Twitter and Handguns

More firsts for me this past week. Yesterday I started an account on Twitter, which, for those of you who are not familiar with the latest cyber-phenomenon, is a site where people answer in 140 characters or less the question, "What are you doing?" Called micro-blogging, the thing seems to be catching on faster than bell bottom jeans. You can also attach it to a regular blog (see right), Facebook profile, MySpace, etc.

Here's my page on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/freddielong

Yesterday I also went to the shooting range with my brother who helped teach me how to shoot a Glock 9mm handgun. I'm not one to advocate violence, but who knows? Maybe I'll need to save the world someday with Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Vin Diesel, and I don't want to be the weakest link.

We got there and I first noticed that there were quite a few cute girls at the range, which was both exciting and anxiety-inducing at the same time. We were assigned to a lane next to a woman and a man that were shooting a higher caliber gun that sounded like a damn Civil War cannon. Even though I had ear protection on, it definitely took me a few minutes to stop soiling myself every time those folks fired from what could've been mistaken for a small tank.

I eventually got a little more comfortable and even though I kind of had Barney Fife hands, I actually wasn't that terrible of a shot. Just holding a gun and being around gunfire made me think about all those who serve in the line of fire and our friends and family overseas. The experience gave me even more respect for the folks who have served, fought and died for the safety and freedoms we enjoy in our country.

The Hans Grubers and T-1000s of the world don't stand a chance...