Gear

Meopta Optics

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There is a fairly new line of optics out.  If by fairly new you mean 80 years in the industry and people have still never heard of them.

This is a set of Meopta 10×42 HD Binos sitting next to a set of Swarovski  SLC 10×42’s.  The Meoptas are retailing for $999.99 and the Swarovski’s for 1500 bucks MORE money.  Looking through both sets, I really can’t see any difference.  Maybe the SLC’s are just oh so very slightly better.  But really I can’t see any difference at all.  Certainly not any difference I’d pay 1500 bucks more.  The Meoptas are a No Brainer Buy.  The best comparo would be to the Zeiss Conquest 10×42 which also retails for 999.99.  The Meopta is pretty much a dead ringer but I like the Meopta better in that it required less movement of the focus knob to get something far away and something farther beyond that to get into focus.  Almost no movement at all to get from Far to Further, if you know what I mean.   Considering that Meopta makes the Zeiss Conquest rifle scopes – I found this to be no surprise.  I don’t know if they are making the Binos for Zeiss or not, but they do build the scopes.  So if you’ve never heard of Meopta, you’ve probably looked through some before if not own some.  Meopta also makes a lot of other optical products for other countries.  Even other industries.  The Periscopes for Subs, Prisms for other optics companies the periscope prisms for the M1A Battle Tank, the windows in the Space Shuttle that have to take High Temp and sudden deep cooling… So they are a very technically advanced optics company.  They make everything in house, unlike some optics companies which sub-contract and dont actually manufacture anything.  (Vortex)
Looking through a Meopta Rifle Scope is like looking through any comparable Zeiss Conquest, but generally for about 200 bucks less.

I also like the fact that they throw in an iPhone Adapter for Digiscoping… taking pictures through your spotting scope.  It’s easy and it works.  Put the phone in the adapter, then putt out the scope’s Eye Cup and put the Adapter/Phone to the Spotting Scope.  Crystal Clear.

Remember how I have said that if I am going to spend my own money on Optics its going to be on Nikon or Zeiss… Throw a 3rd option in there for me.  I’m really digging the Meopta HD Binos and their rifle scopes.

Automotive

Chained Up

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Point of No Return

M taking a Grinder to my old chain.   I was skeered to do it.  No going back from this.  You hit your chain with a grinder – you put on a new chain before you throw a leg over it.  But M’s as good at Bike Work… and we got the new chain on just fine.

Pretty!

 

Automotive

Bike Bling

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Well, the new chain for my motorcycle arrived.  Holy cow…. The Gold Chain is a hell of a lot of BLING for me.  What was I thinking?  Oh well.  We’ll put it on and see how it looks after 10,000 miles.

The new brake lever I ordered was silver.  The one that arrived though… Black.  I was going to send it back… but I went ahead and put it on.  Looks sharp.  I think I’ll order a black clutch lever too.

Government

Presidential Evolution

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I find it interesting that the term used for flip flopping positions is “evolution”.  Especially in the Gay Marriage issue.  Evolution being an argument over Creationism pitting Science against Religion…  And the whole Nature vs Nurture argument about homosexuality.

So essentially what the POTUS did was to make a solid stand on side of the fence over the other on an issue that is very divisive.  States are voting against Gay Marriage… California did twice, as did North Caroline recently… Yet the POTUS is coming down hard for it.  This isn’t surprising because of two reasons… He’s far to the Left and the Left loves this stuff and there is the rumors that the POTUS himself has homosexual tendencies.  Evidence – the bike he peddles.  But really the big “No Shocker” here is that this is a Big Government move.  This is a path to take another decision out of the States.  Carving anything out of States Rights is going to be – of course – the way Big Government is going to go.  This isn’t about Gay Marriage… this is about States Rights.  According to the Constitution, this issue is a State issue, not a Fed issue.  And the POTUS just made it Federal.  Expect to see the wedding announcements in your local papers next year.

What is my position on the issue?  I’m very Libertarian on this.  A.  I don’t care.  B. It’s not my business.  C.  Who the hell am I to say who someone can or can’t love?  This isn’t advocating or accepting… it’s tolerating.  Now, this position of National Acceptance of “What Consenting Adults want to do” opens the door.  Polygamy is an issue that comes after Gay Marriage… and this is an entertaining one at that considering that this topic will come up and it will be asked of Mitt Romney – A Practicing Mormon.  Mormons of course are Famous for the early church history of practicing polygamy which was later abolished.  But that’s a whole other topic.   Expect Mitt to fidget on that issue probably soon.

Automotive, Gear

Ordered a couple things for my bike

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Let’s see… shopping list.
New chain.  Current chain is past the “OMG you need to freaking replace this NOW!” point. I really don’t want to experience a 4th chain breakage.  Those instances have a habit of putting me on the ground.  So I got me a nice 530 O-Ring Chain that has some solid reviews for strength and longevity.  I’ll need a hand putting it on.  (Hint to M)
Oil filter.  Past time to change it.  I’ve never gone this long before without a change and its making me feel itchy.  I am almost to the Recommended Miles for an Oil Change.  *shudder* The oil is still pretty clean and same color as new oil, so I’m not worried… but I want to change it soon.  I’ll sleep better.
New brake lever.  When I dumped it shortly after my second concussion, it bent my brake lever to hell.  It’s harder to reach and because of the angle, when I pull it in, it does so with no feel and too much “grab”.  This makes braking… not so smooth.
And I finally ordered some luggage for the Superhawk.  A tank bag.  After spending a couple hours reviewing tank bags and taking everything into consideration for size, style, and how I’m going to use it… I selected the Joe Rocket Manta XL which seems to be just about right for my needs for an Over-Nighter in SLC or a couple days worth of Road Tripping with the additional use of a Backpack.  And the price was right.
Once I get this stuff in and the chain and lever on… I’ll be ready to go the distance.

Oh, and I welcomed a few new additions to the “ATTACK MODE” Play List.
Rob Zombie’s “WHAT”, “SUPERBEAST”, and “DEMONOID PHENOMENOM”  and Prodigy’s “OMEN”.

 

 

Weapons

Still Love 1911’s

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Still love the 1911.  In fact, this one particular handgun is probably my favorite pistol in the world. I brings joy and comfort to me when I just look at it… Warm fuzzies when I hold it… Bliss when I shoot it. As is… no modifications.  Just Use and Care and a bit of some Slipstream.  It runs very well when I use good magazines and shoot Ball ammo.

As much as I am fond of this gun… I do not consider it to be one of my Fighting Guns.  One of the guns that would be used should there be an unwanted/unexpected bump in the night.  I was issued a gun exactly like this one… it said Colt on it though.  But the feel, the weight, the wear marks… Fond memories of a time when I was lighter, faster, and younger.    But I’m wiser, and better looking now.  I still respect the 1911 and it’s History.  It still has a place in my heart, and it always will.  When I was on the ground and someone was aiming a weapon at me… it was a 1911 in my hand that stopped what could have come next.

While the 1911 was an epoch moment in handgunning, my chosen handgun is the second epoch… The Glock.  It’s an evolutionary leap, as was the 1911 when it was adopted by the US Army.  I very much look forward to the next leap forward.

Uncategorized

The Avengers

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I liked it and I didn’t like it.  First off, let me go over what I didn’t like…

I hated the stupid flying aircraft carrier that turns invisible.  Okay, the Carrier was cool to a point… that point being right up till the moment it started to lift off up out of the water.  That suspension of disbelief request by the film makers was just too much.  Then on top of it… it can go invisible.  No… I don’t think so. You have all this great technology but still can get shrapnel out of Tony Stark’s chest?  Really?
The huge amount of CGI with so much crap happening on the screen all at the same time… it gives me a headache.  This is one of the reasons I didn’t like GI Joe and it looks like the same people that did that did this.
But what I liked –  Joss Whedon’s script.  The dialog and the way he wrote the interaction between the characters was absolutely brilliant.  You have Super Heroes here, which requires a lot of suspension of disbelief already, but you have dialog that makes them human and makes them real.

I also liked how you have these super heroes with earth-bending powers… and a chick with a pair of Glock’s can keep up.  In her tight black cat-suit. Wish her hair was longer like in the last Iron Man, but still.  I liked Hawkeye too.  The actor, the lack of high collars and capes on him… I liked that.  The Arrow Head selecting quiver was a bit much… but it was still good.

Uncategorized

Ultra Concerns

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I have to agree with our friend Rob Pincus.  Rob is one of the most active trainers in the Gun World.  He’s always on a range.  And he’s describing exactly what I’ve been seeing as well.

I’ve only had and seen good results with small 1911’s from two sources.  SIG and Detonics.  None of the others have run properly.  I don’t know exactly why that is as I am not a Mechanical Engineer. I’m a Low Brow Knuckle Dragging Gunslinger… I know what works and what doesn’t. I’ve seen more failure to function with 1911’s than any other handgun type. In fact, I’ve only seen one 1911 run through a course without a failure. That was an STI in 9mm run by our friend Larry Correia. His “Cheater Heater”. Anyways, back to the caution on these Ultra Compacts. Be careful with them. Find loads that run in your pistol. Lubricate them with Slipstream Weapon Lubricant. Find how many rounds you can go through before the gun starts acting up and needs to be cleaned again. If your gun is not reliable – then for the love of all that is good in the world… Don’t use it for defense. Just Don’t. To do so would be to make a Jump with a Chute packed by the kid that takes out the trash at Wendy’s. Not Bright. If you have an Ultra and you like it… and it isn’t quite reliable. Have a Gunsmith go through it and tune it up.

Uncategorized, Weapons

Quiz: Shire to Mordor

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Your backpack is full of all the essentials.  Your party is outside waiting for you.  You have a long walk ahead.  You open your Arms Locker… It is full of your life’s collection… all your favorites… with magazines and ammo to spare.  But you can only pick one, because you are going to have to carry it a very long way.

You don’t know what you will face… but you know that out there… outside the borders of The Shire… are dark horrible things and you could run into some or all of them.  Orcs, Trolls, Uruk-hai, Dunlendings, Goblins, Olog-hai, Easterlings, Wights, Wargs, Ring Wraiths, Nazgul, Skin-Changers, Giants, perhaps a Dragon and Balrog (with wings… because freaking Balrogs have wings, damnit), and if you are unlucky… a Tom Bombadil .

You reach in, grab the gun and head out.

What was it that you grabbed?

This was a question asked in the very early days of TheFiringLine.com… I remember it well because I thought about it a lot before I answered, and I have thought about it still since then.  My answer at the time was a Krinkov.  Smallish, Lightish, but reliable and potent.  I think it was a good answer then.  I think it’s a good answer still.

 

Uncategorized

Got this from a friend.

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I became confused when I heard the word “Service” used with these agencies:
Internal Revenue ‘Service’
U.S. Postal ‘Service’
Telephone ‘Service’
Cable TV ‘Service’
Civil ‘Service’
State, City, County & Public ‘Service’
Customer ‘Service’

This is not what I thought ‘Service’ meant.

But today, I overheard two farmers talking, and one of them said he had hired a bull to ‘Service’ a few cows.

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