Monthly Archives: November 2013

Uprising

Where I Write

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I have a place in Ogre Manor, where I sit and… well… supposed to Write.  However I can never actually write there.  The chair is hard and office like, the desk it at a good height for writing.  But when I sit down there… It’s like I’m in the Phantom Zone of writing.  Creative Exile.  I can Game there.  Chat there.  But actual creativity doesn’t and can not happen while I am there.  Time spent there is time wasted and lost.  In terms of Creative Writing that is.  In terms of Leveling up my Characters in Borderlands 2, the spot is the Bomb Diggity.

If I go upstairs and lay down on my Magic Bed of Insomnia… Another location for a specific something that Does Not Happen There.  On the MBOA, I get ideas and thoughts of writing and the Creativity Flows like the Butthurt of Xbox owners who discover all their games don’t work on the new One.

The only Problem… No matter what position I get into or how I prop up the Pillows of Anti-Slumber… I can’t actually Write on the MBOA.  Instead, I just get horny and send dirty Text Messages to my wife.   So that doesn’t work either.  Because then she comes upstairs and nothing get’s written.

You remember when I use to crank out Gun Reviews and scathing opinions of Things?  All that writing I did was at a certain place in a certain location  Gandalfo’s.  A New York Style Deli in Vernal in a little shopping Strip next to a Smith’s Grocery store in Vernal.  On my day’s off I’d go in early and sit at the second to the last table… the one that had a power outlet in the booth.  I’d get a little sandwich and a large drink and I’d open the laptop… And I’d write.  Like the runners in Chariots of Fire, the words would flow.

I need that sort of place here in NC.  I need “That Spot”.  I envy the hell out of Writers who can write at home.  I can’t write at home.  I tried.  Every room, every chair… everywhere.  And I can write nowhere.  Gah!  It’s frustration incarnate.  I need to find a place somewhere relatively close by, that has a window view of the street and people, that’s quiet, that has a power outlet, and will bring me a cup of something caffeinated and cold every once in awhile without asking me or breaking my attention at my words.  Gandolfo’s was awesome at that.  I miss Gandolfo’s.

Uncategorized

Drone Hunting

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On AAR the topic of Drones came up.  The use of drones for harassment, spying, and creeper pics. 
I said my solution would be to shoot them down.  If I’m on private property and a drone flies over, I believe this constitutes trespassing and spying.  I believe I have the right to swat down the drone. 
Now I’m not talking about high altitude Predators or Reapers…  and neither were we on Air.  We’re talking about the small QuadRotor types. 
My first response on air was “Federal Black Cloud 3 1/2″”.  A good shotgun shell for knocking a goose down.  I thing it would knock a drone down too.
Trespass, invasion of privacy,  spying, harassment,  these are not things that have to be tolerated on your private property.
I see the use of them for honest reasons in law enforcement.  But it needs to be done in accordance with the law.  Warrants need to be had before they can come into a property and search… same rules should be in place for the use of drones.  Also LE Drones should be marked clearly.
I can see the warrantless use over private property in some cases…  fleeing criminal suspect… an active search and rescue of a missing person or amber alert.  Or other extraordinary circumstances where the use is reasonably prudent to save a life.  IE, you hear screaming or other sounds that lead you to believe a human life is in jeopardy.
Note:  Corporate Espionage is a big business.  Spying is a real and a growing problem. 
Let’s say I sign an NDA with a gun company so I can test out a prototype weapon.  I’m at a secure location, and have an expectation of privacy.  A drone flies over and snaps pics of me and this weapon.  Next thing you know the prototype is now on TV and I’m liable for breaking the NDA.   
How many spy photos have you seen in car magazines? 
The use of drones are going to cause problems that are going to have to be addressed in court.

Weapons

Shockwave Technologies Raptor Grip.

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This was one of those “What the hell, I’ll try it” sort of things.  With a big “I’m glad I did” sort of results.   I was in the market for a new stock, but not exactly for a pistol grip… so I’d likely have passed this up until our friend Ryan Horst at Tannerman’s Trading Company offered this to me.

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This is a synthetic product that is reminiscent of the results of the old school mod of chopping down a standard wood stock.  It’s got that look and feel, but with a better finish.  Compared to some other pistol grip, or Breacher grips out there, this has a better look and feel.  Better in that it looks more traditional.  It is both solid and comfortable and during recoil, it feels more comfortable than most standard pistol grips out there.

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Mounted on a standard factory Remington 870 HD model, it helps make for a nice compact Home Defense weapon.  It begs to be used on an SBS or AOW shotgun.  The Raptor Grip is not for everyone.  The purpose is more specifically CQB in tighter areas, or for where you need to transport a potent weapon in as compact a package as possible.  This isn’t for any Duck Commanders out there.

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You can see it removes a lot of length from the weapon, while keeping a legal OAL.  Any shorter here and I’d have to be doing some ATF Paperwork.

Available from Shockwave Technologies.  For the Remington 870, NEF and H&R Clones, and IAC Hawk shotguns.   Also available for Mossberg 500 and those related shotguns.

Government

Richard Dryfuss on Guns

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Certainly a surprising Pro-Gun attitude from Richard Dreyfuss.
However the Shall Not Be Infringed, while shockingly clear, is misunderstood by Mr. Dreyfuss. Voting is a Right. Free Speech is a Right. Gun Owning and Bearing is a Right. Driving a Car, however, is a Privilege. There is a difference. Because The State has the right to determine who can operate a Motor Vehicle on public roads. Applying the same model to Guns means that Guns become a Privilege.
Also, he seems to think that SOME guns are okay… while OTHERS are Bad and should be locked up and controlled by someone other than the Owner. This is where things fall apart and shows that Mr. Dreyfuss has a way to go in understanding the very reasons for the Second Amendment.
Also, the Second Amendment is not written poorly, or vaguely. It is very clear. It’s just allowed to be argued because it’s rude to call someone ignorant of their own language. Let me break it down into a common interpretation for those in Portland Oregon. The Second Amendment says:
“Because we have to have a well regulated Militia, the right to keep and bear guns shall not be infringed.”
Because the people just had a war against a well regulated militia. It’s those Militias that are the worry… The spear point of a Government. The people need guns to keep the Militia and the Government in Check. Notice how the Second Amendment mentions Militia, but doesn’t mention Self Defense or Sport or Hunting? Because those things are a Given. Taken for Granted like growing vegetables and chopping wood to get ready for winter… Everyone did that because that was the way of life.
And regardless of the interpretation because of bad English skills… the last sentence is absolutely very clear. SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED. It’s not “Shall be Debated.” “Shall be Regulated.” SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED. Period.

Training

Zimmerman’s Clownshoes

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There is something definitely wrong with George Zimmerman.   The man isn’t thinking clearly.
His incident with Travon Martin shows bad judgment.   The actions were shown in court to be not illegal,  but were not wise either.
Then the incident with his wife… bringing his girlfriend with him to the house.  Again,  drastically unwise.  And now with this girlfriend – pregnant girlfriend.   Allegedly pointing a gun at her and throwing her out of her home while she’s on the phone with 911.
GZ has a problem with his decision making process.   The part of the brain that does the Threat Assessment processing clearly isn’t working.   Cost vs Benefit.   Actions vs Accountability.   None of that seems to be working in his head.
One incident (The Travon Martin one specifically) doesn’t legally effect the other… remember that GZ was found innocent by law.  However there is the big picture that shows a pattern of poor judgment.  Which will be used by the Anti-Gun Main Stream Media against gun owners.  Poor judgment isn’t a felony on its own.   If it was, 90% of Congress would be behind bars.
This is important because the media is branding GZ as the Self Defense Poster Boy.  In the eyes of the Media, he is the example of the Stand Your Ground law and arguments are going to slide in that direction.   Any self defense case that can be, will be compared to GZ.  To counter that in the court of public opinion, either in conversations at work or online, you need to be armed with some truths and other examples… better examples.
Allow me to give you a source of good examples.
Lessons from an Armed America,  by my good friends Mark Walters and Kathy Jackson.  Cases of self defense,  all documented, showing how guns save lives.   Join the USCCA, get the Concealed Carry Magazine.  Such stories are in every issue.  Read them.
Also, watch the news and look at the cases where good triumphed over evil because Good was prepared and armed.
We can’t let the opposition use one guy as an example of how gun owners are… that we are all like GZ.  We need to show that WE are the Main Stream America.  We are the norm.  When GZ comes up, turn the conversation to another example of Self Defense in the right.

Weapons

Since I was 17 years old…

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Since I was 17 years old, I’ve consistently said that “They need to build an M1 Carbine that fires 9mm and feeds from a regular pistol magazine.”  I think I’ve said this on just about any gun forum I’ve talked about the M1 Carbine on.

And now, finally, many many years later… Someone has done just that.  Using common and easy to find… and cheap to acquire, Beretta 92 Magazines.  I’d have rather Glock, but barring Glock, Beretta 92 is the next best choice.

I love this idea.  I’m completely jazzed about it.  I’m looking forward to seeing many modifications to these… all manner of custom work.  The thought of one of these in a Paratrooper configuration just makes me weak in the knees.

Some will ask about the Company.  Citadel.  These guys are in the Philippines… state of the art facility.  And have put out some very decent 1911 pistols for very reasonable prices.

I’m unsure of the state of that facility now, giving the disaster that has befallen the Philippines with that Super Hurricane that almost wiped the whole country off the map.  But here’s to hope.

Weapons

Colt M45 vs Apple Power Mac

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Apple Mac Destruction with Colt M45 1911 Pistol, and a SIG 1911 TACOPS. Both .45 Auto pistols. Both just as accurate, both just as powerful, and both just as reliable.
The Colt though is quite expensive. The SIG is a bargain in comparison. Between the two though… which would I buy?
A Glock 21.  For myself.  But between these two guns, I’d buy the SIG 1911 TACOPS.   If given the choice between these two guns, say as a gift, and I could pick one… I’d still pick the SIG.  Reason being is that I like the checkering and the mag well funnel.  Sure these could be added to the Colt, but the SIG doesn’t come with the pretension and attitude.  It just works.  And it does it without the drama and fanfare.

The finish on the Colt is an odd color.  It’s too damn yellow.  I don’t know what color that is supposed to be, but it’s yellow.  And while the finish is applied just fine, you can see a lot of tool marks under the coating, especially around the frame rail.  I’d think a pistol of this legacy should have a better exterior finish.  I have not yet examined the interior though.
The slide pull is nice and slick.  It’s very smooth.  As is the trigger.  Which is, well, flat out amazing.  However the SIG’s was almost as good.  One thing to note – Both of these pistols had yet to be fired until these first shots recorded.  Both guns were smooth and accurate, to the point that I couldn’t determine if either one had an advantage.

Notes on this computer… I have to admit that I very much love the Architecture of these machines. As a former computer tech, working on these is awesome. So easy to drop the side open and everything is laid out and accessible. Exactly in the way that Dell, HP, and Gateways are not. No one had a better case design.
At one point I had ever ram slot filled and it had two hard drives. It was a great computer. But it wouldn’t take OSX and after awhile all the software just became so far out of date that it rendered this machine useless. It was quite sad for me to retire it, because I loved it. The second HD with crucial data was pulled, as was the RAM, to be used in another machine.
Before I pulled this machine off line to give it this Going Away Party, I did make sure that it was running. I could have thrown Linux on it… Yeah, I know that. But I’ll get more use out of this video than I will a Mac based Linux box.

Uncategorized

The most horrible thing happened.

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I don’t even know how to process this…  But this happened this morning.

It got cold.  Real cold.  Early in the morning, sun has just crested.  You can see your breath.  Now, I gotta take a leak so I run into this Porta John.  As I start to relieve myself, this evil steam rises up from my stream.   This steam comes up to my face, and I’m trying to get my face away from it… and I’m mid flow so I can’t just disengage.  So I’m trying to pull my head back away from this Piss Mist, but it’s filling the Porta John now.  There’s no escape.  So all I can do is hold my breath until I finish.
Well, I finally finish so I quickly zip up and break out of there.  I bust out the door and take a deep breath.  Filling my lungs with fresh air all the sudden.  Cold air.  Causes me to cough.  I look up, and there’s a dude standing there that had been waiting to use the Porta John himself.
He just looks at me.  “Judas man, if it’s that bad maybe I don’t need to go in there.”

This cracked me up… I was laughing all morning about it.

Weapons

So I’m sitting here…

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…With this Beretta 92 in my hand.  And I’m looking at it…  It’s just gorgeous.

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It’s worn.  Well worn.  But still tight and smooth and accurate… just a great shooter.  My wife and I ran an errand real quick.  She had a Red Box video she needed to return.  Well, we get to the Red Box location, which isn’t the best spot in town for hanging out at a vending machine at night.  She’s about to bounce out… and turns and says, “Okay, you got my back.”  And then she says “How are you going to back me up?”  She hadn’t noticed I had a weapon on.  Plus 1 for the G-Code OSH Standard on a simple Paddle.  I was able to jump up, slip on the OSH+Paddle, and away we went.  No bothering with threading a holster through the belt loops or such.  Speed to Action… I like that.  I’ve become quite the fan of the paddle.
I said, “9mm, Baby.”  To which she nodded and then exited the OPC.  (Ogre Personnel Carrier) There was a couple very suspicious and thuggish looking types milling around at the corner, from which the Red Box isn’t very far away from.  I felt quite confident with the big Beretta.  Stoked up with a 17 round mag of Hornady Critical Duty.  The thug with his hands in his coat pockets and a hood up over his head would not have been able to have reached my wife before being completely ventilated.
I wasn’t even worried about that though.  The thug was more concerned about the bitter cold than my wife with her DVD of Much Ado About Nothing, as Directed by Joss.  It was a bone chilling 46 Degrees F out there.  Brrrr… I actually turned on the heated seats.  But that’s another story.
Sitting at home now, with the Beretta… I have to say, there is something about the 92.  It’s large, solid construction, it’s heft, I have to say… I really like it.  A lot.  It’s just about the only DA/SA gun that I actually like anymore.  At least, like enough to want to buy one, or to bother taking out and shooting.  The way the action feels like it’s on roller bearings… so smooth… so… creamy.  And thanks to Slipstream and a D-Spring from Beretta, the trigger feels just as smooth as well.  This old battered Beretta… It’s just gorgeous to me.