I seldom have this kind of trouble at work or in my personal life. But I do now. I just can't seem to make up my mind. Which do I do next?
The Hi-Power has always shot high. I purchased and installed a high front and adjustable rear, but the rear just doesn't adjust low enough. Take it to a smith and have him fix the issue?
As posted below the carbine crapped on me again. Buy another?
The carbine modified Ishapore is cool and fun to shoot, but relatively inaccurate. I also have plenty of 30 Cal. class rifles so I've been thinking about converting it to 358 Winchester. Never heard of this cartridge? It's the short action equivalent of the 35 Whelen.
There's a company out there making carbine conversions for Glock and 1911 lowers. Excuse me for being too lazy to look them up. (Added MechTech later) I have four 1911s, so a carbine conversion would fit in the safe just fine.
I'd like to have a lever action rifle chambered in 454 Casull. It would compliment the Ruger Super Redhawk.
Recently I've been considering an AR chambered for 6.5 MM. configured to reach farther then I can reasonably see.
I've been thinking about buying a new paintball gun, the Dangerous Power G4.
Decisions . . . Decisions
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Some Thoughts
I was riding around the back yard today on the garden tractor pulling a tank of liquid spraying to kill weeds. I do this about every other year to keep some control over the thistles and clover. This is a rather boring chore that leaves a lot of time for idle thought.
I wonder. Can "things" have a gender? Our property and house resemble, in some vague way, a woman. Everything is curves, without strait lines or right angled corners. Both the house and property seem to be lacking logic, and exudes emotion. If left to themselves chaos and decay results.
I wonder. Can a society have gender? Can a society shed the strong, the logical, and embrace the weak and emotional? In my 60 years on this earth, that's what I seem to be observing in this country. Strong leadership and logical debate is dying and is being replaced with emotion. Debate is now less of an embrace of differing conclusions based on facts and logic, but on feeling and name calling. Has it always been this way? Have I just noticed this recently or are things changing?
I once stated that the downfall of our society will/has been directly tied to women in the workplace. I received a lot of scorn for that statement, but I still believe it's at least partially true. Women working outside the home has shifted society focus from family to possessions. As a result, partially anyway, we have a high proportion of fatherless households governed by the emotionalism of women without the brutal logic of men. This in turn has created males in our society that are not really men, but almost men, ruled by emotion, not logic, not responsibility or self-reliance.
This result is out there for all to see. Political debates are centered around emotion, things that feel good or feel bad. The gun ownership debate is all about whether somebody "feels" safe, not the reality. Laws are passed, or nor, based on whether it "feels" right or "feels" good, not whether it's the right thing to do. We have to help the less fortunate by giving them things, without regard for whether they are trying to fend for themselves. This just creates more "unfortunate" to support.
Those that base their actions on feelings and the utopia they wish was true are pulling us down a big hole as surely as infinite gravity sucks everything into a black hole. Everything they do to help "people" has just the opposite result. The Robin Hood syndrome we see today is a perversion of the real story. It "feels" good to rob from the rich and give to the poor. The reality was that Robin Hood stole from the oppressive government, and gave it back to the original owners, or maybe kept it all himself. But it "feels" good to punish the hard working, successful and keep the rest dependant. The "feel good" folks want equal results, not equal opportunity. They're pulling us all down the hole into a third world society.
I wonder. Can "things" have a gender? Our property and house resemble, in some vague way, a woman. Everything is curves, without strait lines or right angled corners. Both the house and property seem to be lacking logic, and exudes emotion. If left to themselves chaos and decay results.
I wonder. Can a society have gender? Can a society shed the strong, the logical, and embrace the weak and emotional? In my 60 years on this earth, that's what I seem to be observing in this country. Strong leadership and logical debate is dying and is being replaced with emotion. Debate is now less of an embrace of differing conclusions based on facts and logic, but on feeling and name calling. Has it always been this way? Have I just noticed this recently or are things changing?
I once stated that the downfall of our society will/has been directly tied to women in the workplace. I received a lot of scorn for that statement, but I still believe it's at least partially true. Women working outside the home has shifted society focus from family to possessions. As a result, partially anyway, we have a high proportion of fatherless households governed by the emotionalism of women without the brutal logic of men. This in turn has created males in our society that are not really men, but almost men, ruled by emotion, not logic, not responsibility or self-reliance.
This result is out there for all to see. Political debates are centered around emotion, things that feel good or feel bad. The gun ownership debate is all about whether somebody "feels" safe, not the reality. Laws are passed, or nor, based on whether it "feels" right or "feels" good, not whether it's the right thing to do. We have to help the less fortunate by giving them things, without regard for whether they are trying to fend for themselves. This just creates more "unfortunate" to support.
Those that base their actions on feelings and the utopia they wish was true are pulling us down a big hole as surely as infinite gravity sucks everything into a black hole. Everything they do to help "people" has just the opposite result. The Robin Hood syndrome we see today is a perversion of the real story. It "feels" good to rob from the rich and give to the poor. The reality was that Robin Hood stole from the oppressive government, and gave it back to the original owners, or maybe kept it all himself. But it "feels" good to punish the hard working, successful and keep the rest dependant. The "feel good" folks want equal results, not equal opportunity. They're pulling us all down the hole into a third world society.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Here We Go Again
Today I saw regular gasoline at $3.35 / gallon. The price has been falling for at least the last week. Some may see this as a good thing, but I'm not so sure.
One explanation is that the demand for fuel is dropping, which would mean that the world economy is skidding once again. I suspect that's the case, and can be at least partially blamed on the failed US policy. The liberal left seems to believe that everything can and should be be fixed by government. We'd all be better off if Nanny would just leave all alone. Since that's not likely to happen, hang on to your shorts.
Oh, joy.
One explanation is that the demand for fuel is dropping, which would mean that the world economy is skidding once again. I suspect that's the case, and can be at least partially blamed on the failed US policy. The liberal left seems to believe that everything can and should be be fixed by government. We'd all be better off if Nanny would just leave all alone. Since that's not likely to happen, hang on to your shorts.
Oh, joy.
Just Silly
I have no idea if it's a state law, but locally it has become illegal to swim in streams and ponds.
The Nannt State, large and small, is alive and well.
The Nannt State, large and small, is alive and well.
Weak Hand & 30 Carbine
Last Sunday I managed to sneak off to the range for a little more than an hour. Once again, to my surprise, I shot more accurately with my weak hand. I asked a shooting instructor I know about that and was told in slow fire that's not uncommon. He said we all tend to shoot just a little slower and with more concentration when using the weak hand. Next time I'll start working my way toward rapid fire.
Several years ago I got what I thought was a good deal for a Universal 30 Cal. carbine. What a disappointment. As it turns out the barrel steel is way too soft to withstand the pounding from the piston. I had a harder piece brazed into the contact point, but the joint didn't hold for more then about 5 magazines of punishment. I'll keep my eyes open for a new barrel, but I don't have much hope of getting anything that will fit this civilian action. Oh well, live and learn.
A friend of my son happens to own 3 carbines, all military. Son talked to him and it seems that I'll get a chance to buy one from him at a price much less than todays going rate. Time will tell.
Several years ago I got what I thought was a good deal for a Universal 30 Cal. carbine. What a disappointment. As it turns out the barrel steel is way too soft to withstand the pounding from the piston. I had a harder piece brazed into the contact point, but the joint didn't hold for more then about 5 magazines of punishment. I'll keep my eyes open for a new barrel, but I don't have much hope of getting anything that will fit this civilian action. Oh well, live and learn.
A friend of my son happens to own 3 carbines, all military. Son talked to him and it seems that I'll get a chance to buy one from him at a price much less than todays going rate. Time will tell.
A Look Into The Future ?
Last fall a friend loaned me the book called Atlas Shrugged. That book is so massive that until recently I procrastinated reading it. I'm now about 1/4 the way through, and it's scary. So far it seems to be about the results of a country that embraces social justice to the point of disaster. Are we today heading down that same road?
Monday, June 20, 2011
Choices
When we left for our short vacation I was having troubles deciding which of my 3 carry guns to bring.
Should I bring my favorite, the Kimber Ultracarry 45? It's constructed of stainless steel and anodized aluminum which for most is quite resistant to sweat.
Or should I bring the Kahr PM9 9mm? It's smaller, lighter and even more resistant to sweat because of the polymer frame?
Or maybe the tiny little KelTek P3-AT 380? It's very small, also plastic framed and the easiest of all to conceal.
In the end I brought all three. It was very warm so I carried the Kahr to and from, and in Iowa a gun friendly state. In Illinois I carried the little 380.
Yes, I was breaking the law in Illinois. But when "concealed", nobody knows. Besides I like to thumb my nose at illegal laws.
Should I bring my favorite, the Kimber Ultracarry 45? It's constructed of stainless steel and anodized aluminum which for most is quite resistant to sweat.
Or should I bring the Kahr PM9 9mm? It's smaller, lighter and even more resistant to sweat because of the polymer frame?
Or maybe the tiny little KelTek P3-AT 380? It's very small, also plastic framed and the easiest of all to conceal.
In the end I brought all three. It was very warm so I carried the Kahr to and from, and in Iowa a gun friendly state. In Illinois I carried the little 380.
Yes, I was breaking the law in Illinois. But when "concealed", nobody knows. Besides I like to thumb my nose at illegal laws.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Home Again
We're back from our short vacation to Amana Iowa and Springfield Illinois.
The Boss likes fruit wines made from such things as cranberry, cherry and blackberries. All of that can be found in Amana. We brought back 2+ cases of an assortment. Another thing that can be found in Amana is the best tasting and most authentic German style food. I ate like a pig, I did.
In Springfield we learned a lot about Abe Lincoln that's not taught in school. We visited the old state capital, his home and the Lincoln museum, among other places.
The morning we were leaving the B&B in Amana I got to talking to a fellow gun person and concealed carry guy. It started when he asked me if I was a member of the NRA. I was wearing a NRA T-shirt with a rifle and "power to the people" on the back. As it turns out he's also a member and a member of the USCCA, as I am. As a people, I think we're multiplying.
I wore it the first afternoon and evening in Springfield as well, since it was only about a 4 hour drive. Nobody in Illinois commented on the shirt. Go figure.
In Illinois I decided to carry a weapon regardless of the illegal state law. A tiny little KelTek 380 in an IWB is almost impossible to spot. My Kimber 45 and Kahr PM9 stayed locked in the trunk.
While away the Boss's good friend, and basically non-related daughter ended up in the hospital. She had blood clots in her groin and lower belly. Two surgical procedures were performed that probably saved her life. We almost came back early because of that, but there wasn't a thing we could due. We visited her this afternoon, and I broke another law by again packing the little 380 in my pocket.
As it turned out her male nurse is a former marine and gun nut. His fiance hated those evil things at first, but now has a carry license as does his 70 year old mother. Now that was good to hear.
The statistics say that those with carry licenses are the most lawful by a huge margin. I must be the exception to that rule because it seems that I always carry in places where it's not legal. If something should happen, I refuse to be a sheep.
The Boss likes fruit wines made from such things as cranberry, cherry and blackberries. All of that can be found in Amana. We brought back 2+ cases of an assortment. Another thing that can be found in Amana is the best tasting and most authentic German style food. I ate like a pig, I did.
In Springfield we learned a lot about Abe Lincoln that's not taught in school. We visited the old state capital, his home and the Lincoln museum, among other places.
The morning we were leaving the B&B in Amana I got to talking to a fellow gun person and concealed carry guy. It started when he asked me if I was a member of the NRA. I was wearing a NRA T-shirt with a rifle and "power to the people" on the back. As it turns out he's also a member and a member of the USCCA, as I am. As a people, I think we're multiplying.
I wore it the first afternoon and evening in Springfield as well, since it was only about a 4 hour drive. Nobody in Illinois commented on the shirt. Go figure.
In Illinois I decided to carry a weapon regardless of the illegal state law. A tiny little KelTek 380 in an IWB is almost impossible to spot. My Kimber 45 and Kahr PM9 stayed locked in the trunk.
While away the Boss's good friend, and basically non-related daughter ended up in the hospital. She had blood clots in her groin and lower belly. Two surgical procedures were performed that probably saved her life. We almost came back early because of that, but there wasn't a thing we could due. We visited her this afternoon, and I broke another law by again packing the little 380 in my pocket.
As it turned out her male nurse is a former marine and gun nut. His fiance hated those evil things at first, but now has a carry license as does his 70 year old mother. Now that was good to hear.
The statistics say that those with carry licenses are the most lawful by a huge margin. I must be the exception to that rule because it seems that I always carry in places where it's not legal. If something should happen, I refuse to be a sheep.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Dark Side
Back in the dark ages I was married, had a toddler son, attended college full time and held down a full time job. It wore me down to the point of being ill, so I chanced taking 2 months off from school. That almost got me sent to Vietnam. The draft was ended just a couple of days before I was report for induction.
I told the Boss that if I was drafted and sent into battle I'd find a deep hole and never stick my head out. She laughed at me in disbelief. "Not a chance" she said. "Somebody you liked would get hurt, then you'd become a screaming on man wrecking machine".
Looking back, she knew me better than I knew myself. I know myself much better now. I can stay cool and accept a lot of crap, as long as the family is left alone. When someone messes with my family, it's all I can do to keep the deeply buried dark side from emerging. In my younger days that dark side would emerge from time to time. I've mellowed with age, or maybe learned control. I'm not sure which.
Below I mentioned running away. That's a really strange thing for me to say, because hip surgery and old age has pretty much eliminated any running that I may try to do. Besides, bullets run a whole lot faster, though distance is a good thing. The fact is, running probably wouldn't happen, especially if family was near. I'm sure that the old dark side would once again emerge. Like I said, I know myself much better now.
I told the Boss that if I was drafted and sent into battle I'd find a deep hole and never stick my head out. She laughed at me in disbelief. "Not a chance" she said. "Somebody you liked would get hurt, then you'd become a screaming on man wrecking machine".
Looking back, she knew me better than I knew myself. I know myself much better now. I can stay cool and accept a lot of crap, as long as the family is left alone. When someone messes with my family, it's all I can do to keep the deeply buried dark side from emerging. In my younger days that dark side would emerge from time to time. I've mellowed with age, or maybe learned control. I'm not sure which.
Below I mentioned running away. That's a really strange thing for me to say, because hip surgery and old age has pretty much eliminated any running that I may try to do. Besides, bullets run a whole lot faster, though distance is a good thing. The fact is, running probably wouldn't happen, especially if family was near. I'm sure that the old dark side would once again emerge. Like I said, I know myself much better now.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Will it Never End ?
The debate that is. Large vs small caliber. High capacity vs standard capacity.
Just for the record I don't own a 40. I carry either a 45, 9mm or 380 depending on the situation. They all have the same capacity, single stack, and get smaller in size as the cartridge does. Oh and I don't worry about capacity. The idea is to shoot if I must, but always run like hell. Besides, there's no way I can conceal a double stack.
Just for the record I don't own a 40. I carry either a 45, 9mm or 380 depending on the situation. They all have the same capacity, single stack, and get smaller in size as the cartridge does. Oh and I don't worry about capacity. The idea is to shoot if I must, but always run like hell. Besides, there's no way I can conceal a double stack.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Too Damn Hot
The other day I was contacted by a head hunter (employment recruiter) who claimed my engineering background was a perfect fit for a position he was trying to fill. The location is in the pan handle of Florida. Now I understand that there's scores of people who like the southern climate, but I'm not one of them. For me, any temperature over 70F is a little too warm, especially with high humidity. So thanks but no thanks mister head hunter.
Today in my part of the Buckeye State, the temperature reached 91F. So the Florida climate has come for a visit. At least here it seldom lasts more than a week, not several months.
I wish it would snow.
Today in my part of the Buckeye State, the temperature reached 91F. So the Florida climate has come for a visit. At least here it seldom lasts more than a week, not several months.
I wish it would snow.
How Can it be That Long Ago
In a few days the Boss and I will be off to Amana Iowa and then Springfield Illinois for a few days of get away, just the 2 of us. Amana is just a place to go and chill for a while, and Springfield has some Abraham Lincoln stuff, with more chill out time. Nothing special about the trip, but something a little special as to why now. This Saturday marks 40 years of being married.
I managed to snag a very special woman. No one else would've put up with me all these years.
- - - - -
We'll be in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. I'll need to be extra careful in Illinois. The other 2 states respect a persons right to self-defense.
I managed to snag a very special woman. No one else would've put up with me all these years.
- - - - -
We'll be in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. I'll need to be extra careful in Illinois. The other 2 states respect a persons right to self-defense.
Monday, June 6, 2011
T-Shirts
Yesterday I saw a T-shirt that had a cartoon character holding a bat, with the words "I wish you were a pinata".
I got a kick out of that.
On a similar subject, the Boss bought me 4 new T-shirts with pockets and no pictures or messages. I thinks she wants to fool people into thinking that I'm not a red neck.
I got a kick out of that.
On a similar subject, the Boss bought me 4 new T-shirts with pockets and no pictures or messages. I thinks she wants to fool people into thinking that I'm not a red neck.
From Harry
"My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!
Harry Truman
In todays world, running a whore house requires more integrity.
Harry Truman
In todays world, running a whore house requires more integrity.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Cool Truck
One of the guys that does small volume machining and fabrication for my employer built this. Pretty cool huh. Unlike a lot of other custom car guys he did all the work himself.
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