What Did You Do On National Margarita Day, Daddy?

Like yesterday...I luckily was in Santa Fe yesterday and able to go to the Great Mother Church of Margaritas, Maria's New Mexican Kitchen, to bend a knee (and an elbow) at the Source...I opted to order one of their hi-zoot marts made with El Tesoro's amazing aged Anejo, Grand Marnier and lemon juice. Sigh...nothing less than wonderful! My Sweetie chose another path, El Tesora Platinum with 1/2 Cointreau and 1/2 Grand Marnier and lemon juice. She said it may be the best margarita she's every tasted...that sets a really high bar for me!

Take a few minutes to read David Codrea's blazing take-down of Bloomberg flack Paul Barrett's simpering piece on changing the Second Amendment, quoting an aging Justice John Paul Stevens:

Interesting, which side “hero of the political left” Stevens and the hired man tending the Bloomberg machine come down on, is it not? And regardless of shameful cases of convenience prosecuted and decided to perpetuate discrimination and victimization of black Americans (just like the shameful cases that declared segregation legal), it’s not like the legal minds of the time weren’t aware that the Second Amendment was not merely a restraint on the national government.

I bring this up because for a while Paul Barrett was a bit of a darling among some people who should know better after his book on Glock, which I and Mark Keefe at American Rifleman refused to review.  Barrett occasionally has some decent insights into the firearms business, but he is Bloomberg's boy through and through, with everything that implies.

On a different note, Hamilton Yam at Modern Service Weapons did an excellent article on modern training and trainers and choosing the same:

As a consumer, recognize who has what to offer, and go to the correct people for it. Know exactly what you are looking to receive, and be a smart shopper. If you were offended by this article, then perhaps you need to do some introspection.

Read the whole thing. There's an interesting new blog from a newcomer, Matt, outlining his preparations for his first African safari. I have to say he's a lot more focused than I was last year!

Finally, read...then reread...this piece on the tactics of the Ukrainian freedom fighters:

But to understand why the protests succeeded in toppling Yanukovych, it’s worth taking a glance at its strategies and military-style tactics. The protesters not only built a broad and inclusive coalition, but innovated where it mattered most: on the streets.

Important reading...