I hate when The Muse says, "you must write!" gets me going and then bails in mid-stride.
Then the post withers on the vine.
Click here to submit $0.00 US for a lifetime subscription
Posts
All Comments
30 December 2019
The Future Is Easy
I once had to use a perpetual calendar I had printed to figure out the day of the week for a given date.
Now there's the internet.
It even works for 150 years from now.
June 30, 2170 is a Saturday.
It's also 1295.0-007 on the Vilani calendar.
Now there's the internet.
It even works for 150 years from now.
June 30, 2170 is a Saturday.
It's also 1295.0-007 on the Vilani calendar.
A Veritable Model Of Efficeiency
I normally have excellent luck with USPS.
The grenades from Hong Kong?
Not so much.
You'd think that getting halfway across the planet would be the most time consuming portion of the event, but no.
My package left Hong Kong on December 21st, arriving at ISC New York on the 23rd.
You might even think that a package that contains, what appears for all intents and purposes to be, two hand grenades would take a while getting through customs.
On the 24th it was through customs and scanned into the Queens, NY distribution center.
Now, this whole time it was tracking to be delivered on the 26th.
In the afternoon of the 26th it changed to arriving late.
The morning of the 27th it changed to "In transit to the next facility."
This was repeated on the 28th.
Today the tracking says, departed the Queens, NY distribution center.
It really makes me wonder if someone didn't open my box to see if it was real grenades and when they found they weren't; reinserted them back into the delivery chain.
If it keeps tracking, I expect to see them on Thursday or Friday.
The grenades from Hong Kong?
Not so much.
You'd think that getting halfway across the planet would be the most time consuming portion of the event, but no.
My package left Hong Kong on December 21st, arriving at ISC New York on the 23rd.
You might even think that a package that contains, what appears for all intents and purposes to be, two hand grenades would take a while getting through customs.
On the 24th it was through customs and scanned into the Queens, NY distribution center.
Now, this whole time it was tracking to be delivered on the 26th.
In the afternoon of the 26th it changed to arriving late.
The morning of the 27th it changed to "In transit to the next facility."
This was repeated on the 28th.
Today the tracking says, departed the Queens, NY distribution center.
It really makes me wonder if someone didn't open my box to see if it was real grenades and when they found they weren't; reinserted them back into the delivery chain.
If it keeps tracking, I expect to see them on Thursday or Friday.
Say Something, I Fucking Dare You
Go on.
Call them idiots.
Errata
Interstellar Wars says that 50-dton bay weapons displace 8 turret hardpoints and 100-dton bay weapons displace 10 turret hardpoints.
The problem with this is both the sample ships they give have negative hardpoints remaining when you're done. -4 for both Kargash and Indomitable.
It appears that it was 6 hardpoints for the 50-dton and 8 hardpoints for the 100-dton in the playtest and someone forgot to update the sample ships.
I've made note of it.
I also remember when SJ Games kept up on the errata.
Figuring out how many turrets you could have was a lot simpler in LBB Traveller.
You got 1 turret hardpoint for every 100 dtons. You got 1 bay slot for every 1,000 dtons, and this 1,000 doesn't count towards turrets. You get 1 major weapon mount, period, and its dtonnage is subtracted from the hull tonnage for turret/bay slots.
So LBB Indomitable would have 25,000 dtons left over for bays and turrets once the 5,000 dton spinal A-meson gun was subtracted. That leaves space for 25 bays or 250 turrets. The 5 bays take off another 5,000 of allocation leaving "just" 200 turret hardpoints.
GT: Interstellar Wars uses a surface area calculation to figure out how many hardpoints you get and has a listing for how many are consumed by bay and major weapons.
She starts with 87. The spinal meson gun uses 40, the repulsor and two fusion gun bays are supposed to use 10 each and the two light missile arrays 8 each; leaving just 1 hardpoint for the 5 heavy turrets and their 10 fusion guns. Ooops!
The problem with this is both the sample ships they give have negative hardpoints remaining when you're done. -4 for both Kargash and Indomitable.
It appears that it was 6 hardpoints for the 50-dton and 8 hardpoints for the 100-dton in the playtest and someone forgot to update the sample ships.
I've made note of it.
I also remember when SJ Games kept up on the errata.
Figuring out how many turrets you could have was a lot simpler in LBB Traveller.
You got 1 turret hardpoint for every 100 dtons. You got 1 bay slot for every 1,000 dtons, and this 1,000 doesn't count towards turrets. You get 1 major weapon mount, period, and its dtonnage is subtracted from the hull tonnage for turret/bay slots.
So LBB Indomitable would have 25,000 dtons left over for bays and turrets once the 5,000 dton spinal A-meson gun was subtracted. That leaves space for 25 bays or 250 turrets. The 5 bays take off another 5,000 of allocation leaving "just" 200 turret hardpoints.
GT: Interstellar Wars uses a surface area calculation to figure out how many hardpoints you get and has a listing for how many are consumed by bay and major weapons.
She starts with 87. The spinal meson gun uses 40, the repulsor and two fusion gun bays are supposed to use 10 each and the two light missile arrays 8 each; leaving just 1 hardpoint for the 5 heavy turrets and their 10 fusion guns. Ooops!
Minimum Size
The minimum tonnage for a TL10 GURPS: Traveller: Interstellar Wars warship to mount a spinal weapon is 20,000 dTon.
I was reading up on the 4th Interstellar War and found that Diikagkarunii Sharik Yangila used attack cruisers based around spinal mounts, like the Terrans had pioneered.
Because ISW doesn't give me stats for these, or the Terran equivalent, I had to make my own.
Ukimkhim Class Imperial 20,000-dton Attack Cruiser
Tech Level: 10.
Hull: 20,000-dton Cylinder Streamlined hull, dDR 240 armor, Stealth.
Systems: 3,400 Manuever Drive, 600 Jump Drive, 4,000 Fuel Tanks, 100 Fuel Processor (320 dtons/hour), 2 Command Bridge, Model-6 Sensors (Scan 21), Model-4 Sensors (Scan 19), Light Spinal Particle Cannon, 2 Light Missile Arrays, 12 Light Turrets, 24 Missile Racks, 12 Sandcasters, 7 Heavy Turrets, 14 Plasma Guns, Hanger Bay (200 dton capacity), 5,906 Fusion Power, 65 Bunkrooms, 49 Staterooms, 5 Workshops, 10 Sickbays, 1,299 Cargo.
Statistics: EMass 107,023.5 tons, LMass 118,088.5 tons, Cost M$30,989.61 (Fitted Out), SM +12, ASig +6, dHP 250, Life Support 748, sAccel 5.76 G, Jump-2 (2-parsec range), Top Air Speed 740 mph.
Crew: Command Section (13 officers, 1 petty officer, 1 crewman), Engineering Section (49 officers, 98 petty officers, 349 crewmen), Gunnery Section (6 officers, 19 petty officers, 38 crewmen), Flight Section (15 officers, 5 petty officers, 10 crewmen), Ship's Troops (3 officers, 18 petty officers, 48 crewmen), Maintenance Section (3 officers, 5 petty officers, 17 crewmen), Life Support Section (1 officer, 1 petty officer, 6 crewmen), Medical Section (3 officers, 5 petty officers, 9 crewmen), General Services Section (2 officers, 3 petty officers, 12 crewman). Total 95 officers, 156 petty officers, 490 crewmen.
Passengers: None.
The Terran Confederation's Indomitable Class Battleship, by comparison, is 30,000 dton, slower sAccel, better armored and because she's TL11... has a spinal meson gun. The mythical Terran gashukubi! Plus she mounts the game changing Jump-3.
I was reading up on the 4th Interstellar War and found that Diikagkarunii Sharik Yangila used attack cruisers based around spinal mounts, like the Terrans had pioneered.
Because ISW doesn't give me stats for these, or the Terran equivalent, I had to make my own.
Ukimkhim Class Imperial 20,000-dton Attack Cruiser
Tech Level: 10.
Hull: 20,000-dton Cylinder Streamlined hull, dDR 240 armor, Stealth.
Systems: 3,400 Manuever Drive, 600 Jump Drive, 4,000 Fuel Tanks, 100 Fuel Processor (320 dtons/hour), 2 Command Bridge, Model-6 Sensors (Scan 21), Model-4 Sensors (Scan 19), Light Spinal Particle Cannon, 2 Light Missile Arrays, 12 Light Turrets, 24 Missile Racks, 12 Sandcasters, 7 Heavy Turrets, 14 Plasma Guns, Hanger Bay (200 dton capacity), 5,906 Fusion Power, 65 Bunkrooms, 49 Staterooms, 5 Workshops, 10 Sickbays, 1,299 Cargo.
Statistics: EMass 107,023.5 tons, LMass 118,088.5 tons, Cost M$30,989.61 (Fitted Out), SM +12, ASig +6, dHP 250, Life Support 748, sAccel 5.76 G, Jump-2 (2-parsec range), Top Air Speed 740 mph.
Crew: Command Section (13 officers, 1 petty officer, 1 crewman), Engineering Section (49 officers, 98 petty officers, 349 crewmen), Gunnery Section (6 officers, 19 petty officers, 38 crewmen), Flight Section (15 officers, 5 petty officers, 10 crewmen), Ship's Troops (3 officers, 18 petty officers, 48 crewmen), Maintenance Section (3 officers, 5 petty officers, 17 crewmen), Life Support Section (1 officer, 1 petty officer, 6 crewmen), Medical Section (3 officers, 5 petty officers, 9 crewmen), General Services Section (2 officers, 3 petty officers, 12 crewman). Total 95 officers, 156 petty officers, 490 crewmen.
Passengers: None.
The Terran Confederation's Indomitable Class Battleship, by comparison, is 30,000 dton, slower sAccel, better armored and because she's TL11... has a spinal meson gun. The mythical Terran gashukubi! Plus she mounts the game changing Jump-3.
29 December 2019
The Future Is Another Country
In a world where the UN becomes the actual world government in 2024...
...by 2166 it's possible to name a cargo ship class after Karl Marx and declare the naming tradition will be to name them after prominent economists.
It's especially amusing when you consider it's a class specifically intended to be a free-trader.
Das Kapital, indeed.
...by 2166 it's possible to name a cargo ship class after Karl Marx and declare the naming tradition will be to name them after prominent economists.
It's especially amusing when you consider it's a class specifically intended to be a free-trader.
Das Kapital, indeed.
In Keeping With Reducing My Online Footprint
I'm letting my paid membership at Arfcom expire when it comes up for renewal.
I realized that I'm got getting all that much enjoyment for my money.
I also realized that it's stupid to pay for a membership on a gun forum where I don't post about or read posts about guns anymore.
It's a gun-centric Facebook now and I hate Facebook.
This post kind of constitutes a public unfriending...
The straw that broke this camel's back was some fucking Useless Scumbag Mewling Cunt masturbating gunner stating un-categorically that because the standard for loading the main gun was longer than 3-4 seconds, no loader on an Abrams ever loaded that fast.
My personal experience as a loader contradicts him, and I said so. I even stated that I wasn't able to keep that pace up for long; but the first couple of rounds were loaded very quickly. I also challenged the master gunner gospel which breaks down every task to a standardized time; but forgets that the an engagement is scored by the performance of the crew as a whole rather than by task.
Ergo, as long as the loader is "UP!" before the gunner is ready to fire, it doesn't matter how long it took to load the gun because the CREW has a fixed time to engage a given target or targets.
Furthermore, those times are scoring metrics. If, in real combat, you slow down to twice the allowed time; but take out all the bad-guys and don't get taken out in return: You are a fail on the range and a success in combat.
Master Gunner turd polishing literally does not matter in the real world.
I realized that I'm got getting all that much enjoyment for my money.
I also realized that it's stupid to pay for a membership on a gun forum where I don't post about or read posts about guns anymore.
It's a gun-centric Facebook now and I hate Facebook.
This post kind of constitutes a public unfriending...
The straw that broke this camel's back was some fucking Useless Scumbag Mewling Cunt masturbating gunner stating un-categorically that because the standard for loading the main gun was longer than 3-4 seconds, no loader on an Abrams ever loaded that fast.
My personal experience as a loader contradicts him, and I said so. I even stated that I wasn't able to keep that pace up for long; but the first couple of rounds were loaded very quickly. I also challenged the master gunner gospel which breaks down every task to a standardized time; but forgets that the an engagement is scored by the performance of the crew as a whole rather than by task.
Ergo, as long as the loader is "UP!" before the gunner is ready to fire, it doesn't matter how long it took to load the gun because the CREW has a fixed time to engage a given target or targets.
Furthermore, those times are scoring metrics. If, in real combat, you slow down to twice the allowed time; but take out all the bad-guys and don't get taken out in return: You are a fail on the range and a success in combat.
Master Gunner turd polishing literally does not matter in the real world.
28 December 2019
Recurring Dream/Nightmare
It never fails to wake my ass up.
The dream runs with me going from bar to bar, getting smashed.
I am celebrating because I've made a deal that gets my family completely out of debt.
In return, I get beaten to death (in my drugged state) so the local crime syndicate gets a bloody corpse as a message to others.
The dream ends with me getting cold feet and them starting the beating anyway.
The dream runs with me going from bar to bar, getting smashed.
I am celebrating because I've made a deal that gets my family completely out of debt.
In return, I get beaten to death (in my drugged state) so the local crime syndicate gets a bloody corpse as a message to others.
The dream ends with me getting cold feet and them starting the beating anyway.
I Saw It On The Internet
So it must be true!
OK.
Here's the thing, Liberals, you keep saying it; but you never point to a specific falsehood.
Lord knows I've found numerous outright lies in the news, and I've blogged about them.
Especially when I finally figured out what Murry Gell-Mann amnesia was and stopped assuming the press magically knew fuck-all about something I had no competence in where they demonstrably didn't know fuck-all about anything I did have some competence with.
I don't believe it was Fox who tried to push a false narrative about GW Bush's military service.
FuzzyGeff notes that Fox has no equivalent to MSNBC's Al Sharpton and thus no talking head to instigated a riot which lead to the death of anyone.
It's particularly sad that the people who post this drivel are the same folks who accused me of anti-Semitism... Not a picogram of self awareness among them.
OK.
Here's the thing, Liberals, you keep saying it; but you never point to a specific falsehood.
Lord knows I've found numerous outright lies in the news, and I've blogged about them.
Especially when I finally figured out what Murry Gell-Mann amnesia was and stopped assuming the press magically knew fuck-all about something I had no competence in where they demonstrably didn't know fuck-all about anything I did have some competence with.
I don't believe it was Fox who tried to push a false narrative about GW Bush's military service.
FuzzyGeff notes that Fox has no equivalent to MSNBC's Al Sharpton and thus no talking head to instigated a riot which lead to the death of anyone.
It's particularly sad that the people who post this drivel are the same folks who accused me of anti-Semitism... Not a picogram of self awareness among them.
It Starts With Trying
My departure from Facebook stems from, once again, being accused of being something I am not.
Anti-Semitic.
A long time friend posted a Bernie Sanders meme of "People say they won't vote for a Socialist Jew, but worship one every December."
I replied that The Bible was silent on economic systems and mentioned that Jesus might not actually be a Jew once He became The Messiah.
One of my friend's friends attacked me for being anti-Semitic for that. He cited about ten Christian theological theories that state that Jesus is, in fact, a Jew.
I replied, "You going to even bother asking the Jews who gets to be Jewish?"
Because the idea that The Messiah is no longer one of them is a Jewish theological debate.
You see, to be a Jew is to be one of the chosen people of God and that is predicated on being a person. The Messiah is the living embodiment of God, and thus not really a person anymore. Much like angels aren't people, but are Holy.
It's a fringe theory, but it's a real one. Ask your Rabbi!
I elaborated on this theory and this person decried that I was definitely anti-Semitic.
For expressing an idea that Jews were people? Not just that they were people but to be Jewish you must be a person.
I must be the worst hater in history.
Anti-Semitic.
A long time friend posted a Bernie Sanders meme of "People say they won't vote for a Socialist Jew, but worship one every December."
I replied that The Bible was silent on economic systems and mentioned that Jesus might not actually be a Jew once He became The Messiah.
One of my friend's friends attacked me for being anti-Semitic for that. He cited about ten Christian theological theories that state that Jesus is, in fact, a Jew.
I replied, "You going to even bother asking the Jews who gets to be Jewish?"
Because the idea that The Messiah is no longer one of them is a Jewish theological debate.
You see, to be a Jew is to be one of the chosen people of God and that is predicated on being a person. The Messiah is the living embodiment of God, and thus not really a person anymore. Much like angels aren't people, but are Holy.
It's a fringe theory, but it's a real one. Ask your Rabbi!
I elaborated on this theory and this person decried that I was definitely anti-Semitic.
For expressing an idea that Jews were people? Not just that they were people but to be Jewish you must be a person.
I must be the worst hater in history.
You Needen Dis Ting Beltalowda
Amazon has the Belter version of Highway Star as part of The Expanse - The Collector's Edition.
We thank Cory Todd for translating it from English (and Deep Purple) to Belter's patois.
We thank Cory Todd for translating it from English (and Deep Purple) to Belter's patois.
27 December 2019
Someone Might Be Disappointed
My fake grenades made it from Hong Kong to New York customs on the 23rd.
They were released to the Queens distribution center on the 24th.
Yesterday they went from being scheduled for delivery to arriving late.
Now they're showing as "in the system, in transit."
If someone stole them, they're going to be VERY disappointed at the amount of bang contained in solid resin.
Prolly show up Monday, knowing how bad USPS is at tracking sometimes.
They were released to the Queens distribution center on the 24th.
Yesterday they went from being scheduled for delivery to arriving late.
Now they're showing as "in the system, in transit."
If someone stole them, they're going to be VERY disappointed at the amount of bang contained in solid resin.
Prolly show up Monday, knowing how bad USPS is at tracking sometimes.
Retreating
Three spam phone calls in rapid succession has me staring at my phone and thinking, "I think I could do without this shit too."
I am getting to the point of not wanting any contact with anyone outside of a very limited meatspace circle.
It's especially galling when I realize that I'm paying for the honor to have so much bullshit inserted into my life.
Dropping back to the 1980's technologically would save us over $400 a month. Even more when you take into account that without the internet, impulse shopping at Amazon and the like is clipped severely.
It's tempting. It really is.
I am getting to the point of not wanting any contact with anyone outside of a very limited meatspace circle.
It's especially galling when I realize that I'm paying for the honor to have so much bullshit inserted into my life.
Dropping back to the 1980's technologically would save us over $400 a month. Even more when you take into account that without the internet, impulse shopping at Amazon and the like is clipped severely.
It's tempting. It really is.
That's It I'm Done
While I didn't delete the account, I've logged out of Facebook for the last time.
I cannot think of a more toxic place to waste time.
I cannot think of a more toxic place to waste time.
26 December 2019
Is That Really All That Much?
Virginia Governor "Blackface" Northam signed a bill increasing the corrections budget by $250,000 to, "increase in the operating cost of adult correctional facilities resulting from the enactment” of Northam’s gun control measures.
That sounds like a lot of money until you consider that it costs, on average, $32,773.35 to house a prisoner for a year in Virginia.
This increase in funding will house fewer than 8 additional prisoners.
I think there's a disconnect between the funding anticipations and the level of noncompliance.
It says to me that they're not seriously planning on doing much active enforcement of the gun ban, but are going to take the "death of a thousand cuts" approach and nab people by the ones and twos as they're apprehended for other things.
Once again, they're playing the longer game.
OK, they do nothing about the existing supply of guns in Virginia, but they have managed to stagnate it because no manufacturer will be selling or distributing to Virginia under such a ban.
These laws prevent a current owner from taking someone shooting without a significant risk of being arrested for owning a now illegal gun, thus preventing the gun culture from propagating.
Of course, they might get a new legislature and governor next cycle and they might repeal these stupid laws.
Might.
I note that there as once a national "assault" weapon ban that Republicans rode a landslide election into power on the promise of its repeal... only to let it sit until it expired on its own.
That sounds like a lot of money until you consider that it costs, on average, $32,773.35 to house a prisoner for a year in Virginia.
This increase in funding will house fewer than 8 additional prisoners.
I think there's a disconnect between the funding anticipations and the level of noncompliance.
It says to me that they're not seriously planning on doing much active enforcement of the gun ban, but are going to take the "death of a thousand cuts" approach and nab people by the ones and twos as they're apprehended for other things.
Once again, they're playing the longer game.
OK, they do nothing about the existing supply of guns in Virginia, but they have managed to stagnate it because no manufacturer will be selling or distributing to Virginia under such a ban.
These laws prevent a current owner from taking someone shooting without a significant risk of being arrested for owning a now illegal gun, thus preventing the gun culture from propagating.
Of course, they might get a new legislature and governor next cycle and they might repeal these stupid laws.
Might.
I note that there as once a national "assault" weapon ban that Republicans rode a landslide election into power on the promise of its repeal... only to let it sit until it expired on its own.
Chicken Bone Chicken Bone Lucky Lucky Chicken Bone
Made my charity raffle donation to win two Corvettes again this year.
With as much expectation of winning as I do of waking up to a supermodel performing wild fellatio on me.
Still, it's to a good cause.
Fingers crossed.
With as much expectation of winning as I do of waking up to a supermodel performing wild fellatio on me.
Still, it's to a good cause.
Fingers crossed.
25 December 2019
Shot Glass
The Lovely Harvey got me a pint glass with a solid copper .50 cal bullet embedded in it.
A rarity for pint glasses lately, it actually holds a pint with some space to spare.
The bullet gets DAMN cold, copper is an excellent conductor.
A rarity for pint glasses lately, it actually holds a pint with some space to spare.
The bullet gets DAMN cold, copper is an excellent conductor.
I Guess It Was The Third Strike
Yesterday was actually the third attempt, first failure, to buy a gun from Wal Mart.
The first was The Lovely Harvey's purchase of Dee. The purchase, back in 1997, was easy enough and identical to every other gun purchase I'd ever done with the exception of having to be escorted out to our car by a store manager.
The second was Wilma. The open letter Marv and I penned is still open. This is actually three purchases.
In all four cases, we took possession of our purchase the same day.
Now there's still all the bullshit from before (and notice more is added each time we try this) plus an additional "I promise to not misbehave and hold Wal Mart harmless if I do" EULA and a three day way in addition to any imposed by the state or federal gubmints.
I don't think I shall bother looking there any more, because the entire point of making the purchase in person is to not have to wait days for the item I bought.
When you make it functionally equivalent to buying from AIM Surplus, Brownells, Buds, GunBroker Palmetto State Armory or other online vendor; why would I shop at the, at best, apathetic about guns Wal Mart; especially since they're demonstrably shifting towards being anti-gun.
Since they stopped carrying pistol and self defense ammo, there's Brownell's (again), Lucky Gunner Midway USA and Widener's.
If Wal Mart was trying to make a point past "we don't want your business, shop elsewhere!" I'm not seeing it.
They certainly don't have enough control over the market to keep us from buying what we want by refusing to carry it.
I also don't think that their departure from the firearms market will have much negative effect on the market as a whole. What business they were doing was based on the convenience of "well, I'm already here buying a [insert item] I might as well get some ammo too."
The question is, can Wal Mart survive the people who're at the gun shop buying ammo realizing that they can buy their [insert item] from a different vendor as well. Amazon, I am sure, is eager to sell [insert item] to the people who're pissed at Wal Mart.
The first was The Lovely Harvey's purchase of Dee. The purchase, back in 1997, was easy enough and identical to every other gun purchase I'd ever done with the exception of having to be escorted out to our car by a store manager.
The second was Wilma. The open letter Marv and I penned is still open. This is actually three purchases.
In all four cases, we took possession of our purchase the same day.
Now there's still all the bullshit from before (and notice more is added each time we try this) plus an additional "I promise to not misbehave and hold Wal Mart harmless if I do" EULA and a three day way in addition to any imposed by the state or federal gubmints.
I don't think I shall bother looking there any more, because the entire point of making the purchase in person is to not have to wait days for the item I bought.
When you make it functionally equivalent to buying from AIM Surplus, Brownells, Buds, GunBroker Palmetto State Armory or other online vendor; why would I shop at the, at best, apathetic about guns Wal Mart; especially since they're demonstrably shifting towards being anti-gun.
Since they stopped carrying pistol and self defense ammo, there's Brownell's (again), Lucky Gunner Midway USA and Widener's.
If Wal Mart was trying to make a point past "we don't want your business, shop elsewhere!" I'm not seeing it.
They certainly don't have enough control over the market to keep us from buying what we want by refusing to carry it.
I also don't think that their departure from the firearms market will have much negative effect on the market as a whole. What business they were doing was based on the convenience of "well, I'm already here buying a [insert item] I might as well get some ammo too."
The question is, can Wal Mart survive the people who're at the gun shop buying ammo realizing that they can buy their [insert item] from a different vendor as well. Amazon, I am sure, is eager to sell [insert item] to the people who're pissed at Wal Mart.
Down To Two
Another of the missing friends resurfaced yesterday!
'Tis, indeed, a Merry Christmas.
Just two still MIA.
'Tis, indeed, a Merry Christmas.
Just two still MIA.
24 December 2019
Merry Christmas
Happy Yule!
Happy Saturnalia!
Whatever you celebrate!
Most Americans assign zero religious connotation to Christmas, it's a friends and family get together with gift giving and food.
So when someone says Merry Christmas to your atheist sensibilities, just say, "And a Happy New Year!" in reply. They're not trying to proselytize, just wishing you well.
For those who're local: Christmas ham is at 1400.
Happy Saturnalia!
Whatever you celebrate!
Most Americans assign zero religious connotation to Christmas, it's a friends and family get together with gift giving and food.
So when someone says Merry Christmas to your atheist sensibilities, just say, "And a Happy New Year!" in reply. They're not trying to proselytize, just wishing you well.
For those who're local: Christmas ham is at 1400.
A Lieutenancy!
"One must ask oneself: Is a commission something for a gentleman?"
Baron du Vallon de Bracieux de Pierrefonds
Baron du Vallon de Bracieux de Pierrefonds
I'm The Only One I Am Sure
Stumbled across The Boy's copy of Treasure Planet.
Now I want to see the Black Sails prequel to it...
Now I want to see the Black Sails prequel to it...
The Legal Requirements Are Onerous Enough
I attempted to purchase a rifle from Wal Mart today.
Attempted.
Gave up is more accurate.
They want more paperwork than both the Feds and Florida require.
Then, once you pass the background check, they put a three business day hold on it even if there's no legal requirement. Once the three day hold ends, THEN the state mandated wait starts.
A place that's open 24/7 doesn't count weekends and bank holidays towards their own corporate imposed extra wait?
It would literally have been pay today and pick up on January 2nd.
It's like they don't want to sell the things and are putting up barriers to discourage sales so that they can make a "declining sales" argument to end all firearms sales later on.
I can get it with a scope from a GunBroker dealer by then for the same price.
Attempted.
Gave up is more accurate.
They want more paperwork than both the Feds and Florida require.
Then, once you pass the background check, they put a three business day hold on it even if there's no legal requirement. Once the three day hold ends, THEN the state mandated wait starts.
A place that's open 24/7 doesn't count weekends and bank holidays towards their own corporate imposed extra wait?
It would literally have been pay today and pick up on January 2nd.
It's like they don't want to sell the things and are putting up barriers to discourage sales so that they can make a "declining sales" argument to end all firearms sales later on.
I can get it with a scope from a GunBroker dealer by then for the same price.
Reading Comprehension
I've made several posts explaining what it takes to successfully comment here and have your comment remain.
There's a little primer to read when you comment as well.
I am utterly astonished at the number of people who cannot follow simple instructions.
There's a couple of comments in the waste-bin that were excellent and intelligent commentary on the topic of my post which lacked the requisite signature I demand from an anonymous post.
You might also note that there's lots of published comments where they disagree with me. Some most vehemently.
Those comments remain because they don't insult me, belittle me, insult or belittle another commenter and have signed their work.
You're far more likely to be moderated for failing to sign your work than disagreeing with me.
Aesop, whom I routinely disagree with, has successfully commented for Gubru's Sake! He's also lost otherwise great comments for breaking the be polite rule.
It's often not the topic, its the tone.
If you don't like my rules you're free to find something else to do with your time.
There's a little primer to read when you comment as well.
I am utterly astonished at the number of people who cannot follow simple instructions.
There's a couple of comments in the waste-bin that were excellent and intelligent commentary on the topic of my post which lacked the requisite signature I demand from an anonymous post.
You might also note that there's lots of published comments where they disagree with me. Some most vehemently.
Those comments remain because they don't insult me, belittle me, insult or belittle another commenter and have signed their work.
You're far more likely to be moderated for failing to sign your work than disagreeing with me.
Aesop, whom I routinely disagree with, has successfully commented for Gubru's Sake! He's also lost otherwise great comments for breaking the be polite rule.
It's often not the topic, its the tone.
If you don't like my rules you're free to find something else to do with your time.
Am I That Useless?
"McThag, could you help me with this?"
"When?"
"I'm not sure, but I'll call you."
Then the call never comes.
Even worse, they've shut off their phone or set me to go straight to voicemail.
I dunno if I've fallen into "too busy because moving, work and holidays" or "turns out I didn't need the help after all" or... who knows.
I just expected to have been called by now.
"When?"
"I'm not sure, but I'll call you."
Then the call never comes.
Even worse, they've shut off their phone or set me to go straight to voicemail.
I dunno if I've fallen into "too busy because moving, work and holidays" or "turns out I didn't need the help after all" or... who knows.
I just expected to have been called by now.
23 December 2019
Thank You Jacob!
Jacob and the Widener's Team sent me a hand written Christmas card with a gift card in it!
I lack the language to express how touched this makes me feel, especially since I feel like they did me a favor in sending me that 9mm we tested the other day.
I lack the language to express how touched this makes me feel, especially since I feel like they did me a favor in sending me that 9mm we tested the other day.
Home In-Law Improvement
JT and Marv came by yesterday and we installed new springs and a garage door opener at The In-Laws.
They went above and beyond the call of duty troubleshooting the door too.
Something interesting was there just a single model of opener that wasn't also controllable with a smart house or phone interface.
I don't need to control my door with my phone.
I don't trust that I will remain the only person with that capability.
While we were doing the door, we heard a hissing from the water pipes.
Sure enough, the main feed had started to spray at a 90˚ bend.
Marv came up today and we removed the leaky 90 and the square bend that was in the line for... reasons? Expansion joint that you don't need in Florida like you would in Michigan? We also can't figure out why the square section was 3/4" when the rest of the line was 1/2".
They went above and beyond the call of duty troubleshooting the door too.
Something interesting was there just a single model of opener that wasn't also controllable with a smart house or phone interface.
I don't need to control my door with my phone.
I don't trust that I will remain the only person with that capability.
While we were doing the door, we heard a hissing from the water pipes.
Sure enough, the main feed had started to spray at a 90˚ bend.
Marv came up today and we removed the leaky 90 and the square bend that was in the line for... reasons? Expansion joint that you don't need in Florida like you would in Michigan? We also can't figure out why the square section was 3/4" when the rest of the line was 1/2".
Derived Power
This will be some high-concept stuff for at least one reader.
Our government and its agent's powers are derived from The People.
These are things we have delegated to The State because we want them done collectively rather than individually.
It's the entirety of what Lincoln was saying at Gettysburg, "Government of the people, by the people and for the people."
Because the individual citizen is the sovereign power in our system of government, the government cannot be granted a power that the individual citizen does not possess.
I want you to note that word, "delegate" and further note that it is not a synonym of "surrender" or "abdicate".
Now.
Have a look at what your government agents get to do that is now forbidden to you.
Does your job net you a special parking place at another business?
Does your job net you a 50 state carry permit that's even good in NYFSC? (Especially when it's safer to be cop than everyday citizen, look it up.)
Does your job let you do insider trading because you know what the new laws or regulations will be before they take place? (it's not just cops I'm ticked off about).
I don't buy into the "thin blue line" bullshit because the police are at the forefront of the usurpation of our just rights and bravery.
A cop is just another citizen, and should have no more rights than any other citizen. They should not be elevated in any way over their fellow citizens as a group even if we honor them for individual achievement and bravery.
Our government and its agent's powers are derived from The People.
These are things we have delegated to The State because we want them done collectively rather than individually.
It's the entirety of what Lincoln was saying at Gettysburg, "Government of the people, by the people and for the people."
Because the individual citizen is the sovereign power in our system of government, the government cannot be granted a power that the individual citizen does not possess.
I want you to note that word, "delegate" and further note that it is not a synonym of "surrender" or "abdicate".
Now.
Have a look at what your government agents get to do that is now forbidden to you.
Does your job net you a special parking place at another business?
Does your job net you a 50 state carry permit that's even good in NYFSC? (Especially when it's safer to be cop than everyday citizen, look it up.)
Does your job let you do insider trading because you know what the new laws or regulations will be before they take place? (it's not just cops I'm ticked off about).
I don't buy into the "thin blue line" bullshit because the police are at the forefront of the usurpation of our just rights and bravery.
A cop is just another citizen, and should have no more rights than any other citizen. They should not be elevated in any way over their fellow citizens as a group even if we honor them for individual achievement and bravery.
Dear Anonymous Shit Commenter
When I mentioned that there's reserved spots for the cops and that it's a waste of space it's because, and I will type real slow here:
THE FUCKING COPS DON'T EVER FUCKING USE THEM!
Is that clear enough? Do I need to use smaller words?
It's virtue signalling by the business because the po-po can, and does, park right in the fire lane to perform their duties.
Also, the fat-ass deputies around here DO need the exercise that parking in the far corner would give them.
THE FUCKING COPS DON'T EVER FUCKING USE THEM!
Is that clear enough? Do I need to use smaller words?
It's virtue signalling by the business because the po-po can, and does, park right in the fire lane to perform their duties.
Also, the fat-ass deputies around here DO need the exercise that parking in the far corner would give them.
Admin Note
Two things which are guaranteed to get your comment shit canned.
1. Being an everloving prick about the topic at hand. Especially if you clearly didn't actually read the post.
2. Posting an anonymous comment without a signature.
Mostly the second one.
If you're wondering why you were moderated, think back and see if you can remember if you signed your anonymous comment.
1. Being an everloving prick about the topic at hand. Especially if you clearly didn't actually read the post.
2. Posting an anonymous comment without a signature.
Mostly the second one.
If you're wondering why you were moderated, think back and see if you can remember if you signed your anonymous comment.
22 December 2019
Unneeded Waste Of A Space
The local Wal Mart has some formerly handicapped parking spots re-marked as "Reserved for our Law Enforcement Partners" with a flashing blue light on the sign.
Turns out these are actually used as cart returns, because they were full of carts where handicapped spots are kept clear.
Why?
Because the cops don't use parking spots, they pull up to the curb in the fire lane.
Judging from looking a many of the cops in the area, the reserved spot should be in the far corner. They need the exercise.
I'm not cool with the constant, small, elevations of public servants above the people they're supposed to serve.
It's enough to make one shop elsewhere.
Turns out these are actually used as cart returns, because they were full of carts where handicapped spots are kept clear.
Why?
Because the cops don't use parking spots, they pull up to the curb in the fire lane.
Judging from looking a many of the cops in the area, the reserved spot should be in the far corner. They need the exercise.
I'm not cool with the constant, small, elevations of public servants above the people they're supposed to serve.
It's enough to make one shop elsewhere.
Over 11,000
The CMP is still giving notifications and delivering pistols.
But if you got notified on Friday, you were informed that your order wouldn't ship out until after New Years.
I know what I whiny bitch I was about the slight delay I encountered when I got my number, I cannot imagine how I'd be reacting after having waited months longer then being told there'd be another two weeks tacked on.
But if you got notified on Friday, you were informed that your order wouldn't ship out until after New Years.
I know what I whiny bitch I was about the slight delay I encountered when I got my number, I cannot imagine how I'd be reacting after having waited months longer then being told there'd be another two weeks tacked on.
Transhumanism
I will admit that the Transhuman Space setting did not appeal to me when I first read it.
I did not grok it.
Many of the concepts it plays with are examined by Ghost In The Shell. No, not the Mamoru Oshiii movie; the manga.
These concepts are better examined with the related Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex television series, but still I didn't fully grok it.
But I'd started to.
An otherwise forgettable movie, "Elysium" hit on the themes that the wealth and benefit of all this technology would not be evenly spread across everyone, everywhere.
Oddly, it was The Expanse that opened the door to let me grasp the setting and grok it in its fullness.
Maybe not enough to GM it, but definitely enough to make a character to play in it.
Its a neat setting and there's enough source material that one can get completely lost quickly trying to assemble a place to play.
Like Traveller, you get jumpy making declarations out of fear that a book or module you don't already own contradicting you.
Also, like Traveller, if you make up your own stuff and make declarations that suit you: there are no Transhuman Space setting police who will come arrest you.
As the GM, it's literally YOUR world the second the first player's character takes an action.
The differences in feel and style between Erin's and my Traveller campaigns is enough to illustrate that.
I did not grok it.
Many of the concepts it plays with are examined by Ghost In The Shell. No, not the Mamoru Oshiii movie; the manga.
These concepts are better examined with the related Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex television series, but still I didn't fully grok it.
But I'd started to.
An otherwise forgettable movie, "Elysium" hit on the themes that the wealth and benefit of all this technology would not be evenly spread across everyone, everywhere.
Oddly, it was The Expanse that opened the door to let me grasp the setting and grok it in its fullness.
Maybe not enough to GM it, but definitely enough to make a character to play in it.
Its a neat setting and there's enough source material that one can get completely lost quickly trying to assemble a place to play.
Like Traveller, you get jumpy making declarations out of fear that a book or module you don't already own contradicting you.
Also, like Traveller, if you make up your own stuff and make declarations that suit you: there are no Transhuman Space setting police who will come arrest you.
As the GM, it's literally YOUR world the second the first player's character takes an action.
The differences in feel and style between Erin's and my Traveller campaigns is enough to illustrate that.
Alternate Future History
Twilight: 2000 became alternate history when the war didn't start in 1995 and we didn't get nuked over Thanksgiving 1997.
Traveller, set some 3600 years, from now will become an alternate history when the Treaty of New York is not signed in 2024.
GURPS: Transhuman Space, set in 2100, has also become an alternate history because there's things listed on page 8 of the book that didn't happen from 2010 to present and will not feasibly happen in 2020.
We're no where near a cyberpunk dystopia with corporate archologies.
History doesn't seem to give a fuck that it's wrecking my game settings!
Actually, it's not.
With science fiction settings, we've been ignoring the laws of physics long enough that ignoring what really happened in history seems small 'taters now.
Traveller, set some 3600 years, from now will become an alternate history when the Treaty of New York is not signed in 2024.
GURPS: Transhuman Space, set in 2100, has also become an alternate history because there's things listed on page 8 of the book that didn't happen from 2010 to present and will not feasibly happen in 2020.
We're no where near a cyberpunk dystopia with corporate archologies.
History doesn't seem to give a fuck that it's wrecking my game settings!
Actually, it's not.
With science fiction settings, we've been ignoring the laws of physics long enough that ignoring what really happened in history seems small 'taters now.
Schrodinger's Impeachment
I wish I'd coined that title.
Apparently, according to Constitutional scholars we're in a weird place.
Once The House of Representatives passed articles of impeachment, The Senate can begin the trial.
AND
An impeachment has not occurred until The House presents the articles to The Senate, so they can't do anything until such a presentation happens.
There's also some speculation that un-presented articles become void once the 117th Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2021.
Depending on things...
The Senate can do something right away, but doesn't have to do anything until The House gets off their asses; and if they don't then it evaporates like a fart on the wind come election day 2020.
Apparently, according to Constitutional scholars we're in a weird place.
Once The House of Representatives passed articles of impeachment, The Senate can begin the trial.
AND
An impeachment has not occurred until The House presents the articles to The Senate, so they can't do anything until such a presentation happens.
There's also some speculation that un-presented articles become void once the 117th Congress is sworn in on January 3, 2021.
Depending on things...
The Senate can do something right away, but doesn't have to do anything until The House gets off their asses; and if they don't then it evaporates like a fart on the wind come election day 2020.
No News Is Bad Muse
Just haven't had all that much to say of late.
One of the four friends who was going straight to voicemail resurfaced.
His phone was stolen when he set it down on a counter for a minute and walked away for another minute.
Fucking thieves are everywhere! Don't let your guard down!
The other three are still MIA.
One of the four friends who was going straight to voicemail resurfaced.
His phone was stolen when he set it down on a counter for a minute and walked away for another minute.
Fucking thieves are everywhere! Don't let your guard down!
The other three are still MIA.
20 December 2019
Click Click BOOM
I looked up the M67 grenade before ordering to make sure they were 'Nam era appropriate for my web gear.
With a service date of 1968, I'm OK there.
What was interesting is the variants of the M67.
Specifically the M68. It's an impact, rather than delay fused version. It has a red spoon and fuse to differentiate it from the M67, plus the body should be marked 'impact' instead of 'delay'.
The M68 is kind of a dual fuse deal. When you let the spoon go, there's a 1-2 second delay before it arms the impact fuse and it should go bang when it impacts. If it doesn't go bang on impact, a timed fuse sets it off 3-7 seconds after the spoon is released (just like a normal M67).
For the Trivia inclined: Except for markings the only difference between the M67 and M33 is a safety clip and a place for it on the fuse.
An M33 becomes an M33A1 or M59 if you change to an M217 impact fuse. Near as I can tell the M33A1 and M59 are the same grenade, I don't know why they have different designations.
A lot of that goes on.
The M26 and M26A1 are the "lemon" shaped grenades as opposed to the M33 "baseball".
Add a safety clip and it's an M61.
Change the fuse to impact and it's an M26A2, or M57 with the safety clip.
With a service date of 1968, I'm OK there.
What was interesting is the variants of the M67.
Specifically the M68. It's an impact, rather than delay fused version. It has a red spoon and fuse to differentiate it from the M67, plus the body should be marked 'impact' instead of 'delay'.
The M68 is kind of a dual fuse deal. When you let the spoon go, there's a 1-2 second delay before it arms the impact fuse and it should go bang when it impacts. If it doesn't go bang on impact, a timed fuse sets it off 3-7 seconds after the spoon is released (just like a normal M67).
For the Trivia inclined: Except for markings the only difference between the M67 and M33 is a safety clip and a place for it on the fuse.
An M33 becomes an M33A1 or M59 if you change to an M217 impact fuse. Near as I can tell the M33A1 and M59 are the same grenade, I don't know why they have different designations.
A lot of that goes on.
The M26 and M26A1 are the "lemon" shaped grenades as opposed to the M33 "baseball".
Add a safety clip and it's an M61.
Change the fuse to impact and it's an M26A2, or M57 with the safety clip.
19 December 2019
Importing Grenades From Hong Kong
Dummy M67 grenades!
$20 for the pair, shipped.
They're going to look splendid in photo still-lifes.
I should prolly get a couple M26's, and an AN/M18 (Violet) too.
Obstruction Of Congress
What do they think the whole adversarial checks and balances stuff was if not for the president to obstruct congress?
Even if it is a "crime" it's something we should hand out medals for, not punishment.
Even if it is a "crime" it's something we should hand out medals for, not punishment.
18 December 2019
230 to 197
It wasn't a straight party-line vote.
2 Democrats voted against impeachment.
NancyPalsy Pelosy compared it to The Battle of The Bulge.
That poli-sci degree didn't teach you history, I see.
She doesn't realize she's playing the part of the Nazis, where the attack was the last time they offered a coherent offensive capability and the rest of the war was a forgone, if hard fought, conclusion.
2 Democrats voted against impeachment.
Nancy
That poli-sci degree didn't teach you history, I see.
She doesn't realize she's playing the part of the Nazis, where the attack was the last time they offered a coherent offensive capability and the rest of the war was a forgone, if hard fought, conclusion.
Just Fucking VOTE Already!
Now that the one vapid network show I bother to watch, the season finale no less, has been preempted by the endless fucking impeachment debate...
I ask: "Why are you fucking wastes of oxygen giving speeches?"
You fucking morons are going to vote straight party line and the Senate will nuke it and it will start all over again.
You're fucking with one of the most popular TV shows on the air now.
You can crater the economy, but don't fuck with people's TV...
Update: Someone must have wandered into Mr Ianniello's office and said, "There's a mob forming in the lobby and the guy selling torches just sold out."
I ask: "Why are you fucking wastes of oxygen giving speeches?"
You fucking morons are going to vote straight party line and the Senate will nuke it and it will start all over again.
You're fucking with one of the most popular TV shows on the air now.
You can crater the economy, but don't fuck with people's TV...
Update: Someone must have wandered into Mr Ianniello's office and said, "There's a mob forming in the lobby and the guy selling torches just sold out."
Corruption Isn't New
The scale of corruption we're witnessing in our grapple with The Deep State isn't even new.
Just read up on Jonathan Wilde.
It's eye opening.
Just read up on Jonathan Wilde.
It's eye opening.
Stuff
Detective O'Brien is an oddity for me in a couple of ways.
He's the first character in a long time who's from "now" so everything he's equipped with is real and available today. I even own some of it myself!
It's especially odd that all his equipment adds up to under ten pounds.
That seems odd because of the endless parade of soldiers I've made.
Something that probably shouldn't be odd is that O'Brien is on the right side of the law.
He's not a corrupt cop.
He's not a criminal, even if he is a bit strong in his methods.
Roleplaying has a long tradition of the characters being murder-hobos.
They don't have anywhere to live and their go-to solution to any and every problem is to kill it.
O'Brien has a home.
This whole having a home thing has recurred a lot lately. Maybe I'm growing up?
He's the first character in a long time who's from "now" so everything he's equipped with is real and available today. I even own some of it myself!
It's especially odd that all his equipment adds up to under ten pounds.
That seems odd because of the endless parade of soldiers I've made.
Something that probably shouldn't be odd is that O'Brien is on the right side of the law.
He's not a corrupt cop.
He's not a criminal, even if he is a bit strong in his methods.
Roleplaying has a long tradition of the characters being murder-hobos.
They don't have anywhere to live and their go-to solution to any and every problem is to kill it.
O'Brien has a home.
This whole having a home thing has recurred a lot lately. Maybe I'm growing up?
Starting To Think It's Me
I've got four people who have my calls go straight to voicemail.
Makes me feel like I'm being deliberately avoided.
That's cool, I know me. I know how I am.
Anyone who decides to sever contact is, in all likelihood, just finally giving up on putting up with my shit.
It's happened before.
It will happen again.
On the plus side, it's not happening as often as it used to.
On the down side, it's still happening.
Makes me feel like I'm being deliberately avoided.
That's cool, I know me. I know how I am.
Anyone who decides to sever contact is, in all likelihood, just finally giving up on putting up with my shit.
It's happened before.
It will happen again.
On the plus side, it's not happening as often as it used to.
On the down side, it's still happening.
Weeeeee?
Woke up this morning feeling like the room was taking a slow roll to the left.
The axis of the roll was dependent on my facing, so it was me and not the house.
That took about two hours to fade out.
Today is a cold wet day following lots of warm dry. I think I have a stuck sinus or something, this has happened before. Sometime today or tomorrow there will be a rush of snot for ten minutes as the clogged passage clears.
UGH.
The axis of the roll was dependent on my facing, so it was me and not the house.
That took about two hours to fade out.
Today is a cold wet day following lots of warm dry. I think I have a stuck sinus or something, this has happened before. Sometime today or tomorrow there will be a rush of snot for ten minutes as the clogged passage clears.
UGH.
17 December 2019
TL 8
Carrol O'Brien is a detective sergeant.
He's a bit of a throw-back, he'd fit right in a department from before everyone got their feelings hurt over having their participation trophy taken away.
Despite this, he's smart enough to navigate how things work today.
Finally this project is done! It only took six years to make nine characters.
TL 0 is here.
TL 1 is here.
TL 2 is here.
TL 3 is here.
TL 4 is here.
TL 5 is here.
TL 6 is here.
TL 7 is here.
He's a bit of a throw-back, he'd fit right in a department from before everyone got their feelings hurt over having their participation trophy taken away.
Despite this, he's smart enough to navigate how things work today.
Finally this project is done! It only took six years to make nine characters.
TL 0 is here.
TL 1 is here.
TL 2 is here.
TL 3 is here.
TL 4 is here.
TL 5 is here.
TL 6 is here.
TL 7 is here.
Gixie Not Nixie
It's entirely too cool and I have to thank Marvyn for the early Christmas present!
It uses LED to light up laser etching in plexiglass wafers. A different LED per wafer, thus changing the number.
My Motoz3 doesn't capture it well at all.
It uses LED to light up laser etching in plexiglass wafers. A different LED per wafer, thus changing the number.
My Motoz3 doesn't capture it well at all.
16 December 2019
More Fun If They Make It
Someone asked, "Should women be allowed to patronize a strip club without an escort?"
If you require they drive an Escort, you're not going to have any making it to the place.
If you require they drive an Escort, you're not going to have any making it to the place.
An Experiment
CBS News has a list of the Deadliest US Cities.
The national average murder rate is 5.0 per 100,000 people.
They say "map" but it's a list.
Who is in charge of these cities?
1. St Louis, Missouri. Murder rate: 60.9/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1949.
2. Baltimore, Maryland. Murder rate: 51/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1967.
3. Detroit, Michigan. Murder rate: 38.9/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1962.
4. New Orleans, Louisiana. Murder rate: 37.1/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1872!!!
5. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Murder rate: 35.1/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2005.
6. Memphis, Tennessee. Murder rate: 28.5/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in... Can't find it because so many of their wikipedia entries don't mention party affiliation, but their bios imply it's been a LONG time since a Republican was mayor there.
7. Dayton, Ohio. Murder rate: 26.4/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2002.
8. Shreveport, Louisiana. Murder rate: 35.7/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1998.
9. West Palm Beach, Florida. Murder rate: 24.2/100k. I can't find the party affiliation of the current mayor. He replaced a term limited Democrat. Most of the mayors I can find online have no affiliation listed.
10. Washington, DC. Murder rate: 22.8/100k. The mayor is a Democrat, has never had a Republican mayor; but the office was previously called 'President of the Board of Commissioners' where the last Republican left office in 1910.
11. Richmond, Virginia. Murder rate: 22.6/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1988 (only the second of two Republican mayors).
12. San Bernadino, California. Murder rate: 22.5/100k. The mayor is Non-Partisan and the last Republican left office in 2018 (who appears to be a token retaliation over the bankruptcy in 2012 under Democrat control).
13. North Charleston, South Carolina. Murder rate: 22.2/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1877!
14. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Murder rate: 22.1/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1952.
14. Buffalo, New York. Murder rate: 22.1/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1965.
16. Chicago, Illinois. Murder rate: 20.7/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1931.
17. Little Rock, Arkansas. Murder rate: 20.1/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in ???.
18. Peoria, Illinois. Murder rate: 19.5/100k. The mayor is a Republican and I can't seem to find a list of mayors for Peoria.
19. Akron, Ohio. Murder rate: 19.2/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1983.
20. Cincinnati, Ohio. Murder rate: 18.9/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1971.
21. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Murder rate: 18.8/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1934.
22. Indianapolis, Indiana. Murder rate: 18.5/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2008. Party balance has been pretty even for Indianapolis since it merged governance with the county.
23. Atlanta, Georgia. Murder rate: 17.7/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1879!
24. Hartford, Connecticut. Murder rate: 17.1/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1971.
25. High Point, North Carolina. Murder rate: 16.9/100k. No easy list of affiliation.
26. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Murder rate: 16.6/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1908. Milwaukee has had a Socialist mayor (1948-1960) more recently than a Republican.
27. Oakland, California. Murder rate: 16.3/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1977.
28. Syracuse, New York. Murder rate: 16.1/100k. The mayor is an Independant and the last Republican left office in 2001. The parties are fairly evenly represented in Syracuse over the years with no party dominating for long.
29. Rockford, Illinois. Murder rate: 15.7/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and I can't tell if they ever had a Republican mayor.
30. Fort Wayne, Indiana. Murder rate: 14.9/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1999. The parties alternate pretty regularly here.
30. Tulsa, Oklahoma. Murder rate: 14.9/100k. The mayor is a Republican and the last Democrat left office in 2009. The parties alternate pretty regularly here.
32. Norfolk, Virginia. Murder rate: 14.7/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in ???
33. Montgomery, Alabama. Murder rate: 14.6/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2019. The current mayor is the first Democrat elected in a while too.
34. Rochester, New York. Murder rate: 14/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1973.
35. Orlando, Florida. Murder rate: 13.6/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2003.
36. Toledo, Ohio. Murder rate: 13.5/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1989.
37. Newport News, Virginia. Murder rate: 13.4/100k. The mayor is an Independant and the last Republican left office in 1996.
38. Nashville, Tennessee. Murder rate: 13.3/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and there doesn't seem to have ever been a Republican elected to run the city or county.
39. Greensboro, North Carolina. Murder rate: 12.6/100k. The mayor is a Democrat.
40. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Murder rate: 12.3/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2017, but that was a single break from 24 years of Democrats.
41. Springfield, Massachusetts. Murder rate: 12.2/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1937.
41. Jacksonville, Florida. Murder rate: 12.2/100k. The mayor is a Republican and the last Democrat left office in 2015.
43. Roanoke, Virginia. Murder rate: 12/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in ???
43. Columbia, South Carolina. Murder rate: 12/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in ???
43. Salinas, California. Murder rate: 22/100k. The mayor is ??? and the last Republican left office in ???
46. Hampton, Virginia. Murder rate: 11.9/100k. The mayor is a Democrat.
47. Houston, Texas. Murder rate: 11.8/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1982.
48. Savannah, Georgia. Murder rate: 11.6/100k. The mayor-elect is a Democrat and the incumbent is a Republican. Savannah's mayors have been nearly exclusively Democrat since reconstruction, with all 3 in the past 50 years and all just single termers.
49. Dallas, Texas. Murder rate: 11.4/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2011.
50. Columbus, Ohio. Murder rate: 11.1/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2000.
50. Topeka, Kansas. Murder rate: 11.1/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2013.
52. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Murder rate: 11/100k. The mayor is a Democrat from a long line of them.
53. Beaumont, Texas. Murder rate: 10.9/100k.
54. Knoxville, Tennessee. Murder rate: 10.6/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2011.
54. Mobile, Alabama. Murder rate: 10.6/100k. The mayor is a Republican and the last Republican left office in 2013.
56. Stockton, California. Murder rate: 10.5/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2017. Party affiliation alternates regularly.
56. Chattanooga, Tennessee. Murder rate: 10.5/100k. The mayor is a Democrat replacing an Independent in 2013 with the last Republican leaving office in 2005 (the sole republican for decades).
58. Miami, Florida. Murder rate: 9.7/100k. The mayor is a Republican and the last Democrat left office in 2009. Though this area's Republicans redefine RINO on a nearly daily basis.
58. Witchita, Kansas. Murder rate: 9.7/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2019.
60. Clarksville, Tennessee. Murder rate: 9.6/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and succeeded a Democrat.
61. Springfield, Missouri. Murder rate: 9.5/100k. The mayor is a ?? and the last Republican left office in ??.
62. Allentown, Pennsylvania. Murder rate: 9/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2002.
63. Anchorage, Alaska. Murder rate: 8.9/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2015.
64. South Bend, Indiana. Murder rate: 8.8/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1972.
65. Tuscon, Arizona. Murder rate: 8.7/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2011.
The national average murder rate is 5.0 per 100,000 people.
They say "map" but it's a list.
Who is in charge of these cities?
1. St Louis, Missouri. Murder rate: 60.9/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1949.
2. Baltimore, Maryland. Murder rate: 51/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1967.
3. Detroit, Michigan. Murder rate: 38.9/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1962.
4. New Orleans, Louisiana. Murder rate: 37.1/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1872!!!
5. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Murder rate: 35.1/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2005.
6. Memphis, Tennessee. Murder rate: 28.5/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in... Can't find it because so many of their wikipedia entries don't mention party affiliation, but their bios imply it's been a LONG time since a Republican was mayor there.
7. Dayton, Ohio. Murder rate: 26.4/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2002.
8. Shreveport, Louisiana. Murder rate: 35.7/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1998.
9. West Palm Beach, Florida. Murder rate: 24.2/100k. I can't find the party affiliation of the current mayor. He replaced a term limited Democrat. Most of the mayors I can find online have no affiliation listed.
10. Washington, DC. Murder rate: 22.8/100k. The mayor is a Democrat, has never had a Republican mayor; but the office was previously called 'President of the Board of Commissioners' where the last Republican left office in 1910.
11. Richmond, Virginia. Murder rate: 22.6/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1988 (only the second of two Republican mayors).
12. San Bernadino, California. Murder rate: 22.5/100k. The mayor is Non-Partisan and the last Republican left office in 2018 (who appears to be a token retaliation over the bankruptcy in 2012 under Democrat control).
13. North Charleston, South Carolina. Murder rate: 22.2/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1877!
14. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Murder rate: 22.1/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1952.
14. Buffalo, New York. Murder rate: 22.1/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1965.
16. Chicago, Illinois. Murder rate: 20.7/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1931.
17. Little Rock, Arkansas. Murder rate: 20.1/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in ???.
18. Peoria, Illinois. Murder rate: 19.5/100k. The mayor is a Republican and I can't seem to find a list of mayors for Peoria.
19. Akron, Ohio. Murder rate: 19.2/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1983.
20. Cincinnati, Ohio. Murder rate: 18.9/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1971.
21. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Murder rate: 18.8/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1934.
22. Indianapolis, Indiana. Murder rate: 18.5/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2008. Party balance has been pretty even for Indianapolis since it merged governance with the county.
23. Atlanta, Georgia. Murder rate: 17.7/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1879!
24. Hartford, Connecticut. Murder rate: 17.1/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1971.
25. High Point, North Carolina. Murder rate: 16.9/100k. No easy list of affiliation.
26. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Murder rate: 16.6/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1908. Milwaukee has had a Socialist mayor (1948-1960) more recently than a Republican.
27. Oakland, California. Murder rate: 16.3/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1977.
28. Syracuse, New York. Murder rate: 16.1/100k. The mayor is an Independant and the last Republican left office in 2001. The parties are fairly evenly represented in Syracuse over the years with no party dominating for long.
29. Rockford, Illinois. Murder rate: 15.7/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and I can't tell if they ever had a Republican mayor.
30. Fort Wayne, Indiana. Murder rate: 14.9/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1999. The parties alternate pretty regularly here.
30. Tulsa, Oklahoma. Murder rate: 14.9/100k. The mayor is a Republican and the last Democrat left office in 2009. The parties alternate pretty regularly here.
32. Norfolk, Virginia. Murder rate: 14.7/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in ???
33. Montgomery, Alabama. Murder rate: 14.6/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2019. The current mayor is the first Democrat elected in a while too.
34. Rochester, New York. Murder rate: 14/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1973.
35. Orlando, Florida. Murder rate: 13.6/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2003.
36. Toledo, Ohio. Murder rate: 13.5/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1989.
37. Newport News, Virginia. Murder rate: 13.4/100k. The mayor is an Independant and the last Republican left office in 1996.
38. Nashville, Tennessee. Murder rate: 13.3/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and there doesn't seem to have ever been a Republican elected to run the city or county.
39. Greensboro, North Carolina. Murder rate: 12.6/100k. The mayor is a Democrat.
40. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Murder rate: 12.3/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2017, but that was a single break from 24 years of Democrats.
41. Springfield, Massachusetts. Murder rate: 12.2/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1937.
41. Jacksonville, Florida. Murder rate: 12.2/100k. The mayor is a Republican and the last Democrat left office in 2015.
43. Roanoke, Virginia. Murder rate: 12/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in ???
43. Columbia, South Carolina. Murder rate: 12/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in ???
43. Salinas, California. Murder rate: 22/100k. The mayor is ??? and the last Republican left office in ???
46. Hampton, Virginia. Murder rate: 11.9/100k. The mayor is a Democrat.
47. Houston, Texas. Murder rate: 11.8/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1982.
48. Savannah, Georgia. Murder rate: 11.6/100k. The mayor-elect is a Democrat and the incumbent is a Republican. Savannah's mayors have been nearly exclusively Democrat since reconstruction, with all 3 in the past 50 years and all just single termers.
49. Dallas, Texas. Murder rate: 11.4/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2011.
50. Columbus, Ohio. Murder rate: 11.1/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2000.
50. Topeka, Kansas. Murder rate: 11.1/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2013.
52. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Murder rate: 11/100k. The mayor is a Democrat from a long line of them.
53. Beaumont, Texas. Murder rate: 10.9/100k.
54. Knoxville, Tennessee. Murder rate: 10.6/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2011.
54. Mobile, Alabama. Murder rate: 10.6/100k. The mayor is a Republican and the last Republican left office in 2013.
56. Stockton, California. Murder rate: 10.5/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2017. Party affiliation alternates regularly.
56. Chattanooga, Tennessee. Murder rate: 10.5/100k. The mayor is a Democrat replacing an Independent in 2013 with the last Republican leaving office in 2005 (the sole republican for decades).
58. Miami, Florida. Murder rate: 9.7/100k. The mayor is a Republican and the last Democrat left office in 2009. Though this area's Republicans redefine RINO on a nearly daily basis.
58. Witchita, Kansas. Murder rate: 9.7/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2019.
60. Clarksville, Tennessee. Murder rate: 9.6/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and succeeded a Democrat.
61. Springfield, Missouri. Murder rate: 9.5/100k. The mayor is a ?? and the last Republican left office in ??.
62. Allentown, Pennsylvania. Murder rate: 9/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2002.
63. Anchorage, Alaska. Murder rate: 8.9/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2015.
64. South Bend, Indiana. Murder rate: 8.8/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 1972.
65. Tuscon, Arizona. Murder rate: 8.7/100k. The mayor is a Democrat and the last Republican left office in 2011.
Jackbooted Environmentalist
The invasive species around here piss me off.
It hits big buttons for me.
Many of the invasive species, and most of the worst, around here got their start as pets, or intended pets.
They were released into the wild when their upkeep became untenable to the owner.
To me, owning a pet is a lifetime commitment. Yours or its.
You take on a pet you will see it to its end if you don't die first. You do NOT turn it loose to fend for itself.
Murderers are a step down from someone who abandons an animal.
Not least is the probability that your former pet will not last long in the wild and will suffer a lingering death from exposure and starvation.
Or the thing will thrive because the environment is ideal and there's no predation. This is where way too many of our non-native invasive species came from.
I've lost track of all the species we've lost to extinction because we imported cats and rabbits to the environment.
I'm watching other species, like iguanas and pythons screwing up Florida.
I just found out about lionfish. Again I am disappointed at our inability to find a way to eradicate a species we want gone.
One solution is to ban exotic pets, or so severely regulate them we can determine who released their pet into the wild. This keeps the population you're trying to get rid of from being renewed by the same pool that started the problem.
Ein Volk. Eine Nation. Keine exotischen Haustiere!
There simply isn't a path to the preventative measures that aren't so draconian that they cannot be used for other, oppressive, means.
What we can do is collapse legal barriers to killing non-native invasive wildlife where ever it is found.
For a state with billions to spend on all kinds of bullshit, this fishing event, should not be offering chump change as prizes. Free tank fills? How about a complete new rig, and classes, for you and 10 friends who only have to show one tail each to keep the gear?
Lift bans on shooting inside residential areas while cranking down HARD on backstop prosecutions. Tell someone who shoots an iguana off their neighbor's fence with a pellet gun, "good job," instead of, "here's your fine for..."
Add fines for nests of the damn things.
Get serious. If you're trying to eradicate something it should be 24/7/365 no-limit, no-license.
It hits big buttons for me.
Many of the invasive species, and most of the worst, around here got their start as pets, or intended pets.
They were released into the wild when their upkeep became untenable to the owner.
To me, owning a pet is a lifetime commitment. Yours or its.
You take on a pet you will see it to its end if you don't die first. You do NOT turn it loose to fend for itself.
Murderers are a step down from someone who abandons an animal.
Not least is the probability that your former pet will not last long in the wild and will suffer a lingering death from exposure and starvation.
Or the thing will thrive because the environment is ideal and there's no predation. This is where way too many of our non-native invasive species came from.
I've lost track of all the species we've lost to extinction because we imported cats and rabbits to the environment.
I'm watching other species, like iguanas and pythons screwing up Florida.
I just found out about lionfish. Again I am disappointed at our inability to find a way to eradicate a species we want gone.
One solution is to ban exotic pets, or so severely regulate them we can determine who released their pet into the wild. This keeps the population you're trying to get rid of from being renewed by the same pool that started the problem.
Ein Volk. Eine Nation. Keine exotischen Haustiere!
There simply isn't a path to the preventative measures that aren't so draconian that they cannot be used for other, oppressive, means.
What we can do is collapse legal barriers to killing non-native invasive wildlife where ever it is found.
For a state with billions to spend on all kinds of bullshit, this fishing event, should not be offering chump change as prizes. Free tank fills? How about a complete new rig, and classes, for you and 10 friends who only have to show one tail each to keep the gear?
Lift bans on shooting inside residential areas while cranking down HARD on backstop prosecutions. Tell someone who shoots an iguana off their neighbor's fence with a pellet gun, "good job," instead of, "here's your fine for..."
Add fines for nests of the damn things.
Get serious. If you're trying to eradicate something it should be 24/7/365 no-limit, no-license.
15 December 2019
14 December 2019
We Need To Remember Something
I am sick of reading about our inability to wipe out invasive species while also being berated for wiping out others.
I think we need to remember we're the apex predator on the planet and start snuffing some lower life.
We should also start doing something about the people who harbor such life on their property.
I think we need to remember we're the apex predator on the planet and start snuffing some lower life.
We should also start doing something about the people who harbor such life on their property.
Virginia National Guard Adjutant General Issues Statement
An AG sure can say nothing with a lot of words, can't he.
“We have received multiple questions regarding proposed legislation for the 2020 General Assembly session and the authority of the Governor of Virginia to employ the Virginia National Guard in a law enforcement role. Please make sure you share this message with your all of your personnel.
We understand and respect the passion people feel for the U.S. Constitution and 2nd Amendment rights. We will not speculate about the possible use of the Virginia National Guard. I encourage everyone to be patient while we allow our elected officials to work through the legislative process.
We have not received any requests from the Governor, or anyone on his staff, about serving in a law enforcement role related to any proposed legislation.
I expect our Soldiers, Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force to be professional and respectful in their discussions about this subject. As private citizens, our personnel are free to express their opinions to their elected officials, but they should not engage in any political activity while in a uniformed status.
We will provide regular updates when appropriate during the General Assembly session. Please utilize your chain of command to direct any questions or concerns to my office, and we will do our best to address them.”
Once you get to field grade, your skill set is more along the lines of a politician than a straight leader, so it's to be expected.
It would appear, though, that his office is getting lots and lots of requests for information.
That could be a good thing.
He's almost certainly in communication with higher and asking, "Well, what the fuck am I supposed to do?"
Second Batch
If you remember me posting RAND's analysis of the CMP 1911 program...
The likelihood of a second batch seemed doubtful.
It appears that a second delivery of pistols has been, ever so quietly, to the CMP.
From ARFCOM:
Golly gee willickers Mr Johnson, I think if you'd learn to communicate there would have been a lot less furor.
There's a shit ton of "because we said so" from the CMP and they broke NO asking of "why".
Their means of disseminating information virtually guarantees misunderstanding and rancor.
It should have been a clue to them that so many people kept asking the same questions and saying the explanations didn't make sense.
It should not have taken, literal, years to suss out the truth, especially when it turns out the explanations were simple and straightforward. It was the cagey manner the CMP replied to the repeated inquiries that got people's blood up and convinced them that something untoward was going on in Aniston.
It's good, however, that they got more guns and are filling the orders as promised.
It would have been better if this ball had gotten rolling in the early 90's and Cap'n Crunch had not been so well fed.
The likelihood of a second batch seemed doubtful.
It appears that a second delivery of pistols has been, ever so quietly, to the CMP.
From ARFCOM:
Just finished the CMP Advanced Maintenance Class.
Straight from Mark Johnson, they are into their 2nd batch of 1911s. He is keeping it on the down low due to the furor about everything 1911 and the CMP.
Golly gee willickers Mr Johnson, I think if you'd learn to communicate there would have been a lot less furor.
There's a shit ton of "because we said so" from the CMP and they broke NO asking of "why".
Their means of disseminating information virtually guarantees misunderstanding and rancor.
It should have been a clue to them that so many people kept asking the same questions and saying the explanations didn't make sense.
It should not have taken, literal, years to suss out the truth, especially when it turns out the explanations were simple and straightforward. It was the cagey manner the CMP replied to the repeated inquiries that got people's blood up and convinced them that something untoward was going on in Aniston.
It's good, however, that they got more guns and are filling the orders as promised.
It would have been better if this ball had gotten rolling in the early 90's and Cap'n Crunch had not been so well fed.
I Hate The Accusation
I am getting sick, as a sci-fi fan, of being accused of being sexist and not accepting of female characters.
Well, one of my absolute favorite characters is Chrisjen Avasarala from The Expanse.
OK, accusers...
She's not young, blonde and hot.
But she's absolutely great!
PS: I would pay money to listen to Shohreh Aghdashloo read off her grocery list.
Well, one of my absolute favorite characters is Chrisjen Avasarala from The Expanse.
OK, accusers...
She's not young, blonde and hot.
But she's absolutely great!
PS: I would pay money to listen to Shohreh Aghdashloo read off her grocery list.
Minimum Standards
Speaking as someone who's been approached by white supremacists who wanted me to join...
The first requirement to BE one is to be white.
This guy is NOT white.
The organization he's associated with even has black in its name.
You know, the opposite of white...
The first requirement to BE one is to be white.
This guy is NOT white.
The organization he's associated with even has black in its name.
You know, the opposite of white...
13 December 2019
Worst Hitler Evah
FuzzyGeff reports, but is unable to relocate the Twitter thread, that President Trump's recent executive order granting legally protected status under Title 6 of the 1964 Civil Rights Act to Jews has elicited a response to the effect of:
"That's exactly how Hitler got started!"
Uh...
Um...
OK, I have to ask, "Do you fucking Liberals even know who Hitler was?"
I am seriously beginning to wonder.
"That's exactly how Hitler got started!"
Uh...
Um...
OK, I have to ask, "Do you fucking Liberals even know who Hitler was?"
I am seriously beginning to wonder.
Doesn't Exist Any More
The nostalgia is odd.
With the birthday of US Cav so recently behind us...
I looked up some of the places I served.
Fort Knox is no longer the Armor Training Center.
Panzer Kaserne no longer has any tanks on it.
1-81 Armor still exists, but it's at Fort Benning. BENNING! The cursed home of the tanker's mortal foe: infantry! (That's not true, we loved the grunts and they loved us back; but we were rivals.)
3-34 Armor has been disbanded.
The people I did the exciting 6-month TDY with are still around, but I was more an accessory than a member.
With the birthday of US Cav so recently behind us...
I looked up some of the places I served.
Fort Knox is no longer the Armor Training Center.
Panzer Kaserne no longer has any tanks on it.
1-81 Armor still exists, but it's at Fort Benning. BENNING! The cursed home of the tanker's mortal foe: infantry! (That's not true, we loved the grunts and they loved us back; but we were rivals.)
3-34 Armor has been disbanded.
The people I did the exciting 6-month TDY with are still around, but I was more an accessory than a member.
Ultra Rich
The "cheap" Mosins in the gun safe appear to have appreciated a bit...
AIM Surplus is selling Izhevsk M1891/30 with a high-wall round receiver for $339.99 and with a "hex" receiver for $359.99.
Complete with bayonet, sling and sundries!
By way of comparison, Palmetto State Armory sells a Savage Axis in .308 with a scope already on it for $324.96.
The days of modding a Mosin into a hunting or "sniper" rifle are done.
AIM Surplus is selling Izhevsk M1891/30 with a high-wall round receiver for $339.99 and with a "hex" receiver for $359.99.
Complete with bayonet, sling and sundries!
By way of comparison, Palmetto State Armory sells a Savage Axis in .308 with a scope already on it for $324.96.
The days of modding a Mosin into a hunting or "sniper" rifle are done.
Why Yes We Are
I have noticed that we're talking about open rebellion on several blogs and pro-gun sites.
Something else I've noticed is a lack of, "Shhhhh!" about it.
I am sure there are a few "pro-gun" sites that are saying to shut up, but I'm not going to bother clicking over because they stopped being on our side a while back.
And there are oh so many of them in the wake, aren't there?
It's sad.
The thing is, open rebellion is one path that this destruction of our rights could always have taken.
The decision about it happening isn't really on our side of the fence.
The other side has convinced themselves that when push comes to shove, and after we've had a good long hissy fit, we're going to submit and that will be it.
That's why they don't back off.
And this is another place where the "pro-gun" sites have been aiding the enemy.
They've been condemning the people screaming loudest for quite a while.
They even have cutesy names for those who're being boldest and clearest about where the anti-rights movement is going to take us.
There's some on the pro-rights side that seemed a bit too eager for it to start, I'll grant that; but too many of "us" stood there for too long condemning even talking about it.
Well, it's here and they sure seem quiet about it now.
Damn.
We pebbles aren't going to get a vote in the, already begun, avalanche.
Something else I've noticed is a lack of, "Shhhhh!" about it.
I am sure there are a few "pro-gun" sites that are saying to shut up, but I'm not going to bother clicking over because they stopped being on our side a while back.
And there are oh so many of them in the wake, aren't there?
It's sad.
The thing is, open rebellion is one path that this destruction of our rights could always have taken.
The decision about it happening isn't really on our side of the fence.
The other side has convinced themselves that when push comes to shove, and after we've had a good long hissy fit, we're going to submit and that will be it.
That's why they don't back off.
And this is another place where the "pro-gun" sites have been aiding the enemy.
They've been condemning the people screaming loudest for quite a while.
They even have cutesy names for those who're being boldest and clearest about where the anti-rights movement is going to take us.
There's some on the pro-rights side that seemed a bit too eager for it to start, I'll grant that; but too many of "us" stood there for too long condemning even talking about it.
Well, it's here and they sure seem quiet about it now.
Damn.
We pebbles aren't going to get a vote in the, already begun, avalanche.
It Will Imported
I've seen in a couple of comment threads discussing the likelihood of the law actually being enforced in Virginia where the local law enforcement and National Guard members are the exact same people the law will have to be enforced against.
They're not going to trust this "important" work to the locals.
Lemme back up.
The first hurdle is actually these local boys actually refusing the order to begin the confiscations and arrest people.
Historically the cops and military simply follow their orders to violate the rights of the citizens they swore to protect.
If they seem recalcitrant, there will be a meeting that assures them that they're safe from the enforcement of these laws if they just enforce them on everyone else. This, by the way, is why gun-control is normally backed by police unions and professional organizations: a carve out for the thin-blue-only-ones is always made.
Once it is made clear that they are unaffected by the new tyranny, they tend to be more eager to impose it on others.
Happily, that doesn't seem to be happening this time.
Which brings us to the, "Governor, they're not enforcing the law, just like they said they would," moment.
The cops refuse to arrest each other. The Guard units reported to their armories and are sitting on their hands.
Now what?
History has this moment recorded too.
Police and military from someplace else will be brought in.
The California Highway Patrol was instrumental in seizing weapons from survivors of Katrina in New Orleans. Seizures which included arrests and shooting resisting citizens who only wanted to defend their own homes.
It was bad enough that Florida even passed laws making it perfectly legal to remain armed on your own property after such a storm, and even during an evacuation order.
The imported law enforcement will not be friends and neighbors with the people they are sent to arrest.
The question becomes, "What happens next?"
New Orleans did have a few holdouts that refused to comply and got killed for their insistence on their rights. But the holdouts were sparse and separated from each other without any communication infrastructure to share their concerns.
Virginians, the time to move will be when out of state law enforcement is called, not when they arrive.
They're not going to trust this "important" work to the locals.
Lemme back up.
The first hurdle is actually these local boys actually refusing the order to begin the confiscations and arrest people.
Historically the cops and military simply follow their orders to violate the rights of the citizens they swore to protect.
If they seem recalcitrant, there will be a meeting that assures them that they're safe from the enforcement of these laws if they just enforce them on everyone else. This, by the way, is why gun-control is normally backed by police unions and professional organizations: a carve out for the thin-blue-only-ones is always made.
Once it is made clear that they are unaffected by the new tyranny, they tend to be more eager to impose it on others.
Happily, that doesn't seem to be happening this time.
Which brings us to the, "Governor, they're not enforcing the law, just like they said they would," moment.
The cops refuse to arrest each other. The Guard units reported to their armories and are sitting on their hands.
Now what?
History has this moment recorded too.
Police and military from someplace else will be brought in.
The California Highway Patrol was instrumental in seizing weapons from survivors of Katrina in New Orleans. Seizures which included arrests and shooting resisting citizens who only wanted to defend their own homes.
It was bad enough that Florida even passed laws making it perfectly legal to remain armed on your own property after such a storm, and even during an evacuation order.
The imported law enforcement will not be friends and neighbors with the people they are sent to arrest.
The question becomes, "What happens next?"
New Orleans did have a few holdouts that refused to comply and got killed for their insistence on their rights. But the holdouts were sparse and separated from each other without any communication infrastructure to share their concerns.
Virginians, the time to move will be when out of state law enforcement is called, not when they arrive.
12 December 2019
United States Cavalry's Birthday!
Today, in 1776, the first unit of US Cavalry was formed!
Of course, it was a regiment of dragoons rather than true cavalry; thus setting a trend that lasted until the horses got replaced by tracks.
Of course, it was a regiment of dragoons rather than true cavalry; thus setting a trend that lasted until the horses got replaced by tracks.
Is Virginia About To Get Sporty?
The Law is the Law.
On the first idea about prosecuting elected officials for creating these 2nd Amendment sanctuaries on behalf of their constituents... Who arrests the chief law enforcement officer when he and his entire department are doing what their community demands?
On the second idea of calling out the national guard? I guess we're going to see if us pessimists have been right about our troops and their officers obeying unlawful orders in violation of their service oaths.
(Hint: historically they obey the orders virtually every time).
On the first idea about prosecuting elected officials for creating these 2nd Amendment sanctuaries on behalf of their constituents... Who arrests the chief law enforcement officer when he and his entire department are doing what their community demands?
On the second idea of calling out the national guard? I guess we're going to see if us pessimists have been right about our troops and their officers obeying unlawful orders in violation of their service oaths.
(Hint: historically they obey the orders virtually every time).
11 December 2019
.44 Henry Vs Bison
Watching "Dances With Wolves" and the scene where Lt Dunbar offs a bison with his trust 1860 Henry...
An American Bison has 24 hit points and a HT of 15. The skull has DR 4 and the hide is DR 2.
They're tough hombres.
The Henry does 2d+1 pi+ damage.
Even with max damage, this is not a one-shot-stop with a body hit.
13 rolled would become 11 penetrating which becomes 16 delivered. A major wound, but hardly fatal.
Aiming carefully for the vitals, though, could get it done.
13 rolled becomes 11 penetrating for 33 delivered. One, count 'em, one death roll made at 15 or less. Plus a consciousness roll at the same chance.
The pesky ungulate is going to make those rolls 95.4% of the time.
Thumping it in the brain might work better, but getting through the skull with a max damage roll only yields 36 delivered.
Going for the much more difficult eye shot to get the DR 0 would up it to 52. Two death rolls!
In short, Lt Dunbar rolls really well on the vitals hit, and the bison crit-fails its HT roll to avoid being killed.
An American Bison has 24 hit points and a HT of 15. The skull has DR 4 and the hide is DR 2.
They're tough hombres.
The Henry does 2d+1 pi+ damage.
Even with max damage, this is not a one-shot-stop with a body hit.
13 rolled would become 11 penetrating which becomes 16 delivered. A major wound, but hardly fatal.
Aiming carefully for the vitals, though, could get it done.
13 rolled becomes 11 penetrating for 33 delivered. One, count 'em, one death roll made at 15 or less. Plus a consciousness roll at the same chance.
The pesky ungulate is going to make those rolls 95.4% of the time.
Thumping it in the brain might work better, but getting through the skull with a max damage roll only yields 36 delivered.
Going for the much more difficult eye shot to get the DR 0 would up it to 52. Two death rolls!
In short, Lt Dunbar rolls really well on the vitals hit, and the bison crit-fails its HT roll to avoid being killed.
Dear Hollywood...
The NASA T-38A is coming in for a landing...
They show the instrument panel as the astronaut candidate flips the gear lever.
She's coming in for a landing...
Altimeter reads 74,600 ft at 29.92 in-Hg.
Climb is pegged.
Airspeed is 225 KIAS.
Both engines are showing temperatures pegged to the bottom.
The one RPM gauge I can see shows zero.
Slow clap, Hollywood.
They show the instrument panel as the astronaut candidate flips the gear lever.
She's coming in for a landing...
Altimeter reads 74,600 ft at 29.92 in-Hg.
Climb is pegged.
Airspeed is 225 KIAS.
Both engines are showing temperatures pegged to the bottom.
The one RPM gauge I can see shows zero.
Slow clap, Hollywood.
Connect The Red Wire To The Red Plug
Getting ready to get The Boy off to school this morning and I noticed that the display for the thermostat was blank.
Replacing the batteries did not restore function.
CRUD!
I don't want a super fancy smancy thermostat. I don't need to run my house AC with my phone, or want someone else to be able to.
I did want something fancier than a simple slider switch. I like to be able to read the temperature of the hallway.
To Lowe's!
My system is an easy 4-wire set-up and easy as pie to connect.
The panic comes from the display blinking "Cold On" and the AC compressor remaining silent.
"What did I do wrong?" I cry!
Turns out, nothing.
There's a built in five minute "compressor protection" mode.
This is not mentioned until the very last line of the instructions.
To me, this is something that should be mentioned with the "reconnect power and set thermostat" instruction.
Replacing the batteries did not restore function.
CRUD!
I don't want a super fancy smancy thermostat. I don't need to run my house AC with my phone, or want someone else to be able to.
I did want something fancier than a simple slider switch. I like to be able to read the temperature of the hallway.
To Lowe's!
My system is an easy 4-wire set-up and easy as pie to connect.
The panic comes from the display blinking "Cold On" and the AC compressor remaining silent.
"What did I do wrong?" I cry!
Turns out, nothing.
There's a built in five minute "compressor protection" mode.
This is not mentioned until the very last line of the instructions.
To me, this is something that should be mentioned with the "reconnect power and set thermostat" instruction.
10 December 2019
It's A Trap!
When you have a friend who's moving, you have to help.
Even if you're a broke-dick-mother-fucker.
I hate being broke-dick, I can't help as much as I think the friendship deserves, but I will definitely give it a game try!
On the plus side, they indicated they didn't want the neighbors to see the CENSORED number of gun cases...
That's only like 5% of the known guns...
I guess they're just throwing those away, so I can take them!
Downside: Fucking Brooksville? REALLY?
Going to lose a lot of time every day making the trip from Tarpon Springs to the southernmost reach of Yankee.
Even if you're a broke-dick-mother-fucker.
I hate being broke-dick, I can't help as much as I think the friendship deserves, but I will definitely give it a game try!
On the plus side, they indicated they didn't want the neighbors to see the CENSORED number of gun cases...
That's only like 5% of the known guns...
I guess they're just throwing those away, so I can take them!
Downside: Fucking Brooksville? REALLY?
Going to lose a lot of time every day making the trip from Tarpon Springs to the southernmost reach of Yankee.
For Dismantling?
I was looking at the rafters (on TV) of The Ice Palace Amalie Arena during the VERY disappointing hockey last night.
I noticed that many of the i-beams are bolted together.
It occurred to me to wonder, "Is this so they can take the building apart?"
This seems doubtful.
I noticed that many of the i-beams are bolted together.
It occurred to me to wonder, "Is this so they can take the building apart?"
This seems doubtful.
Deer Season Opener
You'd think that if guns were truly the problem, then every deer season would be a massacre of epic proportions.
Penacola Shooter Was An Unmanly Pussy
Trusting Google Translate to express it in terms that his fellow savages can understand:
كانت العضوة المهزلة التي قتلت ثلاثة أبطال في بينساكولا ، رغم خبأتها الإباحية ، كل امرأة.
It would have been far better for her family to have raised a man instead of sending their daughter to train in America for a job beneath her.
I think it should be up to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prove they've got both balls and honor before anything lacking US markings flies there again.
Your pilot murdered three of ours? Durandal all the runways.
كانت العضوة المهزلة التي قتلت ثلاثة أبطال في بينساكولا ، رغم خبأتها الإباحية ، كل امرأة.
It would have been far better for her family to have raised a man instead of sending their daughter to train in America for a job beneath her.
I think it should be up to The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to prove they've got both balls and honor before anything lacking US markings flies there again.
Your pilot murdered three of ours? Durandal all the runways.
09 December 2019
I Am Surprised That I Am Actually Shocked
Television advertising in the 1970's lied to me.
An actor presented himself as Clarence Birdseye in ads touting the virtues of Birdseye brand frozen veggies.
Clarence had been dead for 20 years when those ads aired and my sister and I totally bought that it was Clarence was appearing in them.
An actor presented himself as Clarence Birdseye in ads touting the virtues of Birdseye brand frozen veggies.
Clarence had been dead for 20 years when those ads aired and my sister and I totally bought that it was Clarence was appearing in them.
It's A Flaw
The biggest problem about our two party situation is any political position will be claimed by one party and opposed by the other.
It's how we get a situation where an LGBT person cannot profess to owning a gun because gun rights and LGBT rights are on different sides of the aisle from each other.
Being Godless Atheist myself, I've occasionally been confronted for my conservatism because that's somehow a Right-Wing-Christian exclusive thing.
Atheists are supposed to be liberals, I guess.
Being a conservative and pro-gun also means I'm not supposed to support LGBT rights.
Who decided this?
It's especially galling that admitting you're a Republican in this day and age somehow makes you racist.
Perhaps to the history deprived this could be true.
They don't seem to know who the first Republican president was.
The Civil Rights Act is often touted as a Democrat victory, but it barely got 60% of Democrats in Congress to vote for it while 80% of Republicans did.
Even so, it would have failed without the martyrdom of Kennedy that was exploited by LBJ. The jury remains out if the act actually helped minorities or if it's been the tool used to reduce them to a marginalized status, only useful for their en-bloc voting habits.
It's how we get a situation where an LGBT person cannot profess to owning a gun because gun rights and LGBT rights are on different sides of the aisle from each other.
Being Godless Atheist myself, I've occasionally been confronted for my conservatism because that's somehow a Right-Wing-Christian exclusive thing.
Atheists are supposed to be liberals, I guess.
Being a conservative and pro-gun also means I'm not supposed to support LGBT rights.
Who decided this?
It's especially galling that admitting you're a Republican in this day and age somehow makes you racist.
Perhaps to the history deprived this could be true.
They don't seem to know who the first Republican president was.
The Civil Rights Act is often touted as a Democrat victory, but it barely got 60% of Democrats in Congress to vote for it while 80% of Republicans did.
Even so, it would have failed without the martyrdom of Kennedy that was exploited by LBJ. The jury remains out if the act actually helped minorities or if it's been the tool used to reduce them to a marginalized status, only useful for their en-bloc voting habits.
But Wait
Going over my notes I realized that I contradicted myself a bit.
In dealing with The Blight and the undead, I explicitly stated that Christian burial rites were sufficient to keep a corpse lying in peace.
That means that Christian rituals have magical power or, at least, power over magic.
In GURPS, the religious equivalent to mana level is the sanctity level.
I can imagine that there wouldn't be a lot of sanctity for any religion outside it's consecrated ground.
That coincides with what I've stated about a Christian burial being sufficient to prevent the dead from its grave. Graveyards are consecrated.
It's a delicate thing to do and I don't wish to show any disrespect while creating this world.
In dealing with The Blight and the undead, I explicitly stated that Christian burial rites were sufficient to keep a corpse lying in peace.
That means that Christian rituals have magical power or, at least, power over magic.
In GURPS, the religious equivalent to mana level is the sanctity level.
I can imagine that there wouldn't be a lot of sanctity for any religion outside it's consecrated ground.
That coincides with what I've stated about a Christian burial being sufficient to prevent the dead from its grave. Graveyards are consecrated.
It's a delicate thing to do and I don't wish to show any disrespect while creating this world.
Tying My Harebrained Ideas Together
One reason I am a GM and not a novelist is I am presented my worlds in snippets rather than as whole.
But every once and a while things click together.
A recurring theme is mixing history with magic.
Old West has failed at least three times for various reasons.
It's the never played fragments that are trying to merge in my mind.
Magic "wakes up" in a burst during The Great War. The trench lines become a necromatic wasteland now known as "The Blight". WW1 ended differently because the warring powers needed to deal with The Blight. It was rapidly obvious that it was a problem that couldn't be ignored in the hopes that it would take out the other side first.
The awakening was a bad day for many as they found they suddenly knew complete grimoires entire.
Many were driven insane.
Those that weren't were now powerful mages. They formed the Mage's Guild.
The guild and its attendant athame, used with permission from Lawrence Watt-Evans, I've made details for a prohibition era setting that never was played.
There's people who can do magic without casting spells. They are outside The Guild and are known as Warlocks. GURPS has a vast advantage set for this.
Then there's religious magic. All the "old ways" also returned with magic awake again. All of the old pagan rituals (and even some mysticism from the monotheisms) work again, and don't operate under the same principles as The Guild's magic.
Russia is White.
The nobility of Europe is mostly intact, as are the pre-war nations.
The Roaring 20's still happen because magic is an endless bounty with no down sides.
The Great Depression still happens because of the world's economy adjusting to magic.
WW2 happens, but without a holocaust.
And this is where it stops merging, but I have a decent idea of where the world IS in 1959 and what I want it to be. I'm just having trouble bridging the twenty year gap from 1939.
I want it to be very similar to real history and I think I can get there despite the changes I've made.
Just need a good Cold War substitute.
There's some sticky wickets with religion and magic. How greatly does one offend if one declares that the reason The Holocaust doesn't happen is because the Rabbis can summon real aid with their prayers in the Holiest of Holies?
Would I end up on a neck-cutting list if, after letting Jewish prayers work, I say that Christians have no equivalent and Islamic mysticism is merely magic?
Playing around with the real world can be icky and dangerous in ones fantasy world.
An undercurrent could be played that religious magic is not divine power at all, simply religious rituals tapping into a different form of magic than mana.
Theology and Thaumatology are real sciences here.
But every once and a while things click together.
A recurring theme is mixing history with magic.
Old West has failed at least three times for various reasons.
It's the never played fragments that are trying to merge in my mind.
Magic "wakes up" in a burst during The Great War. The trench lines become a necromatic wasteland now known as "The Blight". WW1 ended differently because the warring powers needed to deal with The Blight. It was rapidly obvious that it was a problem that couldn't be ignored in the hopes that it would take out the other side first.
The awakening was a bad day for many as they found they suddenly knew complete grimoires entire.
Many were driven insane.
Those that weren't were now powerful mages. They formed the Mage's Guild.
The guild and its attendant athame, used with permission from Lawrence Watt-Evans, I've made details for a prohibition era setting that never was played.
There's people who can do magic without casting spells. They are outside The Guild and are known as Warlocks. GURPS has a vast advantage set for this.
Then there's religious magic. All the "old ways" also returned with magic awake again. All of the old pagan rituals (and even some mysticism from the monotheisms) work again, and don't operate under the same principles as The Guild's magic.
Russia is White.
The nobility of Europe is mostly intact, as are the pre-war nations.
The Roaring 20's still happen because magic is an endless bounty with no down sides.
The Great Depression still happens because of the world's economy adjusting to magic.
WW2 happens, but without a holocaust.
And this is where it stops merging, but I have a decent idea of where the world IS in 1959 and what I want it to be. I'm just having trouble bridging the twenty year gap from 1939.
I want it to be very similar to real history and I think I can get there despite the changes I've made.
Just need a good Cold War substitute.
There's some sticky wickets with religion and magic. How greatly does one offend if one declares that the reason The Holocaust doesn't happen is because the Rabbis can summon real aid with their prayers in the Holiest of Holies?
Would I end up on a neck-cutting list if, after letting Jewish prayers work, I say that Christians have no equivalent and Islamic mysticism is merely magic?
Playing around with the real world can be icky and dangerous in ones fantasy world.
An undercurrent could be played that religious magic is not divine power at all, simply religious rituals tapping into a different form of magic than mana.
Theology and Thaumatology are real sciences here.
08 December 2019
Technology
When you have players, when you're a 16 year old GM, who are masters and doctorate candidates in science and engineering...
You learn how things are done.
Two things that keeps coming up over and over when watching Hollywood and swords...
First: Swords made from steel are NOT cast. While crucible steel is molten, it's never seen as a liquid by the smith.
Second: The sparks are from hammering out impurities. Good steel is done with that by the time you're forming the blade.
There's numerous recreations of the historical processes out there for Hollywood to look at.
I really wish they would!
You learn how things are done.
Two things that keeps coming up over and over when watching Hollywood and swords...
First: Swords made from steel are NOT cast. While crucible steel is molten, it's never seen as a liquid by the smith.
Second: The sparks are from hammering out impurities. Good steel is done with that by the time you're forming the blade.
There's numerous recreations of the historical processes out there for Hollywood to look at.
I really wish they would!
07 December 2019
Bought On Veteran's Day
Tampa Bay Brewing Company makes 200 cans of this every year.
It seems appropriate to uncork it on Pearl Harbor Day.
Especially as that day is quickly leaving living memory.
It seems appropriate to uncork it on Pearl Harbor Day.
Especially as that day is quickly leaving living memory.
The Goal
When you start blaming the victim of a crime for the criminal act, you become blinded to the idea of punishing the criminal.
You focus on ways to make your property less enticing to the criminal.
You inconvenience yourself to make the crime more difficult to carry out, but you do it oh so righteously because you will blame yourself for the crime if you're preyed upon and wearing the hair-shirt atones for your sin of owning something worth stealing.
In short, you ignore the criminal and their agency in the crime.
Without the actions of the criminal it does not matter how valuable the item is, or how well it was secured.
But I don't see much condemnation of the actions of the criminal, it's as if it's been decided that criminals are like the weather; something we have no control over and if you didn't want your seats wet, you should have rolled up your windows.
But we do have control over criminals, control we've given up.
We don't punish them if they're caught.
We don't even look very hard for them.
We have far more laws binding the hands of citizens to prevent burglary and theft than we do to stop the theft in the first place.
The thieves are aware that they're very unlikely to be apprehended and even less likely to have to endure serious punishment even if convicted.
The goal should not be to figure out ways to keep the thieves away, the goal should be to eliminate the thieves.
No more than an hour in a sewage grinder seems appropriate.
We've decided that some crimes don't rate capitol punishment because the amounts stolen are small; but that just encourages the criminals.
Just look at the new shoplifting laws in some places. As long as what was taken is below a certain dollar threshold, no police investigation.
Anarchy without retribution or vendetta.
Soon enough, without enforcement of the small laws, retribution and vendetta return on their own.
To really grasp why this is bad crack open a history book on the mafia and see where they started.
It's eye opening.
Saw It Coming But Still Sad
Digital media is supplanting and killing print.
19 car magazines which will no longer be printed next year.
I remember buying, subscribing and reading many of those titles.
I also remember when the builds stopped being informative "how-to" articles and started becoming lists of partsthey bought advertisers gave them.
I remember when the "budget" build could be done by someone who didn't have a six figure salary and I was subscribing when the budget build passed the crate motor from Summit in price.
Inevitable, I suppose, that these mags should die.
When the supply of cars you can build up gets so expensive that only an investment banker can afford a rusted hulk and the price of the engine approaches the price of a new car... Who are you writing these articles for?
19 car magazines which will no longer be printed next year.
I remember buying, subscribing and reading many of those titles.
I also remember when the builds stopped being informative "how-to" articles and started becoming lists of parts
I remember when the "budget" build could be done by someone who didn't have a six figure salary and I was subscribing when the budget build passed the crate motor from Summit in price.
Inevitable, I suppose, that these mags should die.
When the supply of cars you can build up gets so expensive that only an investment banker can afford a rusted hulk and the price of the engine approaches the price of a new car... Who are you writing these articles for?
06 December 2019
Ozymandius
I've listened to this song since it came out and never once paid attention to the lyrics.
Sure sounds like a retelling of Ozymandius, don't it?
Sure sounds like a retelling of Ozymandius, don't it?
An Oddly Cheering Thought
Today I broke my personal record for consecutive number of days existing.
I plan on breaking it again tomorrow!
As long as I can keep this up, I'm not doing too bad at all.
I find that amazingly uplifting.
I plan on breaking it again tomorrow!
As long as I can keep this up, I'm not doing too bad at all.
I find that amazingly uplifting.
Again With The Navy Gun Free Zoning
This time in Pensacola.
I've been to Pensacola to get to the museum, they don't exactly frisk you at the gate looking for guns, but it is officially a gun free post.
I also wonder when reading the stories about Pearl Harbor and Pensacola: What became of the Navy's cops?
Both bases had a heavy response of local, civilian, law enforcement.
Even though Fort Knox was an open post when I was doing OSUT, the Military Police was the only police force on post.
I've been to Pensacola to get to the museum, they don't exactly frisk you at the gate looking for guns, but it is officially a gun free post.
I also wonder when reading the stories about Pearl Harbor and Pensacola: What became of the Navy's cops?
Both bases had a heavy response of local, civilian, law enforcement.
Even though Fort Knox was an open post when I was doing OSUT, the Military Police was the only police force on post.
05 December 2019
Turn Your Traction Control Back On
The Lovely Harvey witnessed a Jaguar F-Type do the fishtail dance into a spin that culminated in it backing into the center dividing wall.
She says that right before they lost traction they were goosing it to pass.
I've lost count of the number of times I've seen an accident stemming from shutting off the electronic stability.
Repeat after me: Unless you are an actual professional race-car driver you're not skilled enough to handle the stupid power so many of these cars make.
Especially when you leave the summer-only tires on that don't have any traction below 50˚F.
She says that right before they lost traction they were goosing it to pass.
I've lost count of the number of times I've seen an accident stemming from shutting off the electronic stability.
Repeat after me: Unless you are an actual professional race-car driver you're not skilled enough to handle the stupid power so many of these cars make.
Especially when you leave the summer-only tires on that don't have any traction below 50˚F.
Dank Kush
If I can smell you smoking pot from half a block away, that means a deputy driving past can too.
Just sayin'...
It's also cute that my father-in-law didn't admit to knowing what the smell was after raising The Lovely Harvey...
It's not even a secret, she's proud of being a recovering addict these past 30 some odd years.
Just sayin'...
It's also cute that my father-in-law didn't admit to knowing what the smell was after raising The Lovely Harvey...
It's not even a secret, she's proud of being a recovering addict these past 30 some odd years.
04 December 2019
Unpossible!
In a state with some of the most restrictive gun control, Hawaii, in a gun-free zone; someone still managed to murder two people and injure another before proceeding to off themselves.
I'm starting to think that gun control doesn't save lives at all.
I'm starting to think that gun control doesn't save lives at all.
Sancho! Another Lance!
I have to admire his optimism, given the current party mix in The House.
HR 5289.
It would remove SBR's from the NFA.
In light of how many "pistols" are out there using braces as stocks, it's kind of already happened to them, they just need to make it all legal.
Otherwise we could see a bumpstock situation where the ATF issues a "we changed our mind!" letter and makes instant criminals of lots of people.
HR 5289.
It would remove SBR's from the NFA.
In light of how many "pistols" are out there using braces as stocks, it's kind of already happened to them, they just need to make it all legal.
Otherwise we could see a bumpstock situation where the ATF issues a "we changed our mind!" letter and makes instant criminals of lots of people.
A Small Omission
Reading this article linked by The Smallest Minority.
The FBI fails to complete about 200,000 background checks each year out of millions.
While they mention that about 1.4% of the checks that take longer than 3-days to complete result in a denial; they don't mention how many of the nine-million or so background checks that are completed result in a denial.
I'm guessing that there aren't many at all, or they'd be talking about how dire the straits are with all these criminals trying to buy guns.
Considering how the rate of gun related violence has been dropping while the supply of guns has been climbing.
I'm going to speculate that anyone who's background is sufficiently muddy that the FBI cannot find a reason to deny them in 88 days either has nothing disqualifying in it, they're damn good at hiding it or the people responsible for keeping these records straight at grossly incompetent.
Considering the number of cases involving people who should have been denied shooting others, I think the last explanation survives Occam's Razor.
The FBI fails to complete about 200,000 background checks each year out of millions.
While they mention that about 1.4% of the checks that take longer than 3-days to complete result in a denial; they don't mention how many of the nine-million or so background checks that are completed result in a denial.
I'm guessing that there aren't many at all, or they'd be talking about how dire the straits are with all these criminals trying to buy guns.
Considering how the rate of gun related violence has been dropping while the supply of guns has been climbing.
 |
| Graphic from: https://graphicalrepresentation.wordpress.com/ |
Considering the number of cases involving people who should have been denied shooting others, I think the last explanation survives Occam's Razor.
What's Behind Us Is Not Important
The intertubes have been a quiver with the news that the time for The Cannonball Run has been bested again.
It should probably be a clue to someone how this flagrant violation of traffic laws and regulations is being celebrated.
You cannot long suppress a people who do things like this.
It should probably be a clue to someone how this flagrant violation of traffic laws and regulations is being celebrated.
You cannot long suppress a people who do things like this.
Missed It By "THAT" Much
Making more permanent ramps for the Mother In Law.
This is thirteen 60-lb. bags of Sackrete.
I bought ten more this morning.
Sow Division
When you sow division, you reap oppression.
Everyone who's freaking out about Virginia's "new" "ban" on gun training should be thrilled.
The real new thing is the ban on being armed while protesting.
Y'all are the folks who so despise open carry, congratulations!
This is what you were demanding when you started insulting the people who wanted rights past what your Stockholm's Syndrome could handle.
Our enemies don't need to divide and conquer, they just have to wait for your prefragmentations to take effect.
Slow clap.
PS: which open carry event caused this? Because that's the root of all gun control according to y'all.
What? Nothing? Nobody?
Almost as if they hate us completely no matter what we do and YOU played into their hands by sowing division rather than unity.
It's astonishing you have the temerity to call others idiots.
Everyone who's freaking out about Virginia's "new" "ban" on gun training should be thrilled.
The real new thing is the ban on being armed while protesting.
3. Assembles with one or more persons with the intent of intimidating any person or group of persons by drilling, parading, or marching with any firearm, any explosive or incendiary device, or any components or combination thereof.
Y'all are the folks who so despise open carry, congratulations!
This is what you were demanding when you started insulting the people who wanted rights past what your Stockholm's Syndrome could handle.
Our enemies don't need to divide and conquer, they just have to wait for your prefragmentations to take effect.
Slow clap.
PS: which open carry event caused this? Because that's the root of all gun control according to y'all.
What? Nothing? Nobody?
Almost as if they hate us completely no matter what we do and YOU played into their hands by sowing division rather than unity.
It's astonishing you have the temerity to call others idiots.
02 December 2019
Called It!
Narwhal tusk surrender bins installed around London.
Sure, it's Babylon Bee, but Snopes hasn't refuted it yet so it must be true.
Sure, it's Babylon Bee, but Snopes hasn't refuted it yet so it must be true.
The Review
Without any way to test terminal performance, we decided to see if the Federal Syntech Defence 138gr SJHP, that Widener's sent me, would fire and function in a variety of pistols.
All shooting was at 7 yards with Marv, Willard and I trading off the shooting duties.
First off, can you really claim it's in 9mm Luger if a Luger won't shoot it?
I loaded seven round and got two stoppages. The second of which jammed the nose of the round hard against the back of the barrel.
Many pics below the cut:
All shooting was at 7 yards with Marv, Willard and I trading off the shooting duties.
First off, can you really claim it's in 9mm Luger if a Luger won't shoot it?
I loaded seven round and got two stoppages. The second of which jammed the nose of the round hard against the back of the barrel.
Many pics below the cut:
Context Matters
I got pictures of a bear and two cougars means completely different things depending on if you're talking about the bar district or a trail cam.
01 December 2019
Perishible Skill
My groups have opened up to an embarrassing degree because I have not been shooting regularly of late.
I really hate my new glasses, which do not help my shooting a bit.
Long post on the Federal Syntech Defence 138gr review is coming!
I really hate my new glasses, which do not help my shooting a bit.
Long post on the Federal Syntech Defence 138gr review is coming!
Lemme Make A Prediction
The response in London will not be to make it easier for their citizens subjects to defend themselves.
Wanna bet the response will be to ban narwhal tusks and fire extinguishers?
I would also not be surprised to find they charge the person who wrestled the knife away from the perpetrator with possession of a knife and the people who intervened with assault.
Wanna bet the response will be to ban narwhal tusks and fire extinguishers?
I would also not be surprised to find they charge the person who wrestled the knife away from the perpetrator with possession of a knife and the people who intervened with assault.
Warren Again
Warren was cursed.
We, as GMs, didn't even pick on him.
He created his own luck.
Like when his character in Twilight: 2000 tried to drive a Humvee on a ruined road and fire through the windshield. There just isn't room to get an M16A2 into position to do what he was trying to do and he was unable to comprehend my explanation of how there wasn't enough space.
When the chips were down, you could count on Warren to roll the exact worst result the dice could give him.
Those of us who know the HMMWV well know how hard it is to roll one. That's how bad the dice treated Warren.
Sometimes it wasn't his fault at all.
In Traveller he once got flushed out of a cargo bay and into hyperspace.
He'd gotten wounded pretty good reducing the number of hijackers down significantly and FuzzyGeff's Hiver did the appropriate first aid, bundling him into a medical sleeping bag.
The action shifted to other players and parts of the ship for a while. They successfully managed to eliminate all of the hijackers but the ones in the cargo hold, where Warren and FuzzyGeff were hiding.
FuzzyGeff gets the bright idea to open the hatch on the hold because Hiver aren't susceptible to going insane from looking at it. He figured if the hard vacuum didn't get them, the sight of hyperspace would. Warren would be safe because he was in the med-bag and unconscious.
It worked too! The hijackers were sucked into space by the explosive decompression.
So was Warren.
FuzzyGeff had forgotten to tape him to the deck.
We, as GMs, didn't even pick on him.
He created his own luck.
Like when his character in Twilight: 2000 tried to drive a Humvee on a ruined road and fire through the windshield. There just isn't room to get an M16A2 into position to do what he was trying to do and he was unable to comprehend my explanation of how there wasn't enough space.
When the chips were down, you could count on Warren to roll the exact worst result the dice could give him.
Those of us who know the HMMWV well know how hard it is to roll one. That's how bad the dice treated Warren.
Sometimes it wasn't his fault at all.
In Traveller he once got flushed out of a cargo bay and into hyperspace.
He'd gotten wounded pretty good reducing the number of hijackers down significantly and FuzzyGeff's Hiver did the appropriate first aid, bundling him into a medical sleeping bag.
The action shifted to other players and parts of the ship for a while. They successfully managed to eliminate all of the hijackers but the ones in the cargo hold, where Warren and FuzzyGeff were hiding.
FuzzyGeff gets the bright idea to open the hatch on the hold because Hiver aren't susceptible to going insane from looking at it. He figured if the hard vacuum didn't get them, the sight of hyperspace would. Warren would be safe because he was in the med-bag and unconscious.
It worked too! The hijackers were sucked into space by the explosive decompression.
So was Warren.
FuzzyGeff had forgotten to tape him to the deck.
30 November 2019
I Knew It Would Come To This
That the Galil obsession would lead to making a character was a foregone conclusion.
What's not clear yet is what sort of character.
The character that originally wore this outfit is long lost.
It was for a Top Secret campaign where we were the most destructive hostage rescue team ever created.
"Run for your lives! We're here to help!" was our unofficial motto.
I'd start with the 50-rounder in an Galil ARM because fewer reloads and work my way through, literally, dozens of 35-rounders and copious amounts of grenades.
This team also had Warren.
Oh... poor Warren.
He was a great guy, but... let's say he didn't often see the implications of what he was doing.
In the same raid/rescue he became frustrated that his hand grenades weren't able to penetrate the thick glass at a security checkpoint we needed to breach. This was because they wouldn't stick to the glass.
So he had his character HOLD the grenade against the pane! You did not misread that, Troubleshooter.
After many attempts to keep from doing it, it was allowed and he got blowed up but good. But not dead.
So we stabilized his wounds and dragged him back to a nearby helipad to wait for extraction. We put him in the office at the pad because there was a Huey we'd liberally perforated earlier. Leaking fuel all over the pad level of perforations.
Warren, bless his heart, did try to role play and when the extraction helo was inbound, but we had not yet gotten back to the pad, he decided that since his radio was out and was out of contact with everyone that the helo could have belonged to the bad guys.
So he crawled out of the office to hide under the leaky Huey.
When he was informed that the incoming bird was marked as appropriate for our extract, he decided to signal them.
With. A. Flare.
KA-BOOM!
Well, the pilot definitely saw that signal...
What's not clear yet is what sort of character.
The character that originally wore this outfit is long lost.
It was for a Top Secret campaign where we were the most destructive hostage rescue team ever created.
"Run for your lives! We're here to help!" was our unofficial motto.
I'd start with the 50-rounder in an Galil ARM because fewer reloads and work my way through, literally, dozens of 35-rounders and copious amounts of grenades.
This team also had Warren.
Oh... poor Warren.
He was a great guy, but... let's say he didn't often see the implications of what he was doing.
In the same raid/rescue he became frustrated that his hand grenades weren't able to penetrate the thick glass at a security checkpoint we needed to breach. This was because they wouldn't stick to the glass.
So he had his character HOLD the grenade against the pane! You did not misread that, Troubleshooter.
After many attempts to keep from doing it, it was allowed and he got blowed up but good. But not dead.
So we stabilized his wounds and dragged him back to a nearby helipad to wait for extraction. We put him in the office at the pad because there was a Huey we'd liberally perforated earlier. Leaking fuel all over the pad level of perforations.
Warren, bless his heart, did try to role play and when the extraction helo was inbound, but we had not yet gotten back to the pad, he decided that since his radio was out and was out of contact with everyone that the helo could have belonged to the bad guys.
So he crawled out of the office to hide under the leaky Huey.
When he was informed that the incoming bird was marked as appropriate for our extract, he decided to signal them.
With. A. Flare.
KA-BOOM!
Well, the pilot definitely saw that signal...
No Need To Panic
The headline read "Winter Storm Warnings From Coast To Coast".
It was a little breezy, but hardly storm worthy from here all the way to Daytona.
Mid to high 70's.
Clear skies.
This fake news stuff has got to stop!
It was a little breezy, but hardly storm worthy from here all the way to Daytona.
Mid to high 70's.
Clear skies.
This fake news stuff has got to stop!
HAKKA PÄÄLLE!
80 years ago, today, The Winter War began as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics invaded the former Russian territory of Finland.
Akavit as soon as the sun is above the yard-arm.
Akavit as soon as the sun is above the yard-arm.
Technomad Speaks
The marriage vs civil union thing reminded me of something else happening in LGBTland.I'm not terribly friendly or sympathetic to gays as a group. I remember, all too well, the years when AIDS first appeared, and how it was the gays who marched in the streets and fought like scalded cats to keep their damn bath houses open...even though those places were known and obvious vectors for the disease. This doesn't strike me as well-thought-out, to put it very mildly. And their "pride" parades seem designed to honk off straights in a lot of ways.If all the gays wanted was to be left alone, I'd have to support them. But I notice that a lot of them seem to want, not just quiet acceptance, but outright applause...and that a lot of their shenanigans seem designed mainly to piss off the straights. This business with "He won't BAKE MY WEDDING CAKE!" is a perfect example. In the first place, about any urban area (where most gays are) has lots of bakeries and other such places---why not go down the street to the next one? In the second place, if you've got to have a cake from THAT bakery, what's so hard about buying a standard-issue wedding cake, replacing the figure on the top with a "two brides" or "two grooms" figure, and going with that? I can buy those dead cheap on Amazon, and I doubt that gays are less net-savvy than I am. In the third place---would YOU want to eat food made by someone who was more-or-less cooking it at gunpoint? I am not too trusting and wouldn't go near it, myself.I also notice that for all their howling about individual rights, I've never, not ONCE, seen "Big Gay" roll out the infantry, cavalry and artillery for anybody but themselves. Advocates of the decriminalization of prostitution have noticed that "Big Gay" is utterly silent on the subject, even though a lot of sex workers are, themselves, gay, and gay sex workers are generally treated even more harshly than straights by the pigs. With the honorable exception of the Pink Pistols, I also haven't seen gay groups rallying to the Second Amendment. I may be wrong, or misinformed, but my overall impression is that they're dominated by urban liberals who're convinced that guns are icky and the sole preserve of toothless rednecks.Their current leadership seems to be caught up in a mental place where, having got the rights they said they wanted, they're out on a crusade to get back at everybody who opposed them...as well as payback on Mommy and Daddy, the preacher, and everybody else who wasn't too pleased about them coming out as gay This strikes me as highly unwise, and as begging for a backlash against them that might just wipe out their gains.They could have had everything they wanted from marriage if they'd been willing to compromise on the word "marriage," calling it "civil union" or some such. But a lot of their leaders wouldn't have it so, because that way they couldn't go out of their way to find venues and businesses that didn't want to be part of things, so they could sue and sue and sue and whip up Twitter mobs. And I note that they got their damn ol' "Gay" "Marriage" via the courts. What the Supremes gave, the Supremes can take away, blessed be the name of the Supremes.I frankly think they're heading for a real nasty backlash against them, and I won't feel one little bit sorry for them. As Victor Suvorov comments, in what I think is a Russian proverb: "Greed ruined the priest."
What pronoun? When is someone a woman?
Both sides are fucking this up from different directions.
The conservative / religious side is demanding that the chromosomes define sex and therefore gender.
The liberal / LGBT side is demanding that the external or apparent gender define gender.
Both sides want the defined gender to determine how the person is treated and its the definitions which are the sticking point.
The problem is gender and sex aren't the same thing, no matter how blurred both sides have made it by shoving the definition of one to coincide with the other.
That chromosome is what decides the sex. Traditionally, in Western society, your gender follows your sex.
Traditionally.
What we have ended up with is people talking past each other very angrily because the terms are the same, but the definitions are different.
It's not helped that both sides have advocates who've chosen to be as big a prick about it as they possibly can be.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)