MArooned

So This Is How It Begins...

2009-11-23T06:00:00.000-05:00

It's funny how things happen sometimes, isn't it? I was thumbing through a past issue of Guns 'R' A Big Business magazine and saw a blurb for the LaserLyte laser sight that replaces the rear sight on many popular auto-loaders. It struck me as an interesting way of putting a laser sight on a firearm, particularly polymer-framed models that don't have removable grip panels to which to attach new laser grips, etc.

I posted about it last Wednesday, and made an offer:

If anyone from LaserLyte, Crimson Trace, or LaserMax happen to stumble across this entry, I'm completely open to the idea of getting a unit(s) for testing/comparison...

Well, later that day, I received an e-mail from Aaron Moore, the Vice President of LaserLyte, who simply asked:

Give me your address and I will send you a free demo unit for your blog.

Well, I wasn't about to pass on this opportunity! Friday night I get home from work to find a good sized box on my front porch. I opened it up to find these:

Holy Schwag Batman!

Two laser sights and the latest in accessory rail bayonets - note the Rambo-esque serrations for cutting down trees with your rail-equipped handgun... I was impressed that Aaron had picked up on the love of bayonets shown here at MArooned. I was somewhat puzzled by the Springfield XD sights, though - I don't think I even know someone with an XD - and couldn't quite figure out why it was in the box.

Until I turned the package over...

OH! Cool!

That impressed me even more - he had picked up that I had a Sig P226 in the armory as well, and sent a sight for the Sig for me to try out. Good thinking - a sub-compact, polymer-framed .45 ACP and a full-sized, metal-framed 9mm are about as far apart on the spectrum of handheld autoloaders as one is about to find... I'm hoping to have the sights installed over the Thanksgiving weekend, and maybe even have a "first impressions" post next week. I'd like the review to include multiple outings, with higher and higher round counts, to really put these sights to the test.

I'm thankful to LaserLyte for this opportunity - this will be the first in what I hope will be many MArooned Product Reviews of commercial products.

That is all.

PS: A pistol bayonet with serrations. I'm still geeking out over that!

Good News...

2009-11-22T08:27:00.003-05:00

More than 30 top militants killed, detained, NATO force says

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Security forces in Afghanistan have killed or captured more than 30 high-level militants, including many accused of participating in roadside bomb attacks, military officials said.
Twenty-six militants have been captured, and eight have been killed, with most of them senior leaders in the Taliban and the Haqqani network, according to a news release issued by NATO's International Security Assistance Force.

There. Doesn't that put a smile on your face this early in the morning?

That is all.

Someone Sedate Caleb...

2009-11-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

Because when he sees this, he's gonna bounce off the walls for hours...

30 round magazine - now that is impressive. Too bad it would make me an instant felon, but what the hell...

That is all.

'Tis the Season...

2009-11-21T11:22:00.002-05:00

...for a perennial favorite:

Redneck Christmas Display

Let the games begin!

That is all.

(sent to me via e-mail. Thanks!)

Imagine the Possibilities...

2009-11-20T14:00:00.000-05:00

My blogson finds the kewlest links...

Now when I saw this, the word "Gunbloggers" ran through my head. I'd sure like to see a JayG model, and maybe Tam could buy a new Zed 3 if she sold the Snark Of Death/Sunday Smith model.

I get first mention!?!?! ZOMG! I opined in comments that all they'd need to do for me would be to take an existing Stone Cold Steve Austin action figure and remove 3/4 the muscle...

So who would you like to see in action figure form?

That is all.

It's Like Watching the Klingons Battle the Romulans...

2009-11-20T12:00:00.001-05:00

...you just don't know who to root for...

Patrick, lawmakers spar over shortfall

The war of words between the governor and some legislative leaders grew decidedly more forceful yesterday. Deval Patrick exhorted lawmakers to remain in session to address unresolved reforms and budget shortfalls, though as he spoke, most members were already gone for the remainder of 2009.

Amid the back-and-forth, Patrick implied that the Legislature was shirking its responsibility, and House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo accused Patrick of political posturing. DeLeo apparently failed to return a phone call from the governor, a rare breach of political etiquette, especially between two key officials of the same party who had been trying to nurture a working relationship.

I guess this is what it sounds like when doves cry...

The funny part is that this is one of those areas where I honestly don't know who to back. "Cadillac Deval", a man so freakin' clueless that, on the eve of one of the biggest votes of his fledgling gubernatorial career, flew to NY for a book signing; or DeLeo, yet another career MA hack destined to join the rest of the former MA speakers of the house in ignominious exile... The Republican "party", such as it is, can't take the blame - last time I checked, on any given day some 10% or more Democrats could stay home and still have a filibuster-proof majority.

The only thing left, of course, is to blame Bush...

I liked this part, though:

On Wednesday, lawmakers voted to give the rest of the $60 million to the Probation Department and the courts, agencies rich with patronage jobs, and to the Legislature’s own multimillion dollar account, which critics have called a slush fund.

Ah, the Massachusetts Miracle is alive and well. Six figure jobs for every illiterate son, daughter, cousin, nephew, niece, or random neighbor are the norm; graft is not only expected but de rigeur; and corruption doesn't just run rampant through the statehouse, it gallops... I love how there's no crisis too severe to prevent kickbacks and nepotism from rising to the top again and again... People think that NO/NJ/Chicago are corrupt - to the hacks of MA, those guys are rank amateurs...

Madness? This is Massachusetts!

That is all.

Friday Fun Thread: Cool Chryslers

2009-11-20T10:00:00.001-05:00

I've got to admit something. When it comes to corporations that have historically cool cars, Mopar's got some seriously long chops. Back when I did the Plymouth list, I was astounded at how quickly my first pass list filled up. As I prepared for today's list of Chryslers, I was similarly astounded. And I'm saving Dodge for the last Chrysler offering because it's a slam-dunk...

With that said, here are my Top Ten favorite cars from Chrysler:

1. 1932 Imperial. This car is, in a nutshell, stunning. From the long, tapered fenders that flow into the running boards to the half-windscreen for the rear passengers to the grill that looks like it belongs on a Rolls Royce, the styling of the pre-war Imperials was breathtaking. These cars look like they should be chaffeuring Monty Burns around...

2. 1950 Newport. More chrome than an art deco apartment. A front bumper you could hold a dance on. Wood grain paneling. Deep dish hubcaps, wide white walls, a delicate balance of wood, chrome, and lacquered steel, the Newport maintained the good looks of the post-war woodies while foreshadowing the bombastic styling of the '50s.

3. 1957 300C. The first of the muscle cars, the 300C had a 390 horsepower FirePower hemi under the hood, a surprisingly powerful engine given the more refined pedigree of the marque. Power ran through the push-button TorqueFlite transmission, which was in use in one form or another from its introduction in 1956 until the early 2000s! Even as a monstrous land barge, the 300 had something about it that said "fast".

4. 1970 New Yorker. Ah, truth in advertising. The New Yorker was about as large as the city that shared its name, and seated about the same number of people... There's no truth to the rumors that the hoods of New Yorkers were used as emergency landing pads for medivac choppers...

5. 1963 Turbine. Okay, so it wasn't a full-run production car, but a limited number were given to the general public for testing. The turbine engine offered certain advantages over the traditional pushrod motors of the time, but never really caught on, most likely because of the noise level and acceleration lag.

6. 1978 Cordoba. Of course the Cordoba, with it's "rich Corinthian leather" would make the list... Twin to the Dodge Magnum (before it became a Hemi-powered monster wagon), the Cordoba was Chrysler's first mid-sized car (!!!). Sure, today the Cordoba would be classified as ZOMG size, but in the spirit of the times it was small by comparison to the other land yachts offered.

7. 1987 Conquest TSi. Yes, I know it's technically a Mitsubishi Starion, but not acknowledging the Conquest would be doing the marque a disservice. Rather than rebadge a Daytona as a Laser (spit) they borrowed their partner Mitsubishi's sports car and made a pretty darn sporty little Chrysler out of it.

8. 1971 Imperial. For some reason, Chrysler decided that their cars in the early 1970s would be sized along the lines of aircraft carriers. The Imperials of the early 1970s were powered by a 350HP 440 ci engine, and yet were only moderately powered. These are cars large enough for JATO units.

9. 1934 Airflow. Yep, I gotta love the odd. In the 1930s, Chrysler was the first manufacturer to produce a car designed with aerodynamics in mind. Hence the Airflow. It was actually tested in a wind tunnel, and led to the discovery that automobiles of the time were actually so unaerodynamic that they were better served going backwards!

10. 1961 Newport Wagon. The Newport wagon of the late 1950s and early 1960s was... interesting. From the tail fins protruding past the ginormous rear window to the trademark trapezoidal grill, no one can accuse the Newport wagon of borrowing styling cues from, well, anything...

So there's my list of Top Ten Chryslers. Once again, this list pulls heavily from the earlier years of Chrysler's heyday. I just can't get all that excited about the boxy 300s or the oddly styled Crossfire currently being offered. And the Chryslers of the 1980s and 90s were positively dreadful.

What Chryslers of note have I missed?

That is all.

Fascinating...

2009-11-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

Poll: Public shifting blame for recession

Washington (CNN) -- Nearly two years into the recession, opinion about which political party is responsible for the severe economic downturn is shifting, according to a new national poll.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Friday morning indicates that 38 percent of the public blames Republicans for the country's current economic problems. In May, 53 percent blamed the GOP.

Of course, the Democrats have controlled the House and Senate since 2006, but since when have facts ever entered into the equation?

0bama and the Democrats can only blame Bush for so long. At some point, people start to notice the little man behind the curtain and start ignoring the Great and Powerful 0zbama. Sure, Bush's policies may have been a contributing factor to the economic woes; that's entirely possible and certainly open for debate. What's not up for debate is the fact that you've been in power for nearly a year; your philosophical brethren in the other branch have been in power for some three years now.

From the looks of things, the American public is telling you it's time to stop playing the Blame Game. The problem is, at this juncture, passing the buck is all they have. Their ideas - more taxes, more fees, more handouts - don't resonate with the majority of Americans, so they keep that part quiet while jumping up and down screaming "BUSH IS TEH DEBIL!". Hell, I'm seeing it right now with the four Democrats running to replace Kennedy in the Senate - several of them have commercials where they specifically name Bush. Uh, guys? Bush has been out of office for 11 months now.

It's time to, as your side liked to say so much during the Clinton years, move on.

That is all.

Friday Gun Pr0n #138

2009-11-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Today's gun pr0n is another .22 rifle in the G. armory:

Remington Model 511

That's a Remington model 511 Scoremaster bolt-action rifle. It's magazine fed, with either six or ten round magazines available, the six round magazines fitting flush with the bottom of the receiver. The scope is a Tasco "Silver Antler" 3-9X adjustable rimfire scope, a kind gift from a friend on a local gun board. This entire set-up has cost me $38 - the price of two additional magazines - the gun was a gift from a friend of my dad's who was moving down to FLA and didn't feel like taking his guns with him.

An hour or two spent on the rifle range with some mid-range .22LR ammo had the scope zeroed in. With an improvised rest (range bag) and my aging eyes I was able to get a respectable 1.5" group at 50 yards - certainly not the best grouping possible but given the inexpensive scope, haphazard shooting, and the moderate ammo I was pretty happy with it. Not to mention that on the 25 yard pistol range, it will spin the 2.5" steel spinners with frightening regularity.

(Note for those who have asked from previous photos: The trunk is a family heirloom; it accompanied my grandfather - father's father - on his voyage over from the mother land. I now jokingly refer to it as "The Luggage", although to the best of my knowledge it hasn't eaten anyone. Yet.)

Boy, I do love me some .22LR rifles...

That is all.

Take My Economy, Please...

2009-11-19T14:00:00.000-05:00

At 2,074 pages and $849 billion, Senate health bill arrives

Washington (CNN) -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Wednesday unveiled a sweeping health care bill that would expand health insurance coverage to 30 million more Americans at an estimated cost of $849 billion over 10 years.

Reid and other Senate Democrats cited an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office for the coverage and cost figures. The CBO estimates the proposal would reduce the federal deficit by $130 billion over the next 10 years, through 2019. Any effect on the deficit in the following decade would be "subject to substantial uncertainty," but probably would result in "small reductions in federal budget deficits," according to the CBO.

Okay. I'll readily admit to not being an economist of any stripe here, but can someone explain to me how this plan can cost nearly a trillion dollars yet decrease the deficit? I'm just a simple guy, here; when I see that ITEM A costs $X, it's a stretch to say that spending $X will save $Y. By using this logic, couldn't we drop $5 trillion on health care and wipe out the deficit entirely?

Here's a knee-slapper:

"We're not going to add a dime to the deficit, in fact, quite the opposite," Reid said. "We'll cut the problems we have with money around here by as much as three-quarters of a trillion dollars."

Huh? You're going to save $750 billion by spending $890 billion? Okay, first,even if this is true it's a losing proposition. Second, this would mean that extending health care to some 30 million people would only cost $140 billion dollars over 10 years; $14 billion a year, or some $84 billion dollars LESS than was lost to fraud last year alone.

No. This does not add up at all. If in fact this monstrosity were going to come even close to breaking even this would be their headlining tactic - yet it's not. Something tells me that this will be a helluva lot closer to Big Dig proportions here - that $890 billion will wind up being the yearly figure rather than the figure for the decade.

And all that stands between this monstrosity passing and fiscal oblivion are the Senate Republicans? It's been nice knowin' ya, folks...

That is all.

Compare and Contrast...

2009-11-19T11:53:00.005-05:00

Google "Biden Motorcade Accident" and "Cheney Shooting Accident".

Results 1 - 10 of about 538 for "Biden Motorcade Accident".
Results 1 - 10 of about 197,000 for "Cheney shooting accident".

Nope. No bias here. Biden's motorcade actually KILLED someone. Cheney injured a friend in a hunting accident. Biden's accident is a merre blip, a statistical zero on the media front; Cheney's accident has its own Wikipedia entry.

Personally, I blame Fox News.

That is all.

UPDATE: Forgot to give my props! This was inspired by a comment Unix-Jedi made in chat over at the Gunblogger Conspiracy IRC chat.

Staying Connected...

2009-11-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

Okay, I've got a question for the other parents out there: At what age did/should your child get a cell phone of their own?

Yes, I know, this is one of those "At what age can I bring my kid to the range?" questions - everyone's kid is different; kids mature at different rates; there are some 18 year olds who shouldn't be trusted with their own cell phone and some six year olds who can. I'm just curious what other parents have done/thought about the issue.

TheBoy announced that he wanted a Blackberry for Christmas. Now, there's no way on G-d's Green Earth I'm giving a $300 phone (and > $50/month package) to an eight year old; I'll state that right off the bat. I'll be damned if my kid has a better phone than I do, for starters... We're also talking about a kid who will walk out of the house with no coat on in February because he "forgot" to put it on - I'd give the lifespan of the phone in days, let alone weeks. It did get me thinking, though, about what age would be appropriate to get him his own phone.

He's definitely got some time before he needs a cell phone - we still drive him everywhere, and most times either stay in the area. There's always an adult close by that we are certain to give our number to in case of emergency (or it's already on file with the organization). He's not at the point where he stays after school for sports or other events and might need to call for a ride; he's also not at the point with his friends where they go off on their own.

He's got some time before he gets a phone, that's for darned sure...

That is all.

Ammo Day Haul!

2009-11-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

As you well know (unless you're a filthy hippie), today is National Ammo Day. The goal of the day is to:

The goal of National Ammo Day is to empty the ammunition from the shelves of your local gun store, sporting goods, or hardware store and put that ammunition in the hands of law-abiding citizens. Make your support of the Second Amendment known--by voting with your dollars!

Today is the seventh annual Ammo Day, and I'm proud to say I've participated every year. Here's this year's haul:

Goal X 10

Okay, so I got a little more than 100 rounds this year. Ammo's been scarce. Catch as catch can and all that...

100 rounds of .38 Special
100 rounds of .380 ACP
50 rounds of 9mm
1100 rounds of .22LR

1,350 rounds of ammunition found their way into the G. ammo locker today (okay, technically, this past weekend, but it's the spirit of the thing...). The .38 Special and .380 ACP will be used for CCW training for the j-frames and the P3AT; the 9mm will feed the Sig P226 for a new shooter outing; and who doesn't love a couple bulk packs of plated ammo?

This weekend, we burn some of this haul...

That is all.

MArooned Gear Review: JMG IWB Holster

2009-11-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

This is more of a preliminary review, as the holster (JMG model IWB 3.2 with sweatshield) just arrived late last week and hasn't been completely broken in yet. It's still a little stiff getting the G30 into or out of the holster, which tends to limit the utility of the holster at present time, but I did manage to take it for a short test-carry last night.

Here's the holster with the G30:

New leather!

It's a great looking holster, and the forward cant makes for a comfortable, easily-concealed rig. One of the things that jumped out at me was how comfortable it was in the truck - even in the traditional 4 o'clock position, it didn't dig into my kidney like most other holsters do in the car. Presentation is excellent, with the cant allowing for a natural angle for drawing. Once the holster breaks in I'll work on the actual draw, so no comment on that; so far, though, it's an excellent holster for the money.

Now, anyone got any tips on breaking it in faster?

That is all.

Reminder, Take II

2009-11-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is Ammo Day! Go out and do your part to make Sarah Brady, Chuck Schumer, Diane Feinstein, and Rebecca Peters cry. Support your local gun shop; patronize a large sporting box store; or even spend some hard-earned ducats at the emporium of evil itself... 100 rounds at a minimum; whatever you can carry or afford as a maximum

Just do your part to let your Second Amendment voice be heard...

That is all.

Oopsie...

2009-11-18T10:00:00.001-05:00

White House reports billions of improper payments in 2009

Washington (CNN) -- The federal government made $98 billion in improper payments in fiscal 2009, and President Obama will issue an executive order in coming days to combat the problem, his budget director announced Tuesday.

The 2009 total for improper payments -- from outright fraud to misdirected reimbursements due to factors such as an illegible doctor's signature -- was a 37.5 percent increase over the $72 billion in 2008, according to figures provided by Peter Orszag, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Got that? 0bama is 37.5% less competent than that drooling chimp moron Bush...

Snark aside, this is downright frightening. $98 BILLION dollars was paid improperly, with no real way of knowing just how much was fradulent. Great. This is the same government that wants to take charge of our health care - more than half of the $98 billion went to Medicare/Medicaid. That tells me that the government is doing a TERRIBLE job of keeping track of medical-related spending. And this is the same government telling us that reducing Medicare/Medicaid costs will save us money for universal health care.

Right. Pull the other one.

That is all.

That's UnPossible!

2009-11-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

Man Shot Inside Dorchester School Gym

A 22-year-old man was injured after a gunman opened fire at a community basketball game in Dorchester.

Dozens of kids were in the gym at the Marshall School at the time of the shooting.

Police said the man came in and targeted the victim.

"They saw this person trying to pull out a gun," said Boston police superintendent Rafael Ruiz. "They heard at least one gun shot and someone running out of the gym and bleeding."

Someone was shot. In Boston. In a school. Obviously this news report is erroneous. MA has the toughest gun laws in the nation. "MA: You're more likely to live here", that's what the billboards tell us. Schools are gun-free zones - it's in all the laws, both state and federal, and there are signs posted. SIGNS, PEOPLE. Obviously the news is wrong. This shooting never happened. Sumdood didn't obtain a firearm illegally He must be one of the select few folks in Boston with an unrestricted Class A LTC. He then didn't illegally carry that firearm onto school property. He then didn't start shooting at his intended victim in full view of a gym full of people in clear violation of many state laws to the contrary.

All kidding aside, someone please enlighten me as to what other gun laws could be passed that would stop someone like this. The gun wasn't obtained at a "gun show". It wasn't purchased through legal channels, I'll guarantee you that. I'll bet $50 that this thug doesn't have a MA LTC. The gun-free school zone was meaningless to him. The "no shooting people you have a disagreement with" law was meaningless to him. In fact, I'll wager another $50 that this gentleman has a distinguished criminal record and was most likely out of jail on parole at the time of the shooting...

What's one more law to a psychopathic hoodlum to break?

This is why gun control fails every damn time. Laws aren't going to stop someone intent on shooting a rival in a damn gym full of kids. Finding the person responsible for the shooting, throwing the damn book at them, and making them serve 20+ years of hard time? Now that might have a snowball's chance in hell of working. It's a pity that we do not have the intestinal fortitude to take the measures needed to correct this error.

I'd say that this is why I carry a gun, except that I obey the rules and wouldn't have been carrying in a school. I'd have been at the mercy of the psychopathic thug with vengeance on his mind and no thought of the innocent folks he endangered with his blood quest. However, I harbor no illusions about the "safety" of a "gun-free zone", and as such would most likely not have been in that gym in the first place, but that's another discussion.

Laws only work if we enforce them and put teeth behind them - we ignore this truism to our detriment.

That is all.

Focused Like A Laser...

2009-11-18T06:00:00.002-05:00

Because, well, it is a laser. Sight, that is. The LaserLyte Rear Sight Laser looks intriguing - it replaces the rear sight with a laser while maintaining a standard rear sight:
Other than making the gun look like it's got Mickey Mouse ears, this setup makes a lot of sense. The power button is easily accessible; the indicator light tells if the laser is on or not; there's a provision for back-up sights in case of battery or equipment failure; and the placement of the unit allows for most standard holsters to continue to be used. The price is also attractive - MSRP of $200, as opposed to $350 for Laser Max or $230 for Crimson Trace.

So what am I missing? I've wanted to get a laser sight for my carry gun for a while now, and this seems like the perfect opportunity. The Laser Max looks cleaner, but at nearly twice the price I just can't see dropping the extra cash. It would be a fantastic training aid for dry-firing and allow for faster target acquisition in drills, all while still being able to fit in my Crossbreed Supertuck.

Anyone have any experience with LaserLyte, either good or bad? What about Laser Max?

That is all.

UPDATE: (and shameless plug) If anyone from LaserLyte, Crimson Trace, or LaserMax happen to stumble across this entry, I'm completely open to the idea of getting a unit(s) for testing/comparison...

Helpin' A Buddy Out...

2009-11-17T16:28:00.002-05:00

My fellow NE Gunblogger ZerCool has some guns for sale. Go check out what he's got - if I could smuggle it into MA that Highway Patrolman would TOTALLY be mine...

And if that Winchester 94 was in .357 or .44 Magnum...

That is all.

Say Goodbye to Hollywood...

2009-11-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

Tam riffs on a Kounterstrike Kiddie's comments about dual wielding. Much hilarity ensues. And it leads to a thought or two about Hollywood/video games/TV/etc. and firearms, and why one should never get their information about guns/ammo/shooting from them...

Guns need to be aimed. The John Wu "firing a gun in each hand" crap might make for interesting cinematography, but as a shooting method it requires either an insane amount of practice to get even moderately decent at (since you have to be REALLY good at point-shooting with both hands) or a willingness to expend ammo with no effect on accuracy. And keeping the rounds actually on the range...

There is no "shoot the gun out of his hand" nonsense. Personally, I blame the Lone Ranger for this little doozy. Yes, we get it; he's a good guy and won't kill the bad guy. That's great - for FICTION. Try that in a high-stress situation like a gunfight and you'll find out quickly why they're the bad guy - they aren't going to aim for your hand.

Guns need ammo. Revolvers very rarely hold more than 6-8 rounds. Pistol magazines rarely hold more than 15-20. It's not an endless well from which to draw sound effects. This goes triple for anything full auto - even 100 round drums only last a short while when firing out of something with a 600 round-per-minute cycle. A 20 round stick magazine is empty in frighteningly short time.

Which leads us to the next myth: Full auto firearms are difficult to shoot even passably. There's usually a formidable amount of muzzle climb (except on 50 pound guns like the Thompson) and keeping the gun on target takes a lot of practice and even more ammo. The thought of an untrained shooter grabbing a FA pistol (think True Lies) is frightening.

Carrying a firearm by tucking into one's waistband is a horrifically bad idea. The reason it works in the movies is simply that they lie. The protagonist doesn't actually HAVE the gun in his waistband while he's running/jumping/bouncing/etc. It's gone back to the prop table until it's needed again. It's the same principle behind how Harry Callahan can carry a 6" barrel N-frame under a light suit coat and never print.

Guns are incredibly loud. Firing a gun in an enclosed area - like a car - is going to cause significant hearing damage. And that muzzle flash is actually burning powder - not something you want mere millimeters away from your face.

Suppressors do not actually make the gun any less powerful, nor do they make it absolutely silent. Even with subsonic rounds, there's still somewhat of a report as well as the sound of the gun cycling. Revolvers generally aren't suppressed, as the gap between the cylinder and the forcing cone tends to leak noise...

Shotguns are NOT the be-all, end-all. They generally do not remove limbs, blow dinner-plate-sized holes through people, nor do shells explode on impact. Shotguns also need to be aimed, contrary to popular belief. A standard 12 gauge 00 buckshot round will only expand approximately 4" over a 25-30 foot distance. It will not cover an entire room, nor will each pellet be capable of felling a 200 pound person.

Firearms do not blow people through windows/walls/etc. If there was sufficient force to knock the recipient down, there would be an equal amount of force as recoil. Pistols just don't have the force, and rifles tend to zip on through.

.22LR can indeed be deadly, and .44 Magnum doesn't always kill. Shot placement is key. A .45 - or .223 - will NOT "hit in the arm and tumble through the entire body" or any other nonsense. Ballistics is a science; it's pretty much pure physics, and as such contains no "magic bullet" that can ignore force, momentum, and vectors...

A snubnosed revolver is very difficult to shoot, even more so from a moving platform. The short sight radius, combined with the double action trigger pull, can be daunting to even the seasoned gunnie unless one practices regularly. And hitting an object the diameter of your bullet from 200+ yards is pretty much right out...

Belt-fed machine guns are quite unlikely to be hand-held weapons, especially single-handed. Rotating barreled mini-guns are even less likely... Fully automatic weapons in rifle calibers are hard enough to control in a stable platform. Trying to contain a belt-fed with a single hand? Highly improbable.

That's a good start for dispelling some of the BS that Hollywood likes to perpetrate with regards to guns and shooting. There's a ton more, as there is pretty much no end to the ignorance and bigotry displayed towards anything even remotely connected to firearms from the Hollywood elite. The only cure for ignorance is knowledge, so when it comes to guns: [Hollywood]'s the disease, I'm the cure...

So, what's your favorite Hollywood gun myth?

That is all.

I See... Dead Celebrity...

2009-11-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

MTV 'Remote Control' host Ken Ober dies

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Ken Ober, whose MTV game show "Remote Control" was among the network's first forays into non-music programming, has died at age 52, his agent said Monday.
Ober hosted five seasons of "Remote Control," a pop-culture quiz show that featured contestants strapped into easy chairs to answer questions from categories such as "Dead or Canadian?" The show first aired in 1987 and helped launch the careers of comedians Adam Sandler, Denis Leary and Colin Quinn, who was the program's announcer.

Sorry to see you go "Off the Air", Ken. RIP.

That is all.

Yes, Even MORE Massachusetts Miracles!

2009-11-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Cops Drove State Senator Home Hours Before Crash

A state senator, who was involved in a hit-and-run last month, was driven home by Cambridge police officers hours before the crash, because witnesses said he was too drunk to drive.

Sen. Anthony Galluccio rear-ended a minivan on October 4 in Cambridge and fled the scene, claiming that he panicked. Galluccio would not say if he was drinking before the crash, but he does have a history of drunken driving charges.

I'm certain that if I were at a gas station too drunk to remember where I live kindly Officer Friendly would give me a ride home. If I lived in Mayberry, RFD. You mean to tell me that the Cambridge Police - the same racists that act stupidly - have sufficient free time to act as a taxi service for just any ol' joe?

No, really, stop laughing...

What's frightening is that this guy was STILL DRUNK some 13 hours later. Dude, you have a problem. A serious problem. And the Cambridge PD isn't doing you - or the general public you claim to represent - any favors by covering up for your alcoholic-fueled benders. You only caused minor injuries - this time.

Next time, you - or one of your beloved constituents - might not be so lucky. Get help.

That is all.

Two Is Two Too Many...

2009-11-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

What the bloody hell is going on out there? First there was this story:

Police await positive ID on girl's body found in North Carolina

(CNN) -- A body believed to be that of a missing 5-year-old girl has been found in North Carolina, police said Monday.
Theresa Chance, public information officer of the Fayetteville Police Department, confirmed to CNN the girl's body was found. In a separate e-mail to CNN, Fayetteville police said the body found was that of the missing girl.

BabyGirl G. is six. I'm looking at her picture from soccer as I type this, her smiling face looking at me as I contemplate the horrific evil wrought on poor Shaniya Davis. Tears stream down my face as I mourn the little girl who will never grow up; who will never age; who will forever be five years old. There's a special section of Hell for people that hurt kids.

And I'll stand before you and the face of G-d Himself and say I'd like the pleasure of sending them there.

The story gets even worse:

Police have charged her mother, Antoinette Nicole Davis, with trafficking and other offenses, authorities said. Davis was "prostituting her child," said Chance.

Too. Evil. To. Live.

That's not 20 years on death row and then a quick visit from Dr. Kevorkian. That's a .22 behind the ear out back of the court house and the body left to rot in a landfill right there. If someone THOUGHT of touching my child in a way even remotely similar to what this woman was taking money to let people do, there would be plenty of fertilizer around my house. How someone could do that to their own flesh and blood just boggles my mind.

And any alleged "man" that would use a five year old girl in that manner? Castration via McCulloch would be just a start.

And now this:

Oklahoma doctor held in death of son, 9

(CNN) -- A doctor in suburban Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was arrested Monday and accused in the early morning death of his 9-year-old son, police said.
Dr. Stephen Wolf, 51, faces first-degree murder charges, said Nichols Hills, Oklahoma, Police Chief Richard Mask.

My G-d. TheBoy is almost nine. He's in third grade. The thought of causing him harm makes me physically ill. There's got to be some mental illness at work here - I'll allow the body to be buried in an unmarked grave rather than leaving the body for the vultures. The story's awfully thin on details, so it's hard to draw any conclusions as to what might have happened, but one can only assume that Dr. Wolf snapped.

Why two small, helpless kids? Why kids approximately the same age as my own? Why, dear G-d, why did these two children have to die? WHY? Dammit, it's not right.

I carry a gun because there is evil in this world. And I will shoot the hell out of it before I let it harm my family.

That is all.

Seeing Both Sides...

2009-11-16T13:05:00.002-05:00

Bill eyes reducing school expulsions, suspensions

BOSTON - Roughhousing between friends. Smoking cigarettes on campus. Writing your name on a desk. These are just a few of the reasons for the more than 20,000 school suspensions last year that lasted fewer than 10 days - the magic number for school administrators, who have to report any longer exclusions to the school committee.

The Joint Committee on Education heard testimony on a bill this week that would make it more difficult to exclude children from school as politicians search for ways to keep kids in school.

It's easy to see both sides of this issue. From the administration side, it could be viewed as an attempt to tie their hands as to how they can discipline kids. It's another law tossed on the books to add yet another number by which the crunchers must obey. Nine 10-day suspensions is okay; the 10th is not allowed. It doesn't seem to make much sense - you're talking about suspending the student for more than half the year.

On the other hand, if you've got a student who is so disruptive that they need to be barred from class for more than half the school year, shouldn't that be open to some sort of review? Shouldn't it be obvious after the third, fourth, or fifth two week suspension that this is a "student" that needs more careful observation, and by the seventh or eighth suspension should be expelled. It seems that by allowing an unlimited number of two-week suspensions, what's created is a de facto expulsion, sans review.

It'd be really easy for a petty tyrant to abuse that power...

Even given the number of events that warrant an "automatic" suspension (carrying a [butter] knife; possession of [over-the-counter cold] drugs; etc.), it seems that your average marginal student shouldn't garner more than one or two suspensions over a year. It would seem prudent that more than one two-week suspension in a quarter should be grounds for review - two weeks out of nine is bad enough; going to four (the second suspension) is nearly half of the school quarter.

Then again, with only a firearm charge or perhaps a drug dealing charge being sufficient to actually expel a student, keeping a real problem child out of the classroom becomes a dicey proposition. If the principal proposed expulsion and is rebuffed, maintaining discipline becomes tricky, especially for that student. It's easy to see why an administrator would not want their hands tied with regards to discipline.

However, what's puzzling is why they would want the discipline shielded from review...

That is all.

Random Ramblings...

2009-11-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

Hoo boy. Lotsa interesting stuff going on around the round world...

First off, an interesting local story that has national ramifications: Green Line Incident Latest Accident Reported By T. Money quote:

The federal government may soon step in when it comes to safety on the subway. The Obama Administration is proposing federal oversight, much like what is done for airlines and Amtrak.

Yeah, I'm not so sure, given the 0's track record on pretty much everything else he's touched, that I want the fedgov mucking around with the subways. I doubt we'd hear "At least the trains ran on time" very much...

Next up, those crazy MA lawmakers are at it again: Mass. immigrant tuition bill to get new push. Yes, once again, MA is trying to give in-state tuition to folks who shouldn't even be in this country. Ho hum. What's interesting is this tidbit:

Currently, 10 states — California, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin — have such in-state tuition laws for undocumented students. Oklahoma repealed its law in 2008.

Texas has in-state tuition for illegal aliens and MA doesn't? Oh, that's just gotta rankle the blue-blood Dems who think that good ol' MA is just soooo much more progressive than those redneck states, eh?

I'm not quite sure what to make of this: Obama: U.S., China don't have to be rivals. What's vexing is this quote:

"We do not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation, but we also don't believe that the principles that we stand for are unique to our nation," he told the gathering.

Well, yeah, we kinda do, actually. Show me another nation on earth where the government is as constrained as to what they can't limit as the US government. Show me another nation on earth where the ability to speak one's mind without fear of reprisal from the government is so sacred that it is the very first thing added to our Bill of Rights. And barring that, please explain why people from all over the world are trying to get to the USA and share her freedoms...

In the "Cry me a river" category, comes this tear-jerker: Hub’s top-price condos finding few takers. Awwww... Poor widdle yuppies are taking a bath on their million dollar condos. Hold on while I check my Give-A-Damnmeter. Nope. Stuck on zero. Quote:

“People are nervous about their jobs and they lack confidence in Boston’s housing market.”

Gee, I wonder why that is? Maybe because MA is losing population like nobody's business? Maybe because no one wants to gamble a million plus on living in a city run by Mumbles Menino forever? Or, maybe even simpler - they're starting to realize that Boston just isn't all that and a bag of chips?

Lastly, one story that hasn't been given a lot of air time, due to the fact that the principal players wanted it that way: George W. Bush Secretly Visits Fort Hood Victims. In the same way that President Bush met with the families of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and never sought media attention for it,

The Bushes entered and departed the sprawling military facility in secret, having told the base commander they did not want press coverage of their visit, a source told Fox News.

It took a link from Tam to Ed who pointed here to find the story. That about wraps up a look at the day's news for now. Perhaps later when my blood pressure returns to normal I'll make mention of the return of the imbeciles to MA roadways...

Pretty interesting the twists and turns that crazy ol' internet takes, eh?.

That is all.