Firearms & Frozen Treats

I have been sick the past several days with a sore throat. I really wanted popsicles, but we didn't have any, so I had to make some Jell-O popsicles. That entry is from a little over a year ago. Anyway, I made strawberry banana ones with chunks of banana.

On the 12th my dad and I went to a shooting range with Patrick and his parents (my aunt and uncle). I've shot guns only a few times in my life. Although I very much hate the idea of hunting in this day and age, and am generally kind of weirded out by gun nuts, I am really quite interested in guns. Maybe it's the survivalist in me, but I think it's probably a good idea to know how to use a gun, just in case you ever need to use one. You never know when there's going to be a zombie outbreak, or when Skynet is going to attack, or when a group of cowboys or a biker gang is going to ride into town and start causing trouble.


I started with a .22 caliber rifle, which is the only gun I've ever shot in the past. I spent most of the time shooting .22 caliber and .357 caliber revolvers. I loved those. They made me feel like Doc Holliday or something. My dad kept saying I looked like Clint Eastwood. I was hesitant to shoot any of the semi-automatics, but I ended up shooting a 9mm Hi-Point, an AR-15, and an AK-47. I didn't really enjoy shooting the AR-15 or the AK-47 because of the recoil, but I actually liked the 9mm Hi-Point quite a bit. I wasn't a bad shot either. I was no Deadshot or Martin Riggs or anything, but I wasn't bad.

My aunt took some photos of us, but I haven't seen them yet. If and when I do, and if I like them, I'll post some here.

Disassociate The Art From The Artist

In response to finding out about the latest morally reprehensible actions Mel Gibson has been accused of, people have stated that they can no longer enjoy any of his movies. One person I know even suggested to her friends that they have a DVD burning in protest of Gibson's behavior.

The concept of a DVD burning is something I find offensive. There are obvious parallels to book burning, which, I was under the impression, was opposed by any person of intellect. I know it's a very common technique in arguments and debates for ignorant people to compare other people to Adolf Hitler or the Nazis, but the parallel actually exists here, doesn't it? It seems to be very common in dystopian literature and films for the oppressive rulers of society to burn books. How can any intelligent person think it's a good idea? In my mind, DVD burning is exactly the same as book burning, if you subtract the romanticism of book burning.

The notion of no longer being able to enjoy Mel Gibson's movies is ridiculous to me, especially considering that, in my opinion, Braveheart is one of the best movies ever made. When talking to this aforementioned person I know, trying to convince her to disassociate the art from the artist, I referenced Phil Spector. Phil Spector was a record producer and songwriter before he was found guilty of the murder of actress Lana Clarkson. I said that even though Phil Spector was convicted of murder, I am very inspired by his recordings. I realize this reference of him might have been lost on this person I know because she might not be aware of what recordings Phil Spector produced or co-wrote. I can guarantee she enjoys at least some of them though, because who the hell doesn't?

If you can no longer enjoy Mel Gibson's movies because of the morally reprehensible things he's done, then I don't see how you could enjoy the recordings of songs produced or written by a man convicted of murder either. That being said, here's a short list of some songs you can no longer enjoy:

You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' by The Righteous Brothers

Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers

Be My Baby by The Ronettes

Try Some, Buy Some by Ronnie Spector

Then He Kissed Me by The Crystals

(Today I Met) The Boy I’m Gonna Marry by Darlene Love

Imagine by John Lennon

Let It Be by The Beatles

Across The Universe by The Beatles