OTOH, Some Good News...

Lest you think it's all doom-and-gloom here at MArooned lately, here's a story to put a smile on your face. Well, assuming your name isn't Paul Helmke or Sarah Brady, that is...

More women may be turning to firearms

American women are buying guns and taking aim on firing ranges in growing numbers, according to a recent study and interviews with gun-shop owners. A 2009 study found 70 percent of shop owners reported more female buyers.

The study, conducted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and Southwick Associates, also found 80 percent of the female gun-buyers who responded said they purchased a gun for self-defense, followed by 35 percent for target practice and 24 percent for hunting.

Who wouldn't have their spirits lifted by the thought of all those smart, self-reliant women availing themselves of the best tools possible for self-defense? I mean, other than the Grinch John Rosenthal. How much more empowered can one get than taking responsibility for one's safety? The decision to arm one's self against those that wish to do harm is one not taken lightly, but one that all thinking people should at least contemplate. Carrying a firearm isn't for everyone (especially if you live in a People's Soviet...), but those that make that decision stand out among the rest.

It's heartening to see more women joining our ranks - I long for the day when the Second Amendment Sisters has more members than the so-called "Million Mommies". Owning a firearm should not depend on one's gender - and, sadly, this can be aided and abetted by those that purport to be our allies. Every time some gun store commando looks past the young 20-something woman to the guy behind her; every time some idiot hands his girlfriend a hot .44 Magnum for her first time shooting; every time some yahoo claims that women are too weak to rack the slide on a 1911... All of these put women off the shooting sports; all should be avoided at all costs.

Lastly, one thing that stood out was this:

Women owned roughly 10.5 percent of this country's guns in 1980, compared to 10.8 percent of the more than 200 million guns in the U.S. in 2008.

Ladies... Time to step up to the plate and buy some more guns! Especially when you consider that of that 10.5%, probably 90%+ is owned by Tam, Brigid, Phlegmmy, Lissa, and Breda... :)

That is all.

Thanks to PISSED for the e-mailed story!

Time To Re-Think...

Maybe the city of Boston shouldn't require range tests for their LTCs:

Five men shot, one killed overnight in Boston

Five people were shot and one killed in a bloody night in Dorchester and Roxbury, police said.

The first incident was a triple shooting on Leroy Street in Dorchester where three men were struck by bullets about 11:30 p.m. One of the men was hit in the back, while the other two were grazed. All are expected to survive their injuries, police said.

Obviously the shooter(s) had valid permits, right? If they hadn't been practicing for their range tests, they might have missed their victims and this wouldn't be an issue. Then again, solving this should be a snap - just pull the names of licensed gun owners in Dorchester and Roxbury, use ballistic fingerprinting to match the guns used to the shootings, and convict! Open-and-shut case, right?

Look, sarcasm aside, here's why gun control laws will not work, ever: CRIMINALS. DO. NOT. OBEY. THE. LAW. Big shock, I know. The city of Boston does not grant unrestricted LTCs to anyone who's not rich, famous, or well-connected; it's a sucker's bet that the shooter(s) in question did not possess a valid permit; it's highly doubtful that the guns were legally owned pretty much ever.

It boggles the mind that the politician's response to such shootings is to call for more gun control - as if making it doubleplusunlegal would stop such events.

That is all.

Unreal...

Dead Marine's father ordered to pay protesters' legal costs

(CNN) -- The father of a Marine whose funeral was picketed by the Westboro Baptist Church says an order to pay the protesters' legal costs in a civil claim is nothing less than a "slap in the face."

"By the court making this decision, they're not only telling me that they're taking their side, but I have to pay them money to do this to more soldiers and their families," said Albert Snyder, whose son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, was killed in action in Iraq in 2006.

There's precious little in the way of reporting to this story - they quote the Phelps' legal representation (one of them) who waxes all eloquently about freedom of speech, yet they don't explain why the father is responsible for their legal costs. This is a parasitic group that's made quite a nice life for themselves by making asses of themselves and then suing folks for reacting.

Shame, shame on the judge who issued this ruling - particularly the fine. He most certainly could have ruled that the father was responsible for the costs incurred - and then fined him a token fee, ideally whatever the cost of the initial filing and nothing more. The father had a rock-solid, legitimate complaint for emotional distress - this wasn't a hot-coffee-in-the-lap BS lawsuit here. He didn't file a frivolous suit with veiled hopes of a payday - this is a man who suffered greatly at the hands of the Phelps mafia.

There is a bright spot - the American Legion has stepped up to the plate to cover Snyder's fees, and Michelle Malkin brings the bright spotlight of Hot Air on the story. Donations are rolling in (see Malkin's site if you'd like to donate) and it's quite likely that Mr. Snyder will not have to front any cash for this miscarriage of justice. I firmly hope that when Mr. Snyder reaches the total for the fees, he has it converted into pennies and drops it off at the Phelps compound via dumptruck.

And if Phelps himself has the bad luck to be underneath said dumptruck, well...

That is all.

Tough Commute...

Man, talk about a rough ride to work:

Fall River Streets Flooded, Buckled And Broken

FALL RIVER (WBZ) ―About 1,000 National Guard troops were ready for action Tuesday as more rain pounded Massachusetts, making it the wettest March on record and putting additional strain on residents already weary of dealing with flooded yards and basements.

A potentially dangerous situation was developing in Fall River, where six inches of rain over the last two days pushed the South Wattupa Pond well above normal, flooding some nearby homes.

Here's what it looks like:

(image from WBZ4 News)

Ouch. Like commuting on the moon...

That is all.

Yes, Yes It Is...

Tam mentions it being the season for open-roading, and I've got to nod my head in agreement. We had a spell of warmer-than-average temperatures here in the frigid Northeast about three weeks ago, followed by two weeks of torrential downpours and flooding like some bearded dude was gonna go by in a large boat with twin animals. It's supposed to abate this weekend, with promises of 75ºF weather and sunny skies. It cannot come soon enough - basements are flooded, rivers are swollen, and nerves are frayed - a welcome, warm, and dry respite from the incessant deluge.

Oh, and did I mention I'm getting the Harley out of storage Saturday morning?

There's nothing quite like the first ride of the season. You get on the bike, your faithful companion for 5, 6, 7, or more months out of the year, eager to re-acquaint yourself with an old friend. You're itching to re-live past rides, forge ahead with new ones, and take her around town just to be seen. Oh, sure, there's that awkward first few moments where you forget exactly where the clutch catches or that you need to click up with authority to hit second gear rather than neutral, but it's all part of the dance of spring on two wheels.

April is a magical month for those that ride in colder climates. It's warming up so that you don't get frostbite just going around the block, it's light out later so you can ride with less fear of encountering one of G-d's wonderful but dim-witted and slow-moving creatures at dusk, and it's cool enough that you can really bundle up and not be too hot. Spring showers mean less time on the road, but they also mean a cleansing of the salt, sand, dirt, and other assorted road debris that is often the bane of a biker's existence - I've known more than one person who went down in a corner rimmed with sand from the previous winter.

It's also springtime, second only to fall for the best time to be on two wheels, and I'd even make a strong argument for spring being ahead of fall by a hair. Sure. there's the magnificent fall foliage to view in autumn, which is nothing short of spellbinding when viewed from the saddle. It comes with a price, however - you know that, as surely as day follows night, that winter is coming. You know that while the leaves are exploding with color, you're adding more and more layers in anticipation of cold weather riding. Riding in spring lacks the expansive palette of color, granted, but with flowers blooming, trees budding, and birds singing, there's a grand symphony to drink in - all the while knowing the whole riding season stretches out ahead of you.

It's a great time to be on a bike - but then again, when isn't?

That is all.

The Tax Man Taketh...

Let me preface by saying that, yes, I understand that the plural of anecdote is not data... But...

Tax refund 2008: $2,200

Tax refund 2009: $290

I'm certain it's pure coincidence that 2009 saw the Democrats in control of the House, Senate, and Presidency, right?

That is all.

WTF, Over?

Senate panel passes Cybersecurity Act with revised "kill switch" language

Last April, Sen. Jay Rockefeller [D, WV], the Chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, introduced the Cybersecurity Act of 2009 to his committee. The goal of the bill was to develop a public-private plan for strengthening national security in the case of internet-based attacks. But it stalled almost immediately because of a controversial provision that would have give the President unilateral authority to declare a cybersecurity emergency and then shut down or limit access to parts of the internet without any oversight or explanation.

Gee, unilateral authority to shut down the single biggest source of information in the US? Why would anyone have a problem with that? Now, replace "Øbama" with "Bush" and just imagine the howls of outrage from the media. Remember, these are the same jackals that equated Bush authorizing the monitoring of calls to known terrorists with Gestapo tactics....

Read the whole thing - if it doesn't chill your blood, I don't want to know you.

That is all.

Where Have I Seen That Title Before?

(title being More Guns, Less Crime, of course!)

Record numbers now licensed to pack heat

Waving a chromed semiautomatic pistol, the robber pushed into the building in the bustling Five Points neighborhood of Columbia, S.C., just before 11 p.m. on April 11, 2009. “Gimme what you got!” he yelled, his gun hand trembling.

Attorney Jim Corley was one of four people in the room, the lounge area of a 12-step recovery group’s meeting hall. “He said, ‘Give me your wallet,’” Corley recalled. “So I reached around to my back pocket and gave him what was there.”

Unfortunately for the gunman, later identified as Kayson Helms, 18, of Edison, N.J., that was Corley’s tiny Kel-Tec .32, hidden in a wallet holster and loaded with a half-dozen hollow points. Corley fired once into the robber’s abdomen. The young man turned. Corley fired twice more, hitting him in the neck and again in the torso. Helms ran into the night and collapsed to die on a railroad embankment 100 feet away.

I find it fascinating that MSNBC of all places starts out a (more or less) neutral article about law-abiding gun owners with a story of successful self-defense using a handgun. That's nothing short of miraculous. Naturally, the article is filled with anti-gun claptrap like "packing heat" and "strapping guns on", but it is MSNBC after all. They go to great pains to show that there haven't been any studies showing that more guns = less crime, yet admit that more people are carrying guns and the crime rate has gone down. Coincidence?

Naturally, being MSNBC they interview not someone from the NRA, or one of the many state Right-To-Carry movements, or even one of the lawyers involved in the landmark Heller case, but someone from the VPC. They do follow up with Alan Gottlieb of the SAF, which is good, and the article is relatively PSH-free, refreshingly. As mentioned above, the article goes to great lengths to make the dubious claim that more permits does not mean less crime, adding in this quote:

Hemenway said that the most definitive review to date — a 2004 look at research on the topic by the National Research Council — “found no credible evidence that passage of right-to-carry laws increases or decreases violent crime.”

Even assuming this is true - and one need look only to the discredited Kellermann study or the "work" done by Bellesiles to see the quality of "research" done by anti-gun groups (think AGW) - isn't that in an of itself a ringing endorsement of greater concealed carry? If more people carrying firearms does not lead to the proverbial "blood in the streets", what's the harm? I think we can all agree that if shootings by gun owners with CCW permits were common or even only slightly rare that it would be front-page news. The fact that the worst they can say is that it had no effect - that they could find - is quite telling. Rather than the dire predictions of "old west" shootouts over parking spaces, we've seen... nothing.

Imagine that - people that obey the law who carry concealed firearms don't turn into deranged killers. Quelle surprise!

That is all.

Link to article sent by reader PISSED. Thanks!

Record? Broken...

It's Official - This Is The Wettest March Ever

This is the wettest March we've ever seen. According to WBZ meteorologists, this latest storm system pushed the total rainfall for March into the record books.

The Boston area has picked up 11.89 inches so far this month, as of 11 p.m. Monday. The old record was 11 inches, set back in 1953.

I'll believe that. My 15 mile commute to work has nearly doubled as roads are closed due to flooding - there are two rivers on the commute, both of which are overflowing or close enough to it that they've started re-routing traffic already. The little pond down the street from me, where I used to play hockey in the winter, has overflowed its banks and is spilling out into the street - for the first time I can remember. My sump pump has been doing yeoman's work keeping the water out of the basement (fingers crossed), and a drive around town reveals hose after hose (or, as in my case, PVC pipe) frantically draining water out of other basements.

MA has been declared a disaster area by Øbama, meaning that federal funds will be available to help clean up the aftermath and help folks rebuild. It's going to take a lot of time just for things to dry out - today's storm is the third successive wave of heavy rains and flooding in two weeks' time. There's mention that we've gotten more rain in the past two days that we typically get in the whole month of March. All I know is that I'll breathe easy when it's over; on the plus side, my front lawn looks like a golf course from all the water...

And on Saturday, when it's 75ºF and bright sunshine, I'll be picking my Harley up from winter storage...

That is all.

Tech Toy Bleg...

I mentioned last week that I was getting a bonus gift from work for having slaved away completed ten years of service. I had originally planned on taking the gift as a Visa/Amex Gift card and going to my local fun store, but was thwarted at that aim - the gift actually has to be an item, not a gift certificate or anything like that. The maximum value of the gift is $250 (above that you chip in), and while I'd love to go pick up a shiny new S&W 22A with that, the idea of getting reimbursed for it and turning in a receipt - in MA - for a ZOMG GUN - just strikes me as one of the worst ideas in the history of bad ideas...

So, I started thinking about Tech Toys - those little gadgets that you don't need but somehow just can't live without.

I came up with three different ideas, and damn if I can't choose one or the other:

1. New Eee or similar netbook. Since I bought my Eee all of last year, they've come out with bigger screens and WAY longer battery life (they're talking eight hours now!!!). With the larger screen comes a larger keyboard, but heavier weight. Might even consider a low-end laptop for this position - having a second full-bore machine I could load MSOffice on would be kinda slick, too.

The pros are that it would be more usable than the Eee I currently have and have much better battery life; the cons are that I really don't use the current Eee more than once or twice a week at most.

2. Upgraded digital camera. The current Panasonic we have is good, but there are definite areas for improvement - for starters, the current camera is awful at "active" shots. 95% of the shots I take of my kids are blurry, and 95% of the shots I take are of my kids. There's a pretty good range of cameras available in this price range, including near-SLR quality "point and shoot" cameras.

Pros of a new camera are better pictures of the kids, better Friday gun pr0n, and having a duplicate camera for Disney/family outings. Cons are minimal - the biggest drawback would be buying the wrong camera, really.

3. iTouch. The iTouch is the "dark horse" in the Tech Toy race. While part of it is extremely appealing to me - being able to connect to the web anywhere there's a free wi-fi signal is très cool - part of me wonders if I'd use it enough to bother with. Also, somewhere in my attic is a "PocketPC" that I spent $700 on a dozen years ago that I used for about a month and then lost interest in. Of course, it couldn't play songs or go online, either.

Pros are having a 'net capable pocket computer no larger than a pack of smokes that I can pick up for less than $10 out of pocket. Cons are not being sure if I can grok the interface or if it's something that would be more of a passing interest, and also the lack of a camera - I think if the iTouch came with even a low-end camera built it, that'd seal the deal.

---

So there are my three choices. There may very well be something I haven't even thought of yet, some other electronic gadget that I just can't live without. I'm least familiar with the iTouch, even though I own an iPod Nano and have had a Shuffle for years. For those that use the iPhone - I'm pretty sure that the interface is the same as the iTouch - can you surf on it like a regular computer? I mean, obviously I understand that many things will be different - like inputting data with the touch screen for starters - but could I blog using the iTouch? (Special shout-out to SCI-FI - think we could get together soon so I can try it on your iPhone?)

As for the Eee, that's really a fall-back idea that I can check out if I can't find a suitable camera and I don't like the iTouch. I know what's out there; I'm familiar with the Eee and netbooks; it's a question of do I want to use my one-time gift selection to upgrade a seldom-used item. For the camera, then, it's a question of can I get the features I want - long optical zoom, ability to take motion shots, and short videos - in a camera that is within, or at least close to, my budget. I've had a Kodak, Canon, and Panasonic camera and had issues with the operation of each of them; any suggestions would be welcome there.

So... Which of the three "Tech Toys" would you chose, and why; or is there something else I should think about?

That is all.

Life Imitates "The Simpsons"...

Missing head of Civil War statue in Shirley returned

Vandals who beheaded a statue of a Union soldier in Shirley apparently have had a change of heart. Over the weekend the perpetrators left the granite head on a stone cemetery wall near the town common, where the memorial statue has stood for nearly 120 years.

The head went missing two weeks ago, enraging the community. But authorities said they were more interested in recovering the severed head than prosecuting the offenders, and called upon those responsible to make amends. To the relief of town officials, their appeal was answered.

No word on whether the perpetrator responsible rode a skateboard or carried a slingshot...

That is all.

Flip, Meet Flop...

CNN Poll: Big shift on closing of Guantanamo Bay facility

Washington (CNN) - Attitudes about the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba have changed dramatically since President Barack Obama took office, according to a new national poll. Support for closing the facility has dropped 12 points over the past 14 months, a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey indicates.

Shortly before Obama's inauguration, 51 percent of Americans said they thought the facility in Cuba should be closed. Now that number is down to 39 percent, and six in ten believe the United States should continue to operate Guantanamo.

Gee, you think that might be because folks took a closer look at:

a) who was actually in the detention center;
b) what the proposals were to deal with said detainees; and/or
c) the recidivism rate of those released

and started to realize that having these folks released, either to be tried on US soil or sent home to their respective countries would be a Really Bad Thing?

It's one thing to sit in an ivory tower and pooh-pooh that evil Chimpy McBushhitler's claims that these are bad people, knowing full well that they'll never see the light of day with Darth Cheney pulling the strings. It's another thing entirely when Señor Hopey Changey, himself no stranger to terrorist connections, is poised to release a bunch of these "DEATH TO AMERICA" types into your sleepy little burg.

Especially when one considers that, under the much ballyhoo'd Geneva Convention, these bastards should have been shot on sight...

That is all.

Almost Up to My Age...

In the Dead Goblin Count, that is...

Intruder killed in early morning Perry Hall shooting

A suspected burglar was shot and killed in Perry Hall Sunday morning when he was confronted by a homeowner with a gun.

According to Baltimore County Police, officers responded to the shooting at 5:46 a.m. in the 4200 block of Chapel Road in Perry Hall.

Police said the suspected burglar had entered the home and was confronted by its resident, who shot him in the residence. The burglary suspect was taken to Franklin Square Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No one else was injured. Police have not released the names of the resident or the suspected burglar.

Shot him in the residence? Those are almost always fatal... Kidding aside, it's a good thing that the homeowner was armed, seeing as how Baltimore isn't a great place for just giving the robbers what they want - it's a good way to get shot dead anyways.

Good job on the homeowner's part.

Dead Goblin Count: 37.

That is all.

Link sent by Paul, my sometimes MA homie who's got my DGC back...

OGNTSA...

The rabid right wing of the blogosphere is abuzz with recent stories out of America's heartland. Stories like this:

Official: Gun charges after FBI raids in Midwest

ADRIAN, Mich. – The FBI said Sunday that agents conducted weekend raids in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio and arrested at least three people, and a militia leader in Michigan said the target of at least one of the raids was a Christian militia group.

Federal warrants were sealed, but a federal law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity said some of those arrested face gun charges and officials are pursuing other suspects.

"Gun charges"? You mean like the manufactured charge against Randy Weaver? The nebulous charges against David Koresh? Hell, more recently, what we've seen with the spurious charges against Gregory Girard in MA or the unlawful seizure of weapons from David Pyles, the OR DOT worker accused of the heinous crime of... lawfully buying guns.

More and more it seems like "gun charges" are a magic talisman for the government, allowing them to detain, arrest, attack, and in some cases kill folks for nothing more than exercising their Second Amendment rights. It's hard to tell, sometimes, which is more frightening: that our Bill of Rights can so easily be trampled in the interest of the government wanting to look like it's doing something, or that no one seems to care.

"Oh, it's another fringe right wing nut job group." "No one needs [insert number greater than or equal to one] evil black rifles." "Why would they have that much ammunition if they weren't planning something." We hear these sentiments or similar in the wake of arrests of our fellow countrymen, and a good number of us simply shrug them off or even agree with the speaker. National groups - even our alleged advocates - are silent on these egregious violations of our civil rights. "All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing" - Edmund Burke.

I stand by my assertion that it's not yet time to be throwing bricks - but I'll be the first to admit that recent events bring that time a helluva lot closer.

That is all.

*Oh G-d, Not This Shit Again

The Scope of the Thing...

So I've been thinking of trying my hand at long(er) distance shooting. It appears that the family aptitude for shooting rifles didn't skip a generation like shooting pistols apparently did (Dad qualified as Expert on the MA State Police - with either hand!). Right now, I'm looking at something that I can test out for MOA-worthy shooting at 100 - 150 yards (the limit of the rifle range at my club); if/when I develop sufficiently at that level I can look into longer distances.

(And yes, Ross, I know I'll have to attend an Appleseed shoot, too...)

Looking at the rifles in my armory, one choice to get started is the VEPR. It has a standard AK-47 side mount for a rail, so attaching a Weaver rail should be a piece of cake. It's unclear if an Ultimak-style handguard mount would fit on the VEPR, so the more universal side-rail mount holds more appeal for an initial set-up (besides, if it doesn't work with the VEPR, I can toss it on the Saiga-20 for a red dot or holographic sight down the road). I seem to recall hearing that these mounts weren't the most stable for optics, but most of the reviews indicate this mount is pretty secure.

Other than the VEPR, most of my rifles are either rimfire or military surplus bolt actions. In order to attach any kind of optics, I'd need to drill receivers, etc. to get a scope mount on a $100 rifle. While a decent mid-range rifle is definitely on my list of guns I'd like to get, I'd like to concentrate on setting something up for what I've got right now.

With that in mind, what's a good scope for 100 - 150 yards? I'd be looking for something that's not going to cost more than the rifle, so figure somewhere in the $200 - $300 range or so. I understand that, with optics, you really do get what you pay for; however for the purposes of this exercise I'm looking for something that will deliver decent performance at a moderate price. It doesn't have to give 1/4MOA accuracy - that comes later - but it's got to be better than a $40 ChiCom knock-off scope...

What's a good entry-level close-range scope for this kind of application?

That is all.

There, but for the Grace of G-d Go I...

David suffered a terribly tragedy this past weekend, and is strong enough to share it with us.

Go, read his harrowing tale, then ask yourself if it could happen to you.

That is all.

MArooned Movie Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Took the family to see "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" movie yesterday afternoon. I'm somewhat indebted to the franchise, as Jeff Kinney's Greg Hefley and his diary got TheBoy to be interested in reading. Naturally, it's a given that the tween and elementary school crowd around which this is geared would be interested in the movie; since TheBoy had practiced reading it to BabyGirl G., she was interested in seeing it as well. It also doesn't hurt that Jeff Kinney is a fellow MAhole...

I kept having to remind myself that this was a movie geared to the 8-12 year old set. The books are geared for entry-level readers, so they're looking to draw in the 3rd grade to entry level middle schoolers. Some of the characters were not as I had pictured; others were given more prominent roles than in the book, some less prominent. It's "loosely based" on the book itself is how I explained it to TheBoy - he kept asking me "Dad, why did they do that? The book doesn't have it that way" in certain parts. I figured a dissertation on creative license and "Hollywoodization" would fall on deaf ears at this point.

But overall, he and his sister enjoyed the movie. They both sat still through the entire hour and a half, which is partially a function of the movie holding their interest, but also them getting older and more mature (the parents out there are laughing uproariously at this). If your kids are interested in the Wimpy Kid Series, this is a must-see; if they're not into the series it's still engaging, funny, and overall a pretty darn good time.

Two thumbs up for "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Movie".

That is all.

Roses for the Lady...

...if The Lady happens to be the World's Most Dangerous Librarian, that is...

A Bouquet for Breda

MMmmmmm. Tasty, tasty roses. Om nom nom...

That is all.

Link hungrily sent from reader and commenter extraordinaire "Stretch"...

Update...

Just checked my mail to hear from my new shooter Paul about his range test in Boston.

So here is the update. I show up to see four other guys waiting to take the test also. We get out to the firing line and at the seven yard line, we have to fire double-action- one OR two handed. It was very windy since it was out on an island in Quincy harbor. After firing twelve shots, we move back to the fifteen yard line for the final eighteen shots- single action two handed. As soon as it began, we were done. Out of the five shooters (two suppose to be security guards), I had the highest score with a.....

287 out of 300!

Only two in the 8, the rest in the 9 and 10! To bad they don't let us take them home, it would have been a nice keepsake.

Woo Hoo! Great shootin' Paul!!!

That is all.

Looks of the Deceiving Kind...

Today's one of those odd days, weather-wise. You look out the window and it's bright sunshine, the birds are singing, the crocuses are just starting to pop out of the ground; it looks like a gorgeous spring day.

And then you look at the thermometer and realize it's only 28ºF outside...

That is all.

Makin' Sense of the Census...

Okay. Let's put this into perspective. Here's what we've gotten as it pertains to the US census so far:

• Letter informing us that census was coming
• Actual census
• Postcard reminding us to fill out census
• Radio ads exhorting us to fill out the census with dire predictions of famine, root canals, pestilence, Jehovah's Witnesses, disease, and/or scurvy if we didn't fill out the census

Now look. The census is one of the very few things that the Federal government is supposed to do. Right there in the Constitution and everything:

The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.

Basically, this is one of the few things I don't have a problem with the Federal government doing, as it's one of the tasks it's specifically prescribed right there in the Constitution. Right along with coining the money and authorizing the armed forces to kill people and break things. Counting the citizens of the United States for the purposes of representation is an actual legitimate use of the Federal Government's power.

Now, while reading the Constitution to obtain this little nugget of information, I didn't see dick-all about health care - free, subsidized, or otherwise. Oh, sure, some will claim that the phrase "promote the general Welfare" gives the government carte blanche to do whatever the hell it wants; however, "welfare" is one of those terms whose meanings have been twisted over the years. Kinda like that "regulated" in the Second Amendment...

And for those who might be curious, under "Race" I checked "Other" and wrote in "Earthling" - figure I'm already on enough lists and all, might as well add "Race Subversive" to the mix... *g*

That is all.

Blogroll Updates...

Got a couple quick updates, one addition and one change.

Addition: The interestingly named Guns and Ammo by Aaron. A second amendment based blog with good commentary, interesting links, and other good stuff.

Change: The Firing Pin Journal is now Rifles, Pistols, & Jay. Adjust your blogroll accordingly.

Also, a number of gunbloggers have linked to this list of gunbloggers. You might notice a few people on the list, including your humble host, who is characterized thusly:

Jay G blogs about 2nd Amendment issues and politics in general. The oppressive Massachusetts gun laws are frequently discussed.

"Oppressive" would be putting it lightly... Thanks for the linky-love Steve!

That is all

Friday Fun Thread: Alternate Power...

Sorry I missed last week's Fun Thread. Sometimes things just get a little too hectic and I run out of time for the fun thread. Mea culpa. I actually got the idea for today's thread, along with a copious amount of help, from one wicked smaht bahstid (and my blogson) Borepatch in an e-mail. He suggested we do a Fun thread based on:

Just had a thought for your friday car posts - how about "Cars that did not have Internal Combustion Engines"?

Which I thought was an excellent suggestion, except that I couldn't come up with a whole 10 vehicles, so I modified it to "non-traditional" engines. So here's my (and Borepatch's) list of Top Ten Non-Traditionally-powered Vehicles:

1. Mazda RX7. Wankel Rotary engine, certainly the most famous of these configurations.

2. Chrysler turbine. Previously discussed in the line-up of Cool Chryslers, the turbine - while never a full-on production car - did see limited consumer use.

3. Tesla Roadster. First production electric capable of highway speeds, the Tesla Roadster also boasts an impressive 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds.

4. Stanley Steamer. Yes, there really were cars that ran on steam power like the old riverboats. No, they weren't common. Yes, Jay Leno does own one that he drives in LA...

5. Rover Jet gas turbine. One of the many post WWII designs in England, it was a prototypical design based on the Power Jet designed by Frank Whittle.

6. ThrustSSC. How's about a twin Rolls Royce turbofan-powered jetcar that's capable of breaking the sound barrier? Yeah, pretty freakin' cool...

7. Blue Flame. Ah, yes, rocket power. Scourge of the Bonneville Salt Flats, the Blue Flame held the land-speed record for nearly three decades.

8. Honda Civic GX. Yes, there is a Honda Civic that runs on natural gas. No, I won't get into jokes based on beans...

9. Lunar rover. Here's one that's literally out of this world. Okay, so it cost $38 million dollars and had a top speed of 11 MPH. That's still enough for a lunar record...

10. Citroen GSA. Leave it to the French to screw up the rotary engine...

---

So there's the list of non-traditionally powered vehicles. We had to go into experimental prototypes, century-old technology, and alternative fuel vehicles to get there, but get there we did.

What other types of propulsion systems are there?

That is all.

VC#44: It's All About Me...

Vicious Circle #44 is up for your listening pleasure. It's a little different this week - it's just Alan and I discussing universal health care as pertains to the Massachusetts-style "universal" health care and what an unmitigated disaster that's been in MA. We touch on many other topics as well, giving them all the attention and care you've come to expect from Vicious Circle.

Okay, I almost got through that with a straight face...

That is all.

Effect, Meet Cause...

Words of praise for Panagiotakos, but no commitments to run - yet

LOWELL -- Shock waves rippled throughout the First Middlesex Senate district last night following Sen. Steve Panagiotakos' announcement that he will not seek re-election this fall.

While constituents and colleagues all agreed that his shoes will be hard to fill, the big question being bandied about was who is willing to try?

Panagiotakos. Why does that name sound familiar? Oh yeah, that's right. Panagiotakos was the Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee that foisted the 25% sales tax increase on the people of MA.

I'm certain that has nothing to do with his shocking decision to not run for re-election...

That is all.

Friday Gun Pr0n #156

Today's Gun Pr0n comes from commenter Adam. After my post asking which .22LR semi-automatic pistol I should get for Buy A Gun Day, Adam sent me some pictures of this beauty:

Shiny!

Ruger Mark III Target in stainless, 6½" barrel. Damn, but that is a sexxeh lookin' gun. It's not making the decision as to which .22 pistol to get any easier, that's for damn sure. The Mark III, either Hunter or Target, holds much appeal for several reasons: The stainless finish makes for easier cleaning; the excellent out-of-the box accuracy; and Ruger's overbuilt pistol quality and reliability.

Realistically, I'm just going to have to bring a fistful of cash to a gun store or two and see what they have in stock...

That is all.

Heh. Heheheheheheh...

So, I've been at my company for ten years now. As part of the "thank you for slogging it out" process, I get my choice of items from various catalogs or online up to $250. It's a nice little Thank You present that they certainly don't have to do in today's market but do anyways (and one of the reasons I don't hate my job).

Me being the evil person that I am immediately thought of placing an order either here, here, or here...

That is all.

No, Part II

But for a much different reason...

Cell phone use by tots on rise

Cell phones - the scourge of high school classrooms and corridors - are falling into the hands of grade school tots who are showing up for class with a phone to call home as early as kindergarten, school officials said.

“Cell phones are a problem for all grades,” Haverhill High School Principal Bernie Nangle said, adding that a colleague described seeing kindergarteners with cell phones at her elementary school.

According to TheBoy, there are at least four or five kids in his third grade class (out of 24) who have cell phones. That's not terribly surprising given the high YQ* in my town - just pull up at any school function and you'll see a sea of late-model SUVs arriving to drop off their kids. It's a status symbol like pretty much everything these days; whose kid has the latest and greatest phone/game system/vacation/whatever.

There will be no phones for the G. children for the foreseeable future. There's simply no need for a first (or third) grader to have their own phone, given that they are with us or in school at all times. Perhaps when they are in middle school and have more autonomous after school events we might consider adding a line to our plan, but certainly not while in grammar school.

Now, a tracking device - or shock collar - there's an idea...

That is all.

*Yuppie Quotient

What's On Your Bookshelf?

We got a new bookshelf the other day. Actually, that's not true. We recycled an old bookshelf. Well, technically, we realized that, since our entire VHS tape collection was now packed up and living in the attic, the nice wood bookshelf we sanded and stained ourselves could be put to better use. To whit:

It's the G. Lieberry!

You can see Sci-Fi, fantasy, political thrillers, non-fiction, and other genres represented in the G. collection. Heinlein and Pratchett figure prominently, with Anthony, Bradbury, Correia, Herbert, Tolkien and others having their own little niches on the shelves.

What's most interesting about this particular bookshelf, however, is the location:

I Can Haz Harry Potter?

Yes. We have a bookshelf filled with science fiction/fantasy novels in our master bathroom. We are nerds SUPREME.

That is all.

R.I.P., Agent Maxwell...

Actor Robert Culp dies after fall

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Robert Culp, the actor who rose to fame as secret agent Kelly Robinson on the groundbreaking 1960s TV series "I Spy" and later played Ray Romano's father-in-law on "Everybody Loves Raymond," has died. He was 79.

Culp died after falling on a sidewalk near a Los Angeles park, said his publicist, Dick Delson. Delson had no further details.

He may have become famous as Kelly Robinson, but to a child of the '80s he'll always be Special FBI Agent Bill Maxwell. He may not have worn the magic jammies, but the show wouldn't have been what it was by relying on Bill Katt's 'fro...

Rest in Peace, Robert - your character acting will be missed.

That is all.

No.

Democratic offices vandalized across the country

Authorities in Wichita and some other cities across the country are investigating vandalism against Democratic offices, apparently in response to health care reform.

And on Monday, a former Alabama militia leader took credit for instigating the actions.

Mike Vanderboegh of Pinson, Ala., former leader of the Alabama Constitutional Militia, put out a call on Friday for modern “Sons of Liberty” to break the windows of Democratic Party offices nationwide in opposition to health care reform. Since then, vandals have struck several offices, including the Sedgwick County Democratic Party headquarters in Wichita.

We are not the Taliban. We do not deal with the opposition by intimidation and stupid stunts. We are nice right up until it's time to not be nice - and it's not that time, not yet.

And please, stow the bullshit about "we don't have free elections because of ACORN". Where the hell were you when Lautenberg got put on the ticket after Torricelli tanked? When John Kerry and Ted Kennedy ran unopposed? Hell, there's plenty of evidence that Hizzoner Daley's daddy stuffed enough ballot boxes in Chicago to swing the election from Nixon to Kennedy.

To say nothing of the "Cold dead hands" rhetoric ringing laughably short in the wake of the Katrina confiscations.

Tossing a brick through a Democratic party headquarters is not "sabre-rattling". It's bullshit dimestore bullying no matter how noble your intentions may be. You're not making a stand, you're being a friggin' thug, no better than the thugs that slashed the tires on the GOP get out the vote van in WI. I'll bet they thought they were sending a message, too.

What's next? Are we going to stand outside of voting polls with truncheons to "make a point"? Are we going to buy the votes of the homeless with cigarettes? Chain the doors of Democratic candidate headquarters closed?

Look. It's bullshit when they do it. That doesn't give us the right to stoop to their level. Jesus H. Tapdancing Christ here, people, it's like I'm talking to my kids. "Because he hit me" is not a valid reason to haul off and belt your brother. If it doesn't work for a six year old, it's certainly not going to work for alleged adults.

If you have to resort to petty crimes and thuggery to get your point across, maybe it's a pretty shitty point.

That is all.

Not Sure I Buy This...

Smoking linked to lower IQ's

We generally think that people who smoke despite numerous health warnings and the increased risk of cancer do so because of social and economic reasons. Perhaps it's a matter of irresistible peer pressure or maybe they simply don't know any better? Not so, finds a new Israeli study that links smoking to lower IQs.

Dr. Mark Weiser from the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer Hospital in Israel found a direct correlation between the number of cigarettes a smoker inhales and his IQ. People with lower IQs are the ones who tend to be smokers and the heavier the smoker, the lower the IQ.

Growing up a child of the 1970s - when it seemed like everyone smoked - I've met plenty of really smart people who, at one point or another, smoked. Perhaps that's a generational thing - I knew a lot of people who started smoking before the big warnings push of the late 1960s. My own personal experience - I smoked for 14 years - is that after about, oh, three months you quickly realize that smoking is not a healthful pastime, and anyone with the common sense G-d gave lawn furniture can tell it ain't Vitamin C...

But are they really claiming that our Dear Leader has a low IQ?

That is all.

More MA "Justice"...

Victim rips court’s lenient punishment

A Saugus woman still in pain and fearing financial ruin from a post-prom accident that killed her mother was dealt another crushing blow yesterday after the 19-year-old party boy behind the wheel that tragic night was sentenced to just six months in jail.

“This state is the worst. We protect the criminals. We don’t protect the victims at all,” said Charlotte Marean, 43, who faces more surgeries from the May 16 accident that killed her mother, Carol, 67. “Your life in this state is absolutely worth zero.”

Yup. You read that right. Underaged drinking. Drunk driving. Hit-and-run resulting in bodily injury. Hit-and-run resulting in death. Total sentence? Six months. If he can keep his nose clean he'll more than likely be out in less than that. Even if he serves his full term, he's still getting away with murder for less than a slap on the wrist. I mean, hell, the woman who murdered Matthew Eappen at least served 9 months, and there were no other charges...

Just because it's so absurd that it bears repeating: If I were to cross the border into NH, buy a new 12 round magazine for my SW99, and cross back into MA I'd be a felon. I'd face the likelihood of five years in jail for that offense for having a freakin' piece of metal. But get drunk while underage, climb behind the wheel of a car, hit two people, killing one of them, and then leaving the scene? Six months.

Goes to show the priorities in this state, no?

That is all.

Feel-Good Story of the Day

Pirate killed in failed hijacking off Somalia, EU says

(CNN) -- A pirate was killed and several others were detained after a security team thwarted an attack in waters off Somalia, authorities said Wednesday.

The incident happened Tuesday as a Panamanian-flagged cargo ship, the MV Almezaan, was headed to Mogadishu, said the European Union Naval Force.

A private security team that was on board the ship returned fire when pirates tried to attack the vessel. The security team was able to repel two attack attempts.

Doesn't that just put a smile on your face and a spring in your step? The more this happens, the less likely future attempts at piracy will be. Personally, I want to see Stingray's Privateers get a shot at these jerkoffs, but I'm not above cheering when someone else sends them to Davy Jones' locker...

Bad pirate. No booty for you.

That is all.

Compare and Contrast...

Here's a tale of two verbal gaffes, each caught on tape when the utterer did not realize they were live.

Gaffe #1: How big a deal? Ask Joe Biden

WASHINGTON — Leave it to Vice President Joe Biden to add a little, ahem, flair to the signing of a health care bill affecting millions of people.

"This is a big f------ deal," Biden told President Barack Obama after introducing him at Tuesday's ceremony at the White House.

---

Gaffe #2: A "major league asshole"

At a Labor Day event in Naperville, Ill., Monday morning, apparently oblivious of the microphone just inches from his mouth, Gov. George W. Bush made a crude offhand remark about a reporter that those in the campaign of his rival, Vice President Al Gore, hope will take some of the shine off Bush's warm and sunny veneer.

Waving and smiling to the crowds, Bush and his running mate, former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney, seemed to be enjoying the generous reception offered by the Republican enclave in the Chicago suburbs.

---

Yeah, no difference in that coverage, eh? Biden's gaffe was "flair", whereas Bush's was "crude". Biden "has a reputation of verbal slips"; Bush "is oblivious". Biden is the sitting Vice President of the United States; Bush was the Texas Governor running for President. But who gets the kid gloves and who gets raked over the coals? I think we know the answer - depends on party affiliation.

Look, jackasses, this is the information age. You can't make stuff disappear down the memory hole any more. You put it out there for everyone to see, someone - like me - is going to dredge it up and rub your hypocritical nose in it. You want to pillory George W. Bush for a stupid remark? Fine. You want to handle Joe "babbling idiot" Biden with kid gloves? Also fine.

But don't get all butt-hurt when some guy in his pajamas calls you on your hypocrisy and bias.

That is all.

Thought Experiment...

Whilst shooting the sh!t the other day in Gunblogger Conspiracy, the idea of starting one's own private security firm was bandied about. The idea was that, in certain areas, private security firms could operate as a sort of for-profit police force, with fines and fees bringing in the money needed to pay salaries and meet operating expenses.

Naturally, not being all that concerned with the legalities, implications, or other boring aspects, the talk gravitated to what sidearms the security forces would carry. The security company could be eligible for Class III weaponry if it so chose, so the choices for armament would be rather varied. Now, a standard three gun (pistol, rifle, shotgun) complement would be pretty boring:

Pistol: Glock G19
Rifle: AR-15
Shotgun: Remington 870 Riot Express

All three reliable, tested designs that are available off-the-shelf in any gun shop in America. All three firearms are highly customizable; have aftermarket companies devoted to producing every conceivable add-on, accessory, holster, sling, or sights; and are familiar to pretty much anyone with the most basic of experience with firearms.

But what's the fun in that? What about a themed security agency? Match the three guns that your security details would carry to a specific theme. You could even tailor it to the particular area you'd be patrolling. Just think of all the fun you could have designing specialty groups!

---

You could have an old-school "Wild West" agency:

Pistol: Colt SAA in .45 LC
Rifle: Winchester 1894
Shotgun: Coach gun side-by-side

---

Or perhaps a "high speed low drag" agency:

Pistol: FN 5.7
Rifle: MP5
Shotgun: SPAS-12

---

For the rural agency:

Pistol: Colt Official Police in .38 Special
Rifle: M1 Carbine
Shotgun: Winchester 1897

---

An Eastern European agency:

Pistol: Skorpion vz 61
Rifle: AK47
Shotgun: Saiga-12

---

Your basic milspec agency:

Pistol: M9 Beretta in 9mm
Rifle: M4 in .223
Shotgun: Mossberg 590A1

---

Old school milspec agency:

Pistol: 1911
Rifle: M1 Garand
Shotgun: Remington Model 11

---

and, for the high crime areas like Old Detroit:

Pistol: Glock 18
Rifle: BAR in .30-06
Shotgun: AA-12

---

What other specialty three-gun setups can you think of?

That is all.

Levity Needed...

So here's another e-mailed joke from commenter Stretch...

Quality vs Quantity

The commanding officer at the Russian military academy (the equivalent of a 4-star general in the U.S.) gave a lecture on *Potential Problems and Military Strategy.* At the end of the lecture, he asked if there were any questions.

An officer stood up and asked, "Will there be a third world war? And will Russia take part in it?" The general answered both questions in the affirmative.

Another officer asked, "Who will be the enemy?" The general replied, "All indications point to China ."

Everyone in the audience was shocked. A third officer remarked, "General, we are a nation of only 150 million, compared to the 1.5 billion Chinese. Can we win at all, or even survive?"

The general answered, "Just think about this for a moment: In modern warfare, it is not the *quantity* of soldiers that matters but the *quality*of an army's capabilities. For example, in the Middle East we have had a few wars recently where 5 million Jews fought against 150 million Arabs, and Israel was always victorious."

After a small pause, yet another officer - from the back of the auditorium asked, "Do we have enough Jews???"

Every time I read that it cracks me up. Shalom!

That is all.

Why the Bruins Win...

We've got freakin' SATAN playing for us!

Satan, Wideman Score As Bruins Beat Rangers

Word is he looks like one of the Hanson brothers...

That is all.

Very Cool Stuff...

Received this in e-mail, and it's so cool it has to be shared:

Ride in a U-2 Spy Plane

Here's the description from the e-mail:

Fasten your seat belt for a fantastic ride.

This video is a once in a lifetime experience of a British civilian getting a flight at over 70,000 ft. in a U-2 spy plane. Please note at the take-off the assist wheels on the outer edges of the wings which drop off upon take-off. The wings are so long that they need temporary support until lift-off. What is not shown is at the landing the plane actually slows to a small enough speed that two guys are actually able to grab the wing tips and put those assist wheels back on.

The civilian getting the ride is the host of the car show Top Gear on BBC shown through Europe at 9:00 pm Sunday night in Belgium . The views are spectacular as the U-2 flies at altitudes which constitute "Space."

Very cool, and well worth a look.

That is all.

More Healthcare Reactions...

Just getting a general feel for the reaction among my fellow bloggers to the recent passage of ØbamaCare... It seems there are several different schools of thought on the bill...

There's folks who, like me, are angry:

"Be Prepared", In Jennifer's Head (always excellent advice)

"Some Wishes", AEPilot Jim (don't sugar-coat things)

"The Country was just flushed down the shitter", The Angry Patriot (stop holding everything in...)


There's folks looking on the bright side:

"American Socialism", Fighting for Liberty (but with a silver lining)

"Walk Tall", pdb (listen closely while reading this post. You *will* hear "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" playing in your head)


Some folks are a little more introspective than I:

"The death of Mental Health Care", Borepatch (cautionary example of what we can expect under ØbamaCare)

"Dear America, I own your ass", SayUncle (damn straight Unc)

"Allow me to point something out to some of you", Squeaky (with some actual, you know, facts to back things up)

Some remind us that not all is what it seems:

"Healthcare, Zercool-style", ZerCool (very clever!)

And the Pantsless One is resigned:

"This isn't the end", Robb Allen (agreed, sadly)

UPDATE: Best. Recap. EVAH:

"Recent History", LabRat

---

I think the one thing upon which we can all agree is that this is, without a doubt, the biggest load of crap dumped on the American people in two generations. Not since LBJ's "Great Society" and the "War on Poverty" have we seen a bigger load of "big government please save us from ourselves" whiny crap.

I think we've all had enough; I think we're all mad as hell and ain't no one gonna take it any more. I think this has been a colossal error on Øbama's part - he thought he could twist arms and bribe the right people and get this passed and have his legacy. Problem is, his legacy is going to involve being the first one-term Democrat since his idol and mentor, Jimmy Carter. He's going to lead the Democrats in an ass-whooping that's going to make 1994 look like a picnic; and then he's going to find himself out on his duff in 2012. He's shown a complete and utter lack of "getting it" when it comes to deciphering what the American people want, and is going to suffer the political consequences.

Put simply, Barack Øbama is redefining "tone deaf"...

That is all.

Gunbloggers ROCK!!!

Got home from work tonight to find a small but heavy box sitting on the counter. That rattled. I was curious about the strange markings on the side, so I opened it up. What did I find inside?

TREASURE!

Actually, I knew this was coming. ZerCool of Panem et Circenses... et Plumbum had graciously offered to send some .38 Special my way for testing - this is one of his favorite loads for a .38 Special and a solid contender for my first attempt at reloading. I've been saving .38 Special and .357 Magnum brass for a long time now, and probably have close to a thousand pieces ready for when (not if) I start reloading on my own.

Thanks, ZerCool, for the most excellent surprise!

That is all.

qoSlIj DatIvjaj, Captain Kirk

Happy 79th birthday William Shatner

Whether he's treading the boards at Stratford, securing the safety of the galaxy aboard the Enterprise, or making sure we know the great deals to be had at Priceline.com, Shatner has entertained us for decades with his trademark acting style.

In lieu of cake and novelty candles, you can follow the veteran actor on Twitter or, if you have highly tolerant office mates, take part in International Talk Like William Shatner Day.

Wow. Kirk, universal scourge of slave-girl virginity, is 79 today. Hard to imagine that the virile TJ Hooker is 365 days away from becoming an octogenarian. Which means that he was two years younger than me when he first appeared as Kirk. Suddenly I don't feel so old...

Happy Birthday, Mr. Shatner - if anyone's earned the right to be curmudgeonly and ornery, it would be you...

That is all.

News relayed to me by commenter, blogmeet attendee, and good friend brad_in_ma.

Here's a Thought...

It's not a great idea to read "1984" back to back with "On the Beach" when one is in a bit of a funk to begin with...

That is all.

The End... Or Not.

(image courtesy of Robb Allen)

So, ØbamaCare is a fait accompli, barring some last minute hail mary pass to spare us the horror of national health care. Some are proclaiming this the death knell of the republic, using what I hope is hyperbole to express their supreme displeasure with yet another Democratic gimme attempt at redistributing my wealth to gain votes.

We survived the New Deal. We survived Social Security. We survived the Great Society. We'll survive ØbamaCare. It's not the end of the Republic; far from it; although I agree with Robb that the end happened a while ago. Oh, we're screwed, no doubt of that whatsoever - healthcare is going to be a mighty big stick with which to whack the taxpayer piñata every time they need more tax dollar$ - but we will muddle ever on.

Those of you hoping that this will lead to some glorious GOP revolution in November, I've got one word: STOP. Ain't gonna happen. 98% of the American public will have forgotten all about healthcare reform by November; hell, by the time the November election rolls around, the people will have forgotten the damn World Series.

And relying on the Stupid Party to save us from overreaching big government is like relying on a rabid timberwolf to save you from being eaten by a bear.

That is all.

Crossing Over...

We held our Arrow of Light ceremony yesterday. For those who are unfamiliar with Scouting, the Arrow of Light is the highest award in Cub Scouting; it is earned by WeBeLoS II Scouts who have shown an interest in continuing onto Boy Scouts. The Arrow of Light badge is the only Cub Scout badge that will remain with a Scout through Boy Scouts and, if he wishes, his time as an adult leader. We elect to have the boys actually perform a physical "crossing over" a small bridge to represent their transition from Cub Scout to Boy Scout.

This was the first time that I've driven the ceremony, as it is my first full year as Cubmaster. Last year we split the ceremony, with our outgoing Cubmaster starting the Arrow of Light ceremony, then turning things over to me as his son prepared to cross over to Boy Scouts. It's a simple ceremony, but being as it involves a bunch of 10-11 year old boys, fire (we light candles), and following simple directions, it can be... challenging.

It's also a time for reflection - with the boys crossing over, we have four fewer leaders in our pack. Eight boys I've known since they were my son's age are no longer with our Pack - they've moved upwards and onwards onto Boy Scouts. They're entering a new and different phase of their Scouting experience, one where they will take greater charge of their meetings and excursions; require less adult involvement; and generally get to prove their Scouting mettle out in the field.

They're growing up. They're maturing. They're no longer the scared little Tiger Cubs trying to tie their shoes. They're miles beyond the Wolves just starting to get comfortable in their uniforms. Even though it's only two years, they're well beyond the BTDT Bears, who are just starting to get a little jaded about the ways of the world. Even their younger fellow WeBeLoS, the WeBeLoS I who will be doing this next year, have a ways to go before they, too, stand on the stage ready to become Boy Scouts.

And we, the adult leaders, we watch another group of boys take yet another step towards adulthood; another step closer to becoming responsible, productive adults. We hope that, in some small way, we have helped to guide these boys on the right path; that what we have taught them serves them well, helps them grow, helps them continue on the straight and narrow. We watch as another group of boys leaves our sphere, moving on to bigger, different things; knowing all-too-well that it will be our sons' turn soon enough. We know that the crossing over is but a metaphor for the many changes that will occur in the lives of our children.

And we hope with all our hearts that we've been a positive experience on their journey.

That is all.

New Shooter Report

Well, it's the third month of 2010 and I've got my second new shooter to report. Paul from Boston contacted me via e-mail a few weeks ago with a request:

I have been following your blog every now and then for the past year and I am finally going to make the jump to apply for my LTC Class-A in Boston. I found a website that outlines what needs to be done and I have printed out all the needed forms, signed up for the NRA safety course (which happens to be tomorrow) and I am applying to join a gun club, [redacted]. I chose that club because it is close to my Fathers and he said he would join it if I do and he is taking my step-brother there
for their junior rifle training.

I was wondering what range you go to? I'm sure you have said it plenty of times, and I tried to do a search and couldn't find it (or gave up too soon?) I am a new shooter and if you were in the area, it would be awesome to learn from you before I head to Moon Island for the range test.

This past Saturday I took Paul to my range for an informal new shooter session. I brought along the normal complement of firearms - a .22LR revolver and semi-auto and centerfire equivalents - and we ran through the basic safety instructions. Since Paul had already taken the NRA course it was a quick recap, and we got right to the shooting.

Paul with S&W model 17

Here's Paul with the Smith & Wesson model 17. Since he's taking the test at Moon Island with a Ruger Speed Six, I figured we'd concentrate on revolvers for this outing. Starting with the easy-to-shoot model 17 allowed him to get a feel for both the single action and double action trigger pulls without worrying about recoil or flinch.

---

Since he'd be shooting a Ruger wheelgun at his range test in less than a week, I brought the Security Six along for the day with a goodly amount of .38 special ammo. A couple cylinders' worth to get started, and he was off and running:

Paul with Ruger Security Six

---

He was a little nervous about the upcoming range test, and rightfully so. With the number of public ranges that will rent firearms to folks without permit hovering somewhere in the single digits, it's tough for someone like Paul to get any practice in (gee, you think this might be intentional?). I told him he had nothing to worry about, and as it turns out, I was right:

Typical Target

That bottom target represents the Ruger fired DA at 25 feet, 12 rounds. The test is given at 7 and 15 yards, so this is actually a little further away than the close test. The targets shown are peel-n-sticks that are 8" across, which is about as wide as the 9 ring on the NRA B27 that is given at Moon Island. All 12 shots are easily in the 9 ring, and 10 of the 12 are in the 10 ring or the X. With those 12 shots he's more than halfway to passing - and he gets 30 total.

---

We did have a little fun while we were shooting. I brought the Remington Nylon 66 and 572 for some stress relief - nothing like loading up a tube magazine full of .22LR and chewing the center out of a target. Here's Paul with the pump-action .22LR:

Paul with Remington 572

---

Come to find out, there's a reason Paul was such a killer shot with a rifle: He grew up around one of the most famous snipers ever.

Young Paul and Carlos

Yeah. That's who you think it is.

---

All in all, I'd say we had a pretty good day at the range. Paul agreed with me, too, writing back about his experience:

Thank you again for taking me out shooting. You can take full credit for how I was shooting because that was the first time I have actually had direction on how to shoot, especially with the one-two handed and single-double action. You helped me out a ton and I feel much more comfortable about taking my test next friday, which I was having a lot of anxiety about.

Paul, believe me, it was my pleasure. I'm glad I was able to help you pick up some tips and familiarity with handguns before your range test. From what I saw, you'll do fantastic (and, for the record, Paul has promised to let me know how he did - I predict he'll pass easily with a wide margin above the 210 out of 300 needed).

As an aside, the day I took Paul to my gun club was the busiest day I've seen on the pistol range in the two years I've been a member at my club. While we were there shooting, we had a guy come in bringing his two sons, a friend, and the friend's son; as they finished up we were joined by two women - who were trying out new carry guns! I love my club. It was a gorgeous day to be at the range; a great day spent helping someone get some trigger time before their range test and helping calm the jitters.

Best of luck on Friday, Paul - not that you're going to need it, of course!

That is all.

Frightening...

Teen arrested in Wal-Mart racial announcement incident

(CNN) -- Police in New Jersey arrested a teenager in connection with a public-address-system announcement telling "all blacks" to leave a Wal-Mart store, a police spokesman said.

The 16-year-old boy is from Atlantic County, New Jersey, said deputy police chief John Dalesandro of the Washington Township Police Department. The suspect was arrested Friday in Atlantic County on bias intimidation and harassment charges, police said in a statement Saturday. He is in custody of his parents, police said.

Look, what the kid did was stupid. In today's day and age of hypersensitivity, grabbing the PA system and making such a blatantly ignorant statement targeting a certain group is bound to bite you on the ass. But "bias intimidation"??? For telling "blacks" to "leave the store"? The way the news reports are coming it, they make it sound like he told them all to report to the local Soylent Green processing center.

Assuming - and this is a big assumption I'll admit - that the news reports are correct and that's all that was said, this is a tempest in a teapot. If that's the only announcement that was made, you've got a teenage boy being stupid - gee, like that never happens. Now, ban him from that Wal-Mart with a trespassing charge if he ever comes back and have him perform some community service? Sure.

Criminalizing saying stupid things is a surefire way of making sure 95% of the population gets a criminal record, let's be honest...

That is all.

Busy Day...

Had a pretty busy day today. Here's the checklist of errands so far:

• Truck inspected? Check.
• Oil changed? Check.
• Bloodwork done? Check.
• New shooter brought to range? Check.
  

It was a fantastic day at the range. We were joined by a dad and his two sons and then two women at the pistol range. Full range report on Monday; suffice to say that much lead was flung downrange, a determination was made yet again that pistols are pistols and rifles are rifles, and a good day at the range beats pretty much anything else out there.

Damn it was a good day...

That is all.

Geekutastic...

Sent to me by none other than SCI-FI himself, well, just click and watch:

Watch Buckingham Palace Guard Playing Star Trek Medley

From SCI-FI's e-mail:

OK, I don't blog, but if I did, this would be listed under the "Nerd" category and everyone would laugh at me.

So I don't blog. But I'll send it to you.

And I, of course, will post it - because that's how I (nerdily) roll.

That is all.

LONG Overdue...

Woo doggie. I really shouldn't have skipped my weekly blogroll update last week, because the two entries (one change, one new blog) have blossomed. We have a couple changes and four new blogs to add to the MArooned blogroll today. So let's git-r-done...

Additions:

1. Den of the Wolfman. This was left in comments to my last update:

Jay G, in the spirit of the blogging world, which I am very young in, I added you to my blogroll. Anyhow, I thought I'd let you know. my site is denofthewolfman.blogspot.com and I suppose any exposure of my random thoughts is good, right? Anyhow, love to read your stuff, and its too bad you are stuck in Mass. I grew up in Montana, and now live in Arizona, so I've always been somewhere I could just drive out into nothing and, bang, instant shooting range. Provided one picks up their targets when they are finished... Keep up the good work!

See?!?! Sometimes people *do* listen! :)

2. Meadow House Musings. Sharon's retired in PA and blogging it all.

3. Malodorous Thoughts. A.k.a. Roadkill from the Gunblogger Conspiracy chat. Also a participant in the Vicious Circle lovefest.

4. Babytrollblog. Mark Alger's den of iniquity*.

Changes:

1. Wilsonblog is at new digs.
2. Faitmaker is now Where Angels Fear to Tread.

Now go read these fine folks!

That is all.

*smartasses

RIP, Daniel Boone

'Daniel Boone' star Fess Parker dies

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Fess Parker, best known for playing Daniel Boone in a 1960s television series, died Thursday at his home near Santa Barbara, California, his publicist said. He was 85.

Parker followed his acting career with successful hotel and winery ventures around Santa Barbara.

Here's the most interesting part:

Parker is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marcella

In Hollywood? That's astounding.

Rest in Peace, Fess. You will be missed.

That is all.

Friday VC...

Vicious Circle #43 is up.

Alan, Labrat, aepilot Jim, Christina, Roadkill, and UJ (with a special guest appearance of the World's Most Dangerous Librarian) discuss, among other things, what it means to be Southern, what is or isn't a Yankee, how "yellow" is pronounced, the root causes of the American Civil war, and certain folks' infatuation with, err, animal management. I suggested "If you can't eat it, f**k it" as the title but was shot down...

Vicious Circle: Where the men are men and the llamas are nervous.

That is all.