Friday, February 12, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Quote from some work I will probably never finish
James, who seemed to be unmoved by the conversation finally spoke, "You know the difference between you and me? You look up at that building and see a Monolith. A huge, overbearing structure assembled by the will of powerful architects. Representing the unshakable dominance of the kings that commissioned it. Daunting. Intimidating. Invincible. You know what I see? I see people. Simple people with simple jobs. People made of flesh, and muscle, and bone. Fragile people. People who do their job not because they believe in what they are doing, or the ends of their efforts, but because it's their occupation. People easily dissuaded. People easily scared. People easily killed. With those people shuffled off or scared off, the monolith becomes a husk. It may still stand upright and tall, but it is lame. A decaying symbol of a dead power. The shadow of kings."
Oh noes! It finally happened!
The intarwebz has crossed over into the real world!
Today, a demotivator poster, tomorrow lolcats!
We can't let this stand! We must destroy this nexus between the intertubes and the real world before it's too late!
OH NO! IT'S TOO LATE!
Look behind you!
A POPUP! AAAAAHHHHH---!!!
Today, a demotivator poster, tomorrow lolcats!
We can't let this stand! We must destroy this nexus between the intertubes and the real world before it's too late!
OH NO! IT'S TOO LATE!
Look behind you!
A POPUP! AAAAAHHHHH---!!!
Et tu, Bill Nye?
Question climate change and Bill Nye The Science Guy will question your patriotism.
They say to never meet your heroes.
Today I met one of mine.
A sad day, indeed.
They say to never meet your heroes.
Today I met one of mine.
A sad day, indeed.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Tombstone Paintball reopens in Colton!
Tombstone Paintball Park
This is exciting news! Tombstone was forced out of Corona along with 1,500 other businesses by the Prado Flood Control project in preparation for the 100 year flood (Still waiting on that horrifying flood, guys. Good thing you kicked out all those businesses!). Leon, the owner of the park, fought against several socal counties to get another park opened closer to populated areas, and was eventually able to open a somewhat limited indoor field called Splat Factory.
Recently, Leon closed Splat Factory and opened Kart Factory in its place. For those of you who knew Leon, this should come as no surprise since he was a rally car driver.
I only today found out that Leon was opening a new park with the same name as the original in Colton. It's a bit farther away, but it still looks great. I can't wait to try it out!
On a more somber note, James Scarcella recently passed away.
James (left), Leon (right)
I talked to James a lot while I reffed Tombstone, and found him to be a helluva guy. It's been a long time since I've seen or spoken to him, but as soon as my friend said "James" I could immediately remember his goofy smile and his laugh. That was the kind of guy he was. Memorable.
Judge stalls prisoner early release in Sac. due to safety, confusion
CBS: Judge Halts Early Release Of Inmates In Sac County
The prisoner early release program has been temporarily stalling IN SACRAMENTO ONLY. All other prisons in all other counties are still scheduled for releases.
I had heard that it was particularly confusingly written, but all that nonsense is confusingly written to me. They're not even sure if the county prisons are supposed to participate in the early release program.
So far, all those released have been from county prisons. The release of state prisoners is where most of my concern lies, and none have gone out just yet.
If I were one of the legislators who pushed this bill, I'd be in constant communication with the people on the review board, and I'd be pulling the initial charges of those up for early release to make sure assault and robbery didn't get pleaded down to robbery for an easy guilty plea.
Who do you think the people are going to blame after the first person is killed?
Were I a more cynical man, I might take issue with Sacramento passing this threat to public safety, and then making it not apply to them.
The prisoner early release program has been temporarily stalling IN SACRAMENTO ONLY. All other prisons in all other counties are still scheduled for releases.
I had heard that it was particularly confusingly written, but all that nonsense is confusingly written to me. They're not even sure if the county prisons are supposed to participate in the early release program.
So far, all those released have been from county prisons. The release of state prisoners is where most of my concern lies, and none have gone out just yet.
If I were one of the legislators who pushed this bill, I'd be in constant communication with the people on the review board, and I'd be pulling the initial charges of those up for early release to make sure assault and robbery didn't get pleaded down to robbery for an easy guilty plea.
Who do you think the people are going to blame after the first person is killed?
Were I a more cynical man, I might take issue with Sacramento passing this threat to public safety, and then making it not apply to them.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Media Malpractice at the March for Life
No matter your position on the issue, there is no way you can support this kind of media denial.
[direct link]
But there is hope. The people still showed up, even though they knew there would be little, no, or contradictory media coverage.
The media do the politicians they strive to support a disservice by failing to warn them of the size of the swell approaching the shore.
[direct link]
But there is hope. The people still showed up, even though they knew there would be little, no, or contradictory media coverage.
The media do the politicians they strive to support a disservice by failing to warn them of the size of the swell approaching the shore.
Obama calls for an end of petty politics...
...the same day his press secretary makes fun of Obama's political opponents.
I know he has very little control over the democratic congress, but does he have any control over his own administration???
I know he has very little control over the democratic congress, but does he have any control over his own administration???
Monday, February 08, 2010
Quote of the at least waste it on something cool
[about the government's purchase of superbowl ad time]
It's like finding out that not only have you been robbed, but the burglar used your money to buy a baggie of oregano and lawn clippings.
~Tam
World At War: A New Germany
I've been watching the World At War series recently on the Military Channel, and have found it interesting in its detail and chilling in its candor.
This is the first episode, about an hour long. See if it's something you want to watch more of.
I highly recommend it.
[direct link]
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
This is the first episode, about an hour long. See if it's something you want to watch more of.
I highly recommend it.
[direct link]
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
2.5 million tax dollars went into this ad
[direct link]
What information does it relay?
1. The census is a "snapshot of America"
2. ???
No, really. I saw the first ad, where the same people propose the idea and in dry, uncomfortable, The Office-like humor, but even having seen both, the point remains... What information did this relay???
How about just paying some half-celebrity to sit on a stool in a dark turtleneck and talk about why you should participate in the census?
Instead we've got 2.5 million tax dollars spent in a tremendous recession with the ultimate accomplishment of telling us that the census is a "Snapshot of America."
How exactly does calling the census a "Snapshot of America" make people want to participate anyway? Is the idea that people like having their picture taken? What person out there saw this ad, and thought, "Snapshot of America? I want to be in the picture!"
What a waste.
Friday, February 05, 2010
300 prisoners out on the early on the release program so far
OC Register: Get out of jail early: thieves, prostitutes
The article describes the inmates that will be released early, and most of them I don't have a problem with. The issue is the .3% of those released that actually will hurt others.
So the question is; what is an acceptable number of murders for the fiscal savings to the state?
1? 10? 100? 1000?
Remember, the total number they want to early release is 40,000.
Guess we'll just find out how many lives the fiscal savings was worth to the state legislature...
Don't let yourself or your family be one of those lives.
The article describes the inmates that will be released early, and most of them I don't have a problem with. The issue is the .3% of those released that actually will hurt others.
So the question is; what is an acceptable number of murders for the fiscal savings to the state?
1? 10? 100? 1000?
Remember, the total number they want to early release is 40,000.
Guess we'll just find out how many lives the fiscal savings was worth to the state legislature...
Don't let yourself or your family be one of those lives.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Innocents Betrayed
What single type of entity murdered 170,000,000 innocent people in the 20th century?
Government.
Different governments of all kinds murdered a total of 170 million innocent people in the 20th century.
There was one thing that happened before each and every instance of government-sponsored genocide.
The disarmament of private citizens.
The video is about an hour long, and was produced by the Jews for the Preservation of Firearm Ownership. It covers almost every instance of state-sponsored genocide in the 20th century.
It is a horrifying video, but it must be watched.
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES OF GENOCIDE
Source material for the numbers
No one can predict the future of this nation, but what we can do is remember never to give up our only effective means of personal defense.
Many of these genocides didn't happen in 6 months, or 6 years. Some took decades to lead up to the resolution of the plan. Building popular anger for years before beginning the first intentional step toward their ultimate goal of genocide. So don't give up your arms for anyone at any time.
Because it usually happens that right after the time when you need them least, you will need them most.
Also remember that many of these horrifying acts took place with popular support, or out of the public eye. This means if you are one of those targeted, you can expect to either have everyone around you against you, or you can expect to have everyone around you not believe you.
You will be alone. But alone is better than in a crowd on a train car being carted somewhere.
One cannot be paranoid about everything. There just isn't enough time in the day. So try to only worry about the worst case scenarios.
Being a Jew in late 1930s Germany is one of the worst.
Never allow yourself or your family to be in that position.
Never allow someone to tell you it could never happen.
Never allow yourself to be convinced to give up your personal arms, even if tyranny seems impossible.
Never--
Never--
NEVER give up your future ability to fight.
"Who could predict?" Is a question that you ask when it's too late.
Government.
Different governments of all kinds murdered a total of 170 million innocent people in the 20th century.
There was one thing that happened before each and every instance of government-sponsored genocide.
The disarmament of private citizens.
The video is about an hour long, and was produced by the Jews for the Preservation of Firearm Ownership. It covers almost every instance of state-sponsored genocide in the 20th century.
It is a horrifying video, but it must be watched.
WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES OF GENOCIDE
Source material for the numbers
No one can predict the future of this nation, but what we can do is remember never to give up our only effective means of personal defense.
Many of these genocides didn't happen in 6 months, or 6 years. Some took decades to lead up to the resolution of the plan. Building popular anger for years before beginning the first intentional step toward their ultimate goal of genocide. So don't give up your arms for anyone at any time.
Because it usually happens that right after the time when you need them least, you will need them most.
Also remember that many of these horrifying acts took place with popular support, or out of the public eye. This means if you are one of those targeted, you can expect to either have everyone around you against you, or you can expect to have everyone around you not believe you.
You will be alone. But alone is better than in a crowd on a train car being carted somewhere.
One cannot be paranoid about everything. There just isn't enough time in the day. So try to only worry about the worst case scenarios.
Being a Jew in late 1930s Germany is one of the worst.
Never allow yourself or your family to be in that position.
Never allow someone to tell you it could never happen.
Never allow yourself to be convinced to give up your personal arms, even if tyranny seems impossible.
Never--
Never--
NEVER give up your future ability to fight.
There is one situation, though, where I tell a woman to fight to the death. That's when the man pulls out a pair of handcuffs and says, 'Come on, I promise I won't hurt you, this is just so you won't flail around and hurt either of us by accident. Come on, I just want to talk, get in the van and let me handcuff you to this eyebolt here, and I promise I won't touch you' ... But if she gets in the van and puts her wrists in the handcuffs, she has just given up her future ability to fight, and now it is too late.
~John Ross author of Unintended Consequences
"Who could predict?" Is a question that you ask when it's too late.
Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.
~George Washington
Outlaw cyber bullying?
Boston Globe: Bullying legislation gains new urgency
Once this passes, the question will be, "Why not outlaw regular bullying?" Then, "What constitutes bullying?"
Then we'll see a flurry of local and federal bills banning eye contact, raised voices, and furrowed brows.
Seriously, what ever happened to teaching your kids to have thick skin?
If all it took for you to off yourself is some harsh text messages, I submit that you weren't going to last long anyways.
Shame on the parents for not teaching their kid that there are people in the world who make themselves feel better by making others feel worse, or identifying the signs of an increasingly desperate teenage girl.
It's a shame all this girl's potential had to be lost because no one told her that there are bad people in the world.
One of the hidden dangers of liberal ideals.
Once this passes, the question will be, "Why not outlaw regular bullying?" Then, "What constitutes bullying?"
Then we'll see a flurry of local and federal bills banning eye contact, raised voices, and furrowed brows.
Seriously, what ever happened to teaching your kids to have thick skin?
If all it took for you to off yourself is some harsh text messages, I submit that you weren't going to last long anyways.
Shame on the parents for not teaching their kid that there are people in the world who make themselves feel better by making others feel worse, or identifying the signs of an increasingly desperate teenage girl.
It's a shame all this girl's potential had to be lost because no one told her that there are bad people in the world.
One of the hidden dangers of liberal ideals.
Fallout: New Vegas
An entirely new Fallout game by Bethesda!
Fallout 3 is my game of the year for 2008 and 2009. Between my wife and I, we have about 500 hours into that game, and easily another 100 into the expansions we got.
500 hours of entertainment for $59.99? Helluva deal!
Can't wait for New Vegas to come out.
Fallout 3 is my game of the year for 2008 and 2009. Between my wife and I, we have about 500 hours into that game, and easily another 100 into the expansions we got.
500 hours of entertainment for $59.99? Helluva deal!
Can't wait for New Vegas to come out.
Support Starbucks!
45Superman tells us that Starbucks is now the subject of a Brady Campaign of threats and political pressure to exercise their right as a private establishment to ask that no legally open carried firearms be allowed in their coffee shops.
Good for Starbucks for not kowtowing to the sensationalist threats of this paper tiger.
Lets show our support by sending them a note letting them know we approve of their decision, and will spend money there, and encourage others to do the same.
For more news on Open Carry in California, and some good videos, go here, and watch. Got that link from Adam, who's busting my chops. :)
Good for Starbucks for not kowtowing to the sensationalist threats of this paper tiger.
Lets show our support by sending them a note letting them know we approve of their decision, and will spend money there, and encourage others to do the same.
To whom it may concern,
I'm writing to let your know that I support your policy of allowing customers to visit your establishments who are also open carrying a firearm in accordance with local laws. I was made aware of the Brady Campaign's attempt to force you to bend to their will, and applaud your refusal to submit to their threats.
I hope that you continue to allow law abiding citizens to exercise their rights on your property, and for as long as you do, I will visit your establishments more frequently, and encourage others to do so too.
-*********
For more news on Open Carry in California, and some good videos, go here, and watch. Got that link from Adam, who's busting my chops. :)
OPPORTUNITY
THIS I beheld, or dreamed it in a dream:--
There spread a cloud of dust along a plain;
And underneath the cloud, or in it, raged
A furious battle, and men yelled, and swords
Shocked upon swords and shields. A prince's banner
Wavered, then staggered backward, hemmed by foes.
A craven hung along the battle's edge,
And thought, "Had I a sword of keener steel--
That blue blade that the king's son bears, -- but this
Blunt thing--!" he snapped and flung it from his hand,
And lowering crept away and left the field.
Then came the king's son, wounded, sore bestead,
And weaponless, and saw the broken sword,
Hilt-buried in the dry and trodden sand,
And ran and snatched it, and with battle shout
Lifted afresh he hewed his enemy down,
And saved a great cause that heroic day.
~Edward Rowland Sill (1841-1887)
From Gunblogger Conspiracy IRC Channel. And, no, you don't have to be a gunblogger to join in the fun.
There spread a cloud of dust along a plain;
And underneath the cloud, or in it, raged
A furious battle, and men yelled, and swords
Shocked upon swords and shields. A prince's banner
Wavered, then staggered backward, hemmed by foes.
A craven hung along the battle's edge,
And thought, "Had I a sword of keener steel--
That blue blade that the king's son bears, -- but this
Blunt thing--!" he snapped and flung it from his hand,
And lowering crept away and left the field.
Then came the king's son, wounded, sore bestead,
And weaponless, and saw the broken sword,
Hilt-buried in the dry and trodden sand,
And ran and snatched it, and with battle shout
Lifted afresh he hewed his enemy down,
And saved a great cause that heroic day.
~Edward Rowland Sill (1841-1887)
From Gunblogger Conspiracy IRC Channel. And, no, you don't have to be a gunblogger to join in the fun.
Can we stop complaining about direct impingement gas systems yet?
Some people will see this, and think, "Gee, I guess DI isn't really that much of a problem."
While others will think, "Well, yeah, but if it had a piston, it could have gone for a million rounds!"
I know of no way to reconcile to two.
I guess you can either imagine a situation in which you have to fire your fully automatic light patrol carbine 1000 times in one firefight (probably 1500-2000 in semi auto), or you're someone who doesn't use the wrong gun for the situation.
While others will think, "Well, yeah, but if it had a piston, it could have gone for a million rounds!"
I know of no way to reconcile to two.
I guess you can either imagine a situation in which you have to fire your fully automatic light patrol carbine 1000 times in one firefight (probably 1500-2000 in semi auto), or you're someone who doesn't use the wrong gun for the situation.
I cried because I had no shoes...
...until I met a man who had no feet.
Occasional guest poster at The Firearm Blog, Y-Man, is a Nigerian firearms enthusiast with severely (government) limited access to firearms, and even certain types of ammo. It's even difficult for him to get parts for his firearms.
In spite of those restrictions, he is fabricating parts for his Mossberg 500A, and changing birdshot into self-defense capable slugs.
The ingenuity is excellent, and goes to show; you can't keep a gunny down.
Check out his posts, and his latest one with videos!
It may also serve as a reminder to gun grabbers that the genie is out of the bottle. Unless you can wipe the memory of the world, enterprising individuals will always find a way.
Cheers Y-Man, from the other side of the world!
Betcha he's better with his one shotgun than most American gunnies are with any one of their dozens of guns.
Occasional guest poster at The Firearm Blog, Y-Man, is a Nigerian firearms enthusiast with severely (government) limited access to firearms, and even certain types of ammo. It's even difficult for him to get parts for his firearms.
In spite of those restrictions, he is fabricating parts for his Mossberg 500A, and changing birdshot into self-defense capable slugs.
The ingenuity is excellent, and goes to show; you can't keep a gunny down.
Check out his posts, and his latest one with videos!
It may also serve as a reminder to gun grabbers that the genie is out of the bottle. Unless you can wipe the memory of the world, enterprising individuals will always find a way.
Cheers Y-Man, from the other side of the world!
Betcha he's better with his one shotgun than most American gunnies are with any one of their dozens of guns.
Enjoy your fail, Anon.
In a strangely specific, and slightly confusing comment, Anonymous attacked my post about the Ca. prisoner early release program. The comment reminded me of this one. Once I hit my sitemeter, it all came together.
I made my reply, but it ran long, so it gets its own post.
Anonymous,
First; nice try playing the impartial concerned citizen when you have a dog in the fight. My sitemeter indicates you came from "Los Angeles Unified School District" and you came here on a search for "california prison early release 2010 -quinn -texas -florida -illinois." You know as well as I do that the single most costly thing in California is the teachers' union. But you did a good job diverting attention by bashing the police unions, and complaining about reducing spending.
My advice for next time? Do your little "comment spam will change the hearts and minds" project from home, say things like "the police unions" instead of "LAPD union (LAPPL), California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA)" (but I guess that wouldn't hit all the google searches you wanted), and try to stick with the parlance of the original post. I wrote "special parole" and you wrote "non-revocable parole," which is the correct terminology, and indicates you are more well versed with the issue than Joe Citizen. Don't pretend you know the author either. That last bit about the only criminals I don't charge is the politicians? Yeah. No. Just tells me you don't read the blog, and are trying to push an agenda.
Now that it has been established that you are a employee of the state, and support spending reductions on everything but your section of the budget (which is also the largest section of the budget), we can get started on your comment.
You are right on the first bit, he would have been tried anyway had he not been on non-revocable parole. I kind of had that realization in the middle of the post, and was unclear on that. However, that statement stands for lesser crimes. Drug possession, associating with gang members, trespassing, and other minor violations that would put parolees back into prison, are instead treated by cops with a slap on the wrist, or not identified at all. You see, when you're on parole, you can be searched at any time for any reason, and if found in violation, you go back to jail. On non-revocable parole, cops don't even know the parolee is on parole, because he's not in the system as a parolee. So not only are they not scrutinized as much, minor violations go unpunished (bigger fish, and all that. not saying I agree with it). If they had to bring every parole violation into court, the courts (already stressed) would be years, if not decades behind in processing. And you know you can't hold someone for 10 years before a trial. They'd be released. Parole violation was the vehicle for skipping that serious flaw in our justice system. But it's not there now.
Had you read the article, you would have known the inmate WAS released early as part of this program. Honestly, it was not that much earlier, but the facts remains. This guy would have violated had he been released 16 days early, or 16 days late, but the point is that he was an obvious danger, and he was still eligible as a "low risk" offender. The point of this post is to show that the bureaucratic definition of "low risk" is not the same as the victim's definition of "low risk."
As for "unless all the facts don't support your point of view," you were right on saving money with a parole violation on this particular case, but in every other case, the county would have to try each violation they would normally simply toss under parole violation. That does cost money. The danger is that the county will simply NOT try these cases. I will admit this case was anomalous in that the violator was going to do what he wanted no matter the threat. I'm not really worried about the guys who get caught their first day out. I'm much more worried about the violators who spend 6 months testing the system after they get out, confirming, and getting used to not being treated by the cops like they're on parole (most have been on parole 100% of the time they are out of prison since their teens), and grow bolder when they realize they can carry drugs, or knives, or guns without being searched every time the police drive by, and elevate their crimes with a feeling of invincibility. I think it'll really take six months before we truly start feeling these guys at our doors, and throats. This is something you should be concerned about too, Anon. You're a Californian too.
While I don't support the money the unions are getting, it's not their fault. All they did was their job, try to get better pay and benefits for their members. That's what unions are supposed to do, and you can't complain about them doing what they are meant to do. The real problem is the politicians who agreed to these contracts knowing they'd get free union money for reelection, and be termed out before the pension bomb went off, living fat on their retirement/investments. They're the real criminals. However, the unions are not blameless. They are the ones who kept asking for more money, and CONTINUE to ask for more money (yours included) even though the state has spent all it could borrow, and run out of credit. But the unions in this case are more interested in the unions than the members. When the money runs out, and your paychecks start coming as IOUs, they'll just tell you to go on strike, and let you twist for what would have to be decades of fiscal recovery.
But don't worry, with the union teachers on permanent strike, the state will be forced to offer serious tax breaks for private schools, which will begin popping up all over the state mere months after the strike starts. This will solve the education crisis in California, and in a generation or two, we just might be back at the top of our game again.
Enjoy your fail.
I made my reply, but it ran long, so it gets its own post.
Anonymous,
First; nice try playing the impartial concerned citizen when you have a dog in the fight. My sitemeter indicates you came from "Los Angeles Unified School District" and you came here on a search for "california prison early release 2010 -quinn -texas -florida -illinois." You know as well as I do that the single most costly thing in California is the teachers' union. But you did a good job diverting attention by bashing the police unions, and complaining about reducing spending.
My advice for next time? Do your little "comment spam will change the hearts and minds" project from home, say things like "the police unions" instead of "LAPD union (LAPPL), California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA)" (but I guess that wouldn't hit all the google searches you wanted), and try to stick with the parlance of the original post. I wrote "special parole" and you wrote "non-revocable parole," which is the correct terminology, and indicates you are more well versed with the issue than Joe Citizen. Don't pretend you know the author either. That last bit about the only criminals I don't charge is the politicians? Yeah. No. Just tells me you don't read the blog, and are trying to push an agenda.
Now that it has been established that you are a employee of the state, and support spending reductions on everything but your section of the budget (which is also the largest section of the budget), we can get started on your comment.
You are right on the first bit, he would have been tried anyway had he not been on non-revocable parole. I kind of had that realization in the middle of the post, and was unclear on that. However, that statement stands for lesser crimes. Drug possession, associating with gang members, trespassing, and other minor violations that would put parolees back into prison, are instead treated by cops with a slap on the wrist, or not identified at all. You see, when you're on parole, you can be searched at any time for any reason, and if found in violation, you go back to jail. On non-revocable parole, cops don't even know the parolee is on parole, because he's not in the system as a parolee. So not only are they not scrutinized as much, minor violations go unpunished (bigger fish, and all that. not saying I agree with it). If they had to bring every parole violation into court, the courts (already stressed) would be years, if not decades behind in processing. And you know you can't hold someone for 10 years before a trial. They'd be released. Parole violation was the vehicle for skipping that serious flaw in our justice system. But it's not there now.
Had you read the article, you would have known the inmate WAS released early as part of this program. Honestly, it was not that much earlier, but the facts remains. This guy would have violated had he been released 16 days early, or 16 days late, but the point is that he was an obvious danger, and he was still eligible as a "low risk" offender. The point of this post is to show that the bureaucratic definition of "low risk" is not the same as the victim's definition of "low risk."
As for "unless all the facts don't support your point of view," you were right on saving money with a parole violation on this particular case, but in every other case, the county would have to try each violation they would normally simply toss under parole violation. That does cost money. The danger is that the county will simply NOT try these cases. I will admit this case was anomalous in that the violator was going to do what he wanted no matter the threat. I'm not really worried about the guys who get caught their first day out. I'm much more worried about the violators who spend 6 months testing the system after they get out, confirming, and getting used to not being treated by the cops like they're on parole (most have been on parole 100% of the time they are out of prison since their teens), and grow bolder when they realize they can carry drugs, or knives, or guns without being searched every time the police drive by, and elevate their crimes with a feeling of invincibility. I think it'll really take six months before we truly start feeling these guys at our doors, and throats. This is something you should be concerned about too, Anon. You're a Californian too.
While I don't support the money the unions are getting, it's not their fault. All they did was their job, try to get better pay and benefits for their members. That's what unions are supposed to do, and you can't complain about them doing what they are meant to do. The real problem is the politicians who agreed to these contracts knowing they'd get free union money for reelection, and be termed out before the pension bomb went off, living fat on their retirement/investments. They're the real criminals. However, the unions are not blameless. They are the ones who kept asking for more money, and CONTINUE to ask for more money (yours included) even though the state has spent all it could borrow, and run out of credit. But the unions in this case are more interested in the unions than the members. When the money runs out, and your paychecks start coming as IOUs, they'll just tell you to go on strike, and let you twist for what would have to be decades of fiscal recovery.
But don't worry, with the union teachers on permanent strike, the state will be forced to offer serious tax breaks for private schools, which will begin popping up all over the state mere months after the strike starts. This will solve the education crisis in California, and in a generation or two, we just might be back at the top of our game again.
Enjoy your fail.
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Overreactions to Rahm's "retarded" comment are retarded.
1. "Retarded" is a real word with a real meaning.
2. Who cares?
3. Don't we have more important things to worry about?
2. Who cares?
3. Don't we have more important things to worry about?
9 days after prisoner early release begins, first offender returns after almost raping woman 12 hours after release
9 DAYS!
12 HOURS!
CBS: Inmate Released Early Arrested On Rape Charges
A scant 9 days after the California prisoner early release program, which is in the process of releasing 6,500 "low level" offenders over the next year, the first "low level" offender has returned to prison.
12 hours after being released, he walked into a counseling office, and sat down with a female office worker in a room, in a full office, in the middle of the day, and attempted to rape her. Fortunately, she was able to call for help, and he was interrupted before he could complete the attack.
Now, normally he would have been tossed back in jail for a parole violation, but since these early release prisoners are on "special" parole ("special" now apparently being used interchangeably with the word "not"), he has to be tried on this new case, at the mere cost of tens of thousands of dollars the county already doesn't have.
Wonder if they'll give him bail?
But why would he try to rape this woman? He's a "low level" offender! Oh wait...
So this brilliant early release program to save the state money and make us safer, is going to cost the counties more money, and threaten the safety citizens all across the state.
Government: If you think our problems are bad, you should see our solutions.
But don't worry, there's money to monitor cow farts. The news radio story said it was budgeted $400,000, but I can't find any links with that figure. I can't imagine it's too far off.
Oh yeah, by the way, LA is so low on money they're considering laying off police, and freezing police hiring.
Hey, California legislature? Be honest... Your actually trying to destroy this state, aren't you?
I say we just give everyone a coach gun, and let this shit sort itself out. Sure, it would be a rough couple of months, but it would solve the inmate problem for a generation!
12 HOURS!
CBS: Inmate Released Early Arrested On Rape Charges
A scant 9 days after the California prisoner early release program, which is in the process of releasing 6,500 "low level" offenders over the next year, the first "low level" offender has returned to prison.
12 hours after being released, he walked into a counseling office, and sat down with a female office worker in a room, in a full office, in the middle of the day, and attempted to rape her. Fortunately, she was able to call for help, and he was interrupted before he could complete the attack.
Now, normally he would have been tossed back in jail for a parole violation, but since these early release prisoners are on "special" parole ("special" now apparently being used interchangeably with the word "not"), he has to be tried on this new case, at the mere cost of tens of thousands of dollars the county already doesn't have.
Wonder if they'll give him bail?
But why would he try to rape this woman? He's a "low level" offender! Oh wait...
"Certainly, everyone would agree that to strike someone with a broomstick is a violent act, but under the specific provision set forth by this emergency declaration of law... it does not qualify," McGinness said.
So this brilliant early release program to save the state money and make us safer, is going to cost the counties more money, and threaten the safety citizens all across the state.
Government: If you think our problems are bad, you should see our solutions.
But don't worry, there's money to monitor cow farts. The news radio story said it was budgeted $400,000, but I can't find any links with that figure. I can't imagine it's too far off.
Oh yeah, by the way, LA is so low on money they're considering laying off police, and freezing police hiring.
Hey, California legislature? Be honest... Your actually trying to destroy this state, aren't you?
I say we just give everyone a coach gun, and let this shit sort itself out. Sure, it would be a rough couple of months, but it would solve the inmate problem for a generation!
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Congrats to the middle class for making more than $250k a year!
Wait, the middle class is not making over $250K a year?
Then why is Obama going to raise their taxes?
But it's OK, see, he's not going to "raise" taxes, because he's just going to let tax cuts expire!
He's not "raising" taxes on the middle class, it's just that the middle class taxes go higher. Think of it as a negative tax cut.
So he's definitely not breaking any campaign promises then...
Who's tax cut for the middle class was that anyways? Hmmm... His name started with "B" and ended with "USH..." Damnit, it's right on the tip of my tongue...
Then why is Obama going to raise their taxes?
But it's OK, see, he's not going to "raise" taxes, because he's just going to let tax cuts expire!
He's not "raising" taxes on the middle class, it's just that the middle class taxes go higher. Think of it as a negative tax cut.
So he's definitely not breaking any campaign promises then...
Who's tax cut for the middle class was that anyways? Hmmm... His name started with "B" and ended with "USH..." Damnit, it's right on the tip of my tongue...
Monday, February 01, 2010
Some fun from the channel
This kind of stuff comes up all day on the Gunblogger Conspiracy IRC Channel. And, no, you don't have to be a gunblogger to join in the fun.
Murder on the Dancefloor - Sophie Ellis Bextor
direct link
Little known fact about ET: he is required by some irreversible part of himself to love disco. Also, mariachi music. Don't ask him to explain it. He can't.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Quote of the proficiency
Round counts do not build proficiency. Familiarity builds proficiency.
~Xavier
There has always been an emphasis on round count in practice, but it's really about meaningful practice.
Making 1000 loud noises with your gun won't do much if you don't pay attention to what's happening to you, and your gun while you make them.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, you would be surprised what you can accomplish with 80% dry fire, and 20% live fire training.
Jeff Cooper recommends taking your (EMPTY) firearm to the couch, and practicing by shooting every "O" you see on your teevee. I can attest to the success of this form of training.
You will be amazed when spotting a target, snapping your rifle to your shoulder, lining the sights on your target, and achieving a motionless trigger break comes as naturally as reaching your hand out, and catching a ball in the air.
It's a good feeling.
Ca legislature a bunch of April fools
State controller John Chiang says California will be out of money (again) by April 1st.
In other news, Jimmy Hoffa still missing.
I'm actually rather interested to see what kind of gimmicks the California legislature tries to pull out of its hat. It was scraping the bottom of the barrel last time it needed money, borrowing from their future budget, pushing pay dates a few days forward so they land in the next quarter, and increasing withholding even though they know they'll have to give it back as tax refunds.
So what will it be now? Some kind of pyramid scheme? Maybe some snake oil?
Or you could do something less creative and erect parking meters in front of every private and public parking spot in the state.
What's next? Breathing tax?
In other news, Jimmy Hoffa still missing.
I'm actually rather interested to see what kind of gimmicks the California legislature tries to pull out of its hat. It was scraping the bottom of the barrel last time it needed money, borrowing from their future budget, pushing pay dates a few days forward so they land in the next quarter, and increasing withholding even though they know they'll have to give it back as tax refunds.
So what will it be now? Some kind of pyramid scheme? Maybe some snake oil?
Or you could do something less creative and erect parking meters in front of every private and public parking spot in the state.
What's next? Breathing tax?
Quote of the State of the Union
So a Hyde Park-dwelling Harvard lawyer who has never had to make a payroll, live under segregation, or wear a uniform invokes all three of those things. Brilliant! This guy makes Dan Quayle look like Audie frickin' Murphy by comparison...
~Tam
BREAKING: Scientists have nothing better to do than think up worst case scenarios
So a bunch of scientists were stuck inside from the rain, and couldn't go outside and play, so they decided to come up with a worst case scenario for California's current El Nino cycle. They proudly present; Frankenstorm.
Frankenstorm is a hypothetical-yet-possible storm system that would build steam over the ocean, then settle onto southern California and dump 8 feet of rain over 3 weeks while pummeling it with hurricane-force winds. Then, a secondary system would do the same to northern California.
Well that's just impressive.
So how is California going to go?
Earth?
Water?
Fire?
Wind?
With our luck, it'll probably be an alien attack.
Oh yeah, be sure to check out the comment section if you want to hear people whose disaster kits are probably a box of granola bars and a 7-up bottle they filled with water argue about whether or not this is true, could happen, is prudent to discuss, is Bush's fault, etc.
When the big one hits, you'd better have firearms and training to use them. Because whether by earth, water fire, or wind, there are going to be a lot of people out there who spent their preparation time arguing on the internet about whether or not the big one could happen.
Seriously guys, drop $100 on canned goods and water to last you three weeks. THEN you can argue about whether or not it will happen.
Frankenstorm is a hypothetical-yet-possible storm system that would build steam over the ocean, then settle onto southern California and dump 8 feet of rain over 3 weeks while pummeling it with hurricane-force winds. Then, a secondary system would do the same to northern California.
Well that's just impressive.
So how is California going to go?
Earth?
Water?
Fire?
Wind?
With our luck, it'll probably be an alien attack.
Oh yeah, be sure to check out the comment section if you want to hear people whose disaster kits are probably a box of granola bars and a 7-up bottle they filled with water argue about whether or not this is true, could happen, is prudent to discuss, is Bush's fault, etc.
When the big one hits, you'd better have firearms and training to use them. Because whether by earth, water fire, or wind, there are going to be a lot of people out there who spent their preparation time arguing on the internet about whether or not the big one could happen.
Seriously guys, drop $100 on canned goods and water to last you three weeks. THEN you can argue about whether or not it will happen.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Man on sex offender list for animated character "child" porn?
The Simpsons porn lands man on sex offender list
Ok... So, pictures of a nude child is child porn.
I get that.
But drawings characterizing nude children is child porn?
Maybe. There's no victim, but it's still bad mojo.
Cartoon caricatured nude fictional children is child porn?
No.
As an act of defiance, I will now post what must be considered child porn in Australia.
It is very graphic, you have been warned...
Last chance to stop!
There it is. To keep from going to jail, I recommend you erase your internet history, delete your cookies, and fire your computer into space on a rocket ship.
Ok... So, pictures of a nude child is child porn.
I get that.
But drawings characterizing nude children is child porn?
Maybe. There's no victim, but it's still bad mojo.
Cartoon caricatured nude fictional children is child porn?
No.
As an act of defiance, I will now post what must be considered child porn in Australia.
It is very graphic, you have been warned...
Last chance to stop!
There it is. To keep from going to jail, I recommend you erase your internet history, delete your cookies, and fire your computer into space on a rocket ship.
Enlist today!
Imagine Star Wars told from the perspective of a citizen of the empire. Sure, they do bad things, but they also support their citizens. I mean, government can't deliver 100% of the time, or be right 100% of the time, so it's really a best effort. Just how evil was the empire really?
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
New Los Angeles city council restrictions requires many medical marijuana dispensaries to close
LA Times: Dispensary operators say L.A. marijuana ordinance will harm patients
So... Why?
Why punish the dispensaries?
What was happening with these dispensaries that had to be stopped, and would it be stopped by decreasing the amount of them?
Why punish the medical marijuana users?
Is LA in the throes of a crime spree of medical marijuana users?
Are these medical marijuana users getting in ice cream trucks and throwing free samples at children?
What were these medical marijuana users doing to cause this action?
So... Why?
Why punish the dispensaries?
What was happening with these dispensaries that had to be stopped, and would it be stopped by decreasing the amount of them?
Why punish the medical marijuana users?
Is LA in the throes of a crime spree of medical marijuana users?
Are these medical marijuana users getting in ice cream trucks and throwing free samples at children?
What were these medical marijuana users doing to cause this action?
Monday, January 25, 2010
Ca. plan to release 6,500 felons starts today
UPDATE: 9 days later...
Are you ready?
From SacBee: California inmate release plan begins
6,500 is just the FIRST year. The ultimate goal is the early release of 40,000 felons.
Well, they may be low-risk, but at least they're going to keep an eye on them.
So they're going to release these "low-risk" offenders, and they're not going to watch them? And the reason they're not going to watch them is because they don't want to catch them breaking the law, and have them come back.
THAT IS NOT HOW INCARCERATION WORKS.
When criminals keep returning to prison for breaking laws, the solution is not to put on blinders so you can't see them break laws.
If criminals who get let out of prison early on the condition they don't break any more laws, break small laws, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BREAK BIGGER LAWS!
Really? Releasing more felons from incarceration early will make the population safer?
Are you willing to bet your life on it, Mr Cate?
You don't look like someone who would bet their life.
Then why is it that you are betting OUR LIVES?!
What will you say when the first person is murdered?
Claim the system failed?
Argue that we need to try harder?
Offer an independent review?
What's the fucking point when Lily Burk lies dead in her own car with her throat slashed?
Oh yeah... Forgot about that did you?
Due to a clerical error, the violent home invader Charlie Samuel was classified as a low-risk offender. Which is why he was free to roam the streets, and slash Lily Burk's throat with a Pellegrino water bottle.
How many of the 6,500 will be Charlie Samuels? 50%? 25%? 10%? Lets be carelessly optimistic, and say 1%. That's 65 murders this year. Is that acceptable for the minor fiscal savings this program promises?
Lets not forget the plea deals DAs offer to keep the worst crimes off of the criminal's record in exchange for a guilty plea. The people who review these "low risk" cases will only see what the criminal pleaded guilty to.
Oh yeah, this is the perfect idea at the perfect time.
You want to know the best part?
California is enjoying the lowest crime rates in decades.
Just as we begin reaping the rewards of the three strikes law, they intentionally begin action to make us less safe.
I'm an optimist, and I always begin by suspecting the best of intentions of others. But this? It's pretty goddamn hard to imagine how this could have been done with intentions other than, "Lets make the people hurt so they'll approve the taxes we want."
Are you ready?
From SacBee: California inmate release plan begins
The state's controversial plan to reduce its prison population by 6,500 inmates over the next year begins today,
6,500 is just the FIRST year. The ultimate goal is the early release of 40,000 felons.
The plan calls for inmates deemed low-risk offenders to earn credits on their prison sentences by completing rehabilitation and education programs [while outside of prison]
Well, they may be low-risk, but at least they're going to keep an eye on them.
In addition, offenders deemed low-risk would not be subject to parole supervision upon release from prison, meaning they would be less likely to be returned to prison for minor parole violations.
So they're going to release these "low-risk" offenders, and they're not going to watch them? And the reason they're not going to watch them is because they don't want to catch them breaking the law, and have them come back.
THAT IS NOT HOW INCARCERATION WORKS.
When criminals keep returning to prison for breaking laws, the solution is not to put on blinders so you can't see them break laws.
If criminals who get let out of prison early on the condition they don't break any more laws, break small laws, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BREAK BIGGER LAWS!
Corrections director Matthew Cate has called the plan a "landmark achievement" in increasing public safety because it calls for parole agents to focus on higher risk parolees and cuts their average workloads from 70 parolees to 48.
Really? Releasing more felons from incarceration early will make the population safer?
Are you willing to bet your life on it, Mr Cate?
You don't look like someone who would bet their life.
Then why is it that you are betting OUR LIVES?!
What will you say when the first person is murdered?
Claim the system failed?
Argue that we need to try harder?
Offer an independent review?
What's the fucking point when Lily Burk lies dead in her own car with her throat slashed?
Oh yeah... Forgot about that did you?
Due to a clerical error, the violent home invader Charlie Samuel was classified as a low-risk offender. Which is why he was free to roam the streets, and slash Lily Burk's throat with a Pellegrino water bottle.
How many of the 6,500 will be Charlie Samuels? 50%? 25%? 10%? Lets be carelessly optimistic, and say 1%. That's 65 murders this year. Is that acceptable for the minor fiscal savings this program promises?
Lets not forget the plea deals DAs offer to keep the worst crimes off of the criminal's record in exchange for a guilty plea. The people who review these "low risk" cases will only see what the criminal pleaded guilty to.
Law enforcement officials ... expressed frustration at the notion of offenders returning to their communities – without supervision – at the same time budgets are being slashed and officers are getting laid off.
Oh yeah, this is the perfect idea at the perfect time.
You want to know the best part?
California is enjoying the lowest crime rates in decades.
Just as we begin reaping the rewards of the three strikes law, they intentionally begin action to make us less safe.
I'm an optimist, and I always begin by suspecting the best of intentions of others. But this? It's pretty goddamn hard to imagine how this could have been done with intentions other than, "Lets make the people hurt so they'll approve the taxes we want."
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Walther G22's 10 minute, 10 cent DIY Trigger Job 2
I was dry-firing the G22, and found that after the trigger break, there was so much overtravel with the tightened trigger, that I was tilting the rifle to the right on my follow through (I shoot left handed). When I slowed down, I could just barely hit the break without too much overtravel or tilt, but the heaviness of the trigger made it hard. The G22 needed a trigger stop.
After looking at the problem for a while, I figured the easiest way to get results was to get a short wood screw behind the trigger.
This trigger stop only works on G22s that have already had the 5 minute, 5 cent trigger job. The trigger break on a stock G22 is too far back to be able to use the trigger stop. Tighten it up to somewhere around here, and you should be good to go.
It was a little fiddly to get the hole started inside the trigger guard, but I did it. I wound up using a small drill bit, and turning it between my fingers.
It was slow going, but without a longer bit, attaching it to a drill would have made me approach the hole from a much steeper angle, and I wanted the hole as straight through as possible. I used the seam in the plastic body to find the center, and switched from right side to left when hand drilling (finger drilling?) the hole. Just make sure you don't go too deep, and start the hole at an angle.
Once it was deep enough to get the wood screw started, I screwed it in a little bit at an angle, just to get it started.
Then pushed the screw straight.
Then finished screwing it in straight with the screwdriver at an oblique angle.
Obviously, it took a little bit of time to adjust it properly. Taking it apart, turning the screw a quarter turn, putting it back together, testing, then doing it over again. Once you're pretty close, you can use needle nose pliers to make eighth turns while it's completely assembled.
When I was done, I had to leave a couple millimeters of overtravel because even through the trigger was tighter, the break was still mushy. Make sure you don't set the screw so far out that when you hit the screw there is a fraction of a second of hesitation before the hammer drops. Set your screw a bit past that, so you can pull straight through for a predictable break, but not so much that overtravel causes noticeable movement in your follow through.
When I was done, I could get somewhat clean trigger breaks, with no additional movement after the hammer drops. In fact, with this addition, I daresay the G22 trigger qualifies as "acceptable."
Not bad for a few minutes work and a screw I found in a jar.
I will of course, update this post if I find any problems with this modification. If you do this, and find issues, please let me know.
After looking at the problem for a while, I figured the easiest way to get results was to get a short wood screw behind the trigger.
This trigger stop only works on G22s that have already had the 5 minute, 5 cent trigger job. The trigger break on a stock G22 is too far back to be able to use the trigger stop. Tighten it up to somewhere around here, and you should be good to go.
It was a little fiddly to get the hole started inside the trigger guard, but I did it. I wound up using a small drill bit, and turning it between my fingers.
It was slow going, but without a longer bit, attaching it to a drill would have made me approach the hole from a much steeper angle, and I wanted the hole as straight through as possible. I used the seam in the plastic body to find the center, and switched from right side to left when hand drilling (finger drilling?) the hole. Just make sure you don't go too deep, and start the hole at an angle.
Once it was deep enough to get the wood screw started, I screwed it in a little bit at an angle, just to get it started.
Then pushed the screw straight.
Then finished screwing it in straight with the screwdriver at an oblique angle.
Obviously, it took a little bit of time to adjust it properly. Taking it apart, turning the screw a quarter turn, putting it back together, testing, then doing it over again. Once you're pretty close, you can use needle nose pliers to make eighth turns while it's completely assembled.
When I was done, I had to leave a couple millimeters of overtravel because even through the trigger was tighter, the break was still mushy. Make sure you don't set the screw so far out that when you hit the screw there is a fraction of a second of hesitation before the hammer drops. Set your screw a bit past that, so you can pull straight through for a predictable break, but not so much that overtravel causes noticeable movement in your follow through.
When I was done, I could get somewhat clean trigger breaks, with no additional movement after the hammer drops. In fact, with this addition, I daresay the G22 trigger qualifies as "acceptable."
Not bad for a few minutes work and a screw I found in a jar.
I will of course, update this post if I find any problems with this modification. If you do this, and find issues, please let me know.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Return of the Space Gun
I got my G22 back from S&W yesterday, and was pleased to find they returned it with a Walther rifle case. The sheet that came with it indicated they had repaired more than what I had expected.
Tight chamber: The reason I sent it in, I'm glad they agreed with my assessment.
Missing springs: Missing springs? What springs would be-- ooohhhh.... the magazine disconnect that I accidentally lost by accident, and not on purpose.
Replace trigger bar: Uh, ok. The trigger bar worked fine, but hey, I'm not going to complain.
Repair broken handle: Handle? ... Where is the handle? The closest thing to a handle I can think of is the raised rail mounted in front of the rear sight, but that's just part of the plastic body. It certainly wasn't broken when I sent it out, but hey, not going to complain...
Replace bolt: They replaced the entire bolt, and left it right-handed even though the original was lefty. Not a big deal, but I didn't see any issues with the original bolt. Not complaining.
Replace ejector: The ejector is a piece of metal. When I sent it out, aside from being caked with a thin layer of stubborn carbon that refused to be removed, it was still a piece of metal. Not complaining.
Tested with CCI STD VEL: Cool.
I immediately took it apart and inspected the parts that had apparently been replaced. The mag disconnect was, indeed, the replaced "missing springs." I quickly re-lost that part, by accident and not on purpose. What? That spring is tiny, and shoots out when you open it up! I removed the bolt and switched it from right handed to left. I couldn't find the original 5 cent trigger job, so I cut up the box it arrived in, and made another. The trigger tightened up nicely, just as it did before.
I lubed, cleaned, and reassembled it for some dry-firing, and found that after the trigger break, there was so much overtravel with the newly tightened trigger, that I was canting the rifle to the right on my follow through (shooting left handed, remember). When I slowed down, I could just barely hit the break without too much overtravel or cant, but the heaviness of the trigger made it hard. I needed a trigger stop.
After looking at the problem for a while, I figured the easiest way to get results was to insert a short wood screw behind the trigger. It was a little fiddly to get the hole started inside the trigger guard, but I did it. I wound up using a small drill bit, and turning it between my fingers. It was slow going, but without a longer bit, attaching it to anything would have made me approach the hole from a much steeper angle, and I wanted the hole as straight through as possible. I used the seam in the plastic body to get my center, and switched from right side to left when hand drilling (finger drilling?) the hole. Once it was deep enough to get the wood screw started, I screwed it in a little bit at an angle, and pushed the screw straight, then finished screwing it in straight with the screwdriver at an oblique angle. The result was a few millimeters of overtravel (had to leave enough to get past the squishy break), and no canting on the follow through. Beautiful. I'll soon have a full post up on this with lots of pictures. I'll call it the 10 cent trigger job :)
Can't wait to shoot it.
There's something about the G22...
Tight chamber: The reason I sent it in, I'm glad they agreed with my assessment.
Missing springs: Missing springs? What springs would be-- ooohhhh.... the magazine disconnect that I accidentally lost by accident, and not on purpose.
Replace trigger bar: Uh, ok. The trigger bar worked fine, but hey, I'm not going to complain.
Repair broken handle: Handle? ... Where is the handle? The closest thing to a handle I can think of is the raised rail mounted in front of the rear sight, but that's just part of the plastic body. It certainly wasn't broken when I sent it out, but hey, not going to complain...
Replace bolt: They replaced the entire bolt, and left it right-handed even though the original was lefty. Not a big deal, but I didn't see any issues with the original bolt. Not complaining.
Replace ejector: The ejector is a piece of metal. When I sent it out, aside from being caked with a thin layer of stubborn carbon that refused to be removed, it was still a piece of metal. Not complaining.
Tested with CCI STD VEL: Cool.
I immediately took it apart and inspected the parts that had apparently been replaced. The mag disconnect was, indeed, the replaced "missing springs." I quickly re-lost that part, by accident and not on purpose. What? That spring is tiny, and shoots out when you open it up! I removed the bolt and switched it from right handed to left. I couldn't find the original 5 cent trigger job, so I cut up the box it arrived in, and made another. The trigger tightened up nicely, just as it did before.
I lubed, cleaned, and reassembled it for some dry-firing, and found that after the trigger break, there was so much overtravel with the newly tightened trigger, that I was canting the rifle to the right on my follow through (shooting left handed, remember). When I slowed down, I could just barely hit the break without too much overtravel or cant, but the heaviness of the trigger made it hard. I needed a trigger stop.
After looking at the problem for a while, I figured the easiest way to get results was to insert a short wood screw behind the trigger. It was a little fiddly to get the hole started inside the trigger guard, but I did it. I wound up using a small drill bit, and turning it between my fingers. It was slow going, but without a longer bit, attaching it to anything would have made me approach the hole from a much steeper angle, and I wanted the hole as straight through as possible. I used the seam in the plastic body to get my center, and switched from right side to left when hand drilling (finger drilling?) the hole. Once it was deep enough to get the wood screw started, I screwed it in a little bit at an angle, and pushed the screw straight, then finished screwing it in straight with the screwdriver at an oblique angle. The result was a few millimeters of overtravel (had to leave enough to get past the squishy break), and no canting on the follow through. Beautiful. I'll soon have a full post up on this with lots of pictures. I'll call it the 10 cent trigger job :)
Can't wait to shoot it.
There's something about the G22...
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Quote of a little-known footnote
If every Jewish and anti-nazi family in Germany had owned a Mauser rifle and twenty rounds of ammunition and the will to use it, Adolf Hitler would be a little-known footnote to the history of the Weimar Republic.
~Aaron Zelman
Co-founder of Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership
From SurvivalBlog
Dems not sure Bernanke has enough votes to be re-confirmed?!
Hoooolyyyyy sheeeeeeettttt......
I'm no fan of Helicopter Ben. It's almost too good for me to get my hopes up.
I'm no fan of Helicopter Ben. It's almost too good for me to get my hopes up.
Lobbyist firms post double digit increases for the year amid recession!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The reason I keep my blog
To be able to refer back to my thoughts when I want to question the hard decisions I've made.
As much as I want to believe you, I know what's going to happen.
As much as I want to believe you, I know what's going to happen.
Quote of the fair and balanced journalism
In short, in Scott Brown we have an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, teabagging supporter of violence against woman and against politicians with whom he disagrees.
~Keith Olberman
Keith, you forgot child molester and puppy kicker.
This is, of course, after Keith said that a win for Brown would be because Massachusetts is racist. (now, not back when they elected Obama by a landslide) Oh yeah, also pickup trucks are racist.
Keep it up Keith.
Keep on digging.
I'm looking forward to not being able to recall your name.
From Uncle
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
California tax traps
We've been an LLC for one day, and we've already been burned by California. :)
Nothing too serious, thankfully. Just an expense we thought we'd be avoiding, but it gets tacked on anyway.
Just goes to show; no matter how many people you trust say something, it's always worth your time to do a fucking Google search.
I feel wiser.
But it's that don't-touch-the-hot-stove kind of wiser that you still resent just a little bit.
Some folks are going to get a phone call tomorrow...
Update: Goddamnit. Turns out this will cost more than expected. I begin to doubt the proficiency of the people I've been talking to. Le sigh.
Update again! Wow. There is a staggering amount of misinformation out there. I guess I shouldn't be so upset the people I was talking to weren't 100% clear. We're paying for an hour of a corporate accountant's time so we can get recommendations from someone who really knows. Hell, we might even pay for a second opinion.
Nothing too serious, thankfully. Just an expense we thought we'd be avoiding, but it gets tacked on anyway.
Just goes to show; no matter how many people you trust say something, it's always worth your time to do a fucking Google search.
I feel wiser.
But it's that don't-touch-the-hot-stove kind of wiser that you still resent just a little bit.
Some folks are going to get a phone call tomorrow...
Update: Goddamnit. Turns out this will cost more than expected. I begin to doubt the proficiency of the people I've been talking to. Le sigh.
Update again! Wow. There is a staggering amount of misinformation out there. I guess I shouldn't be so upset the people I was talking to weren't 100% clear. We're paying for an hour of a corporate accountant's time so we can get recommendations from someone who really knows. Hell, we might even pay for a second opinion.
Requiem for a Dream
The film depicts different forms of addiction, leading to the characters’ imprisonment in a dream world of delusion and reckless desperation that is subsequently overtaken and devastated by reality.
~Roger Ebert
The trailer, while cool, tells you little about the movie.
Two days ago we watched it for the first time, it was on a movie channel, and we missed the first 10 minutes, but the rest of the movie was amazing. Today we just happened to open the netflix envelopes that had been sitting unopened for months (since we were just watching netflix on the XBOX 360) and were surprised to find Requiem for a Dream. Someone else must have told us to watch it. The movie was so powerful the first time, I almost didn't believe it was as good as it seemed. My wife popped it in to watch the first 10 minutes we missed, but we wound up watching the whole thing again.
I think it was better the second time.
The intensity of the movie was not dulled by knowing what to expect, nor was the emotional involvement muted by knowing the ultimate fate of the characters.
I'll have to watch it a few more times to be sure, but this might be my new favorite movie.
Watch it.
80 mph winds, and water spouts, and tornado watches, OH MY!
It got pretty rough for a while there.
It occurs to me that if an official tornado touches down in southern California, the great weather can no longer be a reason stay here.
It occurs to me that if an official tornado touches down in southern California, the great weather can no longer be a reason stay here.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Quote of the burning of books
The destruction of those firearms I find as, or more, disturbing as I would the burning of books.
~Joe Huffman
The reason a government burns books, is to squelch dissenting ideas. To halt the propagation of ideals contrary to those of the state. How can they control how you think if they don't control what goes into your head?
The reason a government destroys private guns, is to cement their monopoly on force. If you have to make people do things they don't want to do, it certainly won't do to have your agents getting shot. How can they threaten you with violence when you can threaten them with violence right back?
The idea that eliminating private gun ownership creates some utopia of non-violence has been thoroughly disproven by real-life example after real-life example. The only utopia this action creates is one for those who do not follow the law.
The quote was in response to a video at that link. It has to do with the United Nations' plan for "dealing" with private firearm ownership in America.
Rain
Don't get to see this kind of stuff on our radar very often. Even during El Nino, when it rained for almost two weeks straight, I don't think it was as bad as this. It's also really windy, which actually worries me more than the rain. It's supposed to go until Friday.
Honestly, we need the rain, but our already taxed infrastructure has me worried. It doesn't take much to start the dominos, but it's hard to stop them once they've started, and it's damn hard to get them set back up again.
I'll just hope for the best and drive carefully.
I'll probably rotate out the water storage. Maybe get the pantry back up to full capacity too.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Mass shootings, you hear about. Armed citizens stopping them, you don't.
direct link
This one almost slipped past me. Did YOU hear about this on your local news? Or on CNN? Or MSNBC? Did they have 24 hours of continuous coverage of the events? Did they applaud the citizen for stopping what could have been a mass murder by a crazed individual?
Nope.
How often do you think citizens pull guns on criminals, and defend themselves without the police?
How could you even guess when there's no one telling you about it?
Reporting for duty
Over a year ago, I picked up a Cold Steel Jungle Dart
I got it because it looked useful, but never really figured out what to do with it. So it sat in a box.
A little bit ago I was trolling for new knives I don't need -- because I'm a knife-o-holic -- and found a good suggestion for the jungle dart. Shower duty.
It has a rubber grip on it, so it would still be sure in soapy hands, it's made of fiber glass, so it won't rust or corrode in the hot, wet environment of the shower, it's light, so it won't be heavy enough to hurt if it falls onto you, and it's as simple as any other stiletto, so you don't have to worry if you're caught off guard. I removed the ring it comes on, because it didn't seem to aid in retention in any way, and added another dimension of bulk to it.
So the Jungle Dart reported for Shower Duty last night, after I found it in a box somewhere. First, I tested it out on an old leather couch we had, just for piece of mind. It stopped abruptly at the wood, but punctured the leather easily, leaving a triangular opening. Width is important for puncture wounds, since skin tends to want to close around them. After hitting the wood a few times, I grabbed a knife and shaved a little bit off the point at the last few millimeters. I reduced the angle to make the tip stronger, and leave a sharp point.
Now that I think about it, I can think of a few other places I can hide or tape these. For $6, it's hard not to.
Some gunbloggers have been dismissive of the bathroom/shower attack, but I don't understand why. Aside from the external visibility of bathroom lights or fogged shower windows, it's all about cost vs benefit.
The cost is easy; for $6, you can put it on the ledge above your shower. There are no further conceivable costs. You buy it, you put it there, it sits there. No maintenance, no double checking, nothing. It sits there forever.
The benefit is extremely high; a human fighting another human is difficult. We don't have sharp claws, protruding jaws, or armor of any kind. In fact, we're rather fragile against edged or pointed trauma. You can punch or kick, but you're still not going to do a terrible amount of damage, unless you target sensitive areas. A pointed or edged weapon becomes a force multiplier in this situation. A human with a pointed or edged weapon is significantly more dangerous than one without. Getting the upper hand while grappling with an experienced criminal in a slippery shower, or the tight confines of a bathroom is almost impossible. Put a stabbing weapon in your hand, and your chances of not only survival, but actual victory shoot up.
Of course, the chances of you ever having to use it are imperceptibly thin. You're probably more likely to be struck by lightning. But, as I like to say; no matter the odds, people do still win the lottery, and there are some lotteries you do not want to win.
Besides, what's the worst thing that happens if you buy it and don't need it? You're out $6?
But what's the worst thing that happens if you DON'T buy it and you DO need it?
I got it because it looked useful, but never really figured out what to do with it. So it sat in a box.
A little bit ago I was trolling for new knives I don't need -- because I'm a knife-o-holic -- and found a good suggestion for the jungle dart. Shower duty.
It has a rubber grip on it, so it would still be sure in soapy hands, it's made of fiber glass, so it won't rust or corrode in the hot, wet environment of the shower, it's light, so it won't be heavy enough to hurt if it falls onto you, and it's as simple as any other stiletto, so you don't have to worry if you're caught off guard. I removed the ring it comes on, because it didn't seem to aid in retention in any way, and added another dimension of bulk to it.
So the Jungle Dart reported for Shower Duty last night, after I found it in a box somewhere. First, I tested it out on an old leather couch we had, just for piece of mind. It stopped abruptly at the wood, but punctured the leather easily, leaving a triangular opening. Width is important for puncture wounds, since skin tends to want to close around them. After hitting the wood a few times, I grabbed a knife and shaved a little bit off the point at the last few millimeters. I reduced the angle to make the tip stronger, and leave a sharp point.
Now that I think about it, I can think of a few other places I can hide or tape these. For $6, it's hard not to.
Some gunbloggers have been dismissive of the bathroom/shower attack, but I don't understand why. Aside from the external visibility of bathroom lights or fogged shower windows, it's all about cost vs benefit.
The cost is easy; for $6, you can put it on the ledge above your shower. There are no further conceivable costs. You buy it, you put it there, it sits there. No maintenance, no double checking, nothing. It sits there forever.
The benefit is extremely high; a human fighting another human is difficult. We don't have sharp claws, protruding jaws, or armor of any kind. In fact, we're rather fragile against edged or pointed trauma. You can punch or kick, but you're still not going to do a terrible amount of damage, unless you target sensitive areas. A pointed or edged weapon becomes a force multiplier in this situation. A human with a pointed or edged weapon is significantly more dangerous than one without. Getting the upper hand while grappling with an experienced criminal in a slippery shower, or the tight confines of a bathroom is almost impossible. Put a stabbing weapon in your hand, and your chances of not only survival, but actual victory shoot up.
Of course, the chances of you ever having to use it are imperceptibly thin. You're probably more likely to be struck by lightning. But, as I like to say; no matter the odds, people do still win the lottery, and there are some lotteries you do not want to win.
Besides, what's the worst thing that happens if you buy it and don't need it? You're out $6?
But what's the worst thing that happens if you DON'T buy it and you DO need it?
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Powerful: "You're utterly ... alone."
Reporter Steve Harrigan is overcome with emotion in Haiti.
It gets heavy around 2:30.
I'm not a fan of ye olde media, but you just can't catch that kind of emotion from a tweet, or a blog post, or a written article.
Hat tip to HotAir
It gets heavy around 2:30.
I'm not a fan of ye olde media, but you just can't catch that kind of emotion from a tweet, or a blog post, or a written article.
Hat tip to HotAir
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Actual detail of airport body scanners
So far, this is all we've been able to see of the airport body scanners;
Whoops.
When you watch this video, keep two things in mind.
First, pay attention to the 3D image scanning, and the detail that is visible (franks and beans). The only image of this kind of scan that I've been able to find is the one above, which is significantly less detailed, and implies that this is all they can see. The video shows the 3D imaging is much more revealing.
Secondly, we're used to seeing that ghostly white image of the vague outline of the body shape, but in the video, it's very clear that there is a way to zoom in on the image, and increase the contrast. It seems very likely that presenting the zoomed, low contrast image would have been too shocking to people. Instead, they show the white blob, and let the TSA operator zoom in with a tiny viewing square. I'm sure you noticed that the TSA agent avoided zooming in on the full breast of the woman scanned. I wonder if this was because he knew he had a camera over his shoulder, and didn't want to show just how much detail there is in the zoomed image.
Once again, imagine your wife, son, or daughter being leered at by some minimum wage high school dropout with no criminal background check done prior to employment.
Wonder how many pedophiles are applying to TSA right now...
Whoops.
When you watch this video, keep two things in mind.
First, pay attention to the 3D image scanning, and the detail that is visible (franks and beans). The only image of this kind of scan that I've been able to find is the one above, which is significantly less detailed, and implies that this is all they can see. The video shows the 3D imaging is much more revealing.
Secondly, we're used to seeing that ghostly white image of the vague outline of the body shape, but in the video, it's very clear that there is a way to zoom in on the image, and increase the contrast. It seems very likely that presenting the zoomed, low contrast image would have been too shocking to people. Instead, they show the white blob, and let the TSA operator zoom in with a tiny viewing square. I'm sure you noticed that the TSA agent avoided zooming in on the full breast of the woman scanned. I wonder if this was because he knew he had a camera over his shoulder, and didn't want to show just how much detail there is in the zoomed image.
Once again, imagine your wife, son, or daughter being leered at by some minimum wage high school dropout with no criminal background check done prior to employment.
Wonder how many pedophiles are applying to TSA right now...
New Year's Eve - 4:30pm - pounding at your door-
You are expecting someone, but don't think they would knock like that. On your way to the door, you put a small gun in your pocket just in case. Something's up. You look out your peephole and see a young woman, she looks almost like a school teacher, she sees someone at the door, and begs you to let her in-- two men just tried to rape her, but she got away. You can hear in her voice that she's about to break down. She needs your help.
Turn to page 35 to open the door
Turn to page 71 to keep the door closed
You open the door for her, she rushes inside and almost collapses in your arms. You catch her, and as you do, two men appear in the doorway she just came through! You try to reach for the pistol, but your body doesn't react! You try harder but your arm barely moves, you try to warn her, but you can only wheeze. The young woman you tried to help steps back and turns to the two men and gestures them to enter. She says something but sounds far away and underwater. You notice the handle of a steak knife sticking out of your chest. You fall to the floor, numb. You wonder what will happen to your children as the black slowly encroaches on your vision, until it is all you can see.
You have died. You should have read this first.
But you kept your finger on the page! It doesn't count! Go back to page 14?
You reach for the doorknob, but something in the back of your mind tells you you're making a mistake. You tell the woman to wait a minute, and walk to the hall. You tell your wife to call 911 and tell her to arm herself in case the two men are still around. You return to the door and look through the peephole again, the woman looks more annoyed than afraid, you tell her to wait just a little longer, and she pleads that you open the door again. Your wife calls for you to describe her, and you begin describing her to your wife through the peephole. The woman suddenly looks startled and runs away. Confused, you wait for the police. Once they arrive, they tell you a woman matching the description had just robbed a man at knife point, and fled the scene with two men. You get the feeling you may have narrowly escaped something terrible.
Good think you read FerFAL's blog.
Turn to page 35 to open the door
Turn to page 71 to keep the door closed
You open the door for her, she rushes inside and almost collapses in your arms. You catch her, and as you do, two men appear in the doorway she just came through! You try to reach for the pistol, but your body doesn't react! You try harder but your arm barely moves, you try to warn her, but you can only wheeze. The young woman you tried to help steps back and turns to the two men and gestures them to enter. She says something but sounds far away and underwater. You notice the handle of a steak knife sticking out of your chest. You fall to the floor, numb. You wonder what will happen to your children as the black slowly encroaches on your vision, until it is all you can see.
You have died. You should have read this first.
But you kept your finger on the page! It doesn't count! Go back to page 14?
You reach for the doorknob, but something in the back of your mind tells you you're making a mistake. You tell the woman to wait a minute, and walk to the hall. You tell your wife to call 911 and tell her to arm herself in case the two men are still around. You return to the door and look through the peephole again, the woman looks more annoyed than afraid, you tell her to wait just a little longer, and she pleads that you open the door again. Your wife calls for you to describe her, and you begin describing her to your wife through the peephole. The woman suddenly looks startled and runs away. Confused, you wait for the police. Once they arrive, they tell you a woman matching the description had just robbed a man at knife point, and fled the scene with two men. You get the feeling you may have narrowly escaped something terrible.
Good think you read FerFAL's blog.
Weapon Maintenance
I've was neglecting my workout toward the end of last year, and realized I wasn't developing the lung capacity I should have, so I decided to bite the bullet and do something I've been neglecting. Run.
Of course, running is the most utilitarian skill of survival. Why go straight to survival? Why not just run for fitness? Well, because if I think everything is going to be rainbows and sunshine until the day I die, I don't really care if I'm fat and happy. But, as with so many other things in my life, I'd rather have the ability to run and not need it, than need it and not have it.
Ok, so I want to be able to run. Second problem; the only cardio I did while I was working out properly was stationary bike, and stationary bike exercise does not translate to running exercise. Aside from that exercise, I've been sitting in front of a computer for 6 years, during which time, I developed asthma as a result of a respiratory infection. (I got better :) I pretty much had the lung capacity of a smoker. So I'd have to take it slow. Real slow.
I found this Couch to 5K Running Plan somewhere on the blogosphere, (if you're the gunblogger that posted it, lemme know, and I'll attribute it) and I bookmarked it because it included the word "couch," and actually seemed possible for someone as out of running shape as me.
So all that was left was getting vertical in the morning, strappin' shoes to my feet, and going outside.
I started Monday with what I called my run-jog-walk-wheeze, and got a no-nonsense view of how incapable I really was. It would be good drive to get out of bed next time.
Since I was getting up early, instead of dragging myself out of bed, into the shower, and to work, I had time to fix a proper breakfast. So I've been eating three egg whites with one full egg scrambled with a cut up polish sausage and two pieces of toast. The combination of the 20 minutes of activity and the hearty breakfast has made my days a lot easier to get through. More energy, more positive attitude, sleeping better, just good all around. I'm seriously thinking the human body was meant to run with at least 20 minutes of cardio a day.
The first day was bad. Legs got tight and sore on my shins quickly, and I couldn't keep pace with the 60/90 timing. My lungs weren't keeping up with my legs. I couldn't get oxygen into my system fast enough.
Second day I didn't feel very sore, so instead of skipping the day as in the schedule, I did the second workout. I could tell my lungs were catching up with my legs, and held the 60/90 timing pretty well. I had extra time after I finished breakfast, and instead of just watching the news (if I could find it), I started playing with the violin until it was time to get ready for work. More energy, more activity.
Third day (today) I didn't feel sore again, so I went for it. It had rained, and it the air was cool. I could beat the 60/90 timing by a bit, and my lungs had caught up with my legs, which doesn't say much, but it was definitely an improvement.
I think I'm going to continue not skipping a day between workouts.
I intend on posting my progress to hold myself accountable to teh intarwebz. Who knows? Maybe I'll get back to running as fast as I did in high school track.
This is still funny though.
Of course, running is the most utilitarian skill of survival. Why go straight to survival? Why not just run for fitness? Well, because if I think everything is going to be rainbows and sunshine until the day I die, I don't really care if I'm fat and happy. But, as with so many other things in my life, I'd rather have the ability to run and not need it, than need it and not have it.
Ok, so I want to be able to run. Second problem; the only cardio I did while I was working out properly was stationary bike, and stationary bike exercise does not translate to running exercise. Aside from that exercise, I've been sitting in front of a computer for 6 years, during which time, I developed asthma as a result of a respiratory infection. (I got better :) I pretty much had the lung capacity of a smoker. So I'd have to take it slow. Real slow.
I found this Couch to 5K Running Plan somewhere on the blogosphere, (if you're the gunblogger that posted it, lemme know, and I'll attribute it) and I bookmarked it because it included the word "couch," and actually seemed possible for someone as out of running shape as me.
So all that was left was getting vertical in the morning, strappin' shoes to my feet, and going outside.
I started Monday with what I called my run-jog-walk-wheeze, and got a no-nonsense view of how incapable I really was. It would be good drive to get out of bed next time.
Since I was getting up early, instead of dragging myself out of bed, into the shower, and to work, I had time to fix a proper breakfast. So I've been eating three egg whites with one full egg scrambled with a cut up polish sausage and two pieces of toast. The combination of the 20 minutes of activity and the hearty breakfast has made my days a lot easier to get through. More energy, more positive attitude, sleeping better, just good all around. I'm seriously thinking the human body was meant to run with at least 20 minutes of cardio a day.
The first day was bad. Legs got tight and sore on my shins quickly, and I couldn't keep pace with the 60/90 timing. My lungs weren't keeping up with my legs. I couldn't get oxygen into my system fast enough.
Second day I didn't feel very sore, so instead of skipping the day as in the schedule, I did the second workout. I could tell my lungs were catching up with my legs, and held the 60/90 timing pretty well. I had extra time after I finished breakfast, and instead of just watching the news (if I could find it), I started playing with the violin until it was time to get ready for work. More energy, more activity.
Third day (today) I didn't feel sore again, so I went for it. It had rained, and it the air was cool. I could beat the 60/90 timing by a bit, and my lungs had caught up with my legs, which doesn't say much, but it was definitely an improvement.
I think I'm going to continue not skipping a day between workouts.
I intend on posting my progress to hold myself accountable to teh intarwebz. Who knows? Maybe I'll get back to running as fast as I did in high school track.
This is still funny though.
On a drive through LA
I saw a biker with a crazy design on the back of his leather riding vest. Under the design were the words "Dental Plan." All I could think was "Lisa needs braces."
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Razzle Dazzle Space Gun
Even though the Space Gun is not yet back from S&W, I couldn't help but draw up some possibilities.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
I'm partial to number 5.
thought I was kidding, did ya?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
I'm partial to number 5.
thought I was kidding, did ya?
Monday, January 11, 2010
Constitutionality of permanent imprisonment after prison time served up to supreme court
Read that post title again.
The highest court in the land, the supreme court... is going to hear a case... about whether or not it is constitutional... to permanently imprison criminals... after they have served their prison time.
Is that processing?
Now, what on Earth could possibly possess people to believe it could be a good idea to give the government the power to hold people indefinitely, after they have served their time?
Oh shit...
US News: Supreme Court to Hear Sex Offender Imprisonment Case
I didn't realize we were talking about SEX OFFENDERS! Well, shit, in that case, lets broaden the government's powers to identify sex offenders by putting cameras in everyone's home, and give investigators the power to enter homes without a warrant, copy computer contents for review! Hell, while we're at it, lets get cameras mounted to everyone's heads so we can tell if people are looking at children for too long! Fathers that spend hours looking at their kids? OBVIOUSLY SOON-TO-BE RAPISTS! LOCK THEM ALL UP! And teachers? They look at hundreds of children every day for hours at a time! HOW CAN WE LET THIS STAND?! Doctors claim to be doing "medical exams" on children, but WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE THINKING! LOCK THEM ALL UP!
WON'T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!
That's right, even capital "L" libertarians will go "full retard" when the subject of sex offenders comes up. So let me make this clear...
If you want to imprison sex offenders for life, you CHANGE THE GODDAMN LAW.
You do NOT grant a series of bureaucrats a new power to imprison people who- by their own definition- are rehabilitated!
I understand that the system we have right now doesn't work. When people who simply possess a standard capacity ammunition magazine go to jail longer than child molesters, you know the system is broken.
The solution is not to add new powers to do something that we have the power to change.
When the blade on your lawnmower is dull, you don't attach a kitchen knife to a motor, hang it in front of your broken mower, and push it around your yard.
Because that would be obtuse, stupid, and dangerous.
Because that's exactly what this law is.
So sharpen the blade. Fix the sentencing limits. If you think child molesters should get life in prison (and, I do) then change the law so those convicted can get life without possibility of parole.
This is unbelievable.
The Golem will turn.
The highest court in the land, the supreme court... is going to hear a case... about whether or not it is constitutional... to permanently imprison criminals... after they have served their prison time.
Is that processing?
Now, what on Earth could possibly possess people to believe it could be a good idea to give the government the power to hold people indefinitely, after they have served their time?
Oh shit...
US News: Supreme Court to Hear Sex Offender Imprisonment Case
I didn't realize we were talking about SEX OFFENDERS! Well, shit, in that case, lets broaden the government's powers to identify sex offenders by putting cameras in everyone's home, and give investigators the power to enter homes without a warrant, copy computer contents for review! Hell, while we're at it, lets get cameras mounted to everyone's heads so we can tell if people are looking at children for too long! Fathers that spend hours looking at their kids? OBVIOUSLY SOON-TO-BE RAPISTS! LOCK THEM ALL UP! And teachers? They look at hundreds of children every day for hours at a time! HOW CAN WE LET THIS STAND?! Doctors claim to be doing "medical exams" on children, but WE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE THINKING! LOCK THEM ALL UP!
WON'T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!
That's right, even capital "L" libertarians will go "full retard" when the subject of sex offenders comes up. So let me make this clear...
If you want to imprison sex offenders for life, you CHANGE THE GODDAMN LAW.
You do NOT grant a series of bureaucrats a new power to imprison people who- by their own definition- are rehabilitated!
I understand that the system we have right now doesn't work. When people who simply possess a standard capacity ammunition magazine go to jail longer than child molesters, you know the system is broken.
The solution is not to add new powers to do something that we have the power to change.
When the blade on your lawnmower is dull, you don't attach a kitchen knife to a motor, hang it in front of your broken mower, and push it around your yard.
Because that would be obtuse, stupid, and dangerous.
Because that's exactly what this law is.
So sharpen the blade. Fix the sentencing limits. If you think child molesters should get life in prison (and, I do) then change the law so those convicted can get life without possibility of parole.
This is unbelievable.
The Golem will turn.
Is it warm in here?
I think I'm going to switch to shorts.
Believe me, I'll be the first one to list the many, MANY reasons why my state sucks, but the weather sure ain't one of 'em.
Cold enough for ya?
Believe me, I'll be the first one to list the many, MANY reasons why my state sucks, but the weather sure ain't one of 'em.
Cold enough for ya?
Friday, January 08, 2010
Detail of Airport Body Scanner images
UPDATE: Actually, there may be more detail than I thought...
I saw this image, supposedly from the same body scanners that are being proposed for use in airports.
Original, NSFW version
This is an obvious departure from what we are used to seeing from these body scan images. While it was conceivable the resolution was turned down a little bit for the publicly released pictures, it seemed impossible the resolution was actually this good, and no one who knew batted an eyelash when they saw the white blob of shape on the publicly released images.
The site the image was on credits this site for the images. Click left and right through the photos at the top to see scan images.
I found these images distressing.
I do not approve of this kind of detail being visible to the moonlighting burger flippers hired to TSA.
Fortunately, with a bit of digging, I was able to discover the German site that presented the images apparently created a body scan-style effect on stock photos of a nude woman, and put the picture next to a woman of the same body type with a gun jammed in an inconvenient place (the seat of her jeans, presumably because they couldn't find a spot to pretend to hide it on that marvelous example of the female form) and let the viewer assume this was an actual representation of the scanning technology.
Link to the stock photo set here, link to exact picture here. The photo was just too perfect, and the negative of the photo was just barely in color. Just didn't seem right, and it wasn't.
So, it's good news that this kind of resolution is not yet available to the bottom rung of government employees, but to be quite honest; this is still rather revealing. Can you imagine your wife or daughter on one of these scanners?
Actually, there may be more detail than I thought.
Yeah, yeah, I know the guy who reviews these images is supposed to be 3000 miles away, in a locked room, in a bunker, in a hole, in the bottom of the sea, and the software has no storage memory, and it was programmed by Tibetan monks in the witness protection program, but all that kind of flies out the window when Miley Cyrus shows up, and former ditch digger, now TSA employee Zeke McRapist texts his bud in the secret room to take a cell phone picture of the image when he tells him.
Guess we can count the days until the first celebrity body scan gets sold to TMZ for $1,000,000.
I don't give a shit if it looks like Total Recall, these are a waste of money that wouldn't have stopped the underwear bomber anyway.
Meh. Flying's a hassle anyways. I'll swim to Hawaii.
I saw this image, supposedly from the same body scanners that are being proposed for use in airports.
Original, NSFW version
This is an obvious departure from what we are used to seeing from these body scan images. While it was conceivable the resolution was turned down a little bit for the publicly released pictures, it seemed impossible the resolution was actually this good, and no one who knew batted an eyelash when they saw the white blob of shape on the publicly released images.
The site the image was on credits this site for the images. Click left and right through the photos at the top to see scan images.
I found these images distressing.
I do not approve of this kind of detail being visible to the moonlighting burger flippers hired to TSA.
Fortunately, with a bit of digging, I was able to discover the German site that presented the images apparently created a body scan-style effect on stock photos of a nude woman, and put the picture next to a woman of the same body type with a gun jammed in an inconvenient place (the seat of her jeans, presumably because they couldn't find a spot to pretend to hide it on that marvelous example of the female form) and let the viewer assume this was an actual representation of the scanning technology.
Link to the stock photo set here, link to exact picture here. The photo was just too perfect, and the negative of the photo was just barely in color. Just didn't seem right, and it wasn't.
So, it's good news that this kind of resolution is not yet available to the bottom rung of government employees, but to be quite honest; this is still rather revealing. Can you imagine your wife or daughter on one of these scanners?
Actually, there may be more detail than I thought.
Yeah, yeah, I know the guy who reviews these images is supposed to be 3000 miles away, in a locked room, in a bunker, in a hole, in the bottom of the sea, and the software has no storage memory, and it was programmed by Tibetan monks in the witness protection program, but all that kind of flies out the window when Miley Cyrus shows up, and former ditch digger, now TSA employee Zeke McRapist texts his bud in the secret room to take a cell phone picture of the image when he tells him.
Guess we can count the days until the first celebrity body scan gets sold to TMZ for $1,000,000.
I don't give a shit if it looks like Total Recall, these are a waste of money that wouldn't have stopped the underwear bomber anyway.
Meh. Flying's a hassle anyways. I'll swim to Hawaii.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
BUSH PROMISES TRANSPARENCY, ALLOWS MEDIA COVERAGE OF ONLY 1 HR. OF NEGOTIATIONS!
Oh, no wait, it was Obama, and -- wait -- what is this? Does this mean...? Do traditionally liberal news agencies care??? Can this be?
Meh.
Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action.
I'll believe it the third time I see CNN hold Obama's feet to the fire.
Think this is just an isolated thing? Think Obama really is CHANGING things after Bush? Read more of these posts here and think again.
Meh.
Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action.
I'll believe it the third time I see CNN hold Obama's feet to the fire.
Think this is just an isolated thing? Think Obama really is CHANGING things after Bush? Read more of these posts here and think again.
Quote of Obama's War on Terror
I am less interested in passing out blame than I am learning from and correcting these mistakes to make us safer. For ultimately, the buck stops with me. As president I have a solemn responsibility to protect this nation and our people. And when the system fails, it is my responsibility.
[snip]
We are at war. We are at war against Al Qaeda. A far reaching network of violence and hatred that attacked us on 9/11, that killed nearly 3000 innocent people, and that is plotting to strike us again. And we will do whatever it takes to defeat them.
Responsibility is something this administration has lacked for a year. I hope this is the beginning of a change.
Obama: "The buck stops with me."
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Which president is this again?
But seriously; great speech, and surprisingly direct. Good for him, but I'll hold the majority of my praise for the first national security success under his watch.
From HotAir
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
I keed, I keed!
Seattle PI: Hanes Drops Charlie Sheen Ads
Maybe they should just have him sell their "wife beater" undershirts.
Maybe they should just have him sell their "wife beater" undershirts.
Google makes no suggestions completing the phrase "Islam is"
Google suggest fails to make suggestions for phrases beginning with "Islam is"
Go to Google, and type in "Christianity is" or "Judaism is" or any other religion, and you'll get suggestions for search terms that are usually less than approving of the particular faith.
But type in "Islam is" (without the quotes), and the suggestions disappear.
Google claims this is a bug, and for a minute I almost believed them. Perhaps "is" appearing in the word followed by "is" created some kind of redundancy that the algorithm escaped, but "island is" and "isotope is" work just fine.
What clenched it was when I wrote "muslims are" and the suggestions disappeared again.
Google providing no suggestions for "Islam is" is NOT A BUG.
It's them censoring because they're afraid.
Go to Google, and type in "Christianity is" or "Judaism is" or any other religion, and you'll get suggestions for search terms that are usually less than approving of the particular faith.
But type in "Islam is" (without the quotes), and the suggestions disappear.
Google claims this is a bug, and for a minute I almost believed them. Perhaps "is" appearing in the word followed by "is" created some kind of redundancy that the algorithm escaped, but "island is" and "isotope is" work just fine.
What clenched it was when I wrote "muslims are" and the suggestions disappeared again.
Google providing no suggestions for "Islam is" is NOT A BUG.
It's them censoring because they're afraid.
TSA Agents caught at off-duty party doing drugs
CBS News: Exclusive: TSA Workers Caught Using Drugs?
Hey, we should just be happy they even tested them.
Oh, I'm sure their random drug testing program is effective, because everyone knows that when there is a threat of random drug testing, lots of employees hold parties with their coworkers where they do drugs.
Yep. Sounds like a federal agency.
These are the folks that are supposed to be keeping us safe.
Is there ANYTHING the government does well? (besides spending our money)
The investigation began late last year when a TSA Agent was arrested for allegedly counterfeiting parking passes at the employee parking lot. In his house, police found a videotape. On it was an after hours party where other TSA agents were allegedly using drugs, reports KCAL's David Goldstein.
TSA sources say the tape was turned over to investigators. Each employee identified was ordered to take a drug test. TSA won't say how many, but each one who failed was fired, Goldstein reports.
Hey, we should just be happy they even tested them.
He wouldn't talk specifics, but said the agency has random drug testing, and claims the employees would have been caught even without the video.
Oh, I'm sure their random drug testing program is effective, because everyone knows that when there is a threat of random drug testing, lots of employees hold parties with their coworkers where they do drugs.
None of the employees was charged with any crimes. Even the TSA agent caught counterfeiting parking passes wasn't prosecuted because no one he sold to would come forward, notes Goldstein.
Yep. Sounds like a federal agency.
These are the folks that are supposed to be keeping us safe.
Is there ANYTHING the government does well? (besides spending our money)
Getting back up to speed
Last month has been demanding, last two weeks have been exhausting, this month is shaping up to be a busy one already. But this is work-for-your-new-small-business-busy, not just life-busy. Any of that kind of work is good work. Made four business calls just today, took furious notes, and coordinated people. Started to feel in my element. It's a good feeling.
Anyway, I've been so busy I haven't even had time to catch up on my favorite blogs and webcomics, so if I've been missed on your comment pages, my apologies.
I've been insta-blogging lately, but I just haven't been gripped by anything enough to get long-winded. Dunno if that's good or bad. Whatever.
One gunny high point was me getting a gun I've wanted for years.
The choice may seem surprising since it's not technically a practical rifle, considering today's alternatives. Frankly, I was considering skipping this rifle entirely, and going for its evolutionary successor, but that would cost twice as much. So I went for it, and boy do I love my CMP service grade Garand. More fawning later.
The Space Gun is at S&W getting repaired, and I expect it back next week. I'm still working on a good pattern for the dazzle camouflage I'm going to give it. It's going to be sweet.
I'll try to finish up some of the posts I have sitting in the draft folder, but I promise nothing. :)
Anyway, I've been so busy I haven't even had time to catch up on my favorite blogs and webcomics, so if I've been missed on your comment pages, my apologies.
I've been insta-blogging lately, but I just haven't been gripped by anything enough to get long-winded. Dunno if that's good or bad. Whatever.
One gunny high point was me getting a gun I've wanted for years.
The choice may seem surprising since it's not technically a practical rifle, considering today's alternatives. Frankly, I was considering skipping this rifle entirely, and going for its evolutionary successor, but that would cost twice as much. So I went for it, and boy do I love my CMP service grade Garand. More fawning later.
The Space Gun is at S&W getting repaired, and I expect it back next week. I'm still working on a good pattern for the dazzle camouflage I'm going to give it. It's going to be sweet.
I'll try to finish up some of the posts I have sitting in the draft folder, but I promise nothing. :)
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Ca. hoist with its own petard on stimulus spending
Mercury News: Calif. watchdog: Historic reviews slow stimulus
Remember how the Governator was begging the Feds for stimulus money? Remember how California found out it was leaving half a TRILLION dollars on the table EACH YEAR because of excessive regulation?
Well, to borrow a parlance of a certain pastor of a certain president, California's chickens have come home to roost.
The Obama Administration approved California'sbailout stimulus money, funding "public works" projects and postponing California's inevitable collapse.
Only problem is, California's excessive regulation, bureaucracy, and red tape is holding up the approval of the projects.
Of course, the other issue is the recent budget cuts (the real ones, not the fake ones) have reduced staffing in these offices.
California's bureaucracy puts it in dire financial straits, an infusion of money arrives to help the state stay afloat, and the money is held up by bureaucrats.
It's almost poetic.
Title and story from HotAir
Remember how the Governator was begging the Feds for stimulus money? Remember how California found out it was leaving half a TRILLION dollars on the table EACH YEAR because of excessive regulation?
Well, to borrow a parlance of a certain pastor of a certain president, California's chickens have come home to roost.
The Obama Administration approved California's
Only problem is, California's excessive regulation, bureaucracy, and red tape is holding up the approval of the projects.
Dozens of construction projects funded with federal stimulus money are being delayed in California because the office that oversees historic preservation is overwhelmed with applications, the state's stimulus watchdog said Monday.
Of course, the other issue is the recent budget cuts (the real ones, not the fake ones) have reduced staffing in these offices.
The state Office of Historic Preservation ... is just one of many agencies that must sign off on construction projects before they can begin.
California's bureaucracy puts it in dire financial straits, an infusion of money arrives to help the state stay afloat, and the money is held up by bureaucrats.
It's almost poetic.
Title and story from HotAir
Thursday, December 31, 2009
"It's not crumbling, YOU'RE crumbling!"
Some new years motivation.
Watch this for a swift kick in the ass.
direct link
"Lethargic. Uninspired. Terrified."
Watch this for a swift kick in the ass.
direct link
"Lethargic. Uninspired. Terrified."
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Why you should be reading FerFAL's blog
JPFO: Don't cry for me Argentina America
"I can't happen here" are famous last words uttered frequently throughout time.
FerFAL is a blogger who lived through Argentina's fall, and unlike most of the people on the internet who start their long-winded opinions with, "when the SHTF..." he's actually lived through it.
Read FerFAL's blog.
"I can't happen here" are famous last words uttered frequently throughout time.
FerFAL is a blogger who lived through Argentina's fall, and unlike most of the people on the internet who start their long-winded opinions with, "when the SHTF..." he's actually lived through it.
Read FerFAL's blog.
Telegraph: Top 10 conservative movies of the decade
I think the UK Telegraph's definition of "conservative" is accurate enough for these to be excellent selections
If an American media outlet did it, it would probably be full of movies with unhinged paranoid gun nuts.
Aside: The liberal media has been so zealous in erecting conservative strawmen that I think they've begun to believe their own words. Now they tilt at the windmills they've built, while real conservatives organize and build momentum. They make themselves more irrelevant each time they gather a crowd to watch them defeat these "giants."
If an American media outlet did it, it would probably be full of movies with unhinged paranoid gun nuts.
Aside: The liberal media has been so zealous in erecting conservative strawmen that I think they've begun to believe their own words. Now they tilt at the windmills they've built, while real conservatives organize and build momentum. They make themselves more irrelevant each time they gather a crowd to watch them defeat these "giants."
Pearl's Girl - Underworld (live)
If that last one was too soft for you...
direct link
rioja. rioja. reverend al green. deep blue morocco. the water on stone. the water on concrete. the water on sand. the water on fire. smoke. the wind. the salt. the bride boat coming. dave in the water. old man. einstein on top of his house. white deep blue andalusia red yellow red yellow black car. red light. far. black place. walls. blue chair. morocco. hamburg. paris. the pieces of the puzzle are waiting. the water of the dark boats gliding. the bride boats gone out to sea and dave is floating. dave is floating. and old man einstein crazy in his attic. crazy.
white room. sun room. shadow room. night transmitting cars across the room. these things sent to dance across the room. eye watching from your bed. returning to you.
[repeat first verse]
direct link
rioja. rioja. reverend al green. deep blue morocco. the water on stone. the water on concrete. the water on sand. the water on fire. smoke. the wind. the salt. the bride boat coming. dave in the water. old man. einstein on top of his house. white deep blue andalusia red yellow red yellow black car. red light. far. black place. walls. blue chair. morocco. hamburg. paris. the pieces of the puzzle are waiting. the water of the dark boats gliding. the bride boats gone out to sea and dave is floating. dave is floating. and old man einstein crazy in his attic. crazy.
white room. sun room. shadow room. night transmitting cars across the room. these things sent to dance across the room. eye watching from your bed. returning to you.
[repeat first verse]
Jumbo - Underworld
This is classic Underworld. Brilliant.
direct link
Vague lyrics here.
Watch it live
I'm trying to take a break from the acid jazz.
direct link
Vague lyrics here.
Watch it live
I'm trying to take a break from the acid jazz.
click
you disconnect from me
click
when you come to take your century
telephone breath between us
the will of the world is between us
only theses wires
dust between the wires and green glass
in the distance
I am your tourist
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