Texas Gun Shows List - 2012

The Orion Woods Brigade website now has the updated 2012 Texas Gun Shows list.

Find a show near you and arm-up! :)

SAY NO TO INTERNET CENSORSHIP!!!

Huzzah to Wikipedia for blacking out their site to raise awareness about SOPA. Google has also blacked out their homepage image. I am sure there are more . . . The SOPA legislation would allow websites to be blocked in the name of copyright infringement.

But what does this mean?

What if you talk about a movie on your personal blog? Link to a YouTube video of an 80s song you love? Maybe ...put up a movie quote or two? Are you infringing a copyright - can a movie studio or record company protest your "unfair" review or "use" of their content?

Could your website be blocked?

What if you were spreading a message that The Man didn't like and you happened to include some of the above content? What a convenient way to silence your voice!

The problem with vague legislation is that it has a way of morphing into something far worse.

This is called unintended consequences . . .

The internet is the last bastion of freedom on our fair planet - where you can search for and find information about what's going on around you and draw your own conclusions - without the bias of corporate news that is always pushing some agenda.

The internet allows you to talk to people that share your interests and beliefs, and let's you be strengthened knowing that you are not the only one out there that feels the way you do.

Do what you can to keep the internet free - please sign the petition to block SOPA.

Once the shackles go on . . . it will become much harder to remove them.

At the Gas n Sip

Well the summer heat is upon us and this year looks to be a pretty dry and hot one. I did my first evening ride last night with the group and I was not ready for the heat. 103 degrees when we rolled out and it was like my tires were baking into the pavement. I cut it short and headed back for a nice 25 mile loop and that was all I needed. On the way back about a mile from the finish I swung by a convenience store to grab a gatorade G2 (I make that distinction because the G2 is much better for you than the original-so if you go the gatorade route; make the switch) as i walk in and back to the cooler there is no one in line, on my way back up there's this guy standing there waiting for the lady to walk over to the register.

This guy at the register now represents my most hated adversary and chief pet peeve in a convenience store; lotto guy, he plays for cash. So this douche bag sees I'm walking up in a cycling kit carrying nothing but a gatorade and 2 one dollar bills in my hand. (which means my check out process should be pretty minimal depending on the intelligence level of the cashier of course which is called into question regularly) Said cashier walks over and sees my shopping agenda as well and this guy with a handful of cash and a couple of lotto tickets. He sees me, then turns to her for a truly great exchange, "I had gas, uh $30 i think um not sure which pump-so he's lookin' out the window eyeballin' it, seriously. She finds the amount on the register, he pays then says hey, can I cash these-this is when my bp starts to rise. uh does it win; no i will check, no on the first, no on the second, hey you won $4 (now they celebrate together) ok, um put that into one of these green ones and maybe an orange one...let's see, yeah two of those. I'm thinking shit; can i pay for my flippin' gatorade already while lotto guy is playing his stupid games? So at this point I've had enough and i said, "hey can I just leave my two dollars here-this is only a dollar forty eight." Not really a question, but an ultimatum on my part. "uh no, comes the bold reply, i kinda need to ring it up". "ok, so one of the red ones and did you say the pick 5 or the pick 6 or pick or what?"

Thanks I said and set the gatorade down and left. Remember that scene in High Fidelity where the guy grabs the phone off the counter and then slams it into Tim Robbins' face (another douche) and then jumps over the counter and its on? That's where I was mentally, but I went on my way muttering to myself.

I know we need the revenue, but seriously there are few things that make my blood boil worse than a degenerate lotto playing dip shit standing in line in front of me and buying tickets, scratching them off and then buying more. if you know you're going to spend 15 minutes scratching off game cards and buying more and enjoying your time at the register, do the rest of us a favor and let us pay and be on our way; we have better places to spend our time. Or even better, go home and play with yourself or gamble online, the rest of us don't want to watch you work for your retirement in line at the Valero. On a related side note; this is also why I refuse to buy gas anywhere where I cannot pay at the pump; because I have NO INTEREST in going into these places; but sometimes; especially when traveling and we need a soda or restroom, its unavoidable. I forgot to mention this guy was probably trying to make this experience last as long as possible as that was probably the closest he got to a woman that day.

Only thing I hate worse is smokers and of course lotto boy is usually seen exiting the quickie gas n sip and promptly picking up a cigarette off the ground as he goes on his way, so this guys loses with me comin' and goin'.

Anyway, here's to state lottery taxes.

Man it was a hot ride, when does winter start back up?

Perry Packs Heat - Blasts Coyote

Ok - so it's not exactly cycling, but it's close . . .

Texas Gov. Perry fatally shoots coyote

AUSTIN -- Pistol-packing Texas Gov. Rick Perry has a message for wily coyotes out there: Don't mess with my dog.

Perry (R) told the Associated Press on Tuesday that he needed just one shot from the laser-sighted pistol he sometimes carries while jogging to take down a coyote that menaced his puppy during a February run near Austin.

Perry said he carries his .380 Ruger -- loaded with hollow-point bullets -- when jogging on trails because he is afraid of snakes. But when a coyote came out of the brush toward his daughter's Labrador retriever, Perry charged.

He said he was jogging without his security detail shortly after sunrise when the coyote focused on the dog.

Perry said the laser pointer on his gun helped make a quick, clean kill. "It was not in a lot of pain," he said. "It pretty much went down at that particular juncture."

And there you have it folks.

"You have to admit there's a literal connection, Dude."
- Walter Sobchak, The Big Lebowski

Though a laser sight is not always required gear, I guess it does give a distinct advantage for discreet wildlife defense on jogging trails, especially when a lab is bounding around near the target.

I am sure this article started out as a "oh, my gosh, can you believe it?!?" sort of thing for the more genteel readers, but I can guarantee down in the Republic this could be used for a campaign commercial.

"Rick Perry likes Rugers? I like Rugers - he gets my vote!" =)

Un-Armed and In-Danger; a Waltz with Cujo

Last weekend our 80 mile training ride was fraught with danger at multiple turns. We like to take long rides east of I-35 in the open pasture areas where the roads are long and straight and there really isn't any traffic to mention. Only problem is the lack of traffic apparently leads to a little bit of crime, which in turn leads to irresponsible people leaving their dogs off-leashes, un-tied and otherwise patrolling the ditches looking for ankles. I guess the dog coverage is a good theft deterrent, but damn it makes for a poor riding atmosphere. We were assaulted by at least 7 groups of dogs. Chris keeps count, I don't, I would need to verify. Anyway, the dog attacks usually go 1 of 3 ways.

In the first scenario the dogs do a little yipping and end up staying put. Great job by their owners; you know how to train your dogs, nice and responsible. In the second scenario a dog will bark and give chase, but really doesn't want to come too close to you and basically turns away before getting in harm's way. Scenario number three is the one which really sucks and we had this on 3-4 occasions this weekend. In scenario number three, the dog gives chase and he really doesn't want you to go. He/she will criss-cross in front of your bike (I'm talking at 20-25 mph, not barbie-bike-bell-ringing cruising speed) He will try to seriously get at your ankles, you will feel slobber from its jaw and you will wonder "what happens next". About half the time you can use your water bottle to fend off these brutes, a little water tricks them into hesitating and backing off. Sometimes they just keep coming; hell they don't care. I was about 18 inches from running over one this weekend and not sure how I avoided it, I was prepared to bunny hop him, which would have put my chain ring and pedals right into his gut which may have ended his running days. Seriously, I love animals, I love dogs, but in a fight or flight scenario, I will attempt to take down whatever animal or whatever happens to be challenging my spot at the top of the food chain. Its not just bikes, these dogs are a nuisance, they would have chased us if we'd been jogging or on foot. You know; I've never seen any joggers out that way, now I know why-on a bike I've got a chance to outrun; on foot I'd be toast.

Speaking of out running, we joked on the way into the gauntlet that really you didn't need to be the fastest rider to avoid dogs, you just needed to be faster than your mate. I tested this theory with vigor as we came up on the first dogs, this big fella came from the back yard and I was already moving pretty good so I had the jump on 'em. I kicked it up to 25 mph and looked back to see he had also kicked it up a notch and was gaining; I dug deeper and pulled up another 5mph (still early in the ride, so I still had a full head of steam-this was not the case later) I pulled away and felt liberated to see him pull off!! I had done it!! Now I'm wondering; how are my two mates in the rear. Well the theory was shit, because they came strolling along at a nice leisurely pace, ice cream cones in hand and just waved at the dogs who were now panting on the side side of the road having been bested and worn-out by me. Lesson learned, I won't lead the charge through the gauntlet again.

As far as being armed, I wish I had my pellet or .22 pistol on hand this time, because I would have needed it if one of these dogs had taken me off my bike. I love dogs, but I love my bike and my own personal safety just a bit more. I was about to burst through all of Maslow's Hierarchy in one afternoon, it would have been a truly transformational experience. I have since learned they sell a good deal of mace for dogs. Probably US Postal grade. I will get some of this and see if it helps with my next Cujo waltz.

The Marlin Papoose

A classic of bipedal travel.

The Marlin Papoose is lightweight, accurate - and damn handy. Plus the wood stock tends to scream "sportsman" or rabbit hunter, thus calming the locals who would otherwise be alarmed at the look of the AR-7 (the Papoose's James Bond cousin).

Though it is much more exciting to mount some sort of Ruger 10-22/Gatling-hybrid to the ole handlebars, having something to stow away in the pannier packs is to be preferred for general travel.

Chill in the Hills; Hill Country New Year's Ride

New Year's day was a blast, literally. It was a blast of cold air hitting my face for 52 miles in a 20 mph wind. The wind was against us all morning no matter which direction we were riding. It's funny how often this is the case; you ride a route out and back, the wind is in your face on the way out and upon your return you are up against it yet again. It really likes to swirl around cyclists sometimes, but that is good, adversity is healthy for the soul and makes for a more challenging experience (always remember the journey is the thing) Temperature on Friday was 37 at the start and about 51 when we finished. To say the least we were cold, but we were invigorated to have begun the new year by getting out and taking on 2010 head on as opposed to sitting home and waiting for it to hit us. I believe a new tradition was born, the New Year's Day Frost-Cyclefest-mark it down Smokey, we will roll.

-I may be premature, surely you don't have a tradition unless you do it more than once? We shall see if my companions and I are willing to make the jaunt next year.

Happy New Year's everyone; cheers!