Yeah, if they could send me one of these… that would be great.
Crashed.
Could have been a lot worse… Motorcycling is dangerous. It’s also one of the most wonderful things Mankind could ever do. Good riding gear makes all the difference. I had a little incident. Speed was not involved and I wasn’t squidding.
Scrapes, Bruises, Twisted knee, bruised ribs, and maybe a broken wrist… But I’m fine. I’ll ride again ASAP. When you ride – always wear your gear. Even if you are just going around the block… wear your gear.
Beretta and Uberti
Take a quick look at these. A pair of SAA Clones.
At first glance, they look identical save for the Beretta’s little medallion in the grips. There is a good reason for that. Both are made by Uberti in Italy… Both are Spaghetti Westerns here. However, the Beretta is imported by Beretta and the Uberti is imported by Stoeger for some reason. What’s interesting is that the Beretta marked gun is less money. What makes that so interesting? The Beretta is the better gun by far. Let me show you why.
What you can’t see in the photos is the FEEL. The Beretta feels like it’s a much nicer gun. It feels that way, because it really is. I’d buy a Beretta easily over the Uberti, every day, every time. The Uberti’s… not so much. I like the clicks in the action as you pull the hammer back.
And here’s the kicker…
Meopta Optics
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.
Chained Up
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.
Bike Bling
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.
Presidential Evolution
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.
Ordered a couple things for my bike
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”.
Still Love 1911’s
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.
The Avengers
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.