so I thought I’d write some basically about how/what/why on them.
Casting requires metal to melt, a way to melt it, and a mold to cast it in. Then the bullet(sometimes) has to be sized to give it an exact diameter, and lubed. The sizing can take a bullet that’s a little too-large diameter and form it to an exact smaller diameter; the lube helps keep the metal from melting or scraping off due to friction and sticking to the walls of the bore.
The metal. For what we’re talking about, lead alloy. When you’re messing with cast bullets, you’ll run into mentions of hard and soft alloys. Generally speaking, the two elements used to alloy lead are antimony and tin; the more of them(up to a point) the harder the alloy. Tin also does a wonderful thing, making the lead easier to cast. Bronze is copper with a bit of tin added, it not only makes it harder but makes it ‘flow’ better and easier to cast; it does the same with lead. A lot of people shooting black-powder cartridges use pure lead, but often add just a tiny amount of tin to make it fill the mold better for perfect bullets; not enough to harden it, but enough to help it flow. Antimony mostly adds hardness.
You can buy pure lead ingots, you can buy lead already alloyed in a certain way for casting bullets. You can buy or pick up wheel weights, you can(sometimes) find bars of linotype, and you can buy plumbers lead(pure). All of it’s useful
Dig around and you’ll find formulas(x pounds of wheelweights added to x pounds pure lead for instance) to get a particular hardness. For some things people use straight wheelweights as that’s a pretty hard alloy. The hardest alloy is linotype, a lead alloy that used to be used by newspapers to make the plates for printing(and hard to find now). Generally, a hard alloy can be pushed to higher velocity without causing lead fouling in the bore than a soft alloy. A hard is also more brittle; bullets cast of linotype can be driven to pretty high velocity, but when used for hunting have been known to break up after impact in an animal. Soft alloys can’t be pushed as fast, but tend to hold together after impact, and can often expand nicely*.
What changes the situation of choosing alloy is a little thing called a gas check. It’s a small copper cup. Bullets designed for them have a short shank on the base, you push a check onto it and when you size the bullet it crimps the check onto the base**. This protects the base from the hot propellant gas and allows a bullet of softer alloy to be driven faster without fouling the bore(in a semi-auto it also reduces the chance of fouling the gas system). That means that you can, at least up to a point, use general scrap lead for bullets with much less worry about fouling, and you can use a softer alloy for a hunting bullet.
Melting the metal. You’ve got to keep it hot enough to flow freely and fill the mold properly, but don’t want to get it too hot. You can use a camping stove, there are electric melters into which you dip a ladle to pick up and pour the lead, or you can use one of the bottom-pour melters. I’ve got one of the latter, the smaller Lee unit that holds ten pounds of lead. It’s got a thermostat so you can keep the temperature steady, you hold the mold under the spout and lift a lever to pour the metal. It beats hell out of the pot & ladle method, and I’ve been very glad I got it.
Once the metal is melted, you need to flux it. Which means to add something to it that will help cause impurities to float to the top, and help make sure the alloying elements stay in the mix. There are fluxes made specifically for this, some people put a lubed bullet in, some people use a piece of candle wax. The lubed bullet and wax produce a lot of smoke, the special fluxes generally don’t. You put it in and stir things up thoroughly for at least 30 seconds; then you can skim the impurities off the top. With things like wheel weights, a lot of people melt, flux and clean them and then cast them into an ingot mold, cleaning a bunch at a time for later use; that’s what I usually do. Also, some ingots you buy won’t fit into a melter for casting, so you’ve got to break them up somehow for use.
I’ll pass on something I read a few years ago: a guy wrote in one of the gun rags of a friend who got very good results with his cast bullets, and the subject of fluxing the lead in the melter to clean it came up. The friend didn’t; he kept a layer of cheap, unscented kitty litter on top, said it seemed to almost act as if constantly fluxing the lead. Fresh ingots could be slipped through, and about every third use, he’d skim off the layer and put on fresh. I’ve tried it, and it does seem to work pretty well.
You need a mold. Depending on the bullet size and type, you can get molds to make a single bullet, two bullets, or up to six at a time, and they're generally made of iron, steel or aluminum. Most have the bottom of the bullet at the top; some, for making sure a bullet has the most clean, precise bottom possible, fill from the nose. There’s a piece called a sprue cutter where you fill the mold. When pour lead into the mold, you want to have an excess amount on top, so as the bullet cools and contracts it can- if needed- suck in metal from the excess to fill out. That excess is called the sprue, and when it’s cooled enough you use the cutter to take it off. Usually by tapping it with a hardwood baton. Then you open the mold and dump the bullet/s out, preferably onto a padded surface as they’re still hot and somewhat soft.
Sizing/lubing. The bullets then may need to be sized and will need lube. Sizing is usually done with some type of press into which fits a die of exact diameter, most of which have a top punch that fits on the ram to avoid deforming the nose as you push the bullet down into the die. Most sizers also have a reservoir you fill with lube. When you push the bullet into the die you turn a crank to force lube through the die into the lube grooves on the bullet. Then, when you lever the bullet up, it’s done. Lee has another type, a die that screws into any standard loading press, a piece that fits into the shellholder slot to push the bullet through and a basket that catches the bullets as they come out. On this one you lube the bullet first, then place the gas check on(if used) and then put it on the ram and shove it through. Works quite well, and doesn’t cost much.
Lube ranges from the Lee Liquid Alox(very simple and works quite well within limitations) to the original Alox(soft and kind of sticky), to the newer stuff that’s hard enough that the luber has to be heated to soften it, generally much better for high-velocity loads. I’m going to stop there; if you’re interested, there’s lots of good information, online and in books, on these. I have used several. For bullets for the Webley revolver, I’ve had good results using a .45acp or .45 Colt bullet, unsized, lubed with Liquid Alox. For rifle I prefer using one of the hard lubes because A: they’re not sticky to handle and B: in summer, around here, some of the soft lubes can get pretty messy. But I’ve also used Liquid Alox on a gas-checked bullet for .303 and 7.62x54r with good results, i.e. good accuracy and no apparent fouling.
I’ll note that you don’t always have to size the bullet, but you DO need to lube it.
Once you’ve got bullets, you need loads. The Lyman handloading manual, for instance, has cast-bullet loads for most every cartridge in the book. And they have a manual that’s nothing but cast loads. Interestingly, there are some loads that work quite well over a wide range of cartridges and bullet weights. Over at Cast Boolits, there’s a set of four basic loads that cover a whole bunch of cartridges and bullet weights. I’ve mentioned using (in my guns, check it out before trying in yours) 16.0 grains of 2400 powder with 150 to 180-grain bullets in .30-06, .308, .303, 7.62x54r and 7.5x55. With a bullet that fits the bore this load gives good accuracy in all of the above with mild recoil. I first read of it I have no idea where(I’ve eaten & slept many times since then). Very Helpful Commenter had mentioned before that his standard load in military rifles is a certain Lee dipper of Unique; gave him good results in everything. I’ll post this from the Cast Boolits article:
… Four load classifications from Mattern (1932) cover all uses for the cast bullet military rifle. I worked up equivalent charges to obtain the desired velocity ranges with modern powders, which provide a sound basis for loading cast bullets in any post-1898 military rifle from 7mm to 8mm:
1. 125 grain plain based "small game/gallery" 900-1000 f.p.s., 5 grains of Bullseye or equivalent.
2. 150 grain plain based "100-yard target/small game", 1050-1250 f.p.s., 7 grains of Bullseye or equivalent.
3. 170-180 grain gas checked "200 yard target", 1500-1600 f.p.s., 16 grains of Hercules #2400 or equivalent.
4. 180-200 grain gas-checked "deer/600 yard target", 1750-1850 f.p.s., 26 grains of RL-7 or equivalent.
None of these loads are maximum when used in full-sized rifle cases such as the 30-40 Krag, .303 British, 7.65 Argentine, 7.7 Jap, 7.62x54R Russian , or 30-06. They can be used as basic load data in most modern military rifles of 7mm or larger, with a standard weight cast bullet for the caliber, such as 140-170 grains in the 7x57, 150-180 grains in the .30 calibers, and 150-190 grains in the 8mm. For bores smaller than 7mm, consult published data.
You get a chance, go read the whole piece; there’s a LOT of information there on bullets, powders, cases and loads if you’re interested in using cast bullets. Or just interested in what’s been worked out for these. If you’re not familiar with this, when he speaks of “Lyman #3118, #311008, #311359, or #311316” and such, he’s referring to the number for that bullet & mold. They’ve got a sticky here that shows ALL the Lyman bullets and their numbers; if you’ve got a slow connection like mine, it’ll take a while to load.
I’ll throw in that I’ve stuck with 2400 for most of these loads simply because it flows so nicely through a powder measure, whereas some flake powders like Unique can be more difficult to get consistent throws with.
This is by no means a complete 'Go do it' guide, just a bit of general overview. Hope it might answer some questions anybody might have about what the hell I'm talking about.
*If you read accounts of the buffalo hunters in the late 1800’s, they’ve mentioned that a shot that hit a buffalo behind one shoulder would penetrate completely, sometimes breaking the off-shoulder, and the bullet would be found flattened out against the inside of the skin. Pure lead generally; they’d save the bullets, melt them and cast new bullets.
**Some gas checks have a thick edge so it physically locks onto the shank when crimped. Others are simply a cup, held in place by friction. On the latter, it’s possible, if the base of the bullet is seated below the case neck, for them to come loose, which is a Bad Thing. If you use that type, make sure the base does not go below the case neck.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
People have written that they don't know how people like Michelle Malkin
can stand the crap they put up with. Prime examples:
Michelle Malkin,
Reading through your articles on your blog indicates hate, bitterness, envy, pettiness and a deranged woman. Even your appearance on Fox News, shows you are a troubled woman from the glint in your eyes and tightening at the corners of your lips. My advice: Slow down on Obama’s presidency, as you nor other rightwing bigots can not change the course of history, as you are terribly ill-equipped intellectually.
From Antonio Simmons:
U are a BITCH and need to go back where your parents are from and stop tryin to rain on our parade!!!! MY PRESIDENT IS BLACK BITCH!!!!!
From Tabatha Jones:
You are the stupidest BITCH in the world, how can you talk about minorities like you do. What make you think that white people like your dog eating ass. They just tolerate you because you are always talking about Obama. BITCH President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama has more class in their little finger then you have in your whole entire body. RESPECT YOUR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!
And so on.
It seems the worshippers of President The Obama, and a lot of nutcase leftists in general, just cannot stand a woman who fits into a minority group not being one of them; especially when the points out things like this. Which leads to garbage like the 'privacy' advocates publishing her address and phone numbers, and so on, for daring to piss them off.
Leftists. They're who need medication.
Michelle Malkin,
Reading through your articles on your blog indicates hate, bitterness, envy, pettiness and a deranged woman. Even your appearance on Fox News, shows you are a troubled woman from the glint in your eyes and tightening at the corners of your lips. My advice: Slow down on Obama’s presidency, as you nor other rightwing bigots can not change the course of history, as you are terribly ill-equipped intellectually.
From Antonio Simmons:
U are a BITCH and need to go back where your parents are from and stop tryin to rain on our parade!!!! MY PRESIDENT IS BLACK BITCH!!!!!
From Tabatha Jones:
You are the stupidest BITCH in the world, how can you talk about minorities like you do. What make you think that white people like your dog eating ass. They just tolerate you because you are always talking about Obama. BITCH President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama has more class in their little finger then you have in your whole entire body. RESPECT YOUR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!
And so on.
It seems the worshippers of President The Obama, and a lot of nutcase leftists in general, just cannot stand a woman who fits into a minority group not being one of them; especially when the points out things like this. Which leads to garbage like the 'privacy' advocates publishing her address and phone numbers, and so on, for daring to piss them off.
Leftists. They're who need medication.
There are some honest, law-abiding agents at BATFE,
and then there are the rest:
The dispute is over a part he submitted to the agency that he is proposing for an existing line of legal machine guns in the U.S. The part would convert the weapons to operate with ammunition that costs 1 or 2 cents per shell, instead of 25 cents or more...
Savage said he submitted the part to the BATFE, even though it technically was not a gun, and was stunned to get a response that not only was his repair part a gun, it was a machine gun, and he had only hours to "register" it properly.
Why?
[A]ll it took was some metal, a length of chain, some duct tape and some plastic wire ties for the federal inspectors to make his gun part operate in that fashion, he said he was told.
Which means they can say "All it took to turn your 10/22 into a machine gun was some tape, zip ties, wire and an electric motor; therefore we arrest it for being an unregistered machine gun." After which they'll come after you.
I just got of the phone with Dahil Goss, Assistant United States Attorney from Northern District of Georgia. She has informed me that a complaint against the firearm I submitted to ATF's Firearms Technology Branch, who then then seized, has been filed.
I asked if a summons with attached complaint had been mailed or served upon me. She informed me that no in fact no attempt to serve me has been made. The arrest warrant has been issued for the firearm, she explained that it would take ATF 1-2 weeks to proceed with "legal fiction" [her term, not mine] and serve the arrest warrant on the firearm. She thought the arrest would occur in Martinsburg West Virginia at FTB, I was under the understanding that the firearm was in the ATF Atlanta office. I can only hope the firearm does not evade arrest if found in one place when going to arrest it in another?
Next time BATFE comes to Congress with its hand out, it should be slapped away and their budget cut; because if they've got the time/money/people to do crap like this, then obviously they have far too much money and too many people and too much free time to play with.
The dispute is over a part he submitted to the agency that he is proposing for an existing line of legal machine guns in the U.S. The part would convert the weapons to operate with ammunition that costs 1 or 2 cents per shell, instead of 25 cents or more...
Savage said he submitted the part to the BATFE, even though it technically was not a gun, and was stunned to get a response that not only was his repair part a gun, it was a machine gun, and he had only hours to "register" it properly.
Why?
[A]ll it took was some metal, a length of chain, some duct tape and some plastic wire ties for the federal inspectors to make his gun part operate in that fashion, he said he was told.
Which means they can say "All it took to turn your 10/22 into a machine gun was some tape, zip ties, wire and an electric motor; therefore we arrest it for being an unregistered machine gun." After which they'll come after you.
I just got of the phone with Dahil Goss, Assistant United States Attorney from Northern District of Georgia. She has informed me that a complaint against the firearm I submitted to ATF's Firearms Technology Branch, who then then seized, has been filed.
I asked if a summons with attached complaint had been mailed or served upon me. She informed me that no in fact no attempt to serve me has been made. The arrest warrant has been issued for the firearm, she explained that it would take ATF 1-2 weeks to proceed with "legal fiction" [her term, not mine] and serve the arrest warrant on the firearm. She thought the arrest would occur in Martinsburg West Virginia at FTB, I was under the understanding that the firearm was in the ATF Atlanta office. I can only hope the firearm does not evade arrest if found in one place when going to arrest it in another?
Next time BATFE comes to Congress with its hand out, it should be slapped away and their budget cut; because if they've got the time/money/people to do crap like this, then obviously they have far too much money and too many people and too much free time to play with.
If it's too expensive to upgrade, don't worry;
we'll screw your customers to force them to pay for it.
What's the problem? These new cleaner gas stations aren't cheap, and "dozens, and potentially hundreds" of gas stations in California might close down instead to upgrade. In other words, in this case, going green means going out of business. According to the Pasadena Star-News, the South Coast Air Quality Management District has heard from 76 refueling sites (of about 4,500 total in its area) that will shut down because of the high costs of the EVRP.
And the California Government solution is:
CARB responds by saying that gas prices will go up by about 0.68 cents a gallon to cover the cost of upgrading.
Standard government solution: order something done 'for the public good', and then- in this case directly- screw the citizen to pay for it.
What's the problem? These new cleaner gas stations aren't cheap, and "dozens, and potentially hundreds" of gas stations in California might close down instead to upgrade. In other words, in this case, going green means going out of business. According to the Pasadena Star-News, the South Coast Air Quality Management District has heard from 76 refueling sites (of about 4,500 total in its area) that will shut down because of the high costs of the EVRP.
And the California Government solution is:
CARB responds by saying that gas prices will go up by about 0.68 cents a gallon to cover the cost of upgrading.
Standard government solution: order something done 'for the public good', and then- in this case directly- screw the citizen to pay for it.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
So we've got a tax cheat writing our tax laws, a tax cheat
and liar now in charge of the Treasury, a terrorist-pardoning liar with a contempt for non-PC parts of the Constitution who'll probably become Attorney General... Effing wonderful.
On the other side, Republicans in the House refused to give Obama and the Democrat Party cover and ALL voted against the New Pork, Payoffs & Bribes Stimulus Bill. I guess enough people finally screamed and threatened and said "We said NO, DAMMIT!" enough to get even the attention of the Stupid Party. To borrow a line, "And whales do too have wings."
There's a call for a new tea party. Personally, I still lean toward a box with tar, feathers and a rail. Or that stall on the Mall selling lengths of pre-stretched hemp rope and noose instructions.
How Much I Support Our President:
1. I support him as much as Code Pink supports our troops.
2. I support him as much as N.O.W. supports Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
3. I support him as much as the Hollywood community supported Theo Van Gogh.
4. I support him as much as Nancy Pelosi supports the Catholic Church’s teachings on life.
5. I support him as much as Al Gore supports cutting down on his personal carbon footprint to save the world.
6. I support him as much as John Edwards supports The National Enquirer’s right to publish pictures of his girlfriend and baby.
7. I support him as much as Western gay rights groups support Mehdi Kazemi.
8. I support him as much as the Castro brothers support Oscar Biscet’s right to free speech.
9. I support him as much as Ted Kennedy supports renewable wind energy off the coast of his summer mansion.
There's twelve total.
Obama I(or would Obama be Carter II?) is still the terrorist suckup he's always been.
And on a happy note, the 7.62x54r brass and bullet lube came in today; therefore, there is shooty goodness in the future.
On the other side, Republicans in the House refused to give Obama and the Democrat Party cover and ALL voted against the New Pork, Payoffs & Bribes Stimulus Bill. I guess enough people finally screamed and threatened and said "We said NO, DAMMIT!" enough to get even the attention of the Stupid Party. To borrow a line, "And whales do too have wings."
There's a call for a new tea party. Personally, I still lean toward a box with tar, feathers and a rail. Or that stall on the Mall selling lengths of pre-stretched hemp rope and noose instructions.
How Much I Support Our President:
1. I support him as much as Code Pink supports our troops.
2. I support him as much as N.O.W. supports Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
3. I support him as much as the Hollywood community supported Theo Van Gogh.
4. I support him as much as Nancy Pelosi supports the Catholic Church’s teachings on life.
5. I support him as much as Al Gore supports cutting down on his personal carbon footprint to save the world.
6. I support him as much as John Edwards supports The National Enquirer’s right to publish pictures of his girlfriend and baby.
7. I support him as much as Western gay rights groups support Mehdi Kazemi.
8. I support him as much as the Castro brothers support Oscar Biscet’s right to free speech.
9. I support him as much as Ted Kennedy supports renewable wind energy off the coast of his summer mansion.
There's twelve total.
Obama I(or would Obama be Carter II?) is still the terrorist suckup he's always been.
And on a happy note, the 7.62x54r brass and bullet lube came in today; therefore, there is shooty goodness in the future.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Well, the "We don't have time to find someone else!" excuse
got us a tax-cheat Treasury Secretary, now "We don't have a lot of time" gets the bridge panels moving.
Inspectors hired by Caltrans to monitor the fabrication of steel girders that will support the tower's roadway reported finding cracked welds last year, Caltrans records show.
The discovery has raised the question whether Bay Area taxpayers are getting a substandard product that could wear out prematurely and require costly repairs in a decade or two.
Caltrans and others in charge of the bridge construction say the welds are safe and that fixes have been made - but also say the inspectors interpreted the welding standards too rigidly.
Meanwhile, the inspection outfit that sounded the alarm has since been replaced.
I'm not an engineer, and this may not be that big a deal; but as a layman who knows a little bit about welding and steel, my first thought is "How do you get too strict on welding standards on a big effing bridge?"
Got to tell you, if I had to drive on this bridge, this would not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling about it. Especially with the comment from one of the officials that 'we're racing the next earthquake."
Inspectors hired by Caltrans to monitor the fabrication of steel girders that will support the tower's roadway reported finding cracked welds last year, Caltrans records show.
The discovery has raised the question whether Bay Area taxpayers are getting a substandard product that could wear out prematurely and require costly repairs in a decade or two.
Caltrans and others in charge of the bridge construction say the welds are safe and that fixes have been made - but also say the inspectors interpreted the welding standards too rigidly.
Meanwhile, the inspection outfit that sounded the alarm has since been replaced.
I'm not an engineer, and this may not be that big a deal; but as a layman who knows a little bit about welding and steel, my first thought is "How do you get too strict on welding standards on a big effing bridge?"
Got to tell you, if I had to drive on this bridge, this would not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling about it. Especially with the comment from one of the officials that 'we're racing the next earthquake."
Weather, and a couple of new links
on the sidebar. First, there's a lot of ice in the eastern/southeast part of the state, but remarkably few power outages; I think the ice storms the past couple of years took down a lot of the limbs/old lines that were potential problems, and people did a LOT of pruning/cutting down on trees that might threaten lines in the future; so a lot less outages than would otherwise be the case.
In the post on the creepy "We are your servants" oath to Obama, BobG noted "First time I heard someone give an oath of fealty given." Which is exactly right. And a pretty wrong thing to be giving to a damn politician.
New links: Dinah Lord, keeping an eye on the islamists, and Closing Velocity, keeping track of missile defense developments.
Oh, and Bill Ayers is still a liar, a murderer and a miserable douche; that this bastard has been training teachers should scare hell out of you.
And, do you feel like a chump for following the damn rules?
In the post on the creepy "We are your servants" oath to Obama, BobG noted "First time I heard someone give an oath of fealty given." Which is exactly right. And a pretty wrong thing to be giving to a damn politician.
New links: Dinah Lord, keeping an eye on the islamists, and Closing Velocity, keeping track of missile defense developments.
Oh, and Bill Ayers is still a liar, a murderer and a miserable douche; that this bastard has been training teachers should scare hell out of you.
And, do you feel like a chump for following the damn rules?
And, a guide for celebrities to help Save Mother Gaia
4. Crush a Third World Economic Development Movement. One of the most pressing threats facing our environment is rising income in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. A generation ago these proud little dark people were happily frolicking in the rain forest, foraging for organic foods amid the wonders of nature. Today, corrupted by wealth, they are demanding environmentally hazardous consumer goods like cars and air conditioning and malaria medicine. You can do your part to stop this dangerous consumerism trend by supporting environmentally progressive leaders like Hugo Chavez and Robert Mugabe, and their programs for sustainable low-impact ecolabor camps.
You'll especially like #10.
And yes, I will stop now and go do something cleanup-like. Or maybe put some loads together, after having considered the implications of Obama's Little Book a bit more.
You'll especially like #10.
And yes, I will stop now and go do something cleanup-like. Or maybe put some loads together, after having considered the implications of Obama's Little Book a bit more.
But before I go, let's consider bullies and abuse of eminent domain
Late last year, we--publisher and author--were named in a defamation suit brought in a state court in Dallas by H. Walker Royall. Royall is a wealthy man who, having volunteered to be the developer in a municipal construction project that involved eminent domain, does not care to have his actions scrutinized by the Fourth Estate.
...
As we see it, Royall's case against us is not an ordinary libel suit. It is a suit aimed at suppressing the process of investigative journalism and the free circulation of ideas. In his complaint, Royall does not identify a single word of Bulldozed that libels him. He says only that "the gist" of the book defames him.
Go read it. Both because it's something people to know about, and because it'll piss off the politicians and the developers for people to hear about it.
...
As we see it, Royall's case against us is not an ordinary libel suit. It is a suit aimed at suppressing the process of investigative journalism and the free circulation of ideas. In his complaint, Royall does not identify a single word of Bulldozed that libels him. He says only that "the gist" of the book defames him.
Go read it. Both because it's something people to know about, and because it'll piss off the politicians and the developers for people to hear about it.
What a difference a few degrees makes
The low this morning was(is) 20, which had the effect of causing most of the falling wet to turn into falling solid, either snow or sleet. There's a nice thin blanket of mixed snow & sleet on everything, which is much easier to deal with than sheet ice, with light sleet still coming down. Go east a ways to the Muskogee area, the temp is currently 32, and here's their forecast:
Today: Freezing rain. Some thunder is also possible. High near 32. North northwest wind around 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime ice accumulation of 0.5 to 0.7 of an inch possible.
That's a lot of ice on its own, let alone on top of what already fell. Ok, the ice storm warning says
FREEZING RAIN...OCCASIONALLY MIXED WITH SLEET...WILL CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...NORTHWEST AND WEST
CENTRAL ARKANSAS TODAY. TOTAL ICE ACCUMULATIONS BETWEEN A HALF AND
ONE INCH ARE LIKELY THROUGH TONIGHT...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS.
which is downright nasty. Which is about what happened here last year, it just wasn't cold enough to freeze the stuff before it hit the ground, so it hit and then froze.
Security Staff proved her general intelligence by staying curled up in her house until I had her food ready, then sliding out and diving into the garage to eat. After which she ran round long enough to sniff, stretch and pee, then dived back into the house. The birds in the holly trees were bitching about things enough the trees were moving, so I scattered some food around in front.
Years ago lived in a town named Medford, way up near the Kansas border. One winter, instead of ice, we got right at four inches of sleet; looked just like snow on the ground, except it was little balls of ice. That was interesting.
I think this is that day I kept putting a bunch of cleanup/putaway off for, so I think I'll get some of that done.
Today: Freezing rain. Some thunder is also possible. High near 32. North northwest wind around 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime ice accumulation of 0.5 to 0.7 of an inch possible.
That's a lot of ice on its own, let alone on top of what already fell. Ok, the ice storm warning says
FREEZING RAIN...OCCASIONALLY MIXED WITH SLEET...WILL CONTINUE TO
DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...NORTHWEST AND WEST
CENTRAL ARKANSAS TODAY. TOTAL ICE ACCUMULATIONS BETWEEN A HALF AND
ONE INCH ARE LIKELY THROUGH TONIGHT...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS.
which is downright nasty. Which is about what happened here last year, it just wasn't cold enough to freeze the stuff before it hit the ground, so it hit and then froze.
Security Staff proved her general intelligence by staying curled up in her house until I had her food ready, then sliding out and diving into the garage to eat. After which she ran round long enough to sniff, stretch and pee, then dived back into the house. The birds in the holly trees were bitching about things enough the trees were moving, so I scattered some food around in front.
Years ago lived in a town named Medford, way up near the Kansas border. One winter, instead of ice, we got right at four inches of sleet; looked just like snow on the ground, except it was little balls of ice. That was interesting.
I think this is that day I kept putting a bunch of cleanup/putaway off for, so I think I'll get some of that done.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Looks like this area will get light ice,
with the nasty stuff being east and south this time. To give an idea, here's my pecan tree out front just before dark:
Very thin layer on top, maybe .1". In comparison to the storm last winter:
which caused me to be without power for a full week. This year, go about 60-80 miles east and southeast, and you get
Tonight: Freezing rain. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 29. North northeast wind between 9 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total nighttime ice accumulation of 0.2 to 0.4 of an inch possible.
Tuesday: Occasional freezing rain. High near 29. North wind between 11 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New ice accumulation of 0.3 to 0.5 of an inch possible.
Worst case, they're looking at damn near an inch of ice. That means massive power outages, trees down all over, the whole works. Very bad.
Map looks like north Texas is getting/will get some, maybe .2" total; bad enough, but shouldn't take trees or many lines down. Which is good.
Right now, I can hear one of the icy-street serenades; I live on a hill, and some people just can't get it through their heads that when the head up a slope they need to keep their momentum, and if the road is clear ahead of them build some before they start up. So they get stuck out front and I get to hear their tires spinning. Sometimes on and on, because they also don't get the idea that you can't power your way out of it. Couple of times in the past I've gone out with the kitty litter and helped people get over the hump, but I gave that up: both the chance of being run over, and the morons who, when you tell them "Easy, just barely give it gas", as soon as they start moving stomp on the damn pedal and break loose again. Not only do they tend to fishtail a bit, but their tires throw the ice and litter around. So no more do I do that.
Security Staff seems to be back to normal, with one exception: she really liked the special canned food, and considers her usual dry to be not really acceptable anymore. Which she'll have to get over, as that stuff was both prescription and expensive. As in "I have a prescription for a steak dinner every meal" in human terms expensive. I did pick up some canned, the type with chunks and gravy, and mixed it with the dry; not what she wanted, but acceptable. Barely.
I just seem to have this talent for disappointing females...
Very thin layer on top, maybe .1". In comparison to the storm last winter:
which caused me to be without power for a full week. This year, go about 60-80 miles east and southeast, and you getTonight: Freezing rain. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 29. North northeast wind between 9 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total nighttime ice accumulation of 0.2 to 0.4 of an inch possible.
Tuesday: Occasional freezing rain. High near 29. North wind between 11 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New ice accumulation of 0.3 to 0.5 of an inch possible.
Worst case, they're looking at damn near an inch of ice. That means massive power outages, trees down all over, the whole works. Very bad.
Map looks like north Texas is getting/will get some, maybe .2" total; bad enough, but shouldn't take trees or many lines down. Which is good.
Right now, I can hear one of the icy-street serenades; I live on a hill, and some people just can't get it through their heads that when the head up a slope they need to keep their momentum, and if the road is clear ahead of them build some before they start up. So they get stuck out front and I get to hear their tires spinning. Sometimes on and on, because they also don't get the idea that you can't power your way out of it. Couple of times in the past I've gone out with the kitty litter and helped people get over the hump, but I gave that up: both the chance of being run over, and the morons who, when you tell them "Easy, just barely give it gas", as soon as they start moving stomp on the damn pedal and break loose again. Not only do they tend to fishtail a bit, but their tires throw the ice and litter around. So no more do I do that.
Security Staff seems to be back to normal, with one exception: she really liked the special canned food, and considers her usual dry to be not really acceptable anymore. Which she'll have to get over, as that stuff was both prescription and expensive. As in "I have a prescription for a steak dinner every meal" in human terms expensive. I did pick up some canned, the type with chunks and gravy, and mixed it with the dry; not what she wanted, but acceptable. Barely.
I just seem to have this talent for disappointing females...
So we now have a tax cheat in charge of writing tax law
and a tax cheat and liar in charge of the Treasury Dept. Just friggin' wonderful.
The 10 Republicans who voted yes were Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee, John Cornyn of Texas, Mike Crapo of Idaho, John Ensign of Nevada, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, Hatch of Utah, Richard Shelby of Alabama, Olympia Snowe of Maine and George Voinovich of Ohio.
See any familar names? I thought you would.
The 10 Republicans who voted yes were Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee, John Cornyn of Texas, Mike Crapo of Idaho, John Ensign of Nevada, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, Hatch of Utah, Richard Shelby of Alabama, Olympia Snowe of Maine and George Voinovich of Ohio.
See any familar names? I thought you would.
Someone else who says Geithner is full of crap
on his "I forgot" excuse on not paying taxes:
Whether Timothy Geithner, who is the architect of this program, is up to it is a big question. Whether he’s up to be secretary of the treasury, quite frankly, is a big question because that tax problem he had is not the minor blip in the road that they’re suggesting it is. I worked at the World Bank under the same payment system that he had at the IMF. I helped negotiate this thing. Those institutions do not pay – employees do not have to pay taxes at those institutions. Americans do.
What the World Bank does, what the IMF does also, is they gross up the salaries of the employees – of the American employees so that they can pay their taxes, Geithner had to deliberately agree to that arrangement. How he could not recognize that he had had a tax liability is beyond me.
That sounds like a pretty polite way of saying 'bullshit' to me.
What the World Bank does, what the IMF does also, is they gross up the salaries of the employees – of the American employees so that they can pay their taxes, Geithner had to deliberately agree to that arrangement. How he could not recognize that he had had a tax liability is beyond me.
That sounds like a pretty polite way of saying 'bullshit' to me.
Despite the Ascension of the Lightworker,
things just aren't all sweetness and light out there. For instance, along with the GFW screaming by McCarthy & Co., the Kennedy family is pissed at the NY Governor: first for daring to not hand her a Senate seat, the second for- well, they're claiming he asked her to lie, but damned if I'll simply accept that as truth, we may never know the real story there. To me, one of the biggest parts of this is the damned expectation that she should have been given this seat simply because "She's a Kennedy!" Which is absolute bullshit. When Ed Koch spoke that "Consider her DNA!" crap it should have gotten him thrown out of the building.
This is on the same level as Vice-Pres. Biden trying to work it so the Senate seat he used to sit it be virtually handed to his son in a couple of years. Absolute bullshit; it's not HIS seat, it belongs to the people of that state. If they're stupid enough to vote the son it because he IS Biden's son, then it's on their heads, but to have this maneuvering going on is sickening.
On Holder wanting to be AG, we now know that not only is he a GFW nanny-state dirtbag, he's a liar.
Speaking of liars and tax cheats and corrupt politicians(which is kind of redundant), we have Speaker Pelosi's 'most ethical Congress EVAH!' trying to brush over Rangel's tax cheating and other lawbreaking.
And, of course, we have the silence broken only by the chirping of crickets over Pres. Obama's 'new way of dealing with terrorists' involving Predator strikes and other such things.
"Just let me be great!" Snork. You're an idiot performer, West, who has delusions of grandeur. And persecution. Actually, you're a moron.
Well, here's another terrorist with interesting connections about to be released, instead of rotting in a cell as he should.
Another good reason to yell at your congresscritter about the 'stimulus' package is the garbage it's to be used to stimulate.
Robert Reich is whining because his words on construction jobs money actually got attention. And people are pissed about them. Tough shit, guy, thanks to this here internet your words are right out there for people to read; deal with it.
Sebastian has some wise words on the use of a semi-auto if it doubles or triples. Especially since the BATFE seems quite willing to use ANYTHING as evidence that you are a Bad Peasant.
More bullcrap "We know!" from GFW LE officers and the media.
And, to cap it all, the picture below has me right in the middle:
That pink area is the winter storm warning, purple is ice storm warning, blue is winter storm watch. Looks like were probably going to get a little ice here, the worst will be south and east. With part of north Texas getting pasted tonight and tomorrow.
I need some lunch, and- assuming the panic-buyers haven't grabbed it all- a bag of kitty litter for the front walk. See you later.
This is on the same level as Vice-Pres. Biden trying to work it so the Senate seat he used to sit it be virtually handed to his son in a couple of years. Absolute bullshit; it's not HIS seat, it belongs to the people of that state. If they're stupid enough to vote the son it because he IS Biden's son, then it's on their heads, but to have this maneuvering going on is sickening.
On Holder wanting to be AG, we now know that not only is he a GFW nanny-state dirtbag, he's a liar.
Speaking of liars and tax cheats and corrupt politicians(which is kind of redundant), we have Speaker Pelosi's 'most ethical Congress EVAH!' trying to brush over Rangel's tax cheating and other lawbreaking.
And, of course, we have the silence broken only by the chirping of crickets over Pres. Obama's 'new way of dealing with terrorists' involving Predator strikes and other such things.
"Just let me be great!" Snork. You're an idiot performer, West, who has delusions of grandeur. And persecution. Actually, you're a moron.
Well, here's another terrorist with interesting connections about to be released, instead of rotting in a cell as he should.
Another good reason to yell at your congresscritter about the 'stimulus' package is the garbage it's to be used to stimulate.
Robert Reich is whining because his words on construction jobs money actually got attention. And people are pissed about them. Tough shit, guy, thanks to this here internet your words are right out there for people to read; deal with it.
Sebastian has some wise words on the use of a semi-auto if it doubles or triples. Especially since the BATFE seems quite willing to use ANYTHING as evidence that you are a Bad Peasant.
More bullcrap "We know!" from GFW LE officers and the media.
And, to cap it all, the picture below has me right in the middle:
That pink area is the winter storm warning, purple is ice storm warning, blue is winter storm watch. Looks like were probably going to get a little ice here, the worst will be south and east. With part of north Texas getting pasted tonight and tomorrow.
I need some lunch, and- assuming the panic-buyers haven't grabbed it all- a bag of kitty litter for the front walk. See you later.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
I would like to know what kind of chickenshit, miserable little
bureaucrat, in or out of uniform, thought this was a good idea?
There are only 26 surviving members of the Alaska Territorial Guard, a unit composed of mostly Native militiamen which was established to guard the territory of Alaska from the threat of Japanese attack during World War II. The militia was deemed necessary because Japan had made incursions into the Aleutians and occupied some of the islands in 1942.
Now the Army, in its bureaucratic wisdom, has decided to cut off retirement pay for these patriots, most of them now in their eighties. They stand to lose as much as $557 in monthly retirement pay at the end of this month. Another 37 of the militiamen have had their applications for retirement pay suspended.
There's speculation that this could be tied to the Obama administration starting to take hits at Alaska and Palin; I have no idea. And I don't really care right now if it's political there, or some lawyer-in-uniform's idea, or a combination; whoever decided this...
If it does turn out to be someone in the Administration's idea, they should be horsewhipped. Then tarred and feathered. General political bullshit is bad enough, someone using the power of an office to punish people because they didn't fall into line should be considered grounds for removal from office. Preferably involving a rope.
There are only 26 surviving members of the Alaska Territorial Guard, a unit composed of mostly Native militiamen which was established to guard the territory of Alaska from the threat of Japanese attack during World War II. The militia was deemed necessary because Japan had made incursions into the Aleutians and occupied some of the islands in 1942.
Now the Army, in its bureaucratic wisdom, has decided to cut off retirement pay for these patriots, most of them now in their eighties. They stand to lose as much as $557 in monthly retirement pay at the end of this month. Another 37 of the militiamen have had their applications for retirement pay suspended.
There's speculation that this could be tied to the Obama administration starting to take hits at Alaska and Palin; I have no idea. And I don't really care right now if it's political there, or some lawyer-in-uniform's idea, or a combination; whoever decided this...
If it does turn out to be someone in the Administration's idea, they should be horsewhipped. Then tarred and feathered. General political bullshit is bad enough, someone using the power of an office to punish people because they didn't fall into line should be considered grounds for removal from office. Preferably involving a rope.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Of what number does an 'arsenal' consist
nowadays?
The wife of a Conservative councillor told police about an arsenal of handguns he kept at his sprawling country home in revenge for having to give him £180,000 in a divorce settlement, a court has heard.
...
Richard Scott, prosecuting, said that Mrs Meurice, who had remained at the couple's seven bedroom house, Redbrooks Wood, in Hythe, Kent, was cleaning when she found in a cupboard at the top of a wardrobe two pouches, each one containing firearms.
They included a silver revolver, two pistols, and a spy-style "tube gun" that resembled a pen. Mrs Meurice called the police, who when they visited Meurice's new home found a CS gas canister in his loft.
He's on trial for 8 counts of 'possessing illegal firearms', so in this case it seems seven firearms and a CS cannister is an 'arsenal'. Of course, this IS in (fG)Britain, so I guess it counts. I much prefer the words of Tam:
It's good to have goals. Mine is that, when they finally come after me for felony jaywalking or confuse my address with the crack house two blocks down, and in the aftermath spread all my stuff on bedsheets in the front yard, I want the kids on the intarw3bz gun boards to look at that junk-on-the-bunk display and say "Wow, that is an arsenal."
The wife of a Conservative councillor told police about an arsenal of handguns he kept at his sprawling country home in revenge for having to give him £180,000 in a divorce settlement, a court has heard.
...
Richard Scott, prosecuting, said that Mrs Meurice, who had remained at the couple's seven bedroom house, Redbrooks Wood, in Hythe, Kent, was cleaning when she found in a cupboard at the top of a wardrobe two pouches, each one containing firearms.
They included a silver revolver, two pistols, and a spy-style "tube gun" that resembled a pen. Mrs Meurice called the police, who when they visited Meurice's new home found a CS gas canister in his loft.
He's on trial for 8 counts of 'possessing illegal firearms', so in this case it seems seven firearms and a CS cannister is an 'arsenal'. Of course, this IS in (fG)Britain, so I guess it counts. I much prefer the words of Tam:
It's good to have goals. Mine is that, when they finally come after me for felony jaywalking or confuse my address with the crack house two blocks down, and in the aftermath spread all my stuff on bedsheets in the front yard, I want the kids on the intarw3bz gun boards to look at that junk-on-the-bunk display and say "Wow, that is an arsenal."
Well, it MIGHT explain some things...
Crotalus: If guns are an extension of a man's penis, does that mean that men who support gun control secretly want to have vaginas?
January 23, 4:24 PM
Of course, there's another problem:
Ned: According to Henry, my wife's gun is a penis extension. I guess that must make me a homosexual.
Do I get some sort of federal protection now that I am in a minority class?
January 23, 4:24 PM
Of course, there's another problem:
Ned: According to Henry, my wife's gun is a penis extension. I guess that must make me a homosexual.
Do I get some sort of federal protection now that I am in a minority class?
Actually, I'd rather be writing about guns and handloading and
knives and forging and whatever else than crooked politicians and "I want to be a slave" celebrities, but the pols and celebritutes affect our lives. So we have to talk about them, and pass around what they say and do so everybody possible knows about it. Right now I'm speaking of the celebs and their oath to The Lightbringer.
I read about this mess the other day. Just flat amazing. And scary. "I pledge to be a servant to our president and all mankind." What the HELL is that? These clowns, a good many of them belittle the troops who swear to protect and defend the Constitution; they think(at least until now) that anyone who stands for the Pledge of Allegiance is a fool; but they swear 'to be a servant to our president'?!? No problem swearing to be a servant to a politician?
Damn.
I read about this mess the other day. Just flat amazing. And scary. "I pledge to be a servant to our president and all mankind." What the HELL is that? These clowns, a good many of them belittle the troops who swear to protect and defend the Constitution; they think(at least until now) that anyone who stands for the Pledge of Allegiance is a fool; but they swear 'to be a servant to our president'?!? No problem swearing to be a servant to a politician?
Damn.
Yeah, I imagine Rush is loving it
just as much as President Obama and his buttmonkeys are hating it. Two reasons:
One is the obvious: Rush will pick up that ball and run with it, loudly. If Obama had to mention him at all, this was NOT the way to do it.
Second, this would seem to demonstrate that he seems to think that because he won the job interview, it means he gets what he wants. Right now. Don't you even think about arguing about it, let alone saying 'no'.
In an exchange with Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) about the proposal, the president shot back: "I won," according to aides briefed on the meeting.
"I will trump you on that."
Translation: "I won the election, and that means you do what I want."
Not that Obama was gloating. He was just explaining that he aims to get his way on stimulus package and all other legislation, sources said, noting his unrivaled one-party control of both congressional chambers.
The hell he wasn't; he was gloating AND threatening. Which brings us to this:
One White House official confirmed the comment but said he was simply trying to make a larger point about bipartisan efforts.
"There are big things that unify Republicans and Democrats," the official said. "We shouldn't let partisan politics derail what are very important things that need to get done."
Translation: "Not only should you do what Pres. Obama says, and right now, but if you think the Evil Party is going to take major responsibility for this, you're nuts! We need Stupid Party members helping pass this so we've got cover, and can blame the problems on them later!"
Take being very picky, downright dumb at times, about refusing to answer questions from the media, add to that the entitlement mentality, stir in dumb comments like that about Limbaugh... I wonder if he really has any idea just how much trouble he's causing for himself?
One is the obvious: Rush will pick up that ball and run with it, loudly. If Obama had to mention him at all, this was NOT the way to do it.
Second, this would seem to demonstrate that he seems to think that because he won the job interview, it means he gets what he wants. Right now. Don't you even think about arguing about it, let alone saying 'no'.
In an exchange with Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) about the proposal, the president shot back: "I won," according to aides briefed on the meeting.
"I will trump you on that."
Translation: "I won the election, and that means you do what I want."
Not that Obama was gloating. He was just explaining that he aims to get his way on stimulus package and all other legislation, sources said, noting his unrivaled one-party control of both congressional chambers.
The hell he wasn't; he was gloating AND threatening. Which brings us to this:
One White House official confirmed the comment but said he was simply trying to make a larger point about bipartisan efforts.
"There are big things that unify Republicans and Democrats," the official said. "We shouldn't let partisan politics derail what are very important things that need to get done."
Translation: "Not only should you do what Pres. Obama says, and right now, but if you think the Evil Party is going to take major responsibility for this, you're nuts! We need Stupid Party members helping pass this so we've got cover, and can blame the problems on them later!"
Take being very picky, downright dumb at times, about refusing to answer questions from the media, add to that the entitlement mentality, stir in dumb comments like that about Limbaugh... I wonder if he really has any idea just how much trouble he's causing for himself?
Some interesting stuff out there, starting with GFW/Lib squealing
in New York. The governor did indeed appoint Gillibrand to the Senate seat. Which is causing lots of whining and screaming, apparently the big reason being she's got a good rating from the NRA. Which, of course, is reason enough for people like McCarthy and the Kennedys and so forth to want her to take a long walk on a short pier. Not counting keeping a Kennedy from taking her 'rightful place', which seems to mean 'getting what she wants' to the worshippers.
But as hard as she works, she will always have to wonder if she was actually Gov. Paterson's second choice. After all, until Wednesday almost everyone in the state expected the job to go to Kennedy.
Well, duh. I think she knows that Paterson would have gained points with the Kennedys & Worshippers & Sycophants, Inc., for appointing her. It would also have painted him as someone willing to give a Senate seat for personal gain, and I don't know if he was too wild about that. I have no idea of all the infighting in that state on this, but I'm sure he decided the long-term gain of Gillibrand was worth it.
...There were some high points -- President Barack Obama called in the middle of Gillibrand's speech.
Gillibrand finished her remarks before she went to the side of the stage to take the call.
"He said, 'I look forward to working with you,'" Gillibrand said.
Snork. I bet he does. From what I've read he WANTED Kennedy in that chair, and he not only got someone else, it's someone who, on at least one issue, just might stand against him. I do like her priorities on this: whether she wanted to make the point that she's not at his beck & call or not, she finished what she was doing before taking the call. Which is as it should be.
Gillibrand's pro-gun stance hung over the event, but she said she was willing to work with people against gun violence.
'Hung over the event'. Translation: the nanny-state weenies are aghast that someone with such a view should be out in public, let alone in public office, and are already planning to intimidate her into changing, or getting her out of the office as soon as possible, with the Kossites already making plans. I wonder if it's occurred to them that she might be kind of popular in her district, and crapping on her might be kind of counterproductive?
Probably not. It would mean the peasants don't think like they should, and that's not acceptable.
We'll see how it goes with her. Should be interesting, if nothing else.
But as hard as she works, she will always have to wonder if she was actually Gov. Paterson's second choice. After all, until Wednesday almost everyone in the state expected the job to go to Kennedy.
Well, duh. I think she knows that Paterson would have gained points with the Kennedys & Worshippers & Sycophants, Inc., for appointing her. It would also have painted him as someone willing to give a Senate seat for personal gain, and I don't know if he was too wild about that. I have no idea of all the infighting in that state on this, but I'm sure he decided the long-term gain of Gillibrand was worth it.
...There were some high points -- President Barack Obama called in the middle of Gillibrand's speech.
Gillibrand finished her remarks before she went to the side of the stage to take the call.
"He said, 'I look forward to working with you,'" Gillibrand said.
Snork. I bet he does. From what I've read he WANTED Kennedy in that chair, and he not only got someone else, it's someone who, on at least one issue, just might stand against him. I do like her priorities on this: whether she wanted to make the point that she's not at his beck & call or not, she finished what she was doing before taking the call. Which is as it should be.
Gillibrand's pro-gun stance hung over the event, but she said she was willing to work with people against gun violence.
'Hung over the event'. Translation: the nanny-state weenies are aghast that someone with such a view should be out in public, let alone in public office, and are already planning to intimidate her into changing, or getting her out of the office as soon as possible, with the Kossites already making plans. I wonder if it's occurred to them that she might be kind of popular in her district, and crapping on her might be kind of counterproductive?
Probably not. It would mean the peasants don't think like they should, and that's not acceptable.
We'll see how it goes with her. Should be interesting, if nothing else.
And Hollyweird displays its true colors.
Again. From the linked post:
"The timing is unfortunate. For a story that has gone neglected for the best part of 60 years, this is hardly the ideal week to be extolling heroic Jewish resistance fighters. Ari Folman’s angst-laden nonfiction animated film, "Waltz With Bashir," is altogether more relevant."
Apparently, you're supposed to make sure Israel isn't doing something non-PC to Hamas & Co. before you release a movie about Jew being anything except helpless victims waiting to be saved.
Just wonderful. And it makes me more determined to subject myself to a theater to see this movie.
"The timing is unfortunate. For a story that has gone neglected for the best part of 60 years, this is hardly the ideal week to be extolling heroic Jewish resistance fighters. Ari Folman’s angst-laden nonfiction animated film, "Waltz With Bashir," is altogether more relevant."
Apparently, you're supposed to make sure Israel isn't doing something non-PC to Hamas & Co. before you release a movie about Jew being anything except helpless victims waiting to be saved.
Just wonderful. And it makes me more determined to subject myself to a theater to see this movie.
Friday, January 23, 2009
It may have started as a joke, but anymore 'EUnuchs'
just speaks to the facts.
...Even before Fitna was released early last year, Doekle Terpstra, a leading member of the Dutch establishment, called for mass rallies to protest the movie. Terpstra organized a coalition of political, business, academic, and religious leaders, the sole purpose of which was to try to freeze Wilders out of public debate. Dutch cities are riddled with terrorist cells and crowded with fundamentalist Muslims who cheered 9/11 and idolize Osama bin Laden, but for Terpstra and his political allies, the real problem was the one Member of Parliament who wouldn’t shut up. “Geert Wilders is evil,” pronounced Terpstra, “and evil has to be stopped.” Fortuyn, van Gogh, and Hirsi Ali had been stopped; now it was Wilders’s turn.
...Even before Fitna was released early last year, Doekle Terpstra, a leading member of the Dutch establishment, called for mass rallies to protest the movie. Terpstra organized a coalition of political, business, academic, and religious leaders, the sole purpose of which was to try to freeze Wilders out of public debate. Dutch cities are riddled with terrorist cells and crowded with fundamentalist Muslims who cheered 9/11 and idolize Osama bin Laden, but for Terpstra and his political allies, the real problem was the one Member of Parliament who wouldn’t shut up. “Geert Wilders is evil,” pronounced Terpstra, “and evil has to be stopped.” Fortuyn, van Gogh, and Hirsi Ali had been stopped; now it was Wilders’s turn.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Browning
What that man designed...
...A list of just his commercial successes is illuminating:
Single Shot Rifles:
Winchester 1885
Bolt-action Rifles:
Winchester 1900
Lever-action Rifles:
Winchester 1886
Winchester 1892
Winchester 1894
Winchester 1895
Slide-action Rifles:
Winchester 1890
Recoil-operated Semi-automatic Rifles:
Remington Model 8
Blowback-operated Semi-automatic Rifles:
Browning .22 Semiauto
Double-barrel Shotguns:
Browning Superposed
Lever-action Shotguns:
Winchester 1887
Slide-action Shotguns:
Winchester 1897
Remington Model 17 (later the Ithaca 37)
Stevens 520
Recoil-operated Semi-automatic Shotguns:
Browning Auto 5 / Remington Model 11
Blowback-operated Semi-automatic Pistols:
FN M1900
Colt 1903/1908 Pocket Hammerless
FN 1906 Vest Pocket/Colt 1908 Vest Pocket
FN 1910
Colt Woodsman
Recoil-operated Semi-automatic Pistols:
Colt 1902
Colt 1903 Pocket Hammer
U.S. M1911
FN G.P. 35
Gas-operated Machine Guns:
Colt M1895
U.S. M1918 BAR
Recoil-Operated Machine Guns:
U.S. M1917/M1919
U.S. M2 Heavy Machine Gun
Automatic Machine Cannon:
Colt-Browning 37mm
AND the ammunition for a number of them. Damn. Glad he was born here.
...A list of just his commercial successes is illuminating:
Single Shot Rifles:
Winchester 1885
Bolt-action Rifles:
Winchester 1900
Lever-action Rifles:
Winchester 1886
Winchester 1892
Winchester 1894
Winchester 1895
Slide-action Rifles:
Winchester 1890
Recoil-operated Semi-automatic Rifles:
Remington Model 8
Blowback-operated Semi-automatic Rifles:
Browning .22 Semiauto
Double-barrel Shotguns:
Browning Superposed
Lever-action Shotguns:
Winchester 1887
Slide-action Shotguns:
Winchester 1897
Remington Model 17 (later the Ithaca 37)
Stevens 520
Recoil-operated Semi-automatic Shotguns:
Browning Auto 5 / Remington Model 11
Blowback-operated Semi-automatic Pistols:
FN M1900
Colt 1903/1908 Pocket Hammerless
FN 1906 Vest Pocket/Colt 1908 Vest Pocket
FN 1910
Colt Woodsman
Recoil-operated Semi-automatic Pistols:
Colt 1902
Colt 1903 Pocket Hammer
U.S. M1911
FN G.P. 35
Gas-operated Machine Guns:
Colt M1895
U.S. M1918 BAR
Recoil-Operated Machine Guns:
U.S. M1917/M1919
U.S. M2 Heavy Machine Gun
Automatic Machine Cannon:
Colt-Browning 37mm
AND the ammunition for a number of them. Damn. Glad he was born here.
"Dear Sir, sorry 'bout that mess in your pants"
Don't know if this is true, but if it's not it ought to be:
"I was the white guy with the black Burrberry jacket that you demanded I hand over shortly after you pulled the knife on me and my girlfriend. You also asked for my girlfriend's purse and earrings. I hope you somehow come across this message. I'd like to apologize.
I didn't expect you to crap your pants when I drew my pistol after you took my jacket. Truth is, I was wearing the jacket for a reason that evening, and it wasn't that cold outside. You see, my girlfriend had just bought me that Kimber 1911 .45 ACP pistol for Christmas, and we had just picked up a shoulder holster for it that evening. Beautiful pistol, eh? It's a very intimidating weapon when pointed at your head, isn't it?
I know it probably wasn't a great deal of fun walking back to wherever you'd come from with that brown sludge flopping about in your pants. I'm sure it was even worse since you also ended up leaving your shoes, cellphone, and wallet with me. I couldn't have you calling up any of your buddies to come help you try to mug us again. I took the liberty of calling your mother, or "Momma" as you had her listed in your cell, and explaining to her your situation. I also bought myself some gas on your card. I gave your shoes to one of the homeless guys over by Vinnie Van Go Go's, along with all of the cash in your wallet, then I threw the wallet itself in a dumpster.
I called a bunch of phone sex numbers from your cell. They'll be on your bill in case you'd like to know which ones. Alltel recently shut down the line, and I've only had the phone for a little over a day now, so I don't know what's going on with that. I hope they haven't permanently cut off your service. I was about to make some threatening phone calls to the DA's office with it. Oh well.
So, about your pants. I know that I was a little rough on you when you did this whole attempted mugging thing, so I'd like to make it up to you. I'm sure you've already washed your pants, so I'd like to help you out. I'd like to reimburse you for the detergent you used on the pants. What brand did you use, and was it liquid or powder? I'd also like to apologize for not killing you and instead making you walk back home humiliated. I'm hoping that you'll reconsider your choice of path in life. Next time you might not be so lucky. If you read this message, email me and we'll do lunch and laundry. Peace!
- Alex "
Sent to me by a friend
"I was the white guy with the black Burrberry jacket that you demanded I hand over shortly after you pulled the knife on me and my girlfriend. You also asked for my girlfriend's purse and earrings. I hope you somehow come across this message. I'd like to apologize.
I didn't expect you to crap your pants when I drew my pistol after you took my jacket. Truth is, I was wearing the jacket for a reason that evening, and it wasn't that cold outside. You see, my girlfriend had just bought me that Kimber 1911 .45 ACP pistol for Christmas, and we had just picked up a shoulder holster for it that evening. Beautiful pistol, eh? It's a very intimidating weapon when pointed at your head, isn't it?
I know it probably wasn't a great deal of fun walking back to wherever you'd come from with that brown sludge flopping about in your pants. I'm sure it was even worse since you also ended up leaving your shoes, cellphone, and wallet with me. I couldn't have you calling up any of your buddies to come help you try to mug us again. I took the liberty of calling your mother, or "Momma" as you had her listed in your cell, and explaining to her your situation. I also bought myself some gas on your card. I gave your shoes to one of the homeless guys over by Vinnie Van Go Go's, along with all of the cash in your wallet, then I threw the wallet itself in a dumpster.
I called a bunch of phone sex numbers from your cell. They'll be on your bill in case you'd like to know which ones. Alltel recently shut down the line, and I've only had the phone for a little over a day now, so I don't know what's going on with that. I hope they haven't permanently cut off your service. I was about to make some threatening phone calls to the DA's office with it. Oh well.
So, about your pants. I know that I was a little rough on you when you did this whole attempted mugging thing, so I'd like to make it up to you. I'm sure you've already washed your pants, so I'd like to help you out. I'd like to reimburse you for the detergent you used on the pants. What brand did you use, and was it liquid or powder? I'd also like to apologize for not killing you and instead making you walk back home humiliated. I'm hoping that you'll reconsider your choice of path in life. Next time you might not be so lucky. If you read this message, email me and we'll do lunch and laundry. Peace!
- Alex "
Sent to me by a friend
It shouldn't surprise me,
but in a way it does.
For the first time in 56 years, a newly-inaugurated president has not attended the ball begun by President Eisenhower. 14 presidents later, a snub.
Go check it out over there- FORTY-EIGHT MoH recipients were in attendance. People- that's HALF of the recipients that are still alive, and darn well nearly all that are physically able to attend events.
For the first time in 56 years, a newly-inaugurated president has not attended the ball begun by President Eisenhower. 14 presidents later, a snub.
Go check it out over there- FORTY-EIGHT MoH recipients were in attendance. People- that's HALF of the recipients that are still alive, and darn well nearly all that are physically able to attend events.
Two things this morning:
First, apparently the governor of NY is wanting to name Rep. Kirsten Gillebrand(Evil Party) to the Senate to replace Clinton. And, due to her having a good rating from NRA, the gun-fearing wussies and nanny-state morons are out in force. Take a look at the comments; according to most of them it should be that gun-grabbing moron McCarthy because 'she's saving us from gun violence, and guns suck!'.
Second, The Obama went to the press room and someone asked him an actual question, which seems to have irritated him. Later words from someone: "Arrogant fool! Don't you know you only ask approved questions at approved times?"
Second, The Obama went to the press room and someone asked him an actual question, which seems to have irritated him. Later words from someone: "Arrogant fool! Don't you know you only ask approved questions at approved times?"
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Insty had a post on space weather,
specifically what big solar flares can do to power grids and other electronics. Which reminded me of this book, Flare, by Roger Zelazny and Thomas T. Thomas. Set in the near future, the Maunder Minimum has gone on for a long time, and the danger of solar storms has been mostly forgotten. And then sunspot activity starts back up, and things go to hell from there. Good read.
Back when I was dispatching, we had a couple of summers with high sunspot activity, and it played hell with radio communications; Florida Highway Patrol used the same frequencies we did, and at times the skip was so bad we could hear units in Florida better than we could hear our own thirty miles away. Couple of times someone relayed a message to a FL headquarters because the unit couldn't get through.
I have to note, after I mentioned the accuracy of the Mosin Nagant the other day Gerry said in comments(among other things):
I do however have a 1943 dated Ishevsk M91-30 which does have rifling and does shoot well. four or five rounds in quick succession, though and a hardwood bat is required to operate the bolt. I would really hate to have to use this gatepost in battle as it is an indifferently made example of a bad design. When I got it, it was arsenal new and unfired.
I call the M91-30 the Yugo of rifles, a bad design poorly done.
The old M-91's are a bad design very well made.
"The Yugo of rifles". Snork.
Back when I was dispatching, we had a couple of summers with high sunspot activity, and it played hell with radio communications; Florida Highway Patrol used the same frequencies we did, and at times the skip was so bad we could hear units in Florida better than we could hear our own thirty miles away. Couple of times someone relayed a message to a FL headquarters because the unit couldn't get through.
I have to note, after I mentioned the accuracy of the Mosin Nagant the other day Gerry said in comments(among other things):
I do however have a 1943 dated Ishevsk M91-30 which does have rifling and does shoot well. four or five rounds in quick succession, though and a hardwood bat is required to operate the bolt. I would really hate to have to use this gatepost in battle as it is an indifferently made example of a bad design. When I got it, it was arsenal new and unfired.
I call the M91-30 the Yugo of rifles, a bad design poorly done.
The old M-91's are a bad design very well made.
"The Yugo of rifles". Snork.
On a slightly calmer note,
Security Staff is doing much better today. I think she either ate something that REALLY disagreed with her, or caught some kind of bug. Happily, giving her the two meds isn't too bad; they pill's easy, the difficult one is the potassium supplement: it's a gel and apparently tastes awful, I have to get it on a spoon and into her mouth so she pretty much has to swallow it. The special food, however, she has no problem with. And I left some of her regular dry this morning, and she ate it, too. Moving much better, so I think she'll be ok.
In other news, I’d been looking around for 7.62x54r brass for a while. About six or eight months ago I’d bought 100 rounds of Wolf Gold(good ammo) both to try it out, and because that would give me some reloadable cases; at that time all I could find was Norma or Lapua which is, let’s say ‘pricey’. Later on I found that Graf & Sons carries Prvi brass, but they’ve been out of stock for at least the last two months, and the only other place I found that had affordable brass(Winchester) was also out of stock.
Yesterday I went to Grafs to check, clicked on ‘7.62x54r’, and the little note said “In stock”. I think I actually jumped a bit. Yes, I ordered some, right then; no telling how long it’ll last.
I think Prvi makes the brass- maybe the ammo- for Wolf Gold; they look identical and have the same headstamp; somebody told me they may also make the stuff sold under the Hotshot label. It’s good stuff, but does seem a bit stiff in the neck; it’s definitely good quality, but I’m wondering if, after one or two uses, it might be a good idea to anneal the case necks? I’ve read a couple of reports of cracks or splits in the necks after a couple of reloadings, which makes me think it might be a good idea. Especially since, with cast-bullet loads, you have to bell the case mouth a bit.
Speaking of cast, I think a while back I wrote that the mold I got for .303 and 7.62x54r throws a 160-grain bullet; it’s actually listed as a 185-grain, but the sized, gas-checked and lubed bullets weigh just a fraction over 180 according to my scale. If I do decide to try a heavier bullet for the M1, I may just use this bullet sized to .310 or .311 and a suitable powder.
I have to say, having used several Lee molds, I like them. They do tend to be a bit more temperature-sensitive, as in cooling off faster due to the aluminum bodies; they also cost anywhere from $30-50 less than all the cast-iron, steel or bronze molds I’ve seen. I’ve got some Lyman molds, and I’ve got no problem with them, they are very well-made and throw good bullets; but if I can find the same bullet, or very close, in Lee I’m likely to try it first, since saving forty bucks isn’t something to sneeze at.
Further speaking of cast, I’ve got a friend who used to do a bunch of jewelry work. If he can get his centrifuge and oven set up, we’re going to see about making some silver bullets. No, I don’t expect to have a werecritter or vampire show up, but considering some of the things in DC right now… and I can always use them for gifts: “Here, you now have a box of REAL silvertips.” There was a thread on this at High Road a while back, discussing what accuracy would be like since silver is so much lighter than lead. I’d use very damn few to test; I haven’t looked lately, but if gold is any indication the price of silver has probably jumped considerably.
Ok, I just looked(don't you love the internet?), it's currently trading at $11.32 per ounce. Not too bad.
I didn't post on it the other day, but President What did I sign? Obama's good friend Bill Ayers was turned back at the Canadian border. While I'm glad Canada had the good sense and standard to prevent his entry... what, you couldn't let him in and arrange an accident with a moose or something?
In other news, I’d been looking around for 7.62x54r brass for a while. About six or eight months ago I’d bought 100 rounds of Wolf Gold(good ammo) both to try it out, and because that would give me some reloadable cases; at that time all I could find was Norma or Lapua which is, let’s say ‘pricey’. Later on I found that Graf & Sons carries Prvi brass, but they’ve been out of stock for at least the last two months, and the only other place I found that had affordable brass(Winchester) was also out of stock.
Yesterday I went to Grafs to check, clicked on ‘7.62x54r’, and the little note said “In stock”. I think I actually jumped a bit. Yes, I ordered some, right then; no telling how long it’ll last.
I think Prvi makes the brass- maybe the ammo- for Wolf Gold; they look identical and have the same headstamp; somebody told me they may also make the stuff sold under the Hotshot label. It’s good stuff, but does seem a bit stiff in the neck; it’s definitely good quality, but I’m wondering if, after one or two uses, it might be a good idea to anneal the case necks? I’ve read a couple of reports of cracks or splits in the necks after a couple of reloadings, which makes me think it might be a good idea. Especially since, with cast-bullet loads, you have to bell the case mouth a bit.
Speaking of cast, I think a while back I wrote that the mold I got for .303 and 7.62x54r throws a 160-grain bullet; it’s actually listed as a 185-grain, but the sized, gas-checked and lubed bullets weigh just a fraction over 180 according to my scale. If I do decide to try a heavier bullet for the M1, I may just use this bullet sized to .310 or .311 and a suitable powder.
I have to say, having used several Lee molds, I like them. They do tend to be a bit more temperature-sensitive, as in cooling off faster due to the aluminum bodies; they also cost anywhere from $30-50 less than all the cast-iron, steel or bronze molds I’ve seen. I’ve got some Lyman molds, and I’ve got no problem with them, they are very well-made and throw good bullets; but if I can find the same bullet, or very close, in Lee I’m likely to try it first, since saving forty bucks isn’t something to sneeze at.
Further speaking of cast, I’ve got a friend who used to do a bunch of jewelry work. If he can get his centrifuge and oven set up, we’re going to see about making some silver bullets. No, I don’t expect to have a werecritter or vampire show up, but considering some of the things in DC right now… and I can always use them for gifts: “Here, you now have a box of REAL silvertips.” There was a thread on this at High Road a while back, discussing what accuracy would be like since silver is so much lighter than lead. I’d use very damn few to test; I haven’t looked lately, but if gold is any indication the price of silver has probably jumped considerably.
Ok, I just looked(don't you love the internet?), it's currently trading at $11.32 per ounce. Not too bad.
I didn't post on it the other day, but President What did I sign? Obama's good friend Bill Ayers was turned back at the Canadian border. While I'm glad Canada had the good sense and standard to prevent his entry... what, you couldn't let him in and arrange an accident with a moose or something?
Warning: delayed post with irritation and some bad language
This is just a flat disgusting day. Unless enough people in the Senate develop enough courage to stand on that odd thing called ‘principle’(I KNOW they’ve heard of it, though it’s probably rather strange to them), or have enough people yelling at them to get their attention, we’ll have a confessed/proven tax cheat in charge of the Treasury Department. And President Hopeychangeypants has signed an executive order to close the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay. Because terrorists and murderers captured on the battlefield should get a trial under the same standards as a bank robber or mugger, or most tax cheats except those nominated to high office by President The Obama.
If anyone on Pennsylvania reads this, what the hell is wrong with you people? Not only did Murtha crap on the Marines and try to help us lose the war, he called the people in his district racists and you STILL sent him back to DC. Where he said he’d have no problem with the dirtbags(he probably identifies with them) from Guantanamo being sent to his district. And I hope that’s exactly what happens. You voted this asshole back into office, you get the terrorists in your back yard. Deal with it.
And we have all the supposed ‘Republicans’ sucking up to Obama by falling all over themselves to approve anybody he appoints, because actually doing what they’re supposed to do is just too nasty and 'partisan' for them; it would also require courage and integrity, which seems to be in damn short supply in DC.
I was listening to Glenn Beck this morning, and he had some comment about “What are you going to do about this?” Well, I’m like a lot of people; I’ve been yelling at the people in the House and Senate for all I’m worth, and on some very damned important things they do just what they do to everyone else: they ignore me. My Rep. is Mary Fallin, my senators are Coburn and Inhofe. On the Pork, Payoffs and Bribes Bailout Bill, Fallin voted against it in the House. Then the Senate put together that abortion of an end run around the Constitution, and I got a split; Inhofe voted no, Coburn yes. And then it went back to the House, and Fallin changed her vote to yes. Despite both admitting people contacting them were saying “NO!” by 9-to-1. And I immediately wrote to both of them(again) and basically asked “Why the hell did you do this?” And the answer from both, when I got it was pretty much the same: “Well, we had to do SOMETHING!” So I asked both why ‘something had to include all the pork and payoffs and bribes, that if this was indeed so vital and important couldn’t this crap have been stripped out? Answer: “Under the circumstances bla-blah-blah it was something that had to be done, and I’m sorry if you think I did wrong.”
I’m STILL pissed about that mess. When I read those justifications, if there’d been a way to throw both of them out of office RIGHT THEN, and replace them with Security Staff(House) and my daughter’s ferret(Senate), I’d have done it. And you know what makes this crap even worse? Those two are STILL better and at least 80% of the clowns and thieves and general scumbags in Congress. Which means the ‘lamppost & rope’ option just keeps looking better and better.
I’ve got a radio on, and just heard some of the questions that a bunch of major media ‘journalists’ are asking about The Anointed One, President Obama: “Does he think deficits are bad? Does he think Afghanistan can be won? Does he think- Does he believe?” on and bloody on. All questions that these slimy little excuses for reporters should have asked, and demanded answers to, at least a year ago(along with a bunch of others). But no, they had to take it easy on Obama, they just couldn’t bring themselves to treat him like a politician(God- the one they don’t believe in- forbid they actually question him like he was a member of the Stupid Party), they had to help him out in every way they could. And NOW, these bastards are sitting around with wondering expressions on their faces and asking “What does he actually think?” And they actually think we should trust them to bring us the ‘news’.
Aw, jeez… I just heard the recording of Obama announcing his executive orders. He gave the spiel about ‘for security and justice we’re closing the detention facility blah blah,”, then he actually had to ask one of his flunkies “Do we have another order about what we’re going to do with the detainees?” This jackass is signing this crap, and he doesn’t even know how many he’s signed? And what each covers? Some Evil Party speaker named Beckel(sp?) just chuckled and said something like “I imagine there’ll be some discussion and some heads will roll, I doubt this will happen again.” WHAT won’t happen again? The Anointed One not knowing what he just signed? Who’s going to get blamed for that so as not to smudge the halo over His Head? Damn, what a bunch of shit. And this is what’s in the White House. And the lawyer he’s asking “What did I just sign?” is another Clinton holdover.
And, of course, the Senate didn’t actually ask Hillary Clinton any real questions about the foreign money or anything else, in part because that jackass McCain was giving speeches that in the ‘spirit of bipartisanship’, i.e. ‘give the Evil Party what they want’, they just HAD to pass her on. Arizona, after 9/11 you should have said to hell with it and gone ahead with the recall on that bastard.
Shit. Rush just played two sound bites from Evil Party politicians on the ‘stimulus package’ infrastructure spending. Didn’t catch the first clowns name ,but the second was Chief House Tax Cheat Rangel. Both of them saying “We need quotas to make sure this money for construction doesn’t go to white construction companies, we need to make sure a lot of this goes to minorities and women.” Gee, and here I thought building a fucking bridge should be done by the most qualified company that makes the best bid; how silly of me not to know that the color and sex of who owns the company is far more important than competence.
Yes, except for Security Staff being better, this day mostly sucks.
If anyone on Pennsylvania reads this, what the hell is wrong with you people? Not only did Murtha crap on the Marines and try to help us lose the war, he called the people in his district racists and you STILL sent him back to DC. Where he said he’d have no problem with the dirtbags(he probably identifies with them) from Guantanamo being sent to his district. And I hope that’s exactly what happens. You voted this asshole back into office, you get the terrorists in your back yard. Deal with it.
And we have all the supposed ‘Republicans’ sucking up to Obama by falling all over themselves to approve anybody he appoints, because actually doing what they’re supposed to do is just too nasty and 'partisan' for them; it would also require courage and integrity, which seems to be in damn short supply in DC.
I was listening to Glenn Beck this morning, and he had some comment about “What are you going to do about this?” Well, I’m like a lot of people; I’ve been yelling at the people in the House and Senate for all I’m worth, and on some very damned important things they do just what they do to everyone else: they ignore me. My Rep. is Mary Fallin, my senators are Coburn and Inhofe. On the Pork, Payoffs and Bribes Bailout Bill, Fallin voted against it in the House. Then the Senate put together that abortion of an end run around the Constitution, and I got a split; Inhofe voted no, Coburn yes. And then it went back to the House, and Fallin changed her vote to yes. Despite both admitting people contacting them were saying “NO!” by 9-to-1. And I immediately wrote to both of them(again) and basically asked “Why the hell did you do this?” And the answer from both, when I got it was pretty much the same: “Well, we had to do SOMETHING!” So I asked both why ‘something had to include all the pork and payoffs and bribes, that if this was indeed so vital and important couldn’t this crap have been stripped out? Answer: “Under the circumstances bla-blah-blah it was something that had to be done, and I’m sorry if you think I did wrong.”
I’m STILL pissed about that mess. When I read those justifications, if there’d been a way to throw both of them out of office RIGHT THEN, and replace them with Security Staff(House) and my daughter’s ferret(Senate), I’d have done it. And you know what makes this crap even worse? Those two are STILL better and at least 80% of the clowns and thieves and general scumbags in Congress. Which means the ‘lamppost & rope’ option just keeps looking better and better.
I’ve got a radio on, and just heard some of the questions that a bunch of major media ‘journalists’ are asking about The Anointed One, President Obama: “Does he think deficits are bad? Does he think Afghanistan can be won? Does he think- Does he believe?” on and bloody on. All questions that these slimy little excuses for reporters should have asked, and demanded answers to, at least a year ago(along with a bunch of others). But no, they had to take it easy on Obama, they just couldn’t bring themselves to treat him like a politician(God- the one they don’t believe in- forbid they actually question him like he was a member of the Stupid Party), they had to help him out in every way they could. And NOW, these bastards are sitting around with wondering expressions on their faces and asking “What does he actually think?” And they actually think we should trust them to bring us the ‘news’.
Aw, jeez… I just heard the recording of Obama announcing his executive orders. He gave the spiel about ‘for security and justice we’re closing the detention facility blah blah,”, then he actually had to ask one of his flunkies “Do we have another order about what we’re going to do with the detainees?” This jackass is signing this crap, and he doesn’t even know how many he’s signed? And what each covers? Some Evil Party speaker named Beckel(sp?) just chuckled and said something like “I imagine there’ll be some discussion and some heads will roll, I doubt this will happen again.” WHAT won’t happen again? The Anointed One not knowing what he just signed? Who’s going to get blamed for that so as not to smudge the halo over His Head? Damn, what a bunch of shit. And this is what’s in the White House. And the lawyer he’s asking “What did I just sign?” is another Clinton holdover.
And, of course, the Senate didn’t actually ask Hillary Clinton any real questions about the foreign money or anything else, in part because that jackass McCain was giving speeches that in the ‘spirit of bipartisanship’, i.e. ‘give the Evil Party what they want’, they just HAD to pass her on. Arizona, after 9/11 you should have said to hell with it and gone ahead with the recall on that bastard.
Shit. Rush just played two sound bites from Evil Party politicians on the ‘stimulus package’ infrastructure spending. Didn’t catch the first clowns name ,but the second was Chief House Tax Cheat Rangel. Both of them saying “We need quotas to make sure this money for construction doesn’t go to white construction companies, we need to make sure a lot of this goes to minorities and women.” Gee, and here I thought building a fucking bridge should be done by the most qualified company that makes the best bid; how silly of me not to know that the color and sex of who owns the company is far more important than competence.
Yes, except for Security Staff being better, this day mostly sucks.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
I'll borrow some words to the 'celebrities' who now say
'forgive and forget' and 'we're ALL Americans now!':
Screw you.
Every damn one of you who did everything you could for the last eight years to make things as difficult as possible for this country to survive, and to triumph in the war. Who pissed on the flag, on the troops, and on anyone who didn't share your PC-at-any-cost beliefs.
Screw you.
Every damn one of you who did everything you could for the last eight years to make things as difficult as possible for this country to survive, and to triumph in the war. Who pissed on the flag, on the troops, and on anyone who didn't share your PC-at-any-cost beliefs.
What, a law that someone didn't think through the consequences of?
Whoda thunk it?
"CPSC does not want to take books away from kids. We want to encourage reading but also have kids with safe products," said Scott Wolfson, of the CPSC.
The commission admitted the law is vague, especially on the issue of books. The group said it is working on specific guidelines for libraries, schools and bookstores.
Your government, at work making you safe. From everything.
"CPSC does not want to take books away from kids. We want to encourage reading but also have kids with safe products," said Scott Wolfson, of the CPSC.
The commission admitted the law is vague, especially on the issue of books. The group said it is working on specific guidelines for libraries, schools and bookstores.
Your government, at work making you safe. From everything.
No, I didn't watch the Ascension,
just like I didn't watch either of Bush 43's, or Clintons or anyone else; I generally don't watch political speeches by anyone unless there's a particular reason to. I've come to despise virtually all politicians, in particular the career ones.
I couldn't miss all the noise; the vet has a flat-screen in the waiting area and every damn channel had the mess in DC on. From what I've been reading, about what I expected:
Not nearly as many as the Obama suckups were breathlessly hoping for;
At least one speech on the expected "Maybe now whites will let people of color get ahead" bullcrap,
Every weenie who got in front of a camera speaking of how they 'HAD to be here for the glorious historical event',
And the Inaugural Speech that was full of platitudes, full of "America needs to be remade!"(bite me, dumbass, no it doesn't), and managed to cause the market to drop. Again.
I do wonder what's going to happen with some major media dumbass finally decides to start action like a reporter and starts actually asking uncomfortable questions and wanting answers; will he be excommunicated? Will his fellow 'journalists' allow him to continue to live, or will he disappear into a basement? Or will some of the others, realizing how badly they've screwed the pooch on this, start actually doing something? It's going to happen eventually; if nothing else someone will decide that doing so will set them apart from the pack and get more audience.
The dog seems to be a bit better. This morning got the pill to keep her from throwing up(blood tests indicated she had been), a supplement(she may someday forgive me for making her take these two), and when I opened a can of the special food and she got a sniff, first real interest she's shown in food for two days. Gave her half, she ate it, drank, and over about a half hour showed no sign of upchucking, so gave her the other half. Currently, she's stretched out sleeping in the sun, so I'm hoping she's turned the corner.
Yes, as a matter of fact, how she's doing is far more important to me than The Obama.
I couldn't miss all the noise; the vet has a flat-screen in the waiting area and every damn channel had the mess in DC on. From what I've been reading, about what I expected:
Not nearly as many as the Obama suckups were breathlessly hoping for;
At least one speech on the expected "Maybe now whites will let people of color get ahead" bullcrap,
Every weenie who got in front of a camera speaking of how they 'HAD to be here for the glorious historical event',
And the Inaugural Speech that was full of platitudes, full of "America needs to be remade!"(bite me, dumbass, no it doesn't), and managed to cause the market to drop. Again.
I do wonder what's going to happen with some major media dumbass finally decides to start action like a reporter and starts actually asking uncomfortable questions and wanting answers; will he be excommunicated? Will his fellow 'journalists' allow him to continue to live, or will he disappear into a basement? Or will some of the others, realizing how badly they've screwed the pooch on this, start actually doing something? It's going to happen eventually; if nothing else someone will decide that doing so will set them apart from the pack and get more audience.
The dog seems to be a bit better. This morning got the pill to keep her from throwing up(blood tests indicated she had been), a supplement(she may someday forgive me for making her take these two), and when I opened a can of the special food and she got a sniff, first real interest she's shown in food for two days. Gave her half, she ate it, drank, and over about a half hour showed no sign of upchucking, so gave her the other half. Currently, she's stretched out sleeping in the sun, so I'm hoping she's turned the corner.
Yes, as a matter of fact, how she's doing is far more important to me than The Obama.
Forgot to mention, at the range Monday?
It was BUSY. People shooting and buying. LOTS of people. Nice thing to see. And a very nice mix; men, women, black, white, latino, all looking at boomsticks or shooting them(I guess the women and non-white guys hadn't heard that only white bigots like guns). One guy had a Desert Eagle in .50AE; that's one big damn pistol, and I got to fire it. The owner was a big guy, hands looked like mine when I'm wearing gloves, and he likes it; personally, once was enough.
Also, tried some of the 7.62x54r practice loads, the 180-grain Lee bullet over 16.0 grains of 2400, in a Mosin Nagant 91/30, and it shot very well. Some of these rifles are capable of fine accuracy, this one made it easy to put offhand shots into a 3" bull at 30 yards. And like almost every rifle I've tried these and similar loads in, it took the sights at 500 to put it dead-on.
Also, tried some of the 7.62x54r practice loads, the 180-grain Lee bullet over 16.0 grains of 2400, in a Mosin Nagant 91/30, and it shot very well. Some of these rifles are capable of fine accuracy, this one made it easy to put offhand shots into a 3" bull at 30 yards. And like almost every rifle I've tried these and similar loads in, it took the sights at 500 to put it dead-on.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Well, depending on what's actually the case,
this is downright interesting:
At least 40 al-Qaeda fanatics died horribly after being struck down with the disease that devastated Europe in the Middle Ages.
vs.
He said authorities in the first week of January intercepted an urgent communication between the leadership of al Qaeda in the Land of the Maghreb (AQIM) and al Qaeda's leadership in the tribal region of Pakistan on the border with Afghanistan. The communication suggested that an area sealed to prevent leakage of a biological or chemical substance had been breached, according to the official.
"We don't know if this is biological or chemical," the official said.
If this was bubonic plague, some of the comments point out that it's treatable with antibiotics and fairly easily cured, which makes it not a very good weapon. For death, that's so; for scaring hell out of people and overloading medical facilities, it'd do quite well. Face it, if they could turn a bunch of infected fleas loose in an area and a bunch of people broke with it, there's be mass panic, and not just in the city/cities where it happened.
And it's possible they were trying for/hoping for pneumonic plague, which is a really nasty beast. Or, it could have been something else entirely. Maybe we'll find out someday.
At least 40 al-Qaeda fanatics died horribly after being struck down with the disease that devastated Europe in the Middle Ages.
vs.
He said authorities in the first week of January intercepted an urgent communication between the leadership of al Qaeda in the Land of the Maghreb (AQIM) and al Qaeda's leadership in the tribal region of Pakistan on the border with Afghanistan. The communication suggested that an area sealed to prevent leakage of a biological or chemical substance had been breached, according to the official.
"We don't know if this is biological or chemical," the official said.
If this was bubonic plague, some of the comments point out that it's treatable with antibiotics and fairly easily cured, which makes it not a very good weapon. For death, that's so; for scaring hell out of people and overloading medical facilities, it'd do quite well. Face it, if they could turn a bunch of infected fleas loose in an area and a bunch of people broke with it, there's be mass panic, and not just in the city/cities where it happened.
And it's possible they were trying for/hoping for pneumonic plague, which is a really nasty beast. Or, it could have been something else entirely. Maybe we'll find out someday.
What I find most interesting about this story
is some of the locations:
Eyewitnesses said that Hamas militiamen had turned a number of hospitals and schools into temporary detention centers where dozens of Fatah members and supporters were being held on suspicion of helping Israel during the war.
The eyewitnesses said that a children's hospital and a mental health center in Gaza City, as well as a number of school buildings in Khan Yunis and Rafah, were among the places that Hamas had turned into "torture centers."
Schools and hospitals: not just for mortar and rocket sites anymore!
Eyewitnesses said that Hamas militiamen had turned a number of hospitals and schools into temporary detention centers where dozens of Fatah members and supporters were being held on suspicion of helping Israel during the war.
The eyewitnesses said that a children's hospital and a mental health center in Gaza City, as well as a number of school buildings in Khan Yunis and Rafah, were among the places that Hamas had turned into "torture centers."
Schools and hospitals: not just for mortar and rocket sites anymore!
Well, this has been a fun morning
The dog's sick, so that means a trip to the vet. And when I went out to load her up, found that some slimeball had broken the back window of the truck.
According to the people at the glass shop, they'd done 20 vehicle windows so far, and a number of business windows, with more lined up. Some days, seems like it'd be worth it to spend a night in the bushes with a shotgun.
According to the people at the glass shop, they'd done 20 vehicle windows so far, and a number of business windows, with more lined up. Some days, seems like it'd be worth it to spend a night in the bushes with a shotgun.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Range report: M1 Garand and cast bullets
I'd wondered for a while about working up a cast-bullet load for the M1 for practice. If I could, it'd be cheaper than buying jacketed(assuming acceptable accuracy and no nasty fouling problems) and I'd be able to use the same kind of light practice loads I do in the bolt rifles. So I dug around at High Road and Cast Boolits and found some good information(especially at CB).
The thing you have to watch with the M1 is not just chamber pressure, but the pressure at the gas port near the muzzle; too low pressure won't cycle the action*, too high can damage the operating rod. Which is a Bad Thing. And you can't use the same load information with cast as you do jacketed bullets; a powder that's too slow-burning to safely use with jacketed bullets can be quite acceptable with cast.
I had one other criteria: I've already got a mold for the 150-grain gas-check bullet I use for several cartridges, andbeing a cheap bastardwanted to see if it would work before buying another mold.
DISCLAIMER: You know the drill: the loads I'm about to list worked in my rifle; they might not in yours. If you decide to try these or similar loads it's at your own risk. Do some research before you decide to follow in my tracks, as I'd hate to year of someone damaging a fine rifle(or their face).
Looking over the information, I decided to go with one guy's procedure: start with 34.0 grains of IMR4895, step up in 1.0 grain increments until you have a load that cycles the action reliably. So I loaded five rounds with 34.0, five with 35.0, five with 36.0. Five because I've got one of the five-round clips, and only 15 total because I didn't know if this bullet would work; a lot of people have said their rifle didn't work well with cast unless using a heavier bullet(and often a slower-burning powder).
Being somewhat short on time, plus it being chilly enough to be a bit uncomfortable(if you read this, Tam: yes, sometimes I am a wuss, my hands get stiff), I went to H&H. So, 30 yard rifle range, and light a bit dim, here's 34.0 grains:
35.0 grains
and 36.0:
The first round of the 34.0 ejected the empty but didn't move the bolt back quite far enough to pick up the next round; all the rest cycled with no problem, and all the 35 and 36-grain loads cycled properly. The first two dropped the cases about two feet to the right; the 36 load ejected forward and a touch to the left. The 35.0 load seems to have grouped a bit tighter than the others, but without a solid rest this is within my margin of error, I may have held a bit better on that group; I think not, but possible. But I think I'll start with the 35.0 for the next testing, which will hopefully be at 50 and 100 yards with a solid bench.
Oh, the reason the 36.0 load is higher is I raised the rear sight four clicks; I think they'd require about eight to ten clicks to put it on at 50, which if this runs like the other cast loads should also put it on at 100. We'll see. I'll be able to set up the Chrony and find out velocity, too.
Assuming accuracy holds up at the longer ranges, this should work nicely: recoil was very light, the loads used almost ten grains less powder than milspec ball loads, and accuracy(assuming) should be quite enough for general practice.
I'll mention one other thing: the possibility of lead fouling the gas port or cylinder. I think this would mostly be a problem with a plain-base bullet either driven too fast or cast of too-soft alloy; with a hard-cast and/or gas-checked bullet, little or no problem was reported. I took my rifle down and checked it, and while fifteen rounds isn't a really good test, I only found what looked like one little speck of lead on the face of the op-rod, and it wiped right off. So I don't think that'll be a problem. I've fired a bunch of gas-checked cast bullets in the Carbine with no problem**, so I don't think it'll be one here. Overall, a quite successful test.
*Some people use what seems to be the 'use this' cast-bullet target load, 16.0 grains of 2400 with a 150-170-grain bullet; it won't cycle the action, but reports say it gives good accuracy and hand-cycling drops the brass close by.
**A while back I thought the gas piston seemed a touch sticky, so I took it out; it had what might have been some fouling buildup, but I've been told that can happen over time from lead burning off the exposed base of the standard bullet, too. And since I'd never taken the piston out before, no idea if there'd been some buildup before.
The thing you have to watch with the M1 is not just chamber pressure, but the pressure at the gas port near the muzzle; too low pressure won't cycle the action*, too high can damage the operating rod. Which is a Bad Thing. And you can't use the same load information with cast as you do jacketed bullets; a powder that's too slow-burning to safely use with jacketed bullets can be quite acceptable with cast.
I had one other criteria: I've already got a mold for the 150-grain gas-check bullet I use for several cartridges, and
DISCLAIMER: You know the drill: the loads I'm about to list worked in my rifle; they might not in yours. If you decide to try these or similar loads it's at your own risk. Do some research before you decide to follow in my tracks, as I'd hate to year of someone damaging a fine rifle(or their face).
Looking over the information, I decided to go with one guy's procedure: start with 34.0 grains of IMR4895, step up in 1.0 grain increments until you have a load that cycles the action reliably. So I loaded five rounds with 34.0, five with 35.0, five with 36.0. Five because I've got one of the five-round clips, and only 15 total because I didn't know if this bullet would work; a lot of people have said their rifle didn't work well with cast unless using a heavier bullet(and often a slower-burning powder).
Being somewhat short on time, plus it being chilly enough to be a bit uncomfortable(if you read this, Tam: yes, sometimes I am a wuss, my hands get stiff), I went to H&H. So, 30 yard rifle range, and light a bit dim, here's 34.0 grains:
35.0 grains
and 36.0:
The first round of the 34.0 ejected the empty but didn't move the bolt back quite far enough to pick up the next round; all the rest cycled with no problem, and all the 35 and 36-grain loads cycled properly. The first two dropped the cases about two feet to the right; the 36 load ejected forward and a touch to the left. The 35.0 load seems to have grouped a bit tighter than the others, but without a solid rest this is within my margin of error, I may have held a bit better on that group; I think not, but possible. But I think I'll start with the 35.0 for the next testing, which will hopefully be at 50 and 100 yards with a solid bench.Oh, the reason the 36.0 load is higher is I raised the rear sight four clicks; I think they'd require about eight to ten clicks to put it on at 50, which if this runs like the other cast loads should also put it on at 100. We'll see. I'll be able to set up the Chrony and find out velocity, too.
Assuming accuracy holds up at the longer ranges, this should work nicely: recoil was very light, the loads used almost ten grains less powder than milspec ball loads, and accuracy(assuming) should be quite enough for general practice.
I'll mention one other thing: the possibility of lead fouling the gas port or cylinder. I think this would mostly be a problem with a plain-base bullet either driven too fast or cast of too-soft alloy; with a hard-cast and/or gas-checked bullet, little or no problem was reported. I took my rifle down and checked it, and while fifteen rounds isn't a really good test, I only found what looked like one little speck of lead on the face of the op-rod, and it wiped right off. So I don't think that'll be a problem. I've fired a bunch of gas-checked cast bullets in the Carbine with no problem**, so I don't think it'll be one here. Overall, a quite successful test.
*Some people use what seems to be the 'use this' cast-bullet target load, 16.0 grains of 2400 with a 150-170-grain bullet; it won't cycle the action, but reports say it gives good accuracy and hand-cycling drops the brass close by.
**A while back I thought the gas piston seemed a touch sticky, so I took it out; it had what might have been some fouling buildup, but I've been told that can happen over time from lead burning off the exposed base of the standard bullet, too. And since I'd never taken the piston out before, no idea if there'd been some buildup before.
"But the government would never actually BAN guns"
Got this comment on the 'mind of an Only One' post:
Do you really think there's any possibility that the federal government will one day want to confiscate your guns? I definitely do not. I think this discussion is used by you and your friends to aggrandize your situation by painting a picture of yourselves fearlessly fighting against incredible odds, all for your principles.
What is likely is that there will be some increase in gun control laws because many people believe as I do that the greater the availability of guns there is the more problems we have as a result.
Well, no, I don't think it's a 'possibility'; I think it's a reality. I think that because a bunch of politicians and activists have said flat-out that that is their intention.
Diane Feinstein stated that if she thought she could get the votes in the Senate, she'd pass a bill ordering the ban of ownership of all handguns. She also, when mayor of San Francisco, pushed a total ban on handgun ownership.
Sen. John Chafee: I shortly will introduce legislation banning the sale, manufacture or possession of handguns (with exceptions for law enforcement and licensed target clubs). . . . It is time to act. We cannot go on like this. Ban them!
Rep. Major Owens: Mr. Speaker, my bill prohibits the importation, exportation, manufacture, sale, purchase, transfer, receipt, possession, or transportation of handguns and handgun ammunition. It establishes a 6-month grace period for the turning in of handguns. It provides many exceptions for gun clubs, hunting clubs, gun collectors, and other people of that kind. (Don't you just love being one of 'that kind'?)
Rep. William Clay said the Brady Bill is "the minimum step" that Congress should take to control handguns. "We need much stricter gun control, and eventually we should bar the ownership of handguns except in a few cases," Clay said.
Mayor Barbara Fass of Stockton, CA: I think you have to do it a step at a time and I think that is what the NRA is most concerned about, is that it will happen one very small step at a time, so that by the time people have "woken up" -- quote -- to what's happened, it's gone farther than what they feel the consensus of American citizens would be. But it does have to go one step at a time and the beginning of the banning of semi-assault military weapons, that are military weapons, not "household" weapons, is the first step.
Michael Gartner, when president of CBS News: There is no reason for anyone in this country, anyone except a police officer or a military person, to buy, to own, to have, to use a handgun.
I used to think handguns could be controlled by laws about registration, by laws requiring waiting periods for purchasers, by laws making sellers check out the past of buyers.
I now think the only way to control handgun use in this country is to prohibit the guns. And the only way to do that is to change the Constitution.
Barack Obama, about to be sworn in as President, has in the past called for
a ban on all handguns,
a ban on all semi-auto firearms,
a national ban on concealed carry.
You want a list of his various ban/restriction words and actions, look here.
Charles T. Morgan, at the time Director of the Washington office of the ACLU said in Senate testimony in 1975 when asked about gun registration:
What the administation's and Congressman McClory's bills . . . call for is a whole new set of Federal records. . . .
I have not one doubt, even if I am in agreement with the National Rifle Association, that that kind of a record-keeping procedure is the first step to eventual confiscation under one administration or another.
These notes are from this article at GOA:
In 1989, New Jersey State Senator Frank Graves introduced a bill which defined an assault weapon as any rifle or semi-automatic shotgun with a magazine capacity of 7 or more rounds or any semi-automatic handgun of 18 or more rounds. Any firearm which uses a detachable magazine technically has a "magazine capacity" of these large sounding numbers because it can accept a magazine of any capacity that fits that firearm. (Please note that in New Jersey, a Marlin Model 60 .22 is considered an 'assault weapon' and banned because it can hold 17 rounds.)
In 1994, the U.S. Congress voted to ban scores of semi-automatic firearms. While the author of this ban, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), claimed the law would only ban 19 types of firearms, other government officials dispute this claim.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has admitted the law bans at least 45 guns. (12) And firearms experts have concluded that the law, which uses generic definitions to ban even more weapons, will actually cover more than 180 guns, thus affecting 50% of the gun owners in the country. (13)
This means that if a person fails to register a common hunting shotgun or rifle (not realizing that their gun is covered by the generic definitions in the bill) they will become a criminal and could lose their gun rights forever.
Sen. Ted Kennedy and Charles Schumer have called for outright bans, though in public they more often tend to speak of 'registration' and 'limits' and they save what they really think for friendly audiences.
And the UN, which many of these people practically worship at the altar of, does NOT like the idea of peasants with arms:
* "To prevent conflict and violence from undermining development, effective disarmament programmes are vital..."
* "Disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) is one precursor to the establishment of a stable and secure environment..."
* "[Small arms] are fundamentally dangerous and their removal from the equation either by control, neutralisation or removal is essential. The first step is to gain information on their numbers and whereabouts."
...
"I must … express my disappointment over the Conference’s inability to agree ... on language recognizing the need to establish and maintain controls over private ownership of these deadly weapons and the need for preventing sales of such arms to non-State groups." [2]
'Non-State groups' meaning anyone except military and police, i.e. the peasants. That's us.
Got news for you, guy, I'm not 'fighting fearlessly'; this scares the crap out of me. But it's a choice of being quiet and hoping to avoid notice, or making noise and trying to stop this garbage; and a bunch of us have decided to make some noise. As to your comment about 'the more guns, the more problems', I'd suggest you hop over to Smallest Minority(here's a good place to start) and browse around. Check the left sidebar, he's got links to some good ones. Or Alphecca. Hell, just check Kevin's blogroll, you can find a lot of places with a lot of information debunking the 'more guns, more crime' idea.
By the way, the 'Disarmament idiocy' category isn't aimed at you, it's aimed at the policians & fellow-travellers.
Do you really think there's any possibility that the federal government will one day want to confiscate your guns? I definitely do not. I think this discussion is used by you and your friends to aggrandize your situation by painting a picture of yourselves fearlessly fighting against incredible odds, all for your principles.
What is likely is that there will be some increase in gun control laws because many people believe as I do that the greater the availability of guns there is the more problems we have as a result.
Well, no, I don't think it's a 'possibility'; I think it's a reality. I think that because a bunch of politicians and activists have said flat-out that that is their intention.
Diane Feinstein stated that if she thought she could get the votes in the Senate, she'd pass a bill ordering the ban of ownership of all handguns. She also, when mayor of San Francisco, pushed a total ban on handgun ownership.
Sen. John Chafee: I shortly will introduce legislation banning the sale, manufacture or possession of handguns (with exceptions for law enforcement and licensed target clubs). . . . It is time to act. We cannot go on like this. Ban them!
Rep. Major Owens: Mr. Speaker, my bill prohibits the importation, exportation, manufacture, sale, purchase, transfer, receipt, possession, or transportation of handguns and handgun ammunition. It establishes a 6-month grace period for the turning in of handguns. It provides many exceptions for gun clubs, hunting clubs, gun collectors, and other people of that kind. (Don't you just love being one of 'that kind'?)
Rep. William Clay said the Brady Bill is "the minimum step" that Congress should take to control handguns. "We need much stricter gun control, and eventually we should bar the ownership of handguns except in a few cases," Clay said.
Mayor Barbara Fass of Stockton, CA: I think you have to do it a step at a time and I think that is what the NRA is most concerned about, is that it will happen one very small step at a time, so that by the time people have "woken up" -- quote -- to what's happened, it's gone farther than what they feel the consensus of American citizens would be. But it does have to go one step at a time and the beginning of the banning of semi-assault military weapons, that are military weapons, not "household" weapons, is the first step.
Michael Gartner, when president of CBS News: There is no reason for anyone in this country, anyone except a police officer or a military person, to buy, to own, to have, to use a handgun.
I used to think handguns could be controlled by laws about registration, by laws requiring waiting periods for purchasers, by laws making sellers check out the past of buyers.
I now think the only way to control handgun use in this country is to prohibit the guns. And the only way to do that is to change the Constitution.
Barack Obama, about to be sworn in as President, has in the past called for
a ban on all handguns,
a ban on all semi-auto firearms,
a national ban on concealed carry.
You want a list of his various ban/restriction words and actions, look here.
Charles T. Morgan, at the time Director of the Washington office of the ACLU said in Senate testimony in 1975 when asked about gun registration:
What the administation's and Congressman McClory's bills . . . call for is a whole new set of Federal records. . . .
I have not one doubt, even if I am in agreement with the National Rifle Association, that that kind of a record-keeping procedure is the first step to eventual confiscation under one administration or another.
These notes are from this article at GOA:
In 1989, New Jersey State Senator Frank Graves introduced a bill which defined an assault weapon as any rifle or semi-automatic shotgun with a magazine capacity of 7 or more rounds or any semi-automatic handgun of 18 or more rounds. Any firearm which uses a detachable magazine technically has a "magazine capacity" of these large sounding numbers because it can accept a magazine of any capacity that fits that firearm. (Please note that in New Jersey, a Marlin Model 60 .22 is considered an 'assault weapon' and banned because it can hold 17 rounds.)
In 1994, the U.S. Congress voted to ban scores of semi-automatic firearms. While the author of this ban, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), claimed the law would only ban 19 types of firearms, other government officials dispute this claim.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has admitted the law bans at least 45 guns. (12) And firearms experts have concluded that the law, which uses generic definitions to ban even more weapons, will actually cover more than 180 guns, thus affecting 50% of the gun owners in the country. (13)
This means that if a person fails to register a common hunting shotgun or rifle (not realizing that their gun is covered by the generic definitions in the bill) they will become a criminal and could lose their gun rights forever.
Sen. Ted Kennedy and Charles Schumer have called for outright bans, though in public they more often tend to speak of 'registration' and 'limits' and they save what they really think for friendly audiences.
And the UN, which many of these people practically worship at the altar of, does NOT like the idea of peasants with arms:
* "To prevent conflict and violence from undermining development, effective disarmament programmes are vital..."
* "Disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) is one precursor to the establishment of a stable and secure environment..."
* "[Small arms] are fundamentally dangerous and their removal from the equation either by control, neutralisation or removal is essential. The first step is to gain information on their numbers and whereabouts."
...
"I must … express my disappointment over the Conference’s inability to agree ... on language recognizing the need to establish and maintain controls over private ownership of these deadly weapons and the need for preventing sales of such arms to non-State groups." [2]
'Non-State groups' meaning anyone except military and police, i.e. the peasants. That's us.
Got news for you, guy, I'm not 'fighting fearlessly'; this scares the crap out of me. But it's a choice of being quiet and hoping to avoid notice, or making noise and trying to stop this garbage; and a bunch of us have decided to make some noise. As to your comment about 'the more guns, the more problems', I'd suggest you hop over to Smallest Minority(here's a good place to start) and browse around. Check the left sidebar, he's got links to some good ones. Or Alphecca. Hell, just check Kevin's blogroll, you can find a lot of places with a lot of information debunking the 'more guns, more crime' idea.
By the way, the 'Disarmament idiocy' category isn't aimed at you, it's aimed at the policians & fellow-travellers.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
'A world without guns' would be a very scary place,
but the fact some people think you could do it is even scarier.
Perhaps a global prohibition law isn't good enough. Maybe imposing the harshest penalty possible for violation of such a law will give it real teeth: mandatory life in prison for possession of a gun, or even for possession of a single bullet. (We won't imagine the death penalty, since the Yoko crowd doesn't like the death penalty.)
On second thought, Jamaica's Gun Court Act of 1974 contained just such a penalty, and even that wasn't sufficient. On August 18, 2001, Jamaican Melville Cooke observed that today, "the only people who do not have an illegal firearm [in this country], are those who do not want one." Violent crime in Jamaica is worse than ever, as gangsters and trigger-happy police commit homicides with impunity, and only the law-abiding are disarmed.
And that doesn't even count workshops:
Just take the case of Bougainville, the largest island in the South Pacific's Solomon Islands chain. Bougainville was the site of a bloody, decade-long secessionist uprising against domination by the government of Papua New Guinea, aided and abetted by the Australian government. The conflict there was the longest-running confrontation in the Pacific since the end of World War II, and caused the deaths of 15,000 to 20,000 islanders.
During the hostilities, which included a military blockade of the island, one of the goals was to deprive the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) of its supply of arms. The tactic failed: the BRA simply learned how to make its own guns using materiel and ammunition left over from the War.
In fact, at the United Nations Asia Pacific Regional Disarmament Conference held in Spring 2001, it was quietly admitted that the BRA, within ten years of its formation, had managed to manufacture a production copy of the M16 automatic rifle and other machine guns. (That makes one question the real intent behind the U.N. Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects, which followed several months later: the U.N. leadership can't be so daft as to fail to recognize the implications for world disarmament after learning of the success of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army.)
If they can, what could someone like Og, or any good machinist, turn out? Uh-oh, have to license milling machines and drill presses and lathes and tubing suitable for barrels and constant surveillance of what goes in and what goes out to make sure all steel's accounted for... which ain't gonna work, either.
Good article, which I hadn't seen before. Read it all.
Perhaps a global prohibition law isn't good enough. Maybe imposing the harshest penalty possible for violation of such a law will give it real teeth: mandatory life in prison for possession of a gun, or even for possession of a single bullet. (We won't imagine the death penalty, since the Yoko crowd doesn't like the death penalty.)
On second thought, Jamaica's Gun Court Act of 1974 contained just such a penalty, and even that wasn't sufficient. On August 18, 2001, Jamaican Melville Cooke observed that today, "the only people who do not have an illegal firearm [in this country], are those who do not want one." Violent crime in Jamaica is worse than ever, as gangsters and trigger-happy police commit homicides with impunity, and only the law-abiding are disarmed.
And that doesn't even count workshops:
Just take the case of Bougainville, the largest island in the South Pacific's Solomon Islands chain. Bougainville was the site of a bloody, decade-long secessionist uprising against domination by the government of Papua New Guinea, aided and abetted by the Australian government. The conflict there was the longest-running confrontation in the Pacific since the end of World War II, and caused the deaths of 15,000 to 20,000 islanders.
During the hostilities, which included a military blockade of the island, one of the goals was to deprive the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) of its supply of arms. The tactic failed: the BRA simply learned how to make its own guns using materiel and ammunition left over from the War.
In fact, at the United Nations Asia Pacific Regional Disarmament Conference held in Spring 2001, it was quietly admitted that the BRA, within ten years of its formation, had managed to manufacture a production copy of the M16 automatic rifle and other machine guns. (That makes one question the real intent behind the U.N. Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects, which followed several months later: the U.N. leadership can't be so daft as to fail to recognize the implications for world disarmament after learning of the success of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army.)
If they can, what could someone like Og, or any good machinist, turn out? Uh-oh, have to license milling machines and drill presses and lathes and tubing suitable for barrels and constant surveillance of what goes in and what goes out to make sure all steel's accounted for... which ain't gonna work, either.
Good article, which I hadn't seen before. Read it all.
A profoundly uncomfortable conclusion
I’ve had this bouncing around my mind for a while, and after the previous post decided to put it down.
We know there are a lot of politicians who, no matter whether they personally have any like or dislike for firearms(or other arms, for that matter) like the idea of licensing/restricting/banning them, purely for purposes of control(thought they’d call it “For the public safety”). And we know there are far too many people in LE who’d have no real problem taking an illegal order to confiscate arms(either because they like the idea or they’re more worried about trouble with the brass than the legality/right or wrong of it). So the question is this:
Do you think there are politicians, on any level, who would force such an action in the hopes of causing an incident, so they’d have a bloody shirt to wave and call for a total ban?
I’ve been thinking about it the past while, and I’ve come to the very depressing conclusion that the answer is ‘yes’.
We’ve known all along, from their actions and words, that many politicians and ban-the-guns groups like the Bradys will happily dance in the blood of crime victims so they can call for such legislation. After thinking of these actions, and the urge many seem to hold to control every aspect of everyone’s lives, I think some of them would. Would Obama? Possibly; however, he’s quite likely to take the advice of(possibly orders from?) his handlers in the House & Senate, and people like Ayers. Hell we know Ayers & Co. would like to see bloodshed, they want it. Add to that the past actions of many of these career politicians…
And there’s far too many bureaucrats in positions of power in federal agencies who, if they didn’t actually work to cause such, might not do anything to avoid or prevent one; it would give them a nice trampoline to bounce on as they scream about ‘evil gun nuts’ that need to be disarmed, who killed those dedicated LE officers/Federal Agents just because they kicked in the doors in the night or in plain clothes attacked them, and by the way we need a BIG boost in our budget to deal with this so how ‘bout it?
I really, really hate this, but yes. I believe there are politicians who would be willing to, a couple might be actually eager to, take actions to cause a violent incident so they could use it to their advantage.
Do you have any idea how depressing it is to come to that conclusion?
We know there are a lot of politicians who, no matter whether they personally have any like or dislike for firearms(or other arms, for that matter) like the idea of licensing/restricting/banning them, purely for purposes of control(thought they’d call it “For the public safety”). And we know there are far too many people in LE who’d have no real problem taking an illegal order to confiscate arms(either because they like the idea or they’re more worried about trouble with the brass than the legality/right or wrong of it). So the question is this:
Do you think there are politicians, on any level, who would force such an action in the hopes of causing an incident, so they’d have a bloody shirt to wave and call for a total ban?
I’ve been thinking about it the past while, and I’ve come to the very depressing conclusion that the answer is ‘yes’.
We’ve known all along, from their actions and words, that many politicians and ban-the-guns groups like the Bradys will happily dance in the blood of crime victims so they can call for such legislation. After thinking of these actions, and the urge many seem to hold to control every aspect of everyone’s lives, I think some of them would. Would Obama? Possibly; however, he’s quite likely to take the advice of(possibly orders from?) his handlers in the House & Senate, and people like Ayers. Hell we know Ayers & Co. would like to see bloodshed, they want it. Add to that the past actions of many of these career politicians…
And there’s far too many bureaucrats in positions of power in federal agencies who, if they didn’t actually work to cause such, might not do anything to avoid or prevent one; it would give them a nice trampoline to bounce on as they scream about ‘evil gun nuts’ that need to be disarmed, who killed those dedicated LE officers/Federal Agents just because they kicked in the doors in the night or in plain clothes attacked them, and by the way we need a BIG boost in our budget to deal with this so how ‘bout it?
I really, really hate this, but yes. I believe there are politicians who would be willing to, a couple might be actually eager to, take actions to cause a violent incident so they could use it to their advantage.
Do you have any idea how depressing it is to come to that conclusion?
A look into the mind of an Only One and the consequences
of an 'assault weapons' ban:
"So, if the order came down to pickup all assault weapons, would you do it?" He looked off into the distance for a minute and, then said, as if to no one in particular, "Yeah, I would." And what about his fellow officers? Would they? Now he looked at me in the face. "Yeah, they would. Some of 'em wouldn't want to, but they'd obey orders rather than lose their jobs." I nodded. "But if it came to that, wouldn't you have to pick up all the guns?"
He nodded in agreement and then said, "Look, if we're in somebody's house confiscating illegal guns, if its a firearm we're taking it." And what if the guy didn't have the assault weapon they were looking for, what if he just had a shotgun or something? "At that point, I'm taking it until he can prove that he doesn't have an illegal weapon hidden somewhere."
Take a real good look at and think about that last. No legal reason to do so, but "...if its a firearm, we're taking it." And the last sentance, "...until he can prove that he doesn't have an illegal weapon hidden somewhere."
UNTIL HE CAN PROVE HE DOESN'T HAVE SOMETHING. That's the mindset of all too many law enforcement people; forget that pesky oath to protect and uphold the Constitution, forget civil rights, forget that 'innocent until proven guilty' crap, "We will take your property and keep it until you prove to us you don't have something illegal." No mention of how you'd prove that negative, which means the bastards will have successfully stolen your property.
That is the kind of disgusting attitude that has caused so many to see LE personnel as the enemy, instead of as lawmen. And it's the attitude of far too many politicians, who'll see it as a good way of 'getting control of the situation', which translates to "This way we can get control of people." For our own good, of course.
And no place is safe. Here in Oklahoma City, a few months ago the police chief made the statement that 'we need to have registration of handguns and permits to buy'. He caught hell for it, but do you think he's changed his mind? If we've got these clowns here, there's not a city in the country that doesn't. And far too many will worry more about 'can I get in trouble for not following this order?' than about whether it's legal. Or right. And screw you if you get upset at it, because "You don't know what pressure we're under", etc.
Whether anyone likes it or not, whether you own all kinds of guns or just a couple of muzzleloaders or antiques, we are in this together.
"So, if the order came down to pickup all assault weapons, would you do it?" He looked off into the distance for a minute and, then said, as if to no one in particular, "Yeah, I would." And what about his fellow officers? Would they? Now he looked at me in the face. "Yeah, they would. Some of 'em wouldn't want to, but they'd obey orders rather than lose their jobs." I nodded. "But if it came to that, wouldn't you have to pick up all the guns?"
He nodded in agreement and then said, "Look, if we're in somebody's house confiscating illegal guns, if its a firearm we're taking it." And what if the guy didn't have the assault weapon they were looking for, what if he just had a shotgun or something? "At that point, I'm taking it until he can prove that he doesn't have an illegal weapon hidden somewhere."
Take a real good look at and think about that last. No legal reason to do so, but "...if its a firearm, we're taking it." And the last sentance, "...until he can prove that he doesn't have an illegal weapon hidden somewhere."
UNTIL HE CAN PROVE HE DOESN'T HAVE SOMETHING. That's the mindset of all too many law enforcement people; forget that pesky oath to protect and uphold the Constitution, forget civil rights, forget that 'innocent until proven guilty' crap, "We will take your property and keep it until you prove to us you don't have something illegal." No mention of how you'd prove that negative, which means the bastards will have successfully stolen your property.
That is the kind of disgusting attitude that has caused so many to see LE personnel as the enemy, instead of as lawmen. And it's the attitude of far too many politicians, who'll see it as a good way of 'getting control of the situation', which translates to "This way we can get control of people." For our own good, of course.
And no place is safe. Here in Oklahoma City, a few months ago the police chief made the statement that 'we need to have registration of handguns and permits to buy'. He caught hell for it, but do you think he's changed his mind? If we've got these clowns here, there's not a city in the country that doesn't. And far too many will worry more about 'can I get in trouble for not following this order?' than about whether it's legal. Or right. And screw you if you get upset at it, because "You don't know what pressure we're under", etc.
Whether anyone likes it or not, whether you own all kinds of guns or just a couple of muzzleloaders or antiques, we are in this together.
Couple of thoughts on burglary and other theft
In the comments to this post, Mauser Medic had this to say:
When someone steals from another, they are by my reasoning literally stealing the finite hours of the victims life spent in a labor to acquire what was stolen. Those hours spent can never be regained, any more than one can regain the days spent recovering in a hospital after being the subject of battery. For me, significant theft should involve a significant chance of injury to or the death of the thief. They have no regard for the cost to the finite hours to others, so I see no reason to concern myself with theirs, beyond the fact of what the illogically compassionate would do to me in the courts.
which reminded me of an incident a few years back. The bar/restaurant I used to hit most weeks for open-mike night had, as you might expect, a large artsy population; it's located in the Paseo District, which is the artsy neighborhood in town. One night ran into a lady I'd met before, and during conversation it came up that most people there that night wouldn't talk to her. Why? A former boyfriend- who also hung out in the place- had asked to borrow her guitar. She'd loaned it, and about two weeks later needed it back. After not-returned calls and finally getting hold of someone, it turned out he'd pawned it; he'd actually borrowed it with the intention of doing so. And, not having the money he'd gotten, couldn't get it back. She'd filed charges, and when word got around she became somewhat of a pariah: "How could you do that? He really needed the money, and that wasn't the best way to get it but it's not like it was a family heirloom or high-dollar instrument or something."
I was, I guess the right word is 'dumbfounded'. I said "Hell with what it's worth, it's your guitar." She looked up at me and said "Thank you! You're the first one who seems to understand that! Everyone else says I should just let it go."
Maybe that attitude is why so many liberal/artsy(usually combined) types have no problem with saying a burglar shouldn't get harsh punishment, or it's a good thing for the gummint to take what you earn and give it away: they don't think your work, your time, is actually of value. Unless someone stole your song idea or something, of course, that's just horrible, but otherwise your time? The things you worked for, the money you earned? Eh, no big deal. To them.
On the subject of the mess in (fG)Britain, he had this:
Secondly, I should not be surprised to see England become the first major western nation to eventually engage in a full-fledged ethnic war since the 1940s. At some point, the middle-eastern population will think itself undefeatable, and cease to worry about consequences. That will be an interesting time for the far left, as they'll be between immigrants who regard them as inferiors, and natives regarding them as traitors.
From what Thud and others have said, I don't think it'll take much at this point. The honest people have been ripped off for decades now by government, been infantilized and violated, and seen their freedoms eroded by a Parliament and PM that seem to think "Your rights are what we say they are." Now they're seeing a slow-motion takeover by islamists speeding up and the government unable/unwilling to do anything except threaten to arrest for 'hate crimes' anyone who speaks out on it. They're pissed, and probably ready. If the islamists do something particularly disgusting and the locals act, and the government tries to deal with it by stomping on the honest people for daring to act... 'profoundly messy and ugly' may be an understatement.
When someone steals from another, they are by my reasoning literally stealing the finite hours of the victims life spent in a labor to acquire what was stolen. Those hours spent can never be regained, any more than one can regain the days spent recovering in a hospital after being the subject of battery. For me, significant theft should involve a significant chance of injury to or the death of the thief. They have no regard for the cost to the finite hours to others, so I see no reason to concern myself with theirs, beyond the fact of what the illogically compassionate would do to me in the courts.
which reminded me of an incident a few years back. The bar/restaurant I used to hit most weeks for open-mike night had, as you might expect, a large artsy population; it's located in the Paseo District, which is the artsy neighborhood in town. One night ran into a lady I'd met before, and during conversation it came up that most people there that night wouldn't talk to her. Why? A former boyfriend- who also hung out in the place- had asked to borrow her guitar. She'd loaned it, and about two weeks later needed it back. After not-returned calls and finally getting hold of someone, it turned out he'd pawned it; he'd actually borrowed it with the intention of doing so. And, not having the money he'd gotten, couldn't get it back. She'd filed charges, and when word got around she became somewhat of a pariah: "How could you do that? He really needed the money, and that wasn't the best way to get it but it's not like it was a family heirloom or high-dollar instrument or something."
I was, I guess the right word is 'dumbfounded'. I said "Hell with what it's worth, it's your guitar." She looked up at me and said "Thank you! You're the first one who seems to understand that! Everyone else says I should just let it go."
Maybe that attitude is why so many liberal/artsy(usually combined) types have no problem with saying a burglar shouldn't get harsh punishment, or it's a good thing for the gummint to take what you earn and give it away: they don't think your work, your time, is actually of value. Unless someone stole your song idea or something, of course, that's just horrible, but otherwise your time? The things you worked for, the money you earned? Eh, no big deal. To them.
On the subject of the mess in (fG)Britain, he had this:
Secondly, I should not be surprised to see England become the first major western nation to eventually engage in a full-fledged ethnic war since the 1940s. At some point, the middle-eastern population will think itself undefeatable, and cease to worry about consequences. That will be an interesting time for the far left, as they'll be between immigrants who regard them as inferiors, and natives regarding them as traitors.
From what Thud and others have said, I don't think it'll take much at this point. The honest people have been ripped off for decades now by government, been infantilized and violated, and seen their freedoms eroded by a Parliament and PM that seem to think "Your rights are what we say they are." Now they're seeing a slow-motion takeover by islamists speeding up and the government unable/unwilling to do anything except threaten to arrest for 'hate crimes' anyone who speaks out on it. They're pissed, and probably ready. If the islamists do something particularly disgusting and the locals act, and the government tries to deal with it by stomping on the honest people for daring to act... 'profoundly messy and ugly' may be an understatement.
So some officials in (fG)Britain get it;
will the government act on it, though?
In unusually emotive terms, he said: 'The principle which must be grasped is that when we speak of dwelling house burglary we are considering not only an offence against property, but also, and often more alarmingly and distressingly, an offence against the person.'
Writing just weeks after he called for tougher sentences for knife crime, Lord Judge quoted the 17th century judge Sir Edward Cooke's description of an Englishman's home as his 'safest refuge - where above all we should enjoy secure tranquillity and untroubled peace'.
The ruling observes that the declining years of elderly victims can be 'overshadowed by what sometimes becomes an ever-present, pervading fear and constant nervousness'.
Lord Judge added: 'Many warm and happy memories of bygone years can be destroyed as a direct consequence of burglary and for some indeed their home becomes something of a prison, as they barricade themselves behind the security arrangements they believe they need.'
On the loss of sentimental items, he said: 'A photograph is worth nothing, except to the person who owns it, but may be the only image left of grandparents or now-deceased parents.
'The loss or destruction of letters written in the early days of courtship may distress the widow or widower who has lost them far more than the disappearance of valuable electrical equipment.'
I have never understood the "Well, it's only burglary" and "Well, it's only property" attitude; it's your home. It's your property. Having someone come into your home, trash the place and steal your stuff isn't just theft of property, it's a violation of your home. It's a virtual rape of your peace of mind there, of seeing it as your safe place. And it should be punished harshly.
Labour initially adopted a tough stance on burglary, enacting a Tory plan in 2000 to impose minimum three-year jail terms for those convicted of a third offence, although the measure was watered down to give judges more discretion.
But since then magistrates and judges have increasingly been encouraged to hand out more community punishments, and the proportion of convicted burglars sent to jail has plunged from 51 per cent to less than 40 per cent last year - down from 14,338 offenders to just 9,237 - while the number of suspended sentences has soared.
Police recorded more than 280,000 domestic burglaries in England and Wales last year but clear-up rates are low at just 13 per cent, and a quarter of all burglars caught by police are let off with a caution.
The Home Office's recent 'policing pledge' does not expect forces to visit burglary victims promptly unless they claim to be 'distressed', and sentencing guidelines published last month urge courts to consider softer punishments for burglars who steal to fund a drug habit.
Oh, God. "Softer punishments for burglars who steal to fund a drug habit." Whether these morons understand it or not, they're encouraging this shit. At the same time they've made it a crime for you to protect yourself, your family, your home from these dirtbags. You encourage something, you get more of it; is that so damned hard to understand?
One other encouraging sign from the article:
By contrast the Lord Chief Justice recently tripled the sentence on a 16-year- old knife attacker, and said: 'Those who carry knives on the streets, and use them to wound and injure, must expect severe punishment. No ifs, no buts, no perhaps.'
They're still in that 'having a knife is an offense' mindset, which is bad; but that 'and use them to wound and injure' is a hopeful sign; punish someone for the illegal act, and stop blaming hardware for what they do.
In the comments of the post on the Brit cops being chased- actually 'pursued' would be better- by the 'peace activists', Thud said
there are police blogs in which some of the officers are shall we say..less than happy...the average brit is aching to even the score of the last 10 years and only a major effort by our defeatist govt and media elite is keeping the lid on...
That the officers had to run away from these thugs is another symptom of the 'be nice to the bad guys' attitude that wants to give addict burglars an extra break, and it's one more thing causing the good people to get more and more ready to act. Which they'll either do, or they'll go down the drain, which the country is halfway to now. One of the bad things? If the blowup had happened a few years back, it would have been a lot less nasty. At this point, if it does happen, it's going to be profoundly ugly.
And the longer it waits, the uglier it's likely to get.
In unusually emotive terms, he said: 'The principle which must be grasped is that when we speak of dwelling house burglary we are considering not only an offence against property, but also, and often more alarmingly and distressingly, an offence against the person.'
Writing just weeks after he called for tougher sentences for knife crime, Lord Judge quoted the 17th century judge Sir Edward Cooke's description of an Englishman's home as his 'safest refuge - where above all we should enjoy secure tranquillity and untroubled peace'.
The ruling observes that the declining years of elderly victims can be 'overshadowed by what sometimes becomes an ever-present, pervading fear and constant nervousness'.
Lord Judge added: 'Many warm and happy memories of bygone years can be destroyed as a direct consequence of burglary and for some indeed their home becomes something of a prison, as they barricade themselves behind the security arrangements they believe they need.'
On the loss of sentimental items, he said: 'A photograph is worth nothing, except to the person who owns it, but may be the only image left of grandparents or now-deceased parents.
'The loss or destruction of letters written in the early days of courtship may distress the widow or widower who has lost them far more than the disappearance of valuable electrical equipment.'
I have never understood the "Well, it's only burglary" and "Well, it's only property" attitude; it's your home. It's your property. Having someone come into your home, trash the place and steal your stuff isn't just theft of property, it's a violation of your home. It's a virtual rape of your peace of mind there, of seeing it as your safe place. And it should be punished harshly.
Labour initially adopted a tough stance on burglary, enacting a Tory plan in 2000 to impose minimum three-year jail terms for those convicted of a third offence, although the measure was watered down to give judges more discretion.
But since then magistrates and judges have increasingly been encouraged to hand out more community punishments, and the proportion of convicted burglars sent to jail has plunged from 51 per cent to less than 40 per cent last year - down from 14,338 offenders to just 9,237 - while the number of suspended sentences has soared.
Police recorded more than 280,000 domestic burglaries in England and Wales last year but clear-up rates are low at just 13 per cent, and a quarter of all burglars caught by police are let off with a caution.
The Home Office's recent 'policing pledge' does not expect forces to visit burglary victims promptly unless they claim to be 'distressed', and sentencing guidelines published last month urge courts to consider softer punishments for burglars who steal to fund a drug habit.
Oh, God. "Softer punishments for burglars who steal to fund a drug habit." Whether these morons understand it or not, they're encouraging this shit. At the same time they've made it a crime for you to protect yourself, your family, your home from these dirtbags. You encourage something, you get more of it; is that so damned hard to understand?
One other encouraging sign from the article:
By contrast the Lord Chief Justice recently tripled the sentence on a 16-year- old knife attacker, and said: 'Those who carry knives on the streets, and use them to wound and injure, must expect severe punishment. No ifs, no buts, no perhaps.'
They're still in that 'having a knife is an offense' mindset, which is bad; but that 'and use them to wound and injure' is a hopeful sign; punish someone for the illegal act, and stop blaming hardware for what they do.
In the comments of the post on the Brit cops being chased- actually 'pursued' would be better- by the 'peace activists', Thud said
there are police blogs in which some of the officers are shall we say..less than happy...the average brit is aching to even the score of the last 10 years and only a major effort by our defeatist govt and media elite is keeping the lid on...
That the officers had to run away from these thugs is another symptom of the 'be nice to the bad guys' attitude that wants to give addict burglars an extra break, and it's one more thing causing the good people to get more and more ready to act. Which they'll either do, or they'll go down the drain, which the country is halfway to now. One of the bad things? If the blowup had happened a few years back, it would have been a lot less nasty. At this point, if it does happen, it's going to be profoundly ugly.
And the longer it waits, the uglier it's likely to get.
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