Outbreak's Crap That No One Wants to Read

The Damn Glock Thing

2011-02-24T02:05:00.003-06:00

So, anyone who knows me, or has read my posts on WeTheArmed.com, knows I don't like Glock pistols.

There's a laundry list of things I don't like about Glocks. The grip angle is a problem for many people. The trigger safety bugs me, along with a disassembly procedure that requires dry-firing on a closed chamber. That has resulted in many negligent discharges and even deaths. Plus, Glocks are just ugly.

Of course, they are extremely popular guns. They're as simple as they come- point and shoot. There's no manual safety and they're reliable to a fault. They're inexpensive. Their popularity has created a huge and mostly inexpensive aftermarket for magazines, accessories, and upgrades. I even recommend Glocks as an option for new shooters, even though I'm not a fan. They're good guns for a lot of people.

Just not me.

A while back, my friend, Jason, who is a fellow Sig pistol lover, Glock hater, and who has an often strange "gun idea of the day," mentioned he was looking at Glocks for a pocket-carry gun. This opened my mind to Glocks for a few days. His "idea of the day" passed within 24 hours, and my thoughts about them passed shortly thereafter.

Then one night, I had a dream; a nightmare really.

I usually don't remember much about my dreams other than the general gist, but rarely details. I remembered a scary amount of this one.

I walked into Abilene Indoor Gun Range, plunked down an unknown amount of money, and they handed me a Glock. Don't remember choosing or thinking. I just gave them money and took it home. I remember what the empty magwell and empty chamber looked like when I cleared it. Then I started dry firing. I remember pulling the slide back just far enough to reset, which isn't far on a Glock. I just dry fired for a while. I don't remember the trigger biting me, like that stupid trigger safety always does on me. I don't remember the normal discomfort I usually feel with the grip. The next thing I remember is thinking it was a G23, then looking at the barrel and finding it was marked "9X19mm" and realizing it was a G19.

And then I woke up, in a sweat. This was a bad dream for me.

I haven't been able to shake it. I think if I could buy handguns in Arizona I would've gone and bought one by now, but luckily I have another month plus to try and shake it.

I'm thinking I might get one even when I get back to Texas. Reason is a couple things. One, I should be proficient with any gun I pick up. Glocks are different from real guns in the grip angle, which few other designs share. That's one of the things keeping me from one. But they're so damn common, I should be able to shoot one. The other reason is that in order to badmouth...I mean, intelligently critique a weapon, you need to know it, know it's strengths, shortcomings, etc.

To evaluate it, I'm not going to risk my life by carrying it. I just have so much muscle memory in DA/SA guns, and I carry such weapons on and off duty, I'm not willing to risk that. But I plan to target shoot with it. I'm even going to shoot it in IPSC matches, once I get through the Double Tap match. I'm practiced enough with my Sigs and Beretta, and I've paid too much to enter that match that I'm not going to change my gun two months out. But after that, I'm going to wring it out in action pistol competition.

I'm hoping I can get one, shoot the crap out of it and still hate it for one reason or another. If it has negative impacts on my real gun shooting, due to grip angle or trigger or whatever, that will be enough reason for me. I'm invested enough in my DA/SA's that I carry on and off duty, and shoot well, if a Glock takes away from that, I'll sell it in a heartbeat.

I just have to know.

Cav Arms Build Complete

2011-02-24T01:39:00.003-06:00

I know it's been a while, but my plastic AR-15 is complete, and it looks good!

As you can read from earlier posts, I started with an OD Green Cavalry Arms lower receiver. I've documented the lower build, which was not without it's hardships.

Building the upper receiver had a whole new list of difficulties. I started by ordering a DPMS light profile 20" barrel. A deployment and a total of 7 months later, it was still backordered. I canceled the order with DPMS and ordered a similar Bushmaster barrel, which arrived in less than a month. It is a standard 20" barrel with a fixed A2 front sight post/gas block. It came with a rifle-length gas tube and black rifle length handguards. Basically, it was ready to install.

I also ordered an A2 upper receiver. It arrived long before the barrel, and I just stashed it away and forgot about it. Turns out it was an A1 upper(I checked the invoice, and it did indeed list an A2 upper. They sent the wrong one), and I had an A2 rear sight kit. All of it was ordered from Brownells. I kept the A1 upper, either to sell or for a future build, and ordered an A2 upper.

When the A2 upper arrived, installation of the rear sight kit wasn't hard, and didn't require all the special tools that some websites advocate. I did it with a punch set and a screw driver.

Installing the barrel wasn't hard, either. I borrowed a can of lithium grease from Josh at Abilene Indoor Gun Range, where I do most of my gun related business. Great guys. I sprayed the receiver threads with grease, installed the barrel and torqued the barrel nut to spec with a cheap torque wrench. I left the black handguards in the closet and installed a set of OD Green Cavalry Arms rifle length handguards to give it that two-tone look.

With the upper complete, I had to install the bolt carrier group, which I had ordered months before. Standard, cheap BCG. It went in just fine, but somewhere along the line I had forgotten to get a charging handle. I cannibalized it from my M4gery (which is now known as Tactibeast- that's another post) to test the rifle.

First time I took the gun out was on a trip with my sister and her boyfriend. I shot it first to make sure it functioned safely, but then both of them shot it and enjoyed it, even without a forward assist. That's another part I forgot to order. Along with the flash hider, but that is going to be permanently cannibalized from the Tactibeast.

At the end of the day, here's a bad picture of the rifle.

Update Time

2011-02-24T01:25:00.002-06:00

I haven't updated this in a while. I've been giving false hope to those who click on the signature line link I have on WeTheArmed.com. I say this is the place where I post all the crap no one wants to read. I have a ton of crap no one wants to read that I haven't posted here.

I completed the CavArms build, and I'll post updates to that. I've picked up my Silencerco .22Sparrow suppressor, which I haven't posted about. I've also submitted a Form 1 for a Short Barreled Rifle chambered in .300AAC Blackout, the build of which will become it's own set of posts.

I've got some other crap for no one to read, and I'm actually going to change the name of the blog to reflect that. Look for more in the future.

The Sacrifice of Service

2010-06-07T22:28:00.002-05:00

After three years as an Active Duty member of the greatest military this planet has ever seen, I've had an epiphany about the sacrifices we actually make.

There is much talk about how much service members sacrifice. It's become almost a cliche when praising those who choose to serve in the military. It's played out in common parlance. It means little anymore in everyday conversation. We just say it.

But the sacrifice is real, though it's not what we normally think of, indeed what I thought of when I heard the phrase. Until recently.

Normally, we think about the serviceman giving his life for his country, and the unique freedom she provides. We are all willing to sacrifice our lives. That's actually what the contract says when we sign up. It clearly states that we are willing to risk life, limb, disfigurement, health, etc to serve in the armed forces. We all know that as consenting adults when we join. We all sign our names saying we are WILLING to make that sacrifice, however remote that possibility is. The Department of Defense is working daily to automate warfare and remove humans from combat. When soldiers must physically engage in combat, work is being done to make them less vulnerable to all types of enemy actions. If all that fails, we have amazing battlefield medical abilities, and very few soldiers wounded in combat die of their wounds. As a result, we have the most effective and resilient military that has ever operated on Earth.

Even in the current conflict in the Middle East, it is relatively rare for a life to actually be lost. For the number of service members in theater, a miniscule amount actually die in combat. That is not to say that the lives lost are insignificant. They are the greatest heroes of my generation, and indeed make the ultimate sacrifice for what they believe in. I've been honored to airlift one of them on the first leg of his journey home. However, few if any of us who sign on the line believe we will actually give our lives in the line of duty. We all know we'll give some, but while we plan ahead for the possibility, no one expects to give all.

So for the majority of us, who aren't killed, or even injured in combat, the real sacrifice comes in things we give up in our lifestyles. Even when we live on United States soil between deployments, we have to lead our lives differently from those we vowed to protect. I've known this from before I was commissioned. I wasn't looking for jobs the way my college peers were. I also didn't have an option in where I would work or what I would do. The Air Force told me where I would go, where I would live, and what job I would have.

Since I entered active duty, I've lived in five residences in four different cities, in three states in two and a half years. I'm told when and where I may travel, where I may live, how I can ride a bicycle. The Air Force dictates virtually every aspect of my life, on and off duty.

I may not carry a gun to or from work for self defense, even though I'm licensed to do so in over half the states of The Union. I may not drive my truck without a seatbelt (not that I would) nor may I ride any two-wheeled conveyance, be it motorcycle or bike, without every conceivable safety device available. Again, I would do those things anyway, but I don't have the option not to.

If I saw a medication advertised on TV, I have to check with the Air Force before I take it. If I want to go visit my family on the weekend- only if Uncle Sam approves. I want to get married? Go ask Big Blue if it's ok.

With the frequency of our deployments, our lives are interrupted constantly. I don't have a family yet, and for that I am lucky, since I have no one to be separated from. Those who have spouses and children literally miss out on raising their families in order to protect them.

Those of us who are single aren't without inconveniences. I cannot have a pet, because I'm not home enough to care for one. I can't attend a concert, shooting match, or wedding for over half of a calendar year, due to my unit's one-to-one deployment schedule. I'm just hoping I can be my best friend's Best Man when his wedding finally happens. I can't even order things online if they'll take more than a few days for shipping. I am on call 24/7/365. I have to leave my favorite hobby- target shooting- at home for months at a time to do my job in foreign lands. It could easily be years if I am assigned to an overseas base.

When Big Blue says it's time to move, it tells me how much crap I'm allowed to take with me. My gun safe is going to take a chunk out of that allowance, even empty. It is far from empty. I cannot stockpile ammo the way I'd like to. I can't make big home improvements the way I'd love to knowing I'm just going to sell the place in a few years, and move on.

We even give up some of our rights under the Constitution, the document we swear a solemn oath to defend, in order to protect her. I did not attend the Tea Party protest in my town this year, because I'm not allowed to exercise my rights under the First Amendment while in uniform, and it was held during duty hours. I cannot keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment while on duty, unless my duties require being armed.

Of course, even after all these sacrifices, I, for one, love my job enough to make them. I love my country enough to make them. The benefits we enjoy are more than enough compensation for what we give up. I would do my job, my duty, for much less. I am paid very well, and I have great benefits. This job, these skills I am accumulating will surely put me in a competitive position for many jobs after my time in the military. Many out there agree with me. After all, I've only been in for three years, but I work with many people who have over twenty years in service to our country. I recently attended the retirement ceremony for a man with 24 years in the Air Force. His oldest child wasn't even as old as his military career. I cannot imagine how much he and his family sacrificed for their country.

It was a truly revealing moment when I realized the Sacrifice we make as members of the military are not just the willingness to give our lives in defense of the Constitution. The real sacrifice is the things we give up for the privilege of serving and protecting her.

Finished Cavalry Arms Lower

2010-05-23T03:37:00.003-05:00

I finally finished the CavArms Lower, with a little 5/64" pin needed to hold the buffer retainer down. Since the Cav Arms Lower Receiver doesn't have a buffer tube, it needs a little pin to hold the buffer retainer down in it's hole. I learned this the hard way, but I think I made a last minute save and did it the right way.

Of course, I had to buy 36 of the pins from Brownell's, so I have plenty of spares.

I've function tested it, but I haven't shot it yet.

As of right now, I have everything to build it except the lightweight barrel from DPMS, which is still backordered. Can't do much without that.

Complete Lower

2010-04-18T20:39:00.002-05:00

I got a package from Midway on Friday. It had a bunch of reloading stuff, along with a DPMS Lower Parts Kit, a carbine buffer and buffer spring.

Installing the LPK was interesting. The Cav-15 Lower Receiver is very tight in all tolerances. Every part fits very tightly. I lubed everything with Slipstream Lube as I installed it, and the trigger group wasn't too hard.

Some of the parts weren't used, or installed differently because it's a CAV-15 lower. The Selector detent and spring have to go in from the top, instead of with the pistol grip. That part was tough, since I had to install the spring and detent, hold them down with a punch, and try to get the selector in there. This is where that extra tight tolerance became troublesome. I got it almost lined up, then tapped it with a nylon mallet to get it in. It worked, but I smashed my thumb in the process. Pretty nasty.

I also discovered that you need a pin, which isn't included in either the LPK or with the Lower, to hold the buffer retaining pin in its hole, because there's no buffer tube to do that. I'll have to get one of those next week, since I'm on vacation this week.

The upper fits very tightly in the lower as well. I almost have everything I need to finish the upper, except the barrel. I just found out my barrel is backordered a month or two from DPMS, so that could seriously delay the build. Don't know what I'm going to do about that.

New Parts

2010-04-12T19:42:00.003-05:00

Just got the stripped upper receiver. That takes the list to Upper, Lower, Bolt Carrier Group, gas tube, and barrel nut.

Next part expected to arrive is the DPMS Light Contour Barrel with A2 Gas Block. 20" long, chambered in 5.56mm with a 1:9 twist. That should be getting here any day now.

After payday, I'll click "checkout" on the upper and lower parts kits plus a few tools for assembly.

After that, all I should need are the handguards. And some spray paint.

I love Discounts

2010-04-02T00:30:00.003-05:00

I mentioned how DSG gave me a "significant" discount on the Cav Arms lower receiver. To get their military discount, I sent them a copy of my mil ID, and they "upgraded" my account so now whenever I log into their site, it shows the normal price, the discounted price, and the savings. The discount isn't a flat rate, but it's different on every item. Not every item is discounted, but the majority are.

Then I placed an order with Brownell's, and as I was checking out it asked if I wanted to register for an account. I figured why not, since I am building a rifle from all parts, I know I'll be buying more from them. There was a little check-box at the end asking if I was active duty military or law enforcement. I checked "yes." Lo and behold, they do the same thing as DSG. Again, not every item is discounted, and the discounts are all different, but some are significant. I saved about 15% on my last order. Good enough.

So far, I haven't found a discount on Midway, but I'll still keep checking their prices.

Of course, there are tons of other sites and companies that sell gun parts out there, and I shop as many as I can for the product I want for the best price. but Brownell's and DSG are getting a lot of my business because of their discount programs.

2010-03-30T13:49:00.002-05:00

Just picked up the lower

My dealer asked to look at it since he had never seen one in person, and found this.

IT'S RECYCLABLE! Not only is it OD green, but it's green, too!

Cav Arms Build

2010-03-29T13:54:00.002-05:00

So I decided I'm going to build this rifle from scratch. It'll cost me a bit more, both in individual parts cost, and in tools I'll need, but I think I'm up to it technically, and I want to. The flip side to that is I can buy the parts separately, and spread the cost out over a couple paychecks. In fact, I'll be forced to because a lot of the parts I want are backordered.

The Cav Lower is in at the local gun pusher, so I'll pick it up tomorrow. Pics will be posted.

Patient Zero

2010-03-28T23:10:00.004-05:00

Apparently my purchase of the Cav Arms Lower has inspired many other WTA members to do the same. Thernlund bought three on his own!

At this rate, DSG Arms will run out quick, so if you want one, they have them, for now.

New AR Build

2010-03-28T22:29:00.003-05:00

So, as many know, Cavalry Arms recently surrendered their FFL and ceased production of their one-piece plastic lower receivers. I'm not going any deeper into that story here.

The whole fiasco made me want one of their lowers.

I found DSG Arms had them for $125, less the military discount, which is significant. It didn't take a lot of thought to order one in Olive Drab. I didn't even know what I was going to do with it. At the time, I was perfectly content just tossing it in the safe and leaving it till I got an idea.

It didn't take long to come up with an idea.

It's getting a 20" A-2 upper receiver, and I'll be painting the full-length handguards to match the lower, since I can't find A-2 handguards in OD green. It'll have a standard gas-block front sight, and carry handle rear. Right now, it looks like the upper will have a light-contour barrel, keeping the whole build as light as possible. The upper I'm looking at comes with a bolt and carrier, but I'll be replacing them with my CMMG .22LR Conversion Kit most of the time. This rifle is going to be all but a dedicated .22. I can swap the bolt carrier groups at any time and shoot 5.56 out of it again. The Silencerco .22Sparrow suppressor will be on this rifle whenever it's not on the P-22.

As for my existing M4gery, it'll be slowly tansforming into the Tacti-beast. All I know right now is it'll be getting a railed forend, a holographic optic (probably the EOtech XPS2-2), a Knights Armament vertical foregrip (I already have that) and a Daniel Defense offset light mount. Don't know what light is going in it yet, but it'll be LED for sure. Other bits and pieces might make it, too. Magpul's BAD or a Redi-mag might eventually make an appearance. There are just so many cool things to put on an AR, it'll take a while to select everything. This will probably all get done within the next 6 months.

I'll try to remember to post updates here.

Walther P-22

2010-03-28T22:18:00.002-05:00

I almost made this specifically about a couple of different things. Then I realized I have plenty to say about my P-22.

In general, I like it. First reason is, it's a .22. Second is that it looks like a gun, not a laser blaster or a toy like so many other .22LR Pistols.

When I first got it, it would not feed cheap bulk ammo. I was feeding it only CCI Green Label for a long time. Recently, I just forgot about it's ammo sensitivity and loaded it up with Winchester 333rd bulk pack ammo. No problems at all. I guess it was just a break-in period.

When I got my first Slipstream kit, the P-22 was one of the first guns I treated, and it definitely smoothed out the slide. This could also be why it's cycling cheap ammo now.

Today, I decided I would not be dealing with the magazine safety anymore. I didn't like it to begin with, but it seemed like too technical a job for me to remove until today. I stripped it down using some detailed instructions I found online, and removing the little spring on the magazine safety was very easy. While I had the whole action opened up, I soaked it in Slipstream. I put it back together, lathered up the friction surfaces with more Slipstream, put the slide back on and function tested it. Magazine safety doesn't work anymore (SUCCESS!) and all the gravelly feel in that trigger is gone. It's still heavy but it is smoooooth.

Now I just gotta wait for the can!

I'm Back

2010-03-28T22:10:00.002-05:00

I've taken some time off, evidently since last August. Lately, the guys at WeTheArmed.com are probably growing tired of my posts documenting every single little thing I put Slipstream on and how awesome it is. Jason is probably getting tired of every little thought I have about the new AR and the can, and every little thing I put Slipstream on and how awesome it is.

Then I remembered the old blog. Nobody reads this anyway, so no one will get tired of my endless excitement about Slipstream, or the stream-of-consciousness I have when it comes to playing with my guns. Perfect place to post all that stuff.

So, if you want to read about my experiences with Slipstream up until now, check out Crusader Weaponry's section on WeTheArmed.com. I'll post a little bit about the new Cavalry Arms lower receiver build, and the subsequent build up of my existing AR-15 into Tacti-Beast.

To my lack of readers out there, Enjoy!

Monster Hunter International; first Impressions

2009-08-01T17:18:00.003-05:00

The new release of Larry Correia's first book, Monster Hunter International, just hit store shelves, and I picked up my copy for about $8. The first edition's go for hundreds of dollars, so I was fine buying the second edition. Plus, something that popular must be really good, right?

IT IS! All the hype was true. I'm 130pages into it, and even though I've barely made a dent, it's got me hooked. The basic story line is all the creatures from your nightmares and horror movies are real, and someone needs to kill them. MHI is a family owned business that's been killing monsters for a hundred or so years, and they're good at their jobs.

Well, off to finish the book. Shouldn't take more than a week at this rate.

Things I forgot I had

2009-04-07T18:23:00.002-05:00

I just received the stuff that has been in storage since June, 2007. Needless to say, there are many things I forgot I had. Some of the less remarkable things include a truly ridiculous amount of gladware, various glasses and kitchen implements, and a desk chair.

Now for the weird stuff:
1. A large sheet of plywood, formerly used as a back stop for the dart board.
2. A food dehydrator.
3. Sugar bowl; with sugar in it. Still good.
4. Glass vinegar caraffe. Not a drop spilled.
5. A coffee mug my dad got from work...Labeled 1989.
6. Coozies galore.
7. Partial bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
And finally,
8. Package of Roasted Garlic Idahoan instant mashed potatoes.

Almost broke my coffee table

2009-03-06T10:33:00.001-06:00

I had the morning off today, so I slept in. I get out of bed, start a pot of coffee brewing, turn on Fox News, and am greeted by Obama, telling me how good the spendulus package is. [sigh] This day isn't starting well.

He was speaking at a police academy graduation in Columbus, OH. [cue Outbreak's awesome Obama voice]"For those who still doubt the wisdom of this bill we just passed, I want you to talk to these men and women who are about to be protecting the people of Columbus"

NO! [this is where I almost broke the coffee table, because I hit it so hard.]

I'm tired of being told to talk to people who are benefiting from these silly packages, and that that will change my mind. It won't. The packages don't work, haven't worked and won't work.

Tell ya what, Mr. President. I have some people I want YOU to go talk to. How bout you come talk to me. I worked hard in school, got scholarships to go to a college my parents couldn't afford to send me to, and got a job that pays me a comfortable living salary, and gives me health care. I save some money each month, instead of spending it all.

Or a couple friends back home, who are married, both are paramedics, and hardly see each other because they work opposite shifts so someone can be home with their baby. They don't need government aid. Hell, they just bought a house! They chose a small townhouse that they can afford. Not flashy, but its adequate.

Why aren't you talking to those people, Mr. President? [rhetorical question, folks]

I hate the technology age.

2009-02-19T18:19:00.002-06:00

Sounds odd from someone as young as I, but I do. I don't hate the technology itself. Its quite convenient stuff. My phone allows me to communicate everywhere I go. My iPod holds more music than I'll ever listen to. My GPS tells me where to drive. Wonderful stuff, this technology.

What I hate is keeping up with it. I figure it out about six months late, after I've bought something that I thought would fulfill my needs. Not saying any of those items don't do what I need, but I develop a desire for the newer thing that everyone else has. Call it keeping up with the Joneses, but it seems to be a trend for me.

My GPS is great. No complaints.

My cell phone is a 7-month old flip-phone. Works great. When it was time for me to pick a new phone, I thought I didn't need a Blackberry, or an iPhone. I still don't. But they sure are nice, and I realize now I should have picked one up when I had the chance.

My iPod Nano is great. Problem comes with using it. It comes with the headphones and the charging/interface cable. So I can use it while I work out. Awesome. For driving, you need a $20 accessory that plugs into the headset jack and broadcasts it on FM radio for you car radio to pick up. Not the highest quality sound, and it doesn't charge it. For that, its another $30. If you want quality sound, you need to plug it directly into the head unit. That's also $50, but it'll take a week to ship.

Leading me to my next point.

You can't buy anything in the store anymore. Everything has to be ordered online. If a store has it listed "in stock" on their website, you don't know if its at the store, or if they have it in a warehouse somewhere and its just "in stock" online. Quite irritating when you need something NOW.

So, yeah, after deciding today (2 days before I drive halfway across the country) that I cannot survive 9 hours in the truck on 3 CD's and a slew of country stations, I needed a way to make my iPod talk to my head unit. I hate the idea of the FM transmitters, because of the aforementioned crappy sound quality, so I went to Best Buy for a hardline connection. Aparently, the part required for my stereo isn't just a simple wire, its a whole "interface" and they don't stock it. 5 days to order it. Dammit.

After running around town for an hour or so, I finally found the $50 FM transmitter that would charge the damn iPod as well.

The Next Chapter

2009-02-12T17:34:00.002-06:00

Well, its almost that time, folks. After what will be almost exactly seven months in Little Rock, its finally time for me to hit the road. Its bitter sweet.

I'll be leaving a lot of stuff. Friends, for one. Some military, some civilian, they're all great folks that help each other and have given me more than I can ever repay. I will miss the fine group of people I have met here the most. I'll see some of them again, down the road, or downrange, but others I'll have to come back to The Rock to meet up with again. And I will.

I'll be leaving a great apartment building. Its only a year old, parking garage, right downtown, within stumbling distance to my favorite watering holes, and everything else downtown has to offer. The management is great to work with, pro-rating and extending leases for us unpredictable military folks, and working with our odd situations in general. They've been great. But the building is a great little community. A lot of the residents know each other, socialize, and my friends were only a few minutes away, if that far. Great place to live.

I'll be leaving some great watering holes with great staffs who know me and always have a cold one waiting for me. The Flying Saucer and Cregeens will be tough to leave. Thanks for the beers, guys.

But some things are best left behind. I'll be leaving the Black Jack 20 and SR232, for a few years, at least. I'll be leaving the most worn out airplanes in the fleet, albeit for some that are only slightly less worn out. I'll be leaving AETC (Air Education Training Command), for a while, anyway.

I'll be gaining some things, too. A whole new group of friends and colleagues awaits me in Texas. I'll have a reunion with some old friends I haven't seen in a while. I've got a new apartment set up and a home of my own in a few months time. I'll get all my stuff that I last saw in Florida, almost two years ago!

I'm sad for all the stuff I'm leaving behind, but I'll replace it all-no replace is the wrong word. I can't replace this place and these people. But I'll find others to fill their slots in their absence, make new friends, find new bars. I'll make the most of it, as we military types do every time we move. It'll be one hell of a ride.

So, thanks for the beers, the good times, the french toast, the spare room, and everything else. I'll see you all down the road.

Movie Review: Taken

2009-01-31T02:22:00.002-06:00

I just went out and saw the movie Taken, starring Liam Neeson. It's about a retired CIA operative whose daughter is kidnapped while visiting Paris. He uses his skills learned from years as a Secret Squirrel to track down the slavery ring that took his daughter and try to get her back. It seems to be an action/drama. There is some genuinely good acting combined with Liam Neeson kicking some serious scumbag ass in numerous, and sometimes creative ways. I wouldn't be surprised if he won some awards for this one and I hope the morons in Hollywood recognize it as a bit more than the typical action-suspense movie with the typical action-suspense actors blowing things up and shooting things. I enjoy both, and Neeson's character does shoot a lot of stuff, but not to the point of cheapening the movie. Any more, and I'll end up spoiling it for those who haven't seen it.

Outbreak's First Book Review

2009-01-16T20:23:00.004-06:00

I've never done anything but a passing verbal recommendation of a novel, so this will be a first. I just finished Pale Horse Coming by Stephen Hunter, and it was excellent. It's told in three parts from the points of view of the two main characters: Sam Vincent and Earl Swagger. It tells the tale of an old prison farm for "coloreds" in Thebes, MS, circa 1950.

I'm not going to do a book report, and describe what happens. What I will say is if you can't tolerate a heavy amount of racial slurs, used in context of the time, of course, steer clear of this book. It's not a racist book, quite to the contrary, actually, but it accurately portrays how good ol' boys in Mississippi used to refer to blacks. Also, if you can't stomach some pretty graphic violence in print, again, not the book for you.

Now, if you like prison break stories, guns(lots of guns) and one hell of a suspenseful story, you'll enjoy this book.
This was my first Stephen Hunter book, but won't likely be the last. Hunter has an interesting writing style that drops enough clues for you to figure out one mystery without actually revealing it till the end, and then whacks you with an interesting turn that you'd never expect just when you're feeling smart.

Highly recommended.

Peltor Tactical 6-S Review

2009-01-16T19:50:00.004-06:00

I haven't made much light of my love of guns here yet, but I have a few new toys in the gun inventory, so I thought I'd start reviewing them here, as well as over at We The Armed.

First up is the new hearing protection, the Peltor Tactical 6-5 earmuffs.

I took Scott and Paul out to the range today and tried the new muffs out. They're are electronic earmuffs. They have a microphone on each ear cup and a speaker inside, but the mic's won't pick up gunshots, so you have crystal clear hearing except for the gunshots. Pretty cool stuff.

Now, I was a bit skeptical of the hearing protection these things would actually provide. We were shooting at an indoor range, where I've always doubled up on yellow foamy ear plugs and ear muffs, because either one on its own still allowed an uncomfortable amount of noise through. I chose to try the Peltor's with no plugs to start out, though I had them in my pocket.

The most surprising thing was, I forgot about the plugs after the first shot. The Peltor's worked GREAT. The noise level was comfortable even as the range began to fill up and 4-5 people were shooting at the same time. I could hear the guys' questions very clearly with the electronic system, and everyone other conversation in the room, too. They don't just let you hear like normal, you can hear BETTER.

The only downsides I could find were the cheesy headband, though it works fine, so it doesn't need any more over engineering. Also, they're pretty pricey. I've seen them between $50-100. I got mine for $25 second hand, from a friend, but now that I've used them, I can say I would be willing to drop $50 for them if I had to.

Holidays with Outbreak

2009-01-02T17:41:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! It certainly was for me.

Christmas break started with almost a week back in the hometown with the folks and some friends I don't get to see often. I had a great time. We then trekked down to The Rock and celebrated the New Year at my Favorite Olde Pub with some of my best friends and some exquisite beer.

When I arrived back at The Rock, I had my very first Evil Black Christmas Present waiting for me from the nice people at Stag Arms.

I also brought some old heirloom guns back from the hometown and will be refinishing them and hopefully they haven't fired their last rounds yet.

Why I'm Part of the Panic Buy

2008-12-06T17:36:00.002-06:00

As most people know, since B.O. got elected to be the next President of the United States, there has been a run on guns. Evil Black Guns mostly. There are many opinions on this. Some think the panic buyers are nuts and resent them for driving prices up. Some believe the panic buyers are right and are doing the same thing. Many are kicking themselves for not buying sooner.

I bought my Evil Black Rifle just after midnight on 6 November. The price hadn't gone up yet, and I had been saving for it anyway. I wasn't buying because of fears B.O. would ban them. I do fear that, but that alone didn't drive my decision to purchase. I knew that a lot of people would be driven to buy because of the election, and I knew demand would skyrocket, prices would rise, and it wouldn't be government that would keep me from getting my rifle. It would be the market.

And boy am I glad that I bought when I did. The next day, the online retailer that I ordered from called and asked if delays would cause me to cancel my order. "Of course not!" was my reply. She told me that Stag Arms, the manufacturer of most of my rifle, was already backed by about 6,000 rifles, and my order would already take 4-5 weeks. Four weeks later, I still don't have my gun, and Stag's website says their current backorder is 20 weeks long!

Black Rifles (often wrongly labeled as "Assault Rifles") can't be found anywhere. Many gun dealers have remarked that their inventory flew off the shelves within a week and they're unable to get more. Black Rifles can't be begged, borrowed, or stolen right now. The ones that are still available are only there because some dealers have started price gouging. Pre-election, a simple AR-15 rifle could be had for $800-$1000, and could be built for less than that (mine will be about $750 once I get it and put it all together). Recently, I've been hearing about them marked up to as much as $2000.

Luckily, there are plenty of dealers out there who aren't marking up their EBR's, or any other merchandise, any more than their costs require. The manufacturers haven't been raising their prices either. They don't need to. They have backorders for the next six months. They're doing just fine.

Hopefully, the boom in gun sales will send a message to the congress-weasels and local legis-critters that Americans like our guns, and when our rights are threatened, we don't roll over. We stock up.

Farewell, Kim

2008-12-06T16:04:00.002-06:00

My favorite daily blogger, Kim DuToit, has retired. His daily writings included politics, guns, cars, women, and a host of other topics. He wrote about everything, and he wrote it beautifully. His wife, Connie, also retired, and though I didn't read her material very often, it was always very thoughtful and well written. (It is all still available to read, but they're no longer publishing new material. You can read it at www.theothersideofkim.com.) So, farewell in your retirement, Kim and Connie. You've earned it and will be missed.

Quote of the Day

2008-11-14T11:55:00.001-06:00

From Eric:
"Yes, they even have clearing barrels in front of the chapel... Because even God hates negligent discharges."

Amen

Mandatory Community Service

2008-11-07T19:10:00.004-06:00

A special salute and thanks go out to The Geek with a .45 for pointing out that the first black man elected President of the United States wants to violate not only the First and Second Amendments to the Constitution(and many more, I'm sure), but the 13th as well. For those of us who are not Constitutional scholars, the 13th Amendment is the one that bans slavery and involuntary servitude. Geek with a .45 explains it so well, I won't try to improve. Kim du Toit also mentioned it, and as always, made it a pleasure to read.

Financial Conundrum

2008-11-06T15:10:00.004-06:00

As the people of the United States have voted a socialist into power, I am faced with a dilemma regarding his policies. We've all heard his tax policies, and if they remain as advertised, which I don't think they will, many Americans who already don't pay taxes will be getting another check from the gummint. This also applies to big businesses who are getting bailed out.
I am adamantly opposed to government handing out money to people who either didn't earn it, or corporations who screwed themselves. However, the fact that I cashed Pres Bush's economic stimulus check makes me feel like a hypocrite now. The fact is that that check was no small amount of money to me, and I really enjoyed spending it (actually, I saved about half of it), but now I don't know what to think.
I can say I would rather see fewer taxes than the gummint giving out checks. If they can afford to give me a big wad-o-cash, they can afford to cut taxes.
What really spawned this line of thought was last night's Hannity & Colmes interview with Joe "The Plumber" Wurzelbacher. When Allan Colmes tried to slam him for having been on welfare in the past, he said "I paid into welfare. Its there to be used, not abused as it so often is." He then went on to explain how taking money from the rich and placing it in his pocket is "just stealing." Well said, sir.
With my income level and Obama's tax plan, I could theoretically end up getting a check again in the next few years. And what the hell am I supposed to do with that check to keep true to my beliefs? Tear it up? Send it to an unfairly taxed rich corporation? I'm torn. It makes me sick that I could be a beneficiary of socialism. I live comfortably on my salary, but a free check would certainly allow me to increase my savings or buy a new rifle (take THAT Pelosi!). I feel like my decision would represent either foolishness or hypocrisy. Damn Obama for making me a cause and forcing his dirty money on me.

Well, We're Screwed.

2008-11-05T02:56:00.004-06:00

I watched the election results with disgust. I really had more faith in the American people. I thought the polls were full of it. I thought McCain would win out with reasonable people. I was wrong.

Now we're screwed. I was out tonight, expecting riots when McCain won. I was met with an Obama win, and car horns in the streets. Every car horn and Obama sticker was met with a disgusted face. I'm a sore loser in this campaign.

My response? I came home and bought my AR-15 Upper Receiver. It cost me quite a bit (I make way less than Obama's $250,000, or is it $200,000, or $150,ooo, or $120,000...I dunno). I still believe that Obama will rape our 2nd Amendment Rights(among many others), so I decided it was time to bite the bullet (so to speak) and blow some money on an "Evil Black Rifle" which he will likely ban. I bought it before a price increase due to the election can occur. Now I'm eagerly awaiting my personal rebellion against gun controllers. I'm going to call it Nancy, in honor of Speaker Nancy Pelosi. I would call it Barack, but I only name my Milsurp (military surplus) rifles, and only name them with female names, so President Select Obama is out, due to his gender. So far, I have named my battle veteran rifles ( I have four) with stereotypical names from their country of origin. M1 Garand is Annie; Yugo SKS is Milka(her stock was already engraved by her former owner, probably a Yugoslavian soldier); Mosin Nagant M38 is Natalya, a good, sexy Russian name; my Mosin Nagant 91/30 is Nadia. The AR-15 will be Nancy, as I've said. Its not a sexy name, but a rebellious name.

My political views from now on will be extremely critical of the Obama administration. We'll see.

Where's the Dirt?

2008-11-03T13:38:00.002-06:00

When a campaign gets as cutthroat as this one, I gotta ask, where's the dirt on John McCain? His campaign, the press, and other have dug up (and in some cases immediately reburied) a ton of dirt on Barack Obama, while B.O. can't seem to come up with anything bad to say about John McCain other than not wanting to share his toys.
I have a theory on this. Perhaps, there's no dirt on McCain. [gasp] In a world where our lives are all on Google, the media respects no ethical boundaries, and politicians' lives are a matter of public record, the only thing they have on McCain is that he's been divorced and remarried a rich woman. Thats a pretty clean life for a politician. We may actually have an honest politician. I really like that [naive] concept with regards to McCain because he's a military man. I really like to think he has some integrity.
Thats not much compared to the laundry list of unsavory things we know about B.O., many of which he refuses to clarify or disprove. We know where John McCain was born, how much he paid in taxes, his military record, his family's history, and how many houses he owns. Obama refuses to turn over a birth certificate to prove which country he was born in (my pick goes to Kenya). Same with proof that he his still a citizen of the US, not Indonesia, and there's a video out there of him hanging out with a known terrorist leader (not even Ayers this time; yeah, there's another one) which no one will cough up.
I have to wonder just why the American people aren't demanding clarification, and documentation, from B.O. I think he's got some 'splainin to do.

Quality Hardware

2008-10-23T17:18:00.005-05:00

In many cases, I'll buy lower end products if they're cheaper than name brands. I buy Walmart's "Great Value" brand all the time, because those products are significantly cheaper than the name brands. However, one area where I never skimp is tools. When I buy gear that I know I'm going to be tough on, I buy from quality manufacturers who support their products and have a reputation for rugged reliability.
When I was told I needed a flashlight that is NVG Compatible, I immediately thought "Surefire." For those of you who aren't familiar with the company, they make indestructible tactical flashlights and in my experience, they're worth every penny of their pretty steep price tags. The one I bought today, the G2, is one of their cheaper models since its made of high impact plastic instead of their more expensive aircraft-grade aluminum models. It retails for about $40.
They also make a wide variety of accessories, including different colored slip on and spring loaded filters, protective lens covers, and even Infrared filters. White, amber, and red light is not NVG compatible. I already have two Surefire lights that have red lights, so those were no good. Damn, gotta go buy another Surefire! I ended up with a spring loaded blue filter, which is NVG compatible. This is not for illuminating things which I will look at through the NVG's. Its for things I'm NOT going to look at through the goggles. The NVG's have blue filters in them, so they don't pick up blue and green light, meaning I can use the blue light without blinding the rest of the crew.
So, without further ado, here are some pics of the new Surefire setup with some of my other high quality tools. The new one is propped up on my Corcoran Marauder combat boots, with the filter open. The next smaller one is the A2 Aviator model, which puts out low intensity red, and high intensity white lights. The smallest is the L1 LumaMax which puts out high and low intensity red light. The pistol is my Sig P6.

And a close up with the filter closed.

The New Club

2008-10-16T16:27:00.002-05:00

I haven't joined the long list of bloggers who were taking sides on the recent issues over at TheHighRoad.com, mainly because I don't have any way of confirming the facts, and otherwise its a big load of accusations from both sides. I didn't know who was right, so I stayed out of it.
Now there's a new club in town. Larry Correia, MadOgre, and some other folks have started www.WeTheArmed.com as a refuge for those who don't want to deal with the THR mess, and anyone else who is interested, as well as consolidating a few other forums. I joined up today and so far it seems to be growing fast. There are a lot of familiar handles showing up from THR, and they have an off-topic section that THR likely never will.
I'm not totally writing off THR. I still like it there. This is just another place to hang out.

Body Language

2008-10-14T01:49:00.002-05:00

I just watched a History Channel documentary on body language, and it was enlightening. They discussed real figures who found themselves in the spotlight over the last twenty years, with a few moments reaching back to the Yalta summit. They showed how Bill Clinton giving his famous "I did not have sexual relations" speech, and picked it apart to show that he was not being truthful. They showed Tony Blair on the day after Princess Diana's death, seemingly over doing his sorrow. They showed criminals giving speeches before they were found guilty, and showed the signals that gave them away.
I waited eagerly for some critique of the current presidential candidates, and it was minimal. What they did say was very interesting. They compared Obama's speech patterns to those a Baptist Preacher uses to get his congregation riled up. One expert even said that to spectators, Obama's words really don't matter to his audience, and that the way he speaks is enough to trigger an emotional reaction in his fans.
On McCain's analysis, they said he was almost the exact opposite of Obama, as far as speech patterns go. They said that the way he compresses his phrases indicates that he tells it how it is, which matches his reputation as a "straight shooter."
It was interesting to hear all the stuff we knew all along, like Clinton was lying about Monica, but it was really interesting to hear that Obama's popularity is based on public speaking tricks and techniques, and that McCains body language shows him as a genuine straight shooter. It confirms everything I've known for a while, but I hope some Obama fans saw the show, and it helped see through some of the BS.

Things that make you go "huh?"

2008-10-08T13:56:00.000-05:00

So this just occurred to me. While I had taken note of the fact that in the first two trading days after the Marxist Progression Bill passed the market fell over 800pts total, I hadn't connected that drop with the slight rise we saw last Wednesday, before Komrade Karl's bill was signed into law. What I see now, is that the market was going down last week, the first iteration of the Bailout was shot down by congress on Tuesday night, and the market rose a little on Wednesday. The Senate promised to push the legislation through, because if it wasn't passed in the next 15 minutes, the world was going to explode, and the market began sinking again on Thursday. The bill was passed over the weekend and on Monday, guess what. The market TANKED. Soon after, all the pinko commie legislators began reassuring us that this plan, which they had been telling us was an "exploding bill" with a short fuse, obviously wouldn't begin to affect the economy within one or two days. I know shouldn't expect anything more from the Dumbocrats. At this point, to quote one of my favorite bloggers, the whole of the congress, or at least those who voted with the Marxist Party, needs to be lynched.

Guilt by Association

2008-10-06T14:25:00.002-05:00

After Sarah Palin went on a slam spree about Barack Obama's associations with the likes of known terrorist Bill Ayers, the Obama camp is coming back with allegations of desperate mudslinging and claims of guilt by association.
Too bad, Barack. Guilt by association is a valid reason to sling mud. The fact is that if it was just Bill Ayers, then maybe we could let it slide. But its not just Bill Ayers. Its everyone you've associated with. Three Obama campaign advisers are corrupt former executives of Fannie Mae, all convicted of cooking books. His longtime mentor, the infamous Reverend Wright, is a known racist and radical preacher who uses the pulpit to spread his message of black supremacy.
Senator Obama, if you knew and associated with just one racist, or one communist, or one crooked CEO, or one terrorist, then it might be a false accusation of guilt by association. The problem is, you have at least one checkmark in each of those columns, and I'd bet money we could find more if we dug deeper into your checkered past. I don't vote for people who have friends like yours.

Don't Use a Scalpel when you need an Ax

2008-10-01T19:45:00.002-05:00

McCain has been tiptoeing through the tulips when he should be driving a tank. I have no idea why politicians put up with the crap they do during campaigns. I would be the loudest sumbitch on the campaign trail. My beliefs wouldn't change. I'd be painfully honest with people. If someone asked me a question, I wouldn't bother trying to find out what demographic that person belongs to. It wouldn't matter, and wouldn't change my answer.

If a very nice family of illegal immigrants asked my opinion on immigration, I'd tell them that they are criminals, because they violated one law of this country, and that's all it takes to be a criminal in this country; the cops are on their way to take them back to Mexico.

If a family on welfare asked me what I plan to do for them, I'd tell them in one word: NOTHING. I worked hard to get to where I am, and to achieve what I have, and, as a politician and a leader, I'm not giving a dime to someone who isn't willing to work to support themselves. No more handouts from Uncle Sam, you lazy freeloader.

A victim of gun violence asks what I'm gonna do to protect him? I'm going to make guns easier to get for law abiding citizens, cut the "reasonable restrictions" down to the bare bones Second Ammendment, and maybe a restriction on violent felons; they'll have to wait till their parole is up (sentence plus, say, ten years with nothing any more severe than a parking ticket). After that, I think they've served their debt to society and proven they're no longer violent. They get their rights back as humans and Americans. Every law abiding adult in this country has a right to defend their own lives, granted by God, not the Government. The Second Amendment merely reminds power hungry politicians not to mess with it. The gun control thing could go all day with me, so I'll keep moving.

When an elderly couple asks how much I'll pay for their prescriptions, health care, Hoveround scooters, etc, I'll tell them the same thing I told the welfare people. I'm not paying. People have been living without scooters and hearing aids for as long as they've been dying. Sorry, but you'll have to push your wheelchair around.

I abhor socialism, fascism, communism, etc. I'm a Libertarian Capitalist who believes that my money is best handled when I have it. I know how to manage my money far better than the federal government. Its easy to see that, since I have a few thousand dollars in debt(which is steadily shrinking), because I own a motor vehicle and a college diploma, and the government has TRILLIONS in debt that keeps growing. Who the hell trusts the gubment with their hard earned cash?

I got fired up today and I've been watching the news, which isn't helping. I'm gonna try to study and get some dinner in me, and not watch the news anymore.

Collecting Intel

2008-09-30T17:39:00.003-05:00

Talked to Dad today about the Bailout plan, the current state of the economy, stock market, etc. I got some good information about the real causes of this current load of Marxist bullshit, since I was too young to care about it when it all went down.
Turns out that back in the Clinton years, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and other lenders, were compelled by threats of equal opportunity charges, and then Federal Law, to grant mortgages and other loans to minorities who couldn't afford those loans, and who's credit report consisted of a race card. When Republicans opposed the bill on the basis of common sense and the FACT that the bill would guarantee loans to those who couldn't afford it, and thus screw the economy, they were labeled racists who wanted to keep nice deserving people with colored skin from owning homes.
Now, we're seeing the consequences of those practices. Millions of poor people can't afford to pay their mortgage, which is their fault for taking on excessive debt, and the lenders' faults for approving the loan. But more so than the lenders, it's congress's fault for forcing the big lending companies to give loans based on the color of the borrowers' skin rather than their credit score. But when the issue was brought up again a few years ago, in 2004, the problems were already brewing. The Republicans warned of dark times to come, that irresponsible lending would lead to a big issue down the road, they were again laughed away by the Dems, accused of racism, and reassured that everything was fine, and there was no man behind the curtain, and we shouldn't go poking around back there anyway.
Another four years has passed and the Marxist Party...oops. I meant Democrat Party, is trying to put their shit sandwich in the Republicans' lunchbox. They're blaming this whole fiasco on the Right and telling Americans, with a combination of innocent little puppy eyes and fearmongering ferocity, that they had nothing to do with this, its all George Bush's fault, and John McCain's fault, and the Republicans' fault. Certainly they could have nothing to do with this. Apparently this is what we get for letting Marxists run our country. Yes I do mean Marxists. Look it up. They started out with some mild, but still textbook socialist policies, but the Federal Government buying up entire companies (which they won't want to relinquish control of when those companies get back in the black) comes straight out of Komrade Karl's famous Manifesto.
The next step in the Marxist plan, assuming we've hit the socialist level (or blown right past it, giving it the finger), is full blown Communism, where the Government owns everything, including its subjects, the peasants own nothing, and we become the Soviet United States.
I don't want that, but I see it coming.

Not My Problem

2008-09-29T12:59:00.002-05:00

Thats my new mantra for any of Obama's (or anyone else's) socialist proposals.
"We have to bail out these companies, cuz people have their retirement savings in those companies' stock!"
Not my problem. I don't own those stocks, and everyone knows that the stock market is a risky business. My money is almost all FDIC insured(I know thats a socialist Roosevelt invention, too.) I don't risk money that I plan on needing later. I don't gamble away my rent. I don't stake my future on lotto tickets or anything so volatile as the stock market. Remember, kids, never gamble more than you can afford to lose.

"But what about the poor people who don't get health insurance at work, and can't afford it on their small paychecks?"
Not my problem. The Human Race has survived hundreds of millennia without health insurance. Health insurance probably didn't even exist till the 20th Century. We'll likely survive another couple thousand years without it.I have pretty damn good insurance through work, and I've only been to the doc a few times in the last year, and that was all for required physicals, not because I was sick. Furthermore, the old saying that "you get what you pay for" holds true in health care as well. If you get something for free, expect that level of service and quality. Ask the folks in the UK about social health care.

Call me crazy, but I don't think its my responsibility to bail out irresponsible companies or irresponsible consumers who have flushed their bank accounts down the tubes in one spectacular way or another. I didn't push the handle on that toilet, so I am in absolutely no way fiscally responsible for their losses. So why is Congress planning on stealing money out of my pocket, or possibly even worse, borrowing it from China, to help these morons out? I'm not willing to pay. Why?Because, its not my problem.

Rapid D

2008-09-21T19:43:00.003-05:00

I had my first rapid decompression a few days ago. We were cruising at FL180 and all of a sudden WHOOOOSHHHH. There was wind in the cockpit, it got about 10-15 degrees cooler, and fog formed. (For those that have been through altitude chamber training, it feels just like that. Open a bottle of soda quickly and notice the sound and the fog that forms in the top of the bottle. Same thing, bigger soda bottle.) Everyone did a bit of a doubletake and went for the quick don oxygen masks, and flipped the regulator to 100% O2, EMERGENCY, which delivers 100% oxygen to the mask under pressure. The pilot started an emergency descent while the co-pilot got on the radio and informed ATC that we had a rapid decompression and was declaring an emergency and was descending from FL180 to 10,000. We landed safely. What an experience.

__________________

2008-09-10T15:06:00.003-05:00

Found this today and it has me seeing red.
I don't have nearly as impressive a collection as this guy does, but still, I have to wonder how many of my neighbors would be caught blabbering on their stoop about how "Outbreak didn't seem radical. He sure didn't seem like the type of guy that would have those types of weapons."
Oh, yeah? What types of weapons are those? The kind that put holes in paper targets, or soda cans, or the type that can, but never have, put holes in goblins who would threaten my life? Or are you talking about the kind that can kill animals for food?
I have them all. Some are scary military style guns. They were designed to be rugged, reliable, and reasonably accurate. Thats why I like them. They are effective.

But what type of guy owns these weapons?
Do they have to be crazy? Do they have to have malicious intent? Bank robbers? School shooters? no.
Ordinary people legally and responsibly own many more guns than this guy. The only thing it would appear this guy did wrong was live in New Joisey. That and maybe fail to use his impressive arsenal to protect himself and his property against a bunch of jack booted thugs, intent on forcibly removing his Constitutional Right to keep and bear arms.
And then the quote from one of the detectives about how the BATFE has decried that every multiple purchaser is suspicious. Thats only in states where they find out about multiple purchases. I'll never be flagged in Texas or Florida. They don't care how many guns I have, as long as I'm not a felon. But the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has it in their silly little heads that they can just run around the country violating people's Constitutional rights and get away with it. When I am elected to some sort of federal office (fat chance. I probably couldn't even stomach the campaign.) The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will cease to be a gubment agency and become a chain of convenience stores by the same name.

A Name You Trust

2008-09-09T12:35:00.002-05:00

I find myself chuckling every time I see a commercial for AARP on TV. They claim to represent the Greatest Generation, and now the aging baby boomers, with their socialist agenda of cheap/free healthcare for old people, life insurance, auto insurance discounts, etc.
Their products aren't funny. Their marketing is. Every commercial includes the part where they have to remind the old coots that AARP is "a name you trust." Are their members so senile and gullible that all they need is a reminder that they trust this organization to buy into their crap? "Well, this sounds too good to be true. Who is this AARP that cares so much about me? Oh, they're a name I trust. Well thats swell. I believe them now."
I wonder what will happen with my generation. We still don't think we'll ever get old, but we're also the laziest generation to achieve adulthood. We expect everything handed to us, so I'm sure in 30 years we'll be gobbling up those discount cards and taking solace in the fact that AARP is a "name we trust."

Let it Sink

2008-09-02T12:08:00.002-05:00

Hurricane Gustav hit New Orleans yesterday and, once again, the damages are expected to be in the billions. And once again, the American taxpayers are picking up the tab.
We picked up the bill for Katrina back in 2005. We saw FEMA utterly fail in the preparation department, and we've been picking up the pieces ever since. We were assured that New Orleans was prepared this time around, and the initial signs were there. They evacuated over 2 million residents in plenty of time to get to safety before the storm. The levies held, if just barely.
But now we're hearing that much of it was luck. The coverage I saw on the news showed the levies being almost over run. Water was pouring over them with each wave. But the storm hit almost 80 miles from New Orleans, as a Category 2 storm. The forecasts expected a Cat 3 storm just 30 miles from the city. The storm surge only reached about 9-10 feet, instead of the predicted 16-18 feet. So what happens when a real Cat 3 storm, or another Katrina at Cat 4 or 5, hits New Orleans head on? Did they really rebuild for just a Cat 2 Hurricane in the aftermath of a Cat 5?
I think another good question the American taxpayers should be asking is why should we throw more money at a city that sits in a swamp below sea level when their disaster preparations are so obviously half-assed? I say, let it sink.

Finally, A Candidate I Can Vote For

2008-09-01T23:07:00.003-05:00

At long last, John McCain chose a running mate in Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin. After months of going with the slogan "I love my country more than I hate John McCain," (a bit more extreme than my actual beliefs, but it has a nice ring to it) There's finally a Republican on a presidential ticket.
I don't like Hussein Obama for the obvious and well known reasons. But my biggest issue with Obama is one he shares with McCain; they're Flip-Floppers. McCain has gone from Democrat to Independent to Republican, but mostly in name, and not always in practice. I've been unhappy with two democrats running for office, but now there's a light at the end of the tunnel- Sarah Palin.
I, like most Americans, had never heard of her. The details came pretty quickly, both good and bad. Fortunately, the bad details have been taken off the table by none other than Obama himself, stating that family issues, namely her baby son who has Down Syndrome, and her pregnant teenage daughter, are off limits.
Now for the good.
I read Palin's bio on both the Alaska State web-page and on Wikipedia. Both show her as a tough leader who sticks to her beliefs and analyzes her position constantly. There have been issues where she has changed positions, such as the "Bridge to Nowhere," but from what I've read, the changes were always based on changing circumstances and logic. Thats what we need. We don't need leaders who stand by bad decisions, even shown later evidence that those decisions were bad. We also don't need leaders who change their opinions based on what will bring more votes.
She is also noted to have strong conservative beliefs. She is a lifelong hunter and Lifetime Member of the NRA, strongly pro-life, and has strong family values.
She also has a more impressive resume in politics than Obama. She served a full two terms as a city Mayor, and was Oil and Gas Conservation Commissioner until being voted governor of Alaska in 2006. She visited troops in Iraq and wounded soldiers in Germany over a year before Obama needed...I mean decided to go see the troops(he didn't really visit) and campaign in Germany. Compare that to his two years as a Senator; the other two years since he was elected have been spent on the campaign trail.
I don't need to paraphrase all the good stuff I've read about Sarah Palin when you can go read it all on Alaska's website and Wiki. All I know is I can vote for McCain this November with a clear conscience.

Gone to the dogs

2008-08-26T15:54:00.002-05:00

In most places, dog owners are required by law to pick up after their pets. North Little Rock is no different. In fact, they provide baggies in popular dog-walking areas. So why is it that for the third time in my month living here, do I find a trail of presents in the stairwell?
My apartment building markets itself as high class "Luxury Apartment Homes." There are expensive cars in the gated parking garage, a Wine Room where people can store their vino in a nice wood cabinet under ideal conditions, beautiful people sunning themselves at two pools, etc. But there are also designer toy dogs who apparently can't hold it till they get outside, and owners who are either too good to pick up their poo, or think their crap doesn't stink and neither does their dogs'. They leave the designer turds right in the middle of the stairwell, to be warmed throughout the day so its aroma may spread up all five floors, so everyone can enjoy it.
Is it so hard to pick up your dog crap? Its not my responsibility; I don't have a dog. Its not the maintenance guys' job to clean up after your dog either. Its the owners' jobs.
So, go grab a free baggie, and pick up your crap. Better yet, take the damn animal OUTSIDE to do his business.

What's with Customer Service?

2008-08-22T01:36:00.002-05:00

What has happened to customer service? We put up with steadily declining customer service issues every day. I run into tons of problems every time I move. Cable, internet, phone, etc. I can say, so far, that DirecTv has decent service. They seem to be one of the few that understand that I have a job and can't be home to meet a technician at 11AM. They scheduled me for a 12-5 appointment, but the tech called and said he came by at 2PM while I was at work, and he scheduled me for his last stop of the day at 5pm. He was already in my building so it worked out for everyone. Great job!
The folks at AT&T are another story. It was a month from the time I called to start my DSL service that I actually had a reliable internet connection. The tech showed up a week after that. They kept trying to schedule my appointment between 8am and 5pm. I politely told them that I have a job which expects me to be there during those hours. Sure I get off early a lot of days, but my schedule usually has me there till 3 or 4 pm.
Most people have a regular 9-5 job. How do these companies expect consumers to be home during normal business hours? They have jobs, but they don't seem to think anyone else does.
A friend had to call the cable company today after work, at about 4:30PM. They had not only shown up EXACTLY when he said he wouldn't be available, but tried to schedule him for next week. He politely told the woman on the other end of the phone that next week was simply unacceptable. After explaining that we cannot just take the day off, she finally agreed to schedule an appointment for tomorrow morning since our schedule has us coming in around noon.
It would take me a whole post to talk about how computers have taken all the intelligence out of customer service, so I'll leave that for the next time a representative tells me "well, sir, the computer won't let us do that."

Why Waste Money On Education

2008-08-20T18:15:00.003-05:00

This is an older rant, transferred from facebook.

I'm not talking about paying for college or even to go to a good private high school or grade school. I went to private school from K-12 and college, as did many of my friends.
My question is, why does the government even bother pissing away money on public education. I've discovered it doesn't work. I just read a run-on sentence on a forum that was only rivaled by the next poster and his marathon of a speech. Both lacked any sort of punctuation except ellipses, which were found in abundance. Do they replace a period? I was never taught that technique to end a sentence...
I'm glad some of you caught that.

For those that didn't, you problaby wouldnt n otice the spelending errors in this sennance ithre. I had a hard time understanding what these idiots were writing because they've obviously never heard of a spell check. Right now, this post is bleeding red from the automatic spell checker in Firefox. It doesn't understand my sense of irony.

The posts that inspired this rant are not isolated incidents. I am a member of another forum that has rules about grammar and spelling, so readers don't start thinking that all pilots are deaf, dumb, and illiterate. I fully support that move. Take a minute to proofread what you publish. I do it for everything from 2-line emails to posts like this. It takes 5 minutes.

And before I get a flood of emails about being some elitist, spoiled, rich private school kid (because I doubt anyone would catch the fact that I began this sentence with a conjunction) I do know plenty of publicly educated people who do not read, write, and spell like they are natives of Greenbow Alabama or Lead medal winners in the West Virginia Special Olympics. I also know that these flaming piles of stupid that are causing Nuns the world over to roll in their graves did not have the benefit of private schooling, where we have F's that mean FAIL. The verbal performances I have been privy to would have been met with poor grades, then extra help or tutoring to bring the little dolt up to speed. Obviously, these dunces were wards of the state somewhere where the only thing they were taught was that failure is still rewarded with a Good Enough Diploma. Education is not something to be recited from a lesson plan regardless of individual needs. It is obvious that no child is left behind; the trip never started.

If you disagree, feel free to reply. I will proofread every comment before I reply. Any post that would be rewarded with a ruler across the knuckles will be deleted promptly, unless it's funny.

Here it is

2008-08-20T17:07:00.000-05:00

After Dad, amused by my recent emails, suggested I start writing, I started thinking. If Dad likes it, everyone will. So here it is.
The blog carries the only decent name I could come up with: Outbreak. Its the name I was given by my peers at Navigator school, and the only "call sign" of its type that actually stuck. Don't ask how I got it. It is a much disputed topic within the former Party Flight as to whether it resulted from a sneeze or a cough, but it doesn't really matter.
I'm just starting out with this whole blog thing, so don't expect any sort of regular frequency for a while, if ever. Topics will be widely varied, consisting of whatever is on my mind and I deem worthy of posting. I also don't know the mechanics of this site yet, but as I learn, the blog may become more complex. It will come in time.
From what I can tell so far, the site does allow for comments. I welcome comments, but I have some guidelines. First, my biggest peeve on the internet is the functionally illiterate slamming away at keyboards without punctuation, spell check, or any indication of coherent thought. I will not tolerate the murder of the queen's English, so to speak. I will edit or delete replies containing run on sentences, horribly misspelled words, or wanton misuse of "there," "their," and "they're. On the same note, if you notice any instance of improper grammar or misspelling, call me out. In the rare instance this occurs, I'll be happy to fix it.
Second, keep the comments constructive, appropriate, clean, and on topic. I'll delete anything that doesn't, at least loosely, relate to the topic at hand or I wouldn't want Mom reading, because she just might. If you can't adhere to these simple guidelines (you know who you are), just email me or IM me.
Finally, for my protection and that of those I'm sure I'm going to talk about, I won't be using real names. Please don't use any in the comments either. If you want to post your own name, go for it. Otherwise, stick to aliases. I'm sure there will be some frequent appearances.
Thats all I got at the moment. Welcome to my ramblings.