31 March 2010

Mandatory Participation Meme

Your instructions:

If you are reading this right now, please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL memory of you and me.

It can be anything you want - good or bad - BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE.

When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your LJ and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON'T ACTUALLY remember about you.


Imported Comments

30 March 2010

Something Subtle Must Have Changed

I have had dealings with three separate Verizon employees in my quest to get rid of collections calls for Shawn Morano.

All three have admitted to owning firearms when the topic brushed against it; they were practically dying to share it seemed.

I am not used to this.

Something seems to have changed in corporate land. If the employees are able to be casual about sharing their ownership with a gunny customer, I think we've won. Won big.

Warm fuzzy feelings!

Why I Am In This

My political awakening happened just about when the AWB took effect. While Congress was debating it, actually. I was already a gun owner at the time, but the reasons I selected the Glock 17 and Mini-14 for my "arsenal" had a lot more to do with playing myself as a GURPS character and affordability than anything else.

The Mini-14 was all tricked out with a folding stock, flash-hider with a bayonet lug and as many 30-round magazines as we could afford. These things were COOL! Just about the only positive, functional, change I made was adding an Aimpoint 1000 to it; everything else was cosmetic.

This brings us to the Assault Weapons Ban and the Brady Act.

Brady didn't affect Iowans. The pistol purchase permit was an acceptable substitute for the background and waiting period. The AWB affected me. I had features on my rifle that were going to be banned.

This led me to the largest epiphany I have ever had: What had I done to deserve being treated this way? I had not shot anyone. I had not threatened anyone directly. I had not robbed anyone. I had done nothing.

The lawmakers passing that bill talked a great deal about criminal misuse of such guns. They mentioned people like Patrick Purdy. I had never taken my rifle to a school yard and killed 23 children and 6 teachers.

Then there was the galling part that my Mini-14 would be exempt from the ban if I only removed the folding stock. Considering that I chose my stock for appearance rather than function, it would have made my rifle more effective because it would have been lighter and handier.

This started me looking at other laws and proposed laws.

It makes me question the validity of them. I doubt their utility even where I am convinced of their constitutionality.

It's led to some unconventional stances on my part.

It's also made me touchy to things where I am being materially harmed for the benefit of people I do not know and/or care about.

For guns, I was not allowed to purchase cosmetic features for the illusory comfort of someone upset by their appearance.

For welfare, the wages I earned working were taxed so that people who were not working could selfishly breed. I would feel somewhat better if this person joined the workforce once the child was old enough for daycare; but that seems the exception rather than the rule. I cannot help but notice that if we'd just let them starve during the Johnson administration that we'd be all out of poor people. OK; that's not true. But we would have skipped the cost of supporting 3-5 generations of people who have never had and will never have a job, let alone pay taxes.

For healthcare, a similar feeling to welfare. Why the heck is it my job to pay for your medical care? I have to pay for my own, why don't you? Healthcare is broken because of government micromanagement. The government already tightly regulates service providers and the insurance companies. A substantial portion of the costs is from compliance with the diktats of the laws. I've heard, "Nobody should have to go broke just because they get sick." I propose we fix things so that it becomes affordable not leaving the prices where they are and stealing from people who aren't sick.

There are far too many areas that are messed up from the government "fixing" them that I just don't see them as a solution to anything any more.

We don't even have to touch on how socialism, communism and their cousin fascism ruined nations and murdered millions to see the harm. Capitalism is not fair, it is fairest.

By the way, notice that the people who are telling you that you need to make sacrifices across the board all have private jets? Notice that many of them are having that jet paid for by taxes? Think about that.

29 March 2010

Public Service Announcement

To everyone saying something to the effect of, "Now that health care has passed I am moving to X country."

I will say the same thing to you that I said to Alec Baldwin when he said he'd leave if W was elected:

PACK YOUR SHIT AND GET!

If you are not going to, you know, actually leave; shut up about leaving.

You can compare the US with, say, Albania; it might be better there (it might not); but if you aren't planning on moving stop saying you are.

I intend to stay here and right this wrong. I'd like genuine help, and if you're shopping for housing in Tirana I will not bother attempting to enlist your aid.

PS: Eric, this was not aimed at your desire to defect (because I know you're staying and fighting).

26 March 2010

Rightwing Violence

If it were rightwing, the shot would have hit someone. Libtards can't shoot for shit.

21 March 2010

WW2 Racism

Mr Hanks,

You mentioned that there was racism in the US Army in WW2 and insinuated that we were out to eradicate the Japanese because of our racism towards them.

Um, did anyone tell you about the 442nd Infantry Regiment? 2 Medals of Honor issued at the time. 52 Distinguished Service Crosses (19 later upgraded to MoH). 1 Distinguished Service Medal. 560 Silver Stars (plus 58 oak leaves). 22 Legion of Merit. 15 Soldier's Medals. 4000 Bronze Stars (plus 1200 oak leaves; 1 upgraded Medal of Honor, 1 upgraded to Silver Star).

In less than a year of service, which included training.

If it were really racism, then there'd have been no valor awards given.

Compare to the 92nd Infantry Regiment: Medal of Honor: 2 (Posthumously in 1997); Distinguished Service Cross (United States): 2; Distinguished Service Medal (United States): 1; Silver Star: 208; Legion of Merit: 16; Soldier's Medal: 6; Bronze Star: 1,166; Purple Heart: 1891; Order of the Crown of Italy: 8; Military Cross for Military Valor (Italian): 17; Military Cross for Merit in War (Italian): 22; War Medal (Brazil): 1

The 92nd was a black regiment. Notice there are far fewer awards? Far fewer upgraded later? There's the racism in WW2, Mr Hanks. Possibly not, the 442nd was noted for fighting as if they had something to prove. Apparently, they didn't prove anything to Mr Hanks.

Errant Thought

One of the worst things about arguing with LibtardLenny about the path the nation was on was that he would be far harder hit by the changes he advocates than I would. He makes more, he owns more.

I find it extremely odd that I am fighting to keep him making and owning what he does when part of me wants to see him get what he's calling for, good and hard.

The Lovely Harvey has reported he's expressed some regrets about who he voted for. That does not heal the rift. He'd have to admit I was right; and I would have to refrain from gloating. I am not a big enough man to be able say, with any degree of certainty, that I would not scream, "I fucking told you so you God damned libtard!".

Unanimous

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:



For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Source: The Pennsylvania Packet, July 8, 1776

18 March 2010

Jasmine And Kaylee Are Zeroed

Kaylee needed it because she's a flat-top with a carry handle and no longer a C7 upper. The Lovely Harvey expressed some dismay about Cheyenne being too similar to Kaylee, so I had been gathering pieces to make it less so.


Jasmine had previously never been fired! I've had her for almost two years and this was her first trip to the range. I had to do the normal FAL business of adjusting the gas system: Start with the gas regulator completely closed; load one round from the magazine; fire. Bolt should lock to the rear. Open regulator one step; load a single round in a mag; chamber; fire. Bolt should lock to the rear. Repeat until it doesn't lock then close two clicks.


Thinking back to the L1A1 I made just before the Clinton ban in '94, which I sold to Tim who sold it to Eric who had no good luck with it: I think that gun locked to the rear with the regulator fully open. I wonder if that broke something from being overgassed. At the time I didn't think of it and since it was working for me, I didn't worry.

Once Jasmine's gas was set, I started shooting for accuracy to get her zeroed. She was already, I didn't need to adjust the sights at all. Thanks! DSA for setting her up from the factory! She seems to like the 147gr NATO spec ammo from Magtech a lot. Group at 100 yards was head sized, I am attributing that to being poorly braced and not being able to see well. Shoot straight has the lights set just wrong for peep sights. I forgot to bring my boonie hat to shade the rear sight.

15 March 2010

Godwin Moment

What I am blathering about: http://perezhilton.com/2010-03-12-sean-penn-defends-hugo-chavez

Mr Penn, lots of dictators were democratically elected. Lots of dictators came to power through legitimate means. The difference between a dictator and a president, say, is what they do once in power; like eliminate the next election ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuelan_constitutional_referendum,_2009 ), transfer power from the legislative or judicial branches to themselves, trivial stuff hard to spot or detect (check the batteries in your sarcasm detector).

I notice that Mr Penn doesn't mention that Hugo attempted to take over in a coup d'état in 1992. He went to prison for that. He got pardoned later, but still, not someone who embodies the democratic ideal.

11 March 2010

Gaming Guns

I am reminded of some of the fun gun stuff from gaming.

In the way back, I thought the FG.42 was a pretty nifty gun. I had no idea how fragile they were.

In one world, K'tanga, I had a group of people who were fed up with the state of affairs in the US who set up a new home beyond the interworld portal that happened to be located in Zaire.

They called their little enclave, New America (no relation to the group of the same name in Twilight 2000).

A Mary Sue of me, Calvin Dean, made a rifle patterned off the FG.42 called the M1 Dean. Since they had no actual FG.42 to pattern it off if, there were surely differences in function, but it had the same overall layout.

I dusted off my old notes today and noticed I had it chambered in .280 British with a 25 round magazine.

Fast forward to today. One of my favorite cartridges is 6.8x43mm SPC; the affordable magazines are 25 rounders. 6.8 is nearly a twin ballistically to the old .280 Brit.

I wonder if I like the 6.8 because of that similarity.

10 March 2010

On Starbucks

I just noticed how bad things have become.

Starbucks is being lauded as being pro-gun for taking a neutral position; and it's a genuinely refreshing change of pace for a large chain to do so.

We've a long way to go, but we should not forget that just because they aren't anti-gun doesn't mean they are pro-gun.

That said, I will have a latte this evening. Carrying concealed, of course, since open is not legal here in Florida.

Geek Version Of Gun Meme

The "What three guns" question is one that came up quite a bit playing Nexus worlds.

The answer quite often is, "it depends on the world."

Where resupply was sketchy, we tended towards guns that ate the most common ammunition we could think of.

I actually BOUGHT a Colt Anaconda 4" in .45 Colt because I expected to play myself in a scenario where we were transported to the old west.

I selected several guns over the years based on their proven durability, if not reliability. I called it my African Thumb Method. If an unsupported african rebel can keep it running, it's good enough. Of course, being a gamer means taking the FAL over the AK because it gets two more dice damage and has more range.

The most common handgun on my character sheets is the M1911A1.
I hardly ever took a shotgun; a rifle that did the same dice of damage always did so at longer ranges for less weight.
The most common rifle is a three-way tie between the SMLE #3 Mk1, FN FAL and M16A2.

Even though I very rarely needed it, I chose a rifle that could take a bayonet whenever it was allowed. Guns just don't break in game worlds, really and players hardly ever run out of ammo.

If you run your world realistically enough that they don't hit like snipers, even in a pitched firefight, they whine piteously. When you hit like a sniper in all conditions, a basic load will last you almost forever.

Imported Comments:

08 March 2010

Gun Meme

"One Handgun, One Rifle, One Shotgun. You are able to choose just one of each for self defense with NO modifications."

M1911A1. I'm intimate with the platform and can literally clean it blind-folded.

Remington 870, 12ga 3", extended magazine. I have this on the list because we're supposed to have a shotgun, not that I would choose it over the rifle.

11.5" AR. Light, handy, way more wallop than any handgun despite being .223, sitting here next to me...

Imported Comment Thread:

04 March 2010

Great Now I'm A Serf

http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/2010/02/yeah-but-what-does-that-three-percent.html

Personal responsibility does not equal taking responsibility for others. In your car wreck example: If I did not cause the wreck I am not personally responsible. If you chose to assist, by all means proceed.

BUT GET THE FUCK DOWN OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE WITH THE CONTEMPT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO DON'T THINK EXACTLY OR REACT EXACTLY AS YOU WOULD!

You have no idea what a serf is, do you? You probably don't know that serf and peasant are not synonyms.

Serf and subject are also not synonyms.

Altruist and citizen are not synonymous.

You are extremely free with the insults to people who don't live to your standards for your reasons. People demanding such purity are known as fanatics. I will not keep company with such.

The Sharing Thing

Inspired by: http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/2010/03/quote-of-day-r0n-p4ul-edition_04.html

Taxes taken from me for the good of all in society, like roads, don't rankle me. Even people who do not drive benefit from good roads because they allow the reliable transportation of the things they do use.

Taxes taken from me for the good of a single person or group, like welfare, piss me off. Taking from ME to give to THEM may, in theory, be an overall good to society; reality doesn't seem to support the theory. Extended example: If there was no welfare then the person(s) in question would have either starved to death or found work; and ceased to be a problem. With welfare we've got their kids and grandkids pulling the same drain.

It is even more exasperating to find that one is not qualified to receive assistance after paying into the system for years because you still own something. Actually, the problem is not the owning, but being the owner of record. If our house and cars were in someone else's name we'd have a comfortable income. If you think that I am the first person to notice this and that people on welfare are unaware of it, can I sell you some Everglades property?

It often seems like we're the only people who've noticed the cheating; or rather that everyone is aware of it, but the government is blind to it.

The Lovely Harvey had noted it in her job in college financial aid. When someone with a perfectly groomed coiffure, manicure and designer clothes pulls up in a brand new Escalade you know someone in their household has a substantial income. Oddly, this same person reports $0 income and receives the full earned income credit, and is eligible for the full panoply of grants; this is on top of housing assistance, food stamps, etc...

I'm fed up with it, how about you?

What's Cheesing Me Off Here

The thing that upsets me most about the hu-hu over health care is when they pass it, and lose their asses next election, we will still have it.

I recall 1994 when the Dems lost their asses over gun control. If the AWB hadn't had a ten year expiration date, it would still be law. Why do I say this? Because the Brady Act is still law. Because the Hughes amendment is still law. Because the Gun Control Act of 1968 is still law.

Changing the party in charge doesn't mean shit if the reasons we are changing horses remains. I think the Republicans know this.

Without repeals, there's no reason to vote for a Republican. NONE.

I'm "wasting" my vote on a randomly selected third party from now on until the candidates start running on platforms of repeal.

In a related note: Several people have noted that if the Tea Party forms as a third party in Harry Reid's district that it will split the Republican vote and he will be reelected. GOOD! I don't think the Tea Party people think they will win anyway. What this is really about is teaching the Republicans that they have to actually oppose the policies we object to, and we can make sure they lose until they learn.

What was that quote? I will beat you until you learn! If you do not learn, you will die stupid.

Update: The learning process is applicable to the Democrats too. I would be perfectly willing to vote for a Dem who wasn't being a socialist.

An Errant Thought

Because of the separation between church and state, I am not allowed to have religious displays on public property.

Why are the police allowed to use a church parking lot as a staging area for their SWAT team?

Where's the ACLU?

If they want me to take this seriously the barrier has to run both directions.

Imported Comments Thread

02 March 2010

Do You Like Conspiracy Theories

I love them! Even if I don't subscribe to them, I usually enjoy picking at them.

http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message984135/pg1

This one is interesting. It's one of the very few "birther" explanations that say why President Obama would spend millions to prevent the release of his full birth certificate and yet still be a natural born US citizen.

Completely disrupts his narrative too.