I wanted to try making multi track videos again. Song is Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee instruments used three sizes of recorders, b flat trumpet, c trumpet, flugelhorn, marching French horn, euphonium and a melodica.

As most of you know I am a firearms instructor. Talking about guns and ammo and personal defense is something I enjoy. The topic just never took root in our previous venue, but maybe that was because of the very young international membership. Here, though it seems a lively discussion has already started in a completely unrelated thread. Shall we continue here, gentlemen? The debate on what is the "best" caliber for self-defense has been ongoing since there have been firearms. As technology has change so have the arguments for or against different calibers, gun makes and models. At one time, when almost all bullets were either solid lead or a full-metal jacket, FMJ, over a lead core, size did matter. With FMJ the size and velocity of the bullet made a difference to the terminal effects on the target. A large hole was better than a small hole. Higher velocities produced better terminal performance. With modern bullet design the profile of the bullet, e.g. full-metal jacket (FMJ), jacketed hollow point (JHP), jacketed soft point (JSP), round-nose lead (RN), solid, polymer-tipped hollow point (PHP), and many others is more important than the caliber/diameter of the projectile. Modern handgun ammunition that is designed for self-defense is all designed to produce similar terminal performance on the target/bad guy. .45 ACP, 10mm Auto, .40 S&W, 9mm NATO, .357 Mag, and .38 Special S&W are designed to expand to about .60 caliber, penetrate 10"-14" into the body, and dump all of their energy into the target without passing through the target. While the energy dump into the target will vary, the terminal performance is similar enough that choosing a .45 or .40 over a 9mm doesn't make much difference. The 10mm Auto and the .357 Mag are outliers in that they are designed to be overly powerful. Lots of power, not as easy to control. Pistols in .380 ACP, aka 9x17 in Europe are suitable for self-defense but are not part of this discussion. For me, the difference is in magazine capacity. Using full-size Glock pistols as a baseline, I offer the following.

Supposedly there is a Peace Plan in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas. After my experience in the Gulf War talking to Arabs, there will never be peace in the Middle East. There never has and there never will be. The Israelis and Hamas hate each other so much and they want to destroy each other. That is their purpose in life. You can never trust or believe anything Hamas does.

On one level, questioning our existence is to question our Creator. I don't poke that Bear. If Mother Nature has a consciousness, is the hot temperatures payback for us complaining about the cold for so long? I'm certain there's a Master Plan. How I/we fit into the Plan has always been a mystery to me. When something or anything is beyond my control, I don't bother with drama. My life has been easier that way. For those that may not believe in Creation, Who caused the big bang? Who Created the Aliens responsible for the pyramids etc? Relax, Do, Die. Preferably in that order. Thanks

In the low 40s this morning in Wisconsin. I've been itching to haul out the tweed. Herringbone Harris Tweed jacket and a Robert Talbott English print ancient madder tie, Brooks Brothers pocket square, my grandfather's Kennegal Tweed overcoat from tje early 1950s . Most importantly, our beloved Society lapel pin. Tweedgasm Tuesday