More MA Miracles...

City’s ’10 tally: 72 homicides, most unsolved

With just one day to go before the end of the year, only 27 of the 72 killings reported, about 38 percent, had been solved as of yesterday. Cases are considered solved when a suspect is arrested or identified in an arrest warrant.

The cases that do go to trial are likely to result in guilty verdicts: The Suffolk District Attorney’s trial conviction rate remains high at 85 percent in 2010, which prosecutors and police attribute to taking time to build solid cases.

Of course, they'll be quickly paroled and let out on the street to murder police officers, but that's another story. It's quite telling that here in MA - home of some of the most restrictive gun laws in the nation - there's still an epidemic of violence, a good chunk of which is committed, yes, with firearms. Requiring the law-abiding to jump through hoops doesn't stop criminals and thugs from getting guns, it just means fewer armed citizens to shoot back.

Finding, arresting, and incarcerating those responsible, OTOH, is proven to have a marked effort on reducing the crime rate. Sadly, that's a lesson MA has yet to learn, preferring to "one gun a month" idiocy and the failed "ballistic fingerprinting" and a whole host of other ideas that will not affect crime in the least but will hamper those that want to legally provide for their own defense.

But then again, it's not about controlling crime, is it?

That is all.

No Question Here!

Now, this one OTOH, I have no qualms about adding...

Intruder Killed In Home Invasion

Houston police said the home invasion and shooting happened at an apartment complex on Broadway Street near Hartsook Street Thursday night.

Investigators said a woman knocked on an apartment door and acted as if she were in distress.

Apparently, when the apartment's occupant opened the door, a male accomplice forced his way in. While he struggled with the female occupant, the woman's husband came from another room and shot him with a rifle. Other than the danger of overpenetration, this is a classic defensive gun use. The goblins used the common practice of having a female accomplice gain entrance, then forced their way into the apartment. There was another male accomplice waiting as well - who knows what they had planned for the people in that apartment?

This illustrates the need to remain vigilant - and armed - even in your own home. Have a plan for unexpected visitors. Carry your guns. If someone comes to the door and you're not expecting visitors, be armed. Slipping a J-frame into a pocket is smart insurance against the unknown, and gives you a definitive advantage over whoever might be thinking about crashing through the door. Don't rely on a gun stashed three rooms away - you might not get the opportunity to get to it. Some might call it paranoid - heck, it might be a little paranoid - but if you never need it, what harm comes of it?

That reminds me - I need a quick access safe for the first floor...

Dead Goblin Count: 115

That is all.

Link sent by stainles and agg79 - thanks!

Not Sure On This One, Either...

Reader Kevin sent me this article as a DGC addition:

Retired officer shoots restaurant robber

UPDATE: Baltimore police told us a few minutes ago that the person shot has been declared brain dead. Additional details are below.

Details remain slim, but police say a retired Baltimore officer shot and critically wounded a man who tried to rob a Pimlico carryout Wednesday night.

A man described as being in his late teens or early 20s brandished a handgun inside Judy's Island Grill & Bake Shop. The retired officer, who was eating inside, confronted and then shot the gunman.

If this were any state other than Maryland (and maybe New Jersey), I'd allow it - the shooter was not an active police officer on duty. But Maryland is funny - ask T-bolt about getting a concealed carry license in the Old Line State. It's exceedingly difficult for an ordinary citizen to get a concealed carry license in Maryland; the retired police officer was granted permission (and it GALLS me to type that) because of his former status as an Only One. While he was, technically, a private citizen at the time of the shooting, his status as a retired police officer is the only thing that allowed him to legally carry his sidearm.

I really don't know how to score this. I posted the DGC rules a while back, and this story falls squarely into the grey areas. The person doing the shooting was not active law enforcement, and appears to have been legally carrying his firearm, so on that basis I think I'm going to allow the addition. But it frosts my ass that had it been T-bolt or MBtGE in that restaurant, they would have - by law - had to leave their firearms at home and would have either had to confront this goblin with a knife, or not at all.

That's wrong on many levels, and if you think that depriving good, honest people of the best means to defend themselves has a single thing to do with controlling criminals, then you, with all offense meant, are an idiot.

Dead Goblin Count: 114

That is all.

Blogroll Additions!

Wow. Have a few new blogs to add to the MArooned blogroll today:

1. Cranky Chicks with Guns. Sarah and her mom blog about guns, life, and everything with a healthy sprig of sarcasm on the side. Sarah also occasionally graces the Gunblogger Conspiracy with her presence.

2. Yankee Gun Nuts. Neighbors of mine stuck in not-quite-as-anti-gun-CT, they're relative newcomers who know how to stir up controversy. The 1911 sucks, indeed!

3. Bus Error. A shooter from VA, we can overlook the "minivan driving" part in light of his pro-gun stance... ;)

4. Maddened Fowl. John D. describes himself thusly: "I have been involved with shooting and tactics a long time. It has become a passion not only to teach others how to preserve life, but remind them of their rights as Americans." Sounds good.

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Welcome to the blogroll folks!

That is all.

Friday Gun Pr0n #196

As I've done in year's past, the last Friday of the year is the "Year in Review". Usually I just dig up the previously posted pictures, but this year, since there were so few new additions to the G. armory, I took a group photo:

Guns of 2010

That's the year's haul: Ruger 10/22 in .22LR, a Smith & Wesson Model 27 in .357 Magnum, and a Smith & Wesson SW1911 in .45 ACP. Now, granted, if you're only going to pick up a handful of guns in a year, you'd be hard-pressed to come up with three more iconic firearms. A semi-automatic rimfire rifle with more aftermarket options than a Chevy 350; a large frame Smith & Wesson revolver; and one of the most venerated platforms in the gunnie world.

2011 looks more promising, as already I've got not one but two possibilities in the works - stay tuned for more gun pron!

That is all.

Another Article

More shameless self-promotion:

I review the Marlin Golden 39A at Guns, Holster, and Gear.

This review was both incredibly easy and at the same time surprisingly difficult. I am an unabashed fan of the lever action rifle in general; the 39A is one of my most favorite firearms of any type. There's an obvious bias to reviewing firearms one owns - obviously there's a positive disposition to something you've spent your hard-earned ducats on, so the tendency is to be overly critical. With the 39A, though, it was hard not to fawn too much - the gun's just that good.

Stay tuned for the next review, where I'll be appraising a firearm not in the G. armory...

That is all.

Special thanks to friend and commenter SCI-FI for assisting in the videography that accompanies the article, as well as his good-natured wife B. for letting him come play in the snow with me...

Last Show of the Year!

That would be tonight's episode of BB&Guns, which will once again feature my dulcet tones (stop laughing already).

The topic for tonight's show is, as Breda puts it, Out & Proud - how we deal with telling new folks about our Second Amendment pursuits. She's approaching it from the gender aspect - that for women, it's much different to proclaim a love of things that go boom than it is for a man. I'm approaching it from the "behind enemy lines" aspect - in areas where the Second Amendment is not respected, letting people know that you like (and own) guns can be hazardous to one's social standing...

Please won't you join us tonight at 8:00 PM EST on Blog Talk Radio for the show?

That is all.

This is Frightening, and No, It's Not in MA...

From PISSED, something to make us all live up to his name...

"No refusal" DUI checkpoints could be coming to Tampa

Tampa, Florida-- With New Year's Eve only days away, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration expects this to be one of the deadliest weeks of the year on the roads.
...

Florida is among several states now holding what are called "no refusal" checkpoints. It means if you refuse a breath test during a traffic stop, a judge is on site, and issues a warrant that allows police to perform a mandatory blood test.

If this doesn't scare the holy hell out of you, it should. Oh sure, on its face it doesn't sound too bad - I mean, folks have gotten out of OUI charges because they refused the breathalyzer. They lose their license for a period of time, but beat the OUI charge. It's not a perfect system, but it sure beats folks having to get their blood drawn forcibly. It will be very interesting to see the test cases - you know someone's going to push this, and I'll donate to their legal defense fund.

Just one (of the many) things they've failed to consider - what happens when the person in question is dragged, against their will, to a hospital for the blood test? Some poor phlebotomist is going to have to try to get sufficient blood for a legal ethanol while dealing with someone in police custody and, most likely, being combative. What then? Getting blood from a compliant patient can be challenging enough; procuring sufficient sample for a legal ethanol while the patient is fighting you is another challenge entirely.

Aside from that, this is a frightening blow for personal liberties. It's another step down the slope; another hit to the fourth amendment. It will be interesting to see how this fares in court - forcing someone to have their blood drawn strikes me as "unreasonable search and seizure", but then again, I'm not a legal scholar. I just hope that one of the judges responsible for this ruling finds themselves on the wrong side of this...

You know what the most frightening line in the article was, for me? This:

"We don't want to violate people's civil rights. That's the last thing we want to do, but we're here to save lives," Unfried said.

That scares the living hell out of me, folks. They're perfectly willing to violate our civil rights in the interest of "saving lives". And we know what ridiculous lengths the nanny state will go to in order to whip up a crisis to save us from - please see Borepatch's diatribes on global warming for proof positive of that. Alternately, track where the money from the tobacco lawsuits went - hint, it wasn't for treatment of lung cancer like they swore it was.

When someone proposes we trade our civil rights for safety, be afraid.

That is all.

More Zero Tolerance Tomfoolery...

Brad_in_ma sends another story of zero tolerance idiocy. Surprisingly, it's not in MA...

Lunchbox mix-up leads to charges for Sanford teen

Sanford, N.C. — An athletic and academic standout in Lee County said a lunchbox mix-up has cut short her senior year of high school and might hurt her college opportunities.

Ashley Smithwick, 17, of Sanford, was suspended from Southern Lee High School in October after school personnel found a small paring knife in her lunchbox.

Suspended for the year over a paring knife. I'm sure the school is much safer now that knives used to cut apples are free from the corridors. Once again, "zero-tolerance" policies result in a student with no record facing draconian punishment - because having punishments set in stone is much easier than actually reviewing cases. Who cares if it destroys a student's promising college career - at least the school administration won't waste valuable seconds discussing the case.

Zero Tolerance - it's easier than thinking.

That is all.

Always Room for One More...

JP from Eyes Never Closed sent me yet another DGC addition:

UPDATE: Homeowner Shoots and Kills Intruder in Putnam County

SCOTT DEPOT, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- What started with planning a break-in ended with one family planning a funeral.

West Virginia State Police say Stephen King, a man in his 20s, broke into the Scott Depot home of Jeff Walker. Troopers say Walker's dogs alerted him of the intruder.

"He heard the dogs, he saw a gentleman standing there who had a handgun, his handgun was raised," W.Va. State Police Sgt. K.S. Dickson said. "Mr. Walker, who was an avid sportsman and hunter, raised his gun and shot the man."

Break into someone's home and point a gun at them and wind up getting shot dead for your troubles? What is this world coming to? I think that the goblin's union should file an "unsafe workplace" grievance with the local HOA for allowing someone to make the burglar's occupation too hazardous, don't you? All kidding aside, it's a shame whenever a life is cut short, even for a goblin; however it's a damn sight better when the law breaker is the one losing his life than the law abiding. Maybe that's cold-hearted of me, but tough rocks.

Want to avoid exposing your insides to the outside? Don't break into peoples' homes.

Dead Goblin Count: 113

That is all.

Northeast Bloggers Third Annual Winter Social Update. Part III

Time for our last update! New Years Day is two days hence; a week after that is our winter meeting. Original post is here, first update here, second update here. First, the basics:

What? Northeast Blogger Winter Gathering.

Who? Any and all bloggers, commenters, readers, lurkers, etc. in the Northeast area, or those passing through, or anyone crazy enough to show up.

When? Saturday, January 8th, starting around 7 PM.

Where? Jillian's Billiards in Manchester, NH (where we had the dinner last year). It's centrally located for our northern bloggers and commenters; it's only a half-hour north of the MA border off I-93; and there's a pool hall we can retire to once dinner has been consumed.

Why? Folks getting together to enjoy good food, great beer, and superlative company. Bring your appetite, a whistle for wetting, and your best stories to tell.

Attendees:

Andrew
Cher & Mopar
Weer'd Beard
Ross
Wally
Libertyman
Colin
Marko
Doubletrouble (and Mrs.?)
Chad
SCI-FI and B.

Possible:

Paul
David
Scotaku
MedicMatthew
JD
zeeke42
TOTWTYTR
LWJ

---

Fourteen definites and eight possibles, for a grand total of under two dozen. Plan on being there until the late evening/early morning, although as always folks can and will come and go as they please. Folks can also show up unannounced, of course, but you run the risk of missing out on schwag that way...

---

If everyone listed above - and anyone who adds their name to the guest list - can shoot me an e-mail, I have something I would like to suggest "off the record". Contact me for details if you haven't already.

---

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone again!

That is all.

Little Tip...

If the "advertisement" you are using on your web page is one of those bloody "pop-over" types that takes up the entire page and has a "Close" link that's two microns tall, I will leave your page so fast it leaves digital vapor trails, and I will make a mental note to never visit again. Look, I of all people understand the need and want for advertisement on one's web page. However, it doesn't have to be obnoxious; it shouldn't dwarf the actual content; and it DAMN well better not freeze up whatever computer I'm using, even if it's an archaic terminal PC. When you annoy your customers (readers), you lose them.

Just a free piece of advice from someone who does marketing for a living...

That is all.

Only In Massachusetts...

Colin sent me a link to this item:

(picture from link, Shotgun Shell String Lights)

It's a cute little gift for the outdoorsman in the family, or for someone who wants to have a unique set of Christmas lights. Then I read the description:

These are actual shotgun shells that have been lovingly re-crimped here in Winston Salem, NC. They are strung onto cords and packaged for gift giving. The person who has everything probably does NOT have these! Our string of Shotgun Shell Christmas Lights comes in two lengths: 12' string features 35 individual lighted shotgun shells, and our 8' string features 20 lights!

Because these are made from "actual shotgun shells", they would be considered ammunition under MA state law. Because they are considered ammunition under MA state law, they require a MA FID card to possess. Possession of ammunition without a valid permit in Massachusetts is a felony under MA state law. Owning these lights without an FID card ($100 for 5 years) would make one a felon...

MA: Where it's a felony to own Christmas lights without the proper permit.

That is all.

One More Before the End of the Year!

FarmDad, over in Gunblogger Conspiracy, sent this latest addition:

Police: Would-Be Robber Fatally Shot

LAUREL, Md. -- A would-be robber shot by an Anne Arundel County property/gas station owner early Tuesday has died from his injuries.

Anne Arundel County police spokesman Justin Mulcahy said a 29-year-old man entered the store portion of a gas station in the 3400 block of Laurel Fort Meade Road at about 3:30 a.m. The building included a Dunkin' Donuts store along with a Baskin-Robbins.

Interesting side note: I'm fairly certain I've gotten coffee at that Dunkin Donuts at least once in my life. We have friends down in that area, and during one visit stopped into one in Laurel that looks identical to the one pictured. Other than that, we've got one dead goblin, one live store clerk, and a Dunkin' Donuts that's guaranteed to have a greater police presence for the foreseeable future.

Dead Goblin Count: 112

That is all.

Really Cool!

Blogson colin sends this most interesting link:

What’s Your State Good At?

Heh. Massachusetts: #1 for speeding tickets!

That is all.

See What Condition My Condition Was In...

Dennis e-mails with blogfodder:

Now...I'm looking to make a 1911-specific holster. Not sure if I'm going to go the route of exotic skins or not yet, but what I need to know is your opinions (along with the opinions of your readers, if you're so inclined) on if a 1911 specific holster must have a thumb break, so as to allow the gun to be carried in Condition 1. (My understanding is that DefCon 1 is cocked, safety locked, live round in the pipe...feel free to correct me if I have it backwards...)

Personally, I don't carry with one in the pipe if the gun is SA only. On the sidearms I have that are DA/SA, I will chamber a round, then drop the hammer and keep the safety on.

So there's the question for you guys...I'm fleshing out a design that is a hybrid of the Flatjack and the Snakebite, made only for the 1911, and the thumbbreak question is one that I need to resolve.

Let's see... Why don't we start with a review of the common "conditions" in which a semi-automatic handgun can be carried?

Condition 0: Round in the chamber, hammer cocked, safety off.
Condition 1: Round in the chamber, hammer cocked, safety on.
Condition 2: Round in the chamber, hammer down. DAO firearms like the Glock cannot be carried in this condition.
Condition 3: Chamber empty, full magazine, hammer down. Sometimes called Israeli carry.
Condition 4: Chamber empty, magazine removed, slide back and locked.

And I'll add in my $0.02: carrying in Condition 3 is a horrendous idea. Most encounters in which a concealed firearm might need to be employed happen at close distance ("bad breath" distance), and the odds of you being able to draw your pistol from concealment, chamber a round, and bring the gun to bear on your assailant are very slim. It's an unnecessary step that's completely unneeded with modern semi-automatic firearms - it's a holdover from the days where carrying in Condition 2 could result in a discharge if the gun were dropped. If you are uncomfortable with carrying a 1911-style handgun in Condition 1, then carry a different handgun.

A modern 1911 has three separate safety mechanisms for Condition 1. The grip safety requires the gun to be held properly to engage; the thumb safety prevents the hammer from falling; and the transfer bar actuated by the trigger prevents discharging due to physical action against the pistol such as dropping onto a hard surface. Carrying a 1911 with the thumb safety engaged is perfectly safe - and make sure to train to disengage the safety as part of the draw. Personally, I think it's a psychological issue - the sight of the cocked hammer instinctively makes us think that the gun is ready to fire.

As to the thumbbreak question, my personal feeling is that it's unnecessary in a quality holster such as those available from Dragon Leatherworks that are custom-fitted to the firearm to be carried therein. They add an additional action to the draw of the firearm, yet another step to go through when you need your concealed firearm the fastest. Out of all the holsters that I have and use on a regular basis, exactly none of them have a retention strap - 1911s and revolvers included. If you're including it for safety (i.e. the strap is going to to across the back of the slide and act as a physical barrier to the hammer hitting the firing pin), refer to above - you've already got three safeties to prevent this; do you really need a fourth?

So, good readers, what say you - thumbbreak or no? And, since we're on the matter anyways, what condition do you carry your firearm in?

That is all.

Your Government At Work...

PISSED sent another good one. Watch this video (careful, language is NSFW or kids; the guy actually sounds a lot like I would given the circumstances):



That's what happens when actions are divorced from consequences, folks.

That is all.

More MA Second/Third/Fourth Chances...

This started out as a simple, "Oh, MA sucks at actually keeping criminals in jail" post, but the more I read into it, the more I realized it was a:

Warning:

(image courtesy of Robb Allen)

Woburn mourns fallen officer

WOBURN — They thought they had planned the perfect robbery, authorities say: One of the men would stand lookout while the other, a violent lifelong criminal armed with a gun, would rob the jewelry section of Kohl’s department store, in the midst of a snowstorm, just before closing time. Both men would don ski masks.

But as they fled the store Sunday night with a duffel bag full of jewelry, police officers arrived. A chase and a shoot-out in the parking lot ensued, killing the alleged armed robber and a police officer, a 34-year veteran whose father had once been police chief here.

Officer Maguire was, quite simply, murdered by the Massachusetts criminal "justice" system. Listen to what the goblin that killed him had faced in the MA penal system:

A paroled career criminal, he had a history of violent theft: two decades ago he was convicted of stealing $86,000 worth of jewels in a downtown Boston store and shooting a security guard in the chest during a scuffle. As a teenager, Cinelli stabbed a man in the chest, police said. Both victims survived.

In 1986, he pleaded guilty to five armed robberies committed after he failed to return from a one-day furlough from the Worcester House of Correction. According to a 2008 Parole Board decision, Cinelli was serving three concurrent life sentences.

The Parole Board released him in March 2009, saying the lifelong drug and alcohol abuser had completed several prison treatment programs for substance abuse and alternatives to violence and earned his GED.

Read that again.

THREE

LIFE

SENTENCES

and he was out on the street with a gun.

I can't buy a new 12 round magazine for my Smith & Wesson, but this violent career criminal was let out of jail on a GED and a successful completion of a substance abuse program? Are they for real? As stories like these increase in frequency it will become a spiraling problem - more and more folks are going to disobey the law, because punishment is a joke and actually incarceration is practically non-existent.

When a violent career criminal can skate on a life sentence (and I won't even get into the idiocy of "concurrent" life sentences) after only a decade or two, we marginalize the entire process. We pass more and more laws outlawing this and banning that, in a desperate fool's errand to save us from ourselves; our legislators push for more and more outrageous gun control schemes -= one gun a month, ballistic fingerprinting, etc. - and yet in the end a violent career criminal still managed to get ahold of a firearm. Despite MA laws, despite federal laws, despite all the the roadblocks that are placed on the law-abiding, this violent piece of scum still managed to get a gun with which he killed a police officer over costume jewelry.

The only "good" part of this story is that this piece of shit was killed on the scene.

That is all.

Link sent by PISSED, who apparently feels that enough time has passed since Christmas to get my blood pressure back up...

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday...

Caught this interesting retrospective this morning as I waited for my coffee to percolate:

You Won't See These in 2010

Products and Brands We Lose This Year

While for most of us 2010 was a year of very gradual recovery, there were some moments of great loss. Over the course of the year, we said goodbye to a number of people, brands and products that have been a part of our lives for many years.

On this list?

• Kodachrome Color Film
• South Beach Living Diet Frozen Food Entrees
• Buell
• Circuit City
• Saturn & Pontiac
  

It's an interesting snapshot of what products no longer captivate the American wallet. Kodachrome color film has been a part of the American experience for 74 years (heck, I can't type that without hearing Paul Simon & Garfunkel's - thanks Ross - "Kodachrome" playing in my head). Obviously as we transition to digital more and more the "traditional" method of capturing photographs is falling by the wayside. Obviously the "South Beach" phenomenon has truly passed. Circuit City marks a somewhat disturbing pattern of the "do it all" stores fading into the past.

The last three are in the transportation arena, with the one surprise being Buell. Apparently the novelty of a Harley-powered sportbike wasn't enough cachet to get folks to part with 50% more money than a Honda or Kawasaki. Pontiac's departure from the automotive world was bittersweet, the once-great manufacturer of the GTO and the Trans Am reduced to re-badging Opels. Pontiac never really recovered from the emissions regulations in the 1970s that ended the muscle car era in the quest for efficiency, turning into just another GM clone that offered different badges on the same sheetmetal.

Perhaps the saddest loss of 2010 is the Saturn marque. Saturn hit the market in 1990, starting the last decade of the 20th century with a completely different kind of GM brand. Saturn showcased the "no-haggle pricing", where rather than have a grossly inflated MSRP and haggling it down to something approaching reasonable, they started off the bat with a reasonable price. Saturn's cars were well-built compared to other American cars at the time, and if there was any failing in the line it was only that they were limited - Saturn offered a compact coupe, compact sedan, and compact station wagon.

Saturn was perfectly positioned as an entry-level new car for the recent college graduate - and as I was in that demographic, I knew literally dozens of my contemporaries who did just that. Graduate, get a job, buy a Saturn as your first car. The problem came when that recent grad got married and had a baby on the way - that little coupe or sedan just wasn't going to cut it as a family car, and the owner, happy with the reliability of the Saturn name, had nothing larger to move up to. In 2000 the short lived "L" series - a re-badged Opel Vectra B - was debuted, and suffered something like a third more recalls and problems than average. GM took the easy way out more and more with Saturn, and in the end was doing nothing more than slapping Saturn's badge on every other crappy GM offering - they turned it into just another brand, rather than something special.

All of the products on this list didn't make the cut for one reason or another. Some are technologically obsolete - the Sony Walkman was also phased out in 2010 - while others just didn't have the sales to justify their existence any more. There's a lesson to be learned from each failure, whether the manufacturer got too greedy, cut too many corners, or relied too heavily on name recognition alone. In any case, each is a perfect case study in why we buy - or don't buy - any given product.

Fare thee well, ghosts of products passed; we will certainly add more products next year...

That is all.

Linoge Does the Heavy Lifting...

And proves, yet again, that the anti-gun side needs to lie to further their cause.

He's been following - and completely debunking - the antis claim that "more guns = more crime", a tired old canard that's been proven false time and time again, yet keeps popping up like a bad penny. He's got charts and graphs and 8X10 color glossy photographs with a paragraph on the back and everything, and they've got Google searches. We have facts, they have the blood of innocents. We have logic, they have hysteria. And Linoge calls them on it yet again.

Go, read; be amazed and astounded at how far gun-grabbers have to fold, spindle, and mutilate the truth just to break even - and they're failing at that more and more.

That is all.

Deadly Sin: Lust

Holy crap, I want this gun something fierce:

(image and info below from Sig link)

SigSauer P210 Legend

The legendary Swiss Army Pistol P210 - now relaunched by SIG SAUER: Swiss precision made in Germany. The P210 is well known as one of the best handguns in the world: High class material excellent processed to tightest fitting and superior precision. We even improved the original: The internal drop safety, the modern sights, american magazine catch, handy magazine bottom and the heavy frame ensure most comfortable handling. The robust QPQ coating and the smooth safety lever delight collectors and connoisseurs.

Single action. Heavy frame. Target sights. Single stack. Oh, man, this is one sweet pistol. All indications, of course, are that it will be priced commiserate with the accouterments, so this will be a grail gun of sorts. But damn, the P210 - that's up there with the S&W model 41 for rimfire or the Colt Python for .357 Magnum as far as out of the box great shootin' from the factory. There are currently two 9mm handguns in the G. armory - a P226 and a Hi-Power - it would be nice to add a single action, single stack target gun to the mix...

*sigh* So many guns, so little money - what guns out there are exceeding your grasp at the moment?

That is all.

I Believe I Speak For Every Male on the Planet...

When I say OH HELL YES...

Christina Hendricks ‘loves’ Wonder Woman rumor

Christina Hendricks has high ambitions. The “Mad Men” star, who is famous for her voluptuous figure, is hoping to become a superhero! Hendricks told Rachael Ray the other day that she’d like to play Wonder Woman. “I heard that rumor, too — I don’t know where it got started, but I love it,” the ginger-haired beauty told Rache.

You ain't the only one who loves that idea, Christina...

That is all.

Never Let A Crisis Go To Waste...

Oh HELL NO...

US to step up security at hotels and malls

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States is stepping up security at "soft targets" like hotels and shopping malls, as well as trains and ports, as it counters the evolving Al-Qaeda threat, a top official said Sunday.

A year after a foiled plot to bomb a US-bound passenger plane, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told CNN's "State of the Union" program that other places and modes of transportation must now be scrutinized.

Right. Not content at having ruined air travel, the Øbama administration has decided that it wants to drive the final nail into the US economy's coffin and make shopping as onerous a process as flying. Hope you liked last year's property taxes for brick and mortar shops, because if you implement airport style security at the local mall, you will positively KILL the last shreds of the retail industry.

You make Suzie Soccermom go through a TSA patdown to get into the Mall of America and it will last about as long as the Chevy Chase show. Flying is something we do because we have to - going to the mall we don't have to do, and if you make it a pain in the ass, we won't do it. Kill off a few hundred retail outlets and watch the economy shrivel and die.

Man, I really, honestly can't tell if this administration is really evil or really incompetent - it's hard to tell...

That is all.

End of an Era...

Kennedy’s Exit From D.C. Marks End Of Era

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Kennedys have held congressional seats, the presidency and the public’s imagination for more than 60 years.

That era ends when Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island vacates his U.S. House seat next month, leaving a City Council post in California as Camelot’s sole remaining political holding.

Remember, don't go away drunk, just go away.

Aw, poor media. Camelot is dead and buried, and the very last Kennedy in national office upon which they could hang their hat was Patches. Oh, how the mighty have fallen - from the Presidency to US Rep from RI, and that's the best they could do. It's got to be tough; during the early 1960s the Kennedy mystique - and it was nothing more than mystique - captivated America with a young, dynamic family seemingly propelled out of nowhere into the public consciousness. A tragic assassination only sealed the myth and let it fester out of control for nearly 50 years.

Patches, don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. Good luck trying to capitalize on misery like Unkie Joe and Citizen's Energy; perhaps you'll avoid his pitfalls and not hitch your wagon to Hugo Chavez's largess. What, you ask, does the future hold for Patches? Oh, this is rich:

Kennedy plans to continue the tradition by championing a national effort to boost brain research.

Oh, there's just so much snark and so little time...

That is all.

Christmas Recap...

I got a $50 gift certificate to my favorite gun store and a $100 gift card to a box store that also sells ammo (okay, WalMart) for Christmas. I tend not to put gun-related stuff on my list for two reasons: first, out of all the folks that get me presents, only one has a permit; and second I'm pretty picky about what cleaning solvents/etc. I use, so I prefer to pick it out myself. In my case, gift certificates and store cards are the way to go for gunnie stuff.

I figure I'll use the gun store certificate either as a deposit on something new/exciting in the case or for some defensive ammo or cleaning supplies. The box store card will go towards replenishing the ammo locker - been running through .22LR recently so I should pick up a few more bricks and they've also started carrying Federal round nose .38 Special wadcutters, which are perfect for the indoor range at my gun club. With two feet of snow expected by the time it all stops tonight and temperatures in the 20s, it's time to start shooting indoors more...

(Side note: In the non-gunnie items of interest was a wireless USB headset, so perhaps my Vicious Circle appearances will feature fewer technical difficulties... Well, I can dream, can't I?)

So, what did Gunnie Claus leave under your Christmas tree?

That is all.

Tough Question #2...

In my post promoting my second article for Guns, Holsters, and Gear, commenter Vic asks an excellent question:

So here's a question.

I don't own a gun, I've never owned one, and I've never had formal training. I have, however, been shooting a couple of times and plan to buy a gun in a few months (I'm abroad at the moment and won't be back until the summer). The few times I went shooting, I discovered that while I have fun putting more or less anything downrange, I really, really loved the 1911s and the .357 revolver I shot (I did my best to try as many of the 9mm plastics for comparison and tried the 1911s on a whim). I'm now torn as to whether I should stick with a smaller caliber for the first gun, or just buy a 1911 and learn on that.

What do you think? I don't think I need to be "hooked" (I'm totally there, the only reason I wasn't at the range every day this summer was that it costs money and that you need a buddy to rent a lane if you don't own a gun), but I'm definitely a long way from any kind of competency.

Man, that's a tough call. I love the 1911 platform in (almost) all of its incarnations (that LDA trigger is an abomination unto John Moses Browning, PBUH), but I'm also an unabashed wheelgun fan. I carry a 1911 in the winter and a J-frame pretty much year round, and have been known to carry a 3" K-frame from time to time as well. .45 ACP and .357 Magnum are both capable defensive calibers, with the 1911 having the edge in capacity but the .357 Magnum having the edge in versatility (given that a revolver chambered in .357 Magnum will also fire the .38 Special cartridge).

Many factors influence the response here.

• What's the price range?
  

A quality .357 Magnum revolver can be found used for $300 - $400 and new for about double that; 1911s vary greatly from Rock Island Armory or AutoOrdnance for around $500 to, well, $65K (okay, that might be an outlier, but a custom 1911 can easily run well into quality used car area for price). Ammo prices are fairly comparable - .45 ACP runs between $15 and $20 for a box of 50 rounds, .38 Special/.357 Magnum about the same.

• What's the intended purpose?

Concealed carry? Target shooting? General plinking? A Commander-sized 1911 might be suitable for all three purposes; ditto a 3" barrel model 386. A Smith & Wesson model 60 (or the Snubbie from Hell™ model 360) is more concealable under more conditions; a 5" Government Colt is more accurate and has higher capacity, so as a target gun or for home defense might get the edge. For hunting a 6" barrel .357 Magnum would work better than most anything available on the 1911 platform. If the purpose is a general, good for all three gun, then a Commander 1911 or 3" Night Guard might work (or a 4" Model 19, for that matter).

• How much tinkering do you like to do?

The 1911 wins here, hands down. The revolver has the option of changing out the grips, lightening the trigger, and maybe changing out the sights. The 1911 has an entire industry devoted to aftermarket parts. If you're the sort who wants to customize your handgun, the 1911 certainly has more options; on the other hand, if you just want to take it out of the box and make it go bang, the wheelgun might work better for your needs. Another consideration for the 1911 is that you can get a conversion kit for it and be able to shoot .22LR through it - making for cheap plinking costs but still being able to use it as a defensive arm with the original barrel and slide.

---

It's a difficult question, that's for certain. Part of me is tempted to punt and say get both - look for a generic .357 Magnum wheelie as well as an entry-level 1911. It's hard to recommend one or the other - for general plinking they're both just fun, outstanding guns. If the only criteria is "something to take to the range and have fun", well, grab a handful of cash and go to the gun store. See what jumps out at you. You really can't lose.

If pressed to make an absolute choice between the two, I'd opt for a 4" barrel Smith & Wesson model 19 or 686 or Ruger GP100. A medium frame .357 Magnum revolver is a swiss army knife type of gun - stoke it with Cowboy Action .38 Special loads for light plinking or taking a new shooter to the range for their first centerfire handgun; stoke it with 158 grain .357 Magnum rounds for self-defense. They're easier to clean and require less maintenance than their semi-automatic counterparts, and still yield plenty of punch on the naughty end.

What would you recommend - 1911 semi-automatic or .357 Magnum revolver?

That is all.

Ten Years Ago Today...

Massachusetts had its deadliest workplace shooting. Brad_in_ma sent me the following article as a reminder:

Emotions raw 10 years after shooting

Irene Wood tries to enjoy the Christmas season, but this year the 73-year-old suburban New Jersey woman said she was having a “very difficult time just keeping my act together.’’

Ten years ago today, her 29-year-old son, Craig Wood, was among seven employees of Edgewater Technology Inc. in Wakefield who were gunned down by a co-worker in the worst mass murder in Massachusetts history.

Personal connections to this shooting abound. The shooter lived in the town next to mine, and most likely drove through my town on his way to work every day - he most likely drove through my town on his way to commit this horrible act. A family member works at the school near Edgewater Technologies where survivors were brought for safety while the building was cleared. At the time I was on a political bulletin board, and when news of the shooting broke, cause a small amount of panic among board participants, as news reports only stated "technology company north of Boston".

There's a good bit missing from the retrospective. First, Brad points out this nugget:

Despite the passage of time, Stephen C. Doherty, the now-retired Wakefield police chief who rushed to the company minutes after shooting erupted in the usually placid town, said his memories of the carnage surface almost every day.

(emphasis mine). Minutes. When seconds count, police are only minutes away. We repeat this mantra often, at the risk of losing sight of what it represents. This is the very reason we carry our own guns - by their very nature, the police cannot be everywhere at once. Short of a militant police state, we cannot have round-the-clock police protection - and if we did, who would want it? That's the stuff of sci-fi horror, where an overbearing centralized government controls and dictates our every move. We are the first line of defense, plain and simple.

The other thing that's not mentioned is that McDermott was not legally allowed to own the two firearms used. He was ineligible to own firearms in MA and had been ordered to turn in his firearms and had not complied, yet police never confiscated his firearms. He'd been declared unsuitable over repeated mental illness issues, and yet had not had his firearms - bought and registered in Massachusetts - removed as prescribed by MA law. Now, I don't think anyone honestly thinks that he couldn't have gotten guns elsewhere, but the simple fact is that even in MA, which has strict gun control, an ineligible person continued to own firearms in violation of the state's laws, and nothing was done about it.

You are your own defense. Never lose sight of that. Don't rely on criminals obeying the laws, nor adhering to quaint notions of "restraining orders" or any other paper defense. Laws only keep the law-abiding in check; they do nothing to stop the evil or deranged. There's no such thing as a "safe" place - a small office building where everyone knows everyone else should have been safe, but wasn't. "There's no safety outside the grave" - Jubal Harshaw, "Stranger in a Strange Land". There are places where you might be safer than others, but nowhere is completely safe - absolutely safety is an illusion, or else brought only by the cold hand of Death.

I prefer the option of making others Safe should they place me or mine in jeopardy.

That is all.

Snowmageddon...

So they're predicting ZOMG STORM OF THE WEEK MONTH YEAR DECADE CENTURY today. Weather reports indicate 18+" of snow with sustained winds, yadda yadda yadda; a basic Nor'easter dumping lots of global warming on the area. From the sheer glee of the media you'd think that this was the first snowstorm we'd received in a generation - which is pretty much par for the course for the first snow every year. It got so bad that they started running a count - ZOMG we've had X days without snow! The last time it had been this long was 2000! We stopped just short of the record (some 303 days), which disappointed them mightily, but with the impending BLIZZARD OF DOOM they've got other focus.

We've got gas in the snowblower and it has been started and run to (hopefully) avoid unpleasant surprises later in the day. Food we have in abundance, not to mention the supermarket is only a mile and a half away - and I've got snowshoes if we really need supplies. Both cars are gassed up and sleeping happily in the garage; both have 4WD and decent ground clearance (although the Ram really needs new sneakers...). Should toss some sandbags in the bed of the truck to complete our preparedness and we're good to go; and get ready to wake up early tomorrow morning to clear the driveway before the Mrs. has to get to work...

In any case, for those in the storm's path, hunker down and enjoy, and ignore the doomsayers in the media - have fun in the snow!

That is all.

For G-d So Loved the World...

John 3:16-21 (New International Version, ©2010)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

Remember the reason for the season, folks.

That is all.

Happy Birthday Jeebus...

And for your listening pleasure...



Merry Christmas, everyone!

That is all.

Christmas Eve Blogroll Addition...

I had intended this addition to go on last week with the big update, but I missed the e-mail that he so kindly sent asking to be added. Mea culpa, Kevin, mea maxima culpa.

Please welcome Kevin from Misfires & Light Strikes to the MArooned blogroll.

Once again, I'll reiterate. I run a reciprocal blogroll here at MArooned - if you link here, let me know and I'll add you as well. I know I always get a smile out of seeing my blog linked somewhere, and want to promulgate that for anyone crazy kind enough to blogroll me.

Just let me know!

That is all.

OJT?

Boston Man Arrested For Groping Red Line Passenger

BOSTON (CBS) – A Boston man was arrested by MBTA Transit Police after they say he groped a Cambridge woman on a train last month.

The suspect, 25-year-old Brian Canning, allegedly grabbed the victim’s buttocks November 1^st, in a crowded Red Line train. The alleged assault reportedly took place between the Charles/MGH MBTA and the Park Street stops.

Now, don't get me wrong. The guy's a creep and would most likely benefit from thirty days in the hole (hell, it'll get him away from the Twinkies...). But this assault happened on November 1st and they've been tracking him down ever since? Now, I don't question that it might take that long to identify someone - they must have had to go over hours and hours of surveillance footage - but over a masher? It seems to be a somewhat over-application of resources given the allegations.

Besides, I hear he's just training for the TSA...

That is all.

Oh, The Irony She Is Thick...

PISSED sent me this link. It's far too ironically delicious not to share.

Obama Family Vacation Runs Into Troubled Waters: Again

The first family just can't seem to enjoy a beach vacation near clean, pristine water, and the current presidential vacation is no different.

Hawaii has been plagued with heavy rains recently, and the Oahu village of Kailua has been forced to release untreated sewage and agricultural runoff into Kailua Bay and the beaches around the Obamas' rental home. County officials have posted signs telling tourists to stay out of the water but many Hawaiian visitors are going in for a Christmas dip anyway.

Question 1: Where are the news media and 24/7 coverage of "Øbama on vacation again" like they were when Bush went to his ranch in Crawford.

Question 2: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Oh, I'm sorry, that's not a question, is it?

Poor Øbama - he's in the s**t no matter where he goes!

That is all.

Friday Gun Pr0n #195

Today's gun pic is a continuation on the theme of the past three weeks, another 1911. However, this has a twist. It's a 1911 already in the G. armory, so it's been featured here before. This time, though, it's sporting these, courtesy of JP at Eyes Never Closed:

ARRRRRR!

Heh. Avast ye scurvy dogs. There be pirate grips here! They're machined aluminum, which is actually a first for me - I've only had plastic, rubber, or wood grips on my 1911 so far. How do they look on the gun? Well...

A Gold Cup Fit For a Pirate

Pretty damn good, I'd say... Thanks JP!!!

That is all.

It's Christmas All Over!

Tirno also has a new shooter report, and it's a double! Money quote:

Somewhere out there, an anti-gun zealot took a friend to the anti-gun range, let him have a go at his anti-gun, no, three anti-guns, and then checked his anti-targets and had his friend grinning from ear to ear with pride at the anti-holes punched in his anti-target. And not only did I completely nullify that effort, but I went one better because my friend brought his son.

Heh. Teh snark, Tirno haz it...

Good on you, Tirno. And thanks.

That is all.

And, Once More, Not in MA...

Mopar sent me a link to this story, with the expressed intent of rivalling PISSED for raising my blood pressure...

Teen using indelible marker at OKC school arrested

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Mark this down, using an indelible marker in school in Oklahoma City can get you arrested.

A police report says a 13-year-old student at Roosevelt Middle School was arrested last Friday after a seventh-grade math teacher said the marker bled through paper onto a desk and that the student was seen writing on the desk with the marker.

A city ordinance aimed at graffiti says no one is allowed to possess spray paint or a permanent marker on private property without the permission of the property owner or the person in control of the property.

The best part of the entire story? The teacher made a "citizen's arrest" of the student. Yeah. Sure am glad there are no other issues in that school that "arresting" students over arcane laws is the best choice of action. Now, the child did cause a school desk to be defaced; no one is arguing that. Make the parents pay for cleaning, certainly. But to have a 13-year old arrested over possession of a permanent marker? Are you kidding me?

They would have had to call the SWAT team if the kid had a pack of Sharpies...

That is all.

Holy Insanely Expensive Guns Batman!

Try THIS one on for size:


From the link:

2011 SHOT Show Auction Gun
One-of-a-Kind
Factory Engraved
100th Anniversary Colt 1911
Serial # 1911COLT2011
"100 Years at America's Side"

Just take a guess at the price...

That is all.

Link sent by Mopar, who apparently wants me to sell my truck or something...

Does Michelle Know?

Heh. I couldn't resist this screenshot when I opened Comcast...

No wonder Rahm Emanuel left when he did!

I love how the media is falling over themselves to fellate The Øne for his majestic triumph in banishing DADT. How he built coalitions with TEH EBIL RETHUGLICANS to win over a few of the less-homophobic to bring forth this stunning lame duck session victory. What puzzles me, though, is why they're covering for the evil Republican administration that made such a horrible policy to begin with...

Waitaminute...

That is all.

An Early Christmas Present...

Friend, blogshoot staple, purveyor of most excellent gunnie goodness, and all-around great guy Wally sent me this wonderful story:

Jay,

I thought this would warm your heart.

New shooter report - 13 year old lad, second time ever touching a firearm. This session started with dad getting him going with a 22 pistol, then a 22 rifle, 30M1 carbine, AR15, a certain 9mm M16, and by the end of the session he was running my M16 like it was his business. If it wasn't for the bitter cold, he'd still be on the firing line!

This shooter is the 18th teenager that I've introduced to machine guns this year. I hope this offsets that asinine story earlier this week about crushing toy guns.

-Wally

It most certainly does, Wally. It most certainly does. Every single new shooter we bring into the fold makes Sarah Brady cry. With this report, she'll be practically inconsolable. Oh, BTW, Wally included a picture of the young lad with the M16 in question:



(Wally has creatively edited the picture to preserve the young man's anonymity as well as to highlight the brass in flight...)

Every time a new shooter fires a machine gun, an angel gets its wings. Thanks Wally!!!

That is all.

Okay, One More Christmas Post...

At least this one has a gun in it...

'You'll shoot your eye out.' 70 years and counting for iconic toy of 'A Christmas Story'

In the opening minutes of the popular holiday film " A Christmas Story," little Ralphie Parker is mesmerized by a BB gun in a store window. Not just any BB gun, but "the holy grail of Christmas gifts," the Red Ryder 200-shot range model air rifle.

Of course, this being the Chicago Tribune, we don't get more than two more paragraphs in before the PSH starts:

But the notion of buying guns — even iconic guns that are considered toys — as children's gifts is a delicate topic these days. A leading gun violence prevention group notes that more than 10,000 people received emergency room treatment for pellet and BB gun injuries in 2009. And Daisy Outdoor Products, maker of the Red Ryder, acknowledged that gun awareness has hurt sales.

Okay, I'm going to have to ask for an unbiased link on that statistic. I find it exceeding hard to believe that there were 10,000 ER visits due to Red Ryder BB guns in 2009. Something tells me they're conflating all air rifle/air soft/paintball and other injuries, from guys that trip and fall playing paintball to kids getting a BB removed from their buttocks after a rousing game of BB gun tag...

I couldn't resist this story - sent to me by reader Chiefjaybob - especially considering I bought TheBoy his Red Ryder over two years ago...

That is all.

A GBC Christmas

A bunch of us (two dozen IIRC) over at the Gunblogger Conspiracy decided to hold a gunnie Secret Santa, spearheaded by PDB. He asked us to:

Please post a comment to this post when you have opened yours! Don’t forget to mention what you got, from whom, and whether it sucks or not! Links to blog posts and pictures are encouraged.

Well, here's what I got from Farmmom:



Heh.

For starters, the present came with a note on it: "From your secret santa. You've been a very naughty boy!" They know me!

I opened the present to find a "Hello Kitty" purse with "Jay's Murse" written on the inside - an inside joke around the GBC with several posters (most prominently alan, who was showing off his iPad-totin' murse at the NRA convention in May). Inside the purse were a Gerber mini-paraframe and a Smith's sharpening stone - an absolutely PERFECT gift, as I've been relying on our old CutCo sharpener for my pocket knives, and it's really better suited for kitchen knives. I haven't had a proper sharpening stone in ages, and this is the perfect thing to get me back into keeping proper care of my pocket knives.

Thanks Farmmom - your Secret Santa gift was AWESOME!

That is all.

More Shameless Self-Promotion...

My second article is up over at Guns, Holsters, and Gear:

The .22LR as trainer for new shooters.

I discuss using firearms chambered in .22LR for getting new folks hooked on shooting. I detail my own personal process for introducing new folks to the sport along with my rationale behind starting them off with rimfire guns before jumping into centerfire. In a nutshell, I want the experience to be as comfortable as possible, and starting a noob off with a handcannon isn't the way to do it...

Take a read and let me know what you think!

That is all.

Once Again, Not In MA

PISSED (and commenter JoeMerchant) sent another article along with the apparent purpose of raising my blood pressure...

Christmas Sweater Club Punished At Local High School

HAYMARKET, Va. (WUSA) -- They call themselves the "Christmas Sweater Club" because they wear the craziest ones they can find. They also sing Christmas songs at school and try their best to spread Christmas cheer.

Now all 10 of them are in trouble because of what they did at their school.

"They said, 'maliciously maim students with the intent to injure.' And I don't think any of us here intentionally meant to injure anyone, or did," said Zakk Rhine, a junior at Battlefield High School.

What did they do, you ask? Did they assault students with snowballs? Pelt folks with rocks? Engage in a food fight? Not even close:

The boys say they were just tossing small two-inch candy canes to fellow students as they entered school. The ones in plastic wrap that are so small they often break apart.

This is malicious maiming in VA. Tossing a 2" candy cane to other students is now the equivalent of heaving a brick at someone in bIzARro overreaction world. But wait, it gets better...

Skylar Torbett, also a junior, said administrators told him, "They said the candy canes are weapons because you can sharpen them with your mouth and stab people with them." He said neither he nor any of their friend did that.

Yes. Apparently there's a real problem with sucrose shivs in the Haymarket, VA school system...

Now, a lot of this is he-said, they said; you have a group of students making claims about administration - there's a lot of room for exaggeration on that side, to be certain. I guess the saddest part of this whole story is that it's possible that something like this could even happen; that we've gone so far down the PC hole that it's not outside the realm of possibility that someone could get in trouble for handing out candy canes the week before Christmas.

If everything is true as written, I hope Santa has his reindeer shit down the chimney of the administrator(s) responsible...

That is all.

Stow The Sanctimony, Santa...

So, I've been listening to Christmas music the past, oh, month or so, right? Two songs have really been sticking in my craw: "Do They Know It's Christmas" by the collective BandAid and "Happy Christmas" by John Lennon, mainly for the unholy amounts of vainglorious moral superiority exuded from everyone involved with either project. The magic of Christmas music is that it's background - you can hear pretty much any version of "Silent Night" or "Deck the Halls" or "Jingle Bells" and know the words and let it gently play in the background. Not these two, though...

"There won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime" - NO SHIT SHERLOCK. It's a bloody desert! Not to mention that the vast majority of Africans don't celebrate Christmas to begin with! GAH! If smug were a fuel, this song and everyone associated with it could power my truck for the next 75 billion miles. What's really stunning is the video - in an effort to raise money for starving people in Africa, there's footage of stars arriving at the studio in limousines. Hell, the haircare bill for that 4 minute video could have fed several African nations for a year.

As for Happy Christmas, I guess it's just Lennon continuing the anti-war activism of the 60s into the 1970s with the "War is Over" part. I guess what makes it so irritating is that the assumption is that the rest of us want war - that only Lennon and his compatriots are enlightened enough to want an end to war. "Only the dead have seen the end of war" - generally credited to Plato over three hundred years before the first Christmas. No one wants war. Sometimes, though, it is unavoidable, a tragic testimony to the human condition and our tendency to split into tribes.

Don't worry, I won't leave you with either of those two paeans to self-righteousness. Oh no, I'll close with two of my very favorite Christmas songs:



George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyer's "Rock & Roll Christmas" - complete with John Lee Hooker as Santa Claus. Rockin'!

And it wouldn't be Christmas without this one:



And a beer [PAUSE] iiiinnn a tree. Classic!

What are your favorite (or least favorite) Christmas songs?

That is all.

It's the Most Deadliest Time... of the Year...

PISSED sent this interesting article, worth a read:

Christmas the deadliest day of the year: study

A new U.S. analysis of mortality rates during different times of year found that people are more likely to die during the holidays — notably on Christmas and New Year’s Day — and researchers cannot explain the yearly spike.

After analyzing all official United States death certificates over the 25-year period between 1979 and 2004, a trio of sociologists identified an excess of 42,325 natural deaths — that is, above and beyond the normal seasonal winter increase — in the two weeks starting with Christmas.

They offer some thoughts as to what might explain this phenomenon, from folks postponing shuffling off this mortal coil until after the holidays (unlikely) to overcrowded ERs (slightly more plausible). It's an interesting observation, but there are simply too many factors to draw any conclusions yet. Between the dramatic increase in travel, especially at a time of the year where weather can make traveling more dangerous; to the general stress induced by the holidays; to even the possibility that more folks choose to check out due to holiday depression; there are so many possibilities and so little data...

This part made me wonder, too:

In general, Mr. Phillips said the team’s analysis of some 57.5-million death certificates shows the chance of dying during this holiday period increases “somewhere between 3% and 9%, depending on the demographic group you’re looking at, and somewhere between 1% and 10%, depending on what cause of death you’re looking at.”

Your chance of dying increases at a different rate depending on which group you fall into? And the rate of increase depends on cause of death? Something tells me that suicides increase dramatically this time of year - between folks that are alone on the holidays or people overcome by stress. Perhaps a more useful metric would be a correlation between the holidays and stress levels - although that's hardly a novel concept, that one's stress increases this time of year. Another question would be how many alcohol related deaths - fights, DWIs, etc. - occur this time of year versus the rest of the year. Something tells me that the rate of folks overindulging skyrockets this time of year...

In any case, it's an interesting anecdote, and a reminder to be careful this holiday season!

That is all.

Teh Stoopid, It Is Not Confined to MA...

Warning:

(image courtesy of Robb Allen)

My blogdaughter sent me this story. Please remove all breakable/throwable objects before reading.

Disarming the toy box

PROVIDENCE — Dominic Johnson, a 10-year-old fourth-grader with a fledgling Mohawk, brandished his black, long-nosed toy gun and caressed the muzzle appreciatively.

“It’s like a shotgun mixed with a rifle,’’ he said, as his mother, April, told him to stop pointing it at nearby children.

Soon it would be junk.

Apparently, they crush toy guns and give the kids other toys, presumably of the non-violent variety. This is what I mean when I say we're not winning in the culture war, folks. All the gains in right-to-carry, etc. we've made in the past 20 years will be undone once this current generation gets to adulthood. These are kids that have been fed a steady diet of "GUNZ R BAD" since the day they were born. Zero tolerance so that they get kicked out of school for a squirt gun. School mascots stripped of weapons. Toy guns taken away and crushed in front of them. Proposals aimed at raising the hunting age to 18.

The goal, supposedly, is reducing the number of accidents caused by kids playing with guns. They relate a story of a kid who almost got shot by cops because he pointed an airsoft gun at them. Of course, in today's "blame the tool" age, toy guns become the boogeyman, not the imbecile adults who were supposed to teach their kid that you don't point anything that looks like a gun at another person, especially one who has a gun of their own.

You know what jumped out at me?

• "The 26-year-old mother of six "

• "Ardella Powell, 28, who came with her four children, said she wants to see the guns destroyed because it helps her cope with the violent death of the father of her 11-year-old son. The man was gunned down in 2003."

Something tells me that it's not toy guns that are the problem here.

That is all.

Massachusetts: Making Hard Choices So You Don't Have to Think...

SJC Ruling On Snow Removal: What It Means For You

BOSTON (CBS) — A new ruling by the state’s highest court applies to the Bay State’s new fallen snow. The Supreme Judicial Court’s ruling says you have a duty to use “reasonable care” to remove snow and ice from your property.

That applies to commercial property owners, such as stores and shopping malls, as well as residential property owners.

Yes, you read that correctly. The state of Massachusetts has so thoroughly settled all other issues in the state that they're devoting time to making people shovel their driveways. No more wondering if leaving three feet of snow in your driveway is okay - it's not, and the MA Supreme Court has issued a ruling.

At least they're honest at the end of the article:

He said he expects an uptick in residential lawsuits.

Bingo. Follow the Benjamins. Anytime lawyers and judges agree on something - especially in MA - it means hold onto your wallet. The MA Supreme Court just paved the way for every ambulance chaser in the country to reach John Edwards-like status suing private homeowners and commercial establishments for failing to properly clear their property.

MA: Because living as a slave is easier than thinking.

That is all.

Gotta Love Small Towns...

Because even in MA, you still see scenes like this:



PC idiocy hasn't reached us yet. No one's complained about the egregious violation of the ZOMG SEPARATION OF TEH CHURCH AND TEH STATE that's occurring in this picture. Folks realize that having Santa drive around the town is a net positive - it puts the Fire Department in a very good light and generates good will for the town. Plus the kids love it - BabyGirl G. was so excited she ran outside in her bare feet - in 20ºF weather!

And in four days he'll be arriving at Casa del G. for at least one more visit... Merry Christmas!

That is all.

Rules? More Like Guidelines...

With the recent flurry of additions to the Dead Goblin Count (much appreciated; please keep 'em coming!), it became apparent that I needed to commit to print the various criteria I used to determine what does or doesn't count. I've had a rough idea of what should or shouldn't count, but never actually sat down and wrote down the various angles that ought to influence the decision. Here's my first attempt.

My reason for keeping the Dead Goblin Count it is to keep a running tally of the number of bad guys dispatched by law-abiding citizens using lawfully owned firearms. The goal is to document a clear pattern of necessary self-defense need for firearms by private citizens to counter the "only the police should have guns/why does anyone need a guns" argument trotted out by the antis. Criteria as I see it are:

1. The goblin actually has to die.

Part of this is, to be quite frank, bloodthirstiness on my part. Honestly, most of the DGC stories are goblins kicking in someone's door, herding folks into a back room of a convenience store, or similar violent encounter. In such cases, the goblin is fully prepared to kill their victim. I much prefer the reverse. The other part is that we're more likely to hear about a successful self-defense using a gun if the perp actually buys it.

2. The shooting has to take place in the USA.

If the point is to provide examples of the Second Amendment being necessary/relevant in today's day and age, it's critical that the DGU occur here. Now, don't get me wrong - any time a goblin is reduced to room temperature in the commission of a crime it's a beautiful thing, but it really should happen here to count.

3. The shooter cannot be law enforcement/private security.

One of the cornerstones of the anti-gun forces are the "guns are for the police" arguments; that private citizens don't need guns because the police will protect them. That and the police actively seek out the dregs of society, so we don't want to be accused of "running up the score"...

4. The shooter has to be law-abiding or reasonable semblance thereof.

Gangbanger 2 shooting Gangbanger 1 after Gangbanger 1 shot at Gangbanger 2 in a drive-by doesn't count. This is often a judgment call, and often times there's barely enough information in the report to make a call. Generally, a door getting kicked in and the kicker getting shot by the kickee is sufficient, but circumstances matter in these cases.

5. The shooting has to occur to stop the commission of a crime.

I declined one DGC addition because it was a father who shot his son after the son went off his meds and started stabbing the father. It's a defensive gun use, but not against a goblin. Same with folks who hear a noise and (in clear violation of Rule 4) fire in the general direction and hit a family member.

6. I reserve the right to add/reject as I see fit.

My blog, my Dead Goblin Count. *g* I am willing to listen to reasons as to why a particular shooting should count, but I do reserve the right to make the final decision.

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Any other rules I ought to add?

That is all.

Qapla!

The World's Most Dangerous Librarian brought this little bit of awesome to my attention:

BaQa'—or Is It Humbug? Aliens Attack a Holiday Classic

CHICAGO—Across the country this week, productions of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" are warming hearts. In this city, one version poses this question: What if Charles Dickens were a Trekkie?

The answer runs an hour and 20 minutes and includes three fight scenes, 17 actors with latex ridges glued to their foreheads and a performance delivered entirely in Klingon—a language made up for a Star Trek movie.

Just because I own a bat'leth and have a Klingon Christmas ornament, I get all the Star Trek stuff... Of course, it doesn't help that the very first thing I did when seeing this link was think "ZOMG! I need to see this!"... Oh, and my favorite Christmas tune is "Christmas Eve in Sarajevo" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which good friend and commenter SCI-FI opined was "Christmas music... if it were composed by Klingons".

"My name is JayG, and I'm a nerd"

That is all.

Karma Is A Harsh Mistress...

Blogson Merlin, apparently having seen that my Irony-meter was on the fritz after my global warming post, sent the following link:

Irony Alert: Lawyers For Julian Assange Outraged That Details About His Sex Life Were Leaked

which in turn has this link:

Lawyers cry foul over leak of Julian Assange sex-case papers

Incriminating police files were published in the British newspaper that has used him as its source for hundreds of leaked US embassy cables.

In a move that surprised many of Mr Assange's closest supporters on Saturday, The Guardian newspaper published previously unseen police documents that accused Mr Assange in graphic detail of sexually assaulting two Swedish women. One witness is said to have stated: "Not only had it been the world's worst screw, it had also been violent."

Oh, irony, you are such a fickle bitch. The sheer unmitigated hypocrisy is strong on this one - the dude at the center of the Wikileaks controversy, the one who has assumed the mantle of cherished revealer of secrets, is whining about his secrets... being revealed. Um, yeah. What I'm trying to gauge here is exactly why this surprises him - did he really think that his extracurricular exploits would remain hidden once the powers-that-be got all riled up? Or did he figure that he was untouchable, that no one would dare go after him?

I mean, when you're pushing 40 and you're aping Legolas for a look and using your status as iconic hipster to lure 20-somethings back to your apartment, it's bound to catch up with you eventually...

That is all.