RowdyRebel

Government derives it's power by consent of the governed. For too long, the overwhelming majority have stayed relatively quiet, thereby allowing the VERY vocal minority dictate the government's assumptions about what exactly we have given our consent about. Some in government have forgotten where their power comes from, and they do so at their own peril. They just don't have the power or authority to enforce an unpopular law which is opposed by the vast majority of folks. Abe Lincoln once said that "The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly." The GOP needs to take that advice and DEMAND the law be either implemented as written or repealed in its entirety. Stop trying to "fix" a bad law, or "soften the blow" when the bad law is rolled out. Let the people see EXACTLY what the Democrats forced on the people as it illustrates who they are and what they stand for. 2010 could very easily repeat in 2014 unless the Republicans give people a reason to stay home. Even the media is doing their part to allow Obama to claim victory even if the GOP does win big because they are starting to talk about the expected shallacking the Democrats face and so when they don't lose as many seats as expected, it'll be framed as a win for them. THEY CAN'T LOSE! Not with the media carrying the water for them...

Yup...if you're a Christian and hold the same belief as the Pope about marriage being between a man and a woman ( http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/audiences/2014/documents/papa-francesco_20140402_udienza-generale_en.html )...you know, like the Bible teaches and all...you are no longer fit to be the CEO of a major tech company ( http://abcnews.go.com/Business/mozilla-ceo-resigns-calif-gay-marriage-ban-campaign/story?id=23181711 ). Never mind the TINY little detail that Religious Liberty is guaranteed under the 1st Amendment AS WELL as Religion being defined under the law as a "protected class" in anti-discrimination laws just the same as ethnicity, gender, and in some states sexual orientation. I think ol' Brenden should have said "You want me gone? FIRE ME!" and refused to resign. Then, if Mozilla DID fire him over that little campaign contribution he made with his own personal money, sue the pants off 'em. But no, he caved in and voluntarily stepped down which will only embolden the vocal minority as they continue throwing their temper tantrums every time they see something they don't like.

Ol' Willie Robertson lays down some cash to sponsor the "Duck Commander 500". His daughter gets to say the pre-race prayer and his sister-in-law gets to butcher the National Anthem. I guess with enough money ANYTHING is possible...

9-month old Pakistani boy arrested for attempted murder, threatening police. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/04/04/month-old-pakistani-boy-arrested-for-attempted-murder-threatening-police/

There is a group of black pastors calling for Holder's impeachment... http://www.holderimpeachment.com/

There are only 2 reasons nobody is talking about impeachment: #1 is our VP. Even considering how incompetent and embarrassing Obama is, NOBODY wants Biden in the top office. If Hillary had been VP? He probably would have been impeached or assassinated 1/2 way through his first term. Reason #2 is because everybody is scared to be labeled a "racist" for suggesting we impeach the 1st African-American (which he IS...daddy from Africa, momma an American) president. Again, the VP plays a role in that, too, because with the current VP impeachment means another old white guy would take over for the impeached black guy...so OBVIOUSLY impeachment of this incompetent president would be based on nothing but his ethnicity. If Hillary had been his VP, though, we'd simply be going from the first black president to the first woman president...and so that while it might still be a LITTLE racist, it wouldn't be bigoted because it would be a big step for women. Biden as VP was his insurance policy.

They seem to forget that government derives its power by the consent of the governed. A REPUBLICAN was elected in Mass to fill Kennedy's old seat in order to stop Obamacare...Democrats didn't care and forced it on us anyway. Never has it polled above 50%...currently in the low-20's approval of the law. If people decide not to comply, and refuse to pay the penalty, the government CANNOT force ITS will on the 75-80% opposed to the law. I had insurance I liked. Bought the policy in 2008...grandfathered in. I'm dropping it, though, and will "self insure" because my premiums are 3x what they should be because of the extra fees which "are designed to support programs that will stabilize premiums and provide subsidies to qualified individuals to help them purchase coverage." Sorry...I don't work my ass off and struggle to make ends meet just to make some slacker's life easier. If they want insurance, they can work extra hours or trim some fat out of their household budget. I've got enough things to pay for WITHOUT subsidizing the medical expense cost sharing plans (because let's face it, what is being called "health insurance" isn't "insurance") of others.

Brandt: It'd be cheaper next time you need tires to get 24.5 rims and buy 11R24.5's for the truck. That'd get you CLOSE to where you want to be for only the cost of the rims (IF you time the upgrade to when you were buying tires anyway...)

So the old man...patriarch of that ignorant clan masquerading as a church that protests at soldiers funerals finally kicked the bucket and the family isn't even going to have a funeral. I think it would have been AWESOME to see a group of vets show up to see to it that what the old man had done unto others was rightly done unto him. Just think about how powerful a message could have been sent at THAT funeral. Now don't get the wrong idea...revenge may be sweet, but it often leaves a bitter aftertaste. Just think of the message that would have been sent if the signs the vets were holding DIDN'T say the predictably expected things such as "burn in hell you old coot" and "God hates bigots", but rather "we forgive you" and "God is Love"? Now I don't know about y'all, but the God I believe in LOVED us sinners SO much that he sent his one & only Son...as a sacrifice to atone for OUR sins. A God who BECAUSE of that sacrifice has FORGIVEN the sins of people that group likes to claim God "hates". In a way I feel sorry for the guy, because if HIS God is the spiteful, hate-filled God He was portrayed to be by that Kansas "church", judgment day likely won't be pleasant for him. When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, his response? To LOVE one another. He never came across as a very loving guy when he was leading his hate-filled protests. Just sayin'...

If you're going to grind a groove along the crack and weld it up yourself, don't forget to drill out the ends of the cracks. A small hole is all you need...you're just trying to make sure the crack is contained and won't come back. I welded up my housing a few years ago...didn't think to weld the saddle to the housing, though...not a bad idea. All I did was use the welder to build up that knob that positions the saddle on the housing. Don't even need a big welder...at the time all I had was a wire feed running .35 flux core wire and if I hadn't told you I'd done it, you'd never know it was ever cracked.

Who needs high beams? Only time mine are ever on is when I'm trying to tell the knucklehead coming at me to dim his. If you can't see at night, don't drive at night. Enough ranting for now, though. Make sure the wires are all intact. I had a marker light out...changed the bulb and it still didn't work. Turned out the wire was corroded and broken INSIDE the insulation, so it LOOKED good, despite not carrying power to the bulb. I didn't figure that out 'til I'd run another power wire up from a known good circuit and spliced into the wire not quite on the bulb side of the bad spot in the wire...at least then I knew the problem was in the last 6-8" before the bulb. Anyway, that's why I HATE electrical problems...can be anything, and you can't always see it.

If only I had $12,500...

Saw one today... "WE USE DUCT TAPE TO FIX THINGS / GOD USED NAILS"

...8 miles if I WASN'T pulling that trailer. I'm only expecting 4 to 5 per gallon with that thing behind me. Part of me thinks it'd be better to put a gooseneck ball and electric trailer brake controls on the Mack and take it...prolly get 6 to 7 easy both ways since it wouldn't know it was back there.

I understand trying to speed the process along, but when a "shortcut" has the potential to cause a lot of damage or risks injuring anyone, I see no good reason to take it. As far as caging the brakes while the truck is on its side, that makes no sense to me. If the truck's air system is still holding air, why cage the brakes at all? Run your red line to the truck's tank and keep the towed unit supplied that way. If there are ruptured air lines, with a deep enough socket and a pneumatic ratchet, it really doesn't take all that long to cage the brakes. Set the bolts in the chambers while you can get at 'em easy, then once you're hooked to it roll under there and spend the 5 seconds per chamber tightening the nut to release the spring brakes. Sure beats having to recover a truck that rolled off into the woods, or worse yet having to call your competition to come pick you back up off your side. Safety first.

I don't need donations...just gotta watch my wording since I don't have MC authority...can't charge for moving somebody else's freight, but there ain't no laws against "doing a favor for a friend" or "receiving a wedding gift". I just figured I'd throw it out there just in case.

Getting married in a couple months down in Texas, and will be pulling the 4-horse gooseneck behind the F250 down there. She's still got a colt, a few fence panels, water troughs, a hay dolly, etc. down there that I'll be hauling back after the wedding, but for the trip down so far it is empty. If you've got anything that needs moving from up thissaway on down yonder, let me know. I never realized how EXPENSIVE these weddings are...even for a CHEAP one! Of course it doesn't help that she wants it in Texas (10 hours away) and Texas with marriage licenses is like Illinois with pistols in that you've got to wait 72 hours (3 extra nights) and then get the marriage license back to the state after the ceremony (another extra night since they ain't there on Sunday). Anyway, the F250 is a thirsty beast, so if I can help you move anything that'll fit in the trailer and you can help me get to my own wedding, let me know.

Just toggle air dump switch as you drive...don't let it completely deflate (driveline angles & such) but keep it from fully airing up, too, as you want to make sure both axles are on the ground. That & locking in the power divider is about all I've ever needed to do to get around a site without too much trouble...

My advice to anyone starting out is to read that little green book. Know what is in it, and where to find what you might need. The way I see it, you gotta know the rules of the game before you can bend 'em in your favor, and as long as you are relying upon others to interpret the rules for you understand that their interpretation is going to be bent in THEIR favor. For example, how many cops are going to bring 396.7( to your attention after they pulled you over for that tire that just blew out a few miles back? As long as you aren't flinging rubber, it is safer to continue on to a safe place away from traffic to have a new tire put on rather than sit on the shoulder while traffic zips by at 70+ mph. But, if you don't KNOW about 396.7( , then you've got to take the officer at his word that it is illegal for you to be on the road with that blown out tire and he'll cite you for violating 392.7(a) for operating the CMV with a defective tire. Gotta know the rules or you're gonna get screwed. Companies will do the same...pressuring drivers to maximize their HOS, sometimes encouraging them to massage the rules to the carrier's benefit by not properly logging ALL on duty time as such...or harassing drivers who may still have a little time left to drive under the HOS who don't know that 392.3 is there to protect the driver by prohibiting driving when I'll or fatigued...whether the HOS rules say they have hours to drive or not. The carrier isn't going to tell you that if you are under the weather or tired that you can shut down...that freight is HOT and your e-log says you've got hours available to drive. Gotta know the rules before you can bend them to your favor.

A clean oak tree that big around and a trailer's length long like that is worth a pretty penny at the right mill...LOTS of board feet in that one for sure. It'd be a shame to just burn or bury it...such a waste.

Wow...that kid welding with no protection at all...no mask/goggles, no gloves...crazy, even for a 3rd world country. As for what the currency converts to:

...since ya gots a hole ta patch anyways, cut the hole a little bigger...square it off so you can patch it easier. Use a scrap piece of 2x4 and run it horizontally between the 2 studs so that the door stop is in front of a solid piece of wall. Patch the hole, and try again with the air horn...this time it'll have a solid backstop.

As a general rule, I will not go see my "regular" doctor for my DOT physical. I want to be able to discuss ANY health-related info with my doctor...and when I go in for my DOT physical it is short answers, need-to-know. The DOT physical isn't where you want to discuss issues which you might not realize COULD disqualify you or get you "approved" for less than the standard 2 years. Discuss those issues with your family doc, and then when you go to the other guy for the DOT physical you've never felt better in your life. Your livelihood may very well depend on it.

You mean to tell me that new gizmo you just bought didn't come with a track-puter-onner attachment? And here I thought it had EVERYTHING! Gotta go talk to the salesman and find out where that one is because it looks like it wouldda come in handy... Glad ya got'er put back together despite the lack of the attachment...

Don't know if it is an option or not, but could you find a closed cab on a semi tractor that needs restoration and swap cabs, offering up the open-cab body to someone who wants it for their own restoration project? I have't looked at too many old fire trucks to see if their cabs are part of the body or a separate unit. Hell, an open-cab semi tractor would be pretty neat in the summer...'specially since I don't have AC. Anyway, if it can be done, swapping out that way would probably give you the look you want without depleting the world of another increasingly rare cab type...