so waht ya doin today?

[Tom]

Purchased new 10 ply tires for one of the vans about a month ago. Couldn't get the Toyo's, I wanted. Had to settle for Yokohama's. Usually, buy Michelin's but the ones I been purchasing (like forever) were discontinued. Replacement wasn't getting good reviews from customers and even tire dealers. General's weren't available either. Goodyear's are being made in Mexico. Everything sitting offshore in cargo containers.

I have a favorite Michelin drive tire that I use on my truck. I found a set of 8 in south Dakota and brought them home for next year. They checked their computer for inventory (loves truck stops) only 40 in their system nation wide.

 

[462]

Toted Christmas decoration totes from their garage storage and into the house, so my wife can get glitter everywhere. I hate glitter. This coming week it'll be my turn to set up all the outdoor stuff. Is it January, yet?

 

[harm]

My daughter was promised that the tree would be set up this weekend and she could have some things out of the Christmas totes.. in the morning, once coffee is brewed, I'll begin what is basically a mining mission to go excavate that stuff out of the basement.
I need to upgrade my storage, put in some decent shelves or something. Christmas is at the back of the pile.

 

[L Ross]

Goat Screw 101 today. Went to see "water front property." Drove 2+ hrs. Pissed me off when we got there. There WAS a creek/water. But it was nothing more than a huge field lotted out as a subdivision. There were 2-3 "true" waterfronts. But the house lot was 100' over the water level. All others were just SD lots, and then the "waterfront/RV friendly lot was basically an RV parking slot down by the creek. I HATE Sales and Marketing people that are blatantly dishonest.

On a positive note - I DID enjoy the ride and time with the wife. We also did some shopping for our angel tree kids and the GS. And, swung by the deer hunting property/walked the woods (she loves walking in the woods) and checked the RV. So the day overall was great, other than the 10 min idiocy above.

You have me chuckling.My wife and I had an example of "Realtor Speak" 25 or so years ago. We were looking for our first piece of recreational property in Northern WI. We responded to an ad and drove to a remote rural property with, "an old farm house on property." We missed the place the first pass. We saw what we thought was the right driveway/lane but since there was no farm house visible we went by. Returning to the only possible place, we forded a small crick in four wheel drive and found an old farm house on property alright. It had fallen down and was now about a 3 foot high pile of debris, liberally spray painted with graffiti and some of the lumber had been burned for the beer party camp fires. Some of the graffiti was teenage Satanic imitation BS but having a Colt AR 9m/m in the pickup was a comfort when you're 25 miles out in the boonies.

Didn't buy that property, traded off the AR in yet another bone headed moment. To this day Sue or I only have to say, "Old farm house on property" to get a laugh out of the other. I think when realtors mature they become "non attorney spokes persons". If they metastasize they become developers.

 

[Bret4207]

I loathe government excess, and taxes, and like my liquor. That all said, my last LE gig involved a lot of transports to and from prisons, jails, and courts. I met hundreds of inmates during those last 13 years. There we some, not many but some that would have benefitted society by simply ceasing to exist. Evil bastards with no redeeming qualities. Fortunately they are few and far between. The saddest cases are the alcoholics and drug dependent who live among us. There but for the grace of God, some genetic anomalies, and luck go you and I. I saw the courts throw up their hands at 5th offense OWI and sentence these guys to prison. So off to the criminal justice system they go to live with, be abused by the Father Rapers, The Mother Killers, the Drive by Shooters, the Domestic Violence practitioners. Tossed in with prison gangs and the loss of freedom not imagined by somewhat ordinary everyday guys and gals who have an alcohol illness.

Often these people were every day farmers, laborers, business men and women with an alcohol addiction so powerful it rules their lives

What we woefully lack in the criminal justice system is meaningful treatment. I would like to see facilities designed specifically designed for the treatment and support of alcoholics. I would pay for that with taxes on alcoholic beverages that could only be used for such facilities, programs, and staffing. I could see paying an extra buck on a bottle of bourbon, or a case of beer, as long as some slimy Governor was prevented from pilfering from the fund for other purposes.

Currently all we are doing is warehousing and punishing with little or no hope of meaningful change in their circumstances.

Interesting take. I understand the idea. But lets face it, you can't go anywhere in the US that isn't awash in AA meetings, detox units or other parts of the system to support addicts of alcohol, and in many places drugs. I mean, jeeze, they hand out free needles in some places! There isn't a drunk or other addict in the world that hasn't had multiple close calls with the law, that doesn't have at least one place nearby to go for help. It's just that they don't want to give up the substance. Works that way with tobacco too. So we've taxed things to death, we tried a zillion other methods and we've made no difference. Treatment, effective treatment, first requires someone recognizing and admitting they are powerless over their addiction, whatever it is. How do you legislate that?

 

[L Ross]

Interesting take. I understand the idea. But lets face it, you can't go anywhere in the US that isn't awash in AA meetings, detox units or other parts of the system to support addicts of alcohol, and in many places drugs. I mean, jeeze, they hand out free needles in some places! There isn't a drunk or other addict in the world that hasn't had multiple close calls with the law, that doesn't have at least one place nearby to go for help. It's just that they don't want to give up the substance. Works that way with tobacco too. So we've taxed things to death, we tried a zillion other methods and we've made no difference. Treatment, effective treatment, first requires someone recognizing and admitting they are powerless over their addiction, whatever it is. How do you legislate that?

I get that Bret. I guess what I object to is we have the OWI offender locked down and available for intense treatment for the duration of his or her sentence. Instead, we warehouse them in a regular correctional facility with actual criminals. Most of the alcoholics I transported where ordinary men, (mostly men), and women who would shun the company of the criminal class. They would be just as appalled by the crimes committed by the felonious offenders as any other law abiding citizen. Yet there they are locked down with them, in daily contact, and often are released as more "hardened" citizens than when they went in.

I approve of the aspect of prison being used to protect the rest of us from persons who are a danger to us, but locked up and getting real treatment in an environment populated by other every day alcoholics might result in less recidivism. Putting drunks in an institution with violent offenders has always struck me as counter productive. Bleeding heart liberal that I am.

 

[CZ93X62]

L Ross--

Deep respect for your viewpoint, sir. It parallels my own closely.

Our society and its governments need to better support mental health and addiction treatment regimens than is currently the case. It is mostly a cost question, and at my pay grade I didn't get to consulted on the hows and whys of those questions Ultimately, success for such treatments pivots upon the effort of the involved patient/addict, so we are back to Square One in terms of assessing "responsibility". It boils down to a "Get right, or get left" equation.

 

[JustJim]

I get that Bret. I guess what I object to is we have the OWI offender locked down and available for intense treatment for the duration of his or her sentence. Instead, we warehouse them in a regular correctional facility with actual criminals. Most of the alcoholics I transported where ordinary men, (mostly men), and women who would shun the company of the criminal class. They would be just as appalled by the crimes committed by the felonious offenders as any other law abiding citizen. Yet there they are locked down with them, in daily contact, and often are released as more "hardened" citizens than when they went in.

This rationalization--that alcoholics who have involvement with the courts are somehow different from or somehow better than "actual" criminals--is part of the problem. They are criminals. Their actions endangered or caused harm to innocent parties. Ask the victims if they feel better because they were injured or someone they love was killed by a drink driver rather than by a drug addict or armed robber.

While it isn't the central focus, for years my work has involved working with people with substance use problems. Over and over I've seen their behavior rationalized or excused in just this way: that they aren't actual criminals, it wasn't their fault, they shouldn't be punished. The problem, of course, is that their behavior is criminal. Substance use factors into almost 80% of domestic violence; alcohol use alone is a factor in over 60% of incidents where someone tries to kill their partner. Alcohol use is a factor in about 1/3 of assaults. It is a factor in almost 40% of case where children are removed from the home due to neglect or abuse; in those cases the children are out of the home longer and are less-likely to be reunited with their family.

Normalizing the behavior by making everyone use a breathalyser before driving, giving away needles, etc, just gives them another excuse.

I approve of the aspect of prison being used to protect the rest of us from persons who are a danger to us, but locked up and getting real treatment in an environment populated by other every day alcoholics might result in less recidivism. Putting drunks in an institution with violent offenders has always struck me as counter productive. Bleeding heart liberal that I am.

Recidivism rates for community-based treatment (i.e., "relapse") typically hover around 85% in the first year for all programs. Incarceration works for preventing alcohol-related crime: the alcohol abuser who is locked in prison isn't committing other crimes in the community. Where it gets interesting is that it seems that the recidivism rate for alcoholics who are incarcerated is less than the recidivism rate for those who receive treatment in the community, whether or not they receive/participate in treatment while incarcerated. I'm still trying to find something in the research literature that compares length of incarceration with recidivism rates.

 

[Mitty38]

Helping the wife. The final front deer shoulder, we got tired and gave up on butchering last night.
Going to season it and slow roast in the oven on the rotisserie.
Injected onion soup mix and a little bit of sage with lard. Just have to tie it in for her and she is going to handle the cooking part. Figure cook it now, cut up serving size pieces, put it in a pretty glass baking dish, then we can just reheat it tonight to make things easier.
Do do the social circle party thing much. But, this time of year, we always host a card game, among some of our oldest friends. It's like a tradition we just can not get away from.
We are having a bunch of people over later, about 7:30, for spades. all social sippers and deer meat lovers, so figured why not some fresh roast venison. With some candied yams, and a tawney port? Followed by a pot of coffee .


As soon as the roast hits the oven going to leave the wife to that, and the range to try out my new 22.



I had gifted all my 22 rifles to my wife and son, they were - are all well cared for antiques. So do not want my older clutsy self to be banging up guns that are no longer mine.

Have been thinking of something light weight and rugged, plus inexpensive, to just throw behind the seat of the pickup in the seat pouch, also with separate mags to put in the glove box. To comply with Ohio's long gun transportation laws and get up and running as quick as possible.
Kind of a pull over truck and grab and go for rabbit season.But figured I had the heritage revolver so why bother. Well a running rabbit with 22 revolver can be a bit of a challenge for older eyes and a less steady hand.


Well, as per yesterday's post. I stopped by the Saturday afternoon coffee and Bull session at the local gun shop on the way back from the hardware.
I got to looking at a "used" Rossi RS 22. It's really small and light.
Fellow had bought it in crisis mode, just to have a gun,.and never found ammo. He did buy an Allen Bi Pod and an extra mag for it. Then decided it might not be the best thing for home defence.
He did not care about the 50 bucks worth of accessories he bought, he just wanted his original 150 he paid for the gun back, threw the extra mag and the Bi pod in. After he got a pistol with ammo and training at the shop.

Buck fifty I know they are listed new on line for that, so figured he has not shot it, pluss the extras and no shipping, or transfer fee.. Fair deal. So that's what I am filling my time with this afternoon, between church and my card game tonight.
May be a red dot and a retractable strap in it's future but not going folding, 702 stock like some, I like the original tan stock and it is very light and compact enough.

 

[Bret4207]

This rationalization--that alcoholics who have involvement with the courts are somehow different from or somehow better than "actual" criminals--is part of the problem. They are criminals. Their actions endangered or caused harm to innocent parties. Ask the victims if they feel better because they were injured or someone they love was killed by a drink driver rather than by a drug addict or armed robber.

While it isn't the central focus, for years my work has involved working with people with substance use problems. Over and over I've seen their behavior rationalized or excused in just this way: that they aren't actual criminals, it wasn't their fault, they shouldn't be punished. The problem, of course, is that their behavior is criminal. Substance use factors into almost 80% of domestic violence; alcohol use alone is a factor in over 60% of incidents where someone tries to kill their partner. Alcohol use is a factor in about 1/3 of assaults. It is a factor in almost 40% of case where children are removed from the home due to neglect or abuse; in those cases the children are out of the home longer and are less-likely to be reunited with their family.

Normalizing the behavior by making everyone use a breathalyser before driving, giving away needles, etc, just gives them another excuse.

Recidivism rates for community-based treatment (i.e., "relapse") typically hover around 85% in the first year for all programs. Incarceration works for preventing alcohol-related crime: the alcohol abuser who is locked in prison isn't committing other crimes in the community. Where it gets interesting is that it seems that the recidivism rate for alcoholics who are incarcerated is less than the recidivism rate for those who receive treatment in the community, whether or not they receive/participate in treatment while incarcerated. I'm still trying to find something in the research literature that compares length of incarceration with recidivism rates.

Thank you! You hit the nail on the head. The New Years Eve drunk that goes out once a year isn't like the alkie that can walk a straight line with a BAC of .15% at 4PM on a Tuesday afternoon. We had a hard time IDing some of those types until Gaze Nystagmus training came along. Good tool right there. But yeah, you can rationalize and normalize things till the cows come home, it doesn't mean squat when your wife of kid is dead because of that "good person" drunk/druggie. I've dealt with murderers that had a personality I preferred to some of my co-workers, but that doesn't mean they weren't murderers. Same goes for the normalization of a lot of other less pleasant crimes involving children- there are people working everyday to "normalize" this sickness.

The whole world is full of excuses for aberrant behavior. While I'm big on minding my own darn business as much as possible, sometimes you just get hit in the face with this stuff. My compassion for drunks and druggies is about bottomed out.

 

[Joshua]

Most addicts and alcoholics will die of the disease of addiction. Relapse rates are extremely high. Some would view treatment and self-help programs as pointless. Yet we don’t give up on kids with Down syndrome, we don’t give up on folks with Parkinson’s disease. Should we give up on folks that were abused/neglected as children, frequently suffer from some type of mental health co-morbidity, and often have lived in poverty their entire life? Not to mention the many addicts and alcoholics that were victims of human trafficking, aka forced into prostitution as minors.

It’s been almost 24 years since I have touched a drop of the sauce. I’ve lost many people I cared about to suicide, car wrecks, and overdoses. I’ve gone into penitentiaries and carried a message of hope and recovery. I am not naïve, I know that the vast majority of my fellows won’t stick around, they will jump back into active alcoholism/addiction and will suffer the multitude of consequences that come with that choice. But, I haven’t given up, because my life is full of happy, healthy folks that used to live very differently than they do today.

I have an old friend who spent the last half of his teenage years in what he today calls “Gladiator School”. He spent three years housed with the Californian Youth Authority, in the early 1980’s. He had been repeatedly caught selling drugs, and doing daytime burglarizes in his neighborhood, he did all these things to pay for his drug habit. He learned a lot of bad things during those years in CYA. He wasn’t a violent criminal when he was first locked up. He became one though. He was surrounded by gangs, pedophiles, and murders! Stabbings and beatings were common during his incarceration. Some of the most violent kids were locked in individual chain link cages during classes. Against all odds my friend has become a good father, a business owner, a good friend, a good husband, and a good son. I’m glad folks like me didn’t give up on him. I wish we (society) could have done a better job when he was a teenager. He left CYA a career criminal, it took many more years of dragging bottom before he decided to grow up and change.

I’m not saying my friend shouldn’t have been locked up. Facing consequences can often lead to the willingness to change ones behavior. Today we have intensive treatment programs in some of our prisons, folks like my friend would have definitely benefited from being housed in a situation like that. A prison situations were positive behavior modification was clinically supported. Some folks need to be locked up for twenty years to become willing to change, others need to be locked up for 6 hours in a county holding cell.

It’s not about being soft or hard on crime, it’s about reducing crime by addressing its root causes. It’s about not giving up on broken people. It’s about grace.

P.s. Over the years I’ve met priests, doctors, police officers, firefighters, nurses, combat veterans, and successful business people, who were once active alcoholics and addicts. Drunks/addicts are everywhere, always have been, always will be. Sometimes they get lucky, are shown another way to live, make good choices, and find some grace.

 

[JWFilips]

Found out today that my brother Edge ( last living & oldest brother), was taken to the Emergency room last night with Congestive heart failure and some sort of virus ( non Covid)...He is 86 years old and is starting to get very frail. My sister-in law is keeping us posted, but she is the only one allowed in his room to be with him! Our County has recently been spiking with covid cases...so we are back to one person only allowed in the hospital with an ill patient.

 

[Glaciers]

Damn JW sorry to hear your brother is having problems. He’s in my thoughts prayers to improve

 

[Joshua]

JW, I hope he improves. My thoughts are with you.
JM

 

[popper]

Prayers for you and your brother's family.

 

[L Ross]

Found out today that my brother Edge ( last living & oldest brother), was taken to the Emergency room last night with Congestive heart failure and some sort of virus ( non Covid)...He is 86 years old and is starting to get very frail. My sister-in law is keeping us posted, but she is the only one allowed in his room to be with him! Our County has recently been spiking with covid cases...so we are back to one person only allowed in the hospital with an ill patient.

Prayers JW.

 

[Matt_G]

Prayers outbound for your brother and his wife JW.

 

[JWFilips]

Thank You All! Don't Want to be the last one alive!

 

[L Ross]

Thank You All! Don't Want to be the last one alive!

I'll be the selfish one and say I want to have you around here for years and years to come. I enjoy your digital presence every day.

 

[JWFilips]

Great thanks for You guys!