If we hate women in science fiction so much, why is Gunnery Sergeant Draper such a fan favorite?
Update:
Another character I really like from The Expanse is Chrisjen Avasarala.
We fans got that show saved and it's chocked full of good female characters.
31 July 2019
Pointing And Laughing Is Forbidden By VA Policy
On Friday I went back to the doctor to follow up on my rotting pecker.
It's MUCH better, but not as eradicated as the doc would like.
Prescription strength meds on the way!
Because it wasn't eradicated by the over-the-counter meds by now; she went into "The patient is lying about being a married man and must have actually had some sex somewhere in here."
She ordered a full round of STD tests!
I do not have:
Chlamydia
Syphillus
Gohnorrea
Herpes
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
or
HIV
Ma'am, you have to have sex with someone else to catch those; I'm married. There is no nookie thanks to the chilling effect on the libido from wedding cake.
She also gave me an interesting lecture about herpes. You can have it for decades and not know.
Ididnotknowthat. Thatissomescaryshitrightthere!
I was not a very careful person about sex before I were married (and, honestly, neither was The Lovely Harvey).
Imagine the awkward conversation to explain that you've had herpes all this time and haven't been cheating!
Another test that was performed, to figure out what fungus/yeast we were dealing with was a scraping of the affected area.
This is exactly what it sounds like and you don't want them to do it to you.
It's MUCH better, but not as eradicated as the doc would like.
Prescription strength meds on the way!
Because it wasn't eradicated by the over-the-counter meds by now; she went into "The patient is lying about being a married man and must have actually had some sex somewhere in here."
She ordered a full round of STD tests!
I do not have:
Chlamydia
Syphillus
Gohnorrea
Herpes
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
or
HIV
Ma'am, you have to have sex with someone else to catch those; I'm married. There is no nookie thanks to the chilling effect on the libido from wedding cake.
She also gave me an interesting lecture about herpes. You can have it for decades and not know.
Ididnotknowthat. Thatissomescaryshitrightthere!
I was not a very careful person about sex before I were married (and, honestly, neither was The Lovely Harvey).
Imagine the awkward conversation to explain that you've had herpes all this time and haven't been cheating!
Another test that was performed, to figure out what fungus/yeast we were dealing with was a scraping of the affected area.
This is exactly what it sounds like and you don't want them to do it to you.
Dear Poland
Germany won't help in the Persian Gulf.
Dear Poland,
Want some payback?
I don't think any US forces should be risked protecting a nation which won't even send logistics support on an operation which protects their own interests far more than our own.
How much of Germany do you want, Poland?
The empty shell of Die Heer should be a push-over, especially since Frau Merkel's defense plan is to let the US do it for her.
Dear Poland,
Want some payback?
I don't think any US forces should be risked protecting a nation which won't even send logistics support on an operation which protects their own interests far more than our own.
How much of Germany do you want, Poland?
The empty shell of Die Heer should be a push-over, especially since Frau Merkel's defense plan is to let the US do it for her.
Apparently I Am Rich
Apex Gun Parts is selling an R604 upper for a fucking grand! (no guarantee this link is still good).
Charlotte is sporting such an upper. (Edit: changed the picture to show later iteration of her with the partial fence lower.)
I even have the period correct chromed, slick-side bolt carrier.
Charlotte is sporting such an upper. (Edit: changed the picture to show later iteration of her with the partial fence lower.)
I even have the period correct chromed, slick-side bolt carrier.
30 July 2019
Border Policies Are Breaking Up Families
The Democrats are concerned about how border policies are breaking up families?
The sure didn't show any concern about how welfare policies destroyed families.
Scads of kids, no fathers.
Younger and younger mothers.
Unemployment incentivized.
No escape route out.
The sure didn't show any concern about how welfare policies destroyed families.
Scads of kids, no fathers.
Younger and younger mothers.
Unemployment incentivized.
No escape route out.
That Might Explain It
The light pipe on the Truglo front sight is loose on my M&P 9.
Bummer.
Trijicon is on sale at Midway...
Bummer.
Trijicon is on sale at Midway...
29 July 2019
New Paradigm
I am rapidly discovering two things about everything I think is interesting or important.
The first is they are never interesting or important to anyone else.
The second is that I am completely wrong about whatever it is.
There's more to it than that, but those are the core things.
It's like I live in a delusional Dunning-Kruger state at all times.
To the point I am wondering what accidental happenstance has allowed me to keep breathing in the correct sequence all these years.
I do know one thing. There's endless topics that I cannot understand because I am not a subject of that topic.
I cannot understand women's rights or feminism because I am not a woman.
I cannot understand what it's like to be a racial minority because I am not a racial minority.
I cannot understand anything about LGBT rights because I am not LGBT myself.
Anything I think I know about any of these topics is wrong, see Dunning-Kruger.
In short, I am discovering that I am an irredeemable bigot who hates everyone and everything not like myself who'd been thinking that I didn't hate anyone.
I am happy that I have been put in my place by my betters and I will endeavor to never leave it again.
The first is they are never interesting or important to anyone else.
The second is that I am completely wrong about whatever it is.
There's more to it than that, but those are the core things.
It's like I live in a delusional Dunning-Kruger state at all times.
To the point I am wondering what accidental happenstance has allowed me to keep breathing in the correct sequence all these years.
I do know one thing. There's endless topics that I cannot understand because I am not a subject of that topic.
I cannot understand women's rights or feminism because I am not a woman.
I cannot understand what it's like to be a racial minority because I am not a racial minority.
I cannot understand anything about LGBT rights because I am not LGBT myself.
Anything I think I know about any of these topics is wrong, see Dunning-Kruger.
In short, I am discovering that I am an irredeemable bigot who hates everyone and everything not like myself who'd been thinking that I didn't hate anyone.
I am happy that I have been put in my place by my betters and I will endeavor to never leave it again.
Clue
Criminal who crossed state lines to commit a felony with a firearm illegal at the scene of the crime in a gun-free zone?
I notice that the news stories are saying he purchased the "SKS AK-47-type assault rifle" legally in Nevada are not calling the scumbag "Nevada Man".
Which makes me think he's a Californian.
That means that it wasn't legal for him to buy that rifle in Nevada.
Even if he was a legal resident of Nevada...
Crossing state lines to commit a crime is, in itself, a crime.
Breaking and entering is a crime.
Having the unregistered "SKS AK-47-type assault rifle" in California is a crime.
Having a "SKS AK-47-type assault rifle" with any of a list of forbidden features in California is a crime.
Having a "SKS AK-47-type assault rifle" in a gun free zone is a crime.
I notice that the news stories are saying he purchased the "SKS AK-47-type assault rifle" legally in Nevada are not calling the scumbag "Nevada Man".
Which makes me think he's a Californian.
That means that it wasn't legal for him to buy that rifle in Nevada.
Even if he was a legal resident of Nevada...
Crossing state lines to commit a crime is, in itself, a crime.
Breaking and entering is a crime.
Having the unregistered "SKS AK-47-type assault rifle" in California is a crime.
Having a "SKS AK-47-type assault rifle" with any of a list of forbidden features in California is a crime.
Having a "SKS AK-47-type assault rifle" in a gun free zone is a crime.
Bits And Pieces Dribs And Drabs
The pommel and blade-holder for The Lovely Harvey's saber have arrived!
Progress is being made.
Our switches arrived in the same package.
The silver switch should light purple and the black one orange. The smaller thing is a charging port.
The tabs will have to be bent somewhat to clear the battery pack.
My next step will be figuring out where I want it, drill and tap the mounting holes, mark the switch locations and hog out the hilt for them.
I don't have Harvey's switch mounting box yet...
Darn It
The tritium on the front sight of my M&P appears to be giving up the ghost faster than the rear sight.
I wonder if I cracked the vial...
They're Truglo sights I installed back in Dec 2014, so they shouldn't be dimming much at all yet, let lone just the one dot in the front sight.
The Truglo sights in my Glock 17 are all just as bright as the rear of the S&W...
I wonder if I cracked the vial...
They're Truglo sights I installed back in Dec 2014, so they shouldn't be dimming much at all yet, let lone just the one dot in the front sight.
The Truglo sights in my Glock 17 are all just as bright as the rear of the S&W...
28 July 2019
Cutting Problem
Light Sabers and Variable-Swords are two science fiction weapons which really captured my imagination as a youth.
GURPS: Ultra Tech has stats for both.
The light saber is called a force sword (Ultra Tech p. 166) and it does 8d(5) burn damage.
The variable sword is called a stasis switchblade (Ultra Tech p. 164) and is does sw+1d+R(10) cut damage. R is equal to the currently set reach and can be from 0 to 30, but is only valid at that reach. ie with it set to 30 you still only get +5 on the person five hexes away. The cutting power is also dependent on the strength of the wielder. The average Joe with a 10 ST is going to do 2d+2(10) cut at a bastard sword length of R 2. Typical fighter ST of 12 will up that to 3d(10) cut.
I cannot find the rules for how to just cut something so don't really have a basis to compare them for cutting power absolutely.
But I do have some real world tools from High Tech to give some relative cutting power comparison.
A TL8 chainsaw (High Tech p. 27) does sw+1d cut. 2d cut for ST 10 and 2d+2 for ST 12.
A cutting torch does 1d+3(2) burn per second.
A plasma torch does 3d+6(2) burn per second.
It becomes difficult to make a fair comparison because of the armor divisor, or not.
Because inanimate objects are unresisting, I think we can assume max damage every turn.
Substances with a low DR make the armor divisor not matter much. A DR 1 substance, like 1" of wood, gets attacked pretty much with just the dice of all five tools here. Because wood is combustible, we have other things to check when using the cutting torch and force sword.
1" of mild steel, however, has a DR of 56. The stasis switchblade gets treats it as DR 6, the force sword as DR 12 and the cutting and plasma torches as DR 28.
The chainsaw cannot hurt it.
Hmmmm, it appears that our torch can't cut 1" mild steel plate. There might be other rules I'm missing here, because I know you can cut 1" mild steel with a cutting torch. The "per second" rule might treat it as a cumulative deal where you're doing the damage and eventually wearing through; so four turns of max damage to get the DR melted then another 7 to get the 1-hex hole cut.
Alternatively it could be add 4 seconds of cutting time for every application of max-damage to the material... Then it would take 35 seconds to make a 1-hex hole.
For the plasma torch, 2 seconds to eliminate the DR and two more to finish the hole. Alternate: 9 seconds to make the hole.
The stasis switchblade with a ST 10 wielder doesn't have the "per second" qualifier so they will have to penetrate the DR every time. With 14 points of damage every turn, 6 will be lost to getting through that DR every turn so 8 damage every second and 8 seconds to make a 1-hex hole. The ST 12 wielder does just two more points per turn, making their hole in 6 seconds.
The force sword does it's damage every second like the cutting torch when being used as a tool. the DR 12 is penetrated in the first second leaving 36 to damage the plate and the next second completing the 1-hex hole. Alternate: still two seconds.
GURPS: Ultra Tech has stats for both.
The light saber is called a force sword (Ultra Tech p. 166) and it does 8d(5) burn damage.
The variable sword is called a stasis switchblade (Ultra Tech p. 164) and is does sw+1d+R(10) cut damage. R is equal to the currently set reach and can be from 0 to 30, but is only valid at that reach. ie with it set to 30 you still only get +5 on the person five hexes away. The cutting power is also dependent on the strength of the wielder. The average Joe with a 10 ST is going to do 2d+2(10) cut at a bastard sword length of R 2. Typical fighter ST of 12 will up that to 3d(10) cut.
I cannot find the rules for how to just cut something so don't really have a basis to compare them for cutting power absolutely.
But I do have some real world tools from High Tech to give some relative cutting power comparison.
A TL8 chainsaw (High Tech p. 27) does sw+1d cut. 2d cut for ST 10 and 2d+2 for ST 12.
A cutting torch does 1d+3(2) burn per second.
A plasma torch does 3d+6(2) burn per second.
It becomes difficult to make a fair comparison because of the armor divisor, or not.
Because inanimate objects are unresisting, I think we can assume max damage every turn.
Substances with a low DR make the armor divisor not matter much. A DR 1 substance, like 1" of wood, gets attacked pretty much with just the dice of all five tools here. Because wood is combustible, we have other things to check when using the cutting torch and force sword.
1" of mild steel, however, has a DR of 56. The stasis switchblade gets treats it as DR 6, the force sword as DR 12 and the cutting and plasma torches as DR 28.
The chainsaw cannot hurt it.
Hmmmm, it appears that our torch can't cut 1" mild steel plate. There might be other rules I'm missing here, because I know you can cut 1" mild steel with a cutting torch. The "per second" rule might treat it as a cumulative deal where you're doing the damage and eventually wearing through; so four turns of max damage to get the DR melted then another 7 to get the 1-hex hole cut.
Alternatively it could be add 4 seconds of cutting time for every application of max-damage to the material... Then it would take 35 seconds to make a 1-hex hole.
For the plasma torch, 2 seconds to eliminate the DR and two more to finish the hole. Alternate: 9 seconds to make the hole.
The stasis switchblade with a ST 10 wielder doesn't have the "per second" qualifier so they will have to penetrate the DR every time. With 14 points of damage every turn, 6 will be lost to getting through that DR every turn so 8 damage every second and 8 seconds to make a 1-hex hole. The ST 12 wielder does just two more points per turn, making their hole in 6 seconds.
The force sword does it's damage every second like the cutting torch when being used as a tool. the DR 12 is penetrated in the first second leaving 36 to damage the plate and the next second completing the 1-hex hole. Alternate: still two seconds.
Package Problem
Because I sourced my light saber laser sword force sword parts from The Custom Saber Shop, I've been space constrained from day one for the internal components, most especially for batteries.
Marv has been basing his design on a Russian saber enthusiast who used plumbing supplies and a bit of artistry.
Marv is discovering that Russia uses different pipe standards than The USA.
Three times now he's bumped into the part recommended by the Russian guy are just a little too big to fit inside the PVC drain tubing he's using.
He's getting close to having to redesign his innards to better accommodate the restraints placed on him by what he can get from Lowe's and Home Depot. That will mean repackaging his batteries and getting a smaller speaker.
I feel for him, I really do.
Marv has been basing his design on a Russian saber enthusiast who used plumbing supplies and a bit of artistry.
Marv is discovering that Russia uses different pipe standards than The USA.
Three times now he's bumped into the part recommended by the Russian guy are just a little too big to fit inside the PVC drain tubing he's using.
He's getting close to having to redesign his innards to better accommodate the restraints placed on him by what he can get from Lowe's and Home Depot. That will mean repackaging his batteries and getting a smaller speaker.
I feel for him, I really do.
Simple Pleasures
Yesterday was just a hang-out and do nothing day.
It's amazing how much you do when you're doing nothing.
Had Marv over for dinner and a couple of beers, then we burned up the accumulation of tree trimmings (it dropped below 90, we were COLD!).
Sat on the back patio just watching the stars creep across the sky and chatted.
Achieved the goal of accomplishing not a damn thing and we're happy for it.
It's amazing how much you do when you're doing nothing.
Had Marv over for dinner and a couple of beers, then we burned up the accumulation of tree trimmings (it dropped below 90, we were COLD!).
Sat on the back patio just watching the stars creep across the sky and chatted.
Achieved the goal of accomplishing not a damn thing and we're happy for it.
26 July 2019
25 July 2019
This Is Not Agreed
I'm for strengthening the border.
This is not strengthening the border.
Papiere Bitte?
This is not the most recent video, but I can't find where the practice has stopped.
This is not strengthening the border.
Papiere Bitte?
This is not the most recent video, but I can't find where the practice has stopped.
It's Published Information
There's an oddity in the do-it-yourself light saber community.
Threads.
Not forum threads. Screw threads.
The Custom Saber Shop's modular hilt system uses threads to screw all the various parts together.
UltraSabers produced a hilt which uses the same threads as The Custom Saber Shop and the fanbois went apeshit about UltraSabers' theft!
I will let everyone in on the secret. There is no secret.
I measured the threads on the parts I bought from TCSS.
1-3/8-20-UN.
A standard thread. A standard thread he probably selected from a drop-down menu of his CNC machine to cut the parts.
He probably selected this size because it sits dead center in the thickness of the walls he chose for his hilt tubes.
There's only so much size variation on this sort of thing you can get away with before someone can't grip it comfortably while making humming noises.
Threads.
Not forum threads. Screw threads.
The Custom Saber Shop's modular hilt system uses threads to screw all the various parts together.
UltraSabers produced a hilt which uses the same threads as The Custom Saber Shop and the fanbois went apeshit about UltraSabers' theft!
I will let everyone in on the secret. There is no secret.
I measured the threads on the parts I bought from TCSS.
1-3/8-20-UN.
A standard thread. A standard thread he probably selected from a drop-down menu of his CNC machine to cut the parts.
He probably selected this size because it sits dead center in the thickness of the walls he chose for his hilt tubes.
There's only so much size variation on this sort of thing you can get away with before someone can't grip it comfortably while making humming noises.
Tend To Your Sidebar
Has anyone else noticed how many dead links are in peoples sidebars?
Or the link no longer goes to the blog, or a blog at all?
This doesn't even account for the numerous, without explanation, links to abandoned blogs. They didn't even say, "goodbye, see you on Facebook," they just stop.
Or the link no longer goes to the blog, or a blog at all?
This doesn't even account for the numerous, without explanation, links to abandoned blogs. They didn't even say, "goodbye, see you on Facebook," they just stop.
24 July 2019
Longer Life Than "Real"
The Force Sword in GURPS: Ultra Tech will run for 300 seconds (5 minutes) on a single "C" Powercell.
With 262 LED in the 36" of blade pulling 8mA to 20 mA each for 2,096 to 5,240 mA.
The prop-toy will run for...
9 to 24 minutes on 3x 14500 Sanyo cells.
6 to 14 minutes on 3x 14500 Chinesium cells.
39 to 97 minutes on 3x 18650 Sanyo cells.
Darth The Lovely Harvey has indicated that 5-10 minutes is enough play time for her.
With 262 LED in the 36" of blade pulling 8mA to 20 mA each for 2,096 to 5,240 mA.
The prop-toy will run for...
9 to 24 minutes on 3x 14500 Sanyo cells.
6 to 14 minutes on 3x 14500 Chinesium cells.
39 to 97 minutes on 3x 18650 Sanyo cells.
Darth The Lovely Harvey has indicated that 5-10 minutes is enough play time for her.
Please Allow Me To Cry Crocodile Tears For Their Plight
There's a judge who agrees the border should mean something and the surge of asylum seekers bullshit.
The liberals will be screaming bloody murder.
The open-border libertarians will be whining.
But if you can't control the border, you're not a nation-state.
The nation-state model is far from perfect, but it has been working better than everything else we've tried.
The liberals will be screaming bloody murder.
The open-border libertarians will be whining.
But if you can't control the border, you're not a nation-state.
The nation-state model is far from perfect, but it has been working better than everything else we've tried.
22 July 2019
Parts Have Started To Accumulate
Mine and much of Harvey's saber hilts showed up today.
Her's still needs the pommel, blade holder and blade parts.
We both need Marv to finish his Arduino design.
I Know What I'd Do
A 1,200 year old ruin of a Mosque has been found in Israel.
I think they should build a Victory Synagogue.
I think they should build a Victory Synagogue.
Triggering
Willard and I have gone round in circles about this very procedure.
His position is that if you just close the vent all the way and be a man about the recoil.
I trend on the "do it like the book says" and set mine up that way.
What is certain, and Ian confirms it, is to pick the ammo you're going to use and leave the thing alone once the gun's cycling.
I set mine up, initially, with Magtech "NATO Spec" ball. This turned out to be undergassed for ZQ1 "NATO Spec" ball, but fine for Malaysian M80 and Hornady 168gr V-Max.
21 July 2019
Hawk
It was just sitting there at sun-down.
The only picture to come out is this one, where it's looking back at me.
I was at full optical zoom with my SX20.
Ableist
Julie Golob explaining how to hold a handgun.
She's never once had surgery for carpal tunnel or to have a badly dislocated thumb tacked back on.
Nor have countless other pistol instructors.
Thumbs forward isn't the strongest grip anymore if you've had these surgeries.
Worse, if you've had your thumb relocated, thumbs forward means twitch to the strong side as the sear breaks. Ask me how I know.
I'd mentioned fighting with the M&P and getting the gun to group where I was pointing it. It took a conversation with my doctor about it to figure out that I am now "deformed" and my right thumb is just tied into my index finger's flexors forever now.
She mentioned that it's also common for carpel tunnel people to get this problem once that ligament is "released".
We've got to hook our strong side thumb to basically pre-flex the twitch before moving our trigger finger.
Everything she writes in her article is true, and if you've avoided surgery, should work for you. But if you have, and it isn't, try my way on top of her advice and see if you don't see some improvement.
UPDATE:
Crude approximation of what Ms Golob and many instructors are teaching (I can't do it correctly because broken-and-fixed thumb).
What I changed over to that fixed the twitch.
While it's not perfect, or stylish, it does overcome my injuries and their aftermath.
She's never once had surgery for carpal tunnel or to have a badly dislocated thumb tacked back on.
Nor have countless other pistol instructors.
Thumbs forward isn't the strongest grip anymore if you've had these surgeries.
Worse, if you've had your thumb relocated, thumbs forward means twitch to the strong side as the sear breaks. Ask me how I know.
I'd mentioned fighting with the M&P and getting the gun to group where I was pointing it. It took a conversation with my doctor about it to figure out that I am now "deformed" and my right thumb is just tied into my index finger's flexors forever now.
She mentioned that it's also common for carpel tunnel people to get this problem once that ligament is "released".
We've got to hook our strong side thumb to basically pre-flex the twitch before moving our trigger finger.
Everything she writes in her article is true, and if you've avoided surgery, should work for you. But if you have, and it isn't, try my way on top of her advice and see if you don't see some improvement.
UPDATE:
Crude approximation of what Ms Golob and many instructors are teaching (I can't do it correctly because broken-and-fixed thumb).
What I changed over to that fixed the twitch.
While it's not perfect, or stylish, it does overcome my injuries and their aftermath.
Involved
Darth The Lovely Harvey has approved of her hilt design, but wanted a box for the switches because Darth Vader's has one.
We can do!
We can do!
20 July 2019
Perfect!
If you're wondering what I want for my birthday...
Link to buy it!
Does not include the Lego Saturn V, but I already have one, unopened, under my bed for a lack of a means to display it.
Link to buy it!
Does not include the Lego Saturn V, but I already have one, unopened, under my bed for a lack of a means to display it.
Fight For $15
There was once a time when I was an up and coming mechanical draftsman where I was making $15 an hour.
I worked for a small medical life-support firm in Des Moines.
I was responsible for drawing and dimensioning parts which would be manufactured off-site, and sometimes off-shore, where putting the wrong dimension on the part would make it not fit, or worse, not work.
Literally someone could die if the dimensions put the part out of tolerance at the extreme edges of the operation envelope.
Minimum wage was $4.65 at the time.
Iowa minimum wage is $7.25 now, so my drafting job should be worth $23.39 an hour now.
But...
$15 an hour and the idiot at McDonald's can't manage to get the cheese and fish filet centered on the fucking bun?
Close enough still has a 3/8" tolerance; AND THEY MISS IT!
They're not doing a job worth the Florida minimum of $8.46 an hour right now and they want a fucking raise?
Snowflake, the minimum wage is $0 an hour. Don't think a robot can't replace you.
I worked for a small medical life-support firm in Des Moines.
I was responsible for drawing and dimensioning parts which would be manufactured off-site, and sometimes off-shore, where putting the wrong dimension on the part would make it not fit, or worse, not work.
Literally someone could die if the dimensions put the part out of tolerance at the extreme edges of the operation envelope.
Minimum wage was $4.65 at the time.
Iowa minimum wage is $7.25 now, so my drafting job should be worth $23.39 an hour now.
But...
$15 an hour and the idiot at McDonald's can't manage to get the cheese and fish filet centered on the fucking bun?
Close enough still has a 3/8" tolerance; AND THEY MISS IT!
They're not doing a job worth the Florida minimum of $8.46 an hour right now and they want a fucking raise?
Snowflake, the minimum wage is $0 an hour. Don't think a robot can't replace you.
I Wonder If He'd Do It
Buzz Aldrin is a character.
I wonder if he'd participate in an April Fool's "documentary" discussing his "career" as an actor and his involvement in making fake moon landings.
The twist would be that while faked, it wasn't the fakery the tinfoil hat people claim.
They filmed on the moon.
The fake part was the Saturn V and Apollo... They used the flying saucer tech from Roswell to get to the moon but didn't want to give away how far ahead we were to the Soviets...
I wonder if he'd participate in an April Fool's "documentary" discussing his "career" as an actor and his involvement in making fake moon landings.
The twist would be that while faked, it wasn't the fakery the tinfoil hat people claim.
They filmed on the moon.
The fake part was the Saturn V and Apollo... They used the flying saucer tech from Roswell to get to the moon but didn't want to give away how far ahead we were to the Soviets...
19 July 2019
Lucky Number Seven
Packaging is everything! I think that I'm happy with this. I can get a three pack of 18650's in there and all the boards.
A problem I have is I ordered parts BEFORE I considered the size of the components Marv was planning on using. No matter how many times I cut it, it's still too short!
Except for the blade holder and pommel, I have the hilt below...
Doesn't that just SCREAM Darth The Lovely Harvey?
Even more fun, the 3x 18650 fits, just barely, in there if we Dremel a groove for the speaker wires in the pommel.
18 July 2019
Battery Life.
Marv is hard for the ws2815 over the ws2813.
The problem is that it needs it 12v nominal.
That needs three 3.7v Li-Ion cells in series.
That's a real issue inside the tube I've selected.
I can stuff:
6x 14500 for 1,680 mAh at 11.1v
OR
3x 16650 for 2,500 mAh at 11.1v
OR
Go with the ws2813 and:
2x 18650 for 3,400 mAh at 7.4v.
The 2815 is supposed to be more efficient, but I admit defeat in figuring out the terminology.
My 35" blade will be running 258 LEDs.
Who here can figure out the ballpark for batt life?
The problem is that it needs it 12v nominal.
That needs three 3.7v Li-Ion cells in series.
That's a real issue inside the tube I've selected.
I can stuff:
6x 14500 for 1,680 mAh at 11.1v
OR
3x 16650 for 2,500 mAh at 11.1v
OR
Go with the ws2813 and:
2x 18650 for 3,400 mAh at 7.4v.
The 2815 is supposed to be more efficient, but I admit defeat in figuring out the terminology.
My 35" blade will be running 258 LEDs.
Who here can figure out the ballpark for batt life?
Swap
I am reading about a "Native Hawaiian" protest at the Mauna Kea Observatory.
They got riled up enough that the scientists and researchers abandoned the site and evacuated.
There's American Indian tribes who've got a point about how poorly they were treated by the white man.
Hawaii... No.
Their own royalty sold them out. Lock, stock and barrel.
Mauna Kea is sacred! Nope. David Laʻamea Kamananakapu Mahinulani Naloiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua gave that away.
Even funnier was that it was at his people's insistence. It was practically a coup that led to the situation where Evol Whytee runs the place.
So every time the native people of Hawaii get stroppy, I like to remind them they fucked themselves into this.
They got riled up enough that the scientists and researchers abandoned the site and evacuated.
There's American Indian tribes who've got a point about how poorly they were treated by the white man.
Hawaii... No.
Their own royalty sold them out. Lock, stock and barrel.
Mauna Kea is sacred! Nope. David Laʻamea Kamananakapu Mahinulani Naloiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua gave that away.
Even funnier was that it was at his people's insistence. It was practically a coup that led to the situation where Evol Whytee runs the place.
So every time the native people of Hawaii get stroppy, I like to remind them they fucked themselves into this.
Design 5
Going with the 12v ws2815 strips means finding room for more battery than I anticipated.
6x li-ion 14500 batts to get enough amps to run it for a while.
That chews up a lot of space.
To make it work with 12v pretty much means going with 3x 14500 batts and the limited number mAh would appear to cut into the fun time significantly.
I can, just barely, according to AutoCAD, fit 9x 14500 batteries in there. 2,520 mAh if the Sanyo spec sheet is to be believed.
3x 16650 batts will fit and fit better! 2,500 mAh should give a decent amount of fun time.
Errant Thought
Somewhere, standing a post, is a soldier/sailor/marine/airman who's just realized that if they just start shooting these idiots who keep saying things like, "fuck the troops!" that they will not hate him any more than they do already.
The idiots doing all this screaming might want to try making a case as to why we should keep them around.
Lord knows they're not working.
The idiots doing all this screaming might want to try making a case as to why we should keep them around.
Lord knows they're not working.
Design 4 With Mods
An awaaaaaaay we go!
Even with the added electronics this will still be cheaper than a trip to DisneyWorld's®™© Galaxy's Edge®™© Savi's Workshop®™©.
Fuck the Mouse!®™©
This has the fun of doing it ourselves even if I picked and chose from a pile of premade bits.
If we want to do the Savi's Workshop experience, that's really more The Boy's speed. He'll get more out of it than I will.
17 July 2019
Sucked Back In
The Custom Saber Shop sells lathed aluminum parts to make the hilt and offers many of the electrical supplies needed to make the blade plug into the hilt.
We're sourcing the LED strips from elsewhere.
Design 1:
Blades extends out to the right.
Design 2:
In both cases, I want to put o-rings in the grooves.
Design 3:
Design 4:
Marv is planning on making a little Arduino board for the effects and to control the lights.
We're sourcing the LED strips from elsewhere.
Design 1:
Blades extends out to the right.
Design 2:
Design 3:
Design 4:
Marv is planning on making a little Arduino board for the effects and to control the lights.
Overwhelming Impeachment Vote
The House voted to impeach President Trump.
The vote wasn't even close.
332-95.
Next The Senate will... do nothing because it was 332 against impeachment.
Clearly there's a mandate to impeach the president, huh?
The vote wasn't even close.
332-95.
Next The Senate will... do nothing because it was 332 against impeachment.
Clearly there's a mandate to impeach the president, huh?
That's A Win!
The Old Mac Pro...
I keep her running.
The RAM is a mis-mash.
She originally came with 4x512mb DDR2 FB-DIMM PC2-6400 RAM sticks.
Last week I noticed an LED was showing a failure on one of the sticks.
One of the original 512s, but only a partial fail since it was still reporting to the OS as present.
I had 2x 512mb, 1x 1gb, 2x 2gb, and 2x 4gb for a total of 15gb installed.
Amazon had a 2x4gb kit for a mere $30.
It arrived today.
I yanked the 2 512mb sticks and installed the 2x4gb.
The "About This Mac" now says I have 30 total installed gigabytes.
Seems someone screwed up and actually shipped me 2x8gb!
I'll take it.
I keep her running.
The RAM is a mis-mash.
She originally came with 4x512mb DDR2 FB-DIMM PC2-6400 RAM sticks.
Last week I noticed an LED was showing a failure on one of the sticks.
One of the original 512s, but only a partial fail since it was still reporting to the OS as present.
I had 2x 512mb, 1x 1gb, 2x 2gb, and 2x 4gb for a total of 15gb installed.
Amazon had a 2x4gb kit for a mere $30.
It arrived today.
I yanked the 2 512mb sticks and installed the 2x4gb.
The "About This Mac" now says I have 30 total installed gigabytes.
Seems someone screwed up and actually shipped me 2x8gb!
I'll take it.
16 July 2019
Prime Day Temptation
Amazon has a Canon EOS Rebel SL2 body for just $314.
I've long wanted to get a DSLR, but have been waiting for the used market to have the features I wanted at a much lower price point.
This is the minimum feature set that I think I want... and it's new.
And the timing is just wrong.
I simply don't have the money for a camera just now.
I do, however, accept donations.
Which I'd need again because it doesn't come with any lenses.
I'd also have to learn this camera lens language stuff so I can get the lenses I want.
UPDATE:
The deal ended while I was still checking the couch for change! Temptation averted.
I've long wanted to get a DSLR, but have been waiting for the used market to have the features I wanted at a much lower price point.
This is the minimum feature set that I think I want... and it's new.
And the timing is just wrong.
I simply don't have the money for a camera just now.
I do, however, accept donations.
Which I'd need again because it doesn't come with any lenses.
I'd also have to learn this camera lens language stuff so I can get the lenses I want.
UPDATE:
The deal ended while I was still checking the couch for change! Temptation averted.
The Power Of Precognition
We've seen Jedi deflect blaster bolts as an attack.
I can think of two ways to run this...
First:
Precognitive Parry just lets you parry the attack.
If you have Precognitive Parry at 18 or higher you can buy Precognitive Reflection (IQ/VH)
Making your roll lets you use Beam Weapons/TL12 (Force Sword) to send the shot at a target of your choosing. No Acc... no aiming... just a straight roll against skill with normal modifiers.
Example. Precog. Reflection 13, Force Sword 18, Beam Weapons/TL12 (Force Sword) 13.
Roll 13 or less to be allowed to try reflecting the bolt.
Roll 13 minus range modifiers to hit something with your bolt.
Second:
All out defense with precognitive parry allows you to reflect the shot at a specified target if you make a second Precognitive Parry roll after a successful defense roll.
Example. Precog. Parry 13, Force Sword 18, Beam Weapons/TL12 (Force Sword) 13.
Roll 13 or less to be allowed to precognitively parry.
Roll 12 or less to parry the blaster.
Roll 13 or less to be allowed to reflect the bolt.
Roll 13 minus range modifiers to hit something with your bolt.
The second method is cheaper. I think I prefer it.
I can think of two ways to run this...
First:
Precognitive Parry just lets you parry the attack.
If you have Precognitive Parry at 18 or higher you can buy Precognitive Reflection (IQ/VH)
Making your roll lets you use Beam Weapons/TL12 (Force Sword) to send the shot at a target of your choosing. No Acc... no aiming... just a straight roll against skill with normal modifiers.
Example. Precog. Reflection 13, Force Sword 18, Beam Weapons/TL12 (Force Sword) 13.
Roll 13 or less to be allowed to try reflecting the bolt.
Roll 13 minus range modifiers to hit something with your bolt.
Second:
All out defense with precognitive parry allows you to reflect the shot at a specified target if you make a second Precognitive Parry roll after a successful defense roll.
Example. Precog. Parry 13, Force Sword 18, Beam Weapons/TL12 (Force Sword) 13.
Roll 13 or less to be allowed to precognitively parry.
Roll 12 or less to parry the blaster.
Roll 13 or less to be allowed to reflect the bolt.
Roll 13 minus range modifiers to hit something with your bolt.
The second method is cheaper. I think I prefer it.
15 July 2019
Overthinking
GURPS: Psionic Powers doesn't introduce or replace anything in the Basic Set.
It's got modified and specialized versions of the powers from Basic Set with enhancements and limitations applied.
The Force is mostly Telekinesis.
Bog standard TK will suffice for virtually everything seen in the films.
But Psionic Powers has TK Crush. TK Crush isn't telekinesis. It's a 1 point Innate Attack (Crushing) per level with several enhancements and limitations to make it work like telekinesis.
There's a technique called Throat Squeeze which makes you think you want to take TK Crush to play Lord Vader's Promotion Board...
But:
Normal, everyday, Telekinesis lets you do anything you can do with two hands using your TK power. Page B370 has the rules for conventional choking.
They work different and you'd have to decide if TK Crush is worth the extra points for a faster damage rate.
Lord Vader is using TK Crush and Throat Squeeze.
Luke, in Return of the Jedi, is using standard TK to choke on that Gamorrean guard.
It's got modified and specialized versions of the powers from Basic Set with enhancements and limitations applied.
The Force is mostly Telekinesis.
Bog standard TK will suffice for virtually everything seen in the films.
But Psionic Powers has TK Crush. TK Crush isn't telekinesis. It's a 1 point Innate Attack (Crushing) per level with several enhancements and limitations to make it work like telekinesis.
There's a technique called Throat Squeeze which makes you think you want to take TK Crush to play Lord Vader's Promotion Board...
But:
Normal, everyday, Telekinesis lets you do anything you can do with two hands using your TK power. Page B370 has the rules for conventional choking.
They work different and you'd have to decide if TK Crush is worth the extra points for a faster damage rate.
Lord Vader is using TK Crush and Throat Squeeze.
Luke, in Return of the Jedi, is using standard TK to choke on that Gamorrean guard.
Do I Need This
I know I want this...
I keep hearing about the virtues of an Instant Pot, and $56 for the 6qt Duo Plus seems like a really good deal.
Never mind...
I bought it while I was debating it...
I keep hearing about the virtues of an Instant Pot, and $56 for the 6qt Duo Plus seems like a really good deal.
Never mind...
I bought it while I was debating it...
The Moment It Stopped Being Fun
When Marv started linking to Etsy and ever cheaper pre-made items.
I can now live without a fake light saber.
I can now live without a fake light saber.
14 July 2019
HBO's Chernobyl
On my first watch, I watched it with The Bat's hubby Mr The Bat.
There's a scene where Legasov is explaining that even with lead shielding, getting the high-range dosimeter close enough to get a real reading might not be enough to save the life of the guy driving the truck.
Hearing this, General Pikalov says that he will do it himself.
Mr The Bat, derisively, said something like "showing off like that will just get you killed."
Dude! The general isn't showing off, he's being honorable!
He's making the decision to not order anyone to do something he won't do himself.
Yes, it has a wonderful side effect of his men being willing to follow him into Hell once he's shown such a willingness to sacrifice himself for them; but it also could have resulted in him dying for them.
There's a scene where Legasov is explaining that even with lead shielding, getting the high-range dosimeter close enough to get a real reading might not be enough to save the life of the guy driving the truck.
Hearing this, General Pikalov says that he will do it himself.
Mr The Bat, derisively, said something like "showing off like that will just get you killed."
Dude! The general isn't showing off, he's being honorable!
He's making the decision to not order anyone to do something he won't do himself.
Yes, it has a wonderful side effect of his men being willing to follow him into Hell once he's shown such a willingness to sacrifice himself for them; but it also could have resulted in him dying for them.
I Forgot About This
I need three or four of these: https://www.shootercbgear.com/product_info.php?cPath=134&products_id=12226&osCsid=brkfos6jdj26r2ksle7s9qt7p1
And a couple of these: https://www.shootercbgear.com/product_info.php?cPath=134&products_id=15610&osCsid=brkfos6jdj26r2ksle7s9qt7p1
And one or two of: https://www.shootercbgear.com/product_info.php?cPath=134&products_id=2080&osCsid=brkfos6jdj26r2ksle7s9qt7p1
The practice grenades just don't look the part in my silly photographs.
And a couple of these: https://www.shootercbgear.com/product_info.php?cPath=134&products_id=15610&osCsid=brkfos6jdj26r2ksle7s9qt7p1
And one or two of: https://www.shootercbgear.com/product_info.php?cPath=134&products_id=2080&osCsid=brkfos6jdj26r2ksle7s9qt7p1
The practice grenades just don't look the part in my silly photographs.
13 July 2019
Going Full Geek
I got Marvyn all interested in figuring out how to make a light saber with a neo-pixel blade.
And figure he has!
He figures that the most expensive thing will be the LED light strips.
We're probably still going to end up around the same price as a trip to Disney for a Savi's Workshop saber, but ours will truly be unique to us.
Our resolve is buoyed by watching a couple of former ILM employees talking about how they made the actual sabers for the films.
They, essentially, used trash and scrap.
So some aluminum tubing, a chop saw, drill press, some taps, rivets and epoxy... Robert's your mother's sister's husband.
Definitely going to have pics of the builds!
And figure he has!
He figures that the most expensive thing will be the LED light strips.
We're probably still going to end up around the same price as a trip to Disney for a Savi's Workshop saber, but ours will truly be unique to us.
Our resolve is buoyed by watching a couple of former ILM employees talking about how they made the actual sabers for the films.
They, essentially, used trash and scrap.
So some aluminum tubing, a chop saw, drill press, some taps, rivets and epoxy... Robert's your mother's sister's husband.
Definitely going to have pics of the builds!
Fixed!
My Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm M9 (1005-01-118-2640) M9 Commercial 9mm PLST 2-15RD (J92M9A0M) came from Beretta with the wrong grip screws!
The screws that came with the gun were allen head.
The correct screw is 5305-01-204-4371 which is a flat-head.
At least that's what kind of screws were issued on my pistol back in 1990.
This oversight has been corrected!
The Army might have switched over to the allen screws, but it doesn't matter; MINE had flat heads.
There's also been an issue with the hex cavity being too deep and there not being a lot of meat left holding the head on the threads.
The screws that came with the gun were allen head.
The correct screw is 5305-01-204-4371 which is a flat-head.
At least that's what kind of screws were issued on my pistol back in 1990.
This oversight has been corrected!
The Army might have switched over to the allen screws, but it doesn't matter; MINE had flat heads.
There's also been an issue with the hex cavity being too deep and there not being a lot of meat left holding the head on the threads.
Are YOU A Pedophile?
The implications of technology in some settings can lead to some "interesting" things. (For sufficiently sick definitions of "interesting".)
Settings like Ghost In The Shell and GURPS: Transhuman Space allow for a human consciousness (or ghost) to be placed into a mechanical body of virtually any design.
What about the implications of a legal adult who chooses, for some reason, a 9-year old girl for their new body?
She's a legal adult, so it's conceivably not illegal for her to have sex or to have sex with her.
But does having sex with her make her lover a pedophile?
Is a recording of her having sex child porn?
This matter will be settled law in the world it's part of, but it's speculative in ours.
Settings like Ghost In The Shell and GURPS: Transhuman Space allow for a human consciousness (or ghost) to be placed into a mechanical body of virtually any design.
What about the implications of a legal adult who chooses, for some reason, a 9-year old girl for their new body?
She's a legal adult, so it's conceivably not illegal for her to have sex or to have sex with her.
But does having sex with her make her lover a pedophile?
Is a recording of her having sex child porn?
This matter will be settled law in the world it's part of, but it's speculative in ours.
12 July 2019
Up To Date
Later style Colt stock and swapped my Rit dyed foliage green mag for a medium-coyote-tan unit.
Too Easy?
Sat down to make a Jedi with GURPS.
It's too simple.
Expensive, but straight forward.
The only mystery is how to turn precognitive parry into a way to reflect blaster fire back at a target.
I'm going to keep at it to establish a point level.
This raises another reason to make the Star Wars campaign either Jedi or No Jedi. The point levels will be wildly different.
This is similar to what happens with GURPS: Twilight: 2000: The Ranger Template is over 200 points, but a normal eleven-boo can be easily be made with 150. If you give the players enough points to be Rangers, the other players have too many points for their conceptions.
Update:
I can make it considerably more complicated and expensive by using Psionic Powers instead of the default Basic Set rules.
It's too simple.
Expensive, but straight forward.
The only mystery is how to turn precognitive parry into a way to reflect blaster fire back at a target.
I'm going to keep at it to establish a point level.
This raises another reason to make the Star Wars campaign either Jedi or No Jedi. The point levels will be wildly different.
This is similar to what happens with GURPS: Twilight: 2000: The Ranger Template is over 200 points, but a normal eleven-boo can be easily be made with 150. If you give the players enough points to be Rangers, the other players have too many points for their conceptions.
Update:
I can make it considerably more complicated and expensive by using Psionic Powers instead of the default Basic Set rules.
I'm Willing To Try
I cannot help but think that if I had billions of dollars that I could manage to get laid as often as I'd like without breaking any laws.
It's an experiment I dearly want to undertake.
I'm just a little short on the requisite billions...
But there is the PayPal link over there on the right if you'd like to assist in this research.
It's an experiment I dearly want to undertake.
I'm just a little short on the requisite billions...
But there is the PayPal link over there on the right if you'd like to assist in this research.
Sticky Wicket
Pick a substance, any substance, which someone can ingest and you will find people who've ingested it to the point they've ruined their lives with it.
That includes food.
We have never, once, in human history managed to keep people from ruining their lives with their preferred substance.
On the path of ruination, they often ruin other people's lives as well.
We have seldom, if ever, managed to prevent this collateral damage.
In several attempts to prevent this ruination, we have managed to create worse than the original problem.
Organized crime is what it is because of Prohibition.
The Mexican cartels have the wealth and power they have because of the war on drugs.
Ending Prohibition did not end the wealth and power of the gangs who become The Mafia.
Legalizing drugs will not end the wealth and power of the Mexican Cartels.
The end of Prohibition did blunt the liquor gang's teeth.
Legalizing drugs will do much the same.
How do I know this?
Because it happens every single time a black market item is legalized.
They will still be criminals, and will still do crime, but the scope contracts.
The lesson to take away from this is to stop trying to impose your morals on someone just because you think it would be good for them. You never manage to save them and nearly always create a worse problem.
That includes food.
We have never, once, in human history managed to keep people from ruining their lives with their preferred substance.
On the path of ruination, they often ruin other people's lives as well.
We have seldom, if ever, managed to prevent this collateral damage.
In several attempts to prevent this ruination, we have managed to create worse than the original problem.
Organized crime is what it is because of Prohibition.
The Mexican cartels have the wealth and power they have because of the war on drugs.
Ending Prohibition did not end the wealth and power of the gangs who become The Mafia.
Legalizing drugs will not end the wealth and power of the Mexican Cartels.
The end of Prohibition did blunt the liquor gang's teeth.
Legalizing drugs will do much the same.
How do I know this?
Because it happens every single time a black market item is legalized.
They will still be criminals, and will still do crime, but the scope contracts.
The lesson to take away from this is to stop trying to impose your morals on someone just because you think it would be good for them. You never manage to save them and nearly always create a worse problem.
11 July 2019
Inertia
The Terminator series came to a satisfying conclusion at the end of Judgement Day.
Despite seeing the films set after it, that's still where I consider the series over.
Inertia got me to sit there and watch the needless sequels.
Because I am happy with the conclusion I got from part 2, it would take a truly epic revisit to shift my satisfaction.
They have not produced this epic yet and I don't expect them to.
That's kind of the problem with getting it right the first time.
It also leads to apathy from people like me when any news about more sequels hits.
Alien is in this ballpark too.
Sadly, so are Star Wars and Star Trek.
I so looked forward to Star Wars' prequels and a solid, non-canon violating fresh start for Star Trek...
Alas.
C'est la Vie.
Despite seeing the films set after it, that's still where I consider the series over.
Inertia got me to sit there and watch the needless sequels.
Because I am happy with the conclusion I got from part 2, it would take a truly epic revisit to shift my satisfaction.
They have not produced this epic yet and I don't expect them to.
That's kind of the problem with getting it right the first time.
It also leads to apathy from people like me when any news about more sequels hits.
Alien is in this ballpark too.
Sadly, so are Star Wars and Star Trek.
I so looked forward to Star Wars' prequels and a solid, non-canon violating fresh start for Star Trek...
Alas.
C'est la Vie.
On Ropes And LIghtposts
JKB and Miguel are sparring over what happens when people, that is The People, notice that the "justice" system is two tiered and they're in the bottom tier.
The fact that it hasn't happened yet means that The People are aware of where it can lead. Feeding the machine is bad.
The problem is, what if there is no other way for justice to operate?
The laws and the courts are a deal.
We surrender vendetta and eye-for-an-eye for laws, courts and judges to enforce justice evenly and without prejudice.
When the government welshes on the deal, they are in breach of contract and we get our Right of Vendetta back.
The reversion to Vendetta is supposed to be the Sword of Damocles dangling over The State's head and convincing them to keep to the deal.
Vendetta being endless and ever expanding is why The People want to make the deal with The State to administer justice.
We're perilously close to vendetta and lynch mobs.
I'm not happy about this state of affairs, but I am powerless to stop it.
People like Epstein need to go to jail, not get deals. Actually be punished.
Groups like Antifa need to be punished as severely as the Klan would be.
People like Hillary Clinton need to see the inside of a locked prison cell for as long as a lowly Army E5 would for the same violation of handling of classified materials.
Truly impartial and unimpeachable justice does not hinge on whom you know, but if you're truly innocent.
If we lose that, no few cops are going to be hanging from lamp posts too, rest assured The People have noticed who's dirty and who's not even if IA doesn't or the unions prevent meaningful punishments.
We don't want lynch mobs or vendetta, but when the tool box is emptied of all the other tools, what else can we do?
The last tool is revolution. If you thought lynch mobs were a bad idea, just wait until you see a civil war up close.
The fact that it hasn't happened yet means that The People are aware of where it can lead. Feeding the machine is bad.
The problem is, what if there is no other way for justice to operate?
The laws and the courts are a deal.
We surrender vendetta and eye-for-an-eye for laws, courts and judges to enforce justice evenly and without prejudice.
When the government welshes on the deal, they are in breach of contract and we get our Right of Vendetta back.
The reversion to Vendetta is supposed to be the Sword of Damocles dangling over The State's head and convincing them to keep to the deal.
Vendetta being endless and ever expanding is why The People want to make the deal with The State to administer justice.
We're perilously close to vendetta and lynch mobs.
I'm not happy about this state of affairs, but I am powerless to stop it.
People like Epstein need to go to jail, not get deals. Actually be punished.
Groups like Antifa need to be punished as severely as the Klan would be.
People like Hillary Clinton need to see the inside of a locked prison cell for as long as a lowly Army E5 would for the same violation of handling of classified materials.
Truly impartial and unimpeachable justice does not hinge on whom you know, but if you're truly innocent.
If we lose that, no few cops are going to be hanging from lamp posts too, rest assured The People have noticed who's dirty and who's not even if IA doesn't or the unions prevent meaningful punishments.
We don't want lynch mobs or vendetta, but when the tool box is emptied of all the other tools, what else can we do?
The last tool is revolution. If you thought lynch mobs were a bad idea, just wait until you see a civil war up close.
Back To Basics
Kaylee, being an M4 clone, is once again sporting genuine M4 furniture.
Shed about 5 ounces too.
Shed about 5 ounces too.
Scheduler Tester
I put into the schedule que two posts for Florida's 200th anniversaries.
In a couple years for when Spain sold the place to the US.
In just less than 26 years for statehood.
Will there still be Blogger in 26 years?
Will I even be alive?
Someday, I think, blogs will be read by voice actors on a documentary show, like Civil Wars Diaries as touchstones of our age.
In a couple years for when Spain sold the place to the US.
In just less than 26 years for statehood.
Will there still be Blogger in 26 years?
Will I even be alive?
Someday, I think, blogs will be read by voice actors on a documentary show, like Civil Wars Diaries as touchstones of our age.
Take That Father Time
New glasses are ordered, but the prescription is the same.
That's a relief.
Four years ago I went from denial that I was having trouble reading to bifocals in one step.
I had no basis for how fast my vision was changing once my arms stopped being long enough to read books.
What sucks for a hide-bound creature such as I is the finding of frames that I like that someone still makes. I know exactly what I want and cannot articulate it to someone else, so there was a lot of trial and error getting a new set of frames.
That's a relief.
Four years ago I went from denial that I was having trouble reading to bifocals in one step.
I had no basis for how fast my vision was changing once my arms stopped being long enough to read books.
What sucks for a hide-bound creature such as I is the finding of frames that I like that someone still makes. I know exactly what I want and cannot articulate it to someone else, so there was a lot of trial and error getting a new set of frames.
Getting Old
Going to see the eye doctor today.
I hate this guy more than the dentist.
At least with my teeth, if there's something wrong, it's my fault.
Eyes? That's just time and genetics.
I think this time I'm going to ask for a second pair of glasses in my reading prescription so I can look up at close range, like under the car.
I hate this guy more than the dentist.
At least with my teeth, if there's something wrong, it's my fault.
Eyes? That's just time and genetics.
I think this time I'm going to ask for a second pair of glasses in my reading prescription so I can look up at close range, like under the car.
10 July 2019
Wait
Apparently Disney has hired a black actress to play Ariel in the upcoming, and unnecessary, live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.
Apparently some racist troll make an account just to complain.
I don't object to the hiring of a black actress, I want the job to go to the most talented actor so the production gets the best performance.
I object to the entire process of remaking every fucking thing.
Make something new, Disney, use this actress to tell a new story!
There's very few remakes that are better than their originals in the first place. There's no remake that's better than the original if it's a shot for shot recreation of the original.
I tried to find a few exceptions, but they're of the "exception that proves the rule" variety.
Apparently some racist troll make an account just to complain.
I don't object to the hiring of a black actress, I want the job to go to the most talented actor so the production gets the best performance.
I object to the entire process of remaking every fucking thing.
Make something new, Disney, use this actress to tell a new story!
There's very few remakes that are better than their originals in the first place. There's no remake that's better than the original if it's a shot for shot recreation of the original.
I tried to find a few exceptions, but they're of the "exception that proves the rule" variety.
That's Not What 'Similarly' Means
Wal Mart will stop selling guns in New Mexico.
Apparently the new law requires any FFL to handle third party transfers.
Wal Mart is simply not interested in performing those transfers and is, thus, getting out of an unprofitable sideline.
This is not at all similar to how Dick's Sporting Goods has left the firearms business.
Dick's left the gun business entirely to virtue signal after a nut case shot up Parkland. Prior to that they weren't exactly friends to gun owners.
Wal Mart is exiting the gun business in a single state because the new state laws require them to perform services that the company doesn't wish to perform and isn't set up to accommodate.
Those aren't similar situations at all.
Apparently the new law requires any FFL to handle third party transfers.
Wal Mart is simply not interested in performing those transfers and is, thus, getting out of an unprofitable sideline.
This is not at all similar to how Dick's Sporting Goods has left the firearms business.
Dick's left the gun business entirely to virtue signal after a nut case shot up Parkland. Prior to that they weren't exactly friends to gun owners.
Wal Mart is exiting the gun business in a single state because the new state laws require them to perform services that the company doesn't wish to perform and isn't set up to accommodate.
Those aren't similar situations at all.
I'd Dearly Love This Job
Museum Specialist and Technician at The Armor and Cavalry Museum at Ft Benning.
I'm just barely qualified for it.
I just can't move to Georgia. The Boy wouldn't stand for it and we just managed to talk my Father In Law to move down here.
I'm just barely qualified for it.
I just can't move to Georgia. The Boy wouldn't stand for it and we just managed to talk my Father In Law to move down here.
09 July 2019
Ross Perot RIP
Hadn't heard about him lately.
I do blame him, and my voting for him, for Clinton getting elected instead of a second Bush I term.
I do blame him, and my voting for him, for Clinton getting elected instead of a second Bush I term.
Fight For Fifteen
First off, the fight for $15 has led to a robot buffing the floors at Wal Mart.
A good barometer about how serious your congress creature is about a $15 minimum wage, or minimum wages in general is their response to asking them about jury duty.
Florida pays either $15 per day or nothing per day depending on if you have a job where your employer pays you while on jury duty for the first three days and $30 per day after that.
Per. Day.
You have to show up very early and don't get released until very late. It's a 12 hour day.
$1.25 an hour for the first three days, and $2.50 an hour for the fourth and subsequent days. Jurors are not compensated for food, travel or parking.
Compare this to the $8.46 an hour that Ghetto Mart has to pay and $15 an hour demanded of businesses which need to show their stakeholders a profit.
A good barometer about how serious your congress creature is about a $15 minimum wage, or minimum wages in general is their response to asking them about jury duty.
Florida pays either $15 per day or nothing per day depending on if you have a job where your employer pays you while on jury duty for the first three days and $30 per day after that.
Per. Day.
You have to show up very early and don't get released until very late. It's a 12 hour day.
$1.25 an hour for the first three days, and $2.50 an hour for the fourth and subsequent days. Jurors are not compensated for food, travel or parking.
Compare this to the $8.46 an hour that Ghetto Mart has to pay and $15 an hour demanded of businesses which need to show their stakeholders a profit.
Two Word Answer
You're Fired!
Do the job you were hired to do or go away.
We tried to warn you innumerate morons that if you succeeded in getting the going rate raised to $15 an hour that you'd be expected to work much harder than $9.86 an hour.
I'm dead sick of the notion that strikes aren't extortion.
Being fired should be the first step, criminal charges should be part two starting with trespassing and possibly culminating in RICO charges for colluding en masse to commit extortion.
I'm also of the opinion that if these "east African immigrants" are so unhappy with their situation here, we can stuff them in a C-5M and take them back where they came from.
While we're on the topic of being sick of shit, east African immigrants in Minnesota sure are getting excellent representation in Congress from New England, specifically Vermont and Massachusetts.
What is it about Democrats and blowing off their own constituents?
Do the job you were hired to do or go away.
We tried to warn you innumerate morons that if you succeeded in getting the going rate raised to $15 an hour that you'd be expected to work much harder than $9.86 an hour.
I'm dead sick of the notion that strikes aren't extortion.
Being fired should be the first step, criminal charges should be part two starting with trespassing and possibly culminating in RICO charges for colluding en masse to commit extortion.
I'm also of the opinion that if these "east African immigrants" are so unhappy with their situation here, we can stuff them in a C-5M and take them back where they came from.
While we're on the topic of being sick of shit, east African immigrants in Minnesota sure are getting excellent representation in Congress from New England, specifically Vermont and Massachusetts.
What is it about Democrats and blowing off their own constituents?
Tragedy Of The Commons?
Impromptu salvage yard pops up in suburban UK.
My first thought was a tragedy of the commons, but they mention that the land is privately held.
Stuff like this has come up in Florida from time to time.
People buy a house on the landward side of a road that can see The Gulf across the road and an empty lot.
The owner of the lot decides to develop their property and the people in the house sue them for ruining their view.
And lose.
Judge after judge has ruled that if they wanted to keep that view, they should have bought the property and kept it vacant.
Don't want the owner of the "green space" your houses surround to be turned into a junkyard?
Buy that fucker and make it into what you want it to be.
My first thought was a tragedy of the commons, but they mention that the land is privately held.
Stuff like this has come up in Florida from time to time.
People buy a house on the landward side of a road that can see The Gulf across the road and an empty lot.
The owner of the lot decides to develop their property and the people in the house sue them for ruining their view.
And lose.
Judge after judge has ruled that if they wanted to keep that view, they should have bought the property and kept it vacant.
Don't want the owner of the "green space" your houses surround to be turned into a junkyard?
Buy that fucker and make it into what you want it to be.
I'm Not Doing Much
I'm not up to a whole lot, but it sure takes a long time to get done.
Cuts into my blogging time and sifting the internet for outrage to blog about.
Cuts into my blogging time and sifting the internet for outrage to blog about.
07 July 2019
Buncha Books
I inventoried my GURPS books today.
131 third edition titles.
37 fourth edition titles.
Third edition is almost entirely physical, printed books.
Fourth edition is about half digital-only with only four books in print where I don't have the digital version as well.
131 third edition titles.
37 fourth edition titles.
Third edition is almost entirely physical, printed books.
Fourth edition is about half digital-only with only four books in print where I don't have the digital version as well.
Rapper Quits Show Over Racism
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/afrofest-festival-biracial-rapper-white-people-of-color
They were charging white people double what "people of color" were charged for tickets.
Because "equality".
$10 ≠ $20 so, no, that's not equal.
Treating any race differently because of race is racism.
Good on Tiny Jag for noticing and calling them on it!
They were charging white people double what "people of color" were charged for tickets.
Because "equality".
$10 ≠ $20 so, no, that's not equal.
Treating any race differently because of race is racism.
Good on Tiny Jag for noticing and calling them on it!
06 July 2019
I'm Shocked
Watching all these light saber build videos and not one person has completely dismantled one to see how it works!
I can see how it's expensive and you'd be reluctant.
But there's destructive dismantling of more expensive things.
Anyone wanna fund Marv and I ripping one apart?
I can see how it's expensive and you'd be reluctant.
But there's destructive dismantling of more expensive things.
Anyone wanna fund Marv and I ripping one apart?
05 July 2019
Experts?
A while back I was watching videos from the civil war in Syria.
A group of men were pinned down on a bridge (camera operator among them).
Every time one of them showed anything over the concrete wall on the side, SPACK!
After three of them got kinetic trepanation the rest stopped sticking things over the wall.
This is the image that keeps coming to me when I hear about Antifa and Reneck Revolt buying guns.
I've also seen a few videos showing "left wing militia" groups enthusiastically "training" and doing a bit of run-and-gun with ranges not exceeding 10 yards and no attempt to use cover or concealment.
I don't think they understand whom is the most likely group of people who will be shooting back.
I don't think they understand that what they think of as quite long distance aren't more than a "fair shot." I remember back to the DC Sniper case and how the press kept emphasizing the "long" ranges and every one of my shooting friends marveling at how close the shooting was done from.
Those guys really weren't shooters and were shooting in an area where the chance of a reply was very low.
I really don't think they understand what they might find under the rocks they keep kicking.
A group of men were pinned down on a bridge (camera operator among them).
Every time one of them showed anything over the concrete wall on the side, SPACK!
After three of them got kinetic trepanation the rest stopped sticking things over the wall.
This is the image that keeps coming to me when I hear about Antifa and Reneck Revolt buying guns.
I've also seen a few videos showing "left wing militia" groups enthusiastically "training" and doing a bit of run-and-gun with ranges not exceeding 10 yards and no attempt to use cover or concealment.
I don't think they understand whom is the most likely group of people who will be shooting back.
I don't think they understand that what they think of as quite long distance aren't more than a "fair shot." I remember back to the DC Sniper case and how the press kept emphasizing the "long" ranges and every one of my shooting friends marveling at how close the shooting was done from.
Those guys really weren't shooters and were shooting in an area where the chance of a reply was very low.
I really don't think they understand what they might find under the rocks they keep kicking.
Did Some Measuring
Since the buffer tube for a pistol and a stock brace is the same length as a carbine buffer tube...
To get over 26" and avoid the AOW for a forward grip you need a bit more than a 12" barrel.
To get over 26" and avoid the AOW for a forward grip you need a bit more than a 12" barrel.
Racial Harmony
The local ibis population is not hung up on color
Glossy and white ibis decimating the local insect population!
Glossy and white ibis decimating the local insect population!
First It Was Bumpstocks
Do you have an SBR you're calling a pistol because your stock is called a brace?
You might want to check out what ATF has been doing.
Any Other Weapon (AOW) is a catch-all, and has been since 1934.
It's dangerous to actively seek the loopholes in codified law, be careful out there.
You might want to check out what ATF has been doing.
Any Other Weapon (AOW) is a catch-all, and has been since 1934.
It's dangerous to actively seek the loopholes in codified law, be careful out there.
Oh You Need Us Now?
Trump campaign worried about NRA implosion.
Gee, Don, Republicans; maybe if you'd done something for us these past three years...
I think, at the core of this, the NRA implosion has a lot more to do with how ineffective the NRA has been at getting the tide reversed.
We want MORE. We never wanted the status quo. We never accepted the ratchet slowly eliminating our rights.
We want our rights restored, and many of us were willing to take small, incremental, steps to get there. Especially since we'd been losing our rights in the same death of a thousand cuts manner.
We asked, over and over, "where the fuck are you NRA?"
We've been asking "what's going on up there?" to the point where grifting do-nothing pro-gun groups appeared to be a viable alternative.
Now Trump and The Republicans are worried?
What have you done for us in return for our vote?
How are you better than Obama and The Democrats for us?
Obama failed to ban bumpstocks, Trump succeeded. Explain to me, again, why I should be worried about you being nuked off over guns?
With a soulless monster like Hillary in office, at least we could count on The Republicans FIGHTING gun control.
President Trump, you want our vote you don't need The NRA. Want us to come out in supportive droves?
Declare an NFA amnesty. You don't need Congress to do so. This will somewhat salve the anger about bumpstocks.
Order the Secretary of The Army to release the second tranche of M1911A1's to CMP, do it publicly.
Vocally demand CCW reciprocity.
Do those three things on your own, and we will get the word out.
But you're not going to see more than tepid support for being merely not anti-gun; especially since the only gun related thing you've done so far hasn't been pro-gun at all.
Gee, Don, Republicans; maybe if you'd done something for us these past three years...
I think, at the core of this, the NRA implosion has a lot more to do with how ineffective the NRA has been at getting the tide reversed.
We want MORE. We never wanted the status quo. We never accepted the ratchet slowly eliminating our rights.
We want our rights restored, and many of us were willing to take small, incremental, steps to get there. Especially since we'd been losing our rights in the same death of a thousand cuts manner.
We asked, over and over, "where the fuck are you NRA?"
We've been asking "what's going on up there?" to the point where grifting do-nothing pro-gun groups appeared to be a viable alternative.
Now Trump and The Republicans are worried?
What have you done for us in return for our vote?
How are you better than Obama and The Democrats for us?
Obama failed to ban bumpstocks, Trump succeeded. Explain to me, again, why I should be worried about you being nuked off over guns?
With a soulless monster like Hillary in office, at least we could count on The Republicans FIGHTING gun control.
President Trump, you want our vote you don't need The NRA. Want us to come out in supportive droves?
Declare an NFA amnesty. You don't need Congress to do so. This will somewhat salve the anger about bumpstocks.
Order the Secretary of The Army to release the second tranche of M1911A1's to CMP, do it publicly.
Vocally demand CCW reciprocity.
Do those three things on your own, and we will get the word out.
But you're not going to see more than tepid support for being merely not anti-gun; especially since the only gun related thing you've done so far hasn't been pro-gun at all.
04 July 2019
Slightly Cheaper Case Of Wants
If $199.99 plus tax is too rich for your Disney Park cruising blood to make your own custom lightsaber from Savi's Workshop...
Right next door is Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities!
They sell character specific hilts! On the plus side, they're cheaper. On the down side, you're stuck with one color and have to buy the blade separately.
The Savi's workshop saber comes with a 31" blade and one kyber crystal to set the color.
Additionalcolors crystals are $12.99 each in your choice of red, yellow, green, blue, violet and white. The purchase of a red one might yield a black crystal, it runs the saber red. Collect 'em all!
A 26" blade will set you back $39.99 and a 35" blade is $49.99. Can't buy the 31" separately.
At the $109.99 level there's:
Anakin Skywalker/Luke Skywalker/Rey. Blue.
Darth Vader. Red.
Obi-wan/Ben Kenobi. Blue.
Temple Guard. Yellow. This one should have (but doesn't) a coupler and use the 26" blades.
Mace Windu. Violet.
$129.99 gets:
Luke Skywalker. Green.
Half of Darth Maul's lightstaff with coupler. Red.
Asajj Ventress. Red.
$149.99 for:
Kylo Ren/Ben Solo. Red. Comes with quillon blades and belt clip.
$199.99 yields:
Both of Ahsoka Tano's. White.
Missing from the collection are Yoda, Count Dooku,Be-Gone Soon Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Sidious.
Right next door is Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities!
They sell character specific hilts! On the plus side, they're cheaper. On the down side, you're stuck with one color and have to buy the blade separately.
The Savi's workshop saber comes with a 31" blade and one kyber crystal to set the color.
Additional
A 26" blade will set you back $39.99 and a 35" blade is $49.99. Can't buy the 31" separately.
At the $109.99 level there's:
Anakin Skywalker/Luke Skywalker/Rey. Blue.
Darth Vader. Red.
Obi-wan/Ben Kenobi. Blue.
Temple Guard. Yellow. This one should have (but doesn't) a coupler and use the 26" blades.
Mace Windu. Violet.
$129.99 gets:
Luke Skywalker. Green.
Half of Darth Maul's lightstaff with coupler. Red.
Asajj Ventress. Red.
$149.99 for:
Kylo Ren/Ben Solo. Red. Comes with quillon blades and belt clip.
$199.99 yields:
Both of Ahsoka Tano's. White.
Missing from the collection are Yoda, Count Dooku,
Our Lives Our Fortunes And Our Sacred Honor
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people
to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another,
and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal
station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a
decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should
declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.
He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.
He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.
He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:
For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing taxes on us without our consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:
For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:
For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:
For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:
For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.
We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.
New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.
He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.
He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.
He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:
For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing taxes on us without our consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:
For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:
For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:
For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:
For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.
We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.
New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton
03 July 2019
GURPS: Star Wars
The whole DIY light saber building experience has me wanting to dust off my notes for a Star Wars campaign.
GURPS has everything I need to simulate a Jedi.
All of the powers shown on screen in any film or TV show are covered by psionics.
The light saber is a force sword.
I've long wanted to make a campaign where the players are Jedi during the clone wars.
I'd freely ignore the prequel films.
If I had a regular group of players I could run it all the way through Darth Vader hunting them down and killing them all!
Cheerful conclusion to the campaign, no?
GURPS has everything I need to simulate a Jedi.
All of the powers shown on screen in any film or TV show are covered by psionics.
The light saber is a force sword.
I've long wanted to make a campaign where the players are Jedi during the clone wars.
I'd freely ignore the prequel films.
If I had a regular group of players I could run it all the way through Darth Vader hunting them down and killing them all!
Cheerful conclusion to the campaign, no?
NEEEEEERD!
I hate Disney.
I'm no fan of the present run of Star Wars films.
Walt Disney World is eyewateringly expensive.
I've been to Walt Disneyland in Anaheim several times and that's inoculated me to wanting to see the one with the giant silver golfball.
Until now.
This is, by far, the stupidest case of the wants I've ever had.
I wanna build my own light saber at the Savi's Workshop in the Star Wars Galaxy section of Walt Disney World.
It's a bit of theatrical fun.
A detailed review of the accessories.
Where it really hurts... The wallet.
First you need to park. That's $25 to $50 depending on the date and how close to the gate you wanna get.
Then you need to get inside. $116.09 per person with Florida Resident discount. Disney World is an oppressive gun-free-victim zone too.
Now you pay for the Savi's Workship experience. $212.99 each.
There is no possible way that I could sneak out on my own and do this. The Lovely Harvey totally wants a red bladed one. The Boy, who absolutely loves ALL the Star Wars movies (and comics) couldn't possibly be expected to live without a purple bladed one.
Me? I've wanted a good one since Chris McKelvey and I made some from golf tubes, flashlights and colored cellophane. I am not sure what color I'd choose.
If we didn't eat or drink anything in the park, $1037.24 for peak season preferred parking for the three of us. That can get quite pricey, some places even quoting $100 per person per meal.
I guess we could ride the rides too.
Colin Kaepernick Is A Fucking Moron
An ignorant fucking moron no less.
This is the flag he thinks represents slavery in America.
That's wrong, you chucklehead.
Here's a flag that represents slavery:
I know the NFL is not big on mathematics for its players, but you don't need to count very high to see that the number of stripes is completely different.
I have another history lesson for you, you fucking dumbass:
This flag represents the crushing of slavery via the sacrifice of over three hundred thousand Union lives.
You think that the American flag, ANY flag of the United States stands for oppression, you can go fuck yourself. There's times I wish there were time machines. I dearly would love to stuff your ass into one with a destination set for 1850 Birmingham, Alabama. Let you experience the difference between the oppression you claim to be experiencing as a millionaire and what it's really like.
PS: When Betsy made that flag, THIS flag was the flag of slavery in North America:
You've made an utter fool of yourself and Nike joined you in the ignorance.
Again, go fuck yourself. Might I suggest you use a bat like that one character on The Walking Dead has?
This is the flag he thinks represents slavery in America.
That's wrong, you chucklehead.
Here's a flag that represents slavery:
I know the NFL is not big on mathematics for its players, but you don't need to count very high to see that the number of stripes is completely different.
I have another history lesson for you, you fucking dumbass:
This flag represents the crushing of slavery via the sacrifice of over three hundred thousand Union lives.
You think that the American flag, ANY flag of the United States stands for oppression, you can go fuck yourself. There's times I wish there were time machines. I dearly would love to stuff your ass into one with a destination set for 1850 Birmingham, Alabama. Let you experience the difference between the oppression you claim to be experiencing as a millionaire and what it's really like.
PS: When Betsy made that flag, THIS flag was the flag of slavery in North America:
You've made an utter fool of yourself and Nike joined you in the ignorance.
Again, go fuck yourself. Might I suggest you use a bat like that one character on The Walking Dead has?
When All Else Fails
Talk to a doctor!
An Indian grandmother has now seen my pecker.
My case of swamp-dick is not jock itch.
It's a yeast infection.
The cream I've been using, which seems to work, but the infection comes right back is the correct stuff.
The problem is the instructions for for the fungus version of jock itch, not yeast.
Use twice as often, twice as long she says.
An Indian grandmother has now seen my pecker.
My case of swamp-dick is not jock itch.
It's a yeast infection.
The cream I've been using, which seems to work, but the infection comes right back is the correct stuff.
The problem is the instructions for for the fungus version of jock itch, not yeast.
Use twice as often, twice as long she says.
But The New Straws Are Made From Paper
I'm old enough to remember when we had to abandon paper grocery sacks for plastic baggies.
At first it we were given a choice, "paper or plastic," and most of us chose the plastic.
Now the paper is very rare.
The reason we were to give up the paper sacks that had been in use for decades was because of the environment. Paper production was killing the rain forest or something.
Now there's a push to eliminate those plastic bags and change to some sort of reusable cloth.
Cloth bags, which are often a kind of plastic themselves, which are proving to be breeding grounds for all manner of nasty things that will get on your food.
And by the way, the environmentally safe laundry soaps and water saving washing machines don't do a good job of cleaning the cloth shopping bags!
I'm getting sick of things we have to ban while forgetting there was a reason we started using disposable containers in the first place.
I'm thinking that straws are another such thing where doing the "right thing" is ignoring the reason they're made from the materials they are.
I've noticed how many decades of work it took to get a toilet to actually do a good job with 3.5 gallons in the tank instead of 5. The people who demanded we save water forgot why the standard commode used 5 gallons. 5 gallons was the amount of water needed to reliably work and that number wasn't pulled that number out of someone's ass, it was arrived at empirically.
At first it we were given a choice, "paper or plastic," and most of us chose the plastic.
Now the paper is very rare.
The reason we were to give up the paper sacks that had been in use for decades was because of the environment. Paper production was killing the rain forest or something.
Now there's a push to eliminate those plastic bags and change to some sort of reusable cloth.
Cloth bags, which are often a kind of plastic themselves, which are proving to be breeding grounds for all manner of nasty things that will get on your food.
And by the way, the environmentally safe laundry soaps and water saving washing machines don't do a good job of cleaning the cloth shopping bags!
I'm getting sick of things we have to ban while forgetting there was a reason we started using disposable containers in the first place.
I'm thinking that straws are another such thing where doing the "right thing" is ignoring the reason they're made from the materials they are.
I've noticed how many decades of work it took to get a toilet to actually do a good job with 3.5 gallons in the tank instead of 5. The people who demanded we save water forgot why the standard commode used 5 gallons. 5 gallons was the amount of water needed to reliably work and that number wasn't pulled that number out of someone's ass, it was arrived at empirically.
They Really Do Want To Starve, Freezing, In The Dark
France is going to ban insecticides which kill bees.
That's good!
France also bans GMO's.
That's... uh...
Wait a minute, you morons!
Insecticides which work on pests munching on your crops have a strong tendency to kill bees. That sucks, but you do get to keep the crops.
We've been able to get away from many pesticides thanks to genetically modified food plants which let the plant better defend itself from the multi-legged horror show of being eaten alive.
If you ban both...
I guess it's traditional that an Islamic nation not be able to feed itself.
That's good!
France also bans GMO's.
That's... uh...
Wait a minute, you morons!
Insecticides which work on pests munching on your crops have a strong tendency to kill bees. That sucks, but you do get to keep the crops.
We've been able to get away from many pesticides thanks to genetically modified food plants which let the plant better defend itself from the multi-legged horror show of being eaten alive.
If you ban both...
I guess it's traditional that an Islamic nation not be able to feed itself.
You Can Always Resign
Dear Frederica Wilson;
There isn't a damn thing I can say to mock you that your wardrobe isn't already doing for me.
But if you don't like us making fun of your clown-pimp attire you could always quit being a congress creature.
I would say that I shouldn't have to explain to a member of Congress about the Bill of Rights, but then I noticed that you're Democrat...
But there's two things you need to be made aware of.
First off, The First Amendment is in place precisely because of people speaking out against The King and His people then getting tossed into jail for it. Jail? No. Prison barges under conditions which defy imagination, but prisoners sentenced to them would have killed for the posh accommodations of a Nazi death camp. No, I am not exaggerating.
Second, I think you forget your place, Congress Creature. Congress is not above the people, but below. You deserve scorn, contempt and mockery.
Want to resume the consideration due any human being? Resign and your human status is restored and we will be unfailingly polite to you.
Continue as a subhuman denizen of Congress? Well, you did dress for the 3-ring circus, didn't you?
There isn't a damn thing I can say to mock you that your wardrobe isn't already doing for me.
But if you don't like us making fun of your clown-pimp attire you could always quit being a congress creature.
I would say that I shouldn't have to explain to a member of Congress about the Bill of Rights, but then I noticed that you're Democrat...
But there's two things you need to be made aware of.
First off, The First Amendment is in place precisely because of people speaking out against The King and His people then getting tossed into jail for it. Jail? No. Prison barges under conditions which defy imagination, but prisoners sentenced to them would have killed for the posh accommodations of a Nazi death camp. No, I am not exaggerating.
Second, I think you forget your place, Congress Creature. Congress is not above the people, but below. You deserve scorn, contempt and mockery.
Want to resume the consideration due any human being? Resign and your human status is restored and we will be unfailingly polite to you.
Continue as a subhuman denizen of Congress? Well, you did dress for the 3-ring circus, didn't you?
02 July 2019
Future Wall Stree Journal Headline
Nike stockholders ask, "When did Colin Kaepernick get appointed to chairman? Who appointed him?"
Going to be a tense shareholder's meeting this year.
Going to be a tense shareholder's meeting this year.
No Wonder We Took Kettle Hill
Via Miguel...
In the June 23, 1896 edition of the Marietta Daily Leader:
Seems we didn't need bother developing .30-06, .30-40 was sufficient.
In the June 23, 1896 edition of the Marietta Daily Leader:
Seems we didn't need bother developing .30-06, .30-40 was sufficient.
All Those Choices
Been watching videos about Star Wars Galaxy's Edge light saber building experience.
It's a DIY build a light saber $200+ tax deal.
There's four main styles.
Then each style has two choices each of four parts on top of the four color choices for the blade.
That's like 256 unique combinations.
I've watched three reviewers make the same thing.
What are the odds.
Related:
It's a DIY build a light saber $200+ tax deal.
There's four main styles.
Then each style has two choices each of four parts on top of the four color choices for the blade.
That's like 256 unique combinations.
I've watched three reviewers make the same thing.
What are the odds.
Related:
01 July 2019
Only X Can Portray X
This reminds me.
Elijah Woods is not a Hobbit.
Michael Dorn is not a Klingon.
Etc...
The entire point of acting is to portray something you're not.
We need to remember that.
Elijah Woods is not a Hobbit.
Michael Dorn is not a Klingon.
Etc...
The entire point of acting is to portray something you're not.
We need to remember that.
I Thought Changing The Race Of The Character Was Wrong
Michael B Jordon to star as John Clark in Without Remorse.
As batshit as the woke get when a "person of color" character is cast with a white actor, we should fucking riot when a white character is cast as black.
It's only fair.
Ordinarily, I wouldn't give two shits.
Morgan Freeman was outstanding in The Shawshank Redemption and Red wasn't a black character in the book.
Denzel Washington was excellent in Much Ado About Nothing playing an Italian prince (with Keanu Reeves as his brother!)
Samuel L Jackson played Nick Fury despite Fury being lily white since his first appearance in 1963.
Hardly an eye was blunk when Idris Elba was cast as Heimdall. You simply cannot get more white than Norse mythos.
The furor over the delightful Tilda Swinton playing The Ancient One really pissed me off. Especially since the wrong racists were blamed. You can thank China for it being impossible for an oriental descended actor to play the part thanks to the parallels between Kamar-Taj and Tibet.
The ongoing bullshit about how only someone of X can play X means, to me, that only white people can play white people too.
If that isn't true, then it's just plain old bigotry of a different complexion.
PS: John Wayne as Kublai Kahn was fucking painful.
PPS: Michael B Jordon has played a previously white character before: Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch. Brother of Susan Richards nee Storm... played by a white chick in the same movie.
If you're going to be "brave" and cast against race, you should at least change the whole blood family too.
As batshit as the woke get when a "person of color" character is cast with a white actor, we should fucking riot when a white character is cast as black.
It's only fair.
Ordinarily, I wouldn't give two shits.
Morgan Freeman was outstanding in The Shawshank Redemption and Red wasn't a black character in the book.
Denzel Washington was excellent in Much Ado About Nothing playing an Italian prince (with Keanu Reeves as his brother!)
Samuel L Jackson played Nick Fury despite Fury being lily white since his first appearance in 1963.
Hardly an eye was blunk when Idris Elba was cast as Heimdall. You simply cannot get more white than Norse mythos.
The furor over the delightful Tilda Swinton playing The Ancient One really pissed me off. Especially since the wrong racists were blamed. You can thank China for it being impossible for an oriental descended actor to play the part thanks to the parallels between Kamar-Taj and Tibet.
The ongoing bullshit about how only someone of X can play X means, to me, that only white people can play white people too.
If that isn't true, then it's just plain old bigotry of a different complexion.
PS: John Wayne as Kublai Kahn was fucking painful.
PPS: Michael B Jordon has played a previously white character before: Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch. Brother of Susan Richards nee Storm... played by a white chick in the same movie.
If you're going to be "brave" and cast against race, you should at least change the whole blood family too.
I've Been Probed
Got my 50 year anal probe from the VA today.
Pretty much as expected for someone my age.
Snipped some polyps but otherwise A-OK.
Pretty much as expected for someone my age.
Snipped some polyps but otherwise A-OK.
No Such Thing As A Free Gun
And it's all Willard's fault!
Willard has bestowed upon me several guns that I've pictured here at The Abode.
Some of them have been real project guns and I take great delight in doing the projects.
Only rarely has the free gun meant that I wouldn't be spending more money on it.
He takes great delight in watching me put money and time into these "gifts".
He's not subtle about it. He laughs right in my face!
And I laugh right back... because I cannot not fix on any machine I have that needs something.
So, THANKS! To Willard for his generous contributions to the blog's content.
Willard has bestowed upon me several guns that I've pictured here at The Abode.
Some of them have been real project guns and I take great delight in doing the projects.
Only rarely has the free gun meant that I wouldn't be spending more money on it.
He takes great delight in watching me put money and time into these "gifts".
He's not subtle about it. He laughs right in my face!
And I laugh right back... because I cannot not fix on any machine I have that needs something.
So, THANKS! To Willard for his generous contributions to the blog's content.