Posts by NatomasSlingshot1

  • School Shootings

    The following is a FB post written by an Eustis, Fl. middle school teacher- voted teacher of the year at her school. Pretty well sums up a lot of the "human intervention". Sorry it is long- for some reason the link didn't work.


    "Kelly Guthrie Raley
    Feb. 15, 2018


    Okay, I’ll be the bad guy and say what no one else is brave enough to say, but wants to say. I’ll take all the criticism and attacks from everyone because you know what? I’m a TEACHER. I live this life daily. And I wouldn’t do anything else! But I also know daily I could end up in an active shooter situation.
    Until we, as a country, are willing to get serious and talk about mental health issues, lack of available care for the mental health issues, lack of discipline in the home, horrendous lack of parental support when the schools are trying to control horrible behavior at school (oh no! Not MY KID. What did YOU do to cause my kid to react that way?), lack of moral values, and yes, I’ll say it-violent video games that take away all sensitivity to ANY compassion for others’ lives, as well as reality TV that makes it commonplace for people to constantly scream up in each others’ faces and not value any other person but themselves, we will have a gun problem in school. Our kids don’t understand the permanency of death anymore!!!
    I grew up with guns. Everyone knows that. But you know what? My parents NEVER supported any bad behavior from me. I was terrified of doing something bad at school, as I would have not had a life until I corrected the problem and straightened my ass out. My parents invaded my life. They knew where I was ALL the time. They made me have a curfew. They made me wake them up when I got home. They made me respect their rules. They had full control of their house, and at any time could and would go through every inch of my bedroom, backpack, pockets, anything! Parents: it’s time to STEP UP! Be the parent that actually gives a crap! Be the annoying mom that pries and knows what your kid is doing. STOP being their friend. They have enough “friends” at school. Be their parent. Being the “cool mom” means not a damn thing when either your kid is dead or your kid kills other people because they were allowed to have their space and privacy in YOUR HOME. I’ll say it again. My home was filled with guns growing up. For God’s sake, my daddy was an 82nd Airborne Ranger who lost half his face serving our country. But you know what? I never dreamed of shooting anyone with his guns. I never dreamed of taking one! I was taught respect for human life, compassion, rules, common decency, and most of all, I was taught that until I moved out, my life and bedroom wasn’t mine...it was theirs. And they were going to know what was happening because they loved me and wanted the best for me.
    There. Say that I’m a horrible person. I didn’t bring up gun control, and I will refuse to debate it with anyone. This post wasn’t about gun control. This was me, loving the crap out of people and wanting the best for them. This was about my school babies and knowing that God created each one for greatness, and just wanting them to reach their futures. It’s about 20 years ago this year I started my teaching career. Violence was not this bad 20 years ago. Lack of compassion wasn’t this bad 20 years ago. And God knows 20 years ago that I wasn’t afraid daily to call a parent because I KNEW that 9 out of 10 would cuss me out, tell me to go to Hell, call the news on me, call the school board on me, or post all over FaceBook about me because I called to let them know what their child chose to do at school...because they are a NORMAL kid!!!!!
    Those 17 lives mattered. When are we going to take our own responsibility seriously?"

  • School Shootings

    It is heartbreaking to see the faces of these terrified kids, being reunited with their terrified parents- You could just read newly initiated "helicopter Parent" on their faces. Even getting over the trauma of the attack- these kids have a huge hurdle in front of them.............
    If not Marines- I am all for teachers, Admin, etc voluntarily getting:
    1. Background search (thorough)
    2. Psych eval. (also thorough)
    3. Firearm training, followed by SWAT training, followed by certification
    4. Carrying a gun

  • School Shootings

    Our country has condoned the "you can say anything and do anything" for far too long. Too many have been raised with no moral compass. No- it's not violent video games- Hundreds of thousands have played and do play- and still do not act out violence. Gun control? Oh, hell no! Hundreds of thousands of us have weapons and would never turn them on another human being, unless in self defense or defense of others.
    We live in a society where celebrities have no boundaries- think Gifford carrying the head. (BTW- Obama's wife's artist who did portrait for Smithsonian is apparently famous for pictures like that.....and that's supposed to be art) When tragedy hits someone- people publicly say- wish it had happened to all. (Think Steve Scalise shooting- "1 down, 215 to go"). Protesting isn't meaningful enough unless we destroy other people's property. (Think Berkeley and hundreds of other sites)
    Our country has created an atmosphere where way too many want to claim that they are victims- racism, sexism, discrimination-- others feel sorry for you, and you have a reason not to pick yourself up, and make something out of your life. Anything that hurts your feelings must be removed - think Confederate statues. When the hell did that become the norm?
    I am not discounting some mental health issues, but do not believe that the entire country is suffering from a chemical or neurological imbalance that would cause this. IMHO, the root cause for much of it- Not all, as there will always be deviants, it is extreme liberalism. Kids are all winners- Well, guess what- that is not life, and when someday the kid hits the real world, and has issues, or fails- they lose it, and act out, meaning any retaliation is acceptable.
    Raising my kid, I made sure that he had to opportunity fail- (Oh, elementary teacher- give him a yellow card for less than stellar behavior!) He learned that actions have consequences. Apparently- today, there are few...... (IRS & Lois Lerner, HRC.) When he got older, he was ready & able to deal with real life setbacks.
    There is probably not one person on this forum who has not had their fair share of "Life Sucks" handed to them. (If there is- don't sweat it- there are plenty of us who got extra helpings to make up for it). Yet- even with all our shortcomings- we do not have mass murderers on board. The vast majority of us- well, we come up with Plan B. Too many today don't even have a decent Plan A.


    Off soap box, as rant could continue. My hope and prayer is that this pendulum has swung as far left as it can, before it begins its descent. If not, this country will not survive as we know it

  • 2018 Slingshot Grand Touring LE

    I got a chance to see the Slingshade in person, at my "new" dealer last week, opening a warranty claim. (Last one standing in decent driving proximity.) They had one on a blue showroom model. The thing was cracked by the inside of the passenger roof panel hinges, and the drivers side latch would not engage. In addition, the latch was flimsy! SO not impressed! From construction, they are best suited for a garage queen- not for real driving conditions, IMO

  • Toyota Tundra TRD

    had a "relic"- 2000. Bought in 20111 or 2013, sold in 2017 for $500.00 less than I paid for it. Had 58,000 when I got it- 124,000 miles when I sold it. Total maintenance (OK- don't yell at me on this one...........) 1 oil change and 1 battery. NEVER gave me any issues! Was a work horse, and if I wanted another truck- would buy one in a heartbeat!

  • POLARIS INDUSTRIES TODAY POSTED FORTH QUARTER 2017 RECORD SALES AND PROFIT! SLINGSHOTS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE !

    Amazed that Polaris is doing so well- 2 dealers in our area have stopped carrying the SS- 1 still carries the full line, excluding the sling........... the other one- no Polaris. Only one dealer even vaguely close still standing...... We will see how they do- first meeting with them was to open warranty claim for brake switches...... Waiting to see how long before they at least update me on status.

  • Paint

    Chris Ball, at Fix My Toys is where I got my touch up paint. Less money than anyone else, and I was sure I was getting the right stuff. (I needed white and the top coat.) BTW- I heard that the pens are useless. I got little bottles- like the size of a bottle of white-out. He will take care of you.