The word on the news is that Libby will be indicted, and the Grand Jury will be continued to keep looking at Rove.
I have a question: if you can be indicted for perjury now for remembering something you forgot before, or being reminded of a conversation you testified about and remembering something about it you'd forgotten(because it was, oh, two years before or something), if you can be charged with 'lying to a federal investigator' as Martha Stewart was- in an informal interview, not under oath, etc.- why would anyone say anything to an investigator or grand jury? If, because of some political connection with someone, you know that forgetting something about a conversation or forgetting talking to/about someone could get you charged with a crime, why say anything?
I can see someone being asked a question and taking the 5th Amendment: "Since anything I say, or forget to mention, or remember and add in later could get me charged with a crime, I plead the 5th and will not answer". And if the 5th protects you against self-incrimination, I would think that a perfectly proper use of the plea.
And if the prosecutors don't like it, maybe they should have considered that before.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Thursday, October 27, 2005
I love stuff that actually works
If you don't reload, the phrase 'stuck case' won't induce the same mix of terror and rage it does to us alchemists(as the Gun Guy calls us reloaders). So I'll explain a bit.
To reload cases, once you have some to reload(obtaining fired cases being an activity worthy all on its' own), the first step is resizing. You take the case, a resizing die set up in a press, and run the case into the die. The die usually does three things: first, it squeezes the case back down to standard unfired dimensions; second, a rod sticks way down into the case and through the flashhole and punches the fired primer out; third, when the case is sized it makes the neck area smaller than it should be, so there's a hardened steel button on the depriming rod, and as you pull the case out of the die the button expands the case neck to proper dimensions.
With a few exceptions- straight-walled pistol and rifle cartridges and a very few bottleneck rifle cartridges- the die is hardened steel with the inside very smoothly polished. The exceptions noted above have a ring made of carbide or a ring plated with titanium nitride that actually does the sizing. These two are extremely hard, and when polished have an extremely slick surface, so you can generally get by without lubing the cases. However, if you run a dry case into a standard steel die, the case will get stuck. WILL get stuck. Not 'pull a little harder on the lever' stuck or 'get something and tap on it' stuck. STUCK. We're talking teenage girls stuck on Orlando Bloom level here. You now have the options of getting a stuck case remover kit or taking the die apart and using a punch to hammer the case out, both of which ruin the case. And if you get careless, ruin the die. And they ain't cheap.
Enter Microlon. Yes, the same people who make the engine treatment I used on the bike. They make a stuff called Gun Juice for firearms. I've written about it before, mainly on cutting down fouling problems in barrels, and did a full review over at Mad Ogre's place in the weapons section. It slicked barrels up so well, and it mentioned using it on dies, so I stripped and cleaned my dies that aren't nitride or carbide and treated them. It did make a noticeable difference in the force needed to run cases in & out. And then...
A couple of weeks ago I had about a hundred .30-06 rifle cases to resize. Lubed them up and started. I generally put on some music for this stuff, so I'm cranking along when I notice that this case was kind of stubborn. And thought about it and realized the last half-dozen had been a bit stubborn. I grabbed that last few, and the next couple, and found that I'd somehow missed lubing about ten cases, six of which I'd run through the die.
This was flat amazing. No stuck cases when normally the first one would have jammed tight. So I'm definately a believer in this stuff. If you decide to try it, you can order it from Brownells, or straight from the company here.
To reload cases, once you have some to reload(obtaining fired cases being an activity worthy all on its' own), the first step is resizing. You take the case, a resizing die set up in a press, and run the case into the die. The die usually does three things: first, it squeezes the case back down to standard unfired dimensions; second, a rod sticks way down into the case and through the flashhole and punches the fired primer out; third, when the case is sized it makes the neck area smaller than it should be, so there's a hardened steel button on the depriming rod, and as you pull the case out of the die the button expands the case neck to proper dimensions.
With a few exceptions- straight-walled pistol and rifle cartridges and a very few bottleneck rifle cartridges- the die is hardened steel with the inside very smoothly polished. The exceptions noted above have a ring made of carbide or a ring plated with titanium nitride that actually does the sizing. These two are extremely hard, and when polished have an extremely slick surface, so you can generally get by without lubing the cases. However, if you run a dry case into a standard steel die, the case will get stuck. WILL get stuck. Not 'pull a little harder on the lever' stuck or 'get something and tap on it' stuck. STUCK. We're talking teenage girls stuck on Orlando Bloom level here. You now have the options of getting a stuck case remover kit or taking the die apart and using a punch to hammer the case out, both of which ruin the case. And if you get careless, ruin the die. And they ain't cheap.
Enter Microlon. Yes, the same people who make the engine treatment I used on the bike. They make a stuff called Gun Juice for firearms. I've written about it before, mainly on cutting down fouling problems in barrels, and did a full review over at Mad Ogre's place in the weapons section. It slicked barrels up so well, and it mentioned using it on dies, so I stripped and cleaned my dies that aren't nitride or carbide and treated them. It did make a noticeable difference in the force needed to run cases in & out. And then...
A couple of weeks ago I had about a hundred .30-06 rifle cases to resize. Lubed them up and started. I generally put on some music for this stuff, so I'm cranking along when I notice that this case was kind of stubborn. And thought about it and realized the last half-dozen had been a bit stubborn. I grabbed that last few, and the next couple, and found that I'd somehow missed lubing about ten cases, six of which I'd run through the die.
This was flat amazing. No stuck cases when normally the first one would have jammed tight. So I'm definately a believer in this stuff. If you decide to try it, you can order it from Brownells, or straight from the company here.
He's alive! He's safe! And he saved the beer!
Steve has now been heard from. He's posting from Man Camp, where Val has hooked up to a neighbors generator, and Steve's supplying badly needed labor and nutrients. (LIQUID nutrients, what did you think I meant?)
Among his thoughts on the current 'cane aftermath are that it's hard to get in a 'Oh my God!' frame of mind when you're sitting on the patio drinking homebrew, smoking a cigar, listening to music on the boombox and have a cockatoo for company. And how some people are freaking out, even though they don't live below sea level and have 'neighbors' floating their valuables away. And how some people in Broward County are comparing Wilma to Andrew; as he puts it:"So SHUT UP. Anyone up there who compares this storm to Andrew should be punished by having one leg of his walker glued to the floor so all he can do is shuffle in circles."
And think of being in a place where everything is electric, the lines are all down, and they tell you to boil your drinking water. As Steve says, a nicely mixed message. What to do, what to do... Aside from grabbing the nearest bureaucrat(assuming you can catch one out of his natural habitat of behind a counter with a security guard handy) and gently asking 'how?' as you choke him, that is. I'd say it's a good thing all those trees are down, except green wood doesn't burn worth a damn, and if it's been that long since a really nasty storm probably only 10% of the people around own an axe and have some idea how to use it without amputating body parts.
We've got tornados here, but at least they're a: at worst a mile wide, b: only travel about 20-30 miles in most cases and c: even though they can have winds over 300mph, they pass by in a few minutes, as opposed to a hurricane which only has 150mph winds but is a couple of hundred miles across("Wilma, you bitch, go on a diet!") and takes hours to pass by. Although we've had ice storms and wind storms that took down lines and poles and left some people without power for more than a month.
In any case, we have heard from Hog-Boy, and he is well. Maybe we can get him a laurel wreath to wear, with a sign that says 'Pig Power'.
Among his thoughts on the current 'cane aftermath are that it's hard to get in a 'Oh my God!' frame of mind when you're sitting on the patio drinking homebrew, smoking a cigar, listening to music on the boombox and have a cockatoo for company. And how some people are freaking out, even though they don't live below sea level and have 'neighbors' floating their valuables away. And how some people in Broward County are comparing Wilma to Andrew; as he puts it:"So SHUT UP. Anyone up there who compares this storm to Andrew should be punished by having one leg of his walker glued to the floor so all he can do is shuffle in circles."
And think of being in a place where everything is electric, the lines are all down, and they tell you to boil your drinking water. As Steve says, a nicely mixed message. What to do, what to do... Aside from grabbing the nearest bureaucrat(assuming you can catch one out of his natural habitat of behind a counter with a security guard handy) and gently asking 'how?' as you choke him, that is. I'd say it's a good thing all those trees are down, except green wood doesn't burn worth a damn, and if it's been that long since a really nasty storm probably only 10% of the people around own an axe and have some idea how to use it without amputating body parts.
We've got tornados here, but at least they're a: at worst a mile wide, b: only travel about 20-30 miles in most cases and c: even though they can have winds over 300mph, they pass by in a few minutes, as opposed to a hurricane which only has 150mph winds but is a couple of hundred miles across("Wilma, you bitch, go on a diet!") and takes hours to pass by. Although we've had ice storms and wind storms that took down lines and poles and left some people without power for more than a month.
In any case, we have heard from Hog-Boy, and he is well. Maybe we can get him a laurel wreath to wear, with a sign that says 'Pig Power'.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
More general thoughts
Steve has once again been rendered speechless by FP&L. I'm wondering if he ever got the ice for the fermenting fridge?
Kevin over at Smallest Minority has a number of good thoughts and reports. On the wussy GFW new James Bond(!), the move toward a carry law in Wisconsin, and the vote in Brazil.
The Geek speaks of Eugene Volokh and the 2nd, ABC playing bluffing games with the news, FEMA reversing course on one of their latest bullshit moves, and his own thoughts on Brazil.
I'm trying Steve's advise from last week on seasoning cast iron. I hope it works, I can smell it inside and the grill is outside and the windows are closed...
Mr. Completely writes of the Jennings .22. When I took my carry class, one lady had one of these, and the shots were keyholing at three yards. No thank you.
I checked the cast iron; it was nice & hot, and I hadn't set the garage on fire, so I turned off the heat and left it to cool slowly.
I just re-read Volokh's piece that I mentioned earler; GO READ IT. It's important.
I may not post for a few days. No, I won't be able to make the NoR shoot, but I will be out of town.
Kevin over at Smallest Minority has a number of good thoughts and reports. On the wussy GFW new James Bond(!), the move toward a carry law in Wisconsin, and the vote in Brazil.
The Geek speaks of Eugene Volokh and the 2nd, ABC playing bluffing games with the news, FEMA reversing course on one of their latest bullshit moves, and his own thoughts on Brazil.
I'm trying Steve's advise from last week on seasoning cast iron. I hope it works, I can smell it inside and the grill is outside and the windows are closed...
Mr. Completely writes of the Jennings .22. When I took my carry class, one lady had one of these, and the shots were keyholing at three yards. No thank you.
I checked the cast iron; it was nice & hot, and I hadn't set the garage on fire, so I turned off the heat and left it to cool slowly.
I just re-read Volokh's piece that I mentioned earler; GO READ IT. It's important.
I may not post for a few days. No, I won't be able to make the NoR shoot, but I will be out of town.
Various observations and comments
I haven't been paying a lot of attention to the news the last few days, so last night & this morning I've been cruising around.
Just read about the burned terrorist bodies and 'muslim outrage' at Wizbang. I have to agree with Jay; the 'mainstream Muslim community' does want it both ways- "Don't blame us, they're not true Muslims" and "You're not showing these Muslims proper respect!". To quote one of the commenters, "Pigshit". Either the bastards who set off a car bomb to kill a bunch of women and children or men applying for jobs are Muslims and you worry about their treatment, or they're murdering wastes of oxygen and don't deserve any consideration. You can't claim them when it suits you and disclaim them when it doesn't. Make up your damn minds, and in the meantime, shut the hell up.
Ran into Harry's Place, which I'd never seen before, who had this post on a wanker in the Guardian. Short version: Iraqi's Vote, Bush Aided In Next Election, All Is Lost! Worth reading, if only to see how BDS has spread worldwide. Check out the commenters for further illustration.
That bitch Sheehan and the fascist supporters are all atwitter because the 2000th soldier died due to combat in Iraq. Bunch of fucking vultures. I did hear Bush's speech the other day while I was doing laundry; contrast this to the MoveOn wing of the Democrat party and marvel at idiots who think terrorists killing people is preferable to us doing something about them. And a people becoming free.
Got time, go to Power Line and start at the top; lots of good stuff there.
The Gun Guy has initial thoughts about the Tulsa Gun Show.
Michelle Malkin wrote about a racist idiot at North Carolina State University. And the University disowning him.
Gee, I wonder why?
Captain's Quarters writes of Iran calling for Israel to be destroyed. NOW will somebody do something about their working to build nukes?
Michelle also notes that, beyond doubt, Al Franken really is a friggin' idiot.
I know I said it before, but Britain just keeps working harder to flush themselves further down the toilet. Piglet, pig stories, piggy banks... why don't they just wave a damn white flag and get it over with?
I think that's it for now.
Just read about the burned terrorist bodies and 'muslim outrage' at Wizbang. I have to agree with Jay; the 'mainstream Muslim community' does want it both ways- "Don't blame us, they're not true Muslims" and "You're not showing these Muslims proper respect!". To quote one of the commenters, "Pigshit". Either the bastards who set off a car bomb to kill a bunch of women and children or men applying for jobs are Muslims and you worry about their treatment, or they're murdering wastes of oxygen and don't deserve any consideration. You can't claim them when it suits you and disclaim them when it doesn't. Make up your damn minds, and in the meantime, shut the hell up.
Ran into Harry's Place, which I'd never seen before, who had this post on a wanker in the Guardian. Short version: Iraqi's Vote, Bush Aided In Next Election, All Is Lost! Worth reading, if only to see how BDS has spread worldwide. Check out the commenters for further illustration.
That bitch Sheehan and the fascist supporters are all atwitter because the 2000th soldier died due to combat in Iraq. Bunch of fucking vultures. I did hear Bush's speech the other day while I was doing laundry; contrast this to the MoveOn wing of the Democrat party and marvel at idiots who think terrorists killing people is preferable to us doing something about them. And a people becoming free.
Got time, go to Power Line and start at the top; lots of good stuff there.
The Gun Guy has initial thoughts about the Tulsa Gun Show.
Michelle Malkin wrote about a racist idiot at North Carolina State University. And the University disowning him.
Gee, I wonder why?
Captain's Quarters writes of Iran calling for Israel to be destroyed. NOW will somebody do something about their working to build nukes?
Michelle also notes that, beyond doubt, Al Franken really is a friggin' idiot.
I know I said it before, but Britain just keeps working harder to flush themselves further down the toilet. Piglet, pig stories, piggy banks... why don't they just wave a damn white flag and get it over with?
I think that's it for now.
Monday, October 24, 2005
Brazil Votes 'NO' On Gun Ban
In other news, Sara Brady is reported to be suffering severe gas attacks.
This is very good news. First, for the Brazilian people. They were hit with every 'we know best' hammer the 'elites' could use, and in the end said 'Hell no'. And 64 to 36 counts as Hell no. To quote a guy who wrote to Instapundit on this:
"Hi Glenn, I live in Brazil and believe me, you don't know the half of it. The level of propaganda from the pro-ban side, which included the current government, the Church, the Globo television network (think CBS, ABC and NBC combined) and the arts/intelligentsia crowd was beyond the pale and clearly directed at the less fortunate. In other words, it was presented as a class vote. The margin of victory indicates that Brazilians of all classes voted against this ridiculous referendum. It is a sure sign of the steady but certain maturing of democracy in this country. "
Think about that; just about every group that keeps helping push for bans/taxes/restictions here- discounting the President and our current government- was yelling at them, and they listened to both sides and said 'No'. I like this quote from Dave Kopel's post at the Volokh Conspiracy:
“Their whole campaign (against the ban) was imported from the United States. They just translated a lot of material from the NRA. Now, a lot of Brazilians are insisting on their right to bear arms, they don’t even have a pseudo right to bear arms. It’s not in their Constitution,” said Jessica Galeria, an American who researches gun violence with the Viva Rio think tank.
Don't you just love that? "Oh, God, they actually believe they have a right to arms! And their government hasn't given them permission to think such a thing! And the eeeeviill NRA had a hand in it! Aaaaaahhhh!" May they strain their throats with their screaming. As Kopel points out, their constitution specifically states:
"the home is the inviolable asylum of the individual, and no one may enter it without the dweller's consent, save in the case of "flagrante delicto" or disaster, or to give help, or, during the day, by court order;"
and if you have the right to protect your home from invasion, you have, implied at least, the right to the means to protect your home. There's more in the post, so go read it.
And the Reuters AlertNet article is just full of good stuff.
""We didn't lose because Brazilians like guns. We lost because people don't have confidence in the government or the police," said Denis Mizne of anti-violence group Sou da Paz." Gee, you think maybe? They think the police are corrupt and/or incompetent and want means to protect themselves? Whoda thunk it?
"Many voters had expressed concern before the vote that a ban would leave them defenseless against heavily armed criminals. Public confidence is low in a police force widely seen as inefficient, abusive and corrupt." Yep.
" "This referendum ... is not going to end violence," said Assis Augusto Pires, 60, who voted against the ban in Sao Paulo's wealthy Jardim Paulistano district, where high walls, electrified fences and private guards protect residents." Wow, even people who can afford private heat want arms! Hear that, Sen. Kennedy(Dr.MA)?
"Spotlighting the issue, a young girl was wounded by a stray bullet as police clashed with drug traffickers in Rio de Janeiro's Dende slum on Saturday night, police said." Gee, some of the strictest gun-control laws around and the gangs still have guns? Sound familiar, D.C.?
And this one: " The ban failed in all 26 states and the federal district of Brasilia. Rural areas rejected it overwhelmingly. "This region is very isolated. If you don't have a gun here you don't have protection," said Igor Dedea, a logger in the rainforest state of Para." So it failed everywhere, and in rural areas 'overwhelmingly'.
Brazil is like a lot of countries; the government has made it as difficult as it can for a common citazen(at least they don't openly call them 'peasants') to own a gun, and is constantly trying to make it worse. And in Brazil's case, they're next door to Venezuela which has the weenie Chavez as president(think that may have something to do with some of their troubles?), with Chavez trying to export the wonders of castro throughout South America. But this gives me hope. The people of Brazil got both sides and voted to keep their ability to own arms for whatever reasons they choose. They took note that with current laws the bad guys aren't even slowed down in getting weapons, and decided that "Trust us, this will make you safe" from the government didn't cut it.
Now, let's see, a referendum to put a right to arms in their constitution... Probably won't happen, but it's a nice thought, isn't it?
This is very good news. First, for the Brazilian people. They were hit with every 'we know best' hammer the 'elites' could use, and in the end said 'Hell no'. And 64 to 36 counts as Hell no. To quote a guy who wrote to Instapundit on this:
"Hi Glenn, I live in Brazil and believe me, you don't know the half of it. The level of propaganda from the pro-ban side, which included the current government, the Church, the Globo television network (think CBS, ABC and NBC combined) and the arts/intelligentsia crowd was beyond the pale and clearly directed at the less fortunate. In other words, it was presented as a class vote. The margin of victory indicates that Brazilians of all classes voted against this ridiculous referendum. It is a sure sign of the steady but certain maturing of democracy in this country. "
Think about that; just about every group that keeps helping push for bans/taxes/restictions here- discounting the President and our current government- was yelling at them, and they listened to both sides and said 'No'. I like this quote from Dave Kopel's post at the Volokh Conspiracy:
“Their whole campaign (against the ban) was imported from the United States. They just translated a lot of material from the NRA. Now, a lot of Brazilians are insisting on their right to bear arms, they don’t even have a pseudo right to bear arms. It’s not in their Constitution,” said Jessica Galeria, an American who researches gun violence with the Viva Rio think tank.
Don't you just love that? "Oh, God, they actually believe they have a right to arms! And their government hasn't given them permission to think such a thing! And the eeeeviill NRA had a hand in it! Aaaaaahhhh!" May they strain their throats with their screaming. As Kopel points out, their constitution specifically states:
"the home is the inviolable asylum of the individual, and no one may enter it without the dweller's consent, save in the case of "flagrante delicto" or disaster, or to give help, or, during the day, by court order;"
and if you have the right to protect your home from invasion, you have, implied at least, the right to the means to protect your home. There's more in the post, so go read it.
And the Reuters AlertNet article is just full of good stuff.
""We didn't lose because Brazilians like guns. We lost because people don't have confidence in the government or the police," said Denis Mizne of anti-violence group Sou da Paz." Gee, you think maybe? They think the police are corrupt and/or incompetent and want means to protect themselves? Whoda thunk it?
"Many voters had expressed concern before the vote that a ban would leave them defenseless against heavily armed criminals. Public confidence is low in a police force widely seen as inefficient, abusive and corrupt." Yep.
" "This referendum ... is not going to end violence," said Assis Augusto Pires, 60, who voted against the ban in Sao Paulo's wealthy Jardim Paulistano district, where high walls, electrified fences and private guards protect residents." Wow, even people who can afford private heat want arms! Hear that, Sen. Kennedy(Dr.MA)?
"Spotlighting the issue, a young girl was wounded by a stray bullet as police clashed with drug traffickers in Rio de Janeiro's Dende slum on Saturday night, police said." Gee, some of the strictest gun-control laws around and the gangs still have guns? Sound familiar, D.C.?
And this one: " The ban failed in all 26 states and the federal district of Brasilia. Rural areas rejected it overwhelmingly. "This region is very isolated. If you don't have a gun here you don't have protection," said Igor Dedea, a logger in the rainforest state of Para." So it failed everywhere, and in rural areas 'overwhelmingly'.
Brazil is like a lot of countries; the government has made it as difficult as it can for a common citazen(at least they don't openly call them 'peasants') to own a gun, and is constantly trying to make it worse. And in Brazil's case, they're next door to Venezuela which has the weenie Chavez as president(think that may have something to do with some of their troubles?), with Chavez trying to export the wonders of castro throughout South America. But this gives me hope. The people of Brazil got both sides and voted to keep their ability to own arms for whatever reasons they choose. They took note that with current laws the bad guys aren't even slowed down in getting weapons, and decided that "Trust us, this will make you safe" from the government didn't cut it.
Now, let's see, a referendum to put a right to arms in their constitution... Probably won't happen, but it's a nice thought, isn't it?
Sunday, October 23, 2005
And let us not forget National Ammo Day
If you're new to it, it started as one day in which everyone possible would buy at least 100 rounds of ammo. For all information, posters, etc. go here.
I just wish I could count the stuff I picked up yesterday.
I just wish I could count the stuff I picked up yesterday.
Carnival of Cordite #35
Is up at Gullyborg. I don't even know what's in it yet; I just got the e-mail. So go, beat me to it.
The Big Gun Show Report
As I mentioned, this is the biggest gun show in the world; the building is 11 acres(!) and it's full, something like 3800 tables. Guns, ammo, parts, accessories, knives, books, if it's related to firearms you'll either find it there, or find someone who can get it for you.
Also there, I just found out was the Gun Guy. Dammit, I wish I'd known, I'd have made sure I said hello. As it was, there's so many damn people, so many of whom look familiar for different reasons, I didn't notice him. Or maybe he doesn't look like his picture, or was gone to pee, who knows?
For some reason Martini Cadet rifles seem to have gone way up on price; the only one below $500 was pretty beat up in the stock and still $450. I'd like to have one, but not for that price.
Among other things, I picked up some sling swivels, recoil buffers and ammo. Found a place that had a good price on M2 ball for the M1 rifle. And my friend bought a tuna can each of 7.62x54R and 8mm from them. AND they dollied it out to the truck; what more can you ask for? You could go broke in the place really easy. And really quick.
Books. Lots of books. I'm going to have to make a list of Peter Capstick's stuff I don't have or want in hardback. No problem with buying from Books a Million, but if I can pick it up at the show...
Yesterday was cloudy and cool, today started cloudy and occasional sprinkles and cold. And maybe some frost tonight, dammit. I've got to cover the squash and maybe it'll last long enough to produce. I hope so.
Also there, I just found out was the Gun Guy. Dammit, I wish I'd known, I'd have made sure I said hello. As it was, there's so many damn people, so many of whom look familiar for different reasons, I didn't notice him. Or maybe he doesn't look like his picture, or was gone to pee, who knows?
For some reason Martini Cadet rifles seem to have gone way up on price; the only one below $500 was pretty beat up in the stock and still $450. I'd like to have one, but not for that price.
Among other things, I picked up some sling swivels, recoil buffers and ammo. Found a place that had a good price on M2 ball for the M1 rifle. And my friend bought a tuna can each of 7.62x54R and 8mm from them. AND they dollied it out to the truck; what more can you ask for? You could go broke in the place really easy. And really quick.
Books. Lots of books. I'm going to have to make a list of Peter Capstick's stuff I don't have or want in hardback. No problem with buying from Books a Million, but if I can pick it up at the show...
Yesterday was cloudy and cool, today started cloudy and occasional sprinkles and cold. And maybe some frost tonight, dammit. I've got to cover the squash and maybe it'll last long enough to produce. I hope so.
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Must...drink....and rest...
Got up at 0500, which I normally don't do unless there's a chance of shooting something, and got home about fifteen minutes ago. And I'm beat. I shall write of the wonders of the Big Gun Show tomorrow. If I wake up.
Friday, October 21, 2005
More progress
In some things, anyway. The friend I'm going to the Big Gun Show with has a set of short-range radios we've used the last couple of years. This year, between fire/marriage/moving twice, for some reason he can't find the damn things. So off I go to Wally World.
I now have a set of Uniden radios, max 3-mile range, run on three AAA batteries apiece, for the grand total of $18.22. If I had regular need of such, they had a set with 6-mile range, running on four AAAs each, with charger and eight NiMh batteries, for about $25. God, these things have improved.
By the way, when big trouble with China(the evil PRC China) happens, one of our big problems is so much of our small stuff has been farmed out to them. With virtual slave labor(non-virtual, in some cases) they've undercut our domestic makers of stuff so much that I don't think American companies even make some of the stuff anymore. Last time I needed some small files, the only ones I could find were made in either China or India. How much of our electronics come from China? Other countries, too, but the stuff that worries me is the huge amount of small, you-don't think-about-it stuff that comes from the PRC.
I'm to bed, up early tomorrow. I will, in due time, report on this thing.
I now have a set of Uniden radios, max 3-mile range, run on three AAA batteries apiece, for the grand total of $18.22. If I had regular need of such, they had a set with 6-mile range, running on four AAAs each, with charger and eight NiMh batteries, for about $25. God, these things have improved.
By the way, when big trouble with China(the evil PRC China) happens, one of our big problems is so much of our small stuff has been farmed out to them. With virtual slave labor(non-virtual, in some cases) they've undercut our domestic makers of stuff so much that I don't think American companies even make some of the stuff anymore. Last time I needed some small files, the only ones I could find were made in either China or India. How much of our electronics come from China? Other countries, too, but the stuff that worries me is the huge amount of small, you-don't think-about-it stuff that comes from the PRC.
I'm to bed, up early tomorrow. I will, in due time, report on this thing.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Another reason to like John Stossel
I argue with him on a number of points, but more often I tend to nod my head in agreement when he's doing one of his reports. Case in point, this one. Go read it, it won't take long.
All done? Point after point knocking down the gun-ban agenda(don't tell me it's not their agenda; Clayton Cramer has a list somewhere of quotes from a bunch of these people, I'll try to find it and post it).
(Update: Found it! Was at the Volokh Conspiracy, here)
Think it'll make any difference to the hysterics and nannies? I don't either, but getting the information out there lets people who can be reasoned with know the facts.
All done? Point after point knocking down the gun-ban agenda(don't tell me it's not their agenda; Clayton Cramer has a list somewhere of quotes from a bunch of these people, I'll try to find it and post it).
(Update: Found it! Was at the Volokh Conspiracy, here)
Think it'll make any difference to the hysterics and nannies? I don't either, but getting the information out there lets people who can be reasoned with know the facts.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
And I have to make note of this
In a comment on my last 'cleaning greasy old guns' post Gerry close his comment with this: "I could go into minute detail, but most folks capable of detail stripping a rifle aren't liberals and are smart enough to figure it out for themselves."
I just love this.
I just love this.
What's the big deal about baking bread?
I was reading Steve's stuff about cornbread, and started wondering why so many people have conniptions at the idea of baking bread? Admittedly there are some recipes for some types that are rather involved, but most are fairly simple.
I just pulled a pan of focaccia out of the oven, and if there's a simpler bread that that it's cornbread. I've taken it- the focaccia- and seasoned olive oil and vinegar to a party to share, and people raved about the bread, and proceeded to tell me what a genius I was to bake it.
Guess what? Put the ingredients in the bread machine, which does the kneading for me for a whole 3-4 minutes. Dump it in a greased bowl and let it rise. Dump it in a greased pan and spread it out and let it rise, knock it down and sprinkle some stuff on top, rise another 15 minutes and bake it. While I'm not averse to being called a genius, this kind of stuff is not proper reason for it.
Have you noticed most cooking is that way? Stew is browning some meat, throwing it in a pot with some water and veggies and whatever and letting it simmer. Jambalaya is sausage and rice and onion and bell pepper and whatever else you want to throw in. And so on; much of the stuff Steve has in his book is really simple, and it tastes damn good. One of the most involved things there are the baked beans, and that's just stir everything together and bake. Stuff like cake and some cookies requires you to use the correct amounts of stuff; but you can still add something in. My daughter and ex are always giving me tips on stuff like this. There's a nut bread recipe I like, and they found out that you can add a tablespoon of your favorite flavor coffee creamer to it and it comes out wonderfully. This is not reloading; you add something 'extra' in there and you may have to make up a story to make your prosthetic sound less like your fault. With cooking, you mess up and you may have to throw the result away.
Ref reloading, I read that the guy who developed the .454 Casull was using triplex loads; meaning he was mixing three different powders to get the result he wanted. The magazine where I read this specifically pointed out that this was, how do you say, a dumbass(not their word) thing to do, and please don't try it at home. Which may explain why he produced a pistol cartridge that would hurt to shoot in a rifle; his brain was still sloshing from the concussion.
Back to baking, there are a lot of simple things you can try, like adding some almond extract to a cake. It's very unlikely to screw it up, and it may just add something you really like to the finished product. If it doesn't, this is one reason you should have a dog. Preferably a mutt; they can eat rat poison, urp a time or two and ask what's for dessert? whereas a lot of purebreds don't get the proper diet and have the runs for a week. Kind of like... well, never mind that.
Where was I? Never mind that, too. Basic idea is, most cooking is simple unless you want to be the kind of 'chef' who puts one ounce of beef and three string beans on a plate and calls it dinner. Pie crust? It's flour and shortening and a touch of salt and some water, and that's it, but I took some tarts I had made to a fair and people had fits over the work of making the crust. Either they just aren't willing to try it, or they've bought into the hype from the three-bean chefs.
Oh well, it's an easy way to impress people.
I just pulled a pan of focaccia out of the oven, and if there's a simpler bread that that it's cornbread. I've taken it- the focaccia- and seasoned olive oil and vinegar to a party to share, and people raved about the bread, and proceeded to tell me what a genius I was to bake it.
Guess what? Put the ingredients in the bread machine, which does the kneading for me for a whole 3-4 minutes. Dump it in a greased bowl and let it rise. Dump it in a greased pan and spread it out and let it rise, knock it down and sprinkle some stuff on top, rise another 15 minutes and bake it. While I'm not averse to being called a genius, this kind of stuff is not proper reason for it.
Have you noticed most cooking is that way? Stew is browning some meat, throwing it in a pot with some water and veggies and whatever and letting it simmer. Jambalaya is sausage and rice and onion and bell pepper and whatever else you want to throw in. And so on; much of the stuff Steve has in his book is really simple, and it tastes damn good. One of the most involved things there are the baked beans, and that's just stir everything together and bake. Stuff like cake and some cookies requires you to use the correct amounts of stuff; but you can still add something in. My daughter and ex are always giving me tips on stuff like this. There's a nut bread recipe I like, and they found out that you can add a tablespoon of your favorite flavor coffee creamer to it and it comes out wonderfully. This is not reloading; you add something 'extra' in there and you may have to make up a story to make your prosthetic sound less like your fault. With cooking, you mess up and you may have to throw the result away.
Ref reloading, I read that the guy who developed the .454 Casull was using triplex loads; meaning he was mixing three different powders to get the result he wanted. The magazine where I read this specifically pointed out that this was, how do you say, a dumbass(not their word) thing to do, and please don't try it at home. Which may explain why he produced a pistol cartridge that would hurt to shoot in a rifle; his brain was still sloshing from the concussion.
Back to baking, there are a lot of simple things you can try, like adding some almond extract to a cake. It's very unlikely to screw it up, and it may just add something you really like to the finished product. If it doesn't, this is one reason you should have a dog. Preferably a mutt; they can eat rat poison, urp a time or two and ask what's for dessert? whereas a lot of purebreds don't get the proper diet and have the runs for a week. Kind of like... well, never mind that.
Where was I? Never mind that, too. Basic idea is, most cooking is simple unless you want to be the kind of 'chef' who puts one ounce of beef and three string beans on a plate and calls it dinner. Pie crust? It's flour and shortening and a touch of salt and some water, and that's it, but I took some tarts I had made to a fair and people had fits over the work of making the crust. Either they just aren't willing to try it, or they've bought into the hype from the three-bean chefs.
Oh well, it's an easy way to impress people.
BIG gun show this weekend!
Up in Tulsa, the Wanenmacher Show. They only have it twice a year, spring and fall, and since I've never been able to make the spring show, God willin' and the creek don't rise I'll be there Saturday.
One of these days I'm going to rent a motel room so I've got both days. It'd be the only way to actually see the whole thing, and it'd be nice not to be rushed. I've got a list of things to look for, mainly parts and accessories and cleaning stuff; I'm actually hoping not to find any firearms that say "Take me home!". Or at least none I have to listen to.
It's a terrible thing to hear: "Just look at my engraving, sweetie! And oh, the curve of my stock longs for your hand... Don't deny me, take me with you!" It's a terrible thing to hear and have to walk away from.
One of these days I'm going to rent a motel room so I've got both days. It'd be the only way to actually see the whole thing, and it'd be nice not to be rushed. I've got a list of things to look for, mainly parts and accessories and cleaning stuff; I'm actually hoping not to find any firearms that say "Take me home!". Or at least none I have to listen to.
It's a terrible thing to hear: "Just look at my engraving, sweetie! And oh, the curve of my stock longs for your hand... Don't deny me, take me with you!" It's a terrible thing to hear and have to walk away from.
Speaking of radios for emergencies,
I noticed something today. I've got a RCA 'personal stereo' type; earphones only, runs off two AAA batteries, gets AM and FM stations. I generally use it when I'm doing laundry, or working in the yard, anywhere from an hour to two hours at a stretch.
Last week, the day after I did laundry, while getting ready for work I heard a news report, very faint. Only I'd turned the stereo off. Then I thought Oh, crap, I left the portable on! It was, I turned it off and forgot about it. Then used it today for about an hour and a half. Then I started trying to figure out how long those two batteries have been in use. I got the thing last year, it's had those batteries since sometime last winter. Figure two hours/week in winter, sometimes 5-6/week in warm weather, add in the 21 hours when I left it on the the two hours today... That's a long damn time, on the same two batteries. Maybe because it's not driving bigger speakers?
In any case, this type would be one to consider, at least as a spare. It cost five or six dollars as I recall, and AAAs are cheap.
Last week, the day after I did laundry, while getting ready for work I heard a news report, very faint. Only I'd turned the stereo off. Then I thought Oh, crap, I left the portable on! It was, I turned it off and forgot about it. Then used it today for about an hour and a half. Then I started trying to figure out how long those two batteries have been in use. I got the thing last year, it's had those batteries since sometime last winter. Figure two hours/week in winter, sometimes 5-6/week in warm weather, add in the 21 hours when I left it on the the two hours today... That's a long damn time, on the same two batteries. Maybe because it's not driving bigger speakers?
In any case, this type would be one to consider, at least as a spare. It cost five or six dollars as I recall, and AAAs are cheap.
Monday, October 17, 2005
It's really been that long?
Not that, the time. I realized the other day I've been running this blog for just over a year. I started a diary once when I was a kid, and I think that lasted about three days, so this is the longest journal-type thing I've ever done.
Big reason I started this was the smithing; it seemed like a good way to pass on some of what I've learned over the years, and it's done that well. It looked like fun, and it's been that, too. At least at times. And it did something I didn't really think about; it put me in contact with all kinds of people. Some of whom said how wonderful I was, some who told me I was an idiot(I've never managed to be called a fascist warmonger as yet, but I'm hoping), and lots of in-between. I've received good information on a variety of subjects, and passed ideas and how-to's along. Overall, it's been a good thing.
It's also been my soapbox. I can stand here and tell the world- at least the part of it that reads this mess- what I think of things. I can deliver insult and invective where appropriate, and I can say "Damn, go look at this! It's Great!", or "Only go here if you aren't worried about losing brain cells simply due to the proximity of the idiocy you'll find here". There's been a couple of times I thought I might have to post a "Gone to emergency room/surgery/whatever, back when able" but that's never worked out. Happily.
Right now, there's been over 21,000 hits, including some from Japan, South Africa and various places in Europe. Which makes this a big damn soapbox, long may it hold together.
Right now it's getting late, and the medication for a back problem is making me tired, so I think I'll go scratch dog ears for a bit. 'Night, all.
Big reason I started this was the smithing; it seemed like a good way to pass on some of what I've learned over the years, and it's done that well. It looked like fun, and it's been that, too. At least at times. And it did something I didn't really think about; it put me in contact with all kinds of people. Some of whom said how wonderful I was, some who told me I was an idiot(I've never managed to be called a fascist warmonger as yet, but I'm hoping), and lots of in-between. I've received good information on a variety of subjects, and passed ideas and how-to's along. Overall, it's been a good thing.
It's also been my soapbox. I can stand here and tell the world- at least the part of it that reads this mess- what I think of things. I can deliver insult and invective where appropriate, and I can say "Damn, go look at this! It's Great!", or "Only go here if you aren't worried about losing brain cells simply due to the proximity of the idiocy you'll find here". There's been a couple of times I thought I might have to post a "Gone to emergency room/surgery/whatever, back when able" but that's never worked out. Happily.
Right now, there's been over 21,000 hits, including some from Japan, South Africa and various places in Europe. Which makes this a big damn soapbox, long may it hold together.
Right now it's getting late, and the medication for a back problem is making me tired, so I think I'll go scratch dog ears for a bit. 'Night, all.
Yes, I'm still bitching about the media
And why not? They give us so much material to work with. Right now, I've got two things in mind, somewhat connected.
First, if you haven't read about the riots in Toledo, go here and read. Take due note of the headline, and then of who actually did the rioting, and their excuses for it. Here's a major newspaper blaming a riot not on the clowns who actually, oh, rioted and looted, but on those the rioters used as an excuse. There is, flatly, no excuse for this crap. I don't care how much they dislike having the Nazis march(not too damn fond of them myself), that does not give them excuse to riot. And it most certainly does not give the media an excuse to blame the Nazis instead of the idiots who actually committed the crimes.
Second stop here, where Mark Steyn takes note of the refusal of the media to call fascists what they are; as long as they're Islamic fascists, that is. Never mind where they're from, what they're doing and why and to who, you just can't call the bastards what they are; it's not allowed, apparently. Just like the BBC won't call Palistinian terrorists 'terrorists'; they're militants, or rebels or something, but never ever 'terrorists'. And so many in the media won't call the bombers and head-choppers and kidnappers in Iraq 'terrorists', they're 'insurgents'; it's just so much more PC to call them that. After all, if you call them terrorists you're actually stating they're bad people doing bad things, and we can't have that. Can we?
Yes, we damn sure can, at least if the media weenies are not so bigoted and PC that they'll make excuses for these dirtbags. Something happens here in the U.S., and you generally have to dig through piles of words before you'll find out that the doer was, who could believe it?, Muslim. I swear to God, if some jackass grabbed an old couple in a mall and cut their heads off with a machete while screaming "Allahu Akbar!", most of these jerks would jump through hoops to avoid even mentioning that part of it; after all, us ignorant peasants in flyover country can't be trusted to hear such things, now can we?
Connected to all this is this, the attempts to ignore/cover up/deny some information about the FREDS who blew himself up in Norman. Please note this wording from the FBI about a possible attempt to get into the stadium: "He said, 'We may never know. We have no evidence of a plan to do that, but we also couldn't tell you definitively he didn't try to do it and was rebuffed. We just simply don't know,' " Mr. Cole said."
This is used by the Wall Street Journal to say: "None of these claims are true". The FBI didn't say that, it said 'We do not know', but that's good enough to say 'nothing to it', at least for some of the major media. If this kid had been walking around with a swasticka armband and had a Nazi flag on his bedroom wall, you know these people would be talking about the dangers of neo-nazis; but God forbid they say anything bad about, or even mention, connections to Islam.
It reminds me, to an extent, of the attitude a lot of these 'journalists' have toward various minority groups; you shouldn't mention anything bad because it might upset them, and if you do have to mention it you have to include excuses for their actions, because after all, you can't expect them to deal with it well. I think R. Reagan referred to this as the 'bigotry of low expectations'; don't expect this or that group to live up to civilized standards, because they're just not able to, and they might get upset/violent if you demand those standards of them. So you have these 'journalists' calling names and describing as murderers U.S. troops in battle, but making excuses and carefully choosing words to keep from calling Islamist nutcases what they really are.
To borrow a line from Quint in Jaws, it's enough to piss off the Good Humor man.
First, if you haven't read about the riots in Toledo, go here and read. Take due note of the headline, and then of who actually did the rioting, and their excuses for it. Here's a major newspaper blaming a riot not on the clowns who actually, oh, rioted and looted, but on those the rioters used as an excuse. There is, flatly, no excuse for this crap. I don't care how much they dislike having the Nazis march(not too damn fond of them myself), that does not give them excuse to riot. And it most certainly does not give the media an excuse to blame the Nazis instead of the idiots who actually committed the crimes.
Second stop here, where Mark Steyn takes note of the refusal of the media to call fascists what they are; as long as they're Islamic fascists, that is. Never mind where they're from, what they're doing and why and to who, you just can't call the bastards what they are; it's not allowed, apparently. Just like the BBC won't call Palistinian terrorists 'terrorists'; they're militants, or rebels or something, but never ever 'terrorists'. And so many in the media won't call the bombers and head-choppers and kidnappers in Iraq 'terrorists', they're 'insurgents'; it's just so much more PC to call them that. After all, if you call them terrorists you're actually stating they're bad people doing bad things, and we can't have that. Can we?
Yes, we damn sure can, at least if the media weenies are not so bigoted and PC that they'll make excuses for these dirtbags. Something happens here in the U.S., and you generally have to dig through piles of words before you'll find out that the doer was, who could believe it?, Muslim. I swear to God, if some jackass grabbed an old couple in a mall and cut their heads off with a machete while screaming "Allahu Akbar!", most of these jerks would jump through hoops to avoid even mentioning that part of it; after all, us ignorant peasants in flyover country can't be trusted to hear such things, now can we?
Connected to all this is this, the attempts to ignore/cover up/deny some information about the FREDS who blew himself up in Norman. Please note this wording from the FBI about a possible attempt to get into the stadium: "He said, 'We may never know. We have no evidence of a plan to do that, but we also couldn't tell you definitively he didn't try to do it and was rebuffed. We just simply don't know,' " Mr. Cole said."
This is used by the Wall Street Journal to say: "None of these claims are true". The FBI didn't say that, it said 'We do not know', but that's good enough to say 'nothing to it', at least for some of the major media. If this kid had been walking around with a swasticka armband and had a Nazi flag on his bedroom wall, you know these people would be talking about the dangers of neo-nazis; but God forbid they say anything bad about, or even mention, connections to Islam.
It reminds me, to an extent, of the attitude a lot of these 'journalists' have toward various minority groups; you shouldn't mention anything bad because it might upset them, and if you do have to mention it you have to include excuses for their actions, because after all, you can't expect them to deal with it well. I think R. Reagan referred to this as the 'bigotry of low expectations'; don't expect this or that group to live up to civilized standards, because they're just not able to, and they might get upset/violent if you demand those standards of them. So you have these 'journalists' calling names and describing as murderers U.S. troops in battle, but making excuses and carefully choosing words to keep from calling Islamist nutcases what they really are.
To borrow a line from Quint in Jaws, it's enough to piss off the Good Humor man.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
General commentary
The weather's been about as fine as you could wish for the last couple of weeks. I haven't had to use the a/c for about a month now(few days I should have, but...), and I can sleep with the windows open and a fan going. Now if I can get the dogs to understand they don't need to bark at 2a.m. unless it's acually worth it...
Steve's blogging about cooking again, and pan con lechon sounds good enough to go out and shoot a hog for. Happily, they have already deceased hogs at the store, so, I need to go shopping.
Speaking of Steve, damn, I wish I could write like him.
Chris Muir ought to be syndicated. If the major papers weren't a bunch of liberal bedwetters(to borrow a phrase), he probably would be. If you've not seen him before, check him out. And I know Sam is a cartoon, but damn!
I need more ammo. In various calibers. And more time to go to the range. And hunt. And sleep.
I hope I can get out during deer season. I have the urge to be terminally rude to Bambi.
Every time Ted Kennedy opens his mouth lately, I remember somebody saying "A drink of cold water and an original thought would kill him".
According to my son, Ford Rangers in Europe have a turbo-diesel engine option that runs clean and gets about 30 mpg and has more horsepower and torque than the gas engines. I wish they'd sell the damn thing here.
Ever noticed how cleaning patches evaporate when you open the bag?
I need a fireplace just to burn all the junk mail and applications that have my name on them.
Steve's blogging about cooking again, and pan con lechon sounds good enough to go out and shoot a hog for. Happily, they have already deceased hogs at the store, so, I need to go shopping.
Speaking of Steve, damn, I wish I could write like him.
Chris Muir ought to be syndicated. If the major papers weren't a bunch of liberal bedwetters(to borrow a phrase), he probably would be. If you've not seen him before, check him out. And I know Sam is a cartoon, but damn!
I need more ammo. In various calibers. And more time to go to the range. And hunt. And sleep.
I hope I can get out during deer season. I have the urge to be terminally rude to Bambi.
Every time Ted Kennedy opens his mouth lately, I remember somebody saying "A drink of cold water and an original thought would kill him".
According to my son, Ford Rangers in Europe have a turbo-diesel engine option that runs clean and gets about 30 mpg and has more horsepower and torque than the gas engines. I wish they'd sell the damn thing here.
Ever noticed how cleaning patches evaporate when you open the bag?
I need a fireplace just to burn all the junk mail and applications that have my name on them.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Another bit about getting all the crap off an old rifle
Old military rifles, to be precise. I wrote on this subject a while back(here), and have something to add.
When you've got a rifle with the barrel/action heavily greased, especially if the grease is old and getting hard/hardened, spraying with carb cleaner or something doesn't really do it. I recently got a piece of 4" PVC pipe, put a permanent plug on one end, and poured a gallon of kerosene in it. You can take the barreled action out of the stock and lower it into this, slosh it up and down a few times, put a cap on the open end and leave it a while. When you remove the cap, slosh it a bit more and pull it out. Kerosene does a nice job of dissolving old grease and won't harm the metal or finish. Let it sit a while for the volitiles to evaporate and you can either hit it with the spray to clean the remaining oil off, or simply strip it down and clean/oil the parts. If you have to leave it a while before doing anything, the oil left on the steel by the kerosene will protect it from rust. For a while; it's not a long-term protectant.
Additional: if you don't want to have to clean off the kerosene oil, after the piece dries a bit you can spray it with carb or brake cleaner; it'll strip the oil off, and then dry fast. Be sure to use good ventilation and gloves if you do.
Better would be a steel pipe, but I didn't have anything that size and don't have a welder to put a plug on the end. And you should either tie it to something to hold it vertical, or build a rack to hold it. But it does a nice job of getting the worst of the stuff off.
When you've got a rifle with the barrel/action heavily greased, especially if the grease is old and getting hard/hardened, spraying with carb cleaner or something doesn't really do it. I recently got a piece of 4" PVC pipe, put a permanent plug on one end, and poured a gallon of kerosene in it. You can take the barreled action out of the stock and lower it into this, slosh it up and down a few times, put a cap on the open end and leave it a while. When you remove the cap, slosh it a bit more and pull it out. Kerosene does a nice job of dissolving old grease and won't harm the metal or finish. Let it sit a while for the volitiles to evaporate and you can either hit it with the spray to clean the remaining oil off, or simply strip it down and clean/oil the parts. If you have to leave it a while before doing anything, the oil left on the steel by the kerosene will protect it from rust. For a while; it's not a long-term protectant.
Additional: if you don't want to have to clean off the kerosene oil, after the piece dries a bit you can spray it with carb or brake cleaner; it'll strip the oil off, and then dry fast. Be sure to use good ventilation and gloves if you do.
Better would be a steel pipe, but I didn't have anything that size and don't have a welder to put a plug on the end. And you should either tie it to something to hold it vertical, or build a rack to hold it. But it does a nice job of getting the worst of the stuff off.
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