Heh. There will be a new gun in the G. armory soon, hopefully in time for the Bloggershoot.
Any guesses on what it is?
That is all.
Friday, July 31, 2009
How Fitting...
Dodd says he has prostate cancer, feels fine
Now both sides of the "waitress sandwich" have cancer. How fitting.
That is all.
HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd says he has been diagnosed with an early stage of prostate cancer and will have surgery early in August.
Dodd says he feels fine and is "confident we're going to come out of this well." He says he was diagnosed about six weeks ago, but the diagnosis will not affect his plans to seek a sixth term next year.
Now both sides of the "waitress sandwich" have cancer. How fitting.
That is all.
I'm A Schadenfreude Not...
Poll of Polls: President's approval ratings slip
Once again, I'll reiterate: I wonder what his numbers would look like if the media didn't treat him like he tap-danced on hot coals and shat ice cream...
Gee, imagine that. Fail to do anything other than propose new taxes and spend, spend, spend our way into debt at the speed of Democrat leads to falling poll numbers. Who knew? The disastrous "Cash for Clunkers" program has been put on hiatus after a whole week - imagine that, offering cash money for people to turn in old cars, and getting a big reaction! - they can't manage a simple giveaway, and yet they want to run our health care? NFW.
My favorite part was this, though:
Right. And that's a cold sore, not herpes.
That is all.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — It's late July, a time for hot and humid weather in the nation's capital. But when it comes to President Barack Obama's approval rating, an average of the most recent national surveys indicates a cooling trend.
According to a new CNN Poll of Polls, 54 percent of Americans approve of how Obama is handling his duties in the White House. That's down 7 points from late June, when the president's approval rating stood at 61 percent. The latest approval rating is the lowest for Obama in his young presidency. The CNN Poll of Polls, compiled and released Thursday, is an average of seven national surveys conducted over the past nine days.
Once again, I'll reiterate: I wonder what his numbers would look like if the media didn't treat him like he tap-danced on hot coals and shat ice cream...
Gee, imagine that. Fail to do anything other than propose new taxes and spend, spend, spend our way into debt at the speed of Democrat leads to falling poll numbers. Who knew? The disastrous "Cash for Clunkers" program has been put on hiatus after a whole week - imagine that, offering cash money for people to turn in old cars, and getting a big reaction! - they can't manage a simple giveaway, and yet they want to run our health care? NFW.
My favorite part was this, though:
UPDATE: "The president isn't fixated on the ups and downs of polling," said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs at Thursday's briefing.
Right. And that's a cold sore, not herpes.
That is all.
Friday Fun Thread: Two-Wheeled Faves
Today's Top Ten list is a direct result of me staring out my window at the beautiful sunny day and wishing I could be on two wheels instead of five (office chair)... These are my all-time favorite motorcycles, either bikes I've ridden or lusted over.
1. Harley Davidson Ultra Glide CVO. I currently ride an Electra Glide Standard, which is essentially the base model tourer. The Ultra Glide is the high end, with all the bells and whistles, and the CVO gives it custom paint, hotter motor, and a host of special touches like heated seats.
2. Honda Valkyrie. The Valk has been one of my favorite motorcycles since the first time I rode one. It was part of a Honda Open House at the local Honda dealer, and one of the demo ride bikes was a Valk. I waited and waited until it was open, because I wanted to try out the six cylinder, six carburator monster cruiser. And it did not disappoint.
3. Ducati 1198 Superbike. I don't ride sport bikes for a very good reason (I happen to enjoy living). I know myself. I know that, with a powerful bike at my beck and call, the temptation to push the envelope will be great. I don't trust myself on a sportbike. But I'd be willing to chance it on a Ducati...
4. Triumph Bonneville. There's just something about this Brit bike that gives it immense curb appeal. Maybe it's the throwback-to-the-1960s styling. Maybe it's the "James Dean rode a Bonnie". In any case, this is one standard motorcycle that is anything but boring...
5. Kawasaki Drifter. With styling reminiscent of the Indian days, and a price tag that wouldn't even buy a rusted out Indian hulk, the Drifter is the best of both worlds. It's a reliable Japanese bike, built on the venerable Vulcan platform, yet is styled like the great cruising bikes of the '50s.
6. Ural. Ah, the Ural. Like the Makarov pistol, it's a Russian copy of a German staple. It's utilitarian yet functional, and offers a military-styled hack mount for less than the cost of a Harley Davidson sidecar by itself.
7. Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe. It's got serious retro appeal while maintaining modern amenities like fuel injection, clock, and fuel gauge. It looks good with a solo seat or two up; with leather saddlebags or without; with windshield or open.
8. Honda Goldwing. Ah, the Hondabago. Everything except the kitchen sink (and that might actually be an option). Storage for everything you need for a weekend. Power to spare. Linked anti-lock brakes. Satellite radio. If you want a bike that will eat up the miles in decadent comfort, look no further.
9. Boss Hoss. Chevy 350. 'Nuff said? Well, that and the two-speed transmission ("Go" and "HOLYSHITWHATHAVEIGOTTENMYSELFINTO???"). There's just something about a motorcycle built around a V8 engine. Oh, and there's a 502 available, too...
10. Kawasaki ZRX 1200. I thought this was one of the greatest ideas ever when Kawasaki came out with it. Take your sportbike. Strip off all the extraneous plastic cladding. Give it a standard motorcycle-style seat for greater comfort. Then, when you've got the greatest motorcycle since the Honda Nighthawk 700S, offer it for about half the sportbike cost. WIN!
So there's ten of my favorite bikes. This could easily have been a Top 20 or even Top 30 list, as I didn't even get to list my first bike ever (Yamaha XS850) or the first bike I ever rode (Suzuki Tempter). I could also have gone straight through the Harley Davidson line - or Honda, for that matter.
What are your favorite scoots?
That is all.
1. Harley Davidson Ultra Glide CVO. I currently ride an Electra Glide Standard, which is essentially the base model tourer. The Ultra Glide is the high end, with all the bells and whistles, and the CVO gives it custom paint, hotter motor, and a host of special touches like heated seats.
2. Honda Valkyrie. The Valk has been one of my favorite motorcycles since the first time I rode one. It was part of a Honda Open House at the local Honda dealer, and one of the demo ride bikes was a Valk. I waited and waited until it was open, because I wanted to try out the six cylinder, six carburator monster cruiser. And it did not disappoint.
3. Ducati 1198 Superbike. I don't ride sport bikes for a very good reason (I happen to enjoy living). I know myself. I know that, with a powerful bike at my beck and call, the temptation to push the envelope will be great. I don't trust myself on a sportbike. But I'd be willing to chance it on a Ducati...
4. Triumph Bonneville. There's just something about this Brit bike that gives it immense curb appeal. Maybe it's the throwback-to-the-1960s styling. Maybe it's the "James Dean rode a Bonnie". In any case, this is one standard motorcycle that is anything but boring...
5. Kawasaki Drifter. With styling reminiscent of the Indian days, and a price tag that wouldn't even buy a rusted out Indian hulk, the Drifter is the best of both worlds. It's a reliable Japanese bike, built on the venerable Vulcan platform, yet is styled like the great cruising bikes of the '50s.
6. Ural. Ah, the Ural. Like the Makarov pistol, it's a Russian copy of a German staple. It's utilitarian yet functional, and offers a military-styled hack mount for less than the cost of a Harley Davidson sidecar by itself.
7. Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe. It's got serious retro appeal while maintaining modern amenities like fuel injection, clock, and fuel gauge. It looks good with a solo seat or two up; with leather saddlebags or without; with windshield or open.
8. Honda Goldwing. Ah, the Hondabago. Everything except the kitchen sink (and that might actually be an option). Storage for everything you need for a weekend. Power to spare. Linked anti-lock brakes. Satellite radio. If you want a bike that will eat up the miles in decadent comfort, look no further.
9. Boss Hoss. Chevy 350. 'Nuff said? Well, that and the two-speed transmission ("Go" and "HOLYSHITWHATHAVEIGOTTENMYSELFINTO???"). There's just something about a motorcycle built around a V8 engine. Oh, and there's a 502 available, too...
10. Kawasaki ZRX 1200. I thought this was one of the greatest ideas ever when Kawasaki came out with it. Take your sportbike. Strip off all the extraneous plastic cladding. Give it a standard motorcycle-style seat for greater comfort. Then, when you've got the greatest motorcycle since the Honda Nighthawk 700S, offer it for about half the sportbike cost. WIN!
So there's ten of my favorite bikes. This could easily have been a Top 20 or even Top 30 list, as I didn't even get to list my first bike ever (Yamaha XS850) or the first bike I ever rode (Suzuki Tempter). I could also have gone straight through the Harley Davidson line - or Honda, for that matter.
What are your favorite scoots?
That is all.
Friday Gun Pr0n #122
Today's gun is one of the many coming to the Bloggershoot on Sunday. This is my trap & skeet gun, such as it is:
Model 20
JC Higgins Model 20 pump-action 12 gauge shotgun. 2 3/4" only. This is another firearm I inherited from my grandfather, and the wear on it attests to its primary use as Grampy's duck- and pheasant gun. John Audubon didn't kill as many birds as this old Sears & Roebuck workhorse. These days, though, all it kills are orange clays, and it will send them to clayhalla all day long if I do my part.
We'll see on Sunday if that's still the case...
That is all.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
QOTD
Today's Quote is from Tam, talking about the "quality" of Taurus semi-automatic pistols:
That's high-octane snark right there...
That is all.
I've seen PT-111 Millennium 9mm's with more frequent-flier miles to Miami than a Colombian cocaine mule.
That's high-octane snark right there...
That is all.
CAUTION: MINDLESS PSH AHEAD
Be careful. The bullshit is at least hip deep in this little bit of "journalism*"
Brazen weapon fire chills police
Now, this *is* the Boston Globe. Please understand that, even under the best of circumstances, I would no sooner expect them to get something right about firearms than to sprout wings and fly to the moon. However, this article takes teh stoopid to new lows. Please, allow me to demonstrate.
"Fearsome firearms". PSH much? What, praytell, is so "fearsome" about these weapons? Do we have to go through the whole "assault weapon/not an assault weapon" exercise again? Additionally, why is Mumbles meeting with "ministers in Roxbury"? Do these ministers have an "in" with the gang members? Or do the clergy in Boston routinely have their pulse on the illegal weapons trade?
The "fearsome" AK-47 fires the 7.62X39mm round, also known as .30 Russian or .30 short. It's about as powerful as a .30-30, which is what many lever-action deer rifles sitting in grandpa's safe are chambered in. The odds of this round "rip[ping]" through a telephone pole are slim, to be charitable...
You know what's missing here? Two facts: 1. MA has continued the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban in perpetuity; and 2. Boston proper has even stricter regulations ban on semi-automatic rifles. In other words, the gangbangers in question are breaking dozens of laws just touching these weapons... And let's not even get into the disconnect between "MA has the AWB" and "these guns are showing up on the streets"...
BULLSHIT FLAG ON THE PLAY.
Robb covered this one already. Your standard AK-47 cannot "easily" be converted to fully automatic. That's a canard that started with the 1994 AWB. It requires an not-inconsequential amount of gunsmithing and metalworking skill.
Oh, and it's also a FEDERAL FELONY that will land your ass in a Federal Penitentiary.
Cite, please. Don't through up an inflammatory statement like that without some proof to back it up. "Link or it didn't happen". And, just as a reminder, it's a Federal Felony for a private sale to cross state lines. If Joe Gun Owner in NH sells his "fearsome" AK-47 to George Gangbanger in MA, they are both committing a federal crime.
If you do decide to write to the author of thiswretched bit of PSH dreck informative piece of journalism, please be polite, respectful, and factual. Remember that the author works for Pravda the Globe, is most likely a denizen of Boston, and likely has no functional knowledge whatsoever of firearms.
And please, tempting though it may be, please refrain from using terms like "pants-shitting hysteria" even though that's the most accurate term for "journalism" of this ilk.
That is all.
*in this case, "journalism" is a euphemism for "steaming turd of anti-gun hysteria that wouldn't know a fact if it got bit on the ass by one".
Brazen weapon fire chills police
The gang shoot-out that rained gunfire and smoke on a quiet Dorchester street this week disturbed police on many levels: the seemingly new height in disregard for neighborhood safety, the fact that a 12-year-old girl watching TV inside a nearby house was shot through the leg.
But even more alarming: At least one of the weapons used in the gunfire was an AK-47 assault rifle, the fourth time in three weeks that one had been found or used in Boston and the seventh time since last July, when a 32-year-old man was shot dead with one.
Now, this *is* the Boston Globe. Please understand that, even under the best of circumstances, I would no sooner expect them to get something right about firearms than to sprout wings and fly to the moon. However, this article takes teh stoopid to new lows. Please, allow me to demonstrate.
Police say they are noticing more of the fearsome firearms on Boston streets than last year and, in particular, are concerned that there have been so many in the past three weeks. Tomorrow afternoon, Mayor Thomas M. Menino will meet with ministers in Roxbury to discuss crime in the city and the sudden proliferation of the rifles.
"Fearsome firearms". PSH much? What, praytell, is so "fearsome" about these weapons? Do we have to go through the whole "assault weapon/not an assault weapon" exercise again? Additionally, why is Mumbles meeting with "ministers in Roxbury"? Do these ministers have an "in" with the gang members? Or do the clergy in Boston routinely have their pulse on the illegal weapons trade?
“This [weapon] can lay down a lot of fire in an urban area where there is basically no cover from it,’’ Commissioner Edward F. Davis said yesterday. “You can conceal yourself from these weapons, but they’ll rip through a car. They’ll rip through a telephone pole. They can rip through just about anything in an urban environment.’’
The "fearsome" AK-47 fires the 7.62X39mm round, also known as .30 Russian or .30 short. It's about as powerful as a .30-30, which is what many lever-action deer rifles sitting in grandpa's safe are chambered in. The odds of this round "rip[ping]" through a telephone pole are slim, to be charitable...
"Everybody understands when they read the morning paper that you have to push as much as you can to get these guns off the street,’’ he said.
...
Nine assault rifles have been confiscated so far this year, compared with four seized in 2008. Eighteen assault rifles were found in 2007.
You know what's missing here? Two facts: 1. MA has continued the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban in perpetuity; and 2. Boston proper has even stricter regulations ban on semi-automatic rifles. In other words, the gangbangers in question are breaking dozens of laws just touching these weapons... And let's not even get into the disconnect between "MA has the AWB" and "these guns are showing up on the streets"...
But police worry about the attractiveness of assault rifles to gangs. AK-47s are much more powerful than handguns, capable of firing at least 100 yards, and can be easily converted into automatic weapons.
BULLSHIT FLAG ON THE PLAY.
Robb covered this one already. Your standard AK-47 cannot "easily" be converted to fully automatic. That's a canard that started with the 1994 AWB. It requires an not-inconsequential amount of gunsmithing and metalworking skill.
Oh, and it's also a FEDERAL FELONY that will land your ass in a Federal Penitentiary.
Community leaders and gun control advocates yesterday said many of the illegal guns in Massachusetts likely come from states like Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, where private gun owners can sell their weapons to anyone without requiring background checks.
Cite, please. Don't through up an inflammatory statement like that without some proof to back it up. "Link or it didn't happen". And, just as a reminder, it's a Federal Felony for a private sale to cross state lines. If Joe Gun Owner in NH sells his "fearsome" AK-47 to George Gangbanger in MA, they are both committing a federal crime.
Maria Cramer can be reached at mcramer@globe.com.
If you do decide to write to the author of this
And please, tempting though it may be, please refrain from using terms like "pants-shitting hysteria" even though that's the most accurate term for "journalism" of this ilk.
That is all.
*in this case, "journalism" is a euphemism for "steaming turd of anti-gun hysteria that wouldn't know a fact if it got bit on the ass by one".
0bama's Latest Gaffe
Yes, our illustrious Dear Leader has stepped in it again:
Beer choice at Obama meeting touches off new debate
(emphasis mine) Seriously, Bud Light? Dude! I quit drinking that when I got out of college and had money to spend on real beer. Bud Mud is the best 0bama can do? Honestly? It's especially surprising when you recall who sits on the Board of Directors for Anheiser-Busch...
The article makes a good albeit specious point, that the three beers chosen for the event are all foreign-owned or based (A-B is owned by a Belgian consortium; Red Stripe is Jamaican, and Blue Moon is Canadian). They point to Boston's own Sam Adam's as an American company that could have been chosen, and point to other local, American brews that could have been chosen. Personally, I would have gone with something from NH-based Red Hook, but that's just me...
I did have to chuckle at this line, though:
Apparently he read yesterday's headline of the day...
That is all.
Beer choice at Obama meeting touches off new debate
(CNN) — The upcoming White House meeting with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and the Cambridge police officer who arrested him earlier this month appears to have touched off a fresh debate all on its own: what kind of beer should be served?
Earlier this week the White House indicated each man would drink the beer of their choice — Bud Light for President Obama, Blue Moon for the police officer, and perhaps Red Stripe or Beck's for Gates.
(emphasis mine) Seriously, Bud Light? Dude! I quit drinking that when I got out of college and had money to spend on real beer. Bud Mud is the best 0bama can do? Honestly? It's especially surprising when you recall who sits on the Board of Directors for Anheiser-Busch...
The article makes a good albeit specious point, that the three beers chosen for the event are all foreign-owned or based (A-B is owned by a Belgian consortium; Red Stripe is Jamaican, and Blue Moon is Canadian). They point to Boston's own Sam Adam's as an American company that could have been chosen, and point to other local, American brews that could have been chosen. Personally, I would have gone with something from NH-based Red Hook, but that's just me...
I did have to chuckle at this line, though:
Dan Kenary, president of Harpoon Brewery, told the paper they are working every "back-door channel" the company has.
Apparently he read yesterday's headline of the day...
That is all.
Gun ADD...
Caleb's not the only one with Gun ADD (the distracting phenomenom of wanting a new gun but not knowing which one to get...) It's been almost four months since I last brought home a new (to me) heater; I'm starting to get Igottahaveit-itis. Problem is, I just don't know what to get.
I've been thinking of a 9mm carbine, so a Kel-Tec Sub2000 that takes Sig 226 mags is a possibility. Then again, so's a cheap-assed Hi-Point 995 with the Beretta Storm lookalike stock. AK clones are starting to come back down to earth, it would be nice to pick up a functioning model. The new Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 looks kick-ass. And I still don't own a 10/22...
I've been thinking of a 9mm carbine, so a Kel-Tec Sub2000 that takes Sig 226 mags is a possibility. Then again, so's a cheap-assed Hi-Point 995 with the Beretta Storm lookalike stock. AK clones are starting to come back down to earth, it would be nice to pick up a functioning model. The new Smith & Wesson M&P15-22 looks kick-ass. And I still don't own a 10/22...
For pistols, I've got a line on a CZ-50, which intrigues me because I don't have anything chambered in .32 ACP. However the C&R eligible CZ-82 is starting to dry up, so prices may be going up. And I really want to get a decent .22LR semi-automatic that's a little more reliable than my S&W 422 (great gun, but jams, and that's not good for teaching new shooters) - thinking a Ruger Mark III or 22/45.
On the "save up a little more" front, I'd like another semi-auto rifle in .308, preferably one that doesn't take mags made from compressed unicorn tears. An M1 Garand or functioning M1 Carbine would be a welcome (and needed) addition to the armory. Something with longer reach - bolt action .308 with decent glass - is also currently missing. The Walther PPS in .40 S&W would make an excellent carry piece, as would a S&W 442.
*sigh* So many guns, so little discretionary income...
That is all.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Northeast Blogger Shoot, Summer Edition: Directions Update...
Note to attendees: An e-mail with directions to the Bloggershoot's Sooper Seekrit location was sent out via e-mail last night. If you did not receive the e-mail, it means one of three things:
1. I don't have your e-mail address (please send it to me; my e-mail's in my profile);
2. The e-mail address that I have on file for you is not correct (please send correct/current e-mail address); or
3. Read your damn e-mail...
Please let me know ASAP if you need directions or have any other questions...
That is all.
1. I don't have your e-mail address (please send it to me; my e-mail's in my profile);
2. The e-mail address that I have on file for you is not correct (please send correct/current e-mail address); or
3. Read your damn e-mail...
Please let me know ASAP if you need directions or have any other questions...
That is all.
Headline of the Day...
Gunblogger Conspiracy is abuzz with this story:
Stripper's 'sex toy rape accidental'
Oh, there's just so much wrong with this story... I'll let the chat log at GBC tell the tale:
Mental note: Cancel plans to visit Australia...
That is all.
Stripper's 'sex toy rape accidental'
A BUCK'S night reveller was completely naked and on his hands and knees when he allegedly was raped by a stripper with a "statuesque'' pink sex toy, a court has heard.
Stripper Linda Maree Naggs, 40, will argue the rape of the best man at the party in the bayside Melbourne suburb of Mornington in September 2007 was an accident.
The alleged victim had volunteered to take part in a dildo routine, but asked the stripper not to penetrate him, the Victorian County Court heard.
Oh, there's just so much wrong with this story... I'll let the chat log at GBC tell the tale:
[xyankeeworkshop]: http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25853780-5005962,00.html
[xyankeeworkshop]: "You said you weren't going to do that and you did,'' he told the stripper after the alleged rape. ``Do you think this is a joke when there is blood.''
[xyankeeworkshop]: Note to self...
[JayG]: Stay WAY the hell away from Aussie hookers?
[JayG]: Or???
[Lokidude]: New Rule: if you're naked, on your hands and knees, don't be surprised if penetration occurs.
[xyankeeworkshop]: there are many, many notes to take away from this
[Salamander]: Aww hell
[David]: when you drop the soap, don't bend to pick it up
[Salamander]: I wonder if his friends were like "WHAT THE HELL IS MIKEY DOIN'?"
[JayG]: "Dude, when I said I got your back... I GOT your BACK"...
[Salamander]: hehe
[JayG]: Are you kidding Sal?
[Salamander]: which?
[JayG]: His friends were slipping her $10 spots to "ride him like a bronco"...
[Salamander]: lol
[JayG]: I mean, that's what I'd do...
[JayG]: you're dumb enough to drop to all fours stark nekkid in front of a stripper with a strap-on...
[JayG]: I'm gonna take pictures.
[Salamander]: ...for a dildo routine
[Unix-Jedi]: Serves him right for serving as best man
[Salamander]: Heh, forever after, when someone has lost their keys. "Did you check Mike's ass?"
[Salamander]: Poor guy
[Lokidude]: "Hey, guys, remember that time Tom got fucked up the ass?"
[Lokidude]: Every party, you know that's coming out.
Mental note: Cancel plans to visit Australia...
That is all.
Is This A Bad Thing?
Strip clubs, marijuana eyed during budget crunch
Why the hell not? Can anyone honestly give one good reason why we shouldn't legalize marijuana and treat it just like alcohol? Is there any reason NOT derived from the Puritanical "Reefer Madness" bullshit, that is? It makes zero sense that we spend millions of dollars a year fighting this mythical "war on drugs" when we could be taxing it like any other commodity and putting that money to good use.
Use the same laws governing alcohol - no public consumption (i.e. how you can't walk down Main Street with an open bottle of Bud in your hands); set a limit for OUI (if there's no quick determination of how intoxicated one is with MJ, then set the limit at 0); age limit for purchase/use (I'd say 18 but if it makes the nanny-staters feel better, 21); etc. Tax it like alcohol or cigarettes, collect the taxes, and for the love of all that's good and holy, stop throwing people into prison for having a ziploc bag full of the stuff.
Please, spare me the "ZOMG it's a gateway drug". Uh, no. No it's not. Yes, sometimes people start out on MJ and move up to harder drugs, that's true. But you know what? Those same people would move onto harder drugs anyways. Ditto the "ZOMG you'll have druggies out on teh streets" (snark aside that I'd rather have dopers driving around at 15 MPH with their right blinker on than drunks...). It couldn't be any worse than it is now, and once it's legalized we can start nailing people for OUI and handling accordingly.
MJ is arguably better for society than alcohol - last time I checked, you don't often hear stories of dopers getting baked and starting wild fights or riots. I'd rather have Maynard G. Krebs macramé his ass into the sofa than Billy Beergut pound a dozen tall boys then decide he doesn't like the way the guy across the bar looked at him... Physiological strain on the body is pretty much a wash as well - MJ has lung cancer as the #1 pitfall, whereas with alcohol it's cirrhosis and liver cancer. Lung cancer kills faster and doesn't squander good organs on transplants for celebrities...
It's time, folks. It's time to drop the decades-old prejudices, old wives tales, and stereotypes and Realize It's Time to Legalize.
That is all.
(CNN) -- With their budgets teetering on bankruptcy, states are digging deep to find creative ways to ease their financial woes.
...
One of the more controversial ideas is to legalize the sale of marijuana, as proposed in a bill introduced in California's state legislature by Democratic State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano this year. The bill proposed taxing pot by $50 per ounce. If legalized,
marijuana could become California's No. 1 cash crop, bringing in an estimated $1 billion a year in state taxes.
Why the hell not? Can anyone honestly give one good reason why we shouldn't legalize marijuana and treat it just like alcohol? Is there any reason NOT derived from the Puritanical "Reefer Madness" bullshit, that is? It makes zero sense that we spend millions of dollars a year fighting this mythical "war on drugs" when we could be taxing it like any other commodity and putting that money to good use.
Use the same laws governing alcohol - no public consumption (i.e. how you can't walk down Main Street with an open bottle of Bud in your hands); set a limit for OUI (if there's no quick determination of how intoxicated one is with MJ, then set the limit at 0); age limit for purchase/use (I'd say 18 but if it makes the nanny-staters feel better, 21); etc. Tax it like alcohol or cigarettes, collect the taxes, and for the love of all that's good and holy, stop throwing people into prison for having a ziploc bag full of the stuff.
Please, spare me the "ZOMG it's a gateway drug". Uh, no. No it's not. Yes, sometimes people start out on MJ and move up to harder drugs, that's true. But you know what? Those same people would move onto harder drugs anyways. Ditto the "ZOMG you'll have druggies out on teh streets" (snark aside that I'd rather have dopers driving around at 15 MPH with their right blinker on than drunks...). It couldn't be any worse than it is now, and once it's legalized we can start nailing people for OUI and handling accordingly.
MJ is arguably better for society than alcohol - last time I checked, you don't often hear stories of dopers getting baked and starting wild fights or riots. I'd rather have Maynard G. Krebs macramé his ass into the sofa than Billy Beergut pound a dozen tall boys then decide he doesn't like the way the guy across the bar looked at him... Physiological strain on the body is pretty much a wash as well - MJ has lung cancer as the #1 pitfall, whereas with alcohol it's cirrhosis and liver cancer. Lung cancer kills faster and doesn't squander good organs on transplants for celebrities...
It's time, folks. It's time to drop the decades-old prejudices, old wives tales, and stereotypes and Realize It's Time to Legalize.
That is all.
WWWAAAAANNNNNTTTTTT!!!!!
I need some of these for the Bloggershoot:
"This is Dragon's Breath. Strong Stuff"...
That is all.
(Side note: No, I wouldn't use these at the Sooper Seekrit Range. Too much danger of fire. But BOY, does that ever look like fun!!!)
"This is Dragon's Breath. Strong Stuff"...
That is all.
(Side note: No, I wouldn't use these at the Sooper Seekrit Range. Too much danger of fire. But BOY, does that ever look like fun!!!)
Gotta Cash In...
So Marko's set up a Cafe Press shop. Go. Check it out. Buy a bumper sticker or T-shirt. Bruce has two (err, three) shops. Ambulance Driver has a shop as well. Seems like all the cool kids have proprietary merchandise.
Well, it's about time to ramp up the awesome power of the MArooned Marketing Machine...
I was trying to figure out what, exactly, could go on a T-shirt or bumper sticker, and was thinking of phrases unique to this particular corner of the intarweb. Here's what I came up with so far:
And for graphics, well, there's always my personal favorite:
Well, it's about time to ramp up the awesome power of the MArooned Marketing Machine...
I was trying to figure out what, exactly, could go on a T-shirt or bumper sticker, and was thinking of phrases unique to this particular corner of the intarweb. Here's what I came up with so far:
- "That is all" (perhaps too esoteric)
- "Lead, Follow, or Get the F**K Out of My Way" (the JayG Driving School)
- "A Shotgun Without A Bayonet Is Like A Day Without Sunshine"
- "I Hate the Republicans and the Democrats. I Just Hate the Republicans a Little Less" (political philosophy, could be adapted for the other party)
- "Øbama" (might not sell well in Cambridge)
And for graphics, well, there's always my personal favorite:
So... I'm afraid to ask, but what other unique "Jayisms" can y'all think of?
That is all.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
And Again...
SUV Crashes into Yard, Injures Toddler & Woman
Another elderly driver, another eeeevil over-powered SUV, another child mowed down in the alleged safety of their own yard. When will the MA legislators finally break the shackles of the powerful AA and AARP lobbies and start calling for some common sense elderly controls? How many more children must suffer at the hands of overcompensating seniors and their machineries of death? Why can't Congress ban these evil SUVs whose large wheels and hefty ground clearance are clearly designed only to run over children and puppies?
Gah. It strains my brain to even try to pretend to talk an an anti-gunner...
I did notice they blame that slippery culprit, Mr. "Gas pedal changes with the brake":
Emphasis mine. "For some unknown reason".
Let's review. There are two possible options here:
1. The driver got confused and mashed down on the wrong pedal; or
2. Magical elves played a practical joke and changed the controls of the SUV.
I know, I know. In these days of magic gasoline peeing unicorns that pay our mortgage and sign us up to vote Democrat through ACORN, anything's possible, but really...
Oh, and one more time: A primer to help.
UPDATE: Since preparing this post, the woman who was struck has died. Rest in Peace.
That is all.
SOMERVILLE (WBZ) ― The SUV backed onto a sidewalk on Munroe Street in Somerville, striking a woman and child.
Somerville Police say a 2-year-old Roslindale child was seriously hurt and a 32-year-old Dedham woman was gravely injured when a 71-year-old neighbor drove his Nissan Pathfinder into a yard Sunday afternoon.A birthday party for the woman's child was being held at the Munroe Street home at the time of the accident.
Another elderly driver, another eeeevil over-powered SUV, another child mowed down in the alleged safety of their own yard. When will the MA legislators finally break the shackles of the powerful AA and AARP lobbies and start calling for some common sense elderly controls? How many more children must suffer at the hands of overcompensating seniors and their machineries of death? Why can't Congress ban these evil SUVs whose large wheels and hefty ground clearance are clearly designed only to run over children and puppies?
Gah. It strains my brain to even try to pretend to talk an an anti-gunner...
I did notice they blame that slippery culprit, Mr. "Gas pedal changes with the brake":
"(The) driver was going in or out of a parking space on Munroe Street and for some unknown reason, the vehicle accelerated across the sidewalk, a couple of wheels up onto private property," says Deputy Police Chief Paul Upton.
Emphasis mine. "For some unknown reason".
Let's review. There are two possible options here:
1. The driver got confused and mashed down on the wrong pedal; or
2. Magical elves played a practical joke and changed the controls of the SUV.
I know, I know. In these days of magic gasoline peeing unicorns that pay our mortgage and sign us up to vote Democrat through ACORN, anything's possible, but really...
Oh, and one more time: A primer to help.
UPDATE: Since preparing this post, the woman who was struck has died. Rest in Peace.
That is all.
Even More Gunnie Pet Peeves...
Caleb points out a rather unsafe firearms exhibit from Russia, and doesn't like it. I started to comment with some of the online stuff I've seen that makes me cringe, and it turned into enough for a whole 'nother "Gunnie Pet Peeve" post. Here's a bunch of things that, when I see online, I just shake my head and hope no one from VPC finds...
- The "point the loaded gun at the camera" shots.
- The "show the pretty girl with her finger on the trigger" shots.
- Videos of yahoos playing tricks on their friends either with guns or using guns as props (the firecrackers-while-the-wife-holds-the-1911 video springs to mind here).
- Videos where small women are handed ginormous handguns or shotguns and mocked when they get hit by recoil.
- Pretty much any video that shows someone hit by a ricochet (having been hit myself I'm a little leery anyways).
- Videos of questionable targets - propane tanks, improperly prepared cars, images of ex-wives...
- Any pic or video that shows a shooter without proper eye- and/or hearing protection.
- Any pic or video that substitutes a barely-clothed, silicone-enhanced model for a competent shooter.
That about covers it for now. What else pisses you off?
That is all.
Well Lookie Lookie!
Look what the white truck of happiness left on my porch yesterday:
Life. Is. Good.
The funny thing is, when I was a wee sprog, I used to hate the dreaded "Summer Reading List". Of course, that probably has something to do with being forced to read books like Joseph Conrad's "The Secret Agent" and Thomas Hardy's insufferable "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" (the highlight of which I'd have to say was Tess killing the bird. But only because after reading that boring book I longed to switch places with the bird...)
Had they assigned "Monster Hunter International" I'd have ripped into the list with a zeal normally reserve for dad's private stash...
That is all.
Northeast Blogger Shoot, Summer Edition Update: ARMS RACE!!!
Okay folks, this is it. We've got less than a week to the big event. It's time to start the fun part: Laying out the ordnance we'll be lugging out to the shoot!
Here's what will be coming from the G. armory:
Long arms:
Bushmaster XM15-E2S (5.56X45mm/.223 Rem) semi-auto
VEPR (.308 Win) semi-auto
Mossberg 590 (12 gauge, with bayonet) pump action
Remington 511 (.22LR) scoped bolt action
Marlin 39A (.22LR) lever action
Handguns:
Smith & Wesson SW99 (.40 S&W, with bayonet) semi-auto
Browning Hi-Power (9mm) semi-auto
Colt Gold Cup National Match (.45 ACP) semi-auto
Colt New Frontier (.22LR) single action revolver
Ruger Security Six (.357 Magnum) double action revolver
Sufficient levels of ammunition for all firearms, plus extra ammunition for others (Borepatch,Lissa, etc.).
Is there anything else in the G. armory anyone would like to try out? The above is about my limit for what I'm willing to lug/clean, but substitutions can be made or an extra gun or two added to the mix if someone really wants to try something out.
So... What are y'all planning to bring?
I would recommend bringing a box or two extra of factory 9mm ammo at the least and probably some .223 Rem as well. There's a definite chance of full-auto goodness at this year's shoot...
That is all.
PS: Anyone who needs directions to the sooper-seekrit range please let me know...
Here's what will be coming from the G. armory:
Long arms:
Bushmaster XM15-E2S (5.56X45mm/.223 Rem) semi-auto
VEPR (.308 Win) semi-auto
Mossberg 590 (12 gauge, with bayonet) pump action
Remington 511 (.22LR) scoped bolt action
Marlin 39A (.22LR) lever action
Handguns:
Smith & Wesson SW99 (.40 S&W, with bayonet) semi-auto
Browning Hi-Power (9mm) semi-auto
Colt Gold Cup National Match (.45 ACP) semi-auto
Colt New Frontier (.22LR) single action revolver
Ruger Security Six (.357 Magnum) double action revolver
Sufficient levels of ammunition for all firearms, plus extra ammunition for others (Borepatch,Lissa, etc.).
Is there anything else in the G. armory anyone would like to try out? The above is about my limit for what I'm willing to lug/clean, but substitutions can be made or an extra gun or two added to the mix if someone really wants to try something out.
So... What are y'all planning to bring?
I would recommend bringing a box or two extra of factory 9mm ammo at the least and probably some .223 Rem as well. There's a definite chance of full-auto goodness at this year's shoot...
That is all.
PS: Anyone who needs directions to the sooper-seekrit range please let me know...
Monday, July 27, 2009
Climbin' the Walls...
So yesterday I took the kids to an indoor rock-climbing center. They'd been taking a class at the local YMCA for rock-climbing, and as an end-of-session "field trip" they'd gotten a free morning at this center. The Y was bringing their gear (they have a small indoor rock-wall room and the necessary harnesses and other gear), so the admission was free. So off we went to check the place out and do some climbing.
Come to find out, the place is really nice. They have two separate sections, one that requires a harness (~ 20' high) and one that does not (~ 10' high). The section that does not require a harness has padded areas under it, and a flat portion on the top that climbers can reach and then observe the other areas. Needless to say, it proved to be quite the incentive for TheBoy to climb all the way to the top. Heck, they even got me to climb all the way up!
It's a pretty intense workout - you need both upper- and lower- body strength to climb using nothing more than your fingertips and toenails for leverage. It was interesting to see how the kids handled the physical challenge in their individual ways: TheBoy used his upper body strength (when did my son start developing muscles? He's eight, for cryin' out loud!) and long reach to finally claw (literally) his way to the top, swinging his legs over in triumph and gloating over his smaller, weaker sibling.
Who then proceeded to walk over to the staircase on the side and calmly walk up to the top...
That is all.
Come to find out, the place is really nice. They have two separate sections, one that requires a harness (~ 20' high) and one that does not (~ 10' high). The section that does not require a harness has padded areas under it, and a flat portion on the top that climbers can reach and then observe the other areas. Needless to say, it proved to be quite the incentive for TheBoy to climb all the way to the top. Heck, they even got me to climb all the way up!
It's a pretty intense workout - you need both upper- and lower- body strength to climb using nothing more than your fingertips and toenails for leverage. It was interesting to see how the kids handled the physical challenge in their individual ways: TheBoy used his upper body strength (when did my son start developing muscles? He's eight, for cryin' out loud!) and long reach to finally claw (literally) his way to the top, swinging his legs over in triumph and gloating over his smaller, weaker sibling.
Who then proceeded to walk over to the staircase on the side and calmly walk up to the top...
That is all.
Striking Similarities...
A little background into my train of thought here... I was checking my reflection in the mirror this morning after my post-workout shower. I was trying to decide if I needed to shave, or if the previous evening's shave after the post-lawnmowing shower would be sufficient (it was). A quick glance revealed that the ol' goatee needs trimming, and I reflected that I usually trim it after Bike Week (because, really, who goes to a motorcycle event with close-cropped facial hair?).
And then it struck me: I manage my facial hair roughly thrice a year: Once around review time at work (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #27: It never hurts to suck up to the boss); once after Bike Week, and once after King Richard's Faire, the local Renaissance Faire. Four months is about how long it takes the goatee to go from trim & orderly to bushy & unruly, apparently.
So then I started ruminating on the similarities between the motorcycle event and the Renaissance Faire. At both events, you're likely to see:
That is all.
And then it struck me: I manage my facial hair roughly thrice a year: Once around review time at work (Ferengi Rule of Acquisition #27: It never hurts to suck up to the boss); once after Bike Week, and once after King Richard's Faire, the local Renaissance Faire. Four months is about how long it takes the goatee to go from trim & orderly to bushy & unruly, apparently.
So then I started ruminating on the similarities between the motorcycle event and the Renaissance Faire. At both events, you're likely to see:
- Displays involving riding.
- Men in leather.
- Breasts hanging out of clothing.
- Shiny steel.
- Women in leather.
- People drinking beer out of non-traditional vessels.
- Weapons of all shapes, sizes, and function.
- Large groups of bearded, burly men.
- Dirt- and dust- encrusted grounds.
- Dozens of cops eyeing the patrons suspiciously.
That is all.
More and More...
Driver Plows Into Toddler, Woman On Sidewalk
Elderly Driver Strikes 2 Children In Crosswalk
Man injured in motorcycle crash dies
Elderly drivers accused
Woman, 83, smashes into Natick liquor store, injures cashier
Massachusetts: You're more likely to live here - unless you get in the way of one of our out-of-control elderly drivers.
Once again, I'll reiterate: I understand completely that the plural of anecdote is not data. However, our enemies in the gun-grabbing community are quick to stand over the latest shooting victims and cry that we need more gun control to stop the carnage, usually invoking the "for the children" defense. Yet when there are actual, honest-to-goodness children being stricken in the streets, these same tireless advocates for the Nickelodeon set are strangely mute.
Why, it's almost like they care more about the tool used than the victim!
As my friend Bruce would say, here's my shocked face...
That is all.
SOMERVILLE, Mass. -- A toddler and a 32-year-old woman were seriously injured when they were struck by a 71-year-old driver while they were walking down a sidewalk in Somerville on Sunday, police said.
Elderly Driver Strikes 2 Children In Crosswalk
BOSTON -- An elderly driver struck two children in Medfield as she was pulling out of a church parking lot.
The driver Anne Johnson, 83, Max Lodkin, 5, and his 23-month-old brother, Timothy, while they were in the crosswalk with their grandmother, police said.
Man injured in motorcycle crash dies
HUDSON, N.H. — The 55-year-old Pelham, N.H., man whose motorcycle was hit by an elderly driver on Saturday afternoon died in a Boston hospital yesterday morning.
Richard Kelley was not wearing a helmet when his 2005 Harley-Davidson was struck by Harrison Smith, 88, of Hudson on Route 102 just before 3 p.m. Saturday.
Elderly drivers accused
In Revere, police said Michele Veneziano, 85, of Lynn struck a parked car, then slammed into a man exiting his car. The victim was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with serious injuries. Veneziano was cited for negligent operation and leaving the scene of a crash with property damage.
Woman, 83, smashes into Natick liquor store, injures cashier
An 83-year-old woman drove her car through the exit doors of a liquor store in Natick this morning, striking a counter inside and pinning a cashier, who fortunately suffered only minor injuries, authorities said.
Massachusetts: You're more likely to live here - unless you get in the way of one of our out-of-control elderly drivers.
Once again, I'll reiterate: I understand completely that the plural of anecdote is not data. However, our enemies in the gun-grabbing community are quick to stand over the latest shooting victims and cry that we need more gun control to stop the carnage, usually invoking the "for the children" defense. Yet when there are actual, honest-to-goodness children being stricken in the streets, these same tireless advocates for the Nickelodeon set are strangely mute.
Why, it's almost like they care more about the tool used than the victim!
As my friend Bruce would say, here's my shocked face...
That is all.
Singing Praises...
The topic of today's sermon is the lowly .22 Long Rifle rimfire round, and the guns chambered therein.
Can I get an amen?
Forsooth, when thou doth needeth a cheap training gun, doth thou not turn to the .22 conversion kit?
Can I get an amen?
When thou wisheth to obtain trigger time on thine AR-15, doth thou not put on thy .22 upper and spare thine wallet?
Can I get an amen?
Rather than loading the costly .38 Special into thine model 10, thou wouldst rather loadeth thy model 17, verily?
Can I get an amen?
Tin cans tremble before your lever action Henry. Orange clays shake with fear on the berm in anticipation of breakage from the Winchester 1890.
Can I get an amen?
Let us not spaketh ill of the rimfire. Let us cast out terms such as "underpowered", for they knoweth not of which they spake.
Appreciate it for what it is, do not curse it for what it is not.
That is all.
Can I get an amen?
Forsooth, when thou doth needeth a cheap training gun, doth thou not turn to the .22 conversion kit?
Can I get an amen?
When thou wisheth to obtain trigger time on thine AR-15, doth thou not put on thy .22 upper and spare thine wallet?
Can I get an amen?
Rather than loading the costly .38 Special into thine model 10, thou wouldst rather loadeth thy model 17, verily?
Can I get an amen?
Tin cans tremble before your lever action Henry. Orange clays shake with fear on the berm in anticipation of breakage from the Winchester 1890.
Can I get an amen?
Let us not spaketh ill of the rimfire. Let us cast out terms such as "underpowered", for they knoweth not of which they spake.
Appreciate it for what it is, do not curse it for what it is not.
That is all.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Crimea River...
Patrick support plummets, poll finds
Gee. Cadillac Deval's approval rating is hovering around that of George Bush's right before he left office. What a tragedy. Why, it's almost like people don't like having their taxes raised, services cut, and freedoms curtailed while the .gov never stops growing... Oh, wait. This is Massachusetts. They're probably disappointed with Patrick because he hasn't outlawed all guns and internal combustion engines yet...
I did find this interesting:
Oh, make no mistake about it - Patrick had a plan in place. Unfortunately for Massachusetts, that plan appeared to be "Get elected. Raise taxes. Get a cushy job in 0bama Cabinet". Having failed to be elevated to a national position, Patrick has flailed and failed as governor. This is the guy who, just hours before a landmark bill to allow casino gambling in MA was voted on, flew to NY to ink a book deal. The casino bill was championed by Patrick as the savior of the MA economy, and he couldn't wait 24 hours to sign a book deal to enrich himself.
And now that the economy has gone south, the only plan he has is to raise taxes. Even then, he's been dishonest with MA residents - pitching the increase as 6¼%, then actually signing a 6½% increase. He's been nothing short of brutal to the 2A community, proposing useless one-gun-a-month laws, doubling of permit fees, outlawing private sales, and continuing the unconstitutional practices brought upon us by the 1998 Gun Control Act.
Raising taxes and reducing freedom - that's the Massachusetts way!
That is all.
Governor Deval Patrick, fresh off signing a major tax increase and still battling through a historic budget crisis, has seen a huge drop in his standing among Massachusetts voters and faces a tough road to a second term, according to a new Boston Globe poll.
The survey, taken 16 months before the election, shows that the public has lost faith in Patrick’s ability to handle the state’s fiscal problems or bring reform to Beacon Hill, as he had promised. He is either losing or running neck-and-neck in matchups with prospective rivals, according to the poll, conducted for the Globe by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center.
Gee. Cadillac Deval's approval rating is hovering around that of George Bush's right before he left office. What a tragedy. Why, it's almost like people don't like having their taxes raised, services cut, and freedoms curtailed while the .gov never stops growing... Oh, wait. This is Massachusetts. They're probably disappointed with Patrick because he hasn't outlawed all guns and internal combustion engines yet...
I did find this interesting:
Seven months ago, a Globe poll showed that 52 percent of independents viewed the governor favorably.
“I just somehow expected him to be more ready and have more of a plan in place by now than he does,’’ said one poll respondent, Norma George, a 71-year-old retired nurse from Duxbury.
Oh, make no mistake about it - Patrick had a plan in place. Unfortunately for Massachusetts, that plan appeared to be "Get elected. Raise taxes. Get a cushy job in 0bama Cabinet". Having failed to be elevated to a national position, Patrick has flailed and failed as governor. This is the guy who, just hours before a landmark bill to allow casino gambling in MA was voted on, flew to NY to ink a book deal. The casino bill was championed by Patrick as the savior of the MA economy, and he couldn't wait 24 hours to sign a book deal to enrich himself.
And now that the economy has gone south, the only plan he has is to raise taxes. Even then, he's been dishonest with MA residents - pitching the increase as 6¼%, then actually signing a 6½% increase. He's been nothing short of brutal to the 2A community, proposing useless one-gun-a-month laws, doubling of permit fees, outlawing private sales, and continuing the unconstitutional practices brought upon us by the 1998 Gun Control Act.
Raising taxes and reducing freedom - that's the Massachusetts way!
That is all.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Special Saturday Gun Pr0n
My blogson posted this exquisite Friday Gun Pr0n yesterday, and I would be extremely remiss if I didn't shout it to the heaveans...
Mighty fine lookin' shootin' iron there, Borepatch. MArooned Seal of Approval™ (bark bark).
That is all.
Mighty fine lookin' shootin' iron there, Borepatch. MArooned Seal of Approval™ (bark bark).
That is all.
The Eagle Has Landed...
The new fridge is in. It is positively mammoth:
MR. Fridge
This thing is enormous. It squats in our kitchen like a giant white elephant, ready for all of our cooling needs. I have a feeling that if the air conditioning were to fail, we could move into the fridge for the duration...
I'm a simple man, amused by simple things. Cold food being one of them...
And yes, it was properly christened:
MMmmmmm. Beeeeer.
Yes. There is beer in the new fridge. Life is good...
That is all.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Spread the Word!
Monster Hunter International is shipping early! From the man himself:
And Larry asks a favor of us:
Just remember to tell the truth and gush about how awesome MHI is...
That is all.
I know a bunch of you preordered MHI from Amazon. They just bumped up the In Stock date two days, so it is now July 26th. Only two days left. It will be shipping very soon.
And Larry asks a favor of us:
For those of you that got it from there, I’d like to ask a favor. When you get done, write an honest review on Amazon. Thanks.
Just remember to tell the truth and gush about how awesome MHI is...
That is all.
Friday Fun Thread: Summer Wheels!
Today's Top Ten list is a celebration of summer! We did convertibles when I was in sunny FLA; this time, it's the cars that we only see in the summer time for a variety of reasons.
1. VW Thing. The VW model 181 Kurierwagen, more commonly known as the Thing, is a direct descendant of the WWII Kübelwagen, or "bucket car". With the removable top and folding windshield, it's the perfect Thing for taking to the beach.
2. Ford Model T. What could possibly be a cooler ride than the car that started it all? They were later released in a color other than black, but an original "Tin Lizzie" will be guaranteed to get you all kinds of looks at the local ice cream shop "Cruise Night"...
3. MGA. It's small. It's cute. It's the original small roadster. It screams "British motoring". Bonus cool points if you have one with right-hand drive. Interesting personal note: This is Mom G.'s dream car...
4. CampagnaT-Rex. Sure, it costs $50K, but where else are you going to find a vehicle capable of ~ 160 MPH top speed and a 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds? Not to mention you're going to have the most unique ride on the strip - you'll fit in with both the biker crowd and the sports car crowd.
5. Dune buggy. Ah, the dune buggy. Generally built on a VW Bug platform, the open-top dune buggy was a seeming staple of the 1970s beach scene. The fiberglass tub and minimal safety gear won't impress Ralph Nader, but for beachside cruising it's a must-have.
6. Early '70s Chevrolet Blazer. With a completely removable hard top, the early '70s Blazer - the answer to the Ford Bronco - makes the list. The size and heft of the top generally means that it comes off on Memorial Day and goes back on for Labor Day, making it the ultimate summer ride.
7. Lotus Caterham 7. A little more exotic than the MGA, the Caterham 7 found a small niche among the autocrossers for it's low center of gravity and excellent power-to-weight ratio. It really stands out for a summer convertible - you're not likely to pull up to the hamburger stand and find three other Caterham 7s.
8. Vespa scooter. Yes, even a scooter makes the list. Whether it be a fully-restored 1960s Italian Vespa, a brand new retro Vespa, or even a Japanese wanna-be Vespa look-alike, the traditional scooter is a fun and economical summer transport. If you do chose this option, please take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) course to learn to ride - just because it's a scooter doesn't mean you shouldn't learn how to ride on two wheels...
9. Trike. Really, any motorcycle is an excellent summer ride, but the wild mods possible with a three-wheeled configuration put this on the list. Trikes can be powered by VW four-bangers up to Chevy 350s (and beyond, yes), with rear-ends donated by VW Bugs, Pontiac Fieros, Model T pickups, and pretty much anything else you can imagine.
10. DIY convertibles. I hesitated to put this one on the list, as turning a coupe into a convertible poses significant safety risks. But this list is about fun, not practicality, right? I had a buddy in college who created a 1976 Dodge Dart convertible with a sawzall and a blue tarp (just in case). It was a fun car to cruise around in for the simple "What the hell was THAT?" factor. A decently done job will turn heads; a poorly done job will have those same heads shaking...
So there's my list of "alternative" summer rides. These aren't just the best convertibles, although many are drop-tops; these aren't just motorcycles (although a "Top Ten Bikes" list would be pretty cool for a summer list). These are interesting vehicles that are most at home when it's warm and sunny out.
What else can you think of for this list?
That is all.
1. VW Thing. The VW model 181 Kurierwagen, more commonly known as the Thing, is a direct descendant of the WWII Kübelwagen, or "bucket car". With the removable top and folding windshield, it's the perfect Thing for taking to the beach.
2. Ford Model T. What could possibly be a cooler ride than the car that started it all? They were later released in a color other than black, but an original "Tin Lizzie" will be guaranteed to get you all kinds of looks at the local ice cream shop "Cruise Night"...
3. MGA. It's small. It's cute. It's the original small roadster. It screams "British motoring". Bonus cool points if you have one with right-hand drive. Interesting personal note: This is Mom G.'s dream car...
4. CampagnaT-Rex. Sure, it costs $50K, but where else are you going to find a vehicle capable of ~ 160 MPH top speed and a 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds? Not to mention you're going to have the most unique ride on the strip - you'll fit in with both the biker crowd and the sports car crowd.
5. Dune buggy. Ah, the dune buggy. Generally built on a VW Bug platform, the open-top dune buggy was a seeming staple of the 1970s beach scene. The fiberglass tub and minimal safety gear won't impress Ralph Nader, but for beachside cruising it's a must-have.
6. Early '70s Chevrolet Blazer. With a completely removable hard top, the early '70s Blazer - the answer to the Ford Bronco - makes the list. The size and heft of the top generally means that it comes off on Memorial Day and goes back on for Labor Day, making it the ultimate summer ride.
7. Lotus Caterham 7. A little more exotic than the MGA, the Caterham 7 found a small niche among the autocrossers for it's low center of gravity and excellent power-to-weight ratio. It really stands out for a summer convertible - you're not likely to pull up to the hamburger stand and find three other Caterham 7s.
8. Vespa scooter. Yes, even a scooter makes the list. Whether it be a fully-restored 1960s Italian Vespa, a brand new retro Vespa, or even a Japanese wanna-be Vespa look-alike, the traditional scooter is a fun and economical summer transport. If you do chose this option, please take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) course to learn to ride - just because it's a scooter doesn't mean you shouldn't learn how to ride on two wheels...
9. Trike. Really, any motorcycle is an excellent summer ride, but the wild mods possible with a three-wheeled configuration put this on the list. Trikes can be powered by VW four-bangers up to Chevy 350s (and beyond, yes), with rear-ends donated by VW Bugs, Pontiac Fieros, Model T pickups, and pretty much anything else you can imagine.
10. DIY convertibles. I hesitated to put this one on the list, as turning a coupe into a convertible poses significant safety risks. But this list is about fun, not practicality, right? I had a buddy in college who created a 1976 Dodge Dart convertible with a sawzall and a blue tarp (just in case). It was a fun car to cruise around in for the simple "What the hell was THAT?" factor. A decently done job will turn heads; a poorly done job will have those same heads shaking...
So there's my list of "alternative" summer rides. These aren't just the best convertibles, although many are drop-tops; these aren't just motorcycles (although a "Top Ten Bikes" list would be pretty cool for a summer list). These are interesting vehicles that are most at home when it's warm and sunny out.
What else can you think of for this list?
That is all.
Dude, I Got A Raise!
Minimum wage hike: More money or fewer jobs?
For the record, MA has a minimum wage of $8/hour, WA has the highest at $8.55/hour (from the map shown here). The wage hike is being touted as some sort of stimulus-like apparatus; with the apparent thinking being that min-wage droves are now going to have an extra $28/week to cram into the economy...
Can we stop pretending that this actually makes a difference? Really? So Chippy McDopehead makes an extra $25 a week at his McJob. Are we deluding ourselves into thinking that this is going to make any difference in the local economy, let alone the national economy? Who's even at the minimum wage, really? Within a month or so if you haven't progressed in your employment beyond minimum wage, there's generally a reason.
And let's carry it to the extreme: Make the minimum wage $20/hour. That's $40K a year; that should be plenty for everyone to live on, right? Sure, as long as you don't mind paying $15 for a gallon of milk and $250 for dinner out. There's a reason some jobs only pay minimum wage - there's no skill or danger involved that warrants such a high rate of pay. Businesses that want their employees to stick around more than six months or provide more than the bare minimum pay more.
This is one case where the free market kicks the .gov's ass six ways to Sunday...
That is all.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- On Friday, the federal minimum wage rises for the third year in a row, sparking the perennial argument among economists: Will it help workers at the bottom of the ladder, or will it kill their jobs?
The U.S. minimum wage goes to $7.25 an hour, from $6.55, according to the U.S.
Department of Labor. Most states have their own minimum wage, and employers are required to pay whichever is higher. That means minimum wage workers will get a raise in 29 states. In the remaining 21 states and Washington, D.C., they'll see no change.
For the record, MA has a minimum wage of $8/hour, WA has the highest at $8.55/hour (from the map shown here). The wage hike is being touted as some sort of stimulus-like apparatus; with the apparent thinking being that min-wage droves are now going to have an extra $28/week to cram into the economy...
Can we stop pretending that this actually makes a difference? Really? So Chippy McDopehead makes an extra $25 a week at his McJob. Are we deluding ourselves into thinking that this is going to make any difference in the local economy, let alone the national economy? Who's even at the minimum wage, really? Within a month or so if you haven't progressed in your employment beyond minimum wage, there's generally a reason.
And let's carry it to the extreme: Make the minimum wage $20/hour. That's $40K a year; that should be plenty for everyone to live on, right? Sure, as long as you don't mind paying $15 for a gallon of milk and $250 for dinner out. There's a reason some jobs only pay minimum wage - there's no skill or danger involved that warrants such a high rate of pay. Businesses that want their employees to stick around more than six months or provide more than the bare minimum pay more.
This is one case where the free market kicks the .gov's ass six ways to Sunday...
That is all.
Friday Gun Pr0n #121
While rummaging through the ol' armory looking for inspiration, I came across this beauty:
That is a Russian VEPR in .308 Winchester. It's a "sporting" (don't get me started) semi-automatic .308 using the unstoppable AK-47 design on an RPK frame. There are rumors that there are 5- and 10- round magazines available, but they're scarcer than Bigfoot sightings or sober relatives at a wedding. This particular rifle has the distinction of being the only full-power semi-automatic rifle in the G. armory.
At some point I'd like to get a Weaver rail mount and a better scope for it to really see what it can do - VEPRs are among the most accurate of the AK designs. While the POSP scope that accompanies the VEPR is fitting to the Soviet heritage, something with Arabic markings would be appreciated. Or it could serve for an optical sight should it be necessary to make some tactical adjustments...
Now all I need to do is find a few 10-round magazines for it and I'll be in good shape...
That is all.
VEPR
That is a Russian VEPR in .308 Winchester. It's a "sporting" (don't get me started) semi-automatic .308 using the unstoppable AK-47 design on an RPK frame. There are rumors that there are 5- and 10- round magazines available, but they're scarcer than Bigfoot sightings or sober relatives at a wedding. This particular rifle has the distinction of being the only full-power semi-automatic rifle in the G. armory.
At some point I'd like to get a Weaver rail mount and a better scope for it to really see what it can do - VEPRs are among the most accurate of the AK designs. While the POSP scope that accompanies the VEPR is fitting to the Soviet heritage, something with Arabic markings would be appreciated. Or it could serve for an optical sight should it be necessary to make some tactical adjustments...
Now all I need to do is find a few 10-round magazines for it and I'll be in good shape...
That is all.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
That's It, I'm Gettin' Outta Here...
4 Toddlers Walk Out Of Day Care, Saved By Truckers On Busy Road
Man, what's that say about the conditions of the day care that these kids would rather risk playing in traffic than staying in the center? What was this place, the Ayn Rand School for Tots?
In all seriousness, if this had happened when my kids were in daycare, I would be looking for another daycare post-haste. If the kids can get out that easily, who's to say Petey Pedophile can't get *in* equally easily? I'd prefer that my daycare be secure enough to hold in a gang of two year olds, thankyewverramuch...
Carin' 4 da kidz: UR doin it rong.
That is all.
WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. -- Channel 11 has learned the state is investigating a West Mifflin day care from which four 2-year-olds wandered away Tuesday. The toddlers walked out of the Walnut Grove Christian School and down an access road. They ended up 200 yards away in the middle of busy West Mifflin Street.
When E. Dorcett stepped out of a nearby gospel radio station for a break, he noticed four toddlers, one girl and three boys, in the road. He then watched as two truckers ran to save the kids.
Man, what's that say about the conditions of the day care that these kids would rather risk playing in traffic than staying in the center? What was this place, the Ayn Rand School for Tots?
In all seriousness, if this had happened when my kids were in daycare, I would be looking for another daycare post-haste. If the kids can get out that easily, who's to say Petey Pedophile can't get *in* equally easily? I'd prefer that my daycare be secure enough to hold in a gang of two year olds, thankyewverramuch...
Carin' 4 da kidz: UR doin it rong.
That is all.
Another "Feel Good" Story
82-year-old man kills invader
Dead Goblin Count: 22.
That is all.
Thanks to poster "baldkat82" on NES for pointing out #22 in this thread.
Bradley Harvell, an 82-year-old WWII veteran, points to the area near his television where he shot and killed an invading robber late Sunday night July 19, 2009 south of Bristol in Liberty County, Fla. Harvill said the man, dressed like a western-style "train robber", forced his way into his home and demanded money, shocking him with an electrical device. A scuffle ensued when Harvill didn't produce enough money, and he shot the invader twice, killing him. (PHIL SEARS/Democrat)Ah, you've just gotta love it when the victim selection process breaks down. Good guys win, bad guys take a dirt nap. And it reinforces the message: Don't mess with a veteran unless you want to get your dumb ass shot.
Dead Goblin Count: 22.
That is all.
Thanks to poster "baldkat82" on NES for pointing out #22 in this thread.
Ah, The Fine Taste of Shoe Leather
Obama: Police who arrested professor 'acted stupidly'
(emphasis mine).
What an unmitigated ass. He starts off by saying that he wasn't there and doesn't know all the facts of the case, yet feels free to weigh in on the actions of the Cambridge Police Department. With one thoughtless word he condemns an entire police force based on one man's admittedly biased testimony. This is a man who freely admits he "got in the cop's face", and starts off his interview by the cops with this:
Look, the neighborhood where Gates lived had numerous break-ins reported over the past few months. The cops get a call from someone in the neighborhood that two men are trying to break into a house. They show up, knock on the door, and are greeted by Mr. Racist Chip-on-his-shoulder-hates-whitey saying "you're only here because I'm black".
Yeah. Someone has a problem with race, and it ain't the Cambridge Police.
$50 says that had it been an actual break-in and the police didn't respond within seconds it would be proof of their "racism" as well. Not to mention them being "stupid". Way to go, President 0bama, putting your foot in your mouth yet again. I wonder who typed that statement into the teleprompter?
That is all.
(CNN) -- President Obama said that police in Cambridge, Massachusetts, "acted stupidly" in arresting a prominent black Harvard professor last week after a confrontation at the man's home.
"I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played," Obama said Wednesday night while taking questions after a White House news conference.
(emphasis mine).
What an unmitigated ass. He starts off by saying that he wasn't there and doesn't know all the facts of the case, yet feels free to weigh in on the actions of the Cambridge Police Department. With one thoughtless word he condemns an entire police force based on one man's admittedly biased testimony. This is a man who freely admits he "got in the cop's face", and starts off his interview by the cops with this:
Crowley wrote in the Cambridge police report that Gates refused to step outside to speak with him, the police report said, and when Crowley told Gates that he was investigating a possible break-in, Gates opened the front door and exclaimed, "Why, because I'm a black man in America?" the report said.
Look, the neighborhood where Gates lived had numerous break-ins reported over the past few months. The cops get a call from someone in the neighborhood that two men are trying to break into a house. They show up, knock on the door, and are greeted by Mr. Racist Chip-on-his-shoulder-hates-whitey saying "you're only here because I'm black".
Yeah. Someone has a problem with race, and it ain't the Cambridge Police.
$50 says that had it been an actual break-in and the police didn't respond within seconds it would be proof of their "racism" as well. Not to mention them being "stupid". Way to go, President 0bama, putting your foot in your mouth yet again. I wonder who typed that statement into the teleprompter?
That is all.
Carbine Conundrum...
Okay. I've got a hankerin'...
(You know this is gonna be a good one, dontcha?)
I've been thinking about picking up a pistol-caliber carbine for plinking/SHTF/home defense duty. Cheaper ammo, lighter weight, less recoil, and the ability to shoot the carbine on the pistol range (and at the indoor public range) are all factors in this decision. Plus, having a pistol-caliber rifle that I can start new shooters (including TheBoy) for their first centerfire rifle experience can only be a good thing.
Simply put, there's a lot of reasons to add a pistol-caliber carbine to the armory.
The harder question, then, becomes which pistol caliber carbine? Do I scour Gunbroker looking for a Camp Carbine in .45 ACP that's not either beaten to death or astronomically priced? Do I fork over the price of a good used car for a USC - and then search for neutered magazines at insane prices? Go for the retro Thompson, or perhaps even an Uzi? Another M1 carbine, perhaps one I can throw a synthetic stock on? What to get, what to get...
I've more or less decided to stick with something chambered in 9mm, as it's still the least expensive centerfire round in common use. This limits me to essentially three levels of choices:
1. High end. Uzis, MP5 semi-auto (i.e. Bobcat), Beretta Storm. The Beretta's the most likely candidate from the high-end offering, as I have no intention of dropping $1,500 on a used Uzi or Bobcat. The Storm takes the model 92 magazines, which even in MA are plentiful for pre-bans. The gun is modular, easy to clean, and well-made.
2. Middle-of-the-road. There's really only a couple of offerings here, the Ruger PC-9 and the Kel-Tec Sub2000. The Ruger is hampered by the lack of large capacity magazines plus the general scarcity of aftermarket accessories, while the Kel-Tec has both the advantage and disadvantage of the folding mechanism. It's a neat trick that allows the rifle to be packed small, but with Kel-Tec's reputation for less-than-refined machining, it seems more complicated than it need be.
3. Entry level. This would be the Hi-Point line. The advantage of the Hi-Point boils down to price - it can be had for around $200, new. Of course, you're still getting a Hi-Point, essentially the Kia of firearms. For another $100 or so you can get the Storm-lookalike stock, putting you into a similar-looking firearm to the storm for about half the price if you're so inclined.
I've got a line on a Sub2000 9mm with some goodies. It's offered at a reasonable price given what it comes with, and seems like it might fill the above need nicely. I just can't decide if it's worth taking the chance on Kel-Tec quality, fit, and finish for what is essentially a novelty. Does anyone out there in blog-land have any experience with the Sub2000, either good, bad, or indifferent? How about Kel-Tec customer service if needed? There's a lot of "what-ifs" about this set-up, and if I can get a few of them answered I'll probably toss out an offer.
Because it sure would be nice to have a pistol-caliber rifle...
That is all.
(You know this is gonna be a good one, dontcha?)
I've been thinking about picking up a pistol-caliber carbine for plinking/SHTF/home defense duty. Cheaper ammo, lighter weight, less recoil, and the ability to shoot the carbine on the pistol range (and at the indoor public range) are all factors in this decision. Plus, having a pistol-caliber rifle that I can start new shooters (including TheBoy) for their first centerfire rifle experience can only be a good thing.
Simply put, there's a lot of reasons to add a pistol-caliber carbine to the armory.
The harder question, then, becomes which pistol caliber carbine? Do I scour Gunbroker looking for a Camp Carbine in .45 ACP that's not either beaten to death or astronomically priced? Do I fork over the price of a good used car for a USC - and then search for neutered magazines at insane prices? Go for the retro Thompson, or perhaps even an Uzi? Another M1 carbine, perhaps one I can throw a synthetic stock on? What to get, what to get...
I've more or less decided to stick with something chambered in 9mm, as it's still the least expensive centerfire round in common use. This limits me to essentially three levels of choices:
1. High end. Uzis, MP5 semi-auto (i.e. Bobcat), Beretta Storm. The Beretta's the most likely candidate from the high-end offering, as I have no intention of dropping $1,500 on a used Uzi or Bobcat. The Storm takes the model 92 magazines, which even in MA are plentiful for pre-bans. The gun is modular, easy to clean, and well-made.
2. Middle-of-the-road. There's really only a couple of offerings here, the Ruger PC-9 and the Kel-Tec Sub2000. The Ruger is hampered by the lack of large capacity magazines plus the general scarcity of aftermarket accessories, while the Kel-Tec has both the advantage and disadvantage of the folding mechanism. It's a neat trick that allows the rifle to be packed small, but with Kel-Tec's reputation for less-than-refined machining, it seems more complicated than it need be.
3. Entry level. This would be the Hi-Point line. The advantage of the Hi-Point boils down to price - it can be had for around $200, new. Of course, you're still getting a Hi-Point, essentially the Kia of firearms. For another $100 or so you can get the Storm-lookalike stock, putting you into a similar-looking firearm to the storm for about half the price if you're so inclined.
I've got a line on a Sub2000 9mm with some goodies. It's offered at a reasonable price given what it comes with, and seems like it might fill the above need nicely. I just can't decide if it's worth taking the chance on Kel-Tec quality, fit, and finish for what is essentially a novelty. Does anyone out there in blog-land have any experience with the Sub2000, either good, bad, or indifferent? How about Kel-Tec customer service if needed? There's a lot of "what-ifs" about this set-up, and if I can get a few of them answered I'll probably toss out an offer.
Because it sure would be nice to have a pistol-caliber rifle...
That is all.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Feel Good Story
Surgeon: Strangers saved life of boy trapped in burning SUV
Watch the video in the link. These men clearly risked their lives for that little boy. They went into a fully engulfed car fire with no protective gear to save the life of a child. There was no discussion, just clear, decisive, life-saving action - with no regard for their own safety.
That's the very definition of "hero" in my book.
That is all.
(CNN) -- The off-duty firefighters who rushed into a burning SUV and cut a 4-year-old boy out of the seatbelt saved his life, the boy's doctor said during a press conference Tuesday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The depth of the boy's burns "indicates to me this was a very hot fire, and he was in close contact with it," pediatric surgeon David Gourlay said. "These firefighters were clearly heroic and saved D.J.'s life."
Watch the video in the link. These men clearly risked their lives for that little boy. They went into a fully engulfed car fire with no protective gear to save the life of a child. There was no discussion, just clear, decisive, life-saving action - with no regard for their own safety.
That's the very definition of "hero" in my book.
That is all.
I'm Here to Help...
Older drivers go back to basics
But never fear - there's a buck to be made here!
I'll make it even simpler:
Older drivers took advantage of a crash-prevention program yesterday in South Weymouth, in collaboration with Commerce Insurance. Drivers 65 and older can take the course, offered by In Control Advanced Driver Training, for $75 through Aug. 14.We've had a recent rash of incidents whereby elderly drivers have been involved in traffic accidents. Some were comical, as one gentleman turned a Wal-Mart into a drive-through. Others were tragic, resulting in the needless death of a young girl.
But never fear - there's a buck to be made here!
I'll make it even simpler:
This is the standard set-up for acceleration and deceleration in an automobile with an automatic transmission. We won't need to discuss standard transmission, as generally any senior still driving stick is most likely still capable of piloting without my assistance.
- The long, skinny pedal on the right is the accelerator, more commonly known as the gas. Press this pedal to go.
- The smaller pedal on the left is the brake. Press this pedal to stop.
There. That should significantly reduce the number of accidents, as the most oft-heard "excuse" when a senior rams into a building is that they confused the gas and the brake.
Skinny = go. Small = stop. It's just that simple.
That is all.
And yes, I fully realize I'm going to hell for this post...
Northeast Blogger Shoot, Summer Edition Update Part III...
Original post here; first update here, second update here.
Alrighty folks. We're a week and a half away from the happy event. We've got the time, place, and most of the attendees in place. As we approach the event, I'd like to get a firm head count, as I've had several people contact me about attending and we're starting to run into limits. I'd like to finalize the attendees list in the next couple of days so I can let those folks know if there will be space or not.
With that in mind, if you're listed below as attending, please let me know if you're still coming. If you're listed as possible, please let me know as soon as you can whether you can make it or not. The list of attendees right now is close to the limit; we can take another three or four folks but after that we'll have to work in shifts; we'd prefer to keep the number under 20.
Now, the specifics:
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM EST until 5:00 PM/dusk/cops get called/we get kicked out
Location: Area 12, doubletrouble's sooper seekrit (and very heavily guarded) private range. Invitation only.
Attendees:
doubletrouble
JD
Andrew
Borepatch
Marko
Lissa
weer'd beard
zeeke42
MedicMatthew
mopar & missus mopar
Bruce
libertyman
stickman
David
Possible:
ZerCool
brad_in_ma
wally
Bennett
TOTWTYTR
The Saj
scotaku
Right now we're at 16 definites (including the range host and your humble scribe), which puts us at the same attendance as last year's shoot, which was pretty manageable. I think we could handle another 3 or 4 attendees with minimal effort; any more than that and it really starts turning into a goat rope.
Also, just so we're all clear, there are a few rules to set down. The Four Rules are tantamount - anyone showing disrespect for any of the Four Rules will be politely but firmly asked to leave. We have never encountered this at any shoot I have ever attended, but it needs to be said. Additionally, the range owner's word is law; if he asks you to hop around on one foot humming the theme to Battlestar Galactica, your only question should be "New or old?".
Here are a few simple rules for making the day complete:
1. Bring whatever you'd like to shoot, but be prepared to cart it home with you. If you want to haul out an old dishwasher to fill with lead, that's great, we'll be happy to help supply the lead. Just be ready to drag the bullet-riddled carcass back out with you.
2. Clean-up detail. When the shootin's done, we'll need a half-dozen or so folks to help pick the range back up and restore it to the way we found it.
3. Firing line. The firing line needs to be held to a maximum of four shooters (you'll understand better when you get there). This is to insure that all rounds go into the backstop. We can arrange heats for shooting, pick numbers, or just take turns like in elementary school. We're adults. We can figure it out.
That's it; there's nothing terribly onerous in that, is there?
Miscellanous:
That is all.
Second Annual Northeast Blogger Shoot Meet & Shootin' Spectacular!!!
Alrighty folks. We're a week and a half away from the happy event. We've got the time, place, and most of the attendees in place. As we approach the event, I'd like to get a firm head count, as I've had several people contact me about attending and we're starting to run into limits. I'd like to finalize the attendees list in the next couple of days so I can let those folks know if there will be space or not.
With that in mind, if you're listed below as attending, please let me know if you're still coming. If you're listed as possible, please let me know as soon as you can whether you can make it or not. The list of attendees right now is close to the limit; we can take another three or four folks but after that we'll have to work in shifts; we'd prefer to keep the number under 20.
Now, the specifics:
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM EST until 5:00 PM/dusk/cops get called/we get kicked out
Location: Area 12, doubletrouble's sooper seekrit (and very heavily guarded) private range. Invitation only.
Attendees:
doubletrouble
JD
Andrew
Borepatch
Marko
Lissa
weer'd beard
zeeke42
MedicMatthew
mopar & missus mopar
Bruce
libertyman
stickman
David
Possible:
ZerCool
brad_in_ma
wally
Bennett
TOTWTYTR
The Saj
scotaku
Right now we're at 16 definites (including the range host and your humble scribe), which puts us at the same attendance as last year's shoot, which was pretty manageable. I think we could handle another 3 or 4 attendees with minimal effort; any more than that and it really starts turning into a goat rope.
Also, just so we're all clear, there are a few rules to set down. The Four Rules are tantamount - anyone showing disrespect for any of the Four Rules will be politely but firmly asked to leave. We have never encountered this at any shoot I have ever attended, but it needs to be said. Additionally, the range owner's word is law; if he asks you to hop around on one foot humming the theme to Battlestar Galactica, your only question should be "New or old?".
Here are a few simple rules for making the day complete:
1. Bring whatever you'd like to shoot, but be prepared to cart it home with you. If you want to haul out an old dishwasher to fill with lead, that's great, we'll be happy to help supply the lead. Just be ready to drag the bullet-riddled carcass back out with you.
2. Clean-up detail. When the shootin's done, we'll need a half-dozen or so folks to help pick the range back up and restore it to the way we found it.
3. Firing line. The firing line needs to be held to a maximum of four shooters (you'll understand better when you get there). This is to insure that all rounds go into the backstop. We can arrange heats for shooting, pick numbers, or just take turns like in elementary school. We're adults. We can figure it out.
That's it; there's nothing terribly onerous in that, is there?
Miscellanous:
- I think it will be mostly free-form shooting, with plinking and informal target shooting the order of the day. I'll be bringing a number of large orange jugs (bulk laundry detergent) and a bunch of 2L soda bottles for reactive targets; there's a bunch of smaller water jugs leftover from last year; I'll also have a case or two or orange clays we can set up on the back stop or borrow the thrower. If I get really ambitious I'll pick up a .22LR metal spinner.
- As mentioned above, bring anything you want, but be prepared to take it home with you. I'll bring a bunch of trash bags to help with clean-up.
- Bring bug spray. This is in the woods, and we will get eaten if not slathered in DEET.
- Lunch will be ordered from the local sub shop; we discussed this last year and determined that, yes, a large cookout would be grand, but it would cut into shootin' time...
That is all.
Gettin' Medieval...
While I know I've mentioned going to the local Renaissance Faire (King Richard's Faire in Carver, MA, for those who might be curious or for those in the area who might like to meet up at this year's faire, hint hint...), I've only shown pictures of the entire ensemble, not the weaponry. Well, we here at MArooned are equal opportunity arms nuts - everything from fictional weapons to crossbows and BB guns gets it's share of blog time.
In that vein, here's some medieval weaponry:
In that vein, here's some medieval weaponry:
Consult the Book of Armaments!
Throwing axe, full-meter broadsword (two-handed), and dagger with matching quillion. All pieces are from Starfire Swords out of Spenser, NY who exhibit at King Richard's Faire every year. There's also a plain jane boot dagger that completes the armory, but for the sake of symmetry was left out of the shot. The dagger was a kind gift from commenter and life-long best bud sci-fi; the broadsword was actually my wedding present from Mrs. G.
How bloody cool is THAT?
That is all.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Don't Forget!
Gun Nuts tonight! Be sure to tune in to talk about your "30 seconds with President 0bama" as well as the National Reciprocity amendment tacked onto the Defense Appropriations Bill. It's sure to be another excellent show full of wicked pissah smaht folks calling in and giving their $1.98 (that's $0.02 in 0bamanomics).
Plus it'll be hosted by the World's Most Dangerous Librarian modeling "the most awesome tshirt " - how can you miss?
That is all.
Plus it'll be hosted by the World's Most Dangerous Librarian modeling "the most awesome tshirt " - how can you miss?
That is all.
Overheard in Conversation...
This certainly wasn't me talking to Mrs. G. earlier. Nope. Nossirree bob.
Heh.
That is all.
[NotMrs. G.] Yeah, I got a bunch of junk at Christmas Tree Shop.
[NotJay] You got junk? At Christmas Tree Shop? That's unpossible.
[NotMrs. G.] {laughs}
Heh.
That is all.
More Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes
Mass. Man Killed, Cop Injured In NH Traffic Stop
Yeah, cops get a little pissed off when you try to kill them:
Excuse me if I don't show a lot of remorse for the demise of Mr. Richardson. My father knew George Hanna, saw the devastation his death left on his widow and his children. People who ambush cops at traffic stops deserve every bit of malice due them, in treble.
Thankfully Cpl. Eccelston was able to end the confrontation satisfactorily - scratch one scumbag.
That is all.
SWANZEY, N.H. (AP) ― New Hampshire authorities say a Massachusetts man died of a single gunshot wound to the back of his left shoulder following a confrontation with a police officer.
Yeah, cops get a little pissed off when you try to kill them:
The attorney general's office says Swanzey Cpl. Robert Eccelston was responding to a call about an erratic driver Saturday night when he encountered 24-year-old Jeffrey Richardson of Northfield, Mass., in a parking lot.
Richardson then drove off, dragging the officer with his car.
Excuse me if I don't show a lot of remorse for the demise of Mr. Richardson. My father knew George Hanna, saw the devastation his death left on his widow and his children. People who ambush cops at traffic stops deserve every bit of malice due them, in treble.
Thankfully Cpl. Eccelston was able to end the confrontation satisfactorily - scratch one scumbag.
That is all.
Talk About Feeling Old...
Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch Has Cancer
Now, the "feeling old" part has nothing to do with MCA's cancer announcement. Hell, most of the bands I listened to as a teen have had some sort of death, let alone disease - Jerry Garcia, half the Ramones, Kurt Cobain, Grandmaster J... It was actually seeing an updated picture as opposed to the mind's eye view from 1987. Take a good look at the Beastie Boys - they're friggin' middle aged dudes still trying to party down like 20-somethings (and granted, that's their schtick and they've made good coin with it; more power to 'em says I!)
It just made me feel old, is all; it's made even worse by knowing that there are many folks out there acting like that IRL who *aren't* getting paid big bucks by a record company for acting that way. Everybody knows someone (or someones) like that; the perennial "party boy/girl" who never outgrew the "day without a buzz is a day that never was" philosophy. And with the advent of FaceBook, we can reconnect with these perpetual Peter Pans at the speed of light...
Sometimes I think the Luddites might have the right idea...
That is all.
In a video posted Monday (July 20) on BeastieBoys.com, Adam "MCA" Yauch announced that he has cancer and the group is canceling all upcoming shows (and pushing back the release of their Hot Sauce Committee, Part One album) while he receives treatment for it.
Now, the "feeling old" part has nothing to do with MCA's cancer announcement. Hell, most of the bands I listened to as a teen have had some sort of death, let alone disease - Jerry Garcia, half the Ramones, Kurt Cobain, Grandmaster J... It was actually seeing an updated picture as opposed to the mind's eye view from 1987. Take a good look at the Beastie Boys - they're friggin' middle aged dudes still trying to party down like 20-somethings (and granted, that's their schtick and they've made good coin with it; more power to 'em says I!)
It just made me feel old, is all; it's made even worse by knowing that there are many folks out there acting like that IRL who *aren't* getting paid big bucks by a record company for acting that way. Everybody knows someone (or someones) like that; the perennial "party boy/girl" who never outgrew the "day without a buzz is a day that never was" philosophy. And with the advent of FaceBook, we can reconnect with these perpetual Peter Pans at the speed of light...
Sometimes I think the Luddites might have the right idea...
That is all.
Range Report Match-ups...
In the comments to my Range Report for the Browning Hi-Power, brad_in_ma reminded me that I'd posited about a head-to-head matchup of the Hi-Power and the WWI-issue Colt 1911 as mentioned in the gun pr0n some time back. Naturally, this got me to thinking (always a scary proposition) about other potential match-ups in the G. armory...
And that's just the pistols! What other match-ups could/should I look into? Any requests on which pairing or pairings to run first? Given the rate at which I make it to the range, it could be quite some time before most of these get completed - what's the first one I should undertake?
How about a matchup involving a gun or guns not represented in the G. armory, like a S&W model 27 vs. Colt Python?
That is all.
- Colt Police Positive .22LR vs. Smith & Wesson model 17
- Glock 30 vs. Smith & Wesson SW99C
- Colt Junior vs. Kel-Tec P3AT
- Colt Lawman III vs. Smith & Wesson model 19
- Miroku .38 Special vs. Colt Detective Special
- Hi-Standard H-D Military vs. Smith & Wesson model 422
- Hi-Power vs. SigSauer P226
- Colt 1991A1 vs. Colt Gold Cup National Match vs. WWI Colt 1911
And that's just the pistols! What other match-ups could/should I look into? Any requests on which pairing or pairings to run first? Given the rate at which I make it to the range, it could be quite some time before most of these get completed - what's the first one I should undertake?
How about a matchup involving a gun or guns not represented in the G. armory, like a S&W model 27 vs. Colt Python?
That is all.
Monday, July 20, 2009
I Can Haz Cold Fud?
The new refrigerator is on order. Theoretically it will be delivered on Friday, so all we have to do is cross our fingers that the old Amana doesn't lose the last few degrees in the next four days. We opted for a Samsung refrigerator over the Kenmore or Frigidaire we'd been looking at, as it was the largest (27.0 cu. ft.) side-by-side fridge we'd come across. The Amana it replaces is only a 22 cu. ft. capacity, so we're hoping to be able to lose the auxiliary back-up fridge (Mrs. G.'s old college cube fridge) that we've been putting the kids' lunches in (I prep everything the night before to save precious time in the morning...)
What's really scary is that I am excited about this new fridge. A refrigerator. I have been domesticated to the point of eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new household appliance. Oh, sure, it's going to be nice to have an actual working refrigerator again. Granted, it will be nice to actually drink cold soda and eat solid ice cream once more. But still. Am I that old and boring that I'm all a-flutter about a refrigerator?
What's next? Am I going to get all emo when the hot water heater dies? (Oh, why did it have to diiiiiie?)
That is all.
What's really scary is that I am excited about this new fridge. A refrigerator. I have been domesticated to the point of eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new household appliance. Oh, sure, it's going to be nice to have an actual working refrigerator again. Granted, it will be nice to actually drink cold soda and eat solid ice cream once more. But still. Am I that old and boring that I'm all a-flutter about a refrigerator?
What's next? Am I going to get all emo when the hot water heater dies? (Oh, why did it have to diiiiiie?)
That is all.
Important Tip...
Don't watch stories like this one while listing to "Riot on Broad Street" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones:
U.S. soldier captured by Taliban: 'I'm afraid'
...because it does interesting things for your blood pressure.
I am curious about one thing, though. Why do all of these terrorist assholes have contacts at CNN? And, in that same vein, is there any link between all of the terrorist connections at CNN and the vehement opposition to torture emanating from said media orifices? Like, they're scared that they might find themselves whisked away to Gitmo for some old-fashioned bamboo-shoots-under-the-fingernails-type treatments to find out where the tangoes are holding our soldiers?
Not that I condone torture against fellow Americans, mind you. Oh, wait, these are folks who have more or less thrown in with our enemies, haven't they?
That is all.
U.S. soldier captured by Taliban: 'I'm afraid'
(CNN) -- A United States soldier captured by the Taliban says in a video posted on the Internet he is "scared I won't be able to go home."
The soldier was identified Sunday by the Pentagon as Pfc. Bowe R. Bergdahl, 23, of Ketchum, Idaho. He was captured June 30 from Paktika province in southeastern Afghanistan.
The Taliban has threatened to kill Bergdahl if foreign troops continue targeting civilians in the name of search operations in Ghazni and Paktika province, Taliban commander Mulvi Sangeen said by telephone Friday after being contacted by CNN at an undisclosed location.
...because it does interesting things for your blood pressure.
I am curious about one thing, though. Why do all of these terrorist assholes have contacts at CNN? And, in that same vein, is there any link between all of the terrorist connections at CNN and the vehement opposition to torture emanating from said media orifices? Like, they're scared that they might find themselves whisked away to Gitmo for some old-fashioned bamboo-shoots-under-the-fingernails-type treatments to find out where the tangoes are holding our soldiers?
Not that I condone torture against fellow Americans, mind you. Oh, wait, these are folks who have more or less thrown in with our enemies, haven't they?
That is all.
The Inevitable...
"One small step":
NASA releases clearest videos yet of 1969 moonwalk
Go check out the video. It's nothing short of amazing that today, some forty years later, we have yet to duplicate this accomplishment. Today's space-going news?
International space station flush with woes
Yeah. Potty problems on ISS lead to overly cutesy news headlines... One small step indeed...
That is all.
NASA releases clearest videos yet of 1969 moonwalk
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- NASA released newly restored videos Thursday of two U.S. astronauts taking the world's first steps on the moon.
The images were released just four days before the 40th anniversary of the historic event that captivated the world on July 20, 1969.
Go check out the video. It's nothing short of amazing that today, some forty years later, we have yet to duplicate this accomplishment. Today's space-going news?
International space station flush with woes
Yeah. Potty problems on ISS lead to overly cutesy news headlines... One small step indeed...
That is all.
Range Report: Browning Hi-Power & Colt New Frontier
Took my two newest guns to the range yesterday with the express intent of shooting 'em for a proper range report. I'm happy to report mission accomplished. The guns in question are the Browning Hi-Power which was my Buy A Gun Day purchase and the Colt New Frontier that was my "happy birthday to me" present. Yes, both guns were acquired in April. Yes, I am well aware that it is currently July. Shaddup...
Anyhoo, onto the reports...
There's really no bad to report for either gun. Both are *far* more accurate than I can shoot; both functioned flawlessly; both were more fun than a barrel of hyperactive Calebs. The hardest problem I faced was which gun to lead off with. I chose the Colt New Frontier as I at least shot the Browning back in April...
Colt New Frontier Single Action .22LR:
Browning Hi-Power single action semi-automatic 9mm:
Anyhoo, onto the reports...
There's really no bad to report for either gun. Both are *far* more accurate than I can shoot; both functioned flawlessly; both were more fun than a barrel of hyperactive Calebs. The hardest problem I faced was which gun to lead off with. I chose the Colt New Frontier as I at least shot the Browning back in April...
Colt New Frontier Single Action .22LR:
Federal bulk 40 gr. CP .22LR, 25 feet
My good friend Heath (he of teh awesome fu-stache) raves about his Colt New Frontier ("the most accurate single action .22LR out there"), and with good cause. Given that I haven't been to the range in quite a long time (not quite two months, but close...), keeping all but one shot out of six in the 10 ring is a testament to the accuracy of the Colt, not my shooting ability.
There were a couple of small faults I found with the Colt, and I'll readily admit that they are pretty nit-picky. First off, it took a couple of go-arounds before I realized I had to manually push in the safety bolt to eject the empty casings. With the safety bolt out, the ejector will only push the casings out about a quarter-inch, which makes for tedious and slow emptying of the cylinder. Once I figured it out, though, it was easily the smoothest single action unloading of any I've ever fired.
The other "fault" really isn't - the grip is just a little too small for my meathooks. I found that there wasn't quite enough of the grip to really hold onto, and I found the Colt shifting in my grip between shots. With the wild popularity of the Colt single action revolver, I'm guessing there's probably an aftermarket company or two that might make some grips for this gun. I'm thinking with the case-hardened frame, a nice set of elkhorn or staghorn grips would look kick-ass...
Anyone have a line on some nice grips for a New Frontier?
The good *FAR* outweighs the bad (think like 100:1 factor at a minimum). The sights are adjustable, clear, and shoot to point of aim. The gun makes that unmistakeable "C-O-L-T" four-click upon cocking that's music to the SA crowd's ears. It's scary-accurate - I haven't exactly been burning up the range time lately, and even I can hit the center with this gun!
All I need now is a nice embossed holster and a .22LR cartridge belt...
Browning Hi-Power single action semi-automatic 9mm:
Winchester White Box 115 gr. FMJ 9mm, 25 feet
This is the second time I've shot the Hi-Power, the first being at my new shooter outing in April shortly after acquiring it. At the time I wasn't terribly concerned with fine shooting ability, but with reliability, given that it was for a new shooter. Two dropped shots (both of which I called) notwithstanding, the Hi-Power certainly lived up to its reputation as an accurate single action semi-automatic.
That's seven shots in the center there...
Both of the magazines that Zach so kindly sent me worked flawlessly (although one very stubbornly clung to the gun and needed a stern lecture to get out); I put about a hundred rounds through it without a single failure; about the only thing of note was that the Browning got HOT by the end of the range session. Oh, and it was even responsible for the deaths of a couple evil orange clays on the 25 yard berm...
Two new guns, two range reports in one; it all adds up to a good day shooting.
That is all.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Torn...
Yesterday's shootie goodness wound up getting canceled in favor of appliance shopping (such is the boundless hedonism of home ownership...). I'd like to get to the range, seeing as how I haven't been in well over a month (getting closer to two months now, actually; that's what happens in vacation season!). I haven't given a proper range report for the Hi-Power; I haven't even shot the New Frontier (that I bought back in April!!!) yet.
On the flip side, I've only had the Harley out once since Memorial Day. It rained almost literally all of June (we did not have a single day where it wasn't at least cloudy with sprinkles), and while I can and have ridden in the rain (and most likely will again on occasions too numerous to count), I'd prefer to avoid it if possible. Because of Disney and work considerations I missed going up to Bike Week in Laconia for the first time since I bought the Harley, and haven't made any long trips this year at all.
So... Bike ride... or range trip???
(And no, riding to the range really doesn't do it. The range is only four miles away, and taking anything other than a couple a pistols is problematic on two wheels...)
That is all.
On the flip side, I've only had the Harley out once since Memorial Day. It rained almost literally all of June (we did not have a single day where it wasn't at least cloudy with sprinkles), and while I can and have ridden in the rain (and most likely will again on occasions too numerous to count), I'd prefer to avoid it if possible. Because of Disney and work considerations I missed going up to Bike Week in Laconia for the first time since I bought the Harley, and haven't made any long trips this year at all.
So... Bike ride... or range trip???
(And no, riding to the range really doesn't do it. The range is only four miles away, and taking anything other than a couple a pistols is problematic on two wheels...)
That is all.
Wonder What Our "Wise Latina" Thinks About This?
Akron police investigate teen mob attack on family
Please note when this happened - two weeks ago. Can you possibly imagine a story where 50 white kids beat the hell out of a black family, yelling "this is a white world" being buried for two weeks? Any takers on just how large the media circus would have been on July 5th?
No? I didn't think so.
I do have to admit to being puzzled by this comment:
"Possible problems"??? Unless they mean the problem of finding ammo, or perhaps the 9mm vs. .45 ACP/Glock vs. 1911 debate, I fail to see the problem here. It's not like you don't have a reason to want a means of protection against large groups... Also, they were attacked by "dozens" of kids - kinda puts to rest that whole "Why do you need more than ten rounds?" chestnut, eh? Although I do suppose that once the first couple of gangbangers went down with sucking chest wounds the rest wouldn't stick around long...
Welcome to America, home of justice for some.
That is all.
Hat tip to Jim at NES for pointing this story out in this thread.
Akron police say they aren't ready to call it a hate crime or a gang initiation.
But to Marty Marshall, his wife and two kids, it seems pretty clear.
It came after a family night of celebrating America and freedom with a fireworks show at Firestone Stadium. Marshall, his family and two friends were gathered outside a friend's home in South Akron.
Out of nowhere, the six were attacked by dozens of teenage boys, who shouted ''This is our world'' and ''This is a black world'' as they confronted Marshall and his family.
Please note when this happened - two weeks ago. Can you possibly imagine a story where 50 white kids beat the hell out of a black family, yelling "this is a white world" being buried for two weeks? Any takers on just how large the media circus would have been on July 5th?
No? I didn't think so.
I do have to admit to being puzzled by this comment:
The Marshalls say they fear retaliation at home or when they go outside. They are considering arming themselves, but they're concerned about the possible problems that come with guns.
"Possible problems"??? Unless they mean the problem of finding ammo, or perhaps the 9mm vs. .45 ACP/Glock vs. 1911 debate, I fail to see the problem here. It's not like you don't have a reason to want a means of protection against large groups... Also, they were attacked by "dozens" of kids - kinda puts to rest that whole "Why do you need more than ten rounds?" chestnut, eh? Although I do suppose that once the first couple of gangbangers went down with sucking chest wounds the rest wouldn't stick around long...
Welcome to America, home of justice for some.
That is all.
Hat tip to Jim at NES for pointing this story out in this thread.
The High Price of Being Cool...
Well, at least keeping your food cool... I remember the refrigerator being a pricey item when we built our house, but at the time we also got a range unit, washer/dryer, and dishwasher - it wasn't as noticeable. I just remember at the time thinking that we wouldn't have to worry about spending this kind of money again. Ha.
Of course, now I look at prices of most of the fridges and think, "Holy crap, I paid less for my Bushmaster!"...
We're looking at either a Kenmore from Sears or a Frigidaire from Best Buy. There's a local shop we want to investigate - they came out to proclaim last rites for the Amana - and having someone local to service the appliances can't hurt. We got ten years out of the old fridge without incident, but it's nice to know we have a local repair option.
The worst part of all is knowing that all the other appliances are the same vintage, meaning that it's not "if", but "when" they start dropping like flies, too. Well, all except for the oven. The rate at which we use our oven means it will need replacing sometime around 2030 or so...
That is all.
Of course, now I look at prices of most of the fridges and think, "Holy crap, I paid less for my Bushmaster!"...
We're looking at either a Kenmore from Sears or a Frigidaire from Best Buy. There's a local shop we want to investigate - they came out to proclaim last rites for the Amana - and having someone local to service the appliances can't hurt. We got ten years out of the old fridge without incident, but it's nice to know we have a local repair option.
The worst part of all is knowing that all the other appliances are the same vintage, meaning that it's not "if", but "when" they start dropping like flies, too. Well, all except for the oven. The rate at which we use our oven means it will need replacing sometime around 2030 or so...
That is all.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
A Good Sign?
Is it possible that the ammo shortage is starting to come to an end?
Scored the above at the local WallyWorld; they're still clinging to (ha!) a six-box limit, and while I could have picked up 6 boxes of the WWB 100 ct. 9mm, it was $2 more than the Blazer Brass I scored ($21/100 vs. $9.50/50). The cheap bastard in me won out; I opted for less ammo at the cheaper price, and didn't even feel bad about cleaning them out of 9mm. I would have gotten another box of 9mm, except I'm taking my blogson to the range and figure we can drag a .38 with us now...
And now comes the fun part - loading up to go shoot some of this stash!
That is all.
Scored the above at the local WallyWorld; they're still clinging to (ha!) a six-box limit, and while I could have picked up 6 boxes of the WWB 100 ct. 9mm, it was $2 more than the Blazer Brass I scored ($21/100 vs. $9.50/50). The cheap bastard in me won out; I opted for less ammo at the cheaper price, and didn't even feel bad about cleaning them out of 9mm. I would have gotten another box of 9mm, except I'm taking my blogson to the range and figure we can drag a .38 with us now...And now comes the fun part - loading up to go shoot some of this stash!
That is all.
Figures...
In the file under "S" for "Sh!t I don't need right now", having to buy a new refrigerator is right up near the top. Our ten year old Amana needs a new compressor, which as far as I can tell is made out of cold-pressed latinum, given that it costs almost as much as a new refrigerator (est. $500, new fridge of comparable size is $800 - $900).
So... Anyone know anything about good refrigerators, like ones that last longer than ten years?
That is all.
So... Anyone know anything about good refrigerators, like ones that last longer than ten years?
That is all.
End of An Era
News legend Cronkite dies at 92
Rest in Peace, Mr. Cronkite.
It's unfortunate that the journalistic ethics you embodied don't seem to have transferred to the current crop of feckless journalists. Where you spoke out against the heavy-handedness of Chicago politics in 1968, your current brethern were all-too-happy to turn a blind eye to the machinations that put our least qualified President into office. Can you imagine Dan Rather making this statement with any sort of veracity:
Somewhere out there, Mary Mapes is laughing her ass off...
And that's the way it is.
Walter Cronkite, whose steadying, avuncular presence made “The CBS Evening News’’ the dominant network news program for much of his 19 years as its anchorman, died yesterday in New York. He was 92.
Mr. Cronkite’s longtime chief of staff, Marlene Adler, said he died at 7:42 p.m. at his Manhattan home surrounded by family, the Associated Press reported. She said the cause of death was cerebral vascular disease.
Rest in Peace, Mr. Cronkite.
It's unfortunate that the journalistic ethics you embodied don't seem to have transferred to the current crop of feckless journalists. Where you spoke out against the heavy-handedness of Chicago politics in 1968, your current brethern were all-too-happy to turn a blind eye to the machinations that put our least qualified President into office. Can you imagine Dan Rather making this statement with any sort of veracity:
[Asked once whether he had opinions of his own, Mr. Cronkite replied heatedly:] “You bet I do. Very strong opinions. Yet I would never give them with the news because this would hurt my objectivity . . . I choose to do only unbiased reporting. I give you the news, and I don’t help you make the judgment.’’
Somewhere out there, Mary Mapes is laughing her ass off...
And that's the way it is.
Friday, July 17, 2009
D'OH! #2
Sessions' 'crack cocaine' comment cracks up crowd
Politicians saying stupid things. Whatever is this world coming to?
WASHINGTON — Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions' comment on crack cocaine cracked up the crowd. The top Republican at Judge Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court hearing was talking about trying to schedule a Judiciary Committee hearing on the disparity between the sentencing of powder cocaine abusers and crack cocaine users.Oh, those crazy Republicans, always joking about their cocaine habits... Once again, I reiterate:
Sessions said he and Democratic Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy of Vermont were "going to do that crack cocaine thing."
Politicians saying stupid things. Whatever is this world coming to?
That is all.
Friday Fun Thread: Wagons!
Today's Top Ten Automotive list is something a little different. Today we celebrate the precursor to the minivan, the station wagon. Long before Mopar introduced the Caravan to the American motoring public, the utilitarian station wagon ruled the roost.
So here's a salute to the Top Ten Coolest Wagons:
1. Dodge Magnum. Yes, it has a hemi. It's also one of the main reasons the wagon is making a comeback in recent times. Interesting that the company that elevated the minivan from side curiosity to mainstream (thus killing the station wagon) is also responsible for making the wagon cool again.
2. 1957 Chevrolet Nomad. In the pantheon of all things that are cool, the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is very close to the top. The Nomad goes even one better, yielding a family hauler that can bring sheetrock back from Home Depot and still look just that good doing it. Notable appearance: Jill Taylor's grocery getting (for a while) in "Home Improvement".
3. 1948 Ford Woodie. Immortalized by the Beach Boys, the '48 Wagon (she's an oldie but a goodie) became synonymous with California's surfin' culture in the 1960s. And there's little cooler than that.
4. 1984 Ford Crown Victoria Country Squire. Before the minivan craze took hold, Ford's Country Squire wagon - replete with imitation wood grain paneling - was the stereotypical family car for the early part of the 1980s. Notable appearance: Hauled around Bill S. Preston, Esq. and Ted "Theodore" Logan in "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure".
5. 1960s Chrysler New Yorker. How can you not love a car that's larger than most commercial fishing boats? The New Yorker has always been synonymous with American Land Yacht; the wagon version took this to a new level. The wagon even had the rear-facing jump seats for a Suburban-esque seating total of 9 people.
6. 1987 Audi 5000. Very few station wagons look cool. The mid- to late 1980s Audi wagons managed to pull off a look that was, if not outright cool, a fair resemblence of cool. They at least tried to make the boxy, inelegant wagon look attractive.
7. 1983 Subaru GL Wagon. When they weren't rotting into the ground, the 4WD wagons were passable winter cars, even in snow-laden New England. It's a fair argument that the GL wagon of the early 1980s paved the way for the Outback enjoying such popularity today.
8. 1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate Limited. The last of the full-sized wagons, the Roadmonster, err, Roadmaster had a 350 CI motor under the hood and wood grain paneling on the side. Ford discontinued the Country Squire wagon in 1992 when they restyled the Crown Vic, leaving only the GM wagons for full-sized offerings.
9. 1984 Toyota Tercel. The Tercel wagon was Toyota's answer to Subaru's popular 4WD wagon. It offered seating for five plus reasonable cargo hauling, standard Toyota reliability in a world of American engines that lasted 80K miles...
10. Volvo 1800 Sportwagen. If for no other reason than for the sheer "what the hell was that?" it engenders in the motoring public, Volvo's answer to the MGB fastback rounds out the list (in case it wasn't readily apparent already, I have a fondness for the odd...) :)
So that's the end of a rather unorthodox list for this week. Station wagons don't get a lot of favorable automotive press, being that they tend to be heavy, slow, and corner like a convenience store. However, they do offer seating for large groups, passable cargo capacity, and are (nearly) invisible to police radar (if you can get them moving, that is...).
So c'mon! Share the love for the wagon!
That is all.
So here's a salute to the Top Ten Coolest Wagons:
1. Dodge Magnum. Yes, it has a hemi. It's also one of the main reasons the wagon is making a comeback in recent times. Interesting that the company that elevated the minivan from side curiosity to mainstream (thus killing the station wagon) is also responsible for making the wagon cool again.
2. 1957 Chevrolet Nomad. In the pantheon of all things that are cool, the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is very close to the top. The Nomad goes even one better, yielding a family hauler that can bring sheetrock back from Home Depot and still look just that good doing it. Notable appearance: Jill Taylor's grocery getting (for a while) in "Home Improvement".
3. 1948 Ford Woodie. Immortalized by the Beach Boys, the '48 Wagon (she's an oldie but a goodie) became synonymous with California's surfin' culture in the 1960s. And there's little cooler than that.
4. 1984 Ford Crown Victoria Country Squire. Before the minivan craze took hold, Ford's Country Squire wagon - replete with imitation wood grain paneling - was the stereotypical family car for the early part of the 1980s. Notable appearance: Hauled around Bill S. Preston, Esq. and Ted "Theodore" Logan in "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure".
5. 1960s Chrysler New Yorker. How can you not love a car that's larger than most commercial fishing boats? The New Yorker has always been synonymous with American Land Yacht; the wagon version took this to a new level. The wagon even had the rear-facing jump seats for a Suburban-esque seating total of 9 people.
6. 1987 Audi 5000. Very few station wagons look cool. The mid- to late 1980s Audi wagons managed to pull off a look that was, if not outright cool, a fair resemblence of cool. They at least tried to make the boxy, inelegant wagon look attractive.
7. 1983 Subaru GL Wagon. When they weren't rotting into the ground, the 4WD wagons were passable winter cars, even in snow-laden New England. It's a fair argument that the GL wagon of the early 1980s paved the way for the Outback enjoying such popularity today.
8. 1996 Buick Roadmaster Estate Limited. The last of the full-sized wagons, the Roadmonster, err, Roadmaster had a 350 CI motor under the hood and wood grain paneling on the side. Ford discontinued the Country Squire wagon in 1992 when they restyled the Crown Vic, leaving only the GM wagons for full-sized offerings.
9. 1984 Toyota Tercel. The Tercel wagon was Toyota's answer to Subaru's popular 4WD wagon. It offered seating for five plus reasonable cargo hauling, standard Toyota reliability in a world of American engines that lasted 80K miles...
10. Volvo 1800 Sportwagen. If for no other reason than for the sheer "what the hell was that?" it engenders in the motoring public, Volvo's answer to the MGB fastback rounds out the list (in case it wasn't readily apparent already, I have a fondness for the odd...) :)
So that's the end of a rather unorthodox list for this week. Station wagons don't get a lot of favorable automotive press, being that they tend to be heavy, slow, and corner like a convenience store. However, they do offer seating for large groups, passable cargo capacity, and are (nearly) invisible to police radar (if you can get them moving, that is...).
So c'mon! Share the love for the wagon!
That is all.
D'OH! #1
NASA lost moon footage, but Hollywood restores it
I've got one thing to say about this:
WASHINGTON — NASA could put a man on the moon but didn't have the sense to keep the original video of the live TV transmission.
In an embarrassing acknowledgment, the space agency said Thursday that it must have erased the Apollo 11 moon footage years ago so that it could reuse the videotape.
I've got one thing to say about this:
I'm still trying to wrap my brain around this concept. Here you have perhaps the defining moment of an entire generation - man walking on the moon - and no one thought to preserve this? Folks, video taken at my wedding is better preserved - at least that's in a fire- and water- proof safe. And yet not one of the eggheads at NASA thought, hey, let's preserve this for generations to come???
Rumors that the tapes were used to record episodes of Hee Haw are unconfirmed...
That is all.
Friday Gun Pr0n #120
After seeing Stingray's latest acquisition, I just knew what today's gun pr0n had to be:
From left: Marlin model 336RC, Marlin model 39A Golden, Ithaca Arms model M-49. The Ithaca's kinda cheating, because it's really a single-shot falling block, but it looks like a lever gun, so it counts IMHO.
These three rifles represent four generations in my family. The venerable .30-30 belonged to my grandfather, and he and my dad harvested much venison with that rifle. The model 39A is mine, acquired a few years back at the GOAL banquet as a low-cost training rifle for its big brother, who I hope to bring hunting someday. And the little Ithaca will be the first firearm TheBoy shoots - it's a single shot .22, so it'll be perfect to break him in on real shooting.
All I need is a coach gun and a Uberti Cattleman to complete the CAS set...
That is all.
Lever guns!
From left: Marlin model 336RC, Marlin model 39A Golden, Ithaca Arms model M-49. The Ithaca's kinda cheating, because it's really a single-shot falling block, but it looks like a lever gun, so it counts IMHO.
These three rifles represent four generations in my family. The venerable .30-30 belonged to my grandfather, and he and my dad harvested much venison with that rifle. The model 39A is mine, acquired a few years back at the GOAL banquet as a low-cost training rifle for its big brother, who I hope to bring hunting someday. And the little Ithaca will be the first firearm TheBoy shoots - it's a single shot .22, so it'll be perfect to break him in on real shooting.
All I need is a coach gun and a Uberti Cattleman to complete the CAS set...
That is all.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
That's Unpossible!
RI electric scooter maker lays off workers
This company's gotta be run by someone with the financial ability of Jell-O. Between the sheer lardassery of the American public in general and the ginormous consumptive power of the MegaloDisneyCorp I witnessed last month, there's easily enough demand for electric scooters to last any barely competent company well into 2100... Couple that with our headlong rush to socialized medicine - bound to swell the ranks of the scooter-bound, especially when folks don't have to pay for it - and I'd wager that the stock prices for scooter manufacturers are going to skyrocket...
That is assuming, of course, that the 0bama administration doesn't just decide to have all obese people rendered in some form of pseudo-green recycling project, of course...
That is all.
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. — A manufacturer of high-end, electric scooters and motorcycles has laid off nearly all its employees and will file for bankruptcy within 30 days unless it finds new investors or a buyer.
Michael Boyle, president of Middletown, R.I.-based Vectrix Corp. tells The Providence Journal that the company had trouble finding new dealers and potential customers had trouble getting financing under current economic conditions.
This company's gotta be run by someone with the financial ability of Jell-O. Between the sheer lardassery of the American public in general and the ginormous consumptive power of the MegaloDisneyCorp I witnessed last month, there's easily enough demand for electric scooters to last any barely competent company well into 2100... Couple that with our headlong rush to socialized medicine - bound to swell the ranks of the scooter-bound, especially when folks don't have to pay for it - and I'd wager that the stock prices for scooter manufacturers are going to skyrocket...
That is assuming, of course, that the 0bama administration doesn't just decide to have all obese people rendered in some form of pseudo-green recycling project, of course...
That is all.
I Knew Smokes Were Expensive...
...but this is ridiculous:
Glitch hits Visa users with more than $23 quadrillion charge
When you've got a $23 Quadrillion dollar a day habit, it's time to admit you have a problem...
That is all.
Glitch hits Visa users with more than $23 quadrillion charge
NEW YORK (CNN) -- A technical snafu left some Visa prepaid cardholders stunned and horrified Monday to see a $23,148,855,308,184,500 charge on their statements. Josh Muszynski noticed the 17-digit charge while making a routine balance inquiry. That's about 2,007 times the size of the national debt.
Josh Muszynski, 22, of Manchester, New Hampshire, was one Visa customer aghast to find the 17-digit charge on his bill. Adding insult to injury, he had also been hit with a $15 overdraft fee. He noticed that his debt exceeded the world GDP while making a routine balance inquiry on his online Bank of America account. According to his statement, he had spent the profound sum in one pop at a nearby Mobil gas station -- his regular stop for Camel cigarettes.
When you've got a $23 Quadrillion dollar a day habit, it's time to admit you have a problem...
That is all.
Enough Already...
Soldier Challenges Deployment, Citing Obama's Birth
Can we please, please drop this crap? It's fine for Alan Keyes to be pushing this line - he's searching for a reason to remain relevant - but for the rest of us, can we please just let it go? There's not a snowball's chance in hell that these rumors are going to be proven true; 0bama is, unfortunately for our country, here to stay. Besides, even if he were removed from office, that would leave us with {SHUDDER} President Biden...
I just wish the national media were as quick to debunk the BUSH WUZ AWOL claims as they were at debunking the 0bama birth certificate stories...
That is all.
Here's a story tailor-made to burn up the Internet: A soldier is objecting to his deployment to Iraq because he believes President Obama wasn't born in the United States.
Conspiracy theories about where Mr. Obama was born abound in some quarters despite the fact that the Obama campaign posted the then-candidate's Hawaiian birth certificate online last year. Skeptics call the certificate a forgery, though their claims have been repeatedly debunked.
Can we please, please drop this crap? It's fine for Alan Keyes to be pushing this line - he's searching for a reason to remain relevant - but for the rest of us, can we please just let it go? There's not a snowball's chance in hell that these rumors are going to be proven true; 0bama is, unfortunately for our country, here to stay. Besides, even if he were removed from office, that would leave us with {SHUDDER} President Biden...
I just wish the national media were as quick to debunk the BUSH WUZ AWOL claims as they were at debunking the 0bama birth certificate stories...
That is all.
One Small Step...
Reader, commenter, fellow Northeastbloggershoot participant and good friend brad_in_ma reminded me last night of the historic events of this day in 1969 when three astronauts left Earth's orbit on the Apollo 11 space mission to walk on the moon. Yes, forty years ago today the Apollo 11 mission started, blasting into space via a Saturn V rocket, bringing the American space program to its zenith.
I've always been fascinated with space and space travel, growing up as a child of the '70s and '80s. Star Wars, Star Trek; Asimov, Bradbury; Robert Goddard and Werner von Braun; science fiction and fact have always held a vice-like grip on my imagination. Watching the Challenger disaster on TV in 1986 did little to quell this love; if anything it made it even stronger - the inherent danger of what we had come to take for granted made it even more compelling.
There's always talk about the direction the space program should take. Some want to explore Mars; others can't see the value of spending billions of taxpayer dollars on exploration (the value of space exploration is not necessarily what we find out there, but what we come up with to help us get out there). A manned mission to Mars would be the next logical step for the space program - having man set foot on another planet would be quite the technological feat indeed.
In four days we'll celebrate the actual landing of the Eagle on the moon's surface; we'll be treated to "One small step" over and over again; we'll hear rhetoric about how we must revive the space program. Perhaps some will talk about how we haven't been back to the moon since the mid 1970s despite quantum advances in technology, computers, and propulsion. More forward thinkers might look to future advances and how they might affect space travel; near-light speed or perhaps even faster-than-light, the proverbial "warp" speed of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek universe.
In any case, it's a fascinating time to be alive.
That is all.
I've always been fascinated with space and space travel, growing up as a child of the '70s and '80s. Star Wars, Star Trek; Asimov, Bradbury; Robert Goddard and Werner von Braun; science fiction and fact have always held a vice-like grip on my imagination. Watching the Challenger disaster on TV in 1986 did little to quell this love; if anything it made it even stronger - the inherent danger of what we had come to take for granted made it even more compelling.
There's always talk about the direction the space program should take. Some want to explore Mars; others can't see the value of spending billions of taxpayer dollars on exploration (the value of space exploration is not necessarily what we find out there, but what we come up with to help us get out there). A manned mission to Mars would be the next logical step for the space program - having man set foot on another planet would be quite the technological feat indeed.
In four days we'll celebrate the actual landing of the Eagle on the moon's surface; we'll be treated to "One small step" over and over again; we'll hear rhetoric about how we must revive the space program. Perhaps some will talk about how we haven't been back to the moon since the mid 1970s despite quantum advances in technology, computers, and propulsion. More forward thinkers might look to future advances and how they might affect space travel; near-light speed or perhaps even faster-than-light, the proverbial "warp" speed of Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek universe.
In any case, it's a fascinating time to be alive.
That is all.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The Ideal Juxtaposition!
Bacon Flavored Ice Cream Sizzles For Business
Mmmm. Bacon shakes... [drooool]
I love this part:
I'm guessing that Pounds (talk about the holy mother of all ironic names!) experimented for three days until she got the desired taste. The way it's written, though, it gives the impression that she sat there eating bacon-flavored ice cream until she liked it. Which I am totally cool with...
Bacon-flavored ice cream - perfect for the bacone.
That is all.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- From bacon shakes to beer flavored ice cream, wacky flavors are proving to be a crowd favorite.
For Moo Creamery in the southwest, experimenting with different flavors has worked out in their favor.
Mmmm. Bacon shakes... [drooool]
I love this part:
"A friend of mine loves bacon on everything, so she had asked me to make bacon ice cream. So I had a home ice cream maker and I made it and thought it was a terrible idea. So she had me try it and after three days of tasting it I finally thought it was good," said Pounds.
I'm guessing that Pounds (talk about the holy mother of all ironic names!) experimented for three days until she got the desired taste. The way it's written, though, it gives the impression that she sat there eating bacon-flavored ice cream until she liked it. Which I am totally cool with...
Bacon-flavored ice cream - perfect for the bacone.
That is all.
Why I Carry, Part n...
A call to recollect, act for justice
(emphasis mine)
Got that? 20 violent crime CONVICTIONS and this monster was still out on the street. He was free to terrorize - and kill - more victims thanks to our revolving door justice system. At the time of the murder, Gentile was 31 years old - meaning that he'd had those 20 convictions for violent crimes in just 13 short years.
Please, for the love of all that's good and holy, please tell me how any gun control measure is going to stop such a monster when we steadfastly refuse to punish them.
This inhuman piece of shit should have received 5 rounds of .38 Special through his sternum that night, rather than a school teacher losing her life. That's what should happen in a truly enlightened society. Instead, our "justice" system failed us twice - first, for not keeping this violent savage off the street, and second, for placing high hurdles on owning and carrying the best means of protection.
As long as the MA "justice" system continues their "catch-and-release" program for violent offenders, I'll have 5 X 158 grains of .357 Magnum deterrence on my person, thank you very much...
That is all.
Thirty-seven red, blue, and green balloons sailed across a clear sky above Beacon Hill yesterday afternoon, 10 of them representing the years that Melissa Gosule would have and should have lived.
The 27-year-old teacher from Jamaica Plain was raped and fatally stabbed in July 1999 by Michael P. Gentile, a man who had offered her a ride home when her car broke down on Cape Cod and who had been convicted of at least 20 previous violent crimes.
(emphasis mine)
Got that? 20 violent crime CONVICTIONS and this monster was still out on the street. He was free to terrorize - and kill - more victims thanks to our revolving door justice system. At the time of the murder, Gentile was 31 years old - meaning that he'd had those 20 convictions for violent crimes in just 13 short years.
Please, for the love of all that's good and holy, please tell me how any gun control measure is going to stop such a monster when we steadfastly refuse to punish them.
This inhuman piece of shit should have received 5 rounds of .38 Special through his sternum that night, rather than a school teacher losing her life. That's what should happen in a truly enlightened society. Instead, our "justice" system failed us twice - first, for not keeping this violent savage off the street, and second, for placing high hurdles on owning and carrying the best means of protection.
As long as the MA "justice" system continues their "catch-and-release" program for violent offenders, I'll have 5 X 158 grains of .357 Magnum deterrence on my person, thank you very much...
That is all.
Way Cool!
From iPhone Apps to Beer Holders, Killer Accessories for Your Guns
Here's the application:
Of course, some would argue I don't need a sophisticated computer program to plot the flight of my rounds into the berm...
The iPhone mounted inside of a protective case on this M110 semiautomatic sniper rifle can make detailed ballistic calculations with the BulletFlight app. It can determine the effects of windage, distance, air pressure, humidity and temperature, which makes dialing in the position of the scope’s crosshairs far easier. ThinkYou can also surf the web at the range. How cool would that be?
different, and then take the perfect shot.
Here's the application:
Of course, some would argue I don't need a sophisticated computer program to plot the flight of my rounds into the berm... That is all.
You Might Be A Biker If...
In the tradition of the "You Might Be A Gun Nut If..." series, here's some signs that you might be a biker:
- You deliberately look for the longest distance between two points.
- You've gone out for ice cream - two states away.
- Your commute to work sees you getting waved at by half a dozen kids.
- You buy jackets based on thickness.
- Staying warm takes on a whole new meaning.
- You own two pairs of shoes, but six pairs of gloves.
- You anticipate your helmet turning five years old so you can buy a new one.
- You haven't washed your car since Bill Clinton was in office, but your bike gets washed every week and waxed once a month.
- Fall foliage perplexes you - you don't know whether to celebrate the amazing riding or curse the approach of winter.
- Some people have sun lamps to help get them through winter's darkest days. You have a set of handlebars.
- A critter in the road takes on a whole new meaning - a much more dangerous one.
- Your clothes, your car, and your body sport some version of the bar & shield.
- Glock vs. 1911? Pshaw. Harley vs. metric.
- You own clothing that plugs in.
- You recognize any of these products: Draggin' Jeans, Joe Rocket, THH, S&S, or Vance & Hines.
- You can't watch CHiPs without wondering how many metric tons of bugs "Ponch" would be pulling out of his teeth.
- You know the two types of rider: Those that have gone down, and those that are going to go down.
That's a good start. So, for the bikers on the blogroll and out in reader-ville, what are your "you might be a biker if" choices?
That is all.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Bookend...
Sometimes, things just fall into place. My brother-from-another-mother David has posted the perfect companion piece to my "Too Many" post this morning.
Go. Read. Enjoy how David shines the beacon of knowledge on the cockroaches of ignorance...
That is all.
Go. Read. Enjoy how David shines the beacon of knowledge on the cockroaches of ignorance...
That is all.
The American Spirit...
...Is alive and well in MA. Oh, sure, it's kids being kids, doing something stupid and getting caught at it, but you've just got to hand it to these kids:
Boxford police break up huge teen house party
(emphasis mine)
{sniff}Brings a tear to your eye, it does... These kids, showing the spirit that made America great, realized that they had a problem. They had a party planned. A big party. They knew that a whole bunch 'o' cars parked outside the house would bring unwanted attention, so they formed a plan. A cunning plan. A bold plan. And, as is most often when teenagers are involved, a stupid plan.
These kids get the MArooned Seal of Approval™ for thinking outside the box and applying creative thinking to a traditional problem.
That is all.
Boxford police break up huge teen house party
Boxford and state police rounded up more than 60 teens following the bust of a large house party Sunday night and Monday morning on Herrick Road. The incident is considered the largest illegal house party Boxford has seen in recent history, according to local police.
A sign advertising a 50th birthday party outside of 24 Herrick Road didn’t fool police when they stopped by to follow up on a noise complaint around 11 p.m.
(emphasis mine)
{sniff}Brings a tear to your eye, it does... These kids, showing the spirit that made America great, realized that they had a problem. They had a party planned. A big party. They knew that a whole bunch 'o' cars parked outside the house would bring unwanted attention, so they formed a plan. A cunning plan. A bold plan. And, as is most often when teenagers are involved, a stupid plan.
These kids get the MArooned Seal of Approval™ for thinking outside the box and applying creative thinking to a traditional problem.
That is all.
Overheard in the G. House...
So TheBoy has started watching Animal Planet. It's welcome break from Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, so we indulge him from time to time. He especially likes the "Man-vs-nature" stories that they run from time to time - go figure, a young male likes stories about animals attacking people. Blood, guts, gore, etc. - everything a young boy needs...
He saw this one story about a woman who was attacked by a brown bear. She was hiking with her son in the woods when she was attacked. She yelled out that she was being attacked, and her son didn't believe her at first, because she was an inverterate practical joker. Obviously, once he came on the scene and saw her being attacked, he helped drive the bear off.
So TheBoy and I started talking about that. I'm known for playing the occasional practical joke (go figure), so he says,
"Daddy, that could happen to us! You could get attacked by a bear and I wouldn't believe you because you play jokes on me!"
I couldn't help it. Before I had a chance to censor myself, I replied,
"Buddy, you'd know if it were a joke or real. If it were a joke, you'd just hear Daddy talking."
[pause]
"If it were real, you'd hear [BANG][BANG][BANG][BANG][BANG][BANG] first"...
Even Mrs. G. laughed at that one...
That is all
He saw this one story about a woman who was attacked by a brown bear. She was hiking with her son in the woods when she was attacked. She yelled out that she was being attacked, and her son didn't believe her at first, because she was an inverterate practical joker. Obviously, once he came on the scene and saw her being attacked, he helped drive the bear off.
So TheBoy and I started talking about that. I'm known for playing the occasional practical joke (go figure), so he says,
"Daddy, that could happen to us! You could get attacked by a bear and I wouldn't believe you because you play jokes on me!"
I couldn't help it. Before I had a chance to censor myself, I replied,
"Buddy, you'd know if it were a joke or real. If it were a joke, you'd just hear Daddy talking."
[pause]
"If it were real, you'd hear [BANG][BANG][BANG][BANG][BANG][BANG] first"...
Even Mrs. G. laughed at that one...
That is all
How Much Is Too Much?
So, the whole "You might be a gun nut if" thing got me to thinking, always a frightening prospect. There are as many possible designators of being a gun nut as there are, in fact, gun nuts out there - we're a slippery crowd, and trying to buttonhole us into tidy little groups is doomed to fail. There are anarchists side-by-side with anti-government right wingers and government-is-the-only-answer left wingers. Trying to lump us all into one mindset is an exercise in sheer folly.
One of the defining "you might be a gun nut if" characteristics is that we all tend to have "too many" guns. Now, how many guns constitutes "too many" is a subject for intense scrutiny and debate - to the Sarah Brady's and Rebecca Peters' out there, one gun is "too many". Even so much as a single-shot .22LR is too much power for one person to possess and must be squelched. For others, one or two guns is okay, so long as neither is a "scary" rifle or a handgun. Still others wouldn't dream of saying "hey, that's really too many guns" unless the armory was the size of a large city - or Rhode Island...
It brings to mind a larger question, though. If we can't even agree on how many guns is "too much", how can we possibly offer up ideas like "one gun a month" laws? Why is one gun a month the magic number? Why not one gun a year? Or one gun a lifetime? I mean, if we can own even one gun, can't they claim the second amendment is still intact? As long as we have one single-shot .22LR rifle, that must be stored under lock and key in a secure, separate facility, then we can keep (own) and bear (use at the range under armed guard) arms. Right?
To some of these people, this is perfectly legitimate thinking...
Imagine, if you will, claiming that the government had the right to censor the radio waves, TV transmissions, and the internet simply because those media did not exist back in the days of our founding fathers. Certainly they could never have envisioned a world where information was transmitted instantaneously, right? They would have agreed that controls would be needed over this incredibly powerful method of getting the word out, certainly.
Sounds silly, doesn't it?
Yet the anti-gun forces have no qualms about arguing - with a straight face, no less - that the second amendment should only cover muskets and other 18th century weaponry. Or they argue the collective end - that the "militia" mentioned in the wording of the second amendment refers to the National Guard. That, as John Kerry intones, if one wishes to possess firearms, one must join the military. Or, more succinctly, in the hands of private citizens, "too many" firearms is any number greater than zero.
Fortunately for all of us, their numbers are in the distinct minority, and falling all the while. As we shine the light of education upon the ignorant, their emotional appeals fall on increasingly deaf ears. As more and more years go by and places like Texas and Florida are not awash in bloodshed as a result of shall-issue concealed carry, the shrill warnings of "blood in the streets" become more and more hollow. As more average folks - read: non-gun-nuts - see that the antis rely on lies, obfuscations, and raw appeals to emotion and not logic or facts, we win.
Keep up the good fight everyone. I'm damn proud to be on your team.
That is all.
One of the defining "you might be a gun nut if" characteristics is that we all tend to have "too many" guns. Now, how many guns constitutes "too many" is a subject for intense scrutiny and debate - to the Sarah Brady's and Rebecca Peters' out there, one gun is "too many". Even so much as a single-shot .22LR is too much power for one person to possess and must be squelched. For others, one or two guns is okay, so long as neither is a "scary" rifle or a handgun. Still others wouldn't dream of saying "hey, that's really too many guns" unless the armory was the size of a large city - or Rhode Island...
It brings to mind a larger question, though. If we can't even agree on how many guns is "too much", how can we possibly offer up ideas like "one gun a month" laws? Why is one gun a month the magic number? Why not one gun a year? Or one gun a lifetime? I mean, if we can own even one gun, can't they claim the second amendment is still intact? As long as we have one single-shot .22LR rifle, that must be stored under lock and key in a secure, separate facility, then we can keep (own) and bear (use at the range under armed guard) arms. Right?
To some of these people, this is perfectly legitimate thinking...
Imagine, if you will, claiming that the government had the right to censor the radio waves, TV transmissions, and the internet simply because those media did not exist back in the days of our founding fathers. Certainly they could never have envisioned a world where information was transmitted instantaneously, right? They would have agreed that controls would be needed over this incredibly powerful method of getting the word out, certainly.
Sounds silly, doesn't it?
Yet the anti-gun forces have no qualms about arguing - with a straight face, no less - that the second amendment should only cover muskets and other 18th century weaponry. Or they argue the collective end - that the "militia" mentioned in the wording of the second amendment refers to the National Guard. That, as John Kerry intones, if one wishes to possess firearms, one must join the military. Or, more succinctly, in the hands of private citizens, "too many" firearms is any number greater than zero.
Fortunately for all of us, their numbers are in the distinct minority, and falling all the while. As we shine the light of education upon the ignorant, their emotional appeals fall on increasingly deaf ears. As more and more years go by and places like Texas and Florida are not awash in bloodshed as a result of shall-issue concealed carry, the shrill warnings of "blood in the streets" become more and more hollow. As more average folks - read: non-gun-nuts - see that the antis rely on lies, obfuscations, and raw appeals to emotion and not logic or facts, we win.
Keep up the good fight everyone. I'm damn proud to be on your team.
That is all.
Monday, July 13, 2009
{Blink}{Blink} Whut the Hell?
Saudi family sues genie, alleges harassment
Am I the only one who sees an incongruity between "genie" and "cell phones"?
Folks, if you believe in technology to the point of carrying around a cell phone, it's probably time to stop believing in fairies ("Oh Lisa, those are imaginary, like elves, gremlins, or Eskimos"). On the plus side, it is heartening to see that the "batshit crazy" genre of news item isn't limited to American and British newspapers...
That is all.
(CNN) -- A family in Saudi Arabia has taken a genie to court, alleging theft and harassment, according to local media.
The lawsuit filed in Shariah court accuses the genie of leaving them threatening voicemails, stealing their cell phones and hurling rocks at them when they leave their house at night, said Al-Watan newspaper.
Am I the only one who sees an incongruity between "genie" and "cell phones"?
Folks, if you believe in technology to the point of carrying around a cell phone, it's probably time to stop believing in fairies ("Oh Lisa, those are imaginary, like elves, gremlins, or Eskimos"). On the plus side, it is heartening to see that the "batshit crazy" genre of news item isn't limited to American and British newspapers...
That is all.
OGNTSA*
"An Act to Reduce Firearm Violence".
Which apparently means, "Bend over, law-abiding gun owners of Massachusetts, you're about to take it in the shorts. Again".
GOAL (Gun Owner's Action League) has a breakdown of this Act here. In a nutshell, Cadillac Deval is finally getting around to bending over MA gunowners just like he promised when he was elected in 2006. Here are some of the proposals he's suggesting in the state that already has some of the harshest gun control in the nation:
Which apparently means, "Bend over, law-abiding gun owners of Massachusetts, you're about to take it in the shorts. Again".
GOAL (Gun Owner's Action League) has a breakdown of this Act here. In a nutshell, Cadillac Deval is finally getting around to bending over MA gunowners just like he promised when he was elected in 2006. Here are some of the proposals he's suggesting in the state that already has some of the harshest gun control in the nation:
- One-gun-a-month limit (also applies to "high capacity" [>10 rounds] magazines)
- No more private transfers
- Releases the names of gun owners to the media
- Mandates that confiscated weapons (i.e. when someone lets their license expire) be destroyed rather than auctioned off.
For MA Gun-owners and other freedom-loving residents, here's a list of members on the MA judiciary committee that will oversee this bill. This "Act" comes up for public debate tomorrow. Please call and write every member and (very politely) let them know how this bill will negatively impact the law-abiding gun owners of MA while doing nothing to reduce crime. Point to states like NJ, which have one-gun-a-month laws, for evidence that these laws do nothing to reduce crime. Point out the significant MA budget deficit and how destroying confiscated weapons rather than auctioning them off deprives the state of much-needed funding.
This is complete and utter nonsense, feel-good anti-gun fluff put up by a desperate governor trying to stay relevant by kicking gun-owners. Don't let him get away with it.
That is all.
*Oh G-d, not this sh!t again
Not What I Thought
Patrick accuses zoo officials of scare tactics
For the record, I agree with Governor Cadillac. Claiming that budget cuts will result in having to kill animals is beyond the pale, even by Boston standards (Boston proud motto: Come enjoy our mobster-shaped speed bumps!). Then again, I was pretty bummed to find out that's what the scare tactic actually was - I was hoping the zoo was threatening to release the animals in downtown Boston...
I mean, honestly, the thought of lions and tigers (and bears, oh my) running through Beacon Hill just kicks over my giggle box...
That is all.
Governor Deval Patrick yesterday accused Zoo New England officials of creating a false and inflammatory scare with their warning that state budget cuts may force them to close two Greater Boston zoos and euthanize some animals.
“As a supporter of the zoo and a parent who has visited often, the governor is disappointed to learn that Zoo New England has responded to this difficult but unavoidable budget cut by spreading inaccurate and incendiary information,’’ Kyle Sullivan, a spokesman for the governor, said in a statement.
For the record, I agree with Governor Cadillac. Claiming that budget cuts will result in having to kill animals is beyond the pale, even by Boston standards (Boston proud motto: Come enjoy our mobster-shaped speed bumps!). Then again, I was pretty bummed to find out that's what the scare tactic actually was - I was hoping the zoo was threatening to release the animals in downtown Boston...
I mean, honestly, the thought of lions and tigers (and bears, oh my) running through Beacon Hill just kicks over my giggle box...
That is all.
Northeast Blogger Shoot, Summer Edition Update Part II...
Original post here; first update here.
Okay. I think this is set now. We've got a place. We've got a time. We've got folks showing up. We've got all the makings of a Northeast Blogger Summer Shoot!!!
First, let's present the specifics:
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM EST until 5:00 PM/dusk/cops get called/we get kicked out
Location: Area 12, doubletrouble's sooper seekrit (and very heavily guarded) private range. Invitation only.
Attendees:
doubletrouble
JD
Andrew
Borepatch
Marko
Lissa
weer'd beard
zeeke42
MedicMatthew
Possible:
ZerCool
brad_in_ma
Paul
mopar
wally
David
Bennett
TOTWTYTR
libertyman
The Saj
Wow. 10 definites and 10 possibles. With less than three weeks to go, let's work on getting more of those "possibles" turned into "definites", okay? We've got a definitive date. We've got a time. We have a private range where the only hard-and-fast rules are that the owner's word is LAW and the Four Rules must be obeyed at all times. Other than that, it's all good. There's plenty of guns to go around; plenty of cherished children's toys to bayonet, and much talkie-talkie with wicked smaht folks to be had...
So who else wants in on the shootie - and bayonetie - goodness?
That is all.
Second Annual Northeast Blogger Shoot Meet & Shootin' Spectacular!!!
Okay. I think this is set now. We've got a place. We've got a time. We've got folks showing up. We've got all the makings of a Northeast Blogger Summer Shoot!!!
First, let's present the specifics:
Date: Sunday, August 2nd, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM EST until 5:00 PM/dusk/cops get called/we get kicked out
Location: Area 12, doubletrouble's sooper seekrit (and very heavily guarded) private range. Invitation only.
Attendees:
doubletrouble
JD
Andrew
Borepatch
Marko
Lissa
weer'd beard
zeeke42
MedicMatthew
Possible:
ZerCool
brad_in_ma
Paul
mopar
wally
David
Bennett
TOTWTYTR
libertyman
The Saj
Wow. 10 definites and 10 possibles. With less than three weeks to go, let's work on getting more of those "possibles" turned into "definites", okay? We've got a definitive date. We've got a time. We have a private range where the only hard-and-fast rules are that the owner's word is LAW and the Four Rules must be obeyed at all times. Other than that, it's all good. There's plenty of guns to go around; plenty of cherished children's toys to bayonet, and much talkie-talkie with wicked smaht folks to be had...
So who else wants in on the shootie - and bayonetie - goodness?
That is all.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Saturday Afternoon Music...
Ever since my "Music for TEOTWAWKI" post, I've had this song stuck in my head:
Sing it, Joey...
That is all.
Sing it, Joey...
That is all.
Lookin' On The Bright Side...
Just sat down and wrote out my electric bill for May/June. As I wrote out the check, it struck me that this was a rather small bill, proportionately, when compared to previous years and the start of summer. So I started flipping back through my checkbook, and had to flip back over a year before I found a month where we spent less on electricity...
Y'see, because the summer so far has been so pathetically below normal, we haven't been using the air conditioning at all. We typically see our electric bill double in July and August, with a steep increase in May and a gradual decline in September due to the cost of cooling our house. We have central AC, which is really nice from a comfort perspective - it also keeps the house free of pollen and dust from not having the windows open. But so far this year it has been turned on once, for an afternoon, back in May...
{Insert obligatory snark about Global Warming and "ZOMG TEH ICE CAPZ IZ MELTIN' AND TEH POLAR BEARZ IS DYIN'..."}
That is all.
Y'see, because the summer so far has been so pathetically below normal, we haven't been using the air conditioning at all. We typically see our electric bill double in July and August, with a steep increase in May and a gradual decline in September due to the cost of cooling our house. We have central AC, which is really nice from a comfort perspective - it also keeps the house free of pollen and dust from not having the windows open. But so far this year it has been turned on once, for an afternoon, back in May...
{Insert obligatory snark about Global Warming and "ZOMG TEH ICE CAPZ IZ MELTIN' AND TEH POLAR BEARZ IS DYIN'..."}
That is all.
This is a Strategy?
House Dems to levy new tax on wealthy to pay for health care
Equally sad - and frightening - is this little snippet:
Bruce had it right - we'll be seeing the term "quadrillion" with regards to the deficit or fed spending within the year.
That is all.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee Friday proposed a graduated tax on wealthy Americans to pay for health care reform, to several Democratic sources tell CNN.Is there really nothing new under the sun? This is what passes for ideas in today's Congress? Tax the wealthy? I mean, I know that new ideas have been short in supply in the 0bama administration so far - about as rare as a non-party hack in the admin - but this is just sad.
The new tax would kick in for individuals who make over between $280,000 to $400,000 per year and for married couples who make from $350,000 to 500,000 per year, imposing a 1 percent tax on their adjusted gross income.
Equally sad - and frightening - is this little snippet:
Sources say the new tax is expected to bring in $540 billion over ten years. This new revenue, combined with approximately $500 billion in projected savings from health care reforms, would offset the roughly $1 trillion that the House Democrats' health care bill is expected to cost, they said. The Congressional Budget Office has not released its cost estimate yet on the House bill.Got that? They're magically "saving" half a trillion dollars from "health care reforms" - can anyone point out what these magic reforms actually are? Are 0bama's magic unicorns going to start performing MRIs? This administration is now throwing around completely fabricated figures to the tune of trillions now.
Bruce had it right - we'll be seeing the term "quadrillion" with regards to the deficit or fed spending within the year.
That is all.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Blogroll Updates...
Hoo boy. Got a whole bunch of new blogs as well as some updates.
New blogs:
1. Ballistic Arc. Tirno states his reason for blogging as:
Heh.
2. The Survivalist Blog. Here's the intro: "My name is M.D. Creekmore and I write The Survivalist Blog to help others prepare for an uncertain future." I like it.
3. Monster Hunter Nation. Yes, the man himself, Larry Correia, hasseen through my syncophantic ranting been kind enough to link me on MHN... I'm geekin' out so bad I think I need to go to a Trek convention...
4. Be A Survivor. Flea states: "Be A Suvivor is all about disaster preparedness and survivival. We also do reviews of equipment and books to help our readers make informed decisions." Making informed decisions. We could use more of that.
5. Keep Texas Zombie Free. Hell, the name alone was worth a slot on the blogroll. Anything that spreads the word about killing those filthyhippies zombies is good in my book.
And the update:
Will's Workbench is now on Wordpress. Adjust blogrolls accordingly.
80% of the new blogs and 100% of the updates were sent to me via e-mail. I love it - the message is getting through. But just in case you missed it, the standard disclaimer applies:
If you'recrazy kind enough to add MArooned to your blogroll, please let me know so I can reciprocate...
That is all.
New blogs:
1. Ballistic Arc. Tirno states his reason for blogging as:
They say 90% of everything is crap. Due to the magic of the internet, I'd increase that by a power of three. So why would I want to dive into the compost pile that is the blogosphere, with the narcissists, idiots and [insert topic] geeks?
'Cuz I has to. Shucky-darn.
Heh.
2. The Survivalist Blog. Here's the intro: "My name is M.D. Creekmore and I write The Survivalist Blog to help others prepare for an uncertain future." I like it.
3. Monster Hunter Nation. Yes, the man himself, Larry Correia, has
4. Be A Survivor. Flea states: "Be A Suvivor is all about disaster preparedness and survivival. We also do reviews of equipment and books to help our readers make informed decisions." Making informed decisions. We could use more of that.
5. Keep Texas Zombie Free. Hell, the name alone was worth a slot on the blogroll. Anything that spreads the word about killing those filthy
And the update:
Will's Workbench is now on Wordpress. Adjust blogrolls accordingly.
80% of the new blogs and 100% of the updates were sent to me via e-mail. I love it - the message is getting through. But just in case you missed it, the standard disclaimer applies:
If you're
That is all.
Gun Nut, Defined...
New Jovian Thunderbolt tackles the herculean task of defining what makes someone a gun nut.
He's got a good list, and I've got a few additions of my own:
He's got a good list, and I've got a few additions of my own:
- If you've ever bought a firearm because you have the same gun but it's too sentimental/fragile/dangerous to shoot, you might be a gun nut.
- If you carry a gun for self-defense and base wardrobe decisions around your carry piece, you might be a gun nut.
- If you've bought magazines for a particular firearm knowing that they were less-than-adequate, but wanted more for range time, you might be a gun nut.
- If you've ever bought a gun you didn't particularly care for simply because there was a chance it could be banned, you're almost certainly a gun nut.
- If you see a cop/security guard's sidearm and your first thought is "Glock, Sig, or S&W?", you might be a gun nut.
- If you bought a firearm accessory solely for the purpose of making said firearm "more evil", you are definitely a gun nut.
- If you've bought a magazine/holster/other random accessory for a gun you haven't fired in 10 years, you might be a gun nut.
- If you get e-mail newsletters from more than one firearms warehouse or gun store, you're a gun nut.
- If the employees of the local gun store know you by sight, you're a gun nut.
- If the employees of said local gun store call you up if you haven't been by in a week and they're concerned for your health, you're definitely a gun nut...
What are your own "you might be a gun nut if" answers?
That is all.
Friday Fun Thread: Da Fuzz!
Yesterday's treatise on what to look for in an unmarked car yields today's Top Ten List:
Top Ten Cop Cars.
1. 1970s Plymouth Fury III. Okay. Years and years of watching "The Dukes of Hazzard" have forever imprinted the 1970s Fury on my brain as the ne plus ultra of police cars. And I guarantee you that this is the first time that "Dukes of Hazzard" and "ne plus ultra" have ever been used in the same paragraph here at MArooned...
2. 1992+ Ford Crown Victoria. The current incarnation of the 'Vic, the very last of the full-size cars available to the general motoring public, this is probably the best known cop car on the road today.
3. 1991-1996 Chevrolet Caprice. How popular was the last model of the Chevrolet Caprice? So popular that police departments were sending them out to be rehabbed rather than trade them in on a Ford. And that's with the design flaw of the door-mounted seatbelt!
4. 1987 Buick Gran National. Yes, the Connecticut State Police used the Gran National as part of their unmarked fleet. BADASS.
5. 1974 Dodge Monaco. It's got a cop motor, a 440-cubic-inch plant. It's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters, so it'll run good on regular gas.
6. 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. This is a classic in anyone's book. In police car form, it's almost too good to chase after the baddies...
7. 2009 Dodge Charger. Yeah. it's got a Hemi. Yeah, that Hemi's got 370+ horsepower. You can run from it, you'll just lose. And pad your ticket... The new Charger police car has the mortal lock on the "badass" look today.
8. 1984 Chevrolet Caprice. This is a personal favorite, as it was the last MSP car to grace our driveway before my dad retired. Hey, I'm a sentimental guy when it comes to my cars...
9. 1988 Ford Mustang LX 5.0. The MA State Police used these as their interceptor vehicles in the late '80s/early 1990s, and it seemed to be a natural fit for the job. The 'Stang shown was an actual CA Highway Patrol car.
10. 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon. Oh hell yes. Mad Max's cruiser gets an honorable mention on the list.
So there's my list of my favorite police cars. Granted, none of these make the list if they're pulled in behind me with the lights on, but all are pretty darn neat in their own right.
What cool cop cars make your list?
That is all.
Top Ten Cop Cars.
1. 1970s Plymouth Fury III. Okay. Years and years of watching "The Dukes of Hazzard" have forever imprinted the 1970s Fury on my brain as the ne plus ultra of police cars. And I guarantee you that this is the first time that "Dukes of Hazzard" and "ne plus ultra" have ever been used in the same paragraph here at MArooned...
2. 1992+ Ford Crown Victoria. The current incarnation of the 'Vic, the very last of the full-size cars available to the general motoring public, this is probably the best known cop car on the road today.
3. 1991-1996 Chevrolet Caprice. How popular was the last model of the Chevrolet Caprice? So popular that police departments were sending them out to be rehabbed rather than trade them in on a Ford. And that's with the design flaw of the door-mounted seatbelt!
4. 1987 Buick Gran National. Yes, the Connecticut State Police used the Gran National as part of their unmarked fleet. BADASS.
5. 1974 Dodge Monaco. It's got a cop motor, a 440-cubic-inch plant. It's got cop tires, cop suspensions, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters, so it'll run good on regular gas.
6. 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. This is a classic in anyone's book. In police car form, it's almost too good to chase after the baddies...
7. 2009 Dodge Charger. Yeah. it's got a Hemi. Yeah, that Hemi's got 370+ horsepower. You can run from it, you'll just lose. And pad your ticket... The new Charger police car has the mortal lock on the "badass" look today.
8. 1984 Chevrolet Caprice. This is a personal favorite, as it was the last MSP car to grace our driveway before my dad retired. Hey, I'm a sentimental guy when it comes to my cars...
9. 1988 Ford Mustang LX 5.0. The MA State Police used these as their interceptor vehicles in the late '80s/early 1990s, and it seemed to be a natural fit for the job. The 'Stang shown was an actual CA Highway Patrol car.
10. 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon. Oh hell yes. Mad Max's cruiser gets an honorable mention on the list.
So there's my list of my favorite police cars. Granted, none of these make the list if they're pulled in behind me with the lights on, but all are pretty darn neat in their own right.
What cool cop cars make your list?
That is all.
Friday Gun Pr0n #119
Today's subject is something different. Radically different. This is a weapon that's primitive yet modern, outdated yet timeless, a throwback yet cool. It's deadly, has ammunition that can be reused, and is utterly silent save for the mechanism of action itself.
What could it be? None other than:
Yep. The G. armory contains a crossbow.
I don't remember when I picked this up; it was pre-kid, that's about the only certainty. It's a generic, definitely entry-level crossbow, certainly nothing you'd hunt with or dare display at the local hunting lodge for fear of being laughed out of the building. It's basically the Hi-Point of crossbows, which for my purposes (general sticking of arrows into stacks of phone books) was more than sufficient for what I wanted.
Did I mention I have a crossbow?
That is all.
What could it be? None other than:
Crossbow!
Yep. The G. armory contains a crossbow.
I don't remember when I picked this up; it was pre-kid, that's about the only certainty. It's a generic, definitely entry-level crossbow, certainly nothing you'd hunt with or dare display at the local hunting lodge for fear of being laughed out of the building. It's basically the Hi-Point of crossbows, which for my purposes (general sticking of arrows into stacks of phone books) was more than sufficient for what I wanted.
Did I mention I have a crossbow?
That is all.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Life Imitates Heinlein...
What Does Life-Extending Drug Mean for Humans?
And here I was thinking that blood replacement was the secret?
What's especially interesting is this:
28% increase over an 80-year lifespan is a not-inconsequential 22.4 years. Not quite approaching Lazarus Long capacity, but it's a start... The real question, of course, is whether we'll improve plastic surgery to the point of calling it "rejuvenation"...
That is all.
A natural compound used as an immunosuppressant in organ-transplant patients has been found to extend life in mice, according to a study published on July 8 in the journal Nature. Aging mice that were given the substance, rapamycin, lived significantly longer than mice that didn't get the drug: females that received rapamycin were 13% older at death and males 9% older.
The research, conducted as part of the National Institute of Aging Interventions Testing Program, took place at three separate test sites and involved nearly 2,000 genetically similar mice. Trials began when mice were about 600 days old — well into middle age, at a stage roughly equivalent to 60-year-old humans. (See the top 10 medical breakthroughs of 2008.)
And here I was thinking that blood replacement was the secret?
What's especially interesting is this:
However, even administered late in life, rapamycin delayed the deaths of the longest-lived male mice by 101 days and by 151 days in the longest-lived females — the equivalent of about 13 years on average in humans — compared with mice with no treatment. In terms of life expectancy when treatment began (or average remaining lifespan when the mice were 600 days old), that translates to an increase of 38% in female mice and 28% in males.
28% increase over an 80-year lifespan is a not-inconsequential 22.4 years. Not quite approaching Lazarus Long capacity, but it's a start... The real question, of course, is whether we'll improve plastic surgery to the point of calling it "rejuvenation"...
That is all.
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise...
Really, honestly, truly, does this surprise anyone with two brain cells to rub together?
Billions in aid go to areas that backed Obama in '08
Sure. Pull the other one...
That is all.
Billions in aid go to areas that backed Obama in '08
WASHINGTON — Billions of dollars in federal aid delivered directly to the local level to help revive the economy have gone overwhelmingly to places that supported President Obama in last year's presidential election.
That aid — about $17 billion — is the first piece of the administration's massive stimulus package that can be tracked locally. Much of it has followed a well-worn path to places that regularly collect a bigger share of federal grants and contracts, guided by formulas that have been in place for decades and leave little room for manipulation.
Sure. Pull the other one...
That is all.
News You Can Use pt. 2
How to ID covert cop cars
I'll spare you the list, but in a nutshell, the things to look for are:
(AOL Autos) -- If you have a heavy foot and may travel a bit over the speed limit, you might want to keep an eye out for these popular police car models.
I'll spare you the list, but in a nutshell, the things to look for are:
- Crown Vic. The Ford Crown Victoria has been a police car staple since at least the late 1970s, and has been pretty much the exclusive full-size car since GM stupidly dropped the Caprice in 1996.
- Dodge Charger. The Charger is smaller and lighter than the 'Vic, but with the 390+ HP Hemi has more than enough oomph for its role as interceptor.
- Ford Mustang. Police agencies have been using 'Stangs as interceptors since at least the mid-1980s 5.0L model.
Realistically, this covers 95+% of the unmarked cars you're likely to come across on the highways and byways of America. Most cities don't get more creative than an all-white version of whatever model car they use for cruisers; it's the highway patrol/state police that tend to have more options available to them.
What to look for? Lights in the grill are an obvious giveaway. Look for a perfect finish - for whatever reason, the unmarked cars are typically kept in much better condition than the standard cruiser. Dual exhaust on a model that doesn't typically come with twin pipes. Plain hubcaps - this is truest on the Vics.
ETA: Tinted windows. Quite often, the windows will be tinted to hide/obscure the light bars. Now, in states like FLA where most cars have tinted windows this might not be such a giveaway. In states like NH or MA, though, where tinted windows are either illegal or limited, it's a giant neon sign that screams "UNMARKED CAR"... Thanks to OrangeNeckInNY for the tip!
Basically, if it looks like a cop car, odds are it *is* a cop car...
That is all.
PS: Hmmm. "Top Ten Police Models" sounds like a killer idea for tomorrow's Fun Thread...
Six Years...
A couple of weeks ago, I got curious and started looking around my blogfather's site. Specifically, the archives. I knew I started blogging there shortly after my daughter was born. Well, a few minutes' worth of digging and I found my first post ever.
Six years ago today, I wrote my very first post. Wow...
That is all.
Six years ago today, I wrote my very first post. Wow...
That is all.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Can't... Resist... Snark...
Mayor puts best foot forward in aircast
I wonder how he got socked in the mouth with all the police protection he has?
That is all.
The mayor, trying to give Hub commerce a kick, hopped along in an aircast today as he led members of the International Council of Shopping Centers on a guided tour of Newbury Street and the Back Bay.
Mayor Thomas M. Menino was making the best of a sore situation, his spokeswoman said.“His foot is bothering him. There’s nothing broken, nothing sprained,” said Dot Joyce, noting that Menino’s foot was being immobilized in a padded boot to treat soreness.
I wonder how he got socked in the mouth with all the police protection he has?
That is all.
That Word You Keep Using...
...I do not think it means what you think it means...
Sotomayor critics step up rhetoric before hearing
(emphasis mine)
Got that? ZOMG TEH EEEEVIL EXTREMIST NRA isn't opposing Sotomayor. The same NRA we are told ad nauseum is "over the top" in their rhetoric, an "extremist group" with a "right wing agenda" that exists only to "spew propaganda". That NRA.
The same damn NRA that needs to sh!t or get off the pot with regards to this nomination - if this is extremism, I'd hate to see what the NRA's detractors would say if the NRA actually, you know, formed a damned opinion...
That is all.
Thanks to reader, commenter, and good friend brad_in_ma for e-mailing me this story.
Sotomayor critics step up rhetoric before hearing
WASHINGTON – Conservatives stepped up their criticism of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on Tuesday, but it was unclear how far Senate Republicans were willing to go to create bumps in what appears to be a smooth road to confirmation for President Barack Obama's first high-court choice.
Even as the Senate's top Republican suggested that Sotomayor let racial bias cloud her rulings, he and other GOP senators refused to say whether they would accede to conservative activists' demands to try to delay a final vote to confirm her until September. At the same time, the National Rifle Association raised what it called "very serious concerns" about Sotomayor based on her stance on weapons rights, yet it stopped short of opposing her, citing its "respect for the confirmation process."
(emphasis mine)
Got that? ZOMG TEH EEEEVIL EXTREMIST NRA isn't opposing Sotomayor. The same NRA we are told ad nauseum is "over the top" in their rhetoric, an "extremist group" with a "right wing agenda" that exists only to "spew propaganda". That NRA.
The same damn NRA that needs to sh!t or get off the pot with regards to this nomination - if this is extremism, I'd hate to see what the NRA's detractors would say if the NRA actually, you know, formed a damned opinion...
That is all.
Thanks to reader, commenter, and good friend brad_in_ma for e-mailing me this story.
Ridiculous...
From CNN earlier this morning:
Yes, a full seven out of the 21 top stories on the CNN main page were devoted to Michael Jackson. Look, I know the man was a popular musician; possibly the most popular musician of my generation. His death was sudden and unexpected, certainly, but it was not a tragic illness nor freak accident. With wars still being fought on two fronts, the US economy in free-fall despite throwingbillions trillions of tax dollars at it, and unemployment crowding double digits, we've got more serious issues to talk about.
Let. It. Go. Let the man be dead. Let us go on with our lives, such as they are...
That is all.
Latest News:
Goodbye Michael: Star, brother, friend, father
Warwick:'New insight' is Jackson's legacy
WPIX: Lawmaker opposes Jackson stamp
Jackson memorial lights up Internet
L.A. wants help paying for Jackson memorial
Jackson memorial unpredictably normal
Time: A strange, gaudy and moving farewell
Yes, a full seven out of the 21 top stories on the CNN main page were devoted to Michael Jackson. Look, I know the man was a popular musician; possibly the most popular musician of my generation. His death was sudden and unexpected, certainly, but it was not a tragic illness nor freak accident. With wars still being fought on two fronts, the US economy in free-fall despite throwing
Let. It. Go. Let the man be dead. Let us go on with our lives, such as they are...
That is all.
Motorcycle Gear Bleg
Not for me, for Linoge. He's thinking about venturing into the world of less-than-four wheeled motoring, and is starting with some of the basics - what gear to obtain. See, the gunnie mindset transfers well into the realm of the biker (see Fodder's list of Scooter Gunnie Trash), as both groups have people who cannot stand us trying to legislate us out of existence. Oh, and we both have really cool gear, too.
Anyhoo, Linoge e-mailed me with a simple request:
A while back I'd mentioned looking for a new jacket (which I still am, BTW) and got a few links there. I also posted my general thoughts on wearing gear around the same time. I dashed off a quick reply to Linoge:
...but wanted to expand on my answer a bit, as well as open this up to other riders who might be reading this as well.
You can spend pretty much any amount you want on gear. There's super-hi-tech ballistic nylon-and-kevlar jackets that are waterproof, skid-resistant, heated, and come with new car smell built in (okay, I might be exaggerating on that last part). You can drop anywhere from $40 for a pair of steel-toed boots at Wal-Mart to $500+ on sculpted riding boots that match your bike and suit.
I like it simple. I've got the same jacket that I bought when I was 18 years old (Ronald Reagan was still president at the start of the year, FWIW) that I bought in anticipation of owning a motorcycle. It would take 6 years before it happened, but happen it did. I have a pair of leather chaps that I bought at the local leather shop. I have a new HJC ¾ face helmet and a pair of HH boots I bought when I got my first motorcycle (a 1979 Yamaha XS850 Midnight Special, in case you were wondering).
Basically, you can expect to spend $100 - $300 or so on a helmet. You can pay from $200 - $500+ on a jacket, $100 - $500+ for pants, and pretty much anywhere from $50 - ??? on boots/gloves/goggles/etc. Gloves you're going to want several pairs, from insulated gauntlets (or, ideally, heated gloves) to fingerless for summer riding.
For the best value, I've found that there's nothing better than exploring your local merchants. I found a leather shop in the basement of a professional building in the city next to my town that sells everything you could ever want at a very reasonable price. We got my son his first riding jacket there last year for ~ $60 - certainly reasonable for a jacket he'll only get a year or two more out of...
There's thousands of places online; I have only dealt with a handful and haven't come across any that have been ripoffs or even questionable. AVOID E-BAY. Also avoid anything described as "buffalo leather" - this is a code word for gear stitched together from hundreds of scraps; there's a reason it's selling for $50 on e-Bay... Your local Craigslist is a good place to pick up lightly used equipment, provided you have no qualms about buying an article of clothing someone else has worn...
DO. NOT. BUY. A. USED. HELMET.
Buy new. Buy something that's DOT and Snell approved. Buy a name brand (the aforementioned HJC/Shoei/Arai/etc.) from a reputable dealer, ideally a motorcycle dealer. Do not buy a helmet marked as "novelty" - these are the chromed beanies or German WWII helmets or anything that's not submitted for safety testing. These are not designed to protect your skull, they're designed to prevent you from getting a ticket. Here's another bummer about helmets - they should be replaced every 5 - 7 years. The plastic and foam that absorbs impact gets brittle and essentially useless over time - much like a child's car seat.
Some brands that I've used myself and had good luck with are HJC helmets, HH boots, and Harley Davidson gear. I've heard good things about Joe Rocket & Tourmaster jackets and Shoei helmets. Some websites for gear are NewEnough, LeatherUp, and Fox Creek Leather.
That's about all I have for now, but I'll bet there's plenty more good information out there... Anyone got some tips for Brother Linoge?
That is all.
Anyhoo, Linoge e-mailed me with a simple request:
JayG,
So I sent this random question off to Ride Fast a little while ago, but I figured all the data I can amass is a good thing... assuming I was considering delving into the realm of "transportation by means of fewer than four wheels", where would be a good place to start learning/shopping concerning safety gear like helmets, jackets, and the like?
I have already figured out that DOT/SNELL certifications are a good idea for helmets, but such certifications on jackets do not seem to exist, and objective information about them seems hard to find as well. Any equipment/store names to look for? Any online shops better than any others? Anything to be mindful of? Thanks for whatever help you can provide :).
A while back I'd mentioned looking for a new jacket (which I still am, BTW) and got a few links there. I also posted my general thoughts on wearing gear around the same time. I dashed off a quick reply to Linoge:
Linoge,
Let me ruminate on this a bit. I'd like to answer with a post tomorrow morning - I have a feeling that there might be a reader or two out there with some ideas and pointers.
In a nutshell, wear the most protective gear you can *COMFORTABLY* wear. There are as many options & opinions available as there are bikers on the road. Some folks will tell you not to ride in anything less than full leathers and full face helmet; others will tell you you're good to go in a tank top, shorts, and boat shoes.
I fall somewhere in between. I prefer to ride with a helmet, although I have been known to take it off on back roads or in traffic. I tend to prefer a 3/4 face helmet or full, simply for wind resistance, rather than a half, although in the full heat of summer (not as much an issue for me as for you), a half-helmet is certainly better than nothing.
DO NOT SKIMP on helmets - DOT and Snell ratings are a good start, I happen to like the fit of HJC helmets myself. Shoei and Arai are also good brands, albeit a bit pricey. There's a train of thought that says don't buy a $50 helmet unless you have a $50 head; however I'm not about to spend $5mil on a helmet... ;)
For gear, there's little IMHO better than a good, thick leather. The ballistic nylon with reinforced joints might work better for you, though. Tourmaster and Joe Rocket are very good brands for lightweight but tough jackets.
...but wanted to expand on my answer a bit, as well as open this up to other riders who might be reading this as well.
You can spend pretty much any amount you want on gear. There's super-hi-tech ballistic nylon-and-kevlar jackets that are waterproof, skid-resistant, heated, and come with new car smell built in (okay, I might be exaggerating on that last part). You can drop anywhere from $40 for a pair of steel-toed boots at Wal-Mart to $500+ on sculpted riding boots that match your bike and suit.
I like it simple. I've got the same jacket that I bought when I was 18 years old (Ronald Reagan was still president at the start of the year, FWIW) that I bought in anticipation of owning a motorcycle. It would take 6 years before it happened, but happen it did. I have a pair of leather chaps that I bought at the local leather shop. I have a new HJC ¾ face helmet and a pair of HH boots I bought when I got my first motorcycle (a 1979 Yamaha XS850 Midnight Special, in case you were wondering).
Basically, you can expect to spend $100 - $300 or so on a helmet. You can pay from $200 - $500+ on a jacket, $100 - $500+ for pants, and pretty much anywhere from $50 - ??? on boots/gloves/goggles/etc. Gloves you're going to want several pairs, from insulated gauntlets (or, ideally, heated gloves) to fingerless for summer riding.
For the best value, I've found that there's nothing better than exploring your local merchants. I found a leather shop in the basement of a professional building in the city next to my town that sells everything you could ever want at a very reasonable price. We got my son his first riding jacket there last year for ~ $60 - certainly reasonable for a jacket he'll only get a year or two more out of...
There's thousands of places online; I have only dealt with a handful and haven't come across any that have been ripoffs or even questionable. AVOID E-BAY. Also avoid anything described as "buffalo leather" - this is a code word for gear stitched together from hundreds of scraps; there's a reason it's selling for $50 on e-Bay... Your local Craigslist is a good place to pick up lightly used equipment, provided you have no qualms about buying an article of clothing someone else has worn...
DO. NOT. BUY. A. USED. HELMET.
Buy new. Buy something that's DOT and Snell approved. Buy a name brand (the aforementioned HJC/Shoei/Arai/etc.) from a reputable dealer, ideally a motorcycle dealer. Do not buy a helmet marked as "novelty" - these are the chromed beanies or German WWII helmets or anything that's not submitted for safety testing. These are not designed to protect your skull, they're designed to prevent you from getting a ticket. Here's another bummer about helmets - they should be replaced every 5 - 7 years. The plastic and foam that absorbs impact gets brittle and essentially useless over time - much like a child's car seat.
Some brands that I've used myself and had good luck with are HJC helmets, HH boots, and Harley Davidson gear. I've heard good things about Joe Rocket & Tourmaster jackets and Shoei helmets. Some websites for gear are NewEnough, LeatherUp, and Fox Creek Leather.
That's about all I have for now, but I'll bet there's plenty more good information out there... Anyone got some tips for Brother Linoge?
That is all.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Interesting Development
Cahill prepares to leave his party
Conventional wisdom is that he's doing it to secure a slot in the 2010 Gubernatorial race, that he would never defeat incumbent Governor Patrick for the Democratic nomination. Cynically, I wonder if he's doing this to hurt the GOP rather than Deval Patrick - by giving the MA voters a former Dem to vote for as opposed to a Republican, Cahill can split the opposition vote and secure Patrick's re-election. Stranger things have happened, especially in MA politics...
In any case, the next year and a half should prove quite interesting...
That is all.
State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill plans to leave the Democratic Party this week, two advisers said yesterday, in what is probably a first step toward an independent challenge to Governor Deval Patrick, a Democrat, in next year’s election.Now, I don't know if this is a particularly smart move for Cahill to make. Massachusetts is owned, lock, stock, and barrel, by the Democratic party. Our governor is a Democrat. Both of our US Senators are Democrats. All ten of our US Congressmen are Democrats. Representation at the state level is something like 90% Democrat. This is a risky move for Cahill - if he upsets the powers-that-be, he finds himself out on the street post haste.
By removing his name from the Democratic ledgers in Quincy City Hall and declaring himself unenrolled, Cahill will be making not only a strong philosophical statement, but a practical one as well. As an independent, Cahill will be positioning himself as an outside candidate at a tumultuous time on Beacon Hill; he will also be sidestepping an uphill primary fight against an incumbent in a possible gubernatorial race.
Conventional wisdom is that he's doing it to secure a slot in the 2010 Gubernatorial race, that he would never defeat incumbent Governor Patrick for the Democratic nomination. Cynically, I wonder if he's doing this to hurt the GOP rather than Deval Patrick - by giving the MA voters a former Dem to vote for as opposed to a Republican, Cahill can split the opposition vote and secure Patrick's re-election. Stranger things have happened, especially in MA politics...
In any case, the next year and a half should prove quite interesting...
That is all.
Congratulations!
Justin's going to be a daddy!
Hang on, buddy, because you're in for the ride of your life...
No other job will introduce you to the wonders of the human body quite like fatherhood... Wonders like "how can an infant that small produce poop that smells that vile?" or "he only ate half a jar of mashed carrots; why is his poop orange for three days after?" or "he had 4 ounces of formula, how can he possibly throw up 75 gallons?". And no, it's not just about poop, pee, spit-up, throw-up or other bodily excretions...
It's about honestly and truly putting someone else's needs above your own. It's about putting your ego on a shelf and subjugating yourself, quite cheerfully, to the mercurial little tyrant who will rule your universe for years to come. It's about making preparations for events that have a one-in-a-million chance of happening just in case. It's about knowing the number of your pediatrician not by heart but by touch - as in your fingers know it seemingly of their own volition on the phone keypad.
It's about watching news reports of abused children and feeling a rage inside you like you've never felt before. It's about experiencing, for the first time ever, that protective instinct towards your offspring akin to a mother bear; how you turn from the goo-gooing silly daddy to the Incredible Hulk in seconds flat when you perceive a threat to your child.
And it's also about letting them bump their heads, pinch their fingers, and land on their butts, too. It's just as dangerous to shelter your children from every danger as it is to expose them to those dangers. The hardest part of being a parent is not watching your child experiencing pain or disapointment; it's watching them experiencing pain or disapointment when you could have prevented it.
They learn to walk better by falling than by being held constantly...
Congratulations Justin. Your life, as you have known it, is over. A new, more glorious life awaits you. Just don't be put off by the cost of diapers, braces, or college...
That is all.
Hang on, buddy, because you're in for the ride of your life...
No other job will introduce you to the wonders of the human body quite like fatherhood... Wonders like "how can an infant that small produce poop that smells that vile?" or "he only ate half a jar of mashed carrots; why is his poop orange for three days after?" or "he had 4 ounces of formula, how can he possibly throw up 75 gallons?". And no, it's not just about poop, pee, spit-up, throw-up or other bodily excretions...
It's about honestly and truly putting someone else's needs above your own. It's about putting your ego on a shelf and subjugating yourself, quite cheerfully, to the mercurial little tyrant who will rule your universe for years to come. It's about making preparations for events that have a one-in-a-million chance of happening just in case. It's about knowing the number of your pediatrician not by heart but by touch - as in your fingers know it seemingly of their own volition on the phone keypad.
It's about watching news reports of abused children and feeling a rage inside you like you've never felt before. It's about experiencing, for the first time ever, that protective instinct towards your offspring akin to a mother bear; how you turn from the goo-gooing silly daddy to the Incredible Hulk in seconds flat when you perceive a threat to your child.
And it's also about letting them bump their heads, pinch their fingers, and land on their butts, too. It's just as dangerous to shelter your children from every danger as it is to expose them to those dangers. The hardest part of being a parent is not watching your child experiencing pain or disapointment; it's watching them experiencing pain or disapointment when you could have prevented it.
They learn to walk better by falling than by being held constantly...
Congratulations Justin. Your life, as you have known it, is over. A new, more glorious life awaits you. Just don't be put off by the cost of diapers, braces, or college...
That is all.
Unreal...
My blog-friend Paul (who I hope to meet one of these days, hint, hint hint) has been having a spot of trouble with Bank of America. Go read of his travails, and you'll understand that when I say "having a spot of trouble" I mean "should be heading to their corporate headquarters with a tanker truck full of rotten fish"...
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Now, I'm not recommending that anyone draw the conclusion that all of Bank of America is run by retarded chimps or anything, but Paul's story sucks. And it could happen to anyone, really, pretty much at any time. I know I run a pretty lean ship with regard to credit cards, but still, I only have a couple. It wouldn't take much to really screw things up; even less if it's BoA...
Remember, just like with guns, with credit cards, two is one, one is none... Godspeed, Paul & family.
That is all.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Now, I'm not recommending that anyone draw the conclusion that all of Bank of America is run by retarded chimps or anything, but Paul's story sucks. And it could happen to anyone, really, pretty much at any time. I know I run a pretty lean ship with regard to credit cards, but still, I only have a couple. It wouldn't take much to really screw things up; even less if it's BoA...
Remember, just like with guns, with credit cards, two is one, one is none... Godspeed, Paul & family.
That is all.
Life's A Beach...
Here's what I did over the Fourth of July weekend...
Took the camper
to the local state preservation for some time spent:
building sand castles...
flying kites...
Took the camper
Portable Casa del G.
to the local state preservation for some time spent:
Crab house
building sand castles...
Why dontcha go...
flying kites...
Beware the pair!
And knocking sand castles down. Life is good.
Happy (belated, ahem) Fourth of July everyone!
That is all.
Monday, July 6, 2009
This is the Luck I Have...
Crash Shuts Down I-95 In Newburyport
We were on I-95 at 9:20AM.
Yes, it took nearly an hour and a half to drive the 20 miles from the campground to our house. That is the kind of luck I generally have on vacation...
That is all.
NEWBURYPORT (WBZ) ― At least five people were hurt in a crash involving a tanker truck and two cars that shut down Interstate 95 in Newburyport Monday.
The tanker was carrying 10,000 gallons of gasoline when it rolled over in the northbound lanes of I-95 near Exit 57-Route 113 around 9:15 a.m.
We were on I-95 at 9:20AM.
Yes, it took nearly an hour and a half to drive the 20 miles from the campground to our house. That is the kind of luck I generally have on vacation...
That is all.
What's Going on Here?
I go away for the weekend and Sarah Palin resigns as AK governor?
I can't take a weekend off without the whole world going to hell, can I?
And in other news, Robert McNamara won't be down for breakfast.
Man, a lot can happen when you're having fun in thepouring rain sun...
That is all.
I can't take a weekend off without the whole world going to hell, can I?
And in other news, Robert McNamara won't be down for breakfast.
Man, a lot can happen when you're having fun in the
That is all.
Friday, July 3, 2009
For Real, This Time...
Okay, so this time I mean it... Came home to grab a handful of forgotten items (there are advantages to camping less then a ½ hour drive away!) and check on things. Blogger's still not posting scheduled posts correctly, so I buggered it up to at least look like a full day's posting... ;)
Now, I really am off to the beach for the weekend - see y'all on Monday!
That is all.
Now, I really am off to the beach for the weekend - see y'all on Monday!
That is all.
Better Late Than Never...
I totally missed it yesterday, but Blackfork turned one yesterday.
Go, give Robert many anniversary wishes.
That is all.
Go, give Robert many anniversary wishes.
That is all.
Friday Fun Thread: Unsung Hero Cars
Today’s list celebrates the really cool cars that never seem to make the lists. These are cars that are pretty neat in their own right, yet are overshadowed by their better-known counterparts. You are unlikely to find any of these cars on a poster or as a model kit, but they’d still make a killer addition to a collection.
1. XJS Jaguar Coupe. Sure, everyone knows the XKE Jag, but the V12-powered coupe never quite got the same respect. It’s a graceful, elegant coupe with loads of power under the bonnet; in convertible guise it’s downright sexxeh. Sure, the 300HP V12 might not challenge the world's supercars, but in the Jag you can drive for more than an hour without needed to visit your chiropractor...
2. Mercedes C111. The 300SL wasn’t the only gullwing Mercedes made, but you’d never know that by looking at the models and pop culture. The C111 pre-dated the DeLorean, which obviously derived its styling and egress from the C111. Then again, the fact that the C111 was never officially produced might have something to do with its obscurity...
3. Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. The attention in the 1960s was turned towards the Porsche franchise rather than staid Volkswagen, which detracted from the all-around fun of the little Ghia. Not to mention that the Microbus and the Bug became icons, whereas the Ghia just kind of disappeared into oblivion.
4. Porsche 928. Speaking of Porsche, the 928 just couldn’t get no respect. It was forever in the shadow of the (much) better-known 911, and the front-engine, V8-powered 928 didn’t quite fit in with the rest of the Porsche line-up. Even appearing in Tom Cruise’s Risky Business and Weird Science couldn’t get the 928 any love.
5. 1990s Chevrolet Impala SS. “Lord Vader, your car is ready.” The SS represented all that was right with GM in the 1990s - it was a solidly built car with a proven engine, a storied pedigree, and clean lines uncluttered by the faux chrome drizzled on the cars of the ‘70s and ‘80s. It featured a new, fresh styling, taking the Impala/Caprice models away from the oversized boxes they had previously resembled.
6. Mercury Capri. No, not the frou-frou micro Miata wanna-be of the mid 1990s but the Mustang-clone of the 1980s. The Capri GT shared the 5.0L V8 with the Mustang GT, but featured more dramatic styling with a more aggressive stance and front end. Plus, it seemed like every 18 year old with a rich daddy got a ‘Stang on their 18th birthday, but the Capri was rare.
7. GMC Caballero. Oh yes, everyone knows the mulletastic El Camino, but how many people knew that there was a GMC counterpart? For most of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, if there was a Chevy truck out there, there was a GMC clone to boot. Personal note: When I dropped my 1985 GMC S-15 Jimmy in a brook ½ a mile from my high school, it took three tries to get the correct front passenger quarter panel to fix it. The first time they sent the driver's panel. The second time they sent a Chevy S-10 Blazer panel...
8. Lincoln Versailles. Okay, so a re-badged Grenada probably doesn’t qualify as a terrifically cool car, but you will totally impress your motorhead friends by knowing that there was a Lincoln version of the Ford Grenada/Mercury Monarch. La plus ca change c’est le meme chose - witness the Lincoln Aviator for proof that FoMoCo will stick a Lincoln badge on any old Ford model and charge double…
9. BMW 2002. While it may not have had the same cachet as the later 3- and 5- series, the 2002 was a fun little runabout that could easily be set up for autocross. With a lightweight body and German engineering, the rear-drive 2002 was a killer on the courses but would hold up to the stress.
10. Plymouth GTX. Sure, everybody knows the Barracuda. No list of great muscle cars would be complete without one. If pressed, they'd probably remember the Roadrunner as well, if for no other reason than the Warner Brothers tie-in. But the GTX came from the factory with the 440 CI big block Mopower, whereas the Road Runner only came with the 383...
So there's my list of cool-but-un(der)appreciated cars. Any more y'all can think of?
That is all.
1. XJS Jaguar Coupe. Sure, everyone knows the XKE Jag, but the V12-powered coupe never quite got the same respect. It’s a graceful, elegant coupe with loads of power under the bonnet; in convertible guise it’s downright sexxeh. Sure, the 300HP V12 might not challenge the world's supercars, but in the Jag you can drive for more than an hour without needed to visit your chiropractor...
2. Mercedes C111. The 300SL wasn’t the only gullwing Mercedes made, but you’d never know that by looking at the models and pop culture. The C111 pre-dated the DeLorean, which obviously derived its styling and egress from the C111. Then again, the fact that the C111 was never officially produced might have something to do with its obscurity...
3. Volkswagen Karmann Ghia. The attention in the 1960s was turned towards the Porsche franchise rather than staid Volkswagen, which detracted from the all-around fun of the little Ghia. Not to mention that the Microbus and the Bug became icons, whereas the Ghia just kind of disappeared into oblivion.
4. Porsche 928. Speaking of Porsche, the 928 just couldn’t get no respect. It was forever in the shadow of the (much) better-known 911, and the front-engine, V8-powered 928 didn’t quite fit in with the rest of the Porsche line-up. Even appearing in Tom Cruise’s Risky Business and Weird Science couldn’t get the 928 any love.
5. 1990s Chevrolet Impala SS. “Lord Vader, your car is ready.” The SS represented all that was right with GM in the 1990s - it was a solidly built car with a proven engine, a storied pedigree, and clean lines uncluttered by the faux chrome drizzled on the cars of the ‘70s and ‘80s. It featured a new, fresh styling, taking the Impala/Caprice models away from the oversized boxes they had previously resembled.
6. Mercury Capri. No, not the frou-frou micro Miata wanna-be of the mid 1990s but the Mustang-clone of the 1980s. The Capri GT shared the 5.0L V8 with the Mustang GT, but featured more dramatic styling with a more aggressive stance and front end. Plus, it seemed like every 18 year old with a rich daddy got a ‘Stang on their 18th birthday, but the Capri was rare.
7. GMC Caballero. Oh yes, everyone knows the mulletastic El Camino, but how many people knew that there was a GMC counterpart? For most of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, if there was a Chevy truck out there, there was a GMC clone to boot. Personal note: When I dropped my 1985 GMC S-15 Jimmy in a brook ½ a mile from my high school, it took three tries to get the correct front passenger quarter panel to fix it. The first time they sent the driver's panel. The second time they sent a Chevy S-10 Blazer panel...
8. Lincoln Versailles. Okay, so a re-badged Grenada probably doesn’t qualify as a terrifically cool car, but you will totally impress your motorhead friends by knowing that there was a Lincoln version of the Ford Grenada/Mercury Monarch. La plus ca change c’est le meme chose - witness the Lincoln Aviator for proof that FoMoCo will stick a Lincoln badge on any old Ford model and charge double…
9. BMW 2002. While it may not have had the same cachet as the later 3- and 5- series, the 2002 was a fun little runabout that could easily be set up for autocross. With a lightweight body and German engineering, the rear-drive 2002 was a killer on the courses but would hold up to the stress.
10. Plymouth GTX. Sure, everybody knows the Barracuda. No list of great muscle cars would be complete without one. If pressed, they'd probably remember the Roadrunner as well, if for no other reason than the Warner Brothers tie-in. But the GTX came from the factory with the 440 CI big block Mopower, whereas the Road Runner only came with the 383...
So there's my list of cool-but-un(der)appreciated cars. Any more y'all can think of?
That is all.
Friday Gun Pr0n #118
Have an interesting choice this week, my Underwood M1 carbine. This particular model has a telescoping stock, giving it the look of an "Enforcer" pistol:
Underwood (Actually Underwood-Elliot-Fisher Company, who made typewriters FWIW) was the third largest manufacturer of M1 Carbine rifles, with Inland and Winchester in the #1 and #2 slots, respectively. Other manufacturers included National Postal Meter (who made soda fountains - just kidding), International Business Machines (who at the time also made typewriters; apparently there's a historic correlation between sitting at a keyboard and wanting to shoot something...), and Rock-Ola (who made jukeboxes).
The M1 Carbine, it can be argued, is the first "assault rifle" - folding stock, bayonet mount, detachable magazine... The only debate is over the .30 Carbine round. Most commercial loads for the .30 Carbine give it a punch somewhere between .38 Special and .357 Magnum, essentially a 7.62mm +P (the round is actually 7.62X33mm). Given that the venerable SKS and AK-47s fire a 7.62X39mm round, it's not terribly far off; especially when the StG44, considered by many to be the first true "assault rifle", fired a 7.92X33mm round.
The M1 Carbine is a lot of fun to shoot. Because of the round's power level, it has little recoil and is crazily accurate. There are pistols chambered in .30 carbine - the Ruger Blackhawk and Taurus Ragin' 30 for revolvers and the AMT Automag for semi-automatics. In pistol form, the fireball from the 30 carbine round is the stuff of legend, competing with the 7.62X25mm Tokarev for marshmellow-roastin' fireball...
And they're available from the CMP, too...
That is all.
Underwood M1 Carbine
Underwood (Actually Underwood-Elliot-Fisher Company, who made typewriters FWIW) was the third largest manufacturer of M1 Carbine rifles, with Inland and Winchester in the #1 and #2 slots, respectively. Other manufacturers included National Postal Meter (who made soda fountains - just kidding), International Business Machines (who at the time also made typewriters; apparently there's a historic correlation between sitting at a keyboard and wanting to shoot something...), and Rock-Ola (who made jukeboxes).
The M1 Carbine, it can be argued, is the first "assault rifle" - folding stock, bayonet mount, detachable magazine... The only debate is over the .30 Carbine round. Most commercial loads for the .30 Carbine give it a punch somewhere between .38 Special and .357 Magnum, essentially a 7.62mm +P (the round is actually 7.62X33mm). Given that the venerable SKS and AK-47s fire a 7.62X39mm round, it's not terribly far off; especially when the StG44, considered by many to be the first true "assault rifle", fired a 7.92X33mm round.
The M1 Carbine is a lot of fun to shoot. Because of the round's power level, it has little recoil and is crazily accurate. There are pistols chambered in .30 carbine - the Ruger Blackhawk and Taurus Ragin' 30 for revolvers and the AMT Automag for semi-automatics. In pistol form, the fireball from the 30 carbine round is the stuff of legend, competing with the 7.62X25mm Tokarev for marshmellow-roastin' fireball...
And they're available from the CMP, too...
That is all.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Aaaand We're Off!
Heading out in a couple of minutes to bring the camper to the beach. This is the trial run for the summer; we're getting a late start to the season because, well, we haven't had summer yet... Tomorrow's gun pr0n and Top Ten list are pre-loaded for tomorrow; however Blogger has been kinda funky with loading. I'm bringing the Eee and will search for wifi spots but make no promises.
Of course, it's been raining for about three weeks straight now - I might come home tomorrow morning anyways...
That is all.
Of course, it's been raining for about three weeks straight now - I might come home tomorrow morning anyways...
That is all.
Sci-Fi Bleg...
Okay, so it's not that I'm getting sick of Heinlein or anything, but it's time to branch out a bit. I picked up my first novel from Terry Pratchett (Men at Arms), and realized that, holy crap, this dude has like a hundred bazillion novels to his credit. He comes highly recommended in the blogosphere, so he's the next author I want to explore.
The question is, of course, where do I start?
I learned my lesson with Heinlien and reading out-of-order - I tackled The Cat Who Walked Through Walls before reading Time Enough for Love or even Number of the Beast. It was a lot like taking Biochemistry II before Biochemistry I, only with the many lives and loves of Lazarus Long taking the place of the Krebs' Cycle... Before I tear into a new (to me) author with a penchant for building on stories, I figured it'd be a good idea to appeal to those "in the know" where to start.
So... What books should I read first?
The top 5 or 10 should be a good starter; I still have a couple Heinlein books to read and another couple left to finish re-reading (I'd also like to re-read Monster Hunter International before shipping it off to He-Who-Must-Not-Wear-Pants). Any and all pointers are appreciated; while I'm a pretty voracious reader, my reading time is quite limited and as such I'd prefer to begin at the beginning, so to speak.
That is all.
The question is, of course, where do I start?
I learned my lesson with Heinlien and reading out-of-order - I tackled The Cat Who Walked Through Walls before reading Time Enough for Love or even Number of the Beast. It was a lot like taking Biochemistry II before Biochemistry I, only with the many lives and loves of Lazarus Long taking the place of the Krebs' Cycle... Before I tear into a new (to me) author with a penchant for building on stories, I figured it'd be a good idea to appeal to those "in the know" where to start.
So... What books should I read first?
The top 5 or 10 should be a good starter; I still have a couple Heinlein books to read and another couple left to finish re-reading (I'd also like to re-read Monster Hunter International before shipping it off to He-Who-Must-Not-Wear-Pants). Any and all pointers are appreciated; while I'm a pretty voracious reader, my reading time is quite limited and as such I'd prefer to begin at the beginning, so to speak.
That is all.
More Gunnie Pet Peeves...
I don't know what it is. I just seem to have run across a whole slew of pet peeves since my last post, so I figured a follow-up was due.
- "Throwdown gun". Look, this isn't a cheap 1980s detective TV show. The only thing we gunnies need less than a "throwdown" gun is a bunch of people talking about needing/wanting/having a "throwdown" gun... If you honestly think you might need an unpapered gun to use in such a manner, sell your guns and take up knitting, because you have no effin' clue what self-defense really means.
- "Rolling your own". Okay. I understand. You reload. That's great. I'd love to get into reloading at a point down the road. However, hearing "you really need to start reloading" as the answer to every single question - including those that aren't asked - gets tiring after a while. I know my limitations, and right now, I don't have the time to devote to reloading that I know I need. Respect that, thank me for my brass, and we'll coexist just fine...
- "What's the best gun for". You know, it doesn't really matter what the last word in that question is. Could be "my wife". Could be "bear". Any time I see someone as "What's the best gun for X?" I cringe. There are hundreds if not thousands of different models of firearms on the market today, and for any given purpose, even heavily specialized purposes, there's at least two or three dozen different guns that are very well-suited for that purpose.
- "If you don't train 168 hours a week you shouldn't own a gun". Hey, look, training is important. I wish I had the time to both attend more classes and spend more time on the range. I'd love to get into IDPA or another "active" shooting discipline. As it is, I'm lucky to get to the range once or twice a month to shoot at paper targets and the occasional orange clay. But I don't need training to tell me that when the shit hits the fan, I'm going into "fight" rather than "flight" mode.
- "You'll hurt a .22 more by cleaning it than by shooting it". I suppose if I had a 10/22 I was putting 2,000 rounds a week through this might be true. However, I'm guessing that the 100 rounds a month/single cleaning session a month that the vast majority of my .22 firearms endure (and some significantly less than that!) will mean that they'll be wearing out about the same time that the sun goes out and the Earth becomes a lifeless ball of ice and mud...
- "We need to stick together for the revolt/revolution/Civil War II/etc." Okay, look. I hate what's going on down in Washington as much as the next
raving lunaticguy. But it's not revolution time. Not even close. Call me when they're rounding people up and sending them to gulags; we'll talk then. Bureaucrats have been overreaching and trying to consolidate power for well over 150 years now. It's what they do...
- "Shoot them in the hand/leg/whatever". Alternately called the "Roy Rogers" or "Lone Ranger" school of media beliefs on guns, the canard that, in a gun fight, one would have time to deliberately aim for a smaller target (hand) than a larger one (chest/head). IOW, pure, unadulterated Hollywood hogwash.
- Pictures/videos of folks shooting without eye/ear protection. I feel the same way when I open a motorcycle magazine and see some yutz riding a $50,000 custom bike with no eye protection. It's irresponsible, and in many places illegal (motorcycle). On the range, shooting without eye protection is gambling with your damn sight, and that's just stupid. Ear protection, well, if you really like tinnitus, be my guest...
Okay, that's all the pet peeves for now. I'm sure I'll come up with more soon, so look for the next installment in "Gunnie Pet Peeves"!
That is all.
Music for TEOTWAWKI...
In line with last week's fun thought question, what's your soundtrack for TEOTWAWKI? The Forces of Evil™ draw nigh; the grand climactic battle between good and evil looms ever closer. You prepare furiously, gathering weapons, armor, and courage. You will, of course, need something to both distract you from your inevitable gruesome demise at the hands/horns/hooves/claws of evil as well as get your war face on.
What's playing as you gird for battle? And what could possibly help you fight the Forces of Evil™ against overwhelming odds and crushing foes? Let's here the music you'd choose for all three stages:
1. Preparing for the battle;
2. The interminable wait; and
3. "LET'S GET READY TO RUUUUUUMMMMMBBBBLLLE!!!"
For the preparation, I'd have to go old school. Real old school. This is music to get the blood flowing as I load magazines, fill holsters, and gas up chainsaws. Its purpose is not so much to get me ready to fight as to bide my time as I make preparations for the coming apocalypse.
For the main event... It's all hardcore. This is frantic, frenetic metal, speed punk, and thrash. Lyrics? I either know 'em by heart - or they just get in the way. I want 100+ BPM to synchronize with the utter destruction and devastation of the Forces of Evil...
What's playing as you gird for battle? And what could possibly help you fight the Forces of Evil™ against overwhelming odds and crushing foes? Let's here the music you'd choose for all three stages:
1. Preparing for the battle;
2. The interminable wait; and
3. "LET'S GET READY TO RUUUUUUMMMMMBBBBLLLE!!!"
For the preparation, I'd have to go old school. Real old school. This is music to get the blood flowing as I load magazines, fill holsters, and gas up chainsaws. Its purpose is not so much to get me ready to fight as to bide my time as I make preparations for the coming apocalypse.
- Wagner, "Ride of the Valkyries"
- George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers, "Bad to the Bone" & "Born to be Bad" (might as well push the "I am the meanest son of a bitch in the valley" angle)
- Nazareth, "Hair of the Dog"
- Joe Satriani, "Surfin' with the Alien", "Satch Boogie"
- Johnny Cash, "Ring of Fire"
- Steppenwolf, "Magic Carpet Ride"
- AC/DC, "For Those About to Rock", "TNT", "Highway to Hell", "Hail Caesar"
- Judas Priest, "Hell Bent for Leather", "You've Got Another Thing Coming", "Painkiller"
- Pink Floyd's "Run Like Hell"
- Guns & Roses, "Welcome to the Jungle"
- REM, "(It's The) End of the World As We Know It" (c'mon, just had to include it...)
- Beastie Boys, "No Sleep 'til Brooklyn"
- Public Enemy, "By the Time I Get to Arizona"
For the main event... It's all hardcore. This is frantic, frenetic metal, speed punk, and thrash. Lyrics? I either know 'em by heart - or they just get in the way. I want 100+ BPM to synchronize with the utter destruction and devastation of the Forces of Evil...
- AC/DC, "Thunderstruck" - this starts the madness.
- Metallica, "Seek and Destroy", "Fuel", "Jump in the Fire", "Last Caress", "Blitzkrieg"
- Megadeath, "Symphony of Destruction", "Peace Sells"
- Iron Maiden, "Run to the Hills", "Die with Your Boots On".
- Anthrax, "Chromatic Death", "Antisocial"
- Ramones, "Blitzkrieg Bop", "I Don't Wanna Grow Up"
- Sex Pistols, "Anarchy in the UK"
- Limp Bizkit, "Break Stuff"
So what's on your soundtrack for TEOTWAWKI?
That is all.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
And Another...
As pols talk, senior eyed in horrific crash
I understand all too well that the plural of anedote is not data. However, I've had enough Q-tips pull this same crap on me (usually when I'm on the Harley) that it's worth noting these events.
This is one of those cases where our personal failure to perform an unpopular task is going to result in a bad law (or laws) being passed. Our unwillingness to confront older drivers about their deteriorating skills will eventually blow up on us, with poorly thought-out, reactionary laws being passed that will inevitably erode our freedoms even further. This is practically a foregone conclusion...
Because this:
is a frightening thought. "Comprehensive" legislation. I doubt it. Reactionary and short-sighted, perhaps. But our politicans have shown precious little spine in taking on the powerful AARP lobby, so we can only surmise that there will be a "zero-tolerance" type no-brain law passed that will not affect the whiteheads one whit but will inconvenience the rest of us...
That is all.
Even as Beacon Hill lawmakers weighed hitting the brakes on elderly drivers with mandatory road and vision tests, yet another octogenarian was involved in a crash that critically injured a woman yesterday.
The horrific wreck unfolded yesterday in Woburn, where police expected to charge an 83-year-old Malden man with negligent operation and are seeking to revoke his license after his car slammed into a Chrysler Sebring driven by a 78-year-old Woburn woman, said Sgt. Robert Giannotti.
I understand all too well that the plural of anedote is not data. However, I've had enough Q-tips pull this same crap on me (usually when I'm on the Harley) that it's worth noting these events.
This is one of those cases where our personal failure to perform an unpopular task is going to result in a bad law (or laws) being passed. Our unwillingness to confront older drivers about their deteriorating skills will eventually blow up on us, with poorly thought-out, reactionary laws being passed that will inevitably erode our freedoms even further. This is practically a foregone conclusion...
Because this:
State Rep. Joseph F. Wagner (D-Chicopee), co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation, promised “comprehensive” legislative action regarding the issue would be taken by Labor Day.
is a frightening thought. "Comprehensive" legislation. I doubt it. Reactionary and short-sighted, perhaps. But our politicans have shown precious little spine in taking on the powerful AARP lobby, so we can only surmise that there will be a "zero-tolerance" type no-brain law passed that will not affect the whiteheads one whit but will inconvenience the rest of us...
That is all.
Denier.
Tam talks about how the word "denier", as used in conjunction with Anthropgenic Global Warming (AGW), has become one of those words like "fascist" or "racist" that get tossed around so much it loses its meaning. Those that support hobbling American industry and society in a fool's errand to "do something" about AGW toss "denier" around casually, when they most often mean "you disagree with me, so here's an icky name for you".
Hey, whatever helps you sleep at night...
What I know is this: It's July 1st. It's been summer for two weeks now. It's currently 58ºF outside today, with rain and damp weather expected today and tomorrow and most likely for the foreseable future. We did not have a completely sunny day the entire month of June, and saw temperatures far below normal for the month.
I'm gonna need a helluva lot more proof that: a) AGW even exists; and b) AGW is something I should want to avoid...
That is all.
Hey, whatever helps you sleep at night...
What I know is this: It's July 1st. It's been summer for two weeks now. It's currently 58ºF outside today, with rain and damp weather expected today and tomorrow and most likely for the foreseable future. We did not have a completely sunny day the entire month of June, and saw temperatures far below normal for the month.
I'm gonna need a helluva lot more proof that: a) AGW even exists; and b) AGW is something I should want to avoid...
That is all.
Join Us...
Got my AMA renewal stuff yesterday. I've been a member for 12 years now:
The AMA is to motorcycling what the NRA is to shooting. If you ride, join. Please.
That is all.
No, Not THAT AMA
The AMA is to motorcycling what the NRA is to shooting. If you ride, join. Please.
That is all.
Life Is Stranger than Fiction...
Say hello to Senator Stuart Smalley.
Franken 'thrilled' after court declares his Senate victory
Note to rabid leftists: I do not ever, ever want to hear another word about how Bush "stole" the 2000 election. Ever.
Note to Democrats: You own this. Lock, stock, and barrel. Control of the White House. Control of Congress. Bulletproof control of the Senate. Whatever happens from here on in, it's yours. No more "it's Bush's fault"; that tired excuse ends today. I hope for all our sake, for the sake of this great nation, that things go right, that you make the proper choices that help America get back on track and stay #1.
But I fear the temptation to give into your socialist leanings will be too great; that the allure of the ultimate nanny state will temper your choices.
That is all.
Franken 'thrilled' after court declares his Senate victory
Democrat Al Franken said Tuesday evening he is "thrilled and humbled" the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled him the winner of a contentious Senate race that played out in court over several months.
"We are so thrilled we can finally celebrate this victory and I'm so excited to
finally be able to get to work for the people of Minnesota," Franken said at a press conference. "We have a lot of work to do in Washington, but that's why I signed up for the job in the first place."
The court's unanimous, unsigned opinion declared Franken -- a long-time Democrat, former "Saturday Night Live" comedian and satirist -- "received the highest number of votes legally cast" and is entitled "to receive the certificate of election as United States senator from the state of Minnesota."
Note to rabid leftists: I do not ever, ever want to hear another word about how Bush "stole" the 2000 election. Ever.
Note to Democrats: You own this. Lock, stock, and barrel. Control of the White House. Control of Congress. Bulletproof control of the Senate. Whatever happens from here on in, it's yours. No more "it's Bush's fault"; that tired excuse ends today. I hope for all our sake, for the sake of this great nation, that things go right, that you make the proper choices that help America get back on track and stay #1.
But I fear the temptation to give into your socialist leanings will be too great; that the allure of the ultimate nanny state will temper your choices.
That is all.
Sonofabi...
I hate the Fourth of July.
There. I said it.
But why, Jay? Why do you hate the Fourth of July? Are you some closet communist who hates America? Victim of a tragic fireworks accident? Painful reminder of how far we've fallen since we fought for liberty?
No. It's the damned fireworks.
For about three weeks before the Fourth and a couple weeks after, we're treated to Amateur Hour in Illegal Fireworks Village. Every night starting around 10-10:30, there's the telltale "WHOOMP" of someone shooting off yet another illicit explosive device. After the first few nights, it's easy to ignore.
But the first night or two, every time something goes off, I jump up and start reaching for the sidearm before I realize what it is...
That is all.
There. I said it.
But why, Jay? Why do you hate the Fourth of July? Are you some closet communist who hates America? Victim of a tragic fireworks accident? Painful reminder of how far we've fallen since we fought for liberty?
No. It's the damned fireworks.
For about three weeks before the Fourth and a couple weeks after, we're treated to Amateur Hour in Illegal Fireworks Village. Every night starting around 10-10:30, there's the telltale "WHOOMP" of someone shooting off yet another illicit explosive device. After the first few nights, it's easy to ignore.
But the first night or two, every time something goes off, I jump up and start reaching for the sidearm before I realize what it is...
That is all.
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