Er... Not quite, guys...

Gunnies all over the net have been happily reposting and commenting on a recent study that finds U.S. most armed country with 90 guns per 100 people. But Tam reminds us that it's truly impossible to have any idea how many guns there actually are in America.

That number has got to be waayyyy low. Think about it: How can they make any reasonably accurate estimate? Guns are pretty durable artifacts; they don't just dry up and blow away after X number of years. (I have 120-year-old relics that are still in excellent shape and quite shootable.)

This is why gun confiscation schemes are always so funny. Not only do we not know where they all are, we have no idea how many to look for.

Like water off a duck's back...

WOW. Kevin has an extremely well written post challenging an anti-gunner. It's a verbal smack down of truth and fact, and it actually gets a reply!

Here's some highlights, but please read all that Kevin has taken the time to write (beautifully).

You know what? I can't pick quotes out, because whenever I do, I want to expand it because the rest is so good, and then I just wind up quoting entire paragraphs! Just go and read it.

shitshitshit!

The red dragon breathes fire! Your cloak of displacement smolders! --more--
Your shield burns! Your brown potion boils and explodes! --more--
Your white potion boils and explodes! Your scroll of teleport burns! --more--
Your scroll named rem curse? burns! The blast of fire bounces! --more--
Your shield burns! Your yellow potion boils and explodes! --more--
Your riding gloves smolder! Your cloak of displacement smolders further! --more--
Your spellbook of force bolt burns! --more--
You're so fucked.

 --------|--
 |-@----D..|
 +.........|
 |.........|
 -----------

Don't be too impressed...

Updated!

I've been working through a half-assed SDK to make this company's product do some funky shit we need. Only problem is, I think I'm the only one actually developing for this product... After many releases they've either had no complaints or they just haven't repaired glaring problems with their sample code. Their example code for C doesn't compile. Period. Fortunately I found a workaround for the problems in their Perl code...

I couldn't find a function that did all the features we wanted, but there were other functions that did some of the features, so I figured there had to be one the did all the ones we wanted. After digging through their Perl modules I found the one I needed. Only problem was this wasn't exactly a documented function, and their commenting was a bit vague. I tried all kinds of different ways of passing the data, but couldn't get it to accept anything. I had everything working except this portion. After about an hour of trying different types of input, it was time to escalate.

"Hello this is support, how can I help you?"
"Can I escalate?"
"Er, what?"
"Can I escalate?"
"Heh. (insert smugness here) Why don't you just tell me what's going on, and I'll determine whether or not you need to be escalated..."
"If you say so... API.pm has an undocumented function that we want to use; nimPostMessage. I has szSubject, iLevel, szSup and udata, only problem is it doesn't say how to provide udata besides that it must be a reference. There's no notes in the Perl module as to how to present the udata except a mention of providing a PDS reference, but when I populate a new PDS message with the "string" and "number" functions, and reference it in nimPostMessage, sends the other elements but the udata is empty.
"..."
"Hello?"
"Hang on." *muffled talking*
"Are you going to escalate?"
"...Yeah. I'll send you to this guy. He writes probes in Perl."
"Ok."
"Hello?"
"*explain everything again*"
"Wow. I'm impressed. Getting that far is not trivial."
"I hope you're not too impressed, you're supposed to be helping me!"



Latest news was that I've been escalated to the developers overseas... Oy... Just comment your damn code. ESPECIALLY when you're providing an SDK or API..

New update! Apparently reading comprehension is not very high wherever my problem got sent because I was told that there was a bug in the module (which I found), and that I should reformat my request to the right way (which is the way it was, had they bothered to look). They also comment that I shouldn't use that particular function, and prefer that I use a function that does not provide all the data points I require, even though I stated all the data points I needed. Double oy. I replied with why his request was wrong, and abstained from challenging his ability to read. I also removed the signoff I wanted to use; "You're a fucktard," and just went with "Thanks,"

The war on drugs claims another victim.

No, not some drug-addled cokehead, a mom-and-pop business selling a product that could save your life in a Katrina-like disaster. Hey, if you want to win the war on drugs, you've got to break a few eggs. And if you're still not winning, you just need to break more eggs. And if you STILL aren't making any difference, well shit, you better hire some more people to keep breaking eggs until something happens.

I hope no one tells the DEA that Dihydrogen Monoxide is often used in the creation of drugs. I use that stuff a lot, and I would hate to be put in some database somewhere just because I need it to live.

I'd pay money for the opportunity to dig around under a DEA agent's sink to see if I can find any dangerous chemicals that could be used in a terrorist attack.

When propane is outlawed...

Only outlaws will have propane.

SUDDENLY, POETRY!

On the advice of a book I won't mention, (some of you may know it) I've written a bit of poetry. (I've also put on a black beret, and thick, box-framed glasses)

Enjoy.

A Slave

"If government gives fish, men eat for a day.
Why not give men fish?" You ask. And I say;
"If you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day;
If you teach a man to fish, your power goes away.
When a man begs for fish, and promises to behave,
This man is not free. This man is a slave.

He knows that his government is corrupt with deceit,
But he can't change a thing, while he sucks at its teat.
He'll do as he's told, and be patted on the head;
'Yes, Massa. No, Massa. May I have some bread?'

No heartache compares with a man who can see
A slave who thinks that he is free."

I think I've found my knife...

I had been thinking about picking it up SUDDENLY END OF POST!

IT- ER-- I-- NOO!!!

>_>
<_<
I was just making fun of people who do it for real!

Just like the good old days...

Ever since I read Art of the Rifle Reading Jeff Cooper's thoughts on the role and characteristics of a rifleman made me rethink the way I thought about my rifles. I thought about how much training and familiarity I really had with my rifles, and rethought the things I thought I needed. I was afraid I was on the path to becoming one of those guys who has lots of cool toys, but doesn't really appreciate the skill that goes into operating them. I wanted to get back to basics. To me, this was an old bolt action rifle. As I looked up history on some of these rifles I read about men like Simo Häyhä, who did amazing things with a simple m28 Mosin. He didn't need any holographic sights, forward grips, or space-age polymers; hell, he didn't even need a scope to become the most accomplished sniper in WW2. I scoffed at my plans for adding a 4 rail handguard and an EOTech to my AR. Sure, my AR wouldn't be très chic, but I figured that after I start back at the beginning, if I still want these things, I'll get them. Until then, I'll master my iron sights, proper shooting position, and trigger pull.
It's not about firing; it's about shooting.

I was decided on an old rifle, so I started the weeks and weeks of compulsive research I do whenever trying to develop a base of knowledge about a new topic. As I began to get a better feel for the characteristics, idiosyncrasies, strengths, and weaknesses of these rifles I began to develop an idea of what rifle would be closest to what I'm trying to find. I decided on a Finnish M39, easily one of the best rifles to come out of WW2. My research lead me to many places that sold these rifles, and when I saw one I liked with some minor cosmetic damage and a great bore, I snatched it up. [pictured right, and here] The rifle was captured from invading Soviets by the Finns, and reworked to meet the high standards of the Finnish military. From what I've read, M39s had to make 1.5" groups at 150 meters or they were not used.

The rifle I chose was built on a receiver made prior to 1900, which qualified it for antique status. This meant the rifle was not subject to shipping restrictions or fees associated with the transfer of firearms. It will be shipped through the mail to my door. Just like the good old days...

On sale again.

I've been reluctant to voice my approval of Botac, since they have such a bad rap and a history of shipping wrong orders or failing to ship at all, but I've made three purchases from them, and experienced no problems at all, so I'll cautiously recommend them. Note that most of what I've purchased has been clearance items, which likely means they have the item in stock already.


8" 5.11 strike boots back on sale

I've got a pair, and they've been great so far. But for $20, you almost can't go wrong. They just went on sale, so they still have a lot of sizes available. Get yours quickly if you have an odd size. Note that these boots are NOT steel toed. (they ARE, however, comfortable and breathe well :)

I'm thinking about picking up another pair, now that I know they fit me well, because 2 is 1, and 1 is none.

Good video, great music.

Israeli Trauma Bandage

I knew these were supposed to be great, but I had no idea they did so much!

Check out this video on the characteristics and application of the bandage. (from here) Pretty cool stuff.

I was always bothered by the idea of having little more than gauss and medical tape to take care of large wounds, and knew that constant pressure would still be required. This bandage seems to solve all those things handily.

I'm going to have to go pick up a few from none other than my favorite retailer of odd wares; CountyComm.

Hat Tip to SurvivalBlog for the awesome movie link. (and for general awesomeness)

I laughed till I cried.

Sorry guys, this is only for the gunnies;

AK vs. AR vs. Mosin Nagant

You might not want to read this at work, unless you usually laugh out loud when looking at TPS reports or whatever the fuck it is you people do. :)

Holy hell that's funny!

I might go so far as to say that he might be the human version of a penis…while able to create beautiful things when applied properly, most of the time it just runs around indiscriminately Fucking people who might just want to be friends.

From SR

Awesome, awesome, and awesome.

I feel like shit.

My head is pounding.

My throat is sore.

My legs hurt.

My arm and chest hurt from errant punches.

The ringing in my ears has yet to subside.


Goddamnit I love going to these shows.



Saw Thinking Aloud at Alex's Bar last night. It was probably the best show of theirs we've seen. Head over here to hear some of their music, but I warn you that they are about 4 times better in person. They played a more rocking version of Romance that made this (comparitively) slow song fit their set quite well, and they played my favorite song; What's My Number. We've been following Thinking Aloud since we caught them at a IMAROBOT show. Since that first concert we've been seeing one or two a month, and it has certainly infused my usual music diet of talk radio with some much needed awesome. Not that Larry Elder isn't awesome; he's just awesome in a different way.

It hasn't all been perfect. You have to put up with some really bad music every once in a while, shows without age limits are full of fucktard middle schoolers, and who could forget the light moshing; "Hey, I like this music so much that I'm going to run in a circle and punch and kick while spinning around!", but it's still worth it to hear new sounds and new bands. We've just been lucky since Thinking Aloud is based out of Long Beach so it's easy to catch their shows, but getting to catch shows like Maximo Park (last one on tour) has made the whole experience awesome, awesome, and awesome.

Go to your band's myspace page, and find out when they're playing near you and just go. If you can't find anything then just search for local bars or shows and surprise yourself.

It's totally worth it.

Maybe they were nethack players?

Couple tried to name baby "@"

No, YOU!!!!

First some background; I work in a NOC and we all suffer from lack of Vitamin D due to lack of windows, so we are usually a bit silly. (We're usually insane by Friday) One of the things we do, is play a simple game where we imply that the speaker is the one who did or was the thing the speaker mentioned.

Confused? Me too.

Examples;
"I caught you a delicious bass."
"YOU'RE a delicious bass!"

"You want a soda?"
"No, YOU want a soda!"

"Damn, my mouse's batteries are dead!"
"No, YOUR batteries are dead!

"I almost got hit by a car!"
"No, YOU almost got hit by a car!... No, wait."
"No, YOU 'no, wait'!"
"No, YOU 'No, YOU'!"

Etc.

what? there are no windows!

A coworker came in and said "Damn it, [my name]!"
Me: Hello to you too!
Co: Thanks to you, I got in trouble last night!
Me: I try. What exactly did I do?
Co: My girl was looking at a water bottle and said, "This water bottle is shaped funny." And before I could think I said, "YOU'RE shaped funny!"--
Me: *uncontrolled laughter for 2 minutes*
Co: It took me forever to explain that to her!

We have fun.

Overheard on a forum

Occasionally Mr. Darwin offers spontaneous IQ tests. Some people fail.

Who owns the octopus?