And when that's taken care of, you'll need to register your cell phone, as they're planning to do in peaceful, crime-free England.
Why?
Because inquiring minds at the government want to know.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
A Day at the Range
Went out yesterday to shoot the postal match, and see if I could still hold everything steady, with mixed results.
Imagine a great day, 72 degrees, light overcast, no wind, and 4 hours with nobody else there except the hawks. Shoot at my own pace, walk up to check targets when I need to, move the backstop to suit the situation. This match can be shot with anything, in any position, and there's a bonus: base distance is 10 yards, but at 20, you double your score. At 30 you triple it. There was some discussion regarding shooting this with a Barret .50 at 1000 yards, as one bulls eye would be worth 1000 points.
I did the pistols at 10, and had planned to do the rifles at 100. The .22 had a reputation for not holding the scope securely, but I figured for 10 shots, it should work. I got the sights straight at 30 yards, shot one target to confirm this, and went to repeat the feat at 100. The rifle went on strike, refusing to fire when I pulled the trigger. Not even a click. So I'm submitting a 30 yard target.
I need more practice with the .357. Comparatively speaking, I was all over the place.
The varmint rifle is a tack driver. If I hadn't been so worn out toward the end, I think I might have tried this at 200 yards.
The CZ is not ready for prime time. Oh well, maybe later.
Postal match results will be posted at Traction Control shortly after 2 November.
Imagine a great day, 72 degrees, light overcast, no wind, and 4 hours with nobody else there except the hawks. Shoot at my own pace, walk up to check targets when I need to, move the backstop to suit the situation. This match can be shot with anything, in any position, and there's a bonus: base distance is 10 yards, but at 20, you double your score. At 30 you triple it. There was some discussion regarding shooting this with a Barret .50 at 1000 yards, as one bulls eye would be worth 1000 points.
I did the pistols at 10, and had planned to do the rifles at 100. The .22 had a reputation for not holding the scope securely, but I figured for 10 shots, it should work. I got the sights straight at 30 yards, shot one target to confirm this, and went to repeat the feat at 100. The rifle went on strike, refusing to fire when I pulled the trigger. Not even a click. So I'm submitting a 30 yard target.
I need more practice with the .357. Comparatively speaking, I was all over the place.
The varmint rifle is a tack driver. If I hadn't been so worn out toward the end, I think I might have tried this at 200 yards.
The CZ is not ready for prime time. Oh well, maybe later.
Postal match results will be posted at Traction Control shortly after 2 November.
Big News From N. Korea
Or so they claim.
From AFP:
From AFP:
TOKYO (AFP) — North Korea has ordered its diplomats overseas to get ready for an "important announcement" that may be related to the health of its reclusive leader Kim Jong-Il, a Japanese newspaper said Saturday.
Pyongyang has told diplomats around the world to stay in one place and refrain from traveling, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported, quoting several unnamed sources familiar with North Korean issues.
It is traditional, when changing heads of state or other high elected officials, for people in appointed positions to tender their resignations as a courtesy to the new boss. In N. Korea, when your resignation is accepted, the acceptance comes with a blindfold.Naming the Sewage Plant
The City of San Francisco is considering renaming their municipal sewage plant after George Bush.
The local Republicans are objecting.
I think they should go along with this, after all what better name for a facility for that takes all the crap a city full of moonbats and Marxists can deliver, and turns it into something non-toxic that's good for the environment?
The local Republicans are objecting.
I think they should go along with this, after all what better name for a facility for that takes all the crap a city full of moonbats and Marxists can deliver, and turns it into something non-toxic that's good for the environment?
Persuasive Argument
Coming out winners in an arguement or debate is frequently a matter not just of statement, but also of presentation. Today's Day by Day comic has an excellent example of how that can work.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Science Fiction and Mad Science
Milehicon 40 will be happening soon, and while I plan only a limited presence, it is noted that the Denver Mad Scientists Club will be sponsoring a Study Group in the hotel bar either Saturday evening, or Sunday around lunch time. When I find out, I'll let you know. In the past this sort of thing has resulted in rail guns, pneumatic pumpkin cannons, Kinetics vehicles, and a cardboard sled, which, for quite a while, held the record for the greatest number of casualties at the Cardboard Downhill competition.
Meantime, click on the Critter Crunch and Critter Crunch Flotilla links here, or at at the Milehicon page.
The Yacht Regatta is an amusing and easy-to-participate in competition that involves your homemade boat racing across the hotel pool for fame, glory, and possibly a trophy. 9PM Friday.
Construction Rules:
· Hull size is 1/2-gallon capacity. Any shape is allowed.
· Hull material must be clean milk carton cardboard.
· There is no weight limit.
· Power sources must be self-contained. No electrical, internal combustion, or other potentially explosive power sources are allowed.
· All other accouterments are, as you will.
In the past, rubber bands and compressed air have been potent contenders. Rube Goldberg machines are also welcome. The record for speed is somewhere between 1 and 2 seconds for a 25 0r 30 foot run.
Sunday features the Critter Crunch, Denver's own fighting robot competition. The rules are such that a competitive robot can be build for under $50. Much more than that has been known to have been spent. Sometimes to good effect. 2 pound class in the morning, 20 pound class in the afternoon.
Meantime, click on the Critter Crunch and Critter Crunch Flotilla links here, or at at the Milehicon page.
The Yacht Regatta is an amusing and easy-to-participate in competition that involves your homemade boat racing across the hotel pool for fame, glory, and possibly a trophy. 9PM Friday.
Construction Rules:
· Hull size is 1/2-gallon capacity. Any shape is allowed.
· Hull material must be clean milk carton cardboard.
· There is no weight limit.
· Power sources must be self-contained. No electrical, internal combustion, or other potentially explosive power sources are allowed.
· All other accouterments are, as you will.
In the past, rubber bands and compressed air have been potent contenders. Rube Goldberg machines are also welcome. The record for speed is somewhere between 1 and 2 seconds for a 25 0r 30 foot run.
Sunday features the Critter Crunch, Denver's own fighting robot competition. The rules are such that a competitive robot can be build for under $50. Much more than that has been known to have been spent. Sometimes to good effect. 2 pound class in the morning, 20 pound class in the afternoon.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Pistol Shooting
It's great therapy after being effectively in isolation from the world for so long. I shoot with a group that practices defensive pistol drills. Practicing a "draw, present, aim, shoot" drill works your coordination and reaction time. The "Mozambique" drill improves the ability to shoot quickly and change targets rapidly, if required. The "El Presidente drill is for quickly dealing with multiple targets and a forced reload in the middle.
In case you were wondering, the Mozambique drill envisions an encounter who is wearing body armor, which is not immediately apparent. On command, you draw your gun, and fire 2 shots to the body, then, as you notice the critter failing to fall, you follow up with one to the head, which is seldom armored. As the doggerel goes:
2 to the body
one to the head
makes darn sure
the varmint's dead.
The El Presidente is known as "the drill we never do the same way twice" in some circles, as there are variations that can be added. The simple version starts out with 3 human silouette targets at a distance of 7 to 10 yards, and the shooter facing away from them with his hands in the air. On command, the shooter turns, draws his gun, and fires 2 shots at each of the targets in turn, reloads, weather he really needs to or not, then repeats the shooting part, for a total of 12 rounds.
Variations on this can call for the second set of shots to be one round each to the head.
With practice, an average shooter with an automatic pistol and a spare magazine can do the standard drill in 10 seconds. A friend of mine did it in 6 seconds with a .45 auto, which is mighty fast. Revolvers normally take a bit longer as the reload time is greater. I've done it in 12 seconds, which is OK. There's a fellow out there who did this in 4 seconds with a revolver. The video is out there on the web, I don't have it to hand. Maybe tomorrow.
I only had 2 misfires tonight. One in the first 6 shots of the El Pres, and one in the second 6 shots. Figures. In competition there is scoring based on elapsed time and accuracy. Fortunately, we didn't use the timer. Nothing to complain about with the accuracy, though.
Stay back, folks! I've got a banjo, and I'm not afraid to use it!
In case you were wondering, the Mozambique drill envisions an encounter who is wearing body armor, which is not immediately apparent. On command, you draw your gun, and fire 2 shots to the body, then, as you notice the critter failing to fall, you follow up with one to the head, which is seldom armored. As the doggerel goes:
2 to the body
one to the head
makes darn sure
the varmint's dead.
The El Presidente is known as "the drill we never do the same way twice" in some circles, as there are variations that can be added. The simple version starts out with 3 human silouette targets at a distance of 7 to 10 yards, and the shooter facing away from them with his hands in the air. On command, the shooter turns, draws his gun, and fires 2 shots at each of the targets in turn, reloads, weather he really needs to or not, then repeats the shooting part, for a total of 12 rounds.
Variations on this can call for the second set of shots to be one round each to the head.
With practice, an average shooter with an automatic pistol and a spare magazine can do the standard drill in 10 seconds. A friend of mine did it in 6 seconds with a .45 auto, which is mighty fast. Revolvers normally take a bit longer as the reload time is greater. I've done it in 12 seconds, which is OK. There's a fellow out there who did this in 4 seconds with a revolver. The video is out there on the web, I don't have it to hand. Maybe tomorrow.
I only had 2 misfires tonight. One in the first 6 shots of the El Pres, and one in the second 6 shots. Figures. In competition there is scoring based on elapsed time and accuracy. Fortunately, we didn't use the timer. Nothing to complain about with the accuracy, though.
Stay back, folks! I've got a banjo, and I'm not afraid to use it!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Great Job
...if you can get it:
Writing headlines in the financial section of the paper,
"The Dow (rose / fell) xxx points today on news that (insert todays front-page headline here)".
Like you knew all along that the Broncos losing would (drag the Dow down / push the Dow up) like that.
Writing headlines in the financial section of the paper,
"The Dow (rose / fell) xxx points today on news that (insert todays front-page headline here)".
Like you knew all along that the Broncos losing would (drag the Dow down / push the Dow up) like that.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Bike to Work
Finally got my bike back. The seat got bent a bit, but otherwise seems OK. The bad news is that I'm not allowed to ride it until January, says D'Wife.
At least I'm now allowed to drive my truck. At last I can get out of the house. All I need is some place to go.
Postal match at the range Saturday sounds good.
At least I'm now allowed to drive my truck. At last I can get out of the house. All I need is some place to go.
Postal match at the range Saturday sounds good.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
The Second Bill Of Rights
Found this article posted by the Toledo Blade:
Back in 1944, as the depression was moving steadily along, FDR made a speech advocating a “Second Bill of Rights”. His “experimental” economic policies having been a notable failure up to that point, he was still convinced that the government could make any problem go away by royal decree or something.
Many believe in the tooth fairy and Santa Claus, too, byt hey, if at first you don't succeed...
What rules would these be, and where are they printed?
The government will now reward you for doing none of that.
The government will force business owners to hire people they don’t need?
The government will force these business owners to pay them a government-mandated wage? Absolutely. FDR implemented this. Economists at UCLA estimate it added 7 years to the depression.
The government will mandate high food prices, and to back this up, they will also mandate high tariffs against cheaper imported foodstuffs.
Ah, to be free from competition. If the public won’t buy my over-priced widgets, the government will pay me the difference so I can price things competitively.
Didn’t we just try that on a rather large scale? How’s that working out?
Any “right” to a product or service implies an obligation on someone’s part to provide it. This means a form of involuntary servitude by new Med school grads, in which the government requires them to provide services at rates set by the government. They do this in England, where the National Health hospitals are the worlds most prolific providers of antibiotic-resistant infections.
How many of you actually expect to see more than a very small fraction of the money you’ve put into Social Security, if any? How would you like health insurance, and tenure to go with that? Live like a college professor at a State college.
If you can’t learn anything else from the events of the last 100 years, learn this: Socialism, in all its myriad forms, including Communism, Nazism, Fascism, New Dealism, Third Wayism, or whatever ism they’re calling it by this week, DOES NOT WORK. The difference between one and another is best measured in the number of their own citizens they kill, intentionally or not, in order to preserve the government.
Back in 1944, as the depression was moving steadily along, FDR made a speech advocating a “Second Bill of Rights”. His “experimental” economic policies having been a notable failure up to that point, he was still convinced that the government could make any problem go away by royal decree or something.
In today's bad-news economy, many believe the 32nd president's ideas should be invoked again.
Many believe in the tooth fairy and Santa Claus, too, byt hey, if at first you don't succeed...
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, (D., Ohio), said the rules of economic fairness in the country need to be restored.
What rules would these be, and where are they printed?
'The social contract in this country has always been if you worked hard, took care of your family, went to work, and played by the rules, you would be rewarded,' Mr. Brown said. 'We have moved away from that, and the social contract is not what it used to be in this country.'
The government will now reward you for doing none of that.
President Roosevelt's proposed second Bill of Rights included:
• 'The right to a useful, remunerative job in industries, shops, farms, or mines.'
The government will force business owners to hire people they don’t need?
• 'The right to earn enough to provide adequate food, clothing, and recreation.'
The government will force these business owners to pay them a government-mandated wage? Absolutely. FDR implemented this. Economists at UCLA estimate it added 7 years to the depression.
• 'The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return that will provide a decent living.'
The government will mandate high food prices, and to back this up, they will also mandate high tariffs against cheaper imported foodstuffs.
• 'The right of every businessman to trade with freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies.'
Ah, to be free from competition. If the public won’t buy my over-priced widgets, the government will pay me the difference so I can price things competitively.
• 'The right of every family to a decent home.'
Didn’t we just try that on a rather large scale? How’s that working out?
• 'The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health.'
Any “right” to a product or service implies an obligation on someone’s part to provide it. This means a form of involuntary servitude by new Med school grads, in which the government requires them to provide services at rates set by the government. They do this in England, where the National Health hospitals are the worlds most prolific providers of antibiotic-resistant infections.
• 'The right to protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment.'
How many of you actually expect to see more than a very small fraction of the money you’ve put into Social Security, if any? How would you like health insurance, and tenure to go with that? Live like a college professor at a State college.
• 'The right to a good education.'
If you can’t learn anything else from the events of the last 100 years, learn this: Socialism, in all its myriad forms, including Communism, Nazism, Fascism, New Dealism, Third Wayism, or whatever ism they’re calling it by this week, DOES NOT WORK. The difference between one and another is best measured in the number of their own citizens they kill, intentionally or not, in order to preserve the government.
Contact Ignazio Messina, author of the Blade article at: imessina@theblade.com or 419-724-6171.
God, I hate politics.
The Second Bill of Rights
Found this article posted by the Toledo Blade:
Back in 1944, as the depression was moving steadily along, FDR made a speech advocating a “Second Bill of Rights”. His “experimental” economic policies having been a notable failure up to that point, he was still convinced that the government could make any problem go away by royal decree or something.
------------
In today's bad-news economy, many believe the 32nd president's ideas should be invoked again.
------------
Many believe in the tooth fairy and Santa Claus, too.
----------------
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, (D., Ohio), said the rules of economic fairness in the country need to be restored.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Big Game Hunting
I saw a cartoon once, showing a fellow sitting before the fireplace, the heads of a lion, a buffalo, a rhino, and a mouse over the mantle. He was saying: "The big game I got on safari. With the mouse, it was personal."
Conservative UAW guy got himself a trophy.
What's the difference between a presidential debate and a dead groundhog?
One's a disgusting, lifeless and smelly thing, the other is a dead rodent.
This one was certainly a big one, though.
Conservative UAW guy got himself a trophy.
What's the difference between a presidential debate and a dead groundhog?
One's a disgusting, lifeless and smelly thing, the other is a dead rodent.
This one was certainly a big one, though.
Friday, October 10, 2008
He's a Magic Man
This article appeared in today's WSJ, and asks all the questions John McCain is too nice to bring up in polite company. Of course this sort of behavior on McCains part is causing the company to become noticeably less polite.
Obama, it appears, is going to wave his arms, and make a lot of unlikely things happen.
If my car blew smoke like Obama, it would be impounded.
Obama, it appears, is going to wave his arms, and make a lot of unlikely things happen.
If my car blew smoke like Obama, it would be impounded.
Vote Fraud
By now there should be no doubt who the national and international champions in promoting vote fraud are: ACORN, hands down. They're being investigated in Illinois, where Michelle Obamas law firm is defending them. They've been indited in Missouri, and are under investigation across the country. They have added, at minimum, 3 million new names to the voter rolls across the country, including moving the Dallas Cowboys to Las Vegas.
3 million fraudulent votes would probably come close to carrying Jimmy Carter to a win over Ronald Reagan in1980.
A careful and detailed audit of the voter rolls in all 50 states is seriously overdue, but for some reason Few AGs seem to think this a pressing problem.
Term limits will help.
3 million fraudulent votes would probably come close to carrying Jimmy Carter to a win over Ronald Reagan in1980.
A careful and detailed audit of the voter rolls in all 50 states is seriously overdue, but for some reason Few AGs seem to think this a pressing problem.
Term limits will help.
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