall.

Spin the lid off, remove it (and the attached filter) step off the truck, place old filter in a plastic bag, put the new filter on the lid, lube the gasket, climb back onto the truck, place filter and lid in place and spin it tight. Snug with wrench and climb off the truck.

It takes about as long to type as it does to do it. If you have a filter.

So some older guy is watching me. Asks what I just did. I politely explained.

“Lucky for you that you had a filter, son” he says. “Today must be your day. I’d get a lottery ticket.”

Dude. Seriously. No luck involved. Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

When I got home, I put the next bit of luck under the back seat, so in 40K miles or so, I’ll have that luck with me again when I need it. And I went to Amazon and ordered 2 more lucky filters, so I’ll have them when I need ’em.

And I bought my lottery tickets yesterday.

On advice, called and spoke with the duty Sargent.

The officer in question “bumped into me”.

That is the Official Story. It must be true, ’cause he said it. I see it differently though.

Could be true. I doubt it. No one got hurt, and I didn’t have to go farther. I think I’ll let it drop. Not much I can do without witnesses or clear video, and, AFAIK, neither exists. The worst thing I got out of it was a bruise, and a bit of a fright, but no other damage. No one was seriously hurt, and that is what matters,

Fight the battles you can win, and all that

I see it as a lesson for me. Nothing more.

Hope the rest of you learn from my mistakes though. I did. 

Thanks for all the advice.

Or total brain dead stupidity. 

So I get out of the truck, tuck my shirt (which had ridden up) over the Para, and walk across the parking lot to go into the restaurant.

It is 5:10 pm. There is another guy in the parking lot heading into the restaurant. He’s behind me.

Dude is really crowding me, way into my personal space as we approach the door.

As I reach for the door, he puts his hand on my firearm through the shirt! Seriously.

I arm sweep his hand aside, lock his wrist and elbow and began to break his fingers or bring him to his knees (I really didn’t care which), and he cries “I’ma Cop!” Looking at him, he had a haircut like a cop and didn’t look scruffy or anything….so:

“Step back!” I said as I pushed him away and lifted my shirt to get my hand on my firearm.. “Hands where I can see ’em.”. “Don’t move!”.

He freezes, and says. “I am a police officer. Let me show you my ID”.

I allow him to retrieve his ID.

He is, indeed a police officer. I asked him why he assaulted me…

He saw my pistol as I tucked my shirt back over it when exiting the truck, and followed me to “check me out”.

I suggested that he not do that in the future, As I considered it assault. Better not to do that, for his own safety. Say something rather than place his hand on it. Anything but that. Maybe politely announce himself from a distance…

He said that I had broken the law, by exposing my firearm.

Not in Indiana, dude. Try again. Open carry, while not common, is legal if you have a carry permit. I do. He thought I was wrong. And I only momentarily exposed the thing. He insisted I was wrong…

I suggested that we get the State boys out to decide, as he was County, and I didn’t want any conflict of interest or anything… Can call from my cell, have their number right here in my address book on the phone…WhaddYaSay? .?

He declined. “wasn’t going to make a big deal about it”

I offered my ID and little pink card.

He declined that too.

Not sure what to do and what the law is, he just wanted to leave and massage his arm.

We parted, but not friends. His arm is gonna be sore this evening. Mine is already. I have a real nice set of bruises from the arm sweep.  I thought about pushing it, and calling another jusrisdiction and making a big deal about it, but decided that it wasn’t worth it to go all wookie or anything. Besides, I just wanted food and a drink.

I may call a supervisor tomorrow.

Badge number 942.

But I must say, it was a bit exciting. At least for me.

It did leave me with a bit of a rush. Actually, I was scared. Kinda had the shakes when it was all over.

I learned a lesson:

I never should have let him crowd me that way. I was way too relaxed. Yeah, the shirt was over it, but still, he got his hand on it. And he never should have. Couldn’t have drawn it through the shirt without a struggle, but still. I let him get way too close. Way Too Close. Glad he wasn’t a compatriot of SumDood.

And I need to pay attention BEFORE getting out of the truck, just to keep this from happening. I’ve had questions asked by cops before, but never had anyone actually put his hand on my carry gun before, not in 15 years of carrying. And not by someone who was not in uniform.

I did not consider him enough of a threat as he approached. And I should have. Once he got into my personal space, I should have stepped aside and let him precede me through the door.  Or turned to face him, at least. Something besides what I did. I was aware of his approach, but didn’t react as I should have.

I may not have been in condition white, but I wasn’t in yellow either. Gotta work on that.

This should never have happened….and wouldn’t have, if I’d have been more careful and more vigilant.

Gonna do my best to see that it doesn’t happen ever again.

This is so true

This.

Video worth watching