Tag Archives: Perrin Lovett

My 2001 Comments on Guns, Airliners, and 9/11

13 Tuesday Sep 2016

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Sunday was the fifteenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Two months after those attacks I went to D.C. for the annual Federalist Society National Lawyer’s Convention. It was my first real exposure to real power. They also featured a frequently open bar.

It was either Thursday, November 15th or Friday the 16th. Let’s say it was the 16th. A few hours before Ted Olson gave the inaugural speech in honor of his wife Barbara (deceased on 9/11/2001 on American Airlines flight 77), the Fed-Soc hosted several luncheon mini-seminars. Everything was at the Mayflower.

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The Mayflower, Washington.

I cannot recall which group I stumbled into nor what I had for lunch. We’ll just say Administrative Law & Regulation: Aviation Security with Tara Branum of Fulbright & Jaworski. And chicken – always a safe choice.

Of course, given that year’s main event the subjects of terrorism and hijackings dominated the discussion. Two days earlier I had flown into Reagan National under very tight security. Washington proper looked like an armed camp – fences, soldiers, Humvees – the whole nine yards.

Much of the talk centered on increased security. That and there was a debate over profiling Muslims at airports. I remember thinking, wondering how 19 savages with only box-cutters could have pulled off what they did. (At the time I had not considered outside and inside assistance). Also, most of the commentary then and there seemed irksome to me. I grew incredulous.

Finally, I raised my hand and was given the floor. Thus began my habit of making profound if off-beat comments at Society functions. Note: the “red wine incident” later that night does not count … what I recall of it…

I began by rhetorically asking the crowd exactly how such a tragedy could have happened in America of all places. I noted that we were (were especially now – past tense) a strong people. We had the Second Amendment. We had guns and lots of them. We carried them. Except, since the 1970s we were prohibited from carrying them on commercial airliners. That was where I found fault. I still do in spite of everything else odd about 9/11.

Americans, I said, had become conditioned to do nothing in such circumstances. “Just let the hijacker take the plane where he wants. Give him some money. We’ll be fine. The police will handle it.” Bull. One Monday morning turned all that malarkey on its head.

I said, sarcastically but firmly, that the headlines that day should have read: “Nineteen Hijackers Shot Dead.” That’s what should have happened and little more. The following cartoon could have been my visual exhibit:

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Scott Bleser, 2001.

An armed America could send its people onto any plane without worry of attack because they could defend themselves. Thus, gun control helped facilitate 9/11. And gun freedom will go a long way towards making sure it never happens again.

Most of the people at lunch that day nodded along (some with alarm at the prospect). Then there was nothing. Many in attendance made their livings off of regulations and laws. Laws are good for that and little more – certainly not good for freedom and security. My comments essentially died right there.

Fifteen years later and we still have the same gun control on planes. And we have a much less freedom-friendly society in general. Once clear of intrusive yet useless airport security and in the absence of an Air Marshal (frequently missing) passengers are still sitting ducks. My money says they will act the part too.

Passivity in the face of danger rarely works out well. Gun control never does. Remember that the next time they tell you disarmament is for your own good. Blame it on me if you have to.

Blue Tarp Village: My Recollection of the Great Dunwoody Tornado of 1998

13 Tuesday Sep 2016

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Yesterday I wrote a commissioned piece about surviving tornadoes. I suppose it will get published this week or next – no link as of yet. I survived a tornado and I briefly included my experience in the story. Here, in greater detail, is what I remember.

It was the late evening of Wednesday, April 8, 1998. I lived in Dunwoody, just outside Atlanta. I was returning from a date with a pretty girl in neighboring Gwinnett County. I was rather happy, blissful even, otherwise I might have heeded the weather. There was nothing wrong per se but I should have noticed the strange signs of a storm approaching.

The sky as I recall was an electric neon color. The night sky in any big city has an artificial glow but this one was different. There was an odd pink/purple hazy too it. There was also a strange, near ominous feeling in the air. That I take was the barometric pressure. I paid no attention at all and drove on.

I got home around midnight. Being young and all that I decided to stay up late (as usual) so I cracked a beer and settled in for a little Idiot-vision. It was beginning to rain at that point – hard. Then the power went off. I took that as my cue to go to bed.

I lived in an upscale mid-rise apartment complex just north of I-285. My bedroom had a huge picture-window which looked out upon a small alley, across to a line of younger pine trees, and then beyond to a fire station. Beyond the fire station was a home for invalids and then a nice, large residential neighborhood.

As I lay there trying to fall asleep I did take note of the driving rain and the wind, which was beginning to howl. However, it was the lightning that got me up. It was constant like a strobe-light. The thunder melded together into a nearly solid roar – yes, like an approaching train. I ventured to the window.

Looking out, through a gray wall of horizontal, swirling rain, I saw the line of trees bent over at almost a right angle. Everything was well illuminated by the lightning flashes. Erie, I thought.

Putting these things – the wind, the lightening, the roar – together I should have immediately descended into the concrete underground garage below my apartment. Yet being young, stupid, blissful, and tired I merely went back to bed. I put a pillow over my eyes to block the flashes. So it was that I slept (rather well) through the Great Dunwoody Tornado of 1998.

I woke up on time and everything seemed well. The power was still out so I skipped coffee and took a cold shower in the dark. I dressed for work and headed out. Outside there were signs of a bad storm all over the place – tree limbs, leaves, shingles, trash everywhere. I STILL thought nothing of it.

It was only when I got to the complex entrance and found it blocked by the fire department and the National Guard that I realized something was wrong. They were in the street and were busy setting up tents and command posts across the way in a school parking lot.

I asked a police officer on site what had happened. He said a tornado passed through the nice, large residential neighborhood. Things were very bad. All the streets were blocked for about half a mile and I wasn’t going anywhere that morning. The power was out in a considerable portion of the city. Worse, or luckily, the storm had passed within 500 – 1,000 feet of my alley window and I was lucky to be alive.

The phones were out too. Even my ancient, analog cellphone was of no use as several towers were collapsed in the night. I found a pay phone that did work. I called my boss. No answer. I called my boss’s boss. No answer. I called the president of the company. He was thrilled to hear I was alive. No-one it seemed would be working that Thursday. I called my dad and said, “I’m okay.” 150 miles away he wasn’t sure what I was talking about.

With nothing to do I went home and mulled about in the dark. The power was off all day. Eventually I ventured out again. A few of us banded together and decided to go walking to see how bad it was. My neighbor a few doors down was a police officer. His uniform got us a bit further than we might otherwise been permitted.

The scene was shocking. Our place, the school, the fire house, the invalid home, and the neighborhood park had all sustained minor damage. Trees were down all over. But the houses in the neighborhood were in terrible shape – the ones that were still standing.

It looked like a war zone. Trees lay on or in houses. Roofs were missing. Debris was everywhere. As we walked and talked with survivors and rescue workers we learned that a man had died. He was in bed when a tree fell through the roof and crushed him in his sleep. I think someone else also died nearby. Very few others were injured. That’s a miracle considering the devastation.

I got a much better look a few days later. I flew over the area in my (rented) Cessna 172 out of PDK. The strong EF2 had been about a mile wide. It cut straight through town making a giant rough swath of destruction as far as the eye could see – even from 3,000 feet.

By then insurance adjusters, GEMA, FEMA, and some contractors had been out. *I learned from this – as an aside – to never trust FEMA.* Maybe a thousand homes had been hit. Many were sporting blue plastic tarps on their roofs. The Neighborhood was called Fontainebleau. I renamed it Blue Tarp Village.

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BTV before the tarps went on. NWS.

That episode was nearly 20 years ago. Time flies by like pine trees in a storm. I had mostly forgotten the event until I wrote that other article. I don’t care to ever relive such a story. But I did live through it.

If you find yourself in a similar situation late one night don’t put a pillow over your head. That’s not taking adequate cover. Pay attention to warning signs. There will be plenty of them and they are quite obvious. If not, well, I hope your date was that blissful too.

The Fall of the House of Ale

07 Wednesday Sep 2016

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I used to consume a generous quantity of ale. And porters, stouts, Scotch, and rum. They gave me my own little storage section at the liquor store. That was 80 pounds and a lot of stress ago. The fact is I do not drink like I used to. I’m not against drinking. Some of my best posts were conceived over alcohol. I’m having one beer right now. I just don’t need it that much. And I cannot under any circumstances handle it like I used to.

Somewhere in those lost pounds went my inebriation reserve. Fat Perrin = good all night for any number of any drinks. Fit Perrin = 2 good beers and fast asleep. Dear Lord, I hope it’s the pounds and not the age thing.

Anyway, where was I going with this? Ah, yes. I was thinking of those wonderful seasonal ales that come out this time of year. First they start with the pumpkins. So many pumpkins – shandys, ales, ciders, you name it. Then come the deep, dark and delicious stouts and porters of the holiday season.

This evening being what it is, I got a hankering for some of those tastes of the season. I’m a week or two early but the heck with it. Then I started thinking about re-posting an old article on autumn ales or seasonal ales. Then I rudely discovered I had never made one. This was perplexing even for the sober.

I know I talked about them. I remember a Christmas ales post. But I wanted autumn seasonal. Hmmm.

The closest I have is a list of fun fall activities from last year. This one:

Happy first day of fall!

From today until the end of December is my favorite time of year.  I’ve heard more than a few of you agree from time to time.  Here is a short list of things that makes the fall incredible:

  1. Cooler weather.  Down South it’s nice not to sweat as much.
  2. Scenery.  How great is it to take a drive or a hike and look at the colorful fall foliage?
  3. Football.  In person, on TV or on the radio.
  4. Fall brews.  Oktoberfests.  Pumpkin this.  Spice that.  Christmas ales around the corner.
  5. Fall cigars.  Beyond a few (Oktoberfest by Quesada) maybe there aren’t too many fall specific sticks.  But, try combining No. 5 here with No. 4 and No. 8 one evening – you’re welcome.
  6. Hunting.  I don’t get out as often as I used to or much as I should but I never regret waiting in a blind or walking in the woods.  Fall can also be a great fishing season (stripers anyone?).  The proceeds of this entry go well with No. 4.
  7. Sleeping with the windows open.  See also: driving windows down.  Give the AC a rest.
  8. Sitting by a fire.  Outside.  With a beer.  In that cool weather.  Ahhh…
  9. Holidays.  Brings out the kid in all … most … of us.
  10. Raking leaves.  Maybe not as much as the others…

I’m sure you can think of many more to add.

Cheers!

See, number four was “fall beers”. That’s not quite what I had in mind but it will have to do for now.

And some pictures. Here ya go:

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I have never had this one before. As I said, they always start pumpkinish this time of year.

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Now, Founder’s I know. This one used to be semi-seasonal though I think it has gone year-round. Still a great brew. And a tad stronger than the pumpkin stuff.

Yeah. If you’ve made it this far, this is kind of a weak one… Maybe this isn’t just some fancy. Maybe it will lead to a recommendation guide of sorts. Knowing me, you mat expect that around Autumn, 2019.

Cheers!

The 700 Club

01 Thursday Sep 2016

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This post has nothing to do with Pat Robertson except for success. Robertson’s show is a huge, long-term hit. The blog still pales in comparison but I’m getting there. We, rather, are getting there. This is post number 700! Thank you all.

WordPress.

I’d like to give a special welcome to my new subscribers and visitors. Hello! Thanks for joining the party. From time to time I take a post like this one to note where the show is going.

I also track trends. Right now just about everything is trending upwards. In addition to 700 articles I have maintained at least a post per day for 12 weeks in a row now – 18 weeks with a few brief interruptions. Longtime followers know I had an early habit of taking time off – looong periods. No more. I’m on a roll.

I look at where traffic comes from. For a short time in the not-to-distant past I paid for a little (very little) advertising. It was worth it but is no longer remotely necessary. I get traffic from Facebook and LinkedIn. Many of my new friends from Freedom Prepper are stopping by. And, I am finally noticing increased numbers straight from web searches. Four years of plugging away and a little SEO operation have gone a long way.

Last month saw a massive uptick in hits. August 2016 was, by far, my busiest month ever. Even now – even early this morning – I was able to extrapolate that September will be even busier. Over last year and previous falls it may be an order of magnitude.

Until recently I had in my mind a cutoff number for what I considered a good day. It now seems sadly antiquated, an embarrassment even. Lately, I’ve been hitting it by early morning. I may have to adjust my expectations, substituting what used to be an average week for what makes a “good” day.

I even “helped” a new blog into existence. Check it out sometime.

I still get asked if I plan to “monetize” the blog. Outright, no I do not. I’m still mid-level in the WordPress plan world. Soon I will go full pro which will allow me commercial control. Honestly, I hate gimmicky ads all over a page. And the people who run the ad programs tend to shy away from my brand of … ideology.

If I do allow any advertisement here it will be targeted and directly linked to the source. That will probably mean firearms and cigars. We’ll see. Of course, I will continue to sell books. More of those and many related items are coming hard and fast. Ready those credit cards please.

And please keep coming back. I have some changes in mind. I think they will help the overall flow here.

Thank you so much and please stand by for number 701!

-Perrin

PS: Other numbers. I still have about 50 drafts cooking. Hmmmm.

PPS: More numbers. My thrilling success here has carried over to the physical world. It helped pull me out of an exercise rut. Thanks for that too! I will never bench press 500 pounds. Not without steroids or bionic modification.Not going to happen. I did however hit 365 lbs – today – twice (2 consecutive reps) – unassisted. That’s 207.4% of what I weigh. Not bad for an old crazy man.

Advice for Writing and Publishing

29 Monday Aug 2016

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A talented friend asked me how I do the crazy things I do. This was going to be an email to him. However, I thought it better to share with everyone. I suppose I can give this now. Sometimes its easier to give it than to live it. Do as I say!

Here are a few ideas:

Start a Blog

I use and recommend WordPress.WP allows for easy and professional startups. The base level is absolutely free. I pay a nominal fee to keep the “wordpress.” out of my page name and a few other perks. Next I will step up to the expensive level. Start small – and cheap. Just get started. There are other free hosts out there too.

Social Media

From WP you can link your posts to Facebook, Twitter, etc. This will help generate traffic and maybe build some new friends. Don’t forget LinkedIn.

Email List

They say for real on-line success one needs an email list – a go to group of dedicated followers. I spent a lot of time building mine this summer. I took it from about 20 people to almost 1,000. Sadly, I have not tested the system out. I will. I use Gmail which is okay for one to one emails. For a list there are vastly better options – MailChimp, Aweber, etc. Those cost money. Keep it simple (and free) to start.

Publishing

My friend has a wealth of historical knowledge he would like to share. There’s no reason he shouldn’t get paid to do it. One sure-fire way to do that is to publish a book:

Createspace

Createspace is Amazon’s professional publishing wing. Account setup is free and relatively easy. Converting, editing, and formatting everything takes a little work. However, the services are free and one can then directly upload to Amazon. These are books “available on demand”. Someone sees it, orders it and pays for it and CS prints a copy and mails it out. They also have other formats which I have not experimented with – audio, video, etc. For a fee they also have editing and design services.

You can make a book like this:

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This is the way of the future – self publishing and Amazon. A few more years and traditional publishers and bookstores won’t exist. They are committing suicide.

CS is also a stepping stone to:

Kindle

Once one has a manuscript ready it can be converted to Kindle for ebook publishing and sale. This is not necessarily easy. I have one book in Kindle and the format is horrible. Worse, I have never gone back and fixed it yet. Learning curve here. One can also pay to have the formatting done. Otherwise the system is free. There are books available on the subject. I suggest reading them.

Amazon Tools

Once one has a book out, odds are people are going to find it on Amazon. Remember to set up an Author Page with links to your Blog posts.

PDF

There is a super easy way to make an ebook. Just convert a Word, WordPerfect, or Docs text to PDF and link it to your blog or email it. Freebies build business although it is possible to offer these for sale.

PayPal

Set up an account and use it to receive payments for the PDFs and other services offered until you can afford a real e-commerce system. Amazon and Kindle offer direct deposit for their sales of your work. PayPal also comes in handy for freelancing (see below).

Some Writing Resources

These are in no particular order and there are so many out there:

James Altucher offers a wealth of publishing tips and other inspiration. Read this.

The Write Life. All kinds of advice for all sorts of things.

That will do for now. If you have an idea or a question, don’t forget the Google.

Freelance Ideas

Independent contract work can be a great way to build business and make money. Many of these jobs can be found just by looking around. Then there are “content mills”. The mills are marketplaces where people look for work and companies look for talent. I list three of them below. I can’t really recommend using them because so much of what is offered is pure crap. However, the gems are out there. It’s just a matter of finding them.

As for my friend or really anyone, I would recommend searching hard within the author’s niche. I’ve stumbled into some great projects that fit my crazed topics and style. One might as well be happy when working.

Jobs for Bloggers

This is just a board published by ProBlogger. No account to set up; just communicate directly with projects by email or their sites. I’ve had the most success with this service. And jobs are posted daily and are searchable. Most pay by PayPal.

Freelancer

A true content mill with required setup. They frequently handle payment but they also take a cut. That’s also how it works at:

Upwork

They handle all payment issues in-house. I think it’s a slightly better system. A good deal of hassle and BS but you can search out what you’re looking for.

As I said there are many other resources. This is a gateway not only for writers, but also for speakers, artists, professionals, and anyone with something to offer. I hope it helps. Happy hunting.

World Book Perrin: International Studies

26 Friday Aug 2016

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I’d like to say hello to all of my new visitors and everyone around the globe.

So: Welcome! Welkom! Dobrodošli! Vítejte! Welkom! Tervetuloa! Bienvenue! Willkommen!  Yôkoso! and Sveiki atvykę!

This site is based in the United States. It frequently features themes of Western Civilization. Still, somehow, it has gained an audience around the world. I like to think of it as global madness. In the past four years I’ve had visitors from around 100 countries on six continents (not sure WordPress tracks Antarctica).

The other day I noticed that had the Anglosphere covered:

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I suppose NZ took that day off.

Then, later, I dug a little deeper. Here’s a recent comprehensive map:

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I think that one covers 91 countries. Not bad although I would love to pick up Iceland. China seems like a good market too. Sadly, I am not read in Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, or Somalia.

Being somewhat Amero-centric, the vast majority of my views come from my own nation. Surprisingly (or not) my next largest concentration is in and around the Caribbean. That would be my cigar friends. The DR and Nica account for more traffic than all of my third largest contingent – Europe.

Here are my top twelve countries:

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Hello out there! I have no idea how this site is translated abroad. Google I suppose. I’m just glad to have you.

I offer special greetings to my new preparedness audience. Preppers aim for freedom and that’s my main theme here, if one can overlook (or appreciate) cigar commentary and periodic zaniness.

What else? Through yesterday I had 686 live posts here. 687 now. My most popular category (and those are rather broadly defined) is “News and Notes”. The most frequently used “tag” is “America”. The most popular post for 2016 so far is A Den of Vipers and Thieves. I once knew the most popular post of all time but I have misplaced that…

2016 is already the biggest year yet and by December I look to surpass all previous years’ traffic combined. Thanks for being a part.

Your humble host,

Perrin

 

Find the Right Cigar Shop

23 Tuesday Aug 2016

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This is a pet subject of mine. I’ve written about it before several times. In my older article, Proper Cigar Etiquette I offered a brief glimpse of what helps make a great cigar shop great. Several chapters of the Happy Little Cigar Book are so dedicated and I even offer a short list of recommended shops.

America is a large place and, thankfully, filled with many, many decent to excellent tobacco houses and bars. The only way to really cover them all would be with a Fordor’s-style travel guide. That would take a while to put together though I am open to the idea. If I solicit you as part of a crowd-funding effort, please contribute. Hmmm… I might have to do a volume about shops in Europe too…

Anyway, for now, here are some generic ideas for picking the right shop. For starters, let’s examine some of the wrong shops.

What To Avoid

Not every place that sells tobacco in general, even to include cigars, is a real cigar shop. Think of it as CIGAR SHOP®. You’re looking for a pleasant experience. I’ll cover what to do if you’re on the road and have to settle – that comes a little later.

If one Googles “cigar shop” one will get all sorts of establishments advertising themselves as such when, in reality, they are not. I once looked up a shop at a beach resort. I drove to it and only then discovered it was a discount cigarette outlet in a scummier part of town. I left and did without. I have tips below on avoiding that mistake.

A good shop will sell cigars and pipe tobacco and little else. A few sell a limited selection of high-end “natural” cigarettes. Most of the better shops completely prohibit cigarette smoking for aroma issues.

Look out for hookahs. Again, I have been in fine shops that have offered a small selection of hookahs for sale. However, if the pipes are out and smoking, that is a bad sign. Most establishments will not allow hookahs and the … uh … hookah people associated with them.

Similarly, a good shop will forbid the sale or use of glass pipes, bongs, and other narcotic -esque paraphernalia. If you’re looking for a head shop, find one. Or, just hang out on the street and meet a local dealer. Don’t bother the smokers.

Pool tables also have no place around cigars. One might fit in a back room but usually not. The tables, along with darts, video and gambling games attract a certain element. How shall I put this? They attract trash. There. Avoid them. Sure, you might enjoy darts and such at the sports pub but the same does not belong around a tobacconist.

Loud, boisterous, and obnoxious people/crowds can ruin the cigar experience. At a special event or on a very busy night the volume may be up; it should not be the norm. If you can’t plainly speak with and understand the fellow sitting next to you, something is wrong.

It’s also wrong to have children in a cigar shop. I don’t mean having them stand by the door while you run in the humidor, only to leave in a minute. I once went to a shop and bought a few sticks. I was about to light up when the shop-keep asked me not to as her young daughter was present. A little girl was coloring in the smoking lounge. I left.

The afore-mentioned trash will sometimes amble in pushing a baby carriage or shepherding toddlers. This is awkward and inappropriate. The same types are usually asking for chemicals to beat drug tests, glass pipes, or weed. The employees of a good shop will soon ask them to leave. If people like that are humored, you may be in the wrong place.

Smoking Not Allowed?

I’ve been in a few places with a great selection and none of the problems listed above where one cannot light up. Most of these stores are in places like malls that prohibit smoking in general. It’s okay to purchase from these and then leave. There’s no reason to stay.

There are some shops which have acquiesced to smoking bans. There is an entire city in my neck of the woods where all smoking is prohibited. The local cigar shops did nothing to prevent the ban. None of the owners even bothered showing up at the government planning meetings. They did that to themselves. There is no reason to support such places.

Worst of all are the shops where the owner just doesn’t want smoking inside. This seems oxymoronic and it is. Do not patronize these idiots.

So, where does one find a good shop? There is trial and error, which will eventually lead to happy success. One can always consult with a veteran. Then there’s the internet:

IPCPR Listings

The  International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) is to cigars what the NRA or the SAF is to firearms. They maintain a website of preferred retailers at this website. A few easy clicks and one has access to hundreds of better shops from sea to smoking sea. You can find a shop near you, wherever you are.

Things to Look For

A good location. A shop should be accessible and offer ample parking. It should not be in a part of town where patrons are at risk of mugging.

Selection. Everyone has a favorite stick or two. Sometimes one can’t find them. However, a good shop should have enough alternatives to please the average smoker. These, of course, must be kept properly humidified and stored at the proper temperature.

Staff. The people who work in a shop should be (must be) friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable.

Lounge. The hallmark of a great shop is its lounge or lounges. These should feature comfortable seats and plenty of ashtrays, lighters, and cutters. Some places even offer mini conference centers for working smokers (like writers). All good shops have wi-fi. They also have a system that will clear most of the smoke out while maintaining air conditioning.

Cigar Bars. Cigar bars are extremely popular. Some offer only beer and wine while others have full bars. Take advantage of this perk responsibly.

Television. I hate TV in general but most shops have them. They are not always on (good thing for me). However, when they are on, there is a protocol for what’s playing. The acceptable programming is (in no particular order): news, business news, sports (golf first unless it’s football season). If a movie is aired it should be the equivalent of an old John Wayne movie. Do not accept Dr. Phil, Oprah, or any unmanly programming.

Hours. These vary greatly. Traditional stores and those in smaller markets often are open 10 AM – 6 or 8 PM on weekdays. Bigger shops and those with bars are frequently open past midnight. Some open extra early for the coffee crowd.

Women. Cigar shops are by and large the realm of men. That said, many shops employ ladies and many women enjoy cigars. Not that you really have a choice but try to find company like this:

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Davidoff Tampa – literally all of my advice rolled together.

Alternatives for the Road or to Get By

Sometimes there are no proper shops around. Then there are the times the shops are closed. There are still places you can find cigars:

Liquor stores. These usually have limited but decent selections. Some even have humidors.

Drug Stores. Behind the front counter there should be a few smokes. You will have to screen these for quality. It is an option.

Grocery Stores. Some carry a few cigars and some of those are pretty good. Many carry individual humidity controlled sticks. Look around the customer service desk.

Gas Stations. Usually these are dead ends. However, some stations in trendy or high-end vacation areas may carry cigars. the same goes for old-fashioned news stands (if you can find them).

Internet Options

This is a touchy subject in cigar-land but, hey, I’m a touchy guy. Don’t use these at the expense of your local shop, especially if you have a good one. Online retailers are based in better tax jurisdictions and thus can offer lower prices. These might come in handy if you need to make a large purchase.

One can also go online guilt-free when there isn’t a quality shop in your area or if you need something your shop doesn’t stock. For this option I recommend my friends at Cigars City.

To recap: Avoid the trash and the druggies. Seek out quality selection and good company in a comfortable environment. No matter where you are, the cigars are probably right around the corner.

Happy smoking!

Perrin

Updated January 5, 2017: From The Tampa Humidor!

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BLM and My ATL SJW Experience, LOL

22 Monday Aug 2016

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Years ago, new into my legal career, I was eager to help as many people as possible. I was also active in a wonderful church. I consider a particular church “good” if it: is faithful to the Gospel and the early traditions of The Church; is led my a personable yet strict priest, and; is composed of decent parishioners. These things usually go together but not always. Sometimes they are all lacking – a bad church.

Anyway, I volunteered constantly in a variety of ways, to include a little pro bono legal counseling when necessary. My success and happiness led me to contact Catholic Social Services of Atlanta. I thought that there, with them, I could help the maximum number of people. I wasn’t just thinking law either.

By telephone I spoke with a director of something, a jovial enough seeming woman. We agreed to meet one afternoon and discuss what they were doing and how I could help.

We met at a fast food place somewhere between Marietta and Woodstock; I can’t remember exactly. At first the meeting seemed to go well as she told me about what she did and the organizations needs de jure. I then took the opportunity to explain my philosophies and what I thought I could do to help.

Some of our brief conversation centered on race and how a large portion of Services clients were lower-income blacks in the city. I took that as a cue for me to speak my mind on the subject. I said something along the lines that Dr. King had wanted to raise everyone up together – all races improving in harmony to accomplish new wonders. That is what he wanted, his dream.

I then noted how the government and various interests had done everything possible to give the appearance of integration while insidiously conspiring to lower all people down past the current lowest denominator. That was how you could have black mayors, city councilors and legislators (no Barack at that time), and black celebrities and executives and still have a hopelessly mired black underclass. Worse, I went on, the system was dragging down whites and everyone else.

Helping everyone shake off oppression and rise up was my goal, I told her. It was obviously the wrong thing. I said some other stuff but I had lost her. It was clear that I did not, would not, fit the agenda.

I’m guessing she was an SJW – a shrieker interested in prolonging problems in order to keep her job and to have something to shriek about. The thought of actually solving the problems horrified her as did my criticism of the government and the “system”.

I know now that CSS is an SJW organization. Sure, your local office may be honestly interested in helping society. But the big city branches and the national front are only interested in advancing a liberal, anti-American, anti-freedom agenda. They are deep into a host of social problems including, but not limited to, importing radical Islam into America and the West. It’s as big a scandal as the sex abuse cover-ups. It needs to be rooted out.

Heck no, I wasn’t a good fit. Our meeting ended awkwardly. They never returned my calls. I suppose we were better off without each other.

Then, today, I read about a racial attack in Cleveland, Ohio. It brought the above back to memory.

It seems that a group of seven young white men were walking the street when they were attacked by a gang (also of seven) who chanted “Black Lives Matter!” The gang beat down the walkers and then robbed them and ran off. The chant was a mere cover call for robbery – nothing to do with social justice at all.

Interestingly, the gang was interracial – five blacks and two whites. See their mug shots (six of the seven have been arrested):

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News 19, Cleveland.

How wonderful! Black and white thugs coming together! Post racial America at its finest.

This is exactly what I was talking about twelve (?) years ago. Thirteen? (Long time). Instead of coming together for something positive, too often the races unite for debased criminality. This incident is not anomalous. It is pathetic.

I also find the success of a numerically even odds encounter a little strange. I suppose the victims were seven modern American men – weak. Then again, maybe they were all surprised. Maybe weapons were involved. Still, I’m not entirely sure I could have taken the whole gang alone but I know I could have at least made a dent in them.

Wouldn’t it be great if people would wise up and act civilized? Just act it if they can’t be it. Wouldn’t it be great if decent people fought back? I’m done with trying to “help” through corrupt organizations. Now I will just bring stories like this to your attention. Those who can make good out of it will. I’m helping.

In the near future (soon, soon, I promise) I’ll have my personal anti-terrorism book out. The main title is, for now, Fight Back! It will cover protecting oneself from ISIS agents as well as from street thugs like the above-pictured ramble.

We also need to fight back against those who have actively worked to retard society and lower all groups into helpless victim-hood and misery. They’re as bad as ISIS or worse.

 

Get In The Zone: Peak Power

12 Friday Aug 2016

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Here follows a rare, non-cigar, product review and recommendation.

The other day I told you about Peak Performance and Lean Green protein. Lean Green is a meal supplement and something one takes after a hard workout to burn fat and build muscle. Today I tried another great Peak product: Zone 20.

Zone is a pre-workout energy booster. Think of it as several cups of coffee and some vitamins with the taste of Tang. Something like that. It helps you retain water, stay focused and stay energized during your gym session. Lord knows I needed it today.

I workout best in the morning. I workout best when I’m consistent, rested and full of life. One thing led to another this week and today, in the afternoon, I found myself dragging into the gym with all the pep and determination of a salted slug. I mixed up some Zone 20 and went to work. It was amazing.

When I say I was beat, I really mean wore out – like a Clinton lie wore out. The Zone gave me just enough power to get through the day’s lifting and stretching without a crash. Under normal circumstances I’m sure I would have hit 120% efficiency. This stuff is incredible.

I’ve used similar drink mixes before. Most work but many leave me with the jitters. One causes me to break out in a full-body hive. All the gym-bunnies just loooove that… Another works great (really great) but leaves my heart racing for the next 18 hours. That’s a little too much power.

Zone 20 is the happy balance. It provides the zip with none of the aggravating and maybe life-threatening side effects. If you’re wore out and need a pick-me-up, or if you’re looking to take your next workout to a new level, try some 20.

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Zone 20 Orange.

To order your Lean Green or Zone 20, please contact Peak through their website. I am a friend of the company but NOT a paid spokesman (though I’m sure Craig will probably want to give me more free samples now….).

Something like Zone could help make the difference between this pathetic blob:

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and this deadly machine:

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*All photos herein property of Perrin Lovett. The ad above this line is endorsed by Mr. Lovett, any below are not (especially if they are hack political ads).

You Don’t Say: Wikileaks Behind DNC Security Breach

10 Wednesday Aug 2016

Posted by in Legal/Political Columns, News and Notes

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Sayeth the Drudge headlines this morning:

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Matt Drudge, August 10, 2016

Julian Assange strongly suggested that Seth Rich, the DNC staffer mysteriously murdered on his way to see the FBI, was a Wikileaks operative. Thus, Wikileaks, and not Russia or anyone else, was behind the covert investigation into the Clinton crime syndicate.

Where did you read that first? A full week ago I said, “By the way: it wasn’t the Russians.”

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I am sometimes (not always) ahead of the game. I know many dark things and others aren’t so hard to guess.

In this matter, Wikileaks did what the FBI refused to do. If Rich had made it to his meeting, if is likely nothing would have come out of it. Still, Americans who value freedom owe Assange and Co. a little gratitude.

I am surprised by one thing: Rich’s murder was ruled a murder. Given who is involved one would have thought it a “suicide”.