I woke up to silence. Duke Energy shut me off. I have the bill in my hands saying that it's due the 14th.
Thanks assholes!
30 June 2016
Travelin' Man
Been hip deep in finally converting the GURPS: Traveller character templates from 3eR to 4e.
It sat 1/4 done for about four years. I had just converted the templates the players were going to need, not the rest.
It sat 1/4 done for about four years. I had just converted the templates the players were going to need, not the rest.
28 June 2016
Secession
On Texit... Texans do love to tout that they're the only state with
an exit clause built into their admission documents to the Union. If it
wasn't for the civil war and reconstruction and the subsequent
rewriting of all of the former Confederate state's constitutions they
might have a point.
But there was a Civil War, there was a reconstruction and their state constitution was rewritten before they were allowed resume being a pseudo-sovereign state and rejoin The Union.
The exit clause they cite and dream about was lost at the same time that it was determined by force of arms that, NO, no state can leave the union once admitted.
At times I am uncertain that balkanization of the US wouldn't be such a bad thing. Except for the huge enclave of actual New Yorkers over on the SE coast, Florida doesn't have much in common with New York. Yet New York's politics have great influence over Florida because of their large influence over Federal policy.
The same goes for California and Illinois.
The area between the Rockies and The Mississippi river (except for Colorado) doesn't resemble the nation that lies both east and west of those boundaries (except, perhaps for Indiana).
Most of the states of the former Confederacy don't fit well into the CA, IL, NY mold at all. I say most. "The South" no longer encompasses Virginia and is losing North Carolina.
But there was a Civil War, there was a reconstruction and their state constitution was rewritten before they were allowed resume being a pseudo-sovereign state and rejoin The Union.
The exit clause they cite and dream about was lost at the same time that it was determined by force of arms that, NO, no state can leave the union once admitted.
At times I am uncertain that balkanization of the US wouldn't be such a bad thing. Except for the huge enclave of actual New Yorkers over on the SE coast, Florida doesn't have much in common with New York. Yet New York's politics have great influence over Florida because of their large influence over Federal policy.
The same goes for California and Illinois.
The area between the Rockies and The Mississippi river (except for Colorado) doesn't resemble the nation that lies both east and west of those boundaries (except, perhaps for Indiana).
Most of the states of the former Confederacy don't fit well into the CA, IL, NY mold at all. I say most. "The South" no longer encompasses Virginia and is losing North Carolina.
27 June 2016
I Agree
Unionized Federal workers feel that their wages should "catch up" with those of the private sector.
I wholeheartedly concur!
Except for them to make what the private sector makes, they have to take a pay cut.
But it's a sacrifice I am willing for them to make.
I wholeheartedly concur!
Except for them to make what the private sector makes, they have to take a pay cut.
But it's a sacrifice I am willing for them to make.
Ego
You're talking about ME aren't you! Clearly you reference ME in your post!
"Who? YOU? No. We're not talking about you. We don't even know who you are. Please, let the adults talk."
But but but... I'm a blogger too!
"Of course you are, now run along."
"Who? YOU? No. We're not talking about you. We don't even know who you are. Please, let the adults talk."
But but but... I'm a blogger too!
"Of course you are, now run along."
Trust
I keep stressing to people about climate change that IPCC stands for InterGOVERNMENTAL Panel on Climate Change.
The reason I keep stressing this is examples like THIS ONE.
We found one government funded lab lying. The incentives built into that funding almost guarantees there's more out there undiscovered.
The reason I keep stressing this is examples like THIS ONE.
We found one government funded lab lying. The incentives built into that funding almost guarantees there's more out there undiscovered.
26 June 2016
Whose Voice
A Few Good Stormtroopers
Whose voice do you read that in?
James Earl Jones?
Peter Cushing?
Jack Nicholson?
Whose voice do you read that in?
James Earl Jones?
Peter Cushing?
Jack Nicholson?
Get A Blog!
You idiots!
If you're going to spout off at length about something you know nothing about, don't do it on Facebook; get a blog like everyone else!
Kids these days!
If you're going to spout off at length about something you know nothing about, don't do it on Facebook; get a blog like everyone else!
Kids these days!
Due Process Matters Now Does It?
Charlie Rangel now thinks that due process is important.
Just a few days ago, that fiddly Constitution stuff didn't matter to him...
I guess he just discovered that he's a man of conviction after all.
Just a few days ago, that fiddly Constitution stuff didn't matter to him...
I guess he just discovered that he's a man of conviction after all.
Not This Shit Again
Huge convoys of UN marked APC's seen moving south, always south...
What does the National Guard do for two weeks every year?
Before you spread the panic of "huge troop movements"...
First off, packed onto a train is not a convoy.
Lots of the same kind of vehicle loaded on trucks is not a convoy of the loaded vehicles.
Every vehicle in a convoy will have a number stenciled on the bumper. Record that thing!
If you notice more than two different unit designations, you are not looking at a convoy.
Every road march will have a number scrawled on the sides of the vehicles in chalk. Get that number too.
Now you have enough information to at least call a public affairs officer and ask, "what's up?"
APC painted like the UN is not a very good description, especially if you think the Army is violating posse comitatus and readying an attack on the populace. That information is useless.
Track Spotting is fun! Learn up on it!
Is that a Grizzly on a transporter? A LAV-25? A Stryker? MRAP?
What do you mean by "UN type markings"? White with a big black "UN" on the side? Or very light sand?
It's very important to be able to positively ID the exact kind of vehicle.
It's also important to not panic, every year... Every election year especially around summer when the Guard does their two week annual training.
What does the National Guard do for two weeks every year?
Before you spread the panic of "huge troop movements"...
First off, packed onto a train is not a convoy.
Lots of the same kind of vehicle loaded on trucks is not a convoy of the loaded vehicles.
Every vehicle in a convoy will have a number stenciled on the bumper. Record that thing!
If you notice more than two different unit designations, you are not looking at a convoy.
Every road march will have a number scrawled on the sides of the vehicles in chalk. Get that number too.
Now you have enough information to at least call a public affairs officer and ask, "what's up?"
APC painted like the UN is not a very good description, especially if you think the Army is violating posse comitatus and readying an attack on the populace. That information is useless.
Track Spotting is fun! Learn up on it!
Is that a Grizzly on a transporter? A LAV-25? A Stryker? MRAP?
What do you mean by "UN type markings"? White with a big black "UN" on the side? Or very light sand?
It's very important to be able to positively ID the exact kind of vehicle.
It's also important to not panic, every year... Every election year especially around summer when the Guard does their two week annual training.
25 June 2016
War?
Singer David Byrne, a known dancing monkey, claims that "we are at war" over gun violence.
Actually, David, if we were at war, you'd know it.
The gun owners in the US aren't at war with anyone.
If we cried "havoc" there would actually be blood in the streets and the carnage would be unimaginable.
Fortunately for everyone we're actually a fairly rational and realistic bunch of people.
I agree with you David, there's something wrong with America. I disagree that it's gun owners.
We might start looking really, really hard at how far past the limits of the foundational documents we've allowed our government to stray.
We might look hard and notice that nearly all of the gun crime is done by one group and nearly all of the mass shootings by another. If you remove gang crime and Islamic terrorism, you aren't left with a lot of shootings.
9/11 and Boston prove that you don't need a gun to be an Islamic terrorist. Stabbings, beatings and bludgeonings prove you can have gang violence without guns as well.
Which both show that it's not the guns even without the millions and millions of people you think are war with you who've never fired a shot in anger. Ever.
However, David, I will say (once again)...
We want to be let alone. We are not hurting anyone doing what we do. If we were, it'd be news, I assure you.
Never, EVER, make me choose between me and mine and you and yours. I choose me and mine every single time.
I also say again, I do not want a war. But of the two of us, who's actually been to one?
Update to add one other thing: Something Americans just LOVE, David, is foreigners telling us how to run our country. You came over here how many decades ago and are just now applying to join? Fuck you, David, go back to Scotland.
Actually, David, if we were at war, you'd know it.
The gun owners in the US aren't at war with anyone.
If we cried "havoc" there would actually be blood in the streets and the carnage would be unimaginable.
Fortunately for everyone we're actually a fairly rational and realistic bunch of people.
I agree with you David, there's something wrong with America. I disagree that it's gun owners.
We might start looking really, really hard at how far past the limits of the foundational documents we've allowed our government to stray.
We might look hard and notice that nearly all of the gun crime is done by one group and nearly all of the mass shootings by another. If you remove gang crime and Islamic terrorism, you aren't left with a lot of shootings.
9/11 and Boston prove that you don't need a gun to be an Islamic terrorist. Stabbings, beatings and bludgeonings prove you can have gang violence without guns as well.
Which both show that it's not the guns even without the millions and millions of people you think are war with you who've never fired a shot in anger. Ever.
However, David, I will say (once again)...
We want to be let alone. We are not hurting anyone doing what we do. If we were, it'd be news, I assure you.
Never, EVER, make me choose between me and mine and you and yours. I choose me and mine every single time.
I also say again, I do not want a war. But of the two of us, who's actually been to one?
Update to add one other thing: Something Americans just LOVE, David, is foreigners telling us how to run our country. You came over here how many decades ago and are just now applying to join? Fuck you, David, go back to Scotland.
24 June 2016
My Name
My name is Angus McThag, you may call me bubba.
Willard's coach gun now has sling swivels too!
It's pretty simple. Drill a #44 hole, tap for 4-48 and done!
Willard's coach gun now has sling swivels too!
It's pretty simple. Drill a #44 hole, tap for 4-48 and done!
23 June 2016
The Missing Winchester
I've kind of set my sights on a Model 70 in .270 Win. A Model 54 would also suffice.
Pre-64 would be fun because they're all C&R now.
Prices are rather eye-watering on some.
.270 would be fun for me because it's the same .277 bore as my 6.8x43SPC.
It also has the added fun of choosing "the other" round in the debate that ruined at least two Thanksgivings.
The two step-uncles would get a couple of beers in them and start talking about hunting and sooner or later one of them would say, "If you'd been using X you'd have gotten the one that got away."
The calibers in question were .30-06 and .280 Remington. .270 being the other .30-06 based round they both held in equal scorn.
The funny thing is, and FuzzyGeff noticed it first, there's not a whisper of real difference in performance between them. They're close enough that the GURPS number came out identical in 3e terms.
In 4e they're somewhat differentiated.
.30-06 is 7d+1 pi with 1,100/4,500 range.
.280 Remington is 7d pi with 1,060/4,400 range.
.270 Winchester is 7d+2 pi with 1,050/4,400 range.
Pre-64 would be fun because they're all C&R now.
Prices are rather eye-watering on some.
.270 would be fun for me because it's the same .277 bore as my 6.8x43SPC.
It also has the added fun of choosing "the other" round in the debate that ruined at least two Thanksgivings.
The two step-uncles would get a couple of beers in them and start talking about hunting and sooner or later one of them would say, "If you'd been using X you'd have gotten the one that got away."
The calibers in question were .30-06 and .280 Remington. .270 being the other .30-06 based round they both held in equal scorn.
The funny thing is, and FuzzyGeff noticed it first, there's not a whisper of real difference in performance between them. They're close enough that the GURPS number came out identical in 3e terms.
In 4e they're somewhat differentiated.
.30-06 is 7d+1 pi with 1,100/4,500 range.
.280 Remington is 7d pi with 1,060/4,400 range.
.270 Winchester is 7d+2 pi with 1,050/4,400 range.
22 June 2016
Funding Disparity
I read headlines that were either gloating over or bemoaning that Trump is way behind Clinton in fundraising.
It hits me that actually means that Trump is less beholden to the people handing him money should he win.
It also occurs that the taps to Clinton might be more widely open because it's well established she can be bought.
Damn, times be interesting, don't they?
It hits me that actually means that Trump is less beholden to the people handing him money should he win.
It also occurs that the taps to Clinton might be more widely open because it's well established she can be bought.
Damn, times be interesting, don't they?
Stopped Loving It
Ever have a show you really, really enjoyed then one day realized that you weren't having fun watching it?
Noticed that while you had it on, you were occupied with something else while it was running?
CBS' The Big Bang Theory was like that for me.
I just stopped giving a shit about it and stopped bothering to turn on the TV.
I've got season 1 on iTunes so I put it in and found I still enjoyed the show... The first season of the show...
Oh.
OH!
It's not ME. It's the show that shifted out from under me.
This is not the first time this has happened to me. But it is the first time I stopped watching a show I once loved before it was canceled. Inertia was enough to keep me rolling on so many others past the point where I was still enjoying the content.
A huge part of the problem for CBS is they can't seem to run the whole first run of the season without huge gaps and interruptions. It's as bad as shifting it around the schedule. While I still know what night it's on, I'm never sure if it's a new episode.
Noticed that while you had it on, you were occupied with something else while it was running?
CBS' The Big Bang Theory was like that for me.
I just stopped giving a shit about it and stopped bothering to turn on the TV.
I've got season 1 on iTunes so I put it in and found I still enjoyed the show... The first season of the show...
Oh.
OH!
It's not ME. It's the show that shifted out from under me.
This is not the first time this has happened to me. But it is the first time I stopped watching a show I once loved before it was canceled. Inertia was enough to keep me rolling on so many others past the point where I was still enjoying the content.
A huge part of the problem for CBS is they can't seem to run the whole first run of the season without huge gaps and interruptions. It's as bad as shifting it around the schedule. While I still know what night it's on, I'm never sure if it's a new episode.
Cruffler
In the ever so tiny world of gun bloggers...
Does anyone know why www.cruffler.com stopped updating in 2002, but keeps paying for the website?
There was no warning, just one week they failed to update the page.
Does anyone know why www.cruffler.com stopped updating in 2002, but keeps paying for the website?
There was no warning, just one week they failed to update the page.
A Hole
I do not own a Winchester.
Seems somewhat un-American to not own a Winchester rifle of some kind.
Seems somewhat un-American to not own a Winchester rifle of some kind.
21 June 2016
John Moses Browning Forgive Me
Today I drilled the stock of a pre-64 Winchester Model 94 for a sling swivel.
And a Rossi M92 and a Ruger Model 44.
Willard wanted his rifles to have slings. He paid for the drill press that made certain this was not a hack-job, so he gets what he wants.
I prefer my rifles to have slings as well. A rifle without a sling is a bit like a pistol without a holster if you're trying to tote it very far or use your hands.
Of note, the wood that came out of the Winchester's drilling stayed the same color as the stock. The Rossi was white.
And a Rossi M92 and a Ruger Model 44.
Willard wanted his rifles to have slings. He paid for the drill press that made certain this was not a hack-job, so he gets what he wants.
I prefer my rifles to have slings as well. A rifle without a sling is a bit like a pistol without a holster if you're trying to tote it very far or use your hands.
Of note, the wood that came out of the Winchester's drilling stayed the same color as the stock. The Rossi was white.
Negative Emphasis
A friend of The Lovely Harvey once tried to tell me about all the great things that Bill Clinton did as president.
I told him it did not matter because of the AWB and Brady.
At the time I was unable to articulate why the bad outweighed the good.
I've thought of an analogy.
If I cook you the best dinner you've ever had, but at the end of the meal, shit on your plate...
What are you going to remember?
I told him it did not matter because of the AWB and Brady.
At the time I was unable to articulate why the bad outweighed the good.
I've thought of an analogy.
If I cook you the best dinner you've ever had, but at the end of the meal, shit on your plate...
What are you going to remember?
WECSOG
We had a minor disaster when drilling out the selector hole for Andrea.
The jig slipped the vise and the work went spinning!
What we ended up with was a 0.386" hole instead of the desired 0.375".
This does not affect function or even cosmetics.
The selector still works in SAFE andFIRE SEMI. Actually it works in BURST too, but that's because I have a SAFE-SEMI-SEMI selector made by grinding down the cams on a real M16A2 selector, thus neutering it (an ATF approved method no less!)
But when on safe, the back of the trigger will push the selector up that extra 0.011" and you can see it move. Plus the feel is off.
So I made a bushing.
Out of a beer can.
The wall of a beer can is 0.005", so wrapping it around the ID of the selector hole makes that ID 0.376".
So a strip of beer can, with a little flare on it to keep it in the hole, trapped by the selector on the other side, and viola!
Feel is back on and the wobble is deleted.
We learn from our mistakes.
The jig slipped the vise and the work went spinning!
What we ended up with was a 0.386" hole instead of the desired 0.375".
This does not affect function or even cosmetics.
The selector still works in SAFE and
But when on safe, the back of the trigger will push the selector up that extra 0.011" and you can see it move. Plus the feel is off.
So I made a bushing.
Out of a beer can.
The wall of a beer can is 0.005", so wrapping it around the ID of the selector hole makes that ID 0.376".
So a strip of beer can, with a little flare on it to keep it in the hole, trapped by the selector on the other side, and viola!
Feel is back on and the wobble is deleted.
We learn from our mistakes.
What Then
What will happen if it turns out that the murderers following Islam are the ones following Islam correctly and it's the peaceable, moderate Moslems whom are following a "perversion of Islamic faith"?
I sometimes think that the founders just figured that there'd never be any non-Euro citizens so there was no need to account for religions like Islam when drafting the 1st Amendment.
I've read the supporting materials for the Constitution, the founders left extensive notes and citations. It's clear when they said religious freedom, they meant it.
It's just as clear that they did not intend for what they'd built to be used as a suicide pact.
I sometimes think that the founders just figured that there'd never be any non-Euro citizens so there was no need to account for religions like Islam when drafting the 1st Amendment.
I've read the supporting materials for the Constitution, the founders left extensive notes and citations. It's clear when they said religious freedom, they meant it.
It's just as clear that they did not intend for what they'd built to be used as a suicide pact.
20 June 2016
Kiki 'Quip'd
Bought Kiki's stuff.
GURPS (4e): Traveller: Interstellar Wars indicated that we should just use Ultratech from now on for equipment.
GURPS: Traveller "Powered by GURPS" is a 3eR level game, and it has (as is typical) customized equipment listings, that don't really match OG Traveller...
Since I am using 4e I decided to stick with Ultratech.
Because I'm familiar with the setting, it's easy to not take stuff that's inappropriate, but I can see where I'd have to print out a sheet of a few off-limits items.
Still, wading through an unfamiliar book reminded me that robots are supposed to be fairly common in Traveller, but most Traveller GM's forget about them. A single book published late in the OG series just before MegaTraveller hit didn't really give GM's time to absorb them into their (by this time) up to 10 year old campaigns or retrofit bots into places where they should fit in older adventures.
Granted, robots had been featured in some published adventures, but they just didn't get any prominence.
With all this in mind, I bought Kiki a TL10 Techbot! What a great tool for the ship's engineer to have!
Also new with the 4e version of Ultratech are Gauss shotguns! BWAHAAHAHAHAHAHA! Gauss Combat Assault Weapon, please!
GURPS (4e): Traveller: Interstellar Wars indicated that we should just use Ultratech from now on for equipment.
GURPS: Traveller "Powered by GURPS" is a 3eR level game, and it has (as is typical) customized equipment listings, that don't really match OG Traveller...
Since I am using 4e I decided to stick with Ultratech.
Because I'm familiar with the setting, it's easy to not take stuff that's inappropriate, but I can see where I'd have to print out a sheet of a few off-limits items.
Still, wading through an unfamiliar book reminded me that robots are supposed to be fairly common in Traveller, but most Traveller GM's forget about them. A single book published late in the OG series just before MegaTraveller hit didn't really give GM's time to absorb them into their (by this time) up to 10 year old campaigns or retrofit bots into places where they should fit in older adventures.
Granted, robots had been featured in some published adventures, but they just didn't get any prominence.
With all this in mind, I bought Kiki a TL10 Techbot! What a great tool for the ship's engineer to have!
Also new with the 4e version of Ultratech are Gauss shotguns! BWAHAAHAHAHAHAHA! Gauss Combat Assault Weapon, please!
Firing Condition
Until I can get the lower properly anodized, in the interim I've installed much of the lower parts kit.
It can now shoot!
It can now shoot!
Trigger Comparo
Marv got a Rise RA-140 Super Sporting drop in trigger.
We dropped it into FuzzyGeff's Olga and gave it a test run dry-fire.
It's a crisp break, no movement until it goes.
Compared to the La Rue MBT-2S which has a near effortless take-up then a light crisp break, the Rise feels heavier.
I think I prefer the feel of the Rise, but not enough to throw away the LaRue.
The downside is the Rise slaps the finger on reset. That bugs me on AKs to the point of not owning one.
We dropped it into FuzzyGeff's Olga and gave it a test run dry-fire.
It's a crisp break, no movement until it goes.
Compared to the La Rue MBT-2S which has a near effortless take-up then a light crisp break, the Rise feels heavier.
I think I prefer the feel of the Rise, but not enough to throw away the LaRue.
The downside is the Rise slaps the finger on reset. That bugs me on AKs to the point of not owning one.
19 June 2016
Now It's A Gun
Did the carving with a Modulus Arms jig on loan from Mr Skeezer of (clap clap clapclap) Texas.
Marv soothed nerves and read the instructions in the proper order.
Being extra careful, it took us about three hours.
When you do this yourself, remember the shop vacc!
Update:
You either need a drill press with at least 2.626" travel or a means to measure your depth when you reset the table. My press has 2" despite being advertised as 2.375". I drilled 1.750" then moved up the table 1.750" then did the remaining 0.876. The drill stop is my friend!
The huge problem is the price on a benchtop model with more spindle travel costs a lot more. Almost three times as much.
18 June 2016
The Lovely Harvey Rants
Here it is. I don't expect everyone to agree, I do expect manners or
you will not be on my page. You don't like what I say then go away.
Growing up, I as most people I know, had guns in the house. We didn't have gun safes, trigger-locks or guards and on and on and on. We had the gun in one place and the bullets in another and yes we all knew where they were and none of use shot our friends in the face. You know why?
EDUCATION -DISCIPLINE- RESPECT. We knew if we had questions we could ask. We also knew not to touch it without permission or we got our hides tanned. One of the main reasons, in my opinion, the children shooting children has grown is (you guessed it) education, discipline and respect. It has been decided that we don't dare teach children how to handle and take care of weapons, hence they think they are toys and even though they were told don't touch they do because they are curious and have no idea what it is or what it can truly do. I know lets educate them. My son with all his issues has been raised around guns his entire life. The guns have never shot anyone or killed anyone or accidentally gone off. Amazing right.
Since the attack in Orlando, (Oh I had friends that were there earlier in the evening but left before the attack) there are many many people screaming we need to ban guns or once you are on the FBI watch list you can never own a gun again. Stop! lets talk about this. Now you can give me all internet pages with the the stats you want to prove you point, I can give just as many so lets not play that.
You are the ones that will say our forefathers didn't mean these types of guns. We were not there to know what conversations actually took place. We have to go with the written word.
We can however look at a few things regarding banning guns:
1- Prisoners don't have guns and they kill each other all the time with weapons they make out of daily items. We have actually,banned nearly everything they could conceivably make a weapon out of, and they still manage to make more!
Isn't that what we are doing by trying to ban guns? And why are they treating us like prisoners?
2- Chicago, New York, California... do we need to say more? They have very strict gun laws.
3- “It's the guns fault!” No, it is not, it is the person that used the gun that is at fault. We aren't suing Alcohol companies for making as alcoholics. Fast food places make us fat. People do sue fast food places, it's just that in those cases it's obvious that they didn't force anyone to eat there, so they are not being won. Inanimate objects don't do things on their own or make people do things. People choose to do things with objects.
4-Being placed on the FBI list and never being able to own a gun again? Who is going on decide?. Then all the government would have to do is put everyone on a watch list that currently has a legal gun and by claiming “terrorist” they have banned guns from everyone but the criminals. Maybe we should have something regarding the terrorist watch list.
Due process is what the government has to do BEFORE taking life, liberty or property from us; not something we have access to after we've been deprived of life, liberty or property. People are not aware that they are on this list until they try to do what they are banned from.
5-There are those that are saying, “if citizens have guns for protection, then why are the mass shootings taking place and no citizen is shooting back?” I have the answer--- Where are these shooting taking place? Bars, schools, colleges, places where I, as a average citizen, am not allowed to carry my gun. Don't use this argument if I am in a place I am not allowed to shoot back.
There has been a lot of talk about the family whose son was snatched by the alligator. I feel bad for the parents but I do blame them. Letting your 2 year old wade swim or whatever in a pond, at night, when there are signs that say, “No Swimming,” sorry that is your fault. Hey this can go back to discipline just because it is what the kid wanted doesn't mean he should have been allowed to do it. I heard the family is blaming Disney because there was no fence or no "gator" sign. Really? Do you need a sign next to water that says, "this is wet"? I mean this is Florida for flip's sake. I also heard they want to sue as well, let me guess it is not about the money.
-- The Lovely Harvey
Growing up, I as most people I know, had guns in the house. We didn't have gun safes, trigger-locks or guards and on and on and on. We had the gun in one place and the bullets in another and yes we all knew where they were and none of use shot our friends in the face. You know why?
EDUCATION -DISCIPLINE- RESPECT. We knew if we had questions we could ask. We also knew not to touch it without permission or we got our hides tanned. One of the main reasons, in my opinion, the children shooting children has grown is (you guessed it) education, discipline and respect. It has been decided that we don't dare teach children how to handle and take care of weapons, hence they think they are toys and even though they were told don't touch they do because they are curious and have no idea what it is or what it can truly do. I know lets educate them. My son with all his issues has been raised around guns his entire life. The guns have never shot anyone or killed anyone or accidentally gone off. Amazing right.
Since the attack in Orlando, (Oh I had friends that were there earlier in the evening but left before the attack) there are many many people screaming we need to ban guns or once you are on the FBI watch list you can never own a gun again. Stop! lets talk about this. Now you can give me all internet pages with the the stats you want to prove you point, I can give just as many so lets not play that.
You are the ones that will say our forefathers didn't mean these types of guns. We were not there to know what conversations actually took place. We have to go with the written word.
We can however look at a few things regarding banning guns:
1- Prisoners don't have guns and they kill each other all the time with weapons they make out of daily items. We have actually,banned nearly everything they could conceivably make a weapon out of, and they still manage to make more!
Isn't that what we are doing by trying to ban guns? And why are they treating us like prisoners?
2- Chicago, New York, California... do we need to say more? They have very strict gun laws.
3- “It's the guns fault!” No, it is not, it is the person that used the gun that is at fault. We aren't suing Alcohol companies for making as alcoholics. Fast food places make us fat. People do sue fast food places, it's just that in those cases it's obvious that they didn't force anyone to eat there, so they are not being won. Inanimate objects don't do things on their own or make people do things. People choose to do things with objects.
4-Being placed on the FBI list and never being able to own a gun again? Who is going on decide?. Then all the government would have to do is put everyone on a watch list that currently has a legal gun and by claiming “terrorist” they have banned guns from everyone but the criminals. Maybe we should have something regarding the terrorist watch list.
Due process is what the government has to do BEFORE taking life, liberty or property from us; not something we have access to after we've been deprived of life, liberty or property. People are not aware that they are on this list until they try to do what they are banned from.
5-There are those that are saying, “if citizens have guns for protection, then why are the mass shootings taking place and no citizen is shooting back?” I have the answer--- Where are these shooting taking place? Bars, schools, colleges, places where I, as a average citizen, am not allowed to carry my gun. Don't use this argument if I am in a place I am not allowed to shoot back.
There has been a lot of talk about the family whose son was snatched by the alligator. I feel bad for the parents but I do blame them. Letting your 2 year old wade swim or whatever in a pond, at night, when there are signs that say, “No Swimming,” sorry that is your fault. Hey this can go back to discipline just because it is what the kid wanted doesn't mean he should have been allowed to do it. I heard the family is blaming Disney because there was no fence or no "gator" sign. Really? Do you need a sign next to water that says, "this is wet"? I mean this is Florida for flip's sake. I also heard they want to sue as well, let me guess it is not about the money.
-- The Lovely Harvey
17 June 2016
The Voices Said To Stay Home And Clean ALL The Guns
If it shoots 5.56x45mm it got cleaned today.
Not one gun was even filthy.
The cleaning process is kind of a Zen moment. It's very soothing, really.
The gun might not have needed cleaned, but I needed to clean the gun.
Not one gun was even filthy.
The cleaning process is kind of a Zen moment. It's very soothing, really.
The gun might not have needed cleaned, but I needed to clean the gun.
An Equally Stupid Proposal
George Takei, a known dancing monkey, thinks we should ban guns permanently.
For his first amendment right to feel safe while he peaceably assembles.
Tell you what, George, let's just permanently ban homosexuals instead.
If there were no LGBT people, then none could have been killed while peaceably assembled no matter what kind of weapon was employed!
See? Everyone is safer now!
Here's your sign...
George, this is not a LGBT problem. This is not a gun problem.
This is a religious nut-bag problem.
I notice you don't call for Moslem's 1st Amendment right to murder homosexuals in accordance with their religion be curtailed.
Isn't that odd?
Like you didn't learn civics getting your Theater degrees, huh?
For his first amendment right to feel safe while he peaceably assembles.
Tell you what, George, let's just permanently ban homosexuals instead.
If there were no LGBT people, then none could have been killed while peaceably assembled no matter what kind of weapon was employed!
See? Everyone is safer now!
Here's your sign...
George, this is not a LGBT problem. This is not a gun problem.
This is a religious nut-bag problem.
I notice you don't call for Moslem's 1st Amendment right to murder homosexuals in accordance with their religion be curtailed.
Isn't that odd?
Like you didn't learn civics getting your Theater degrees, huh?
Unpossible!
British Minister of Parliment shot and stabbed to death.
In a nation with both knife and gun control.
Gee, that sure worked out, didn't it?
In a nation with both knife and gun control.
Gee, that sure worked out, didn't it?
Nationalist
I have a modest proposal.
Seal the damn border.
While we're doing that...
The longest non-immigrant visa you can have is 30 days.
Period.
It occurs to me that a gigantic problem with our present way of doing things is we're letting in people who don't want to be Americans, and wish to remain nationals of whatever place they originated from.
While they might be hard-working salt-of-the-earth type, far too often their kids are a real calamity.
Orlando is such a case. Dad is from Afghanistan, and isn't interested in being an American, just being in America. Because Dad isn't interested in joining, he didn't instill any Americanism in his son, and look how that turned out.
A decent hunk of the Latino gang problem is recruited from the children of illegals. They're not American children, they're Mexican (Guatamalan, San Salvadorian, Chilean...) children who happen to be born extranationally in America and have absolutely zero stake in the place they reside.
We simply have to find the will to say "No" to people who don't want to be Americans.
If you want to be a Mexican, you're in luck! There's this place, a nation if you will, that's called "Mexico" and you'll fit right in!
Wanna be an Afghani? Same thing! They even speak your native language!
Wanna be Indian? There's a call center hiring back home, find it.
Notice my plan also cures the whole importing foreigners to work on the cheap problem we have with tech and amusement parks?
It also solves a problem I noticed a long time ago. Why on God's Green Earth ® are we educating foreigners in STEM? You might notice that they go home and start businesses that compete with our domestic ones? Would it not be better to hoard that education and sell them things they can't make because we're stingy with the knowledge?
Seal the damn border.
While we're doing that...
The longest non-immigrant visa you can have is 30 days.
Period.
It occurs to me that a gigantic problem with our present way of doing things is we're letting in people who don't want to be Americans, and wish to remain nationals of whatever place they originated from.
While they might be hard-working salt-of-the-earth type, far too often their kids are a real calamity.
Orlando is such a case. Dad is from Afghanistan, and isn't interested in being an American, just being in America. Because Dad isn't interested in joining, he didn't instill any Americanism in his son, and look how that turned out.
A decent hunk of the Latino gang problem is recruited from the children of illegals. They're not American children, they're Mexican (Guatamalan, San Salvadorian, Chilean...) children who happen to be born extranationally in America and have absolutely zero stake in the place they reside.
We simply have to find the will to say "No" to people who don't want to be Americans.
If you want to be a Mexican, you're in luck! There's this place, a nation if you will, that's called "Mexico" and you'll fit right in!
Wanna be an Afghani? Same thing! They even speak your native language!
Wanna be Indian? There's a call center hiring back home, find it.
Notice my plan also cures the whole importing foreigners to work on the cheap problem we have with tech and amusement parks?
It also solves a problem I noticed a long time ago. Why on God's Green Earth ® are we educating foreigners in STEM? You might notice that they go home and start businesses that compete with our domestic ones? Would it not be better to hoard that education and sell them things they can't make because we're stingy with the knowledge?
Stripper Clips
In an ongoing attempt to go completely broke...
Willard bought some accessories for his carbine.
I'd never even heard of a stripper clip for an M1 carbine!
But wait, you say, an M1 Carbine doesn't have a stripper clip bridge?
The stripper spoon is built into the clip!
Then you slide it onto a magazine...
Then shove the rounds into it...
Simple!
The spoon is part of the clip and is retained by two little wings on the clip portion.
Pretty darn neat!
M1 vs M4 Carbine.
Ever notice that the M1 isn't actually a carbine? Carbines were shortened versions of the full sized service rifle, often firing a reduced power version of the service cartridge. (Yes, I know that definition is incomplete, but go with the joke!)
Willard bought some accessories for his carbine.
I'd never even heard of a stripper clip for an M1 carbine!
But wait, you say, an M1 Carbine doesn't have a stripper clip bridge?
The stripper spoon is built into the clip!
Then you slide it onto a magazine...
Then shove the rounds into it...
Simple!
The spoon is part of the clip and is retained by two little wings on the clip portion.
Pretty darn neat!
Ever notice that the M1 isn't actually a carbine? Carbines were shortened versions of the full sized service rifle, often firing a reduced power version of the service cartridge. (Yes, I know that definition is incomplete, but go with the joke!)
Giggle
Took Tabitha to the range because Willard took his M1 Carbine.
That's after just 40 rounds. It doesn't take much to get the oils smoking.
That's after just 40 rounds. It doesn't take much to get the oils smoking.
16 June 2016
15 June 2016
Wasn't There Didn't Do It
Once again the Fuckweasils in Congress turn to gun control.
I remember 21 years ago when we got the so-called Assault Weapons Ban.
The impetus for that law was crimes I did not commit.
The impetus for a new restriction of gun purchases is likewise because of a crime I did not commit.
My guns weren't in Orlando that fateful day.
I wasn't in Orlando that day.
I did not walk into any kind of bar or club and begin shooting the patrons.
I did not choose any particular club or bar because of the sexual orientation of the patrons.
I am not a member of a religion that requires that I murder anyone for any reason.
Wasn't me, didn't do it.
So stop trying to fucking punish me!
I think the reason for the massacre is obvious and no gun law on earth will stop attacks coming from this particular source.
I remember 21 years ago when we got the so-called Assault Weapons Ban.
The impetus for that law was crimes I did not commit.
The impetus for a new restriction of gun purchases is likewise because of a crime I did not commit.
My guns weren't in Orlando that fateful day.
I wasn't in Orlando that day.
I did not walk into any kind of bar or club and begin shooting the patrons.
I did not choose any particular club or bar because of the sexual orientation of the patrons.
I am not a member of a religion that requires that I murder anyone for any reason.
Wasn't me, didn't do it.
So stop trying to fucking punish me!
I think the reason for the massacre is obvious and no gun law on earth will stop attacks coming from this particular source.
Happiness Is Power Tools
My happy little work bench just got a little happier! Thanks Willard!
UPDATE:
I decided that I wanted it oriented differently. The head just sits on the shaft so you can rotate it vs the base any way you'd like. Just to be safe, I ran some carriage bolts down through the bench to make it more secure.
Quote Of The Day
"He doesn't have any balls, could he at least man up enough to grow a vagina?"
-- The Lovely Harvey concerning the performance of Gersh Kuntsman firing an AR-15.
-- The Lovely Harvey concerning the performance of Gersh Kuntsman firing an AR-15.
14 June 2016
Coarse
Dear every vendor of a tap and die set.
4-40 is a UNC thread, the 'C' means "coarse".
4-48 is the UNF or "fine" thread in the #4 size.
Your inclusion of a 4-40 in your "fine" thread tapping set is wrong.
4-40 is a UNC thread, the 'C' means "coarse".
4-48 is the UNF or "fine" thread in the #4 size.
Your inclusion of a 4-40 in your "fine" thread tapping set is wrong.
Act Accordingly
It will not take much effort at all to find the comments from Dancing Monkeys about how we should deal with events like the Orlando Shooting.
I've a suggestion.
Stop paying them.
Pay attention to whom advertises on their Dancing With The Monkeys shows and stop buying those products.
Don't buy or rent their movies or songs on iTunes, Netflix, Amazon, Redbox or any other vendor.
Don't feed them. They're a lot like bears. Pretty to look at, dangerous to feed.
I'd even go so far as to say stop paying for cable too.
They hate us, but they forget they need us. They need someone to pay for tickets, pay for rentals, pay for products they endorse, pay for THEM.
We don't need them.
Let them find productive work or starve. Just like we do already.
The more I think on it, the more convinced I am that the dancing monkey isn't a human.
Definitely a hominid, but not Homo Sapiens Sapiens.
Homo Sapiens Entertainenis?
I've a suggestion.
Stop paying them.
Pay attention to whom advertises on their Dancing With The Monkeys shows and stop buying those products.
Don't buy or rent their movies or songs on iTunes, Netflix, Amazon, Redbox or any other vendor.
Don't feed them. They're a lot like bears. Pretty to look at, dangerous to feed.
I'd even go so far as to say stop paying for cable too.
They hate us, but they forget they need us. They need someone to pay for tickets, pay for rentals, pay for products they endorse, pay for THEM.
We don't need them.
Let them find productive work or starve. Just like we do already.
The more I think on it, the more convinced I am that the dancing monkey isn't a human.
Definitely a hominid, but not Homo Sapiens Sapiens.
Homo Sapiens Entertainenis?
Loud Popping Noise
The loud popping noise you just heard might have been a shit-ton of LGBT people realizing that the pro-gun folks urging them to get a gun weren't their enemies after all.
And that the people who're supposedly on their side might not have been their friends all along.
And that the people who're supposedly on their side might not have been their friends all along.
Contacted By Renowned Films
This is clearly Erin's fault!
Yes, we must blame someone, Erin is someone, therefore we blame her.
A Sophie Perrins emailed me claiming to be from Renowned Films... I'll quote her:
Yes, we must blame someone, Erin is someone, therefore we blame her.
A Sophie Perrins emailed me claiming to be from Renowned Films... I'll quote her:
Hello,
Hope you are well. I’m Sophie from Renowned Films, we’re a UK independent film company currently making a short documentary for the BBC about the awful events in Orlando over the weekend. The film is being hosted by Stacey Dooley. She's one of the most well known young current affairs presenters in the UK: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03h2nqh
LGBT groups in favour of gun rights have made powerful statements over the last few days, defending their rights to protect themselves. LGBT people are looking to defend themselves and are seeking the means to do so safely and within the law.
I understand you provide firearms training that is LGBT friendly. I'd really love to speak with you to understand more about the training you provide.
Would you be available to speak on the phone and I could tell you some more about this project?
Thank you,
Sophie
--
Sophie Perrins
07766401799
If this is legit, I would probably be happy to speak to her.
A cursory google says that this is a real person working for a real company.
I will risk an email reply.
The Goal
Watching California on so many of its state laws makes me wonder if the goal is to make the place so shitty that we're downright grateful to La Raza and the Aztlan Movement for taking the place over so we don't have to deal with it anymore.
Shut Up
Seth MacFarlane, a known dancing monkey, offers an opinion like it was people.
Aren't dancing monkey's cute when they think they're people?
Awwwwwwww!
Aren't dancing monkey's cute when they think they're people?
Awwwwwwww!
Still Not A Firearm
Found the burr that was keeping the halves from mating.
Sure looks like a firearm, don't it?
I'll admit, I am getting excited to get her done!
13 June 2016
In Orlando
For the first time in a long time, we saw a SWAT team doing what we've been told they were for.
Huzzah! Says I!
Being frontal assault warrant service is a waste on so many levels.
Huzzah! Says I!
Being frontal assault warrant service is a waste on so many levels.
In Sight
Got a Magpul Gen 2 MBUS for Alice.
Now it's a shootable gun!
The rear sight came from ebay. Because the start price was very low and no reserve was set, I wondered why...
The seller is in Kaneohe, Hawaii.
What else is in Kaneohe, Hawaii? Marine Corps Base Hawaii!
Why would someone in Kaneohe be selling a nearly new MBUS for less than half MSRP? Especially when the seller included the original packaging and they bought it for full MSRP.
Because the Marines just put out that all non-issue parts had to come off the rifles. NSN, no-NSN; doesn't matter. If it didn't come from supply, it doesn't go on your rifle.
That makes the market for AR accessories in a strict gun-control state like Hawaii kind of soft. His loss, my gain!
By the way, Midway and Brownell's... For $4 this guy got it from Hawaii to Florida in THREE DAYS. Midway can't get something from Missouri to Florida in a week for $9 because they think that using both UPS and USPS is better somehow.
Now it's a shootable gun!
The rear sight came from ebay. Because the start price was very low and no reserve was set, I wondered why...
The seller is in Kaneohe, Hawaii.
What else is in Kaneohe, Hawaii? Marine Corps Base Hawaii!
Why would someone in Kaneohe be selling a nearly new MBUS for less than half MSRP? Especially when the seller included the original packaging and they bought it for full MSRP.
Because the Marines just put out that all non-issue parts had to come off the rifles. NSN, no-NSN; doesn't matter. If it didn't come from supply, it doesn't go on your rifle.
That makes the market for AR accessories in a strict gun-control state like Hawaii kind of soft. His loss, my gain!
By the way, Midway and Brownell's... For $4 this guy got it from Hawaii to Florida in THREE DAYS. Midway can't get something from Missouri to Florida in a week for $9 because they think that using both UPS and USPS is better somehow.
But I Thought We Were All Bigoted
Something that's cost me no small number of friends has been my position on bigotry.
I just can't abide it.
When I indulge in it, I take steps to stop and to correct the problem. I've done so several times (dammit) already and will doubtlessly have to do so in the future. Prejudice is a hard-wired thing in our monkey brains and we've got to use the sentience override to fight it.
But the position on bigotry that costs me friends is the people who're bigots and cannot see they are because their bigotry is popular.
The recent shooting in Orlando has not generated a single article from pro-gun writers (that I've seen) condemning the victims because they were in a gay bar. The worst I've seen on the event is a blogger calling the patrons of the bar "sodomites". Even that blogger, who clearly dislikes homosexuals, didn't take the position that they deserved to die for it!
Yet, if you'd listened to my bigoted former friends, the pro-gun and right-wing reaction should have been whole-hearted support of these murders because "we be hatin' some fags!"
The thing is, for the most part, I've not encountered much homophobia out there in the pro-gun blogs. I don't even encounter much prejudice against the lefties and SJW in that we'd happily leave them alone to think anything they want as long as they returned the favor.
It's postjudice, not prejudice in action here.
I just can't abide it.
When I indulge in it, I take steps to stop and to correct the problem. I've done so several times (dammit) already and will doubtlessly have to do so in the future. Prejudice is a hard-wired thing in our monkey brains and we've got to use the sentience override to fight it.
But the position on bigotry that costs me friends is the people who're bigots and cannot see they are because their bigotry is popular.
The recent shooting in Orlando has not generated a single article from pro-gun writers (that I've seen) condemning the victims because they were in a gay bar. The worst I've seen on the event is a blogger calling the patrons of the bar "sodomites". Even that blogger, who clearly dislikes homosexuals, didn't take the position that they deserved to die for it!
Yet, if you'd listened to my bigoted former friends, the pro-gun and right-wing reaction should have been whole-hearted support of these murders because "we be hatin' some fags!"
The thing is, for the most part, I've not encountered much homophobia out there in the pro-gun blogs. I don't even encounter much prejudice against the lefties and SJW in that we'd happily leave them alone to think anything they want as long as they returned the favor.
It's postjudice, not prejudice in action here.
12 June 2016
By The Way
Something I've yet to see mentioned about the recent Orlando shooting event.
In Florida, bars are gun free zones. While prudently attempting to keep guns and alcohol separated, they also banned conceal carry to the sober.
It just underscores, if you cannot carry there, don't go there!
In Florida, bars are gun free zones. While prudently attempting to keep guns and alcohol separated, they also banned conceal carry to the sober.
According to FL Statute 790.06 (12) (a) A license issued under this section does not authorize any person to openly carry a handgun or carry a concealed weapon or firearm into: (12) Any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, which portion of the establishment is primarily devoted to such purpose;
It just underscores, if you cannot carry there, don't go there!
It Might Be Islamic Terrorism This Time
Why do I say "might be" instead of being sure?
Because the FBI spokesperson has not definitively ruled out Islamic terrorism in his first official statement given while the bodies are still warm.
The "absolutely not Islamic terrorism" confirmation that it was, indeed, such is missing; raising doubts about whether Islam is actually the motive here.
Dammit, FBI, I thought we had an understanding here.
Because the FBI spokesperson has not definitively ruled out Islamic terrorism in his first official statement given while the bodies are still warm.
FBI agent Ron Hopper said there was no further threat to Orlando or the surrounding area.
When asked if the gunman had a connection to radical Islamic terrorism, Hopper said authorities had "suggestions that individual has leanings towards that."
The "absolutely not Islamic terrorism" confirmation that it was, indeed, such is missing; raising doubts about whether Islam is actually the motive here.
Dammit, FBI, I thought we had an understanding here.
Enlightenment
Marv has been buying optics for his ARs.
Because he's cheap, he's on his third round of buying the things.
This time he's buying what I've already researched and own.
But he still hadn't listened about mounts, so yesterday's trip to the range has resulted in him buying new mounts as well. Hecho en China doesn't have to mean crap, but...
During the zeroing process his 6.8 started to barf. Failure to extract. Only with Hornady 110gr V-Max. The 90gr Federal XM68GD worked fine and got him zeroed. Later examination shows an old blue insert extractor spring. Black inserts ordered.
While we were trying to figure out the failure to extract, the trigger stopped resetting. Slow clap, Marv.
Marv had modified the trigger in this gun. The first thing he did was to add some polish to the trigger nose and hammer notch. Then he found a web page showing how to lighten the trigger by cutting one leg of the hammer spring and bending the legs of the trigger spring. Finally he got a screw-within-a-screw grip screw that pre-loads the trigger to give a crisper break.
Playing with the trigger on a bench I noticed that the hammer could be caught by the disconnector even with the trigger released. Thesafety selector also dragged against the trigger.
Because the trigger adjustment screw works by essentially pulling the trigger slightly, we backed the set screw out a half turn at my place after we got done at the range. Better, but it didn't fix the problem.
So I took the guts out and looked harder. While there's some evidence of accelerated wear because Marv might have polished through the hardening, it doesn't appear too advanced yet.
The weakened trigger spring, though, is not strong enough to lift the trigger all the way to its rest position. Marv un-bent the legs and suddenly the reset problem was cured and thesafety selector stopped dragging!
We've got to go back out when his extractor springs and new mount arrive. Fingers crossed!
Because he's cheap, he's on his third round of buying the things.
This time he's buying what I've already researched and own.
But he still hadn't listened about mounts, so yesterday's trip to the range has resulted in him buying new mounts as well. Hecho en China doesn't have to mean crap, but...
During the zeroing process his 6.8 started to barf. Failure to extract. Only with Hornady 110gr V-Max. The 90gr Federal XM68GD worked fine and got him zeroed. Later examination shows an old blue insert extractor spring. Black inserts ordered.
While we were trying to figure out the failure to extract, the trigger stopped resetting. Slow clap, Marv.
Marv had modified the trigger in this gun. The first thing he did was to add some polish to the trigger nose and hammer notch. Then he found a web page showing how to lighten the trigger by cutting one leg of the hammer spring and bending the legs of the trigger spring. Finally he got a screw-within-a-screw grip screw that pre-loads the trigger to give a crisper break.
Playing with the trigger on a bench I noticed that the hammer could be caught by the disconnector even with the trigger released. The
Because the trigger adjustment screw works by essentially pulling the trigger slightly, we backed the set screw out a half turn at my place after we got done at the range. Better, but it didn't fix the problem.
So I took the guts out and looked harder. While there's some evidence of accelerated wear because Marv might have polished through the hardening, it doesn't appear too advanced yet.
The weakened trigger spring, though, is not strong enough to lift the trigger all the way to its rest position. Marv un-bent the legs and suddenly the reset problem was cured and the
We've got to go back out when his extractor springs and new mount arrive. Fingers crossed!
11 June 2016
Related
Some people challenge you to be a better person.
Some people are like crabs in a pot, if they can't escape; neither will you.
Some people are like crabs in a pot, if they can't escape; neither will you.
10 June 2016
It's Been 28 Years
I just read an article on Cracked talking about how bad Reagan fucked things up. The things they point out are not entirely without merit.
Lemme look this up...
He stopped being president almost 28 years ago.
Fine, critics, what have you done to unfuck the situation since then?
Anyone?
Anyone?
Tap tap tap.
This thing on?
Thought so.
Lemme look this up...
He stopped being president almost 28 years ago.
Fine, critics, what have you done to unfuck the situation since then?
Anyone?
Anyone?
Tap tap tap.
This thing on?
Thought so.
Not Shame
I'm not actually all that unhappy.
Yet I was extremely dissatisfied.
I clipped two friends from the contact list and the feelings of dissatisfaction evaporated.
I think I figured out why.
I felt I constantly needed to justify anything I believed to them or feel ashamed of what I was doing or believed.
Those justifications needed to be thorough too.
Then, most of the time, it didn't matter; I was still wrong and should be ashamed.
It hit me like a fucking dinosaur killing meteor.
I'm not ashamed of who I am.
I stood the line between democracy and tyranny.
Heard shots fired in anger and returned them.
I've broke track.
I've made a 5,000m shot with a 120mm gun.
I've traveled the world.
I've marched in a gay-pride parade wearing a "Straight But Not Narrow" t-shirt.
I married a woman I am not worthy of.
I adopted her son, making him our son. Giving him the only father he's ever known and will ever need.
I told my family where to go when they didn't think I was living up to their standards when I felt that I'd surpassed those limited expectations.
I've helped design things that let people drink clean water and eat clean food. Thousands, if not tens of thousands of people.
I've kept a Chevy running for 26 years.
I kept an AMF Sportster running for two.
I rode that Sportster from Minneapolis to Sturgis, and back. Twice.
I've ridden with an outlaw biker club. And ridden with a sanctioned club.
I've ridden from Ames to Acapulco, in December. On a Suzuki.
I've made a nine second pass as a professional drag racer in a home-built car.
I walked away from that car after crumpling it into a ball when I ran off the end of the strip.
I've driven up Pike's Peak.
I cook.
I clean.
I do dishes.
I'm a conservative with a libertarian bent. Freedom, not anarchy.
I'm a pen and paper role player.
I'm a Brony.
People with my political beliefs don't have anything to be ashamed of because we've never actually been represented by any member of our government since I was born.
It's time for them to write the masters thesis justifying their beliefs before they can rejoin my tribe.
Yet I was extremely dissatisfied.
I clipped two friends from the contact list and the feelings of dissatisfaction evaporated.
I think I figured out why.
I felt I constantly needed to justify anything I believed to them or feel ashamed of what I was doing or believed.
Those justifications needed to be thorough too.
Then, most of the time, it didn't matter; I was still wrong and should be ashamed.
It hit me like a fucking dinosaur killing meteor.
I'm not ashamed of who I am.
I stood the line between democracy and tyranny.
Heard shots fired in anger and returned them.
I've broke track.
I've made a 5,000m shot with a 120mm gun.
I've traveled the world.
I've marched in a gay-pride parade wearing a "Straight But Not Narrow" t-shirt.
I married a woman I am not worthy of.
I adopted her son, making him our son. Giving him the only father he's ever known and will ever need.
I told my family where to go when they didn't think I was living up to their standards when I felt that I'd surpassed those limited expectations.
I've helped design things that let people drink clean water and eat clean food. Thousands, if not tens of thousands of people.
I've kept a Chevy running for 26 years.
I kept an AMF Sportster running for two.
I rode that Sportster from Minneapolis to Sturgis, and back. Twice.
I've ridden with an outlaw biker club. And ridden with a sanctioned club.
I've ridden from Ames to Acapulco, in December. On a Suzuki.
I've made a nine second pass as a professional drag racer in a home-built car.
I walked away from that car after crumpling it into a ball when I ran off the end of the strip.
I've driven up Pike's Peak.
I cook.
I clean.
I do dishes.
I'm a conservative with a libertarian bent. Freedom, not anarchy.
I'm a pen and paper role player.
I'm a Brony.
People with my political beliefs don't have anything to be ashamed of because we've never actually been represented by any member of our government since I was born.
It's time for them to write the masters thesis justifying their beliefs before they can rejoin my tribe.
Ignorant Of History
And willfully ignorant of history at that.
"Whites should go back to Europe and leave California a Hispanic state."
Why are y'all called hispanic again?
It's a Latin derived word, meaning Spanish.
You remember Spain, right? A white European nation.
Whites that came over and toppled how many Native American empires and kingdoms?
So, let's just extend the La Raza logic out a bit farther...
If you're hispanic, you're the descendant of some white invader, so only a pure-blooded descendant of the Aztecs or Mayans (or any other indigenous tribe conquered by Spain) has any claim to any land in Mexico (present or past).
Never mind that Mexico itself is a construct of those white Spanish conquerors.
Never mind that the Hispanic claim to California (and Mexico itself) is exactly the same claim that "whites" have to it. They displaced the people they found there when they arrived. Wanna talk about this little black mark? Isn't that the culture and heritage you're claiming when you talk about your "La Raza"?
A huge difference in "whites" taking over California is that it was done by treaty after Mexico had lost the bloody war and nearly all of the Mexicans living there stayed put to become Americans now (and continued killing Indians with the newly arrived "white" people joining in).
America didn't take California away from La Raza, it took it away from Mexico. The Hispanics in place remained there. A good place to look for this is actually New Mexico, oddly enough, where there are surnames that aren't found anywhere else in the Americas, but are still found in Europe...
"Whites should go back to Europe and leave California a Hispanic state."
Why are y'all called hispanic again?
It's a Latin derived word, meaning Spanish.
You remember Spain, right? A white European nation.
Whites that came over and toppled how many Native American empires and kingdoms?
So, let's just extend the La Raza logic out a bit farther...
If you're hispanic, you're the descendant of some white invader, so only a pure-blooded descendant of the Aztecs or Mayans (or any other indigenous tribe conquered by Spain) has any claim to any land in Mexico (present or past).
Never mind that Mexico itself is a construct of those white Spanish conquerors.
Never mind that the Hispanic claim to California (and Mexico itself) is exactly the same claim that "whites" have to it. They displaced the people they found there when they arrived. Wanna talk about this little black mark? Isn't that the culture and heritage you're claiming when you talk about your "La Raza"?
A huge difference in "whites" taking over California is that it was done by treaty after Mexico had lost the bloody war and nearly all of the Mexicans living there stayed put to become Americans now (and continued killing Indians with the newly arrived "white" people joining in).
America didn't take California away from La Raza, it took it away from Mexico. The Hispanics in place remained there. A good place to look for this is actually New Mexico, oddly enough, where there are surnames that aren't found anywhere else in the Americas, but are still found in Europe...
09 June 2016
Dog Bites Man
The sun came up in the east.
Fire burns.
Water wets.
The 9thCircus Circuit Court rules against gun rights.
Fire burns.
Water wets.
The 9th
You're Mocking Me Aren't You?
Mocking things up because I don't have the trigger pocket carved out. Can't close the upper and lower until the rear part of that pocket is done.
Andrea's still not a gun. Soon, very soon.
The exercise in patience to wait on proper tools becoming available is almost beyond my ability.
Andrea's still not a gun. Soon, very soon.
The exercise in patience to wait on proper tools becoming available is almost beyond my ability.
What Kind?
When I've asked "what kind of steel is that?" the replies remind of when I've seen someone on tech support ask, "what kind of computer do you have?" and getting "a white one!" as a reply.
What kind of steel is that?
"Mild steel!"
FACEPALM
"Ten gauge!"
HEADDESK
While it's more informative than someone saying "it's made from metal" it's not much more informative.
I first bumped into this trying to do some real world research on armor weights to compare with GURPS, because the armor weights seemed far to large in the game.
The reason I started asking about the actual steels used was an attempt to calculate the DR, because there's a huge range of strengths in "mild" steel for tensile and deformation values.
Kinda related:
What kind of steel is that?
"Mild steel!"
FACEPALM
"Ten gauge!"
HEADDESK
While it's more informative than someone saying "it's made from metal" it's not much more informative.
I first bumped into this trying to do some real world research on armor weights to compare with GURPS, because the armor weights seemed far to large in the game.
The reason I started asking about the actual steels used was an attempt to calculate the DR, because there's a huge range of strengths in "mild" steel for tensile and deformation values.
Kinda related:
I Don't Speak Spanish
I don't speak Spanish, but that does not mean that I am wholly an idiot.
Because of this, I am fully aware of what "La Raza" means and the implications it carries.
I won't say that replying to a racist with racism is good, or even desirable.
However: If you engage in racism, expect it to be returned to you at every turn and nobody caring about your feelings when it happens. You earned it with your bigotry.
Because of this, I am fully aware of what "La Raza" means and the implications it carries.
I won't say that replying to a racist with racism is good, or even desirable.
However: If you engage in racism, expect it to be returned to you at every turn and nobody caring about your feelings when it happens. You earned it with your bigotry.
08 June 2016
Jury Math
I am fascinated with the rhetoric surrounding the pressing need to increase minimum wages.
But what do they pay you when they demand your valuable time to sit on a jury?
But what do they pay you when they demand your valuable time to sit on a jury?
Florida pays $15 a day for the first three days and $30 a day after that. They want you available for nine hours so that's $1.67 and $3.33 an hour respectively. And if your employer keeps paying you, you get nothing from them.
Florida's minimum wage is $8.22 an hour, almost five times what a juror gets.
Seems to me, that if they were serious about that rhetoric, they'd offer minimum wage to sit on the jury.
You can tell what they're serious about if you confront them with this, and it's amazing that they cannot see that the very same justifications for not increasing jury pay applies to paying no-skill workers as well.
But it's easy to order someone else to pay up, regardless of they can afford it.
Seems to me, that if they were serious about that rhetoric, they'd offer minimum wage to sit on the jury.
You can tell what they're serious about if you confront them with this, and it's amazing that they cannot see that the very same justifications for not increasing jury pay applies to paying no-skill workers as well.
But it's easy to order someone else to pay up, regardless of they can afford it.
Vaezghoekhghoeng
Also known as Kiki. Go ahead, pronounce Vaezghoekhghoeng. Go on. What? You don't speak Gvegh?
She was a Vargr starship engineer that I created because of a problem in my campaign.
Engineer was the only open slot on the ship and we had a new player, thus a new engineer, every week for like four months. They'd show up, make a character, play, say, "see you next week", then we'd never see them again.
This also led to FuzzyGeff implementing a "you get paid at the beginning of the next game session, not the end," policy. That saved the ship's fund a lot of money.
A big problem with our fresh player engineering pool was there were many times where a player's character couldn't have just disappeared.
So I made it an NPC position and the next three players stuck.
She's originally from Kedzudh Aeng in the Gvurrdon sector, just coreward from the Spinward Marches.
She speaks Gvegh, Galanglic and Zhodani. The players never knew that last one.
The campaign was set just after the 4th Frontier War ended, and I had a subplot planned to make her a Zho spy if the players couldn't find trouble any other way.
She'd served with the Kedzudh Patrol on corsair busting duty during the war who were opportunistically attacking along the border between Vargr and Imperial space.
She's become utterly devoted to FuzzyGeff's captain character. A devotion that surprised a couple of players more familiar with Vargr.
She was once challenged for the engineering position, and it led to a duel. She chose swords. When the signal to begin sounded, she swung at her opponent's weapon, shattering it. "A real engineer could have seen that weak spot on the sword and chosen a different one. I win!"
She was a Vargr starship engineer that I created because of a problem in my campaign.
Engineer was the only open slot on the ship and we had a new player, thus a new engineer, every week for like four months. They'd show up, make a character, play, say, "see you next week", then we'd never see them again.
This also led to FuzzyGeff implementing a "you get paid at the beginning of the next game session, not the end," policy. That saved the ship's fund a lot of money.
A big problem with our fresh player engineering pool was there were many times where a player's character couldn't have just disappeared.
So I made it an NPC position and the next three players stuck.
She's originally from Kedzudh Aeng in the Gvurrdon sector, just coreward from the Spinward Marches.
She speaks Gvegh, Galanglic and Zhodani. The players never knew that last one.
The campaign was set just after the 4th Frontier War ended, and I had a subplot planned to make her a Zho spy if the players couldn't find trouble any other way.
She'd served with the Kedzudh Patrol on corsair busting duty during the war who were opportunistically attacking along the border between Vargr and Imperial space.
She's become utterly devoted to FuzzyGeff's captain character. A devotion that surprised a couple of players more familiar with Vargr.
She was once challenged for the engineering position, and it led to a duel. She chose swords. When the signal to begin sounded, she swung at her opponent's weapon, shattering it. "A real engineer could have seen that weak spot on the sword and chosen a different one. I win!"
07 June 2016
That's It We're All Dead
We were all killed in the post-Colin food riots.
Ironically, the riots were sparked off by someone trying to get diesel fuel for their generator when power failed.
If only I'd had my colander with me...
Ironically, the riots were sparked off by someone trying to get diesel fuel for their generator when power failed.
If only I'd had my colander with me...
Can't Spell Barbie Without AR
With the lower from Alice free because she's becoming 80% Andrea the M16A2 clone...
Got a kit from Palmetto State Armory. 16" mid-length 1:7 melonite barrel. There's some confusion about what kind of steel the barrel is made from. In the kit it's just mentioned as being melonited. A barrel with an identical profile is available that's marked identically to this one and it's 4150 chrome-moly vanadium. I'd assumed that since they weren't bragging about it in the kit, it was 4140 chrome-moly.
Update: I asked the manufacturer and they confirmed that the barrel that came with the kit is 4150 chrome-moly vanadium barrel.
A whopping 7.4 lb. loaded!
Trying it out with the Israeli issue sling that used to be on Kaylee.
Still need to get a rear sight.
Got a kit from Palmetto State Armory. 16" mid-length 1:7 melonite barrel. There's some confusion about what kind of steel the barrel is made from. In the kit it's just mentioned as being melonited. A barrel with an identical profile is available that's marked identically to this one and it's 4150 chrome-moly vanadium. I'd assumed that since they weren't bragging about it in the kit, it was 4140 chrome-moly.
Update: I asked the manufacturer and they confirmed that the barrel that came with the kit is 4150 chrome-moly vanadium barrel.
A whopping 7.4 lb. loaded!
Trying it out with the Israeli issue sling that used to be on Kaylee.
Still need to get a rear sight.
06 June 2016
Gun Christmas In June
Got my engraved 80% lower back today! Now it's back on me to finish the fire-control pocket.
Then it will be on someone else for anodizing. Then it'll be part of an M16A2 clone.
Got the M16 type D stock I won on GunBroker today too. It's in unissued condition and the seller included a nicely mottled A1 pistol grip too.
Aside: I hate the term "A1 pistol grip" because that grip is used on all the black furniture guns until the M16A2 style comes around.
Perhaps Godwin Moment
"No one wants an actual President Hitler."
I think you might be incorrect about that, Mr Adams.
We've certainly embraced a combination of socialism and nascent fascism that's eerily close to national socialism.
We've been cultivating an "other" from the successful to blame for the failures of the downtrodden masses.
Sure seems like we're sowing the fields to reap a Hitler.
The parallels are rife, and it might just be that American exceptionalism is all that's been keeping the final steps at bay.
I've kind of had an anti-Niemöller moment.
Interest groups from all three actively try to fuck me over, why did I stand up again? "Because it was the right thing to do," might salve my soul but it's not doing me any material good.
I think you might be incorrect about that, Mr Adams.
We've certainly embraced a combination of socialism and nascent fascism that's eerily close to national socialism.
We've been cultivating an "other" from the successful to blame for the failures of the downtrodden masses.
Sure seems like we're sowing the fields to reap a Hitler.
The parallels are rife, and it might just be that American exceptionalism is all that's been keeping the final steps at bay.
I've kind of had an anti-Niemöller moment.
I stood up for women, though I am not a woman.
I stood up for homosexuals, though I am not gay.
I stood up for minorities, though I am white.
When it came time for them to stand up for me, I was blamed.
Interest groups from all three actively try to fuck me over, why did I stand up again? "Because it was the right thing to do," might salve my soul but it's not doing me any material good.
Yawn
To put things in perspective...
A tropical storm really isn't any more violent than a line of thunderstorms rolling across the great plains.
The only real difference is the flooding that comes from the wind shoving water up against the shore; what with the midwest lacking large shorelines for the most part.
Do you panic because there's thunderstorms coming and there's a tornado watch?
No?
Then don't worry when the Floridians don't panic about a tropical storm.
Even the lower category hurricanes aren't "that bad". They're intense, but that intensity tends to be short lived. With building codes being what they are, up to a cat-2 doesn't do much lasting damage.
Being inundated with emails, texts and phone calls from all over the country asking us if we're OK amuses us.
You may note that we don't call you asking if you're coping with the snowstorm that's expected but hasn't yet hit.
Snow is worse.
Why?
It actually kills more people than tropical weather and it happens every single year. Colin will be just the fifth tropical storm to hit here in the 19 years I've lived on the Suncoast. How many winters did y'all have in the meantime?
A tropical storm really isn't any more violent than a line of thunderstorms rolling across the great plains.
The only real difference is the flooding that comes from the wind shoving water up against the shore; what with the midwest lacking large shorelines for the most part.
Do you panic because there's thunderstorms coming and there's a tornado watch?
No?
Then don't worry when the Floridians don't panic about a tropical storm.
Even the lower category hurricanes aren't "that bad". They're intense, but that intensity tends to be short lived. With building codes being what they are, up to a cat-2 doesn't do much lasting damage.
Being inundated with emails, texts and phone calls from all over the country asking us if we're OK amuses us.
You may note that we don't call you asking if you're coping with the snowstorm that's expected but hasn't yet hit.
Snow is worse.
Why?
It actually kills more people than tropical weather and it happens every single year. Colin will be just the fifth tropical storm to hit here in the 19 years I've lived on the Suncoast. How many winters did y'all have in the meantime?
D+ 26,298
Compare casualties from one day 72 years ago with the entire fifteen years of "War On Terror".
05 June 2016
Angry Sky Gods
This is a front being displaced by the incoming tropical system in The Gulf.
LED There Be Light
Got all ten of the bulbs in the Civic's instrument cluster replaced with the LED kit.
A frustrating thing about LED conversion is an LED is, well, a diode. It's right there in the name.
That means it's got polarity.
That means you can put the bulb in 180˚ wrong.
The good news it it looks like I only got 4 of the 10 in wrong; thus only had to flip 4 around. That's a win! There's ways to check this before you install, but they're really not any faster than trial and error.
Update with pictures now that it's dark enough to see it. The airbag light is from a dead steering wheel clock spring. The check engine light is from either a dead catalytic convertor or a dead post-cat o2 sensor. Machts nichts either way.
A frustrating thing about LED conversion is an LED is, well, a diode. It's right there in the name.
That means it's got polarity.
That means you can put the bulb in 180˚ wrong.
The good news it it looks like I only got 4 of the 10 in wrong; thus only had to flip 4 around. That's a win! There's ways to check this before you install, but they're really not any faster than trial and error.
Update with pictures now that it's dark enough to see it. The airbag light is from a dead steering wheel clock spring. The check engine light is from either a dead catalytic convertor or a dead post-cat o2 sensor. Machts nichts either way.
Speaking Of LED Conversion
The bulbs and sockets for The Civic showed up today! Yes, today. Sunday. Delivered by the USPS.
Gotta love that Amazon Prime thing.
As soon as it's dark and the heat of the day breaks a bit I'll tear apart her dash and do some bulb swapping.
One Wonders
What with the Trump supporter side demanding enforcement of those pesky laws, that if the established political class is worried that these voters mean enforcing those laws on THEM!
Because on one hand we have a USN submariner who took a cell-phone pic of the engine room getting ready to do time when the pic was deleted and never left the boat. On the other we have Hilary's email server.
On one hand we have people doing time for possessing a magazine that holds too many rounds, or for buying a gun through a relative and FFLs. On the other we have David Gregory and Katie Couric.
One part of equal protection under the laws is those laws apply to everyone equally.
Because on one hand we have a USN submariner who took a cell-phone pic of the engine room getting ready to do time when the pic was deleted and never left the boat. On the other we have Hilary's email server.
On one hand we have people doing time for possessing a magazine that holds too many rounds, or for buying a gun through a relative and FFLs. On the other we have David Gregory and Katie Couric.
One part of equal protection under the laws is those laws apply to everyone equally.
Planet Nine From Outer Space
Check it out!
Our sun might be a thief!
Look out for falling centaurs though.
Ice Cream Sundae can happen on a Saturday.
Our sun might be a thief!
Look out for falling centaurs though.
Ice Cream Sundae can happen on a Saturday.
Not A Project Unless You Bleed
The Civic was once my Mom's.
She willed it to me on her death these long nine years ago.
Being a Honda it's a trooper and keeps eagerly running as long as you do the scheduled maintenance.
However, some things just get old and die because there really isn't a maintenance procedure.
Mom had gotten thefactory dealer installed vent-shades.
They're a neat item that lets you leave the windows open a crack, but shield the opening from the rain. A great feature for Florida!
The sun, being what it is, has made the smoke gray plastic brittle and if one were to casually lean against the car... not that I'm naming names... it'd crack.
Tonight we installed the replacements. Pulling them off the car, they shattered. The edges are razor sharp and I cut my fingers extensively.
A heat gun and a plastic pan scraper got the old ones off without much more drama than the cuts and the new ones went on like they were designed to.
She willed it to me on her death these long nine years ago.
Being a Honda it's a trooper and keeps eagerly running as long as you do the scheduled maintenance.
However, some things just get old and die because there really isn't a maintenance procedure.
Mom had gotten the
They're a neat item that lets you leave the windows open a crack, but shield the opening from the rain. A great feature for Florida!
The sun, being what it is, has made the smoke gray plastic brittle and if one were to casually lean against the car... not that I'm naming names... it'd crack.
Tonight we installed the replacements. Pulling them off the car, they shattered. The edges are razor sharp and I cut my fingers extensively.
A heat gun and a plastic pan scraper got the old ones off without much more drama than the cuts and the new ones went on like they were designed to.
04 June 2016
One Down
First we ID'd the bulb.
It was confirmed that the 7219 bulbs I'd bought were the correct ones.
Because Marv is an electrical engineer, he knows how to solder.
Because he knows how to solder, they all work now!
I'm ahead by at least $35 bucks over what GM wanted for a whole new switch panel (Marv works for hot dogs and tater-tots). There's just no excuse for bulbs to be soldered onto a board like this. Incandescent bulbs are wear items, after all.
Like so many things about cars, owning some basic tools, being mechanically inclined and learning how to use those tools to put your inclination to work pays dividends.
It was confirmed that the 7219 bulbs I'd bought were the correct ones.
Because Marv is an electrical engineer, he knows how to solder.
Because he knows how to solder, they all work now!
I'm ahead by at least $35 bucks over what GM wanted for a whole new switch panel (Marv works for hot dogs and tater-tots). There's just no excuse for bulbs to be soldered onto a board like this. Incandescent bulbs are wear items, after all.
Like so many things about cars, owning some basic tools, being mechanically inclined and learning how to use those tools to put your inclination to work pays dividends.
03 June 2016
Frustratingly Similar
Honda has decided to emulate 1980's GM.
$5 for a bulb?
They're ubiquitous type 74 bulbs in a spiffy plastic holder.
$9 for a ten pack of LED from the aftermarket...
Yeah, guess which one I went with?
$5 for a bulb?
They're ubiquitous type 74 bulbs in a spiffy plastic holder.
$9 for a ten pack of LED from the aftermarket...
Yeah, guess which one I went with?
Last Words
"I wouldn't have to mansplain it if you weren't so cuntfused."
If I were to utter those words to The Lovely Harvey I am pretty sure it would be ruled a suicide.
If I were to utter those words to The Lovely Harvey I am pretty sure it would be ruled a suicide.
No Gel
There's something I want to say.
It's fluttering against the back of my mind, trying to get out.
What I cannot do is create a hole for it to escape.
It started as a casual observation about how the tactics to ban tobacco seem very similar to those being used to marginalize anyone who isn't buying the whole catastrophic anthropogenic global climate change narrative.
Fuck, that's a deep rabbit hole and I don't just want to say it, I want to say it well.
It's fluttering against the back of my mind, trying to get out.
What I cannot do is create a hole for it to escape.
It started as a casual observation about how the tactics to ban tobacco seem very similar to those being used to marginalize anyone who isn't buying the whole catastrophic anthropogenic global climate change narrative.
Fuck, that's a deep rabbit hole and I don't just want to say it, I want to say it well.
02 June 2016
Way To Go GM
We should not single out General Motors here either. Most car makers have done this to us.
There's some buttons on either side of the instrument cluster on my Corvette.
The bottom two buttons are no longer illuminated.
The buttons work fine, they just don't light up at night.
Each button is illuminated by a single 12v 7219 incandescent bulb soldered to a circuit board.
I know this because I took the switch assembly apart.
GM lists the assembly for almost $70, you're not supposed to take it apart. Ever.
There are places discounting the MSRP down to about $45.
Think about that. $45 to repair two dead bulbs.
I found a 10 pack of those bulbs on Amazon for a whopping $8.50.
Grumble. Mutter.
There's some buttons on either side of the instrument cluster on my Corvette.
The bottom two buttons are no longer illuminated.
The buttons work fine, they just don't light up at night.
Each button is illuminated by a single 12v 7219 incandescent bulb soldered to a circuit board.
I know this because I took the switch assembly apart.
GM lists the assembly for almost $70, you're not supposed to take it apart. Ever.
There are places discounting the MSRP down to about $45.
Think about that. $45 to repair two dead bulbs.
I found a 10 pack of those bulbs on Amazon for a whopping $8.50.
Grumble. Mutter.
Still Not A Gun
Got a picture from the engraver.
Now I need to carve out the fire-control pocket and have it anodized. THEN! it will be a gun!
Now I need to carve out the fire-control pocket and have it anodized. THEN! it will be a gun!
01 June 2016
How Many Years
I kind of like reading about how the M16 has been in US Army service for 50 years.
Kinda-sorta, I guess.
The XM16E1 is made a "limited standard" in September 1963.
It becomes the "standard A" M16A1 in February 1967.
The design didn't stay static that whole time either. Nor did the modifications stop once standard A was adopted.
The M16A2 is type standardized in September 1982 and made "standard A" in November 1983, so in a way the "M16" is only in service for just over 16 years. Not that they threw all of the old rifles away or anything.
The XM4 starts development in February 1986 and is type standardized in April 1987.
The M4 is adopted in July 1994, and (with changes) is still in service today, but it doesn't become the standard infantry weapon until October 2015.
So... 52 years and change since initial adoption of the type; but not even a year with the newest version.
Of course, our 7 month old service weapon has been around for almost 22 years. Go figure.
The list of changes from XM16E1 to just M16A1 is legion. There's many changes to the M16A1 even. The most static version in this parade is actually the M16A2. The number of changes made to the M4 justifies a new 'A' number if you ask me.
Kinda-sorta, I guess.
The XM16E1 is made a "limited standard" in September 1963.
It becomes the "standard A" M16A1 in February 1967.
The design didn't stay static that whole time either. Nor did the modifications stop once standard A was adopted.
The M16A2 is type standardized in September 1982 and made "standard A" in November 1983, so in a way the "M16" is only in service for just over 16 years. Not that they threw all of the old rifles away or anything.
The XM4 starts development in February 1986 and is type standardized in April 1987.
The M4 is adopted in July 1994, and (with changes) is still in service today, but it doesn't become the standard infantry weapon until October 2015.
So... 52 years and change since initial adoption of the type; but not even a year with the newest version.
Of course, our 7 month old service weapon has been around for almost 22 years. Go figure.
The list of changes from XM16E1 to just M16A1 is legion. There's many changes to the M16A1 even. The most static version in this parade is actually the M16A2. The number of changes made to the M4 justifies a new 'A' number if you ask me.
They Need To Die
The cats press their noses against the glass and make that little chittering noise.
It's Cat for, "Everything that I need to kill is out there!"
Poor frustrated things. Everything that needs to die is out of their reach.
It's Cat for, "Everything that I need to kill is out there!"
Poor frustrated things. Everything that needs to die is out of their reach.
Hurricane Season
Today marks the beginning of hurricane season, an important date for a coastal Floridian.
As always, we're prepped.
We have guns, ammo, football pads and a colander.
The neighbors both have food and are food.
I, for one, welcome our Bartertown overlords. May the Lord Humongous always look favorably on us.
As always, we're prepped.
We have guns, ammo, football pads and a colander.
The neighbors both have food and are food.
I, for one, welcome our Bartertown overlords. May the Lord Humongous always look favorably on us.