Wednesday, April 30, 2014

The Debate on The Death Penalty

The media is reporting on the execution of convicted killer Clayton Lockett and calling it botched. They report it took around 20 minutes for him to die after receiving a lethal injection. Reportedly the drugs used for the execution did not spread properly because of a problem with the killer's veins and he died of a heart attack after possibly suffering as evidenced by him eventually clenching his teeth, writhing and trying to lift his head. While the time it took him to die may have been much longer than expected because of a flaw in his veins, and while he may have suffered without intent by authorities for him to have unreasonably done so, why should anyone claim that to be a point against support for the death penalty? If in fact he was the killer as accused and convicted, I think it is good he is dead, justice has been served.

I disagree with any though who may say, in essence, that either it does not matter that he suffered greatly or that it actually is good he suffered (or in other words that it does not matter how justice is served as long as justice is the end). That he may have suffered more than was reasonably necessary would be sad if in fact he suffered. I do not think an execution should be gruesome to achieve justice and I believe that unreasonably horrendous executions should be illegal but I do not think for a moment that the death penalty should be banned, instead I think it should be accepted as law throughout every state. As for macabre executions, I am opposed to them but not out of ay sympathy for the convicted killer. I think that the reason behind not allowing them has little to do with the convicted and more to do with those who serve justice and they who live by it. I think that when justice is meted out in a gruesome and horrible manner it may well have become what it seeks to have ridded us of - namely a vile and heinous killer. Thus justice will have defeated its own purpose and we will have become no better than heinous killers should we execute in a hideous manner and then take perverted satisfaction in having done so. On the flip side, we would become little more than they who would sheepishly allow killers to run rampant, should we not execute convicted killers.

A problem, with executions in this country, seems to be that somehow all too many people have become convinced that a firing squad or hanging are terrible types of executions or that executions in and of themselves are cruel and unusual. Blame that on defense attorneys and on bleeding hearts. In fact, death by hanging and firing squad are usually quite swift executions if performed by someone following long tried and true methods. They are certainly more tolerable and give less of the horror effect, I think, than do electrocutions or gassings (but maybe that's just me as I see it). Regardless of what I think though, the fact is that there was, in past decades, a lot of argument about one type being more ghastly than another and that resulted in the call, from the bleeding hearts and eventually from the public, for something less objectionable. The answer was supposedly lethal injections. While they seem less horrendous than, and as efficient as, hangings or firing squads to me, the anti-death penalty crew has grabbed ahold of everything about them they can to try to abolish them as well as other forms of executions. When one goes wrong in method, it gives the 'antis' a lot to scream about. When they who support the use of the death penalty apparently take some sort of perverse pleasure, as opposed to merely taking satisfaction that justice was carried out, the antis have even more ammunition to try to shoot down the death penalty.

I, and I think most folks, would take satisfaction in knowing that the killer criminal was executed instead of taking the same satisfaction or more in knowing that he was executed and had suffered greatly as he died. That, if only, because it would give me satisfaction to know that while we sought justice and justice had been done, I and others had not become a horrible piece of turd like the convicted killer, who got his jollies by killing and/or who had absolutely no regard for his victims. Note, I am not saying that those who get satisfaction or even pleasure out of seeing justice done by way of a convicted killer being executed are the same as the criminal. They certainly are not the same if at the root of it they want justice to be carried out and that having been done is what satisfies or pleases them. I am saying though that getting pleasure out of seeing another man die in agony, and it is the agony that adds pleasure, while you in essence sit back and watch, with glee, as it if was a spectator sport is abhorrent.

As for the death penalty though, I fully support it in cases of convicted murderers and would find it even more abhorrent should we do away with it and allow them to live without just retribution.

All the best,
Glenn B

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Their Type Of Women Versus My Type

Take a look at these two pics, it shouldn't be too hard for you to figure out my overall choice in women. One pic shows what I would avoid at all costs even if they were the last few women on earth. The other pic pretty much shows my type.


 
 
 

Just in case you have not figured it out, let me say that I support Israel.

All the best,
Glenn B

Smoking Can Kill You

And it can do it in ways that you would never expect:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/prince-charles-brother-law-mark-shand-dies-new-york-fall-n87796

Happy I quit years ago.

All the best,
Glenn B

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

How Many 22 Rimfires Are Enough?

I wish I could answer that question but there really doesn't seem to be an answer. Every time I see one, new or old, beaten up or pristine, with a fair to excellent price on it - I want it. of course, I don't buy all of em that I want, far from it, but I am more likely to buy a 22 than just about any other gun I might see at a firearms auction, an estate sale, a garage sale, or even at a gun show. It's not only because the are usually relatively inexpensive compared to larger caliber guns - I mean, I am not always cheap but that they have an allure for me with which no other gun has sung to me its Siren's song. That charm, the appeal they hold for me, is probably due to the fact that the first firearms I got to shoot were 22 rifles at summer camp. But it's beyond memories, more than nostalgia, at least for me.

22 Rimfire guns are pretty versatile. You can have a lot of fun with them hunting, target shooting, and plinking. The reasons for that is because the ammo is inexpensive compared to larger calibers so you can shoot a lot of it because they are affordable and so is the ammo for them. So it's easy to have a lot of them because they are relatively inexpensive and also to have a lot of ammo for them because that too is pretty cheap. Then there is what they don't have that makes them fun to shoot a lot and that is harsh recoil. They are easy not only on old muscles, joints and bones but also on young ones making them fun to shoot for youngsters and oldsters alike. I am not a grand-dad yet, not by a long shot, but you can bet that when I am, I will be teaching my grand kids to shoot with a 22 rimfire. I recently took my nephew out to a local range to teach him and used an Armscor 14 for his first lessons - a bolt action, box magazine fed, 22 repeater. He had a blast and wants to go again and now that I think of it I have been tardy and better get him back to the range again soon.

Now getting back to how many 22 rimfires are enough, as I said, I don't know. Right now, and mind you I am taking a shot in the dark here because I am not checking the gun safe, I figure I have four (4) .22 handguns and about 9 rifles in .22LR and .22WMR. Nah, there has got to be another one or three more of them around here somewhere. Then again, maybe not, although I know for sure I have had several others and sold them off at one time or another. Let me see if I can figure it a little better by trying to remember which ones I have right now (note all shoot .22LR unless otherwise noted):

Beretta 70S pistol

High Standard Duramatic pistol

Ruger MKII pistol

Smith & Wesson Model 17K revolver

Armscor 14Y bolt action rifle

Henry Survival Rifle semi-auto rifle

Marlin 25MN bolt action rifle in .22WMR

Mossberg M44 bolt action rifle (22LR, 22L

Polish WZ-48

Remington 241 Speedmaster
 
Remington 513T Matchmaster

Ruger 10/22

Stevens 66-B (.22LR, 22L, 22S)
 
Nope, can't think of any others right now. So thee are 13 in all that I have right now. I think I need another to make it the lucky number - 14. I could call it Barrel Rider! (Do you know my reference?) Yep, having 14 of them would be a good number to have but it still does not answer the question of: "How many 22 rimfires are enough?".  There may not be an answer to that until they cremate what's left of me and spread my ashes out of a 12 gauge barrel (just thought of that and must tell the son, he'll do it for me) and then count how many rimfires I had before I croaked. While I am none to sure of how many are enough, I am certain that if they ever figure out the key to immortality, and give it to me, there will never be enough 22 rimfires (or rimfire ammo) out there for me.
 
All the best,
Glenn B


 

Monday, April 21, 2014

An American Takes It

I am not big sports fan, how about you? Even if not one, how can you not follow, at least a little bit, the results of today's Boston Marathon after what happened last year. What happened this year may be a bit of a miracle, an American man won it, first time since 1983. He ran it never forgetting they who were killed last year in the bombing and never forgetting the police officer killed a couple of days later by the terrorists. He won it honoring they who fell. He wore the names of those killed on his chest. I would bet he won it too for all the victims who survived. 


I should also point out that he won it for America. It's evident that he did just that because when he crossed the finish line he draped himself with Old Glory and was quoted as saying: "I'm blessed to be an American and God bless America and God Bless Boston for this special day," (source). Hopefully he also ran with a thought in the back of his head for the terrorists, one that went something like this: "Fuck Off Terrorist Scum".

That he ran it, gave his best effort to it, honored the right folks and the right country all throughout it and did it all for the right reasons - I tip my hat to him. The man is respectful, has dignity and is patriotic. Today, all Americans, regardless of politics, should unite to be proud of him and proud to say Meb Keflezighi is an excellent American. 

All the best,
Glenn B

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Happy 239th Anniversary

Happy 239th Anniversary (and to my wife, happy 28ty anniversary). If you, as an American citizen or as a legal resident alien, do not know of which event today is the 239th anniversary, you need to do checking up on this nation's history. Look up - The Shot Heard Round The World.

Did you look at the date, closely? I am willing to bet, that if you randomly selected a thousand American citizens and asked them: In what year did the American Revolution begin?, the majority would answer 1776 and if you asked them the specific date hostilities commenced most by far would say July 4, 1776. Of course, as you know, they would be wrong by a long shot as the war had already been under way for well over a year by then.

All the best,
Glenn B

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Breakfast Tonight - Just A Few Hours Late...

...but it was well worth the wait. I don't know why, but all I had today, up through about 15 minutes ago, was a cup of black coffee and a few bottles of water. Then, about 20 minutes ago, I suddenly  got pretty hungry and decided to head upstairs to raid my son's stash in the fridge. Last night he invited me to try some of the spicy octopus that he had picked up at a local Korean market. It came to mind tonight and I said "why not" to myself. When I looked in the fridge I noticed he had some other delectable looking things like sliced marinated pork belly, some really thin but fatty looking pork cops, a grilled sardine that he made last night, the octopus and a container of marinated seaweed.


A quick and easy meal, especially since all I had to do was to
heat it up in the microwave. It was absolutely friggin delicious.
I opted for the octopus, seaweed and some left over fingerling potatoes (red, white and deep purple) that my wife had made a few days ago. I planted about 5 of the baby octopi in a bed of the seaweed, tossed the taters on the plate next to that and then nuked it all on high for two minutes. It came out looking nice, smelling great and tasting even better. The only think that might have improved it would have been some rice wine or an icy cold beer but sadly I had neither; but of course the potato vodka that I did have went pretty well with it. Someday soon, I am going to have to try making my own version of that octopus dish, it could become a staple around here. By the way, baby octopus is very easy to prepare and cook and it goes well in lots of different styles of dishes. It's also very, very, very yummy.

A hat tip to my wife for broiling those taters and to my son for bring those dishes home from the Korean market; next thing I know he'll bring home some kimchee or so he seems inclined.  

All the best,
Glenn B

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

The BLM Has Virtually Disappeared...

...from the Bundy ranch and surrounding areas and that may lead one to believe that they have given up on the strategy of rustling cattle and placing the Bundys under siege. My guess is that they have not given up at all and while some in DC are saying they are going to handle this in the courts now, I have to wonder if that really will be their next step. My guess is that they are playing a waiting game for the patriots, who showed up to support the Bundys, to feel a false sense of security or accomplishment and then to lose interest and depart the area. Only then will the BLM goon squad will reappear, in force, on the scene. My guess would be that the BLM will show itself again, in fewer numbers, by next Monday to Wednesday and will gradually increase in numbers over the following days.

It's not like they did not leave clues behind. According to one source, an email sent to me by the Oath Keepers, while BLM or other federal agents are not apparent in the area, they left equipment behind. You can bet they will be back not only to retrieve it but to use it as they originally had planned. The following is the open statement in the email I just mentioned:

"NOTE: First, at the moment things are quiet here.   99% of the rumors on the internet are either blatantly false or wildly inaccurate.  No strong presence of federal agents has been seen. Remnants of BLM's recent sojourn here are still present, such as the lights they had put up at their "field-headquarters" and no doubt we are under surveillance of all kinds, but there is no overt, visible massing of federal law enforcement."

Anyway, if I am right, the government will commence a redeployment  of forces at or near the Bundy ranch next week. That would mean that April the 19th will have passed and that it will be at least a few days behind them. My hypothesis is that they think, that any patriotic zeal built around the anniversary of the first day of the American Revolution will have ebbed and the patriots supporting the Bundys will have sufficiently dwindled in number at the ranch for BLM to start bullying the Bundys by rustling cattle again and sat bullying their supporters by again setting up things like First Amendment Zones. Of course, they may be figuring wrongly as the Oath Keepers, and hopefully other groups, are calling for more volunteers to head out that way through and after the 19th.

I doubt there will be much action, if any, at the ranch from now until at least a couple of days after this coming Saturday. If I was a gambling man, I would place a bet in Vegas on it developing in just that manner and time frame.

Please note that the Oath Keepers are looking for member volunteers to assist at the Bundy ranch if at all possible for you to make it there.

All the best,
Glenn B

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Didn't Obama Tell A Russian Official,...

...just before his last election, something to the effect that after the election Obama would have more latitude to kiss Putin's ass! Seems he is living up to at least that one campaign promise, one he made to the Russians, as he turns a cold shoulder toward the Ukraine. See:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/04/15/administration-reportedly-holding-back-on-non-lethal-aid-to-ukraine/

He begs forgiveness of, and bows to, our enemies and turns his back on our allies more than I could have imagined that even a traitor could have done. What a disgrace. 

All the best,
GB

Most Disgusted In Myself Am I...

...than I have ever been in my lifetime. I just finished registering my Romanian WASR 10-63, as an assault weapon, with NYS under the NY SAFE Act.

 
Right now, I am merely disgusted and not ashamed of myself. I would be ashamed of myself if I did not realize that I only am doing so to avoid becoming a felon at the current time and if I did not also realize that there is a time that may soon come at which point I would willingly become a criminal, in the eyes of the tyrants, and would fight for our rights in a way only they could consider criminal. This is not yet that time but the government keeps pushing it closer and closer to its arrival.

Edited to add: Shortly after registering, I realized that I did not include a numerical prefix to the serial number on my WASR 10-63. I really do not think it part of the serial number but rather the year of manufacture. For some reason though, the dealer from whom I bought the rifle included it on the receipt as part of the SN. So, I called the NY SAFE Act hotline to see how I could amend the serial number and the guy who answered the phone took the info and said he did it for me. I asked for his name and in typical NY State government bureaucratic fashion he told me, and I quote: "NY SAFE Act hotline". If that was his name, I feel sorry for him - he must be the most hared man in NY after Governor Cuomo.

All the best,
Glenn B

Disgusted Am I...

...to have submitted my federal and state taxes as of 13:48:57 today and to realize that way too much of my taxes will be going to benefit: useless slugs, criminals, junkies, welfare recipients who cheat the system or who flat out refuse to work, illegal aliens, and other pieces of nonproductive shit. It is about time that productive, earning, tax paying Americans wake up and vote out the bums who have put us in this situation. Start with anyone who voted in Obummer Care and you will be doing America a favor.

All the best,
Glenn B

TAX DAY SUCKS...

...especially this year since I owe the feds a lot. Lost my son as a dependent because of age and how much he earned, lost his college credit, earned a small amount from a part time job and my wife earned a little more than the previous year. The end result was that instead of owing about $600 like last year, we owe just under 5K this year. As for the state, I overestimated what I had to pay in estimated tax so I will get some of that back.

I would not be so bad if the following sentiment wasn't so true:

 
Actually, I guess it is not that true since the government gives away plenty of our tax money to those who do not work at all but you get the idea.
 
After I submit my taxes, I have to do another vile anti-American thing that is going to make today much more miserable for me. Today is the deadline to register so called assault weapons under the NY SAFE Act.
 
All the best,
Glenn B

Traffic Cops Hear lots of Excuses...

...and my bet would be that they sometimes hear new and inventive ones:



All the best,
Glenn B

Saturday, April 12, 2014

It Is A Beautiful Spring Day...

...and what better way to help celebrate Spring than to listen to the first section of Vivaldi's: Four Seasons! Listen to just that section or if you are so inclined listen to it all - it is a masterpiece.

All the best,
Glenn B

Friday, April 11, 2014

Is The Bundy Ranch - The Next Lexinton or Concord?

It sure looks like the powder keg may be about to blow in Nevada at or near the Bundy ranch. The Bundy family, true Americans it seems, are under siege by the federal government which is acting like they are hunting down a major terrorist group or at least public enemy number one. And over what - cattle grazing rights and the rights of ranchers to keep down the cost of feeding their cattle on free range (an American concept for centuries) and thus to keep down the costs of what we eat. The government is trying to control the cattle ranching business and if you do not know what word best describes such a government practice with regard to controlling businesses - it is fascism. (No, this is not a comparison to the Nazis, I am just labeling the government by what it practices and it sure seems to be fascism.)

The Bundys are getting a lot of support from folks coming from far and wide. That includes militia groups from various states, individuals and the press. This event could well become the beginning of a revolution if the current asshole in chief decides to handle it like Ruby Ridge or Waco and my bet is they are doing that already. The big difference is that no one, or at least very few, in the public at large views the Bundys as kooks like many saw the branch Davidians and no one is looking at them like criminals as they did the Weavers at Ruby Ridge. I guess the lies on the part of the government were all to obvious, after the fact, relative to those other two events and still fresh enough in the peoples' memories than for the government to be able to hoodwink any of us again. It seems an awful lot of folks see this as just more of the same old governmental heavy handed tactics with the only difference being that instead of Clinton doing it, it is being done y the current liar in chief - Obummer. 

The thing that seemingly remains constant between all three of these events is that the government agencies, under an administration run by extreme leftists, is acting like a bunch of tyrants' puppets and bringing it to an unnecessary and ill advised head. The big difference is that the people appear sick of it and are herding to the defense of the ranchers in an effort to protect both them, our heritage and our rights.

See: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/04/11/militia-groups-come-to-aid-nevada-rancher-in-battle-with-feds/

This truly could be the start of the fundamental change Obummer never expected, change based on hopes he never had nor ever will have or understand - those of our freedom, our liberties, our rights and the fact that the government is made up of our servants and not the other way around.

One last thing, the timing on this could not be worse for the Obummer Administration and it boggles the mind they would start something like this at this particular time of the year. Is it because they are ignorant of our history or just so arrogant as to challenge the people of America with it. I wonder. Well, they need to work out an end to this soon, one that is amenable to all, what with April 19th looming on the near horizon. For if they don't - there may be a new shot heard round the world, 239 years after the first one.

Don't Tread On Me!

All the best,
Glenn B
 

It's Easy Drivng Me Nuts...

...and driving me there is not a long trip at all. It is usually the little things that get me pissed easily and the screws that came with the new Venetian blinds for our kitchen did just that. Each bracket, there were two brackets for each of three sets of blinds, had only two screws to hold it to the molding. You would think that it would be easy to get the job done, of installing three sets of blinds, requiring only a total of only 12 screws. You might also think that the installer (yours truly) would not be driven nuts in doing it but there you would be wrong.

The screws were hex-nut head screws but also had notches for a Phillips head screwdriver. Not knowing better (because,  as I am the first to admit, I am no handyman), I opted to screw them in with the Phillips head screwdriver instead of using a 1/4" nut driver which I id not have (at least not yesterday). Let me tell you, it was a pain in the knuckles to drive them in even though I had drilled the recommended pilot holes for the screws. On every turn of the screwdriver, my knuckles scraped on the molding or the frame of the window. Not bad though, I could deal with that. What was a little worse was that the screws had such fine threads as to require about 500 turns each (or so I seemed) to get them in all the way. The knuckles got a little raw after the first bracket was in (only two screws mind you, but again, I could take it). They actually went it fairly easily except for the fact that there was little to no room to do it without banging or scraping my knuckles. Add to that my having to get on top of the kitchen countertop and crouch down to put in two sets of them, which caused my knees (post two bouts of Lyme disease knees) to ache and stiffen up. Still, I could take it and, after all, I was doing I for my frau.

It was sad, but it took me all of about 5 minutes per screw, maybe even 10 minutes on one of them just to screw them in place. Yes, if you have been counting along, that was for all of 8 screws and only two sets of the three sets of blinds. The last set then went into the window at the end of the room. By then I had figured that it would be easier to use the side mounting holes for the screws, instead of the top mounting holes I had used on the first two sets of brackets. I have to admit, the first screw on the first bracket went in without all that knuckle banging although there was still some. Then the second screw went in screwy, at too much of an angle and the underside of the screw head was not flush as it should have been with the bracket wall. Oh well, I tried to screw it in more and, of course, that stripped the screwdriver notch in the screw head. It would not turn at all. So, I moved onto the next bracket and in went one screw with barely a knuckle scrape. Then the second screw just refused to budge after it was about 3/4 of the way in. I tried with different screwdrivers but the head on that one soon stripped too. Damn Chinese make everything like crap, oh wait these were made in either Canada or the USA as per the label. I guess we have declined somewhat in the manufacturing department but I would bet if made in China they would have been worse, the head probably would have separated from the screw.

Anyway, I was pretty pissed, as I said it is the small things that drive me nuts. Somewhere in there, I was lamenting the fact that I am so easily driven nuts when it dawned on me that the instructions said the tools that might be helpful would include a Phillips head screwdriver, a plain screwdriver (for what I do not know because none of the screws had a slot to fit one of them) and a 1/4" nut driver. I chuckled, I figured I already had the 1/4" nut driver in the form of the 1/4 " hex nut head screws since they had driven me nuts. Regardless, I decided to check the tool box for what I was pretty sure I did not have. I did have a 1/4" box end wrench but that was just about useless. Yes, it would do the job but require double to triple the turns to set the screw.

That was yesterday. I left it as it was and told the wife I would hit up Homer's for the tool I needed. The I promptly got busy on nothing and forgot to go. So today, I was off to Homer's and I looked for a 1/4" nut driver. There were none to be found, not even in a set. They had a nice set of metric nut drivers but that was not what I needed and all I wanted was on - not a set. So I bought a 1/4" socket (I had a 1/4" socket driver somewhere) and brought that baby home. I soon learned what a knucklehead I had been in as much as I had used the Phillips head screwdriver in the first place. The socket on the screwdriver like handle was the way to go from step one as it held in place much better than the screwdriver and when more force was applied - the hex nut design of the screw head held up much better than did the Phillips slot. The screws, even the one that went in on the bad angle, went through the wood like a hot knife through butter - well almost anyway. As it wound up, the job got finished in seconds and when the wife gets home from work I am sure she will be happy, especially since I did not break any of the windows or crack the countertop while doing it.

Oh well, live and learn. Next time there is an option to use a slotted or Phillips head screwdriver versus a nut driver or socket wrench, you can bet I will opt for one of the latter.

All the best,
Glenn B 

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Spring Cleaning

I have been reminded, in a round about way by Bob over that The Wandering Minstrel, that it is the time of year to commence Spring Cleaning. While Bob was blogging about cleaning his abode, if you know me at all then you know I mean it is time to clean and oil your firearms as part of regular maintenance. Besides cleaning them after shooting them, I clean mine at least three to four times per year (and I try for at least 4 times), whether they need it or not, as part of a regular maintenance program. Now that winter, and the drier air it brings, are over and that spring has sprung with higher humidity, it is good idea to pay some extra attention to your firearms whether or not they have been fired since their last cleaning and lubrication. With all of the snow we had in my area over the past winter now being melted, and all of the rain we have been having lately, the ground has been pretty damp. Add to that the higher humidity levels and higher temps than over the past few months and you wind up with an invitation for rust on metal firearms parts as well as for mold on wooden parts.

To prevent rust and mold, I do a couple of things. take all of my firearms out and inspect them for rust or possible mold/mildew. Then I clean each of them, paying particular attention to any rust or other dampness issues I have found. While doing the cleaning, I revitalize my desiccant packs (placing them into an oven on low heat for about 3 hours - making sure to follow manufacturer's directions on this). Before putting he guns back into the safe, I give each one a light coating of gun oil. I also revitalize the desiccant packs in my ammo storage locker. Get that done 3 to 4 times a year an you should have few problems with rust in the average climate in the SA. If your guns are stored in a very humid climate like in WA or FL, you may need to do so more often.

Remember, a clean (and well lubed) gun is a happy gun.

All the best,
Glenn B

Monday, April 7, 2014

Sir Reginald's Marvelous Organ

What a fine piece of double entendre is this:

 

That had me just bust a gut, my sides are aching from laughter. A hat tip to my good friend Rich M for sending me that one.

All the best,
Glenn B

A Most Fun Sounding Job

So, here I sat today, in my man-cave of sorts, laptop on my lap while looking online for employment opportunities in my area. As usual, I used a few Internet job sites to see what was available within driving/commuting distance from my home. I keyed in certain words to find jobs in fields I think desirable. When I key in the word 'firearms' about the only jobs that ever come up, within 30 miles of my home, are armed guard or investigator positions and some jobs now and then with Kimber (and I never qualify for any of them as they are mostly for engineers). Today though, a job of a different type showed up when I put in the keyword "firearms". It sounds like fun to me, how does it sound to you:

 
ENGINEERING AND TEST DIVISION

Ballistic Test Technician

This position will require performing functional testing on various firearms. Adhere to firearms systems test standards, guidelines and practices. You will utilize test processes and fixtures as approved by the test organization as well as document test results to effectively communicate test status.

This is a temporary or "on-call" position. Flexibility is a must. All shifts are available.

Now if only it was full time, permanent and I was selected for it. Of course, I'll jump on it if they offer it to me even as part time and temporary. Yes, that means I sent in my application already! Wish me luck please.

All the best,
Glenn B

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Put An Ale In The Freezer About An Hour Ago...

...and forgot all about it until a few seconds ago. Luckily the ale did not freeze and thus the bottle did not crack. I just pried off the cap and am now enjoying one of the coldest beers I have had in a long time. It's a Kirkland (Costco store brand) Amber Ale and I have to say, it is delicious.

All the best,
Glenn B

A Tortoise Older Than Methuselah

Older Than Methuselah, I mean that figuratively because I cannot remember how old Methuselah was supposed to have been. 

Jonathan, possibly the world's oldest currently living land animal,
certainly has the look of holding the wisdom of the ages within himself.

Anyway, that is how old a tortoise supposedly can get. At an estimated 182 years old, Jonathan - a Seychelles Tortoise, is pretty well aged, more so than the best cheese, wine, whiskey or ham that have ever passed my lips (not that I want to eat tortoise any time soon). In fact, he may be the longest lived land animal currently alive. Check it out here:

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26543021

Thanks to Deb H for the link to the article.

All the best,
Glenn B

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Gotta Go In Overnight...

...for a sleep study in the near future. They told me to make sure to bring what I need to assure I sleep as well as I can. Do you think they meant to bring my Remington R1-1911 so I can leave it on the night stand, next to the hospital bed, to give me that comfortable feeling of security I get from it? Nah probably not, and that's too bad, but I imagine they would have conniptions and call Joe Biden on me if I did that. Oh well, my sleep might not be the best I have ever had before.



I guess I'll just have to hope that there won't be a Bad Moon Rising cause if I wake up, unarmed, in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, I may be the one having conniptions. ;>)

All the best,
Glenn B

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Something Else Over Which Obama Can Apologize

A suspected WWII bomb has exploded, in a factory in Bangkok, Thailand, after workers reportedly tried to cut it open with a blowtorch. It is a shame this happened and that at least seven folks are reported dead and 19 other injured so far but it is also a shame that people can be that ignorant of what a WWII type bomb looks like. If they actually knew it was a bomb and then decided to use the blow torch to cut it open, that too was a shame but was also undeniable sheer stupidity.

Either way, I can imagine Obama bowing and on his knees over this one, they are implying it was a bomb dropped by the USA on Japanese forces in Bangkok back in WWII.

See: http://news.msn.com/world/bangkok-scrap-workers-killed-opening-suspected-ww2-bomb-with-blow-torch

All the best,
GB

The Governor's Arrogance Toward NY (un) - SAFE Act Protestors

I attended the rally, in Albany, NY yesterday, opposing the NY (un) SAFE Act. I went there along with a busload of LIF members. There were a few indications of just how much NY state government sucks, in its arrogance and in its contempt for the rights loving people of NY (and our out of state supporters). For those who did not attend, let me tell you what, in my opinion, the state government did to show us added disrespect yesterday over and above other insults at previous similar rallies:

1. Moved the rally to Empire State Plaza away from the governor's office where he and his cronies in the legislature would not be inconvenienced by having to hear us.

2. Moved us to a location where we could not be seen by passersby on the streets (we usually get a lot of support from them). The location also prevented the media from hooking up to their vans for power but that was probably of little consequence since their were very few media types there.

3. Had us in a location where vendors could not set up their food trucks.

4. Had signs almost everywhere announcing that anything even appearing to be a weapon, including toy guns, was VERBOTEN FORBIDDEN (their choice of words reminds me of another oppressive regime in history). Not even a hint at any legal authority, to stifle free speech and one's right to keep and bear firearms (or toys), relative to that order was quoted on those signs.

5. The above sign even forbade off duty police from carrying - an apparent stab at the several NY State sheriffs who showed up in opposition to the NY (un) SAFE Act and to lend their strong support of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. As one sheriff commented while on stage, when is a police officer off duty!

6.  Had a minimal amount of state troopers assigned there in uniform to seek out for assistance in the event of some sort of emergency - even fewer than at previous rallies.  Note, I said uniformed but there appeared, at least to me, to be several in plain clothes officers in the crowd.

7. Did not have a single porta-potty set up in sight of the event location. I was tempted to relieve myself on a Cuomo dummy hung in effigy but was able to resist and seek out a public toilet that was a pain in the arse (no pun intended) to find.

My guess is that all that was planned, by Cuomo and his minion, to disrespect and inconvenience rally participants and treat us like fools on April Fools' Day. Maybe it's just me who thinks he would be so trivial and arrogant, maybe Cuomo really is a sweetheart of a tyrant  governor. Then again, apparently others felt the same way or even worse about him. The below was the best sign at the rally, quite possibly an original as I saw no copies of it, and it just about sums it all up about how I feel about his highness Cuomo:

I don't know who they are but they deserve an award for that sign. Thanks guys.

FUAC,
Glenn B