Boy howdy, but people get really fucking stupid when the snow flies...
Do not, I repeat, do NOT stop your fucking car at the base of a steep hill. You need the momentum of actual forward progession. SRSLY. Once you have started moving again, lay off the fucking gas - all it does is spin your wheels and dump you, sideways, in the ditch on the side of the road. If you've made me sit behind your stupid ass waiting for you to get a clue, all I'm gonna do is laugh when I go by. I'm not stopping to push your car out of the ditch.
I own a truck with four wheel drive. I know how to drive this truck in the snow and other inclement weather. I have practiced starts and stops, in and out of four wheel drive, in snow, ice, and heavy rain. I am not afraid to drive in snow. If you are afraid of driving in snow, please do the rest of the motoring public a favor and stay the hell home. Do not clog up the roadways with your 20 MPH-below-the-speed-limit idiocy.
On a related note, if I do happen to get stuck behind a timid, frightened snow rabbit, flying up on my bumper and riding my ass for 3-4 miles is a good way to get a Class IV receiver hitch-shaped hole smack dab in the center of your hood when you inevitably plow into me. I believe in using the vehicle's engine to brake, using more than just "D" out of the many gears available, and downshifting doesn't kick on the brake lights. I feel a lot less charitably inclined to flick the brake lights if you're being an ass.
And lastly... To the snowplows on the road - having that yellow Fisher appendage on the front of your truck does not excuse you from the rules of the road. You still need to stop at stop signs, heed red lights, and look when you back out of a driveway. Most of you have signs on the side of your truck complete with business name and phone numbers; the remainder of you still have license plates. In this electronic age, it's not terribly difficult to track someone down if you sufficiently enrage them.
Not that I'm advocating going to one of these cretin's house and leaving a flaming bag of poo on their doorstep, mind you. That would be childish and counterproductive. Plus it works a lot better if the flaming part is on top of a cocktail with a Russian name... But I digress...
Learn how to drive in inclement weather or stay the hell home. SRSLY.
That is all.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Happy New Year!
Okay folks... New Year's Celebration starts now. Work just cut us loose (we're looking at the start of another 9-12" of snow here), and tomorrow is off (with only shoveling in the AM to worry about).
The kids are going to (try to) stay up tonight; I suspect that they'll be conked out by 9:30 - 10PM at the latest. We're going to let them play Wii games until they pass out from exhaustion...
Please, for the love of G-d, be careful out there tonight. There's going to be a lot of revelers out on the road who have no business being in command of an automobile, so if y'all can avoid being on the road, please do. Barring that, find a 1970s Cadillac to drive...
And, of course, be smart, safe, and have a great time!
That is all.
The kids are going to (try to) stay up tonight; I suspect that they'll be conked out by 9:30 - 10PM at the latest. We're going to let them play Wii games until they pass out from exhaustion...
Please, for the love of G-d, be careful out there tonight. There's going to be a lot of revelers out on the road who have no business being in command of an automobile, so if y'all can avoid being on the road, please do. Barring that, find a 1970s Cadillac to drive...
And, of course, be smart, safe, and have a great time!
That is all.
Gazing into the Crystal Ball...
Alternate title: Potential 2009 Acquisitions
Thought it would be interesting to see what might be on the agenda for acquisition in the coming year. Things may prove interesting with Barack Obama in the White House and Nancy Pelosi in the House; obviously the list could change at an HR10.22's notice...
That said, here are some potential acquisitions and the reasoning behind each:
Thought it would be interesting to see what might be on the agenda for acquisition in the coming year. Things may prove interesting with Barack Obama in the White House and Nancy Pelosi in the House; obviously the list could change at an HR10.22's notice...
That said, here are some potential acquisitions and the reasoning behind each:
- M1 Carbine from CMP - Great shooting rifle, low recoil, moderately priced ammo (for a rifle); plus I have a whole bunch of magazines already. Cost of acquisition: ~ $500 through CMP.
- Ruger 10/22 - It's about time to pick one of these up. Most likely going to go with a new entry level blued steel/wood stock 16" barrel version, although a used stainless model might be a possibility as well. (CoA: $200)
- CZ-82 - Inexpensive and virtually indestructible semi-auto handgun that compliments the .380 Mak already in the armory, plus it gives me a reason to add another caliber... (CoA: $200)
- K-98 Mauser - German, natch. Everything I've heard about these rifles tells me I need to get one. (CoA: $300)
- Romanian Tokarev in 7.62X25mm - gotta get another 7.62 Tok chambered gun to go with the CZ-52... (CoA: $250)
- Ruger MkII/S&W 22A - inexpensive .22LR semi-automatic. Something with adjustable sights - I've got a S&W 422 with a red dot sight, would be nice to have another semi with iron... (COA $250 - $300)
Also on the list for 2009 are plenty of accessories:
- Magnified scope for Bushmaster AR-15
- ACE Skeleton stock for Bushmaster AR-15
- Forend with picatinny rail for Bushmaster AR-15
- Knoxx SpecOps recoil-reducing stock for Mossberg 590
- Forend with picatinny rail for Mossberg 590
- M7 bayonet for Mossberg 590
- IWB holster for G30
- Smartcarry/Thunderwear for j-frame
- Crossbreed Supertuck holster for j-frame
- G21 magazine(s) for G30
List subject to change depending on new acquisitions, change in 2A climate, and/or as the whim strikes me...
That is all.
2008: A Gunnie Retrospective
2008 was an interesting year for gunnies. We had:
On a personal level, 2008 was an interesting year as well. Over the course of the past 12 months, I:
Here's hoping 2009 is just as interesting and twice as beneficial to gun owners and 2A rights...
That is all.
- San Francisco handgun ban shot down - yay! Even in CA, the 2nd amendment is not entirely dead.
- Passing of Charleton Heston - [removes hat]
- Heller Decision - yay! 2A *is* an individual right.
- Willamette, IL rescinds handgun ban - Heller has its first "victim" (yay!)
- Ruger introduces the LCP, their first attempt at a true CCW firearm. (Yay, except in MA, where the LCP is not on the "Approved Firearms Roster" - boo...)
- H-S Precision Kerfluffle - boo. Vett your endorsements, you schmucks.
- Obama election - boo for 2A rights. Hopenchange beats crotchety old man.
- Gun sales skyrocketing - yay and boo. Yay because it's always good to see more firearms in the hands of citizens, boo because of backlogs and price gouging ($800 for a WASR-10?!?!?!)
- Concealed carry is ruled permissible in National parks - Definite yay!
On a personal level, 2008 was an interesting year as well. Over the course of the past 12 months, I:
- Joined a gun club - YAY! Finally...
- Shot more this year than any two years previous - YAY!2
- Taught both kids how to shoot a BB gun and bow-and-arrow at Cub Scout camp.
- Got my son his first BB gun (Red Ryder, natch) - YAY!3
- Bought my first Glock - yay! Plastic fantastic/tupperware/etc. jokes aside, I'm coming to (begrudgingly) like Gaston's polymer wonder.
- Bought my first AR-15 - Definite YAY! Thanks, Barack, for giving me the impetus to finally fill one of the last gaping holes in my armory.
Here's hoping 2009 is just as interesting and twice as beneficial to gun owners and 2A rights...
That is all.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
We Will Bury You...
Here's a question: Why is the media so incredibly interested in Sarah Palin's grandson?
No official word yet on weekend birth of Palin grandchild
Newspaper: Woman whose son fathered Palin grandchild is arrested
Good and bad news proves Sarah Palin is still a player
Bristol Palin's Baby Is Born
Sarah Palin, grandmother
Just Call Sarah Palin "Grandma"!
Palin Daughter Pops
Palin’s Daughter Gives Birth to Son
It's a boy for Bristol Palin
Palin's daughter gives birth to son named Tripp
That's 10 stories pulled right off a Google search for "Palin Grandchild". Most of the major news outlets are represented - Washington Post, Associated Press, NY Times, etc. - and for the most part, the stories are on the main page. The birth of Tripp Johnson should, by any account, be a minor blip in the news, not front page fodder across the nation. We're talking about the grandson of the Republican candidate for Vice President of the losing ticket.
This is not a story that warrants such scrutiny.
Unless, of course, the media is sending a not-so-subtle message to Sarah Palin: "We're watching you. And your family". Right now, as things stand, she's the hands-on favorite for the GOP nomination in 2012 - she'll have another 4 years as Alaska's governor, she's got the name recognition, and she won't have the anchor of John McCain holding her back. The media wants to get the message to Palin that her family is squarely in their crosshairs to get her out of the spotlight.
I can't think of another reason for the media to invest this much time, energy, and electrons in a story about the woman's grandchild. There's simply nothing there - it's not like Bristol changed her mind and opted for an abortion; she hasn't given the child up for adoption; Sarah didn't kick her out of the house, etc. There is nothing meriting a front page anything here. Except, perhaps, to reinforce the message that they're still watching the Palin family, and will be more than happy to invest time and energy into hounding them for as long as it takes.
Sure would have been nice to see this level of interest in Obama's ties to IL gov. Blagojevich, wouldn't it?
That is all.
No official word yet on weekend birth of Palin grandchild
Newspaper: Woman whose son fathered Palin grandchild is arrested
Good and bad news proves Sarah Palin is still a player
Bristol Palin's Baby Is Born
Sarah Palin, grandmother
Just Call Sarah Palin "Grandma"!
Palin Daughter Pops
Palin’s Daughter Gives Birth to Son
It's a boy for Bristol Palin
Palin's daughter gives birth to son named Tripp
That's 10 stories pulled right off a Google search for "Palin Grandchild". Most of the major news outlets are represented - Washington Post, Associated Press, NY Times, etc. - and for the most part, the stories are on the main page. The birth of Tripp Johnson should, by any account, be a minor blip in the news, not front page fodder across the nation. We're talking about the grandson of the Republican candidate for Vice President of the losing ticket.
This is not a story that warrants such scrutiny.
Unless, of course, the media is sending a not-so-subtle message to Sarah Palin: "We're watching you. And your family". Right now, as things stand, she's the hands-on favorite for the GOP nomination in 2012 - she'll have another 4 years as Alaska's governor, she's got the name recognition, and she won't have the anchor of John McCain holding her back. The media wants to get the message to Palin that her family is squarely in their crosshairs to get her out of the spotlight.
I can't think of another reason for the media to invest this much time, energy, and electrons in a story about the woman's grandchild. There's simply nothing there - it's not like Bristol changed her mind and opted for an abortion; she hasn't given the child up for adoption; Sarah didn't kick her out of the house, etc. There is nothing meriting a front page anything here. Except, perhaps, to reinforce the message that they're still watching the Palin family, and will be more than happy to invest time and energy into hounding them for as long as it takes.
Sure would have been nice to see this level of interest in Obama's ties to IL gov. Blagojevich, wouldn't it?
That is all.
Insanity...
With gas falling, trucks come back
And lastly, are the Big Three so incredibly greedy that they will ramp back up production of the behemoths, only to have them languish on the lots once gas prices go back up???
"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayanna said well over 100 years ago. What's especially infuriating is the news is replete with stories about the big three needing Fed assistance:
U.S. throws GMAC $6 billion lifeline
How the Feds will Govern GM and Chrysler
Ford's bailout plea to include pledge for smaller cars
Any guesses on how that pledge works out for Ford? Anyone want to bet if GM starts making fewer Hummers? Think Chrysler's gonna stop stuffing hemis into everything they make? Or are they going to go right back into the "live for the second" mode that says "people are buying SUVs. Therefore people will always buy SUVs" and pretend that the last year never happened?
If the "Big Three" are dumb/greedy enough to fall back into the easy money trap, they deserve to fail.
Not. Another. Fucking. Penny.
That is all.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- After nearly a year of flagging sales, low gas prices and fat incentives are reigniting America's taste for big vehicles.Are we quite possibly the stupidest fucking nation that ever existed? Do we have the collective attention span of a gnat on crack? Are people really so stupendously stupid that they think the current low gas prices are anything other than a momentary blip on the radar?
Trucks and SUVs will outsell cars in December, according to researchers at the automotive Website Edmunds.com, something that hasn't happened since February..
Meanwhile, the forecast finds that sales of hybrid vehicles are expected to be way down.
And lastly, are the Big Three so incredibly greedy that they will ramp back up production of the behemoths, only to have them languish on the lots once gas prices go back up???
"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayanna said well over 100 years ago. What's especially infuriating is the news is replete with stories about the big three needing Fed assistance:
U.S. throws GMAC $6 billion lifeline
How the Feds will Govern GM and Chrysler
Ford's bailout plea to include pledge for smaller cars
Any guesses on how that pledge works out for Ford? Anyone want to bet if GM starts making fewer Hummers? Think Chrysler's gonna stop stuffing hemis into everything they make? Or are they going to go right back into the "live for the second" mode that says "people are buying SUVs. Therefore people will always buy SUVs" and pretend that the last year never happened?
If the "Big Three" are dumb/greedy enough to fall back into the easy money trap, they deserve to fail.
Not. Another. Fucking. Penny.
That is all.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Note to Comcast.net Mail...
UR doin it rong.
Your "Save as Draft" feature has apparently gotten its little wires crossed with the "Fling into deep space without saving" feature.
It's really a humungous pain in the ass to write a rather lengthy reply to an e-mail, run into time constraints and try to "save" it using the tools Comcast itself put online, only to return later to a completely blank draft with incomprehensible "attachments" that cannot be accessed. In the words of H&K Customer Service, you suck and we hate you. Fixplskthanxbai!
That is all.
Your "Save as Draft" feature has apparently gotten its little wires crossed with the "Fling into deep space without saving" feature.
It's really a humungous pain in the ass to write a rather lengthy reply to an e-mail, run into time constraints and try to "save" it using the tools Comcast itself put online, only to return later to a completely blank draft with incomprehensible "attachments" that cannot be accessed. In the words of H&K Customer Service, you suck and we hate you. Fixplskthanxbai!
That is all.
Sing Ho! for the GPS
At the start of the month, I asked for opinions on GPS units for Mrs. G.'s Christmas present. I'm happy to report that I actually listened to the advice I was given (hey, there's a first time for everything, right?!) and wound up getting a Garmin Nüvi 260W. It has the 4.3" touchscreen and announces street names, which were two of the more common suggestions for GPS units that were left in comments on that request.
Well, I used the Nüvi 260W to find my way to Martha's Saturday night, and it worked flawlessly. Delivered me right to the bar, even pointed me to the sidestreet where parking was located. The instructions are clear, the screen is large enough to be legible but still relatively unobtrusive (I mount it at the top of the windshield next to the rear view mirror).
It made finding an unknown location an absolutely breeze.
Folks, this is - for me - bordering on life-changing. I hate getting lost, and I have about the world's worst sense of direction (ask weer'd beard...) The Nüvi 260W allows me to plug in an address, follow the instructions, and have full confidence that I'll be able to find the location with minimal hindrances. No more wondering just what Google maps has forgotten to mention; no more frantic glances at crumpled printouts as the alleged location draws near. All I need to do is listen for the dulcet tones of the GPS lady to guide me to my destination...
Heck, I might even try driving into Boston again - and that's saying something!
There is one drawback to the GPS, though. With easier navigation in my future, the "Road Rage" posts might start to dwindle a bit. [thinking] No, strike that. The GPS only helps with directions, not at avoiding idiots. The person that adds features like "Avoid tailgater" or "Grandma in Buick" to a GPS unit will make a bloody fortune...
That is all.
Well, I used the Nüvi 260W to find my way to Martha's Saturday night, and it worked flawlessly. Delivered me right to the bar, even pointed me to the sidestreet where parking was located. The instructions are clear, the screen is large enough to be legible but still relatively unobtrusive (I mount it at the top of the windshield next to the rear view mirror).
It made finding an unknown location an absolutely breeze.
Folks, this is - for me - bordering on life-changing. I hate getting lost, and I have about the world's worst sense of direction (ask weer'd beard...) The Nüvi 260W allows me to plug in an address, follow the instructions, and have full confidence that I'll be able to find the location with minimal hindrances. No more wondering just what Google maps has forgotten to mention; no more frantic glances at crumpled printouts as the alleged location draws near. All I need to do is listen for the dulcet tones of the GPS lady to guide me to my destination...
Heck, I might even try driving into Boston again - and that's saying something!
There is one drawback to the GPS, though. With easier navigation in my future, the "Road Rage" posts might start to dwindle a bit. [thinking] No, strike that. The GPS only helps with directions, not at avoiding idiots. The person that adds features like "Avoid tailgater" or "Grandma in Buick" to a GPS unit will make a bloody fortune...
That is all.
2008 Northeast Blogger Gathering AAR
Okay... I'm writing this Sunday night, while the events of last night are still (somewhat) fresh in my mind. Some details have already been pushed out by the craziness of today with the fam, but that's a hazard that comes with being a dad... There's only a limited number of brain cells available at any given moment...
Let's see...
Company? Fantastic. The following people made the arduous trek to Martha's:
JD
doubletrouble
scotaku
Bruce
weer'd beard
Elizabeth
Bill
TOTWTYTR
wolfwalker
sci-fi & b
brad_in_ma & Mrs. brad_in_ma
Here's a relatively complete group shot:
And, lastly, we left a "missing man" foundation for those that couldn't be with us:
Venue? Excellent - the food was great, the beer was (I assume, I didn't partake) fine, and the wait staff was... well... delectable...
And it was truly our kind of place:
Impressions...
Well, let's see. Write down the top ten things you think might crop up at a meeting of bloggers, people that hang out on the internet on Friday night as opposed to sports bars, I guarantee we covered them in depth:
Picard vs. Kirk
PC vs. Mac vs. Linux
.45 vs. 9mm
Not to mention quotes from The Blues Brothers, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and South Park.
The evening started with duelling cellphone internet platforms, with the iPhone barely edging out the Crackberry for ease of manipulation (I had forgotten to write down my list of planned attendees, and had asked if someone could pull up my last update with the list from the blog). We started arriving promptly at 5 (I was the third arrival, with two of the three guys that came from southeastern MA beating me there!) and folks popped in and out throughout the evening.
There were lively debates over zionism, nanny-statism, whether or not MA is truly "liberal" or merely authoritarian/puritan with a few liberal leanings, some gratuitous gun talk, much gnashing of teeth over the price of ammo (and some theorizing that prices may be coming back to earth in the coming months, which I will believe only after I see it!).
All in all, I think a good time was had by all. This will become a more frequent event, I think - I'd even go so far as to offer to coordinate the next one, too. How does mid-spring, say mid-April sound? We could celebrate my birthday... ;)
That is all.
Let's see...
Company? Fantastic. The following people made the arduous trek to Martha's:
JD
doubletrouble
scotaku
Bruce
weer'd beard
Elizabeth
Bill
TOTWTYTR
wolfwalker
sci-fi & b
brad_in_ma & Mrs. brad_in_ma
Here's a relatively complete group shot:
And, lastly, we left a "missing man" foundation for those that couldn't be with us:
Venue? Excellent - the food was great, the beer was (I assume, I didn't partake) fine, and the wait staff was... well... delectable...
And it was truly our kind of place:
Impressions...
Well, let's see. Write down the top ten things you think might crop up at a meeting of bloggers, people that hang out on the internet on Friday night as opposed to sports bars, I guarantee we covered them in depth:
Picard vs. Kirk
PC vs. Mac vs. Linux
.45 vs. 9mm
Not to mention quotes from The Blues Brothers, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and South Park.
The evening started with duelling cellphone internet platforms, with the iPhone barely edging out the Crackberry for ease of manipulation (I had forgotten to write down my list of planned attendees, and had asked if someone could pull up my last update with the list from the blog). We started arriving promptly at 5 (I was the third arrival, with two of the three guys that came from southeastern MA beating me there!) and folks popped in and out throughout the evening.
There were lively debates over zionism, nanny-statism, whether or not MA is truly "liberal" or merely authoritarian/puritan with a few liberal leanings, some gratuitous gun talk, much gnashing of teeth over the price of ammo (and some theorizing that prices may be coming back to earth in the coming months, which I will believe only after I see it!).
All in all, I think a good time was had by all. This will become a more frequent event, I think - I'd even go so far as to offer to coordinate the next one, too. How does mid-spring, say mid-April sound? We could celebrate my birthday... ;)
That is all.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Suddenly Sunday
Whoa. Sometimes you blink and life just whips right by. It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in a bar with a group of friends, enjoying good food with good company.
Oh, wait, it was just yesterday.
A full AAR of last night's Northeast Blogger Gathering, complete with pictures, to be posted tomorrow - today's chock full of last-minute vacation goodness, including one of the children's last Christmas presents, a trip via train into Boston to see Disney On Ice. We're making a day of it, going in on the 10:20 train even though the show doesn't start until 3:00, so that we can find a place to have lunch before the show.
It's interesting, too, that Al Gore's global warming seems to have actually struck today - as I type this, it's 53º outside, certainly well above normal for late December in New England. It's a welcome respite from the ice and snow of the earlier part of the month, and will make chaperoning two small children around the big city considerably easier. For this, Mssr. Gore, I thank you and your frabulous weather contraption.
Stay tuned for pictorial goodness of last night's bacchanalia...
That is all.
Oh, wait, it was just yesterday.
A full AAR of last night's Northeast Blogger Gathering, complete with pictures, to be posted tomorrow - today's chock full of last-minute vacation goodness, including one of the children's last Christmas presents, a trip via train into Boston to see Disney On Ice. We're making a day of it, going in on the 10:20 train even though the show doesn't start until 3:00, so that we can find a place to have lunch before the show.
It's interesting, too, that Al Gore's global warming seems to have actually struck today - as I type this, it's 53º outside, certainly well above normal for late December in New England. It's a welcome respite from the ice and snow of the earlier part of the month, and will make chaperoning two small children around the big city considerably easier. For this, Mssr. Gore, I thank you and your frabulous weather contraption.
Stay tuned for pictorial goodness of last night's bacchanalia...
That is all.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Saturday Morning To-Do List
Here's a partial list of shit I need to get done at some point today, presented for your general amusement...
Pry children away from Wii.
Moar coffee.
Pry children away from Wii.
Go to bank to get money for Blogger Gathering tonight.
Pry children away from Wii.
Hit Staples for nametags for Blogger Gathering tonight.
Pry children away from Wii.
Program GPS for maiden voyage tonight (will be used to find the not-so-sooper-seekrit location of the Blogger Gathering tonight.
Pry children away from Wii.
Shower & shave - this may take some time, as at present time I'd require significant improvement to qualify as "slovenly"...
Pry children away from Wii.
Think that about covers it.
That is all.
Pry children away from Wii.
Moar coffee.
Pry children away from Wii.
Go to bank to get money for Blogger Gathering tonight.
Pry children away from Wii.
Hit Staples for nametags for Blogger Gathering tonight.
Pry children away from Wii.
Program GPS for maiden voyage tonight (will be used to find the not-so-sooper-seekrit location of the Blogger Gathering tonight.
Pry children away from Wii.
Shower & shave - this may take some time, as at present time I'd require significant improvement to qualify as "slovenly"...
Pry children away from Wii.
Think that about covers it.
That is all.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Christmas 2008 AAR...
Let's see... random observations about Christmas this year.
That is all.
- The Wii was a far far bigger hit than I thought it would be - and I expected it would be big. The only issue so far has been that they both want to play (big shock) which means we'll need to be getting another controller stat.
- It was a very electronic Xmas: The kids got the Wii and more DS games, we got a replacement DVD player, and Mrs. G. got a new digital camera, a Magellan GPS, and an iPod shuffle.
- My body does NOT like it when I overindulge. Holy cow. I've spent the entire morning, uh, evacuating the previous day's overindulgence...
- Letting the kids stay in their pajamas and play with their new toys all morning (and all afternoon so far) is about a hundred billion times better than screaming at them to clean the house. Even if it is less productive...
- Watching BabyGirl G play "Disney Princess" on the Wii is quite possibly the cutest thing I've seen in weeks...
- We spent about 6 hours with my folks and my sister yesterday. I love them dearly, but that's about 5 hours too many.
- My mom is an amazing cook, and I really need to spend more time learning from her. It's going to fall on me to pass the torch to my kids, and I don't want to pass on a legacy of Shake 'n' Bake chicken and frozen meatballs...
That is all.
Friday Fun Thread: Two Wheeled Madness!
Last week's Friday Fun thread about midlife crisis cars revealed a pretty consistent trend - motorcycles (especially Harleys) were mentioned as a midlife crisis vehicle. Now, I'm not about to argue that point (although I will point out that I got my Harley when I was 32, not exactly considered middle-aged...), so I figured I'd roll with it and come out with my list of favorite motorcycles.
1. Harley Davidson Electra Glide Ultra CVO - I've got a 2003 Electra Glide Standard and love the smooth ride, the ability to put on mile after mile, and, I'll be honest, the comfort of a rolling couch. The Ultra Glide has all the bells and whistles - cruise control, ABS, CD player with four speakers, lots of storage, basically, anything you might want for a long haul trip. The Custom Vehicle Operations package adds in custom paint, a 110 CI motor, heated seat, rider backrest, and a host of other accessories to help you put on the miles...
2. Honda Valkyrie - A six-cylinder, 1,500 cc cruising bike. What's not to love? I got to ride a Valk at a couple of Honda open houses back when I had my Magna, and it's impressive as hell. The motor that powers the Goldwing, only in a lighter cruiser, made a lot of rear-wheel power, a fact that was hammered home with each twist of the throttle. The Valkyrie is the only cruising-type bike that's ever gotten me to say "Whoa!"...
3. Kawasaki ZRX1200R - a naked sportbike, what a concept, eh? Kawasaki really outdid themselves with the ZRX line - they took their Ninja powerplant, put it in plain-jane "standard" motorcycle configuration, and offered it for quite a bit less than the fairing-clad Ninja. You got old school cafe racer at a price that could not be beat.
4. Ducati Superbike 1198 S (999 shown)- 170 horsepower in a bike that weighs less than 400 pounds. This is a one-way ticket to license revocation right here, folks, and the only way I'd consider buying one would be if I also owned several thousand acres somewhere in the southwest where I could open it up without killing myself or getting arrested. This is easily the Lamborghini of motorcycles...
5. Indian Chief Vintage - a modern motorcycle that maintains the classic lines of yesterday. Only problem is it costs more than my truck and the nearest dealer is in NJ... However expensive and hard-to-find it may be, it's a lot easier (and cheaper) to get my hands on one than to restore an early 1950s variant, that's to be sure. Plus it's an American bike that's not a Harley, which adds a little extra style to it (and I'm about as big a fan of the orange-and-black as you'll find).
6. 1984 Honda Nighthawk S - two friends have owned Nighthawk Ss, the 700cc configuration, and I've got to say it's one of the best bikes I've ever ridden. Shaft drive, comfortable two-up seating, full instrumentation, and sporty styling all adds up to an affordable motorcycle that made commuting fun. And it doesn't make the list solely because I have found memories of borrowing my buddy's 'Hawk to take out certain delectable co-eds back in the day, nosirree...
7. BMW R 1200 RT - for a sport-touring bike, I don't think there's a finer choice than any of the offerings from BMW. I used to work with a guy who commuted some 50 miles each and every day - well into November - on his BMW tourer, and the new Beamers are even better. Take off the saddlebags and the truck for around-town or commuting duty; put 'em back on and rack up the miles in the saddle. What's not to love?
8. Yamaha YZF-R1 - mainly because the list just wouldn't be complete without a 1,000cc Japanese superbike on it, and I've got a soft spot for ol' blue. Y'see, a 1979 Yamaha XS850 Midnight Special was my first motorcycle, a cranky triple with bad brakes, a dented tank, and a tendency to whimsically stop working at inopportune times. But it was MY motorcycle. My FIRST motorcycle. I've had over a dozen cars through the years, but only three motorcycles. And the Yamaha was the first. Plus you've gotta love a company that can make motorcycles and musical instruments...
9. Royal Enfield Bullet - Speaking of bikes that just had to make the list, there just had to be a standard motorcycle with British origins somewhere. And what better choice than an absolute throwback to the days of the original British invasion? 499cc engine, drum brakes, and 75 mpg in a bike that costs around $5K. If I was going to pick up a small motorcycle for commuting, it'd be a Royal Enfield - might as well rack up the miles in vintage style...
10. Boss Hoss 350 V8. Okay. I've gotta put in one of the Boss Hoss bikes, if for no reason other than the sheer "HOLY SHIT" factor of piloting a motorcycle powered by a GM 350 cubic inch engine. Sure, it's got two gears - around town and "OHMYG-DI'MGONNADIE" highway mode - but that V8 rumble is just as distinctive as the Harley V-twin, and when you realize it's coming from a motorcycle...
So there's my list of my favorite bikes. Obviously this is a subjective list, and I'm certain I've forgotten a couple dozen excellent motorcycles in the list. There's an obvious slant towards newer bikes in the list, and that comes from trying to keep a 20 year old Honda going before I got my Electra Glide (especially as a self-proclaimed "mechanically declined" person such as myself...).
So... I've shared m favorite bikes - let's hear about yours!
That is all.
1. Harley Davidson Electra Glide Ultra CVO - I've got a 2003 Electra Glide Standard and love the smooth ride, the ability to put on mile after mile, and, I'll be honest, the comfort of a rolling couch. The Ultra Glide has all the bells and whistles - cruise control, ABS, CD player with four speakers, lots of storage, basically, anything you might want for a long haul trip. The Custom Vehicle Operations package adds in custom paint, a 110 CI motor, heated seat, rider backrest, and a host of other accessories to help you put on the miles...
2. Honda Valkyrie - A six-cylinder, 1,500 cc cruising bike. What's not to love? I got to ride a Valk at a couple of Honda open houses back when I had my Magna, and it's impressive as hell. The motor that powers the Goldwing, only in a lighter cruiser, made a lot of rear-wheel power, a fact that was hammered home with each twist of the throttle. The Valkyrie is the only cruising-type bike that's ever gotten me to say "Whoa!"...
3. Kawasaki ZRX1200R - a naked sportbike, what a concept, eh? Kawasaki really outdid themselves with the ZRX line - they took their Ninja powerplant, put it in plain-jane "standard" motorcycle configuration, and offered it for quite a bit less than the fairing-clad Ninja. You got old school cafe racer at a price that could not be beat.
4. Ducati Superbike 1198 S (999 shown)- 170 horsepower in a bike that weighs less than 400 pounds. This is a one-way ticket to license revocation right here, folks, and the only way I'd consider buying one would be if I also owned several thousand acres somewhere in the southwest where I could open it up without killing myself or getting arrested. This is easily the Lamborghini of motorcycles...
5. Indian Chief Vintage - a modern motorcycle that maintains the classic lines of yesterday. Only problem is it costs more than my truck and the nearest dealer is in NJ... However expensive and hard-to-find it may be, it's a lot easier (and cheaper) to get my hands on one than to restore an early 1950s variant, that's to be sure. Plus it's an American bike that's not a Harley, which adds a little extra style to it (and I'm about as big a fan of the orange-and-black as you'll find).
6. 1984 Honda Nighthawk S - two friends have owned Nighthawk Ss, the 700cc configuration, and I've got to say it's one of the best bikes I've ever ridden. Shaft drive, comfortable two-up seating, full instrumentation, and sporty styling all adds up to an affordable motorcycle that made commuting fun. And it doesn't make the list solely because I have found memories of borrowing my buddy's 'Hawk to take out certain delectable co-eds back in the day, nosirree...
7. BMW R 1200 RT - for a sport-touring bike, I don't think there's a finer choice than any of the offerings from BMW. I used to work with a guy who commuted some 50 miles each and every day - well into November - on his BMW tourer, and the new Beamers are even better. Take off the saddlebags and the truck for around-town or commuting duty; put 'em back on and rack up the miles in the saddle. What's not to love?
8. Yamaha YZF-R1 - mainly because the list just wouldn't be complete without a 1,000cc Japanese superbike on it, and I've got a soft spot for ol' blue. Y'see, a 1979 Yamaha XS850 Midnight Special was my first motorcycle, a cranky triple with bad brakes, a dented tank, and a tendency to whimsically stop working at inopportune times. But it was MY motorcycle. My FIRST motorcycle. I've had over a dozen cars through the years, but only three motorcycles. And the Yamaha was the first. Plus you've gotta love a company that can make motorcycles and musical instruments...
9. Royal Enfield Bullet - Speaking of bikes that just had to make the list, there just had to be a standard motorcycle with British origins somewhere. And what better choice than an absolute throwback to the days of the original British invasion? 499cc engine, drum brakes, and 75 mpg in a bike that costs around $5K. If I was going to pick up a small motorcycle for commuting, it'd be a Royal Enfield - might as well rack up the miles in vintage style...
10. Boss Hoss 350 V8. Okay. I've gotta put in one of the Boss Hoss bikes, if for no reason other than the sheer "HOLY SHIT" factor of piloting a motorcycle powered by a GM 350 cubic inch engine. Sure, it's got two gears - around town and "OHMYG-DI'MGONNADIE" highway mode - but that V8 rumble is just as distinctive as the Harley V-twin, and when you realize it's coming from a motorcycle...
So there's my list of my favorite bikes. Obviously this is a subjective list, and I'm certain I've forgotten a couple dozen excellent motorcycles in the list. There's an obvious slant towards newer bikes in the list, and that comes from trying to keep a 20 year old Honda going before I got my Electra Glide (especially as a self-proclaimed "mechanically declined" person such as myself...).
So... I've shared m favorite bikes - let's hear about yours!
That is all.
Friday Gun Pr0n #91: 2008 in Review
Here's something I did at the end of last year that I particularly enjoyed. It's a recap of the year's firearms acquisitions for the last Friday of the year. So, presenting in chronological order, the firearms that were added to the G. armory in 2008:
The first new acquisition of the year was my Sig P226:
Followed very shortly thereafter by the Colt Lawman Mark III:
Several months passed before I added the Remington model 572 Fieldmaster:
The first new acquisition of the year was my Sig P226:
Followed very shortly thereafter by the Colt Lawman Mark III:
Several months passed before I added the Remington model 572 Fieldmaster:
Hmm. Seven new guns over the course of the year. And one gun (S&W model 10) was sold, for a net gain of six firearms. I'm going to have to seriously ramp up the acquisitions if I'm going to meet the tough new one-gun-a-month law...
That is all.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
The Reason...
Merry Christmas everyone. Remember the reason we celebrate - His birth.The Birth Of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke 2: 1 - 20
That is all.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Bad Idea...
Here's a bad idea: Showing your seven year old the "Mr. Hanky Song" on YouTube.
Bad idea. Huge.
That is all.
Bad idea. Huge.
That is all.
Careful Over Alaska, Santa!
Because we wouldn't want a repeat of last year:
Heh.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
That is all.
Heh.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
That is all.
EBR Follow-up...
Back in October, I posted my Worst Case Scenario list:
So, what was my list?
Top Tier: Most important.
AR-15 variant. From what I've heard, Bushmaster makes a decent rifle.
Status: Done.
Semi-auto AK-47 clone. Most likely a converted high-cap WASR-10 or SAR-1 if I can find one. Expected cost: $400 - $500. 6 pre-ban 30-round magazines, est. $100.
Status: On hiatus until prices return to earth - I saw a Saiga-7.62 rifle selling for $700 on a local classified. NFW am I paying $700-$800 for a freakin' WASR-10.
Second Tier: Still important, but 1st tier to be filled first.
Bolt-action .50 BMG rifle, a la Serbu. If the AWB doesn't happen, they'll push for the .50 cal to become an NFA item. Est. $2,000.
Status: Ain't gonna happen. Too rich for my blood.
Additional SKS. Two. One will remain in cosmolene. Est. $200 each, $400 total.
Status: Done, partially (got one, not two).
Glock 17. Good to have at least one high-capacity polymer 9mm. $450 est. Add in 4-6 pre-ban 17 round magazines, $100-$120.
Status: Possible, if I find the right deal. See AK clone, though, for insane pricing - saw a Gen 3 G17 in MA for sale, guy wanted $700 for it. NFW.
Semi-auto .308. FN/FAL, M1A, AR-10, etc. This one should be further down the list than it is, since I have the VEPR, but a magazine-fed semi-auto firearm with only one five-round magazine isn't the most effective battle rifle. The Saiga-308 would be the best option, starting at ~ $400; the M1A the most elegant, but also the most expensive, around $1200 - $1500. Plus 6-8 magazines for whichever option is chosen.
Status: Dubious. Gun fund's running a little low these days, and right now I'd rather concentrate on high-capacity magazines and ammo.
Saiga-12. With as many 8 round magazines as I can find.
Status: Seriously back-burnered. Got the Saiga-20, that'll have to do for now. Got enough 12 gauges...
M1 Carbine. Manufacturer irrelevant. Already have a boatload of absolute pre-ban magazines. Est. $500.
Status: This is the most likely to happen in the near future, ideally for an early BAG Day acquisition.
Third Tier. Everything else.
More high capacity 9mm pistols - Beretta 92, S&W Model 59, etc. Plus magazines for each.
Status: Back-burnered like the Saiga-12. Got the Sig P226 and a good number of hi-cap magazines; if anything I'll look around for a couple more and call that done.
Factory 12 gauge pump-action shotgun with 8-round magazine.
Status: Done.
Duplicate AR-15/AK-47 clone - following the "two is one, one is none" principle.
Status: Very dubious. See situation, money.
Extra "large capacity" magazines for every semi-automatic firearm I own, and a handful of mags for guns I don't own but might conceivably come across in the future.Ammo. Lots and lots and lots of ammo...
Status: ongoing.
I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel, but I can distinctly hear the fat lady warming up in the wings. Barring some miraculous outbreak of, you know, actual fairness and real journalism (not bloodly likely), it appears that Barack "ACORN" Obama will be our next president.Well, we know how THAT turned out...
Given that the Senate and House will most likely not only stay in Democratic control, but become even more further such entrenched, it's time to start thinking about the Wish List. The Firearm Acquisition Wish List. With Barack "Bring Back The Assault Weapon Ban" Obama wielding the Executive Order pen, Nancy "Botox" Pelosi riding herd over Congress and Harry "Deer in the headlights" Reid in the Senate, I think we can safely count on a return to the bad ol' Clinton years of persecution of lawful gun
owners.
So, what was my list?
Top Tier: Most important.
AR-15 variant. From what I've heard, Bushmaster makes a decent rifle.
Status: Done.
Semi-auto AK-47 clone. Most likely a converted high-cap WASR-10 or SAR-1 if I can find one. Expected cost: $400 - $500. 6 pre-ban 30-round magazines, est. $100.
Status: On hiatus until prices return to earth - I saw a Saiga-7.62 rifle selling for $700 on a local classified. NFW am I paying $700-$800 for a freakin' WASR-10.
Second Tier: Still important, but 1st tier to be filled first.
Bolt-action .50 BMG rifle, a la Serbu. If the AWB doesn't happen, they'll push for the .50 cal to become an NFA item. Est. $2,000.
Status: Ain't gonna happen. Too rich for my blood.
Additional SKS. Two. One will remain in cosmolene. Est. $200 each, $400 total.
Status: Done, partially (got one, not two).
Glock 17. Good to have at least one high-capacity polymer 9mm. $450 est. Add in 4-6 pre-ban 17 round magazines, $100-$120.
Status: Possible, if I find the right deal. See AK clone, though, for insane pricing - saw a Gen 3 G17 in MA for sale, guy wanted $700 for it. NFW.
Semi-auto .308. FN/FAL, M1A, AR-10, etc. This one should be further down the list than it is, since I have the VEPR, but a magazine-fed semi-auto firearm with only one five-round magazine isn't the most effective battle rifle. The Saiga-308 would be the best option, starting at ~ $400; the M1A the most elegant, but also the most expensive, around $1200 - $1500. Plus 6-8 magazines for whichever option is chosen.
Status: Dubious. Gun fund's running a little low these days, and right now I'd rather concentrate on high-capacity magazines and ammo.
Saiga-12. With as many 8 round magazines as I can find.
Status: Seriously back-burnered. Got the Saiga-20, that'll have to do for now. Got enough 12 gauges...
M1 Carbine. Manufacturer irrelevant. Already have a boatload of absolute pre-ban magazines. Est. $500.
Status: This is the most likely to happen in the near future, ideally for an early BAG Day acquisition.
Third Tier. Everything else.
More high capacity 9mm pistols - Beretta 92, S&W Model 59, etc. Plus magazines for each.
Status: Back-burnered like the Saiga-12. Got the Sig P226 and a good number of hi-cap magazines; if anything I'll look around for a couple more and call that done.
Factory 12 gauge pump-action shotgun with 8-round magazine.
Status: Done.
Duplicate AR-15/AK-47 clone - following the "two is one, one is none" principle.
Status: Very dubious. See situation, money.
Extra "large capacity" magazines for every semi-automatic firearm I own, and a handful of mags for guns I don't own but might conceivably come across in the future.Ammo. Lots and lots and lots of ammo...
Status: ongoing.
So that's the update on the post-Obamacalypse panic gun buying. Got one representative firearm from each tier, now I need to focus on more magazines and ammo. Oh, and accessorizing for the new guns I just got, too...
That is all.
Optics Bleg
So, I just bought a couple new fancy evil black firearms. One scattergun, one AR-15. The scattergun currently has a $25 BSA red dot sight on it; the AR has iron sights.
I'd like to upgrade both.
However, I think I've mentioned this before, I'm a cheap bastard. I'm not looking to drop $500 on the latest and greatest EOTech. I'd rather spend $100 on something not quite as bells-and-whistles-y and $400 on a case of ammo... For the Mossberg, I'd like to get a low-profile red dot or holo sight, nothing fancy, but something that can stand up to the rigors of a shotgun. For the Bushmaster, I'm thinking something with a bit (2X-4X) magnification that I could sight in at 100 yards and plink away. I'll need something that mounts to the carrying handle for the AR; the Mossberg has a standard Weaver rail.
So... What are my options?
Mossberg: This is the kind of sight I'm thinking of. $50 (less with C&R discount), favorably rated (realizing, of course, that n=2 isn't exactly a statistically valid group...). A slightly more expensive option, with better ratings, is this model. Any reason to look further, or other options that might be more what I'm looking for? I'd prefer to keep this scope options to under $100.
Bushmaster: This is where things get interesting. There's about, oh, a hundred million billion different sighting options available for the AR-15; with the choices only slightly limited by the carrying handle. Which, naturally, can be overcome for about $20... Ideally, I'd like to get a magnified red dot type scope at ~ 4X power for the Bushmaster, something that can reach out to 100 yards or so but not break the bank. Something under $150 here. Some possibilities are here, here, or here.
Any recommendations, either specific scopes to look for or certain manufacturers to avoid, are welcome. I've had extremely limited experience with scopes, mainly putting $10 4X scopes on rimfire rifles for 25 yard plinking, so I've got quite the learning curve ahead of me. The main focus for both optics is short-range work; nothing beyond 50 yards for the Mossberg and nothing beyond 100 yards for the Bushmaster. I don't need a ½ MOA scope nor a night-vision holographic sight here, just basic, no-frills, low-budger add-ons.
Any and all help is greatly appreciated!
That is all.
I'd like to upgrade both.
However, I think I've mentioned this before, I'm a cheap bastard. I'm not looking to drop $500 on the latest and greatest EOTech. I'd rather spend $100 on something not quite as bells-and-whistles-y and $400 on a case of ammo... For the Mossberg, I'd like to get a low-profile red dot or holo sight, nothing fancy, but something that can stand up to the rigors of a shotgun. For the Bushmaster, I'm thinking something with a bit (2X-4X) magnification that I could sight in at 100 yards and plink away. I'll need something that mounts to the carrying handle for the AR; the Mossberg has a standard Weaver rail.
So... What are my options?
Mossberg: This is the kind of sight I'm thinking of. $50 (less with C&R discount), favorably rated (realizing, of course, that n=2 isn't exactly a statistically valid group...). A slightly more expensive option, with better ratings, is this model. Any reason to look further, or other options that might be more what I'm looking for? I'd prefer to keep this scope options to under $100.
Bushmaster: This is where things get interesting. There's about, oh, a hundred million billion different sighting options available for the AR-15; with the choices only slightly limited by the carrying handle. Which, naturally, can be overcome for about $20... Ideally, I'd like to get a magnified red dot type scope at ~ 4X power for the Bushmaster, something that can reach out to 100 yards or so but not break the bank. Something under $150 here. Some possibilities are here, here, or here.
Any recommendations, either specific scopes to look for or certain manufacturers to avoid, are welcome. I've had extremely limited experience with scopes, mainly putting $10 4X scopes on rimfire rifles for 25 yard plinking, so I've got quite the learning curve ahead of me. The main focus for both optics is short-range work; nothing beyond 50 yards for the Mossberg and nothing beyond 100 yards for the Bushmaster. I don't need a ½ MOA scope nor a night-vision holographic sight here, just basic, no-frills, low-budger add-ons.
Any and all help is greatly appreciated!
That is all.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Just for Tam...
Who complained of an earworm a few days back. I posted that the only known cure was this:
Just try and get that out of your head!
That is all.
Just try and get that out of your head!
That is all.
For the Restivus!
How could I have forgotten?
Today, of course, is Festivus.
Should we air our grievances first, or commence with the feats of strength?
That is all.
Today, of course, is Festivus.
Should we air our grievances first, or commence with the feats of strength?
That is all.
Northeast Blogger Winter Gathering Reminder II
One last reminder to everyone that the Northeast Blogger Winter Gathering is this coming Saturday!!!
What? Northeast Blogger Winter Gathering.
Who? Any and all bloggers, commenters, readers, lurkers, etc. in the Northeast area, or those passing through, or anyone crazy enough to show up.
When? Saturday, December 27th 2008, starting at 5:00 PM and going until they throw us out.
Where? The "Brew Section" at Martha's Exchange in Nashua, NH.
Why? Folks getting together to enjoy good food, great beer, and superlative company. Bring your appetite, a whistle for wetting, and your best stories to tell.
See last update for folks who are planning to attend.
It was brought to my attention that we might want to have nametags of some sort, given that there's going to be some 20+ people at this shindig. I'm more than happy to pick up either honest-to-goodness name tags or just the stick-on ones if people would like. Let me know if this is something to look into...
That is all...
What? Northeast Blogger Winter Gathering.
Who? Any and all bloggers, commenters, readers, lurkers, etc. in the Northeast area, or those passing through, or anyone crazy enough to show up.
When? Saturday, December 27th 2008, starting at 5:00 PM and going until they throw us out.
Where? The "Brew Section" at Martha's Exchange in Nashua, NH.
Why? Folks getting together to enjoy good food, great beer, and superlative company. Bring your appetite, a whistle for wetting, and your best stories to tell.
See last update for folks who are planning to attend.
It was brought to my attention that we might want to have nametags of some sort, given that there's going to be some 20+ people at this shindig. I'm more than happy to pick up either honest-to-goodness name tags or just the stick-on ones if people would like. Let me know if this is something to look into...
That is all...
Froze Toez...
Alternate title: You know you're in New England when...
Came downstairs this morning, took a look at the thermometer, and was relieved to see the temperature was a balmy 27ºF. My first thought? "Oh, it's warm out today"...
Then I stepped outside and was hit with harsh reality: the thermometer probe is buried under a foot of snow and thereby insulated. The actual temperature outside is a wintry 7ºF...
Note to Al Gore. Ur Global Warming iz broked.
That is all.
Came downstairs this morning, took a look at the thermometer, and was relieved to see the temperature was a balmy 27ºF. My first thought? "Oh, it's warm out today"...
Then I stepped outside and was hit with harsh reality: the thermometer probe is buried under a foot of snow and thereby insulated. The actual temperature outside is a wintry 7ºF...
Note to Al Gore. Ur Global Warming iz broked.
That is all.
Thought Question
Yes, it's another one of those "What Would You Do?" questions...
Okay. Here's the scenario. It's dusk, and you're in a decent area of town. Assume, for the sake of argument, you're standing outside of a restaurant having a smoke (or chatting with someone having a smoke). A person of questionable means (looks like a bum) crosses the street and heads towards you. He has his hand in his jacket pocket, and as he gets within earshot, demands your wallet/purse. You are a lawfully licensed CCW holder with your lawfully owned firearm on your person.
What do you do?
This is the kind of grey-area scenario that we need to be thinking about, IMHO. This is exactly the nebulous kind of situation where we need to have a plan in place before the ball drops. For me, there's a lot of variables that aren't apparent in this situation but require thought ahead of time.
What if he's got a loaded gun in his pocket, his hand on the trigger, and he's just itching to blow some rich person away?
What if he's got nothing but his own meathook in the pocket, and is no more dangerous than Mother Theresa?
Are you willing to gamble with your life that he doesn't have a weapon?
Are you willing to gamble with your freedom if he doesn't?
I'm not terribly willing to surrender my wallet. First off, my license with my home address is in it. I really don't want Chippy McCrackhead deciding to head to my house at 3 AM for an easy score. Second, there's a grey area in MA that makes the claim that if you do not have your LTC on your person when you have a firearm, then you are carrying illegally - felony illegally. In the absense of an immediate threat to my life, I'm reluctant to hand over the wallet (in the presence of an immediate threat to my life, someone's getting ventilated).
So here you are, face to face with Billy Boozebag and his jacket pocket. You've got to assess the threat, determine if its serious enough to employ deadly force, and put that force into use if necessary, all in the span of, what, 2-3 seconds? If that is a gun in his pocket, the momentary hesitation you show before action could be enough to cost you your life. If it's not a gun, and you draw your weapon (even without firing), you're opening yourself up to a world of liability.
I don't know the answer. There's a lot of variable in play, and I'd need to be staring Richie Reefer down before I made a move. In the absense of a visible weapon, I'd most likely take the chance and run like a scared jackrabbit - sure, in an ideal world, it would be perfectly legal to draw my Model 19 and pistol-whip the little bastard just for good measure. But we don't live in a perfect world, and I don't want to be explaining to my Chief of Police the felony stop I had performed on me in Boston because some disadvantaged youth stopped to ask me directions to the local Toys for Tots drive...
So what would you do?
That is all.
Okay. Here's the scenario. It's dusk, and you're in a decent area of town. Assume, for the sake of argument, you're standing outside of a restaurant having a smoke (or chatting with someone having a smoke). A person of questionable means (looks like a bum) crosses the street and heads towards you. He has his hand in his jacket pocket, and as he gets within earshot, demands your wallet/purse. You are a lawfully licensed CCW holder with your lawfully owned firearm on your person.
What do you do?
This is the kind of grey-area scenario that we need to be thinking about, IMHO. This is exactly the nebulous kind of situation where we need to have a plan in place before the ball drops. For me, there's a lot of variables that aren't apparent in this situation but require thought ahead of time.
What if he's got a loaded gun in his pocket, his hand on the trigger, and he's just itching to blow some rich person away?
What if he's got nothing but his own meathook in the pocket, and is no more dangerous than Mother Theresa?
Are you willing to gamble with your life that he doesn't have a weapon?
Are you willing to gamble with your freedom if he doesn't?
I'm not terribly willing to surrender my wallet. First off, my license with my home address is in it. I really don't want Chippy McCrackhead deciding to head to my house at 3 AM for an easy score. Second, there's a grey area in MA that makes the claim that if you do not have your LTC on your person when you have a firearm, then you are carrying illegally - felony illegally. In the absense of an immediate threat to my life, I'm reluctant to hand over the wallet (in the presence of an immediate threat to my life, someone's getting ventilated).
So here you are, face to face with Billy Boozebag and his jacket pocket. You've got to assess the threat, determine if its serious enough to employ deadly force, and put that force into use if necessary, all in the span of, what, 2-3 seconds? If that is a gun in his pocket, the momentary hesitation you show before action could be enough to cost you your life. If it's not a gun, and you draw your weapon (even without firing), you're opening yourself up to a world of liability.
I don't know the answer. There's a lot of variable in play, and I'd need to be staring Richie Reefer down before I made a move. In the absense of a visible weapon, I'd most likely take the chance and run like a scared jackrabbit - sure, in an ideal world, it would be perfectly legal to draw my Model 19 and pistol-whip the little bastard just for good measure. But we don't live in a perfect world, and I don't want to be explaining to my Chief of Police the felony stop I had performed on me in Boston because some disadvantaged youth stopped to ask me directions to the local Toys for Tots drive...
So what would you do?
That is all.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Random Riffs
In no particular order...
- Ladies, if your SO has spent the better part of the weekend clearing literally FEET of snow from the driveway, walkways, etc.; up to and including clearing the driveway in sweats so you can get out and run errands rather than being housebound, a simple "thank you" goes an awfully long way...
- In the snow-clearing vein, my left shoulder is never going to stop hurting if we keep getting snow by the foot...
- It ought to be legal to shoot someone driving down the road with their entire car covered in snow except for a 6" hole in the windshield in front of the driver's side. Maybe not to kill, but you should be able to at least wing 'em. Stupidity should hurt.
- If you help your kids build an eight-foot tall snowman, including a middle section that's 3.5' around and weighs more than an engine block, and THEN shovel snow for an hour and a half, don't wake up the next morning and wonder why your back hurts.
- Much like every other year on record, I still have a bit of Christmas shopping to do with only 3 days left. CRAP...
- I'm looking forward to Christmas even more so this year - it's one of the few times out of the year that I completely and utterly stop counting calories. I'll pay for it the next day, but Mom G.'s Christmas meal is worth it...
Number Two...
Another heartwarming story out of the Hoosier state:
Police: Employee kills robber at grocery store
Gotta love a story with a happy ending. Doesn't that leave you all warm and fuzzy inside? Now, I've just got to ask: What, exactly, was the robber's plan, herding everyone into the back of the store and pointing his weapon at them? Was he going to ask them for more hopenchange? Or, perhaps, was he getting rid of witnesses? I'd say that employee saved a lot of lives...
Now, to my Hoosier friends... Shall we take up a collection to buy the employee a box of ammo to say thanks?
Good guys: 1. Goblins: 0.
Dead Goblin count: 2.
That is all.
Link found courtesy of Caleb from Call Me Ahab...
Police: Employee kills robber at grocery store
A robber was shot and killed by a grocery store employee Sunday after the robber pointed a gun at a customer and her baby, police said.
The shooting happened at 8:50 p.m. at Tienda Suarez, 6240 W. 34th St.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Sgt. Matthew Mount said the robber, brandishing a handgun, corralled all the customers into one part of the store. When the robber pointed the gun at a woman and her child, an employee shot him. The man was taken to Wishard Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Gotta love a story with a happy ending. Doesn't that leave you all warm and fuzzy inside? Now, I've just got to ask: What, exactly, was the robber's plan, herding everyone into the back of the store and pointing his weapon at them? Was he going to ask them for more hopenchange? Or, perhaps, was he getting rid of witnesses? I'd say that employee saved a lot of lives...
Now, to my Hoosier friends... Shall we take up a collection to buy the employee a box of ammo to say thanks?
Good guys: 1. Goblins: 0.
Dead Goblin count: 2.
That is all.
Link found courtesy of Caleb from Call Me Ahab...
Careful With that "X" Eugene...
There's something a lot of people have that has many misconceptions swirling around it and its use.
- This item is not a magic talisman. Simply possessing it does not make one invulnerable.
- Relying on this item rather than basic common sense and situational awareness will lead to very bad things.
- It's absolutely critical to know when this item should be used versus when it should not be used.
- Use of this item requires practice; it's not something that should be ignored for months at a time and then pulled out at the last minute, deus ex machina style.
- This item should never get you into trouble, only out of it.
- This item can give you peace of mind even though you may never use it.
What's the item in question? Why, four-wheel-drive, of course!
What, you thought I meant something else?
That is all.
Not Covered by the "Great Big Book of Everything"
...and for the parents out there, sorry for putting the song in your head...
Saturday night, as we drove home from a family night out to dinner, The Boy asked a question about "those idiots who flew the planes into the buildings in New York." Apparently they were singing "This Land Is Your Land" in music class, and their music teacher commented on the 9/11 attacks as part of "to the New York islands." I don't know the exact circumstances (getting correct information out of a tired second-grader isn't the easiest of chores), so I won't comment on whether it was appropriate or not.
So The Boy started asking questions about 9/11. Why did it happen? Why do they hate us? Why do they want to kill us? And it just tore me up inside that I had to explain the concept of radical fundamentalism to my son, especially after so recently bringing him to church. It's hard to boil down the nutjob perversion that is radical Islam to a form understandable to a seven year old; it's even harder to bring in the religious aspect.
How the hell do you tell a kid that there are people out there who want to kill us simply because we follow a different religion? I tried to present the basic concept that they had different beliefs than we do, and that while ours revolve around doing good to help people, theirs revolve around hatred, intolerance, and rewards for those who kill people who don't belong to that religion. It was made doubly hard in that he's just starting to learn about his own religion - we haven't even scratched the surface of the different religions found around the world. Hell, how many different branches of Christianity are there?
What's really hard is not having a good answer for my son's "Why, Daddy?"
And I hate that these barbarians make this conversation necessary. I hate that I have to explain the concept of hijacking a plane; dying for a cause; the raw, unadulterated hatred that drives a man to give his own life solely for the purpose of killing others for his cause. I have to tread lightly, lest the anger and violence I feel towards these subhumans influence my responses. I stressed the heroism of the people who resisted on Flight 93 and how they saved the lives of countless hundreds or thousands on the ground by fighting back (always take the opportunity to plug the concept of fighting back!).
I don't want to explain mass murder or wild-eyed fanaticism to my children. But even more than that, I don't want them to fall victim to it as random victims of the violence it spawns. I tried to reassure him that we wouldn't encounter anything like this on a plane (we're hoping to do Disneyworld next year), that people wouldn't let it happen a second time. But looking at the sheep around us, people blithely sleepwalking through life in Condition Translucent (worse than white), I don't know if that's necessarily true.
What I do know is that I will be dead before harm comes to my children, and whoever attempts that harm will either be dead as well or missing a few key pieces at the least.
That is all.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha Ha...
Okay. Just spent the past hour and a half shoveling my driveway.
Again.
Why, you ask, did Jay shovel the 6" of snow off his driveway rather than use the 25HP lawn tractor with 46" snowthrower attachment? Was it broken? Out of gas? Being used by Dad G. (the rightful owner)?
No. I shoveled my driveway by hand because the snowthrower doesn't pack the snow into a snow fort... The horrors we invite upon ourselves in the interest of making our children happy... Rather than take the easy, mechanized way out, I fell back on the tried-and-true method of snow removal via pure brute force.
All to make sure my kids had a snow fort that would be the envy of the neighborhood...
Sometimes a dad's gotta do what a dad's gotta do. If that means a little elbow grease instead of the easy way out, well, hell. It's a good workout. That's how I look at it. And now, instead of having a sterile, perfectly clean driveway with straight-lined edges, we have ragged shovel marks. And five feet of packed snow fort walls along the entire driveway.
And two ecstatically happy children, who showed their appreciation by raining snowballs down on their hapless father while he finished shoveling. Naturally, they received several shovels of snow catapulted back at them - I may be an old softie, but I'm not above retaliation...
That is all.
Again.
Why, you ask, did Jay shovel the 6" of snow off his driveway rather than use the 25HP lawn tractor with 46" snowthrower attachment? Was it broken? Out of gas? Being used by Dad G. (the rightful owner)?
No. I shoveled my driveway by hand because the snowthrower doesn't pack the snow into a snow fort... The horrors we invite upon ourselves in the interest of making our children happy... Rather than take the easy, mechanized way out, I fell back on the tried-and-true method of snow removal via pure brute force.
All to make sure my kids had a snow fort that would be the envy of the neighborhood...
Sometimes a dad's gotta do what a dad's gotta do. If that means a little elbow grease instead of the easy way out, well, hell. It's a good workout. That's how I look at it. And now, instead of having a sterile, perfectly clean driveway with straight-lined edges, we have ragged shovel marks. And five feet of packed snow fort walls along the entire driveway.
And two ecstatically happy children, who showed their appreciation by raining snowballs down on their hapless father while he finished shoveling. Naturally, they received several shovels of snow catapulted back at them - I may be an old softie, but I'm not above retaliation...
That is all.
You Win This Round, Al Gore!
12" of snow Friday into Saturday.
Up to 15" of snow predicted between today and tomorrow morning.
Global Warming, take me away!
That is all.
Up to 15" of snow predicted between today and tomorrow morning.
Global Warming, take me away!
That is all.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
If Necessity Is the Mother of Invention...
...then duct tape is the crazy uncle everyone strives to avoid over the holidays...
Since there's a reasonable possibility that the kids will be getting snow gear for Christmas, and we've just had the first appreciable snowfall of the season, we'd been waiting until after the holidays to get any snow-related outerwear the kids might need. We wanted to avoid the scene two Christmases ago where BabyGirlG got not one, not two, but three snowsuits (one for home, one for daycare, one for???).
So we've had to make do:
MacGuvyer, eat your heart out!
Yes, those are The Boy's boots. They still fit him - kinda. I noticed the other day when we pulled them out of the closet that the only thing holding the entire sole onto the rest of the boot was apparently his foot funk... Given that you could literally see daylight through the boot, it struck me that it probably was less-than-optimal for keeping snow & wetness out and heat in.
Ah, duct tape. Is there anything you can't do?
For every problem there are many solutions. Some are elegant. Some are intricate. And some just require judicious application of a tough waterproof tape. Kinda like raising kids. Errr... (Just kiddin' DYS. We use bungee cords...)
That is all.
Since there's a reasonable possibility that the kids will be getting snow gear for Christmas, and we've just had the first appreciable snowfall of the season, we'd been waiting until after the holidays to get any snow-related outerwear the kids might need. We wanted to avoid the scene two Christmases ago where BabyGirlG got not one, not two, but three snowsuits (one for home, one for daycare, one for???).
So we've had to make do:
MacGuvyer, eat your heart out!
Yes, those are The Boy's boots. They still fit him - kinda. I noticed the other day when we pulled them out of the closet that the only thing holding the entire sole onto the rest of the boot was apparently his foot funk... Given that you could literally see daylight through the boot, it struck me that it probably was less-than-optimal for keeping snow & wetness out and heat in.
Ah, duct tape. Is there anything you can't do?
For every problem there are many solutions. Some are elegant. Some are intricate. And some just require judicious application of a tough waterproof tape. Kinda like raising kids. Errr... (Just kiddin' DYS. We use bungee cords...)
That is all.
Saturday Snow Photoblogging...
Here's the view from MY porch:
And here's Casa del G.:
Sure is pretty, once you've spent 2+ hours clearing your driveway and can enjoy it (after the Advil kicks in, that is...)
That is all.
And here's Casa del G.:
Sure is pretty, once you've spent 2+ hours clearing your driveway and can enjoy it (after the Advil kicks in, that is...)
That is all.
Friday, December 19, 2008
"I Know, I Know"...
This one's for the parents out there...
Both The Boy and BabyGirlG have the most annoying habit. Whenever they are scolded for any reason, the stock response is "I know, I know" in an annoyed voice. It doesn't matter what they've done; it doesn't matter how many times they've gotten in trouble for doing it before; most of the time it seems to be a rote response, much like the moro reflex...
Quite frankly, it drives Mrs. G. and I positively batshit insane.
Our standard response to it is something along the lines of "No, you obviously don't know, or you wouldn't have [done/said/forgotten/etc.] what you did!" This has approximately the same effect as firing a BB gun at the Death Star, except that the Death Star wouldn't then turn and give a blank stare vaguely reminiscent of a grazing bovine...
It's become a battle of wills. Will Mrs. G. and I go crazy first, or will our children learn to live in a world without television, computers, toys, or video games? Will we have to resort to the time-honored tradition of the backhand? Tune in to next week's installment of "As the Stomach Churns"...
That is all.
Both The Boy and BabyGirlG have the most annoying habit. Whenever they are scolded for any reason, the stock response is "I know, I know" in an annoyed voice. It doesn't matter what they've done; it doesn't matter how many times they've gotten in trouble for doing it before; most of the time it seems to be a rote response, much like the moro reflex...
Quite frankly, it drives Mrs. G. and I positively batshit insane.
Our standard response to it is something along the lines of "No, you obviously don't know, or you wouldn't have [done/said/forgotten/etc.] what you did!" This has approximately the same effect as firing a BB gun at the Death Star, except that the Death Star wouldn't then turn and give a blank stare vaguely reminiscent of a grazing bovine...
It's become a battle of wills. Will Mrs. G. and I go crazy first, or will our children learn to live in a world without television, computers, toys, or video games? Will we have to resort to the time-honored tradition of the backhand? Tune in to next week's installment of "As the Stomach Churns"...
That is all.
Battin' 500...
There's a particularly difficult intersection on my daily commute. There's two lanes coming up to a traffic light where two main routes intersect. The left lane turns left; the right lane goes straight or turns right. The right lane typically has 4-6X the traffic of the left.
(See where this is going?)
Well, the past two days I've been the first person at the light in the right lane, and the person next to me has ignored the line of traffic, numerous signs, and all attempts at common courtesy and proceeded straight through the intersection rather than turning left as they should.
In neither case did the driver use a turn signal to indicate their dumbassery; go figure.
Yesterday it was a Toyota Tundra. When the light turned green, I saw him start to go straight and floored it - smoked 'im. Today it was an Audi A8. If the rear-end of the Ram hadn't broken loose, I might have had a chance. He smoked me. (Re: If... My grandfather had a saying whenever we whined about "If X had only happened". He'd look us straight in the eye and say, "If? If the dog hadn't stopped to shit he'd have caught the rabbit." Grampy was like that...).
Yesterday I was the dog, today I was the hydrant...
That is all.
(See where this is going?)
Well, the past two days I've been the first person at the light in the right lane, and the person next to me has ignored the line of traffic, numerous signs, and all attempts at common courtesy and proceeded straight through the intersection rather than turning left as they should.
In neither case did the driver use a turn signal to indicate their dumbassery; go figure.
Yesterday it was a Toyota Tundra. When the light turned green, I saw him start to go straight and floored it - smoked 'im. Today it was an Audi A8. If the rear-end of the Ram hadn't broken loose, I might have had a chance. He smoked me. (Re: If... My grandfather had a saying whenever we whined about "If X had only happened". He'd look us straight in the eye and say, "If? If the dog hadn't stopped to shit he'd have caught the rabbit." Grampy was like that...).
Yesterday I was the dog, today I was the hydrant...
That is all.
Friday Fun Thread: Mid-Life Crisis Cars!
And now for something completely different... This week's list consists of cars most likely to find their way into the garage of a 40- to 60- something male homo sapiens. These are the "mid-life crisis" cars; the ones purchased when a man feels youth slipping through his fingers like so much of his hair... The last-ditch effort to be cool or hip or current... You know the type - bad comb-over, spare tire (that most often could fit a semi), etc...
So here are the cars that Herb Tarlek might covet
1. Chevrolet Corvette convertible - gotta be red, ideally with white top. The discerning MLC sufferer will choose a classic 'Vette, perhaps an early '70s Stingray. Other common variants are early 1990s ZR-1s or early (1995-96) C5s.
2. Ford Mustang GT convertible - for the budget-conscious MLC, a new GT will set you back less than $30K new, and even less for a 2-3 year old used model. Can also be subsituted for a boutique 'Stang like the Bullitt commemorative, Cobra, or a new Shelby variant.
3. Porsche 911/Boxster. The more upscale MLC car carries a Bavarian badge; this is most often a changeover from a similar vintage upscale SUV like a Land Rover or Mercedes M series. The 911 is more traditional, but the Boxster retains more of the Porsche heritage with the air-cooled engine amidships.
4. Subaru WRX. This might appeal to the later-in-life dads who want some thing sporty and yet still suitable for a (small) family. It's sporty, has Fast 'n' Furious-type cred, and can seat four in a pinch with room for groceries. This is one of the more responsible MLC choices.
5. Dodge Challenger. For a long time, the Viper was the only Chrysler offering that would make this sort of list, but now the Challenger takes its place. With the 6.1L Hemi engine, this car is stupidly fast, has major league retro appeal, and can be obtained for under $100K...
6. Mercedes CLK convertible. Another high-end MLC car; Mercedes convertibles have been a favorite of the silver-hair set since the venerable 280 became the car of choice for Matt Houston (I'm showing my age with that reference!). Speed, comfort, and German engineering all in one package that screams "sugar daddy" - what's not to love?
7. Jeep Wrangler. (No offense Ted). Another practical vehicle for someone looking for a youth-oriented vehicle, the Jeep has the added benefit of being something that's equally at home in the winter as well as the summer. Pop the top, take the doors off, and you're all set to cruise the beach; put on the hard top and hard doors and you've got a legendary 4WD machine for the snowy months. If you really want attention, a lift kit and 33" tires will get you noticed - just don't take any sharp corners...
8. Volkswagen GTI. With the first GTI introduced to the American market in 1983, those 20-somethings who ponied up the extra $$$ for the GTI package in 1983 are now in their mid- to upper 40s and looking at new GTIs as a way to relive their youth. And I'm not just saying this because I had an '86 GTI and I'm jealous of Robb's new wheels...
9. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Another "boy racer" inspired by the FnF craze, this is a 290+ HP turbocharged grocery-getter that harkens back to the days of the Omni GLH. The Dodge turbos and the Buick Grand National helped bring turbo- and super-charged engines to the forefront of automotive performance once the displacement wars ended in the mid 1970s, and the technology has gotten a lot more advanced and impressive as we approach the 2010s...
10. 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird. The "retro" or "boutique" T-bird which ranks right up there with the Edsel as one of Ford's blunders; it's still a sharp, stylish car that Ford all but gave away as models languished on the sales lots. Initial pricing was upwards of $50K, at which price buyers laughed and bought Mustangs aplenty. As the sales dropped from anemic to outright sickly, Ford slashed prices in half, resulting in a fairly good bargain. When they canceled it after only three years, it ensured that this model would be nothing if not a unique choice.
So... Did I miss the car you're waiting for? What vehicular conveyance are you planning on purchasing once you no longer have to schlep around car seats/hockey equipment/camping gear/etc.? Have you noticed a plethora of late-model lotharios cruising around in a car not mentioned? Inquiring minds want to know...
That is all.
Friday Gun Pr0n #90
Okay. It is time. Time to reveal what the sooper-special gun for today's gun pr0n might be...
I'll start off with this hint:
No, not an M1 Garand (although that is on the short list of "Guns Jay Desperately Wants To Get ASAP"). The Garand's successor. Specifically, the semi-automatic variant thereof (I don't have $15K for a transferable M-16!):
Yes, Barack Obama's imminent coronation has caused me to do what heretofore was thought impossible: Buy an AR-15-based semi-automatic rifle...
This is a Bushmaster (Sorry Old NFO!) XM15-E2S semi-automatic rifle chambered in .223 Remington (5.56 mm NATO). 16" barrel, pinned stock to comply with MA AWB {spit}, and 5 genuine pre-ban Colt 20-round magazines. Bought used, but barely - it looked like it had been shot maybe once or twice, tops - at my local merchant of death. Considering the current climate and availability of evil black rifles, I'm quite pleased with the deal I got...
Here I am at the range, about to shoot my shiny new rifle:
Holy crap .223 Remington is fun to shoot! It sounds like the world is coming to an end, especially with the short barrel; however the "kick" is an absolute minimum. That's actually one of the reasons I was so interested in an AR-15 based gun - it's a good introduction to semi-automatic rifles. It's not terribly heavy, yet the round doesn't kick like a mule like a .308 would.
So, how does it shoot?
Well, considering that:
1. This is the first time I've ever shot this rifle;
2. I was on the 50 yard range;
3. The rifle has no optics, and my eyesight's not the greatest...
I'd say it shoots pretty damned well:
I need to adjust the sights a bit, obviously - it was shooting low and to the left. I'm going to look around for a decent 4X scope or 2X red dot type sight (any suggestions?) and get everything sighted in at once.
Now the big question: Who's got pre-ban 30 rounders they'd like to unload?
That is all.
I'll start off with this hint:
No, not an M1 Garand (although that is on the short list of "Guns Jay Desperately Wants To Get ASAP"). The Garand's successor. Specifically, the semi-automatic variant thereof (I don't have $15K for a transferable M-16!):
Yes, Barack Obama's imminent coronation has caused me to do what heretofore was thought impossible: Buy an AR-15-based semi-automatic rifle...
This is a Bushmaster (Sorry Old NFO!) XM15-E2S semi-automatic rifle chambered in .223 Remington (5.56 mm NATO). 16" barrel, pinned stock to comply with MA AWB {spit}, and 5 genuine pre-ban Colt 20-round magazines. Bought used, but barely - it looked like it had been shot maybe once or twice, tops - at my local merchant of death. Considering the current climate and availability of evil black rifles, I'm quite pleased with the deal I got...
Here I am at the range, about to shoot my shiny new rifle:
Holy crap .223 Remington is fun to shoot! It sounds like the world is coming to an end, especially with the short barrel; however the "kick" is an absolute minimum. That's actually one of the reasons I was so interested in an AR-15 based gun - it's a good introduction to semi-automatic rifles. It's not terribly heavy, yet the round doesn't kick like a mule like a .308 would.
So, how does it shoot?
Well, considering that:
1. This is the first time I've ever shot this rifle;
2. I was on the 50 yard range;
3. The rifle has no optics, and my eyesight's not the greatest...
I'd say it shoots pretty damned well:
I need to adjust the sights a bit, obviously - it was shooting low and to the left. I'm going to look around for a decent 4X scope or 2X red dot type sight (any suggestions?) and get everything sighted in at once.
Now the big question: Who's got pre-ban 30 rounders they'd like to unload?
That is all.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Guessing Game, Part II!
Got a sooper-special Friday Gun Pr0n for tomorrow. It's something that's been on my list for a long time; something that moved up the ranks with a certain Presidential election outcome. I've been unable to contain my enthusiasm and let a handful of y'all know, so those of you "in the know" just hush for a bit.
So, the big question for today is: What's Jay's new mystery gun?
To be revealed first thing Friday morning. It's very cool, I do have to admit... Give your guesses in comments - let's see who comes closest!
That is all.
So, the big question for today is: What's Jay's new mystery gun?
To be revealed first thing Friday morning. It's very cool, I do have to admit... Give your guesses in comments - let's see who comes closest!
That is all.
Paging the Wahmbulance, Part II...
Wow. What is it with the whining lately?
'Taliban American' asks Bush to commute prison sentence
Let's get one thing straight, right now. This man took up arms against the United States. By all rights, he should have faced a firing squad or a hangman's noose seven years ago. What he did is treason, plain and simple, and the penalty for treason is death. His mother's request for "mercy" has already been granted in the sentencing; that this puke didn't do the Danny Deever seven years ago is mercy enough.
Then again, if this country is so heinous that he felt the need to take up arms against it, perhaps "mercy" would be served with a single .22 behind the ear?
That is all.
'Taliban American' asks Bush to commute prison sentence
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The man dubbed the "Taliban American" is asking the president to commute the remaining years of his federal prison sentence, according to a statement released by his attorneys Wednesday.
John Walker Lindh is hoping that President Bush will commute the rest of his 20-year sentence.
John Walker Lindh, a 27-year-old Californian, has served seven years of a 20-year sentence after being captured in Afghanistan in 2001.
Let's get one thing straight, right now. This man took up arms against the United States. By all rights, he should have faced a firing squad or a hangman's noose seven years ago. What he did is treason, plain and simple, and the penalty for treason is death. His mother's request for "mercy" has already been granted in the sentencing; that this puke didn't do the Danny Deever seven years ago is mercy enough.
Then again, if this country is so heinous that he felt the need to take up arms against it, perhaps "mercy" would be served with a single .22 behind the ear?
That is all.
Merry Christmas! Part II
With Christmas merely a week away, I thought I'd share our family's Christmas letter.
G. Family Christmas Letter 2008
It is time again for the G. Christmas letter. What a year 2008 has been for us! It started out in grand style - The Boy took First Place for the Tiger Cubs in the Pinewood Derby, earning him a trip to Regionals in March. He faced some stiff competition from his fellow Tigers, coming in a respectable fifth place (sadly, trophies were only awarded through Fourth…); however he knew the Tiger who took first place - his pre-school friend Jack (whose father is a mechanic, go figure…)
April was a very busy month, with Mrs. G’s parents moving into a new home in [town name redacted]. Mrs. G was very busy helping her parents pack for the move as well as helping to clean out the former family homestead in [second town name redacted]. It was a tough job cleaning out years and years of memories (not to mention dust bunnies!) but Mrs. G and her sisters made short work of cleaning out the old house in [second town name redacted] in time for the big move.
May saw the end of an era, with BabyGirlG finishing pre-school; June saw the end of the school year and The Boy’s first summer camp. We also took our first family tenting trip, going to the Cub Scout Family Weekend at Lonetree Reservation. The Boy and BabyGirlG did actually sleep in the tent rather than just bounce off the walls… We didn’t take our camper out as much as we’d have liked to, given that gas was $4/gallon; however in August we did take a week’s vacation on Cape Cod as we’ve done for the past few years. It’s always nice to have time to just relax!
School started the week before Labor Day, and BabyGirlG went off to full-day Kindergarten! Yes, both G. children are now riding the big yellow school bus. [Name redacted] School is still adjusting to the G. Gang roaming the halls, with big brother The Boy in second grade to keep a wary eye on his little sister (and he is certain to let us know when she gets in trouble!). Both kids are doing well in school, with The Boy needing to pay closer attention to his penmanship (we have no idea where he gets that!!!) and BabyGirlG needing to be nicer to the other children (mostly not beating up the boys…).
October was a busy month, with Mrs. G getting promoted to a supervisory position. She’s now the supervisor of the laboratory assistants for [Hospital name redacted], a job that combines the glamour of phlebotomy with the challenges of herding cats, err, phlebotomists. It’s a tough job, but Mrs. G has adapted well, getting a handle on being the boss lady as well as dealing with the joys of middle management… We also had back-to-back Halloween parties for the PTA and Cub Scouts at the end of October. Mrs. G ran the Halloween Howl games for the PTA, and Jay coordinated the Halloween party and Haunted Hallway for the Cub Scouts. Busy, scary time for everyone!
The Boy and Jay froze their patookies off at the Cub Scout Overnight in November, awaking to a balmy 29º morning in their tent… Thanksgiving provided a much-needed rest from the busy schedule, and Mrs. G even made it out for some Black Friday Super Special deals (and was only 45 minutes late for work!) We’re still preparing for the big visit from the Fat Guy himself, with the omnipresent “Threat of Santa” scaring the kids into behaving (well, kinda). It’s been a hectic, crazy, non-stop year for us, and we’re expecting 2009 to be just as frantic. Hope this letter finds you and yours in equally splendid shape!
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Season's Greetings from the G. family to you and yours!
That is all.
G. Family Christmas Letter 2008
It is time again for the G. Christmas letter. What a year 2008 has been for us! It started out in grand style - The Boy took First Place for the Tiger Cubs in the Pinewood Derby, earning him a trip to Regionals in March. He faced some stiff competition from his fellow Tigers, coming in a respectable fifth place (sadly, trophies were only awarded through Fourth…); however he knew the Tiger who took first place - his pre-school friend Jack (whose father is a mechanic, go figure…)
April was a very busy month, with Mrs. G’s parents moving into a new home in [town name redacted]. Mrs. G was very busy helping her parents pack for the move as well as helping to clean out the former family homestead in [second town name redacted]. It was a tough job cleaning out years and years of memories (not to mention dust bunnies!) but Mrs. G and her sisters made short work of cleaning out the old house in [second town name redacted] in time for the big move.
May saw the end of an era, with BabyGirlG finishing pre-school; June saw the end of the school year and The Boy’s first summer camp. We also took our first family tenting trip, going to the Cub Scout Family Weekend at Lonetree Reservation. The Boy and BabyGirlG did actually sleep in the tent rather than just bounce off the walls… We didn’t take our camper out as much as we’d have liked to, given that gas was $4/gallon; however in August we did take a week’s vacation on Cape Cod as we’ve done for the past few years. It’s always nice to have time to just relax!
School started the week before Labor Day, and BabyGirlG went off to full-day Kindergarten! Yes, both G. children are now riding the big yellow school bus. [Name redacted] School is still adjusting to the G. Gang roaming the halls, with big brother The Boy in second grade to keep a wary eye on his little sister (and he is certain to let us know when she gets in trouble!). Both kids are doing well in school, with The Boy needing to pay closer attention to his penmanship (we have no idea where he gets that!!!) and BabyGirlG needing to be nicer to the other children (mostly not beating up the boys…).
October was a busy month, with Mrs. G getting promoted to a supervisory position. She’s now the supervisor of the laboratory assistants for [Hospital name redacted], a job that combines the glamour of phlebotomy with the challenges of herding cats, err, phlebotomists. It’s a tough job, but Mrs. G has adapted well, getting a handle on being the boss lady as well as dealing with the joys of middle management… We also had back-to-back Halloween parties for the PTA and Cub Scouts at the end of October. Mrs. G ran the Halloween Howl games for the PTA, and Jay coordinated the Halloween party and Haunted Hallway for the Cub Scouts. Busy, scary time for everyone!
The Boy and Jay froze their patookies off at the Cub Scout Overnight in November, awaking to a balmy 29º morning in their tent… Thanksgiving provided a much-needed rest from the busy schedule, and Mrs. G even made it out for some Black Friday Super Special deals (and was only 45 minutes late for work!) We’re still preparing for the big visit from the Fat Guy himself, with the omnipresent “Threat of Santa” scaring the kids into behaving (well, kinda). It’s been a hectic, crazy, non-stop year for us, and we’re expecting 2009 to be just as frantic. Hope this letter finds you and yours in equally splendid shape!
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Season's Greetings from the G. family to you and yours!
That is all.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Northeast Blogger Winter Gathering Reminder
Just a quick reminder to everyone that the Northeast Blogger Winter Gathering is only ten days away!
What? Northeast Blogger Winter Gathering.
Who? Any and all bloggers, commenters, readers, lurkers, etc. in the Northeast area, or those passing through, or anyone crazy enough to show up.
When? Saturday, December 27th 2008, starting at 5:00 PM and going until they throw us out.
Where? The "Brew Section" at Martha's Exchange in Nashua, NH.
Why? Folks getting together to enjoy good food, great beer, and superlative company. Bring your appetite, a whistle for wetting, and your best stories to tell.
Attendees:
JD
doubletrouble
Marko
MedicMatthew
wally
scotaku
Lissa
Bruce
weer'd beard
Elizabeth
Bill
TOTWTYTR
wolfwalker
zeeke42
MeatAxe
sci-fi
brad_in_ma
Possible:
thefaz
Liberty
Paul
There's still plenty of time to chime in and let us know you're coming! (Hell, just show up, that's fine too!). Brad_in_MA was kind enough to make a reconnaissance run earlier and confirmed that we do, in fact, have the area reserved for the 27th... Should be a rockin' good time!
That is all.
What? Northeast Blogger Winter Gathering.
Who? Any and all bloggers, commenters, readers, lurkers, etc. in the Northeast area, or those passing through, or anyone crazy enough to show up.
When? Saturday, December 27th 2008, starting at 5:00 PM and going until they throw us out.
Where? The "Brew Section" at Martha's Exchange in Nashua, NH.
Why? Folks getting together to enjoy good food, great beer, and superlative company. Bring your appetite, a whistle for wetting, and your best stories to tell.
Attendees:
JD
doubletrouble
Marko
MedicMatthew
wally
scotaku
Lissa
Bruce
weer'd beard
Elizabeth
Bill
TOTWTYTR
wolfwalker
zeeke42
MeatAxe
sci-fi
brad_in_ma
Possible:
thefaz
Liberty
Paul
There's still plenty of time to chime in and let us know you're coming! (Hell, just show up, that's fine too!). Brad_in_MA was kind enough to make a reconnaissance run earlier and confirmed that we do, in fact, have the area reserved for the 27th... Should be a rockin' good time!
That is all.
Picking Up the Torch
Because someone's gotta do it.
Police say would-be robber carried a .357-caliber handgun*
and:
{Pause to let hooting and hollering die down to a dull roar}
Please note that this happened in the Volksrepublik of MA, so the clerk is in for a world of shit. Yes, even though he was properly licensed; even though he faced a known felon with a lengthy rap sheet who had no business being out on the street, he's going to be out tens of thousands of dollars and most likely lose his permit to own firearms over this righteous shooting.
He is, however, still alive. Good guys 1, Goblins 0
Dead Goblin count: 1.
(Hey, it's gotta start somewhere, right?)
That is all.
*Note: I have no idea why that was the title of the article in the link. I just link 'em, I don't write 'em...
Note2: Link sent to me by alert reader and good friend Brad_in_ma. Thanks Brad!
Police say would-be robber carried a .357-caliber handgun*
WORCESTER— Police are continuing to search for the second man involved in the attempted robbery of a liquor store that left his alleged accomplice dead.
The man fled the Richmond Avenue store after the second would-be robber was shot by the clerk, police said.
and:
Mr. Rivera was shot multiple times and taken by ambulance to UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus, where he was pronounced dead at 10:46 p.m., according to Detective Capt. Edward J. McGinn Jr.
{Pause to let hooting and hollering die down to a dull roar}
Please note that this happened in the Volksrepublik of MA, so the clerk is in for a world of shit. Yes, even though he was properly licensed; even though he faced a known felon with a lengthy rap sheet who had no business being out on the street, he's going to be out tens of thousands of dollars and most likely lose his permit to own firearms over this righteous shooting.
He is, however, still alive. Good guys 1, Goblins 0
Dead Goblin count: 1.
(Hey, it's gotta start somewhere, right?)
That is all.
*Note: I have no idea why that was the title of the article in the link. I just link 'em, I don't write 'em...
Note2: Link sent to me by alert reader and good friend Brad_in_ma. Thanks Brad!
First Snowfall...
Caution. Many bad words ahead. Don't say I didn't warn you...
As the title states, we've had our first snowfall of the new winter season. Coming on the heels of last week's Ice Storm of Doom!™, it wasn't exactly welcome - adding snow to already damaged trees and still-downed power lines is a bad mix, especially with well over 100,000 people in MA and NH still without power.
And, of course, it makes drivers completely and utterly lose their fucking minds.
Look. It's really simple. I'll post some handy tips for winter driving in New England. See if you can spot a theme:
Ahhhh. That feels better. Thanks for listening. I'm certain that no one out here who reads MArooned needs these tips, but perhaps you could print them out and leave them for the induhviduals in your lives who may look like they need them. They're pretty easy to spot - they'll be the ones with their mouths open and drool puddling on the floor under them...
That is all.
As the title states, we've had our first snowfall of the new winter season. Coming on the heels of last week's Ice Storm of Doom!™, it wasn't exactly welcome - adding snow to already damaged trees and still-downed power lines is a bad mix, especially with well over 100,000 people in MA and NH still without power.
And, of course, it makes drivers completely and utterly lose their fucking minds.
Look. It's really simple. I'll post some handy tips for winter driving in New England. See if you can spot a theme:
- If you doubt your foul weather driving ability, stay the fuck home.
- If you don't want to get your $75K BMW dirty, stay the fuck home.
- If you're going to pull stupid-assed shit like come to a complete fucking stop at the BOTTOM of a steep, icy hill, stay the fuck home.
- If you're one of those morons who thinks going 20 MPH below the speed limit is a good idea, even though the 20+ cars in your wake don't, stay the fuck home.
- If you think it's a good idea to blow through a stop sign right in front of me, even though the weather is bad and stopping distances need to be increased, stay the fuck home.
- People, I'm driving a 6,000 pound, 345 horsepower rear-wheel drive pickup truck with no weight over the rear wheels. In 2WD. If I'm not having any trouble, your FWD Matrix is just ducky.
- And lastly, if you have made the correct decision to stay home, and you decide to clear the 1.5" of snow with your 25 HP snowthrower? Don't blow it right into the street. It's fucking rude, it's a danger to traffic, and it makes us want to stop our cars, get out, and strangle you to death with the rip cord of your Craftsman...
Ahhhh. That feels better. Thanks for listening. I'm certain that no one out here who reads MArooned needs these tips, but perhaps you could print them out and leave them for the induhviduals in your lives who may look like they need them. They're pretty easy to spot - they'll be the ones with their mouths open and drool puddling on the floor under them...
That is all.
Riddle Me This Part III...
Top Ten List: Caroline Kennedy's Qualifications to be the Junior Senator from NY:
1. She's a Kennedy.
2. She's a Democrat.
3-10. See items 1 & 2.
Remember, she's from the same political party that railed about Sarah Palin being grossly unqualified to be the Vice President. And that's after being a mayor and a governor, two positions more than Caroline Kennedy has ever held. Now, I'm certain that Ms. Kennedy is a wonderful person and certainly couldn't be any worse than the senior senator from NY, but there's a certain delicious irony in seeing many of the same people who jeered Sarah Palin now cheering Caroline Kennedy.
Why, it's almost like they really don't give a hairy rat's patoot about qualifications!
That is all.
1. She's a Kennedy.
2. She's a Democrat.
3-10. See items 1 & 2.
Remember, she's from the same political party that railed about Sarah Palin being grossly unqualified to be the Vice President. And that's after being a mayor and a governor, two positions more than Caroline Kennedy has ever held. Now, I'm certain that Ms. Kennedy is a wonderful person and certainly couldn't be any worse than the senior senator from NY, but there's a certain delicious irony in seeing many of the same people who jeered Sarah Palin now cheering Caroline Kennedy.
Why, it's almost like they really don't give a hairy rat's patoot about qualifications!
That is all.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Christmas List...
Caleb posts his gunnie Christmas list and asks us for our own. So here goes:
1. For some sanity to return to ammo and "assault rifle" pricing. (HA!)
2. A MA-compliant pocket 9mm like the Kel-Tec P9/P11 or anything by Kahr.
3. Reloading components - something, anything, to get me started.
4. Gift Certificates to Four Seasons and/or Bass Pro/Dick's.
5. Two more rifle safes and one more pistol safe.
Pretty boring, I know, but that's my list.
How 'bout y'all? What are you hoping Santa stuffs down your chimney?
That is all.
1. For some sanity to return to ammo and "assault rifle" pricing. (HA!)
2. A MA-compliant pocket 9mm like the Kel-Tec P9/P11 or anything by Kahr.
3. Reloading components - something, anything, to get me started.
4. Gift Certificates to Four Seasons and/or Bass Pro/Dick's.
5. Two more rifle safes and one more pistol safe.
Pretty boring, I know, but that's my list.
How 'bout y'all? What are you hoping Santa stuffs down your chimney?
That is all.
Merry Christmas!
Now that I've exceeded the cute limit, have yourself a Merry Christmas. Or a Happy Hanukah. Or Festivus. Whatever you are going to have, here's hoping it's a joyous event.
That is all.
Letter and Links!
Hoo boy! More letters! I love this stuff. This time, it's got an international flair to it!
Bobski from the UK writes:
I am curious about how one goes about obtaining a firearm in the UK these days. It sounds like it's even more arduous than getting one in MA, if you can believe that. It's also a pretty good indicator (IMHO) of where we're headed if the Schumers/Bradys/etc. had their way...
Welcome aboard, Bobski. You hit the magical combination needed to make the MArooned blogroll: You added me to yours, and you told me about it... That way, I knew to add you, as opposed to stumbling across your blog like the next two additions...
Please welcome Old Blind Dog and Bogieblog to the MArooned blogroll. OBD is a pilot (wow, lots of flyers out there!) and fellow gunnie; Bogie is a fellow New Englandah (currently recovering for the wicked ice storm we just had...)
That is all.
Bobski from the UK writes:
Hi Jay
I've been reading your blog for a while now and it always makes for a good read. After a couple of abortive attempts, I've recently plucked up the courage to start one of my own (http://bobskisblog.blogspot.com). I'm not sure how many people read it other than my friends, but it gives me somewhere to vent, which with a family history of high blood pressure is usefully theraputic. It's got a bit of everything, rants, guns, cars, planes, whatever takes my fancy really.
[ed. With the exception of planes, that describes MArooned pretty well. Oh, and the road rage. Can't forget the road rage...]
The point of all this is that I thought you'd be interested in a little range report I've put on there: http://bobskisblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/shooty-bang-bang-range-report.html. The day was a bit short, due to the rain, but I did get to put some .303 down the range from a Lee Enfield Mk.4 and some .22 down the range from a Winchester action Marlin rifle (sorry don't know the name yet) and a GSG-5 (semi-auto MP5 variant).
[ed. Wouldn't be a Marlin model 39, would it?]
I'm not quite a new shooter, I've been shooting through the Air Cadets (UK version of the Civil Air Patrol) for several years, firing both Lee Enfield Number 8 rifles in .22 and the L98 Cadet Rifle in 5.56mm (a single shot, straight pull version of the Army's SA80) but I've recently entered the world of full-bore shooting courtesy of a local club.
Being from Moonbat Central (ie the UK under a Labour Government) I don't get to own any guns without going through a ludicrous process of licencing, something I cannot do at the moment because I live in a rented apartment that does not have walls suitable for attaching the mandatory gun safe. However, through friends, I have managed to shoot a number of cool and interesting weapons over the years, some of which I had no idea were legal in this country until very recently. Weapons such as AKs, Dragunovs, FN-FALs and AR-15s are all legal here as long as they are single-shot or bolt action. Some handguns are allowed, but mainly black powder muzzle-loaders. Semi-auto weapons are also legal, but only in certain calibres (ie .22LR). We're even allowed silencers and in some cases, like the GSG-5, a silencer is not only permitted by is in fact a legal requirement because it gets the weapon to the mandatory minimum length to be considered a rifle and thus legal. Ditto for folding stocks.
Needless to say, it's not quite the selection that I would be allowed in the US of A, but it's a start. I just thought you might be interested in the fact that shooting in the UK is not the barren desert that some may think it is.
[ed. Well, that is news to me. I thought y'all were limited to single shot shotguns and .22LR rifles only. Huh. Guess you learn something new every day!]
Keep up the good blogging and I hope you enjoy mine. I've added you to my (admittedly small) blogroll, so if you like what you read feel free to add me to yours if you wish.
Cheers
Bobski
PS: If you want to post any part of this or my blog post, feel free.
[ed. Do they know me or what?] ;)
I am curious about how one goes about obtaining a firearm in the UK these days. It sounds like it's even more arduous than getting one in MA, if you can believe that. It's also a pretty good indicator (IMHO) of where we're headed if the Schumers/Bradys/etc. had their way...
Welcome aboard, Bobski. You hit the magical combination needed to make the MArooned blogroll: You added me to yours, and you told me about it... That way, I knew to add you, as opposed to stumbling across your blog like the next two additions...
Please welcome Old Blind Dog and Bogieblog to the MArooned blogroll. OBD is a pilot (wow, lots of flyers out there!) and fellow gunnie; Bogie is a fellow New Englandah (currently recovering for the wicked ice storm we just had...)
That is all.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Gettin' the Word Out
The Second Amendment Book Bomb
Check it out. Buy the book. Wouldn't it just be a hoot to see that on the NYT Bestseller List?
That is all.
December 15 marks America’s Bill of Rights Day, the anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution. To commemorate this event, we have created the Second Amendment Book Bomb, a unique and powerful way to communicate the importance of the Bill of Rights’ Second Amendment for the protection of liberty. With your help, we can launch constitutional rights to the top of national book bestseller lists, making a loud and clear statement that Second Amendment rights are inalienable!
Check it out. Buy the book. Wouldn't it just be a hoot to see that on the NYT Bestseller List?
That is all.
Paging the Wahmbulance...
Paterson's office says SNL went too far
Buck the fuck up, Gov.
That is all.
(CNN) — New York Gov. David Paterson's office says Saturday Night Live went too far in its portrayal of the legally blind governor over the weekend.Wah! Wah! It's not funny when it's OUR politicians in the crosshairs! And yet, with naught a hint of irony, there's this headline: Fey, Palin, McCain dominate list of top 10 quotes for '08 - with, naturally, Fey's portrayal of Palin hitting the #1 slot.
SNL, famous for mocking politicians and newsmakers, portrayed the governor in a four-minute "Weekend Update" segment as confused and disoriented — often looking in the wrong direction and mistakenly walking in front of the camera when it was not his turn to speak.
Buck the fuck up, Gov.
That is all.
Taking a Stand.
I sense a theme. The inimitable LawDog cautions us to practice and carry as the most important part of one's decision to go armed; and the world's most dangerous librarian recounts a recent situation where someone got inside her comfort zone. These two individual posts were crying out to be put together. Now, I'm just a chimp banging away at an old IBM selectric typewriter compared to Breda and LawDog, but I'll give it a shot.
Both posts bring up incredibly important aspects of self-defense. They both point out the importance of having the proper mindset, which Breda demonstrates aptly in her tale of the boor of the bar. She maintains an excellent balance between overt aggression and meek submission, using body language only to send the unmistakeable message that messing with her would be to the other person's detriment. LawDog reminds us that all the hardware in the world is meaningless if the software can't execute the program; that you can have the most uber tacticool blastomatic in the world's most deadly caliber, but if it's sitting in the safe at home when the goblins find you, or if you've only put one magazine through it in the 10 years you've owned it, you're in a big hole long before the ball drops.
Putting these two stories together helps better define the concept of self-defense, especially when it entails a firearm. Breda points out that the human animal is the best defense against predators - that having the proper mindset (i.e. non-prey) is just as important as whether one is armed with a firearm or not. LawDog warns us to be prepared for when the smelly stuff hits the fan, that the greatest tactical advantage one can have is to be armed with a firearm with which one is proficient.
I'll expand on Breda's post a little here. I've had a certain amount of experience with the type of blowhard she encountered through the years. For a long time, I was the "biggest guy in the room" - six feet tall, 220-250 pounds, large build, muscular. While my size meant that I was less attractive to goblins, it also meant that in social situations (such as at the local sports bar) I was a target for a drunk with an axe to grind or a point to prove. I honestly can't count the number of times I was approached by some loudmouth trying to goad me into a fight.
I can, however, count the number of fights I was actually in: zero.
I have nothing to prove. I'm not the toughest guy out there, but I can generally hold my own; I'm not about to roll the dice with my freedom because some jackass wants to show his friends he can take out "the big guy". I basically had two levels of dealing with these imbeciles: the first level was being self-effacing and conciliatory, basically sending the message that I was not the least bit interested in playing the game, nor was I going to be goaded into a fight. Should the person move beyond that level, it went to stage two - draw myself up to my full height, puff out my chest, flex the muscles a bit, and give "the stare" - as I mentioned in comments to Breda's post, "the stare" was meant to convey one of two messages:
Basically, it's the look that says "you have pushed me right to my limit. If you continue to push, you are about to find out the horrors that I am capable of unleashing". 99 times out of 100, this look is sufficient to settle any argument - the blowhards don't actually want to get into a fight; they merely want to project power in a sitaution where they really don't have it. Breda's response to the jerk in the bar was absolutely perfect and appropriate; while she didn't threaten him or even cuss him out, she let him know in no uncertain terms that his continued existence on this planet was due only to her good graces.
LawDog's exhortations come for that 1 time out of 100 when "the stare" is not enough. It could be a psychopath. It could be a goblin intent to do you harm. Thing is, it doesn't matter - you run into that person who will not back down nor be cowed by projection of force alone. And when that happens, you need to be trained to handle the situation and have the tools needed to get the job done. On last week's Gun Nuts, LawDog called in and gave some excellent pointers about knowing one's limits - basically, knowing at what point you're willing to employ deadly force BEFORE you need to... Even in that 1/100 situation, there may - or may not - come a point at which you will need to make the decision to employ force of some sort.
Making that decision ahead of time is the key, as is knowing how to deal with the aftermath.
Avoiding that decision is always the best way; that means being hyper-vigilant of one's surroundings and avoiding bad situations; it means dealing with blowhards in such a manner as to avoid having to use force; and it means being prepared, mentally and physically, to deal with that rare situation where force need be applied. I'm firmly in the "avoid" camp - I'll stay away from sketchy areas; I don't have any illusions of being a "tough guy" with "something to prove"; I'd much rather walk - or run - away from a confrontation than have to get into it.
But if someone's going to do harm to me or mine, I'm damn well ready to introduce a whole new level of suck into their (short) life... I've got my triggers, the points at which I go from mild-mannered dad to the Punisher; I will do everything in my power and then some to avoid that trigger. But once it's on, it's on. I've got the tools, I can use them effectively, and I have no qualms about doing what needs to be done when the shit hits the fan.
As do Breda and the 'Dog...
That is all.
UPDATE: Shorter Tam:
Heh.
Both posts bring up incredibly important aspects of self-defense. They both point out the importance of having the proper mindset, which Breda demonstrates aptly in her tale of the boor of the bar. She maintains an excellent balance between overt aggression and meek submission, using body language only to send the unmistakeable message that messing with her would be to the other person's detriment. LawDog reminds us that all the hardware in the world is meaningless if the software can't execute the program; that you can have the most uber tacticool blastomatic in the world's most deadly caliber, but if it's sitting in the safe at home when the goblins find you, or if you've only put one magazine through it in the 10 years you've owned it, you're in a big hole long before the ball drops.
Putting these two stories together helps better define the concept of self-defense, especially when it entails a firearm. Breda points out that the human animal is the best defense against predators - that having the proper mindset (i.e. non-prey) is just as important as whether one is armed with a firearm or not. LawDog warns us to be prepared for when the smelly stuff hits the fan, that the greatest tactical advantage one can have is to be armed with a firearm with which one is proficient.
I'll expand on Breda's post a little here. I've had a certain amount of experience with the type of blowhard she encountered through the years. For a long time, I was the "biggest guy in the room" - six feet tall, 220-250 pounds, large build, muscular. While my size meant that I was less attractive to goblins, it also meant that in social situations (such as at the local sports bar) I was a target for a drunk with an axe to grind or a point to prove. I honestly can't count the number of times I was approached by some loudmouth trying to goad me into a fight.
I can, however, count the number of fights I was actually in: zero.
I have nothing to prove. I'm not the toughest guy out there, but I can generally hold my own; I'm not about to roll the dice with my freedom because some jackass wants to show his friends he can take out "the big guy". I basically had two levels of dealing with these imbeciles: the first level was being self-effacing and conciliatory, basically sending the message that I was not the least bit interested in playing the game, nor was I going to be goaded into a fight. Should the person move beyond that level, it went to stage two - draw myself up to my full height, puff out my chest, flex the muscles a bit, and give "the stare" - as I mentioned in comments to Breda's post, "the stare" was meant to convey one of two messages:
"Keep this shit up and I'll be hosing your DNA out of a woodchipper tomorrow"
or
"Keep yapping. I'm just trying to decide which part of you I'm gonna eat first"
Basically, it's the look that says "you have pushed me right to my limit. If you continue to push, you are about to find out the horrors that I am capable of unleashing". 99 times out of 100, this look is sufficient to settle any argument - the blowhards don't actually want to get into a fight; they merely want to project power in a sitaution where they really don't have it. Breda's response to the jerk in the bar was absolutely perfect and appropriate; while she didn't threaten him or even cuss him out, she let him know in no uncertain terms that his continued existence on this planet was due only to her good graces.
LawDog's exhortations come for that 1 time out of 100 when "the stare" is not enough. It could be a psychopath. It could be a goblin intent to do you harm. Thing is, it doesn't matter - you run into that person who will not back down nor be cowed by projection of force alone. And when that happens, you need to be trained to handle the situation and have the tools needed to get the job done. On last week's Gun Nuts, LawDog called in and gave some excellent pointers about knowing one's limits - basically, knowing at what point you're willing to employ deadly force BEFORE you need to... Even in that 1/100 situation, there may - or may not - come a point at which you will need to make the decision to employ force of some sort.
Making that decision ahead of time is the key, as is knowing how to deal with the aftermath.
Avoiding that decision is always the best way; that means being hyper-vigilant of one's surroundings and avoiding bad situations; it means dealing with blowhards in such a manner as to avoid having to use force; and it means being prepared, mentally and physically, to deal with that rare situation where force need be applied. I'm firmly in the "avoid" camp - I'll stay away from sketchy areas; I don't have any illusions of being a "tough guy" with "something to prove"; I'd much rather walk - or run - away from a confrontation than have to get into it.
But if someone's going to do harm to me or mine, I'm damn well ready to introduce a whole new level of suck into their (short) life... I've got my triggers, the points at which I go from mild-mannered dad to the Punisher; I will do everything in my power and then some to avoid that trigger. But once it's on, it's on. I've got the tools, I can use them effectively, and I have no qualms about doing what needs to be done when the shit hits the fan.
As do Breda and the 'Dog...
That is all.
UPDATE: Shorter Tam:
The most important word in "gunfight" is not "gun", it's "fight".
Heh.
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