‘The EU Disapproves’: Brussels Angry Trump Acted on Coronavirus Without Their Permission
First off, we don't need your permission to do things.
Actually, that's the whole thing.
I'm kind of happy to watch the nation-state model, a proven model, return.
I am not surprised that they think we need their permission, we've been conceding to their demands for a long time.
PS:
This sort of thing is also a point of friction here in Florida when people from up north retire here. They firmly believe that the laws they grew up with are still in effect here.
It's doubly bad when we get people from other nations retiring here, or snow-birding. Canadians, in particular, don't seem to grasp that the US doesn't have the same laws and that each state has far more latitude in making law than their provinces.
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12 March 2020
Arrows
This book:
Finally stopped being a rare collectible and started being an old book!
$26 shipped instead of hundreds.
It's important to me because it has an entry for the Yugoslavian M60 anti-personnel rifle-grenade.
Willard has talked about these things and encountering them in Rhodesia. Nice to have a reference source for them.
GURPS stats are coming, you know they are...
Finally stopped being a rare collectible and started being an old book!
$26 shipped instead of hundreds.
It's important to me because it has an entry for the Yugoslavian M60 anti-personnel rifle-grenade.
Willard has talked about these things and encountering them in Rhodesia. Nice to have a reference source for them.
GURPS stats are coming, you know they are...
11 March 2020
Long Delayed Photo Shoot
Willard dropped this rifle off for me to take pictures of just about the same time I broke my PowerShot S5 IS.
I'm two cameras past that now...
I guess it's time to actually take the pictures.
It's, literally, covered in little proof marks.
Of note: no lend-lease British proofs on it anywhere.
I'm two cameras past that now...
I guess it's time to actually take the pictures.
It's, literally, covered in little proof marks.
Of note: no lend-lease British proofs on it anywhere.
Prep
When I first moved to Florida the entire idea of "hurricane" just hadn't penetrated my skull.
The first time I was confronted with one that might hit was a bit daunting and we were poor as dirt.
We were literally living check to check with not a penny to spare.
Thus, no prep.
Our neighbor across the street, however, was laying in carloads of food and water.
He, being a friendly sort of neighbor, came over to say 'hi' and asked if we were stocked up.
"Don't need to be," I said, "you bought plenty."
"Why would I share?" he asked, knowing there MUST be a punchline coming.
"Because your wife won't allow a gun in the house. If you cover us for food, I'll keep the looters off ya."
"Deal!" he says!
I was reminded by this by our local Bernie Bro dropping off his second pick-up load of supplies today.
I am further reminded when I see the renters kitty-corner from him eyeing the unloading.
I know that the Bernie Bro doesn't want me to help, because using a gun to protect mere property is "wrong".
But if the renters become looters, game-on!
The first time I was confronted with one that might hit was a bit daunting and we were poor as dirt.
We were literally living check to check with not a penny to spare.
Thus, no prep.
Our neighbor across the street, however, was laying in carloads of food and water.
He, being a friendly sort of neighbor, came over to say 'hi' and asked if we were stocked up.
"Don't need to be," I said, "you bought plenty."
"Why would I share?" he asked, knowing there MUST be a punchline coming.
"Because your wife won't allow a gun in the house. If you cover us for food, I'll keep the looters off ya."
"Deal!" he says!
I was reminded by this by our local Bernie Bro dropping off his second pick-up load of supplies today.
I am further reminded when I see the renters kitty-corner from him eyeing the unloading.
I know that the Bernie Bro doesn't want me to help, because using a gun to protect mere property is "wrong".
But if the renters become looters, game-on!
Mitigated
The mitigator limitation applied to a disadvantage reduces the point value.
The classic example is bad sight and glasses.
While you're wearing your glasses, your bad sight is mitigated.
A [-25] disad becomes [-10] because you don't have bad sight unless you lose your glasses.
Ultra-Tech and Magic bring to mind other mitigations.
Blindness is a [-50] disad.
The high technology solution would be artificial eyes. I'm envisioning (pun!) something that needs to be popped out at night and put on a charger to get the mitigation. Cyberpunk style cyber-eyes are body-powered and count as buying off the disad, not mitigating it.
Wizard eye would be a magic mitigator for blindness.
Oh to have a group to play with. I have character ideas.
The classic example is bad sight and glasses.
While you're wearing your glasses, your bad sight is mitigated.
A [-25] disad becomes [-10] because you don't have bad sight unless you lose your glasses.
Ultra-Tech and Magic bring to mind other mitigations.
Blindness is a [-50] disad.
The high technology solution would be artificial eyes. I'm envisioning (pun!) something that needs to be popped out at night and put on a charger to get the mitigation. Cyberpunk style cyber-eyes are body-powered and count as buying off the disad, not mitigating it.
Wizard eye would be a magic mitigator for blindness.
Oh to have a group to play with. I have character ideas.
10 March 2020
Explain Why Bottled Watter For The Quarantine
I'm watching people freak out over COVID-19 and see them hoarding bottled water.
Are you really expecting the taps to stop working?
Even Wuhan didn't lose power or water during this and they have the worst hit of anywhere.
And they wonder why we call them sheeple.
Are you really expecting the taps to stop working?
Even Wuhan didn't lose power or water during this and they have the worst hit of anywhere.
And they wonder why we call them sheeple.
Wow
For all of the doom and gloom, you'd think that gun control was inexorable and inevitable.
Of all the bills I mentioned here, only one appears, maybe, to be getting the governor's signature. It's in the started really bad but got neutral as it was amended category.
HB 311 was looking at passing the house when it was "temporarily postponed, on second reading" on 06Mar20. It's companion, SB 728, was transmitted to the house the same day as passed. It's now on the special order calendar.
There's a lot of vital business in between this bill and passage, so it could just die on the vine.
The other started really bad but got neutral as it was amended bill: CS/HB 183 has been on the calendar since 07Feb20, but the Senate version SB 1524 has sat, un-looked at since 14Jan20.
Jan 14 was filing day, apparently, because just about every gun control (and one pro-gun) bill just says "Last action: 1/14/2020 (chamber) Introduced (tracking number)".
The "idiocy" of legally open carrying to protest in to the infringed right did not result in SB 634 making it into committee or in the house generating a companion bill. I was promised that this would be passed! I guess the idiots aren't as dumb as some people think they are.
The only good bill this session, HB 273, is getting the same consideration as all the horrid ones. Languishing, ignored, since 14Jan20.
Of all the bills I mentioned here, only one appears, maybe, to be getting the governor's signature. It's in the started really bad but got neutral as it was amended category.
HB 311 was looking at passing the house when it was "temporarily postponed, on second reading" on 06Mar20. It's companion, SB 728, was transmitted to the house the same day as passed. It's now on the special order calendar.
There's a lot of vital business in between this bill and passage, so it could just die on the vine.
The other started really bad but got neutral as it was amended bill: CS/HB 183 has been on the calendar since 07Feb20, but the Senate version SB 1524 has sat, un-looked at since 14Jan20.
Jan 14 was filing day, apparently, because just about every gun control (and one pro-gun) bill just says "Last action: 1/14/2020 (chamber) Introduced (tracking number)".
The "idiocy" of legally open carrying to protest in to the infringed right did not result in SB 634 making it into committee or in the house generating a companion bill. I was promised that this would be passed! I guess the idiots aren't as dumb as some people think they are.
The only good bill this session, HB 273, is getting the same consideration as all the horrid ones. Languishing, ignored, since 14Jan20.
There Goes The Gun Vote
Campaign Manager: "Joe, while you're in Detroit talking to the UAW supporters, stay off gun-control."
Joe Biden: "Hold my beer!"
Mumbles Sniffyourhair manages to alienate both gun owners AND the union rank and file in one expletive filled gaffe.
Keep being you, Joe!
Joe Biden: "Hold my beer!"
Mumbles Sniffyourhair manages to alienate both gun owners AND the union rank and file in one expletive filled gaffe.
Keep being you, Joe!
In GURPS Pi = 3
Reminds me of this:
Broadsword is an all encompassing category in GURPS.
Cavalry sabers are broadswords.
Fencing sabers aren't.
No rules distinction is made between a French 1830, US 1840 "heavy" and US 1860 "light" sabers; they are all cavalry sabers on page 66 of Low Tech.
Broadsword is an all encompassing category in GURPS.
Cavalry sabers are broadswords.
Fencing sabers aren't.
No rules distinction is made between a French 1830, US 1840 "heavy" and US 1860 "light" sabers; they are all cavalry sabers on page 66 of Low Tech.
09 March 2020
Full Moon Revisted
With this camera and lens combination, you MUST use manual focus to get a sharp image and you MUST get the moon centered well enough to use two steps of "zoom" on the manual focus display.
It will look fine in the wide view, but blurry when you go narrower.
Tonight was a roaring success!
For the moon, I think smallest ISO, smallest f/ number, play with the shutter until you see what you want on the screen.
I am pleased with this, way more pleased than yesterday's effort.
It will look fine in the wide view, but blurry when you go narrower.
Tonight was a roaring success!
 |
Canon EOS M50 EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II at 250mm, f/5.6, 1/320", ISO 100
|
 |
| Same image cropped. |
For the moon, I think smallest ISO, smallest f/ number, play with the shutter until you see what you want on the screen.
I am pleased with this, way more pleased than yesterday's effort.
A Reminder
I just want to remind everyone that the stock market panicked way worse about the prospect of President Obama than it has over COVID-19 and unlimited oil production from Saudi and Russia.
It was the policies of 8 years of Democratic Socialism that kept it from being a blip.
I don't think we're going to have to deal with that this time.
It was the policies of 8 years of Democratic Socialism that kept it from being a blip.
I don't think we're going to have to deal with that this time.
Good Bad!
For years I've been listening to how high oil prices are BAD®!
Now that oil prices are in the basement, low oil prices are BAD®!
Low oil prices have caused the unlimited stakes gamblers to panic and run for other markets to make up for their losses in oil.
This causes the rest of the stock market to freak out.
I surely know how a medieval peasant felt once the planting was done and the local baron was feeling stroppy about the neighboring fief.
My life is affected by the decisions of degenerate gamblers who are not accountable to me in anyway just as a peasant would be by his lord deciding it was time to go to war.
But the stock market is a section of economics that pisses me off.
The reason it pisses me off is the media manages to portray every indicator as being bad, especially opposites.
It occurs to me that what's going on with COVID-19 and oil prices, and something that we should prolly address, is the mass media is screaming "fire" in a crowded theater when they try to provoke market panics to assault an elected official they don't like very much.
Now that oil prices are in the basement, low oil prices are BAD®!
Low oil prices have caused the unlimited stakes gamblers to panic and run for other markets to make up for their losses in oil.
This causes the rest of the stock market to freak out.
I surely know how a medieval peasant felt once the planting was done and the local baron was feeling stroppy about the neighboring fief.
My life is affected by the decisions of degenerate gamblers who are not accountable to me in anyway just as a peasant would be by his lord deciding it was time to go to war.
But the stock market is a section of economics that pisses me off.
The reason it pisses me off is the media manages to portray every indicator as being bad, especially opposites.
It occurs to me that what's going on with COVID-19 and oil prices, and something that we should prolly address, is the mass media is screaming "fire" in a crowded theater when they try to provoke market panics to assault an elected official they don't like very much.
08 March 2020
Wal Mart Sells Flame Throwers!
Though, I wouldn't be too worried about them...
A spray bottle and mineral spirits don't throw much flame.
Even worse the spirits melt the innards of the sprayer so it stops spraying during the second fill.
A spray bottle and mineral spirits don't throw much flame.
Even worse the spirits melt the innards of the sprayer so it stops spraying during the second fill.
Full Moon
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Canon EOS M50 EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II at 250mm, f/32, 1/10", ISO 100
|
Cropped image of the full moon. It was a bit low in the sky and a lot of atmospherics were going on.
Triple Or Three Gun
Traveller turrets have long been single, double and triple in Little Black Book 2.
LBB 5 handled turrets differently, but the total number of weapons were the same per type.
But a "triple turret" in Traveller wasn't a triple turret. It was a three-gun turret.
We know this because if you mounted a laser, sandcaster and missile rack in one... you could target two different targets with the offensive weapons and use the sand independently of them.
Triple means all three weapons are aimed at the same target at the same time.
BUT...
If all the weapons in your turret were the same... the three gun turret becomes a triple...
UGH.
The rules break the combat phases by weapon type, not by individual weapon.
Two turrets could engage two targets independently, but... all like weapons in that turret must fire at the same target.
LBB 5 handled turrets differently, but the total number of weapons were the same per type.
But a "triple turret" in Traveller wasn't a triple turret. It was a three-gun turret.
We know this because if you mounted a laser, sandcaster and missile rack in one... you could target two different targets with the offensive weapons and use the sand independently of them.
Triple means all three weapons are aimed at the same target at the same time.
BUT...
If all the weapons in your turret were the same... the three gun turret becomes a triple...
UGH.
The rules break the combat phases by weapon type, not by individual weapon.
Two turrets could engage two targets independently, but... all like weapons in that turret must fire at the same target.
The Galilean Moons Of Venus
We took several pictures of Venus trying to see if we could resolve the Galilean moons of Jupiter...
Because we didn't check our star chart.
SIGH.
It is, however, more than good enough to resolve Venus as disk!
This Is It We're All Going To Die?
Stolen from Irish's place:
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that based on the geographic spread of this thing and the total lack of effective isolation of people who've been where confirmed cases have been seen that it's among us and we're not noticing because it's not that serious a disease for most of us.
If it presents as the flu and you act like you have the flu and get better, you're never going to get tested are you?
Speaking of the flu, which you're not scared of or panicking about, it's managed to snuff about 20k people in the US this season. This is after the second year in a row where the flu-vaccine missed the strain encountered too.
Here are some thoughts, feel free to yell at me.
What is weird to me about the Corona Virus is that it has been covered and reacted to in a way I have never seen before.
We can quibble about infection rates and how deadly it is, but a few things are not debatable.
This article for example.
The premise is that a patient has recovered after getting HIV treatment. GREAT.
But at this point I would assume that tens of thousands have recovered, because somewhere between 97% and 99% RECOVER.
Why is this being treated as a miracle, the article doesnt list the patients condition when he was admitted or hint that he was brought back from the brink.
The article seems tailor made to aid in the panic.The Virus originated in China, and millions were quarantined, which was unheard of and shocking.
Manufacturing shut down, media blackouts, etc.
We had no choice to assume that something truly awful was going on.But the virus is out now, we can see its effects around the world without the thumb of the Chinese government on it.
I am not panicked by what I am seeing, but yet I am seeing a panicked RESPONSE.I have no idea if the Corona Virus is "the big one" or not, but what I will tell you is that the effect does not match the cause.Global markets are fluctuating, supply lines are broken, etc
But it all feels surreal, because the underlying reason doesn't compute.
People are recovering unaided, most of the overwhelming of the system is due to panic, not inability to treat the sick.
Something is off about everything that is happening.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that based on the geographic spread of this thing and the total lack of effective isolation of people who've been where confirmed cases have been seen that it's among us and we're not noticing because it's not that serious a disease for most of us.
If it presents as the flu and you act like you have the flu and get better, you're never going to get tested are you?
Speaking of the flu, which you're not scared of or panicking about, it's managed to snuff about 20k people in the US this season. This is after the second year in a row where the flu-vaccine missed the strain encountered too.
PGMP
France has a PGMP?
Holy crap! We're still debating cased telescopic rounds and they have a PGMP!
What's that?
It's just an optic mount for the FAMAS and not a plasma gun man-portable?
I am disappoint.
Holy crap! We're still debating cased telescopic rounds and they have a PGMP!
What's that?
It's just an optic mount for the FAMAS and not a plasma gun man-portable?
I am disappoint.
Night Of The Stolen Hour
In just a little bit, by Decree of The State, an hour will be stolen from this morning.
This is done in order to shift the sun in its track against the clock.
It's yet another case where the desired effect could be accomplished by simply letting people shift their day an hour to better take advantage of the lengthening amount of sunlight.
No daylight is actually saved. The earth's rotation is not altered.
It just means we're all an hour off for a while.
It's like everyone moved a timezone east without moving an inch.
This is done in order to shift the sun in its track against the clock.
It's yet another case where the desired effect could be accomplished by simply letting people shift their day an hour to better take advantage of the lengthening amount of sunlight.
No daylight is actually saved. The earth's rotation is not altered.
It just means we're all an hour off for a while.
It's like everyone moved a timezone east without moving an inch.
07 March 2020
Gods Deliver Me From Technology
While, for the most part, I enjoy living in the future.
The update cycle pisses me off to no end.
"Update 100% complete. Do not shut off your computer"
For an hour.
A bleeping hour.
0 to 100 in a couple minutes, an hour to finish form 100%?
The solution, of course, was to shut off the computer.
Then reboot in safe mode.
Then watch it hang at 35% complete for five minutes. Then "Cleaning up" for another 17.
Then Windows Explorer crashed on the restart to normal mode.
Then AVG, the program that asked for a restart to begin with, refuses to fire up.
Go to the install/uninstall programs section and click on repair.
Run the repair.
AVG asks for a restart...
Restart goes smoothly this time.
Meine liebenden Götter!
The update cycle pisses me off to no end.
"Update 100% complete. Do not shut off your computer"
For an hour.
A bleeping hour.
0 to 100 in a couple minutes, an hour to finish form 100%?
The solution, of course, was to shut off the computer.
Then reboot in safe mode.
Then watch it hang at 35% complete for five minutes. Then "Cleaning up" for another 17.
Then Windows Explorer crashed on the restart to normal mode.
Then AVG, the program that asked for a restart to begin with, refuses to fire up.
Go to the install/uninstall programs section and click on repair.
Run the repair.
AVG asks for a restart...
Restart goes smoothly this time.
Meine liebenden Götter!
Dragon's Fire
Took the M50 to the back yard to see if I could get some pics of the Falcon 9 launch.
Success!
Hard to hold still for 1.5 second exposures, but I'm very happy with the camera's performance. The old SX20 wouldn't have gotten these.
Speaking of SX20... Marv took a video from his place!
Success!
 |
| MECO |
 |
| Staging |
 |
| First stage deceleration while second stage continues |
Hard to hold still for 1.5 second exposures, but I'm very happy with the camera's performance. The old SX20 wouldn't have gotten these.
Speaking of SX20... Marv took a video from his place!
06 March 2020
I Don't Let It Get Me Down
While I'm casting aspersions at the vast majority of full-size pick-up owners...
I've noticed that when you do so, the small minority of the group feels like you're picking on them, even if you mention exceptions that places them outside the group you're bitching about.
I have been in that minority a couple of times.
The first time was when I rode motorcycles. I wasn't a Biker, even though my father and I were in a club. I rode to ride, and people made assumptions about that which, while true of many around me, weren't true of me.
I'm noticing it again with The Precious.
Corvette owners and Corvette clubs fall into a reliable template.
I don't match that template.
The first sign is putting near 170k miles on the thing as the first owner. This is second or third owner kind of mileage!
I'm still the only owner of the car and it turns 13 this October.
I bought it because I wanted the power and handling, not for people to notice me.
I work on my own car. It still galls me that I failed to get that tank vapor leak fixed without involving professionals.
I am willing to eliminate the originality of the car. Because the car is sufficiently powerful for my meager driving skills, I've not made many mods, but I have made mods.
Most Corvette folks don't do this. Most Corvette clubs exclude people who do. They get so very focused on originality they forget they can enjoy the car.
People who hot-rod Vettes tend to congregate with other hot-rodders rather than Vette owners.
Even as big a pain as electronic fuel injection can be, I do NOT yearn for carburetors and points.
I've noticed that when you do so, the small minority of the group feels like you're picking on them, even if you mention exceptions that places them outside the group you're bitching about.
I have been in that minority a couple of times.
The first time was when I rode motorcycles. I wasn't a Biker, even though my father and I were in a club. I rode to ride, and people made assumptions about that which, while true of many around me, weren't true of me.
I'm noticing it again with The Precious.
Corvette owners and Corvette clubs fall into a reliable template.
I don't match that template.
The first sign is putting near 170k miles on the thing as the first owner. This is second or third owner kind of mileage!
I'm still the only owner of the car and it turns 13 this October.
I bought it because I wanted the power and handling, not for people to notice me.
I work on my own car. It still galls me that I failed to get that tank vapor leak fixed without involving professionals.
I am willing to eliminate the originality of the car. Because the car is sufficiently powerful for my meager driving skills, I've not made many mods, but I have made mods.
Most Corvette folks don't do this. Most Corvette clubs exclude people who do. They get so very focused on originality they forget they can enjoy the car.
People who hot-rod Vettes tend to congregate with other hot-rodders rather than Vette owners.
Even as big a pain as electronic fuel injection can be, I do NOT yearn for carburetors and points.
Something You Don't See
If you hang onto any car long enough, it becomes cool.
ANY car.
Once it gets past a certain age, and gets that survivor cool factor, something stops being mentioned with regards to the value.
"How many miles on it?"
After a certain point, having those miles is a bragging right.
It means the thing was put to good use.
It was enjoyed.
Cars are not static works, they are dynamic art.
Better in motion than stationary.
So get in that seat and drive it!
Enjoy it.
Upgrade it so it stops breaking.
Learn to fix and upgrade it yourself to discover another world of satisfaction.
Remember, nothing kills a car faster than letting it sit. It seems counter-intuitive, but it's so very true.
Go on The Power Tour. The WHOLE Power Tour!
ANY car.
Once it gets past a certain age, and gets that survivor cool factor, something stops being mentioned with regards to the value.
"How many miles on it?"
After a certain point, having those miles is a bragging right.
It means the thing was put to good use.
It was enjoyed.
Cars are not static works, they are dynamic art.
Better in motion than stationary.
So get in that seat and drive it!
Enjoy it.
Upgrade it so it stops breaking.
Learn to fix and upgrade it yourself to discover another world of satisfaction.
Remember, nothing kills a car faster than letting it sit. It seems counter-intuitive, but it's so very true.
Go on The Power Tour. The WHOLE Power Tour!
Unbearable Darkness
It's been just 8 short years since Lex passed.
Courage and Strength to come.
Privately if I cannot find anyone else to share the toast.
Courage and Strength to come.
Privately if I cannot find anyone else to share the toast.
04 March 2020
I'm Getting The Hang Of This
Perfect evening viewing for the moon!
The EF-S 55-250 is simply clearer glass.
Because I was thinking I wasn't taking as good a picture with the new camera as the old...
The new camera is better. I'd just needed to learn it.
 |
| EOS M50 EF-S 55-250mm at 250mm, f/5.6, 1/80", ISO 100 cropped. |
 |
| EOS M50 EF-S 55-250mm at 250mm, f/5.6, 1/100", ISO 100 cropped. |
 | |
|
Because I was thinking I wasn't taking as good a picture with the new camera as the old...
 |
| PowerShot SX20 IS 5-100 at 100mm, f/5.7, 1/30", ISO 80 |
The new camera is better. I'd just needed to learn it.
This Is Why We Don't Freak Out
One one bill is heading for a vote in both chambers.
One bill is heading for a vote in just one chamber, but I expect the other to pick it up in the event it passes.
All the other gun control just... didn't go anywhere.
Despite Mini-Mike buying the senate president and to all appearances, my senator.
The dire prognostications from several people did not come to pass. I wish they'd not been name calling jerks about it.
One bill is heading for a vote in just one chamber, but I expect the other to pick it up in the event it passes.
All the other gun control just... didn't go anywhere.
Despite Mini-Mike buying the senate president and to all appearances, my senator.
The dire prognostications from several people did not come to pass. I wish they'd not been name calling jerks about it.
Home Stretch
One week two days until we're free of the annual madness which is the Florida Legislative Session.
Eyes crossed.
Since this is a gun blog, here's where all the stupid bills sit as of this writing. Green for any bill which is actually scheduled to be voted on.
SB 94 & H 451 - Universal Background Check via FFL - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 114 & H 47 - Risk Protection Orders - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 117 - Concealed Weapons or Concealed Firearms Licensing - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 134 & H 6009 - Preemption of Firearms and Ammunition - End of the World Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
CS/HB 183 & S 1524 - Prohibited Places for Weapons and Firearms - Not Great, Not Terrible Bill
House Version out of committee and headed for a vote.
Senate Version Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 245 & S 398 - Concealed Weapons and Firearms - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 266 & H 631 - Safe Storage of Loaded Firearms - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 270 & S 548 - Sale and Delivery of Firearms - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 273 - Carrying of Firearms - Good Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 289, H 291, S 460 & S 462 - Sales of Ammunition - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 311 & S 728 - Threats - Not Great, Not Terrible Bill
House Version out of committee and headed for a vote.
Senate Version out of committee and headed for a vote.
HB 353 - Weapons and Firearms - Bad Bill
Withdrawn 09Jan20.
SB 428 - Prohibited Places for Weapons and Firearms - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 499 & S 718 - Domestic Violence - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 548 & S 270 - Firearms - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 558, H 627, S 794, & S 1208 - Large Capacity Magazines - End of the World Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 586 - Firearms - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 629, S 627 & S 1208 - Large Capacity Magazine something something - End of the World Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 634 - Lawful Ownership, Possession, and Use of Firearms and Weapons - Bad Bill
(This is the guaranteed to pass ban on fishing carry because "idiots" were open carrying in RINOland.)
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 809 & S 1566 - Licenses to Carry Concealed Weapons or Firearms - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 885 - State Preemption of Firearm and Ammunition Regulation - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 923 & S 1248 - Safe Storage of Firearms - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 1300 - Assault Weapons - End of the World Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
Eyes crossed.
Since this is a gun blog, here's where all the stupid bills sit as of this writing. Green for any bill which is actually scheduled to be voted on.
SB 94 & H 451 - Universal Background Check via FFL - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 114 & H 47 - Risk Protection Orders - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 117 - Concealed Weapons or Concealed Firearms Licensing - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 134 & H 6009 - Preemption of Firearms and Ammunition - End of the World Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
CS/HB 183 & S 1524 - Prohibited Places for Weapons and Firearms - Not Great, Not Terrible Bill
House Version out of committee and headed for a vote.
Senate Version Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 245 & S 398 - Concealed Weapons and Firearms - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 266 & H 631 - Safe Storage of Loaded Firearms - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 270 & S 548 - Sale and Delivery of Firearms - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 273 - Carrying of Firearms - Good Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 289, H 291, S 460 & S 462 - Sales of Ammunition - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 311 & S 728 - Threats - Not Great, Not Terrible Bill
House Version out of committee and headed for a vote.
Senate Version out of committee and headed for a vote.
HB 353 - Weapons and Firearms - Bad Bill
Withdrawn 09Jan20.
SB 428 - Prohibited Places for Weapons and Firearms - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 499 & S 718 - Domestic Violence - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 548 & S 270 - Firearms - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 558, H 627, S 794, & S 1208 - Large Capacity Magazines - End of the World Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 586 - Firearms - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 629, S 627 & S 1208 - Large Capacity Magazine something something - End of the World Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 634 - Lawful Ownership, Possession, and Use of Firearms and Weapons - Bad Bill
(This is the guaranteed to pass ban on fishing carry because "idiots" were open carrying in RINOland.)
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 809 & S 1566 - Licenses to Carry Concealed Weapons or Firearms - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 885 - State Preemption of Firearm and Ammunition Regulation - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
HB 923 & S 1248 - Safe Storage of Firearms - Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
SB 1300 - Assault Weapons - End of the World Bad Bill
Introduced and referred to committees. No action since 14Jan20.
Don't Be Discouraged Mini-Mike
I know!
Spend ten times as much in the upcoming primaries and they will vote for you, I am sure of it.
You just didn't spend enough.
You can do it!
Spend ten times as much in the upcoming primaries and they will vote for you, I am sure of it.
You just didn't spend enough.
You can do it!
03 March 2020
I Beg To Differ
I own a gun.
I know all ten amendments of the Bill of Rights. I do defend them all.
I was MOS 19K. You know what that means?
That means I DO know how fucking tanks work.
I'm willing to posit that Mr Hofstetter has no clue how tanks work and wouldn't know what track tension was if we used him as an end connector.
As for nobody is coming for our guns? Dumbass, you live in California. The state government has already come for guns which were registered as you seem to advocate.
You're also not just ignorant of tanks, you're ignorant of your own native language and make the common mistake of what regulated means. Never mind that the "regulated" reference is the subservient clause of the amendment you're mocking.
Even given that the gubmint might be able to regulate (like he means) and register guns... That whole privacy thing guaranteed by the 4th Amendment and the protections of self incrimination from the 5th Amendment should preclude any attempt at registering firearms.
Especially since prior restraint is a thing.
I wasn't supposed to know all this, was I?
All of this aside, he's actually funny. Worth a watch, and it's free on YouTube.
Update:
California has, also, already come for the cars. CARB and related agencies have made it increasingly difficult to own a car that's not still under its factory warranty or old enough to be exempt.
They repealed the rolling date cutoff for being old enough and the cars which are exempt are now expensive collectible cars. The average person doesn't own one.
02 March 2020
Tech Marches On
I mentioned that the power output on the 2.4l Ecotec 4-banger in the 'Nox is pretty impressive compared to what a 305 TBI small-block made in 1996...
The 1971 tragedy of the Dura-Built 140, 2.3l of screaming inline-4 making 70 hp. 110 horsepower for the Cosworth.
In 1977 Pontiac introduced the iconic Iron-Duke inline 4. Its 2.5l made 85 to 110 horses and stayed in production until 1993! This was the first GM 4-banger to get throttle body injection (TBI).
From then until 2003 we got the 122 which came in three sizes, 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 liters. It could be had with carbs, TBI, and multi-point injection (MPFI) and could make 83 to 120 horses.
I am unaware of anyone truly happy owning the Dura-Built or Iron-Duke (except that the Duke was nigh indestructible.)
This brings us to the Ecotec.
The first gen is MPFI, the second direct injection.
The worst performer of this batch is the 135hp 2.2l in the Saturn L-Series.
The best is the 275hp turbo 2.0 version in the Camaro.
The 1971 tragedy of the Dura-Built 140, 2.3l of screaming inline-4 making 70 hp. 110 horsepower for the Cosworth.
In 1977 Pontiac introduced the iconic Iron-Duke inline 4. Its 2.5l made 85 to 110 horses and stayed in production until 1993! This was the first GM 4-banger to get throttle body injection (TBI).
From then until 2003 we got the 122 which came in three sizes, 1.8, 2.0 and 2.2 liters. It could be had with carbs, TBI, and multi-point injection (MPFI) and could make 83 to 120 horses.
I am unaware of anyone truly happy owning the Dura-Built or Iron-Duke (except that the Duke was nigh indestructible.)
This brings us to the Ecotec.
The first gen is MPFI, the second direct injection.
The worst performer of this batch is the 135hp 2.2l in the Saturn L-Series.
The best is the 275hp turbo 2.0 version in the Camaro.
Yet The Flu Doesn't Scare You
We're up to six deaths from COVID-19 in the US.
The flu and pneumonia have claimed about 18,000 lives this year (so far). CDC says this year's versions are running 6.9% fatality rate.
How many of you who are panicking over coronavirus didn't bother getting a flu shot?
The flu and pneumonia have claimed about 18,000 lives this year (so far). CDC says this year's versions are running 6.9% fatality rate.
How many of you who are panicking over coronavirus didn't bother getting a flu shot?
Monitor
Monitors are such a player character style of ship it's not even funny.
Why is this?
"What's the smallest ship I can attach to the largest available guns with the thickest armor?"
It can't be fast too.
"We're OK with that, our armor makes us immune to attack."
USS Monitor is a fine example, but the Royal Navy's Roberts Class is probably the ultimate PC style ship.
Armament:
Historical examples like this class are why games like Traveller and its successors have rules limiting the number of weapons for a given ship size.
When I was once a player character in FASA's Star Trek roleplaying game, I designed a ship I dubbed the Chicago class.
Chicago had all the performance, weapons and shields of Constitution II with the smallest hull that would hold the warp-core, drives, weapons, sheilds and minimum crew spaces.
She ended up being around 1/5 the size of Constitution II and there were no liabilities to it written into the game rules.
When we stopped playing and I moved back to Iowa from Minnesota, I had forgotten my FASA folder with our GM. This included deck plans.
Imagine my amusement, years later, when I see what's essentially my Chicago on screen as USS Voyager. The warp nacelles have been updated from original crew movie ear to the next-generation style; but that's my design.
Later on I also find that my old GM had moved to California and landed a job working for the people who made the ship designs for Star Trek Voyager...
I'd demand royalties, but I think I owed my GM money when I left...
Why is this?
"What's the smallest ship I can attach to the largest available guns with the thickest armor?"
It can't be fast too.
"We're OK with that, our armor makes us immune to attack."
USS Monitor is a fine example, but the Royal Navy's Roberts Class is probably the ultimate PC style ship.
Armament:
- 2 × BL 15-inch Mk I guns in a single turret
- 8 × 4 in (100 mm) AA guns (4 × 2)
- 16 × QF 2-pdr "pom-pom"s (1 × 8, 2 × 4)
- 20 × Oerlikon 20mm guns (20 x 1)
- Turret: 13 inch
- Barbette: 8 inch
- Belt: 4-5 inches
Historical examples like this class are why games like Traveller and its successors have rules limiting the number of weapons for a given ship size.
When I was once a player character in FASA's Star Trek roleplaying game, I designed a ship I dubbed the Chicago class.
Chicago had all the performance, weapons and shields of Constitution II with the smallest hull that would hold the warp-core, drives, weapons, sheilds and minimum crew spaces.
She ended up being around 1/5 the size of Constitution II and there were no liabilities to it written into the game rules.
When we stopped playing and I moved back to Iowa from Minnesota, I had forgotten my FASA folder with our GM. This included deck plans.
Imagine my amusement, years later, when I see what's essentially my Chicago on screen as USS Voyager. The warp nacelles have been updated from original crew movie ear to the next-generation style; but that's my design.
Later on I also find that my old GM had moved to California and landed a job working for the people who made the ship designs for Star Trek Voyager...
I'd demand royalties, but I think I owed my GM money when I left...
Password Reset
I really loathe it when a site just randomly decides that I need a new password and forces me to check my email, enter a code, click on a link from another email and THEN change my password.
UGH!
Plus there's no good damn reason for my password to be a palindrome.
UGH!
Plus there's no good damn reason for my password to be a palindrome.
More Attainable
Tickling the same whimsy is the Remington TAC-14 Hardwood.
These are selling for less than $400 on Gunbroker.
No, I have no use for such things, but they delight me as toys.
If there was no room for something of limited utility that gives us joy, there'd be no The Precious in my garage and everyone would own a 4-door crossover SUV.
Change
I got this coin in change:
72 years and it still spends as 25¢.
25¢ in 1948 spent like $2.68 today.
In real terms this coin is worth less than 10% of what it was worth when it was minted.
The bullion in it would bring $3.06 today, so it's actually appreciated a bit. We're not supposed to go melting down legal currency to get the metal out though.
If it were in average shape it'd be worth $6 as a collector piece, up to $50 if it were in mint condition.
Unfortunately, all of the people who've owned this coin for its entire life just used it as a quarter and put it in their pockets or purses without regards to future collectors and numismatists.
72 years and it still spends as 25¢.
25¢ in 1948 spent like $2.68 today.
In real terms this coin is worth less than 10% of what it was worth when it was minted.
The bullion in it would bring $3.06 today, so it's actually appreciated a bit. We're not supposed to go melting down legal currency to get the metal out though.
If it were in average shape it'd be worth $6 as a collector piece, up to $50 if it were in mint condition.
Unfortunately, all of the people who've owned this coin for its entire life just used it as a quarter and put it in their pockets or purses without regards to future collectors and numismatists.
01 March 2020
Kinda Want
Henry has joined the unregistered short barrel shotgun "firearm" craze.
The Henry Axe.
Being that it's MSRP near a grand, there's little to no danger of me actually buying one of the silly things; but it does tickle my whimsy.
The Henry Axe.
Being that it's MSRP near a grand, there's little to no danger of me actually buying one of the silly things; but it does tickle my whimsy.
All Better
Took off the intake trunk and engine cover on Moxie and checked the intake solenoid's resistance.
147 thousand ohms.
It's supposed to be 9.5 to 15.
Exhaust solenoid was 13.6.
I replaced them both because a) I was already in there and b) spite.
When I was taking things apart, I noticed the intake trunk to throttle body clamp was not very tight. Loose enough that it was prolly sucking unmetered air.
It's much smoother and quieter now!
I love when the fixes are simple.
147 thousand ohms.
It's supposed to be 9.5 to 15.
Exhaust solenoid was 13.6.
I replaced them both because a) I was already in there and b) spite.
When I was taking things apart, I noticed the intake trunk to throttle body clamp was not very tight. Loose enough that it was prolly sucking unmetered air.
It's much smoother and quieter now!
I love when the fixes are simple.
Et Tu Haynes
Because we have two 2nd Gen Equinoxes in the family, I bought the 2005 - 2012 Equinox book by Haynes.
I'm getting code P0010.
That's the intake VVT solenoid most likely.
According to Haynes, there is no VVT on the 2.4 in the Equinox.
But there sure as heck is on an Ecotec 2.4 LAF code engine.
I wondered if, perhaps, the 2.4 from 2005 to 2009 was a different engine, but there doesn't appear to be a 4-banger of any size in the 1st Gen.
Damn book is just plain wrong.
SIGH.
I'm getting code P0010.
That's the intake VVT solenoid most likely.
According to Haynes, there is no VVT on the 2.4 in the Equinox.
But there sure as heck is on an Ecotec 2.4 LAF code engine.
I wondered if, perhaps, the 2.4 from 2005 to 2009 was a different engine, but there doesn't appear to be a 4-banger of any size in the 1st Gen.
Damn book is just plain wrong.
SIGH.
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