Category Archives: Florida

Economy, Florida, Immigration, Obamacare, Organized Labor, Pensacola, Politics

What’s Next For Big Labor?

Labor unions today have unknowingly fulfilled a self-fulfilling prophesy. By leveraging unfair practices upon workers to build union Labor-Unionsmembership, they did such a good job that they have lost their only reason to recruit.  Now they are left with ancient history, the mid twentieth century, to fall back on. And for the most part, no longer have a reason to exist.

BIG LABOR advocates say “Without America’s labor unions, we wouldn’t have many of the protections and benefits that we have today.” That’s a true statement. It was true 30 years ago too! Thanks to the ‘wake-up call’ delivered to employers by organized labor decades ago, which was “treat your people right or lose,” the labor movement has successfully put itself out of business so to speak. Their usefulness has diminished due to their earlier success as shown by their decreasing member rolls.

  • Total percentage private sector and public sector labor union workers: 2002 13.3%, 2012 11.3%
  • Percent of private sector labor union workers: 2002 8.6%, 2012 6.6%
  • Percent of public sector, government, labor union workers: 2002 37.3%, 2012 35.9%
  • Total number of union workers, public and private sector: 2002 16,145,000, 2012 14,366,000

Continue reading What’s Next For Big Labor? →

Florida, Politics, Venezuela

Venezuela’s Election Day For Chavez Successor

It’s election day in Venezuela. Venezuelans in the United States are going to New Orleans to vote for their successor for the hemisphere’s idiot, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who his hand-picked successor claims was killed by cancer given to him by the United States Nicolas Madurogovernment. I know, Venezuela has their own low-information voters. It is what it is.

The opposition candidate Henrique Capriles said his opponent was “violating all the Henrique Caprileselectoral norms”. By closing, arresting, and otherwise bankrupting any TV and radio station that would carry their ads, I’d say he is right. No doubt tactics like that would meet with Jimmy Carter’s approval, who put his stamp of approval on Chavez’s first presidential election. Capriles’ response was to start an internet TV channel to try to get his message out. Beyond that, the opposition (to socialism) party is left with word-of-mouth campaigning.

Florida, Pensacola, Politics

Teenager Has Ring-of-Fire’s Shorts In A Wad

A thirteen year old young man phoned in to the Rush Limbaugh radio show to tell the host that he didn’t understand why so many in the Mike Papantonioadministration believe that “global warming” is real and that it is man-made, when there is so much research easily available to refute that assertion like what he found in the public library in his home town. So what do you think that the Ring-of-Fire radio show (co-hosted by Mike Papantonio) did with it?

Here’s their headline, Indoctrinated Youth, Teenager “Destroys” Liberal Conspiracy on Fox. The story begins with . . .

Despite the majority of scientists agreeing that global warming is occurring and is largely man-made, conservatives are now using a 13-year-old’s library research to validate their opinion that climate change is a hoax.

Only people “using” this bright kid is Ring-of-Fire writer Alisha Mims who concludes “It’s disturbing to be reminded that there are people who would strive to prevent a child from learning facts and formulating his own opinions.” She cites the AlterNet, political ground zero of the wacko Left, for her research.

You know when science becomes political, like it is where so-called global warming is concerned? When there is “consensus” that “global warming” is “man-made.” First of all, science is science, and is not based on consensus, ie. “majority of scientists agreeing.” It either is, or it is not. Second, calling climate change “global warming.” Third, that man is causing it. Lastly, that the earth’s climate can be modified by moving vast amounts of money from one part of the earth to the other.

It’s amusing to see how the Left, or Progressives, get their shorts in a wad when they see evidence that a thirteen year old has formed an opinion that is antithetical to their political doctrine. Their reaction is also instructive. That he couldn’t have possibly formed that opinion on his own. And, he’s a “denier.”

Florida, Gun Control, Pensacola

Pensacola Indoor Shooting Range, New Location

The people at Pensacola Specialty Pawn (850) 433-3560, near Pace Blvd & Fairfield Dr., are planning on opening an indoor shooting range around June-July 2013.  For whatever reason, they have changed the site from the pawn shop site to a spot on Pensacola Boulevard, Rt. 29, at the former location of Leisure Tyme RV. Seems to me to be a better location from an accessibility, if not safety, standpoint. They are capping membership at 500 members.  Members can go anytime. Non-members can go when space is available. Their annual membership pricing is: Patriot (first responders & active/retired military) $199.99, Individual $299.99, Family (2 household) $399.99. Non-members $20 per hour.

Some new features (new to me anyway) at the range will be a closed circuit TV setup for each lane. There will be ten lanes. No matter where you put your target, which is adjustable right from your shooting position, there are two cameras in operation. One on the target, and the other on you. No need to get out the binocs to see where your bullets went. The camera system is focused on your target no matter how far downrange you put it. Another cool thing is that in another room, out of the shooting room, monitors will be there for your party (or whoever) to see you in action, in split screen (you/target), uh, for better or worse. Smile

Further updates will be in this post if and when they become available, so you may want to bookmark it.

UPDATE 7/30/2013 : Opening date is pushed back to mid to late September, 2013.

UPDATE 10/4/2013 : Opening date is pushed back to November 1, 2013. New construction is well underway.

UPDATE 11/4/2013 : The new projected opening date is in the Dec 2013 to Jan 2014 time frame.

UPDATE 1/3/2014: The A/C gets installed next week. Looking for an opening by the end of January 2014.

UPDATE 1/13/2014: The inside is coming along just fine. Now it seems the outside is pushing the opening back until around the end of February. Must be something new, because the property that never had a storm water retention pond now needs one. So that has to be built before they can open.

UPDATE 3/16/2014: Well, February has come and gone. But now the delay, or what remains to be completed, is the HVAC work at the shooting lanes. Now the estimate is anywhere from one to three weeks. {fingers crossed}

UPDATE 4/3/2014: Today the owner said he’s looking for next Wednesday, April 9th, as an opening date. Although he wasn’t 100 percent certain yet. At any rate, the opening seems right around the corner now.

UPDATE 4/8/2014: Tomorrow is off. Maybe another week or two. Waiting for occupancy and other permits. The gun shop next door to the range is open and they have a nice selection of hand guns, rifles, and shotguns.

UPDATE 4/23/2014: Soft Opening Monday 4/28/2014. Yippeeeee !!!

Happy, and safe, Shooting!




View Pensacola Indoor Shooting Range in a larger map

Economy, Florida, Politics

RPOF, On Notice

OK, this is the last straw. The Republican Party Of Florida sent me an email, ostensibly supporting an article in the Daily Caller, Rick_Scott_official_portrait“Conservatives are wrong to attack Rick Scott.” They say, don’t fight this, Obamacare. The Democrats will demagogue you (like they always do) and Scott will lose a supposed tight race against (wait for it) Charlie Crist. I’ve never known Rick Scott to be so timid, nor to make judgements based on his political future instead of the future of the State of Florida.

The good news is that today, the Florida Legislature is on record opposing Gov. Scott’s decision to acquiesce to President Obama’s signature nationalized health care bill, aka the Affordable Care Act. Which, is anything but affordable.

The Florida Legislature makes it clear that it will oppose Gov. Rick Scott on the question of expanding Medicaid. On Monday, a Senate committee voted against an expansion of Medicaid under President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. Last week, a House committee led the way in the Legislature’s opposition to the idea.

I’m sick and tired of Republicans allowing themselves to be intimidated by demagogues and caving on principle. When will they ever learn that they are the ones following the Left’s plan? Let’s have this fight on Medicaid Hill Gov. Scott. There are better ways to solve the State’s, and the nations’, health care needs than socialized medicine.

The RPOF got my response:

Sorry RPOF. But I doubt Gov. Scott would have won the primary had he supported Obamacare.  Now, he has betrayed our (conservatives) trust. We’ve been there before with Charlie Crist. And let’s see, Jumping Jim Jeffords, Arlen Specter, Scott Brown, Cristy in New Jersey.  Been there. Done that.

You’re not a conservative if you are willing to sacrifice the future for a short-term gain, which is what (just like Charlie did) Rick is doing. NO, the answer is NO. There is a better way to solve our health care issues than this. Don’t go for it just because it is there. That’s what the administration is counting on. It’s the carrot, or outright bribery, that enabled the community organizer to get that bill passed in the first place. Well, that and a complacent Republican party, and candidate, afraid to stand up and fight back.

And while you poo poo conservatives for being conservative, as far as I’m concerned, McCain and Graham may as well fold their tent. They’re in bed with the devil too.

Some free advice; the RNC and ever other R party organization, can wait until hell freezes over before I’ll contribute to them. I, like others I know, will be contributing directly to people we know to be conservative and who will stay that way. You decide who you’re going to support. And if we’re lucky, it will be the same candidate. I’ve had it with the ‘establishment’ republicans pissing on conservatives. They are the ones that need to wise up, smell the coffee, and fight for first principles. Period, end of story. Beginning with Bush 43, the notion that the Republican party is conservative has been withering on the vine. Why no one is looking to repeal his new entitlement drug program is beyond me as well.

Now, you would be hard-pressed to convince me that there’s still something left to lose.

Links: Florida Legislature opposes Gov. Rick Scott on Medicaid expansion | Conservatives are wrong to attack Rick Scott  |  Statement by President Gaetz Regarding Senate PPACA Committee Vote on Medicaid Expansion

 

Florida, Religion

Christianophobia In America

Just a typical week in America? That so-called political correctness and the phony separation of church and state and academia is not playing its own role in the breakdown of society is not even debatable any more. Is it?

I mean, it’s not like they are sending out suicide bombers to kill non-believers or anything.

H/T Todd Starns

Florida, Gun Control, Media, Pensacola, Politics

Record Turnout, High Prices At Florida Gun Shows

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pensacola_gun_show
Opening hours line at the Florida Gun Show in Pensacola.

Through my unscientific poll of Facebook posts, people are saying that the lines to get into the gun shows in Pensacola, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Miami are the longest ever. Since the gun store shelves are almost empty and out of ammo, I have to believe that President Obama wins the ‘Top Gun’ Salesman of the Year award.

It was heartening to see so many people getting CWP (Concealed Weapons Permit) training. Young, old, Black, White, and everywhere in between. And they weren’t all republicans either. Believe it or not, democrats believe in personal protection too. Contrary to Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Barack Obama’s argument, I didn’t see any gang members or gang bangers there buying guns. I saw everyone there that was buying, filling out the required paperwork and going through the background check procedure.

The laws of supply and demand have affected the firearms industry, at least at the retail level. Weapons like the AR15 that was $600-700 three months ago, are now between $2000 -3000. Ammo? You’re lucky if you find what you’re looking for. There was no 40 caliber range ammo, which was what I was looking for. I later found some, at before hysterical (over $1.00/round) prices  too, at a local shop off the beaten path. Not at the gun show. The name of which shall stay my secret. You’ll have to email me to get it.

Happy Shooting!

Florida, Pensacola

Unregistered Vehicle & Trailer Exception

As an update to this post, Where Rules Of The Road Are Not, there is an exception, a ‘seasonal’ exception to who can drive unregistered motor vehicles and trailers on Florida’s public highways. Call it a carve-out for BIG DELIVERY if you wish, because it only applies to delivery services that employ 10,000 employees or more in the State of Florida.

As far as I can tell, there is no exception for landscapers during the peak growing season.

Title XXIII Chapter 316, Florida Motor Vehicle Statute

That such a statute exists came as a surprise to me, as I’m sure it is to you. A surprise to me because it contradicts what both the Pensacola Police dispatcher and Traffic department had said weeks earlier.

A special ‘thank you’ to Pensacola Police Officer M. Dupois. She took the time to reference the above statue. The vehicle pictured in the above referenced post does show a discrepancy with the statue however:

Seasonal delivery personnel may pull a trailer from any of these vehicles.

(c)All vehicles specified in this subsection must be:

1.Marked in a conspicuous manner with the name of the delivery service.

But why be picky with “Santa” on a 4-wheeler?