Current Events

From the Desk of John Rourke – January 4th, 2017

11
Share

 

A few days and the 2017 Gold’s Challenge begins. This is a contest to see who can have the largest transformation in health and fitness. I truly believe I can compete regionally if I stick to my diet plan and workouts.

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Chicago records 762 killings in 2017 – up 57%. This in a strict gun control region. There are certainly issues in Chicago and it is not as simple as removing the gun control restrictions to fix everything. There is a culture of violence and crime in Chicago that will take years with the right leadership to improve.

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Alex Jones – who I have a love-hate relationship with – is now on the bandwagon that Obama is planning something to stop Trump from taking office.  It’s these types of news stories and predictions that end up going unrealized that is frustrating. His followers seem to quickly forget as well.

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

I’m really wanting to try out stippling. Stippling is generally the use of a soldering iron to burn small dimples/lines or some other pattern into polymer gun parts including grips and magazines. The reason for doing this is to improve the grip on these items. I have picked up a few custom stippled guns and was really impressed.

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Something for you……..image of the inside of my new gun cabinet.

1776patriotusa-1483324548289

 

You might also like

11 Comments

  1. Patriot Believer says:

    All right then, the challenge is on. As an active duty USAF CCT, I did triathlon for 17 years. 6 min miles for 6 miles, 50 sec 100 meter times in the pool, 385 on my bench (never made 4 plates on each end), able to climb a rope legless a dozen times or more in a row etc.

    Then came retirement in 2001.

    Now, desk driving engineering work (degree took 12 years to complete) for the same USAF and creeping weight gain with age. Work in the field still there but only as a percentage of desk time. Knowledge and experience to teach kept sharp but…

    I’m not done.

    In short, it’s time to get serious again about fitness. It’s more important than any other prep. But, let’s not make this about being perty my friend.

    Performance. Balance between being able to run 5 miles and yet able to act powerfully when you get there.

    I’m with you on the stippling. I have the means but have been afraid to try it because it seems to center on the tacticool crowd.

    Then I handled one that had the treatment. OK, i’m in. Just need to pick a weapon.

    Reply
    1. JR says:

      Thanks for sharing PB. Awesome numbers. My own times were no where near those. I almost broke 7 minutes for a mile….for one mile. I have done several legless rope climbs in a row – benched 285. All I could not do now – too much relaxing.

      Your right about performance and that is what I liked about Crossfit when I did it a couple years ago. No doubt the best shape of my life – fitness-wise – was during Crossfit years.

      I’m approaching this 12 week competition more concentrating on fat loss and getting my muscles back to the feel of rigorous workouts. It’s been 9 months since I have worked out CONSTANTLY and SERIOUSLY. I can get back on it but age certainly makes a difference and I hate it.

      Stippling will start on a couple of PMAG’s. Will I every try it on a gun? Maybe we’ll see.

      Reply
  3. Oren says:

    Good luck on the Gold’s Challenge John.

    If you go back on the stories in the LS Media, you’ll see where there was a comment or request for federal troops in Chicago to “help” quell the violence. Typical. The democrats have so screwed it up in the city that it is out of control in about 5 precincts. And now, as usual, the democrats feel that the federal government should step in and save them. If you remember the Rodney King riots of 1992 in Los Angeles, perhaps you will remember what the police chief of the time, Daryl Gates had to say. He stated that there were roughly 120,000 known gang members in the LA basin. And that the only way to have peace in the city was to eradicate the gangs. Seems that Chicago has a similar problem.

    Reply
  4. CaptTurbo says:

    They need to do a better job there in “Chiraq”. Maybe if they teach those thugs to shoot better we could get those numbers up?
    Of course taking the boot off the honest citizens would make the violent crime rate plunge just as it has everywhere else it has been done.Liberalism is a mental disorder that brings poverty and violence wherever it is found.

    Reply
  6. goingray58 says:

    Chicago is a failed test.. plain ans simple, party affiliation notwithstanding. I am sure they would prefer that the policies be national so it would get better. Fortunately that won’t happen.. nor can it be attempted soon.. though I am sure it will come up. I’m not sure federal control of Chicago is a good idea though… Holding them accountable and removing the officials responsible and having elections might help. The state could use it’s national guard legally of course if asked for by their governor. It’s a state issue, not Federal and they should fix it. Didn’t we run for reduced Federal control ? what did I miss ? or are both the red and blue party both simply purple.

    On fitness. Everyone can be more fit and more healthy. As with most years, the gym is overflowing with new resolutions. 30 – 60 days it’ll ease up some. Long term fitness and health is a lifestyle and not just an immediate goal or project. Starting certainly is though. Start, don’t stop, learn and get better. From what I remember here, we have quite a variety of ages, physical abilities and medical considerations. We can all do something, just don’t cut yourself short. I don’t know a situation that cannot be made better by exercise and good nutrition.

    What are our goals ?
    Mine are to be fit enough to do whatever I want or need to physically within the limits of my preps. I recently spent some time in the woods with younger guys, and never got tired walking and doing tactical stuff. They wanted a motor attached to everything.
    I actually stepped in a hole and fell straight down all the way to my hip (one legged). Outside of a some shared chuckles and a few choice words, it was all good.. no medical necessary and no gimping around..

    Honestly when spring hits and planting happens it tests me harder than several days in the woods. I’m a spring chicken, and get tired sooner than 20 something, but mostly all I need is sleep to fix it. Anyway those types of things needed to be self sufficient are what my fitness and health goals are for. The fewer regular meds we need the better off we are. Older is harder to improve, but not impossible.

    The most important competition is against myself, because I can talk myself into or out of just about anything if I really want to. Rationalization, justification, call it whatever..
    I have a penciled in an 11th Commandment “Thou Shalt Not Kid Thyself”. For me realistic achievable goals and accountability for “ME” are a huge deal. Failure and Success both feed themselves. The one you feed most gets stronger.

    Good luck to everyone on their goals!! Be deliberate.
    GG58

    Reply
  7. JBernDrApt says:

    Good luck with the Golds challenge! As for Chicago, I wonder where Mrs O’Leary’s cow is???thanks for posting your gun cabinet I can show it to the wife and tell her I need to catch up. Lol
    – Keep Looking UP

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *