• Drowning In My Own Tears- Originally sung by Ray Charles but appropriated by this melancholy minister of defense.

• Why my Christmas sucked.

Emancipation Proclamation

“. . . on the first day of January . . . all persons held as slaves within any State, or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” President Abraham Lincoln, preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, September 22, 1862

President Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in the midst of the Civil War, announcing on September 22, 1862, that if the rebels did not end the fighting and rejoin the Union by January 1, 1863, all slaves in the rebellious states would be free.

• Grandma’s  Story

Episode 146 turned out great and I hope you like it as much as I did doing it.  It had a few mistakes I missed but the time was right, and it had a good balance of everything.  I have to try to keep that recipe and just substitute the different features (“shoot don’t shoot,”jokes, gun reviews, shooting tips, security suggestions, old school wisdom, personal observations) that have evolved on the show.  This week, the Gun Rabbi and I ramble, laugh and talk about resolutions.  Got to get him a less sensitive mic.  I sing an old Ray Charles song, that is so melancholy it makes me laugh.  NO one can be that sad but it fit.  I tried to start off in one mood and end on a high one.  I did.  I had fun putting this show together and it all came together even though the creeping crud of congestion is still with me.  Zombie Strike cracks me up because Derek is helping me speak better with his word usage.  I was told to copyright the story because Hollywood was listening and might take the idea for a series.  That was cool.  Talked about Watch Night and the African American tradition and could have gone on longer about the Emancipation Proclamation but maybe next time.  And I said erroneously that my grandmother “racked” a shell into the shotgun.  It was a over and under, double barreled shotgun probably made by Sears and Roebuck.  After her two shots that was it.  I am happy to announce that Richard and Kelly from Guns, Holsters and Gear are a part of the show, even if I am just helping them advertise their blog.  I think that is so cool.

It’s been a great year.  Thank you for listening and being a part of our success.