31 December 2011
Bikers
I am the son and grandson of bikers.
I was a biker for a long while too.
I've hung out with them for many, many years.
I've been to Sturgis when the big party was still in town.
What the fuck happened since I stopped riding?
Did Harley start administering IQ tests during the purchase process and if you score above 90 you don't get the bike? Do they waive this test if you already own a scoot?
I ask because the ridership down here seems divided very sharply. People who seem to know what they're doing and riding defensively and people whose heads are so far up their asses they open their mouths to see. Gives new meaning to the term "eye tooth".
The former group I have zero problems with. They stay out of my way, I can tell what they are going to do next so I can stay out of theirs. Easy.
The latter, and larger group, seem to wanting to see if their helmet really can protect them after the 4,300 lb. of Biscayne fails to stop. I got news for you, Dr Biker Esq. my car cannot out brake your bike. I have four times the mass with about double the swept area; do the math.
Wildly varying your speed between five under the limit and five over flow of traffic and changing lanes seemingly at random makes it hard to predict where you are going to be next so I can give enough room to actually not hit you should you panic stop for optical illusions and unicorns.
Help me to help you! Because if the worst happens I'm not looking at more than a trip to the body shop; you're going to the hospital.
Something else to consider, I was a biker so I pay more attention to bikes. I try to give you guys more room and consideration. If I am having trouble avoiding collisions with your bad riding, what makes you think the New York City expatriate who didn't have a license until they retired down here will have the clue and experience to dodge you?
This is pretty easy stuff, really.
Adjust your mirrors so you can see.
Look over your shoulder before changing lanes!
Clearly signal your intentions. Vaguely waving your hand at waist level is not a signal no matter how cool you think you look doing it. Are you closing your choke? Are you switching to the reserve tank? Are you dropping your cigarette? Are you indicating a lane change?
Move with the flow of traffic!!! This one is the most important. While you are legally allowed to go five under, you're not making friends doing so. The speed-up slow-down game also doesn't make anyone around you happy with you. Try to remember that mass equation from earlier.
Be aware of the blind spots on the cars nearest you. If you cannot see my head in the window or the mirror there's no way I can see you at all. If I speed up or slow down to get you out of my blind spot don't move right back into it! I am trying to help us both.
That "Share The Road" bumper sticker, that works both ways.
I was a biker for a long while too.
I've hung out with them for many, many years.
I've been to Sturgis when the big party was still in town.
What the fuck happened since I stopped riding?
Did Harley start administering IQ tests during the purchase process and if you score above 90 you don't get the bike? Do they waive this test if you already own a scoot?
I ask because the ridership down here seems divided very sharply. People who seem to know what they're doing and riding defensively and people whose heads are so far up their asses they open their mouths to see. Gives new meaning to the term "eye tooth".
The former group I have zero problems with. They stay out of my way, I can tell what they are going to do next so I can stay out of theirs. Easy.
The latter, and larger group, seem to wanting to see if their helmet really can protect them after the 4,300 lb. of Biscayne fails to stop. I got news for you, Dr Biker Esq. my car cannot out brake your bike. I have four times the mass with about double the swept area; do the math.
Wildly varying your speed between five under the limit and five over flow of traffic and changing lanes seemingly at random makes it hard to predict where you are going to be next so I can give enough room to actually not hit you should you panic stop for optical illusions and unicorns.
Help me to help you! Because if the worst happens I'm not looking at more than a trip to the body shop; you're going to the hospital.
Something else to consider, I was a biker so I pay more attention to bikes. I try to give you guys more room and consideration. If I am having trouble avoiding collisions with your bad riding, what makes you think the New York City expatriate who didn't have a license until they retired down here will have the clue and experience to dodge you?
This is pretty easy stuff, really.
Adjust your mirrors so you can see.
Look over your shoulder before changing lanes!
Clearly signal your intentions. Vaguely waving your hand at waist level is not a signal no matter how cool you think you look doing it. Are you closing your choke? Are you switching to the reserve tank? Are you dropping your cigarette? Are you indicating a lane change?
Move with the flow of traffic!!! This one is the most important. While you are legally allowed to go five under, you're not making friends doing so. The speed-up slow-down game also doesn't make anyone around you happy with you. Try to remember that mass equation from earlier.
Be aware of the blind spots on the cars nearest you. If you cannot see my head in the window or the mirror there's no way I can see you at all. If I speed up or slow down to get you out of my blind spot don't move right back into it! I am trying to help us both.
That "Share The Road" bumper sticker, that works both ways.
Grammar Nazi
I am not normally too bad about grammar.
I may chide my friends from time to time, but bad grammar in a living language is par for the course as the language morphs.
The problem arises when the primary function of language begins to fail. Language is for communication. If the grammar you are using is not intelligible to the person whom you are trying to communicate with, you are failing.
The basics are pretty easy. Sentence structure isn't that hard. The rules are also pretty damn easy.
Things that would make my life on forums easier.
Learn where the shift key is! Start sentences with a capital letter and end them with some form of punctuation.
If you're using a computer there's no damn excuse for words being spelled wrong. Spell checkers are pervasive. Using the wrong word is more understandable, the computer is not normally going to let you know you used the wrong to, too or two; let alone there, their or they're.
I may chide my friends from time to time, but bad grammar in a living language is par for the course as the language morphs.
The problem arises when the primary function of language begins to fail. Language is for communication. If the grammar you are using is not intelligible to the person whom you are trying to communicate with, you are failing.
The basics are pretty easy. Sentence structure isn't that hard. The rules are also pretty damn easy.
Things that would make my life on forums easier.
Learn where the shift key is! Start sentences with a capital letter and end them with some form of punctuation.
If you're using a computer there's no damn excuse for words being spelled wrong. Spell checkers are pervasive. Using the wrong word is more understandable, the computer is not normally going to let you know you used the wrong to, too or two; let alone there, their or they're.
30 December 2011
Learning
One thing I most regret about my parents getting divorced is that my father was completely absent.
There are things that I grew to know that should be done.
There was nobody to teach me how.
It's a bitch to know what you are supposed to do without knowing how to do them.
I learned, the hard way. It took longer for being an OJT/DIY experience.
Later I learned that my father didn't know that there are things you are supposed to do, so he couldn't have taught me how.
One could suppose his removing himself from my life as a blessing since I was able to learn the lessons he had not.
There are things that I grew to know that should be done.
There was nobody to teach me how.
It's a bitch to know what you are supposed to do without knowing how to do them.
I learned, the hard way. It took longer for being an OJT/DIY experience.
Later I learned that my father didn't know that there are things you are supposed to do, so he couldn't have taught me how.
One could suppose his removing himself from my life as a blessing since I was able to learn the lessons he had not.
29 December 2011
Definitions
Can't.
As in cannot.
I would sure like to see every instance of "government can't" changed from "is not allowed" to "is unable to."
I wouldn't need to worry so much about things then.
EDIT:
What many people mean when they say can't is "shan't" or "shall not". That's much closer to meaning "not allowed to"
As in cannot.
I would sure like to see every instance of "government can't" changed from "is not allowed" to "is unable to."
I wouldn't need to worry so much about things then.
EDIT:
What many people mean when they say can't is "shan't" or "shall not". That's much closer to meaning "not allowed to"
Principles
One sign of principles is sticking to them.
Letting them guide you not the fickle winds of public opinion.
It's saying, "I will not do that," then not doing that! Saying you will never and then doing it anyway is not principled.
Yes, a principled person can amend their position, but they also have to explain why. They have to admit their principles were not in keeping with their present reality and show the process whereby their minds were changed about it.
What you cannot do is change your mind and still maintain your principles are unchanged.
Being principled is not easy. You will be punished for it. You will miss opportunities because of them.
It is work and there are rewards. The rewards exceed the pain. The opportunities that you don't miss are bigger and better than the ones you missed.
At the end you will know you did it the right way.
Letting them guide you not the fickle winds of public opinion.
It's saying, "I will not do that," then not doing that! Saying you will never and then doing it anyway is not principled.
Yes, a principled person can amend their position, but they also have to explain why. They have to admit their principles were not in keeping with their present reality and show the process whereby their minds were changed about it.
What you cannot do is change your mind and still maintain your principles are unchanged.
Being principled is not easy. You will be punished for it. You will miss opportunities because of them.
It is work and there are rewards. The rewards exceed the pain. The opportunities that you don't miss are bigger and better than the ones you missed.
At the end you will know you did it the right way.
28 December 2011
Music Meme
Top 25 Most Played on the iPod in the car. Meme from Tam.
Debonair (Fuck Hollywood Mix) by Dope
Interestingly this is not the same 25 songs as the laptop. The desktop has a different list of 25. I seem to listen to different music based on where I am.
Debonair (Fuck Hollywood Mix) by Dope
Just One Fix by Ministy
Die MF Die by Dope
Rock Is Dead by Marilyn Manson
My Suicide (Girl) by Critical Bill
mOBSCENE by Marilyn Manson
mOBSCENE by Marilyn Manson
Astonishing Panorama Of The Endtimes by Marilyn Manson
Away From Me by Puddle of Mudd
All These Things That I've Done by The Killers
Rock 'N' Roll by Motörhead
21st Century (Digital Boy) by Bad Religion
The Future's So Bright by Timbuk3
How Will I Laugh Tomorrow by Suicidal Tendencies
BEER! by Psyhcostick
Zero by The Smashing Pumpkins
Hollywood Nights by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet BandTeen Angst by Cracker
Girl U Want by Devo
Nemo by Nightwish
Bombshell by Powerman 5000
Whenever Wherever by Shakira
Heaven and Hell by Black Sabbath
Interestingly this is not the same 25 songs as the laptop. The desktop has a different list of 25. I seem to listen to different music based on where I am.
27 December 2011
Giving OWB A Try
This method of carry is contraindicated by the narrow seats and center console on the Vette.
But the Biscayne is a whole other matter with its Barcalounger seating.
I think it disappears nicely.
It's a SIG-Sauer P232 in a Galco holster. Yes, I know, I buy a lot of Galco stuff; but it works for me and Dragon Leatherworks doesn't send me samples to get me hooked. Come on, Dennis, first fix is supposed to be free!
But the Biscayne is a whole other matter with its Barcalounger seating.
It's a SIG-Sauer P232 in a Galco holster. Yes, I know, I buy a lot of Galco stuff; but it works for me and Dragon Leatherworks doesn't send me samples to get me hooked. Come on, Dennis, first fix is supposed to be free!
600!
This is my 640-3. Zit and all.
Tam is to blame. I recall her saying something to the effect that if you pulled the trigger a thousand times you'd end up with a really good trigger pull.
Being who I am, I said, "why dry fire when you can shoot"? Why use .38 when you have .357? Now I know. Ouch. But I do have an honest 600 rounds through the gun without a hiccup (from the gun). To be fair, it was a shot 50 rounds at a time not all at once. This is the first gun I've owned where I had to force myself to finish a box of ammo. The first gun where I didn't have to force myself to take ammo home. I really don't like shooting it. The sights suck, recoil is harsh, lookitthat fireball! OK, the fireball is fun.
This not even as light as Jay G's Snubby From Hell™. I remember when I first read about the Snubby From Hell™, my very first thought was, "like my gun but LIGHTER?" No. Way. Ever.
But I learned a lot from this gun. I learned how to properly fire double action. I learned that how you hold a revolver is not the same as how you hold an auto. I learned that when Tam says "dry fire" she doesn't mean "go shooting".
The Devil You Know
I predict that President Obama will be reelected.
I also predict the Senate returning to Republican hands while the House remains Republican.
Why?
We know Barry pretty well by now.
We also know enough about Romney, Gingrich and Paul to know that they would be different but not better in everything except whom they would pick for the Supreme Court. Since the Senate is more than involved there, perhaps we could avert the disaster somewhat.
We don't know enough about Perry to really claim he'd be more than different, but what we've seen is promising. Except he's a bit heavy on the God thing for my tastes. Not to mention how I am almost pre-weary of the "governor from Texas" meme that's bound to be coming. He'll be Bush 45... Bush the Third... Anything but himself.
Gods, I want a candidate to vote FOR. I am sick to death of being presented with "here's the guy you get because we know you're voting against the other guy."
It's a nice feeling to have such. I voted FOR Marco Rubio. I voted FOR Rick Scott. Back when, I voted FOR Jeb Bush. My state political machine seems to have figured it out, why can't the national level?
Of course voting for someone isn't all milk and cookies. I voted for Ross Perot. That was the last presidential candidate I voted for. I voted against Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry and Barack Obama not for Bob Dole, George W Bush or John McCain.
My write in candidate, sadly, passed away this year. I don't even have Bill Gerber any more.
I also predict the Senate returning to Republican hands while the House remains Republican.
Why?
We know Barry pretty well by now.
We also know enough about Romney, Gingrich and Paul to know that they would be different but not better in everything except whom they would pick for the Supreme Court. Since the Senate is more than involved there, perhaps we could avert the disaster somewhat.
We don't know enough about Perry to really claim he'd be more than different, but what we've seen is promising. Except he's a bit heavy on the God thing for my tastes. Not to mention how I am almost pre-weary of the "governor from Texas" meme that's bound to be coming. He'll be Bush 45... Bush the Third... Anything but himself.
Gods, I want a candidate to vote FOR. I am sick to death of being presented with "here's the guy you get because we know you're voting against the other guy."
It's a nice feeling to have such. I voted FOR Marco Rubio. I voted FOR Rick Scott. Back when, I voted FOR Jeb Bush. My state political machine seems to have figured it out, why can't the national level?
Of course voting for someone isn't all milk and cookies. I voted for Ross Perot. That was the last presidential candidate I voted for. I voted against Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry and Barack Obama not for Bob Dole, George W Bush or John McCain.
My write in candidate, sadly, passed away this year. I don't even have Bill Gerber any more.
24 December 2011
Me Too! Me Too!
I do so love me a good meme.
Here's what I may be carrying at any given moment.
Springfield M-1911A1 GI in a Galco Miami Classic II.
Smith and Wesson 640-3 in a Galco Royal Guard.
SIG-Sauer P238 in a Don Hume 001.
Your best guess as to the exact load-out.
The 1911 tends to be for cooler weather where I can survive wearing a shirt over a t-shirt. The J-Frame is more my summer gun with an untucked shirt or the pocket of my cargo-shorts. The SIG is a constant companion who lives next to my wallet.
Here's what I may be carrying at any given moment.
Springfield M-1911A1 GI in a Galco Miami Classic II.
Smith and Wesson 640-3 in a Galco Royal Guard.
SIG-Sauer P238 in a Don Hume 001.
Your best guess as to the exact load-out.
The 1911 tends to be for cooler weather where I can survive wearing a shirt over a t-shirt. The J-Frame is more my summer gun with an untucked shirt or the pocket of my cargo-shorts. The SIG is a constant companion who lives next to my wallet.
23 December 2011
Another Piece of Evidence We're Winning.
Just for a lark I strapped on my Anaconda to wander around the house and while I was geeking out making a GURPS character.
The water delivery guy showed up, so I opened up the garage to let him swap the bottles.
No freak out about the gun at all, just a "Is that a .44?"
He didn't know that Colt made them in .45 Colt.
The water delivery guy showed up, so I opened up the garage to let him swap the bottles.
No freak out about the gun at all, just a "Is that a .44?"
He didn't know that Colt made them in .45 Colt.
22 December 2011
Now That Someone Else Has Mentioned It...
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/12/the-story-behind-ron-pauls-racist-newsletters/250338/
I remember Mr Paul back in those '90's.
I remember saying, "Well, he's good on guns..."
Unspoken, "but..."
He profited handsomely from those newsletters and has utterly failed to put any real distance on the position.
Even if it was "just a marketing tactic" it's damning that he'd even consider it; let alone actually print it!
If your name is on it, you own it. If you allowed someone else to write it and hang your name on it, you still own it!
Someone who storms off stage when the press asks about this is not someone I want as a dog-catcher let alone president.
I am not infatuated with libertarianism. Like all simple utopian ideals it falls apart with the slightest touch of reality. I believe I mentioned that feudalism can be constructed without violating libertarianism. Hardly freedom, is it?
Still, Mr Paul is not Mitt Romney. I'll take a racist libertarian ideologue over gun-grabbing RINO.
EDIT:
I forgot the dog whistling Truther shit!
I remember Mr Paul back in those '90's.
I remember saying, "Well, he's good on guns..."
Unspoken, "but..."
He profited handsomely from those newsletters and has utterly failed to put any real distance on the position.
Even if it was "just a marketing tactic" it's damning that he'd even consider it; let alone actually print it!
If your name is on it, you own it. If you allowed someone else to write it and hang your name on it, you still own it!
Someone who storms off stage when the press asks about this is not someone I want as a dog-catcher let alone president.
I am not infatuated with libertarianism. Like all simple utopian ideals it falls apart with the slightest touch of reality. I believe I mentioned that feudalism can be constructed without violating libertarianism. Hardly freedom, is it?
Still, Mr Paul is not Mitt Romney. I'll take a racist libertarian ideologue over gun-grabbing RINO.
EDIT:
I forgot the dog whistling Truther shit!
19 December 2011
Using Youtube To Review Guns
I have a couple of hints for you...
If <gasp> you <gasp> can't <gasp> breathe <gasp> you <gasp> shouldn't <gasp> be <gasp> talking <GASP GASP GASP>.
Check the <rumble rumble rumble> wind speeds.
Two words: Tri Pod.
Have a helper shoot you in the left foot with a pellet rifle every time you say "uh".
Learn to write.
See above.
Seriously.
Rehearse! Don't post your first attempt.
About that writing thing, if you can say everything you need to say without showing an actual video, just write it down and post to a blog. This saves me from listening to your emphysema, not hearing you from the wind over the mic and getting motion sickness because you clearly drank a fifth of vodka to get the courage to post, but forgot what that would do to your steadiness.
If <gasp> you <gasp> can't <gasp> breathe <gasp> you <gasp> shouldn't <gasp> be <gasp> talking <GASP GASP GASP>.
Check the <rumble rumble rumble> wind speeds.
Two words: Tri Pod.
Have a helper shoot you in the left foot with a pellet rifle every time you say "uh".
Learn to write.
See above.
Seriously.
Rehearse! Don't post your first attempt.
About that writing thing, if you can say everything you need to say without showing an actual video, just write it down and post to a blog. This saves me from listening to your emphysema, not hearing you from the wind over the mic and getting motion sickness because you clearly drank a fifth of vodka to get the courage to post, but forgot what that would do to your steadiness.
Another Errant Thought
In light of the circumstances of Kim Jong Il's death; Mr Obama: Next time take the train.
Just sayin'...
Just sayin'...
18 December 2011
17 December 2011
Grampa's Guns
These are the guns that defended the COOP gas station at the corner of 2nd St and Lincoln Way in Nevada, Iowa for at least thirty years.
This was Grampa's "tool-box gun. It's a Harrington and Richardson "Automatic" 2nd Model 1st Variation; made in 1891 as near as I have been able to determine. It's chambered for six rounds of .32 S&W Long. Despite being a "cheap" gun it still locks up good and tight. It hits point of aim at 10 yards, but that firing pin will pierce one primer in about ten. It's definitely a black-powder gun, I didn't know that when I bought smokeless ammo and fired it. This gun is the first gun I carried when I got my Florida permit, the Glock 21 being a lot too big for summer.
This is the "under-the-counter" gun. The rationale for the smaller gun than the H&R was that grandma would often be out front doing the books and she needed something smaller. This is an Iver Johnson Safety Hammer Automatic five shooter chambered in .32 S&W and made in 1911.
These two guns have almost exactly zero intrinsic value, but vast sentimental worth.
This was Grampa's "tool-box gun. It's a Harrington and Richardson "Automatic" 2nd Model 1st Variation; made in 1891 as near as I have been able to determine. It's chambered for six rounds of .32 S&W Long. Despite being a "cheap" gun it still locks up good and tight. It hits point of aim at 10 yards, but that firing pin will pierce one primer in about ten. It's definitely a black-powder gun, I didn't know that when I bought smokeless ammo and fired it. This gun is the first gun I carried when I got my Florida permit, the Glock 21 being a lot too big for summer.
This is the "under-the-counter" gun. The rationale for the smaller gun than the H&R was that grandma would often be out front doing the books and she needed something smaller. This is an Iver Johnson Safety Hammer Automatic five shooter chambered in .32 S&W and made in 1911.
These two guns have almost exactly zero intrinsic value, but vast sentimental worth.
16 December 2011
The Joys of Cooler Weather
Made a batch of my chili.
Yes, it has beans. And onions. And meat. And tomatoes.
This is what I call chili and regardless of if you agree to its labeling, it's tasty stuff!
Yes, it has beans. And onions. And meat. And tomatoes.
This is what I call chili and regardless of if you agree to its labeling, it's tasty stuff!
My buddy Marv and I developed this recipe from scratch. He's pretty sensitive to spices so we went for flavor and not heat. It's with no small amount of pride to claim that it's won every office chili cook-off we've entered it in (all three!).
My loving wife published our recipe in her cookbook. You should buy a copy; lots of tasty, affordable recipes in it. Many of them are our old family recipes that we transcribed verbatim, complete with spelling errors! Just for fun!
Burn in Hell Motherfucker!
Christopher Hitchens has become a good marxist.
Edit: I was supposed to like him? Because he said some things I would have agreed with?
Marxists are socialists and socialism is evil. Socialism has murdered too many people to trust. Murdered too many people to like or respect anyone who openly claims to be one or expresses their respect for Marx and Lenin.
So, Mr Hitchens, you may have written some good stuff, but burn in Hell anyways.
Edit: I was supposed to like him? Because he said some things I would have agreed with?
Marxists are socialists and socialism is evil. Socialism has murdered too many people to trust. Murdered too many people to like or respect anyone who openly claims to be one or expresses their respect for Marx and Lenin.
So, Mr Hitchens, you may have written some good stuff, but burn in Hell anyways.
15 December 2011
Cheap guns.
I am firm believer in A gun is better than NO gun.
This means a cheap POS is better than nothing.
Caleb is writing about how a good gun is better than a bad gun (true) and that the price point isn't that bad between bad and good (also true).
I say all this to tell this story.
I am at a gun show and we're walking past a vendor with two tables full of brand new High Points.
He starts his pitch because I glanced in his general direction.
One of my friends says, "I used to own one..."
The sales pitch instantly stops and the vendor sits down looking all dejected. Wow!
This means a cheap POS is better than nothing.
Caleb is writing about how a good gun is better than a bad gun (true) and that the price point isn't that bad between bad and good (also true).
I say all this to tell this story.
I am at a gun show and we're walking past a vendor with two tables full of brand new High Points.
He starts his pitch because I glanced in his general direction.
One of my friends says, "I used to own one..."
The sales pitch instantly stops and the vendor sits down looking all dejected. Wow!
100!
Today I am 100 calendar days pending on my most recent Form 1. That's 155 total days since I put it in the mailbox.
My examiner has been averaging 131 days pending to stamp received in the past six months.
Just a couple of weeks ago that average was 115 days over at NFA Tracker.
The average time seems to be slipping at about the same rate as my wait time.
This, above all else, is why I don't want the government in charge of my health.
The reason that the forms take so long to process is there are a buttload of them and only 12 examiners. The reason there are only12 7 examiners is because there is a hiring freeze. Here's a good write up about it.
My examiner has been averaging 131 days pending to stamp received in the past six months.
Just a couple of weeks ago that average was 115 days over at NFA Tracker.
The average time seems to be slipping at about the same rate as my wait time.
This, above all else, is why I don't want the government in charge of my health.
The reason that the forms take so long to process is there are a buttload of them and only 12 examiners. The reason there are only
Safe Queens
How does a gun become a safe queen?
I know I didn't set out to own a single one, but I seem to have acquired a few.
I simply don't shoot several of the guns in there.
I did have to have them though.
At least none of them are guns that I will not shoot because I fear I am affecting their value.
Grampa's old revolvers I don't shoot because I am not entirely convinced it's still safe to do so. Their value is entirely sentimental rather than intrinsic. This is on top of them being unpleasant to shoot as well.
Both of the rifle ranges I like are more than an hour's haul from here, so it's kind of a pain to get in some 50 or 100 yard trigger time.
I know I didn't set out to own a single one, but I seem to have acquired a few.
I simply don't shoot several of the guns in there.
I did have to have them though.
At least none of them are guns that I will not shoot because I fear I am affecting their value.
Grampa's old revolvers I don't shoot because I am not entirely convinced it's still safe to do so. Their value is entirely sentimental rather than intrinsic. This is on top of them being unpleasant to shoot as well.
Both of the rifle ranges I like are more than an hour's haul from here, so it's kind of a pain to get in some 50 or 100 yard trigger time.
14 December 2011
Innocent of What?
Reading here about a defensive gun use.
Weer'd quotes Bob quoting Caroline Brewer, "they’ll shoot innocent bystanders".
Caroline, not only do you not understand gun owners, you don't understand criminals.
The kind of crimes were a gun is most useful are also the type of crimes where the criminal seeks the most privacy. There are no innocent bystanders because, to the criminal, they are witnesses!
Not only are they witnesses, they are sources of assistance to the victim.
Weer'd quotes Bob quoting Caroline Brewer, "they’ll shoot innocent bystanders".
Caroline, not only do you not understand gun owners, you don't understand criminals.
The kind of crimes were a gun is most useful are also the type of crimes where the criminal seeks the most privacy. There are no innocent bystanders because, to the criminal, they are witnesses!
Not only are they witnesses, they are sources of assistance to the victim.
13 December 2011
Guess What?
Stolen from Another Gun Blog:
"It's weird that somebody came onto campus with a gun," "It kind of made me think that anybody could be doing anything on our campus." Freshman Rachel Robbins
I hate to tell you this, Sunshine, but anyone can bring a gun on campus NOW, it's just illegal.
When I was living in Iowa there was no chance of getting a conceal carry permit from the Story County Sheriff. "Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6" was my logic; so I carried without a permit. That included the campus of Iowa State University. Guess what happened! NOTHING!
Why?
Because I was an otherwise law abiding citizen who had been denied the legal means to self defense. I also recall one of the Founders said something to the effect of "any law that runs contrary to your rights is void; and should be treated as such." Well, that's what I did.
Ms. Robbins may be shocked to learn that she may already surrounded by gun owners who are being very, very quiet about it because they don't want to end up arrested over it, nor dead should a Virginia Tech incident happen.
I tend to prefer arrested to dead.
I've mentioned before that my law abidance has increased dramatically since I got my carry permit. Almost as if no longer being forced to break one law makes me respect the others all the more. I have not carried where I am forbidden since (much longer than the statute of limitations by the way).
Related to this: I did a search to see if Iowa's new conceal carry law allowed campus carry, it does not. I stumbled across an article from theISU Pravda Iowa State Daily where Stephanie Madon, associate professor of psychology, references the weapon effect. It's real. What she fails to mention is the "offensive effect of a weapon" which is also real, and stronger.
The weapon effect is simply that an aggressor will be more aggressive when there's even an image of a weapon present.
The offensive effect of a weapon, counterintuitively, is that less aggression occurs when a real weapon is present because of the likelihood of it being used.
You have to consider both effects. While someone who is going to go off will be more likely to do so if they've got a weapon, they are also far less likely to do so if there's a likelihood of someone else having a weapon. Also part of both is that a person who has a weapon and is assured of being the only person with a weapon is much more likely to go off. An associate professor of psychology should know that.
Isn't that what we conceal carry people have been saying for decades?
"It's weird that somebody came onto campus with a gun," "It kind of made me think that anybody could be doing anything on our campus." Freshman Rachel Robbins
I hate to tell you this, Sunshine, but anyone can bring a gun on campus NOW, it's just illegal.
When I was living in Iowa there was no chance of getting a conceal carry permit from the Story County Sheriff. "Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6" was my logic; so I carried without a permit. That included the campus of Iowa State University. Guess what happened! NOTHING!
Why?
Because I was an otherwise law abiding citizen who had been denied the legal means to self defense. I also recall one of the Founders said something to the effect of "any law that runs contrary to your rights is void; and should be treated as such." Well, that's what I did.
Ms. Robbins may be shocked to learn that she may already surrounded by gun owners who are being very, very quiet about it because they don't want to end up arrested over it, nor dead should a Virginia Tech incident happen.
I tend to prefer arrested to dead.
I've mentioned before that my law abidance has increased dramatically since I got my carry permit. Almost as if no longer being forced to break one law makes me respect the others all the more. I have not carried where I am forbidden since (much longer than the statute of limitations by the way).
Related to this: I did a search to see if Iowa's new conceal carry law allowed campus carry, it does not. I stumbled across an article from the
The weapon effect is simply that an aggressor will be more aggressive when there's even an image of a weapon present.
The offensive effect of a weapon, counterintuitively, is that less aggression occurs when a real weapon is present because of the likelihood of it being used.
You have to consider both effects. While someone who is going to go off will be more likely to do so if they've got a weapon, they are also far less likely to do so if there's a likelihood of someone else having a weapon. Also part of both is that a person who has a weapon and is assured of being the only person with a weapon is much more likely to go off. An associate professor of psychology should know that.
Isn't that what we conceal carry people have been saying for decades?
The Question Remains
Ergo makes a stock that I am kinda interested in.
The gun I would buy it for has an OD green theme going on, so I would want the OD green version of this stock.
This is not a problem since Ergo makes it in OD green.
Brownells sells the stock, but their listing is pretty clearly the black version.
They have a little Q&A app with each listing so I asked, "Will you be carrying the OD Green version?"
Their reply, "You will need to call our tech support line at (641) 623-5401 Ext. 5003 for the proper selection. You should have the gun in hand or available when you call. You may also want to contact us via e-mail at tech@brownells.com"
Yup, their robot replied with a generic response. This is an answer that could have been placed in a disclaimer at the bottom of the page. This is not an answer to the question.
This is exactly what I am talking about when I mention that the internet changed everything. I know of six other vendors who are selling the green version. Any one of whom would have happily sold me one while I fruitlessly waited for a reply from Brownells. Next time I will know not to waste my time with the Q&A app and just buy from a vendor who lists it clearly and shows the item in stock.
I like Brownells, but Midway kicks their asses all damn day on the web.
The gun I would buy it for has an OD green theme going on, so I would want the OD green version of this stock.
This is not a problem since Ergo makes it in OD green.
Brownells sells the stock, but their listing is pretty clearly the black version.
They have a little Q&A app with each listing so I asked, "Will you be carrying the OD Green version?"
Their reply, "You will need to call our tech support line at (641) 623-5401 Ext. 5003 for the proper selection. You should have the gun in hand or available when you call. You may also want to contact us via e-mail at tech@brownells.com"
Yup, their robot replied with a generic response. This is an answer that could have been placed in a disclaimer at the bottom of the page. This is not an answer to the question.
This is exactly what I am talking about when I mention that the internet changed everything. I know of six other vendors who are selling the green version. Any one of whom would have happily sold me one while I fruitlessly waited for a reply from Brownells. Next time I will know not to waste my time with the Q&A app and just buy from a vendor who lists it clearly and shows the item in stock.
I like Brownells, but Midway kicks their asses all damn day on the web.
12 December 2011
Rifle Shooting
I need to get out and extend the range I shoot at. I find myself plinking at 50 yards far too often with rifles that readily do 100+.
A torso sized silhouette is readily visible at that distance and the irons are adequate for the work.
I just need to practice!
7.62x51mm NATO recoil: I've never had a problem. Yes, there's more than with 5.56, but that stands to reason; more energy is going down range and Newton will not be denied.
If you think about it, of course .308 isn't overpoweringly powerful. It's the final battle rifle round we developed. Battle rifle rounds from the introduction of smokeless powder (and before too) had to be issued to raw recruits and conscripts. Genuine 90th percentile folks. If the recoil was too much for the average person, then none of your soldiers would be able to shoot worth a damn. Everything is a compromise!
The FAL tips the scales at just more than 11 pounds loaded. That absorbs a lot of recoil all by itself. The moving parts devour another portion. I guess the muzzle brake is doing something too, but probably not too much.
What I do notice is my FAL jumps a bit more and takes a little longer to get back on target than my XM177E2 clone. More recoil and a longer heavier rifle will do that.
Maybe, someday, I will get inspired and try 3-gun again. I had a lot of fun the one time I did it before, but coming in dead last sucks and I didn't have the ammo money to improve my scores back then. Also, a Glock 21, Daewoo DR200 and Remington 870 are not an ideal combination.
A torso sized silhouette is readily visible at that distance and the irons are adequate for the work.
I just need to practice!
7.62x51mm NATO recoil: I've never had a problem. Yes, there's more than with 5.56, but that stands to reason; more energy is going down range and Newton will not be denied.
If you think about it, of course .308 isn't overpoweringly powerful. It's the final battle rifle round we developed. Battle rifle rounds from the introduction of smokeless powder (and before too) had to be issued to raw recruits and conscripts. Genuine 90th percentile folks. If the recoil was too much for the average person, then none of your soldiers would be able to shoot worth a damn. Everything is a compromise!
The FAL tips the scales at just more than 11 pounds loaded. That absorbs a lot of recoil all by itself. The moving parts devour another portion. I guess the muzzle brake is doing something too, but probably not too much.
What I do notice is my FAL jumps a bit more and takes a little longer to get back on target than my XM177E2 clone. More recoil and a longer heavier rifle will do that.
Maybe, someday, I will get inspired and try 3-gun again. I had a lot of fun the one time I did it before, but coming in dead last sucks and I didn't have the ammo money to improve my scores back then. Also, a Glock 21, Daewoo DR200 and Remington 870 are not an ideal combination.
11 December 2011
Gunbroker
This applies to any auction site, really.
If the list of restrictions, disclaimers, instructions and caveats is longer than the item description: do not do business with the seller!
It's a good rule of thumb.
If the list of restrictions, disclaimers, instructions and caveats is longer than the item description: do not do business with the seller!
It's a good rule of thumb.
Surplus Ammo
This is the headstamp of the corrosive ammo I fired yesterday.
At least the internet identifies it as corrosive... It's berdan primed. They had a slight rotten-egg smell when fired too.
At least the internet identifies it as corrosive... It's berdan primed. They had a slight rotten-egg smell when fired too.
10 December 2011
Jasmine Is Zeroed!
Back from the range.
Swapping the lowers meant swapping the rear sight, that means the zero can be affected. It was.
Took a half turn of the adjustment screws to the right to get her dead on.
Zeroed with Mag-Tech (Brazilian) 150gr, all was well.
Then I tried to use up some ammo that I'd bought in '95 or so that I had originally given to Dumbass Shitheel (before he started beating his wife and when he owned a .308 rifle). The stuff wouldn't chamber and would get stuck trying to get it out. Gave up on that and changed over to some surplus Czech stuff.
The Czech stuff shot great, but it was corrosive so there was much cleaning to do when I got home. I spritzed the bore with some windex before packing up at the range and blasted it pretty good again when I got home, then some WD40 to chase out the windex and then my normal thorough cleaning job.
Swapping the lowers meant swapping the rear sight, that means the zero can be affected. It was.
Took a half turn of the adjustment screws to the right to get her dead on.
Zeroed with Mag-Tech (Brazilian) 150gr, all was well.
Then I tried to use up some ammo that I'd bought in '95 or so that I had originally given to Dumbass Shitheel (before he started beating his wife and when he owned a .308 rifle). The stuff wouldn't chamber and would get stuck trying to get it out. Gave up on that and changed over to some surplus Czech stuff.
The Czech stuff shot great, but it was corrosive so there was much cleaning to do when I got home. I spritzed the bore with some windex before packing up at the range and blasted it pretty good again when I got home, then some WD40 to chase out the windex and then my normal thorough cleaning job.
09 December 2011
That NFA Trust Loophole
Expanding on this post:
I think I figured out why some people regard a trust owning an NFA firearm as a loophole.
I can, indeed, add aconvicted felon prohibited person to my trust as a trustee. I am not required by ATF to submit any paperwork about changes the trust makes to the trustees or its assigns. The only time they see that trust is when I give them a copy along with a new Form 1 or Form 4.
Technically, this person now owns an NFA item, right? Sort of. The trust owns the item, the trustee is a partner in owning the trust.
But nothing about adding this person to the trust allows them to actually possess the item because of their prohibited status!
I don't know if the actual ownership issue has been tested in court, nor do I want to be the first one to try. This is a contentious area for normal property let alone NFA items. IANAL, so if you want a definitive answer, retain one.
I am very cautious about who I would let be a trustee, if for no other reason a trustee could clean out the gun safe, sell everything for 25¢ on the dollar, blow that on hookers and blow and I'd have no recourse against them about the loss of my stuff. I made it our stuff by making them a trustee!
I think I figured out why some people regard a trust owning an NFA firearm as a loophole.
I can, indeed, add a
Technically, this person now owns an NFA item, right? Sort of. The trust owns the item, the trustee is a partner in owning the trust.
But nothing about adding this person to the trust allows them to actually possess the item because of their prohibited status!
I don't know if the actual ownership issue has been tested in court, nor do I want to be the first one to try. This is a contentious area for normal property let alone NFA items. IANAL, so if you want a definitive answer, retain one.
I am very cautious about who I would let be a trustee, if for no other reason a trustee could clean out the gun safe, sell everything for 25¢ on the dollar, blow that on hookers and blow and I'd have no recourse against them about the loss of my stuff. I made it our stuff by making them a trustee!
Going Furry
I didn't want to be "that guy". Am I "that guy"? I probably am. Dammit.
I like my 6.8's. I'm happy with them. I want to share the happy with others!
I will readily concede that there are situations where 6.5 Grendel outperforms 6.8x43mm. Longer ranges in particular.
If 6.5 Grendel is working for you, and you're happy, why do I have to be sad for choosing the "other"?
Tam says I reminded her of an earlier thread; it's older than that. I have two uncles that couldn't be in the same room because of the .30-06 vs .280 Remington issue. Mentioning .270 Winchester in the middle of that fight would just get them to gang up on you.
Since I am going to go full YIF! here...
Is 6.8 ballistically identical to 7.62x39? No it is not. More energy at the muzzle, better sectional density, better ballistic coefficient, flatter trajectory. Even if it was identical, the "works in an AR mag-well" would make it a good choice.
Is 6.8 going to be adopted by the military? Probably not. Nor is 6.5. .300 Blk prolly doesn't have a Whisper's chance either. NATO would not be amused if we did that again. Even so, we're talking about a logistics nightmare during the change-over. The change from M193 to M855 was bad enough and there the magazines and bolts were the same.
Is 6.8 going to be adopted by the police? Yes. It's already being used by a couple of police forces and more than a few individual officers. Just like 6.5, actually.
Why don't we run that test? First, we can't get anyone to agree to what fair conditions are. Second even when we get agreement that the test isn't apples to oranges, the other side doesn't show up!
There have been repeated offers from the 6.8 camp to run an Apples to Apples comparison. 16" barrels and the best load for that barrel you can brew. I want to see this test run.
I've seen the offer posted in at least three forums and not seen a single 6.5 person offer to show up. Put up or shut up says I!
YIF YIF YIF
But I am not really that confrontational.
I'm happy with my choice. I would probably have been happy with 6.5. I would probably be happy with .300 Blk. Honestly, I want you to be happy too!
I like my 6.8's. I'm happy with them. I want to share the happy with others!
I will readily concede that there are situations where 6.5 Grendel outperforms 6.8x43mm. Longer ranges in particular.
If 6.5 Grendel is working for you, and you're happy, why do I have to be sad for choosing the "other"?
Tam says I reminded her of an earlier thread; it's older than that. I have two uncles that couldn't be in the same room because of the .30-06 vs .280 Remington issue. Mentioning .270 Winchester in the middle of that fight would just get them to gang up on you.
Since I am going to go full YIF! here...
Is 6.8 ballistically identical to 7.62x39? No it is not. More energy at the muzzle, better sectional density, better ballistic coefficient, flatter trajectory. Even if it was identical, the "works in an AR mag-well" would make it a good choice.
Is 6.8 going to be adopted by the military? Probably not. Nor is 6.5. .300 Blk prolly doesn't have a Whisper's chance either. NATO would not be amused if we did that again. Even so, we're talking about a logistics nightmare during the change-over. The change from M193 to M855 was bad enough and there the magazines and bolts were the same.
Is 6.8 going to be adopted by the police? Yes. It's already being used by a couple of police forces and more than a few individual officers. Just like 6.5, actually.
I've seen the .30-06/.280 Rem/.270 Win test done by more than one magazine. But that was before they'd become so obviously controlled by advertising.
There have been repeated offers from the 6.8 camp to run an Apples to Apples comparison. 16" barrels and the best load for that barrel you can brew. I want to see this test run.
I've seen the offer posted in at least three forums and not seen a single 6.5 person offer to show up. Put up or shut up says I!
YIF YIF YIF
But I am not really that confrontational.
I'm happy with my choice. I would probably have been happy with 6.5. I would probably be happy with .300 Blk. Honestly, I want you to be happy too!
08 December 2011
Ouch...
I'm a fan of the 6.8x43mm round. Especially for the SPC II chamber and 1:11 twist.
I was an early adopter of that standard and it sucked when every attempt to discuss what was going on in 6.8 development (or just answering some questions) was derailed by a devotee of 6.5 Grendel explaining how their round was so much better.
So better that we were idiots for using 6.8.
Better at long ranges, ballistic coefficients, and sectional density were the core of their argument for their round. Valid, as far as it went, but most times comparisons were cherry picked to put one round in its best light against the other in its worst.
I had thought the 6.8 crowd was taking and sticking to a higher road.
Until I see how some are reacting to the introduction of .300 AAC Blackout (.300 Blk). Here we are, longer ranged, better ballistic coefficient, and sectional density... Exactly the same arguments we refuted with the 6.5 crowd.
SIGH.
At least the tone is polite rather than arrogant from my camp.
Part of what I think is going on is the .300 Blk went from introduction to acceptance with AR makers very quickly. I think there are almost as many makers offering .300 Blk as 6.8x43. I recall the long fights and letter campaigns to get manufacturers to offer a 6.8 at all; and then to get them to change from the SAAMI standard to the superior SPC II (not to mention the change from 1:10 to 1:11 rifling).
I think that some 6.8 devotees are tweaked that we had to work so hard to get 6.8 mainstreamed and .300 just greased right in.
I submit that it was we who provided that grease! We showed that alternate rounds would sell in the AR platform and that we'd sacrifice absolute theoretical performance for practical functionality. We showed them that there was a market and that there was room for rounds that were more practical for other niches. We showed them that resisting the demand was a fools errand and the time to say "this won't sell" is after sales tank. How many of the excellent vendors selling 6.8 barrels and uppers would not be here today if Remington has just LISTENED to a small core of people examining the potential of the 6.8? How many Ruger Mini-14/6.8's would have sold if they'd been on the vanguard of adopting the new chamber specifications instead of lagging behind?
How many of the makers who now have hindsight about 6.8 are applying this lesson to the new upstart?
Personally, I like variety.
I was an early adopter of that standard and it sucked when every attempt to discuss what was going on in 6.8 development (or just answering some questions) was derailed by a devotee of 6.5 Grendel explaining how their round was so much better.
So better that we were idiots for using 6.8.
Better at long ranges, ballistic coefficients, and sectional density were the core of their argument for their round. Valid, as far as it went, but most times comparisons were cherry picked to put one round in its best light against the other in its worst.
I had thought the 6.8 crowd was taking and sticking to a higher road.
Until I see how some are reacting to the introduction of .300 AAC Blackout (.300 Blk). Here we are, longer ranged, better ballistic coefficient, and sectional density... Exactly the same arguments we refuted with the 6.5 crowd.
SIGH.
At least the tone is polite rather than arrogant from my camp.
Part of what I think is going on is the .300 Blk went from introduction to acceptance with AR makers very quickly. I think there are almost as many makers offering .300 Blk as 6.8x43. I recall the long fights and letter campaigns to get manufacturers to offer a 6.8 at all; and then to get them to change from the SAAMI standard to the superior SPC II (not to mention the change from 1:10 to 1:11 rifling).
I think that some 6.8 devotees are tweaked that we had to work so hard to get 6.8 mainstreamed and .300 just greased right in.
I submit that it was we who provided that grease! We showed that alternate rounds would sell in the AR platform and that we'd sacrifice absolute theoretical performance for practical functionality. We showed them that there was a market and that there was room for rounds that were more practical for other niches. We showed them that resisting the demand was a fools errand and the time to say "this won't sell" is after sales tank. How many of the excellent vendors selling 6.8 barrels and uppers would not be here today if Remington has just LISTENED to a small core of people examining the potential of the 6.8? How many Ruger Mini-14/6.8's would have sold if they'd been on the vanguard of adopting the new chamber specifications instead of lagging behind?
How many of the makers who now have hindsight about 6.8 are applying this lesson to the new upstart?
Personally, I like variety.
07 December 2011
Seventy Years
Seventy years ago, the Japanese started something they couldn't finish.
Render honors to port!
Render honors to port!
06 December 2011
Errant Politically Incorrect Thought
I look at gun control and all the fallacies surrounding it.
Then I realize something.
There's a far simpler way for gun-owners to get everything we've ever wanted.
Become the blood thirsty savages the media claims we are already.
Think about it.
Why do I think it would work in our favor?
Why didn't we tell the ground zero mosque people to piss up a rope?
A demonstrated willingness to commit violence seems to work on the liberals, doesn't it?
Why don't we?
Simply put; it's because we aren't blood-thirsty savages. We're civilized. While the means make the ends; we're content to use civilization's time honored tools to achieve our ends, because the means matter to such as we.
The outcome will be the same, we'll have all our rights back. We will also have a clear conscious at the end.
Then I realize something.
There's a far simpler way for gun-owners to get everything we've ever wanted.
Become the blood thirsty savages the media claims we are already.
Think about it.
Why do I think it would work in our favor?
Why didn't we tell the ground zero mosque people to piss up a rope?
A demonstrated willingness to commit violence seems to work on the liberals, doesn't it?
Why don't we?
Simply put; it's because we aren't blood-thirsty savages. We're civilized. While the means make the ends; we're content to use civilization's time honored tools to achieve our ends, because the means matter to such as we.
The outcome will be the same, we'll have all our rights back. We will also have a clear conscious at the end.
05 December 2011
Today's Learning Experience
Did you know that the electric company doesn't care if you have the money to pay them?
What they care about is you sending them that money.
Turns out they will shut off the power and wait for you to pay them before turning it back on.
Who knew?
Besides everyone?
Yeah, I'm a dumbass...
What they care about is you sending them that money.
Turns out they will shut off the power and wait for you to pay them before turning it back on.
Who knew?
Besides everyone?
Yeah, I'm a dumbass...
04 December 2011
I Love Technology
I just got me an Eye-Fi SDHC card.
What it does is transmits the pictures on the card to my computer via a wi-fi network.
This saves wear and tear on things like the battery compartment door!
Pretty damn spiffy.
I wholeheartedly endorse the technology; while I am amazed by it.
They even have higher end cards that can transmit straight to your computer should a wi-fi network be unavailable.
What it does is transmits the pictures on the card to my computer via a wi-fi network.
This saves wear and tear on things like the battery compartment door!
Pretty damn spiffy.
I wholeheartedly endorse the technology; while I am amazed by it.
They even have higher end cards that can transmit straight to your computer should a wi-fi network be unavailable.
03 December 2011
Ultimate KISS Rifle
I think that Tabitha is the ultimate expression of a KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) AR.
No fragile optics.
No fiddly collapsible stock.
No useless forward assist.
No poodle slaying cartridge.
Everything you need, nothing your don't.
Plus it's superbly balanced!
For those scoring at home. Tabitha is a KoTonics 6.8x43mm SPCII, 1:11, 16" midlength gas system using a vintage R604 upper, Stag bolt-carrier group, NoDak-Spud full-fence lower, lower parts kit from a gun-show vendor, new handguards from PK Firearms, vintage M16A1 type E stock and pistol grip. A2 style flash-hider spun onto 5/8-24 threads and a side-sling adaptor with a vintage "seat-belt" style sling.
Everything but the gas-tube, flash-hider and handguards was laying in my parts bin after being discarded or rejected from other builds. That makes this my cheapest AR to date since the costs of most of the parts were absorbed as part of other rifles.
No fragile optics.
No fiddly collapsible stock.
No useless forward assist.
No poodle slaying cartridge.
Everything you need, nothing your don't.
Plus it's superbly balanced!
For those scoring at home. Tabitha is a KoTonics 6.8x43mm SPCII, 1:11, 16" midlength gas system using a vintage R604 upper, Stag bolt-carrier group, NoDak-Spud full-fence lower, lower parts kit from a gun-show vendor, new handguards from PK Firearms, vintage M16A1 type E stock and pistol grip. A2 style flash-hider spun onto 5/8-24 threads and a side-sling adaptor with a vintage "seat-belt" style sling.
Everything but the gas-tube, flash-hider and handguards was laying in my parts bin after being discarded or rejected from other builds. That makes this my cheapest AR to date since the costs of most of the parts were absorbed as part of other rifles.
02 December 2011
He's a Newt!
Perhaps he's gotten better?
I am not fond of Mr Gingrich. He's not in my top ten first choices and at least nine of those slots are blank.
I guess he's really my number one choice since that slot is labeled, "NOT Mitt Romney". Ron Paul's troofer ass fits that slot as well so don't read too much into it.
I think I could hold my nose and vote for Newt. I will not do so for Mitt.
Newt didn't even try to repeal Brady or the AWB. The whole "Contract with America" was spun to we gunnies with a "going to repeal the stupid gun laws" vibe. Never. Even. Submitted. A. Bill. To. Committee. Let alone brought a bill to vote.
But that was passive.
Mr Romney was active on stomping on things I consider to be my rights. I can readily ignore it when he's the governor of a state I don't live in, but not when he wants to be president. The current president has a better record on gun rights than Mitt "we do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts; I support them. I won't chip away at them; I believe they protect us and provide for our safety," Romney. Let that sink in for a bit. Think I'm wrong? Go buy a 30-round Magpul AR mag in Massachusetts. If you succeeded, go tell a cop what you did and use your phone call to tell me what happened.
I am not fond of Mr Gingrich. He's not in my top ten first choices and at least nine of those slots are blank.
I guess he's really my number one choice since that slot is labeled, "NOT Mitt Romney". Ron Paul's troofer ass fits that slot as well so don't read too much into it.
I think I could hold my nose and vote for Newt. I will not do so for Mitt.
Newt didn't even try to repeal Brady or the AWB. The whole "Contract with America" was spun to we gunnies with a "going to repeal the stupid gun laws" vibe. Never. Even. Submitted. A. Bill. To. Committee. Let alone brought a bill to vote.
But that was passive.
Mr Romney was active on stomping on things I consider to be my rights. I can readily ignore it when he's the governor of a state I don't live in, but not when he wants to be president. The current president has a better record on gun rights than Mitt "we do have tough gun laws in Massachusetts; I support them. I won't chip away at them; I believe they protect us and provide for our safety," Romney. Let that sink in for a bit. Think I'm wrong? Go buy a 30-round Magpul AR mag in Massachusetts. If you succeeded, go tell a cop what you did and use your phone call to tell me what happened.
01 December 2011
Math Is, Indeed, Hard
Jay G started this. Read his post first.
The draw on a Chevy Volt is 3,300 watts charging from the 240v charger that's required to get that range in 4 hours.
13.2 KWh per charge. What does your electric company charge per Kwh? Mine's pretty complicated, but it would cost me $1.312 per charge most of the time. That's an extra $39.38 a month to my electric bill assuming that I am running under 1,000 kWh a month total. Since I never come in under 1,000 kWh, adding a Volt would be adding electric use on top of that, so it's really $1.696 per charge.
$619.16 a year that my normal powered car doesn't cost me. That carries me 12,775 miles optimally.
Lets assume that I only drive that 35 miles every day and never go farther.
A brand new Civic EX sedan gets 39mpg and is under $21,000. So I have saved $25k on the car itself. At $3.219 a gallon that's 7,766.4 gallons of gas! Which is 302,899.1 miles. A 23.7 year supply of fuel in the difference in the purchase price. Owning a Civic for 23.7 years SAVES more than $600 over a Volt. Even if fuel spikes to $4.009 a gallon I still have a NINETEEN year supply of fuel from the savings of the actual purchase (and I still save that $619.16).
Will a Volt even last 19 years? I've seen lots of 1991 Hondas still on the road; no so many Chevys.
And let's look at something else.
My 1991 Biscayne gets a whopping 15 mpg in and around town. It's paid for. While I would have to pay $3,414.33 a year in gas to get those 35 miles a day like the Volt does for $619.16; I saved $46,000 when I didn't buy a new car; and that assumes I paid cash, doesn't account for tax, title or license doesn't take in interest on a loan... There's your real math kids. My land yacht is $43k ahead of a Volt in the first year; plus it's done depreciating. Even if something major breaks I have at least ten years of driving the B-Body before I hit the purchase price of a new Volt. I have every confidence that the Biscuit will make it to 2021 too. There are still 1955 Chevys on the road because there's a Hot-Rodder community for them, just like my car. I just don't see such a community popping up around the Volt.
The draw on a Chevy Volt is 3,300 watts charging from the 240v charger that's required to get that range in 4 hours.
13.2 KWh per charge. What does your electric company charge per Kwh? Mine's pretty complicated, but it would cost me $1.312 per charge most of the time. That's an extra $39.38 a month to my electric bill assuming that I am running under 1,000 kWh a month total. Since I never come in under 1,000 kWh, adding a Volt would be adding electric use on top of that, so it's really $1.696 per charge.
$619.16 a year that my normal powered car doesn't cost me. That carries me 12,775 miles optimally.
Lets assume that I only drive that 35 miles every day and never go farther.
A brand new Civic EX sedan gets 39mpg and is under $21,000. So I have saved $25k on the car itself. At $3.219 a gallon that's 7,766.4 gallons of gas! Which is 302,899.1 miles. A 23.7 year supply of fuel in the difference in the purchase price. Owning a Civic for 23.7 years SAVES more than $600 over a Volt. Even if fuel spikes to $4.009 a gallon I still have a NINETEEN year supply of fuel from the savings of the actual purchase (and I still save that $619.16).
Will a Volt even last 19 years? I've seen lots of 1991 Hondas still on the road; no so many Chevys.
And let's look at something else.
My 1991 Biscayne gets a whopping 15 mpg in and around town. It's paid for. While I would have to pay $3,414.33 a year in gas to get those 35 miles a day like the Volt does for $619.16; I saved $46,000 when I didn't buy a new car; and that assumes I paid cash, doesn't account for tax, title or license doesn't take in interest on a loan... There's your real math kids. My land yacht is $43k ahead of a Volt in the first year; plus it's done depreciating. Even if something major breaks I have at least ten years of driving the B-Body before I hit the purchase price of a new Volt. I have every confidence that the Biscuit will make it to 2021 too. There are still 1955 Chevys on the road because there's a Hot-Rodder community for them, just like my car. I just don't see such a community popping up around the Volt.