Some Detroit Criminals Make It Too Easy To Pile On More Charges

So a Detroit female is heading into Wayne County Circuit Court to face charges of home invasion, larceny, assault to do bodily harm less than murder, etc.

And, to top it all off, on the way into court she gets caught at the metal detectors carrying a concealed, loaded, unregistered pistol in her purse. You would have thought all the no weapons signs at the door would have been a clue that she's not supposed to do that.

The Detroit Free Press: Woman faces charges after gun found in purse at Wayne County courthouse

The headline really should read that she now faces MORE charges, but it's the Freep, so what can you do?

As one expects:

The pistol was not registered, and the woman does not have a concealed pistol license

Gee, ya think? Think of all the lovely additional felonies she's about to get hit with.

Range Trip With The Tavor

So yesterday I got all my work wrapped up early and it was a nice enough day to have a range trip in the late afternoon.

It was time to open this box.

The contents were very nicely packaged:

The first thing you notice about the IWI Tavor is how compact it is.

Here it is alongside a AR-15 with a 16 inch barrel, this particular Tavor's barrel is 16.5 inches.

It's even more apparent with the AR's stock fully extended:

So I packed the car and headed to the range for my first time shooting my IWI Tavor.

At the range, the Tavor sported an Urban ERT sling and A Vortex Viper PST 1-4x scope in a AR-PEPR QD Scope Mount.

While the trigger is not a perfect as a match tuned AR, I really don't see what people are fussing about. It is perfectly serviceable and not nearly as bad as it has been hyped up to be, and accurate shots were no problem to make.

The Urban ERT is quite perfect for the Tavor. It provides excellent carrying support, can act as a hasty sling and holds the Tavor rather excellently aligned on your body.

The Vortex with up to 4x magnification makes for a very nice scope. Since it is my first variable power magnifying scope, it's going to take a bit of getting used to. The Vortex has remarkably clear glass and is very intuitive to use. I do need to get it zeroed in, as it is currently low and left, but the first shots fired left nothing to be desired group wise:

The only downside to the Vortex is that it is a bit on the heavy side, and there is insufficient room to raise the backup iron sights with it mounted on the PEPR on the rifle.

Trying an Aimpoint PRO on the Tavor made it seem a lot lighter, and the Aimpoint's dot was dead on, and the backup iron sights that come standard on the Tavor come right up and co-witness rather perfectly. The PRO felt faster in acquiring targets when throwing the rifle up to the shoulder, but that's likely just because I'm more used to it than the Vortex.

Shooting the Tavor is a pleasant experience - no recoil to speak of and with the weight towards the back of the firearm, control-ability is great as it settles right into your shoulder and the rubber pad on the butt keeps it fixed there. So much so, you can keep the rifle nice and steady with the rifle snugged into your shoulder and only your firing hand on the grip with your offhand free and still hit right where you're aiming with no wavering.

The Tavor uses standard AR-15 type magazines, and magazine changes are quick and easy to do. The mag well is easy to reach with the rifle on the shoulder and the magazine goes right in while your firing hand remains on the grip. The bolt release is also right by the magazine well, so it is easy to drop out the current mag, reload and drive the bolt home with very few movements.

All brass was ejected forward and right of the Tavor with aplomb. Standing still it would place all the brass in a nice pile.

In addition to shooting the Tavor right handed as usual, I did test shooting it from the left shoulder and no brass came near my face, all of it consistently ejecting well forward. I should note that I completely sucked at shooting off the left shoulder. It felt very weird as I don't do it often, if ever, as I'm just not very awesomely tacti-cool and I've never had a need to do so. There is a left-handed bolt kit available but you don't really need it.

There were no stoppages or malfunctions of any kind with 55 gr Lake City, 62 gr Federal and even 55 gr Wolf all shot through without a hitch.

One quick note, the 150rd packages that Federal American Eagle is packing their bulk green tip packs in, while cute looking, quite simply suck.

Sealed only at the end, folding into the back at the other with no sealing at the sides and a pronounced crease in the middle, the box of 150 loose rounds turns into a partial box with most of the rounds rolling around your shooting bag. This also doesn't give much in the way of confidence that someone else hasn't lifted out a few rounds before you get the chance to buy it.

Aside from the leaking ammo box, there were no issues at the range.

The Tavor ate 200 rounds without a hiccup in a very comfortable manner. While the manual of arms is different from that of an AR-15, its pretty easy to use and adapt to very quickly, and the rifle fits like a glove. Hard to explain but it mounted and pointed very naturally and was a very comfy rifle indeed. Firing slow or rapidly was very easy and the rifle was completely controllable.

Cleaning the Tavor was very easy. The butt is held in place with a captive pin, and once you know the rifle is empty, you pop the pin and begin the take-down procedure, which is ridiculously simple.

The bolt, spring and carrier then come right out for cleaning and you then clean the barrel with a rod from the breach to the muzzle.

The trigger pack then comes out after two captive pins are pushed, but the pack wasn't dirty at all.

After cleaning you put the parts back in the rifle and you're ready to go, it is a very easy rifle to maintain.

In addition to the top rail, there's a side rail installed for mounting lights, and a bottom rail can be added for a forward grip or light/laser there if you wish. Everything seems well thought out for this rifle and it handles very well indeed.

IWI also has or will shortly have available 9mm, 5.45x39 and 300 Blackout conversion kits available for the Tavor, adding to its versatility.

Tavor Pros:

- Really compact form factor

- Reliable

- Easy to take down to clean

- Decent trigger, nice accuracy

- Excellent balance and ergonomics, both for carrying and shoot-ability

Tavor Cons:

- Costs more than a standard AR-15

- The US shooting community is pretty standardized on the AR-15.

- Not nearly as much aftermarket support as for an AR. While it doesn't seem to need much yet, nor is there any need to mess around with the Tavor, spare parts may become an issue.

- Trigger not as nice as a nice trigger on an AR.

In short, to me the pros way outweigh the cons and this may very well be my new favorite rifle.

Some Focus On Treatment For The Mentally Ill Might Help

Instead of the Democrat's losing war on guns and gun owners, it would be nice if they took a moment and worked on treating the mentally ill and by doing so make an effective reduction in mass murders and crime.

After all, earlier this week a Virginia Senator is stabbed by his mentally ill son after being released from the psych ward not because he wasn't mentally ill, bur because they didn't have enough beds.

As a result he's dead and his father badly injured. As usual, there's a lack of help, resources, and focus on the problem until someone gets killed.

Now in Michigan, a tragedy is averted due to only the incompetence of a mentally ill man's plan to blow himself and his entire apartment building up with him:

The Detroit News: Police: Traverse City man tries to blow up apartment building

Police say a Traverse City man tried to blow up his apartment building and told investigators that voices in his head prompted his actions.

Note well, when the voices in your head tell you to do something stupid, don't listen to them, they lie, and it never ends well.

The voices in the head thing is a pretty clear tip-off that yet again, another mentally ill person was trying to engage in mass murder.

However, this will likely not get much more attention as his weapon of choice was a natural gas oven rather than a gun.

Democrats aren't in favor of oven control so this attempt can't be used to further their goals, at least not yet.

Joe Wilson Needs To Take Back His Apology

In yet another revelation of the Obama administration's mendacity.  Vodkapundit notes that even the unemployment statistics prior to Obama's reelection were fabricated to make the economy look better and improve Obama's chances for reelection.

Is there anything that this administration is telling the actual entire truth about?  Anything?

Representative Joe Wilson didn't know the half of it.

To TO And Back

This weekend was rather busy.

First both kids had Girl Scout sleepovers Friday night - Abby at the Cranbrook Science Center and Leah at the Toledo Zoo.

Then Saturday morning after recovering the kids we loaded up the car, dropped off the dog and headed to Toronto for a family function.

It was great seeing everyone, and we all cracked up about the Mayor of Toronto's current train wreck of a personal life.  Kinda sad that even so, he's still better than the majority of precious mayors of Detroit, crack use and all.

A very nice time was had by all, but then late this afternoon we piled back into the car and started driving home.

Right into the high winds and thunderstorms people have been warning about.

Between about London to the border  was massive sheets of rain with sheet lightning large and bright enough to light up the entire landscape as if it was daylight.  Lots of fun driving with massive rain reducing visibility and a crosswind trying to push the car off the road.

We made it home safely despite the winds and rain and are tucked in for the night watching the wind blow and experiencing several power flickers as the night goes on.

Heck, there's even a tornado warning currently for Detroit and environs, though if a tornado did hit the city, you might be hard pressed to tell considering the state of the city even before the tornado hit.  Heck, it might result in some urban beautification.

That Didn't Take Long.....

You know how pet owners make rules about things like no dogs on the bed?

 Yeah, that rule lasted about 3 months.  Good dogs always win.

Renisha McBride Case: Charges Are Going Forward.

Arraignment is set for this afternoon and charges are going forward.

Unfortunately, the live feed is so messed up I could not hear what the charges actually were, but Worthy stated that she believes he did not act in lawful self-defense.

Thanks to the Detroit News it appears the charge is Second Degree murder, manslaugher and possesison of a firarm in a felony.

Homeowner Theodore Wafer, 54, faces arraignment Friday afternoon in the charges, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced.

At least some information was understandable during the feed and worthy stated that the shot was through an open front door but a closed screen door, and she confirmed McBride was intoxicated.

The media also asked some really stupid questions regarding the "Stand Your Ground Law" and a howler asking Worthy if she could confirm if McBride was wearing a hoodie - nice job trying to taint that jury pool there guys.

Charges To Be Announced in Renisha McBride Case, Tox Report Shows She Was Very Intoxicated

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy at a news conference set for today at 11 am will be announcing charges against the homeowner who shot Renisha McBride.

The Detroit Free Press has a live feed setup.

In other developments, it turns out (unsurprisingly) that the 19-year old Rensiha McBride was very, very intoxicated that night - .218% BAC and with marijuana in her system. Yes, that's not .021 but .21. This likely explains the car accident and perhaps the rest of her inexplicable behavior that night.

Witnesses also state she was speeding when she struck the parked car, and as we know, she left the scene, passed by numerous public establishments where she could have gone for help, and three hours later shows up on this guy's front door step.

We don't know what happened there.

Given the racially charged nature of the case, expect at least a manslaughter charge, especially if, as the Detroit Free Press keeps stating, the man did say he fired his shotgun accidentally.

Michigan's SB 610 Passes The Senate - On To The House

SB 610 cleared the Senate by a very wide margin - 36 in favor, only 2 against to pass the bill in the Senate legalizing ownership of short-barreled rifles and shotguns as long as the purchaser complies with federal law.

If you asked me ten years ago if we could have gotten SBR and SBS reform through the Senate in Michigan I would have laughed in disbelief.

The bill was recommended for taking immediate effect, and now it will go to the Michigan House for a vote.

Excellent news indeed.

You Can't Make This Up - Dysfunctional Obamacare Head To Visit America's Most Dysfunctional City

Fresh off the most dysfunctional government website and program roll-out in history, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is coming to Detroit to visit America's most dysfunctional city for an event promoting Obama's most dysfunctional program, Obamacare.

The Detroit News: Sebelius plans visit to Detroit for Affordable Care Act event

A spokesman for her department did not immediately provide the location and time of the upcoming event, but sources confirmed she is planning a visit to the Motor City.

                                                                 ..............

The event in Detroit is designed to draw attention to the benefits of the health care act and encourage enrollment, sources said.

Has Obama been watching the Kentucky Fried Movie in between ongoing ACA fiascoes lately or what? He's sending quite a lot of the higher-ups involved in Obamacare to Detroit lately.

Michigan's Senate Bill 610 Legalizing SBRs and SBSs Heading For A Vote

Michigan may be moving forward in enhancing our civil rights shortly.

Michigan, being a blue state has quite a few silly and restrictive gun laws. Even with the public perception that Michigan is solely populated by gun-tottin' rednecks, there's always been an elitist (if not indeed racist) streak that has held the common person here shouldn't be able to own or carry guns, or certain guns, or ugly guns, or scary guns.  But, we've come along way and we still keep moving to get parity with all the other free states in our nation.

 I noted back in October that SB 610 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee.

 Now it is coming up for a vote in front of the full Senate this Thursday, November 14!

 The bill would bring Michigan into accord with the majority of states that citizens of the state may own short barreled rifles and shotguns so long as they comply with federal procedures regarding ownership (fingerprints, $200 tax, background check etc).

So, if you're in Michigan please contact your Senator and ask them politely to vote in favor. Point out that this means that Michigan will be like most states and federal law with all of its background checks and requirements will be in effect.  Mention how there's been a lack of crime committed with legally owned SBRs and SBSs in other states and that will be just as true for Michigan.

If you're not from Michigan but from a state that allows SBRs and SBS, please contact any Michigan senator you choose with a very polite email that even with SBRs/SBSs being legal,  the sky has not fallen in your state.  You may also want to mention and that there's been a distinct lack of crime committed with legally owned SBRs and SBSs in your state and you think Michigan will be no different. The law-abiding people of Michigan thank you.

McBride Case Turns Yet Again. - Detroit News Reports Shooting As Self-Defense, Not Accidental?

Interestingly, unlike the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit News is reporting that the home owner that shot McBride is claiming self-defense as opposed to an accidental shooting, and that it was the homeowner that called 911 after the shooting.

The Detroit News: Audio: Dispatcher details McBride shooting call

The shooting of McBride, an African-American woman, by the white homeowner, who claimed through his attorney that he fired his shotgun because he feared for his life, has ignited a national firestorm about Michigan’s version of the “Stand Your Ground” law. The man is not in police custody, and prosecutors are investigating whether to bring charges.

If it was accidental then it's not self-defense so either the Free Press or the News has it wrong.

Since there's no duty to retreat from your home, the whole "Stand Your Ground Law Is To Blame" canard doesn't apply. But hey, there's an agenda that's being pushed, facts be damned.

The media seems to be doing their best to misreport or distort the facts in this case nicely, or they just have no idea what the facts are and are reporting rumor as fact.  You'd think the two major papers in Detroit, owned by the same parent company, could at least report the basic facts consistently.

The Renisha McBride Incident: Curiouser and Curiouser

More facts are slowly coming out in the death of Renisha McBride, and the reported facts are raising even more questions about what may have happened that night.

It turns out the auto accident she was in was that she struck a parked vehicle in Detroit around 1 am.

The shooting then took place 6 blocks away from the accident scene and more than 2 hours later at 3:40 am in Dearborn Heights.

Dearborn Heights police have stated the shooting was not racially motivated, and the claim that the shotgun was fired accidentally hasn't been retracted yet. Further in contrast to her family's claim that she was shot in the back of the head, she was shot in the face.

In other strangeness, while the police call was assigned a low priority of a no injury accident, police didn't show up for 40 minutes until there was a second call when somebody saw that she was bleeding and called 911, after she had already left the scene and then returned.

She then disappears from the scene before the police get there and finally shows up six blocks away two hours later banging on this guy's front door.

According to the Detroit Free Press someone claimed that at the scene she seemed confused and stated she wanted to go home.

As usual, the facts are fragmented, information so far released is biased and full of rumor and exaggeration.  So far many facts are now not what people originally claimed they were and I'm sure we'll see more information develop and we'll likely be surprised at what comes up.

Did he pull a Biden and shoot his shotgun through the door? We don't know yet.

Was she alone or did she have some friends with her when she tried to get in the door? We don't know yet.   No toxicology report on her has been released at this point nor do we know if one was ordered.

If this claim that the shotgun was fired accidentally proves to be a true statement, and again, that's not confirmed then, without anything more, expect at least a manslaughter charge from the Wayne County Prosecutor.

Meanwhile, the usual suspects are still whipping up the racial angle, and there's no proof at all of any racial bias or "profiling" as they claim to have occurred here.

Send Him To Detroit!

Vodkapundit notes that the Whitehouse's Chief Technology Officer, Todd Park is very reluctant to testify before Congress about the Obamacare fracas.

 Darrell Issa is eagerly trying to compel his appearance.

So what does the Whitehouse do?  Apparently the solution is get him out of town and to send him to Detroit to "improve" the city's services. 

The Detroit Free Press: White House sends 'Tech Team' to Detroit to help improve city services

The Obama administration has sent a team of five experts in government technology from cities across the U.S. to Detroit on a two-day mission to improve municipal services.
....
The Obama administration at the time also promised to send its chief technology officer, Todd Park, to Detroit to help analyze and improve city systems. Park has recently become embroiled in Congress’ ongoing investigation into problems surrounding the launch of Healthcare.gov, the administration’s website to enroll people under the Affordable Care Act.

It could have been worse, they might have sent him to Afghanistan to "improve" tech there to get him out of the reach of Issa's subpoena. Being sent to Detroit to avoid testifying is pretty darn similar in terms of conditions and statistically more dangerous.

Even worse for Detroiters, who really have suffered enough already, they're about to get the brain trust that brought us the Obamacare website to work on improving the city's backwards administration and technology processes.  Great.

Thanks to Vodkapundit for the link, and should the Vodkapundit ever be in the Detroit area, whether to track down the elusive Mr. Park or otherwise, let me know and I'll buy you the drink of your choice. 

Thanks to all of you for visiting and I hope you look around the blog - the Renisha McBride story is getting interesting and there's lots more to see here, and your comments as well as your views are indeed welcome.

Maybe Obamacare's Failure Is Just The Democrat's Strategy For 2014?

One should generally not attribute to malice that which can be attributed to stupidity.  When you're talking about the Obamacare fiasco, there's a ton of stupidity to go around.

Instapundit monitors this train-wreck that is leading to millions of people having their health insurance cancelled and their rates increased for inferior Obama-approved plans. Each bit of news he finds is even worst than the last.

Can the Democrats and Obama, heralded by the media as being so very, very smart have made this many incompetent and negligent mistakes? Probably.

On the other hand, it may be the most brilliant rope-a-dope in history - The Democrats create a government-dominated and implemented system designed to fail, then blame the free market and Republicans for it's failure. 

After all, Democrats have always been wanting government-run and paid healthcare, not this hybrid dog's breakfast that is Obamacare.

So Obama and the Dems can campaign in 2014 that they need to retake the House because, due solely to the Republican's intransigence and greedy insurance companies of course, Obamacare has failed to deliver. After all, it can't be the Dmeocrat's or the government's fault.

Since it is the Republican's and insurance companies' fault for all this misery, the only cure for this (in reality government-caused) fiasco is more government control and a move to their fabled single-payer system of government healthcare, which will make everything all better.

To do that of course they need to take the house and dominate both the legislative and executive branches to get their agenda run through so we can see what's in it.

With their lapdog journo-listers running the media narrative and selling the Democrat's line, they just might pull it off too.  After all as Democrat California Governor Jerry Brown stated recently: "Government can best solve the problems it first created itself."

Nah, they really can't be that cunning, now can they?  Let's just chalk it up to some of the most incredible displays of governmental incompetence extant and move on.

Shooting of Black Girl In Dearborn Not A Trayvon Martin Repeat

So far the circumstances are confused, but the death of 19-year-old Renisha McBride is not a Trayvon Martin repeat even as the usual suspects wish to make it so.  However, we again get the racial perfect storm as the dead 19-year old is black and the shooter is white.

The Detroit Free Press: Renisha McBride funeral mourns 'tragedy that didn't have to happen'; shooter 'torn up'

 Apparently, Ms. McBride, who totalled two prior cars, was in an auto accident and went to the homeowners house allegedly for help according to her family. The homeowner thought his house was being broken into, and she got shot in the face at or in the doorway at 3:30-4:00 in the morning.

No other facts are out yet and this whole things seems far more tragedy than Trayvon.

Also, it's looking like this will be a manslaughter case and the defense won't be able to raise self-defense as a defense.  Why is that you ask?

Because according to police the homeowner stated that he fired his shotgun accidentally:

Police said the man, who has not been named, told investigators he accidentally discharged his 12-gauge shotgun.

If he made that statement, then he's toast in Michigan at least as far as self-defense goes.  Self-defense is an affirmative defense, i.e. you did it on purpose.  Stating it was an accidental shooting removes that defense.

It is likely more facts will emerge and we'll find out more about what actually happened that night.

The usual suspects of Al Sharpton and John Conyers et. al.,  however, aren't waiting but comparing this to the Trayvon Martin case and claiming stand your ground laws precipitated the incident.

Conyers said today: “The shooting death of Renisha McBride has left the Detroit area hurt and asking many questions about how an unarmed 19-year-old young woman, reportedly seeking assistance in the middle of the night, could so tragically lose her life.

“There has been discussion about the impact of Michigan’s controversial “stand your ground” laws and whether they contributed to this incident. I have long opposed laws of this nature. I am confident that Wayne County prosecutors and law enforcement will conduct a thorough investigation to ensure that justice is served for Renisha’s family.”

Look, stand your ground laws aren't involved here Conyers, you twit.  So far you're the only one having a "discussion" about them under the circumstances.  He's in his home and still wouldn't have to retreat even if there was no Michigan "stand your ground" law.

The Michigan "No Need To Retreat If You're In A Place You're Legally Allowed To Be While Doing Only Legal Things And Not Acting As The Aggressor" (The more proper name for our "Stand Your Ground" law) does not and cannot apply. Quit grandstanding and dancing in the blood of what is looking like a tragic confused and mistaken situation. Idiot.

 If it turns out this was an accidental shooting, or should that accident statement prove to be false, then if he was not reasonable in his belief that his home was being invaded, again the no retreat law will still not provide any protection whatsoever.

You will note however that none of the other multiple fatal  shootings of black people that occurred in Detroit over the very same week was protested by Conyers, or Sharpton.  Funny that.

Sunday's Dive Attempt - The Centennial Dive On The Regina

100 years after she sank, an intrepid bunch of divers headed to the Regina to dive her on Sunday, the day she sank 100 years ago.

The forecast promised 20 knot winds from the west with waves up to 5-7 feet building to a gale later.
The plan was to take Dave's boat, a 37 footer powerboat out.

Unfortunately even as we planned to hit the water around 11, time kept slipping.

First, the boat wasn't fully packed with his stuff when I arrived at his place at 8 am. Mike was already there and Phil would meet us at Lexington. Then he still needed to shave, and then pack some other gear onto the boat, get the boat trailer hooked up to the truck and finally we were off at 9:20 rather than 8:30 or so.

Then once on the road, Dave realized he had forgot his SD cards for his Go Pro cameras (yes, plural) so we needed to stop at Best Buy and pick some up. We also bought some hats as it was getting cold and stopped for a quick bite on the way.

Then we finally got to Lexington, loaded Phls gear on board, changed into our drysuits and finally departed the dock at about 1:20 or so.

As we headed out we saw this laker in the distance:

The Regina was about 4 miles away from Lexington and the wind was picking up and had started to shift from the West to the West Northwest.

This meant the waves were starting to build.

By the time we reached the area where the Regina went down, we were encountering the occasional 15-foot wave, and the winds were out of the north, which was not good.

It took a considerable amount of time maneuvering to find the wreck and as the buoys had been pulled. It was not easy to spot the mooring rope floating in the water. All the while, waves are building up and we're having an interesting time trying to get to the mooring line. We're now getting pounded with pretty regular 7-10 foot waves and many 15 footers.

Here's a quick movie from one of the Go Pros he had mounted on the boat showing one of the smaller waves:

I actually had the mooring line in my hand after getting it with a boat hook, had passed it forward to Dave, who then dropped it as we got slammed by a wave. On the upside this probably was a good thing as whoever would have tried to go forward to the bow to tie it off would likely have been thrown overboard by the waves.

By now the winds were from the North and the radio was blurting out a small craft advisory and gale warning.

We were about to try to come around for another attempt to grab the mooring line when the loudest alarm in the world starts shrieking.

"Oh, not good", remarks Dave.

"What does that alarm mean?" I ask.

"It means there's water above the safe level in the bilge, we're taking it on faster than we can pump it out, and we're sinking", he says.

"Oh, not good." remarks I. "Where are the life jackets located on this boat again?"

So we inspect the bilge and yep, with all the waves there's a considerable amount of water above the line, so we decide to beat a hasty retreat for shore rather than adding a new wreck to Lake Huron's bottom. We made it back safely and then had the fun of getting the boat back on the trailer, heading home unloading the boat etc.

It was a solid attempt, hampered somewhat by poor prior preparation, but the Regina remained unvisited on her centennial.

A quick word of thanks to Tam for the linking to this story and the resultant Tamalanche!  Thank you all for visiting and I hope the rest of the blog is also of interest.

The Great Gale Of November Remembered

It was 100 years ago today that the White Hurricane struck the Great Lakes.

12 ships sunk, 250 dead and millions in damages happened over two days in 1913.

Waves 36 feet high and 80 mile per hour winds battered the lake freighters, damaging many, and sending 12 to the bottom and some have still not been located today.

It was the greatest maritime disaster in the history of the Great Lakes.

The Ships Gone Missing:

Leafield: 18 lost.

Regina: 20 lost.

Wexford: 17-24 lost, precise number unknown.

Charles Price: 28 lost.

Hydrus: 25 lost

Argus: 28 lost.

Henry B. Smith: 25 lost

James Carruthers: 22 lost.

Plymouth: 7 lost.

John A. McGean: 28 lost.

Isaac M. Scott: 28 lost.

Lightship 82: 8 lost.

100 years later, we can learn of and remember their loss.

Eternal Father, strong to save
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave.
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep
Oh hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea.

Who is That Handsome Dog?

Jett's hair is thankfully growing back and he's continuing his development as a good dog.

He's getting quite the personality.

I was taking him for a walk and as we headed around the corner and up the hill in the backyard he started growling and barking.

Why was he growling and barking?

He saw a strange dog directly across from him staring at him from the window.

Yes, it was his reflection:

He was well satisfied with himself when the dog left his view as we proceeded along the hill, clearly retreating due to his bark.

Good alert dog.

Now if we can channel that barking to get him to do it when strangers approach the house that will be most excellent.

More Democrats Experiencing Obamacare and Cognitive Dissonance At The Same Time

Sadly, we get the government and policies they deserve, but they're starting to get it too, and they're surprised and unhappy about it.

Propublica: Loyal Obama Supporters, Canceled by Obamacare

San Francisco architect Lee Hammack says he and his wife, JoEllen Brothers, are “cradle Democrats.” They have donated to the liberal group Organizing for America and worked the phone banks a year ago for President Obama’s re-election.

Since 1995, Hammack and Brothers have received their health coverage from Kaiser Permanente, where Brothers worked until 2009 as a dietitian and diabetes educator. “We’ve both been in very good health all of our lives – exercise, don’t smoke, drink lightly, healthy weight, no health issues, and so on,” Hammack told me.

The couple — Lee, 60, and JoEllen, 59 — have been paying $550 a month for their health coverage — a plan that offers solid coverage, not one of the skimpy plans Obama has criticized. But recently, Kaiser informed them the plan would be canceled at the end of the year because it did not meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. The couple would need to find another one. The cost would be around double what they pay now, but the benefits would be worse.

Well you organized for him and Obamacare, you voted for him twice, now you're reaping the benefits of what you've wanted. Surprise!

“From all of the sob stories I’ve heard and read, ours is the most extreme,” Lee told me in an email last week.

Remember, when you as a loyal Democrat have your insurance cancelled its extreme. When it happens to anyone else it's a faux outrage.

The whole article is quite fun to read. These poor loyal supporters having their insurance costs doubling as a result of their blind unquestioning support for Obamacare and Obama. Many small violins are heard wailing in the distance.

Of course as good Democrats they think this is merely a mistake and the benevolence of their leaders will fix it for them. After all, this stuff is supposed to happen to other people, not loyal party Democrats.

Continuing the Democrat's cargo cult beliefs that all good things come from DC, they did as any Democrat would do - they wrote to Nancy Pelosi for help.

That’s little comfort to Hammack. He’s written to California’s senators and his representative, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., asking for help.

“We believe that the Act is good for health care, the economy, & the future of our nation. However, ACA options for middle income individuals ages 59 & 60 are unaffordable. We’re learning that many others are similarly affected. In that spirit we ask that you fix this, for all of our sakes,” he and Brothers wrote.

What fix? Perhaps a special dispensation for anyone that can prove they were a registered Democrat prior to the 2008 election and voted for Obama twice? Pelosi isn't going to "fix this". This is exactly what the law she pushed for was designed to do and you voted for the Democrats to do it - twice!, you poor useful idiots.

Expect more Democrats to go around with cognitive dissonance in the near future: Anyone complaining about their insurance being cancelled or their rates rising astronomically is clearly suffering from right-wing inspired faux outrage and partisanship and the wreckers are trying to disrupt the beauty that is Obamacare. But, when it affects a Democrat, it must be an oversight of our benevolent leaders and if only Comrades Obama and Pelosi knew, they would fix it!