I've been trying to avoid reading too many stories about the new drive for gun control, because they just upset me. Wednesday night though, I couldn't avoid clicking on this Op-Ed piece on the Seattle Times website:
National gun buyback would reduce violence, boost economy
For real...lets go another 100 BILLION in debt to try a massive gun buy back program.
Although, if they can do it for $500 a gun, I WILL go buy a suitcase full of Pheonixs' at Ranch and Home...
12.20.2012
12.19.2012
Saved me from myself
For a while Sunday through Monday, I had an itch. Between the horrible things that happened in Connecticut on Friday, and some the things that Obama and other politicians have been saying, I had a bad, bad jones to hit the local ACE Hardware and see if they still had any AR's in stock. Over the last year, they have always had 2 or 3 AR's on sale...usually DPMS's for under $800. I figured if I went down there, and they still had them in that price range(or even $20-50 more) that I might pick one up....typical panic purchase.
Life events quickly began trying to change my mind.
While I was in my truck to go run some erands Sunday, I noticed my 'Battery Voltage Low' light was flickering on and off. I checked the battery and noticed there was a fair amount of corrosion on the positive post. After doing some actual maintenance on the battery, and taking the connection apart and putting it back together, the light was still on.
Monday morning, after rolling back over, I swung by Les Schwab, figuring it was easier to have them test the battery than assuming it was an alternator issue.
It was an alternator issue.
After dropping the truck off at a local mechanic, it was off to the inspection of the house we are trying to buy, where I had to write a check. Following that, we went to the Mortgage Brokers office to sign some paperwork, and then to write a check for the appraisal. On the way home from the mortgage brokers, I got a call that the alternator was all swapped out and ready for pickup, so we went to get my truck, where I got to write a 3rd check.
Yeah, well...between those three checks, and the way my wifes eyes kept lighting up as she was decorating the new house in her mind('Oooo....and a new couch here, and some curtains there) I decided that the time had past to pick up a new AR. As some folks would say, the time to purchase an AR has long past.
Life events quickly began trying to change my mind.
While I was in my truck to go run some erands Sunday, I noticed my 'Battery Voltage Low' light was flickering on and off. I checked the battery and noticed there was a fair amount of corrosion on the positive post. After doing some actual maintenance on the battery, and taking the connection apart and putting it back together, the light was still on.
Monday morning, after rolling back over, I swung by Les Schwab, figuring it was easier to have them test the battery than assuming it was an alternator issue.
It was an alternator issue.
After dropping the truck off at a local mechanic, it was off to the inspection of the house we are trying to buy, where I had to write a check. Following that, we went to the Mortgage Brokers office to sign some paperwork, and then to write a check for the appraisal. On the way home from the mortgage brokers, I got a call that the alternator was all swapped out and ready for pickup, so we went to get my truck, where I got to write a 3rd check.
Yeah, well...between those three checks, and the way my wifes eyes kept lighting up as she was decorating the new house in her mind('Oooo....and a new couch here, and some curtains there) I decided that the time had past to pick up a new AR. As some folks would say, the time to purchase an AR has long past.
12.18.2012
12.17.2012
As I said earlier...
It was a little breezy today. I took this picture(from the passenger seat!) as we drove by John Dam Plaza in Richland about noon today.
All total, we saw at least 30 trees, most of them in the 40-50 foot range blown over. Part of the problem is that the natural desert weather patterns here in the Tri-cities don't promote deep root growth. The other problem is there were several gusts in the 75-80mph range.
In addition to the trees, the were lots of shingles on the ground. The house we are renting had about 15-20 of them blown of the roof last night, and the house we are trying to be had about 3 of them missing when the home inspector went up there today. Other than that, there were a few other minor things noted by the inspector, but he also said that if I hadn't told him that the house was built in 1952, he wouldn't have guessed it.
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| No FEMA trailers in site, yet. |
All total, we saw at least 30 trees, most of them in the 40-50 foot range blown over. Part of the problem is that the natural desert weather patterns here in the Tri-cities don't promote deep root growth. The other problem is there were several gusts in the 75-80mph range.
In addition to the trees, the were lots of shingles on the ground. The house we are renting had about 15-20 of them blown of the roof last night, and the house we are trying to be had about 3 of them missing when the home inspector went up there today. Other than that, there were a few other minor things noted by the inspector, but he also said that if I hadn't told him that the house was built in 1952, he wouldn't have guessed it.
Might as well roll back over..
There's a front passing through out there...overnight the temperature has gone up 10 degrees, and the wind has arrived. I'm listening to it howl, and according to my phone it's averaging 28mph, with gust to 46mph, and that's in town. That means out on the great wide open that is the Hanford site we are averaging over 30mph, with gusts over 50.
Not a lot gets done outside in this kind of conditions.
Oh, we will do some inside stuff, and there are some calibrations and planning jobs we can do so we aren't wasting the tax payers money just staring at ourselves, but most of the true high risk outside work is put on hold in these type of conditions. Crane's can't operate, and you really don't want to open a highly contaminated piping system outside. If a gust of that wind catches something the wrong way, it can be in Walla Walla right quick, and that's what's known as a bad PR day. Hypothetically.
Anyway...our inspection is scheduled for 10am this morning, and then at 1 we meet with our mortgage guy to actually sign some paperwork. I told my boss I was going to come in for a few hours first...but I find my motivation lacking.
The real deciding factor is that if I stay home instead of leaving for a few hours, my presence will greatly impact my wifes ability to get some useful homeschooling done in the morning...and I would rather face the wind than her with her hackles up.
Not a lot gets done outside in this kind of conditions.
Oh, we will do some inside stuff, and there are some calibrations and planning jobs we can do so we aren't wasting the tax payers money just staring at ourselves, but most of the true high risk outside work is put on hold in these type of conditions. Crane's can't operate, and you really don't want to open a highly contaminated piping system outside. If a gust of that wind catches something the wrong way, it can be in Walla Walla right quick, and that's what's known as a bad PR day. Hypothetically.
Anyway...our inspection is scheduled for 10am this morning, and then at 1 we meet with our mortgage guy to actually sign some paperwork. I told my boss I was going to come in for a few hours first...but I find my motivation lacking.
The real deciding factor is that if I stay home instead of leaving for a few hours, my presence will greatly impact my wifes ability to get some useful homeschooling done in the morning...and I would rather face the wind than her with her hackles up.
12.16.2012
Well, at least I can keep my Marlin.
I haven't done much pontificating on the horrible, horrible events in Connecticut because chances are that if you are a regular visitor here, you share my opinion. It was a sad, terrible event, and the act of a mentally broken and morally bankrupt individual.
Now, because this individual used firearms in the commission of this heinous act, we law full gun owners once again find ourselves under siege, having to defend that which shouldn't need defending.
What it all boils down to, to me at least, is that I don't see ANYWAY in which taking the guns out of my house will prevent this from happening again. In the end, you CAN NOT prevent someone who does not value human life(especially their own) from carrying out horrible acts like this. If said person doesn't care about surviving, there is no possible deterrent to prevent this....all you can do is minimize the damage they can create.
One way to do this WOULD be eliminating high capacity, repeatable weapons. Even a pro-gun person such as myself has to admit that the very thing which makes a gun desirable for me to own(it's usefulness and efficiency at it's designed task) allows it to do extreme damage in the wrong hands.
But note, I said eliminating...not just making it tougher/more difficult for the law-abiding types out there. It would require the rounding up and destruction of every weapon out there...and even then, it would only eliminate gun violence. Like I said before, if the bad guy doesn't care about surviving, a whole world of violent options open up to them...and without guns, they will still find a way to commit terrible, terrible acts, killing children, and making people like me heart-sick, because those little children will still be dying, but I would then have no guns to protect MY family.
Anyway...why start is by saying I can still keep my Marlin? Bah...I've been trying to avoid the news, because it just makes me frustrated to listen to it, just like I've been trying to avoid facebook. I made one or two attempts early on to play the cool, logical, reasonable gun owner, but after being told once or twice it's my fault those kids are dead...I gave up.
I couldn't totally avoid the news though, and at one point this morning, I caught a talking head on TV talking about the (latest version) of the guns used, and the guns that the sicko decided to leave at home. The talking head was quick to label the guns left at home 'collectibles', and hint that they wouldn't have been able to take human lives, which is why he left them at home. The guns he described were a .22 'training rifle', a bolt-action Enfield, and a Henry-Lever Action.
Nice to know I have a number of 'non-dangerous' guns they might let me keep. Does that mean I don't need to follow the 4 rules when I use my lever-action .357?
Now, because this individual used firearms in the commission of this heinous act, we law full gun owners once again find ourselves under siege, having to defend that which shouldn't need defending.
What it all boils down to, to me at least, is that I don't see ANYWAY in which taking the guns out of my house will prevent this from happening again. In the end, you CAN NOT prevent someone who does not value human life(especially their own) from carrying out horrible acts like this. If said person doesn't care about surviving, there is no possible deterrent to prevent this....all you can do is minimize the damage they can create.
One way to do this WOULD be eliminating high capacity, repeatable weapons. Even a pro-gun person such as myself has to admit that the very thing which makes a gun desirable for me to own(it's usefulness and efficiency at it's designed task) allows it to do extreme damage in the wrong hands.
But note, I said eliminating...not just making it tougher/more difficult for the law-abiding types out there. It would require the rounding up and destruction of every weapon out there...and even then, it would only eliminate gun violence. Like I said before, if the bad guy doesn't care about surviving, a whole world of violent options open up to them...and without guns, they will still find a way to commit terrible, terrible acts, killing children, and making people like me heart-sick, because those little children will still be dying, but I would then have no guns to protect MY family.
Anyway...why start is by saying I can still keep my Marlin? Bah...I've been trying to avoid the news, because it just makes me frustrated to listen to it, just like I've been trying to avoid facebook. I made one or two attempts early on to play the cool, logical, reasonable gun owner, but after being told once or twice it's my fault those kids are dead...I gave up.
I couldn't totally avoid the news though, and at one point this morning, I caught a talking head on TV talking about the (latest version) of the guns used, and the guns that the sicko decided to leave at home. The talking head was quick to label the guns left at home 'collectibles', and hint that they wouldn't have been able to take human lives, which is why he left them at home. The guns he described were a .22 'training rifle', a bolt-action Enfield, and a Henry-Lever Action.
Nice to know I have a number of 'non-dangerous' guns they might let me keep. Does that mean I don't need to follow the 4 rules when I use my lever-action .357?
12.15.2012
Does that come with dancing girls?
Earlier this week, my wife decided she was going to do a really, really, REALLY nice thing for me. Knowing that I love challah bread, especially when I am going to make french toast, she spoke with one of the bakers at the local food co-op, and placed an order with him for four loaves of challah bread. That may sound like a lot, and is more than we can use in the short-term, but it freezes pretty well if all you are going to do with it when you thaw it is make french toast.
Friday, I came home from work to find 4 fine looking loaves of bread on the counter. I complemented my wife on her good taste, and she made a strange face while she accepted the compliment. Feeling the need to dig deeper, I asked her what they cost.
I never got a direct answer out of her, but she did say, 'Next time I'll ask the price before I place the order'. When I guessed $25, which would have been six bucks a loaf, she said I was getting close.
Oh well...no need to dig deeper than that. I don't believe the guy was sticking it to us...challah is time consuming to make. What matters is, when I made french toast for dinner tonight, it came out fantastic. We then put some of the homemade blueberry syrup my wife canned over the summer on it, and it was MORE than fantastic. It was fricking awesome.
I'm still not 100% certain ANY loaf of bread, even custom ordered organic challah is worth seven dollars a loaf.
Friday, I came home from work to find 4 fine looking loaves of bread on the counter. I complemented my wife on her good taste, and she made a strange face while she accepted the compliment. Feeling the need to dig deeper, I asked her what they cost.
I never got a direct answer out of her, but she did say, 'Next time I'll ask the price before I place the order'. When I guessed $25, which would have been six bucks a loaf, she said I was getting close.
Oh well...no need to dig deeper than that. I don't believe the guy was sticking it to us...challah is time consuming to make. What matters is, when I made french toast for dinner tonight, it came out fantastic. We then put some of the homemade blueberry syrup my wife canned over the summer on it, and it was MORE than fantastic. It was fricking awesome.
I'm still not 100% certain ANY loaf of bread, even custom ordered organic challah is worth seven dollars a loaf.
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