Off Topic Watch Out for the Hippie with a Gun!

[Manfloozy]

I just had to share a story with you all.

Today I stopped for the mail on the way home... and amongst the plethora of junk was an envelope from the NRA. So I think to myself "is that from THE NRA".... i.e. National Rifle Association... and sure as sh#t it is. Second I think... "that must be for a neighbor" (I do live in rural Tennessee...) ... nope its my name on the letter... spelled right and everything.

Now why, you ask is this in any way amusing or pertinent to life in general. I do live in Nowheresville, Heartland, Turns Red on the Map on Election Day in Minutes, "Get Off My Land" Tennessee (not that there is anything wrong with any of that)... but mailings from the NRA are probably pretty common place in my Zip code, and NOT out of the ordinary... until today.

Why, because I am known at work by my team as "the Blind Hippie." No they are not taking poetic liberties... no I didn't run in to something while intoxicated during a party with a tie-dyed shirt on.... nay I say... I really am a blind...somewhat outspoken pacifist, with long hair and a general "love thy neighbor (don't shoot them)" mentality... and you guessed it I've never fired a gun in my life! So to say the least, I'm not really their demographic...

And those who have made it this far... and are still wondering what this has to do with basses AT ALL... just look at the back of your Stingray's neck.... Oil and Wax... Gunstock Oil and Wax. So while Charlton Heston (RIP) is hoping to get another card caring member, in reality all that my recent Cabella's order went to was to take loving care of an instrument of peace, creativity and music. HAHAHA... there is subtle irony in the whole thing!

</Rant>

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I wouldn't be pleased with Cabella's for having "shared" my information with the NRA.

 

[koogie2k]

hahaha...funny. I am a card carrying member of the NRA, but, to each his own and I respect that. Cool story bro and I really did enjoy it. Not sure why...but...I found humor in it and sense you to be a cool dude who tries to see life's positive side instead of the negative. Nothing wrong with that at all. Thanks for sharing.

 

[bovinehost]

The NRA is just another way of getting you to buy insurance.

But let's be careful and not get political, please.

 

[Big Poppa]

I had no idea you were blind....

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

It's funny where you find stuff for music related things. I ended finding some adhesive copper sheets (for shielding a pickguard) at a glass stain store once. Apparently I wasn't the only one that came looking for it there for that purpose.

 

[Manfloozy]

To clarify... I have absolutely nothing against the NRA or those who choose to own guns. I am just basically the last person on Earth the NRA is probably expected on their mailing list. Its kinda like running... I don't "run"... if you see me running.. follow... because there -IS- something chasing me that is most likely hungry and doesn't mind their "human" extra-rare.

Me with a gun is a bad idea... But keep in mind EVERY person on my team at work owns at least one gun. I just love the little ironys of life, and this was perhaps the largest "fail" of direct marketing history. It made me smile though.

BP, I still have limited sight, just legally blind. I basically only have one of the two types of nerve endings on the retina. Everybody's got something to overcome... I consider myself very lucky, it is non-degenerative, and there are so many other things out there that need far greater attention. My daughter was born at 26 weeks and is three now, perfectly healthy thank God because of ongoing research supported by organizations like the March of Dimes... what your family went through with Casey and what you support through the CLBF... these are examples of things that deserve real attention., among many many more.

If you are curious here is the best description on the internet of my condition WHAT IS ACHROMATOPSIA?

 

[strummer]

Matt, I had no idea you were blind, even "legally" blind, it puts a whole new perspective on things for sure.

 

[Caca de Kick]

I guess that's why he keeps buying fretlesses....

 

[MadMatt]

Great story Matt! I'm a bit surprised to hear about your condition. I think its great that you can see the humorous side of things.

I used to spend a lot of time out in fields in the middle of the night peering though a telescope at distant, faint fuzzy objects (Before you ask, No women and windows involved here ). I used to build my own telescopes and once ordered a red dot gun sight to put on one of my light buckets. Yup, you guessed it.. I got a letter from the NRA

The Data privacy laws here in Germany might be a pain sometimes if you are in the cloud computing industry like I am but its stories like yours that make me aware of there advantages.

-Matt (the loony one)

 

[oli@bass]

For a "blind hippie", you have an amazing feel for visually appealing instruments!!

 

[Powman]

Hey Manfloozy...we should jam together and see what kind of sound comes out! Blind bass player (you) + Deaf bass player (me) = Interesting Sonic Soup!

 

[danny-79]

Had a similar kind of thing when i was trying to buy some gun stock oil and wax, I was going into different sporting shops / gun stores etc an the minute i open my mouth to ask the sales person for it (you could see the look on there face) , (what does an English man want with gun stock oil and wax ????) its for a guitar neck honest !! " No sorry haven't got any, shop closed etc..."
I ended up mail ordering it .....

 

[JayDawg]

Cabella's sens me stuff all the time because I have purchased firearms from them but I am not opposed to anyone who does not want a gun. With me personally, I own firearms for several reason. Fist, I enjoy shooting as a hobby. It is kind of neat to test my skills with hitting a target from a long ways away or setting up a difficult shot.

Next, I work as a Corrections Officer for the largest prison in Colorado. As a Corrections Officer, I am also armed transport certified which requires me to carry a firearm if we transport an offender out of the facility due to us either transferring him to a different facility, taking him to court, or to the hospital. Many of our offenders are the worst of the worst and are very high profile cases. It is my hope that I will never need to use my firearm in the line of duty but at the same time, it is my sworn duty to protect the public so if the situation should ever arise, I want to be as accurate a shot as I can but in order to do so, it requires me to shoot my firearms as often as possible to keep my skills sharp.

Finally, I have had 2 occasions where an individual has broken into my house where it was only myself and my Mom at home alone. On the first occasion I was very young and only had a BB gun to protect us. When the guy came through the door, the door chain caught and I shot the guy at point blank range in the face with the BB gun. He ran off screaming and it did the trick. The next time was when I was around 13 but fortunately, my neighbor across the street was a San Diego Police Offcier and he had just gotten off of work. He was still in uniform and observed the guy go into our garage to then go into our house. He came running outside and drew his firearm on the guy and had him prone out. I came out side a few seconds later as my neighbor was handcuffing the guy. The local police arrived shortly and took the guy to jail. I now have 4 kids of my own, a wife and my concern is their safety. Due to my job, it is not beyond reasonable doubt that a former offender or family or friend of an offender could find out where we live and try and do something. My wifes ex husband also has a restraining order against him because he has threatened harm to her and has made threats to kidnap our children. Again, while I would hope that I would never be put in a situation where I would need to shoot someone who is breaking into my house or posing as a threat to my family, I would not hesitate to do so to protect my family. I have already been in that situation before and it is no fun. I love the saying that says, "It's better to have something and never need it then to need something and not have it."

Again though if a person is opposed to owning a firearm or has a different view because they feel they could not do something like that, I would never bash them for that. We are all created with different personalities and that is okay.

 

[bovinehost]

I think it's fair to say that Koogs and I share some common history and yet have ended up on relatively opposite ends of the spectrum. (He might argue that we have not.) While I am - or was - a thrice certified "High Risk Marksmanship" rangemaster and do maintain my skills as best I can, I'm not exactly what you'd call a gun nut. I can't anymore quote you muzzle velocity and weight and so on regarding any given military firearm. I saw them and still see them as tools, not quite as sexy as, say, basses.

I respect those who take the time to become proficient. I respect those who carry firearms due to professional requirements. Mostly, though, I like basses.

Here endeth the lesson.

 

[JayDawg]

bovinehost's,

I do have to admit the temptation has been there to sell off a firearm or two in order to buy some more Music Man basses. I keep all of the different basses that everyone has and it makes me want more...

 

[sitonmybass]

Mostly, though, I like basses.

Here endeth the lesson.

Hey, Jack!

Wasn't it you who coined the phrase "point and shoot" when referring to single H model EBMM basses?

I'm just sayin' (askin')...

 

[oli@bass]

"It's better to have something and never need it then to need something and not have it."

Which sort of applies to my EBMM collection...

 

[bovinehost]

Wasn't it you who coined the phrase "point and shoot" when referring to single H model EBMM basses?

It may have been me. And I might have been thinking of cameras, too. Much more likely I was thinking of cameras, really.

 

[five7]

bovinehost's,

I do have to admit the temptation has been there to sell off a firearm or two in order to buy some more Music Man basses. I keep all of the different basses that everyone has and it makes me want more...

I know the feeling, too many guns and not enough basses!