Peace

TMI :)

  I could not agree more.... and I AM (secretly) a ninja :ph34r:, but I wouldn't clear my (or any other) house alone. ... or even with another person ...or with 5 other people,... if my "mission" didn't require it.   Whatever you choose to use, train, train, train, and learn your safe firing lanes (Friends don't let friends shoot their neighbors) and train using them.  Train (with cleared firearms) adrenalin-filled moments in the dark to get into position (prepping with push ups to failure works pretty good).  Think about the safest place for your loved ones if you do get into a firefight (hint: it is probably not "tucked" in right behind you).     It's what we all know... if you are going to defend your home, make sure you can do it competently - not bringing more harm on yourself or those around you for the effort.  ... and I do endorse having a plan to win... and practicing that plan.  Good things.

^^^   FWIW:  - Anything with a Kawasaki engine is a step up from everything else I've used.   If you find Kawasaki powered, welded deck "yard-inator", go for it.   brand name be danged.  (although I am partial to exmark's older ultracut deck)

used exmark.  buy once.  you may or may not cry more than once, ... but it won't by while you are mowing --- or when you look back over your nicely cut lawn.     .... whatever you get, have 3 sets of blades (2 to rotate and 1 "beater" set) and change/sharpen them often.     ** edit.   I just saw where you weren't looking for a commercial model.  That would steer me towards Toro (same company as Exmark).  You are looking for a welded deck (not stamped).  Everything else tends to last.

Glock 43....  well, it exists now.  :)  great time.  vendors/Manufacturers all seemed to love their time in Nashville, and the city seems to only be better for the experience.  Good things.

^^ yup.  shorter stem - sounds like you might want to try a stem with an adjustable rise.  If you want to lighten the bike after that, you could always purchase a fixed stem to match where you set the adjustable one.  If your frame is sized to you, that should do the trick.  ... along with that go back and have someone help you re-check the bike fit to you - and adjust as necessary.      ala... http://www.bikefit.com/s-13-road-bikes.aspx   if nothing else, handlebar width and height (are you buying new bars), seat height, seat fore/aft position can make a huge difference in comfort for you.     oh.... most importantly!!!  - buy a seat fitted to you!  (measure your sit bones ... you can use a friend (a real good one), or just sit in hard chair with a soft cover on it - using saran wrap can help preserve the indentations - when you get up, immediately turn around and measure center-center of the indentations.  carry this number in "mm" with you to a bike shop and purchase a good medium-firm seat (no soft seats!).   If you do this, numbness and "damage" to the important parts of you can be a thing of the past.   ** all of this together can make riding in the prone position as comfortable (or almost) as riding upright.    Good luck!

Nashville Gun and Knife over in Belle Meade/West Meade has some beautiful shotguns (and Chris Reeves knives!  - almost don't want to tell anyone). ... and a very friendly, down to earth staff.  I am glad to call them my neighborhood store.

^^ saw the same thing.  I find it hard to distinguish between what is real and what is money-making, click-generating half-truth crud.

they do rent tack-driver sand bags. prone at 400yd range shouldn't be a problem. I know ft campbell SF guys shoot prone at 100yd, but I've never asked myself. benches are really decent. enjoy!

^^^ yes, right, correct, spot on!  Semantics matter.  Using language to help win someone over is not being "soft".  It is being smart.

  ouuuuch!  

You can see a pic of the boat here.  The kids (and I think even my wife) are as excited as I am.  We will have some good times, and no doubt will catch a lot of bass and panfish.     The boat had always been used for panfish with about 16 rods hanging off of it.  For a 1973 Ranger, ... who sat neglected for over a decade and a half, she is in pretty good shape.  With any luck, she will have a new (to us) trolling motor on her, have the hull and deck scrubbed and polished, and (at some point) have some new seats.  I can be on the water running (Cumberland) in 15minutes (including launch), and the upper end of Percy Priest is only about 30minutes away.

Single engine, engine out, landed on a fairway and "walked away". Unless he ran it out of go juice, Luke and Leia have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. Looking at where he set it down, I would even understand the soiled britches.

Thanks guys.  I've been all over smart map.  I have learned over time that it can be slow to represent actual conditions.

For the price and the purpose, the Bodyguard 380 (pre-M&P version) does it for me.  I like a long trigger and a manual safety in a pocket firearm.     For whatever reason, I have no trouble putting the shots where they need to be - even at speed, so the trigger just doesn't bother me.  YMMV.

I have some family looking at making a trip over the plateau tomorrow afternoon.  Any ideas on what it looks like?   They would not be in a snow/ice friendly vehicle.

So, I started fishing again at the end of last summer.  It is my favorite way to spend time with my son and daughter.  I have been collecting lures, rods, and reels getting ready for this coming season.  I am hooked on baitcasters... Here's what I have so far...   Crankbaits, Lipless, Jerk:  BPS Bionic Blade 7' Medium w/ a Abu Garcia SilverMax (6.4:1)  - micro guides,.15lb Flouro ..(it will later be switched over to a spinnerbait rod)   Buzzbaits, Poppers (temporarily Frogs, etc.): Falcon Jason Christie 7' MH (Moderate Action) w/ Lews Carbon Fire 7:1 w/ 40lb braid.   Spinnerbait: Abu Garcia Black Max Combo (6'6" Medium/Fast) w/ 17lb Mono   ... I am (impatiently) waiting to pickup a St. Coix Mojo Bass Crankster (7'4", Medium/Medium) and a Lews LFS 5.4:1 to use as the Crankbait rig.  When I do that, the Bionic Blade rig will move to spinnerbait duty.   The last one I'll add this year is a heavy rig for flipping/heavy cover and a-rigs.         Alright.... what are you favorites for those duties?  Do you group your rigs differently?

... just heard on a local news station...  reporting at a grocery store... about the grocery carts.      "As you can see these carts have been in and out of the store all day and have water droplets on them.  If they freeze over tonight, they will form ice droplets."     ... that was really her destination point.  I did not edit.    I have to remember whenever they report on something that fires me up.  "ice droplets"

line freezing to guides, gunwales, carpet, and net!! Walleye guys would be chuckling at me trying to sort that out.

I will continue to vote, write, and be heard in a civil way about personal freedoms, but other than that, I'm going fishing.  - I hate that "we" are so maleable to be induced into an industry crippling panic  ... so easily.  

Yes it is bad.  We had a LOT of water with multiple freeze/thaw cycles... during which the water never left the roadway due to slush.  Apparently with that particular compound of asphalt and its age,... we got incredibly bad potholes in a hurry.  They had repaired a lot of eastbound holes  (just before the TN river) when I came through yesterday.   ...looks like more fun on the way Wednesday!

^^^ I have gone through a couple of those over the years. The work really well, and mine did not leak. They also did not "glug". ** the only negative is that they are not durable enough to get banged around ... though I think you can turn the spout back over the can for storage.

Well, it is ugly, unoriginal, waaaaay late to the party, and completely uninspiring...,     ...but... if, for some unforeseen reason, it does the "go bang every time and hit what you are aiming at" better than what I have, I will certainly give it a look.  ... ok, maybe not a look - maybe I'll just hold it lightly while looking away.

much obliged, LJ.   ... and from your phone no less.    These are the stories (just had someone shot in front of "our" Firehouse Subs the other day - guy ran into "our" Publix for help) that are going to convince my wife to get her HCP.    ...not that an HCP would help anyone on Vandy's campus.   -and not that any of my family have a need to be out and about after 10pm.

purty.