Tomorrow we are off to Maryland, south of D.C., for a weekender family reunion.
Back on Tuesday.
Have a fine one.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Iran Policy Evolution
Last week, when the first rumbles of unrest began to spread in the wake of the Iranian clown show our media chose to call an "election", the President of the United States voted present.
By Monday last, The Won had seen the poll numbers and came out with a Strong Statement. He even got some props from traditionally conservative folks, too, I hear.
If Barry stays true to script, I guess Thursday we'll get a riff right out of "The Untouchables"...
"I want him DEAD! His family DEAD!"
Then he'll bounce a basketball off a reporter's head and talk some hoop smack. Or something.
Rhetoric aside, The One has let stand the invite to Iranian diplomats for a friendly Fourth of July picnic. I always say there's nothing like a good steak and a cold drink after you get done cleaning your rifle and having a prisoner wash the dried blood off your boots. If Mousavi calls ahead, I'm sure the Leader of the Free World will make sure the embassies clear a primo parking space for the Iranian Diplomatic Ryder Truck.
In other news... my company has been awarded the contract to build the north office tower that will go on top of the parking garage we are halfway done building. I give humble thanks that I will have a job that much longer.
Links shamelessly lifted via Instapundit, American Digest, Weasel Zippers, and Hot Air.
By Monday last, The Won had seen the poll numbers and came out with a Strong Statement. He even got some props from traditionally conservative folks, too, I hear.
If Barry stays true to script, I guess Thursday we'll get a riff right out of "The Untouchables"...
"I want him DEAD! His family DEAD!"
Then he'll bounce a basketball off a reporter's head and talk some hoop smack. Or something.
Rhetoric aside, The One has let stand the invite to Iranian diplomats for a friendly Fourth of July picnic. I always say there's nothing like a good steak and a cold drink after you get done cleaning your rifle and having a prisoner wash the dried blood off your boots. If Mousavi calls ahead, I'm sure the Leader of the Free World will make sure the embassies clear a primo parking space for the Iranian Diplomatic Ryder Truck.
In other news... my company has been awarded the contract to build the north office tower that will go on top of the parking garage we are halfway done building. I give humble thanks that I will have a job that much longer.
Links shamelessly lifted via Instapundit, American Digest, Weasel Zippers, and Hot Air.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Comment
I left this at Protein Wisdom:
"Finding yourself on the side of a road in a driving rain really, REALLY wishing you had a spare tire is nothing compared to the feeling you get when it becomes “Damn, really could use a basement full of Mosin Nagants and a bunch of bullets right NOW”….
… because when you figure out you really need a weapon, it’s generally too late to begin your waiting period."
I recommend the thread. It's all quite good.
"Finding yourself on the side of a road in a driving rain really, REALLY wishing you had a spare tire is nothing compared to the feeling you get when it becomes “Damn, really could use a basement full of Mosin Nagants and a bunch of bullets right NOW”….
… because when you figure out you really need a weapon, it’s generally too late to begin your waiting period."
I recommend the thread. It's all quite good.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Who Knew?
Lincoln was right:
" As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide."
In other news:
"The bond market is calling the Federal Reserve out," said Mike Larson, a real estate analyst at Weiss Research Inc. in Jupiter, Fla. "Investors are saying that the Fed can't just print money out of thin air to finance a massive deficit."
I've read history my whole life. Which means that empires' ends are kind of a known quantity.
I never expected to watch it happen from my living room.
Bonus (via neoneocon)
In the week just passed I ran into two former coworkers, a boss from a decade ago, a couple I met through AA back in 2000 or so, and the couple that ran the day care our daughters went to beginning in 1992. All totally random. And all asking "what's next??" somewhere in the conversation.
Wish I knew.
" As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide."
In other news:
"The bond market is calling the Federal Reserve out," said Mike Larson, a real estate analyst at Weiss Research Inc. in Jupiter, Fla. "Investors are saying that the Fed can't just print money out of thin air to finance a massive deficit."
I've read history my whole life. Which means that empires' ends are kind of a known quantity.
I never expected to watch it happen from my living room.
Bonus (via neoneocon)
In the week just passed I ran into two former coworkers, a boss from a decade ago, a couple I met through AA back in 2000 or so, and the couple that ran the day care our daughters went to beginning in 1992. All totally random. And all asking "what's next??" somewhere in the conversation.
Wish I knew.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
More Required Reading
Found via American Digest:
" Communists are now nationalists – or national socialists – who have embraced capitalist means in order to achieve the end of capitalism. They do not admit to being Marxists, full of resentment against “that eminent distinction” that “really is distinction.” They call themselves democrats. They win elections under various false flags. They participate the in the process of leveling on their own terms. "
In other news -
On day one of my three days off for Memorial Day, I crushed my left middle toe by allowing an extension ladder to collapse on it.
It sucks getting old. I broke safety protocol first by attempting to collapse the ladder while it was vertical, then compounded my error by pulling both left and right locks at the same time. I had enough time, as the extended section whistled down, to think "I'll pay for this". If I still had reflexes would have more usefully extracted foot from impact area...
I spent Saturday night on the sofa with my foot iced and elevated. This morning the digit was a shade of dark purple more usually seen on Roman cloaks, so off to Critical Care for an xray. Radiologist said broken, doc said badly bruised.
Tomorrow... don't know. Going to bed in half an hour. Will figure out tomorrow when it gets here.
It will just be another day in the age of the One. And me, still waiting for my rocket car. Fishing maybe. More likely run across the lake and burn some powder.
Never pester the radiologist. Diagnosis is not her job.
" Communists are now nationalists – or national socialists – who have embraced capitalist means in order to achieve the end of capitalism. They do not admit to being Marxists, full of resentment against “that eminent distinction” that “really is distinction.” They call themselves democrats. They win elections under various false flags. They participate the in the process of leveling on their own terms. "
In other news -
On day one of my three days off for Memorial Day, I crushed my left middle toe by allowing an extension ladder to collapse on it.
It sucks getting old. I broke safety protocol first by attempting to collapse the ladder while it was vertical, then compounded my error by pulling both left and right locks at the same time. I had enough time, as the extended section whistled down, to think "I'll pay for this". If I still had reflexes would have more usefully extracted foot from impact area...
I spent Saturday night on the sofa with my foot iced and elevated. This morning the digit was a shade of dark purple more usually seen on Roman cloaks, so off to Critical Care for an xray. Radiologist said broken, doc said badly bruised.
Tomorrow... don't know. Going to bed in half an hour. Will figure out tomorrow when it gets here.
It will just be another day in the age of the One. And me, still waiting for my rocket car. Fishing maybe. More likely run across the lake and burn some powder.
Never pester the radiologist. Diagnosis is not her job.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Required Reading
From Belomont Club, best comment I've seen on a blog in years:
"The Fed is an independent entity. It is a network of 12 Regional Federal Reserve banks. The Presidents of these Regional Fed banks are chosen by an independent board of directors. Each Regional Fed bank is owned by member banks, but the board is controlled by non-bankers (6 non-bankers, 3 bankers).
This means that the control of the Fed banks is in the hands of private citizens, and not Congress. Each President works for their respective board, which hires and fires them.
Some folks complain about this arrangement, but it has saved our bacon, IMHO. This independence has allowed the Fed to act without having to go to Congress or the White House for permission. This keeps its OODA loop tight, and helps shelter it from partisan political fights. Its independence has also allowed the US dollar to be the world’s reserve currency.
But here’s things get sticky. The Obama Administration is proposing the most dramatic expansion of Federal spending in history. Trillions of dollars will be added to the Federal Debt during the next 3-4 years, and if they pass healthcare reform, it will get even worse. In addition, by increasing marginal tax rates, economic growth will slow, and growth is the only way we can eventually pay off the debt we have accumulated."
It's all good.
In other news, I had a clinic day at the range on Saturday. I believe that the M91/59 Mosin carbine probably represents the cream of the crop as far as mechanical condition is concerned among that vast ocean of old Russian bolties floating around out there. It would appear that the Commies converted their best 91/30's into the 59's.
I will have the holiday weekend off. I'm trying to get the Goddesses out for a fishing day, but their social calendars are probably already booked. If it's not fishing I'll ask a couple of friends out to Tibble Fork to go fishing and maybe even gold panning.
We are going great guns on my project. Scary fast, some have said. We are going to run out of mud in about two months at the rate we are going, then there will be nowhere to go but up.
"The Fed is an independent entity. It is a network of 12 Regional Federal Reserve banks. The Presidents of these Regional Fed banks are chosen by an independent board of directors. Each Regional Fed bank is owned by member banks, but the board is controlled by non-bankers (6 non-bankers, 3 bankers).
This means that the control of the Fed banks is in the hands of private citizens, and not Congress. Each President works for their respective board, which hires and fires them.
Some folks complain about this arrangement, but it has saved our bacon, IMHO. This independence has allowed the Fed to act without having to go to Congress or the White House for permission. This keeps its OODA loop tight, and helps shelter it from partisan political fights. Its independence has also allowed the US dollar to be the world’s reserve currency.
But here’s things get sticky. The Obama Administration is proposing the most dramatic expansion of Federal spending in history. Trillions of dollars will be added to the Federal Debt during the next 3-4 years, and if they pass healthcare reform, it will get even worse. In addition, by increasing marginal tax rates, economic growth will slow, and growth is the only way we can eventually pay off the debt we have accumulated."
It's all good.
In other news, I had a clinic day at the range on Saturday. I believe that the M91/59 Mosin carbine probably represents the cream of the crop as far as mechanical condition is concerned among that vast ocean of old Russian bolties floating around out there. It would appear that the Commies converted their best 91/30's into the 59's.
I will have the holiday weekend off. I'm trying to get the Goddesses out for a fishing day, but their social calendars are probably already booked. If it's not fishing I'll ask a couple of friends out to Tibble Fork to go fishing and maybe even gold panning.
We are going great guns on my project. Scary fast, some have said. We are going to run out of mud in about two months at the rate we are going, then there will be nowhere to go but up.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Warning Order
I'd like to be upbeat, but I just don't have the will.
Today I see that defining Chrysler's advertising budget has become a presidential duty.
That suddenly Mr. Obama understands what a shit tsunami would accompany releasing more Abu Ghraib photos; what looked like an easy sop to his vicious, anti-American base turns out to carry a cost he declines to pay.
In financial circles, the sucker's rally continues as congress continues to explore yet more ways to tax individuals and businesses.
Just how great a tax burden they will hammer us with is a mystery. What is absolutely certain is that they will continue to shield their own from any annoying questions about ethics.
Here at the home of Utah we are doubling emergency cash on hand at the house, refilling prescriptions out to three months, and have decided to double our garden area. I don't know when I'll find time to tend it properly but I think that come fall we'll be glad we grew our own this year...
What a joke we have become.
Won't be anybody laughing by August, I'm thinking.
Today I see that defining Chrysler's advertising budget has become a presidential duty.
That suddenly Mr. Obama understands what a shit tsunami would accompany releasing more Abu Ghraib photos; what looked like an easy sop to his vicious, anti-American base turns out to carry a cost he declines to pay.
In financial circles, the sucker's rally continues as congress continues to explore yet more ways to tax individuals and businesses.
Just how great a tax burden they will hammer us with is a mystery. What is absolutely certain is that they will continue to shield their own from any annoying questions about ethics.
Here at the home of Utah we are doubling emergency cash on hand at the house, refilling prescriptions out to three months, and have decided to double our garden area. I don't know when I'll find time to tend it properly but I think that come fall we'll be glad we grew our own this year...
What a joke we have become.
Won't be anybody laughing by August, I'm thinking.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Day Of Rest
I just finished watching a couple of episodes of 'Firefly' with Mrs. Utah. Damn, the good die too young, don't they?
We watched 'Serenity' earlier in the week.
In it, the captain utters one of the greatest lines in Hollywood history:
"I aim to misbehave."
Think I'll get that on a smallish sticker for the rear window of my Dakota.
Shooting tomorrow morning. I'm taking a Mosin out across the lake and am going to shoot jugs until I get tired. Then it will be home for yard work until it's time for Mrs. Utah's famous Sunday Night Spaghetti Feast. Now with TWO kinds of homemade bread!
I hope you have a fine week. Comrade. Because now we ALL are comrades...
But I aim to misbehave a bit, myself...
We watched 'Serenity' earlier in the week.
In it, the captain utters one of the greatest lines in Hollywood history:
"I aim to misbehave."
Think I'll get that on a smallish sticker for the rear window of my Dakota.
Shooting tomorrow morning. I'm taking a Mosin out across the lake and am going to shoot jugs until I get tired. Then it will be home for yard work until it's time for Mrs. Utah's famous Sunday Night Spaghetti Feast. Now with TWO kinds of homemade bread!
I hope you have a fine week. Comrade. Because now we ALL are comrades...
But I aim to misbehave a bit, myself...
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
I Wonder
Working closer to sixty than seventy hours a week now. I've arrived at a state where the macro of maintaining horizontal and vertical control over a city block's worth of parking structure is routine. Not that familiarity has bred anything close to contempt, of course. Far, far from it.
I still cannot prevent myself from listening to radio instead of cycling through my CD's on the commute. With radio comes network news and commercials.
The news talks about our communist president and imperial congress as if they were just the same old stripe of politicians. The commercials are going... well, going green. And going collectivist as well. Lots of PSA's talking about "doing our part" "helping the recovery". The aim is to appeal to community, but the execution is just damned sad and wrong.
My tax dollars paid for them. If I close my eyes I can here the script of 1984.
Or maybe THX1138.
I cannot talk politics with my family. But I can post links like this on the off chance somebody who knows me may wander through and perhaps follow it. There really is nothing to talk about. Nothing I could change. We could change.
I think it's time I bought a grain mill and several vac pacs of hard red wheat.
Depression is a bitch. I will grab a random stack of CD's off the shelf and put them in the truck tonight.
The fifth different surveying outfit to pass through my job has confirmed my control network and adopted my coordinate system. Funny how it all comes down to thousandths of a foot each time. "Close enough" is the goal. Nice that "close" in this case is damn near nuts on.
Back in the hole tomorrow.
(Link via American Digest)
I still cannot prevent myself from listening to radio instead of cycling through my CD's on the commute. With radio comes network news and commercials.
The news talks about our communist president and imperial congress as if they were just the same old stripe of politicians. The commercials are going... well, going green. And going collectivist as well. Lots of PSA's talking about "doing our part" "helping the recovery". The aim is to appeal to community, but the execution is just damned sad and wrong.
My tax dollars paid for them. If I close my eyes I can here the script of 1984.
Or maybe THX1138.
I cannot talk politics with my family. But I can post links like this on the off chance somebody who knows me may wander through and perhaps follow it. There really is nothing to talk about. Nothing I could change. We could change.
I think it's time I bought a grain mill and several vac pacs of hard red wheat.
Depression is a bitch. I will grab a random stack of CD's off the shelf and put them in the truck tonight.
The fifth different surveying outfit to pass through my job has confirmed my control network and adopted my coordinate system. Funny how it all comes down to thousandths of a foot each time. "Close enough" is the goal. Nice that "close" in this case is damn near nuts on.
Back in the hole tomorrow.
(Link via American Digest)
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Party On
I went to the Salt Lake City Tea Party at the Federal building. This location happens to be across the street from the hole in which I work.
I estimate minimum seven hundred people. The venue was not all that large, but it was packed. Speakers included the President of the Utah chapter of the Eagle Forum, Rep. Jason Chafetz (freshman, we kicked Cannon out last election), AG Shurtleff, Rep. Rod Bishop. I don't know if any elected Democrat spoke but I was only able to stay for a short half hour. All the speakers I heard made a point of the non-partisan nature of the Tea Party movement. Many passing cars honked in response to signs asking them to honk if they are taxed too much; many thumbs up.
I’ve got to get a “Don’t Tread On Me” flag for the yard; I’ll fly it alongside the Colors on holidays for the next little while.
The protesters were overwhelmingly working and family people and many kids were present. One goober did show wearing a Glock on a duty belt and cammie trousers bloused into Doc Marten boots. His tshirt said something about “combat training team nine” and I overheard him stating that Utah was an open carry state. He was ignored by everybody, including two uniformed cops. One guy on the periphery wore an Obama mask and had a Soviet flag on his shoulders. He danced around whenever a camera got close.
I leave my ball cap in my truck when I get to work in the morning. You have to be wearing your badge, hard hat, safety glasses, and vest to get into my site. So I stood hatless in the rain and listened to the speeches until the rain turned to snow. The crowd was growing larger when I had to leave.
No paper machet heads were hurt in this protest, and we didn’t even kick in the Starbuck’s windows.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Shooting Date
I will be at Lee Kay this Saturday, arriving at nine a.m. and staying for as long as the kids want to shoot.
Plan A was a west desert outing to shoot cannon but the weather just isn't going to cooperate.
Have a fine day.
Plan A was a west desert outing to shoot cannon but the weather just isn't going to cooperate.
Have a fine day.
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Thursday, April 02, 2009
What Button?
The DGAF button is officially pushed:
*
What a joke this clown is. What a tragedy we are become.
Done with politics. Just work, chores, sleep. And pay taxes.
You have a fine day.
*
What a joke this clown is. What a tragedy we are become.
Done with politics. Just work, chores, sleep. And pay taxes.
You have a fine day.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Hot Saturday Night!
This is all I have planned.
Happy Saturday, all.
We are inventorying the Team supplies. This means that Mrs. Tmj will finally see the ammo count.
Shucks. Forget the ammo. Ammo is something you can run out of. The Mosin number is what is going to take some 'splainin, I am thinking.
Women just don't understand the finer points of armory markings, stock variations, and proof stamps.
(via Instapundit)
Happy Saturday, all.
We are inventorying the Team supplies. This means that Mrs. Tmj will finally see the ammo count.
Shucks. Forget the ammo. Ammo is something you can run out of. The Mosin number is what is going to take some 'splainin, I am thinking.
Women just don't understand the finer points of armory markings, stock variations, and proof stamps.
(via Instapundit)
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Wowsers
Shooting day, finally! Yes, friends, it is possible to get off work early enough on a Saturday to actually make it to the range. Plan A was for my chain man to join me but we were just too late for him to make the range and get in his bike ride. He's doing a triathlon later this spring and is in training mode.
A few weeks back I mentioned that I had once again added an item to the wall o' Mosin down in the reloading room. I got to shoot that one today.
Just damn.
There is a definite issue with the extractor. It doesn't like to engage over the rim of the cartridge unless you slap the bolt with authority. Being that we are talking a Mosin here, "slap" is or should already be understood to be SOP, but the sad truth is is that I face planted right through the door way of our connex box plan/ break office this morning. The first part of my anatomy to kiss the linoleum was my right hand, which hyper extended backwards as the rest of my body tried to push it through the floor. I got through the rest of the work day with my right hand shoved in my vest and my motivated assistant performing the bulk of the tasks.
So I arrived at Lee Kay and signed in. Check in with the RO and get the last open bench on the line. There are about fifty positions. Full house and then some, today. The timing works out so that I can get my first target out and begin shooting immediately. I post at fifty yards, walk back with the rest of the crowd, and then begin shooting left handed off the bench. Even shooting weak side, I admire the solid, if heavier than preferred by most Westerners, trigger pull. The bolt operates well except for the tendency for the extractor to resist engaging the rim unless I shout "URRRAHH STALINO!!" as I slam the damned thing home with my wounded hand... and my three different flavors of stripper clips function well, too. So I merrily bang away fifteen well aimed rounds and put things aside to cool while I wait for the break to go forward and check targets. My spotting scope was still in the truck and since my glasses prescription is frankly more good intentions, now, than therapeutic I had no idea where things were down on the paper. Old age is creeping up on me at a dead run.
Dad/daughter was shooting on my left, dad/son on my right. I love seeing preteens hitting their targets with an AR. It's just... right. Son on right peeked down range with his binos and asked where I was aiming. I told him six o'clock on the bullseye and he said "You missed, here, look".
Fifteen rounds (Soviet ammo head stamped 1947, light ball, steel case) shot out of a Tula 1944 production 91/30, at fifty yards, shot weak side because of a sprained wrist, from a bench sitting position, not off a bag.
They all landed inside a three inch circle including four rounds in the X ring (NRA small bore 100 yard target).
I fired a satisfying string from the right side, in agony, and then went ahead and tried another of my 91/30's. That was a wasted effort since by then my thumb and wrist were ballooned too tight in my glove to continue shooting. So I came home.
The '44 Tula is going to get a reproduction PU scope - right after the blue job and the stock bedding and refinishing project. I will finally buy a cheap and simple digital camera to document the process, and will post the results here.
Hope your Saturday is going well. I'm off to clean some shooting irons.
(Okay, not all in a three inch circle:
... but that will do for me! The first five shots are the "L" shaped group at five o'clock. Breathing with a wee bit of flinch, I think.)
A few weeks back I mentioned that I had once again added an item to the wall o' Mosin down in the reloading room. I got to shoot that one today.
Just damn.
There is a definite issue with the extractor. It doesn't like to engage over the rim of the cartridge unless you slap the bolt with authority. Being that we are talking a Mosin here, "slap" is or should already be understood to be SOP, but the sad truth is is that I face planted right through the door way of our connex box plan/ break office this morning. The first part of my anatomy to kiss the linoleum was my right hand, which hyper extended backwards as the rest of my body tried to push it through the floor. I got through the rest of the work day with my right hand shoved in my vest and my motivated assistant performing the bulk of the tasks.
So I arrived at Lee Kay and signed in. Check in with the RO and get the last open bench on the line. There are about fifty positions. Full house and then some, today. The timing works out so that I can get my first target out and begin shooting immediately. I post at fifty yards, walk back with the rest of the crowd, and then begin shooting left handed off the bench. Even shooting weak side, I admire the solid, if heavier than preferred by most Westerners, trigger pull. The bolt operates well except for the tendency for the extractor to resist engaging the rim unless I shout "URRRAHH STALINO!!" as I slam the damned thing home with my wounded hand... and my three different flavors of stripper clips function well, too. So I merrily bang away fifteen well aimed rounds and put things aside to cool while I wait for the break to go forward and check targets. My spotting scope was still in the truck and since my glasses prescription is frankly more good intentions, now, than therapeutic I had no idea where things were down on the paper. Old age is creeping up on me at a dead run.
Dad/daughter was shooting on my left, dad/son on my right. I love seeing preteens hitting their targets with an AR. It's just... right. Son on right peeked down range with his binos and asked where I was aiming. I told him six o'clock on the bullseye and he said "You missed, here, look".
Fifteen rounds (Soviet ammo head stamped 1947, light ball, steel case) shot out of a Tula 1944 production 91/30, at fifty yards, shot weak side because of a sprained wrist, from a bench sitting position, not off a bag.
They all landed inside a three inch circle including four rounds in the X ring (NRA small bore 100 yard target).
I fired a satisfying string from the right side, in agony, and then went ahead and tried another of my 91/30's. That was a wasted effort since by then my thumb and wrist were ballooned too tight in my glove to continue shooting. So I came home.
The '44 Tula is going to get a reproduction PU scope - right after the blue job and the stock bedding and refinishing project. I will finally buy a cheap and simple digital camera to document the process, and will post the results here.
Hope your Saturday is going well. I'm off to clean some shooting irons.
(Okay, not all in a three inch circle:
... but that will do for me! The first five shots are the "L" shaped group at five o'clock. Breathing with a wee bit of flinch, I think.)
Monday, March 02, 2009
The Archduke and a Horse Shoe Nail
There are going to be several wars, beginning this spring. Wars which probably would never have happened if America did not shirk the responsibility incumbent upon the most free nation on the planet.
We have not elected a president. We hired a baby sitter. He's got lot of ground rules that maybe, just maybe, all those folks looking for hope, change, and two for one hot wings on game day might should have paid a little more attention to...
Iran and Russia have no common interest in American interest beyond how far we'll retract from interfering in their goals - namely, reestablishment of Imperial Russia and Iran supplanting the Saudis as the leaders of the ummah.
It takes a lot of concentration to nationalize an economy. I can see Putin and Amadinejad going out of their way for eighteen months or even two or three years to say nice and play nice for Obama.
Not that that will do Georgia any good this spring, or stop Hamas from expanding their missile offensive into Israel, using Iranian weapons. Georgia and Lebanon again, only this time the Bear won't even pretend to leave. And Israel gets to choose whether it is better to fight and die on their terms, or to wait on the end of Obama's leash and wait for the blow to fall.
I'm done following politics or news for awhile. Work, sleep, chores.
We have not elected a president. We hired a baby sitter. He's got lot of ground rules that maybe, just maybe, all those folks looking for hope, change, and two for one hot wings on game day might should have paid a little more attention to...
Iran and Russia have no common interest in American interest beyond how far we'll retract from interfering in their goals - namely, reestablishment of Imperial Russia and Iran supplanting the Saudis as the leaders of the ummah.
It takes a lot of concentration to nationalize an economy. I can see Putin and Amadinejad going out of their way for eighteen months or even two or three years to say nice and play nice for Obama.
Not that that will do Georgia any good this spring, or stop Hamas from expanding their missile offensive into Israel, using Iranian weapons. Georgia and Lebanon again, only this time the Bear won't even pretend to leave. And Israel gets to choose whether it is better to fight and die on their terms, or to wait on the end of Obama's leash and wait for the blow to fall.
I'm done following politics or news for awhile. Work, sleep, chores.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Oops.
Small. Rifle. Primers.
Cabela's, Gunnies, Sportsman's. Nada. None to be had here, except for some Remington match primers, and only two boxes of a hundred each of those. I need ... more than that.
They are the only reloading component I don't have in spades. If I can't find Winchester or at least CCI primers in Salt Lake next week I will buy a couple more cases of ammo for my lone EBR. I had never planned on reloading for my Bushmaster but after finding a few each commercial and home brew loads that do work spectacularly well with it I've decided to pick up a single shot or bolt in 5.56 and hope that the same accuracy may be realized across the two different platforms.
Or I may just end up buying a Century Arms AR A2 rebuild. They have three on the shelf here and my research into them shows that purists hate them and hobbyists are perfectly satisfied. I don't need a rifle length AR. I just want a rifle length .223 (yes, yes, I'd LIKE a NATO chambered boltie but I don't think those fall off the tree too often....
It could go either way.
Other than that, just a lazy weekend. No garages were cleaned - but Mrs. Tmj is out and about in her Miata for the first time since Christmas, topless.
Top down. DOWN.
Have a fine one.
Cabela's, Gunnies, Sportsman's. Nada. None to be had here, except for some Remington match primers, and only two boxes of a hundred each of those. I need ... more than that.
They are the only reloading component I don't have in spades. If I can't find Winchester or at least CCI primers in Salt Lake next week I will buy a couple more cases of ammo for my lone EBR. I had never planned on reloading for my Bushmaster but after finding a few each commercial and home brew loads that do work spectacularly well with it I've decided to pick up a single shot or bolt in 5.56 and hope that the same accuracy may be realized across the two different platforms.
Or I may just end up buying a Century Arms AR A2 rebuild. They have three on the shelf here and my research into them shows that purists hate them and hobbyists are perfectly satisfied. I don't need a rifle length AR. I just want a rifle length .223 (yes, yes, I'd LIKE a NATO chambered boltie but I don't think those fall off the tree too often....
It could go either way.
Other than that, just a lazy weekend. No garages were cleaned - but Mrs. Tmj is out and about in her Miata for the first time since Christmas, topless.
Top down. DOWN.
Have a fine one.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Just A Lazy Sunday
Howdy. These things happened last week:
1. I billed sixty two hours. I worked a few more than that. I actually wore shirt sleeves part of two days, too. No thermal under wear those two days, either.
We had our first top - out section on Saturday. My project was a muddy hole in November. Now it's got several hundred thousand tons of steel and concrete where some of the mud used to be. There will be millions before we are through.
2. My government told me that I was a fool to have gone forty seven years paying my bills and debts, and living within my means.
3. Barak Obama and his crew undershot my low expectations for their first month in office. Low by a considerable margin, in fact. I expected nefarious. The incompetence is actually more disturbing.
4. The AG told me I live in a nation of cowards. If you were an honest man, you might take a look about you and accept that the only three institutions in the country that give a damn what color you are are Government, Education, and the NAACP.
My nation is many things, but cowardly is not even on the list. Most of the weak or reprehensible qualities that have come to the fore in recent years are by the design of people just like you, Mr. AG. You think that people must be driven, not lead. You may think of it as baby sitting, even.
5. I observed that patriots actually protesting the destruction of our economy is akin to watching the Osmonds trying to cover Linkin Park. Not a machine made sign nor a paper mache head in sight.
But no masks. I don't think any Starbucks or MacDonald's got their windows kicked in, either.
Well, it's a start.
(Link via Instapundit)
6. I picked up a 1944 manufacture Tula 91/30 retired PU. Just another cheap, reliable bolt in .30 caliber. The barrel contour appears to be subtly different than all my other Mosins of that model; perhaps a tad heavier. The rifling is sharp and clear and the trigger is very crisp even if Mosin-typical heavy. I also picked up a 440 round can of Soviet manufacture light ball a few days later. Both these purchases were at Gunnies in Orem.
They give me a frequent buyer discount now, at least on firearms.
And here it is almost eight o'clock, and I'm looking to be in bed in an hour or so.
I Hope your life is roses and laughter with a healthy dose of spring just around the corner.
1. I billed sixty two hours. I worked a few more than that. I actually wore shirt sleeves part of two days, too. No thermal under wear those two days, either.
We had our first top - out section on Saturday. My project was a muddy hole in November. Now it's got several hundred thousand tons of steel and concrete where some of the mud used to be. There will be millions before we are through.
2. My government told me that I was a fool to have gone forty seven years paying my bills and debts, and living within my means.
3. Barak Obama and his crew undershot my low expectations for their first month in office. Low by a considerable margin, in fact. I expected nefarious. The incompetence is actually more disturbing.
4. The AG told me I live in a nation of cowards. If you were an honest man, you might take a look about you and accept that the only three institutions in the country that give a damn what color you are are Government, Education, and the NAACP.
My nation is many things, but cowardly is not even on the list. Most of the weak or reprehensible qualities that have come to the fore in recent years are by the design of people just like you, Mr. AG. You think that people must be driven, not lead. You may think of it as baby sitting, even.
5. I observed that patriots actually protesting the destruction of our economy is akin to watching the Osmonds trying to cover Linkin Park. Not a machine made sign nor a paper mache head in sight.
But no masks. I don't think any Starbucks or MacDonald's got their windows kicked in, either.
Well, it's a start.
(Link via Instapundit)
6. I picked up a 1944 manufacture Tula 91/30 retired PU. Just another cheap, reliable bolt in .30 caliber. The barrel contour appears to be subtly different than all my other Mosins of that model; perhaps a tad heavier. The rifling is sharp and clear and the trigger is very crisp even if Mosin-typical heavy. I also picked up a 440 round can of Soviet manufacture light ball a few days later. Both these purchases were at Gunnies in Orem.
They give me a frequent buyer discount now, at least on firearms.
And here it is almost eight o'clock, and I'm looking to be in bed in an hour or so.
I Hope your life is roses and laughter with a healthy dose of spring just around the corner.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Required Reading
Via Professor Reynolds, this gem:
"Republic is a complex and profound morality tale in which we can see, if darkly, the reflection of our own republic. Its story is not exactly ours, but we have a lot in common with this once-beautiful city. Specifically, we have the same moneylenders and borrowers. The eeriest similarity to Plato's moneylenders is the agressive (sic) marketing of credit cards to college students. However, the reckless use of home loans on the part of both lender and borrower has proven more devastating."
Working. And more working. Set my second tower crane base on Friday night - a thirteen hour day. Also on Friday they began building the one I staked back in December - adding the number of thirty foot sections necessary to get up to around a hundred thirty feet for the boom. Plus I have been tasked with monitoring two areas for purposes of determining concrete slab/deck shrinkage.
At least the weather hasn't been as nasty. And I couldn't ask for a sweeter control network. Bless those Utah street and sidewalk builders of the past. I can jump outside my hole on three sides of my block and tie into originating control that I can trust at any time.
I have informed the powers that be that I'm only working a few hours next Saturday. I have a shooting date with a busload full of young adults that are friends of my friends, friends of my daughters, and just people who have an interest in learning how to shoot. So next Saturday I'm loading up a butt load of mil surps, an EBR or two, some pistols, an excessive amount of ammo, and heading over to Lee Kay some time around noon.
Last time I was there it was only four dollars to shoot. I don't know if they've had to raise their rates or not. Aside from not allowing silhouette targets or full auto, it's an excellent venue, either for solo shooting or for safe instruction.
Party on! It's like, 1978 all over again.
"Republic is a complex and profound morality tale in which we can see, if darkly, the reflection of our own republic. Its story is not exactly ours, but we have a lot in common with this once-beautiful city. Specifically, we have the same moneylenders and borrowers. The eeriest similarity to Plato's moneylenders is the agressive (sic) marketing of credit cards to college students. However, the reckless use of home loans on the part of both lender and borrower has proven more devastating."
Working. And more working. Set my second tower crane base on Friday night - a thirteen hour day. Also on Friday they began building the one I staked back in December - adding the number of thirty foot sections necessary to get up to around a hundred thirty feet for the boom. Plus I have been tasked with monitoring two areas for purposes of determining concrete slab/deck shrinkage.
At least the weather hasn't been as nasty. And I couldn't ask for a sweeter control network. Bless those Utah street and sidewalk builders of the past. I can jump outside my hole on three sides of my block and tie into originating control that I can trust at any time.
I have informed the powers that be that I'm only working a few hours next Saturday. I have a shooting date with a busload full of young adults that are friends of my friends, friends of my daughters, and just people who have an interest in learning how to shoot. So next Saturday I'm loading up a butt load of mil surps, an EBR or two, some pistols, an excessive amount of ammo, and heading over to Lee Kay some time around noon.
Last time I was there it was only four dollars to shoot. I don't know if they've had to raise their rates or not. Aside from not allowing silhouette targets or full auto, it's an excellent venue, either for solo shooting or for safe instruction.
Party on! It's like, 1978 all over again.
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