...You get recognized at a gun show.
"Hey, are you Jay G of MArooned?"
"Why yes, yes I am!"
Consider my day made...
That is all.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
New Blogs!
Got a few more additions to the MArooned blogroll.
1. Michelle at My Life = Chaos Management (luuurve the title!). Described thusly: "Kids, guns, marriage, work and everything in between". Yeah. BTDT. Managing my own chaos in about the same manner...
2. Alan at SnarkyBytes. Alan's also a part of the Gunblogger Conspiracy, as well as part of the Facebook in-crowd.
3. Shrugged at Bear on a Bicycle. Found through my
Welcome aboard everyone!
Folks, I'll make my standard disclaimer again. I run a reciprocal blogroll here at MArooned. If you like my
That is all.
Friday Fun Thread: Fins to the Left, Fins to the Right...
BillH had an excellent suggestion for a Friday Fun Thread: Top 10 Big Fins.
Tailfins as an automotive decoration started in the late 1940s - the post-war era that saw the true boom of American automotive design. The name most often associated with tailfins would be that of Harley Earl, the man responsible for the design of both the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette, and our number one Tailfin car. For this week's list, I'll post pictures rather than links simply to do greater justice...
Here we go!
1.
1959 Cadillac El Dorado.
2.
1958 Plymouth Fury (the astute observer will automatically whisper "Christine"...)
3. 
1956 DeSoto Adventurer
4.
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air5.
1957 Ford Fairlane
6. 
1958 Packard Hawk
7.
1951 Buick LeSabre concept
8. 
1957 Chrysler Imperial
9. 
1967 Cadillac El Dorado
10.
1959 Dodge Coronet
Okay. I think we can all agree that tailfins are pretty much a 1950s concept...
That is all
Friday Gun Pr0n #96
Today's gun pr0n isn't a gun from the G. armory. It is, however, a gun I had a hand in the acquisition thereof... A while back, Mike wrote to me asking my advice on a carry gun - I posted about it here.
Well, lo and behold, Mike actually took my advice. He went out and bought one of the guns I suggested:
Mike even sent me a range report, which is so good I have to post it in its entirety:
That is all.
Well, lo and behold, Mike actually took my advice. He went out and bought one of the guns I suggested:
Smith & Wesson model M&P 340
Mike even sent me a range report, which is so good I have to post it in its entirety:
I can't tell you how pleased I am that you like the 340, Mike... I love my 360 (in fact, I've called it "The gun I couldn't do without"); I'm glad you like yours as much!Well I ran 100 rounds of 38 special through it and it was a Blast to shoot. Recoil is manageable and my hand feels just fine. I also ran 20 round of 357 goodness and light through it and I cleared the range with it. You talk about pyrotechnics. Almost 2 foot of flame out of the end of that with a standard FMJ Remington load and the noise stopped everyone in their tracks at the range. The blast from the gun had everyones targets doing the hula even at 10 yards! The folks next to me came over and wanted to know what in the hell I was shooting because the blast had knocked their target off the mount..
I let the two guys I was with shoot it with both the 38 special and 357 loads and the 357 loads had us laughing so hard we had to stop shooting and regain our composure. Its unreal in 357. Incredible Shock and Awe.
That gun with a 357 load is just insane and I absolutely love it.
The laser sight is going to take sometime to get used to. Right on the money right out of the gate but you have to teach yourself to ignore the sights and just use the laser dot. My brain was trying to use sights with my right eye and the laser with the left eye and that made my head hurt and didn't make nice groups. With the laser you can use both eyes again counter intuitive to everything we have been taught about sighting weapons. It will take some more trips to the range to get my brain wrapped around it. :>I can't thank you enough for all of your help with this (The range folks aren't so happy but they will get over it as soon as the smoke clears, their ears stop ringing all of the knocked down targets are retrieved and everyone comes back).
That is all.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
YHGTBSM, Pt 2
US mail days may need to be cut
Because, you know, when your business is down, the best way to crank things back up is to... cut back on services, right? Especially when you have competitors who work 24/7.
And another thing... What are those "rising costs"? The price of gasoline has come back down to normal levels. The Big Three are practically giving away cars. Could those "rising costs" have anything to do with, oh, say, the US Postal Union and the exhorbitant benefits afforded Federal employees?
First they came for the Superbowl, and I said nothing. Then they came for the USPS, and I was too busy laughing my ass off at the Superbowl to say anything about that. And whatever comes next, I'll most likely be too busy laughing like a tickled hermit about the USPS to care about that, either...
Maybe that's the plan - flood us with crap we don't care about so we don't notice when something really bad happens...
That is all.
WASHINGTON - Massive deficits could force the U.S. post office to cut out one day of mail delivery per week, the postmaster general told Congress on Wednesday.
Postmaster General John E. Potter asked lawmakers to lift the requirement that the agency deliver mail six days a week.
Faced with dwindling mail volume and rising costs, the post office was $2.8 billion in the red last year and, "if current trends continue, we could experience a net loss of $6 billion or more this fiscal year," Potter said in testimony for a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs subcommittee.
Because, you know, when your business is down, the best way to crank things back up is to... cut back on services, right? Especially when you have competitors who work 24/7.
And another thing... What are those "rising costs"? The price of gasoline has come back down to normal levels. The Big Three are practically giving away cars. Could those "rising costs" have anything to do with, oh, say, the US Postal Union and the exhorbitant benefits afforded Federal employees?
First they came for the Superbowl, and I said nothing. Then they came for the USPS, and I was too busy laughing my ass off at the Superbowl to say anything about that. And whatever comes next, I'll most likely be too busy laughing like a tickled hermit about the USPS to care about that, either...
Maybe that's the plan - flood us with crap we don't care about so we don't notice when something really bad happens...
That is all.
Crimea River...
I'm sorry. I'm having a really hard time working up any sympathy for the following story:
Super Bowl taking a hit amid economic struggles
Playboy canceled its party? That's it. Time to press charges against Chimpy McHaliburton for wrecking the economy... 200 fewer media credentials to the Superbowl? Why, that's practically a war crime!
I'm sorry. I just have a hard time working up a lot of sympathy for the NFL here. Every year we're treated to a litany of "wow" press releases about how much tickets to the Superbowl are selling for; what each second of half-time advertising costs; the over-the-top everything that accompanies professional football's biggest event
And now we're supposed to feel sorry for them because they have to scale back?
Nah. Ain't gonna happen. Although I do have to admit, the cynic in me wonders if they're gearing up to apply for part of the $800 billion stimulus package recently rammed through by the unilateral Democrats... What the hell, right? We can always print more money, right?
Gah. I'm off to the range.
That is all.
Super Bowl taking a hit amid economic struggles
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - There were mountains of jumbo shrimp, and caviar everywhere. Muhammad Ali would show up, maybe amid a fleet of shiny Cadillacs. Five-star hotels were packed, and getting a dinner reservation for Saturday night was impossible. Finding a ticket for Sunday was even harder.
...
But in these tough economic times, it's easy to see: The Super Bowl is taking a hit, too. General Motors and FedEx pulled their TV ads, even though NBC lowered the price. Playboy canceled its annual party. Almost 200 fewer media credentials were issued.
"When I think of the NFL, I think of recession-proof," Cardinals lineman Elliot Vallejo said this week. "But that's not true anymore."
Playboy canceled its party? That's it. Time to press charges against Chimpy McHaliburton for wrecking the economy... 200 fewer media credentials to the Superbowl? Why, that's practically a war crime!
I'm sorry. I just have a hard time working up a lot of sympathy for the NFL here. Every year we're treated to a litany of "wow" press releases about how much tickets to the Superbowl are selling for; what each second of half-time advertising costs; the over-the-top everything that accompanies professional football's biggest event
And now we're supposed to feel sorry for them because they have to scale back?
Nah. Ain't gonna happen. Although I do have to admit, the cynic in me wonders if they're gearing up to apply for part of the $800 billion stimulus package recently rammed through by the unilateral Democrats... What the hell, right? We can always print more money, right?
Gah. I'm off to the range.
That is all.
What I Need...
You know what I could really use in the morning? A life-size animatronic version of myself who states the following at random intervals:
Alternately, I could appear in a PIP box on the TV and randomly shout the above. That would work for The Boy...
That is all.
"Eat your breakfast!"
"Stop fighting!"
"Leave her/him alone!"
"Hurry up or we'll miss the bus!"
"Don't forget your backpack!"
Alternately, I could appear in a PIP box on the TV and randomly shout the above. That would work for The Boy...
That is all.
MA Mindset...
We come across this sometimes on the various gun boards. 2A issues are looked at somewhat askew from those of us in the more restrictive states. Sometimes it's relatively innocuous, like forgetting that people in other states don't have to contend with bans on guns based solely on what's attached to them. Sometimes it's more insidious, like being opposed to open carry because it would involve a felony stop, SWAT team, and losing one's right to own a firearm forever...
It permeates the view on self-defense, with the added burden of knowing that, even in the most righteous shooting imaginable, the law-abiding gun owner who shoots another in self-defense is going to be in a world of trouble. Legal bills can easily run into the tens of thousands; civil suits even more - there's no "Castle Doctrine" in MA, that's for sure. Folks who plan drills to react to home invasion are sneered at derisively, as though it's any less likely to happen than a house fire.
There was something brought up that I hadn't considered, though. In states which severely restrict the practice of the Second Amendment, there's more of a "brotherhood" feeling to fellow gun owners. We don't tend to take our Second Amendment rights for granted, and we tend to be more likely to embrace our fellow gun owners. When I see a "SigSauer" sticker on the back of a car in a parking lot, I feel a tangible kinship with the person who owns that car. I can identify with the quiet defiance behind signalling one's affectation for things that go boom...
Besides, as I've mentioned before, this is my hobby; this is something I do because I enjoy it and it brings me pleasure. I derive countless hours of zen-like happiness from shooting, finding it relaxing and able to clear my mind of the day's worries. It's hard to be stressed out when shooting a large-bore handgun.
It also happens to be a hobby that could save my life. Coin collecting it ain't...
That is all.
It permeates the view on self-defense, with the added burden of knowing that, even in the most righteous shooting imaginable, the law-abiding gun owner who shoots another in self-defense is going to be in a world of trouble. Legal bills can easily run into the tens of thousands; civil suits even more - there's no "Castle Doctrine" in MA, that's for sure. Folks who plan drills to react to home invasion are sneered at derisively, as though it's any less likely to happen than a house fire.
There was something brought up that I hadn't considered, though. In states which severely restrict the practice of the Second Amendment, there's more of a "brotherhood" feeling to fellow gun owners. We don't tend to take our Second Amendment rights for granted, and we tend to be more likely to embrace our fellow gun owners. When I see a "SigSauer" sticker on the back of a car in a parking lot, I feel a tangible kinship with the person who owns that car. I can identify with the quiet defiance behind signalling one's affectation for things that go boom...
Besides, as I've mentioned before, this is my hobby; this is something I do because I enjoy it and it brings me pleasure. I derive countless hours of zen-like happiness from shooting, finding it relaxing and able to clear my mind of the day's worries. It's hard to be stressed out when shooting a large-bore handgun.
It also happens to be a hobby that could save my life. Coin collecting it ain't...
That is all.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Time-Sucking Vortex...
By which, of course, I mean Facebook... Wow, who knew mindless chatter and quizzes could hold my ADHD-addled brain's attention for minutes at a ti- hey, let's go ride our bikes!
That is all...
That is all...
23 Years Ago Today...
Twenty three years ago today, the space shuttle Challenger exploded some 73 seconds after launch. Until September 11th, 2001, it was the defining moment of my life; the one "what were you doing when" event that I thought would define my generation. Ronald Reagan was president, we were at war with the Soviet Union in a fierce battle of ideologies, and our scientific prowess was one of the many advantages we enjoyed over the Soviets. Sure, they may have been first to put a man into space, but we were the first to make space flight a routine occurrence.
Until the Challenger broke apart a little over a minute after takeoff.
Seven astronauts lost their lives that day:
STS-51-L crew: (front row) Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, Ronald McNair; (back row) Ellison Onizuka, Christa McAuliffe, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnik. (from Wikipedia entry)
Rest in peace, STS-51-L crew. Your place in history is assured; your spot in my memory is eternal.
I was in Mr. Boyle's Calculus class when Eric Marquese came in with the news of the disaster. Eric was the class clown, a cut-up most famous for calling our hard-ass principal on the phone as "Trooper Marquese" and trying to get the school closed down during a snowstorm. Naturally we kept waiting for the punchline, thinking for certain this was a crude joke being played on us.
Until Mr. Boyle came into the room, ashen-faced, and confirmed Eric's story.
Since I was in the TV Production Club (yes, I was a geek, I freely admit it - I was also on the Chess Team and in the Sci-Fi Club, too), I had access to the TV studio where small TV monitors were kept. I remember walking out of class, even though it was clearly against the rules, and walking to the studio. Several others in the club had the same idea, and we hooked up a TV in the studio and watched the news.
I saw the Challenger break apart. Again and again and again.
And Mr. Boyle was standing over my shoulder, watching the news, trying stoicly to maintain his composure. Nothing was said about the breach of my leaving class; in fact, school was canceled after a short assembly on the tragedy. Our parents came to get us, all looking as ashen-faced as my teacher. Most of our parents remembered all too vividly the assassination of JFK, and were now re-living many of those same fears.
It was a black day in history, eclipsed later only by monumental human evil.
That is all.
(This trip down Amnesia Lane provided by this entry at Tam's...)
Moar Snow...
Forecast calls for anywhere from 3-10" of the white crap today (didja notice that "snow" is a four-letter word?). Even with every school on the eastern seaboard closed, there are still idiots galore on the road. About ten different cars all traveling at a blistering 15-20MPH. Once again, I feel the need to reiterate an important axiom: If you can't drive in the snow, stay the hell home.
Put more succintly, "Lead, follow, or get the fuck out of my way".
That is all.
Put more succintly, "Lead, follow, or get the fuck out of my way".
That is all.
The Time Has Come.
The Boy turns 8 shortly. I have decided that this is the year that he comes to the range. He's been expressing greater and greater interest in going to the range with daddy, which comes as a natural progression from getting his marksmanship badge in Cub Scouts for BB gun, getting his own Red Ryder, and watching daddy load up gear for a range trip.
We've been through the Four Rules - he knows them better than a good number of adults I know - and he's demonstrating greater and greater maturity in all areas. With proper guidance, I feel that he's ready to shoot his first firearm. We'll start small - I've got a single-shot Ithaca Arms model M-49 that should do the trick just fine. Once he shows me he can be careful and responsible with a single shot - and, most importantly, how he handles the gun after he's shot it - we can investigate other arms like the pump-action Remington 572 or the lever-action Marlin 39A.
Deciding when a child is ready to go shooting can be one of the harder choices to make. There's a lot that goes into the decision - is the child ready? Will they be safe? Can I devote the appropriate amount of attention to this task? Can they handle a firearm? If the answer to any of these questions is anything other than yes, then wait. Wait as long as you have to. There's another aspect, too; one that's an unfortunate by-product of our hoplophobic culture.
Are you prepared to deal with the fallout of people knowing you brought your child shooting?
For me, I'm prepared. I've armed my son with the most important thing of all - knowledge. He's not afraid of guns. They're not a "forbidden fruit", nor something to play with. I am not shy about my hobby and my passion; I don't hide my affiliations; nor will I ask my son to lie about his activities with me at the range. It's legal, it's fun, and as long as he enjoys it I'll be happy to bring him with me.
Besides, once he starts shootin' he can start cleanin'... That'll REALLY take the mystique out of it!
That is all.
We've been through the Four Rules - he knows them better than a good number of adults I know - and he's demonstrating greater and greater maturity in all areas. With proper guidance, I feel that he's ready to shoot his first firearm. We'll start small - I've got a single-shot Ithaca Arms model M-49 that should do the trick just fine. Once he shows me he can be careful and responsible with a single shot - and, most importantly, how he handles the gun after he's shot it - we can investigate other arms like the pump-action Remington 572 or the lever-action Marlin 39A.
Deciding when a child is ready to go shooting can be one of the harder choices to make. There's a lot that goes into the decision - is the child ready? Will they be safe? Can I devote the appropriate amount of attention to this task? Can they handle a firearm? If the answer to any of these questions is anything other than yes, then wait. Wait as long as you have to. There's another aspect, too; one that's an unfortunate by-product of our hoplophobic culture.
Are you prepared to deal with the fallout of people knowing you brought your child shooting?
For me, I'm prepared. I've armed my son with the most important thing of all - knowledge. He's not afraid of guns. They're not a "forbidden fruit", nor something to play with. I am not shy about my hobby and my passion; I don't hide my affiliations; nor will I ask my son to lie about his activities with me at the range. It's legal, it's fun, and as long as he enjoys it I'll be happy to bring him with me.
Besides, once he starts shootin' he can start cleanin'... That'll REALLY take the mystique out of it!
That is all.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Join In the Fun!
If it's Tuesday, it must be time for Gun Nuts Radio!
Join Breda and the other guy (just kidding, Caleb) for what will definitely be a lively discussion tonight:
(Emphasis mine)
Since I recently brought two more new shooters to the range, I just might have some input on this subject... ;)
See you at 9:00 PM EST!
That is all.
Join Breda and the other guy (just kidding, Caleb) for what will definitely be a lively discussion tonight:
Tonight on Gun Nuts Radio we’ll be doing a fun show - talking about tips and tricks to make you a better shooter. Breda will be talking about the differences in between training men and women, and I’ll take a look at the topic from the eyes of a competition shooter. As always, the show goes live at 9pm Eastern time, and your call ins are always welcome. You can join the conversation live by calling (347) 539-5436 - if you’re a firearms instructor or have experience teaching new shooters, we’d love to hear from you. If you’re someone who has had a positive or negative experience with an instructor, or you have a question for myself or Breda, please feel free to call in.
(Emphasis mine)
Since I recently brought two more new shooters to the range, I just might have some input on this subject... ;)
See you at 9:00 PM EST!
That is all.
Life Imitates The Simpsons...
8 Babies Born to Stunned California Parents
That is all.
BELLFLOWER, Calif. — Doctors methodically delivered a mother's seven babies, five boys and two girls, just as they had repeatedly rehearsed.Seems like someone's been watching episode 1107...
Then came the eighth.
That is all.
YHGTBSM*...
The honeymoon that ended before it began
Yeah, that sure sounds like a critical media intent on bringing down the new President. Ditto the "Obamalot" headlines after hisascension coronation inauguration (which was "historic", in case you missed it the 1,468,191 times the media mentioned it). I'm sure we'll start seeing headlines critical of The Annointed One's unilateral policies starting, oh, around the same time the sun burns out and becomes a lifeless ball...
I loved this line from the article, as it really lets you know where the writer is coming from:
Wow. Where do I even begin with this? The "middle class tax cut" that turned into the largest tax increase in US history is credit with spurring a boom? On what fucking planet? Off-hand I'd say the meteoric rise of the personal computer and the internet spurred the boom of the 1990s, a boom that came to an end as Bubba's stained presidency was in its twilight...
But no, I don't believe the Obama honeymoon is over. I think we're going to see yet another stunning turnaround as we did in 2000, where dissent magically became patriotic, military action against Iraq became bad, and government spending was something to worry about. With regards to Obama, I don't think the media's even finished strapping on the kneepads yet.
After all, they annointed him - it's up to them to make sure he doesn't fail.
That is all.
*You have got to be shitting me
Absolutely. If Obama wants to achieve a roaring, Canaveral-like lift off for his plan — and for his presidency — he needs to show that we have jettisoned “business as usual.” Bipartisan support is the way to do so.
Yeah, that sure sounds like a critical media intent on bringing down the new President. Ditto the "Obamalot" headlines after his
I loved this line from the article, as it really lets you know where the writer is coming from:
In the end it may not matter that much. In 1993, Bill Clinton passed his first and most important — and successful — tax bill without a single GOP vote in the House. The legislation is generally credited with having helped spur the Long Boom of the 1990s.
Wow. Where do I even begin with this? The "middle class tax cut" that turned into the largest tax increase in US history is credit with spurring a boom? On what fucking planet? Off-hand I'd say the meteoric rise of the personal computer and the internet spurred the boom of the 1990s, a boom that came to an end as Bubba's stained presidency was in its twilight...
But no, I don't believe the Obama honeymoon is over. I think we're going to see yet another stunning turnaround as we did in 2000, where dissent magically became patriotic, military action against Iraq became bad, and government spending was something to worry about. With regards to Obama, I don't think the media's even finished strapping on the kneepads yet.
After all, they annointed him - it's up to them to make sure he doesn't fail.
That is all.
*You have got to be shitting me
We Love Letters!
Today's letter comes from a young man named Ken who has a question concerning the byzantine MA gun laws:
Heh. Oh, Ken, are you in for a surprise... While MA may be (marginally) better than NJ for issuing CCW licenses, there's a lot more to the equation, as you surmise by the Approved Firearms Roster {spit}.
Here's my response:
I realize that this request is extremely MA-centric, but the exercise can be useful. Here's the situation: You've lost your mind completely and are going to move in the the People's Republik of Massa-fucking-chusetts. You can get pretty much anything you want from Smith & Wesson, Ruger, SigSauer, and ParaOrdnance as far as handguns go.
What would you buy to bring into MA? What guns would you absolutely have to have that aren't on the Approved Firearms Roster (or are on but not sold, like Glocks or Kahr Arms)? Remember that with the MA premium on "off-list" guns, you could pick up an extra gun or two to sell privately (yes, private transactions are legal in MA between licensed gun owners!)... For me, I'd pick up a Springfield Armory USGI 1911; a Glock 26, 27, and 36; a couple P3ATs and LCPs; several NAA mini-22s; and possibly a couple HKs.
What say you?
That is all.
Hey Jay G,
I really enjoy reading your blog, and the posts about MA gun laws have been particularly useful. I was hoping you’d be able to help clear up some of my confusion about the Approved Firearms Roster. I’m currently a grad student at [really smart college redacted] out here in [city name redacted].
I’m graduating this spring, and will probably be getting a job in MA. If I’m lucky, I’ll end up in NH, but right now there’s a good chance that I’ll be in Massachusetts. Currently, my legal residence is in New Jersey, which isn’t any better overall in terms of ridiculous gun laws, but at least there’s no approved firearms roster. The bad thing is, you have to apply for an individual permit for each handgun you want to buy, which takes anywhere from 2-6 months to be issued. I’m waiting on 2 permits right now, and planning on buying a couple of guns before I move to MA, while I still have almost free choice on what kind of handgun I can get. I’m on a bit of a tight budget, being a college student and all, so that influenced my plan as well.
[ed.: Got that? New freakin' Jersey has more options than MA for handguns.]
Originally, I had planned to buy a Kel-Tec P-3AT and a Taurus snubbie in .357(I know you’ve said S&W is better, but still, tight budget right now.). I’ve shot the Taurus before, but not the Kel-Tec, but I’ve heard good things on the internet. I figured that I could get a 1911 and a DAO autoloader of some kind after I moved to MA, and have a job with a paycheck. I looked at the Approved Firearms Roster, saw there were plenty of 1911 options from Para-Ordnance and S&W on the list, as well as the SIG 226/229 DAK (shot it before, liked it, but pricey). I planned on buying the Kel-Tec and the Taurus in NJ since they’re cheap, and not on the Approved Firearms Roster.
The part that I get confused about, and makes me wonder if I should change my plan, is the Attorney General’s handgun Sales Regulations (http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagoterminal&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Government&L2=AG%27s+Regulations&sid=Cago&b=terminalcontent&f=government_Regulations_940CMR16&csid=Cago). I just found out about these restrictions a few days ago, when a friend of mine pointed it out to me. My question is: do those regulations, specifically about trigger pull > 10lbs, mean that it’s impossible for me to buy any Single action autoloader (like a 1911) in MA? This would also seem to rule out any Sig with a DAK trigger (7 lb pull, according to the Sig Sauer website). If that’s correc t, and I can’t get those guns while living in MA, what would you recommend buying once my permits are issued? 2 handguns, not MA compliant, where cost is an issue. I’d like to keep total spending under 4 digits, if possible. A little more than that is feasible, but not preferable. What do you think?
Thanks for taking the time to read this very long email,
Ken
Heh. Oh, Ken, are you in for a surprise... While MA may be (marginally) better than NJ for issuing CCW licenses, there's a lot more to the equation, as you surmise by the Approved Firearms Roster {spit}.
Here's my response:
Good morning Ken,
Thanks for the kind words about the blog. It's heartening to hear that the "next generation" (How the HELL did I get so damned old?!?!?!) is interesting in the shooting sports and the Second Amendment in general.
As for the Approved Firearms Roster, well, in many cases your guess is as good as mine. There are plenty of guns that are on the Roster - Glock, for instance - that are not available for sale from a dealer.
The process, as near as I can figure out, is that a firearm manufacturer will give the required number of firearms to the testing agency and, once they pass, get put on the MA Approved Roster. After that, they can sell the guns, except that the AG can and will arbitrarily and capriciously decide that Gun "A" is acceptable to sell but Gun "B" is not. There's no rhyme or reason to it, and it has frustrated and discouraged many gun makers from selling in MA.
Which is EXACTLY why they do it...
Pretty much everything from Smith & Wesson is available for sale. This bodes well for your 1911 urge - S&W makes an excellent, excellent 1911 at an affordable price. ParaOrdnance is also well-represented in MA if you want a double-stack 1911 (or they also have single-stack versions); additionally, AutoOrdnance makes an entry level 1911 that is an inexpensive choice if you want something to tinker with.
The trigger pull greater than 10 pounds has to do with guns with no safety - obviously the 1911 doesn't apply. The Sig DAK isn't for sale in MA, but IIRC, you can purchase a regular SA/DA Sig and have SigArms do the conversion if you are so inclined. Me, personally, I like the SA option.
Remember, the AG regulations *ONLY* pertain to what a licensed FFL can sell you.
As for what to get, I'd suggest you look at Glocks or XDs - those command a PREMIUM on the used market in MA. The P3AT is a good choice, but I would recommend you investigate the Ruger LCP as well. It's a little more expensive, but it's better constructed. I've got a P3AT and love it, but if I were doing it again I'd get the LCP instead. Forget revolvers, really - You can buy a used S&W all day long in MA, and new S&Ws and Rugers are plentiful. It might be $100 more than a Taurus, but you'll appreciate having the gun $$$ for something you can't buy in MA.
(Side note: I'd counsel you to look into moving to NH and commuting - if you're going to be getting a job in the Worcester area, that might not actually be that difficult...)
And if you happened to move to MA and brought in a Kahr Arms K380, and then happened to get tired of it after a (short) while, I'd be happy to take it off your hands... :)
With your permission, I'd like to post your request on MArooned to see what other options people can come up with. I have a number of MA readers, and they might be able to make some other recommendations I haven't covered here. Obviously the standard disclaimer applies - I wouldn't use your last name, of course, but I would like to post your e-mail if that's okay.
In any case, I'm on the North Shore if you're interested in going shooting some time. I've got some non-MA Approved firearms (including the P3AT) if you're interested in shooting them.
Good to hear from you, and let me know on the post. I hope I've given you some good advice here, and hope to offer more!
Regards,
Jay G.
MArooned
I realize that this request is extremely MA-centric, but the exercise can be useful. Here's the situation: You've lost your mind completely and are going to move in the the People's Republik of Massa-fucking-chusetts. You can get pretty much anything you want from Smith & Wesson, Ruger, SigSauer, and ParaOrdnance as far as handguns go.
What would you buy to bring into MA? What guns would you absolutely have to have that aren't on the Approved Firearms Roster (or are on but not sold, like Glocks or Kahr Arms)? Remember that with the MA premium on "off-list" guns, you could pick up an extra gun or two to sell privately (yes, private transactions are legal in MA between licensed gun owners!)... For me, I'd pick up a Springfield Armory USGI 1911; a Glock 26, 27, and 36; a couple P3ATs and LCPs; several NAA mini-22s; and possibly a couple HKs.
What say you?
That is all.
Monday, January 26, 2009
More Wish List Material...
Add this to the "if they make it, I'll buy one" list:
.327 Federal Magnum-chambered, L-frame S&W revolver with scandium frame/titanium cylinder, 2" barrel, round butt, eight-round capacity.
That'd be a reason to move up from a J-frame...
That is all.
.327 Federal Magnum-chambered, L-frame S&W revolver with scandium frame/titanium cylinder, 2" barrel, round butt, eight-round capacity.
That'd be a reason to move up from a J-frame...
That is all.
Random Riffs...
Just some random tidbits from the daily jaunt around the news desks...
*House Speaker Sal DiMasi To Resign Tuesday - the guy was just re-elected Speaker like three weeks ago, and now he's resigning? The question is not "Did they catch him with a dead hooker?" but "Just how many dead hookers did they catch him with?"... Maybe he can join Tommy Finneran in requesting pardons... This is now the third MA Speaker of the House to resign in a row. That's gotta be a record of some sort...
*House Speaker Sal DiMasi To Resign Tuesday - the guy was just re-elected Speaker like three weeks ago, and now he's resigning? The question is not "Did they catch him with a dead hooker?" but "Just how many dead hookers did they catch him with?"... Maybe he can join Tommy Finneran in requesting pardons... This is now the third MA Speaker of the House to resign in a row. That's gotta be a record of some sort...
*Monster truck crushes promoter at event - Truckasaurus' whereabouts still unknown. He is considered wheeled and dangerous. What's most interesting is this comes less than a week after the promoter was touting the safety record of monster truck racing - then he stepped in front of one of the trucks... Remember folks, Darwin will not be denied.
*Covenant coach who beat Dallas Academy 100-0 is fired - file this under "stuff I don't get". While everyone wants to feel sorry for the underdog, what gets left out is that this coach brought the winning team back from a 2-19 record and was sticking up for allegations that his girls acted "shamefully". But they needed a scapegoat, so...
*Democrats try to lower economic expectations - what, you expected Obama to actually, you know, deliver on those campaign promises of rainbow-farting unicorns? Yeah, yeah, it's all Bush's fault, blah blah blah. See how that works for you in 2010 if all you can offer is excuses. Maybe our new Treasury Secretary can save us some money by giving us tax tips on how to ditch paying...
*Macintosh turns 25 - Many still living in parents' basements... Sorry, sometimes ya just gotta go for the pure snarky goodness... Any minute now a fanboy will come along to remind us that Macs don't have anti-virus software because they don't get virii. Of course, the rejoinder is always the same - with only, what, 5% market share, who'd bother writing virus code for Macs anyway?
*Impeachment trial to proceed without Ill. governor - man, the news from IL just keeps getting weirder, doesn't it? Blago says he wanted to nominate Oprah - Oprah freakin' Winfrey - for Obama's seat, now he's not even showing up for his trial. What's next, a slow-speed Bronco chase?
*TORRE RIPS 'A-FRAUD' & BOSS' BRASS BOZOS - let me just state, as a proud MAhole, the following statement regarding this news: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Gee, A-Rod's an underperforming prima donna? Bet you're real glad you "stole" him away from the Sox, eh Georgie boy?
Who needs comedy when real life is this freakin' bizarre?
That is all.
New Shooter(s) Report
At the beginning of the month, I was contacted by a gentleman wishing to take advantage of my open invitation to go shooting:
While we waited for a range to free up, I gave my quick safety spiel and made sure we were clear on general range etiquette and "what to do if" situations (jams, FTE, etc.). I had brought some snap caps for demonstration and gave a quick overview of the operation of both revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. As Jack's e-mail mentioned, they had both taken the NRA course, so most of this was simple review - but there's no such thing as too safe when it comes to introducing a new shooter IMHO.
I brought four guns for this range session:
Smith & Wesson Model 17 in .22LR for rimfire revolver;
Smith & Wesson Model 422 in .22LR for rimfire semi-automatic;
Ruger Security Six .357 Magnum for centerfire revolver; and
Colt 1991A1 for centerfire semi-automatic.
Normally I'd have brought the SigSauer P226 for a centerfire semi-auto, but Jack requested a 1911-variant "for old time's sake" from his days in the Corps. Can't say I blame him.
We started out in the rotation shown above, with me taking the first round of shots, then Mary Ann, then Jack. Both Jack and Mary Ann shot extremely well for (long time) returning and new shooters - on the silhouette targets we started on, only a small handful of shots went outside the 9 ring for all four guns! Interestingly enough, once they had both shot all four guns, there was little interest in the rimfire offerings - they both had a distinct preference for the centerfire experience over the plinkin' .22s. Y'know, there are worse things...
Mary Ann seemed to prefer the Ruger Security Six with .357 Magnum:
End result? Well, I'll let Mary Ann's Quote of the Day speak for itself:
We're already making plans to get together again once the snow melts for some rifle shooting and some evil orange clay killing at the gun club. And for some reason, I suspect there will be a .357 Magnum wheelgun and a 1911-style semi-auto in their future once they get their permits.
For those keeping score (*cough* Greg), that's another two new shooters - I think we can safely count a forty-year span as new...
That is all.
My wife and I just took the NRA Home safety Course and are applying for a firearm permit. I have handled firearms before in the Marine Corps back in ’61 to ’65, however my wife has never been near a firearm before. When we get our permits we are going to get firearms. My wife wants to try some out on the range before hand so we would like to take you up on your kind offer. Please let me know when it would be convenient for you.This past Saturday we got together for some shooty goodness. I met Jack and Mary Ann at the local public range - we would have met at my gun club except that: a) It's currently buried under about 2 feet of snow; and b) it'd be rather difficult getting Jack's wheelchair down the stairs to the basement range at the club. So we met at the local range, a place I've been going to for almost 20 years now. It's under new management, and they've made some improvements to the place.
While we waited for a range to free up, I gave my quick safety spiel and made sure we were clear on general range etiquette and "what to do if" situations (jams, FTE, etc.). I had brought some snap caps for demonstration and gave a quick overview of the operation of both revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. As Jack's e-mail mentioned, they had both taken the NRA course, so most of this was simple review - but there's no such thing as too safe when it comes to introducing a new shooter IMHO.
I brought four guns for this range session:
Smith & Wesson Model 17 in .22LR for rimfire revolver;
Smith & Wesson Model 422 in .22LR for rimfire semi-automatic;
Ruger Security Six .357 Magnum for centerfire revolver; and
Colt 1991A1 for centerfire semi-automatic.
Normally I'd have brought the SigSauer P226 for a centerfire semi-auto, but Jack requested a 1911-variant "for old time's sake" from his days in the Corps. Can't say I blame him.
We started out in the rotation shown above, with me taking the first round of shots, then Mary Ann, then Jack. Both Jack and Mary Ann shot extremely well for (long time) returning and new shooters - on the silhouette targets we started on, only a small handful of shots went outside the 9 ring for all four guns! Interestingly enough, once they had both shot all four guns, there was little interest in the rimfire offerings - they both had a distinct preference for the centerfire experience over the plinkin' .22s. Y'know, there are worse things...
Mary Ann seemed to prefer the Ruger Security Six with .357 Magnum:
End result? Well, I'll let Mary Ann's Quote of the Day speak for itself:
"I'm hooked!"Heh.
We're already making plans to get together again once the snow melts for some rifle shooting and some evil orange clay killing at the gun club. And for some reason, I suspect there will be a .357 Magnum wheelgun and a 1911-style semi-auto in their future once they get their permits.
For those keeping score (*cough* Greg), that's another two new shooters - I think we can safely count a forty-year span as new...
That is all.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sunday Afternoon...
Question to ponder:
Or is it just me?
That is all.
Why is it that a really good day (like yesterday) is almost invariably followed by a day full of teh suxxor?
Or is it just me?
That is all.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Gunnie Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Took two new shooters to the range today (full report - with pictures - on Monday!). While we were there, a 20-something came in with his girlfriend in (fearful) tow. He rented a 9mm pistol, bought a couple boxes of ammo and some silhouette targets, and started blasting away.
Completely oblivious to the fact that his girlfriend was not having a good time.
Then he hands her the gun. She looked at it like one would look at a toilet plunger after a bad weekend at og's. She took a shot. Had you placed a Madagascar hissing cockroach in her latte I doubt she'd have looked more ill-at-ease. She took another shot.
She put the gun down. "I don't like it!"
He shrugged and picked it up and emptied the magazine. Rapid fire, the best you could say for "accuracy" is that all rounds impacted the target (at 5 yards). She jumped every time the gun barked, spooked by the sturm und drang of this unfamiliar device. It was so bad the proprietors of the range came out and asked if they'd like to rent a .22. The boyfriend declined.
"We've shot 9mm before" was all he grunted.
I loaded up my S&W Model 17 and handed it to the young lady. I gave her a quick synopsis of revolver operation and how to line up the sights. She asked me to take the first shot - the gods of pistol shooting smiled on me, and the round impacted DFC. I handed the gun to her, moved to the side but still within arm's reach for support, and let her finish the cylinder.
"Oh! That's much better!" was her reply. As all five rounds landed in the center of the target (the center, mind you, which her boyfriend hadn't touched with three and a half magazines...)
The guy working the counter came back with a Ruger Mark III and two boxes of .22LR. The rest of the time there, the two of them shot the bull-barreled Ruger and complimented each others' shots. When I left with my two new shooters (that I started on the S&W Model 17 and 422, both .22s), the boyfriend had returned the Mark III and rented a GSG-5.
They were both smiling ear-to-ear as we left.
Total for the day: Two new shooters from my group, possibly a third in the young lady I introduced to the wonders of rimfire goodness. Life. Is. Good.
And then I get home and check my e-mail. A gentleman who asked my opinion on a new carry gun took my suggestion, bought a gun, and took it to the range - and loved it. One of my earlier new shooters has applied for his MA LTC - and is excited about the fact that he may be getting an unrestricted license.
It has been a banner day in Jay's gunnie universe.
That is all.
Completely oblivious to the fact that his girlfriend was not having a good time.
Then he hands her the gun. She looked at it like one would look at a toilet plunger after a bad weekend at og's. She took a shot. Had you placed a Madagascar hissing cockroach in her latte I doubt she'd have looked more ill-at-ease. She took another shot.
She put the gun down. "I don't like it!"
He shrugged and picked it up and emptied the magazine. Rapid fire, the best you could say for "accuracy" is that all rounds impacted the target (at 5 yards). She jumped every time the gun barked, spooked by the sturm und drang of this unfamiliar device. It was so bad the proprietors of the range came out and asked if they'd like to rent a .22. The boyfriend declined.
"We've shot 9mm before" was all he grunted.
I loaded up my S&W Model 17 and handed it to the young lady. I gave her a quick synopsis of revolver operation and how to line up the sights. She asked me to take the first shot - the gods of pistol shooting smiled on me, and the round impacted DFC. I handed the gun to her, moved to the side but still within arm's reach for support, and let her finish the cylinder.
"Oh! That's much better!" was her reply. As all five rounds landed in the center of the target (the center, mind you, which her boyfriend hadn't touched with three and a half magazines...)
The guy working the counter came back with a Ruger Mark III and two boxes of .22LR. The rest of the time there, the two of them shot the bull-barreled Ruger and complimented each others' shots. When I left with my two new shooters (that I started on the S&W Model 17 and 422, both .22s), the boyfriend had returned the Mark III and rented a GSG-5.
They were both smiling ear-to-ear as we left.
Total for the day: Two new shooters from my group, possibly a third in the young lady I introduced to the wonders of rimfire goodness. Life. Is. Good.
And then I get home and check my e-mail. A gentleman who asked my opinion on a new carry gun took my suggestion, bought a gun, and took it to the range - and loved it. One of my earlier new shooters has applied for his MA LTC - and is excited about the fact that he may be getting an unrestricted license.
It has been a banner day in Jay's gunnie universe.
That is all.
Don't Look Now...
...But today's a very special day on some porches...
How ironic is it that you missed St. JMB's by mere hours?
That is all.
Happy birthday, Tam!!!
How ironic is it that you missed St. JMB's by mere hours?
That is all.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Blogroll Additions
Two new places of interest to add to the MArooned blogroll:
1. Gun Nuts: The Next Generation. Caleb linked there heavily during his awesome SHOT Show coverage, and I noticed that he was kind enough to link MArooned there. I should have added Gun Nuts sooner, as it's a gateway to access the Gun Nuts Radio Show every Tuesday night at 9:00 PM. If you're not listening, you really should be - also be sure to join us in the Chat room (if you can find it) for a veritable who's who of the gun blogosphere. Oh, and a weird biker dude with a foul mouth from MA...
2. The Endive. Just from their mission statement alone I was intrigued:
I appreciate snark and sarcasm as much as the next guy, and the Endive looks to be a conservative's version of some other humor site named after a root vegetable... Take a look - it's good for a chuckle!
That is all.
1. Gun Nuts: The Next Generation. Caleb linked there heavily during his awesome SHOT Show coverage, and I noticed that he was kind enough to link MArooned there. I should have added Gun Nuts sooner, as it's a gateway to access the Gun Nuts Radio Show every Tuesday night at 9:00 PM. If you're not listening, you really should be - also be sure to join us in the Chat room (if you can find it) for a veritable who's who of the gun blogosphere. Oh, and a weird biker dude with a foul mouth from MA...
2. The Endive. Just from their mission statement alone I was intrigued:
The mission of The Endive is a simple one. Our mission is to give you a good, cheap laugh - usually at someone else’s expense. We have no shame, no one is safe, and we will not stop until you laugh (or get pissed).
But wait! There’s more to it than that! What’s the one common thread we see in all forms of entertainment, be it television or internet? It’s all pretty freaking liberal. As a matter of fact, the liberal slant on our TV shows and news programs is so entrenched that we take it for granted daily. Sure, lots of us are happy with that. Yay you. Lots of us are a little sick of it and watching Fox News 24/7 just doesn’t do it for
us.
I appreciate snark and sarcasm as much as the next guy, and the Endive looks to be a conservative's version of some other humor site named after a root vegetable... Take a look - it's good for a chuckle!
That is all.
Catchin' On!
...In more ways that one. Rustmeister alerts me to yet another righteous shooting.
North Houston resident disarms, kills burglar
Good guys 1, Bad guys 0
Dead Goblin Count: 6
That is all.
North Houston resident disarms, kills burglar
Homicide detectives are still investigating an overnight shooting in which a resident of a north Houston apartment said he disarmed a burglar and killed him with his own gun.Like Rusty says, the antis always tell us not to use a gun because it'll be taken away and used against us...
The shooting occurred about 10 a.m. [ed.: I assume they mean PM if it's an overnight shooting...] Thursday at the Worthington Apartments at 1350 Greens Parkway, KHOU Channel 11 reported. Police said two residents reported that they came home and found that two men had broken into their apartment.
One of the intruders had a gun, which was wrestled away from him during a struggle with the residents, police said. The resident fired, killing one of the burglars, while the other ran away, police were told.
Good guys 1, Bad guys 0
Dead Goblin Count: 6
That is all.
Friday Fun Thread: Off-Roadin'!
This week's automotive fun thread centers on gettin' dirty. Here are ten vehicles that are good to go in the mud or snow - four- or all-wheel drive cars, trucks, SUVs that don't mind getting mud in their flaps.
So without further ado, here's the list!
1. Jeep CJ. Oh yeah. There's no other vehicle that even comes close to the #1 slot of "vehicles to take when the road... isn't." For over 60 years Jeep has been synonymous with off-road, recent attempts to civilize the Wrangler notwithstanding. There's a reason it's called the Jeep Jamboree...
2. HMMWV. The original Hummer, not the frou-frou specialty crap that GM decided to foist on an ever-gullible public. Approach angle of 54º. Independent suspension. Capable of fording up to 5' of water. R-r-r-r-r-r-r! (Tim-the-toolman-Taylor-esque grunt inserted for good measure...)
3. Toyota FJ40. I had an Organic Chemistry professor in college who owned an FJ. He had it stocked to the rafters with survival gear and sundry. Thought the world was going to end at any given moment (remember two things: a) this was during the Cold War and b) he inhaled a lot of benzene...). Plus it's compatible with the GM small block V8.
4. Lamborghini LM. A four wheel drive, V12 SUV with 444 horsepower and a top speed of 120 MPH. What's not to love? Need another reason? It got Time Magazine's panties in a bunch and was number 40 on their 50 Worst Cars list...
5. Land Rover Series 1. Okay, this one makes this list primarily for the scene in "The Gods Must Be Crazy" where one winds up hanging from a tree.... *AND* it's got a Power Take Off unit. How cool is it that you could use your LR for a lawn mower?
6. First generation Ford Bronco. Top off. V8 at the ready. I don't care who you are, this is a sweet lookin' truck that's equally at home on the trails or on the beach. As with everything else in the 1970s, the redesign made it much larger and bulkier, and traded the fully removable roof for a smaller rear section.
7. Porsche 959. Okay, this one might not be the best choice for running the Jeep Jamboree, but it *has* won the gruelling Paris-Dakar rally (on its second try, but hey...). Show up with one of these beauties at a road rally and watch the WRX and STi owners cringe...
8. Third generation Chevy pickup. This is the base platform for building a serious off-road monster - with the option of engines ranging from the nigh-indestructible small block 350 to the monster 454 to the 6.2L Diesel, there's an engine to suit whatever you want to do. Put in a 6" lift, toss on 38" Mickey Thompsons, and you're good to get stuck miles and miles from civilization...
9. Jeep Wagoneer. Jeep off-road capability. Seating for 7. For dinner. Fake wood paneling. This is the vehicle to have if you want to take the whole (Brady Bunch) family off-roading...
10. Subaru WRX. Okay, got a soft spot for rally cars. Sue me. It's still a decent choice for something that'll go good in the snow, still haul all your kids and groceries, and doesn't reek of econobox like a Civic or Corolla...
Okay, so there's my list of favorite off-road type vehicles. I'm sure in my haste I've forgotten some really good cars or trucks, so remind me what's missing.
That is all.
So without further ado, here's the list!
1. Jeep CJ. Oh yeah. There's no other vehicle that even comes close to the #1 slot of "vehicles to take when the road... isn't." For over 60 years Jeep has been synonymous with off-road, recent attempts to civilize the Wrangler notwithstanding. There's a reason it's called the Jeep Jamboree...
2. HMMWV. The original Hummer, not the frou-frou specialty crap that GM decided to foist on an ever-gullible public. Approach angle of 54º. Independent suspension. Capable of fording up to 5' of water. R-r-r-r-r-r-r! (Tim-the-toolman-Taylor-esque grunt inserted for good measure...)
3. Toyota FJ40. I had an Organic Chemistry professor in college who owned an FJ. He had it stocked to the rafters with survival gear and sundry. Thought the world was going to end at any given moment (remember two things: a) this was during the Cold War and b) he inhaled a lot of benzene...). Plus it's compatible with the GM small block V8.
4. Lamborghini LM. A four wheel drive, V12 SUV with 444 horsepower and a top speed of 120 MPH. What's not to love? Need another reason? It got Time Magazine's panties in a bunch and was number 40 on their 50 Worst Cars list...
5. Land Rover Series 1. Okay, this one makes this list primarily for the scene in "The Gods Must Be Crazy" where one winds up hanging from a tree.... *AND* it's got a Power Take Off unit. How cool is it that you could use your LR for a lawn mower?
6. First generation Ford Bronco. Top off. V8 at the ready. I don't care who you are, this is a sweet lookin' truck that's equally at home on the trails or on the beach. As with everything else in the 1970s, the redesign made it much larger and bulkier, and traded the fully removable roof for a smaller rear section.
7. Porsche 959. Okay, this one might not be the best choice for running the Jeep Jamboree, but it *has* won the gruelling Paris-Dakar rally (on its second try, but hey...). Show up with one of these beauties at a road rally and watch the WRX and STi owners cringe...
8. Third generation Chevy pickup. This is the base platform for building a serious off-road monster - with the option of engines ranging from the nigh-indestructible small block 350 to the monster 454 to the 6.2L Diesel, there's an engine to suit whatever you want to do. Put in a 6" lift, toss on 38" Mickey Thompsons, and you're good to get stuck miles and miles from civilization...
9. Jeep Wagoneer. Jeep off-road capability. Seating for 7. For dinner. Fake wood paneling. This is the vehicle to have if you want to take the whole (Brady Bunch) family off-roading...
10. Subaru WRX. Okay, got a soft spot for rally cars. Sue me. It's still a decent choice for something that'll go good in the snow, still haul all your kids and groceries, and doesn't reek of econobox like a Civic or Corolla...
Okay, so there's my list of favorite off-road type vehicles. I'm sure in my haste I've forgotten some really good cars or trucks, so remind me what's missing.
That is all.
Sing Ho! For the Birth of a Genius
Tam reminds us that today is the birthday of John Moses Browning. PBUH. She's got a run-down of firearms that were blessed by the hand of JMB; take a look at the list and see how many of his designs reside in your gun cabinet.
I've got five:
Winchester 1894
Winchester 1890
Winchester 1897
Remington Model 11
U.S. M1911
Happy Birthday, Mr. Browning.
That is all.
I've got five:
Winchester 1894
Winchester 1890
Winchester 1897
Remington Model 11
U.S. M1911
Happy Birthday, Mr. Browning.
That is all.
Friday Gun Pr0n #95
Today's gun is yet another one of the, well, different guns in the G. armory. I was chatting with Caleb in the Gunblogger Conspiracy forum, and he was talking about some of the possible handguns he'd like to get. One of them was the Walther version of this:
Until I got my G30, this gun was my cold weather carry gun. It's a little thick to hide in the summer, but when I could get away with a sweater or a vest, it was the go-to CCW piece. It's relatively light (~ 24 ounces), shoots well, and has been utterly reliable - thousands of rounds, mostly cheap FMJ, and not a single failure of any kind.
Question for those in the know: Is this the kind of gun that would be good for something like IDPA? I feel bad because this is too good a gun to just languish in a safe, but if I want to shoot 9mm these days I've got the Sig P226. If this is something that would work for a shooting sport I'll hold onto it; otherwise it may find its way to the auction block to put some $$$ into the gun fund...
That is all.
Until I got my G30, this gun was my cold weather carry gun. It's a little thick to hide in the summer, but when I could get away with a sweater or a vest, it was the go-to CCW piece. It's relatively light (~ 24 ounces), shoots well, and has been utterly reliable - thousands of rounds, mostly cheap FMJ, and not a single failure of any kind.
Question for those in the know: Is this the kind of gun that would be good for something like IDPA? I feel bad because this is too good a gun to just languish in a safe, but if I want to shoot 9mm these days I've got the Sig P226. If this is something that would work for a shooting sport I'll hold onto it; otherwise it may find its way to the auction block to put some $$$ into the gun fund...
That is all.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Can I Just Say...
...that if I see or hear about Obama's "historic inauguration" one more time, I'm gonna puke?
That is all.
That is all.
Automotive Calendar
No, not one of these:
But how you tell periods of time in your life by the car you were driving...
I was chatting with a friend last night, and describing one time when I got pulled over as a teenager. I knew I was 19-20, because I was driving my Buick Regal. Talking with friends about the infamous TGIFridays bar fight, I knew it was 1997 because I was driving my Caddy then. Another friend chimed in that he remembered his son's age because he bought a new car the year he was born.
Then we had to go and buy a Honda and screw all that up - we've had the car for almost 10 years and it shows no sign of letting up...
That is all.
But how you tell periods of time in your life by the car you were driving...
I was chatting with a friend last night, and describing one time when I got pulled over as a teenager. I knew I was 19-20, because I was driving my Buick Regal. Talking with friends about the infamous TGIFridays bar fight, I knew it was 1997 because I was driving my Caddy then. Another friend chimed in that he remembered his son's age because he bought a new car the year he was born.
Then we had to go and buy a Honda and screw all that up - we've had the car for almost 10 years and it shows no sign of letting up...
That is all.
Back-to-Back!
Wow. If there's anything that'll warm the cockles of your heart on a cold January day, back-to-back righteous shootings have to rank pretty high up the scale...
Dallas burglary suspect fatally shot
{pause for catcalls and war whoops to die down}
You mess with the bull, you get the horns. No tears need be shed for this vicious little bastard; let us hope that there will be a happy ending for the gentleman who ended his criminal career. Although the story does say "The case will likely be referred to a grand jury", this is Texas, after all, and we would expect the shoot to be ruled clean...
Good guys 1, bad guys room temperature.
Dead Goblin count: 5
Link kindly provided by Mule Breath. Thank'ee, good sir!
That is all.
Dallas burglary suspect fatally shot
DALLAS -- A suspected burglar died Wednesday from wounds received in a shoot-out in the 300 block of West Hobson Avenue, according to authorities.
A man in his early 50s stopped at his mother's house to drop off a news paper when saw the front door kicked in and found a 17-year-old male inside. The man's mother left the residence earlier in the day.
The teen, Gabriel Flores, drew a gun and pointed it at the man, and the son -- who has a concealed handgun license -- drew his gun, police said. Flores fired and the son shot back, striking Flores once, police said. He died shortly after arriving at an area hospital, police said.
{pause for catcalls and war whoops to die down}
You mess with the bull, you get the horns. No tears need be shed for this vicious little bastard; let us hope that there will be a happy ending for the gentleman who ended his criminal career. Although the story does say "The case will likely be referred to a grand jury", this is Texas, after all, and we would expect the shoot to be ruled clean...
Good guys 1, bad guys room temperature.
Dead Goblin count: 5
Link kindly provided by Mule Breath. Thank'ee, good sir!
That is all.
Headbangus Interruptus...
You really, really want to piss me off on my ride to work? Cut me off while I'm rockin' out and reliving my misspent youth to Metallica's "Seek and Destroy"... Sure, there's no hair left to thrash around while head-banging, and I'll probably be sore tomorrow morning, but there's nothing quite like the Joe Satriani-inspired strains of Kirk Hammett's youthful guitar thrashing to get one's morning kicked into overdrive. And then some pusbag in a Camry blows through the stop sign and goes and ruins it all.
Hope you cut off a Fung-Wah bus with shitty brakes next time, asshole...
That is all.
Hope you cut off a Fung-Wah bus with shitty brakes next time, asshole...
That is all.
Kiss My WHAT?
Dems want apology from Lieberman
Obama promised to "reach across the aisle." What he failed to mention was that it wouldn't be with the hand of friendship or even reconciliation, but with the iron fist of wrath... Or is this Obama's America, where slavish adherence to political persuasion trumps one's judgement and longtime friendships? Is this the look of things to come - back your party, regardless? Doesn't exactly bode well for "changing the tone", does it?
Shorter post: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Hopenchange my hairy Italian ass...
That is all.
WASHINGTON -- A day after Barack Obama was sworn in as the nation's 44th President, the Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee called on Sen. Joe Lieberman to apologize to him for having backed his Republican opponent in the 2008 campaign.
Last month, the Democrats declined to censure Lieberman for having supported Republican John McCain. Rather than ask him to remove himself as a registered Democratic voter, they decided instead to send a letter expressing their anger.
Obama promised to "reach across the aisle." What he failed to mention was that it wouldn't be with the hand of friendship or even reconciliation, but with the iron fist of wrath... Or is this Obama's America, where slavish adherence to political persuasion trumps one's judgement and longtime friendships? Is this the look of things to come - back your party, regardless? Doesn't exactly bode well for "changing the tone", does it?
Shorter post: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Hopenchange my hairy Italian ass...
That is all.
Interesting, Part II...
Day Two of the Obama administration. Still no unicorns. Or rainbows.
That is all.
UPDATE: Breda has pictures!
That is all.
UPDATE: Breda has pictures!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Don't Mess with Texans, Either...
Resident kills burglar at NW Houston apartments
Moral of the story: Don't bring a handgun to a shotgun fight...
Be sure to read the comments to the story, too. There's not a lot of sympathy for the poor unfortunate who got the dirt nap. Seems that people [clap][clap][clap] in the heart of Texas don't have a lot of sympathy for home invaders.
Good guys: 1, Bad Guys, 0
Dead Goblin count: 4
That is all.
One man was killed and another ran for his life early today after they broke into a northwest Houston apartment and were met with gunfire from one of the residents, police said.
Detectives this morning were trying to identify the man who was killed by a shotgun blast [ed. 00 buckshot to the face will hamper identification. Who knew?] about 3:15 a.m. at the Shadow Creek Apartments in the 7500 block of Pinemont near Hollister.
The two men who live in the ground-floor apartment told officers they were preparing to watch a movie when they heard a loud noise. Their front door was suddenly kicked open and two men burst into the apartment, one of them holding a revolver, police were told.
Moral of the story: Don't bring a handgun to a shotgun fight...
Be sure to read the comments to the story, too. There's not a lot of sympathy for the poor unfortunate who got the dirt nap. Seems that people [clap][clap][clap] in the heart of Texas don't have a lot of sympathy for home invaders.
Good guys: 1, Bad Guys, 0
Dead Goblin count: 4
That is all.
Check It Out!
Chris from Opposing Views sent me an e-mail letting me know that they now have a new information center dedicated to gun issues called the Gun Center. They've also got a "Recommended Links" section (which I hope will find MArooned included soon! hint hint, shameless link whore that I am...)
Go check it out - it looks promising!
That is all.
Go check it out - it looks promising!
That is all.
BOHICA...
From the source:
"Repeal the Tiahrt Amendment" - blatant lie, as law enforcement is already able to access gun trace information. What the Tiahrt Amendment does is restrict non-LEO access.
"Closing the gun show loophole" - ending private transactions, as there is no gun show loophole that's not also the "in your living room" loophole.
"Making guns... childproof" - One can only assume this means through some magic and mystical hopenchangey technology that has yet to be invented. Of course, I suppose it could mean providing funding for programs like Eddie Eagle to educate children about gun safety. And monkeys could actually gain flight out of my posterior...
"Making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent" - I'm certain they're going to provide all kinds of empirical data about how crime rates plummeted from 1994 to 2004 and then skyrocketed from 2005 to present, right? I mean, we've had plenty of time to gather data, and we should be able to show a clear correlation between "that shoulder thing that goes up" and increased crime in the wake of the AWB expiration.
I'm sorry. I can't be optimistic with patent lies, ignorant drivel, and pathetic attempts to "do it again, only harder". The next four years do not bode well for the Second Amendment community, IMHO, and we will need to forever be on our guard. Keep bringing new folks to the range; keep the pressure on your local and state congresscritters; join as many pro-freedom groups as you can; and be prepared for the worst.
(And in related news, Tam posts her reaction to this same posting. As one might expect, she's got the snarkier take on it...)
That is all.
Address Gun Violence in Cities: Obama and Biden would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which restricts the ability of local law enforcement to access important gun trace information, and give police officers across the nation the tools they need to solve gun crimes and fight the illegal arms trade. Obama and Biden also favor commonsense measures that respect the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, while keeping guns away from children and from criminals. They support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof. They also support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent.Let's see...
"Repeal the Tiahrt Amendment" - blatant lie, as law enforcement is already able to access gun trace information. What the Tiahrt Amendment does is restrict non-LEO access.
"Closing the gun show loophole" - ending private transactions, as there is no gun show loophole that's not also the "in your living room" loophole.
"Making guns... childproof" - One can only assume this means through some magic and mystical hopenchangey technology that has yet to be invented. Of course, I suppose it could mean providing funding for programs like Eddie Eagle to educate children about gun safety. And monkeys could actually gain flight out of my posterior...
"Making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent" - I'm certain they're going to provide all kinds of empirical data about how crime rates plummeted from 1994 to 2004 and then skyrocketed from 2005 to present, right? I mean, we've had plenty of time to gather data, and we should be able to show a clear correlation between "that shoulder thing that goes up" and increased crime in the wake of the AWB expiration.
I'm sorry. I can't be optimistic with patent lies, ignorant drivel, and pathetic attempts to "do it again, only harder". The next four years do not bode well for the Second Amendment community, IMHO, and we will need to forever be on our guard. Keep bringing new folks to the range; keep the pressure on your local and state congresscritters; join as many pro-freedom groups as you can; and be prepared for the worst.
(And in related news, Tam posts her reaction to this same posting. As one might expect, she's got the snarkier take on it...)
That is all.
Wish List...
Okay. All this coverage of SHOT Show last week has got me drooling...
Now, living in the Volksrepublik of MA, where I am subject to not only the insidious AWB (coming soon to a state near you courtesy of the Obama administration!), but also the approved firearms roster, I'm passing on (almost all of) the rifles. And most of the pistols. However, several caught my eye...
Smith & Wesson 9mm 1911. Whoa. S&W makes a mighty fine 1911 to start with. Add in that most (all?) of their handguns are MA-compliant, and it's quite probable that this fine gun might be available here behind the red curtain. Hmm, a single-stack 1911 with 10+1 capacity to practice with... Hmmm...
Smith & Wesson model 310 Night Guard. Damn, but that's a sexy lookin' wheelgun. Load with hot 10mm loads for home defense or walking in the woods, practice with inexpensive .40 S&W FMJs at the range. What's not to love?
SigSauer P238. (thanks to Gun Nuts for the pic). Call it a Mustang for the aughts if you will, an updated and refreshed version of Colt's 1911-based single-stack .380 ACP pocket gun. Sure, it's not practical, as it's the same capacity as my P3AT but heavier, thicker, and longer. But it's 1911-based!!!
Remington model 7615. Apparently there's now an all-black version of what was formerly a camo- or wood-only rifle. Takes AR-15 magazines, of which I have a bunch. Looks like it would be a right fun plinker - and I'm a sucker for pump-action rifles...
That's what caught my eye from the coverage of SHOT Show this year. I'll admit to not paying as much attention as the next gunnie, as I'll only wind up frustrated and angry at the lack of offerings for those of us trapped in gun-unfriendly states. Of course, once the Annointed One gets his way and the AWB is reinstated (and tightened, of course), we'll all be in this together, won't we???
That is all.
Now, living in the Volksrepublik of MA, where I am subject to not only the insidious AWB (coming soon to a state near you courtesy of the Obama administration!), but also the approved firearms roster, I'm passing on (almost all of) the rifles. And most of the pistols. However, several caught my eye...
Smith & Wesson 9mm 1911. Whoa. S&W makes a mighty fine 1911 to start with. Add in that most (all?) of their handguns are MA-compliant, and it's quite probable that this fine gun might be available here behind the red curtain. Hmm, a single-stack 1911 with 10+1 capacity to practice with... Hmmm...
Smith & Wesson model 310 Night Guard. Damn, but that's a sexy lookin' wheelgun. Load with hot 10mm loads for home defense or walking in the woods, practice with inexpensive .40 S&W FMJs at the range. What's not to love?
SigSauer P238. (thanks to Gun Nuts for the pic). Call it a Mustang for the aughts if you will, an updated and refreshed version of Colt's 1911-based single-stack .380 ACP pocket gun. Sure, it's not practical, as it's the same capacity as my P3AT but heavier, thicker, and longer. But it's 1911-based!!!
Remington model 7615. Apparently there's now an all-black version of what was formerly a camo- or wood-only rifle. Takes AR-15 magazines, of which I have a bunch. Looks like it would be a right fun plinker - and I'm a sucker for pump-action rifles...
That's what caught my eye from the coverage of SHOT Show this year. I'll admit to not paying as much attention as the next gunnie, as I'll only wind up frustrated and angry at the lack of offerings for those of us trapped in gun-unfriendly states. Of course, once the Annointed One gets his way and the AWB is reinstated (and tightened, of course), we'll all be in this together, won't we???
That is all.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Appeasing the gods of Comedic Pairing...
Fiat and Chrysler sign alliance plan
It is quite possibly the world's most perfect automotive merger:
My
Old
Plymouth
Ain't
Running
Fix
It
Again
Tony.
A match made in heaven!
That is all.
ROME (AP) -- Fiat and Chrysler said Tuesday they have agreed to form a strategic alliance that would give the Italian auto empire a 35-percent stake in the troubled U.S. carmaker and could eventually bring it full control.
The deal means Chrysler, which is fighting off bankruptcy and struggling to sell less fuel efficient larger models, would have access to new markets and cheaper, more environmentally friendly technologies.
It is quite possibly the world's most perfect automotive merger:
My
Old
Plymouth
Ain't
Running
Fix
It
Again
Tony.
A match made in heaven!
That is all.
Fait Accompli.
Well, the die is cast. The Disney trip has been booked. Flights have been arranged. The G. family is going to Disney World the first week in June. Robb? Greg & Beth? Jay? (Apologies to any other FLA bloggers I've inadvertently omitted...) Anyone up for a meet & greet? I'm always looking to add more names to the list of "Bloggers I've Met"...
I don't know who's in more trouble, us... or Walt Disney's megalocorp...
Anyhoo... Thanks to everyone who posted on my initial post, or e-mailed me, or PM'd me with suggestions (and yes, Ross, I *will* give you a call some evening - or, even better, get together with you at the range this spring - to pick your brain). I'm certain that I'll have about a zillion more questions, and not all about Disney itself - for example, I haven't flown since 9/11, and have no idea how the security theater has changed the "experience" of flying since I last braved the skies.
We'll be staying in the Pop Century "value" resort and relying on Disney's ground transport to and from the airport and to the individual theme parks, so there won't be any "unsanctioned" vacationing. We'll be in Orlando for 8 days, with 7 days theme park admission, so we will be bouncing between theme parks like largish sunburned ping-pong balls all week long. I imagine after a week of shepherding two young children around the land of the mouse I will be about ready to dive into a large vat of bourbon...
Current plan is to run through all the parks once, then hit Magic Kingdom and Epcot as needed on subsequent days. We're going to try to take at least a half day off, where we lounge around the pool and relax rather than rush, rush, rush. Of course, no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy, err, mondosuperfuncorp... We'll have our dog-eared copies of Birnbaum's Disney Guide (thanks Brad!) to guide us (and, most likely if I know myself, I'll have printouts of all the suggestions people have made as well!).
The only question left, then, is what caliber is best for Rodents of Unusual Size?
{snerk}
That is all.
I don't know who's in more trouble, us... or Walt Disney's megalocorp...
Anyhoo... Thanks to everyone who posted on my initial post, or e-mailed me, or PM'd me with suggestions (and yes, Ross, I *will* give you a call some evening - or, even better, get together with you at the range this spring - to pick your brain). I'm certain that I'll have about a zillion more questions, and not all about Disney itself - for example, I haven't flown since 9/11, and have no idea how the security theater has changed the "experience" of flying since I last braved the skies.
We'll be staying in the Pop Century "value" resort and relying on Disney's ground transport to and from the airport and to the individual theme parks, so there won't be any "unsanctioned" vacationing. We'll be in Orlando for 8 days, with 7 days theme park admission, so we will be bouncing between theme parks like largish sunburned ping-pong balls all week long. I imagine after a week of shepherding two young children around the land of the mouse I will be about ready to dive into a large vat of bourbon...
Current plan is to run through all the parks once, then hit Magic Kingdom and Epcot as needed on subsequent days. We're going to try to take at least a half day off, where we lounge around the pool and relax rather than rush, rush, rush. Of course, no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy, err, mondosuperfuncorp... We'll have our dog-eared copies of Birnbaum's Disney Guide (thanks Brad!) to guide us (and, most likely if I know myself, I'll have printouts of all the suggestions people have made as well!).
The only question left, then, is what caliber is best for Rodents of Unusual Size?
{snerk}
That is all.
Computer Question...
With desktop systems selling for under $400, is it even worth re-installing Windows on our six-year old franken-PC?
I mean, I hate to be wasteful and all, but do I really want to do a complete re-installation of everything on a machine that, quite frankly, has seen better days? The DVD drive has never worked properly; the CD drive is on its way out; the monitor is over 10 years old; basically, it's just not worth re-habbing this machine IMHO.
Not when I can pick up a new computer and monitor for under $400. For a little over $500, I can get a Dell system with some upgrades (basically the same specs as our current laptop) that I can put in the office upstairs as our "main" computer. Ever since we got the laptop, we've gotten dependent on having two computers in the house (and I'm starting to seriously consider one of those Acer Eee micro-laptops for home and mobile surfing and blogging...). Our old computer is definitely on its last legs, having undergone yet another bout with a virus/spyware infestation concommitant with multiple hardware failures (the monitor *and* keyboard just gave up the ghost and we are currently using the monitor and keyboard that came with the HP Pavilion we bought when we moved into the house ten years ago).
Besides, I can bring the old PC and monitor to the Cub Scout electronics drive in May and get a tax deduction. The hard drive, of course, will be brought to the sooper-sekrit range in free America and properly taken care of (they can't access your private information if the hard drive has a .308" hole through it)... Honestly, I can't see a good reason for limping the old machine along, knowing that it's currently obsolete and only getting more so every minute...
So... Anyone got a good reason to hold onto the new computer?
That is all.
I mean, I hate to be wasteful and all, but do I really want to do a complete re-installation of everything on a machine that, quite frankly, has seen better days? The DVD drive has never worked properly; the CD drive is on its way out; the monitor is over 10 years old; basically, it's just not worth re-habbing this machine IMHO.
Not when I can pick up a new computer and monitor for under $400. For a little over $500, I can get a Dell system with some upgrades (basically the same specs as our current laptop) that I can put in the office upstairs as our "main" computer. Ever since we got the laptop, we've gotten dependent on having two computers in the house (and I'm starting to seriously consider one of those Acer Eee micro-laptops for home and mobile surfing and blogging...). Our old computer is definitely on its last legs, having undergone yet another bout with a virus/spyware infestation concommitant with multiple hardware failures (the monitor *and* keyboard just gave up the ghost and we are currently using the monitor and keyboard that came with the HP Pavilion we bought when we moved into the house ten years ago).
Besides, I can bring the old PC and monitor to the Cub Scout electronics drive in May and get a tax deduction. The hard drive, of course, will be brought to the sooper-sekrit range in free America and properly taken care of (they can't access your private information if the hard drive has a .308" hole through it)... Honestly, I can't see a good reason for limping the old machine along, knowing that it's currently obsolete and only getting more so every minute...
So... Anyone got a good reason to hold onto the new computer?
That is all.
Showoff...
When Life Gives You Snow, Build An Igloo!
Hmmm. We've certainly got enough snow 'round Casa del G...
That is all.
A man in Minnesota has such an excess of snow in his backyard that he called on some professional help to build an igloo.
Hmmm. We've certainly got enough snow 'round Casa del G...
That is all.
Good Day, Mr. President
It's here. Barack Hussein Obama's inauguration day. The day we've feared ever since that fateful night in November when he beat John McCain like a rented mule. The day he puts his hand on the Koran Bible and takes the oath of office*. George Bush is gone, relegated to "former President" status just like Bill Clinton. It's time for the Kos Kids, DU denizens, and all the other Bush haters to quietly fade away, and the black helicopter/tinfoil hat brigade who thought Bill Clinton was going to declare martial law in the wake of Y2K to return to their keyboards.
Well, I say, on this day, Welcome, Mr. President. I will give you exactly as much leeway as the MSM did for George W. Bush and not a farthing more. I'm skeptical of your ability to lead us, as you've never held any position longer than a few scant months before moving on, and as such are completely and utterly untested. You've thrown countless supporters, advisers, and long-time friends and allies under the bus the second it becomes politically expedient, indicating you don't care for silly things like loyalty, friendship, or consistency.
One thing I will not do is claim that you are not my President. I didn't vote for you, that's for certain; in fact, I actively worked to prevent you from reaching this goal. However, yours was the victorious campaign, and as much as it pains me to admit, you are our next President. I will not, as many of President Bush's detractors have over the past eight years, root for America's enemies to triumph nor for America's economy to falter so that you can be blamed for it.
No, sir, it is up to you to succeed or fail on your own. While the press has elevated you to lofty heights as the great healer of our country's very soul, eventually you're going to need to actually lead at some point (not rule, notice...). You will need to actually stake down an honest-to-goodness position on things (other than "What Bush did was wrong, m'kay?").
And we'll be watching. The whole world will be watching. How you handle this, your turn in the limelight as the leader of the free world, will be entirely up to you and the people you have chosen to advise you. Given those choices, I'm not holding much hope.
Here's hoping I'm wrong, Mr. President. For America's sake.
That is all.
*I kid, I kid...
Well, I say, on this day, Welcome, Mr. President. I will give you exactly as much leeway as the MSM did for George W. Bush and not a farthing more. I'm skeptical of your ability to lead us, as you've never held any position longer than a few scant months before moving on, and as such are completely and utterly untested. You've thrown countless supporters, advisers, and long-time friends and allies under the bus the second it becomes politically expedient, indicating you don't care for silly things like loyalty, friendship, or consistency.
One thing I will not do is claim that you are not my President. I didn't vote for you, that's for certain; in fact, I actively worked to prevent you from reaching this goal. However, yours was the victorious campaign, and as much as it pains me to admit, you are our next President. I will not, as many of President Bush's detractors have over the past eight years, root for America's enemies to triumph nor for America's economy to falter so that you can be blamed for it.
No, sir, it is up to you to succeed or fail on your own. While the press has elevated you to lofty heights as the great healer of our country's very soul, eventually you're going to need to actually lead at some point (not rule, notice...). You will need to actually stake down an honest-to-goodness position on things (other than "What Bush did was wrong, m'kay?").
And we'll be watching. The whole world will be watching. How you handle this, your turn in the limelight as the leader of the free world, will be entirely up to you and the people you have chosen to advise you. Given those choices, I'm not holding much hope.
Here's hoping I'm wrong, Mr. President. For America's sake.
That is all.
*I kid, I kid...
Monday, January 19, 2009
Blind Pig... Acorn...
President George W. Bush Grants Commutations
HFS. Shrub did something right. Good on ya, W...
That is all.
WASHINGTON – On Jan. 19, 2009, President George W. Bush granted commutations of sentence to two individuals:
COMMUTATIONS:
Jose Alonso Compean – El Paso, TexasOffense: Assault with a dangerous weapon, and aiding and abetting, 18 USC § 7, 113 and 2; assault with serious bodily injury, and aiding and abetting, 18 USC § 7, 113 and 2; discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, 18 USC § 924; deprivation of rights under color of law, 18 USC § 242.Sentence: Nov. 12, 2008; Western District of Texas; 12 years in prison, three years of supervised release following the prison term, $2,000 fine.Terms of commutation: Prison sentence to expire on March 20, 2009, leaving intact and in effect the three year term of supervised release with all its conditions and the fine.
Ignacio Ramos, a/k/a Ignacio Ramos Jr. – El Paso, TexasOffense: Assault with a dangerous weapon, and aiding and abetting, 18 USC § 7, 113 and 2; assault with serious bodily injury, and aiding and abetting, 18 USC § 7, 113 and 2; discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, 18 USC § 924; deprivation of rights under color of law, 18 USC § 242.Sentence: Nov. 13, 2008; Western District of Texas; 11 years and one day in prison, three years of supervised release following the prison term, $2,000 fine.Terms of commutation: Prison sentence to expire on March 20, 2009, leaving intact and in effect the three year term of supervised release with all its conditions and the fine.
HFS. Shrub did something right. Good on ya, W...
That is all.
More "You Might Be A Gun Nut"...
If your neighbor stops his car at the end of your driveway, motions you over, and says,
"I know you know how to get guns"
You might be a gun nut.
He's looking to buy an M1A and was asking advice. I counseled him to go to Bruce's good friend Gene at State Line Guns in NH. He hadn't realized he could have a NH dealer order him a new rifle. As I explained, they can transfer a long arm from a NH dealer to a MA resident so long as the long arm does not run afoul of the MA AWB. And I want to shoot it...
That is all.
"I know you know how to get guns"
You might be a gun nut.
He's looking to buy an M1A and was asking advice. I counseled him to go to Bruce's good friend Gene at State Line Guns in NH. He hadn't realized he could have a NH dealer order him a new rifle. As I explained, they can transfer a long arm from a NH dealer to a MA resident so long as the long arm does not run afoul of the MA AWB. And I want to shoot it...
That is all.
Behind Enemy Lines, Part II
I had intended Part I to cover the myriad gun laws of Massachusetts, but it quickly became clear that covering all of the MA gun laws in one post was an exercise in raising my blood pressure. I settled for covering four of the largest bones of contention, so to speak, the Four Horsemen of the MA Apocalypse for gun owners. In Part II, I'll cover some of the other extraneous bullshit thrown in the face of the MA gunnie.
HR45 is what got me to thinking about this series of posts. Lots of gunnies in the blogosphere have been posting excerpts of HR 45 and the horrors it entails. As I read the requirements that HR45 would make law, it struck me just how many of them are already in place here in Massachusetts:
As I said in comments at Unc's, with the exception of the "Failure to maintain or permit inspection of records" section, every single one of those requirements is already in place in MA.
Every. Single. One.
Y'all can laugh at us here in MA all you want. Barack Obama and his decidely anti-gun administration (Eric fucking Holder as AG? Are you shitting me?) are going to implement MA-style gun control on the entire country. I figured I'd cover a small handful of other regulations under which the Second Amendment supporter must suffer as a denizen of Massachusetts.
Safe storage. Mass has "safe storage" requirements whereby one's firearms must be kept in a "secure container" when not on one's person. Obviously this should be addressed as part of the Heller decision, but my grandkids might grow old waiting for someone to bring it up in MA. In a nutshell, all guns must be locked in a case or have a trigger or cable lock through the trigger or action. Makes it real convenient when you hear the glass breaking downstairs and you only have a couple of seconds to get the key to the gun safe...
Mail order ammo/parts/magazines - Good luck. The Attorney General's office has made it their own personal jihad to aggressively and maliciously go after any company that offers ammunition for sale via mail order in MA. Basically, the AG's office insists that any company selling ammo in MA have a MA storefront, and levies insane fines against companies that ship in to MA. They have then used these fines to get certain mail order companies (think CTD) to agree to suspend shipment of ALL gun parts and accessories. Check the list of shipping restrictions for any mail-order house and see what won't ship to MA - that's what you won't be able to buy once Obama's Hopenchange sweeps o'er the land.
Transport - Unlike many states, you cannot keep a loaded firearm in your glove box or center locking center console. A loaded gun must be carried on your person (assuming you have the proper permit; otherwise the gun must be transported unloaded, with ammuntion stored separately (IOW, a loaded magazine outside of the gun but locked in the same box is considered the same as having one up the pipe...). (law) MA theoretically will honor the 1986 FOPA (as opposed to, say, NYC), but it's generally a crap shoot as to whether or not someone passing through MA with a firearm and no MA non-res permit ($100 a year, BTW) will get proned or not...
Registration - Here's the actual section of Mass General Laws (MGLs) pertaining to firearms registration:
Got that? If you buy or sell a gun privately; lose a firearm; destroy a firearm; have a firearm stolen from you; or otherwise cause a firearm's ownership to change hands, you need to send a form into the "Criminal History Systems Board" or face a possible felony. These forms are generally available at the local police department, but good luck getting someone who knows where they are or a PD that keeps them in stock.
Ammo limits - this one isn't a criminal regulation, but I'll refer the reader to Part I's section on the "suitability" clause. Under these regulations, you're limited to 10,000 rounds of rimfire ammunition, 10,000 rounds of centerfire ammunition, and 5,000 rounds of shotgun ammunition. You can apply to your local fire department for a permit to possess more than this number, but good luck finding someone who even knows the regulation you're trying to follow...
I'm sure one of my MA readers will pop in with a handful of other idiotic regulations we have to deal with, so I'll close with thesefour five intrusions on our Second Amendment rights.
That is all.
(UPDATE: Added links to relevant laws and edited my poor counting skillz)
HR45 is what got me to thinking about this series of posts. Lots of gunnies in the blogosphere have been posting excerpts of HR 45 and the horrors it entails. As I read the requirements that HR45 would make law, it struck me just how many of them are already in place here in Massachusetts:
TITLE I--LICENSING
Sec. 101. Licensing requirement.
Sec. 102. Application requirements.
Sec. 103. Issuance of license.
Sec. 104. Renewal of license.
Sec. 105. Revocation of license.
TITLE II--RECORD OF SALE OR TRANSFER
Sec. 201. Sale or transfer requirements for qualifying firearms.
Sec. 202. Firearm records.
TITLE III--ADDITIONAL PROHIBITIONS
Sec. 301. Universal background check requirement.
Sec. 302. Failure to maintain or permit inspection of records.
Sec. 303. Failure to report loss or theft of firearm.
Sec. 304. Failure to provide notice of change of address.
Sec. 305. Child access prevention.
As I said in comments at Unc's, with the exception of the "Failure to maintain or permit inspection of records" section, every single one of those requirements is already in place in MA.
Every. Single. One.
Y'all can laugh at us here in MA all you want. Barack Obama and his decidely anti-gun administration (Eric fucking Holder as AG? Are you shitting me?) are going to implement MA-style gun control on the entire country. I figured I'd cover a small handful of other regulations under which the Second Amendment supporter must suffer as a denizen of Massachusetts.
Safe storage. Mass has "safe storage" requirements whereby one's firearms must be kept in a "secure container" when not on one's person. Obviously this should be addressed as part of the Heller decision, but my grandkids might grow old waiting for someone to bring it up in MA. In a nutshell, all guns must be locked in a case or have a trigger or cable lock through the trigger or action. Makes it real convenient when you hear the glass breaking downstairs and you only have a couple of seconds to get the key to the gun safe...
Mail order ammo/parts/magazines - Good luck. The Attorney General's office has made it their own personal jihad to aggressively and maliciously go after any company that offers ammunition for sale via mail order in MA. Basically, the AG's office insists that any company selling ammo in MA have a MA storefront, and levies insane fines against companies that ship in to MA. They have then used these fines to get certain mail order companies (think CTD) to agree to suspend shipment of ALL gun parts and accessories. Check the list of shipping restrictions for any mail-order house and see what won't ship to MA - that's what you won't be able to buy once Obama's Hopenchange sweeps o'er the land.
Transport - Unlike many states, you cannot keep a loaded firearm in your glove box or center locking center console. A loaded gun must be carried on your person (assuming you have the proper permit; otherwise the gun must be transported unloaded, with ammuntion stored separately (IOW, a loaded magazine outside of the gun but locked in the same box is considered the same as having one up the pipe...). (law) MA theoretically will honor the 1986 FOPA (as opposed to, say, NYC), but it's generally a crap shoot as to whether or not someone passing through MA with a firearm and no MA non-res permit ($100 a year, BTW) will get proned or not...
Registration - Here's the actual section of Mass General Laws (MGLs) pertaining to firearms registration:
Section 128B. Any resident of the commonwealth who purchases or obtains a firearm, rifle or shotgun or machine gun from any source within or without the commonwealth, other than from a licensee under section one hundred and twenty-two or a person authorized to sell firearms under section one hundred and twenty-eight A, and any nonresident of the commonwealth who purchases or obtains a firearm, rifle, shotgun or machine gun from any source within or without the commonwealth, other than such a licensee or person, and receives such firearm, rifle, shotgun or machine gun, within the commonwealth shall within seven days after receiving such firearm, rifle, shotgun or machine gun, report, in writing, to the executive director of the criminal history systems board the name and address of the seller or donor and the buyer or donee, together with a complete description of the firearm, rifle, shotgun or machine gun, including the caliber, make and serial number. Whoever violates any provision of this section shall for the first offense be punished by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 and for any subsequent offense by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten years.
Got that? If you buy or sell a gun privately; lose a firearm; destroy a firearm; have a firearm stolen from you; or otherwise cause a firearm's ownership to change hands, you need to send a form into the "Criminal History Systems Board" or face a possible felony. These forms are generally available at the local police department, but good luck getting someone who knows where they are or a PD that keeps them in stock.
Ammo limits - this one isn't a criminal regulation, but I'll refer the reader to Part I's section on the "suitability" clause. Under these regulations, you're limited to 10,000 rounds of rimfire ammunition, 10,000 rounds of centerfire ammunition, and 5,000 rounds of shotgun ammunition. You can apply to your local fire department for a permit to possess more than this number, but good luck finding someone who even knows the regulation you're trying to follow...
I'm sure one of my MA readers will pop in with a handful of other idiotic regulations we have to deal with, so I'll close with these
That is all.
(UPDATE: Added links to relevant laws and edited my poor counting skillz)
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Range Trip...
Kicking around last night, it dawned on me that I hadn't been shooting since I brought my new AR to the range. With the copious amounts of snow we've been getting, plus arranging a fabulous (and expensive!) Disney vacation, the range has been kinda pushed to the back burner for now.
Until last night.
Y'see, my gun club has a four-station, 50' indoor range. It's what attracted me to this club as opposed to the less-restrictive and closer club down the street (although, to be fair, my club really isn't too bad). Now, it's not quite perfect - it's a simple steel plate angled 45º to the ground that drops bullets into a sand pit, so we can't shoot jacketed or magnum ammo (jackets split and fly back, magnums dent the steel). Fortunately, the G. armory is very well represented in .38 Special and .22 Long Rifle calibers, so I packed up my trusty S&W Models 17 and 19 and headed to the range. At 9:30 at night.
Life. Is. Good.
First couple of targets were definitely off - it had been quite a while since I shot indoors, and had a pretty noticeable flinch with the .38 Special. With a bit of practice (and doubling up hearing protection), I settled in and started working on my shooting. I started off with some double-action .22LR shooting at 25':
Then I tried my hand at single action shooting, first with the Model 19:
It was a good trip. I seriously love that Model 17... The Model 19 I think I'm going to have to alter a tiny bit - black front sight + black rear sight + black target + smoky .38 special wadcutters = can't see shit. Little bit of orange paint marker on the front sight ramp ought to rectify that post haste. I think I'll bring the Model 422 for some target work and the Snubbie from Hell™ for some defensive drills the next time I go.
Shooting stuff, even if it's just paper targets, is fun.
That is all.
Until last night.
Y'see, my gun club has a four-station, 50' indoor range. It's what attracted me to this club as opposed to the less-restrictive and closer club down the street (although, to be fair, my club really isn't too bad). Now, it's not quite perfect - it's a simple steel plate angled 45º to the ground that drops bullets into a sand pit, so we can't shoot jacketed or magnum ammo (jackets split and fly back, magnums dent the steel). Fortunately, the G. armory is very well represented in .38 Special and .22 Long Rifle calibers, so I packed up my trusty S&W Models 17 and 19 and headed to the range. At 9:30 at night.
Life. Is. Good.
First couple of targets were definitely off - it had been quite a while since I shot indoors, and had a pretty noticeable flinch with the .38 Special. With a bit of practice (and doubling up hearing protection), I settled in and started working on my shooting. I started off with some double-action .22LR shooting at 25':
Then I tried my hand at single action shooting, first with the Model 19:
It was a good trip. I seriously love that Model 17... The Model 19 I think I'm going to have to alter a tiny bit - black front sight + black rear sight + black target + smoky .38 special wadcutters = can't see shit. Little bit of orange paint marker on the front sight ramp ought to rectify that post haste. I think I'll bring the Model 422 for some target work and the Snubbie from Hell™ for some defensive drills the next time I go.
Shooting stuff, even if it's just paper targets, is fun.
That is all.
In More Global Warming News...
It's all the way up to 21ºF this morning. Feels like a heat wave after the negative numbers of the past couple of days. Of course, that means it's snowing. Again. This is like the fifth or sixth time we've gotten substantial (>6") snow in the span of a month. The last time I can recall getting this much snow was in the early 1990s (I remember because I was commuting to UNH, about an hour away, at the time, and snow turned a 55-minute commute into a 3 hour ordeal...)
Obviously, I blame George Bush and his evil Halliburton weather machine.
I'm glad that Barack Obama will heal our planet so that we only get precipitation between the hours of midnight at 5 AM, and the temperature will vary from 60-80ºF year-round. And pink unicorn farts will power our micro-cars to get us to and from our mandated 25 hour-a-week-or-less jobs paying $50/hour. And giant talking broccoli stalks from the planet Weembo will mow our lawns for free...
That is all.
(Think I need a new category: Sunday Snark)...
Obviously, I blame George Bush and his evil Halliburton weather machine.
I'm glad that Barack Obama will heal our planet so that we only get precipitation between the hours of midnight at 5 AM, and the temperature will vary from 60-80ºF year-round. And pink unicorn farts will power our micro-cars to get us to and from our mandated 25 hour-a-week-or-less jobs paying $50/hour. And giant talking broccoli stalks from the planet Weembo will mow our lawns for free...
That is all.
(Think I need a new category: Sunday Snark)...
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Congratulations and Felicitations!
To Marko, the erstwhile Munchkin Wrangler, on his 6th anniversary.
That is all.
Congratulations Marko and Robin!
That is all.
More of These, Please
Robbery suspect shot, killed in East Atlanta
Got that? Good guy puts down bad guy.
{pauses for cheering to subside}
You'll like this, though. The story gets better:
Situational awareness. He haz it.
It sounds like he had a plan - when he exited the vehicle, he used the door to push the attacker back and disorient him. Sure looks like it worked - it gave him time to gain a proper sight picture and do this:
Which is exactly what should be done in a defensive shooting. Shoot until the threat is no longer a threat.
Victim selection: UR doin it rong.
Good guys: 1. Bad guys: 0
Dead Goblin Count: 3
That is all.
A robbery suspect was shot and killed by his intended victim outside an East Atlanta Village bar late Wednesday, Atlanta police said Thursday.
Got that? Good guy puts down bad guy.
{pauses for cheering to subside}
You'll like this, though. The story gets better:
Believing the man was going to beg for money, the passenger rolled down his window a few inches, Willis said. But he had a strange feeling about the man, so he grabbed his gun from the glove box and put it on his lap, Willis said.
Situational awareness. He haz it.
He asked the stranger what he wanted, and noticed the man was reaching for his waistband or pockets, the detective said. Instinctively, the passenger shoved open his door, knocking the suspected robber back a few feet, Willis said. The woman started screaming.
The man got out of the truck and the suspected robber raised a weapon at him, Willis said. “When he saw that, he just started shooting,” the detective said.
It sounds like he had a plan - when he exited the vehicle, he used the door to push the attacker back and disorient him. Sure looks like it worked - it gave him time to gain a proper sight picture and do this:
The man shot the suspected robber five or six times, in the stomach and chest, Willis said. The robber did not fire any shots.
“He just got the jump on him,” Willis said of the victim. “He told me he fired until the guy was no longer a threat to him.”
Which is exactly what should be done in a defensive shooting. Shoot until the threat is no longer a threat.
Willis said the man’s accuracy was impressive. In an interview later, the man told Willis that his brother used to shoot firearms competitively and taught him to shoot.
Victim selection: UR doin it rong.
Good guys: 1. Bad guys: 0
Dead Goblin Count: 3
That is all.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Friday Fun Thread: Ragtops!
When I put out the call for thread ideas a while back, as soon as I started getting some really good ideas in comments, I thought of one myself. Today's fun thread is going to center around the best ragtops on the market. Now, a couple of caveats: These are convertibles that are, for the most part, accessible to the general car market. Sure, the Lamborghini Gallardo convertible is an impressive piece of Italian supercar, but it's also $400K. Also, these are current-ish cars - otherwise the 1950s and 1960s would simply dominate.
With that said, here's the list!
1. Mazda Miata - let's face it, the Miata single-handedly revived the two-seater ragtop that all but died out with the last of the MGBs. Small, nimble, albeit a bit girlish, the Miata brought back *fun* to the motoring public.
2. Mustang GT - the last of the American muscle cars is also the last of the American muscle convertibles. At least until Mopar wises up and makes a Challenger drop top...
3. Saturn Sky/Pontiac Solstice - Let's face it, the offerings from GM in the drop top department recently have been pathetic - no Camaro, not even a stinkin' Cavalier Z24. Then they rolled out these two and (at least partially) redeemed themselves.
4. Nissan 350Z - I've always been a fan of the Datsun/Nissan Z family, from the 240 right up through the current 350. The 300Z had a limited number of convertibles produced, but it wasn't until the upgrade to the 350Z that they became commonplace.
5. Cadillac XLR - this is what the Allante was supposed to be. Built on the Corvette frame with the 320 HP Northstar V8 under the hood, the XLR has a top speed of 155 MPH...
6. Honda S2000 - Honda's first rear-wheel drive car in 30 years, the S2000 got off to a poor start sales-wise with insane mark-ups and delivery issues. Released to celebrate Honda's 50th year of sales, the S2000 recaptured the sporty S series of cars and brought performance back to the Blue...
7. Mercedes Kompressor 230 - what's not to like about the first retractable hardtop since the Ford Fairlane? With sharp styling, the hook of the hardtop you didn't need to store in the back of the garage, and the Mercedes nameplate, the SLK 23o was a big hit in the ragtop world and spawned many future retractable hardtops.
8. Chrysler Sebring - speaking of retractable hardtops, the latest incarnation of the Sebring has such an option. It's an affordable, roomy convertible with plenty of options, and represents a quantum leap for Mopar from the Dodge 600 convertible...
9. Toyota MR2 Spyder - from the days of the "door wedge", the MR2 really came into its own with the Spyder variant (convertible top). Sadly, much like the Supra before it, Toyota killed off the MR2 Spyder right after they got it right... Apparently the partnership with GM had its disadvantages...
10. BMW Z3 roadster - If it seems like I'm shamelessly pandering to Tam, well, it's because I am... Actually, the Z3 makes the list on its own merits, being the first BMW roadster in modern times as well as the first BMW made in the US.
So there's my list of Top Ten favorite modern convertibles. As always, feel free to rebut or add in comments.
That is all.
With that said, here's the list!
1. Mazda Miata - let's face it, the Miata single-handedly revived the two-seater ragtop that all but died out with the last of the MGBs. Small, nimble, albeit a bit girlish, the Miata brought back *fun* to the motoring public.
2. Mustang GT - the last of the American muscle cars is also the last of the American muscle convertibles. At least until Mopar wises up and makes a Challenger drop top...
3. Saturn Sky/Pontiac Solstice - Let's face it, the offerings from GM in the drop top department recently have been pathetic - no Camaro, not even a stinkin' Cavalier Z24. Then they rolled out these two and (at least partially) redeemed themselves.
4. Nissan 350Z - I've always been a fan of the Datsun/Nissan Z family, from the 240 right up through the current 350. The 300Z had a limited number of convertibles produced, but it wasn't until the upgrade to the 350Z that they became commonplace.
5. Cadillac XLR - this is what the Allante was supposed to be. Built on the Corvette frame with the 320 HP Northstar V8 under the hood, the XLR has a top speed of 155 MPH...
6. Honda S2000 - Honda's first rear-wheel drive car in 30 years, the S2000 got off to a poor start sales-wise with insane mark-ups and delivery issues. Released to celebrate Honda's 50th year of sales, the S2000 recaptured the sporty S series of cars and brought performance back to the Blue...
7. Mercedes Kompressor 230 - what's not to like about the first retractable hardtop since the Ford Fairlane? With sharp styling, the hook of the hardtop you didn't need to store in the back of the garage, and the Mercedes nameplate, the SLK 23o was a big hit in the ragtop world and spawned many future retractable hardtops.
8. Chrysler Sebring - speaking of retractable hardtops, the latest incarnation of the Sebring has such an option. It's an affordable, roomy convertible with plenty of options, and represents a quantum leap for Mopar from the Dodge 600 convertible...
9. Toyota MR2 Spyder - from the days of the "door wedge", the MR2 really came into its own with the Spyder variant (convertible top). Sadly, much like the Supra before it, Toyota killed off the MR2 Spyder right after they got it right... Apparently the partnership with GM had its disadvantages...
10. BMW Z3 roadster - If it seems like I'm shamelessly pandering to Tam, well, it's because I am... Actually, the Z3 makes the list on its own merits, being the first BMW roadster in modern times as well as the first BMW made in the US.
So there's my list of Top Ten favorite modern convertibles. As always, feel free to rebut or add in comments.
That is all.
Friday Gun Pr0n #94
I think it was the news that Ruger is attempting to break into the pocket revolver market that spurred today's picture. Unlike the Ruger, there's no plastic on this gun except for the orange front sight insert. There are, however, exotic metals. Here's an eminently pocketable little cannon:
Smith & Wesson model 360PD .357 Magnum j-frame revolver. 5 shots. 12 ounces. It even comes with its own tagline:
Sprechen zie ouchie?
Actually, the phrase I associate most with this little number is "OW! OW! OW! Fucking OW!". On more than one occasion, I've handed this off to someone to shoot with all five rounds loaded and gotten it back with only two rounds touched off - they have to touch off the second round just to see if, perchance, the first round was an overzealous reload or something.
This gun hurts. On both ends. With factory defensive ammo it will produce a 2-3' fireball out of that 1 7/8" barrel - in fact, once at the range I was approached by the NRA instructor in the next lane over who poked her head around the partition and asked to see the flamethrower I brought. She loved it - put three full cylinders through it and all of 'em in the black!
I figure if I'm gonna bet my life on five rounds of anything, .357 Magnum's a pretty good round to bet on. Toss in another 6 in the Bianchi speed strip, and that's 11 rounds of .357 Magnum goodness. That's only two less than the P3AT's capacity with a second mag, and while the 360 might weigh a little more (4 ounces), there's just no comparing 9mm short with .38 special loooooong...
That is all.
The Snubbie from Hell™
Smith & Wesson model 360PD .357 Magnum j-frame revolver. 5 shots. 12 ounces. It even comes with its own tagline:
Sprechen zie ouchie?
Actually, the phrase I associate most with this little number is "OW! OW! OW! Fucking OW!". On more than one occasion, I've handed this off to someone to shoot with all five rounds loaded and gotten it back with only two rounds touched off - they have to touch off the second round just to see if, perchance, the first round was an overzealous reload or something.
This gun hurts. On both ends. With factory defensive ammo it will produce a 2-3' fireball out of that 1 7/8" barrel - in fact, once at the range I was approached by the NRA instructor in the next lane over who poked her head around the partition and asked to see the flamethrower I brought. She loved it - put three full cylinders through it and all of 'em in the black!
I figure if I'm gonna bet my life on five rounds of anything, .357 Magnum's a pretty good round to bet on. Toss in another 6 in the Bianchi speed strip, and that's 11 rounds of .357 Magnum goodness. That's only two less than the P3AT's capacity with a second mag, and while the 360 might weigh a little more (4 ounces), there's just no comparing 9mm short with .38 special loooooong...
That is all.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Does It Make Me A Bad Person...
...that I chuckled a little at this:
Israeli strike reportedly kills top Hamas official
Now, it's not so much that a Hamas official got whacked that made me laugh (although any time a terrorist asshole buys it, I hear Nelson Muntz say "Ha-HA!" in my head...). It's this part:
Maybe it's remembering Sam Kinison's routine about the French embassy destroyed in the bombing run on Libya in the '80s ("Build a new house!"). Or maybe I'm a bad person. Either way, that made me smile...
That is all.
Israeli strike reportedly kills top Hamas official
Now, it's not so much that a Hamas official got whacked that made me laugh (although any time a terrorist asshole buys it, I hear Nelson Muntz say "Ha-HA!" in my head...). It's this part:
U.N. headquarters hit
Israeli troops shelled the U.N. headquarters in Gaza after coming under fire from Palestinian militants, a senior Israeli military officer said on Thursday.
Maybe it's remembering Sam Kinison's routine about the French embassy destroyed in the bombing run on Libya in the '80s ("Build a new house!"). Or maybe I'm a bad person. Either way, that made me smile...
That is all.
Brush With Greatness...
Okay folks, got a special deal for ya...
We've got an opportunity to meet with one of the 'net's bright stars, a writer whose stories have entertained us and touched us deeply. He'll be in the area in a couple of months, and has graciously acquiesced to gracing us with his presence at a blogmeet of us hardy Northeastern bloggers. The date is Saturday, March 21st, most likely getting together sometime around 6 or 7 PM. Location TBD at present time, but thinking somewhere either in Boston or thereabouts.
He has also expressed interest in a shooting event as well; I was thinking we could accomplish this on Sunday, March 22nd, ideally at a southern NH location so that our friends in the Great White North (ahem) won't have to drive as far if they'd care to meet with this person. Details to be hashed out later; suffice to say I'd want to show this southern boy a rootin' tootin' good shootin' time - perhaps arrange a round of redneck trap?
Anyways... For those who haven't guessed, the inimitable Ambulance Driver will be the guest of honor. He's in the area for a conference, and is game for a get-togetherafter much begging on my part if we can pull something together. I'd like to do two separate meets, one north, one south; obviously folks are welcome to attend both if they'd like. The dinner get-together would be more open, as we can find a suitable restaurant or brewpub that can accomodate our boisterous group; the shooting event might be more restrictive - I can have five guests at my gun club, which makes for a less inclusive setting. Other arrangements may be possible...
(You could even buy his book ahead of time and bring it to be autographed! Wouldn't that be something to show the grandkids???)
Please let me know if you are interested in attending either event, and we'll start getting some specifics down...
That is all.
We've got an opportunity to meet with one of the 'net's bright stars, a writer whose stories have entertained us and touched us deeply. He'll be in the area in a couple of months, and has graciously acquiesced to gracing us with his presence at a blogmeet of us hardy Northeastern bloggers. The date is Saturday, March 21st, most likely getting together sometime around 6 or 7 PM. Location TBD at present time, but thinking somewhere either in Boston or thereabouts.
He has also expressed interest in a shooting event as well; I was thinking we could accomplish this on Sunday, March 22nd, ideally at a southern NH location so that our friends in the Great White North (ahem) won't have to drive as far if they'd care to meet with this person. Details to be hashed out later; suffice to say I'd want to show this southern boy a rootin' tootin' good shootin' time - perhaps arrange a round of redneck trap?
Anyways... For those who haven't guessed, the inimitable Ambulance Driver will be the guest of honor. He's in the area for a conference, and is game for a get-together
(You could even buy his book ahead of time and bring it to be autographed! Wouldn't that be something to show the grandkids???)
Please let me know if you are interested in attending either event, and we'll start getting some specifics down...
That is all.
Behind Enemy Lines, Part I
Today's post is somewhat of a departure for me. Usually it's a quick snark, or a road rage rant, or a snappy ripost at the idiot-du-jour. However, with the ascension of The Annointed One less than a week away, I thought it might be instructional to describe what life is like in a gun-unfriendly state. I'm going to start with an overview of MA gun laws in this part I, then progress to attitudes and choices in subsequent parts.
A. Discretionary licensing, a.k.a. "May Issue". What this means is that your right to keep and bear arms is predicated solely on the whim of the licensing body. In MA, the licensing body is your local chief of police or his designee - a single person decides who does or doesn't get to exercise their Second Amendment rights. Pretty scary, eh? Refusals can be and routinely are handed out arbitrarily and capriciously, with "downgraded" or "neutered" licenses given as a sorry consolation prize.
Out of the 50 states in the union, only two do not allow concealed carry of firearms (WI and IL). Of these two, only one requires a permit to own. Two states (AK and VT) do not require a permit to own or carry firearms. Of the remaining 46 states, 9 are "May Issue" like MA and the remaining 37 are "Shall Issue", which means that as long as you meet the criteria for the permit, you get the CCW license. Source.
What's worse is that in MA you need a permit simply to possess a firearm. Of the 11 states that restrict CCW, only MA and IL require a permit to own (not sure about CA, might need a permit for handguns) (thanks to Ross for the correction about NJ - apparently a permit is needed to purchase, not own). IOW, whether or not you are allowed to exercise your enumerated Second Amendment "rights" is entirely up to one person and one person only. Appeals are costly, lengthy, and almost certain to lead to a "restricted" license.
"Suitability" is the bugaboo heard most often on MA gun boards - the chief of police can revoke your permit literally for any reason he or she likes. We had a town that, in the wake of the Columbine shootings, had the CoP decide that she was no longer going to issue ANY permits, nor allow any permits to be renewed. Poof, with the changing of a mind the citizens of an entire town lost their right to keep and bear arms. Failing to turn in or sell your firearms is a felony.
B. Tiered permitting. I've gone over the different permits in MA before, but I'll recap briefly:
1. FID - allows ownership of shotguns and low-capacity longarms.
2. Class B - allows ownership of all longarms and low-capacity handguns.
3. Class A - allows ownership of all firearms, may also allow CCW
Confused yet?
Well, as if being "May Issue" wasn't bad enough, Mass has to toss different tiers of permitting at the budding gunnie. The hunters and skeet shooters get by with their FIDs - if all you need is a scoped deer rifle, duck gun, or over-under for busting clays, the FID is the permit for you. It's "Shall Issue" - the only one in MA that is - so as long as you take the safety course, join a gun club, get a doctor's note, and/or get three letters of recommendation written by non-family members (yes, all of these are requirements in certain towns in CLEAR violation of the law), you get your permit regardless of the chief's inclination.
The Class B permit is the "tits on a bull" permit - completely fucking useless. It allows you to own a large capacity longarm or a low-capacity handgun - basically, all revolvers and single-stack semi-autos. It does not permit CCW in any manner. It also costs the same as the Class A license. The Class A permit is the only permit which allows CCW, and that's also at the whim of the CoP. Some towns will only issue "Restricted" permits, meaning that you can own anything you like but you cannot carry it concealed. There is literally no difference in the process by which one obtains a Class A vs. a Class B, yet some towns will only issue the B. Source.
I have yet to hear a cogent argument as to why three different permits are needed; it would seem that only two at most would be necessary, yet three we have (five if you consider that there is an FID that is limited to pepper spray and the Class A can be unrestricted or restricted). A suspicious person would think that the lesser permits exist so that chiefs can downgrade folks rather than outright deny them - a denial goes before a board of appeal where, theoretically, the denial could be reversed. A downgrade gets nothing...
C. Assault Weapons Ban. In 2004, Mitt Romney {SPIT} signed an extension of the Federal AWB into law (which I deconstructed a while back) so that it would be in effect in perpetuity in MA. This means that MA gun owners are and forever will be subject to the arbitrary regulations established by the meaningless and ineffectualBan On Scary Looking Shit Assault Weapons Ban. You know, the law that banned that "shoulder thing that goes up"...
In a nutshell, we can't own a semi-automatic longarm with a telescoping stock - which makes adjusting the length-of-pull on a rifle problematic. We can't own a rifle with flash suppressor, although a muzzle break is just peachy. I'll be damned if I can tell the difference between the two, but what the hell. And, most troubling, we can't own any magazines with capacity greater than 10 rounds if they were made after September 1994. It also means that 9 out of 10 mail-order places won't ship anything - even perfectly legal to own 10 round magazines - into MA.
Huge. Fucking. Pain. In. The. Ass.
D. Approved Firearms Roster. This is quite possibly the most infuriating and clandestine gun control regulation we have on the books. Originally passed in 1998 as the "Firearms Safety and Consumer Protection Act", it established guidelines for what would be considered a "safe" vs. "unsafe" handgun. Needless to say, the law was written by people who have no idea which end of a gun the bullet comes out of, but I digress... A handgun can only be sold by a dealer if it is on the "Approved Firearms Roster" *and* meets the unpublished, arbitrary standards of the Attorney General. For example, many Glocks are on the Approved Firearms Roster, yet none can be sold new from an FFL in MA.
This actively discourages manufacturers from presenting firearms for sale in MA - one of the regulations is an insanely heavy (> 10 lbs.) trigger (known as the "MA trigger"); another a "witness hole" (known as the MAhole, I kid you not), and other useless and inane regulations. The infuriating part is that certain guns, like Glocks, are not "safe" for civilians to own, yet are exempt for law enforcement. Yes, these guns are not safe enough to be sold to the general public, but safe enough to bet an officer's life on. G'head. Make sense of that...
Okay. There's a ton more to write, but to be honest I was getting depressed and more than a little angry at the idiocy that passes for "common sense gun control" in MA. There's no evidence whatsoever that any of this makes a damn bit of difference in crime, especially when MA judges keep slapping the worst offenders on the wrist and sending them on their merry way. It does, however, have a tremendous impact on the law-abiding gun owners: In the 10 years since the 1998 Gun Control Act, permitted gun owners in MA have decreased by 84% (source) - from 1.5 million permit holders in 1998 to 240,000 in 2008...
Gee, it's almost like they planned it that way!
That is all. For now...
Part I: Gun Laws in a gun-unfriendly state. I'll cover four aspects of MA gun laws that make MA such a gun-unfriendly state:
A. Discretionary licensing.
B. Tiered permits
C. Assault Weapons Ban
D. Approved Firearms Roster.
A. Discretionary licensing, a.k.a. "May Issue". What this means is that your right to keep and bear arms is predicated solely on the whim of the licensing body. In MA, the licensing body is your local chief of police or his designee - a single person decides who does or doesn't get to exercise their Second Amendment rights. Pretty scary, eh? Refusals can be and routinely are handed out arbitrarily and capriciously, with "downgraded" or "neutered" licenses given as a sorry consolation prize.
Out of the 50 states in the union, only two do not allow concealed carry of firearms (WI and IL). Of these two, only one requires a permit to own. Two states (AK and VT) do not require a permit to own or carry firearms. Of the remaining 46 states, 9 are "May Issue" like MA and the remaining 37 are "Shall Issue", which means that as long as you meet the criteria for the permit, you get the CCW license. Source.
What's worse is that in MA you need a permit simply to possess a firearm. Of the 11 states that restrict CCW, only MA and IL require a permit to own (not sure about CA, might need a permit for handguns) (thanks to Ross for the correction about NJ - apparently a permit is needed to purchase, not own). IOW, whether or not you are allowed to exercise your enumerated Second Amendment "rights" is entirely up to one person and one person only. Appeals are costly, lengthy, and almost certain to lead to a "restricted" license.
"Suitability" is the bugaboo heard most often on MA gun boards - the chief of police can revoke your permit literally for any reason he or she likes. We had a town that, in the wake of the Columbine shootings, had the CoP decide that she was no longer going to issue ANY permits, nor allow any permits to be renewed. Poof, with the changing of a mind the citizens of an entire town lost their right to keep and bear arms. Failing to turn in or sell your firearms is a felony.
B. Tiered permitting. I've gone over the different permits in MA before, but I'll recap briefly:
1. FID - allows ownership of shotguns and low-capacity longarms.
2. Class B - allows ownership of all longarms and low-capacity handguns.
3. Class A - allows ownership of all firearms, may also allow CCW
Confused yet?
Well, as if being "May Issue" wasn't bad enough, Mass has to toss different tiers of permitting at the budding gunnie. The hunters and skeet shooters get by with their FIDs - if all you need is a scoped deer rifle, duck gun, or over-under for busting clays, the FID is the permit for you. It's "Shall Issue" - the only one in MA that is - so as long as you take the safety course, join a gun club, get a doctor's note, and/or get three letters of recommendation written by non-family members (yes, all of these are requirements in certain towns in CLEAR violation of the law), you get your permit regardless of the chief's inclination.
The Class B permit is the "tits on a bull" permit - completely fucking useless. It allows you to own a large capacity longarm or a low-capacity handgun - basically, all revolvers and single-stack semi-autos. It does not permit CCW in any manner. It also costs the same as the Class A license. The Class A permit is the only permit which allows CCW, and that's also at the whim of the CoP. Some towns will only issue "Restricted" permits, meaning that you can own anything you like but you cannot carry it concealed. There is literally no difference in the process by which one obtains a Class A vs. a Class B, yet some towns will only issue the B. Source.
I have yet to hear a cogent argument as to why three different permits are needed; it would seem that only two at most would be necessary, yet three we have (five if you consider that there is an FID that is limited to pepper spray and the Class A can be unrestricted or restricted). A suspicious person would think that the lesser permits exist so that chiefs can downgrade folks rather than outright deny them - a denial goes before a board of appeal where, theoretically, the denial could be reversed. A downgrade gets nothing...
C. Assault Weapons Ban. In 2004, Mitt Romney {SPIT} signed an extension of the Federal AWB into law (which I deconstructed a while back) so that it would be in effect in perpetuity in MA. This means that MA gun owners are and forever will be subject to the arbitrary regulations established by the meaningless and ineffectual
In a nutshell, we can't own a semi-automatic longarm with a telescoping stock - which makes adjusting the length-of-pull on a rifle problematic. We can't own a rifle with flash suppressor, although a muzzle break is just peachy. I'll be damned if I can tell the difference between the two, but what the hell. And, most troubling, we can't own any magazines with capacity greater than 10 rounds if they were made after September 1994. It also means that 9 out of 10 mail-order places won't ship anything - even perfectly legal to own 10 round magazines - into MA.
Huge. Fucking. Pain. In. The. Ass.
D. Approved Firearms Roster. This is quite possibly the most infuriating and clandestine gun control regulation we have on the books. Originally passed in 1998 as the "Firearms Safety and Consumer Protection Act", it established guidelines for what would be considered a "safe" vs. "unsafe" handgun. Needless to say, the law was written by people who have no idea which end of a gun the bullet comes out of, but I digress... A handgun can only be sold by a dealer if it is on the "Approved Firearms Roster" *and* meets the unpublished, arbitrary standards of the Attorney General. For example, many Glocks are on the Approved Firearms Roster, yet none can be sold new from an FFL in MA.
This actively discourages manufacturers from presenting firearms for sale in MA - one of the regulations is an insanely heavy (> 10 lbs.) trigger (known as the "MA trigger"); another a "witness hole" (known as the MAhole, I kid you not), and other useless and inane regulations. The infuriating part is that certain guns, like Glocks, are not "safe" for civilians to own, yet are exempt for law enforcement. Yes, these guns are not safe enough to be sold to the general public, but safe enough to bet an officer's life on. G'head. Make sense of that...
Okay. There's a ton more to write, but to be honest I was getting depressed and more than a little angry at the idiocy that passes for "common sense gun control" in MA. There's no evidence whatsoever that any of this makes a damn bit of difference in crime, especially when MA judges keep slapping the worst offenders on the wrist and sending them on their merry way. It does, however, have a tremendous impact on the law-abiding gun owners: In the 10 years since the 1998 Gun Control Act, permitted gun owners in MA have decreased by 84% (source) - from 1.5 million permit holders in 1998 to 240,000 in 2008...
Gee, it's almost like they planned it that way!
That is all. For now...
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
New Blogs!
Got a few more blogs to add to the blogroll:
First up is The Sigboy Chronicles, hosted by my Facebook friend Sigboy. He actually sought me out on chat and shamelessly asked for a link. I like that. Reminds me of... Me!
Next up is Of Mule Dung and Ash, a friend of Ambulance Driver's who, for some bizarre reason known only to himself, decided I was worth linking (and not telling so I could reciprocate, ahem!). He approaches politics from the left side of the aisle, but has the same "leave me the hell alone" attitude that I do. He's a good read, even if his politics are wrong (I kid! I kid!) :)
Lastly we have The Drawn Cutlass, who I found through my standard jaunt through my Sitemeter referrals. And, thus, the third pirate is added to the MArooned blogroll. Yaaaarrrgh!!!
Welcome aboard everyone!
That is all.
First up is The Sigboy Chronicles, hosted by my Facebook friend Sigboy. He actually sought me out on chat and shamelessly asked for a link. I like that. Reminds me of... Me!
Next up is Of Mule Dung and Ash, a friend of Ambulance Driver's who, for some bizarre reason known only to himself, decided I was worth linking (and not telling so I could reciprocate, ahem!). He approaches politics from the left side of the aisle, but has the same "leave me the hell alone" attitude that I do. He's a good read, even if his politics are wrong (I kid! I kid!) :)
Lastly we have The Drawn Cutlass, who I found through my standard jaunt through my Sitemeter referrals. And, thus, the third pirate is added to the MArooned blogroll. Yaaaarrrgh!!!
Welcome aboard everyone!
That is all.
We Love Lists, Part II!
Found over at Hell in a Handbasket, there's a part two to the "Manly Guns" list:
#10 1895 Nagant Revolver - will eventually get one, if for no other reason than they're cheap and I can get it with my C&R license.
#9 1893 Turkish Mauser - this is the only gun on this list I own.
#8 Colt Python - want one so bad I can taste it, but can't bring myself to fork over the $1,200+ they command in MA.
#7 98K Mauser - also on the "Big List 'o' Guns Jay will someday acquire.
#6 FAL - This is a tough one. I like it, yes, but I think I'd rather get an AR-10 variant instead for a .308 battle rifle...
#5 CZ550 in .600 Overkill - can see the reason for inclusion on the list, but have zero inclination for such a rifle. Just not my bag.
#4 Martini-Henry - Meh. Never really saw the appeal.
#3 Webley - perhaps if I could find one converted to .45 ACP...
#2 M1 Garand - want, want want. Someday. Hopefully soon...
#1 Browning 1919A4 - excellent choice, the .30-06 version of "Ma Deuce" is a perfect #1...
Only one gun on the list, and only three likely additions. I must be slipping in my advancing years...
That is all.
#10 1895 Nagant Revolver - will eventually get one, if for no other reason than they're cheap and I can get it with my C&R license.
#9 1893 Turkish Mauser - this is the only gun on this list I own.
#8 Colt Python - want one so bad I can taste it, but can't bring myself to fork over the $1,200+ they command in MA.
#7 98K Mauser - also on the "Big List 'o' Guns Jay will someday acquire.
#6 FAL - This is a tough one. I like it, yes, but I think I'd rather get an AR-10 variant instead for a .308 battle rifle...
#5 CZ550 in .600 Overkill - can see the reason for inclusion on the list, but have zero inclination for such a rifle. Just not my bag.
#4 Martini-Henry - Meh. Never really saw the appeal.
#3 Webley - perhaps if I could find one converted to .45 ACP...
#2 M1 Garand - want, want want. Someday. Hopefully soon...
#1 Browning 1919A4 - excellent choice, the .30-06 version of "Ma Deuce" is a perfect #1...
Only one gun on the list, and only three likely additions. I must be slipping in my advancing years...
That is all.
News At A Glance...
Let's see what's in the news this morning, shall we?
*Purported Bin Laden Tape Seeks Jihad In Gaza - yadda yadda yadda, Bush=Hitler, stop the aggression, bad economy, etc. IOW, he sounds like Nancy Pelosi...
*State Of City Address: Menino Seeks Wage Freeze - Get the unions to agree to a plan that does not include automatic pay increases? This might as well be titled "Mumbles Wants Hell To Freeze Over".
*Geithner's Tax History Muddles Confirmation - y'know, I'm just some schlub off the street, but it seems to me that hiring a dude who can't even figure out his own personal taxes to be the Treasury Secretary ain't the brightest move going...
*Blistering cold temperatures hit Midwest - Quick, someone put out the Gore-Signal! It's further evidence of man-made Global Warming. To the Gore-Mobile! (You mean your 100 foot houseboat? Yes).
*Pentagon: Ex-Gitmo detainees resume terror acts - Everyone who didn't see this coming, please raise your hand and wait for a whack from the ClueBat. Then report for duty in the new Obama Administration Department of Missing the Bloody Obvious.
*Patrick considers raising gas tax - I know, I know. A Democrat from MA proposing raising taxes. Shocking, isn't it? What's that acronym, again? Oh, yeah, BOHICA...
*Officials turn down Franken request in Minn. race - "That's MY Senate seat! I stole it fair and square!" Better watch out before Franken challenges you to a fight - and then chickens out, natch...
*Sex-spread diseases on the increase - no truth to the rumor that it's because the Democrats are back in power, although with Hillary Clinton being on the campaign trail and leaving Bill to his own devices, all bets are off.
*Revere library chief resigns amid inquiry - I'll never understand why people are perfectly willing to risk their livelihood and their good name over a few measly grand. I did, however, enjoy this little tidbit of investigative journalism: "He declined to say what those purchases were, but said “there’s no evidence” any were related to pornography." These aren't the droids you're looking for...
*Hail to the chiefs: TV presidents could offer Obama insight on rigors of the job - Why not? Some of them have been on TV longer than Barack Obama was in the US Senate...
I think that's enough of the news for now...
That is all.
*Purported Bin Laden Tape Seeks Jihad In Gaza - yadda yadda yadda, Bush=Hitler, stop the aggression, bad economy, etc. IOW, he sounds like Nancy Pelosi...
*State Of City Address: Menino Seeks Wage Freeze - Get the unions to agree to a plan that does not include automatic pay increases? This might as well be titled "Mumbles Wants Hell To Freeze Over".
*Geithner's Tax History Muddles Confirmation - y'know, I'm just some schlub off the street, but it seems to me that hiring a dude who can't even figure out his own personal taxes to be the Treasury Secretary ain't the brightest move going...
*Blistering cold temperatures hit Midwest - Quick, someone put out the Gore-Signal! It's further evidence of man-made Global Warming. To the Gore-Mobile! (You mean your 100 foot houseboat? Yes).
*Pentagon: Ex-Gitmo detainees resume terror acts - Everyone who didn't see this coming, please raise your hand and wait for a whack from the ClueBat. Then report for duty in the new Obama Administration Department of Missing the Bloody Obvious.
*Patrick considers raising gas tax - I know, I know. A Democrat from MA proposing raising taxes. Shocking, isn't it? What's that acronym, again? Oh, yeah, BOHICA...
*Officials turn down Franken request in Minn. race - "That's MY Senate seat! I stole it fair and square!" Better watch out before Franken challenges you to a fight - and then chickens out, natch...
*Sex-spread diseases on the increase - no truth to the rumor that it's because the Democrats are back in power, although with Hillary Clinton being on the campaign trail and leaving Bill to his own devices, all bets are off.
*Revere library chief resigns amid inquiry - I'll never understand why people are perfectly willing to risk their livelihood and their good name over a few measly grand. I did, however, enjoy this little tidbit of investigative journalism: "He declined to say what those purchases were, but said “there’s no evidence” any were related to pornography." These aren't the droids you're looking for...
*Hail to the chiefs: TV presidents could offer Obama insight on rigors of the job - Why not? Some of them have been on TV longer than Barack Obama was in the US Senate...
I think that's enough of the news for now...
That is all.
{Snerk}
Why is it when I saw this title:
UMass loses marijuana lab bid
All I could think of was, "Duuuude! We were THIS close to gettin' a government grant to grow pot!"
Money graf:
(emphasis mine)
Thought#1: There's an Association for Psychedelic Studies? Really? Duuuude!
Thought#2: WRT monopoly - Dude, don't bogart that grant money!
That is all.
UMass loses marijuana lab bid
All I could think of was, "Duuuude! We were THIS close to gettin' a government grant to grow pot!"
Money graf:
Rick Doblin, president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a Belmont-based drug research group that wants to fund Craker's marijuana cultivation, and sponsored the suit that spurred the administrative law judge's recommendation in 2007, calls the Mississippi lab a monopoly. He said his group will file another suit or appeal to the Obama administration.
(emphasis mine)
Thought#1: There's an Association for Psychedelic Studies? Really? Duuuude!
Thought#2: WRT monopoly - Dude, don't bogart that grant money!
That is all.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Well I *Am* in Sales...
Buy AD's book. SRSLY.
Kthanxbai!
Yes, it's the shortest sales pitch on record. It's that good. In fact, I'm thinking about buying a second book just so I have a replacement on hand for when I wear out the first book from reading it so many times. And then a third book for the replacement's replacement... Really, you owe it to yourself to get this book (buy two copies, just to be safe) and read it a couple of times, cover to cover. Just be sure not to drink anything.
Also, if you happen to be in the medical field or have a loved one (*cough* Mrs. G.) who is, buy a copy for them and let them read it. I guarantee you they'll read through and start laughing at some points, rolling their eyes at others, and generally agreeing with the picture of emergency care as currently practiced and detailed by Ambulance Driver...
That is all.
Kthanxbai!
Yes, it's the shortest sales pitch on record. It's that good. In fact, I'm thinking about buying a second book just so I have a replacement on hand for when I wear out the first book from reading it so many times. And then a third book for the replacement's replacement... Really, you owe it to yourself to get this book (buy two copies, just to be safe) and read it a couple of times, cover to cover. Just be sure not to drink anything.
Also, if you happen to be in the medical field or have a loved one (*cough* Mrs. G.) who is, buy a copy for them and let them read it. I guarantee you they'll read through and start laughing at some points, rolling their eyes at others, and generally agreeing with the picture of emergency care as currently practiced and detailed by Ambulance Driver...
That is all.
Moment of Traffic Zen...
Had a realization on the ride into work this morning:
When the moron in front of you slams on their brakes and makes an abrupt turn without signalling, they might be an asshole, but at least they're out of your damn way...
That is all.
When the moron in front of you slams on their brakes and makes an abrupt turn without signalling, they might be an asshole, but at least they're out of your damn way...
That is all.
Rhesus Tans Feudal...
(Long, geeky story behind the nigh-incomprehensible title. Sci-fi, you want to clue folks in?)
I have been assimilated. It has been decided that 2009 is the year that the G. family goes tothe Borg Disneyworld. Even as we speak, agents of the infernal rodent are infesting Mrs. G.'s brain and forcing her to drone on and on about "character breakfasts" and "value/moderate resorts" and "park-hopper passes".
Needless to say, the 12X14' cabin in Montana's starting to look pretty good right now...
My job, at the moment, is pretty much to shut my fool mouth, nod my head vigorously in agreement, and try to decide whether to sell a kidney or start robbing liquor stores to pay for this trip. I'm not exaggerating when I say I could buy an entry-level submachine gun for what this is going to cost us (you might be a gun nut if you relate *all* large purchases to firearms of some sort!).
I know at least a couple of commenters have been to the land of the oversized rodent in recent times. Any and all hints/tips/things to avoid/etc. are more than welcome - the last time I was at Disney was the opening of Epcot (look it up), so I'm guessing that I won't recognize it. I'm hoping they've finished the construction of "Bourbon Land" by the time I get there...
That is all.
I have been assimilated. It has been decided that 2009 is the year that the G. family goes to
Needless to say, the 12X14' cabin in Montana's starting to look pretty good right now...
My job, at the moment, is pretty much to shut my fool mouth, nod my head vigorously in agreement, and try to decide whether to sell a kidney or start robbing liquor stores to pay for this trip. I'm not exaggerating when I say I could buy an entry-level submachine gun for what this is going to cost us (you might be a gun nut if you relate *all* large purchases to firearms of some sort!).
I know at least a couple of commenters have been to the land of the oversized rodent in recent times. Any and all hints/tips/things to avoid/etc. are more than welcome - the last time I was at Disney was the opening of Epcot (look it up), so I'm guessing that I won't recognize it. I'm hoping they've finished the construction of "Bourbon Land" by the time I get there...
That is all.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Congratulations, Jim!
Henderson, Rice heading to Hall of Fame
Who can forget the image of Jim Rice running out of the dugout to help the little boy hit by a Dave Stapleton line drive? Rice's accomplishments on the field were more than sufficient to earn him admission to the pantheon of baseball's giants. Jim Rice was, nay, still is, a giant off the field as well.
Huzzah, good sir, huzzah.
That is all.
Henderson will be joined in the Class of 2009 by former Boston Red Sox slugger Jim Rice, who was elected in his 15th and final year of eligibility.
Who can forget the image of Jim Rice running out of the dugout to help the little boy hit by a Dave Stapleton line drive? Rice's accomplishments on the field were more than sufficient to earn him admission to the pantheon of baseball's giants. Jim Rice was, nay, still is, a giant off the field as well.
Huzzah, good sir, huzzah.
That is all.
Life Imitates The Jetsons...
The flying car
Oh, sure, it doesn't have the way-cool glass bubble top of the Jetson's car, but we're at least one step closer to having our own personal flying cars. And that's pretty freakin' cool...
That is all.
It is the ultimate off-roader and it is coming to an airstrip near you. The flying car has been talked about for almost as long as cars have existed, and now a prototype built by a small American company is finally ready to make the idea a reality.
The Terrafugia Transition is a two-seater plane that at the touch of a button converts into a road-legal car. It takes its maiden flight next month and is scheduled to hit the showrooms by next year. You can’t help but wonder whether, if Bob Nardelli and Rick Wagoner, of Chrysler and General Motors respectively, had been forward-thinking enough to fly into Washington DC in swept-wing Dodge Vipers and Cadillac Escalades instead of corporate jets when they were seeking bailout cash, they would have been showered with government money, downturn or no downturn.
Oh, sure, it doesn't have the way-cool glass bubble top of the Jetson's car, but we're at least one step closer to having our own personal flying cars. And that's pretty freakin' cool...
That is all.
Life Imitates CHiPs...
Massive pileup closes I-93 in New Hampshire
Maybe I'm a child of the '70s, but the first thing that came to mind when I saw this story was the nigh-unbelievable crashs shown on CHiPs. Except this was real life. Although, to be fair, the cause of this crash was slippery conditions caused by snow squalls, whereas on CHiPs it was usually a speeder in a Camaro...
That is all.
A 59-vehicle pileup on Interstate 93 yesterday morning in Derry, N.H., left the University of Massachusetts-Boston women’s hockey team trapped in a bus for nearly two hours and sent a dozen people to hospitals while shutting down a stretch of highway.
Maybe I'm a child of the '70s, but the first thing that came to mind when I saw this story was the nigh-unbelievable crashs shown on CHiPs. Except this was real life. Although, to be fair, the cause of this crash was slippery conditions caused by snow squalls, whereas on CHiPs it was usually a speeder in a Camaro...
That is all.
Yes, Even More Letters!
Today's letter comes to us from "Ryan", a student attending college right here in lovely MA:
Of course I chose to answer. I try to answer my e-mail whenever possible (although I've had a handful of, well, odd messages come through from time to time that I've chosen not to respond to) - basically, a genial, polite message will get some sort of response. Call me an ass and tell me I should drop dead for owning guns, yeah, I'm going to ignore you. Respectfully disagree and I'll talk your ear off about why I feel the way I do...
So here's my response to Ryan's questions:
Ryan e-mailed me back to say that he'd be interested in the offer to go shooting, but that it would have to wait until a school break. Just let me know, Ryan. I'll make time.
That is all.
Hi there,
I just stumbled upon your blog after seeing "My Cousin Vinnie" on TV and Googling ".357 magnum" to see what one looked like. I'm sorry if you don't like people e-mailing you, but I figured this would be a better way to achieve contact than commenting on a post with a comment that didn't have much to do with the actual topic.
I'm a student, currently 20 years old, living a little while outside of Boston. I'm looking forward to two things next year: legal alcohol consumption and the possibility of purchasing a firearm. I don't really have any questions about the first situation, but lots about the second. First being, it is 21 that is the legal age for the purchase of a handgun, right?
Mostly I just want to know about what it's like to own a gun. Particularly I'd like to know from you, as you seem to own quite a collection. What's the fascination? What does it change about your life? Have you noticed any change in yourself, for the better or worse? What's it like owning a gun in MA? I'm a registered independent that typically leans left (yeah, I rooted for Obama, haha), so what do you think this would mean for me? Does moving affect anything?
Lastly, do you have any recommendations for a first time buyer?
I'm still not entirely sure I want to buy... I'd prefer to take up a martial art, but at the moment I don't have the resources. I'm also not entirely sure how often I'd need one for anything but recreational shooting, being a soft white kid from the suburbs. I've always had a fascination with weapons, though, ever since I was a little kid, and yeah, I play lots of first-person shooters. For some reason guns, swords, bows, etc. appeal to me. I guess it's the testosterone? On top of that, the prospect of being able to protect my (future) family with more than a baseball bat is reassuring, although
I can also imagine a gun causing things to escalate...
If you choose to answer, thanks. If not, I don't blame you. :P
Thanks for your time!
Ryan
Of course I chose to answer. I try to answer my e-mail whenever possible (although I've had a handful of, well, odd messages come through from time to time that I've chosen not to respond to) - basically, a genial, polite message will get some sort of response. Call me an ass and tell me I should drop dead for owning guns, yeah, I'm going to ignore you. Respectfully disagree and I'll talk your ear off about why I feel the way I do...
So here's my response to Ryan's questions:
Good afternoon Ryan,
Sorry about the delay in getting back to you - it's been a pretty busy weekend on my end, otherwise I'd have gotten in touch sooner. I enjoy it when people e-mail me - heck, I'm shocked that anyone reads my scribblings most days. I'll address your points individually, as you ask some excellent questions that I'll take a stab at
answering.
(With your permission, I'd like to post your questions and my response on the blog; I'd be happy to omit your name - either all or just last - as well as location if you would prefer).
*First being, it is 21 that is the legal age for the purchase of a handgun, right?
Certainly in MA - you must be 21 to obtain a Class A or B LTC, which would permit you to purchase a handgun. I believe Federal law puts the age of purchase at 21 as well, but the age at which one can own a handgun varies from state to state, with some states setting it 18 and others lower (15?) IIRC.
*What's the fascination?
Hmmm. That's a damn good question. I think there's two distinct factors at work here. The first is a lifelong fascination with all things mechanical - Legos, Erector sets, etc. I've always enjoyed tinkering, building, making things work (even if I can't work on my car to save my life!). Firearms are intriguing from an engineering standpoint - you're talking about a vessel capable of containing explosive forces, and it's got moving parts too!
The other aspect is the historical side. I own firearms that are over 100 years old, and I still take those to the range and shoot them from time to time. The majority of my collection is older than I am (and by your standards, I'm probably ancient...) :) What other machines that contain explosions last decades to centuries under even light use? Additionally, a good number of the firearms in my collection were guns I inherited from my grandfather, my namesake. When I hold the Colt .38 Special that he carried as a town police officer, I'm holding a tangible piece of my family history. I can imagine my grandfather shooting this same gun some 60 years prior, although most likely at the town dump or sand pits rather than a range...
*What does it change about your life?
Other than causing a largish hole in my wallet, not a lot... Well, actually, that's not entirely true. Living in MA, which is decidedly anti-gun, it tends to make one stand out that one is a firearm enthusiast - I've joked about gun owners being ranked somewhere around pedophiles in MA, and while that's certainly hyperbole on my part, it's also not entirely untrue. The looks I get from people when they find out I own guns are overwhelmingly negative - there is a real stigma to it.
*Have you noticed any change in yourself, for the better or worse?
Not from merely owning a firearm. It's a chunk of metal, no different than a golf club or a toaster - without a human to pick it up. I'm the same person whether I own a gun, knife, chainsaw, or nerf bat. I trust myself and those around me, therefore the presence of a gun is immaterial.
When I'm carrying, though, it's a different story. I need to be 100% in charge of my emotions and my demeanor. There's no such thing as "road rage" when I'm armed; I can and have gone well out of my way to avoid people who are looking to cause trouble.*What's it like owning a gun in MA?
It's like having herpes, only there's no treatment for it. I kid, I kid... It's an awful lot like being a Christian in ancient Rome - I joke that we should be drawing stencils of 1911s in the dirt whenever we suspect someone might be a fellow gun owner.
The climate in MA is decidedly anti-gun. I've heard stories of guys whose kids can't have playdates with their school chums because the father owns firearms (fortunately this hasn't been the case for my kids); there are inquisitive questions from pediatricians; basically, you're viewed as some sort of deviant criminal simply for wanting to exercise your Second Amendment rights. It is decidely uncool...
And that's just owning. We'll avoid the issue of carrying in MA for now...
*I'm a registered independent that typically leans left (yeah, I rooted for Obama, haha), so what do you think this would mean for me?
You're 20 years old. I'd be worried if you didn't lean a little left at this point in your life. You've got decades ahead of you to get cynical and turn rightward... :)
What it means is that you rooted for someone whose short political career has been decidedly anti-gun; someone whose administration picks have also been quite anti-gun; however, not everyone is a rabid 2A supporter such as myself and I'm sure there are other reasons you supported Barack Obama. I've made my point on MArooned why I didn't support him, and believe me when I tell you the single worst thing about Barack Obama IMHO is that his 2A views forced me to hold my nose and vote for John McCain...
*Does moving affect anything?
If you want to own firearms without a ton of hassle, move to NH. If you want to stay in MA, I would recommend checking out the Northeastshooters forum linked in my sidebar (http://northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/index.php) and look for the thread detailing which towns in MA are 2A friendly (http://northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=8703). The towns are coded red/green/black, with 2A friendly towns green, somewhat unfriendly as red, and decidedly anti-2A as black. It's good reading, especially if you're thinking of getting into the shooting sports as a MA resident.
*Lastly, do you have any recommendations for a first time buyer?
You cannot go wrong with a 4" barreled .22LR revolver. Smith & Wesson makes a 10 shot, stainless steel revolver, model number 617, that is just about perfect. There's also a six-shot model if you're feeling more traditional.
As an aside, I have a standing offer on my sidebar for people interested in shooting. I'm on the North Shore, so if you're outside of Boston you're not too far away. I'd be more than happy to host you at my gun club and give my "Intro to Shooting 101" spiel - safety lecture, etc. and even do some shooting if you're interested. Let me know if this is something you would like to try.
As for your last paragraph, I've got to point something out:
"On top of that, the prospect of being able to protect my (future) family with more than a baseball bat is reassuring, although I can also imagine a gun causing things to escalate..."I'm a dad. One of my biggest priorities is keeping my family safe. As a tool-using animal, it only makes sense to use the best tool for the job; right now, as things stand, the best tool for defense is a firearm. The day they perfect the Star Trek phaser that will instantly stun an aggressor without pain to them is the day that I will no longer carry a gun for self defense (I'd still own firearms because I enjoy target shooting).
As for a gun escalating things, well, really, if you've at the point of needing your firearm, there's no further escalation possible IMHO. It should be quite literally the last resort. No sane person wants to have to drop the hammer on another human being. I'll go to my grave a VERY happy man if I NEVER have to fire my gun in self-defense. I pray to G-d that I will never need to harm another person; however, I will also do everything within my power to keep people from harming me or mine. The firearm, at present time, is the best tool for that job. It's a chunk of metal designed for one purpose only, to propel a projectile a certain distance at a certain velocity. Nothing more, nothing less. It's not made to kill, or whatever - that decision is made by the person holding the tool.
I'm no less dangerous with a stout cudgel in my hands, a sharp ax, or a pointed
stick...I hope I've answered your questions, Ryan. Let me know if there's anything I've missed, anything you would like detailed further, or if you have any other questions...
With best regards,
Jay G.
Ryan e-mailed me back to say that he'd be interested in the offer to go shooting, but that it would have to wait until a school break. Just let me know, Ryan. I'll make time.
That is all.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Thought Question
Were Edgar Friendly and the Scraps modeled after Fader Magee in New America?
Discuss.
(And leave your sci-fi geek creds with the courtesy desk for validation).
That is all.
Discuss.
(And leave your sci-fi geek creds with the courtesy desk for validation).
That is all.
Gettin' Hassled by The Man...
I'll start with the free admission that I'm an idiot.
I let my truck registration expire. Not on purpose, of course, I just totally spaced that it was due the end of the year. Now, the registry sent out the form for renewal like the beginning of November. It happened to arrive at the same time as the renewal form for the camper (which expires the end of November) and the renewal for the Harley (also end of the year).
Two out of three vehicles are currently out of commission for the season. Both have been winterized, secured for the winter months, and taken off the road. Three guesses as to which registration I forgot to renew...
So, January 4th I'm over at my in-laws and I see my father-in-law's Sportster in their garage. It's still got the '08 tags on it. And it clicks in my head - Oh, shit, I forgot to renew the truck reg!!! I get out the paperwork, call it in, get a confirmation number which I duly write down. The cheery computer-generated voice on the other end of the phone informs me that my new registration will be mailed in approximately 7 days.
Well, last night I got pulled over.
Mind you, this is the first time I've been pulled over since the Clinton administration. The first term. Road rage ranting to the contrary, I'm a conscientious and law-abiding driver. I generally stick to within 5 MPH of the speed limit, always use my turn signals, and come to a complete stop at all stop signs and traffic lights. A real Boy Scout behind the wheel, that's me.
So why did I get pulled over? You'll love this:
My plate was too dirty...
The NH town cop who pulled me over was unflaggingly polite as he informed me for the reason for the stop - he couldn't read my plate because of the winter garf on it. Since it was 9:00 PM on a Saturday night in a town with more bars than churches, three guesses as to the real reason he pulled me over... Anyways, I handed him my registration renewal form with the confirmation number scribbled on it, explained what it meant, and he took it in stride and called it in - sure enough, the registration is valid, hence the "didn't get arrested" comments I've been leaving around the 'net...
Alas, no OUI for Officer Friendly tonight. Not from this huckleberry, not ever.
(Side note: when I opened my wallet to get my license - done very slowly and in front of him per instruction of my State cop father - he caught a glimpse of my NH non-res handgun permit. He looked puzzled, then asked, "Do you have a NH license, too?" I paused for a second, not really wanting to say, "Oh, yeah, that's my out-of-state firearms permit", when he realized his error and said never mind...)
That is all.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Songs of Our Lives...
My blogson tagged me with the most interesting meme:
Hmm. Let's see... There's going to be a lot of years, and some empty, because there are many years that I can't find a damn thing worth posting... Ted provides a handy link to a Top 100 site:
So here we go!
1971: Ringo Starr & George Harrison - It Don't Come Easy
1972: Don Mclean - American Pie
1973: Pink Floyd - Money
1974: Steve Miller Band - Joker
1975: Sweet - Ballroom Blitz
1976: Kiss - Rock And Roll All Night
1977: Aerosmith - Walk This Way
1978: Meat Loaf - Two out Of Three Ain't Bad
1979: Charlie Daniels Band - Devil Went Down to Georgia
1980: Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall Part 2
1981: Devo - Whip It
1982: Men at Work - Who Can It Be Now
1983: Men Without Hats - Safety Dance
1984: Van Halen - Jump
1985: Dire Straits - Money for Nothing
1986: Run-DMC - Walk This
1987: Beastie Boys - Fight for Your Right (to Party)
1988: Def Leppard - Pour Some Sugar On Me
1989: Aerosmith - Love in an Elevator
1990: Digital Underground - Humpty Dance
1991: Bonnie Raitt - Something to Talk About
1992: Tom Cochrane - Life Is A Highway
1993: Cypress Hill - Insane In The Brain
1994: Pretenders - Ill Stand By You
1995: Sheryl Crow - All I Wanna Do
1996: Joan Osborne - One Of Us
1997: Chumbawumba - Tubthumping
1998: Will Smith - Gettin Jiggy Wit It
1999: Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5
2000: Toby Keith - How Do You Like Me Now
2001: Creed - With Arms Wide Open
2002: Alan Jackson - Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning
2003: alan jackson - its five o clock somewhere
2004: Gretchen Wilson - Redneck Woman
2005: Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl
2006: Life Is A Highway (Rascal Flatts)
2007: Trace Adkins - You're Gonna Miss This
2008: ?
It's funny. Some years were hard to choose - either I didn't know any of the songs, or I had a hard time determining which to pick. Some songs were chosen for purely sentimental reasons - "Arms Wide Open" happens to have been a hit the year my son was born, for example. "Safety Dance" is an inside joke in my group of closest friends. It's funny the impact a song can have - not represented on the list, for example, is Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here", which makes my cry every time I hear it, because it reminds me of the first friend of mine to take his own life.
Phew! That's a lot of songs! I'm not going to specifically tag anyone, so if you'd like to play along, post in comments or shoot me a link...
That is all.
1. For each year you've been alive, post a song title (with performer name) that was released that year. There's some flexibility here - singles, albums, and Billboard Top Songs Chart will all be within a year of each other, but tend not to overlap. You have a song and a date, you're good to go.
2. You have to post songs that you own, or have owned in the past, or your parents owned when you were a child. If there's a year where you just don't have a song, then pick any old song from that year, but mark that year with an asterisk (*).
3. Ladies do not have to list more than the most recent 29 songs. A Gentleman never asks a Lady her age. If you want, though, list 'em all.
4. Once you've posted, tag 4 other bloggers.
Hmm. Let's see... There's going to be a lot of years, and some empty, because there are many years that I can't find a damn thing worth posting... Ted provides a handy link to a Top 100 site:
FYI, here's an excellent site that not only lists the Billboard Top 100 songs for each year, but they let you listen to them!
So here we go!
1971: Ringo Starr & George Harrison - It Don't Come Easy
1972: Don Mclean - American Pie
1973: Pink Floyd - Money
1974: Steve Miller Band - Joker
1975: Sweet - Ballroom Blitz
1976: Kiss - Rock And Roll All Night
1977: Aerosmith - Walk This Way
1978: Meat Loaf - Two out Of Three Ain't Bad
1979: Charlie Daniels Band - Devil Went Down to Georgia
1980: Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall Part 2
1981: Devo - Whip It
1982: Men at Work - Who Can It Be Now
1983: Men Without Hats - Safety Dance
1984: Van Halen - Jump
1985: Dire Straits - Money for Nothing
1986: Run-DMC - Walk This
1987: Beastie Boys - Fight for Your Right (to Party)
1988: Def Leppard - Pour Some Sugar On Me
1989: Aerosmith - Love in an Elevator
1990: Digital Underground - Humpty Dance
1991: Bonnie Raitt - Something to Talk About
1992: Tom Cochrane - Life Is A Highway
1993: Cypress Hill - Insane In The Brain
1994: Pretenders - Ill Stand By You
1995: Sheryl Crow - All I Wanna Do
1996: Joan Osborne - One Of Us
1997: Chumbawumba - Tubthumping
1998: Will Smith - Gettin Jiggy Wit It
1999: Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5
2000: Toby Keith - How Do You Like Me Now
2001: Creed - With Arms Wide Open
2002: Alan Jackson - Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning
2003: alan jackson - its five o clock somewhere
2004: Gretchen Wilson - Redneck Woman
2005: Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl
2006: Life Is A Highway (Rascal Flatts)
2007: Trace Adkins - You're Gonna Miss This
2008: ?
It's funny. Some years were hard to choose - either I didn't know any of the songs, or I had a hard time determining which to pick. Some songs were chosen for purely sentimental reasons - "Arms Wide Open" happens to have been a hit the year my son was born, for example. "Safety Dance" is an inside joke in my group of closest friends. It's funny the impact a song can have - not represented on the list, for example, is Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here", which makes my cry every time I hear it, because it reminds me of the first friend of mine to take his own life.
Phew! That's a lot of songs! I'm not going to specifically tag anyone, so if you'd like to play along, post in comments or shoot me a link...
That is all.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Friday Fun Thread: Boomer-ang...
Okay, I was trying to come up with a theme for today's car fun thread, so I asked for help. And boy, did folks come through! I've got enough ideas for a month of Friday Fun Threads - thanks again everyone!
The Top Ten List for today was inspired by Hunter's suggestion of:
"Top 10 cars for an aging baby boomer to renovate, rehabilitate, and relive those heady days of 47 cent gasoline."
So, presented for your approval, the top ten list!
1. 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. Nothing quite says "I came of age in post-WWII America" quite like the '57 Chevy. It's an icon in film and song, a tribute to the heady days of tailfins and chrome molding. If there's a more enduring image of the American automobile I can't think of it.
2. VW Microbus. Speaking of enduring images, how about the Deadhead hippie cruising around in his flower-bedecked VW bus? What could possibly be more American than taking a summer off to "find yourself", man, than cruising around the country following a drug-addled folk band? Err, not that I ever thought of it, of course... ;)
3. XKE Jaguar. The antithesis of the American muscle in the 1960s car-themed music of Jan and Dean, the XKE had it all - killer styling, British marque, and a 3.8L 6 cylinder engine capable of 150 MPH. And one got turned into a hearse in "Harold & Maude"...
4. 1963 Corvette split-window couple. The car that watched "the Jag slide into the curve"; the '63 'Vette was the second body style iteration of the 'Vette. 1963 was the first year of the new body, with a wind-tunnel-tested body design, pop-up headlights that would last over 40 years, and a futuristic design that's instantly recognizable even now.
5. 1964½ Ford Mustang. Another American icon, a car whose very form evokes fond feelings in both the male and the female of the species Homo Boomerallus and has been immortalized in song, film, and folklore. Plus it was my dad's first new car... The Mustang is responsible for one of my all-time favorite automotive quotations. Someone interviewing Lee Iaccoca, the man responsible for the Mustang, asked him about the Ford Pinto, a car that Iaccoca also helped design. The interviewer asked why Iaccoca was always asked about the Mustang, but not the Pinto, and Lee replied, "Success has many parents. Failure is an orphan."
6. MGA roadster. Small. Underpowered. Lucas (Prince of Darkness) Electrics. Work on it all week, drive it on weekends. But what fun you have driving it! Classic styling and "cute" factor make this the car most likely to be restored, then appropriated by the Missus...
7. VW Karmann Ghia. The Ghia was, at one point in time, the most imported car in America. It represented a radical departure for Volkswagen, who had up to that point produced fairly bland, utilitarian automobiles. The Ghia was a response to the British roadsters of the time period, only with the quirky VW air-cooled engine and solid German engineering.
8. Porsche 356 Speedster. And in the manner of German engineering, the first production Porsche is an excellent choice for inclusion on this list. A little more exotic than the other cars (save the Jag, perhaps), the Speedster was produced through 1965, two years after the larger, faster, and better-known 911 was introduced.
9. Triumph TR6. A wee bit more powerful than the MGB, this would be a step up from the guys who owned the little four-cylinder cars the first time around (and bought their teenaged daughters Mazda Miatas). A little more exotic than the MG, the Triumph represented a more "modern" approach to the small two-seat roadster.
10. Dark horse - Chrysler 300 series (1960 300F shown). Rivalling the Bel Air for chrome and fins, the 300 had something the Chevy didn't - 400 horsepower under the hood. This would be the rarest of the rare cars to be restored, but the aging boomer behind the wheel of one of these hyper land yachts would have panache and style unparalleled by others.
The Top Ten List for today was inspired by Hunter's suggestion of:
"Top 10 cars for an aging baby boomer to renovate, rehabilitate, and relive those heady days of 47 cent gasoline."
So, presented for your approval, the top ten list!
1. 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. Nothing quite says "I came of age in post-WWII America" quite like the '57 Chevy. It's an icon in film and song, a tribute to the heady days of tailfins and chrome molding. If there's a more enduring image of the American automobile I can't think of it.
2. VW Microbus. Speaking of enduring images, how about the Deadhead hippie cruising around in his flower-bedecked VW bus? What could possibly be more American than taking a summer off to "find yourself", man, than cruising around the country following a drug-addled folk band? Err, not that I ever thought of it, of course... ;)
3. XKE Jaguar. The antithesis of the American muscle in the 1960s car-themed music of Jan and Dean, the XKE had it all - killer styling, British marque, and a 3.8L 6 cylinder engine capable of 150 MPH. And one got turned into a hearse in "Harold & Maude"...
4. 1963 Corvette split-window couple. The car that watched "the Jag slide into the curve"; the '63 'Vette was the second body style iteration of the 'Vette. 1963 was the first year of the new body, with a wind-tunnel-tested body design, pop-up headlights that would last over 40 years, and a futuristic design that's instantly recognizable even now.
5. 1964½ Ford Mustang. Another American icon, a car whose very form evokes fond feelings in both the male and the female of the species Homo Boomerallus and has been immortalized in song, film, and folklore. Plus it was my dad's first new car... The Mustang is responsible for one of my all-time favorite automotive quotations. Someone interviewing Lee Iaccoca, the man responsible for the Mustang, asked him about the Ford Pinto, a car that Iaccoca also helped design. The interviewer asked why Iaccoca was always asked about the Mustang, but not the Pinto, and Lee replied, "Success has many parents. Failure is an orphan."
6. MGA roadster. Small. Underpowered. Lucas (Prince of Darkness) Electrics. Work on it all week, drive it on weekends. But what fun you have driving it! Classic styling and "cute" factor make this the car most likely to be restored, then appropriated by the Missus...
7. VW Karmann Ghia. The Ghia was, at one point in time, the most imported car in America. It represented a radical departure for Volkswagen, who had up to that point produced fairly bland, utilitarian automobiles. The Ghia was a response to the British roadsters of the time period, only with the quirky VW air-cooled engine and solid German engineering.
8. Porsche 356 Speedster. And in the manner of German engineering, the first production Porsche is an excellent choice for inclusion on this list. A little more exotic than the other cars (save the Jag, perhaps), the Speedster was produced through 1965, two years after the larger, faster, and better-known 911 was introduced.
9. Triumph TR6. A wee bit more powerful than the MGB, this would be a step up from the guys who owned the little four-cylinder cars the first time around (and bought their teenaged daughters Mazda Miatas). A little more exotic than the MG, the Triumph represented a more "modern" approach to the small two-seat roadster.
10. Dark horse - Chrysler 300 series (1960 300F shown). Rivalling the Bel Air for chrome and fins, the 300 had something the Chevy didn't - 400 horsepower under the hood. This would be the rarest of the rare cars to be restored, but the aging boomer behind the wheel of one of these hyper land yachts would have panache and style unparalleled by others.
As I close the post on another car nut thread, I want to thank everyone who offered suggestions as to other Top Ten Lists to come. I've got plenty of things to think about, and it should provide much mirth and amusement as my picks - or misses - are discussed on a Friday afternoon...
That is all.
Friday Gun Pr0n #93
Well, I hinted at today's (new-to-me) gun on Wednesday...
Manufactured in 1944 as part of the Soviet war effort to stop the Axis threat. The trunk upon which this gun is sitting was used by my grandparents to carry their worldly possessions upon leaving Mussolini's Italy, so it's only fitting that a gun that may very well have aided in the liberation of their homeland find its way here... There will have to be a companion shot with my Mannlicher-Carcano 6.5mm carbine (Grandpa G.'s quote: "Italian battle rifle. Only dropped once.") and (someday) a 1903 Springfield and a K-98...
And that's one of the really cool things about firearms - the link with the past. It's entirely possible that this gun may have been used in a battle to thwart the Nazi war machine. A Russian conscript might have held this gun in shaky but certain hands, aimed at a foe with greater machinery but no greater resolve. This gun's integral bayonet might have some residual Nazi DNA in the grooves. Perhaps, most symbolically, it's possible that somewhere, one of Mussolini's brown shirts may have developed a 7.62mm hole through his sternum right as he attempted to murder one of my ancestors left behind...
Or it could have sat in a warehouse in Bulgaria for 60-odd years...
That is all.
Mosin-Nagant M44 carbine.
Manufactured in 1944 as part of the Soviet war effort to stop the Axis threat. The trunk upon which this gun is sitting was used by my grandparents to carry their worldly possessions upon leaving Mussolini's Italy, so it's only fitting that a gun that may very well have aided in the liberation of their homeland find its way here... There will have to be a companion shot with my Mannlicher-Carcano 6.5mm carbine (Grandpa G.'s quote: "Italian battle rifle. Only dropped once.") and (someday) a 1903 Springfield and a K-98...
And that's one of the really cool things about firearms - the link with the past. It's entirely possible that this gun may have been used in a battle to thwart the Nazi war machine. A Russian conscript might have held this gun in shaky but certain hands, aimed at a foe with greater machinery but no greater resolve. This gun's integral bayonet might have some residual Nazi DNA in the grooves. Perhaps, most symbolically, it's possible that somewhere, one of Mussolini's brown shirts may have developed a 7.62mm hole through his sternum right as he attempted to murder one of my ancestors left behind...
Or it could have sat in a warehouse in Bulgaria for 60-odd years...
That is all.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Tryin' Something Different...
I've been trying to add a motorhead post on Fridays to compliment the gun pr0n. I was trying to come up with a good list for tomorrow, when it dawned on me. I've got a right smart bunch of commenters. Why not let them pick tomorrow's list?
I'll be honest here and say that "micro-compact cars of the former Soviet bloc" might not exactly hold my interest long enough to make a top ten list, but other than that, give me a subject to dig into. Cars, trucks, motorcycles... Pretty much anything's up for discussion.
Thanks in advance for the ideas!
That is all.
So here's the question: What list (that has not yet been covered) would y'all like to see?
I'll be honest here and say that "micro-compact cars of the former Soviet bloc" might not exactly hold my interest long enough to make a top ten list, but other than that, give me a subject to dig into. Cars, trucks, motorcycles... Pretty much anything's up for discussion.
Thanks in advance for the ideas!
That is all.
New Blogs! New Blogs!
It's been a while since I added any new blogs to the blogroll, so it's about time to rectify that situation... We've got a bunch of new blogs, some of which I stumbled across through the magic of SiteMeter, some actually e-mailed me, and others I've just been meaning to add for a while now...
In no particular order:
1. Life and Times of an Average Guy - a.k.a. The UnpaidBill, he describes himself as "Just an average guy, doing the best that I can. One wife, two kids, one car, one old truck, one mortgage, one income, and a fiercely independent streak all living in one ancient house in America's heartland." I can dig that...
2. A Gator in the Desert - another compatriot from the Gun Nuts chat room craziness, he describes himself as "vox clamantis in deserto..."the voice of one shouting in the desert"Observations and occasional rantings from a moderate conservative. Or maybe a conservative libertarian. Whatever.Viewer discretion is advised." Heh. I like it.
3. Mind-Numbing Content - anyone who tosses down a challenge like "You get my fucking point(Warning, I think even Jay will call me a potty mouth after a few weeks)" gets my attention. Now post more, dammit!
4. Nancy over at Gun Values Board shot me a note asking for a link exchange, so here we go!
5. Gunblogger Conspiracy. Pretty much adding this so I can stop rooting through my "History" every time I want to chat with my fellow gun nuts. This is a great chatroom filled with knowledgeable, intelligent people. And me. Oh, and I'm trying to take TD's title of "Resident Pervert" away - or at least share it...
6. In keeping with #5, it's WAY beyond time I added TD of The Unforgiving Minute. Don't know how or why I've gone this long without addin' ya to the 'roll, but it's fixed now...
Welcome aboard everyone!
That is all.
In no particular order:
1. Life and Times of an Average Guy - a.k.a. The UnpaidBill, he describes himself as "Just an average guy, doing the best that I can. One wife, two kids, one car, one old truck, one mortgage, one income, and a fiercely independent streak all living in one ancient house in America's heartland." I can dig that...
2. A Gator in the Desert - another compatriot from the Gun Nuts chat room craziness, he describes himself as "vox clamantis in deserto..."the voice of one shouting in the desert"Observations and occasional rantings from a moderate conservative. Or maybe a conservative libertarian. Whatever.Viewer discretion is advised." Heh. I like it.
3. Mind-Numbing Content - anyone who tosses down a challenge like "You get my fucking point(Warning, I think even Jay will call me a potty mouth after a few weeks)" gets my attention. Now post more, dammit!
4. Nancy over at Gun Values Board shot me a note asking for a link exchange, so here we go!
5. Gunblogger Conspiracy. Pretty much adding this so I can stop rooting through my "History" every time I want to chat with my fellow gun nuts. This is a great chatroom filled with knowledgeable, intelligent people. And me. Oh, and I'm trying to take TD's title of "Resident Pervert" away - or at least share it...
6. In keeping with #5, it's WAY beyond time I added TD of The Unforgiving Minute. Don't know how or why I've gone this long without addin' ya to the 'roll, but it's fixed now...
Welcome aboard everyone!
That is all.
MA Politics in a Single Headline
Despite investigations, DiMasi reelected House speaker
I love that. He voted for himself. I guess that saying about the devil you know...
And 14 members voted present? Talk about not having the courage of one's convictions. Who do they think they are, the President-elect? I mean, this is the guy they just re-elected speaker by a landslide margin:
DiMasi Will Talk 'Soon' About Ethics Allegations
IOW, a typical MA politician - what can you do for me lately?
And the brave, heroic men and women in the MA state house just overwhelmingly treated ol' Sal with a third term as Speaker of the House. "Crooked as a dog's hind leg" is an affront to the rearquarters of canines here - remember, this is a man whose defense against ethics charges was to plead immunity...
Ah, Massachusetts. The gun laws and corruption of IL, with the ineptitude and bumbling of CA.
That is all.
House members overwhelmingly reelected Salvatore F. DiMasi speaker today, giving the North End Democrat a third two-year term despite a series of ethics investigations.
House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasiDiMasi won the support of 135 out of 160 representatives when the formal vote was taken on the House floor. Fourteen members voted present, which included seven Republicans and seven Democrats who broke ranks with the speaker. Another nine Republicans lent their support to Representative Bradley H. Jones Jr., the minority leader. Representative William G. Greene Jr., a Democrat from Billerica, voted for himself.
I love that. He voted for himself. I guess that saying about the devil you know...
And 14 members voted present? Talk about not having the courage of one's convictions. Who do they think they are, the President-elect? I mean, this is the guy they just re-elected speaker by a landslide margin:
DiMasi Will Talk 'Soon' About Ethics Allegations
In recent months the pressure has been building on the Speaker of the House. He now faces three separate ethics investigations. In the words of one respected lawmaker here on Beacon Hill, "Clearly there is blood in the water."
Among those investigations, whether DiMasi secured a $250,00 mortgage through his friend Richard Vitale. Critics say Vitale never registered as a lobbyist but in fact lobbied for legislation to help ticket brokers.
Then there is a $13 million State software contract that DiMasi is said to have steered towards a company that made generous donations to his favorite charity.
And DiMasi is also being questioned about golfing junkets with Joe O'Donnell, one of the owners of Suffolk Downs and someone with a keen interest in legislation to bring slot machines to the tracks.
IOW, a typical MA politician - what can you do for me lately?
And the brave, heroic men and women in the MA state house just overwhelmingly treated ol' Sal with a third term as Speaker of the House. "Crooked as a dog's hind leg" is an affront to the rearquarters of canines here - remember, this is a man whose defense against ethics charges was to plead immunity...
Ah, Massachusetts. The gun laws and corruption of IL, with the ineptitude and bumbling of CA.
That is all.
Bike Bleg...
Nope, not for me. I lurve my Geezer Glide, and if I were going to get another bike, it'd be another Harley - either a Sportster 1200 or a Softail Standard that I could put obscenely loud pipes on to annoy hippies in Priuses...
This is for reader Ben, who asks:
Barring that, I would strongly advise Ben to pick up a copy of the WantAds (or similar local ad) and see what's being sold privately right now. With the economy in the shape it's in, people are most likely looking to divest of "toys" like sport bikes (and power boats and skimobiles, too, if you're in the market for them...)
As a general rule, you're not going to go wrong with a Honda CBR or Kawasaki Ninja. Here in the Northeast, you're likely to find a 5-6 year old bike with very low miles (4-5K) selling for around $5K for a 600-750cc bike. Look for a bike owned by an adult - and here I don't mean 18+, I'm talking 35+ - as it's less-likely to have been dropped/downed/beaten.
Craigslist is a decent place to start looking, although there are many less-than-forthcoming ads. A quick perusal shows a bunch of bikes meeting Ben's criteria in the Boston area:
Yamaha YZF600R $3600
Buell Lightning Xb9s $4999
Honda CBR 600RR $5700
Kawasaki Ninja 650R $5500 (2007!!!)
There's a lot of good sport bikes out there in this price range. Right now is a tough time to buy - bikes are either in storage for the winter, or you don't want any part of them (if they're not properly stored now, it's a good indication that the owner hasn't been caring for the bike properly as a general rule). Wait another couple of months until the snow starts thawing, but before the first warm day.
As always, suggestions as to what to look for or avoid are always welcome!
That is all.
This is for reader Ben, who asks:
I know how I like to ride --high revs with my feet under me -- and I very much like the larger Ninjas and the Yamaha R6. My budget for this is very tight, not more than $5k, which I think puts me in used motorcycle territory. Unfortunately, while I have been working on cars for 15 years, But really I know jack squat about motorcycles and am very poorly equipped to assess a used motorcycle. Since I am but one state over (CT), I thought I would appeal to you for any pointers you might have. Can you vouch for (or advise against) any dealers within a couple hours of western CT? Know anyone reputable looking to sell something (sport orsporty) in the midsize range (something between 500cc and 750cc would be ideal, the right 1000cc would be ok.Anyone in the CT/Western MA/Eastern NY area got some info/leads for Ben?
Barring that, I would strongly advise Ben to pick up a copy of the WantAds (or similar local ad) and see what's being sold privately right now. With the economy in the shape it's in, people are most likely looking to divest of "toys" like sport bikes (and power boats and skimobiles, too, if you're in the market for them...)
As a general rule, you're not going to go wrong with a Honda CBR or Kawasaki Ninja. Here in the Northeast, you're likely to find a 5-6 year old bike with very low miles (4-5K) selling for around $5K for a 600-750cc bike. Look for a bike owned by an adult - and here I don't mean 18+, I'm talking 35+ - as it's less-likely to have been dropped/downed/beaten.
Craigslist is a decent place to start looking, although there are many less-than-forthcoming ads. A quick perusal shows a bunch of bikes meeting Ben's criteria in the Boston area:
Yamaha YZF600R $3600
Buell Lightning Xb9s $4999
Honda CBR 600RR $5700
Kawasaki Ninja 650R $5500 (2007!!!)
There's a lot of good sport bikes out there in this price range. Right now is a tough time to buy - bikes are either in storage for the winter, or you don't want any part of them (if they're not properly stored now, it's a good indication that the owner hasn't been caring for the bike properly as a general rule). Wait another couple of months until the snow starts thawing, but before the first warm day.
As always, suggestions as to what to look for or avoid are always welcome!
That is all.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
We Love Lists!
Found via Unc, a list of the 10 manliest firearms:
#10: SMLE
Nope. But want one.
#9: Mosin-Nagant M44
Err, well, it was going to be a surprise this Friday...
#8: GLOCK
Got my G30 last year.
#7: Swiss K31 Carbine.
Nope. But want one.
#6: AK47
Got one. It's busted, but I have one...
#5: Smith & Wesson Model 29
If a Model 629 counts, I have one...
#4: AR15
Yep. Just got my Bushmaster.
#3: Remington 870
I've got a Winchester 1300 and a Mossberg 590. Close enough.
#2: Colt Model 1911A1 .45 ACP
Got three, including a 1991A1.
#1: Barrett M82 .50 caliber rifle
Lottery gun.
Looks like I have some buyin' to do...
That is all.
#10: SMLE
Nope. But want one.
#9: Mosin-Nagant M44
Err, well, it was going to be a surprise this Friday...
#8: GLOCK
Got my G30 last year.
#7: Swiss K31 Carbine.
Nope. But want one.
#6: AK47
Got one. It's busted, but I have one...
#5: Smith & Wesson Model 29
If a Model 629 counts, I have one...
#4: AR15
Yep. Just got my Bushmaster.
#3: Remington 870
I've got a Winchester 1300 and a Mossberg 590. Close enough.
#2: Colt Model 1911A1 .45 ACP
Got three, including a 1991A1.
#1: Barrett M82 .50 caliber rifle
Lottery gun.
Looks like I have some buyin' to do...
That is all.
Rootin'est, Tootin'est, Shootin'est... Pre-schooler?
Epijunky was kind enough to send me a link to this story:
Boy, 4, shoots babysitter for stepping on his foot
and was curious for my take on the situation. While I'm tempted to snark about "more victims than Dick Cheney" or somesuch, the truth of the matter is, this story depresses the hell out of me for two different, distinct reasons.
The first reason is that this kind of story is one of the hardest to defend against. You have a child getting ahold of a loaded shotgun - all perfectly legal in many areas. There's just no legislating common sense, but this won't stop the local politicos from demanding gun locks and "safe storage" requirements. Never mind that the kind of parent who would leave a shotgun loaded and unsecured in the presence of a pre-schooler and a teenaged baby sitter more than likely isn't going to worry too much about "safe storage" laws.
This is the kind of unfortunate incident that makes living in a free society difficult. This is the very kind of (near-) tragedy that makes the Brady Bunch salivate, as it perpetuates the "gun-owner-as-cousin-humpin'-redneck" stereotype. You've got an unsecured gun, a mobile home, and a teenager watching a pre-school aged child. All that's missing is the Camaro on blocks out front. But you know what?
That demographic has just as much right to own firearms as do the bluebloods and their $20,000 over-under shotguns.
The right to keep and bear arms isn't neat and tidy. It requires constant vigilance, and we as gun owners must always be on our guard for these types of stories. We need to be cognizant of our image, of how our actions as gun-owners can and will be twisted by a virulently anti-gun media to paint us in the worst possible light. We need to remember that we are all emissaries of the shooting sports; that our words in anonymous chat forums can be cherry-picked at will; and that every time one of us screws up, it sets the gun-rights movement back three-fold at least.
So keep your nose clean, your chin up, and your powder dry.
The second discouraging part to this story is the mindset shown by this young boy. Someone stepped on his foot, so he shot him? That signifies to me that violence is a daily part of this young child's life, and that saddens me beyond words. All the gun control in the universe won't help this child, but perhaps a new outlook on life, one that doesn't involve violence-as-a-problem-solving-tool, would.
I don't know where he got the idea that the proper response to someone stepping on his foot was to hurt them. Could be his upbringing (or lack thereof); could be his parents; could be the peer group egging him on. No matter the reason, there's a shocking lack of critical decision-making being shown (not to mention gun safety awareness...) in the process that says using a weapon against someone is a valid method of conflict-resolution. I fear that weapons being pointed and threats being made might be a usual part of this young boy's life.
In any case, the teenager who was shot was not seriously injured, and with any kind of luck the young man who did the shooting will get some positive interaction out of this. There's no way he should be charged with anything; he's simply too young to understand what's going on. The best hope is that there's some serious de-programming in his future that will teach him how to better deal with conflict as he matures...
Shorter ending: Good luck kid, you're gonna need it...
That is all.
Boy, 4, shoots babysitter for stepping on his foot
and was curious for my take on the situation. While I'm tempted to snark about "more victims than Dick Cheney" or somesuch, the truth of the matter is, this story depresses the hell out of me for two different, distinct reasons.
The first reason is that this kind of story is one of the hardest to defend against. You have a child getting ahold of a loaded shotgun - all perfectly legal in many areas. There's just no legislating common sense, but this won't stop the local politicos from demanding gun locks and "safe storage" requirements. Never mind that the kind of parent who would leave a shotgun loaded and unsecured in the presence of a pre-schooler and a teenaged baby sitter more than likely isn't going to worry too much about "safe storage" laws.
This is the kind of unfortunate incident that makes living in a free society difficult. This is the very kind of (near-) tragedy that makes the Brady Bunch salivate, as it perpetuates the "gun-owner-as-cousin-humpin'-redneck" stereotype. You've got an unsecured gun, a mobile home, and a teenager watching a pre-school aged child. All that's missing is the Camaro on blocks out front. But you know what?
That demographic has just as much right to own firearms as do the bluebloods and their $20,000 over-under shotguns.
The right to keep and bear arms isn't neat and tidy. It requires constant vigilance, and we as gun owners must always be on our guard for these types of stories. We need to be cognizant of our image, of how our actions as gun-owners can and will be twisted by a virulently anti-gun media to paint us in the worst possible light. We need to remember that we are all emissaries of the shooting sports; that our words in anonymous chat forums can be cherry-picked at will; and that every time one of us screws up, it sets the gun-rights movement back three-fold at least.
So keep your nose clean, your chin up, and your powder dry.
The second discouraging part to this story is the mindset shown by this young boy. Someone stepped on his foot, so he shot him? That signifies to me that violence is a daily part of this young child's life, and that saddens me beyond words. All the gun control in the universe won't help this child, but perhaps a new outlook on life, one that doesn't involve violence-as-a-problem-solving-tool, would.
I don't know where he got the idea that the proper response to someone stepping on his foot was to hurt them. Could be his upbringing (or lack thereof); could be his parents; could be the peer group egging him on. No matter the reason, there's a shocking lack of critical decision-making being shown (not to mention gun safety awareness...) in the process that says using a weapon against someone is a valid method of conflict-resolution. I fear that weapons being pointed and threats being made might be a usual part of this young boy's life.
In any case, the teenager who was shot was not seriously injured, and with any kind of luck the young man who did the shooting will get some positive interaction out of this. There's no way he should be charged with anything; he's simply too young to understand what's going on. The best hope is that there's some serious de-programming in his future that will teach him how to better deal with conflict as he matures...
Shorter ending: Good luck kid, you're gonna need it...
That is all.
Inexplicable Snow Day
Okay, so my kids are home today because school is canceled due to snow. There's less than two freakin' inches on the ground, and it's already turned over to sleet/freezing rain. The forecast is for a complete conversion to rain sometime this afternoon. And yet they canceled school...
That's okay, I wound up turning in three sick days last year. I've got the time...
Anyhoo, what's going on in the intarwebz today? Looks like I've got nothing to do and all day to do it today. Assuming, of course, that I don't go stark raving mad from the kids bouncing off the walls, that is... ;)
That is all.
That's okay, I wound up turning in three sick days last year. I've got the time...
Anyhoo, what's going on in the intarwebz today? Looks like I've got nothing to do and all day to do it today. Assuming, of course, that I don't go stark raving mad from the kids bouncing off the walls, that is... ;)
That is all.
Overstepping Bounds...
...and unintended consequences.
Detention in gun cases challenged
Here's a tough one. I don't think anyone objects to a prosecutor aggressively going after folks breaking the law - specifically gun laws - as opposed to just slapping their wrists and sending them back through the revolving doors. However, this is one of those cases of "when your only tool is a hammer" - before long, *all* cases involving guns are going to start to look like they need a "90 days in the hole" nailing. Even little ones like folks letting their permits lapse, because once you're hit with a felony, you're no longer eligible to own a firearm ever again...
Which, naturally, is the point of all this, right?
I mean, let's face it. They don't give a hairy rat's ass about whether or not these scumbags do extra time for the gun. They want to boost their conviction rates, and the 90 days without bail is just enough to scare 'em into taking a plea bargain. So their conviction rate goes up, they look like they're doing something about crime, and they've got a shiny new precedent for bending over gun owners and having their way with them...
But the news isn't all bad:
Unfortunately, she's talking about the eighth amendment unconstitutional rather than the second, but still, it's a start...
I've got a novel idea. Why don't we take all these dangerous criminals, the ones who are the folks that the DA is trying to get behind bars, and, you know, keep them the hell behind bars? Make them actually serve their full sentences? Not slap them on the wrist and send them on their way? Seems to me that'd stop the problem dead in its tracks...
*Link to story sent by alert reader CW. Thanks!
That is all.
Detention in gun cases challenged
Immediately after he took office in January 2007, Bristol District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter took a tough new approach to reducing the violent gun crime that has ravaged cities such as Fall River and New Bedford.
Under the controversial policy, his prosecutors would ask a district court judge to detain for up to 90 days anyone arrested for illegally carrying a gun, regardless of the circumstances. Over the past two years, his office has requested 197 so-called dangerousness hearings for such gun felonies and persuaded judges to jail defendants 141 times, he says. The move has drawn praise from police chiefs and New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang, a former prosecutor who says the tactic takes dangerous people off the streets before trial.
Here's a tough one. I don't think anyone objects to a prosecutor aggressively going after folks breaking the law - specifically gun laws - as opposed to just slapping their wrists and sending them back through the revolving doors. However, this is one of those cases of "when your only tool is a hammer" - before long, *all* cases involving guns are going to start to look like they need a "90 days in the hole" nailing. Even little ones like folks letting their permits lapse, because once you're hit with a felony, you're no longer eligible to own a firearm ever again...
Which, naturally, is the point of all this, right?
I mean, let's face it. They don't give a hairy rat's ass about whether or not these scumbags do extra time for the gun. They want to boost their conviction rates, and the 90 days without bail is just enough to scare 'em into taking a plea bargain. So their conviction rate goes up, they look like they're doing something about crime, and they've got a shiny new precedent for bending over gun owners and having their way with them...
But the news isn't all bad:
But yesterday, the state's top judge signaled that Sutter may have overstepped his authority by using a law designed to hold dangerous defendants in domestic violence cases against anyone arrested for illegally carrying a gun.
Speaking from the bench in Boston during oral arguments in a legal challenge to the policy, Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall said Sutter faces an uphill battle, and she appeared sympathetic to defense lawyers who characterized the approach as unconstitutional.
Unfortunately, she's talking about the eighth amendment unconstitutional rather than the second, but still, it's a start...
I've got a novel idea. Why don't we take all these dangerous criminals, the ones who are the folks that the DA is trying to get behind bars, and, you know, keep them the hell behind bars? Make them actually serve their full sentences? Not slap them on the wrist and send them on their way? Seems to me that'd stop the problem dead in its tracks...
*Link to story sent by alert reader CW. Thanks!
That is all.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Tormented...
About this story:
Citizens Energy giveaway imperiled as Venezuela halts its oil donations
On the one hand, I'm saddened that people who have come to depend on this oil are going to have a very cold winter ahead of them. The libertarian in me scoffs at their dependence on the government for something as basic as heat in the winter; the Christian side hunts for the checkbook to send a donation to my Church. The other factor at play here is that home heating oil prices are down because of the declinging oil prices overall - meaning that this will have less of an impact than it might have in years past.
But on the other hand, I'm laughing like a tickled hermit. First off, it means that Chavez is hurting - if he can't continue his "Oil for Fooling Silly American Leftists" program, that means his days are numbered. As the oil revenue dwindles, so does his power - live by the Golden Rule, die by the Golden Rule (in this case, of course, the Golden Rule is "He who has the Gold makes the Rules").
Secondly, it means that little Joey Kennedy is taking it in the shorts for all these years of fellating tinpot dictators. Gee, I'm all broke up about that. Live by the anti-American potentate, die by the anti-American potentate. I can't bring myself to feel sorry for someone who has hitched his wagon to the anti-American star of Hugo Chavez.
In either case, I'll be hoisting a pint at the fate of Hurtin' Hugo and Sad Panda Joe tonight...
That is all
Citizens Energy giveaway imperiled as Venezuela halts its oil donations
Joseph P. Kennedy II, the president of Citizens Energy Corp., said yesterday the Venezuelan oil company Citgo Petroleum Corp. has suspended contributions to the Boston nonprofit's program that provides free heating oil to 200,000 low-income residents and Native American tribes in 23 states, including Massachusetts.
The former Massachusetts congressman, who publicized the three-year-old program in television commercials urging people to call 1-877-JOE-4-OIL, said Citgo will stop participating indefinitely because of plunging oil prices and the global economic crisis, which have crimped its revenue. Last year, Citgo provided roughly $100 million in free fuel, 90 percent of the program's funding.
On the one hand, I'm saddened that people who have come to depend on this oil are going to have a very cold winter ahead of them. The libertarian in me scoffs at their dependence on the government for something as basic as heat in the winter; the Christian side hunts for the checkbook to send a donation to my Church. The other factor at play here is that home heating oil prices are down because of the declinging oil prices overall - meaning that this will have less of an impact than it might have in years past.
But on the other hand, I'm laughing like a tickled hermit. First off, it means that Chavez is hurting - if he can't continue his "Oil for Fooling Silly American Leftists" program, that means his days are numbered. As the oil revenue dwindles, so does his power - live by the Golden Rule, die by the Golden Rule (in this case, of course, the Golden Rule is "He who has the Gold makes the Rules").
Secondly, it means that little Joey Kennedy is taking it in the shorts for all these years of fellating tinpot dictators. Gee, I'm all broke up about that. Live by the anti-American potentate, die by the anti-American potentate. I can't bring myself to feel sorry for someone who has hitched his wagon to the anti-American star of Hugo Chavez.
In either case, I'll be hoisting a pint at the fate of Hurtin' Hugo and Sad Panda Joe tonight...
That is all
They Say It's Your Birthday!
Yes, folks, today is someone's birthday. Not mine, but one of my oldest online friends.
And my blogfather. Yes, Ricky of Toys in the Attic turns {mumble}something today. The man responsible for helping launch my insanepoo flinging scribbling has survived another trip around ol' Sol...
Happy birthday, buddy! Take a minute off the P90X and have a cold frosty malt beverage...
Turk of Turonistan reminds us that it's also the second anniversary of Snowflakes in Hell. What a great day all around!
That is all.
And my blogfather. Yes, Ricky of Toys in the Attic turns {mumble}something today. The man responsible for helping launch my insane
Happy birthday, buddy! Take a minute off the P90X and have a cold frosty malt beverage...
Turk of Turonistan reminds us that it's also the second anniversary of Snowflakes in Hell. What a great day all around!
That is all.
Open Question
When the bloody hell did it become the government's responsibility to give us free television access?
It's life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, not happiness itself (as though happiness could be obtained from staring at the idiot box, but I digress...). The more we depend on the .gov to provide for our every whim and (perceived) need, the more we feed the leviathan. I'd prefer the fucker starved; these people are shoveling twinkies into the governmental piehole...
Look, it's a $40 coupon towards the converter box. If you can't afford $40 for the boob tube, perhaps you need to adjust your priorities a bit rather than whine about the government not bringing your free cheese on time. $40 = 800 cans to recycle. Go out and pick up some of the Natural Light empties surrounding the doublewide, you'll be fine.
Ugh. I fear for our species sometimes...
That is all.
It's life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, not happiness itself (as though happiness could be obtained from staring at the idiot box, but I digress...). The more we depend on the .gov to provide for our every whim and (perceived) need, the more we feed the leviathan. I'd prefer the fucker starved; these people are shoveling twinkies into the governmental piehole...
Look, it's a $40 coupon towards the converter box. If you can't afford $40 for the boob tube, perhaps you need to adjust your priorities a bit rather than whine about the government not bringing your free cheese on time. $40 = 800 cans to recycle. Go out and pick up some of the Natural Light empties surrounding the doublewide, you'll be fine.
Ugh. I fear for our species sometimes...
That is all.
The Kindness of Strangers
Sometimes the generosity and kindness of people gives me hope for us yet. After I posted about my new eeeevil assault weapon acquisition, I got an e-mail from an anonymous benefactor. Seems this person wanted to send me a pre-ban 30-round AR-15 magazine as a "new AR-15 owner welcome package". There were also hints of other little items that would find their way int the package.
The pins were a neat touch - all of them are manufacturers of guns I own: Bushmaster, SigSauer, Glock, and a 1911 pin. Obviously this person reads MArooned... :) What was completely unexpected, however, was the NIW pre-ban National Magazine AR mag - if you look closely, you can see the date of 1986 on the wrapper. Not only is this pre-Assault Weapon Ban, this magazine could have been intended for a new, civilian-owned M-16!
Another benefactor presented me with an extremely generous offer for a large quantity of pre-ban 30 round AR-15 magazines. Suffice to say, I am now pretty well set for large-capacity magazines - nearly a dozen 30 rounders and five Colt 20-rounders. I'd still like to pick up a handful more, seeing as how I'm in MA and "pre-ban" refers not to pre-2009, but pre-1994... It's always a good idea to have spares.
So, to my benefactors (both of whom expressed their desire to remain anonymous), I give a hearty thanks. I'm touched that you would extend such generosity to me; however I am not surprised - the 2A community is a tight-knit one, a group whose alliances are forged in blued steel and copper jackets...
Thank you both.
That is all.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Quelle Surprise!
So Obama's gonna throw gun owners under the bus, eh? Unc, Robb, Caleb, Sebastian and many others have picked up on rumors that there's something big coming our way, and it ain't good.
Does this really come as a surprise to anyone? Really? I mean, I called it in September. Barack Obama, despite protestations of being a friend to the Second Amendment (GUFFAW!), has been a steadfast opponent of the proles' right to keep and bear arms in his short political career.
This should surprise no one.
What can we do? Well, keep the letters rolling. If you've got plans to join the NRA and (not or) your state level pro-2A organization, do it now. Sign up for a Life Membership, or if that's not economically viable, renew for three years rather than just one.
Bring new shooters to the range. See my sidebar for my standing offer. So far I've had about a dozen takers over the year, and 2009 is shaping up to be a banner year. Bring your kids to the range. Arrange for your local Boy Scout troop to have some time at the range (there are strict regulations on earning "Marksman" badges, so clear everything with the local Scoutmaster first).
Do whatever you can. Keep the faith. And work like hell to throw out anyone who supports ANY FURTHER INTRUSION on our Second Amendment rights.
Our children are counting on it.
That is all.
Does this really come as a surprise to anyone? Really? I mean, I called it in September. Barack Obama, despite protestations of being a friend to the Second Amendment (GUFFAW!), has been a steadfast opponent of the proles' right to keep and bear arms in his short political career.
This should surprise no one.
What can we do? Well, keep the letters rolling. If you've got plans to join the NRA and (not or) your state level pro-2A organization, do it now. Sign up for a Life Membership, or if that's not economically viable, renew for three years rather than just one.
Bring new shooters to the range. See my sidebar for my standing offer. So far I've had about a dozen takers over the year, and 2009 is shaping up to be a banner year. Bring your kids to the range. Arrange for your local Boy Scout troop to have some time at the range (there are strict regulations on earning "Marksman" badges, so clear everything with the local Scoutmaster first).
Do whatever you can. Keep the faith. And work like hell to throw out anyone who supports ANY FURTHER INTRUSION on our Second Amendment rights.
Our children are counting on it.
That is all.
Random Riffs...
Let's see... In no particular order:
That is all.
- So Al Franken managed to steal the MN Senate seat, eh? Nice. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that there will be significantly less chattering about "stolen" elections on this one.
- Just realized on the ride into work that this week will be the first full week I've worked since before Thanksgiving. Need moar koffey, kthanxbai...
- Certain states want to take measures to tax drivers by the mile. Now, if only there were some way to tax a commodity that people used to power their automobiles that could be taxed instead... Oddly enough, MA isn't one of these states. Yet.
- Yet ANOTHER Obama appointee bows out under the cloud of scandal. Boy, it's a good thing that we're starting fresh here, with none of the old "business as usual" under the Republican "culture of corruption", eh?
- The Obama daughters start school today at a private DC school that's been the stomping grounds of presidential children for years. Good for them! Anyone saying that they should have gone to a DC public school is too clouded by partisan dislike of their father to think straight, IMHO.
- And another one for the "glad it's not business as usual" files: Passing the bucks: Congress gets hefty raise while economy suffers. Yep, that (Democratically-controlled for over two years) Congress just voted itself a hefty pay raise. Yawn...
That is all.
Monday Morning Mail...
Reader Mike has a question:
To which I responded:
So, what did I forget?
I make no bones about my preference for S&W wheelguns. Taurus isn't bad, but for a gun I'm staking my life on, it's the boys from Springfield every time. Ruger makes a fine revolver, one that can take a lifetime of the worst abuse possible, but their guns are heavy - if I'm going to carry my CCW primarily IWB, then I want a large-capacity semi-auto with 10+ rounds, not a 5 shot .357 Mag...
I didn't give a clear recommendation for the three classes of semi-auto; if pressed I'd offer the S&W scandium commander 1911 for single action, the G30 for DAO, and the Sig 239 in .40 S&W for a SA/DA pistol. Once again, I'll be the first to plead MAhole here - with our restrictive gun laws, there are many fine pistols with which I'm just not familiar enough to recommend.
So, here's where I turn to my readers to help fill in the gaps. What other fine semi-autos (or wheelguns) have I missed in my recommendation? What gun do you stake your life on, and why? Mike wrote back to let me know he lives in free America, so he has no restrictions on what he can carry.
What say you?
That is all.
Hi Jay,
I am sure you are swamped with requests for gun recommendations and yes this is another one! I am an experienced shooter of 40 years and I am frantically working on getting my CCW before BHO takes office and tries to make all CCWs illegal and I am trying to figure out what to carry.
I am 6 foot 240 LBs guy so I have some body mass to hide something on so the question is what to hide?? Something small with stopping power (is this an oxymoron?)Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Mike
To which I responded:
Good morning Mike!
I've had a few requests, but I'm always happy to make time to help out a fellow gunnie. My standard disclaimer applies - with your permission, I'd like to use your question and my response as a blog post (Obviously I'll omit your last name and even your first if you request).
You're an experienced shooter, which helps in the selection process a bit - I'm going to operate on the assumption that you're familiar with the general operation of both revolvers and semi-automatic pistols, both double-action and single action variants. You don't state your location, so I'm not certain if you're in a restrictive state like MA or CA (which limits the options for carry), but I'll assume you're located in Free America where your options are open.I'm operating from somewhat of a hole as a MA resident - there are many fine firearms out there that are not available to us MAholes due the Approved Firearms Roster {spit}, but I've got a fair amount of experience with these things, plus I've got some damn smart commenters who I'm certain can help fill in the areas where I'm
lacking (hence why I'd like to post this).
The first question I have is whether you have a preference for revolvers or semi-autos. I'll offer a couple recommendations for each as a general rule, relying heavily on the guns I'm most familiar with.
For revolvers, there's really no choice other than a Smith & Wesson j-frame IMHO. You can get a 15 ounce aluminum-framed gun that can shoot .38 Special +P ammo for around $400 new, slightly less used. You can choose between an exposed hammer variant like the 637 (also called "Chief's Special); a shrouded hammer like the 638 (called the "Bodyguard"), or a hammerless like the 642 ("Centennial"). Which version you get depends on your preferred method of carry - if you're going to carry IWB or ankle holster, the exposed hammer is a good fit as it allows for retention strap; if you're going to pocket carry, the shrouded or hammerless version is a better bet.
I see no reason to look at any other revolver for CCW. Taurus or Charter Arms make less expensive variants, but you're talking on the order of $100 - $150 savings for a lesser firearm (Taurus isn't too bad, Charter Arms, well, you get what you pay for...) Ruger makes a wonderful little gun in the SP101; however pick one up and compare it to the S&W. The Ruger is built like a tank, yes; however it weighs a lot more, and that's a definite consideration for something you're going to toss in a pocket.
Another choice if you're a recoil whore like me is the .357 Magnum Airweight, the 360 (exposed hammer) or 340 (hammerless). These hurt like a SONOFABITCH, but it does give you the option of the mighty .357 Magnum in a 12 ounce gun (sprechen zie ouchie?). I've got the 360. It's a handful to shoot, and you really need to shoot it a lot with .357 Magnum loads to get used to the recoil, but nothing says get the hell outta my personal space like a 3' flame out of a 12 ounce snubbie... ;)
For semi-automatics, the choices are nearly endless. It basically boils down to which action you prefer (double-action only, single action only, DA/SA) and how you plan to carry. If you're thinking of pocket carry, the Ruger LCP or Kel-Tec P3AT are fine choices, with the edge going to the Ruger for finish and accuracy. Kahr Arms is
introducing a pocket-380 (K380) which is another fine choice. I'd avoid anything less than .380ACP for personal protection. Both Kel-Tec and Kahr Arms make very small 9mm that might be possible to pocket carry as well, the Kel-Tec PF9 or the Kahr PM9 are worth looking into if you're more comfortable with a 9mm.
For IWB carry, there are literally dozens of guns available. I'll make a couple of suggestions, but in this venue you're really best off trying each out and finding which you like best.
**Brief interlude on caliber choice: In this group, really, there's no wrong caliber. A 9mm pistol will be able to carry anywhere from 10-15 rounds and handle +P+ loads. It's cheaper to shoot, meaning you'll practice more, and if you can't neutralize the threat with 15 rounds of JHP 9mm+P+, you'd best have on your running shoes. .40 S&W is cheaper than .45 ACP, will fit a few more rounds, and generally entails a thinner firearm for CCW. Many folks will tell you that you should carry .45 ACP, which really is never bad advice; however it is the most expensive to shoot and will afford the fewest rounds. With all that in mind, go with whatever you're most comfortable with...
With all that said, there's three main flavors of semi-autos to consider:Single action - really, we're talking about Commander or Officer's sized 1911s here. Pretty much anything from Kimber is good; S&W makes a scandium-framed Commander 1911 that would work; Springfield Armory has a number of pistols; even Colt if you can find one. ParaOrdnance makes a double-stacked compact (WartHog) that looks great on paper; however I've known at least three people who have owned them and had bad experiences with them.
Double action only - these are the Glocks, Springfield XD, S&W M&P, etc. Really there's no bad choice in this group either. I would argue that Glock has the edge in that they've been out the longest, so there's more of an aftermarket for mags/holsters/etc. If another Assault Weapons Ban comes down the road, you stand
the best chance of finding full capacity magazines for a Glock than a S&W M&P. This group boils down to whatever you shoot best/whatever fits your hand best. I carry a Glock G30 (subcompact .45 ACP double-stack) with 9+1 in the gun and a spare G21 full capacity magazine for back-up (13 rounds + 2 round extension).
DA/SA - Beretta 92 compact, Sig 229/239, CZ-75 compact. I'm a HUUUGE fan of SigArms, so my recommendation would be either the Sig 229 or 239. Nothing wrong with the Beretta or CZ (or about 20 other guns I'm forgetting because I'm a MAhole), just personal bias towards the Sig. Ruger makes some fine, sturdy guns, but they're a little on the heavy and chunky side for concealed carry; Smith & Wesson has an under-appreciated line of compact pistols that will do in a pinch and won't break the bank; Armalite has a CZ-based line that's not too expensive either (although might as well just get the CZ...).
Well, there's my suggestions in a nutshell. The best suggestion is to find a range that rents the gun you're interested in and try it out first - nothing worse than finding out that the gun you just bought is too painful/bulky/etc. to shoot...
Hope this helps!
Best regards,
Jay G.
MArooned
So, what did I forget?
I make no bones about my preference for S&W wheelguns. Taurus isn't bad, but for a gun I'm staking my life on, it's the boys from Springfield every time. Ruger makes a fine revolver, one that can take a lifetime of the worst abuse possible, but their guns are heavy - if I'm going to carry my CCW primarily IWB, then I want a large-capacity semi-auto with 10+ rounds, not a 5 shot .357 Mag...
I didn't give a clear recommendation for the three classes of semi-auto; if pressed I'd offer the S&W scandium commander 1911 for single action, the G30 for DAO, and the Sig 239 in .40 S&W for a SA/DA pistol. Once again, I'll be the first to plead MAhole here - with our restrictive gun laws, there are many fine pistols with which I'm just not familiar enough to recommend.
So, here's where I turn to my readers to help fill in the gaps. What other fine semi-autos (or wheelguns) have I missed in my recommendation? What gun do you stake your life on, and why? Mike wrote back to let me know he lives in free America, so he has no restrictions on what he can carry.
What say you?
That is all.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Overheard at Dinner...
From The Boy:
Yeah.
I very nearly narfed spaghetti...
That is all.
"Hey, dad? You know what you oughta do? You oughta un-marry mommy and marry a hottie".
Yeah.
I very nearly narfed spaghetti...
That is all.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Too Good Not to Share...
Okay, so I'm sending in a Firearms Transfer Form (watch this space on Friday!) to the Criminal History Systems Board, which is responsible for processing and storing all Transfer Forms in MA. We're actually permitted to transfer firearms to other licensed MA gun owners without involving an FFL here in MA, which I suppose could qualify as an Evil Gunshow Loophole.
Except, of course, that if either of the two parties are not licensed MA gun owners, they'll both go to jail...
Anyhoo, I reach into the drawer for an envelope to mail the form in (you have seven days from the transfer, which was completed New Year's Eve) and come across one with a stamp already on it. Apparently Mrs. G. had rescued the stamp from the Christmas card we were going to send to her cousin in CA, as she was already sending a package out there as well.
In what can only be considered supreme irony, the stamp on the envelope that I am using to mail in my Firearms Transfer Form to the Criminal History Systems Board is a "Nutcracker" stamp...
That is all.
Except, of course, that if either of the two parties are not licensed MA gun owners, they'll both go to jail...
Anyhoo, I reach into the drawer for an envelope to mail the form in (you have seven days from the transfer, which was completed New Year's Eve) and come across one with a stamp already on it. Apparently Mrs. G. had rescued the stamp from the Christmas card we were going to send to her cousin in CA, as she was already sending a package out there as well.
In what can only be considered supreme irony, the stamp on the envelope that I am using to mail in my Firearms Transfer Form to the Criminal History Systems Board is a "Nutcracker" stamp...
That is all.
Sometimes, Stupid Hurts...
And sometimes, stupid will get you killed.
Seattle police fatally shoot armed history buff
Where to start, where to start?
First off, firing a rifle in an apartment complex? Even if it was just blanks (and do shotgun blanks even exist?), it's a monumentously stupid thing to do. Rifles are loud. Extremely loud. Even at an outdoor range, with 150+ yards of open range over which the sound can dissipate, the report from an 8mm rifle is distinctive. In the closed confines of a college student's apartment, it probably sounded like Odin bowling.
Secondly, pointing a friggin' K-98 rifle, with or without bayonet, at a police officer is exactly the right thing to do - if you want to get your stupid ass shot. I'm sorry that Mr. Murphy is dead - anytime someone that young dies, even so senselessly, it's a tragic waste of life - but those officers literally had no choice. An 8mm round will cut through a police vest like a hot knife through butter - there's simply no "well, maybe we can talk him out of this" like they might be tempted were he pointing a Raven 25 ACP at them.
Today's take home lesson? Alcohol and firearms don't mix. Never. Ever. SRSLY. RIP Mr. Murphy. If nothing else, perhaps your life's tragic end can serve as a warning to others who don't realize that playing with firearms while drinking is just as senseless and dangerous as driving while drinking. Owning firearms, especially a powerful rifle like a K-98, is a big responsibility, and you need to be in total command of your faculties.
And secondly, if you point a rifle at the cops and don't drop it like a radioactive owl turd when told, you're going to meet the business end of a Glock Foh-tay and some 180 grain JHPs.
(One parting note: Is it just me, or is this story surprisingly free of PSH? Seattle, last time I looked, wasn't exactly a hotbed of conservative media, but IMHO this story is actually pretty free from vapid stereotyping and handwringing. Maybe there's hope yet...)
That is all.
Seattle police fatally shoot armed history buff
SEATTLE — A college student dressed in a vintage German military uniform who was fatally shot by police on New Year's Day was a harmless, eccentric history buff, his family and friends said Friday.
Miles Murphy, a University of Washington senior, was shot several times at his apartment early Thursday after police said he pointed a rifle affixed with a bayonet at officers and refused orders to drop the weapon.
Seattle police had converged on Murphy's apartment after receiving complaints that several men were firing rifle and shotgun rounds into the air. Murphy emerged from inside and pointed what was later identified as a World War II Kar 98 German infantry rifle at the officers, police said.
When he refused several orders to drop the weapon, two officers fired seven shots, police Officer Jeff Kappel said. Murphy was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where he died.
Where to start, where to start?
First off, firing a rifle in an apartment complex? Even if it was just blanks (and do shotgun blanks even exist?), it's a monumentously stupid thing to do. Rifles are loud. Extremely loud. Even at an outdoor range, with 150+ yards of open range over which the sound can dissipate, the report from an 8mm rifle is distinctive. In the closed confines of a college student's apartment, it probably sounded like Odin bowling.
Secondly, pointing a friggin' K-98 rifle, with or without bayonet, at a police officer is exactly the right thing to do - if you want to get your stupid ass shot. I'm sorry that Mr. Murphy is dead - anytime someone that young dies, even so senselessly, it's a tragic waste of life - but those officers literally had no choice. An 8mm round will cut through a police vest like a hot knife through butter - there's simply no "well, maybe we can talk him out of this" like they might be tempted were he pointing a Raven 25 ACP at them.
Today's take home lesson? Alcohol and firearms don't mix. Never. Ever. SRSLY. RIP Mr. Murphy. If nothing else, perhaps your life's tragic end can serve as a warning to others who don't realize that playing with firearms while drinking is just as senseless and dangerous as driving while drinking. Owning firearms, especially a powerful rifle like a K-98, is a big responsibility, and you need to be in total command of your faculties.
And secondly, if you point a rifle at the cops and don't drop it like a radioactive owl turd when told, you're going to meet the business end of a Glock Foh-tay and some 180 grain JHPs.
(One parting note: Is it just me, or is this story surprisingly free of PSH? Seattle, last time I looked, wasn't exactly a hotbed of conservative media, but IMHO this story is actually pretty free from vapid stereotyping and handwringing. Maybe there's hope yet...)
That is all.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Friday Fun Thread: Get Yer Motor Runnin'
Today's automotive fun thread is a little different. Rather than choose a class of cars to showcase, I want to list my favorite American powerplants. While a bad engine can torpedo a vehicle (think the anemic 4.3L V6 that GM stuffed in their full-sized trucks in the '80s), it's not a real killer as there are many aftermarket possibilities. A good engine, though, can really make a car shine.
As with most things American, the rule of thumb of "bigger is better" certainly applies to this list - I've only listed two engines with less than 8 cylinders. Generally speaking, American small engines have been underpowered, short-lived, and generally pretty craptacular, to say the least...
So here's my list of favorite American Powerplants:
1. Ford Flathead V8. Yes. This is the granddaddy of them all, the 8 cylinder engine that powered hot rods for decades. It was introduced in 1932 and production continued into the 1970s, and even made Ward's list of top ten motors.
2. Chrysler 426 Hemi. A motor so powerful it was banned by NASCAR. How on earth could this not make the list? So-named for the hemispherical head design (which theoretically allowed for more complete combustion), only 11,000 426 Hemi's were produced. The Hemi designation contined through the 1980s (in the Mitsubishi 2.6L engine put in the K-cars) and was revived in 2002.
3. Ford 427 Cobra Jet. The fact that it powered the Carroll Shelby Cobra alone puts this motor on the list. It pushed the Cobra to a top speed of 180 MPH, and boasted a 0-60 acceleration time of 4.2 seconds. That's approaching a decent motorcycle...
4. GM 3.8L V6 turbo/intercooler. Moving a lumbering beast like the mid-80s G-body Regal without using an unG-dly amount of cubic inches is an impressive feat to say the least. Oh, sure, they blew up around 50K miles, but what fun you could have with those 49,999 miles!
5. Oldsmobile Rocket 455. 7.5L of big block goodness. Insert Tim Allen "Tim the Toolman" grunt here. 400 HP available in certain applications. It was inexplicably stuffed into the Custom Vista wagon, making just about the world's ultimate sleeper.
6. Chrysler 2.2L Turbo. The only four-banger to make the list, it's here mainly because it was just about the only thing Chrysler did right in the 1980s. It's also the second Carroll Shelby engine on the list - sense a trend?
7. Ford 5.0L V8. While the 225 HP achieved by a 302 cubic inch engine is on the low side compared to what's currently available, in the 1980s when this motor was most common it was respectable. The 5-oh was Ford's "do it all" motor, powering their full-sized cars, light trucks, and the Mustang. (And yes, that picture is the 5.0L Ford in an MGB...)
8. Chevy 350 V8. See above for "do-it-all" engines. The Chevy 350 has got to be one of the most ubiquitous engines on the market, powering everything from their workhorse trucks to the Corvette to the Boss Hoss. And the world of aftermarket parts for improving/fixing/wringing more power out of the Chevy small block is staggering - think of it as the 1911 for the automotive world... (And like the Ford 5.0L engine, the picture shown is of the Chevy 350 stuffed into a 1980s Jaguar XJS...)
9. New Chrysler Hemi. Current production engine, it's an out-of-the box engine making very close to the metric of 1HP per CI so highly sought by the hot rodders of the late 1960s. I can attest to the power of the 5.7L engine - it pulls our 6,000 pound camper without hesitation, and will give most cars a decent run for the money (when not towing, of course).
10. Pontiac 6.6L V8. Yep, the 6.6L shown in the "Smokey & the Bandit" T/A holds the anchor slot on the list, and for good reason - it moves that little Trans Am like nobody's business. When I graduated from college and had decided to give my little sister my old Buick, I shopped around for a new (to me) car. I was looking at muscle cars, and test-drove a 1980 Firebird with the 6.6L engine. The used car lot had a policy of leaving the car's gas tanks empty, so when I test drove it, I had to put in a couple dollar's worth of gas first. When I left the gas station, I nailed the gas hard. The Firebird took off like it had been launched off the deck of an aircraft carrier, with both rear tires smoking and the car swaying from side-to-side doing the "posi-hop"...
Thus concludes another automotive list of "stuff Jay likes." As always, feel free to agree, disagree, or add your own favorites in comments...
That is all.
As with most things American, the rule of thumb of "bigger is better" certainly applies to this list - I've only listed two engines with less than 8 cylinders. Generally speaking, American small engines have been underpowered, short-lived, and generally pretty craptacular, to say the least...
So here's my list of favorite American Powerplants:
1. Ford Flathead V8. Yes. This is the granddaddy of them all, the 8 cylinder engine that powered hot rods for decades. It was introduced in 1932 and production continued into the 1970s, and even made Ward's list of top ten motors.
2. Chrysler 426 Hemi. A motor so powerful it was banned by NASCAR. How on earth could this not make the list? So-named for the hemispherical head design (which theoretically allowed for more complete combustion), only 11,000 426 Hemi's were produced. The Hemi designation contined through the 1980s (in the Mitsubishi 2.6L engine put in the K-cars) and was revived in 2002.
3. Ford 427 Cobra Jet. The fact that it powered the Carroll Shelby Cobra alone puts this motor on the list. It pushed the Cobra to a top speed of 180 MPH, and boasted a 0-60 acceleration time of 4.2 seconds. That's approaching a decent motorcycle...
4. GM 3.8L V6 turbo/intercooler. Moving a lumbering beast like the mid-80s G-body Regal without using an unG-dly amount of cubic inches is an impressive feat to say the least. Oh, sure, they blew up around 50K miles, but what fun you could have with those 49,999 miles!
5. Oldsmobile Rocket 455. 7.5L of big block goodness. Insert Tim Allen "Tim the Toolman" grunt here. 400 HP available in certain applications. It was inexplicably stuffed into the Custom Vista wagon, making just about the world's ultimate sleeper.
6. Chrysler 2.2L Turbo. The only four-banger to make the list, it's here mainly because it was just about the only thing Chrysler did right in the 1980s. It's also the second Carroll Shelby engine on the list - sense a trend?
7. Ford 5.0L V8. While the 225 HP achieved by a 302 cubic inch engine is on the low side compared to what's currently available, in the 1980s when this motor was most common it was respectable. The 5-oh was Ford's "do it all" motor, powering their full-sized cars, light trucks, and the Mustang. (And yes, that picture is the 5.0L Ford in an MGB...)
8. Chevy 350 V8. See above for "do-it-all" engines. The Chevy 350 has got to be one of the most ubiquitous engines on the market, powering everything from their workhorse trucks to the Corvette to the Boss Hoss. And the world of aftermarket parts for improving/fixing/wringing more power out of the Chevy small block is staggering - think of it as the 1911 for the automotive world... (And like the Ford 5.0L engine, the picture shown is of the Chevy 350 stuffed into a 1980s Jaguar XJS...)
9. New Chrysler Hemi. Current production engine, it's an out-of-the box engine making very close to the metric of 1HP per CI so highly sought by the hot rodders of the late 1960s. I can attest to the power of the 5.7L engine - it pulls our 6,000 pound camper without hesitation, and will give most cars a decent run for the money (when not towing, of course).
10. Pontiac 6.6L V8. Yep, the 6.6L shown in the "Smokey & the Bandit" T/A holds the anchor slot on the list, and for good reason - it moves that little Trans Am like nobody's business. When I graduated from college and had decided to give my little sister my old Buick, I shopped around for a new (to me) car. I was looking at muscle cars, and test-drove a 1980 Firebird with the 6.6L engine. The used car lot had a policy of leaving the car's gas tanks empty, so when I test drove it, I had to put in a couple dollar's worth of gas first. When I left the gas station, I nailed the gas hard. The Firebird took off like it had been launched off the deck of an aircraft carrier, with both rear tires smoking and the car swaying from side-to-side doing the "posi-hop"...
Thus concludes another automotive list of "stuff Jay likes." As always, feel free to agree, disagree, or add your own favorites in comments...
That is all.
Friday Gun Pr0n #92
Time for the first Friday Gun Pic of 2009!
For the first picture taken with the new camera (Panasonic DMC-TZ3, for those who might be interested), I wanted to showcase one of the more aesthetically pleasing handguns in the G. armory:
It's also one of the more rare pieces - a Colt Detective Special with a 3" barrel. The (far) more common 2" barrel variant was a Hollywood staple for G-man, private dicks, and gangsters for literally decades. This model in particular barely has a turn ring on the cylinder, and I even have the factory box tucked somewhere in the attic.
The only problem with it is that I'm hesitant to shoot it much because it's just that nice...
That is all.
For the first picture taken with the new camera (Panasonic DMC-TZ3, for those who might be interested), I wanted to showcase one of the more aesthetically pleasing handguns in the G. armory:
It's also one of the more rare pieces - a Colt Detective Special with a 3" barrel. The (far) more common 2" barrel variant was a Hollywood staple for G-man, private dicks, and gangsters for literally decades. This model in particular barely has a turn ring on the cylinder, and I even have the factory box tucked somewhere in the attic.
The only problem with it is that I'm hesitant to shoot it much because it's just that nice...
That is all.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
$14,610...
...is the amount of money I've saved in the past 8 years since I quit smoking...
When I quit, I was smoking a pack a day. At an average of $5 a pack (it was about $3.50 when I quit, but it's about $6.50 now), and 2922 days (8 years X 365 days/year + 2 days for leap years), it comes out to the amount in the title.
Fourteen large I saved. That, quite frankly, is amazing. Even if the real number is half that (smoking less, buying in bulk, etc.), that's over seven grand. Every single penny of which is now gone, with nothing to show for it except a shortened lifespan...
Cigarettes should be banned, period. Cigarette companies should be forcibly closed; executives hung at sunrise; factories burned to the ground and the earth where the evil plants were harvested should be salted so that nothing will ever grow there again.
Not that I have strong feelings about this or anything...
Anyways... It's been eight years since I last felt the cool but raspy flow of nicotine into my system. Even now, all this time later, I still get an occasional longing for a smoke. I still have "The Dream" (where you're smoking again and kicking yourself for starting it back up but DAMN does it feel good to smoke once more...). Eight years. Wow...
That is all.
When I quit, I was smoking a pack a day. At an average of $5 a pack (it was about $3.50 when I quit, but it's about $6.50 now), and 2922 days (8 years X 365 days/year + 2 days for leap years), it comes out to the amount in the title.
Fourteen large I saved. That, quite frankly, is amazing. Even if the real number is half that (smoking less, buying in bulk, etc.), that's over seven grand. Every single penny of which is now gone, with nothing to show for it except a shortened lifespan...
Cigarettes should be banned, period. Cigarette companies should be forcibly closed; executives hung at sunrise; factories burned to the ground and the earth where the evil plants were harvested should be salted so that nothing will ever grow there again.
Not that I have strong feelings about this or anything...
Anyways... It's been eight years since I last felt the cool but raspy flow of nicotine into my system. Even now, all this time later, I still get an occasional longing for a smoke. I still have "The Dream" (where you're smoking again and kicking yourself for starting it back up but DAMN does it feel good to smoke once more...). Eight years. Wow...
That is all.
Other New Year's Resolutions...
I posted the Gunnie resolutions earlier today, and hinted that other resolutions would be forthcoming. I've had relatively good luck with New Year's Resolutions; the past three years have been to lose weight, start exercising, and keep the weight off - so far, we're on track...
But there's always more to work on, and here's my list for 2009:
But there's always more to work on, and here's my list for 2009:
- I will continue following my regime of diet and exercise to keep off the weight I've lost the past three years.
- I will yell at the kids less and play with them more.
- I will try to not let my life be dominated by the intarweb.
- I will start adding in more weight training to my exercise routine.
- If finances permit, a new bicycle (possibly a "fixie") will grace the G. garage so I can ride more with The Boy.
- I will continue my work with the Cub Scouts and do everything in my power to be the best Cubmaster I can be (I take over in March after the WeBeLos IIs move on and we lose our current Cubmaster).
- I will try to get more organized (this shouldn't be hard, given my current level of disorganization).
- I will wash my truck more often.
- I will keep in better touch with my friends. And not just moar e-mails...
- I will work on my attitude, both externally and internally.
Some of this list will be tough; some will be near-impossible. But I'm going to do everything in my power to try everything...
That is all.
For Marko...
I'll see his Castle Frostbite, and raise him Hypothermia Manor:
Surely it couldn't be that bad, you say. Surely Jay's exaggerating the temperature, right?
Surely it couldn't be that bad, you say. Surely Jay's exaggerating the temperature, right?
Ah. Nothing like starting the new year with a big ol' heaping helping of Global warming...
That is all.
New Year's Gunnie Resolutions
Okay. It's January First. We've bid adieu to 2008; 2009 stretches before us like a fresh canvas, a blank slate upon which we can record our grandest expectations and best intentions. And then promptly pick it up like a giant Etch-A-Sketch™, add alcohol, and shake it clear once again...
Okay, it might be the hangover talking, but I think I'm mixing my metaphors...
There are many things we all need to work on. Daily exercise. Eating more healthy. Reading more. Expanding our minds rather than our waistbands; working on bettering ourselves for the good of humanity, yadda yadda yadda. That comes later. Right now, it's all about the rich gunnie goodness.
So, without further interruption, here's Jay G's New Year's Gunnie Resolutions. In 2009, I pledge to:
- Practice dry firing at least twice a week.
- Practice drawing from concealment once a week.
- Go shooting at least twice a month.
- Take at least one course this year.
- Help out at the gun club for at least two events.
- Sign up at least five new people to GOAL and the NRA
- Instruct at last three new shooters.
- Start reloading.
- Purchase at least half a dozen new (to me) guns.
- Carry whenever possible.
What are your Gunnie Resolutions for 2009?
That is all.
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