Joe

I think the 2nd Amendment is bad policy and bad law. It was originally justified when the assault weapon of the day was a flintlock rifle and/or musket. This because a "well regulated" militia was deemed a necessary part of national defense. But the militia was hardly ever "well regulated". The few times it was effective was when it had been whipped into shape by a hard nosed general who'd been given enough time (New Orleans). More often, it was a comedic failure as in the Bladensburg Races (the defense of Washington DC) and the three invasions of Canada (note the lack of impact these invasions had on Canada's independence). There are many other examples of this. However, the nation was expansionist and there were Native Americans to be slaughtered, and species to be rendered extinct or almost extinct. So for better or worse, we've become an armed society. But it's instructive to note that one of the first civilizing drives on the frontier was to have a place to check ones guns before going out and about on the town. The guns were not confiscated, merely regulated. The proliferation of open carry and concealed carry jurisdictions will continue until there are a few more horrific slaughters. At some point we will realize that guns are serious business and there will be some common sense regulation of them that will require constant training as a requisite for being permitted to carry a weapon, open or concealed. Professionals who carry weapons on a daily basis are required to qualify with those weapons on a regular basis and the same should be true of non-professionals who think they should be lugging a weapon around. By this time, I'll have been dismissed as a bleeding heart of the worst sort. But in fact, I'd have to take a few minutes to count the number of firearms in my house. The total would be in excess of 10. I carried a firearm professionally for years and used it four times. I'm not trying to confiscate weapons; I merely suggest that they are serious to the point of being deadly and need to be respected as such. Now I'm sure there's some overweight, overage, pseudo-patriot out there who needs to think that he's going to fight the government over some alleged wrong with his personal firearms. Good luck with that if it ever came to pass. There, I've vented a bit. Thanks all.

Well Christian brainwashing certainly worked on me for way too long. I grew up in the wilds of Eastern Nevada. We learned all about sex in the locker room and the pool hall, and about how horribly evil it all was on Sunday. Wouldn't it have been wonderful if Christianity could have seen sex as an integral part of love?

Yes.

Does anyone know if this story is complete, or in progress, or what?

Thanks for the welcome Chris. I'm preparing to submit a short story now. It's historical, or perhaps alternate historical would be more appropriate. It takes place in Russia.

I would certainly agree that Midway was a decisive and crushing defeat for the Japanese Navy. As a disciple of Mahan, I would maintain that this was a strategic defeat comparable, in many contemporary ways, to Trafalgar. I remain unconvinced of the decisive nature of Guadalcanal. Imperial Japan, as with some contemporary powers, was full of bluster, efficiency, and dash; but she had no depth. There's an iconic photograph that demonstrates this. A Zero fighter is being moved on a field harnessed to a water buffalo.

The huge grey owl was perched easily on the patio table and regarded the teenager with great yellow eyes. Hi. I'm Cameron. I'm a familiar. The teen stared as he heard this greeting without ears, in his mind. Do you even know what a familiar is? If you know anything about witchcraft and familiars, you might have thought of Pyewacket from Bell, Book, and Candle, or maybe Wizard Justyn's tatterdemalion black cat from Owlflight.... And of course, familiars can move in a variety of ways that aren't strictly commonplace....Prince Rupert's dog Boye, was a ferocious familiar; they were scared of him because he fought so bravely alongside Prince Rupert in many battles. They tried to shoot him with a silver bullet, but their aim was off. No surprise there, nothing but a great lot of ill bred revolutionaries and stumble bum republicans they were.... I think you understand that something eldritch is taking place here; and I also think that you're beginning to relax just a little, so I'm going to let you have more freedom of movement; but believe me when I tell you that you have to listen to what I'm about to tell you, and as I suspect you now know, you will listen. Why don't you go into the kitchen and get us some cold drinks. I'd like a root beer in a nice bowl, if you please.... [This story is just beginning, I've two chapters so far. I would love to have an editor if this strikes anyone's fancy.]

Meaning no disrespect. And as a veteran, I certainly do not undervalue the courage and sacrifice of the soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen involved in this battle. But we sometimes undervalue the contribution of others. I would suggest that the best part of the German Army was destroyed on the Eastern Front. In like vein, I would suggest that the best part of the Japanese Imperial Army was in a hopeless quagmire in China, where it was thoroughly chewed-up and stumbled home in ignominious defeat after the surrender. The strategic loss to Japan at Guadalcanal was great, particularly the loss of the initiative. But the material loss was not decisive, and was approximately equivalent to the allied loss at Bataan and Singapore. Possibly a little less.

Another delightful story from Cole.

I am old and I have every intention of growing older. Accordingly, there are two spaces after the period because that's the proper way to do it and that, succinctly stated, is that.