Monday morning. I'm up before daylight. We had breakfast for supper last night. Bacon, eggs, biscuits and there was some bacon left on a plate at the back of the stove. I saw that and popped some frozen biscuits into the toaster oven. Heh! Breakfast again.
With just two of us in the house, we use the toaster oven a lot. It's a good one, given to Milady by the children, Christmas before last. They asked what she wanted for Christmas and she said a toaster oven, so they got together and appointed one son to search. He came to me a couple of weeks later and said. "Damn, Dad, I've got a problem. We wanted to get her a nice toaster oven, all the bells and whistles. I've been everywhere and looked at a bunch of them, and I can't find one that costs more than about $60.00."
I told him he was "getting off cheap. She wants a toaster oven. Buy the best one you can find." We use it. Lots of bells and whistles. I haven't tried to cook a turkey in it yet, but I haven't cooked a turkey inside the house in years.
In another hour or so it'll be time to head toward the training center. I'm really looking forward to this. Most of the week will be in air conditioning. Most of it will be stuff I've done for the last 28 years. Handcuffing, shooting, listening to lectures. The good part is that there are a lot of guys there who have been policing for a long time. Good friends. Compatriots. We'll tell stories, lie about each other, harass the instructors, most of whom we trained when they were rookies. We'll get the training, but we'll have fun doing it. We'll bitch and moan.
It'll be fun.
I'm really looking forward to this week.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Sunday afternoon
It's Sunday afternoon in central Louisiana. Ninety-four-by-God degrees on the scale and not a single breath of wind. I was just standing out on the carport and was impressed by the lack of any wind activity. Not a single breath of a breeze. The pine trees, for as far as I could see, were standing perfectly still. Very few neighbors outside. The subdivision is as quiet as midnight.
Accuweather puts the heat index at 103. I believe it. It's a good afternoon to sit in the easy chair and watch old television.
The weather forecast for this week is more of the same. Hot, still, no rain anywhere in the predictions.
I have training this week, and I've made plans for hydration. Ice, water, a cooler in the pickup truck. No sense tempting a heat injury.
Accuweather puts the heat index at 103. I believe it. It's a good afternoon to sit in the easy chair and watch old television.
The weather forecast for this week is more of the same. Hot, still, no rain anywhere in the predictions.
I have training this week, and I've made plans for hydration. Ice, water, a cooler in the pickup truck. No sense tempting a heat injury.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
My Mother Earth Period
Insane Diego asks in comments:
Back in 1980, my first wife and I commenced raising kids. We subscribed to a magazine called The Mother Earth News and bought a piece of land in the southern portion of Natchitoches Parish, LA. Ten acres with a pond. We cleared it, mostly by hand, and with Dad's help, built a barn and fenced the land. I had a pond, a woodlot, two pastures and a place for a garden. Lots of room for kids to roam.
We were trying to live with the smallest possible economic footprint, which means we grew our own food, hunted, fished, gardened, had chickens, turkeys, cattle, milked goats, raised horses, you name it, we did it.
I was working a day job as a Parole Officer and when I'd get off, it'd be another three or four hours of work on the farm before bedtime. My days started at 5:00 a.m with feeding livestock and ended at dark or later depending on the season. I heated the house with wood, hauled hay, raised our own meat, canned vegetables. At one point we had our own grist mill and milled our own flour and meal.
I worried about things like sustainability, our septic plume, groundwater supplies, compost, rainfall, forage growth and being organic. In short, we were green, very green and it was hard damned work. Satisfying, certainly, but hard, steady, unrelenting work.
Nowadays when I see someone claiming to be "green" by driving a Prius, I snort and laugh. They have no clue. Most of those folks are assholes. A very few have walked the walk that I walked in the late 70s and 80s, but most of them are assholes.
Air Conditioning is a wonderful thing when you don't have it. Central heat is magnificent. 99% of the weenies saying that they're living a green lifestyle have absolutely no clue. Put them in a basic living situation from the 1930s and they'd be begging for indoor climate control inside of a week. I lived in a basic living situation from 1980 till 1995. That's when we put central heating in the house and I no longer had to build a fire before daylight so the kids could dress in a warm room.
It was a wonderful time in my life and I wouldn't change the experience for anything. I'm a better man for having done it and my kids understand being self-sufficient. And, at this stage of my life I thank God every day that I live in a house where I can be cool in the summer and warm in the winter. I am thankful for my blessings.
I am also contemptuous of 99% of the green movement today. They have no clue. None at all. And now you know about my Mother Earth Period. Today I live in a subdivision and consume what most of America consumes. I buy my meat at the grocers and I only grow a few tomatoes and peppers in the summer.
your "Mother Earth period?" Do tell...Nothing much to tell. I was an environmentalist before it was cool.
Back in 1980, my first wife and I commenced raising kids. We subscribed to a magazine called The Mother Earth News and bought a piece of land in the southern portion of Natchitoches Parish, LA. Ten acres with a pond. We cleared it, mostly by hand, and with Dad's help, built a barn and fenced the land. I had a pond, a woodlot, two pastures and a place for a garden. Lots of room for kids to roam.
We were trying to live with the smallest possible economic footprint, which means we grew our own food, hunted, fished, gardened, had chickens, turkeys, cattle, milked goats, raised horses, you name it, we did it.
I was working a day job as a Parole Officer and when I'd get off, it'd be another three or four hours of work on the farm before bedtime. My days started at 5:00 a.m with feeding livestock and ended at dark or later depending on the season. I heated the house with wood, hauled hay, raised our own meat, canned vegetables. At one point we had our own grist mill and milled our own flour and meal.
I worried about things like sustainability, our septic plume, groundwater supplies, compost, rainfall, forage growth and being organic. In short, we were green, very green and it was hard damned work. Satisfying, certainly, but hard, steady, unrelenting work.
Nowadays when I see someone claiming to be "green" by driving a Prius, I snort and laugh. They have no clue. Most of those folks are assholes. A very few have walked the walk that I walked in the late 70s and 80s, but most of them are assholes.
Air Conditioning is a wonderful thing when you don't have it. Central heat is magnificent. 99% of the weenies saying that they're living a green lifestyle have absolutely no clue. Put them in a basic living situation from the 1930s and they'd be begging for indoor climate control inside of a week. I lived in a basic living situation from 1980 till 1995. That's when we put central heating in the house and I no longer had to build a fire before daylight so the kids could dress in a warm room.
It was a wonderful time in my life and I wouldn't change the experience for anything. I'm a better man for having done it and my kids understand being self-sufficient. And, at this stage of my life I thank God every day that I live in a house where I can be cool in the summer and warm in the winter. I am thankful for my blessings.
I am also contemptuous of 99% of the green movement today. They have no clue. None at all. And now you know about my Mother Earth Period. Today I live in a subdivision and consume what most of America consumes. I buy my meat at the grocers and I only grow a few tomatoes and peppers in the summer.
Damndest Thing
Damndest thing I ever saw. I went out to my son's house this morning to experience a learning curve with him putting down laminate flooring. They're putting it in the living room and when I left this afternoon the job was almost completed.
That's not why I began this post. Behind his shop is a tree that was struck by lightning. Big ole tree and he was afraid that it might fall on the shop, so he contracted to have it cut down. Below is a picture of said tree.
What really amazed me is when I went over to look at the stump. There was a pipe embedded in that tree. Deep in the tree. I didn't count the rings, but I imagine it must have been fifty years or so since the bark closed around it.
I bet it was fun cutting through that with a chain saw. We stood around for a few minutes trying to come up with possible explanations. None make sense. It was either a long-lost corner post to adjoining propery or someone hammered that pipe in the ground when the tree was much smaller, maybe to keep someone from mowing over the tree. Nothing else makes much sense.
Ain't that the damndest thing?
That's not why I began this post. Behind his shop is a tree that was struck by lightning. Big ole tree and he was afraid that it might fall on the shop, so he contracted to have it cut down. Below is a picture of said tree.
What really amazed me is when I went over to look at the stump. There was a pipe embedded in that tree. Deep in the tree. I didn't count the rings, but I imagine it must have been fifty years or so since the bark closed around it.
I bet it was fun cutting through that with a chain saw. We stood around for a few minutes trying to come up with possible explanations. None make sense. It was either a long-lost corner post to adjoining propery or someone hammered that pipe in the ground when the tree was much smaller, maybe to keep someone from mowing over the tree. Nothing else makes much sense.
Ain't that the damndest thing?
Goat tower?
I was over at Instapundit and he linked to an article on a goat tower.
And it got me to remembering. When my first wife and I were going through our Mother Earth period, we owned a half-dozen goats. Milk goats. Nubians. We had a pen for them, but you're not going to keep a goat in a pen unless the goat wants to stay in the pen. Goats are notorious for jailbreaks. They're fairly smart and they'll figure a way out of a pen.
When the goats get out, the best place to look is high. Goats like to climb. I'd generally find them in the hay loft because it combined the highest place on the farm with food. Goats love food. Goats love height. The hay loft was a magical goat-heaven place.
Still, the goat tower is just cool.
And it got me to remembering. When my first wife and I were going through our Mother Earth period, we owned a half-dozen goats. Milk goats. Nubians. We had a pen for them, but you're not going to keep a goat in a pen unless the goat wants to stay in the pen. Goats are notorious for jailbreaks. They're fairly smart and they'll figure a way out of a pen.
When the goats get out, the best place to look is high. Goats like to climb. I'd generally find them in the hay loft because it combined the highest place on the farm with food. Goats love food. Goats love height. The hay loft was a magical goat-heaven place.
Still, the goat tower is just cool.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Demotivational Poster
My sister Frances sent me some demotivational posters. This one made me laugh.
Many of the ones she sent are the work of Oleg Volk, a graphic artist/photographer who works on the internet supporting the 2nd Amendment. His pictures are worth thousands of words. He also runs a forum for gun stuff, The High Road.us. I am a regular contributor over there, under the screen name PawPaw. Go look at Oleg's stuff, and thank him for all the work he does for us to get the word out.
Okay, okay. Just one more.
Everyone have a fun-filled weekend. I'll be helping my son put down laminate flooring.
Many of the ones she sent are the work of Oleg Volk, a graphic artist/photographer who works on the internet supporting the 2nd Amendment. His pictures are worth thousands of words. He also runs a forum for gun stuff, The High Road.us. I am a regular contributor over there, under the screen name PawPaw. Go look at Oleg's stuff, and thank him for all the work he does for us to get the word out.
Okay, okay. Just one more.
Everyone have a fun-filled weekend. I'll be helping my son put down laminate flooring.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Referrals
I check my referral logs fairly regularly, a couple of times a week. You can do the same thing by clicking on the Sitemeter logo on the bottom of the right sidebar.
It helps me to see what people are reading and what search engines are finding my little blog. Not that it matters to anyone but me. I work this blog for my amusement and only for my amusement; I don't make any money from it and don't intend to.
Back in October 2006, I made a blog entry about chugging in a ground rod for the pool house project. People are still referring to that post. That simply amazes me.
This little blog gets about 225 hits per day, not a lot by any standard. The most requested searches have to do with gunpowder, specifically surplus IMR 4895. Let me tell you guys something. It's gone. There won't be any more surplus 4895, not in the forseeable future.
The next two most requested pages talk about the Remington 870 (there's still lots of those out there) and Lee Liquid Alox. There's lots of Liquid Alox, too. I like the stuff and use it almost exclusively for cast bullet applications.
It's fun to see what people are looking for when they come to my blog. I hope my scribblings serve some small purpose. Regardless, I'll keep writing. Y'all keep coming.
It helps me to see what people are reading and what search engines are finding my little blog. Not that it matters to anyone but me. I work this blog for my amusement and only for my amusement; I don't make any money from it and don't intend to.
Back in October 2006, I made a blog entry about chugging in a ground rod for the pool house project. People are still referring to that post. That simply amazes me.
This little blog gets about 225 hits per day, not a lot by any standard. The most requested searches have to do with gunpowder, specifically surplus IMR 4895. Let me tell you guys something. It's gone. There won't be any more surplus 4895, not in the forseeable future.
The next two most requested pages talk about the Remington 870 (there's still lots of those out there) and Lee Liquid Alox. There's lots of Liquid Alox, too. I like the stuff and use it almost exclusively for cast bullet applications.
It's fun to see what people are looking for when they come to my blog. I hope my scribblings serve some small purpose. Regardless, I'll keep writing. Y'all keep coming.
Range Day
This morning I went to the range to plink with several rifles and my Kimber. After firing about 50 rounds with the Kimber I put it away and took out the Bushmaster AR15.
I've never liked the AR platform, mainly because I carried one in the military for all those years. It's a good platform, but I can't generate any enthusiasm for it. It's a tool, like a hammer or a saw. Something to use for a particular purpose. But, like all my tools, it has its place and I have to qualify with it next week, so a little practice was in order. Forty rounds later, I was done. I'm confident that I'll qualify with no problems, and it needs a good cleaning which it will get later this afternoon.
Next up was the Winchester 94 that lives under the seat of the truck. I wanted to verify that I could hit the side of a barn with it, and I can. A very small barn. This rifle is also due for a good cleaning, as it's been two or three years since I've gone through it. Lots of folks, myself included, defer giving the Winchester 94 a complete breakdown and cleaning because the rifle does not disassemble intuitively. Fortunately, Junior gives us a good tutorial and after you've taken one apart a couple of times, it's easy to remember. You do need good screwdrivers and must remember to start with the magazine tube.
On the way home I stopped at the grocery and picked up some chickens for the pit. I put them on about a half-hour ago and should be slow-cooked by suppertime. I first rub a whole chicken with a good dry seasoning rub. There are plenty out there, get one you like. Then, I put the chickens on a low pit, about 250-275 degrees for about four hours. I turn them occasionally to keep the juices flowing. When I try to turn the chicken and it comes apart on the tongs, I'm pretty sure that it's done.
I also bought some fresh green beans and some asparagus. I'll wash them, then wrap them in aluminum foil with a little margarine and some salt and pepper. About 15 minutes on the pit, they'll be ready.
I've never liked the AR platform, mainly because I carried one in the military for all those years. It's a good platform, but I can't generate any enthusiasm for it. It's a tool, like a hammer or a saw. Something to use for a particular purpose. But, like all my tools, it has its place and I have to qualify with it next week, so a little practice was in order. Forty rounds later, I was done. I'm confident that I'll qualify with no problems, and it needs a good cleaning which it will get later this afternoon.
Next up was the Winchester 94 that lives under the seat of the truck. I wanted to verify that I could hit the side of a barn with it, and I can. A very small barn. This rifle is also due for a good cleaning, as it's been two or three years since I've gone through it. Lots of folks, myself included, defer giving the Winchester 94 a complete breakdown and cleaning because the rifle does not disassemble intuitively. Fortunately, Junior gives us a good tutorial and after you've taken one apart a couple of times, it's easy to remember. You do need good screwdrivers and must remember to start with the magazine tube.
On the way home I stopped at the grocery and picked up some chickens for the pit. I put them on about a half-hour ago and should be slow-cooked by suppertime. I first rub a whole chicken with a good dry seasoning rub. There are plenty out there, get one you like. Then, I put the chickens on a low pit, about 250-275 degrees for about four hours. I turn them occasionally to keep the juices flowing. When I try to turn the chicken and it comes apart on the tongs, I'm pretty sure that it's done.
I also bought some fresh green beans and some asparagus. I'll wash them, then wrap them in aluminum foil with a little margarine and some salt and pepper. About 15 minutes on the pit, they'll be ready.
Savagery in South Dakota
That's the name of the article in Field and Stream by Dave Petzal, where he talks about the Savage Model 12 they recently let him try out. He's imressed. Regular readers here know that I'm a huge fan of Savage rifles and believe that any shooter is well served with the appropriate Savage. Then we come to this line:
I'd fire off an outraged email, but Savage doesn't accept emails. I guess I'll have to write them a harshly worded letter.
Anything but H-S Precision.
Savage has equipped the Model 12 (etc.) with an H-S Precision synthetic stock, and a Target Accu-Trigger which adjusts from 6 ounces to 2.5 pounds.Well, damn! H-S Precision is the deal-breaker for me. I won't have anything to do with them. If they make the most accurate stocks in the world, I'll just have to make-do with second best. If you want to know what I have against them, Google Lon Horiuchi and do your research.
I'd fire off an outraged email, but Savage doesn't accept emails. I guess I'll have to write them a harshly worded letter.
Anything but H-S Precision.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Retirement
While I worked for the Department of Corrections (Division of Probation and Parole), I carried a revolver. Well, actually, several revolvers. All Smith and Wesson, all stainless steel. Originally, I was issued a SW Model 66, with a 2 3/4 inch barrel. They were made especially for us by Smith and Wesson and they carried an LAPP roll mark from the factory. Over time, I acquired my own revolvers. First a 4" Model 66, then a 2" Model 60.
When I retired, both of those pistols retired with me. The Model 60 is carried sometimes as a concealed piece. The Model 66 rides on my hip when I'm in the woods. A 4" revolver is a great carry weapon for rural exploring.
Just about the time I joined my current department, I happened to buy a 1911A1 pistol, a Kimber Eclipse. My current department let me carry it, so I qualified with it and have carried it as a duty pistol. I love my Kimber, and I'm one of the very few officers in this department who carry a 1911 on duty.
The Kimber has been a good companion. It's rock-solid dependable. The only change I made to it was to take out the full-length guide rod and install a GI length rod. Otherwise, it's bone stock. I love my Kimber.
Our new Sheriff decided that an officer shouldn't have to purchase his/her own duty weapon and one of the campaign promises he made was that he would purchase and issue a standard weapon to the department. He's made good on that promise and when officers go through their annual retrainer, they're issued a pistol and duty belt with accouterments.
Next week I do my annual retrainer and I'll be issued my pistol. Not a Glock. A Smith and Wesson M&P in .45 ACP. Folks who have them, like them. They come with three grip inserts, small, medium, and large, to fit varying hands. The instructors tell me that it's interesting to see which grip insert the different deputies choose.
There are a lot of good reasons for a department to use a common firearm, not the least of which is agency liability. With a common weapon, common leather, common training, it's sure easy to keep the officers supplied, but individuality takes a back seat. Having a department issued firearm is a good thing. Good for the deputies, good for the department. I'm surprised that this agency waited this long to make the switch.
The point of this is that I'm having to put the 1911 into retirement. For the past six years it's ridden in a Safariland 6280 holster, but that time appears to be over. I'll be looking for other leather to coddle it. I've always like pancake holsters as a personal preference. I guess I'll have to start hitting the catalogs and find something stylish for my old friend to ride in.
Might my few readers have any suggestions?
When I retired, both of those pistols retired with me. The Model 60 is carried sometimes as a concealed piece. The Model 66 rides on my hip when I'm in the woods. A 4" revolver is a great carry weapon for rural exploring.
Just about the time I joined my current department, I happened to buy a 1911A1 pistol, a Kimber Eclipse. My current department let me carry it, so I qualified with it and have carried it as a duty pistol. I love my Kimber, and I'm one of the very few officers in this department who carry a 1911 on duty.
The Kimber has been a good companion. It's rock-solid dependable. The only change I made to it was to take out the full-length guide rod and install a GI length rod. Otherwise, it's bone stock. I love my Kimber.
Our new Sheriff decided that an officer shouldn't have to purchase his/her own duty weapon and one of the campaign promises he made was that he would purchase and issue a standard weapon to the department. He's made good on that promise and when officers go through their annual retrainer, they're issued a pistol and duty belt with accouterments.
Next week I do my annual retrainer and I'll be issued my pistol. Not a Glock. A Smith and Wesson M&P in .45 ACP. Folks who have them, like them. They come with three grip inserts, small, medium, and large, to fit varying hands. The instructors tell me that it's interesting to see which grip insert the different deputies choose.
There are a lot of good reasons for a department to use a common firearm, not the least of which is agency liability. With a common weapon, common leather, common training, it's sure easy to keep the officers supplied, but individuality takes a back seat. Having a department issued firearm is a good thing. Good for the deputies, good for the department. I'm surprised that this agency waited this long to make the switch.
The point of this is that I'm having to put the 1911 into retirement. For the past six years it's ridden in a Safariland 6280 holster, but that time appears to be over. I'll be looking for other leather to coddle it. I've always like pancake holsters as a personal preference. I guess I'll have to start hitting the catalogs and find something stylish for my old friend to ride in.
Might my few readers have any suggestions?
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Ling and Lee
Laura Ling and Eura Lee. Two American citizens, journalists, employed by Current TV (Al Gore, cofounder). They were recently sentenced to 12 years in a North Korean work camp for entering the country illegally.
What were they doing on the China- North Korea border? Details are murky, but that doesn't matter. They've been sentenced and the two ladies are international bargaining chips.
They both had to know that the human rights record of both China and NOK is at best, horrible. They both had to know that being in that part of the world, trying to do western journalism isn't the best way to stay in the good graces of the local bureaucrats. They also had to know that those same local bureaucrats can either keep you safe or drop you in a hole.
Well, they've been dropped in a hole. Too bad.
What were they doing on the China- North Korea border? Details are murky, but that doesn't matter. They've been sentenced and the two ladies are international bargaining chips.
They both had to know that the human rights record of both China and NOK is at best, horrible. They both had to know that being in that part of the world, trying to do western journalism isn't the best way to stay in the good graces of the local bureaucrats. They also had to know that those same local bureaucrats can either keep you safe or drop you in a hole.
Well, they've been dropped in a hole. Too bad.
Chrysler
It seems that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has ordered a stay in the Chrysler bankruptcy proceedings so that the Courts can consider the opposition of some Indiana pension funds. They loaned money to Chrysler, and now they're getting screwed in the bankruptcy process.
I'm not going to pretend that I know all of the particulars, nor that I'd even understand all the arguments, but it's seemed from the first that the bankruptcies of Chrysler and GM are designed more for expediency than for an orderly accounting and re-organization.
As I understand the bankruptcy laws, they're written to accommodate an orderly accounting, and to preserve the rights of creditors. This rush to accommodate selected creditors and the UAW does neither.
As for those judges who allowed this farce to continue, I reserve the deepest contempt for them. Judges are tasked with what sometimes appears to be a thankless, boring, grinding job. We pay them well and provide adequate perquisites for the occupation. Being a judge certainly beats any number of other professions. All we ask of them is that they apply the law fairly, honestly, and without apparent bias.
This bankruptcy proceeding is neither fair, honest, or without apparent bias. Those judges who have allowed it to proceed should be stripped of their robes, tarred, feathered, disbarred and charged with malfeasance.
I'm not going to pretend that I know all of the particulars, nor that I'd even understand all the arguments, but it's seemed from the first that the bankruptcies of Chrysler and GM are designed more for expediency than for an orderly accounting and re-organization.
As I understand the bankruptcy laws, they're written to accommodate an orderly accounting, and to preserve the rights of creditors. This rush to accommodate selected creditors and the UAW does neither.
As for those judges who allowed this farce to continue, I reserve the deepest contempt for them. Judges are tasked with what sometimes appears to be a thankless, boring, grinding job. We pay them well and provide adequate perquisites for the occupation. Being a judge certainly beats any number of other professions. All we ask of them is that they apply the law fairly, honestly, and without apparent bias.
This bankruptcy proceeding is neither fair, honest, or without apparent bias. Those judges who have allowed it to proceed should be stripped of their robes, tarred, feathered, disbarred and charged with malfeasance.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Roundup
Roundup herbicide. I love it. Use it regularly. I've been using Roundup since I moved to the country in 1980. I see, via the Bayou Renaissance Man that some guys in England use it too.
I've got several gravel beds around the house and I spray them regularly with Roundup. Nothing grows where PawPaw goes. I was spraying last week and Milady called my attention to a little plant near some rose bushes. "See this plant?" says she.
"You betcha", says I, hosing it with extra strength Roundup.
"Well, damn!" she retorts. "I like that plant and was hoping to save it."
"Too late." says I. "Don't point at a plant while I've got the Roundup sprayer in my hand.
A workman killed hundreds of protected rare orchids with poison after mistaking them for weeds.Amateurs.
The flowers died days after the contractor used herbicide to rid a grass verge of brambles and gorse.
Not realising the colourful flowers were nine species of rare orchids, he doused them with the toxic spray.
I've got several gravel beds around the house and I spray them regularly with Roundup. Nothing grows where PawPaw goes. I was spraying last week and Milady called my attention to a little plant near some rose bushes. "See this plant?" says she.
"You betcha", says I, hosing it with extra strength Roundup.
"Well, damn!" she retorts. "I like that plant and was hoping to save it."
"Too late." says I. "Don't point at a plant while I've got the Roundup sprayer in my hand.
Rimfire Sunday
I went to the range this afternoon, more to get away from the yard work than for any burning need to shoot. I took the rimfires as I'm wont to do when I'm in the mood to shoot, but not in the mood for recoil.
A .22LR rifle can give lots of good marksmanship training. It's one thing to hit a target way, way off in the distance. It's pretty much the same thing to hit a tiny target at the 25 or 50 yard line. The practice from one carries over to the other and when I shoot rimfire, I'll normally post a bunch of 1" red target dots on a piece of paper and bang away.
I took two rifles today. The Stevens Model 64 is a direct clone of the Savage Model 64. I've never seen another one and I was told that they were first marketed in Canada. I've got a fixed 4X scope mounted on it and it's my go-to rifle for squirrel hunting in the late winter woods. Keeping all the shots on that 1" dot is challenging but not impossible. I like to shoot it enough so that my trigger finger remembers the squeeze. It is a lousy trigger, combining creep and overtravel, but I can't justify the expense of having a gunsmith work it over. It shoots well enough.
The other rifle I took today is the Savage Model 93R17FV, which is a heavy barreled rmfire in .17 HMR. Mine is an older model, without the Accu-trigger. It shoots better than I do, and at 25 yards it'll stack the bullets into one hole. Those little .17 caliber, 17 grain bullets are prone to drift in the wind, so any cross wind at all will ruin a good group. It's a fine little rifle for paper-punching although I've never sighted it on game.
When my kids were younger and we lived in the woods I had a flock of crows that would make noise out by the pond. I bet that the little .17 would be just the ticket for harassing crows. I've got one friend who is a state wildlife agent and he uses the .17 HMR with a rifle just like mine to dispatch troublesome beavers. He claims to routinely shoot beavers at over 100 yards with the little bullets and says that it kills them cleanly. I bet so.
When I left the house this afternoon there were grandkids swimming in the pool. When I returned from the range, there are still grandkids swimming in the pool.
Some things never change.
A .22LR rifle can give lots of good marksmanship training. It's one thing to hit a target way, way off in the distance. It's pretty much the same thing to hit a tiny target at the 25 or 50 yard line. The practice from one carries over to the other and when I shoot rimfire, I'll normally post a bunch of 1" red target dots on a piece of paper and bang away.
I took two rifles today. The Stevens Model 64 is a direct clone of the Savage Model 64. I've never seen another one and I was told that they were first marketed in Canada. I've got a fixed 4X scope mounted on it and it's my go-to rifle for squirrel hunting in the late winter woods. Keeping all the shots on that 1" dot is challenging but not impossible. I like to shoot it enough so that my trigger finger remembers the squeeze. It is a lousy trigger, combining creep and overtravel, but I can't justify the expense of having a gunsmith work it over. It shoots well enough.
The other rifle I took today is the Savage Model 93R17FV, which is a heavy barreled rmfire in .17 HMR. Mine is an older model, without the Accu-trigger. It shoots better than I do, and at 25 yards it'll stack the bullets into one hole. Those little .17 caliber, 17 grain bullets are prone to drift in the wind, so any cross wind at all will ruin a good group. It's a fine little rifle for paper-punching although I've never sighted it on game.
When my kids were younger and we lived in the woods I had a flock of crows that would make noise out by the pond. I bet that the little .17 would be just the ticket for harassing crows. I've got one friend who is a state wildlife agent and he uses the .17 HMR with a rifle just like mine to dispatch troublesome beavers. He claims to routinely shoot beavers at over 100 yards with the little bullets and says that it kills them cleanly. I bet so.
When I left the house this afternoon there were grandkids swimming in the pool. When I returned from the range, there are still grandkids swimming in the pool.
Some things never change.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
More Deck Work
My son and I worked today finishing the carpentry, installing steps and completing a small patio that ties the deck to the pool house. All that's left to do of the main construction is to wire the deck for outlets and lights.
Here's a view from the edge of the deck toward the pool with grandkids playing and my sister sunbathing.
This is the end of the first week of this project and I'm glad it's nearing completion.
Tomorrow after church, I'm going to the range.
Here's a view from the edge of the deck toward the pool with grandkids playing and my sister sunbathing.
This is the end of the first week of this project and I'm glad it's nearing completion.
Tomorrow after church, I'm going to the range.
Friday, June 05, 2009
The 7th CIrcuit ruling
It seems the US 7th Circuit, in a unanimous decision, upheld the handgun bans in place in Chicago. The decision, written by Judge Frank Easterbrook is a fascinating discussion on federalism and in effect says that states and cities can make their own laws on who can have guns and the 2nd Amendment is not incorporated against the states. It's a fascinating legal back-flip from what has been described as a largely conservative bench. Investors Business Daily descibes the result:
It's been appealed, and Easterbrook deserves a monumental smackdown. If that is what passes for reasoned thinking in Chicago, then the citizens should break out the tar and the feathers.
Hat tip to Jeff, at Alphecca
The Circuit Court decision was written by Judge Frank Easterbrook and joined by Judges Richard Posner and William Bauer. Easterbrook's reasoning is fascinating. According to him, the Revolution was fought and independence won so that the Founding Fathers could write a Constitution with a Bill of Rights that applied only to the District of Columbia.That's ridiculous, of course, and the judge's reasoning is likewise ridiculous. No matter how meticulously he researches the question, no matter how diligently he crafts the decision, the idea that a basic right is not incorporated against the states is ridiculous on its face. In his decision, we might just as well say that a locale can ban free speech as part of a national experiment. The reasoning is ludicrous.
It's been appealed, and Easterbrook deserves a monumental smackdown. If that is what passes for reasoned thinking in Chicago, then the citizens should break out the tar and the feathers.
Hat tip to Jeff, at Alphecca
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Active Shooter
There are some reports about the shooter that targeted two Army recruiters in Little Rock last week. What do we really know about this guy? According to Hot Air:
**He was a recent convert to Islam.
**He traveled to Yemen for training.
**He came back to the US on a forged passport.
**He had a list of possible targets, including other Army recruiting centers in Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia and Louisville.
**His target list included Jewish targets and day care centers.
**He was named Carlos Bledsoe at birth, and changed his name when he converted.
So, this worthless piece of garbage had traveled to Yemen for training for God-Knows-What and came back here to shoot up the country. If he hadn't been stopped he'd still be killing.
I once had a close friend, an officer in the Shah's Army (Iran) who studied in the United States. We became close friends across the back fence of housing at Fort Knox. He told me that before each promotion in his army, an officer would be posted to Yemen. I asked why and he told me that there were many godless Communists to be killed in Yemen.
Today, Yemen seems to be a training site for Islamic radicals.
**He was a recent convert to Islam.
**He traveled to Yemen for training.
**He came back to the US on a forged passport.
**He had a list of possible targets, including other Army recruiting centers in Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia and Louisville.
**His target list included Jewish targets and day care centers.
**He was named Carlos Bledsoe at birth, and changed his name when he converted.
So, this worthless piece of garbage had traveled to Yemen for training for God-Knows-What and came back here to shoot up the country. If he hadn't been stopped he'd still be killing.
I once had a close friend, an officer in the Shah's Army (Iran) who studied in the United States. We became close friends across the back fence of housing at Fort Knox. He told me that before each promotion in his army, an officer would be posted to Yemen. I asked why and he told me that there were many godless Communists to be killed in Yemen.
Today, Yemen seems to be a training site for Islamic radicals.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Toy Gun
It seems some kid in New Jersey found a toy gun in a dumpster and headed toward Princeton University.
Predictably, the whole university went into lockdown.
I'm reminded of my own university experience where we routinely kept our guns in the dorm room. Yeah, it was forbidden, but no one seemed to care. Lots of us hunted and it helps to have a gun on campus if you're going hunting after class.
Then, years later when I adjuncted Police Science courses at the same campus, I was in a plain-clothes assignment and I'd head to the campus after work and more often than not, my revolver was tucked in a holster on my belt. Only once did anyone even make notice of it. When the cop responded to the "man with a gun" complaint, we laughed and chit-chatted for a few minutes before he continued on his way.
The folks in New Jersey really need to get a grip.
Predictably, the whole university went into lockdown.
Police took four juvenile suspects into custody just before 11:30 a.m. None of the four suspects were students. One had a dark green toy gun in his waistband that school officials said could have been mistaken for a real gun.This is New Jersey and guns aren't allowed. At all. So, four kids were found with a toy and the police detained them.
The four kids were apparently rummaging through some sort of trash dumpster and told cops that's where they found the toy gun, police sources told NBCNewYork.com. One of the juveniles picked up the fake gun, put it in his belt and started walking away with the other three kids when a woman spotted the gun in his waistband and called police. It's not clear whether or not she was a student.
No shots were fired. It wasn't clear how many people were on campus at the time of the incident. Police believe the incident stemmed from a bigger problem of kids from town going on campus and rummaging through dumpsters looking for unused alcohol, which campus security says has been on ongoing problem.
I'm reminded of my own university experience where we routinely kept our guns in the dorm room. Yeah, it was forbidden, but no one seemed to care. Lots of us hunted and it helps to have a gun on campus if you're going hunting after class.
Then, years later when I adjuncted Police Science courses at the same campus, I was in a plain-clothes assignment and I'd head to the campus after work and more often than not, my revolver was tucked in a holster on my belt. Only once did anyone even make notice of it. When the cop responded to the "man with a gun" complaint, we laughed and chit-chatted for a few minutes before he continued on his way.
The folks in New Jersey really need to get a grip.
Wednesday afternoon
It's Wednesday afternoon, and I'm done for the day. The deck is mostly completed. We put the rail on yesterday afternoon and the deck boards installed this morning. I decided to take a picture because this may be the only time I see it empty.
What's lef t, you ask? I"ve got to dig a trench from the pool house over to the deck to run electrical wire so that I can install lights and outlets. Then, I've got to backfill the trench, sand it in and lay pavers from the deck to the pool house. Last, install steps on the new pavers to the back of the deck.
A week ago, I couldn't see the end of this project. Now it's falling into place nicely. Hopefully in another week I can call this one done. Then it's on to other things.
As we were putting down the deck boards, I remarked that the temp was 90 degrees and the humidity was 95%. My son said "90 plus 95. That comes to 185 discomfort points."
Heh! Discomfort points. I like that.
What's lef t, you ask? I"ve got to dig a trench from the pool house over to the deck to run electrical wire so that I can install lights and outlets. Then, I've got to backfill the trench, sand it in and lay pavers from the deck to the pool house. Last, install steps on the new pavers to the back of the deck.
A week ago, I couldn't see the end of this project. Now it's falling into place nicely. Hopefully in another week I can call this one done. Then it's on to other things.
As we were putting down the deck boards, I remarked that the temp was 90 degrees and the humidity was 95%. My son said "90 plus 95. That comes to 185 discomfort points."
Heh! Discomfort points. I like that.
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Tuesday Morning
Is it Tuesday already? Damn, time flies when you're having fun.
I've been building a deck, a big ole deck in the backyard. This is my major project for the summer. 16' x 22' complete with railings, I've been piddling with this thing for a few days, taking small bites and quitting about noon, then making a materiels list for the next day. A picture, you say?
That's two days. One day for excavation and leveling, one day for rough framing. Today I'm going to install the railings. Tomorrow, God willing, I install the deck boards. Then, a couple of days for "fit and finish", add lights, outlets and landscaping, I'll be done.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the lumber yard.
I've been building a deck, a big ole deck in the backyard. This is my major project for the summer. 16' x 22' complete with railings, I've been piddling with this thing for a few days, taking small bites and quitting about noon, then making a materiels list for the next day. A picture, you say?
That's two days. One day for excavation and leveling, one day for rough framing. Today I'm going to install the railings. Tomorrow, God willing, I install the deck boards. Then, a couple of days for "fit and finish", add lights, outlets and landscaping, I'll be done.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the lumber yard.
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