ode to the former neighbors!

In the early 70's, we had a couple move into the house next door to us.  Nice looking young couple.  After a couple of days they came over and introduced themselves.  He taught college classes at the university 30 miles west.  She taught junior high in the town 30 miles east.  We thought them wild crazy hippies.  They were both from New York City.  Despite their big-city upbringing, we found ourselves trusted with the keys to their cars, house, garage.  And we had an arrangement where they picked up our mail, when we left on vacation.  He was building his career as a university professor.  This involved 14 to 16 hour days.  She would often come over and visit.  When they divorced after almost 11 years of marriage, it hurt us more than them. 

I look back on a life that has been full of pain and disappointment.  I still see the shining, idealistic, hopeful, faces of the neighbor couple, as they came over and introduced themselves.  The close knit friendship that developed was all them, our family were bemused bystanders.

Pete and Lois, you were the best neighbors and friends we could have ever had.

vita mix, ninja pulse, fiddlesticks!

For about 35 years, my blender of choice has been the Oster Goodwill Model.  This is the Mosin Nagant of blenders.  The Kenmore Laundry Set of blenders.  You can walk into any thrift shop, maybe even a pawn broker, and walk out with one of these cheap.  I once walked into a pawn shop with a blender set I got at Goodwill for 5 bucks, and got $20.  Admittedly the street value, new was $180.  But I needed the $20, in 60 days I went back and got my blender set back for $25.  My total investment in the blender was $10, the most I paid for this blender.  The blade set up will fit a mayonnaise jar, or a canning jar.  It is also flexible enough to fit a 13 oz lighthouse dressing jar.  Small jars will grind up small portions faster.   I actually spent $13.00 for two go cups meant for the Oster. I have been seduced by fancy named blenders.  They all suck.  If I smoke an Oster, I usually have a spare handy.  Once I tried to McGyver this platform into Vitamix Territory.


I took a washer motor, set it up to drive a broken Oster machine at 10,000-ish RPMs.
The bright side is that with the lid off the blender jar you can repaint a room instantly.
The dark side is that the power company will be dancing naked outside your door!


I sold it to a crazy hippie lady, She makes alfalfa, and wheat grass drinks, the power company should have given me a medal!


FTC Disclosure.  I received no compensation for the products mentioned in this entry.   However if any of the companies wish to compensate me in cash, goods, or services, I will gratefully accept.

this is too much!

Did I tell you what happened when I was in 'Frisco' and asked for the local "Tranny Shack"?

Survival Kits

My Dad in 1972, gifted me and my brother with Parachute Pack Survival Kits.  One of the Survival Masters out at Fairchild Air Force Base, gave them to him.  They were past their use by date.  He said to keep one in each glove box, and give one to each of the kids.  I thought this was the ultimate gift.  We weren't rich.  If I really wanted GI Joe, I'm sure that Dad would have found a way to get one for me.  I wanted to BE GI Joe.  Judging from my gun locker I'm afraid I succeeded.  Don't have a bazooka, but I did have a cannon for 3 years!  Kissing a pound of Black Powder per shot goodbye, even when I got it for free, went against the grain!

Back to the survival kit.  According to the intertubes it's known as a su-16 and the contents are as follows.

1	Aluminum Foil (contents packaging) may be utilized as an improvised signal mirror	Poor
EMERGENCY DEVICES GROUP
1	Colonial Ranger brand Medium Stockman 3-blade folding knife, sawcut plastic handles, 3.375 inches overall, 2-inch clip-point main blade, 1.375-inch sheepsfoot blade, 1.187 inch pen blade.	Good
10	Wooden Safety Matches and 2 striker strips, 2 packs of 5 each and striker strip wrapped in very heavy aluminum foil	Adequate
4	Tinder Sticks, 1 x 0.187 x 0.187 inches, individually wrapped in aluminum foil	Very Good
1	18mm Brass Dry Compass with lanyard ring	Excellent
3	Fish Hooks, 2 small, 1 medium, snelled with 7.5 inch monofilament leader	Very Good
MEDICAL GROUP
WATER & FOOD GROUP
1	Condom (water container)	Good
MISCELLANEOUS & MULTI-PURPOSE GROUP
2	Heavy Duty Sewing Needle	Excellent
16 ft./ 4.8m	Stainless Steel Wire	Good
1	Survival Instruction Sheet on Waterproof Parchment	Good
1	Cardboard Box inside sealed aluminumized plastic film pouch inside Nomex cloth sleeve: Box: 5 x 1.5 x 0.5 inches (127 x 38 x 13 mm), Pack: 7.25 x 2 x 0.625 inches (184 x 51 x 16 mm)

Mine had iodine tabs for water purification as well.  Dad pulled the condoms from the kit, as he didn't want us running around with big hurking water balloons.  I remember a scene of great hilarity as they showed the neighbor lady the 'water bag'.  I seem to remember some fishing line, though the survival master explained that the threads inside the paracord, or the thread sewing the pack shut, could be used as additional fishing line.  I loved the button compass.  I thought the kit came with a stainless steel Camillus pocket knife, I was the most envied scout in my troop!  But the stockman knife mostly ended up in Dad's pocket as a small handy knife.  The single blade lockers didn't catch on until early in the 80s.  It was the 90's before they became common carry with me.  If I'd known about inflation, I'd have snapped up a gross of those 4 blade Camillus Knives when they were $3.95 or cheaper!

here is the case for my current survival kit, my previous one was a 3X5 card case.  Altoids can is too small.

The bottom makes a dandy signalling mirror.  In addition to the parachute pack contents, I keep a little knife in there, some blue jean denim. a few different ways to start a fire.  I'm wondering if the modern version of the Liberator Pistol might be needing to be included soon.  When I'm feeling a little more outgoing, I'll expand on this entry.  A large portion of my life I solved problems by thinking in terms of "Survival Kits"...

My Hero!

Someone just entered our house without knocking.

Someone who doesn't live here, and doesn't have even the temporary right.
Most people realize this is not a good idea.
For I am armed, and have the reputation of being inclined to clobber unannounced intruders.
I heard the door crash open, and someone come rapidly into the house.
Dad's cocker/dingo/spaniel was barking up a storm.
I came out with my .45 willing to shoot if I figured it necessary.
My Dog, Ra-Chester the Probable Rottweiler.
Already had the intruder cornered.
With a growling promise, that things would get very unpleasant.
If he moved even a little bit.
We knew the fool, he was drunk.  He came yea close to being shot!
After my dog explained matters to him, he would rather have been shot!

I need a suppressor, I need to be able to shoot someone without waking up my neighbors,
or harming my dogs hearing!

Is that my sweet, noble little cupcake?

priorities....SUCK!

Wow, Lindsey Lohan getting out of rehab was bigger news than Dee Williams, and the tiny house movement.

In other words, homeless people are freezing to death right now because of the antics of a self indulgent spoiled brat, alleged to be an actress due to a childhood spent portraying a small child -typecasting- in movies.

Talk about your butterfly effects.

Maybe if it weren't that I'm close to homeless right now, I'd be a little more charitable toward the less fortunate like Lindsey.  After all she's got to feel pretty useless and worthless to cycle in and out of rehab that much.

Maybe she could help the homeless.  Her and Paris Hilton, could maybe build a Habitat for Humanity house in 26 cities every year!  That might even be television I'd care to watch.  Toss in those useless Cardassian (Kardashian) sisters too.  Not Snooki though.  The prospect of Snooki with a hammer, or worse a pneumatic nailer, scares me more than Stephen King,  or M Night Shyamalan, could ever hope to. 

merry freaking christmas

Shamelessly stolen from this post on Tam's Blog!

Well I had been looking for tires for a recent (less than a decade old) model of GM Buick.  The tires off my old merc sable will serve.  Now I just gotta get them mounted, and balanced for a small amount of personal indignity!

I also have to deal with the tires on my 1985 Dodge Ram 250.  They are 9.50rX16.5LT  the only trouble is that 16.5 measurement.  A heavy boat-trailer sales outfit advertised the tire, but on calling them said it was no longer produced.  About 15 years ago, my Dad traded wheels with a Ford truck, that had been made for the Army.  I can't cry.  They served Dad, then me, faithfully for about 15 years.  I wish I could find 4 or 5 more for the next 15 years.

It looks like I will have to struggle through a salvage yard for some 16 inch rims.  Hopefully with a nice set of tires already upon them.

In other news I have been banished from Roberta X's good graces.
Nights are getting longer,  Tempers are getting shorter!
'Tis the season!

If you continue to have your boyfriend hold your purse!

Eventually, He's going to shop for a pair of shoes to match!

Spotted Dick

These are the things that caused a couple places in the UK to so
rename the traditional dessert!

"You'll never eat my Spotted Dick again with that behavior!"
"I'm not the sort to shove my Spotted Dick down anyone's throat!"
"You just can't wait to get a taste of my Spotted Dick"
"I'll just whip this out!"

Sorry! Tam posted a reference earlier this last week.
It engendered a craving, and I busted out 4 different Steamed
Sponge Puddings.  Thank God for microwave ovens.

In fact it was the fact that with a microwave oven, I could bust out a
personal chocolate cake in less than 10 minutes.  A veritable corelle ware
ding-dong.  It was a gentleman of British extraction, who informed me
that a spoonful of raisins would turn my guilty pleasure into a Spotted Dick.

Roberta X was right.   Chocolate cake in less than 5 minutes is DANGEROUS!

Alan Dean Taylor

LOCKHART — Mr. Alan Dean Taylor, 50, 506 Old Union Road, Lockhart, passed away Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011 at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Taylor was born in Union, SC, Oct. 6, 1961, a son of Sue Bradley Taylor of the home and the late Paul Dean Taylor. He was a graduate of Lockhart High School and had attended Spartanburg Technical College. Mr. Taylor was formerly employed with Dollar General Distribution Center in Jonesville and was of the Baptist Faith.

Surviving in addition to his mother are a brother, David Taylor and wife Julie of Gaffney; a niece, April Taylor Mabry; a nephew, Cory Daniel Taylor; and a great-niece Taylor Rae Mabry.

Graveside services will be held 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011 at Lockhart Cemetery conducted by Rev. Cecil Johnson and Rev. Charles Terry.

Visitation will be held at the graveside immediately following the service.

Memorials may be made to Wilksburg Baptist Church, 3137 Pinckney Road, Chester, SC 29706.

The family is at the home of his mother, Sue Taylor, 506 Old Union Road, Lockhart.

SR Holcombe Funeral Home (www.holcombefuneralhomes.com)

I'm losing people at a fearful rate!

super bleg!

Guys I'm in a little trouble.  Basically my girlfriend got into a fight.  She spent the previous weekend in jail.  When this gets to trial, I want to make sure the truth, not the slanted journalism of the police report, gets out.  That can't be accomplished with a Guilty Man's Lawyer Public Defender, as a wise man once pointed out, "The lawyers at the Public Defenders office are good at talking themselves out of work, and you into jail.

Right now as it stands, she's accused of heinous crimes.  Failure to be Politically Correct, read as Domestic Violence.  Don't even argue loudly with a person under the same roof as yourself, lest this abuse of the legal process happen to you!

That's torn it.  I'm actually at the point where I'm considering running for public office, in order to protect myself, and the ones I love, from the government.

For now, I'd like you to contribute $5 or $10 to Elizabeth's Legal Defense Fund!
It's a good cause, She's a good woman.

Kel Tec PF 11

Upon the newsletter recommendation of Front Sight's Ignatius Piazza, I purchased a Kel-Tec PF 9 after I started carrying regularly.  Highly recommended by Mr. Piazza for Church Deacons, It replaced my PA 63 pistol in 9mm Makarov.  A suitable caliber by my standards, except for Federal not having Hydra-Shok rounds available in that caliber.  For Open Carry I prefer a .45.  As the old saw goes, Your 9mm Hollow Point may fail to expand, but the .45 will never shrink.  But seeing how some of the two-legged wildlife is getting out of hand, I keep Hydra Shok in the .45 too.   I'm 6'6" and yea close to 400 pounds.  There are members of the thug sub-genus out there that make me look positively dainty!  I have the right to keep what I've earned, after taxes.  And anyone who thinks otherwise is up for a rude, and loud, awakening.

quote of the hour

If you gonna send someone to save the world, make sure they like it the way it is.
Vin Diesel,   XXX

heard in the hallway!

Me; This Coffee tastes like shit!
Dad; That's because it IS shit!
Me; Good, I thought it was just me!

Oddly enough Dad never saw an Austin Power's movie!

Steve Jobs RIP

We will miss you.  Not terribly much, but we WILL miss you!


I mean you cheated, swindled, and took shameful advantage of your best friend.
Didn't treat your customers right.
Drove Hard-Core Apple loyalists into the PC-Intel-Microsoft camp in droves.
But all us Apple enthusiasts are so used to that, and so co-dependent, that we'll miss you.
I wasn't going to your funeral, but since the Westboro Baptist Church will protest there.
I'll be there.
I may have hated you for milking the computer community for all it was worth.
Making Bill Gates look like Mother Teresa.
But I'll be God Damned, if I'll let the WBC use your death for a God Hates Fags rally.


Join me at Steve's funeral.  I'll have spare ax-handles and baseball bats to make the
WBC feel right at home.

Small House Selling Points

Jay Shafer owner of Tumbleweed Houses, is the guru, and patron saint, of the tiny house movement.  
He briefly mentions less space to clean.  Then he goes on about carbon footprint, and greenhouse gases.  


Jay!  I honor and adore the strides you've taken to unclutter and uncomplicate your life.  
But the only people who really worry about greenhouse gases these days are phony liberals in California who want to use fake scientific studies to steal our freedoms.


To totally misquote Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle.
"If I ever hear the phrases 'Carbon Footprint', and 'Greenhouse Gasses', again...
I will go to Berlin.  Break into Hitler's Bunker.  Drag Al Gore to the nearest shower.  And Make Him Into My Prison Bitch!"


Probably be the best he's got since he left Tipper for the Fangrl!

I must be rich, I don't feel rich!

to all our eastern friends and relatives.

It is three hours earlier than your time.
You call at 9AM.
It is 6AM here.
I can demonstrate with my mag light and a globe.
But!
You don't want to face me at 6AM,
With me holding a 3-cell Mag Lite,
After you just woke me up!

Told to my Aunt over the phone!

The Political Left are human beings just like you and me.
The problem is their humanitarian impulses lead them to do very inhuman things in the name of that humanity.

Dragon Holster

I was supposed to do a review on this ages ago.
Recently I ordered a Dragon Leatherworks Talon Holster for my Smith &Wesson 457 pistol.
Just below are the pics of my open carry.  It's a sweet holster and it retains the pistol nicely.
I finally got the use of the gym in the Police Academy.  It took some doing, but hanging upside
down from the trapeze, I managed to get the pistol to drop out of the holster after a couple of
bungee style drops.  A trainee tried an unannounced grab from my holster.  Fortunately I was
able to stop short of inflicting a sprain.  Ol' fat boy isn't nearly as decrepit when it counts. 
Neither of those incidents have pictures.  
On the topic of the Kel-Tec Rifle in my hoped for 7.62x25 caliber, I bother them once a year,
they say no, I currently have no ability to manufacture a barrel in the sub-2000 configuration. 
I have carved some wooden grip panels to accommodate a CZ-52 magazine.  I intend to
fabricate a double column magazine for the rifle.

 

Tired and hurting

I been working harder than I ever had before.  I have got to mend fences, and build bridges.  I walked through a motorcycle shop I have an interest in.  Did an inventory.  We are short of tools, and I have to make sure they are up to snuff for the winter.  I suppose the most significant task I did today, was to take two 50 feet lengths of air hose and turn them into 5 10 foot lengths, and 4 12 and 1/2 foot lengths.  I have done a couple of block and tackle assemblies designed to lift bikes to big picnic tables. 

-More Later-

a new addition to the blog roll

Dolly Freed's Possum Living.  I wish I had this book when she first wrote it.  It would have saved a 16 year old boy a lifetime of grief.  There are certain unwritten rules to a society.  I probably wouldn't have have the courage to go the way I wanted to, but I might have done, if I realized I weren't going it alone.

vote for me!

I promise! That if elected, I will NOT do certain things.
Your marriage is your own, If you want to marry someone of the same sex, ain't none of my business.

Friday Memories Home Made Can Wrench

Welcome To Friday Memories.  A reminiscence on my past!
Be assured that any transgressions against decency or the law are covered by Statute of Limitations.

My 25th Birthday, I was carrying an ice chest, containing two half gallons of 80 proof alcohol, and one two litre of coca-cola.  I was also carrying a battery powered computer, a 12v TV, and a home made test set!

I was looking for adventure, and if I didn't find it, I was pretty sure it'd find me!

Hacking and Phreaking were lifeblood activities back then.  I was also playing around with welding.  I was using a cheap nut driver to remove a welding tip.  The ruined tip jammed in the dollar nut driver.  I put it down on the workbench.

Now I had made a can wrench out of an allen wrench,  Counting my time, and the lathe that I had made, I had probably a hundred and twenty dollars into that wrench.  By happy accident I had just created one for a dollar fifty.  I dropped a little flux, and brazed them carefully together.

Over seven years of illicitly invading phoneco property, and even a couple of stints of legally opening junction boxes, that can wrench gave me yeoman service.  I gave it to a lineman a few years after I started doing network administration.  He admired it so much, and stroked my ego so well.  I figured if I needed another one, I could just make one.  I have a half dozen Xcelite drivers of that size in the broken bin.

In my retirement, I even toyed with making some, and selling them on ebay.

blogging cut down.

we're moving to South Carolina. They say three moves equals one fire. I think in my case it's the other way around! I am thinking of taking up writing a weekly blog column.

Every once a week. Friday Memories, watch this space!

Interesting? Maybe not. Glimpse into my life, Definitely!

I may join TJIC

Dad's girlfriend has a daughter, three in fact, but, the one in question has a probation officer.
He didn't like the amount of guns I had.
Nobody told him to look inside my room.
Or in anybody's dresser drawers. I mean, did you ever find a full grown woman in a dresser drawer.

Now Child protective services told her other daughter, the house will be raided tonight.
I can't move my guns fast enough...

help please!
advice anything?

Save the world yet again!

visit this link now.
For your life.
For the future.
For your children's future!

Those of you who know me,

know I'm bitter about any attempting to

Change The World!

The World is perfectly happy sitting around

in a diaper full to bursting!

But visit the link and see if you feel a stirring!

Obama wont win a second term!

I mean if anyone starts acting like they are going to vote for him...
Three doctors will sign forms giving him an all-expenses paid trip to a rubber room.
After what he did to the medical industry and medical insurance,
any doctor will certify said worthy a screaming loon.

Could we out Democrat the Democrats?
Certify as insane a significant percentage of the Democrat voting base?

Who's with me?

How to waste a whole day!

Open a browser.

Go to Youtube.com.

type either MacGyver or A-Team into the search bar

then

Type any other show into the search bar

here is my favorite.

Amy Winehouse R.I.P.

According to the press release "All her friends are devastated and shocked that this happened."

Really?

I mean come on, I loved the girl's music, but I had no illusions that even with my Diabetes, Cholesterol, and other issues, that I'd probably outlive her.

and by strange coincidence her life ended at age 27, same as Hendrix, Morrison, Joplin, Cobain.

(a short wiki-wander shows Hank Williams Sr. died at age 29, though Jr. came closer in his mountain-climbing accident.)

Watching a movie, I must Blog!

Casino Royale. The new one, not the old comedy. The intro music has a lyric,

"♬ Arm yourself because no-one else here will save you! ♪"..

...

...

...

Why didn't the British Government BAN this song?

I mean someone might actually consider this advice or something.

Viewing the lyrics it's a fairly cold-blooded spy ballad.

Myself I prefer Shirley Bassey, and Sheena Easton, to Chris Connell.

Karma can be such a Bee-Atch

I have a 'co-worker', at this charitable organization.

He's a bi-sexual hipster, meaning he's a pain in the ass to both genders with the same intensity level.

I work for these people because I believe they are a worthwhile cause.

Despite his verbally supportive stance, he's working off community service on a DWI.

When I pointed out to him that, once his community service is fulfilled, we will never see his Diesel Jeans clad ass ever again, and he's the charitable equivalent of a 'Lipstick Lesbian', he took to calling me a Em-Effer.

I pointed out that he could be correct, and I would allow him to call me any derivation thereof except Pop, or Pops!

For the last week, he has called me every thing in the thesaurus that could be construed as 'father'.

His girlfriend finally tired of his winning ways, and today his actual Mother had to pick him up after his stint.

She's about 5 years younger than I. I didn't recognize her under his surname as it were only a slightly more lasting effort than any other the feckless sperm donor had made.

Mea Maxima Culpa. I indeed had Effed his Em. We both enjoyed it immensely. And if it weren't for the fact I have a recently impregnated girlfriend, I'd be Effing the H-E-Double Toothpicks out of her this very moment.

Girlfriend may consider a hall pass, Provided she gets first go! Former Fling is seriously H-A-W-T. Forty-Four is both her age AND cup size.

Co-worker is seriously snarked off, pissed off, cheeesed off, and possibly contemplating Step-Almost Patricide!

Calling him 'Son' one more time might just do it!

Lisa Morgan Payne 1959-2011

She passed away 1:30 monday morning.

From the Spartanburg Herald...

Lisa Payne
ENOREE, SC-- Lisa Faye Morgan Payne, 51, of 178 Rhodes Drive, passed away on Sunday, July 10, 2011, at her home.
Born in Laurens, she was a daughter of the late William J.C. and Margaret Montjoy Morgan. Mrs. Payne was a paramedic for Laurens County EMS and was of the Baptist faith. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, and she enjoyed tending to her farm, fishing, and gardening.
Surviving are two sons, Curtis Rowell and wife Michele and Willie Rowell and wife Nikki; a sister, Dianne Shockley and husband Joseph; and six grandchildren, Amber Rowell, Elisha Rowell, Kelsey Rowell, Shay Rowell, Kenzie Rowell, and Eli Rowell. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by three brothers, Buddy Morgan, Johnny Morgan, and Carol Morgan.
The family would like to express their sincere thanks to Cyndi Pettit and the Hospice Compassus staff, Laurens County EMS workers, Gina Britt, Sherry Kidd, and friends for their care and support during Mrs. Payne's illness.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Compassus; 500 Jeff Davis Drive; Spartanburg, SC 29303.
Fletcher Funeral Service - Fountain Inn, SC

too much time on the road

random from the road

I have been reading HG Wells' The World Set Free. I was tempted to angrily dismiss it a commie screed, but reading deeper, it resonates with my original philospohy. Having read 80% I'm convinced he doesn't go far enough. We could get along without a government, or one pared back to the simplest functions.

I have been listening to the few mp3s upon my netbook, continious access to the internet has made me either park my music in the cloud, or listen to youtube songs or videos. I need to have music to sustain me on the road. Right now, I'm living upon a few scraps of heavy metal, and the more or less complete works of Hayseed Dixie! I'm tempted to make a mp3 CD called Paddle Faster, I hear Banjos!

no time to blog

for the last week or so and so much to blog if I had a minute, which I didn't.

Got tired of eating at restaurants, I finally grabbed a disposable grill, and a couple of steaks.

My steak was delightful.

I ended up having to use my cigar draw-poker, and my pocket knife, as fork and steak knife.

note to self: remember to grab some silverware, and corelle ware for the road.

Aunt Lisa is pulling through!

We got in at 3:30am. Elizabeth visited her Aunt Lisa in the hospital today. She is recovering and asking to have all the tubes removed. Tomorrow I'll go in to see her myself.

Got a lot of friction on the home front for this trip.

But I proved it can be done, maybe Dad will try so he can see his daughters a few more times.

I'm sorry I'm not showing much affect, I drove down in three days, and I'm spent!

Update 4pm local time. The tubes are out, and she's eating crushed ice, and talking!

last wednesday

My love got a call from her relatives back south.

Her Aunt Lisa is on Life Support!

we just jumped in the car and drove!

we're in Peverly MO.

Hoping to see South Carolina today!

Rock & Roll Heartbreak

Take 5 slackers, lazy, but talented.

Teach 2 of them to play guitar.

Teach 1 to play bass.

Teach 1 to play drums.

Take the one who is too cool to learn anything, and let him do vocals.

Get them to interact and cooperate to the extent that they wont suck in public.

Then when they have the belief that they have some potential,

Play The Kinks' Working At The Factory!

Then start to form a new group!

Or just help them hock their instruments and find new jobs!

...and the bar owners wonder why I won't be their pimp anymore...

after three days!

I was totally pissed off, someone had taken my Jennings 22LR pistol.

Actually I loaned it out to them. I thought they knew how to care for a gun.

They didn't. They lubed it with BABY OIL!

I got it back, it looked like it was covered in TOE JAM!

I'm still convinced it would benefit from a day in the can of carb cleaner.

Since last Friday, I have been trying to get this sweet, inexpensive pistol, to act like a pistol again. Two years of abusive neglect, had turned it into a paperweight.

It would fire the first round, maybe chamber and fire a second.

I left it alone for 36 hours or so. I looked around for specifications on springs and such, Jennings/Bryco, Jiminez Arms, and a host of others are out of business. I genuinely miss them. They were experts in "Giving a fish". After they went out of business, I had to learn how to wind a spring to a specific weight, size and tension. Fortunately, I had already learned to wind RF and tattoo machine coils.

I had left it alone. now it feeds 4-5 rounds without jamming. If I can get it to fire the whole clip, I'll count it good. I guess I'll see if I can get it to fire the full clip, soak the whole beast in carb cleaner, then powder-coat the pistol, not necessarily black, lime green for preference. I'll settle for blue, pink, safety orange. Whatever is in the hopper, when I get it into the shop.

Drunk off my ass!

I'm a better open mike comedian than most out there!

I'm a severe prop comedy man!

"Open Mike Night! Oh wow! Hey Mike get up here!"

'Mike' comes out from off stage.

I open one side of his jacket.

Light comes on.

I rummage my hand inside his jacket.

(lots of clinking glass sounds.)

I apparently pull a bottled beer from deep inside his chest.

He offers me an opener, I open the beer. Give him back the opener.

Close the jacket -light goes out as I close it!-

As he walks away, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I just opened Mike!"

Easy as sawing a lady in half, and roughly the same illusion.

Simple if you know how....

Don't try this one at home!

What do you know?

I was just braced on the internet by a back-stabbing (is there any other kind?) liberal.

He's one of the types who shrieks "You don't know what you're talking about!".

He thinks he shouts this often enough he'll discredit me, and walk off with my women.

The discussion topic was Weapons of Mass Destruction.

"What the fuck can someone like you know about That!"

(you could just hear the 'You Fat Fuck' hanging out there, unsaid.)

I proceeded to tell him at length about the Gun Method of obtaining Critical Mass.

I then discussed the virtues and faults of slapping two sub-critical mass hemispheres together, vs. compressing a ball by use of explosives. I mentioned the differences that using TNT over C4 would make in a projected yield.

Finally I closed in for the kill, "What do I know about Weapons of Mass Destruction? I own a Rottweiler, and he sports an uncropped tail."

"You wanking Liberal Bitch! I have PERSONAL EXPERIENCE of Weapons of Mass Destruction!"

He hasn't returned to the discussion group.

It must be my breath!

got to the party late!

Let me get this straight!

Lucky Gunner Ammo had a party.

You got to shoot machine guns!

You got to shoot Machine guns with Other People's Ammo!

You got this ammo delivered by cute little girls in tennis shorts and tank tops?

They also brought you cool drinks, and sunscreen?

Some of you are complaining that these women were objectified for the purpose of selling you free ammo.

Allow me to wade through my blogroll, some of you obviously woke up on the left side of the bed today.

well so much for my presumed adulthood

Jeff over in Seattle, just got a link from The Graham Norton Show.

http://www.textsfromlastnight.com/texts/page:36

I am wading through it to send choice nuggets to him, and my facebook chums.

So I haven't fallen off the wagon, yet!

But you'll be getting some choice texts!

PS Some of these will be replacing my "I'm in a meeting" texts!!

welfare! government! nobody needs em!

The people who bitch about voting for elected offial!

They need to stop trying to fix government, and build infrastructure.

You can't have universal healthcare without a couple hundred thousand more doctors. I need to build a new circle of friends.

First requirement is the ability to legally drive. Right now, I'm the only person in my extended circle of family and friends with a driver's license!

I once wrote a story about a welfare state where one man, supported the entire welfare state by his own labors. It took me places I didn't even know existed! One man, supporting the entire planet by his constant labors, It proved so depressing, I finally burned the story and all it's drafts.

Imagine for a moment, soldiers, policemen, librarians, everyone on the planet, dependent upon whether you turn in a day's work. Imagine caring so much for these teeming, uncaring millions that you feel obligated to work yourself to death so they could achieve a luxury that you can never find, a luxury they take as their just due, one they don't deserve and wouldn't work for!

Someone needs to run with me on this train of thought!

That's the difference, we care, they care about their appearance and the next ten seconds!

Who's the Racist?

A Pharmacist named Jerome Ersland, Desert Storm hero, acted heroically to save the lives of his co workers. For his efforts, a bunch of black people are picketing his place of work proclaiming him a racist. He didn't choose the skin color of his assailants, and it's kinda hard to remember the affirmative action guidelines to coddle incompetent blacks, when they're shooting at you.

Look punks, when someone's shooting at me, I get to shoot back. I don't have to check their skin color. When someone comes into my place of business cursing and shooting, I get to shoot them back.

If someone comes protesting outside my store, and calling me racist, they'd best take care not to cause me to have reasonable fear for my life, or the lives of others....

That's the legal guideline for self-defense, as a bloke who's tangled with cops, thugs and other fools, I know what the law is.

Until certain blacks can see past the skin color, to the larceny, the entering a place with the intention to rob and murder...

It isn't the white people who are racists, the black protestors who think 'whitey' should be honored to die so some guy, a loser at 16 years old, can have some money and drugs, those are your racists!

Hey guys The Ku Klux Klan Kalled! You've been approved to be their first black members! After all, they can't get white people to manifest that level of mindless hate!

Free Jerome Ersland!

Next Convention!

I'm going to have a series of Movies. Roughly 36 hours worth. Not necessarily SciFi, just Fun Movies. Frankly, I am getting tired of The Star Wars, Star Trek, and whatever dominating the screen. I almost cued up a bunch of Babylon 5, and Firefly on my computer. Just to break up the monotony.

Next time I'm going to have this available, on the computer, with a HDMI cable for use at cons where the video programming is too blah!

spent the weekend

Geeking out with my own kind, At MisCon Missoula Montana!

Dead Politician to the Rescue!

Somewhere deep in the heart of texas, A fist smashes up through a grave. The tombstone reads "Sam Houston". Like King Arthur, he will return when the Republic of Texas faces it's greatest threat. If he saves the rest of America, well that can't be helped.

feeling like Gulliver!

No I haven't yet seen the Jack Black movie.

I'd have to be starving for entertainment to do that!

It's just. That, lying here in my bed, just after midnight. Various thoughts running through my almost half century old head. Bunch of childhood memories triggered by the previous entry below, I realize I am just like Gulliver on the beach. Various small things each have a string on me. Combined they have me firmly tied down. Right now, I should be lying under a sky three states away, my woman, and my dog huddled with me. I forged this chain in life, and I'll need a 1000 horse wildcat engine, to rattle it in death.

my first -outside- playhouse

I remember we had some interesting coffee tables in our house. Dad was aiming for something on the sturdier side of a tv tray. By coincidence, a wool blanket thrown over one of these made for a perfect fort. Dad taught me early on that a flash light could be made by a bulb, 2 batteries, and a wire combined with a toilet paper tube. he did this to address concerns that Mother had about the fascination I had with house current.

Mom didn't want us cooped up inside all the time. Now most people don't dare let their kids run loose.

The neighbor girls and I decided that Dad's towing trailer was the ideal playhouse. Built from the carrying bed of an ancient plymouth pickup, there was room for 8 kids to sit on the sides and play games, and tell stories. From my 4th birthday until my 9th, the trailer served as a foundation for endless games, backyard campouts, and just plain fun with friends.

Is it any wonder I yearn for a sparse, mobile lifestyle?

Bleg may 2011

does anyone have a Nagant M1895 7.62 pistol?

Tell me your experiences.

More More More! How d'ya like it? How d'ya like it?

I don't!

I own at last count, a dozen computers, 7 TV sets, a SHIT TON of various recorded media.

I think I'd be happier, if I got my books at the library, returned them when done! I have what a half dozen computers that are current. I think that the arcade game, and the video game, would be happier with someone who'd cherish them. One Laptop, and maybe one cell phone, methinks the cell phone benefits others more than I.

My X-Step program to true freedom.

1. Admit that I have a problem. And it is bigger than Me.

2. Establish the order of importance in getting stuff done.

3. Fix the Toyota Pickup!

4. Build a camper to fit the 3/4 ton Dodge pickup!

Secure enough to store tools!

This will become the first cabin!

5. find my land to build upon!

6. leave construction shack on site, and use truck to bring in necessary building materials.

Build second 8'X12' or 12'x12' cabin

-- to be continued --

Obama thinks He's Reagan?

He might be!

We will never know if Ronald Reagan knew about 'Contragate'. Colonel Oliver North threw himself under the bus to spare us that knowledge. So we don't know if Reagan sold guns for drugs. It doesn't matter, he should have been impeached before congress when the matter came out. Personally I feel that if it had been carried out without his knowledge, that would be worse than if he were complicit.

That said what's your feeling on Obama and ATF project Gunrunner?

I have heard some saying that this might be the end for the ATF.

If it comes down to a federal agency, gainfully employing (debatably) 5000 people,

and the salvagable careers of three political hacks.

Holder, Emmanuel, Napolitano

Well, Hell, dude was destroying America to begin with!

What's one rogue federal agency more or less.

They should have disbanded during the Reagan Administration!

And if you MUST have FFLs, bring the cost down to reasonable!

back from the future!

My new Love, Elizabeth, and I, were moving stuff around in the bedroom. I keep common use computers available to the family, Dad is a complete techno-peasant. The Evil Roomie, and her daughters somewhat less so. My evil sysadmin computer tool is locked up. I don't let felons know what is possible on the intertubes. I don't let Spokane Police know what is possible with a networked computer. I just tell them watch the first episode of the new Galactica.

Well the girlfriend moved some boxes off my headboard, I rediscovered my old cassette collection. I thought I might end up having to un-gut an old boom box, or car stereo, in order to listen to them. Girlfriend found me a Clock Radio, that got the police band, and I hadn't gutted the cassette to make a card reader. Later she found, and cleaned, a micro boom box that Dad has once used.

This is awful! Once I had phone gadgets that recorded 12 hours use onto a 90 minute cassette. Now after a six hour search, I can find one recorder, and the only reason I have it, is that I can plug an MP3 recorder/player into it. I have a workbench project, over 4 years old, that is essentially a cassette case that houses a mp3 recorder/player. I had it 9/10ths built, when I realized I could just build a cable that connected a cassette adapter, to a computer's sound card. Now I am thinking of playing 400 odd cassettes into my netbook. I have some nice sweet amplifier, and sound equalizer components. Mostly tubes. I am confident that most of these cassettes exist nowhere else, as they are demos, and promos for local bands. Also a hundred or so are cassettes that never made it over to CD. I have downstairs, a High Fidelity Stereo Cassette Deck that I meant to do this migration with some 14 years ago. Dad actually greeted some of these cassettes with enthusiasm. Fourteen years previous, he profanely, pre-emptively, ordered me to never play some of those groups again. Kinda tough, as I was recording the live bands onto cassettes, later CD-ROMs.

It's kind of a treat to hear your 78 year old Dad sing the lyrics to "Cowboy, Biker Action" and "Reverse Cowgirl" without missing a beat. God knows, he must have heard them enough. He was totally astonished that 'Crave the Rave' never made it to the big time. Recording, mastering, duplicating. Running the pirate radio station out of the garage sometimes. I have a lovely Fostex 4 track of the sound of him busting out into the garage, cussing a blue streak, because the FCC was prowling the hood. The DJ promised to return after "Station Identification", twenty minutes later he was riding in a 68 lincoln, that could have guest starred on The Matrix. Driven by a snowy-haired black man, who used to run with 'The Panthers'. Local 40s Band, not the 60's agitators. Broadcasting from the sweet streets of Spokane. Offering fresh new sound that local stations "Didn't have the balls to broadcast!". After "Cat" left for his annual Vegas trip, we started taking tapes around. It was easier to talk the stations into showcasing local talent. Much easier than running a radio station ourselves.

hey Joan!

I got your Common Gun Sense right here!h/t www.jpfo.org

new widget

Answer me!

What are you planning to do to me and mine that you don't want me to have a gun available when you're doing it?

politicians

no matter how we vote, we get government.

We have to make it plain to our elected government,

this is not 'Business as usual!',

This isn't a changing of the guard.

With the new guard, having a mandate to malfease for the next 4 years.

We are going to hold the politicians responsible and accountable.

If our current educational system were imposed upon us by a foreign power,

it would be considered an act of war!

Ditto our current medical system.

Laughing Locksmith may never laugh again!

First I lose, my Brother and Mother, Then Chester, the smartest dog I ever knew. A year ago I lost the woman I would have made my wife!

Now Dad and I are discussing the funeral preparations for a 30 year old girl.

She is torn between two selfish desires.

She doesn't want to die before she becomes a Grandmother.

She doesn't want her 15 year old daughter to go down the same path she did.

Right now I feel sorry for God, 'cos I plan to fire the incompetent bastard!

I miss the past!

my previous post about movies led to a reminiscence about old TV shows.

There was a show in the 70's called Carter Country. A show about a Georgia Sheriff's Department. The lead characters were Kene Holliday, as the wise-cracking black deputy. Victor French played the Sheriff, who was pretty much an overgrown babysitter.

Less than 16 years later the holly wierd elite didn't have the balls to present Clinton Country. Perhaps too cheap and easy a shot!

Obama Nation, well the Australians brought out Lefty Loonz, but I need more. In this youtube era I demand more!

Stay Tuned to this Space!

for me most modern movies suck - some that don't.

the Matrix, I'd have endured the theatre for this. Part 2 and 3, not at all.

Star Trek, I DID endure the theatre for this, Denice wanted a movie experience. I think JJ Abrams should be punished for his hubris, by having to knock off about 3 or 4 seasons of episodes.

Boondock Saints 2, Seen at the local fringe theatre. Loved it! Hope Troy Duffy gets in 4 more sequels before his underwear models get too old.

Atlas Shrugged. Aint gonna plunk my 400 pound ass into the bitey pants chairs and risk losing prescription sunglasses, or a good pocketknife over this turkey. If someone wanted to bring the story into the present day, and tell it like it should have been told to begin with. With all due respect -See Boondock Saints 2 - Ayn Rand had great story ideas, but no sense of how to entertain her audience.

I'll wait for the box set! Perhaps with a good nude scene.

Holly! You miserable Cosmetologist!

My favorite muse, over at Pervocracy, is staging activism over the negative use of the word "Slut'. I think you should just substitute any other word for the word slut.

What did you expect to happen? Running around dressed like a Policeman!

You think you're going out dressed like an Electrician.

I didn't raise you to run around dressed like a Fireman!

Just don't call me a Politician!

That's hate speech!

building the clubhouse

I'm using Joe Chipman's Bunkhouse/Hermit plans with modifications to make it look like a gentleman's clubroom inside. Transportable to the eventual final destination area. Rustic outside, Inside: Velvet draperies, a posh fireplace with a badass mantle.

As big as it needs to be, no bigger!

"Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell."

All you Mothers!

This is to my Mother, who is no longer with us.

...To Elizabeth's Mother, again departed.

...To Denice, also a mother, also passed.

We Love you.

We Honor you.

most of all....

...We Miss You!

Happy Mother's Day!

To Do List

Some projects are connected with me moving into much smaller digs.

Some are things I've been meaning to do for ages.

This one is a little of both.

I've been meaning to round up all my BetaMax, VHS, and 8mm Video tape,

And transfer it all onto DVD media.

A half dozen 100 packs of DVD tupperware,

takes up less space than eight, six-foot tall 'bookshelves' of VHS media.

Is it just me....

Or does the Hi-Point .45 look a lot like "Wynonna" from Farscape?

My Hi-Point .45, and 9mm, pistols shall be henceforth be known as 'Wynonna' and 'Ashley'.

Happy Anniversary

A year ago yesterday, I was an incipient Husband, and a de-facto Father.

A year ago today I became a widower,

A week after that, her relatives demanded the Child Protective Services deprive me of my son.

I still keenly miss Denice. In retrospect, I think I, and she, would have troubles with my inlaws.

Sometime today, I'll leave flowers on her grave.

UPDATE: Left a small artificial spray of yellow roses, -her favorite- at the gravesite.

Denice Elaine Potter

Born September 7th 1971 - Passed May 3rd 2010

Don't be fooled by the Red Haired girl that I'm seen with.

I didn't replace you.

You will always have an irreplaceable place in my heart!

Doctor Who Season Five

Commie Cast on demand is deigning to provide the fifth season of Doctor Who from BBC America.

Best lines in Doctor Who EVAH!

"I'm the Doctor! In a word RUN!"

"Elizabeth the Tenth! I'm the Bloody Queen Mate! Basically I Rule!"

more lines to follow 15 episodes on tap!

This Is Elizabeth the Tenth! "God Save The Queen!"

With all due respect to Tam. I'd bow before HER Majesty!

in the news today!

It is announced by DC Comics that Superman will no longer fight for:

Truth!

Justice!

And The American Way!

It is also announced that I will never buy from DC Comics ever again!

As for Superman! Next time I see your FDR globalist ass, it's getting a Kryptonite Enema!

You're gonna wish Doomsday killed you! Traitor!

In the near future news, Superman Dead! Mall Ninja nearby, with 2 litre bottle says, "Lefty traitor had it coming!"

can't make this shit up!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/28/gaddafi-troops-rape-viagra-libya_n_855216.html

Karmic Retribution

I just spent the morning snarling at someone I treasure as a friend.
I love him dearly, but deplore his political choices.
It's got to the point where we're both saying to each other.
"I can't believe you are so stupid as to believe in the -party-.
You're so intelligent otherwise."

I decided to spend the rest of the day studying Morse code, and improve my 'fist'.
I have over a dozen keys, close to two dozen if you count the cheesy radio shack electronic kit keys. I couldn't find any of them. After a couple of hours I throw up my hands, and go to the junk pile. After a third hour of messing around, I have a 1x4 with screws, springs, a brass drawer knob that when I press against the pressure of pen springs, I make a nice contact that sounds like a credible 'dit or dah' on my code oscillator.

I then go to get a permanent cord to attach to my newly made key.
I open the old breadbox that contains most of my 1/4 plug equipped cords.
You can see this punchline coming like a bulldozer.
There inside the cabinet, is a line of THREE keys, good middle of the road keys.
Staring at me.

If that doesn't call for a double Bushmills, I don't know what does!
To be honest about doing my gig, I'll tap out "Bushmills triple distilled" on my new oscillator set up.

Historically!

The people who most believe that war is necessary, will never be involved in fighting it!

The Political Party who's supposed to stand for your rights, is historically the one that opposed you getting those rights at all.

Any time a politician says that you should trust them, or implies that you even can, that's when you should recall them, as quick as you can. Nancy Pelosi saying we had to pass Obamacare to find out what was in it. Some congresscritter should have wrote in a specification that the President Pro Tem of the US Senate would voluntarily relinquish her financial assets, and US citizenship upon passage of the bill.

Betcha that bitch never signed ANYTHING without reading it first.

Y'ever notice no matter who we vote for, we get a politician!

Liberals want civil discourse!

Has it occurred to you that since the beginning of Dubya's term in office, you've all been acting like a bunch of four year olds told to eat your vegetables.

Now you want civil discourse.

Two of you chanted 'Obama Obama Obama' into my face.

I suggested that mindless adoration might be better spent on the ghost of Elvis.

not on a Senator that voted 'present' on everything.

Besides they sounded like the Japanese villians on Starblazers.

Both of these people decided that I wasn't suitable for continued friendship.

I failed to prostrate myself before the awesome majesty of our first half black, half American, President.

Now when their arguments are seen for the specious crap that they are,

They want Civil Discourse.

The fact that they are still drawing breath, when they would so easily have me killed for disagreeing with them, for refusing to acknowledge Barak Hussein Obama as the Saviour of all right -well left actually- thinking people.

Since you couldn't be bothered to play nice when you thought you had the upper hand.

Shut the fuck up, and take the beating you got coming to you!

My 'civil discourse' is likely to knock your lying teeth down your lying throat!

Happy Easter!

Weren't we supposed to fill a wicker man with criminals, and set fire to it/them?

I knew they forgot the most important bit at "Burning Man"!

live well with less

I was going to say that all the things society believes you should have, are all shackles, or downright albatrosses. A spendy house compels you to spend time in a job you hate, making money to pay for a house that's more house than you need. I myself lived very well in corporate Seattle, out of a 1980 Toyota Dolphin, a 'house' I could park almost anywhere. My boss actually loved the fact that I was invariably on-site in the off hours. It was an artificial freedom though, I still had enormous amounts of stuff in my parent's house in Spokane. I expect the most free I ever was, was in late September of 1989 when I came home, and found that my house had burned down to the foundation due to a gas explosion. In hindsight I had been handed ultimate freedom. I could have taken my few possessions, climbed into my car, and went wherever I desired.

I instead opted to act like a victim of a great tragedy, gratefully accepted all donations of stuff. Now perched upon the precipice of my 50th year, I am surrounded by clutter. I'm laboring to de-clutter my life. One computer, all the others donated to good causes. My electronics pared down to what I can support.

I'm in trouble again

I got a call from a pal in the ATF.

It seems I've been implicated with the intent of murdering a relative of my girlfriend's.

She appears every 28 days or so, interferes maliciously, diabolically, in our relationship, and poisons Elizabeth's mind against me. She even incites her to violence against me.

I can't deny it, Life would be much easier if Elizabeth's Aunt Flow would just leave us alone.

A few hours later the -female- ATF office director called to apologize for letting the joke get out of hand.

For the guy who still don't get it, Aunt Flow visits almost every adult woman at semi regular monthly intervals. She makes her 'neices' very annoyed.

Aunt Flow is the euphemism for the menstrual cycle.

Dear to me!

I have become a man quite different than the man envisualized by my 20-something year old self. If you had told him, I'd enjoy a cigar and brandy, he'd have been mildly surprised.

If you would have told him I'd be politically active, he'd have been shocked.

If you told him, I am now the sort who calls people 'Dear' regardless of gender, he'd have gotten red in the face and screamed that No Way would he ever have become such a faggoty phony.

...and he'd have been quite proud of the disparate 'f-sounding words' he'd just merged.

It's easier to heal than to hurt nowadays.

It's easier to quietly remonstrate with politicians to do the right thing.

It's easier to be gentle than evil.

Of Course, If you mess with me in traffic, I'll have your ass!

ode to a fountain pen

I got a slew of tattoo inks from a friend who couldn't pay his debts any other way!

I also have a few fountain pens.

I have been meaning to pick up a jar of ink for same, but never managed to follow through.

Considering what I have accomplished in the past year, I am not going to let this lapse bring me down. I basically spent May and June of last year raving insane.

I am astonished that I didn't see the word calligraphy on the bottle a month ago!

I now have a full fountain pen.

I love it!

this guy is awesome!

http://laptopandarifle.wordpress.com

He just came off of 31 days alone in the wilderness.

Well his own cabin on his own property!

Now he's jetting off to Japan to help the relief effort.

Ryo, you are DAMN AWESOME!

I know man crush alert.

A Thought

Every highly social event I have been a leading part of, has gone down in flames.

Science Fiction Conventions!

Book Clubs.

Paintball Games. How can anyone mess up a paintball game?

If I am appointed to a position of authority over adults in a scouting group, it dies!

LIGHT BULB MOMENT!

I'm running off to join the Democrats, and the Brady Bunch!

Because one should use their dark powers for good!

radio coils

this seems to be a stumbling block to most radio builders. Before I realized there were coils everywhere begging to be used, I used to use the copper wire for winding coils, and spend bucks on coil forms.

copper wire comes in ton lots, old 25 and 50 pair phone wire from office building clean ups.

If you want to be posh, coil forms are 3/4ths pvc pipe in 8 foot lengths for 99 cents. seeing that a regular coil goes for $5 apiece, and is roughly 2 and 1/2 inches tall, this is a screaming bargain.

Changeable coil forms can be worked up with 12 gauge wire for the pins, and making a molding jig to use a cast poly resin. Maybe pictures to follow, no promises.

I've used everything for coil forms, spent Sharpies, spent Bic Lighters -they present an interesting challenge to wind mathematically- AAA, AA, and C Batteries, Pill bottles...

Right not I'm using some dramamine bottles to make interchangeable coils for a nice radio made from 9-pin mini tubes. I fix 16 gauge pins at 12-3-6-9 o'clock to the form and plug them into a home made 4 pin socket. I am totally retro.

I started with Transistors. moved to ICs. Integrated Circuits are Great. Electronic LEGO's. The thrill and challenge faded and I moved back to transistors, then vacuum tubes. Tube biasing is an interesting and challenging endeavor. I guess for sheer thrills adjusting an inductor/capacator tank circuit without the math, is the top thing.

(You are in a maze of twisty little coils that look all alike!)

Next week on "Why Electronics Technicians Drink!"

all I want to say about Atlas Shrugged

Is that Chris Muir writes a better review than Roger Ebert!

feeling a little tube-ular!

I went and grabbed a wire harness from an old Kenmore Washer!

The standard wire I use for ICs and and Transistors just wont do.

I have a spiral coil out of an artist's notebook.

It's not an oatmeal box, but I can get some great results.

If I feel like living dangerously, with the FCC, I could transmit with this coil.

I'm waiting for a novice license. Also I could use an Elmer!

I'm prepared to proceed without one but society at large would safer if I didn't.

(Would a Ham Radio Mentor, who's also an apolitical Hunter, be an Elmer Fudd?)

Dragon Leatherworks

In honor of Today being "Buy a Gun Day!"

I had a fit of "Me-Too-Ism", from all the Dragon Leatherworks blog entries 3 months back.

Being me, I had one made for the Smith and Wesson 457 .45 ACP.

It gave Dennis Badurina a bit of a pause, as he had to research exactly what the 457, 1076 family of pistols evolved from. The 4006 yielded him a 'blue gun' that he could use to mold the leather for fit. He says it's essentially a Glock styling. In rough strokes yes, in the real world I've almost had to use a hydraulic mini jaws to get my gun back from a Safariland Police Holster made for a Glock.

I am feeling gnarly from the current rain, or I'd be hanging from the trapeze, trying to test retention. I hope the angle is okay. The last person who tried to test retention against a snatch from a holster I was wearing, wont play with me any more. I did react a little roughly. Sort of like Randy Orton. Gotta love a guy that got thrown outa the Marines for fighting. That's like being thrown out of a porn for... Well y'know.

Here's the Fat Bastard in all my sartorial glory, with my new holster. That's a T-Shirt Hell T-Shirt by the way. Note to self: Wear gloves for the next workout.

Here's a close-up, Anyone know of a S&W 1076 for sale?

I don't know if I'm a Recoil Whore, or a Pain Slut!

Who's for Starbuck's! I'm buying!

Off the High Road!

A friend asked me to register and post on The High Road. She wanted to know what I wanted in the firearms world. Aside from the CZ 550 rifle in .505 Gibbs caliber, I have no desires.

I read a comic called Subnormality. The second to last box in this comic so resonated with me.

Maybe what you already have is sexier than what you're supposed to want.

Maybe I'll just take her out and plink tin cans.

Things I really miss.

Heathkit. This one hurts with a sharp pang. In the 60's, 70's, 80's, there was a company out there, with a very slick catalog, that could address anyones creative urges.

I know they were around since the 50's as far as the electronics go.

Wikipedia informs me that they have been around since 1912.

But they were pretty much a staple in my life.

I had dreams of building every single project in their catalog.

Building my own electronics, learning what the projects were that I didn't understand.

I ordered a tachometer, and a transistorized grid dip meter.

I had no understanding of what they were, or how they worked.

At 12 years old, I had little understanding of 95% of the projects functions.

I reasoned that building the kits would enhance my understanding of electronics.

Anyone else than HeathKit and I'd usually get a board, components, and instructions on how to put them together. Alignment and adjustment instructions were usually a bonus.

Heathkit invariably explained why and how it worked.

I got a 1982 ARRL book on becoming a Ham Radio Experimenter. The pictures of the HeathKit items were nostalgic and heartbreaking.

There was once something bright, shiny, and wonderful, out there...

And the modern world that we find ourselves in,

Just allowed it to slip away from us.

Update: Drew Allen Kaplan of DAK Industries fame, is still kicking! YAY!

Matt Tabbi of the Rolling Stone.

Posted on Joe Huffman's excellent Blog March 10th.

The Rolling Stone sure brings back memories.

I was forced into accepting a 3 year package subscription on order to have access to more relevant magazines.

After they cancelled advertising from T-Shirt Hell, I wrote them a hot under the collar letter and told them to cancel my subscription, and send me some REAL toilet paper.

Mr Tabbi, who fancies himself the literary successor to Hunter S Thompson,

(what drugs are YOU on Matt?)

Has posited that anti-gun people should send in their name to the ATF and get on their list.

I agree!

It worked out so well for Randy Weaver, and David Koresh after all...

I stand by my choice of Charmin over The Rolling Stone.

Charity for the Downtrodden!

The roomie was on a little tear tonight.

I did suggest to Dad that there were nicer people to put up with.

I understand Muhammar Gadaffi might be looking for a new situation soon.

And on that Note:

wrongcards.com

Another Me Too Moment!

Tam and I seem to have strange dreams roughly within 24 hours of each other.

Hers is here,

Mine is here.

I was on the African Veldt hunting with Robert Ruark, John Pondoro Taylor, and the Father of the girls that used to live next door to me, A local sports celebrity in the 60s, Gene Hackney. It must have been the 19th century, because the veldt was lush, and rife with assorted game. Early 20th, because I had a .505 Gibbs. It was heavy as hell, but only kicked as hard as a 12 gauge. I also had my .45-70, and a couple other rifles I keep around. I expressed concern when they told me to take a shot on a Black Rhino. "Aren't they almost Extinct?" The professional hunters laughed and told me we'd need much more ammo for that to happen. I had an exciting hunt. Bagged an Elephant charging within 40 feet. I walked back to the hunting camp to find Elizabeth, and Denice, (my late love), sharing tea under an umbrella, I said, "Oh shit, I'm dead!" not in the tone of 'busted', but as a revelation.

Then I woke up!

Most of it was cribbed from a Pat Mc Manus story in Outdoor Life.

My sneaky subconscious filed off the serial numbers, and filled out the story with my details.

Huffington Post attacks Marine

much as I am bored by the Puffy Ho's at the Huff Po.

They really are incensed by this guy.

Could I get registered to Vote in North Carolina soon enough?

Huffington Post attacks Marine

Yeah!!!

Where did I put those post-hole-diggers?