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30 April 2017
A Good Day
Marv (finally) got to shoot his AK.
First with irons...
Then with some cheapo red dot on an airsoft siderail mount.
I'd say that it doesn't shoot too bad...
At the 21m he zeroed it at.
First with irons...
Then with some cheapo red dot on an airsoft siderail mount.
I'd say that it doesn't shoot too bad...
At the 21m he zeroed it at.
25 Years
While dealing with the bed bugs, I missed my intent to comment on the LA Riots.
I was living in Des Moines (West Des Moines actually) at the time and the chance that the rioting would spread and happen there seemed non-trivial.
I spent the evening night and next morning peering out into the dark from my balcony with my trusty Mini-14 loaded and ready.
I was not the only one either.
The real concern wasn't riots in West Des Moines, but from Des Moines proper and the little enclave of criminals using it as an excuse to go-a-looting out in the 'burbs.
Nothing came of it, but I know I was reassured to own something high capacity (in the Mini-14's case calling a 30-rounder a high-capacity magazine is actually apt, since the normal capacity magazine was 5-rounds).
I was living in Des Moines (West Des Moines actually) at the time and the chance that the rioting would spread and happen there seemed non-trivial.
I spent the evening night and next morning peering out into the dark from my balcony with my trusty Mini-14 loaded and ready.
I was not the only one either.
The real concern wasn't riots in West Des Moines, but from Des Moines proper and the little enclave of criminals using it as an excuse to go-a-looting out in the 'burbs.
Nothing came of it, but I know I was reassured to own something high capacity (in the Mini-14's case calling a 30-rounder a high-capacity magazine is actually apt, since the normal capacity magazine was 5-rounds).
Oh The Joy
We've been fighting bed bugs here since January when Harvey found them in her bed.
Black Flag's Hot Shot brand seems to slow them down, but doesn't finish them off.
So we ended up with a mass of bombing every 3-4 days for a couple weeks then thinking we'd gotten them.
Wrong.
We'd repeat the bombing and they subsided for about a month.
Then I got arrested and Harvey got another bloom. Topical treatment appeared to get them... and a mattress cover seemed to get them nuked.
Last week I saw a live one and she found evidence of feeding in her bed, but no concentrations.
So I bombed again. Reading the directions on the Hot Shot containers I was led to believe that I should wait 3-4 weeks before bombing again.
WRONG!
This morning she found a ton coming out of her boxed springs.
So I bit the bullet and hit the DIY Pest place.
I asked the guy there what he'd use and he was very helpful.
Bed bugs are good at hiding, and it's not until you start looking for the little fuckers that you start to learn exactly HOW good they are at it.
They were nicely sheltered from the bombs behind a wall plate for a coax cable, and some evidence was seen in the two wall outlets nearest her bed.
So, we've sprayed the new chemicals, one's a pesticide the other is an Insect Growth Regulator. We also got a dust that we can apply liberally to places we cannot spray (like electronics).
The store warned that it make take several sprayings 7-10 days apart to finish them off, but learning how to find their hiding spots, I think, helped immeasurably.
We've sprayed and are now doing the subject everything to the dryer's heat we can.
Black Flag's Hot Shot brand seems to slow them down, but doesn't finish them off.
So we ended up with a mass of bombing every 3-4 days for a couple weeks then thinking we'd gotten them.
Wrong.
We'd repeat the bombing and they subsided for about a month.
Then I got arrested and Harvey got another bloom. Topical treatment appeared to get them... and a mattress cover seemed to get them nuked.
Last week I saw a live one and she found evidence of feeding in her bed, but no concentrations.
So I bombed again. Reading the directions on the Hot Shot containers I was led to believe that I should wait 3-4 weeks before bombing again.
WRONG!
This morning she found a ton coming out of her boxed springs.
So I bit the bullet and hit the DIY Pest place.
I asked the guy there what he'd use and he was very helpful.
Bed bugs are good at hiding, and it's not until you start looking for the little fuckers that you start to learn exactly HOW good they are at it.
They were nicely sheltered from the bombs behind a wall plate for a coax cable, and some evidence was seen in the two wall outlets nearest her bed.
So, we've sprayed the new chemicals, one's a pesticide the other is an Insect Growth Regulator. We also got a dust that we can apply liberally to places we cannot spray (like electronics).
The store warned that it make take several sprayings 7-10 days apart to finish them off, but learning how to find their hiding spots, I think, helped immeasurably.
We've sprayed and are now doing the subject everything to the dryer's heat we can.
29 April 2017
Concern
Palmetto went with a cast steel bolt carrier instead of the preferred forging the Soviets pioneered decades ago.
The whole cast vs forged debate on guns goes way back.
Forged was a non-negotiable and essential process to achieve the strengths required with the steels of their day at one time.
For a given formulation, forged is stronger than a casting.
But like so many things, metallurgy did not stand still.
There are steel formulations where the casting is stronger than a forging of the same finished shape.
Forged or cast doesn't make a bit of difference if surface hardening is required and it was either not applied or it didn't take.
Having said all that, it's near impossible to find out if the casting material being used is a grade of steel that's as strong as the original's forging.
Small arms makers for the militaries of the world tend to be kind of cagey about revealing their proprietary secrets in metallurgy. That leaves destructive testing to determine the mechanical properties of the material, even if it doesn't tell you much about its composition.
Since you're destroying a part anyways, you can use the fragments to figure out the composition too.
Then you're left with trial and error on processes to recreate that composition.
Another constant in firearms is to overbuild them. There's more than a couple examples where a casting is sufficient, but a forging was used. This wasn't for the mechanical properties of the materials it was because castings of that day were far more likely to be contaminated with small, strength robbing, inclusions. Inclusions that become irrelevant to the needed strength once the same material is subjected to the forging process.
The state of the art with cast steel has gotten a lot better and has more quality controls than even 50 years ago.
Assuming the gun maker avails themselves of these new processes, you've nothing to worry about.
Forging is a process, not a goal. Don't get hung up on how something is manufactured, ask instead after the properties of the finished part.
The whole cast vs forged debate on guns goes way back.
Forged was a non-negotiable and essential process to achieve the strengths required with the steels of their day at one time.
For a given formulation, forged is stronger than a casting.
But like so many things, metallurgy did not stand still.
There are steel formulations where the casting is stronger than a forging of the same finished shape.
Forged or cast doesn't make a bit of difference if surface hardening is required and it was either not applied or it didn't take.
Having said all that, it's near impossible to find out if the casting material being used is a grade of steel that's as strong as the original's forging.
Small arms makers for the militaries of the world tend to be kind of cagey about revealing their proprietary secrets in metallurgy. That leaves destructive testing to determine the mechanical properties of the material, even if it doesn't tell you much about its composition.
Since you're destroying a part anyways, you can use the fragments to figure out the composition too.
Then you're left with trial and error on processes to recreate that composition.
Another constant in firearms is to overbuild them. There's more than a couple examples where a casting is sufficient, but a forging was used. This wasn't for the mechanical properties of the materials it was because castings of that day were far more likely to be contaminated with small, strength robbing, inclusions. Inclusions that become irrelevant to the needed strength once the same material is subjected to the forging process.
The state of the art with cast steel has gotten a lot better and has more quality controls than even 50 years ago.
Assuming the gun maker avails themselves of these new processes, you've nothing to worry about.
Forging is a process, not a goal. Don't get hung up on how something is manufactured, ask instead after the properties of the finished part.
28 April 2017
Here's One For All Y'All
I direct your attention to the rear of the slide where it appears to be contoured differently from a normal 92FS. Also note the screw near the safety.
Botach calls this a Beretta 9mm 92FS "Police Special".
Willard spotted the differences and he wondered "what the heck"? I've found scant reference to a "Police Special" version and none of the descriptions add up to that picture.
NRAAM
Hating crowds like I do, I'll probably never go to one...
But I am curious.
Have we reached the point where the number of attendees who go to watch the protests exceeds the number of protestors?
But I am curious.
Have we reached the point where the number of attendees who go to watch the protests exceeds the number of protestors?
Maybe He Was Just Really Observant
 |
| Picture from story linked below. |
Kansas City Jimmy John's worker calmly hands over cash with gun to his head.
If our counter clerk noticed that the gun was out of battery, it's a lot easier to remain calm.
Done!
I finally have all of the posts I want to save moved from LiveJournal to here.
That only took me seven years! A year longer than it took to write them all. One reason it took so long was the loss of WebShots and having to find pictures on my hard drive to republish on Flickr so as to embed them in the Blogger posts. That's tedious because I can be a shutterbug at times.
What didn't move was mostly posts with links to things that aren't there any more.
That only took me seven years! A year longer than it took to write them all. One reason it took so long was the loss of WebShots and having to find pictures on my hard drive to republish on Flickr so as to embed them in the Blogger posts. That's tedious because I can be a shutterbug at times.
What didn't move was mostly posts with links to things that aren't there any more.
Leave Well Enough Alone
You cannot fix a PMAG that has been dyed by trying to dye it again.
My attempt to add a little green-gray to make them more like FDE has resulted in dark gray.
Left to right...
The goal, the result, gray on purpose.
My attempt to add a little green-gray to make them more like FDE has resulted in dark gray.
Left to right...
The goal, the result, gray on purpose.
You Can't Get There From Here
Continuing the Rit Dye experiments, this time trying to get to flat dark earth.
I can't make FDE with Rit on a sand PMAG.
The magazine on the far right looks closer in person than on camera.
Formula #1
1-1/2 tsp Pearl Gray
1/2 tsp Harvest
Formula #2
2 tsp Pearl Gray
1/4 tsp Harvest
1/4 tsp Camel
Formula #3
1 Tbsp Pearl Gray
1 tsp Taupe
1/4 tsp Harvest
Formula #4
2 tsp Pearl Gray
1 tsp Taupe
1/2 tsp Harvest
Formula #5
2 tsp Pearl Gray
1 tsp Taupe
1/2 tsp Harvest
1/4 tsp Black
Formula #6 (left magazine)
1-1/2 tsp Pearl Gray
1/2 tsp Camel
1/4 tsp Harvest
Formula #7 (right magazine)
1-1/2 tsp Pearl Gray
1/2 tsp Camel
1/4 tsp Harvest
I can't make FDE with Rit on a sand PMAG.
The magazine on the far right looks closer in person than on camera.
Formula #1
1-1/2 tsp Pearl Gray
1/2 tsp Harvest
Formula #2
2 tsp Pearl Gray
1/4 tsp Harvest
1/4 tsp Camel
Formula #3
1 Tbsp Pearl Gray
1 tsp Taupe
1/4 tsp Harvest
Formula #4
2 tsp Pearl Gray
1 tsp Taupe
1/2 tsp Harvest
Formula #5
2 tsp Pearl Gray
1 tsp Taupe
1/2 tsp Harvest
1/4 tsp Black
Formula #6 (left magazine)
1-1/2 tsp Pearl Gray
1/2 tsp Camel
1/4 tsp Harvest
Formula #7 (right magazine)
1-1/2 tsp Pearl Gray
1/2 tsp Camel
1/4 tsp Harvest
1/4 tsp Taupe
Wrong List
When looking up how many emotionally upsetting cosmetic features Mollie Bean has I was somewhat dismayed to see that "barrel shroud" wasn't a banned feature on a rifle.
It's a pistol feature.
I also look in dismay and see that I've never owned a pistol that violates the AWB.
Since I've never owned a semi-auto shotgun at all, likewise I've never had a violating shotgun.
It's a pistol feature.
I also look in dismay and see that I've never owned a pistol that violates the AWB.
Since I've never owned a semi-auto shotgun at all, likewise I've never had a violating shotgun.
27 April 2017
Ragnars
Once upon a time, I was going to be a ranger... but the party really needed a thief so...
Hanging around with Willard wearing his Ranger hat is informative.
People ask him if he was really a Ranger and there's often a quiz.
It really matters to them if someone is putting on airs.
I could see that, it's hard to get that little tab.
I am somewhat amused that nobody ever doubts that I was a tanker. But then, who would claim to be that who was not?
Hanging around with Willard wearing his Ranger hat is informative.
People ask him if he was really a Ranger and there's often a quiz.
It really matters to them if someone is putting on airs.
I could see that, it's hard to get that little tab.
I am somewhat amused that nobody ever doubts that I was a tanker. But then, who would claim to be that who was not?
Range Report
Molly has now been to the range since her return from Palmetto (where they did nothing).
It's a zero I can live with. 17 roounds into the top glob.
Finally took my Mauser 10/14 shooting as well.
It is not a tack-driver at 7 yards and mis-fed at least one round every magazine. As a representative example of the breed, I guess I should be happy it shoots at all.
Willards Astra 400 is ready to shoot The Schmarta Kid out to Miller's Crossing.
It's a zero I can live with. 17 roounds into the top glob.
Finally took my Mauser 10/14 shooting as well.
It is not a tack-driver at 7 yards and mis-fed at least one round every magazine. As a representative example of the breed, I guess I should be happy it shoots at all.
Willards Astra 400 is ready to shoot The Schmarta Kid out to Miller's Crossing.
26 April 2017
Rot Gut
It's not as bad as you'd expect from whiskey in a baggie.
It's aged four years! It needs more time in the barrel, and there's hints that there's a great whiskey lurking under the harshness here.
It's aged four years! It needs more time in the barrel, and there's hints that there's a great whiskey lurking under the harshness here.
I Can Hear The Tinkle Of Her Tears Falling
Senator Feinstein is likely feeling physical pain and is in tears this fine evening!
Not only does it have nearly all of the named scary features from the 94-04Assault Weapon Ban Public Safety and Recreational Firearms Use Act, it's an AK variant.
Folding or Telescoping Stock: Check, folding AND telescoping!
Pistol Grip: Check.
Bayonet Mount: Check.
Flash Suppressor or Threaded Barrel designed to accommodate one: Check. Although the threads on an AK and AKM weren't designed for a flash-suppressor. They were designed to hold a blank adaptor. The slant brake is not in any way a flash-suppressor. However, ATF ruled early on that any threads constituted "designed to".
Grenade Launcher Mount: Nope.
Special thanks to Marv and Willard for making this happen!
Not only does it have nearly all of the named scary features from the 94-04
Folding or Telescoping Stock: Check, folding AND telescoping!
Pistol Grip: Check.
Bayonet Mount: Check.
Flash Suppressor or Threaded Barrel designed to accommodate one: Check. Although the threads on an AK and AKM weren't designed for a flash-suppressor. They were designed to hold a blank adaptor. The slant brake is not in any way a flash-suppressor. However, ATF ruled early on that any threads constituted "designed to".
Grenade Launcher Mount: Nope.
Special thanks to Marv and Willard for making this happen!
Tiresome
Spent most of the evening talking The Boy down from being all Hulk-Mode.
It seems very linked to his blood sugar levels, as he's pre-diabetic.
His sugars spike and off to the races we go.
Sigh.
It seems very linked to his blood sugar levels, as he's pre-diabetic.
His sugars spike and off to the races we go.
Sigh.
25 April 2017
Sounds Like A NASCAR Race
I bring you the Astra 400!
This one is in its original 9mm Largo, also known as 9x23mm Bergmann-Bayard.
It is similar in size and heft to the familiar M1911A1 and despite appearances the grip is comfortable and points easily.
Hilariously, it's so similar that you can use a US M1916 holster.
It's very similar to a Browning blow-back gun inside.
Takedown for cleaning is similar to Brownings too.
The safety will engage a notch in the slide that lets the groves in the barrel be rotated into a recess in the slide. Then the whole barrel, recoil spring and slide just slide right off the front.
If, for some reason you need to get at the recoil spring, it's a little more involved.
There's a strong temptation to think that the knurled cap on the nose is stuck and you need to apply more force... be sure to read the instructions at that link!
The cap is keyed, you rotate it to align with grooves in the slide and it will fire out the front under spring pressure if you let it. The reason you cannot freely turn it is there are lugs on the barrel bushing that block the grooves in the slide.
I am to blame for Willard buying this gun. I started poking through the magazine box at the shop and noticed that there was a magazine for the Astra that's been sitting in the case since 2008. Willard has now bought a gun he really didn't want because there was a spare magazine.
This one is in its original 9mm Largo, also known as 9x23mm Bergmann-Bayard.
It is similar in size and heft to the familiar M1911A1 and despite appearances the grip is comfortable and points easily.
Hilariously, it's so similar that you can use a US M1916 holster.
It's very similar to a Browning blow-back gun inside.
Takedown for cleaning is similar to Brownings too.
The safety will engage a notch in the slide that lets the groves in the barrel be rotated into a recess in the slide. Then the whole barrel, recoil spring and slide just slide right off the front.
If, for some reason you need to get at the recoil spring, it's a little more involved.
There's a strong temptation to think that the knurled cap on the nose is stuck and you need to apply more force... be sure to read the instructions at that link!
The cap is keyed, you rotate it to align with grooves in the slide and it will fire out the front under spring pressure if you let it. The reason you cannot freely turn it is there are lugs on the barrel bushing that block the grooves in the slide.
 |
| Nose cap and bushing as they normally sit. |
 |
| Nose cap and bushing aligned for disassembly. |
 |
| L->R 9x19mm Parabellum, 9mm Largo, .38 Super |
He even lucked out and there's a local shop with almost a case of Santa Barbara 124gr ammunition for it.
Polish 6H4
Got a Polish AKM bayonet. The Polish 6H4 bayonet is a copy of the Russian 6X4 without the saw edge back and keeping the metal scabbard of their 6H3 instead of an all plastic one like the 6X4.
You have to admire the salesmanship.
I talked him down a little.
It's nice to see how close I got to Com-Bloc bakelite with my PMAG dying adventures.
You have to admire the salesmanship.
I talked him down a little.
It's nice to see how close I got to Com-Bloc bakelite with my PMAG dying adventures.
And It Would Be Cheaper Too
In 1964 Lyndon B Johnson declared war on poverty.
Notice that this war arrested the decline in the rate of poverty which had been declining on its own.
Correlation is not causation.
BUT!
The correlation we have is that the massive spending engendered by LBJ and continued for the past 53 years have done nothing to reduce the poverty rate and that millions more people are living in poverty than were before we began this massive expenditure.
I'll throw my own causitive relationship in here. The rate was coming down from 1959 because the economy was expanding. The Economic Opportunity Act removed literally millions of able-bodied and capable workers from the labor pool and had a mainly deleterious effect on poverty because it established a floor to compare entry level work against.
Why get a job that doesn't pay substantially more than doing nothing? Especially when the money to not work was substantially reduced in response to any, reported, legitimate income.
24 April 2017
Experiment
Stopped off at 5-Guys tonight. Ordered a cheeseburger with lettuce, onions and pickles with sides of ketchup, relish and mayo.
That sure looks like the special sauce. There's something ephemerally wrong, but it's 97% correct.
I declare success. It is not the same as a Big Mac. It is better in every conceivable way! It's like if a Big Mac was made from food.
Addiction
Have you ever bought a gun you didn't really want just because it came with spare magazines and/or a supply of ammunition...?
Are You Sick Of Blogging?
It appears, based on my Meatspace Blogroll, that meeting me in person nearly completely cures the urge to blog.
The only three on that list that still post regular, are just telling me about their podcast.
The only three on that list that still post regular, are just telling me about their podcast.
Japanese Import At Springfield
I am not sure I should explain why this video reminds me of Japan.
But if you know why I am reminded of Japan, it utterly changes what your mind's eye says they're holding at the range and what's pictured on their name-tags.
Let Me Make A Prediction
There's a lawsuit afoot.
Here's my prediction.
Mr Cox is going to Federal Pound You In The Ass Prison®, and he will remain there.
Most of his customers are as well.
This suit will go nowhere and change nothing.
I wish that it were otherwise, but I was paying attention when these states-rights preemption laws were being passed and listening to what legal scholars were saying about them.
They were symbolic and did nothing to change Federal law. The best you could hope for was that the state law enforcement would not bother you or help the Feds when they came to get you; but it wasn't going to stop the Feds from coming to get you.
I don't think Mr Cox's suit will get any traction because NFA items don't matter to the 500 lb. gorillas of gun rights and the few NFA specific gun "rights" groups seem to have more in common with BATFE than most NFA owners.
I will dance a happy dance if this suit actually gets to the Supreme Court and gets a positive ruling; but I'm not going to hold my breath.
Here's my prediction.
Mr Cox is going to Federal Pound You In The Ass Prison®, and he will remain there.
Most of his customers are as well.
This suit will go nowhere and change nothing.
I wish that it were otherwise, but I was paying attention when these states-rights preemption laws were being passed and listening to what legal scholars were saying about them.
They were symbolic and did nothing to change Federal law. The best you could hope for was that the state law enforcement would not bother you or help the Feds when they came to get you; but it wasn't going to stop the Feds from coming to get you.
I don't think Mr Cox's suit will get any traction because NFA items don't matter to the 500 lb. gorillas of gun rights and the few NFA specific gun "rights" groups seem to have more in common with BATFE than most NFA owners.
I will dance a happy dance if this suit actually gets to the Supreme Court and gets a positive ruling; but I'm not going to hold my breath.
Internet Movie Ribbon Database
I wonder if it's worth the effort to start the research into what ribbons and medals appear on which character on what show.
I mean there's databases on guns and cars as they relate to movies and television.
I mean there's databases on guns and cars as they relate to movies and television.
I Am Troubled
They're dismantling Confederate memorials all over the place.
On one hand, I don't think that commemorating chattel slavery is something we should be doing.
On the other, erasing history is as great an evil as slavery ever was.
It's worse because many of these memorials mark and mourn the men who did not come home and were erected by the people who missed them.
On one hand, I don't think that commemorating chattel slavery is something we should be doing.
On the other, erasing history is as great an evil as slavery ever was.
It's worse because many of these memorials mark and mourn the men who did not come home and were erected by the people who missed them.
Never Forget
While remembering the 6 million Jews murdered on Holocaust Remembrance Day, do try to remember the 5 million other people murdered in those camps who weren't Jews.
It's important because when dealing with Socialists, Communists and Fascists (I think I repeated myself) you can never say, "but I'm not a..." and be safe.
It's important because when dealing with Socialists, Communists and Fascists (I think I repeated myself) you can never say, "but I'm not a..." and be safe.
23 April 2017
22 April 2017
Scientists My Baby Smooth Ass
Earth Day Protest.
Earth Day is the idea that we can still manage to feed the present population if we were only to re-adopt "sustainable" farming techniques that were used when Spain had a globe spanning empire.
Methods that weren't really all that sustainable, to be honest.
History makes note of the devastation and famine from using these "organic and sustainable" methods for very long at all.
In the '70's when it was said that it was already too late to prevent mass starvation, they weren't crackpot idiots making the claim. They were real scientists comparing crop yields to population growth and noticing that yields had plateaued.
They could not have predicted the green revolution.
In a nut shell, the Earth Day fanatics would have us resume cyclical famine. Even if the yield per acre remained the same, going to a 4-field rotation would be at a minimum a 25% drop in overall production.
It would be more than that because crop rotation in some, presently, productive places would lose productivity with less optimal crops doing their replenishment thing.
How we grow crops today is actual, measurable, science; to the betterment and advancement of all humans everywhere.
Earth Day is a deep rooted desire to return to a day when life was nasty brutish and short.
Their Fascist brethren would also elevate kings and queens over us as well. They wouldn't call them royalty, but it's got all the earmarks of a feudal and class-locked society.
Earth Day is the idea that we can still manage to feed the present population if we were only to re-adopt "sustainable" farming techniques that were used when Spain had a globe spanning empire.
Methods that weren't really all that sustainable, to be honest.
History makes note of the devastation and famine from using these "organic and sustainable" methods for very long at all.
In the '70's when it was said that it was already too late to prevent mass starvation, they weren't crackpot idiots making the claim. They were real scientists comparing crop yields to population growth and noticing that yields had plateaued.
They could not have predicted the green revolution.
In a nut shell, the Earth Day fanatics would have us resume cyclical famine. Even if the yield per acre remained the same, going to a 4-field rotation would be at a minimum a 25% drop in overall production.
It would be more than that because crop rotation in some, presently, productive places would lose productivity with less optimal crops doing their replenishment thing.
How we grow crops today is actual, measurable, science; to the betterment and advancement of all humans everywhere.
Earth Day is a deep rooted desire to return to a day when life was nasty brutish and short.
Their Fascist brethren would also elevate kings and queens over us as well. They wouldn't call them royalty, but it's got all the earmarks of a feudal and class-locked society.
Shootin' Faster And Risking Rebuttal
Lacking the vast and unlimited financial resources (insert laugh track) of professional gun writers to expend ammunition and attend gun schools, I am left to read about others experiences and to attempt to figure things out on my own.
What I've noticed is smooth IS fast. But it's not the same smooth as a slow fire carefully aimed shot.
For the careful shot, I have time to see that a muscle or digit is slightly out of place and correct for it during the squeeze. Shooting faster, there's not time to correct even if you do notice.
But I have noticed in doing a LOT of dry firing that am getting better at not having those things out of place and that it is habit forming. Good habits. It's improved my accuracy a great deal, especially with the J-Frame.
So far this aligns with my shotokan sensei and his admonition, "first form, then speed, then power."
Smooth is the form. If you cannot shoot smooth when shooting slow, you're not going to smooth up shooting fast.
As a Drill Sargent once put it, "This is basic fucking. Stick it in, pull it out, repeat. Later we'll talk about fancy stuff like licking and squeezing, but for now: in out repeat."
Wise in his crude way, he knew you had to start somewhere.
Shooting well, slowly proves that you can shoot and hit the target. Now that you know you can do it, try going a little faster.
But going faster... Do all that smooth stuff, good; now, where did those sights go? Oh, there they are! Line them back up with each other, NO! Line them up on the target! WHAT'S TAKING ME SO LONG?
Absorbing the recoil while trying to get the gun back on target is completely and totally different from absorbing the recoil then putting the gun back on target. A different set of muscle memory needs developed and this is where the shooting departs from the karate model.
Now we're riding a bicycle.
In your own words, take as much time as you need and as many pages as required: Describe all of the steps you took to learn how to ride a bike. Please be detailed, this is for ANSI compliance.
Not, "here's how to ride a bike" but "here's how you learn to ride a bike."
Will reading every step actually help much before you're up on two wheels trying not to fall?
You can use a similar analogy with swimming. You don't know a lot until you're getting wet.
I found that upping my speed corresponded well with my learning to ride a bike. I failed at lot then suddenly something went click and I was doing it! Then I changed guns and couldn't do it any more. There's something to be said about specializing.
Having said that, I've noticed that shooting a variety of guns has greatly improved my shooting overall. With an unfamiliar gun I've often noticed bad habits accentuated then seen they're present on a familiar gun, but smaller in scope.
What I've noticed is smooth IS fast. But it's not the same smooth as a slow fire carefully aimed shot.
For the careful shot, I have time to see that a muscle or digit is slightly out of place and correct for it during the squeeze. Shooting faster, there's not time to correct even if you do notice.
But I have noticed in doing a LOT of dry firing that am getting better at not having those things out of place and that it is habit forming. Good habits. It's improved my accuracy a great deal, especially with the J-Frame.
So far this aligns with my shotokan sensei and his admonition, "first form, then speed, then power."
Smooth is the form. If you cannot shoot smooth when shooting slow, you're not going to smooth up shooting fast.
As a Drill Sargent once put it, "This is basic fucking. Stick it in, pull it out, repeat. Later we'll talk about fancy stuff like licking and squeezing, but for now: in out repeat."
Wise in his crude way, he knew you had to start somewhere.
Shooting well, slowly proves that you can shoot and hit the target. Now that you know you can do it, try going a little faster.
But going faster... Do all that smooth stuff, good; now, where did those sights go? Oh, there they are! Line them back up with each other, NO! Line them up on the target! WHAT'S TAKING ME SO LONG?
Absorbing the recoil while trying to get the gun back on target is completely and totally different from absorbing the recoil then putting the gun back on target. A different set of muscle memory needs developed and this is where the shooting departs from the karate model.
Now we're riding a bicycle.
In your own words, take as much time as you need and as many pages as required: Describe all of the steps you took to learn how to ride a bike. Please be detailed, this is for ANSI compliance.
Not, "here's how to ride a bike" but "here's how you learn to ride a bike."
Will reading every step actually help much before you're up on two wheels trying not to fall?
You can use a similar analogy with swimming. You don't know a lot until you're getting wet.
I found that upping my speed corresponded well with my learning to ride a bike. I failed at lot then suddenly something went click and I was doing it! Then I changed guns and couldn't do it any more. There's something to be said about specializing.
Having said that, I've noticed that shooting a variety of guns has greatly improved my shooting overall. With an unfamiliar gun I've often noticed bad habits accentuated then seen they're present on a familiar gun, but smaller in scope.
21 April 2017
Pressure Pressing Down On Me
The $100 rifle, Blanche Devereaux, has what might be a problem.
The round on the right looked just like the round on the left before firing.
I think we have some indications of excessive pressure.
It might not be the gun. The ammunition is of unknown provenance, it could be loaded very hot.
Going to test it out with some known quantity rounds real soon.
The round on the right looked just like the round on the left before firing.
I think we have some indications of excessive pressure.
It might not be the gun. The ammunition is of unknown provenance, it could be loaded very hot.
Going to test it out with some known quantity rounds real soon.
Diff
One nice thing about modern cars is they tend to have means to access things that rarely need accessed without taking the whole assembly apart.
Having a drain plug for differential fluid rather than having to remove the rear cover is so much neater and cleaner.
Also, one of those cheap little pumps that screws into the top of the fluid bottle was well worth the $5!
Special thanks to JT for letting me use his superior jacking strategy (heh heh heh, he said jacking) to get the car level before draining the fluid.
Having a drain plug for differential fluid rather than having to remove the rear cover is so much neater and cleaner.
Also, one of those cheap little pumps that screws into the top of the fluid bottle was well worth the $5!
Special thanks to JT for letting me use his superior jacking strategy (heh heh heh, he said jacking) to get the car level before draining the fluid.
20 April 2017
Only One Thing Now
Now the only thing at McDonalds I cannot get from some other place is a McMuffin.
BWAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
The Simpsons - SJWs at Yale
You kind of have to admire something that makes you feel sorry for Montgomery Burns.
Am I Going To Have To Learn To Speak French?
I appears this blog is still mightily popular in France.
I cannot fathom it at all.
Just about the only French here is from Google's inadequate translation bot, and that's normally used to make a joke at French expense.
Of course, Jerry Lewis is held in high regard over there, maybe I just pluck a national chord just right as well.
I cannot fathom it at all.
Just about the only French here is from Google's inadequate translation bot, and that's normally used to make a joke at French expense.
Of course, Jerry Lewis is held in high regard over there, maybe I just pluck a national chord just right as well.
Is The Thermostat Set Too High
Happy 128th birthday Adolf!
Satan might have to cancel, but I am sure your buddies Mao and Stalin will attend. You guys have so much in common...
National leaders.
Brutal dictators.
Dead.
In Hell.
Satan might have to cancel, but I am sure your buddies Mao and Stalin will attend. You guys have so much in common...
National leaders.
Brutal dictators.
Dead.
In Hell.
It's What They Do
Venezuela just nationalized General Motors' plant down there.
And by nationalize, I mean seize.
And by seize, I mean stole.
And GM thinks they can settle this out in court.
You can tell that optimism won out over history at Renaissance Center.
When a socialist government takes over a previously capitalistic democracy, shutter your shit and move your stuff while they're still transitioning. Call it a "planned renovation" or something, because if you don't get your gear out, it'll be stolen from you.
Staying in the nation that does this makes you an accomplice to the new regime because working with them to keep your plant open just a little longer only prolongs the agony as socialism works its universal misery magic on the populace.
And by nationalize, I mean seize.
And by seize, I mean stole.
And GM thinks they can settle this out in court.
You can tell that optimism won out over history at Renaissance Center.
When a socialist government takes over a previously capitalistic democracy, shutter your shit and move your stuff while they're still transitioning. Call it a "planned renovation" or something, because if you don't get your gear out, it'll be stolen from you.
Staying in the nation that does this makes you an accomplice to the new regime because working with them to keep your plant open just a little longer only prolongs the agony as socialism works its universal misery magic on the populace.
19 April 2017
McThag's Legal Drama Day 47
It is over.
The state (finally) filed that they were not going to file.
I stand un-accused.
Today is truly a happy day.
Thank you to everyone who donated their time, good wishes, prayers and (most especially) hard earned cash.
The state (finally) filed that they were not going to file.
I stand un-accused.
Today is truly a happy day.
Thank you to everyone who donated their time, good wishes, prayers and (most especially) hard earned cash.
Sad Creatures
A friend related a sad story to me last night.
This is not unique to the specific Cadillac forum he's talking about, but it's typical.
The Cadillac CTS is a traditional front engine car that spins the rear wheels. Some do have all wheel drive, but the default state is rear wheel drive.
The engine architecture is remarkably similar to that in Camaros of the same vintage.
This leads people of a certain bent to upgrade the performance.
Which brings us to our sad little creatures.
They stalk this Cadillac forum looking for any thread where mention is made of doing any manner of performance upgrade and cry their litany of, "why didn't you buy a CTS-V if you wanted performance?" Sometimes coupled with, "when you get done paying for that, you could have bought a V!"
Ugh.
Well, for starters, that direct injection V6 gets a lot better mileage and even with the hit of adding a turbo or supercharger, is still doing better on gas.
And the cost of adding a supercharger doesn't dent the price differential between a normal CTS (about $30k) and a CTS-V (about $80k) [filtered for low miles and excellent condition on ebay]. Even letting the miles add up and condition slip only lowers the price difference to $30k.
Heck, I could plunk in a V8 from just about any platform with the LS architecture for less than $30k into just about ANY car, regardless of if the original maker even made a V8 car in their entire history.
And before we delve too far into this nut, the first generation CTS-V will arguably be worse than converting a V6 car to a V8 and drivetrain stolen from a 5th gen Camaro. The first iteration of the V was notoriously fragile, especially in the differential gears.
But getting back to our miserably sad creatures...
They've missed that for many hot-rodders the process is the goal. They cannot stand that someone would enjoy something differently from them.
The Corvette equivalent is the guy who can't fathom you changed anything on your car because, someday, those will cost you coveted NCRS points. Guys who are baffled that you're actually out there driving your car and "destroying the resale value".
Both Corvette and Cadillac fora have a contingent where the solution to any problem is, "take it to the dealer." You might recall my adventure here, taking it to the dealer would have been at least a $700 repair. For a $15 part, a couple hours labor and running a calibration routine. Clearly someone is made of more money than I am.
The "take it to the dealer" people would also end up spending almost $3k on brakes, which will be no better than stock because they will be OEM parts. $400 and some DIY gets better brakes.
These guys even eschew performance shops who could do that brake job for about $1,500 and have better than stock stopping power.
Someone will certainly demand to know why I didn't get a Z06 or ZR1 if I wanted better brakes...
This is not unique to the specific Cadillac forum he's talking about, but it's typical.
The Cadillac CTS is a traditional front engine car that spins the rear wheels. Some do have all wheel drive, but the default state is rear wheel drive.
The engine architecture is remarkably similar to that in Camaros of the same vintage.
This leads people of a certain bent to upgrade the performance.
Which brings us to our sad little creatures.
They stalk this Cadillac forum looking for any thread where mention is made of doing any manner of performance upgrade and cry their litany of, "why didn't you buy a CTS-V if you wanted performance?" Sometimes coupled with, "when you get done paying for that, you could have bought a V!"
Ugh.
Well, for starters, that direct injection V6 gets a lot better mileage and even with the hit of adding a turbo or supercharger, is still doing better on gas.
And the cost of adding a supercharger doesn't dent the price differential between a normal CTS (about $30k) and a CTS-V (about $80k) [filtered for low miles and excellent condition on ebay]. Even letting the miles add up and condition slip only lowers the price difference to $30k.
Heck, I could plunk in a V8 from just about any platform with the LS architecture for less than $30k into just about ANY car, regardless of if the original maker even made a V8 car in their entire history.
And before we delve too far into this nut, the first generation CTS-V will arguably be worse than converting a V6 car to a V8 and drivetrain stolen from a 5th gen Camaro. The first iteration of the V was notoriously fragile, especially in the differential gears.
But getting back to our miserably sad creatures...
They've missed that for many hot-rodders the process is the goal. They cannot stand that someone would enjoy something differently from them.
The Corvette equivalent is the guy who can't fathom you changed anything on your car because, someday, those will cost you coveted NCRS points. Guys who are baffled that you're actually out there driving your car and "destroying the resale value".
Both Corvette and Cadillac fora have a contingent where the solution to any problem is, "take it to the dealer." You might recall my adventure here, taking it to the dealer would have been at least a $700 repair. For a $15 part, a couple hours labor and running a calibration routine. Clearly someone is made of more money than I am.
The "take it to the dealer" people would also end up spending almost $3k on brakes, which will be no better than stock because they will be OEM parts. $400 and some DIY gets better brakes.
These guys even eschew performance shops who could do that brake job for about $1,500 and have better than stock stopping power.
Someone will certainly demand to know why I didn't get a Z06 or ZR1 if I wanted better brakes...
Just In Case
I hit WeaponsMan's blog and saved all the archive pages as "Webpage, Complete" to a hard drive.
I don't think that got the comments, but it got all the posts.
I'm working on saving the whole thing, with comments.
I would hate to see this page go like Lex's because nobody has the passwords to keep the site up.
I don't think that got the comments, but it got all the posts.
I'm working on saving the whole thing, with comments.
I would hate to see this page go like Lex's because nobody has the passwords to keep the site up.
Not The Outcome We'd Hoped For
Hognose, aka Weaponsman, aka Kevin O'Brien has gone through the door at the end of the hall.
Dammit!
I did not get the chance to properly thank him for sending donations to my legal troubles my way.
Now I cannot.
Whomever said that while it's OK to leave something unsaid, be prepared to leave it unsaid forever, was dead on.
This drink is for you!
Dammit!
I did not get the chance to properly thank him for sending donations to my legal troubles my way.
Now I cannot.
Whomever said that while it's OK to leave something unsaid, be prepared to leave it unsaid forever, was dead on.
This drink is for you!
18 April 2017
A Day Consumed By Locusts
Setting off the bug bombs again just to make sure we've gotten all the damn eggs.
Going to get the bombs, clearing things off and then the blast and soak times just devour the entire morning.
Living in the future, however, means that I can sit on my back patio and still surf the intertubes on my laptop.
I picked a nice day for it. Not yet too hot and humid here on the Suncoast of Florida.
Going to get the bombs, clearing things off and then the blast and soak times just devour the entire morning.
Living in the future, however, means that I can sit on my back patio and still surf the intertubes on my laptop.
I picked a nice day for it. Not yet too hot and humid here on the Suncoast of Florida.
17 April 2017
When Seconds Count
The cops will mill about doing essentially nothing for nearly three hours!
h/t Say Uncle
I think this says two things most clearly.
First, in addition to being your own first-responder, you might be your ONLY responder.
Second, stay the fuck out of gun-free zones. Avoid them like the dangerous places they are.
h/t Say Uncle
I think this says two things most clearly.
First, in addition to being your own first-responder, you might be your ONLY responder.
Second, stay the fuck out of gun-free zones. Avoid them like the dangerous places they are.
Spend Your Money Elsewhere
Palmetto State Armory returned the AKs today.
Their letter informs us that we were using the wrong front sight tools and there was nothing wrong with the front sights which would not move. They told us to get a $31 Magnamatic AK Front Sight Tool. This drips with irony because here's one front sight tool they sell ($14.99 out of stock). And here's the other tool they sell ($3.99 out of stock).
The $37 Arsenal tool moves them, thankfully. On mine the Arsenal tool broke the sight loose with a snap, obviously breaking the burr that was trapping it. That alone tells me they did not actually attempt to move my sight. With the Ferrari of front sight tools, I can now adjust the elevation of the Fiat of AKs.
Slow clap.
Yet I cannot help but notice that the $12 Tapco tool moves Yugo and Chinese AK sights without problems.
So spend your AK dollars on a WASR rather than a PSAK.
Their letter informs us that we were using the wrong front sight tools and there was nothing wrong with the front sights which would not move. They told us to get a $31 Magnamatic AK Front Sight Tool. This drips with irony because here's one front sight tool they sell ($14.99 out of stock). And here's the other tool they sell ($3.99 out of stock).
The $37 Arsenal tool moves them, thankfully. On mine the Arsenal tool broke the sight loose with a snap, obviously breaking the burr that was trapping it. That alone tells me they did not actually attempt to move my sight. With the Ferrari of front sight tools, I can now adjust the elevation of the Fiat of AKs.
Slow clap.
Yet I cannot help but notice that the $12 Tapco tool moves Yugo and Chinese AK sights without problems.
So spend your AK dollars on a WASR rather than a PSAK.
From A Time Long Ago
When gamer meant you had dice that weren't all cubes and video games were something you played at an arcade.
Time Compression
I recall an odd moment from childhood when I was still learning concepts like permanence and how clocks and calendars work.
Jesus was born on December 25th.
Dead on Good Friday, not even four months later.
LOOK AT ALL THE STUFF HE GOT DONE IN FOUR MONTHS!!!
I did not have the concept of years plus just short of four months yet, but I had grasped that he couldn't have died 8 months before he was born...
If my grand parents had tried to get me to understand The Resurrection the question would have certainly have been why do we celebrate Easter days after Good Friday when he was born 8 months after he died...
That my parents were agnostic at best probably tells you that my grand parents weren't very good at pitching religion to children.
Jesus was born on December 25th.
Dead on Good Friday, not even four months later.
LOOK AT ALL THE STUFF HE GOT DONE IN FOUR MONTHS!!!
I did not have the concept of years plus just short of four months yet, but I had grasped that he couldn't have died 8 months before he was born...
If my grand parents had tried to get me to understand The Resurrection the question would have certainly have been why do we celebrate Easter days after Good Friday when he was born 8 months after he died...
That my parents were agnostic at best probably tells you that my grand parents weren't very good at pitching religion to children.
Whitewashing In Yellow?
Remember this?
Turns out that Tilda Swinton was cast as a Gaelic Ancient One rather than Kamar-TajianTibetan because of Chinese sensibilities.
Kamar-Taj being uncomfortably close to Tibet for the Chinese government to allow Dr Strange to be allowed into the country.
Who's racist now, Social Justice Warrior?
Turns out that Tilda Swinton was cast as a Gaelic Ancient One rather than Kamar-Tajian
Kamar-Taj being uncomfortably close to Tibet for the Chinese government to allow Dr Strange to be allowed into the country.
Who's racist now, Social Justice Warrior?
I Should Have Stayed In College
And become an officer...
In case you think that officers aren't enduring deprivation, that 12 year scotch is probably a blend.
In case you think that officers aren't enduring deprivation, that 12 year scotch is probably a blend.
Teach The Controversy
Manatee tastes like the finest porterhouse steak. Even better than wagyu!
Spanish and English sailors discovered this as early as the 16th century.
Manatee, however, are not endangered in the slightest. They are plentiful, but reserved as food animals for the eliterest Bunsenbarger Club members.
Spanish and English sailors discovered this as early as the 16th century.
Manatee, however, are not endangered in the slightest. They are plentiful, but reserved as food animals for the eliterest Bunsenbarger Club members.
Prayers And Well Wishes For Hognose
He's hit a rough patch, and it's medical.
There's no details there.
He did me a good turn a few days back and I want him to get well soon.
There's no details there.
He did me a good turn a few days back and I want him to get well soon.
16 April 2017
Appropriation
Read this.
Here's my take.
"Fearless Girl" should be removed because it's not part of "Charging Bull" except through appropriating a portion of the sculpture not owned by the people who modified it.
Because "Fearless Girl" is not a complete work. It requires "Charging Bull" or it loses its meaning.
It also alters the meaning of "Charging Bull", in fact, nullifying it.
Appropriate? They flat out stole "Charging Bull" to be part of their "Fearless Girl" sculpture.
Theft is wrong. Even if you're sending a popular message with your thievery.
Here's my take.
"Fearless Girl" should be removed because it's not part of "Charging Bull" except through appropriating a portion of the sculpture not owned by the people who modified it.
Because "Fearless Girl" is not a complete work. It requires "Charging Bull" or it loses its meaning.
It also alters the meaning of "Charging Bull", in fact, nullifying it.
Appropriate? They flat out stole "Charging Bull" to be part of their "Fearless Girl" sculpture.
Theft is wrong. Even if you're sending a popular message with your thievery.
Incorrect
Politically Incorrect, that is...
There's only one nation that survived unfettered immigration.
The US.
How?
Brutal racism.
There's just no other way to describe the process that two waves of Irish and Italians were subjected to to make Americans of them.
Since Irish and Italians are white, perhaps it's not racism per se. And the first wave of Irish who'd been assimilated heartily participated in the process of the second wave.
But the treatment forced the children and grand children of Micks and Wops to become Americans to gain access to the full American dream.
The shitty little ghettos weren't allowed to grow to become enclaves.
Yes, you could live your entire life in a "Little Italy" and never know the world surrounding it. Some did. But you couldn't leave without either having a damn good reason, or being able to blend among the natives.
It's not a pretty process. It's extremely harsh. It's got massive flaws where skin color announces the origins (but we always forget that, before LBJ, our darker toned people had very nearly pulled it off. You may thank the War On Poverty for ruining that!). Chinese immigrants DID pull it off! Mexican immigrants pulled it off for decades, nearly a century, before we decided that unfettered diversity was better than assimilation.
It was understood that if you were to move to America you'd be expected to become an American or have a very hard time of it. And we made Americans, by the literal ship-load.
Somewhere along the line the process was replaced with hate for hate's sake. Again we can thank the Democrats for fucking it up.
I marvel at the make-up of the 1930's America. Yes, there were black neighborhoods and that's where blacks were expected to live; yet the houses were the same as everyone else. You could not tell a white neighborhood apart from a black one without seeing the people who lived there.
There's only one nation that survived unfettered immigration.
The US.
How?
Brutal racism.
There's just no other way to describe the process that two waves of Irish and Italians were subjected to to make Americans of them.
Since Irish and Italians are white, perhaps it's not racism per se. And the first wave of Irish who'd been assimilated heartily participated in the process of the second wave.
But the treatment forced the children and grand children of Micks and Wops to become Americans to gain access to the full American dream.
The shitty little ghettos weren't allowed to grow to become enclaves.
Yes, you could live your entire life in a "Little Italy" and never know the world surrounding it. Some did. But you couldn't leave without either having a damn good reason, or being able to blend among the natives.
It's not a pretty process. It's extremely harsh. It's got massive flaws where skin color announces the origins (but we always forget that, before LBJ, our darker toned people had very nearly pulled it off. You may thank the War On Poverty for ruining that!). Chinese immigrants DID pull it off! Mexican immigrants pulled it off for decades, nearly a century, before we decided that unfettered diversity was better than assimilation.
It was understood that if you were to move to America you'd be expected to become an American or have a very hard time of it. And we made Americans, by the literal ship-load.
Somewhere along the line the process was replaced with hate for hate's sake. Again we can thank the Democrats for fucking it up.
I marvel at the make-up of the 1930's America. Yes, there were black neighborhoods and that's where blacks were expected to live; yet the houses were the same as everyone else. You could not tell a white neighborhood apart from a black one without seeing the people who lived there.
Narc'd Out
When I killed my Facebook account the first time it was because two old friends had decided to tag-team me over gun control.
It was the typical bullshit, but with a twist.
They were both using the exact responses and positions that got my goat the worst.
So remarkably similar in their responses, I wondered if they were coordinating.
They didn't have each other on their friends lists, so I don't think they were talking directly.
When I gave up on another friend, I noticed something as I was unfriending them.
He had BOTH of my old friends on HIS friend list.
This coupled with his debate style made a clicking sound in my mind.
Nothing I can prove. Might just be paranoia.
It was the typical bullshit, but with a twist.
They were both using the exact responses and positions that got my goat the worst.
So remarkably similar in their responses, I wondered if they were coordinating.
They didn't have each other on their friends lists, so I don't think they were talking directly.
When I gave up on another friend, I noticed something as I was unfriending them.
He had BOTH of my old friends on HIS friend list.
This coupled with his debate style made a clicking sound in my mind.
Nothing I can prove. Might just be paranoia.
Mr Easterbrook There's A Checkers Just Around The Corner
McDonalds Is Doomed
You know what else Checkers doesn't do? They don't fuck up my order 6 times out of 10.
But my fast food market has Arby's, A&W, Burger King, Checkers, Culvers, Subway, Taco Bell, and Wendy's in addition to MacShack.
There's only two things on the menu at McDonalds that I can't get at the competition, Big Mac and McMuffin.
But there's all manner of things I can get at the competition that I cannot get from McDonalds, and "hold the SJW" appears to have joined the list.
I guess their institutional memory forgot their foray into gun politics back in 92. It was the first boycott I participated in.
McDonalds has been semi-actively ticking me off for a while, well they just went active.
You know what else Checkers doesn't do? They don't fuck up my order 6 times out of 10.
But my fast food market has Arby's, A&W, Burger King, Checkers, Culvers, Subway, Taco Bell, and Wendy's in addition to MacShack.
There's only two things on the menu at McDonalds that I can't get at the competition, Big Mac and McMuffin.
But there's all manner of things I can get at the competition that I cannot get from McDonalds, and "hold the SJW" appears to have joined the list.
I guess their institutional memory forgot their foray into gun politics back in 92. It was the first boycott I participated in.
McDonalds has been semi-actively ticking me off for a while, well they just went active.
Easter Movie
Just like how I don't watch sports, I love sports movies...
I'm an Atheist who loves movies based around The Bible.
A particularly well done film is "Risen".
I'm an Atheist who loves movies based around The Bible.
A particularly well done film is "Risen".
15 April 2017
Let Me Suggest An Alternative Drug
Arkansas has been banned from using their preferred concoction to execute prisoners?
Use heroin.
So what if they die in a moment of pure bliss, you can't say it's cruel.
Use heroin.
So what if they die in a moment of pure bliss, you can't say it's cruel.
14 April 2017
Feline Critique
Dingus trills with every click and clack of me doing dry fire practice or just coon fingering the collection and checking chambers.
It's like...
CLICK -- -- ddddrrrowl!
Clack clack -- -- mrrrrowwl.
It's like...
CLICK -- -- ddddrrrowl!
Clack clack -- -- mrrrrowwl.
Most Affected
The Lovely Harvey runs a bowling league for special needs kids like The Boy.
During the league's season there's two scheduled pizza parties.
She discovered today that you cannot pay Domino's cash if the total, including taxes and fees, comes to more than $35.
The same goes for the other national chains with differing amounts ranging from $30 to $50.
This lead us to wonder, "Where do strippers order pizzas from?"
The cash-free economy has left these people behind!
During the league's season there's two scheduled pizza parties.
She discovered today that you cannot pay Domino's cash if the total, including taxes and fees, comes to more than $35.
The same goes for the other national chains with differing amounts ranging from $30 to $50.
This lead us to wonder, "Where do strippers order pizzas from?"
The cash-free economy has left these people behind!
Because There Are No Comments
People cheer about the Navy lobbing 59 TLAMs at something and fret about the Air Force dropping a MOAB because the former is the military shooting things...
...the latter...
Well, the Air Force has long been considered an honorable alternative to military service.
...the latter...
Well, the Air Force has long been considered an honorable alternative to military service.
Long Delayed Test
Long ago I lost the magazine that had come with my SIG P238.
This gun is from the dark days where they cheaped out and only shipped the guns with one magazine, so I'd bought a Pro-Mag magazine for it.
The spring on that Pro-Mag did not last very long at all...
So I bought two extended magazines for it, then promptly forgot them in the magazine box because I'd started carrying a .357 J-Frame.
Today I decided to see if those magazines worked!
They do! With Magtech ball, Federal Low-Recoil JHP and Speer Gold Dot JHP.
I think it improves the grip and appearance of the little gun while doing very little to compromise its ability to hide in a pocket.
Bonus!
The guy at the range who was carrying the Peacemaker has upgraded his work-carry gun to a .45 Colt Schofield 5".
This gun is from the dark days where they cheaped out and only shipped the guns with one magazine, so I'd bought a Pro-Mag magazine for it.
The spring on that Pro-Mag did not last very long at all...
So I bought two extended magazines for it, then promptly forgot them in the magazine box because I'd started carrying a .357 J-Frame.
Today I decided to see if those magazines worked!
They do! With Magtech ball, Federal Low-Recoil JHP and Speer Gold Dot JHP.
I think it improves the grip and appearance of the little gun while doing very little to compromise its ability to hide in a pocket.
 |
| No more dangling pinky! |
Bonus!
The guy at the range who was carrying the Peacemaker has upgraded his work-carry gun to a .45 Colt Schofield 5".
Shortening
I took 4" off my cane last night.
Today is the first day I gimped around on it.
That is much better.
Today is the first day I gimped around on it.
That is much better.
VA Medical
Got my blood drawn (again) and gave a urine sample (again).
No idea what they did with the previous samples.
This time was in prep to getting a primary physician assigned.
No idea what they did with the previous samples.
This time was in prep to getting a primary physician assigned.
13 April 2017
United Fiasco
I mentioned overbooking last year.
A lot is being mentioned about how what United did was legal.
A few are talking about it being wrong.
You might notice that legal isn't the same as morally right. There's lots of perfectly legal acts which are morally wrong.
There's lots of immoral people who work hard to insure that many of those acts of wrong remain legal.
I take the position that it's morally and ethically wrong to sell something you do not have to sell.
If a plane holds 100 people, then you can only sell 100 seats for a trip. The ethical position is someone has paid for that seat and it's theirs to use or not.
Writing a contract so that you don't have to honor a sale even if you're in the wrong is, well, wrong. But it's legal.
I've long avoided, where I can, contracts where all of the obligation is mine. This is why I don't have credit cards and very rarely fly.
There's some inconvenience associated with this, but for the most part it's minor.
A lot is being mentioned about how what United did was legal.
A few are talking about it being wrong.
You might notice that legal isn't the same as morally right. There's lots of perfectly legal acts which are morally wrong.
There's lots of immoral people who work hard to insure that many of those acts of wrong remain legal.
I take the position that it's morally and ethically wrong to sell something you do not have to sell.
If a plane holds 100 people, then you can only sell 100 seats for a trip. The ethical position is someone has paid for that seat and it's theirs to use or not.
Writing a contract so that you don't have to honor a sale even if you're in the wrong is, well, wrong. But it's legal.
I've long avoided, where I can, contracts where all of the obligation is mine. This is why I don't have credit cards and very rarely fly.
There's some inconvenience associated with this, but for the most part it's minor.
Did I Say Cheap?
Perhaps The Precious will have to wait on brakes a couple of months...
$400 is out of budget at the moment.
Anyone want a 1916 made SMLE III*? Will trade for brake parts.
I guess the good news is that I keep ahead of things like this and I have the couple months to gather the funds; unlike paying the lawyers.
They've no patience at all while telling one to relax and wait.
$400 is out of budget at the moment.
Anyone want a 1916 made SMLE III*? Will trade for brake parts.
I guess the good news is that I keep ahead of things like this and I have the couple months to gather the funds; unlike paying the lawyers.
They've no patience at all while telling one to relax and wait.
A Recurring Corvette Problem
The Precious has the Z51 package.
A chief feature of this package is that it has the J55 Heavy Duty Brake System which has larger diameter brake rotors than the base model.
The same pads and calipers, but larger rotors.
Over and over when looking up rotors I select the year, then make then model and get a choice of "Base" "Z06" and "427 Limited Edition". Do you notice what's not there?
It's especially galling that the F55 active suspension option for my year also gets the larger drilled rotors, meaning there's even more cars that need the larger rotor!
The Z06 and 427 cars have even larger rotors and use different calipers and pads from base and Z51/F55.
For 2008 there's three rotor sizes and two caliper/pad sizes and hardly anyone give you an option to sort out the base sized rotor when shopping.
That leaves you clicking on every single link and reading the detailed specifications to see if the fronts have the proper 13.4" (340mm) diameter and the rears are 13" (330mm) instead of 12.8" (325mm) and 12" (305mm).
Even worse, the manufacturers often don't quote the same size as GM does for their rotor, nor do they mention it's just for the heavy duty brakes.
Sigh.
A chief feature of this package is that it has the J55 Heavy Duty Brake System which has larger diameter brake rotors than the base model.
The same pads and calipers, but larger rotors.
Over and over when looking up rotors I select the year, then make then model and get a choice of "Base" "Z06" and "427 Limited Edition". Do you notice what's not there?
It's especially galling that the F55 active suspension option for my year also gets the larger drilled rotors, meaning there's even more cars that need the larger rotor!
The Z06 and 427 cars have even larger rotors and use different calipers and pads from base and Z51/F55.
For 2008 there's three rotor sizes and two caliper/pad sizes and hardly anyone give you an option to sort out the base sized rotor when shopping.
That leaves you clicking on every single link and reading the detailed specifications to see if the fronts have the proper 13.4" (340mm) diameter and the rears are 13" (330mm) instead of 12.8" (325mm) and 12" (305mm).
Even worse, the manufacturers often don't quote the same size as GM does for their rotor, nor do they mention it's just for the heavy duty brakes.
Sigh.
They Don't Speak English
I finally figured it out.
Liberals don't speak English.
That's why they cannot read The Constitution.
That's why no matter what I say I am racist, sexist and or LGBTphobic.
It's why they claim that as a straight, white man I cannot define LGBTphobia, racism or sexism.
But here's the deal... If something cannot be defined except by the "victim" then it cannot be objectively defined, and that effectively makes it not real. No, that definitely makes it not real.
They've decided that they alone can determine what I am thinking entirely on the basis of my sexual orientation, skin color and sex. My sexual orientation, skin color and sex also preclude me from divining their thoughts and intent.
With an objective definition of hetrophobia, racism and sexism you can see it's them being phobic, racist and sexist; and it makes me the victim.
They cannot have that, so they demand that some words, like Humpty-Dumpty, be defined as they wish when they wish.
And that's choosing to speak a different language from English.
Liberals don't speak English.
That's why they cannot read The Constitution.
That's why no matter what I say I am racist, sexist and or LGBTphobic.
It's why they claim that as a straight, white man I cannot define LGBTphobia, racism or sexism.
But here's the deal... If something cannot be defined except by the "victim" then it cannot be objectively defined, and that effectively makes it not real. No, that definitely makes it not real.
They've decided that they alone can determine what I am thinking entirely on the basis of my sexual orientation, skin color and sex. My sexual orientation, skin color and sex also preclude me from divining their thoughts and intent.
With an objective definition of hetrophobia, racism and sexism you can see it's them being phobic, racist and sexist; and it makes me the victim.
They cannot have that, so they demand that some words, like Humpty-Dumpty, be defined as they wish when they wish.
And that's choosing to speak a different language from English.
12 April 2017
Normalcy
After a month of disasters, it is kind of nice to have a normal problem for a change.
The Precious needs brakes. I mean the rotors only have 132k miles on them. The pads have 70k.
Why can't we have things that last? Oh wait...
Ordinarily, this would cause a bit of a freak-out. Now? I've got the tools and the parts ain't expensive all things considered. Won't take but an afternoon to R&R them.
The Precious needs brakes. I mean the rotors only have 132k miles on them. The pads have 70k.
Why can't we have things that last? Oh wait...
Ordinarily, this would cause a bit of a freak-out. Now? I've got the tools and the parts ain't expensive all things considered. Won't take but an afternoon to R&R them.
Benign Neglect
SJ Games came up with a perfectly good world in their original edition of GURPS Time Travel Adventures.
Merlin.
It was expanded slightly into its own book, Technomancer.
In short the Technomancer/Merlin world is our world except where Oppenheimer quoting "I am become Death..." casts a spell when combined with the Trinity Event to open up the manastorm.
This also floods The Earth with magic.
Like I said, a perfectly good world.
The original setting was set in the year it was published, 1998.
There was an additional setting for the world, set during the Vietnam War titled Funny New Guys.
I did some expansion too, projecting a win for Rhodesia.
They've never updated either time frame for the 4e rules.
I just got done converting the racial templates from Technomancer and the character templates from Funny New Guys. If you want them, gimme an email in the comments section.
Merlin.
It was expanded slightly into its own book, Technomancer.
In short the Technomancer/Merlin world is our world except where Oppenheimer quoting "I am become Death..." casts a spell when combined with the Trinity Event to open up the manastorm.
This also floods The Earth with magic.
Like I said, a perfectly good world.
The original setting was set in the year it was published, 1998.
There was an additional setting for the world, set during the Vietnam War titled Funny New Guys.
I did some expansion too, projecting a win for Rhodesia.
They've never updated either time frame for the 4e rules.
I just got done converting the racial templates from Technomancer and the character templates from Funny New Guys. If you want them, gimme an email in the comments section.
Killed Him With A Sword. How Weird Is That?
It's odd for me to remember my dreams at all.
But last night was odd.
For some reason I was confronting a friend's deadbeat ex-boyfriend. For some reason it was at her trailer.
The trailer in my memory is one of the ones The Shitheels once lived in. Very detailed recollection.
The other players in my dream weren't people I know.
The deadbeat had battered my friend, but she'd given better than she'd gotten and I was just there to make sure he stayed put for the cops.
Suddenly he's back on his feet and he's got a basket-hilt claymore. And I have a rapier.
I poked him in both forearms and thighs and he didn't get the hint so I ran him through the heart.
Dead right there.
Then the alarm did a fine job of making me think it was police sirens and I woke up thinking the cops were coming to MY house in real life.
But last night was odd.
For some reason I was confronting a friend's deadbeat ex-boyfriend. For some reason it was at her trailer.
The trailer in my memory is one of the ones The Shitheels once lived in. Very detailed recollection.
The other players in my dream weren't people I know.
The deadbeat had battered my friend, but she'd given better than she'd gotten and I was just there to make sure he stayed put for the cops.
Suddenly he's back on his feet and he's got a basket-hilt claymore. And I have a rapier.
I poked him in both forearms and thighs and he didn't get the hint so I ran him through the heart.
Dead right there.
Then the alarm did a fine job of making me think it was police sirens and I woke up thinking the cops were coming to MY house in real life.
11 April 2017
Truly Humbling
My life hit a crisis and I am humbled and honored by all of the people who don't know who I am, past this blog, who came from all corners to offer material assistance by stabbing that donation button to the right. A week ago we were asking ourselves how we would ever get these "bonus" bills paid. Now we're within spitting distance of being all the way covered.
Likewise I count myself blessed that I have the cadre of close friends that I do.
Without all of you, I'd probably crawled into someplace dark and not emerge again.
I give my heartfelt thanks to all of you!
Likewise I count myself blessed that I have the cadre of close friends that I do.
Without all of you, I'd probably crawled into someplace dark and not emerge again.
I give my heartfelt thanks to all of you!
Sight Alterations
When you are a collector accumulator of fine firearms, you begin to collect accumulate the tools to adjust the sights.
My first one is for a Mini-14. This tool adjusts both the windage and elevation at the rear sight.
It's been over 20 years since I've owned a Mini-14. Owning a sight tool for one is an act of cynicism, the zero wanders so much on the vintage guns I was dealing with. But it shows your dedication to zeroing it for the current trip to the range!
Next is the Royal Army's multi-tool for the L1A1 rifle.
It has a tool to remove the handguard screw, a spanner for removing the gas-tube nut and/or adjusting the gas setting and one for adjusting the sights.
The forked end is for straddling the front sight blade and rotating it. The screwdriver end serves to both turn the front sight locking screw and to adjust the rear sight windage screws.
Like the Mini, it's been years since I owned an L1A1, but this tool has so many useful applications on a normal FAL, that I hung onto it.
Now is the classic M16A1 sight tool! I saw exactly one of these one time during OSUT when we went out to qualify with the M16A1's. I did not see another until I was long out of the Army and getting into assembling ARs from parts.
Five prongs for the front sight.
Five prongs for the rear sight.
My first one is for a Mini-14. This tool adjusts both the windage and elevation at the rear sight.
Next is the Royal Army's multi-tool for the L1A1 rifle.
It has a tool to remove the handguard screw, a spanner for removing the gas-tube nut and/or adjusting the gas setting and one for adjusting the sights.
Like the Mini, it's been years since I owned an L1A1, but this tool has so many useful applications on a normal FAL, that I hung onto it.
Now is the classic M16A1 sight tool! I saw exactly one of these one time during OSUT when we went out to qualify with the M16A1's. I did not see another until I was long out of the Army and getting into assembling ARs from parts.
Otherwise you're using a cartridge to push down spring detents and desperately trying to find leverage.
The M16A2 uses a different number of prongs on its front sight.
The rear sight doesn't need a tool at all, so the other end of an AR Front Sight Tool almost always has a five prong end for an A1 front sight.
A normal, metric, FAL can have any one of a couple front sights. This one matches Jasmine.
I guess they assume you can find a little screwdriver for the rear sight. I used my Swiss Army Knife.
The AK/SKS c-clamp tool. This one is supposed to be able to turn the front sight up and down and to push the front sight base left and right.
You're supposed to be able to slip this forked end over the front sight and turn it to adjust elevation. I have yet to buy a c-clamp that did not need to be opened up slightly. This is my third one, the PSAK-47 killed its two predecessors.
The Palmetto AKM sight also led me to get this cute little AK multi-tool. It too needed opened up, and it too bears the scars of the stuck sight.
The Palmetto guns went back to South Carolina before it arrived, but Arsenal makes the ultimate AK front sight elevation tool (I hope). This fit a Yugo M70 and a Russian SKS without modification, putting it head and shoulders over all other AK tools so far.
There will be an update when the Yugo SKS tool arrives.
Update:
Amazon does not have a smaller box...
Pretty much the same tool as for a non-Yugo AK/SKS...
But the wider fork is why you need to get one if you have a Yugoslavian PAP M59/66A1.
The AK/SKS c-clamp tool. This one is supposed to be able to turn the front sight up and down and to push the front sight base left and right.
The Palmetto AKM sight also led me to get this cute little AK multi-tool. It too needed opened up, and it too bears the scars of the stuck sight.
The Palmetto guns went back to South Carolina before it arrived, but Arsenal makes the ultimate AK front sight elevation tool (I hope). This fit a Yugo M70 and a Russian SKS without modification, putting it head and shoulders over all other AK tools so far.
Update:
Amazon does not have a smaller box...
 |
| Also shown with ALL the packing materials the tool shipped with. |
Pretty much the same tool as for a non-Yugo AK/SKS...
But the wider fork is why you need to get one if you have a Yugoslavian PAP M59/66A1.
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