...I've been down in the dumps (for personal reasons I will not go into on my blog), and i just have not had a lot of time to blog. Maybe tomorrow, or Friday for something.
All the best,
Glenn B
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
I Predict - Gloom and Doom
The way things have been going for the last few years, it should be obvious to anyone who looks back though the pages of history with an eye for comparison to today, that we in the world today are due for a major conflict between nations. I remember not too long ago a prominent US politician in essence said that small nations were not the ones we need to worry about, but large nations are the ones we need to fear such as how we feared the Soviet union. He is, in my humble opinion, dead wrong. If you look around the world today, you will note a militaristic strengthening in many of the world's small nations. In fact, many more of them are building up their military power than those that did so before the last two world wars. For example, prior to WWII, only three nations of the then son to be formed Axis Powers, were building up militarily. They were:
1) Germany, a nation devastated by WWI, by the Great Depression, and by foolish borrowing that placed them as the most heavily indebted nation in the world at that time. Yet they had a leader with vision, albeit twisted vision, of world conquest and domination. Yet he was a leader who brought them up to becoming a world power in only a few years despite sanctions imposed on them by other nations; and despite their small size they almost conquered the world.
2) Italy, a nation that was floundering in financial and social ruin. It had turned to Colonial Africa in the hopes of replenishing resources, but could not go it alone. Just another small nation, almost insignificant in the world picture, but that had a leader who got the trains running on time, and who motivated its people with visions of grandeur.
3) Japan - Another small, rather insignificant country who until just recently (as history goes) at that time had depended upon Samurai warriors for an army. They were small but had ambitions of expanding their world holdings. They were led by a fanatic whom the people believed was a god.
WWII began in 1939, and it rapidly progressed with victory after victory for the Axis Powers, these three nations and a few other small nations that joined them. Hitler and the Third Reich was steamrolling over Europe. One country after another had fallen. Poland, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Great Britain was on the brink of collapse. I have heard it hypothesized that had Hitler kept up the bombing raids over England for a few weeks more, they would have fallen. Had the Germans invaded England, it would have likely been over in days. Yes the Brits were tough, but they were failing miserably if slowly.
In the east, one Pacific island nation after another fell to Japan. The United States was brutally attacked at Pearl Harbor. China was under siege and millions were killed. Burma fell. Australia was threatened as was New Zealand.
The thing that amazes me most when I look back is how blind the world seemed to remain to the growing threat caused by the countries that would unite as the Axis Powers. Japan had rattled sabers for years before. Their emperor promised great expansion. They were building up a military force made from metal purchased from the USA and others. It was no secret that they were seeking to expand militarily; yet no one paid them any mind. Italy was likewise, but probably did not look to be as much of a threat, and anyway they seemed interested in Africa. Who cared about Africa back then, very few unless they had colonial holdings therein. Germany was the most boisterous of the three major Axis Powers. They not only rattled sabers, they but and air force. That was strictly forbidden under the Treaty Of Versailles. They did not stop at an air force, they also built and army and a navy. Besides that they built roads, roads that would lead to other European Nations and would act as highways for tanks, armored cavalry, and infantry. In addition Hitler boasted that the Third Reich would conquer the world, that the final solution would exterminate the mentally handicapped, the gypsies, the and the Jews among others. That Germany would conquer Russia.
None of this was really done in secret, especially in Germany. They openly defied the treaty of Versailles, openly spouted talk of war, and openly made preparation for it as the world watched in mute unconcern. The result was the bloodiest war the world had yet seen. Tens of millions died as a result. It is estimated that over 72,000,000 people lost their lives in WWII. Read that again - over SEVENTY TWO MILLION - all because a few small countries got together and tried to conquer the world.
So what does that have to do with today. Why do I predict doom and gloom? Well I believe we are only years away from, maybe even only months away from, WWIII. Why - well because the signs are there, and this time the smaller countries are preparing better than they did before both of the last two world wars. They are preparing in many ways. The first and most obvious is that they are gearing up militarily. Just look to Iran, Venezuela, North Korea (yes they have agreed to stop production of nuclear material, now that we believe they have the bomb already), Syria, and Russia (not such a small country but one that would surely become much stronger with an alliance of small countries). Look to also to Pakistan, and India. Look to Japan which is for the first time in over 60 years gearing up for war. Loo to to a really big country - Red China. They are building up one of the largest navies ever to exist. Why do they need a large navy except for an invasion fleet. Think about it. Now you can say, as did people like Neville Chamberlain before WWII that these buildups mean little to nothing; you could be right, but other things say not.
Look at the messages coming out of countries like Iran and North Korea and Venezuela and Russia. They are all spouting off against a perceived enemy, the United States of America. They are all countries that seem bent on expansion or possible world domination. Look too to the Islamo Fascists. it does not matter from which country they hail, there politics is there religion and they spout off conquest of the world. They also preach the destruction of Israel and of the USA. North Korea constantly harangues us as evil, and so too does Iran and Venezuela. The pot is more than stirred, it is at a boil and ready to overflow in violence.
At the same time, the USA is at one of the weakest points in the last 30 or so years. It has not been this weak militarily since carter, and not as oil depleted since Nixon. We are much as were the Soviets when they collapsed. The thing is though, despite what the Soviets said we wanted when they painted us as evil, we really did not want to conquer the Soviet Union. We wanted the world to be at peace. We wanted to spread democracy and freedom. We were ready for war if need be, but it did not come to that. These other nations today, many of the ones I have mentioned are hate mongers. They do not want to spread freedom, they want to expand and conquer, they want to rule more and more people, they want to in essence conquer the world, and the USA is the prime target.
All they need to accomplish are a few strategic strikes on US soil. A few well orchestrated attacks in the Gulf of Mexico and in Texas would wipe out many of our oil wells, and our oil refineries. A few more well planned attack in Alaska would destroy our other main source of domestic oil. We would be helpless. You look and say - hey that is impossible. Yeah right, just as France said that the Maginot Line was unbreakable. maybe it was, so the Germans went around it because of pompous blind fools in the french government, France fell quickly. How could we be attacked like that. Well for starters our military is strung thinly in Iraq and Afghanistan among other places. Our resources to build up our military are being depleted on a daily basis by terrorists, yet we probably fund those same terrorists by sending money for oil to Islamic countries - countries such as Saudi Arabia that is a known terrorist hot bed. Our economy is folding, we are in debt more than ever before, and the time is simply ripe for a few small countries to do their damnedest to do their worst to us. If they succeed, even with a few small non-military attacks carried out by terrorists, I suspect that other nations will quickly lend them support. What nations, well Russia and China to name two of them. These two countries, either singularly or together, already militarily support North Korea, Iran and Venezuela. You can bet Saudi Arabia and many other Arabic countries would also support them in such a cause, and so too would Islamo Fascists.
In addition to all of that, our current involvement in two wars is not doing a lot of good for us in any of this regard, that is unless we take quick and decisive action to win those wars; and then to claim the spoils of those wars. Why on earth Iraq is not paying us back for our expenditures over there is beyond me. They are oil rich and could easily pay us in that manner, yet we allow them to suck us dry. Same for Afghanistan, they must have something of value with which they could make reparations to us for our assistance in freeing their nation from the Taliban. We are, in effect, helping pave the way for the war machines of other nations to ride roughshod over us.
Of course a secondary target in all of this will be Israel, and the rest of the free nations of the world. Israel may well be attacked first; yet somehow I think it will be the USA to weather the first attacks of the next WW. I think these little piss ant nations have already caught us acting fat, dumb and happy, just look at oil prices; and that soon they will catch us with our mouths agape as the bombs start going off on our home soil. Israel will be attacked immediately after that, and will be nuked off the face of the earth if my suspicions hold true. All the more reason to suppor them with all we can, allies are a good thing of which one never wants to run short.
Yes the time is ripe for another world war, and this time we here in the USA are the primary target of much of the rest of the world. Sure we have allies, but which would stick with us. I suspect and hope that Australia, Canada, Japan, Great Britain and Italy would all be by our side. But what about France, what about Argentina, what about Mexico (heck they are already invading us). If a world war does break out, we are in for some bad times so it is about time we start acting like the possibility of a third world war really exists. Wiser words were never spoken than these: "They who long for peace must prepare for war".
Well that is it for me spouting off gloom and doom. I have gotten it off of my chest for now; but I am sure to remember it come November when I vote for president.
Hoping for peace
through superior firepower,
Glenn B
1) Germany, a nation devastated by WWI, by the Great Depression, and by foolish borrowing that placed them as the most heavily indebted nation in the world at that time. Yet they had a leader with vision, albeit twisted vision, of world conquest and domination. Yet he was a leader who brought them up to becoming a world power in only a few years despite sanctions imposed on them by other nations; and despite their small size they almost conquered the world.
2) Italy, a nation that was floundering in financial and social ruin. It had turned to Colonial Africa in the hopes of replenishing resources, but could not go it alone. Just another small nation, almost insignificant in the world picture, but that had a leader who got the trains running on time, and who motivated its people with visions of grandeur.
3) Japan - Another small, rather insignificant country who until just recently (as history goes) at that time had depended upon Samurai warriors for an army. They were small but had ambitions of expanding their world holdings. They were led by a fanatic whom the people believed was a god.
WWII began in 1939, and it rapidly progressed with victory after victory for the Axis Powers, these three nations and a few other small nations that joined them. Hitler and the Third Reich was steamrolling over Europe. One country after another had fallen. Poland, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Great Britain was on the brink of collapse. I have heard it hypothesized that had Hitler kept up the bombing raids over England for a few weeks more, they would have fallen. Had the Germans invaded England, it would have likely been over in days. Yes the Brits were tough, but they were failing miserably if slowly.
In the east, one Pacific island nation after another fell to Japan. The United States was brutally attacked at Pearl Harbor. China was under siege and millions were killed. Burma fell. Australia was threatened as was New Zealand.
The thing that amazes me most when I look back is how blind the world seemed to remain to the growing threat caused by the countries that would unite as the Axis Powers. Japan had rattled sabers for years before. Their emperor promised great expansion. They were building up a military force made from metal purchased from the USA and others. It was no secret that they were seeking to expand militarily; yet no one paid them any mind. Italy was likewise, but probably did not look to be as much of a threat, and anyway they seemed interested in Africa. Who cared about Africa back then, very few unless they had colonial holdings therein. Germany was the most boisterous of the three major Axis Powers. They not only rattled sabers, they but and air force. That was strictly forbidden under the Treaty Of Versailles. They did not stop at an air force, they also built and army and a navy. Besides that they built roads, roads that would lead to other European Nations and would act as highways for tanks, armored cavalry, and infantry. In addition Hitler boasted that the Third Reich would conquer the world, that the final solution would exterminate the mentally handicapped, the gypsies, the and the Jews among others. That Germany would conquer Russia.
None of this was really done in secret, especially in Germany. They openly defied the treaty of Versailles, openly spouted talk of war, and openly made preparation for it as the world watched in mute unconcern. The result was the bloodiest war the world had yet seen. Tens of millions died as a result. It is estimated that over 72,000,000 people lost their lives in WWII. Read that again - over SEVENTY TWO MILLION - all because a few small countries got together and tried to conquer the world.
So what does that have to do with today. Why do I predict doom and gloom? Well I believe we are only years away from, maybe even only months away from, WWIII. Why - well because the signs are there, and this time the smaller countries are preparing better than they did before both of the last two world wars. They are preparing in many ways. The first and most obvious is that they are gearing up militarily. Just look to Iran, Venezuela, North Korea (yes they have agreed to stop production of nuclear material, now that we believe they have the bomb already), Syria, and Russia (not such a small country but one that would surely become much stronger with an alliance of small countries). Look to also to Pakistan, and India. Look to Japan which is for the first time in over 60 years gearing up for war. Loo to to a really big country - Red China. They are building up one of the largest navies ever to exist. Why do they need a large navy except for an invasion fleet. Think about it. Now you can say, as did people like Neville Chamberlain before WWII that these buildups mean little to nothing; you could be right, but other things say not.
Look at the messages coming out of countries like Iran and North Korea and Venezuela and Russia. They are all spouting off against a perceived enemy, the United States of America. They are all countries that seem bent on expansion or possible world domination. Look too to the Islamo Fascists. it does not matter from which country they hail, there politics is there religion and they spout off conquest of the world. They also preach the destruction of Israel and of the USA. North Korea constantly harangues us as evil, and so too does Iran and Venezuela. The pot is more than stirred, it is at a boil and ready to overflow in violence.
At the same time, the USA is at one of the weakest points in the last 30 or so years. It has not been this weak militarily since carter, and not as oil depleted since Nixon. We are much as were the Soviets when they collapsed. The thing is though, despite what the Soviets said we wanted when they painted us as evil, we really did not want to conquer the Soviet Union. We wanted the world to be at peace. We wanted to spread democracy and freedom. We were ready for war if need be, but it did not come to that. These other nations today, many of the ones I have mentioned are hate mongers. They do not want to spread freedom, they want to expand and conquer, they want to rule more and more people, they want to in essence conquer the world, and the USA is the prime target.
All they need to accomplish are a few strategic strikes on US soil. A few well orchestrated attacks in the Gulf of Mexico and in Texas would wipe out many of our oil wells, and our oil refineries. A few more well planned attack in Alaska would destroy our other main source of domestic oil. We would be helpless. You look and say - hey that is impossible. Yeah right, just as France said that the Maginot Line was unbreakable. maybe it was, so the Germans went around it because of pompous blind fools in the french government, France fell quickly. How could we be attacked like that. Well for starters our military is strung thinly in Iraq and Afghanistan among other places. Our resources to build up our military are being depleted on a daily basis by terrorists, yet we probably fund those same terrorists by sending money for oil to Islamic countries - countries such as Saudi Arabia that is a known terrorist hot bed. Our economy is folding, we are in debt more than ever before, and the time is simply ripe for a few small countries to do their damnedest to do their worst to us. If they succeed, even with a few small non-military attacks carried out by terrorists, I suspect that other nations will quickly lend them support. What nations, well Russia and China to name two of them. These two countries, either singularly or together, already militarily support North Korea, Iran and Venezuela. You can bet Saudi Arabia and many other Arabic countries would also support them in such a cause, and so too would Islamo Fascists.
In addition to all of that, our current involvement in two wars is not doing a lot of good for us in any of this regard, that is unless we take quick and decisive action to win those wars; and then to claim the spoils of those wars. Why on earth Iraq is not paying us back for our expenditures over there is beyond me. They are oil rich and could easily pay us in that manner, yet we allow them to suck us dry. Same for Afghanistan, they must have something of value with which they could make reparations to us for our assistance in freeing their nation from the Taliban. We are, in effect, helping pave the way for the war machines of other nations to ride roughshod over us.
Of course a secondary target in all of this will be Israel, and the rest of the free nations of the world. Israel may well be attacked first; yet somehow I think it will be the USA to weather the first attacks of the next WW. I think these little piss ant nations have already caught us acting fat, dumb and happy, just look at oil prices; and that soon they will catch us with our mouths agape as the bombs start going off on our home soil. Israel will be attacked immediately after that, and will be nuked off the face of the earth if my suspicions hold true. All the more reason to suppor them with all we can, allies are a good thing of which one never wants to run short.
Yes the time is ripe for another world war, and this time we here in the USA are the primary target of much of the rest of the world. Sure we have allies, but which would stick with us. I suspect and hope that Australia, Canada, Japan, Great Britain and Italy would all be by our side. But what about France, what about Argentina, what about Mexico (heck they are already invading us). If a world war does break out, we are in for some bad times so it is about time we start acting like the possibility of a third world war really exists. Wiser words were never spoken than these: "They who long for peace must prepare for war".
Well that is it for me spouting off gloom and doom. I have gotten it off of my chest for now; but I am sure to remember it come November when I vote for president.
Hoping for peace
through superior firepower,
Glenn B
Sunday, July 27, 2008
The Skies Stormed...
...away today, torrents of rain coming down as I have not seen in at least a week. It's not unusual to have summer storms in this neck of outermetrsloburbia but it is a bit bit much seeing them this bad twice within a week. It just rained almost as bad as today this past Wednesday. Today, despite the weather, or oblivious to the pending high chance of downpours, I took a drive to a not all that local reptile speciality pet shop today and got stuck in the middle of one heck of a thunder storm, in fact several of them. The roads were flooding and people were driving slow (for a change) except of course for a few idiots in their SUVs who probably believed were invincible in a 4W drive. I guess they just don't realize that an SUV can have trouble breaking in the rain just like any other vehicle. Then there was the Latin Somebody Or Other MC group riding their bikes in the rain. That was just a sight to see, but at least they pulled over under an overpass when it got really bad. Oh well, enough on other people in the rain, back to my mission.
The trusty Corolla handled nimbly despite the rain, and I arrived at the pet shop in one piece. I got just a bit damp running from the car to the door, just a bit though because thankfully the rain had let up just before I arrived there. While there I made a quick purchase of a thousand 1/4" crickets. It was well worth the drive if only because they are so deliciously good when baked into a freshly homemade pie crust. (Of course that's not what I do with em, after all the baby bearded dragons need to eat.) Then I headed to a local pet shop and picked up some other things for my other critters and headed home. While getting out of and into my car there, I had to virtually wade through a puddle that actually came up over the tops of my feet. I got pretty soggy from the ankles down, but somehow the rest of me stayed pretty dry - I guess because I had a small umbrella in the back seat. I forgot about it at the first shop (did not really need it there as there was a short break between downpour), but remembered it at the second one where it was indeed needed as the rain was coming down hard again. It did its job well for such a tiny umbrella as it is. Funny how I did not see one other person with an umbrella as they either ran through the parking lot toward a store or toward their cars all the while getting absolutely soaked. What is it with people? For me, I can say: What a trip. As it turned out, with those storm cells raging on and off, a trip that usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour took me about 1 3/4 hours, but I survived.
Of course, once I got home, the fact that is was wet outside did not phase my wife one bit with regard to her wanting me to BBQ. Truly, she would have given me a break and she would have cooked the chicken and steak in the oven if I had wanted her to, but I decided what the heck I was wet already, and we were both looking forward to some hunks of charred meat. So I took the matches from her (the electric starter on the grill must have been wet because it was not starting anything), and I also grabbed grabbed a bier, then I fired up the grill. I stayed pretty dry by standing in the garage a few feet from the grill as the food cooked, and I just came out to check on it and turn it as need be. I have to admit it was darned good, probably better than any cricket pie would ever taste; and I did not get all that wet since the rains had let up pretty much by then. As for the crickets, the baby bearded dragons sure made those crickets look tasty as they gobbled em down (no not all of em at one feeding, they will last about a week or two). For some reason, unfathomable to me, they seemingly did not care one little bit that the crickets were and kicking as opposed to barbecued or baked into a pie crust. Nope they did not seem to mind at all.
All the best,
Glenn B
The trusty Corolla handled nimbly despite the rain, and I arrived at the pet shop in one piece. I got just a bit damp running from the car to the door, just a bit though because thankfully the rain had let up just before I arrived there. While there I made a quick purchase of a thousand 1/4" crickets. It was well worth the drive if only because they are so deliciously good when baked into a freshly homemade pie crust. (Of course that's not what I do with em, after all the baby bearded dragons need to eat.) Then I headed to a local pet shop and picked up some other things for my other critters and headed home. While getting out of and into my car there, I had to virtually wade through a puddle that actually came up over the tops of my feet. I got pretty soggy from the ankles down, but somehow the rest of me stayed pretty dry - I guess because I had a small umbrella in the back seat. I forgot about it at the first shop (did not really need it there as there was a short break between downpour), but remembered it at the second one where it was indeed needed as the rain was coming down hard again. It did its job well for such a tiny umbrella as it is. Funny how I did not see one other person with an umbrella as they either ran through the parking lot toward a store or toward their cars all the while getting absolutely soaked. What is it with people? For me, I can say: What a trip. As it turned out, with those storm cells raging on and off, a trip that usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour took me about 1 3/4 hours, but I survived.
Of course, once I got home, the fact that is was wet outside did not phase my wife one bit with regard to her wanting me to BBQ. Truly, she would have given me a break and she would have cooked the chicken and steak in the oven if I had wanted her to, but I decided what the heck I was wet already, and we were both looking forward to some hunks of charred meat. So I took the matches from her (the electric starter on the grill must have been wet because it was not starting anything), and I also grabbed grabbed a bier, then I fired up the grill. I stayed pretty dry by standing in the garage a few feet from the grill as the food cooked, and I just came out to check on it and turn it as need be. I have to admit it was darned good, probably better than any cricket pie would ever taste; and I did not get all that wet since the rains had let up pretty much by then. As for the crickets, the baby bearded dragons sure made those crickets look tasty as they gobbled em down (no not all of em at one feeding, they will last about a week or two). For some reason, unfathomable to me, they seemingly did not care one little bit that the crickets were and kicking as opposed to barbecued or baked into a pie crust. Nope they did not seem to mind at all.
All the best,
Glenn B
Inflation and Balderdash...
...and yes you know I meant to put another word, also beginning with a B, in the title instead of balderdash. I recently went to a modern day drugstore to buy some batteries. You know the type of drugstore, one of the ones that sell everything from pantyhose to pills to popcorn. As for the batteries, nothing special really, just some run of the mill button type alkaline batteries for a small electronic scale, LR44 batteries to be specific.
I asked the price of 3 of these batteries and was told they were $12.95. Not $12.95 for all three, but rather $12.95 each. I was pretty surprised to hear that, and asked the clerk to double check on the price. 'Yep, that'll be $12.95 each, everything has gone up in price because gas went up'. I was flabbergasted, I mean really, could inflation due to the high price of gasoline have made the price of batteries go through the roof too, or was it just price gouging? Since I wasn't born yesterday, and since I really did not need to use the scale except to weigh a few pieces of gold jewelry I am considering putting up for sale, I figured why bother - I could have them weighed another day.This morning was another day. I signed onto GunBroker.com where I had just sold an item in an auction. I guess being on an auction site of one sort or another led me to think about selling the jewelry, and that made me think I had to know the weight of the pieces, and that made me think of the scale, and that brought me back to the batteries and to the really high price quote. So I plugged the term LR44 into my browser. What pops up but several links to sites selling these batteries. I took a look at a few of them, and that made me realize I had been
That is 44 cents each, shipping included. I would open a battery store if I could get em that cheap then think I could really sell them for $12.95 each on a regular basis.
The thing that gets me the most though is how anyone could be so naive as to believe that a commonplace a battery as is the LR 44 could have a legitimate price tag on it of $12.95 (or $38.85 for three plus tax), and also believe it is the price of gasoline that caused it to go up so high. Are people that friggin stupid? Don't answer that, it will just depress me to hear from someone other than myself that yes they are indeed that stupid. Now don't try to defend this particular clerk by saying maybe she was new to the store and was not familiar with the prices; she has worked there for years, and has been in the photography department where they sell those batteries for as long as I can recall her being in the store. It just boggles the mind that people are so easily manipulated by greed mongers, and that they would be willing to pay stellar prices based onbullshit balderdash.
As for me, I'll buy them somewhere where I can get a reasonable price, like from an online retailer, or from a store with prices that honestly reflect the worth of these batteries. I'll also be going back to the same store wherein I was given the $12.95 apiece price quote, and I'll be taking along a copy of a few of the ads I found to show to the manager of the store. I figure that, and a bit of a speech about how I feel like they tried to cheat me may get me the batteries at a fair price, and maybe get me an apology and some future discounts. If not, I can shop at their competition across the street.
All the best,
Glenn B
The thing that gets me the most though is how anyone could be so naive as to believe that a commonplace a battery as is the LR 44 could have a legitimate price tag on it of $12.95 (or $38.85 for three plus tax), and also believe it is the price of gasoline that caused it to go up so high. Are people that friggin stupid? Don't answer that, it will just depress me to hear from someone other than myself that yes they are indeed that stupid. Now don't try to defend this particular clerk by saying maybe she was new to the store and was not familiar with the prices; she has worked there for years, and has been in the photography department where they sell those batteries for as long as I can recall her being in the store. It just boggles the mind that people are so easily manipulated by greed mongers, and that they would be willing to pay stellar prices based on
As for me, I'll buy them somewhere where I can get a reasonable price, like from an online retailer, or from a store with prices that honestly reflect the worth of these batteries. I'll also be going back to the same store wherein I was given the $12.95 apiece price quote, and I'll be taking along a copy of a few of the ads I found to show to the manager of the store. I figure that, and a bit of a speech about how I feel like they tried to cheat me may get me the batteries at a fair price, and maybe get me an apology and some future discounts. If not, I can shop at their competition across the street.
All the best,
Glenn B
Friday, July 25, 2008
The Police
Heck, I could have just bought 2 tickets online for pretty good seats at the final Police show in their reunion tour (and supposedly final tour forever). One level above floor level, to front of stage to left of stage as you look at it, 6th row, aisle seats. Really good seats, but man oh man $359 each, plus $18.50 handling fee each. I was sorely tempted if only because I was thinking I could sell one and still go and almost have paid for both by selling the one, or sell both and have some decent profit. Then again, I am a wussie and don't want to take the chance of getting skunked and holding two tickets, without getting any of the money back. Of course, I could always take my wife, but I doubt she would appreciate the show, or the fact that I would have to go into hock to buy the tickets.
Maybe I should check out a show before the final show.
All the best,
Glenn B
Maybe I should check out a show before the final show.
All the best,
Glenn B
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
SAIGA .308
You may remember my son turned 18 at the end of last year. With that came his liberty to buy and possess firearms - yes even here in anti-gun, tyrannical, ultra-liberal New York. He was surprised to learn that now he could indeed go out and make a purchase of his own firearms without me in tow. Somehow though, I thought he may have lost interest in getting himself his first self purchased gun, I guess simply because he has not said much about it in several months.
Tonight though he surprised me. he told me he had been in a gun shop just a few blocks from our house (small store, but exceedingly high prices on some things I have seen there) and that he had checked on the availability of SAIGA rifles. They have a SAIGA in .223 for the price of $350. I guess not too bad considering I can buy one online for $329 plus shipping, plus an FFL fee (probably at least $50 around here,but likely to be more). He did not ask the gun shop clerk, but my guess is it comes with one magazine (10 shot for .223 I think). The one online comes with 4 10 shot magazines. Still though $350 is not all that high from what I can gather. He was also told by the store clerk that they would be getting them in 7.62x39 soon. I told Brendan that he should consider getting one in .308, a much better round than either of the others. He is going to go back to the store to inquire if they can get one in that caliber.
The rifles are not bad at all from what I can gather. They are sturdy work horses, based on the AK design, and are fairly accurate out to 200 to 300 yards. They are available with a 16.3" or 21.8 inch barrel, and come with either wood or synthetic stocks. They are manufactured or imported by Russian American Armory, see this link for more info: I should point out, I also told Brendan that if he really wants one he should save up his money for one of these rifles. Then Brendan told me that he has been saving all of his change toward just that end. That was a pleasant surprise for me. I don't know how much he has saved, but my guess is he could save $400 or so in change, enough for the rifle plus tax and maybe an extra mag and some ammo, in about a year or less. We will see how this works out, and I'll keep you advised of any real progress toward this goal. If I am lucky he will save enough for two of them and buy one for me too.
It seems I have planted the seed of an American Rifleman within the soul of my son. That my friends is a good thing indeed.
All the best,
Glenn B
How Could I Resist - It Was A Package Deal
Yes I am short on funds, yes I am trying to save up for a new gun, yes I have been hit with a lot of unexpected bills lately, yes my son's college tuition is due by July 31st (ouch - man have state university tuition costs skyrocketed); but how could I resist a deal like this. I mean even if the scope is a piece of trash, and I am not saying it is but just that it could be at this price, so long as the scope mount/receiver cover is of decent quality this is a good deal. Supposedly the cover/mount is all steel.
What exactly is it? Well, it's a scope mount and rifle scope for a Yugo SKS that is being offered by Centerfire Systems at: http://www.centerfiresystems.com/pkg106.aspx. I never heard of this outfit before, but I found them while searching for info on a SAIGA in .308. Once I saw this ad on their home page, I was hooked. Of course, I realize that any scope mounted as far back on an SKS as this will be will probably want to scoop my right eye right out of its socket with each shot fired, but I have other plans for the mount than using the scope that comes with it. My hope is to mount a 1" tube red dot sight in the mount. That will not protrude anywhere nearly as far back as would even the so called "mini compact scope" that comes with the package. Of course, since the scope comes with the deal, I'll have to mount it before buying a red dot scope, just to see how it works albeit facing the risk to my becoming a cyclops. Who knows - it may be just the thing for an SKS. For the price of $34.98 I cannot go far wrong, that is of course barring losing an eye to this set-up. Sure the ad says $24.99, but I am adding $9.99 they charge for shipping accessories.
I have already ordered it, and once I have received it, I suppose I'll have to make a trip to the range with Brendan and a couple of good pairs of shooting glasses to check it out. Once I do, I'll let you know what I think of it.
All the best,
Glenn B
What exactly is it? Well, it's a scope mount and rifle scope for a Yugo SKS that is being offered by Centerfire Systems at: http://www.centerfiresystems.com/pkg106.aspx. I never heard of this outfit before, but I found them while searching for info on a SAIGA in .308. Once I saw this ad on their home page, I was hooked. Of course, I realize that any scope mounted as far back on an SKS as this will be will probably want to scoop my right eye right out of its socket with each shot fired, but I have other plans for the mount than using the scope that comes with it. My hope is to mount a 1" tube red dot sight in the mount. That will not protrude anywhere nearly as far back as would even the so called "mini compact scope" that comes with the package. Of course, since the scope comes with the deal, I'll have to mount it before buying a red dot scope, just to see how it works albeit facing the risk to my becoming a cyclops. Who knows - it may be just the thing for an SKS. For the price of $34.98 I cannot go far wrong, that is of course barring losing an eye to this set-up. Sure the ad says $24.99, but I am adding $9.99 they charge for shipping accessories.I have already ordered it, and once I have received it, I suppose I'll have to make a trip to the range with Brendan and a couple of good pairs of shooting glasses to check it out. Once I do, I'll let you know what I think of it.
All the best,
Glenn B
I didn't know I could do that!
That is drag a page element to appear just above my rants. That is great, this way I can have a topic right at the top of my blog for as long as I want. Good place to put the Soldiers' Care Package donation request while it is still ongoing.
By the way, so far, I have only received one donation. I have to ask - what is up with that? Is it that people are broke, or that they don't think it a good cause, or that they do not trust me, or what? Those are not rhetorical questions either, I would appreciate some answers, thoughts, opinions, as to why only one person has made a donation to such a worthy cause. Last time around there were quite a number of donations; so I just don't get why there is only one so far this time around. So please leave me your thoughts on it, you can leave them anonymously if you want.
All the best,
Glenn B
By the way, so far, I have only received one donation. I have to ask - what is up with that? Is it that people are broke, or that they don't think it a good cause, or that they do not trust me, or what? Those are not rhetorical questions either, I would appreciate some answers, thoughts, opinions, as to why only one person has made a donation to such a worthy cause. Last time around there were quite a number of donations; so I just don't get why there is only one so far this time around. So please leave me your thoughts on it, you can leave them anonymously if you want.
All the best,
Glenn B
Off To Visit My Mom today...
...in the hospital. She took a fall a few days back, and has been in the hospital since then. I had best get my butt out her way for a visit, and to give my sister a break. My sister has been attending to her for the 2 days she has been in the hospital already. So not much time to blog today, and probably not tonight either. By the time I get home, I'll probably be ready for an icy cold beverage, and then to hit the hay. Not looking forward to the 1 1/2 hour drive. Maybe more depending on traffic, and thank goodness this is not a Friday because traffic to eastern Long Island can be really bad on Friday in the beach season. Oh well, I gotta grab a cup of Joe and hit the road.
Edited to add: Now an hour later and I still have not left home. Delays, delays, delays, but I'll be leaving soon - just waiting for my phone to charge up a bit - no car charger.
All the best,
Glenn B
Edited to add: Now an hour later and I still have not left home. Delays, delays, delays, but I'll be leaving soon - just waiting for my phone to charge up a bit - no car charger.
All the best,
Glenn B
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
The Latest Link(s)
Tonight I found out my blog was prominently linked on the blog: The Wandering Minstrel. How can I not give a reciprocal blog to someone with genius enough to link to me! So there it is, over on the right, in 'The Grumps, Geeks, Gun Guys and Geniuses...' blog roll. This particular blogger is one of the gun toting (and smart) variety which are my favorites, that is right after those who get me in trouble with my wife when they flash me a pretty smile.
There is also a new blog under the header of 'All Sorts of Great Bloggers - No Links Back To Me - But I Like Em Anyway' blog roll. This new one is Great Blue Whale. Another gun blog among other things.
Check them out, I think that you will like them.
All the best,
Glenn B
There is also a new blog under the header of 'All Sorts of Great Bloggers - No Links Back To Me - But I Like Em Anyway' blog roll. This new one is Great Blue Whale. Another gun blog among other things.
Check them out, I think that you will like them.
All the best,
Glenn B
Monday, July 21, 2008
An Open Invitation...
...to any U.S. Citizen or legal resident alien, who is of legal age, if you are on Long Island and want to learn how to shoot a rifle or shotgun, I would be happy to assist free of charge as per availability. You must provide your own firearm(s) and ammunition, safety equipment, pay for your own range use fees, and for your own transportation to the range. I can possibly provide a 22 rifle for first timers under certain circumstances, but this will be the rare exception. This offer goes for virtually anyone who can legally possess a firearm within New York State, and who is mentally and physically capable, in my opinion, of using one safely. I am available to do this at the Nassau County Rifle Range in Uniondale, or at the Long Island Shooting Range of Brookhaven. Please be responsible and courteous, don't be a jerk if you want to take me up on it, be capable of shooting safely, and be legally allowed to possess firearms and ammunition. This offer conveys no privilege or right to anyone, and I may, at my own discretion, decline to provide this offer to anyone for any reason, or may discontinue the offer at any time with no advance notice.
All the best,
Glenn B
All the best,
Glenn B
On Troop Surges and Timetables
Barack Hussein Obama is currently in Iraq (he finally got some chutzpah, I suppose because he is too afraid of losing votes by not going). Now that he is there, a lot of drum banging will begin, and you can bet it will all be shoved in our faces on the televised news. Heck, three news anchors are traveling with him. (Now can you imagine that since the democrats were the ones who scream wildly about reinstating the Fairness Doctrine in the news media - what hypocrites!) Back to Barack. He is is talking pullout of troops on a fast schedule, and he is also talking about introducing a surge of troops to Afghanistan. Funny isn't it - how not too long ago Barack hypocrite Hussein Obama voted against the troop surge for Iraq saying a troop surge would not work, and now he is ready to fully endorse surges over in the war in Afghanistan by sending a troop surge to that country. I guess he thought that troop surges just wouldn't work in one country because it was spelled I-R-A-Q instead of A-F-G-H-A-N-I-S-T-A-N, I mean what other reason could there be, let alone what sensible reason could there be for how he has changed his view of troop surges?
Now I am not saying we should not be getting out of Iraq. I think if we have done the job, then we should be done with it. My feeling is that it we should make sure it is done, they start to withdraw. As to a timetable, well, I don't know. I think some troops, in the form of advisers, and in the form of air bases, should remain in Iraq as we have had them in Germany and in South Korea, for quite awhile. Most though should be taken out, and that I think should start soon. Then we should hammer Afghanistan. Yet there is a difference in how and why I view it this way from how Barack Hussein Obama views it. Hereadily admits secretly believes it a great way to get votes, and nothing more from what I can see. I say it to actually win the war on terrorism, and to give our troops a break. In the overall picture, from what I can see liberal Democrats overall don't give a flying flap jack as to the safety of the troops (they attack them over here in protests), curse them at every chance they get, cut back on spending for their protection, and opposed the surge in Iraq that ultimately resulted in saving many lives of our soldiers. No not the opposition, but the surge itself saved lives, so if you are a Demoncrat, please do not twist my words.
I wonder, as to liberal Democrats in general - have you noticed how they have greeted Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's suggestion for a near future troop withdrawal, on a timetable, from Iraq. Of course you know that they have greeted it with open arms and a lot of pompous saying 'see we told you that is what was needed' kind of thing. In that light they are praising Maliki as a great leader who knows that which about he speaks. They just cannot praise Maliki enough. Funny though, it was not too long ago that the Democrats overwhelmingly condemned Maliki as little more than a stooge or puppet for the Bush administration, and labelled him as pretty much useless and completely ineffectual as the leader of Iraq. With the liberal Democrats it seems to be they change their minds as the wind blows instead of having some sort of convictions or backbone. The really strange thing is that their constituencies seem to eat it all right up and swallow it hook, line and sinker as being gospel truth. Amazing.
All the best,
Glenn B
Now I am not saying we should not be getting out of Iraq. I think if we have done the job, then we should be done with it. My feeling is that it we should make sure it is done, they start to withdraw. As to a timetable, well, I don't know. I think some troops, in the form of advisers, and in the form of air bases, should remain in Iraq as we have had them in Germany and in South Korea, for quite awhile. Most though should be taken out, and that I think should start soon. Then we should hammer Afghanistan. Yet there is a difference in how and why I view it this way from how Barack Hussein Obama views it. He
I wonder, as to liberal Democrats in general - have you noticed how they have greeted Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's suggestion for a near future troop withdrawal, on a timetable, from Iraq. Of course you know that they have greeted it with open arms and a lot of pompous saying 'see we told you that is what was needed' kind of thing. In that light they are praising Maliki as a great leader who knows that which about he speaks. They just cannot praise Maliki enough. Funny though, it was not too long ago that the Democrats overwhelmingly condemned Maliki as little more than a stooge or puppet for the Bush administration, and labelled him as pretty much useless and completely ineffectual as the leader of Iraq. With the liberal Democrats it seems to be they change their minds as the wind blows instead of having some sort of convictions or backbone. The really strange thing is that their constituencies seem to eat it all right up and swallow it hook, line and sinker as being gospel truth. Amazing.
All the best,
Glenn B
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Today In History - There really Was A Man In The Moon
Well, at least there was a man on the moon. July 20, 1969 was the day that man landed on the moon (it was not until the 21st that he actually walked on the moon) by way of the moon landing of Apollo 11. Buzz Aldrin spoke the first words on the moon, but Neil Armstrong gave us a hint of how it should have remained out there in space, when he said: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." No one knew to what he was referring because the name of the spacecraft, the lunar module, was Eagle 1. Tranquility Base was a name he had made up for the landing zone on the moon, what high hopes had he, and I guess so did the rest of us! It was one of the most amazing achievements of our time, and a damn pity that space exploration did not go full tilt after that. Then again, we had and still have other things to worry about here at home on good old planet earth, like whose god is better than everyone else's god, who can send more bombs to whose backyard, how many rights we can give to homosexuals, starving worthless piss ants who will not work for their own well being, and oh yes Global Warming. Folks we could have been out there with a full fledged space exploration program ala Star Trek but we were just to busy screwing one another over to realize the great potential that is out among the stars. What a shame because that moon landing was absolutely amazing and held promise of wonderful things to come. Yet, here we are still stuck in the primordial ooze of men's minds, bickering,bitching, moaning and in general not knowing which way is up!
We should have followed the advice of Johnny Cash when he sang:
"I'll fly a starship across the universe divide, and when I reach the other side, I'll find a place to rest my spirit if I can..."
All the best,
Glenn B
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Global Warming Slams Home In July...
...and man oh man is it warm outside. It's currently 89 degrees Fahrenheit, with 42% humididity - so it feels like its 91 degrees Fahrenheit. Can you imagine it feeling like 91 degrees in July! Maybe Al Gore was right, maybe we have doomed ourselves, oh nooooooooo.
Let me tell you, though it's hot, I have braved the heat. I've been out to the stores and the shopping is done, I took care of my animals and their cages, pen, and tanks are clean and they are well fed, I put a coat of polyurethane of the chest of drawers I'm refinishing, I've watered the flowers and the vegetable garden using watering cans (none of that wussy using a hose for me), I've pulled some weeds (though not too many because it really is warm), I took out the trash, and now I am waiting on the polyurethane to dry so I can hit the chest of drawers with another coat. What to do, oh what to do. Well I can get my animals ready for the herp show this evening at Gardiner Manor Park in Suffolk County, and and do have to get that done; but before I do it there is something else I need to accomplish.
What a better accomplishment than to make sure I survive this massive heat wave, this overwhelming spurt of global warming, this Curse of Gore. So I had better grab an icy cold beverage like a Hefe Weissbier, or a vodka spiked glass of lemonade, while there is still electricity coming in, allowing my fridge to run, making it possible for me to chill some beers, and to make some cubes to dip into my cocktails. Otherwise I might just start repeating the death knell of the Wicked Witch of the West: "I'm melting, I'm melting.....".
So what am I waiting for? Later for you....
All the best,
Glenn B
Let me tell you, though it's hot, I have braved the heat. I've been out to the stores and the shopping is done, I took care of my animals and their cages, pen, and tanks are clean and they are well fed, I put a coat of polyurethane of the chest of drawers I'm refinishing, I've watered the flowers and the vegetable garden using watering cans (none of that wussy using a hose for me), I've pulled some weeds (though not too many because it really is warm), I took out the trash, and now I am waiting on the polyurethane to dry so I can hit the chest of drawers with another coat. What to do, oh what to do. Well I can get my animals ready for the herp show this evening at Gardiner Manor Park in Suffolk County, and and do have to get that done; but before I do it there is something else I need to accomplish.
What a better accomplishment than to make sure I survive this massive heat wave, this overwhelming spurt of global warming, this Curse of Gore. So I had better grab an icy cold beverage like a Hefe Weissbier, or a vodka spiked glass of lemonade, while there is still electricity coming in, allowing my fridge to run, making it possible for me to chill some beers, and to make some cubes to dip into my cocktails. Otherwise I might just start repeating the death knell of the Wicked Witch of the West: "I'm melting, I'm melting.....".
So what am I waiting for? Later for you....
All the best,
Glenn B
Brooklyn Gun Buy...Irony of Ironies...
Here I am trying to get some cash together so I can legally buy a new gun, and I am presented with a dilemma. Should I stick to my ethics and do it the right way, or should I partake in the gun buy back. I have a couple of old clunkers I have been trying to sell, one is a Mosin Nagant M44 for which I have been asking $75.00 and would probably accept $50.00, and the other is a J.C. Higgins bolt action rifle in .22LR,, I forget the model number - something in the 40s. I am asking $125 for it. The dilemma is this - I can hold onto them and have it take a long time to sell them legally because they are of little collector interest, or I can drive into Brooklyn in NYC today and turn them in to an "illegal" Gun Buy Back Program and receive a $200 Bank card, no question asked, for each of them. You add it up.
On the one hand I can get $400 for two rifles for which I am having a hard time selling for a total asking price of $200, let along what I would accept. On the other hand I have some morals and live by some ethics. It would be outright dishonest of me to claim that these guns are illegal, yet the buy back program is a "no questions asked" sort of a thing. Well that is it would be dishonest of me to claim them as being illegal here where I live, but I do not live in NYC. If I drive the short distance into the city though, at least one of them, the Mosin Nagant, with its attached bayonet, would be considered illegal. Think of it, I could get $200 for a rifle for which I probably would accept $50, and for which I would be happy to get $75.00!Fuck those assholes I am truly disappointed in the wizards at the NYPD who figured out not only this great way to tempt legal gun owners like me, but also how to waste the taxpayers' dollars by buying a bunch of guns for much more than they are worth. In addition they will make a big stink about how they get maybe a couple of hundred guns off of the streets, and guess what - the criminal element will only steal or illegally buy, or illegally manufacture more of them, and this effort will not reduce gun crime by any great amount. What will reduce gun crime is arming the average citizen and allowing that citizen to defend him or herself.
As for me, the choice istough clear. (yes of course it is clear, clear as crystal). I cannot bring myself to do something that would:
1) Be as dishonest as this
2) Probably result in an investigation not of the firearms I turned in. Yes there are no questions asked, but do you think the police will not be checking serial numbers, then going to investigate whom they believe to be the legitimate owner of the gun to determine how the gun wound up at the buy back. I could just imagine the knock on my door, the police asking me all sorts of questions about if the gun had been sold by me or stolen from me. How would I explain I turned it in for the cash?
3) Turning in a perfectly operable firearm, a legally owned one at that, to have it eventually destroyed by the government.
4) Placing a feather into the cap of the Bloomberg Tyranny by way of giving them one, or two, additional gun(s) to have counted in their media attention seeking anti-gun drive.
5) Ruining the chance of some other firearms enthusiast and U.S. Citizen, or legal resident alien, to own one of these fine firearms. Yes not very collectible, but fine firearms nevertheless. They are both great shooters, and lots of fun, and if that is not 'fine' I do not know what could be.
6) It is a waste of tax payer dollars, an extravagant waste of tax payer dollars, and I am a tax payer who pays to much in taxes to support moronic programs like this one.
So as it turns out, I will do my chores around the house. Of course I may call the NYPD and ask if they will also accept, and pay for,legally owned firearms. That could change how I look at things a bit; but my guess is that I will still keep the guns. Why - well because of reasons 3, 4, 5 and 6 above. Man it pisses me off big-time that they are wasting tax dollars like this.
The only thing I can think of that would make me smile about this whole buy back deal would be if some thugs showed up at one or more of the buy back centers, then stole all of the bought back firearms, of course without injuring anyone; and then for a law abiding Joe Regular Guy legally armed citizen to capture the bad guys and seize the guns. Sure the guns would still wind up being destroyed but think of how that would make Bloomberg look. It would help assure that a tyrant a politician like Bloomberg would never again be elected; and that such programs would be frowned upon. Of course I am not wishing for that, nor suggesting anyone try it (the theft that is), and I certainly do not condone it, but there certainly would be a bit of satisfaction in seeing the program fail that miserably.
All the best,
Glenn B
On the one hand I can get $400 for two rifles for which I am having a hard time selling for a total asking price of $200, let along what I would accept. On the other hand I have some morals and live by some ethics. It would be outright dishonest of me to claim that these guns are illegal, yet the buy back program is a "no questions asked" sort of a thing. Well that is it would be dishonest of me to claim them as being illegal here where I live, but I do not live in NYC. If I drive the short distance into the city though, at least one of them, the Mosin Nagant, with its attached bayonet, would be considered illegal. Think of it, I could get $200 for a rifle for which I probably would accept $50, and for which I would be happy to get $75.00!
As for me, the choice is
1) Be as dishonest as this
2) Probably result in an investigation not of the firearms I turned in. Yes there are no questions asked, but do you think the police will not be checking serial numbers, then going to investigate whom they believe to be the legitimate owner of the gun to determine how the gun wound up at the buy back. I could just imagine the knock on my door, the police asking me all sorts of questions about if the gun had been sold by me or stolen from me. How would I explain I turned it in for the cash?
3) Turning in a perfectly operable firearm, a legally owned one at that, to have it eventually destroyed by the government.
4) Placing a feather into the cap of the Bloomberg Tyranny by way of giving them one, or two, additional gun(s) to have counted in their media attention seeking anti-gun drive.
5) Ruining the chance of some other firearms enthusiast and U.S. Citizen, or legal resident alien, to own one of these fine firearms. Yes not very collectible, but fine firearms nevertheless. They are both great shooters, and lots of fun, and if that is not 'fine' I do not know what could be.
6) It is a waste of tax payer dollars, an extravagant waste of tax payer dollars, and I am a tax payer who pays to much in taxes to support moronic programs like this one.
So as it turns out, I will do my chores around the house. Of course I may call the NYPD and ask if they will also accept, and pay for,legally owned firearms. That could change how I look at things a bit; but my guess is that I will still keep the guns. Why - well because of reasons 3, 4, 5 and 6 above. Man it pisses me off big-time that they are wasting tax dollars like this.
The only thing I can think of that would make me smile about this whole buy back deal would be if some thugs showed up at one or more of the buy back centers, then stole all of the bought back firearms, of course without injuring anyone; and then for a law abiding Joe Regular Guy legally armed citizen to capture the bad guys and seize the guns. Sure the guns would still wind up being destroyed but think of how that would make Bloomberg look. It would help assure that
All the best,
Glenn B
Another Item on Auction For The New Gun Fund
If you are interested in bidding, go to this link, and help me buy my first new gun in quite a while:All the best,
GB
Friday, July 18, 2008
Let The Auctions Begin...
I have listed two (2) auctions, one each at GunBroker.com and one at ebay.com.The one at GunBroker.com is for five (5) boxes of Winchester 7.62x25 ammunition, 85 grains, FMJ, 50 rounds per box. See: http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=105089376
My starting bid is not bad either when you consider it works out to $13.00 per box of 50, and that when last offered at CheaperThanDirt.com, this ammo was going for just under $19.85 per box of 50.
The other auction at eBay is for a 2002 NCAA Men's Final Four, Maryland terrapins, National Champions cap. It was autographed by Gary Williams the Maryland coach when I met him in a restaurant across from the college. If interested see:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320276150311
I am hopeful this will help bring in some cash for my anticipated purchase of a new pistol or rifle, and I figure it is better than begging.
All the best,
Glenn B
Thursday, July 17, 2008
As I Was Rummaging Through The Ammo Locker...
...I came up with 500 rounds of 7.62x25 Tokarev that I pretty much forgot was there. I had more of it awhile back, but gave some of it to a friend of mine who owns a Tokarev pistol. Now that I have a new pistol and a new rifle in mind though there is not going to be any giving away of ammo in the near future. This stuff is all price marked at $13.95 per box, that is an old price. The exact same ammo on CheaperThanDirt was going for $19.95 when I checked last night. So I think I will be selling this ammo in the near future. I have already made an offer of it to my friend with the Tokarev. If he wants it he can get it at a pretty good price. If not, well then I'll be putting it up on GunBroker.com or another auction site. I see that CheaperThanDirt.com now has their own auction site, and it is free, as in no charge to list items and no final value fee. Please do not make offers, I'll only sell this over the Internet if I do it on a regular gun selling site like GunBroker.com. I will keep you posted about whether or not I put it up for auction. It would be a nice way to add some money to the new gun fund. Now to rummage around the rest of the house and garage looking to see what else I can sell.
All the best,
Glenn B
All the best,
Glenn B
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Soldiers' Care Package Donations Update
Folks I know it is not the holiday season, but when it comes to our troops, especially those in harm's way, I would think at least a few of you would make a donation to this fund. As of tonight, I have one donation from C.V. of TN, in a pretty good amount. That one donation alone could fund a small care package for a couple of people; but I am pretty sure my readers can do better than that. As a matter of fact, I know you can do better than that because last time around, for the Soldiers' Holiday Care Packages - you guys were really generous. I know things have gotten tighter with gas prices, food prices, paper products prices, utility prices, electronics gear prices, booze prices, travel costs, and just about everything else you can imagine having gone up to the sky - but out men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces are still over in Afghanistan and Iraq fighting for us and the American way - in Afghanistan as for the ones to whom this/these package(s) will go.
So I am making a personal appeal to you to please do what you can to give a donation, even just a buck if you really cannot afford more, to help fund this effort. I would especially ask, heck I even expect, certain of you whom I have helped out in the past to make a donation. No you don't have to repay me what I sent to you, this is not payment to me anyhow; but I sure expect you to make a darned good effort to dig deep and come up with something for Jaime V (my assigned solider by Soldiers' Angels) and his unit in Afghanistan. Bear in mind that these guys and gals are now in the thick of things - as in the country where the war is escalating on a seemingly daily basis. Anything we can do for them is appreciated by them, of that I think we can be certain.
As for you who gave generously last time, I say thanks again; but I also ask you to give something again. You don't have to give as much as last time - as I said a dollar will do. If I get a hundred donations of a dollar, plus the donation I already have from C.V, plus what I will donate (at least $25 toward goodies to include in the package[s] plus the postage to ship the items), it will be a nice package or two or three that I can send to them from all of us.
I am only collecting for one month, until about August 10th at the latest. I will start sending out packages in about 2 weeks, or sooner if I reach $100 before then, and I'll keep sending out packages as long as the funds come in up until August 10th. Every penny you send will be used toward items to go into a care package. I will pay, out of my own funds, for the postage, for the shipping containers and tape, for the premium that PayPal takes right off of the top of the donations you make to this effort, and I will add $25 to $50 to the donations out of my own money. So please - if you are planning on donating - don't put it off. The sooner enough comes in, the sooner the first package(s) goes/go out.
If you want to donate, there is a donate icon on the upper right side of my main blog page. As I did last time, I will scan and document here on the blog the receipts for the items, and for the postage, and all that - and I'll probably post pictures of the items that go into the packages too.
For more info on this effort, go to: http://ballseyesboomers.blogspot.com/2008/07/soldiers-care-package.html.
All the best,
Glenn B
So I am making a personal appeal to you to please do what you can to give a donation, even just a buck if you really cannot afford more, to help fund this effort. I would especially ask, heck I even expect, certain of you whom I have helped out in the past to make a donation. No you don't have to repay me what I sent to you, this is not payment to me anyhow; but I sure expect you to make a darned good effort to dig deep and come up with something for Jaime V (my assigned solider by Soldiers' Angels) and his unit in Afghanistan. Bear in mind that these guys and gals are now in the thick of things - as in the country where the war is escalating on a seemingly daily basis. Anything we can do for them is appreciated by them, of that I think we can be certain.
As for you who gave generously last time, I say thanks again; but I also ask you to give something again. You don't have to give as much as last time - as I said a dollar will do. If I get a hundred donations of a dollar, plus the donation I already have from C.V, plus what I will donate (at least $25 toward goodies to include in the package[s] plus the postage to ship the items), it will be a nice package or two or three that I can send to them from all of us.
I am only collecting for one month, until about August 10th at the latest. I will start sending out packages in about 2 weeks, or sooner if I reach $100 before then, and I'll keep sending out packages as long as the funds come in up until August 10th. Every penny you send will be used toward items to go into a care package. I will pay, out of my own funds, for the postage, for the shipping containers and tape, for the premium that PayPal takes right off of the top of the donations you make to this effort, and I will add $25 to $50 to the donations out of my own money. So please - if you are planning on donating - don't put it off. The sooner enough comes in, the sooner the first package(s) goes/go out.
If you want to donate, there is a donate icon on the upper right side of my main blog page. As I did last time, I will scan and document here on the blog the receipts for the items, and for the postage, and all that - and I'll probably post pictures of the items that go into the packages too.
For more info on this effort, go to: http://ballseyesboomers.blogspot.com/2008/07/soldiers-care-package.html.
Before I forget, allow me to say thanks to C.V. of TN.
All the best,
Glenn B
The Gun Thing...
...has been getting to me lately; or maybe I should say it is the lack of me being able to buy a gun in quite awhile that has gotten to me. Sure, I ordered a M1916 Spanish Mauser recently, but those are on back order and I'll not likely see it for at least several months. What I am talking about is I have not bought a new, used, or surplus firearms in way too long, and what with the Heller Decision to celebrate, National Buy A Gun Day having come and gone, my interest in shooting and collecting firearms, my interest in hunting, and well - it just as if all those have ganged up against me like little mischievous spirits. Lately those little imps have been whispering into my ear that I need to buy a new gun Alas I have little ready cash, and I am certainly not putting one on plastic since I just did that when I ordered the Mauser. So if I want one I need to figure out how to make some quick cash, or how to save some of the money I am already earning, but currently have allocated for other things.
First let me cover the pistol, and I'll do it briefly because I have written about it before, and you can always rad about it there. So let me just say, I would like to become the owner of a Heckler and Koch P2000SK Sub Compact. It is one heck of a nice pistol, and I think I can pick one up at a significant discount (last time I checked anyhow). I mean just look at it, then read up on its specs, and imagine the quality of this finely made pistol in .40 S&W, and imagine it in your hand, and imagine the great fun you will have shooting it, and imagine the comfort you would feel, knowing it was there, if you ever needed it for self defense; and oh heck I just would like to get myself one of these before I retire.
If you are wondering about the one I want now, as I said it is the Browning BLR Lightweight takedown Rifle (my old one was not a takedown version). It is one heck of a nice wall hanger, and even a nicer shooter even though it is a lever action rifle. From its 20" (in the caliber I want) blued steel barrel, to its alloy receiver, to its gold plated trigger, to its highly polished walnut stock with pistol grip, to its removable box magazine, to its recoil pad, to its takedown feature - this rifle speaks quality. It is available in three barrel lengths 20", 22" and 24", and in 14 calibers. Some of the ammo for it is even more expensive than the .358 Winchester round. Of course, if I do save enough for one of these, I will get it in a caliber than is more affordable, yet one that is an all around good hunting round, and good defensive round (no I would not use this gun as a primary defense weapon, but one never knows what one will have at hand if the SHTF). So I am thinking of getting one in .308. The other 13 calibers in which it is available are found here, as is a bit more info about the rifle.
Saving in today's world isn't easy. Finding a quick cash making deal is not easy either. Heck with the price of everything going up on what seems a daily basis, by the time I get enough money saved for any gun which suits my fancy, well chances are it will just be too darned expensive because its price will also have gone up. I could be at it a long time with the rifle and pistol I have in mind too - yes there are two of them that have kindled my internal flames enough to have warmed my heart toward them.
First let me cover the pistol, and I'll do it briefly because I have written about it before, and you can always rad about it there. So let me just say, I would like to become the owner of a Heckler and Koch P2000SK Sub Compact. It is one heck of a nice pistol, and I think I can pick one up at a significant discount (last time I checked anyhow). I mean just look at it, then read up on its specs, and imagine the quality of this finely made pistol in .40 S&W, and imagine it in your hand, and imagine the great fun you will have shooting it, and imagine the comfort you would feel, knowing it was there, if you ever needed it for self defense; and oh heck I just would like to get myself one of these before I retire.Now that I have slapped myself out of that dream, let me move onto the rifle. The rifle is another piece of fine craftsmanship, or should I say two pieces of fine craftsmanship since it is a takedown rifle. Sometime back, I don't know if it is because I saw one in a movie or where ever, I became enamored with the idea of picking up a takedown rifle. I like the fact that it can be broken down into two major components and put into a carry case that does not define itself as being a gun rag. In other words, it can be carried less obtrusively. There is also another aspect of takedown rifles, something that makes them alluring or sexy (as far as a rifle can be such), and I guess that is the adventurous side of such a gun. Takedown rifles have, at least in my mind, always been associated with adventure. From spy movies, to old westerns, to modern day assassins, to big game hunters, these rifles are there - there always seems to be adventure associated with them. Of course I know buying a rifle of any type will not assure adventure, its just a selling point kind of a thing or silly association at best, but it is there and it has played a role in their appeal to me. As for wanting adventure, heck I have had enough in over 28 years as a federal LEO, but I'll save those stories for another time, maybe even for a book after I retire.
Back to the rifle. I suppose by now you are wondering just what rifle I am writing about, so let me shoot down all the suspense and come right out and tell you that the rifle of my desires, the one at the top of my list of want to haves, heck at the top of my list of gotta haves (right now anyway), is the Browning BLR Lightweight Takedown Rifle. I have owned a BLR before, one that was sold to me used, but was virtually as new in the box. It was a great rifle, but I sold it. Why sell a great rifle? I guess mostly because I thought I could not afford shooting it; and what a poor excuse that was for getting rid of something which I should have put away in the gun locker, and treated with reverence. We all make bad decisions, and my decision to sell my BLR was a bad one even though it was chambered for the .358 Winchester round. Yes even though that round was about $1 or more apiece back when I sold the rifle, and even though I feared it would get much more expensive, and even though it actually did become much more expensive, I should have kept that rifle. Ouch, it hurts just thinking about having sold it. By the way, the ammo now being priced at over $2.00 per round has not really made any of the pain go away. Yes folks, over two bucks each time you pull the trigger, just check out the price here: http://www.impactguns.com/store/020892201057.html, and that does not include tax or shipping. So just think of what great condition that rifle would have been in had I kept it even if I decided to shoot it a few times a year -heck it makes it even more painful when I think of it that way. Now when you consider that a new one goes for an MSRP of $893.00, but I have seen them online at about $765 plus tax - ouch to the pocket book. They will probably be closer to MSRP here in NY; and then when you consider I bought that other BLR for only $300, and that it truly was as new (probably unfired from what I could tell), well the brick walls of my house may wind up with some of my forehead skin stuck to them - I could just about bang my head on the walls the way I am feeling right now. But that won't make my desire to own another one go away. So I had best figure out how to save for a new one.
If you are wondering about the one I want now, as I said it is the Browning BLR Lightweight takedown Rifle (my old one was not a takedown version). It is one heck of a nice wall hanger, and even a nicer shooter even though it is a lever action rifle. From its 20" (in the caliber I want) blued steel barrel, to its alloy receiver, to its gold plated trigger, to its highly polished walnut stock with pistol grip, to its removable box magazine, to its recoil pad, to its takedown feature - this rifle speaks quality. It is available in three barrel lengths 20", 22" and 24", and in 14 calibers. Some of the ammo for it is even more expensive than the .358 Winchester round. Of course, if I do save enough for one of these, I will get it in a caliber than is more affordable, yet one that is an all around good hunting round, and good defensive round (no I would not use this gun as a primary defense weapon, but one never knows what one will have at hand if the SHTF). So I am thinking of getting one in .308. The other 13 calibers in which it is available are found here, as is a bit more info about the rifle. Now to start saving, maybe some brown bag lunches, maybe some bottles and cans to the recycling center, maye sell a few things at a garage sale....
All the best,
Glenn B
Monday, July 14, 2008
I've Been An Ale Man...
...But I've Never Been A Bud Man (yes I used to wear a Bud Man shirt back in the 70s). Yeah sure, I'll also admit to drinking Budweiser Beer now and then years ago, but I truly have tried to avoid it like the plague over the past decade or so, maybe even 2 decades. Why, well I guess one reason is because the name just falls prey too easily to being maligned - I mean who in Hades (or their right mind) would enjoy drinking a beer often referred to as Budwiper! Another reason of course is that Budweiser is like 'sex in a canoe'. If you don't know what I mean, well search that term on this blog.
Now though, we can speculate there may yet be hope for the American brew that thrills the taste buds of millions (and really I cannot fathom just how they do it with beer that is that f''ing close to water - there goes that sex in a canoe reference again). It may well wind up being improved, and I say this hopefully based upon the takeover of Anheuser-Busch by In-Bev a Belgian company ala mega-brewer. Now while Anheuser-Busch was also a mega-brewer, they just never quite made anything I would truly consider a great tasting brew. In-Bev, on the other hand produces one of the best tasting plisners I have had had the pleasure to pass over my taste buds; that would be Stella Artois. One can only hope that the Belgians will cause such changes to come about, that is changes toward making an American beer with some kick and some flavor.
Of course now one also needs to hope that the Belgians don't start closing down Anheuser-Busch breweries and moving operations overseas. The state of the U.S. economy is bad enough already with such problems being caused by the money grubbing executives at Anheuser-Busch selling out to foreigners. I would not take all of the beer in Germany (and man there are some absolutely excellent German Biers - one of which I am enjoying at the moment - a Paulaner Hefe Weissbier - mmm good) nor the $75 per share that A-B accepted from In-Bev if I thought it meant the loss of even one or two American jobs let alone improving the taste of Budwiper. I mean that would be un-American, and if it turns out to be the case - well then I think all of you nitwits who regularly drink that piss ought to stop drinking it. Yeah, I don't drink it, I did not support them, but I do support many American Breweries, and if need be, in order to stop the loss of American jobs I would have started drinking even the slop they passed off as beer to help prevent the takeover - that is of course had I known about it in advance, and had I suspected it would cause us to lose jobs. As it is now, I can only hope we will not lose jobs to Europe, and that Budwiper might be improved to something I consider worth drinking now and again.
All that "born on" crap and advertising money spent on the Clydesdales was apparently wasted when in fact, as I see it, the energy would have been better spent making it taste fantastic.Too bad Budwiper seemingly never got it right in the first place by brewing a truly great tasting product that would have kept them at the top of the heap and untouchable by furiners. Now the consequences, and hopefully they will be an improvement to the beer, while the jobs wind up staying here.
Al the best,
Glenn B
Now though, we can speculate there may yet be hope for the American brew that thrills the taste buds of millions (and really I cannot fathom just how they do it with beer that is that f''ing close to water - there goes that sex in a canoe reference again). It may well wind up being improved, and I say this hopefully based upon the takeover of Anheuser-Busch by In-Bev a Belgian company ala mega-brewer. Now while Anheuser-Busch was also a mega-brewer, they just never quite made anything I would truly consider a great tasting brew. In-Bev, on the other hand produces one of the best tasting plisners I have had had the pleasure to pass over my taste buds; that would be Stella Artois. One can only hope that the Belgians will cause such changes to come about, that is changes toward making an American beer with some kick and some flavor.
Of course now one also needs to hope that the Belgians don't start closing down Anheuser-Busch breweries and moving operations overseas. The state of the U.S. economy is bad enough already with such problems being caused by the money grubbing executives at Anheuser-Busch selling out to foreigners. I would not take all of the beer in Germany (and man there are some absolutely excellent German Biers - one of which I am enjoying at the moment - a Paulaner Hefe Weissbier - mmm good) nor the $75 per share that A-B accepted from In-Bev if I thought it meant the loss of even one or two American jobs let alone improving the taste of Budwiper. I mean that would be un-American, and if it turns out to be the case - well then I think all of you nitwits who regularly drink that piss ought to stop drinking it. Yeah, I don't drink it, I did not support them, but I do support many American Breweries, and if need be, in order to stop the loss of American jobs I would have started drinking even the slop they passed off as beer to help prevent the takeover - that is of course had I known about it in advance, and had I suspected it would cause us to lose jobs. As it is now, I can only hope we will not lose jobs to Europe, and that Budwiper might be improved to something I consider worth drinking now and again.
All that "born on" crap and advertising money spent on the Clydesdales was apparently wasted when in fact, as I see it, the energy would have been better spent making it taste fantastic.Too bad Budwiper seemingly never got it right in the first place by brewing a truly great tasting product that would have kept them at the top of the heap and untouchable by furiners. Now the consequences, and hopefully they will be an improvement to the beer, while the jobs wind up staying here.
Al the best,
Glenn B
Sunday, July 13, 2008
A Day At The NY Metro Reptile Expo...
...was how I spent my day today. Not bad as things go. I helped man the Long Island Herpetological Society table, gave out membership applications, and also passed out vendor packets in anticipation of the 19th Annual LIHS Reptile Expo for this October 4.
I tried selling some of my animals to, a quasi business sort of way to supplement my hobby, and I sold a few, very few, and inexpensive ones at that. I also had a theft. Some dirtbag stole a bearded dragon from me. I am pretty sure I know who it was but did n0t see him, again once I discovered the loss. As it turned out, the show promoter came over to the LIHS table asking us if we had been selling certain type of snake. They had recovered it from a shoplifter along with some bearded dragons, and other reptiles. I told the promoter I had been ripped off to the tune of one baby bearded dragon and he said they recovered 5, and would check around to see to whom they belonged. Apparently, as I found out near the end of the show, some other vendor said they were all his and took them all. I look at it as if I had been stolen from twice because it is very unlikely that the shoplifter stole 5 of the same animals from one dealer without being seen in the act! Its not like you would grab a handful of them without being seen, rather much more likely those animals came from several vendors' tables. Oh well, not the worst loss I have ever suffered.
What surprised me was the action they took with the shoplifter. They took back what he stole, then let him go telling him he was banned from future shows. No arrest - imagine that - and not even a butt kicking. When I spoke to the promoter about it near show's end, and asked him if the guy was a certain race, slim build, mid to late teens, wearing a goatee, and was with another guy of similar build and race - he looked at me as if puzzled how I could know that and then said yep that's the description. Of course it was, because I had figured correctly about whom I had suspected of being the thief who hit me up for the beardie. I guess I should have gotten back one of those baby bearded dragons they recovered, it sure seems pretty clear to me that it was probably the same guy they busted who had stolen mine, so one of the ones he had was almost surely mine. Funny how only I seemed to get that, but maybe because he already gave them to someone else who claimed a loss. Oh well...life goes on.
I managed to spend more than I took in. I had to pick up some mercury vapor lamps for my lizards (sort of artificial sunlight for desert lizards and expensive as a vacation to a sunny part of the world), and some other items like a box of a thousand crickets for the baby bearded dragons.
Then I was off homeward bound. The ride home was drag, way too long. It took me about 40 minutes to get there from my home this morning, but it took me almost 2 hours to get back home from the expo. Traffic was a nightmare on two different roads. It's bad enough I am stuck in that stuff each weekday, when you get stuck on the weekend it really stinks. Arrival at home was nice though. The sweetheart had a nice dinners waiting for me, some BBQ'd chicken fresh from today, and salads leftover from yesterday. That with a tall glass of lemonade ht the spot, and I can say it was the spot that causes one to be quite content.
All the best,
Glenn B.
P.S.: Terrible of me to have neglected to mention I met a friend at the show, a guy who used to work with me but is now retired. He was at the show with his teenaged daughters. Man if you want to see someone who is happy, look at someone who retired of their own volition. My pal Pete K. sure is one heck of a happy man. I guess retirement, and the fact that his daughters share his interest in herps, and spend time with him, keeps him smiling.
I tried selling some of my animals to, a quasi business sort of way to supplement my hobby, and I sold a few, very few, and inexpensive ones at that. I also had a theft. Some dirtbag stole a bearded dragon from me. I am pretty sure I know who it was but did n0t see him, again once I discovered the loss. As it turned out, the show promoter came over to the LIHS table asking us if we had been selling certain type of snake. They had recovered it from a shoplifter along with some bearded dragons, and other reptiles. I told the promoter I had been ripped off to the tune of one baby bearded dragon and he said they recovered 5, and would check around to see to whom they belonged. Apparently, as I found out near the end of the show, some other vendor said they were all his and took them all. I look at it as if I had been stolen from twice because it is very unlikely that the shoplifter stole 5 of the same animals from one dealer without being seen in the act! Its not like you would grab a handful of them without being seen, rather much more likely those animals came from several vendors' tables. Oh well, not the worst loss I have ever suffered.
What surprised me was the action they took with the shoplifter. They took back what he stole, then let him go telling him he was banned from future shows. No arrest - imagine that - and not even a butt kicking. When I spoke to the promoter about it near show's end, and asked him if the guy was a certain race, slim build, mid to late teens, wearing a goatee, and was with another guy of similar build and race - he looked at me as if puzzled how I could know that and then said yep that's the description. Of course it was, because I had figured correctly about whom I had suspected of being the thief who hit me up for the beardie. I guess I should have gotten back one of those baby bearded dragons they recovered, it sure seems pretty clear to me that it was probably the same guy they busted who had stolen mine, so one of the ones he had was almost surely mine. Funny how only I seemed to get that, but maybe because he already gave them to someone else who claimed a loss. Oh well...life goes on.
I managed to spend more than I took in. I had to pick up some mercury vapor lamps for my lizards (sort of artificial sunlight for desert lizards and expensive as a vacation to a sunny part of the world), and some other items like a box of a thousand crickets for the baby bearded dragons.
Then I was off homeward bound. The ride home was drag, way too long. It took me about 40 minutes to get there from my home this morning, but it took me almost 2 hours to get back home from the expo. Traffic was a nightmare on two different roads. It's bad enough I am stuck in that stuff each weekday, when you get stuck on the weekend it really stinks. Arrival at home was nice though. The sweetheart had a nice dinners waiting for me, some BBQ'd chicken fresh from today, and salads leftover from yesterday. That with a tall glass of lemonade ht the spot, and I can say it was the spot that causes one to be quite content.
All the best,
Glenn B.
P.S.: Terrible of me to have neglected to mention I met a friend at the show, a guy who used to work with me but is now retired. He was at the show with his teenaged daughters. Man if you want to see someone who is happy, look at someone who retired of their own volition. My pal Pete K. sure is one heck of a happy man. I guess retirement, and the fact that his daughters share his interest in herps, and spend time with him, keeps him smiling.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Balls Out Jeans - Pretty Much A Funny Adult Video (No Nudity Except For Artificial - I Hope - Body Parts)
I don't know about you, but I think this is a hilarious video; one of the best and naughtiest (without any real exposure) I have seen in a while. Its gross, disgusting, crass, sexist, raunchy, and shows artificial body parts (I hope they are artificial); and as I said it is simply outright naughty - all to a great degree - but most of all it is funny. It is about time someone addressed this issue!
If you are holier than thou, very sensitive, a prim and proper prudish type - then don't watch this - unless you want a naughty laugh but be prepared for that which I noted above.
Well now you went ahead and watched it didn't you. I hope you enjoyed it.
Glenn B
If you are holier than thou, very sensitive, a prim and proper prudish type - then don't watch this - unless you want a naughty laugh but be prepared for that which I noted above.
Well now you went ahead and watched it didn't you. I hope you enjoyed it.
By the way, the video is from eBaums World @:
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/316121/
All the best,Glenn B
Soldiers' Care Package
Well, as I told you a couple or few weeks ago, I have been assigned to another soldier over in Afghanistan by Soldiers' Angels. I am going to start putting care packages together for him (or maybe her, the name is Jamie, and Jamie did not make it clear). If anyone is interested in helping out with the package, you can send donations to me for the care package via my PayPal account. I can only accept donations over the Internet via PayPal, or can accept cash from people I know locally. I'll place a link on the right side of the page, up near the top. I'll give it a month or so to see what comes in, then I'll put together a care package, and ship it off, with some of my own funds and all of the donated funds. Last time I did this, back before Christmas - it was a great success. Thanks to the generosity of my readers I had enough to put together several high end care packages; and thanks to StreamLight who donated a dozen flashlights we had some high end flashlights with batteries and replacement batteries to include in the boxes.
These guys and gals in our military deserve to remain in our thoughts, prayers, well wishes, and our gratitude forever - but especially while serving on foreign soil or on foreign seas. Anything you can help out with from a few pennies on up would be appreciated by me, and will probably be even more appreciated by the soldiers who receive the goodies in the care packages I will send to them on behalf of all of us who donate through this effort. I can say without a doubt, that Bob S the soldier to whom we sent the other care packages appreciated them as did the rest of his unit, and other units with whom they SHARED. Why not share a bit of what they allow us to enjoy and make a donation. Thanks.
All the best,
Glenn B
These guys and gals in our military deserve to remain in our thoughts, prayers, well wishes, and our gratitude forever - but especially while serving on foreign soil or on foreign seas. Anything you can help out with from a few pennies on up would be appreciated by me, and will probably be even more appreciated by the soldiers who receive the goodies in the care packages I will send to them on behalf of all of us who donate through this effort. I can say without a doubt, that Bob S the soldier to whom we sent the other care packages appreciated them as did the rest of his unit, and other units with whom they SHARED. Why not share a bit of what they allow us to enjoy and make a donation. Thanks.
All the best,
Glenn B
Time At The Range...
...is always good time for me. So today when I left the office, i headed to the West Side Pistol Range in the heart of Manhattan. Yep I renewed my membership and have until next April to keep having fun there.
I had my issue Glock 19 and 125 rounds to shoot, along with my Henry Survival Rifle with about 100 rounds for it. Not a lot of ammo, but I figured what the heck it was better than nothing. As opposed to my shortage of ammo, the range had no shortsage of shooters. There were about 10 people shooting when I got there. Surprisingly enough all of them were probably in their young to mid twenties. Can you imagine that - young hipsters, young yuppies, young Manhattanites, young New York City kids - at a firearms range late on a friday afternoon! Are we finally getting our message across that the shooting sports, self defense, hunting, collecting, and everything else legal to do with firearms is a good thing, an American thing. I sure hope so.
Enough for the youngsters though, let me talk about my shooting. It was okay but not great. I was tired, grumpy, and just a bit out of it when I arrived. After 125 rounds of 9mm through the Glock I was feeling a lot better. I was shooting at a distance of only about 50 feet, maybe a bit more; the range is pretty small but big enough for big fun. I put all my shots into a spread hand sized group which was okay by me, and my hand is average sized for a man. Put your hand over the center of your chest, and you will see why that was okay by me. Then I had some fun with the Henry rifle. I had a pretty good group, albeit all to the low left of the bullseye while shooting CCI Mini-Mags, then all high to the left with Remington Golden Bullets. Then with a slight sight adjustment, all of my shots went into the bullseye. That is one thing I like and dislike about the Henry, the front sight, that is, being easy to adjust with just a hard push of the fingers. While easily adjusted, it is also fairly easily knocked out of alignment. Still though I like shooting this little survival rifle, I figure it is good practice just in case I actually ever have to depend on it for its stated purpose.
While shooting the Glock, one of the owners came over to say hi to me. He is a cousin or uncle of an agent from my job, and he makes it a point to stop by to say hi to me when I visit. We chatted a bit, and seeing him reminded me that I have not seen M-------, the agent in quite awhile. I miss her, she is one of the better people on my job but is now working in another office than me. We used to work together at JFK Airport back in the day when things were better (at least for me because I was younger) and the job was somewhat more exciting. Oh well, seeing her relative would have to do for now, and he is always very pleasant.
All in all it was agood 45 minutes to hour that I spent shooting. Next time I'll have to rememebr to bring more ammo (I had thought I had some at the office but must have used it all last time).
All the best,
Glenn B
I had my issue Glock 19 and 125 rounds to shoot, along with my Henry Survival Rifle with about 100 rounds for it. Not a lot of ammo, but I figured what the heck it was better than nothing. As opposed to my shortage of ammo, the range had no shortsage of shooters. There were about 10 people shooting when I got there. Surprisingly enough all of them were probably in their young to mid twenties. Can you imagine that - young hipsters, young yuppies, young Manhattanites, young New York City kids - at a firearms range late on a friday afternoon! Are we finally getting our message across that the shooting sports, self defense, hunting, collecting, and everything else legal to do with firearms is a good thing, an American thing. I sure hope so.
Enough for the youngsters though, let me talk about my shooting. It was okay but not great. I was tired, grumpy, and just a bit out of it when I arrived. After 125 rounds of 9mm through the Glock I was feeling a lot better. I was shooting at a distance of only about 50 feet, maybe a bit more; the range is pretty small but big enough for big fun. I put all my shots into a spread hand sized group which was okay by me, and my hand is average sized for a man. Put your hand over the center of your chest, and you will see why that was okay by me. Then I had some fun with the Henry rifle. I had a pretty good group, albeit all to the low left of the bullseye while shooting CCI Mini-Mags, then all high to the left with Remington Golden Bullets. Then with a slight sight adjustment, all of my shots went into the bullseye. That is one thing I like and dislike about the Henry, the front sight, that is, being easy to adjust with just a hard push of the fingers. While easily adjusted, it is also fairly easily knocked out of alignment. Still though I like shooting this little survival rifle, I figure it is good practice just in case I actually ever have to depend on it for its stated purpose.
While shooting the Glock, one of the owners came over to say hi to me. He is a cousin or uncle of an agent from my job, and he makes it a point to stop by to say hi to me when I visit. We chatted a bit, and seeing him reminded me that I have not seen M-------, the agent in quite awhile. I miss her, she is one of the better people on my job but is now working in another office than me. We used to work together at JFK Airport back in the day when things were better (at least for me because I was younger) and the job was somewhat more exciting. Oh well, seeing her relative would have to do for now, and he is always very pleasant.
All in all it was agood 45 minutes to hour that I spent shooting. Next time I'll have to rememebr to bring more ammo (I had thought I had some at the office but must have used it all last time).
All the best,
Glenn B
A Finer Poem
The following is poetry at its finest, and is indeed a poem of great merit full of both wisdom and wit. I would love to be able to say that I penned it, but the truth be told I do not know the author, and have only ever seen it credited as: Anon. As a kid, I thought that Mr. Anon fella was one smart guy because there was so much he had written. Just in case you think or ever thought likewise, allow me to tell you that Anon means the work was attributed to an anonymous author. Sometimes I cannot believe the things I used to believe. Oh to be young, ignorant, and blissful again. Enough of that, here is the poem
The horse and mule live 30 years
And nothing know of wines and beers.
The goat and sheep at 20 die
With never a taste of scotch or rye.
The cow drinks water by the ton
And at 18 is mostly done.
The dog at 16 cashes in
Without the aid of rum or gin.
The cat in milk and water soaks
And then in 12 short years it croaks.
The modest, sober, bone dry hen
Lays eggs for noggs, then dies at 10.
All animals then are strictly dry
They sinless live and swiftly die
But sinful, ginful, rum soaked men
Survive for three score years and ten.
And some of us, the mighty few,
Stay pickled till we’re ninety two.
Anon
I think I'll have to stop over at my local retailer of alcoholic beverages this evening and pick up a bottle or two of fine spirits. I want to hit at least 94.
THE PRESERVATION OF MAN
The horse and mule live 30 years
And nothing know of wines and beers.
The goat and sheep at 20 die
With never a taste of scotch or rye.
The cow drinks water by the ton
And at 18 is mostly done.
The dog at 16 cashes in
Without the aid of rum or gin.
The cat in milk and water soaks
And then in 12 short years it croaks.
The modest, sober, bone dry hen
Lays eggs for noggs, then dies at 10.
All animals then are strictly dry
They sinless live and swiftly die
But sinful, ginful, rum soaked men
Survive for three score years and ten.
And some of us, the mighty few,
Stay pickled till we’re ninety two.
Anon
I think I'll have to stop over at my local retailer of alcoholic beverages this evening and pick up a bottle or two of fine spirits. I want to hit at least 94.
All the best,
Glenn B
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Good Deal - Get Em While You Can
I was just browsing some of the surplus firearms dealer sites, and I came across a good deal. It is on a Russian Mosin Nagant, in aresenal refinish to excellent condition, at a price of only $69.95 plus shipping. That is pretty darned good since competitors are selling the same thing for anywhere from $89.99 to $99.99. Had I not just sent in an order for a M1916 Spanish Mauser to another dealer, I may well have been buying one of these. As a matter of fact, I may just have to count the change in the piggy bank and see if I come up with enough. The ad can be seen here: http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Russian_M44.html
All the best,
Glenn B
All the best,
Glenn B
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
So You Tell Me - What's Up With Gas Not Going Down?
I mean, just two or three days ago, Iheard that the price of crude had gone down by just over $9.00 per barrel. When the friggin price of a barrel went up, even by just a quarter or half buck, the price at the pumps went up the next day; but when the price fals by over $9.00 per barrel - well there has not even been one friggin red cent take off the price at the pumps near me! If the info about the drop in crude prices was right, well then it is just gosh darned greed that is all that is keeping the prices as high as they are; greed and an absolute lack of respect for any of us consumers.
All the best,
Glenn B
All the best,
Glenn B
Did He Really Say, About Barack Hussein Obama,...
..."I want to cut his nuts off"? If you have not heard it yet, well go here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aLGkFpsdHo
I think it is a very revealing piece of truth, but my guess would be one that good old Jesse J did not want us all to hear, or why whisper. What a classic open mike take was this!!!
All the best,
Glenn B
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aLGkFpsdHo
I think it is a very revealing piece of truth, but my guess would be one that good old Jesse J did not want us all to hear, or why whisper. What a classic open mike take was this!!!
All the best,
Glenn B
Yet Another Two New Links...
...one to a blog and one to a neat firearms related site. Over on the right, you can now find a link to The Michael Bane Blog ( here it is if that does not work for you: http://michaelbane.blogspot.com/), and down further in the Firearms Interests section you can find DownRange.TV (here is a link just in case: http://www.downrange.tv/). I only found out about both of these because of a nice mention that Damsel gave to me over at: http://capnbob.us/blog/2008/07/09/not-just-beautiful/. These two new ones sure look interesting.
All the best,
Glenn B
All the best,
Glenn B
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)