31 January 2013

Old Men

Life is a Shakespearean tragedy, no one gets out of it alive.

That doesn't mean we have to take it lying down.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.


And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Make Up Your Mind

68 and sunny Tuesday, rainy and 70 yesterday, sunny and 47 today.  At least I got to drive the convertible with the top down to work Tuesday. So far I've been able to get out with the top down at least once every month for quite a while now.

Looks like I might be driving it a bit more, the Subaru is acting up, missing and sputtering. I guess it's time to put that O2 sensor in it, and while I'm at it, the valve cover gaskets that are leaking, maybe some plugs and wires, and I'm sure an oil change wouldn't hurt it any. I guess that's what I'll be spending my quarterly bonus on.

I'll pay Eldest Son to do the work though, cause it's too damn cold to get out there myself.

30 January 2013

Paper Shields

This is what the anti-gunners will have you believe will save you.

In real life, it doesn't work out so well.

HT: Rachel Lucas, by way of Marko

The Big Game

After careful study and consideration of both team's assets and attributions, I have decided that I am going to have to pull for the 49ers this Super Bowl.

27 January 2013

A Couple Of More Things

The storm came and went and left us no worse than we were. It got pretty slippery Friday night, but since I didn't have to go out in it I didn't. I stayed in with a nice warm fire and took the Samuel Adams Hop Tour.

Daughter had to work and Son In Law took her in the sure-footed Subaru since she still can't drive a stick. Out and back, no issues, out and back again, he said it was a bit slick coming into the driveway since our road isn't county-maintained (and if it were it would have been low enough on the totem pole that nothing would have been done with it anyway) but otherwise it wasn't too bad.

Saturday Youngest Son and I went out to an open carry lunch. There were seven or eight cars on the sides of the road (I say seven, Youngest Son says he saw eight), some of them having been deposited there more forcefully than others. Apparently some drivers didn't find the roads as accomodating as Son In Law did, even though all the cars we saw were on the major roads.

After the lunch we dropped by to see my former co-worker. He left us several months ago to pursue his own business and is doing well with it, which is good. We talked for a few hours and when the sun started sinking low we headed for home. By then the roads were mostly dry, even the ones by the house.

Last night I put in another roast to shred and then went out at about 3:30 AM to get hamburger buns. It was foggy, but when I got to Wake Forest the fog was freezing in the air, turning into what for all the world looked like snowflakes in a clear sky but acted like fog. It was interesting, the air shimmered like glitter. I had never seen anything like it before. When I went back home it turned back into fog.

Back to work today, tomorrow I have to follow up with the shopping center for our car show. They were supposed to have sent me something but I haven't seen it yet, so I will get up early and give them a call about it. April is right around the corner, October seems as if it is barely gone, I'm sick of car shows already before I've even attended one this year and I've already promised myself I won't be doing this again.

Everyone have a great week!

25 January 2013

A Couple Of Things

Work last night, off tonight, so I'm doing a bit of catching up.

Last Friday I took Boy skating (that is to say, he skated and I provided the transportation), and while I was pecking on the laptop some woman and her daughter asked if they could leave their drinks on my table so the staff wouldn't clean them up while they went skating. I saw no problem with that, but now Boy is telling everyone about Dad's new girlfriend. Sad to say, I don't even remember her name. Not an auspicious start, that.

Apparently, according to the Most Holy Order of the Higher-Up Muckety-Mucks, we had an exceptional quarter so there will be bonuses. Maybe I'll be able to put a full tank of gas in the car, or purchase some reloading supplies if any can be found. Something explosive at any rate, I certainly wouldn't want it to go to waste. I made the tactical error of saying something about it to my new Sith apprentice (he started on the night shift this month, and WTF is up with this, the Jedi apprentices get a cool name like Padawan and ours get nothing? Who makes these rules anyway?), who being a temp doesn't get the bonus. Oops.

Happy Birthday to The Mistress of the Snark and John Moses Browning (there is one caliber, .45 ACP, and John  Moses Browning is it's prophet, PBUH). A day late (two in JMB's case) but we're sort of out of the way here at the backside of nowhere.

I was supposed to get some range time in this weekend, but weather and (mostly) worker exploitation (of my range partner, AKA he who has the gun club membership) got in the way. Eh, it was going to be cold anyway*, and I have an open carry dinner to go to instead. Drop in if you're in the area, McCalls has good grub and the company is always welcome.

Tis the season (if there isn't one there should be) to give the gift of life. I'm an O negative myself, meaning when I was still USN-AD I was part of the walking blood bank because I'm a universal donor. Of course if I ever need the red stuff I'm SOL if they ain't got my type. Lucky me. Fortunately I don't have the problems that some do about giving blood, even though I, too, am rather needle-adverse. I wouldn't be a good diabetic or junkie I guess. Where I work makes this easy, they have the ARC van come by at least twice a year.

Lucky Gunner did a piece on steel vs brass cases using .223 ammo. I encourage anyone who has ever wondered how much difference it really makes to drop on by and have a look. I prefer brass myself since you can't reload steel, but with 36,000 rounds expended you can't say they didn't do their homework. Please do note, I'm not an official Lucky Gunner correspondent but it is a rather interesting piece. (I'm guessing they did this test before .223 became so hard to come by, as of right now they have none in stock.)

To sleep, perchance to dream. I have to be up early and get my supplies laid in before the big one hits. We're expecting sleet and freezing rain, but with the way these idiots drive when it's JUST rain I surely don't want to be out in it with them. Looks like the bulk of the bad weather will be up in MSgt B territory, but by the time it gets going real good I plan to have a nice fire going and a good book on my lap.

Stay warm and safe if you are in the eye of the storm. I'm looking at the three of youse.

*I've had a heart-to-heart with the lowlife scum sucking maggots here and they have agreed to only attack me when its sunny and warm. They have further agreed only to come at me with the sun in their eyes and to stand perfectly still whilst I draw and aim at them. They're really an agreeable lot, once you get to know them.**

**I'm trusting that my readership understands that I'm completely full of it here.

24 January 2013

Note To Congress

Will. Not. Comply.

Put me on your lists. Bring friends and ammo. This is my line in the sand.

On a related note, maybe someone can explain to me why patriotism and expressing a desire for our government to operate according to the rules that were set in place for them makes one a suspected terrorist, especially when most of the violence (with notable exceptions; notable, it seems, for their exceptionalism) seems to come from leftists?

23 January 2013

Baby It's Cold Outside

Teens this morning at the Refuge.

You SUV drivers need to get out there and spew some carbon.

I'm going to crawl under some nice warm blankets now.

19 January 2013

Gun Show

We got there right at 9 AM and took 5 minutes of walking to find the end of the line. It wrapped all the way around the building and back out into the parking lot.

It took about an hour and a half to get in the door once the line started moving. I walked around the perimeter of the convention center and finally found the GRNC booth. I volunteered at the booth for a few hours and then went walkabout to see what I could see.

It was about that time that * Cletus shot himself two people with an unloaded pistol shotgun and "slightly" injured a deputy (violating rules 1 through 3 all four rules in the commission of said act) and just like that the show was over and everyone had to go home.

I can now transfer "Go to a Gun Show" from my "Things To Do Before I Die" list to my "Things I Am Not Likely To Do Again (Whilst Sober/On Purpose)" list.

I should have gone to the Guns Across America rally instead.

*UPDATE: Contrary to what I was told as we were leaving the building, Cletus touched off his scattergun, not his pistol, and hit two bystanders with the pellets while showing the nice deputy it was unloaded ("slightly" wounding the deputy's hand in the process). The Refuge staff would like to thank commenter cthulhu at Ace of Spades HQ for the correction.

UPDATE Part II: Now it's not real clear whether it was Cletus who touched off the scattergun or Deputy Fife. Either way, Cletus brought a scattergun to the show with a round in the chamber, someone violated rules 1 and 3 at a bare minimum, and a bad day was had by all involved, thus adding credence to the statement "There are four rules, violating any 2 will result in a bad day."

Interesting...

We will have to see where this goes.

Off to the Dixie Knife and Fun Show (yes I know it's backwards, but the song won't work the other way). It will be my first one, so it's a new experience. Maybe I'll write about it later.

17 January 2013

Snow

We didn't get any last year, but here it is.

It's not expected to stick around long, we haven't had cold enough weather. It is accumulating on the cars, and as long as it falls it will collect on the grass and hard surfaces. Tomorrow the sun is supposed to come out (although it won't climb above 50 degrees) so it will all go away then.

Nice night for a fire. I think I'll go start one.

16 January 2013

Taking Stock

When I bought the Maverick 88 it had the pistol grip stock on it, but I switched it back over to the factory stock. I don't really know why, I guess I just thought a pistol grip on a shotgun was a bit much.

But, considering what just happened in New Yawk, and considering that recent polls show that 52 percent of my fellow Americans think they should be able to restrict my rights regardless of what "that little book" says, I've decided to put the scary black pistol grip stock back on it.

The only problem is my shell sock doesn't fit the pistol grip stock since it is thinner along its length. Adjustments must be made I guess, it fits if it is pulled back over the sling swivel attach point. I don't have a sling for it anyway so I won't miss it...yet. Maybe I should put a tacticool mall-ninja adjustable stock on it, then I can hang one of these bad boys on it...and a tri-rail for the forward sling attach point...

To hell with being nice. I aim to misbehave.

15 January 2013

What You Do Instead Of Something

One of the first things I was taught about leadership is not to issue orders you know are not going to be obeyed.

An example of this would be the national speed limit, a law that is routinely scoffed at even by those who are supposed to be enforcing it. When I first moved to North Carolina I was speeding down US1 at ten over the limit when a marked state patrol car came zooming up behind me. I was sure I would get a ticket, but he passed by in the left lane without even looking over at me.

I caught up to him at a gas station up the road and mentioned that I thought he was going to pull me over. He just grinned at me and said "Welcome to North Carolina, where everyone thinks they are Dale Earnhardt JR...and one of us is!"

The New York Senate has just passed sweeping anti-gun legislation that bans, among other things, magazines over seven (!) rounds (my Glock is OK but the Saiga, even with the 10 round magazine it was delivered with, would not be), semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines and one (!) military feature (meaning, practically all of them), and ammunition purchase tracking. None of the banned magazines are grandfathered (they must be sold out of state within one year) and registration of grandfathered rifles is mandatory and must be re-certified every five years. The bill is expected to pass easily in the assembly and of course the governor will sign it.

Proponents claim this will reduce gun violence. All I see is tragic boating accidents happening in the next year. But, the lawsuits should be epic.

For what it's worth, if there are any .223 Saiga magazines looking for a new home, my doors are open.

12 January 2013

Wings and Wheels

Today the sun was out and, while not as warm as the weatherman predicted (shoked face-i haz one) it was still mid 60s when I departed the Refuge for points south. The goal: airplanes and smoked pork. Carthage NC is home to Gilliam McConnell Airfield and the Pik N' Pig Restaurant, so both items could be found there. Top down, a full tank of gas, and off we went down US1.

Gilliam McConnell Airfield was built in 1994 as a general aviation field and started growing from there. It is now the home field for 22 aircraft, six houses, an RV park, and of course, the Pik N' Pig. It also hosts a Flying Tigers Memorial, with a P-40 Warhawk replica as it's centerpiece.

 The Pik N' Pig started out as a catering van and has grown into quite the popular destination for pilots out for a day trip. They specialize in slow cooked hickory smoked pulled pork, ribs and chicken with the obligatory sides and for desert they offer nanner pudddin and Co-Cola cake. Everything is just as good as it sounds.

I first heard of the airfield and restaurant when the Heart of Carolina Mustang Club planned a cruise-in there. Unfortunately that event was rained out. So, when today's forecast called for sun and warm I thought it would be a great place to go, if for no other reason so I could let the club know what they missed.

We will certainly be scheduling another cruise in down that way this summer.

It did rain on me a very little bit just before I arrived, but when I was ready to go the sky was clear. I cruised back home under a clear and darkening sky and finished up the day with burgers cooked on the grill.

Back to work tomorrow, but today was a good one.





10 January 2013

Destination Unknown

Saturday in the Carolinas we are looking at 73 degrees and partly cloudy with only a 10% chance of rain.

I don't know where I am going Saturday, but wherever it ends up being the top will be down.

Maybe I'll take some pictures, too.

05 January 2013

New Contest

Jennifer is having a contest for a book, Glock: The Rise of America's Gun (I will leave it as an exercise for the reader how an Austrian firearm becomes America's gun...but I digress).

Go on over there and see how to enter.

Real Men of Genius

Coffee pot beer.

Probably a good thing we didn't have this recipe "back in the day".

04 January 2013

Urgently Needed

Go on over and say a prayer for my shipmate Bull.

No, I've never met him, and it's unlikely we ever sailed the same waters at the same time, but "he who sheds his blood with me" and all that. Bubblehead he may have been, but shipmate he will always be all the same.

Besides, I hate this fucking disease.

After Christmas Sales



I find your lack of gumballs...disturbing.

Cool Kids

Apparently I are one now, cause now Tam has a Subaru to go along with her 'vert.

Too bad I gave away my last sticker, otherwise I'd send it to her.


Cooking With Buttermilk

I picked up a quart of buttermilk for biscuits and have been experimenting with it.

I haven't ever used buttermilk in anything before so it was a new experience. For one thing it's thicker than processed milk, not having been churned to remove the other dairy products (including butter, hence the name) being a fermented dairy product. (Updated, see comments. Thanks McThag!) It also has a taste of sour cream in it, which I didn't expect. Fortunately the sour cream taste goes away in the finished product.

So far I've only used it in biscuits and pancakes. I've found that in pancakes you want to use a bit more than the recipe calls for (or cut it with processed milk) because the batter is quite a bit thicker and doesn't pour well otherwise. It still won't pour well, but it will be better. Don't use too much though, if you do the pancakes will be too thin. About half again as much as the recipe calls for is good.

Final verdict...and I'm going out on the heretical limb a bit here...not a fan. I'll likely use up what I have and not use it again.

It would be a boring world if everyone liked the same things.

03 January 2013

Traffic Lights: How They Work

There is a sensor embedded in the pavement right behind that white line that is painted on the pavement at the stop light.  This sensor lets the traffic signal computer know when a car is present so that it will trigger a light change.*

If you stop beyond the white line...no trigger and the light won't change. You can be rescued from the effects of your dumbassery by the driver behind you, who stops behind you and therefore behind the white line.

However, if you stop a car length behind the white line (and seriously, whodahell told you to do that???) once again, no trigger and SURPRISE! the light won't change, but this time no one can save you from your dumbassery. This is why you are still sitting there after three cycles of the light. You, and everyone behind you, will sit there until you finally extract your cranium and pull up to the white line.

The drivers behind you would like to show you their appreciation. This is why they are honking and waving at you.


*If you are on a motorcycle you aren't a dumbass, you just don't have enough metal to trigger the sensor. Try putting your kickstand down.

Kindle-ing

One of the reasons I got the smart phone was so that I would have an E reader, and I've been taking advantage of that.

The book I just got done reading was "Enemies Foreign and Domestic" by Matt Bracken which starts out with a semiautomatic rifle ban. It was a somewhat unsettling story, made even moreso in that the setting was familiar to me (having been stationed in both the tidewater VA area and southern Maryland). I also downloaded his Anthology which has a story that has been making the Internet rounds lately.

I will be downloading the next two in the series very soon. I'm sure that will put me on a list or two (not like I'm not already on one or two, being a vet and a CWP holder).

Other books/authors I have read recently:

Wings over the Pacific by Raymond Fiore. The only gripe I have with this one is it seems unfinished. Raymond Fiore also wrote Rileys Rogues which was a fun little space opera story.

Firehearted by Sabrina Chase. Fantasy with an "end of the Roman Empire" vibe to it. This one I downloaded and had to find out how to put it on the 'droid.

Rita Royale by Terry Anderson. Guy's apparently got a thing for lesbian warriors.

All three of the above are commenters on Ace of Spades HQ, which is how I initially found them. Talented Morons, who knew?

I could see myself spending a lot more money on ebooks but I can't see myself ever getting completely away from paper books. Still, having reading material so readily available is kind of handy.

01 January 2013

Happy New Year

Wishing all of my electronic friends a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year.