Greybeards Gripes

I just took a look at my archives and realized that my two year anniversary blew by on the 21st of February 2008.  (Actually closer to three years,  but some of it got lost in a server crash) 

This snipped from Ballseye’s Boomers.

Scientist’s predict the end of life on Earth.

I guess this “kind of” vindicates Al’s weird theory. ;-)

A while back I wrote about a book I was looking into.  A book that was supposed to have a photo of my Great-Great Grandfather.   It’s called “Badmen of the Old West” by Robert Elman.  I found it at an online antique book seller,  and sure enough Granpa Billy was in there on page 149,  just like my Dad was told years ago.    There’s not a lot about him other than this picture of him,  (Wild Bill Ellis,  in the center), and his two fellow Deputy U.S. Marshalls (for the Arkansas Territories),  Wess Bowman on the left and John Tolbert on the right.  John  and Bill are both holding Winchesters,  while Wes is holding a Henry.  They all have Colt single actions on their belts and Bill has the cartridge loops on his belt full of rifle ammo. (suggesting to me that the revolver was mainly for quick, close up work and that unless they moved their holsters around front for the photo,  they didn’t do much work on horseback).  Great Granpa Bill actually looks a lot like (or the other way around),  my Uncle Billy Ellis,  who was GGpa’s Grandson. 

I have a story or two about him passed down by word of mouth,  and I plan to get them posted here in the future,  along with any other tidbits I might find in the book.

Books I can see from my desk.

Grays Anatomy,  The Hobbit,  The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Unix in a nutshell, Cryptography and Network Security, DSL simulations, techniques, and standards, The American Machinists Handbook 17th edition,  Machinery’s Handbook 19th edition, Tough and Versatile Knots, The Sea Shall Embrace Them, Gates of Fire, The Virtues of War, The Afghan Campaign,  Relativity, The Custer Wolf, A Hunters Fireside Book, Isle Royal Shipwrecks, The Legend of the Christmas Ship, The Weather Wizards Cloud book,  My Grandfather’s Son, The Bill of Rights Primer, The Second Ammendment Primer, A Writer’s Reference Guide, The NRA Guide to Personal Protection in the Home,  Tae Kwon-Do,  Tao of Jeet Kune Do,  The Elements of Style, Trolling Top to Bottom, and Precision Trolling.  These supported by various nautical charts of the area,  various Atlas’s, County map books, and platte maps,  plus a couple or three Dictionaries and a Thesaurus.    Last book read,  My Grandfather’s Son by Justice Clarence Thomas.  Next book on the agenda,  The Virtures of War by Stephen Pressfield.  Oh yeah, there’s also a couple of old Herter’s catalogs,  a Midway Master catalog,  and a Cheaper than Dirt Master catalog.

It used to be a lot worse than this,  but I donated a ton of books when we moved.

I received a DVD from Dr. Piazza (Front Sight Firearms Training Institute).  The DVD was interesting,  and the offers made were tempting.

Here is a synopsis of why I don’t plan to send the Doc any money.

1. The training is priced well out of my comfortable financial range.

2. I’m not inclined to travel out of my home state,  for ANY reason.  The Front Sight training compound is in Nevada, near Los Vegas.

3. I’m a little uncomfortable with the Doc’s marketing methods,  a little bit of pyramid stuff,  some “family” stuff,  relying heavily on Patriotism,  and making offer’s that,  just have a “feeling” of being come ons.

On the other side of the coin,  Dr. Piazza, (aside from sounding like P.T. Barnum at times),  does seem to be sincere in his claim to support the second ammendment,  and bring gun ownership into a new and more favorable light.  I’m also impressed with the facililty he seems to have built out there in Nevada. 

Anyway,  If you’re interested the website is www.frontsight.com and I believe they’d be happy to send you the 1.5 hour long DVD that I watched last night.   It’s called “Front Sight Story,  Chapter One: Your Legacy”  Rather intersting stuff,  but my suggestion,  would be to do your research before even thinking about moving forward beyond watching the DVD. 

If you’re an anti-gunner,  or just don’t think you’d ever want to use a gun to protect yourself.  Don’t listen to a thing -I- have to say.

Listen to,  A VETERAN LAW OFFICER  .