Passing

Goodbye Rick. You were a good friend and a good neighbor, and I will miss you. Don't worry about Bev, the boys and I will take care of things around the house for her and your kids are close by if she needs anything else. I wish this was not happening, but I will do what I can.
Do me a favor? Give Laura a big bear hug for me.

Note To Libs

This is what religious intolerance looks like.

Those of us fortunate enough to have been born in this country and who have lived our entire lives here have never seen anything like this except on the evening news.

The religious freedom part of the First Amendment was written to prevent the Federal government from establishing a national religion. This is why.

Since the season is now upon us where the usual suspects will start to protest Christmas decorations, I think it's time to reflect on what "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" really means.

Somehow nativity scenes on the town square doesn't seem so bad now, does it?

Roboshirts!

Clicky on picky to get yours.

Don't Call Me Shirley

The world has just gotten a little less funny.

Rest in peace Mr. Nielsen. Thanks for all the laughs.

Back In One Piece

Home again, back to 35 degree nights and days in the 50's. Today when I took the dog out for his perimeter patrol I was shocked at how cold it is here after spending two days in 70 degree Florida weather.

Speaking of my dog, he's a mess. He doesn't like to be home alone, he doesn't like to travel, and he doesn't like to be anywhere that is not home. He spent most of the time traveling curled up on the armrest between the seats where he was enough in the way to be present but not enough to be completely irritating. It's a good thing he's such a small dog.

At any rate, everything is back as it should be in the world of Boots; his trees are right where he left them, the perimeter is secure and I am allowed to roam about without being in his direct line of sight. I guess he figures I'm safe enough at home that he doesn't have to constantly keep an eye on me. These humans take a lot of keeping after, you know.

He's going to hate it when I have to go back to work though. Come to think of it, so will I.

Thanksgiving

Today is the day where we give thanks to a benevolent Creator for all the good things in our lives.

Last post notwithstanding, I have a lot to be thankful for. I have a good job and a wonderful family, my bills are paid and if you could see me you could definitely tell I am not starving.

I am at Eldest Daughter's for Thanksgiving this year, so I'm enjoying the warm Florida weather. Youngest Daughter and hubby were not able to get the time off, so they couldn't come down with me. They are taking Eldest Son out for Thanksgiving dinner.

Son In Law is busy in the kitchen. Eldest daughter can cook but SIL always does the big holiday meals. He insists on it. From the smell I can tell he's doing an excellent job, as usual.

My dog and constant companion is in my lap, I have fresh coffee in my cup, and I have the cell card in the computer for Internet. There are things I wish were different, but all told things are pretty good for the Scoundrel.

I have just been reminded that others don't have things as good. Hugs to you and yours A, I hope that everything works out for you. I'll keep you in my prayers.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Photo: Norman Rockwell's Thanksgiving

Time Of The Season

Christmas was her favorite holiday.

By now she would have everything done except for the big-ticket items. That is what Black Friday was for.

I have green bulbs in my porch lights. Other than that I have nothing.

I am not ready for Christmas this year.

Yes

What she said.

Antiques

My latest acquisition is a Japanese 6.5mm carbine from before the first World War.

It is an Arisaka type 30 hook safety, of which there were an estimated 500,000 rifles and 40,000 carbines made between 1897 and 1902.

The main difference between a rifle and a carbine is the length. Carbines were first issued to cavalry where the shorter barrels were of better use from horseback than the longer, and thus more unwieldy, rifles would have been. Later on, after the cavalry went from horses to mechanical conveyances, the shorter rifles were issued to engineering and non-combat troops that were not primarily designated as infantry. All carbines are rifles, but not all rifles are carbines.

The type 30 had a rather complicated bolt, and it's tight tolerances made it somewhat intolerant to dirt and dust. For these reasons they had a relatively short service life. The Japanese started replacing their type 30 rifles and carbines with type 38's starting about 1905 or so, rendering the type 30's surplus after less than 10 years in Imperial service.

It is interesting to note that although all Japanese rifles from the Type 30 to the Type 99 are called Arisakas, only the Type 30 was designed by Colonel Nariaki Arisaka. All subsequent types were designed by Lieutenant General Kijiro Nambu using COL Arisaka's design as a starting point. LGEN Nambu's first task was to simplify the Type 30's bolt, which he did admirably. The Type 30's bolt has ten pieces while the Type 38's has four.

A large number of type 30 rifles and carbines found their way into British and Russian hands in WW1, around 1914 or so. Britain issued them to training, Navy and Flying Corps units while the Russians issued them to mainly non-frontline troops, including the ones stationed in Finland. Most of the British weapons were also transferred to the Russians around 1916. The Finns used the rifles to good effect during their bid for independence, but not so many of the carbines. All told, at least six countries used the Type 30 at one time or another.

This one would have over 100 years of stories to tell, as evidenced by it's non-numbers matching bolt and obvious weathering of both metal and wood parts. The man I bought it from got it from his father, but he didn't say where or when his father had gotten it and I didn't think to ask at the time. I'll have to do so next time I see him.

I would like to know it's history. It still appears to be in good shape, but with cartridges at $40 per box of 20 it won't see much use while I have it. It's an interesting piece and I will certainly put a few rounds through it just to see how it does.

But first it will get a visit to the gunsmith so that it can be thoroughly checked out.

UPDATE: Thanks to Mr Bingley I have been able to track down ammo at a more reasonable price. Here are a couple of more links if anyone is looking for the 6.5x50 Japanese ammunition.

Results

NC-2 is done, it goes to Ellmers. After a recount, Etheridge gained six votes. Looks like he conceded gracefully after the recount, so that's points in his favor.

In Alaska it looks like Murkowski is the winner, but Joe Miller isn't going to be as graceful. Looks like commenter SINVILLE nailed that one.

Enough is enough Joe. Let it go.

BTW Alaska, if you wanted her why didn't you nominate her during the primary?

HT: The Ewok.

Fair Winds

Smitty, co-blogger at The Other McCain, is going to be taking a little trip to the hot place for a while.

We at the Refuge would like to thank him for his continuing service, and wish him a safe return.

Even though I am The Blogger Whom ToM Hateth.

Mere Words

cannot explain how hilariously disturbed this person is.

HT: Marko

I Have No Problems

admitting when I am wrong.

Congratulations to Senator Lisa Murkowski, who has won her re-election bid as a write in candidate.

This is the first time since 1954 that a write-in has won an election.

I have to admit though that it leaves me a bit confused. If this is who Alaska wanted as their Senator, why didn't they just give her the nod during the primary?

I guess this is why truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.

Latest Hero

Staff Sargent Salvatore A. Giunta became the eighth, and first live, recipient of the Medal of Honor for the campaigns of the Global War on Terror in a ceremony on 16 November 2010. This is the first time since Vietnam that the MoH has been awarded in person.

On October 25, 2007 then Specialist Giunta's patrol was ambushed near the village of Landigal in the Koringal Valley, Afghanistan. Lobbing grenades and firing their weapons, the soldiers of his unit fought back against the ambush.

SPC Giunta saw that his squad leader was down, and fearing for that Soldier's life dragged him back out of the line of fire to receive medical aid. Seeing that the squad leader was being cared for, he then ran forward to join with a buddy who had been on point and saw his wounded squadmate being dragged off by two enemy insurgents. Without hesitation he charged, firing the rest of his rounds, killing one and wounding the other. He then provided first aid to the fallen man until the rest of his squad could catch up.

From the citation: "Specialist Salvatore A. Giunta's extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Company B, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Infantry Regiment, and the United States Army."

He downplays the significance of that action, remarking that the soldier that he rescued (who later died of his injuries) was a better Soldier than he is himself. His hope is that all America will remember those who are now serving. "This is for all of us," he said. "This is for everyone who sacrifices for their country, who sacrifices for America."

Well done SSGT. We at the Refuge will remember.

To Your Health

My health insurance bill is going up starting in January. The explanation is roundabout and full of hot wind, but the reason is simple; Obamacare.

Thanks 52, you bunch of goat bothering slobbering imbeciles. Damn you and all your kind to the deepest pits of hell where you and that failed ideology you worship rightfully belong.

Today in History

Mostly Cajun reminded me of a milestone.

Twenty one years ago today a wall was toppled in Berlin, Germany. Along with that wall crumbled a regime and an ideology that our brightest analytical minds thought would last forever.

I was onboard USS Forrestal (CV-59) in the Med the day that it happened, a member of one of the organizations responsible for that wall coming down. A few weeks later President George H. W. Bush brought us a chunk of that wall.

Twenty one years later kids starting college have never lived in a world where there was a Soviet Union and two Germanys. You could say it is a better world because of it.

Twenty one years later our "brightest analytical minds" still think the ideology should last forever. Unfortunately for us they are in charge of our government now instead of the USSR's.

Worst Person In The World

Statement from Phil Griffin, President of MSNBC:

I became aware of Keith’s political contributions late last night. Mindful of NBC News policy and standards, I have suspended him indefinitely without pay.

UPDATE: Never mind.

Write-Ins

I think way too much is being made of the fact the write-in candidate leads in the race for Alaska's next Senator.

Of course the person that started the ball rolling, Lisa Murkowski, has declared herself the winner. She fails to realize that the "write in" candidate is a total and is not necessarily indicative of support for one candidate in particular.

There were around 150 write-in candidates for the Senate seat in question. If each of the 150 writes in their own name, and if their friends and family do the same, some of that 13,439 vote lead of the "write-in" over the Republican candidate Joe Miller is accounted for. Other votes will likely be accounted for in small parties.

I think it would be hilarious for Murkowski to actually garner about half of the write in votes, with the rest of them going for one of the other 150 write-ins or for purely imaginative candidates (Mickey Mouse is a perennial favorite). If that happens, look for Murkowski to become an internet verb.

Election Results

Here in rural Franklin County, North Carolina the Republicans won big this cycle.

Straight ticket voters were more likely to vote Democrat than Republican (57% to 42%), but Richard Burr (edit, thanks James) won re-election to his Senate seat by a 52% to 46% margin (2.1% was split between write-ins and Libertarian candidate Mike Beitler) and Renee Ellers beat Bob Etheridge for the NC-2 House seat 52% to 46% (with Libertarian Tom Rose picking up the last 2%), although the Wake County voters put this margin at 50%-49% for the combined District 2 total (Rose got less than 1% of the vote in the entire District). The results are being contested by incumbent Etheridge since the spread is less than 1%.

Elsewhere in Franklin County, incumbent Doug Berger lost to Republican challenger Micheal Shriver for State Senate District 7 by a wide margin (43% to 57%) but the voters in the other counties in his district took him to victory, and Democrat John May lost to Republican Glen Bradley by a narrower margin (49% to 51%) for State House District 49. In the last contested race, Republican Harry Foy handily defeated Democrat Rosemary Champion (55% to 45%) for Board of Commissioners At Large.

Let's put that in perspective: in every contested race in Franklin County the Republican candidate won, and the only races that were won by Democrats were those that were not contested by the Republicans, even though the straight party ticket went Democrat by a large margin.

That makes for a pretty good night for the Republicans.

A Real Bad Day

If you are turning yourself in for an outstanding warrant, be sure to take all dead bodies out of your trunk.

This public service announcement was brought to you by the Arapahoe County, Colorado Sheriff's Department.

Congratulations To Renee Ellmers (R/NC-2)

Boxing Bob is going home.

Election Day

I did my part. Go do yours.

Notes On Hippie Punching

As it turns out, maybe not such a good idea after all.

Irony. Surprisingly ironic.

Answer Day, Part 2

Today is 11/01/10.

Without the divisions that is 110110, or 42 in digitally-coded base 13.

Douglas Adams later joked that "I may be a sorry case, but I don't write jokes in base 13."

Take it as you will.

Project Valor IT

It's that time again.

I missed it last year, but this year I'm back on Team Navy.

It's a good cause. I made my donation. Any little bit will be appreciated.