I'm a comic book guy. I spent many tens of dollars each month as a teenager to keep myself supplied with comics. Just because I was primarily an X-Men fan doesn't mean I'm not pretty well pleased with he latest round of movies to come out of Marvel Studios, getting us ready for The Avengers. The trailer released this week has 'happy as a little girl'.
Dang...there are about 90 BILLION things in this world worse than a red-headed Scarlett Johansson(although my legal department advises me to point out that there are at least three things better...the three amazing ladies I share my apartment with). For the ladies, you have a buffed up Chris Evans as Captain America, and a buffed-up Chris Hemsworth as Thor(although, from that one quick trailer, I'm not sure he is as buffed-up in The Avengers as he was in the Thor Movie...dude was impressively big in that movie.)
The Trailer on shows that it is coming out in May of 2012, with no actual date. My guess would be that it is going to come out sometime around the Memorial Day weekend, but, there are somethings in life we just can't take chances on, so for now, I'm putting in for all of May off. My boss is going to point out I won't have the leave time on the books for all that, and I'll counter him that by January, I can probably narrow it down to just one weekend I will need off.
Oh my gosh, that's like 8 months out....is this how those poor teenage girls addicted to Twilight feel?
10.11.2011
Why, yes, I am man enough to pull it off...
On the way home from work today, I swung into the Big Lots(or as I call it, 'The Dollar-Twenty-Five Store') for a little look-around. I really wasn't looking for anything in particular, but I try to jump in at least once every two weeks just to see what new item they have in stock, since some things rotate through on a rapid basis.
I prefer Big Lot's about 17 to 1 over The Dollar Store, since there are time when Big Lots actually gets some half-way decent name brand items in. Case in point was yesterday, when I noticed some Bic Soleil 4 Bladed razor refills on sale for $3 a 4-pack. Now, SWMBO prefers the Gilette Venus line, and since I prefer smooth legs, I let her get what she is happy with...
I'm not the type the let a deal like that go wasted though. Under a buck a piece for replacement razor cartridges is a pretty good price....like 40% under what even the store brand cartridges were selling for next store at Walgreen's and Safeway. That was the point where I had to ask myself...Does it really matter what color razor I'm using in the privacy of my own bathroom? Nope, not one little bit.
So, I bought one razor, and the 5 packs of extra cartridges they had on their shelf. All total, that's 22 cartridges, and since I shave every other, or every third day, realistically, I have taken care of my facial hair removal needs for at least the next two years, for under $20....all because I'm man enough to use a pink razor(although I think it's more red than pink...or maybe it's salmon...)
I prefer Big Lot's about 17 to 1 over The Dollar Store, since there are time when Big Lots actually gets some half-way decent name brand items in. Case in point was yesterday, when I noticed some Bic Soleil 4 Bladed razor refills on sale for $3 a 4-pack. Now, SWMBO prefers the Gilette Venus line, and since I prefer smooth legs, I let her get what she is happy with...
I'm not the type the let a deal like that go wasted though. Under a buck a piece for replacement razor cartridges is a pretty good price....like 40% under what even the store brand cartridges were selling for next store at Walgreen's and Safeway. That was the point where I had to ask myself...Does it really matter what color razor I'm using in the privacy of my own bathroom? Nope, not one little bit.
So, I bought one razor, and the 5 packs of extra cartridges they had on their shelf. All total, that's 22 cartridges, and since I shave every other, or every third day, realistically, I have taken care of my facial hair removal needs for at least the next two years, for under $20....all because I'm man enough to use a pink razor(although I think it's more red than pink...or maybe it's salmon...)
10.10.2011
Well, that wasn't what I was planning on using it for...
Got home from work today to find a box from Midway USA waiting for me. Yay! It was my two new boxes of Hornady .35 Whelen I had ordered, as well as a box of 25 rounds of Sellier & Bellot 00 Buck I had ordered to 'round out the price of my order'. Hey...you rationalize your way, I'll rationalize mine.
Everything arrived looking shipshape(I've never had any problem with ANYTHING I've ordered from Midway). The box of Sellier & Bellot caught my eye....most ammo boxes come with a cute little picture or silhouette showing you possible uses that the manufacturer had in mind for your ammunition. This box of 00 Buck had a little drawing of a fox, and then a rabbit.
I've never been to the Czech Republic...but if they are using OO Buck on their rabbits, I'm impressed. Of course, I only ordered the 2 3/4 inch shells...I'll bet if I ordered their 3" stuff, it would have come with something a little more manly than a rabbit on the box....
Everything arrived looking shipshape(I've never had any problem with ANYTHING I've ordered from Midway). The box of Sellier & Bellot caught my eye....most ammo boxes come with a cute little picture or silhouette showing you possible uses that the manufacturer had in mind for your ammunition. This box of 00 Buck had a little drawing of a fox, and then a rabbit.
I've never been to the Czech Republic...but if they are using OO Buck on their rabbits, I'm impressed. Of course, I only ordered the 2 3/4 inch shells...I'll bet if I ordered their 3" stuff, it would have come with something a little more manly than a rabbit on the box....
Like I need something NEW to want...
While visiting my friend this weekend, before the Halloween party really got going, he said 'Hey, I got a new gun...want to see it?'
Duh.
Because he didn't want it to turn into a massive production(and I'm not entirely sure his girlfriend knows he bought it yet) we crept quietly up to his bedroom. It turns out a new guy that recently started in his shop is a C&R dealer, and he managed to convince my buddy that no one should have to go through life without a Polish P-64. From talking to my buddy, it didn't take too much convincing for him, much like it wouldn't for me.
Seems like a well built little pistol. Very solid feeling, but that might just be because I'm someone who has gotten increasingly used to polymer, and it's all metal construction makes it feel heavy for it's size. The magazine release would take a little getting used to, and the sights were 'meh', but gosh, for something that feels like you can run it over with truck, that you can get your hands on for under $200...umm, there's a lot to like.
A quick look at ballistics shows that the 9X18 round has about 10% more energy than a .380, but is about 30% of a good 9mm load, so my initial thought that it was midway in between the two rounds is pretty far off. 9mm Luger is by far the superior round.
I think my wife might enjoy the P-64. Any minor increased recoil from the 9mm Mak round over the .380 she used to would be more than offset by the weight difference between her Firestorm and the P-64(about 4 or 5 ounces).
Heck, it might even fit into the Christmas budget...
Duh.
Because he didn't want it to turn into a massive production(and I'm not entirely sure his girlfriend knows he bought it yet) we crept quietly up to his bedroom. It turns out a new guy that recently started in his shop is a C&R dealer, and he managed to convince my buddy that no one should have to go through life without a Polish P-64. From talking to my buddy, it didn't take too much convincing for him, much like it wouldn't for me.
Seems like a well built little pistol. Very solid feeling, but that might just be because I'm someone who has gotten increasingly used to polymer, and it's all metal construction makes it feel heavy for it's size. The magazine release would take a little getting used to, and the sights were 'meh', but gosh, for something that feels like you can run it over with truck, that you can get your hands on for under $200...umm, there's a lot to like.
A quick look at ballistics shows that the 9X18 round has about 10% more energy than a .380, but is about 30% of a good 9mm load, so my initial thought that it was midway in between the two rounds is pretty far off. 9mm Luger is by far the superior round.
I think my wife might enjoy the P-64. Any minor increased recoil from the 9mm Mak round over the .380 she used to would be more than offset by the weight difference between her Firestorm and the P-64(about 4 or 5 ounces).
Heck, it might even fit into the Christmas budget...
10.09.2011
Guess I'm just silly like that...
I'm not a pilot, so I've never had the opportunity to fly a plane from Monterey, California to Hilo, Hawaii. If I did though, being a cautious kind of guy, I'd like to think I would have done the math to make sure I was going to have the gas to MAKE it to Hawaii, before making half-way there.
Apparently, Charles Brian Mellor, of Spain, decided that kind of pre-planning is for sissies, because he didn't figure out he wasn't going to have enough fuel until he was about 500 miles from the Hawaiian coastline.
Oops.
Now, he is alive to tell the story because the men and women of the United States Coast Guard are highly trained professionals, and very, very good at their jobs. When Brian radioed for help, the Coast Guard responded promptly. A HC-130 flew out and met him, and they proceeded to step him through the correct way to ditch a plane in the ocean, while a helicopter was standing by to pluck him out of the water.
That's a happy ending. If I wasn't having a good day, I might say that Brian was dumb, and that that dumbness should be punishable by death, but I had a pretty good day. I do hope though, in a situation like this, his insurance doesn't replace the plane, and that the Coast Guard sends him a bill for the airtime of one HC-130 and one rescue helicopter. I'm always curious how things work in a rescue situation like this.
Stupidity like this does not necessarily deserve the death penalty(he deserved to be rescued), but it's fine by me if it's soooooo painful that you wish you were dead.
Apparently, Charles Brian Mellor, of Spain, decided that kind of pre-planning is for sissies, because he didn't figure out he wasn't going to have enough fuel until he was about 500 miles from the Hawaiian coastline.
Oops.
Now, he is alive to tell the story because the men and women of the United States Coast Guard are highly trained professionals, and very, very good at their jobs. When Brian radioed for help, the Coast Guard responded promptly. A HC-130 flew out and met him, and they proceeded to step him through the correct way to ditch a plane in the ocean, while a helicopter was standing by to pluck him out of the water.
That's a happy ending. If I wasn't having a good day, I might say that Brian was dumb, and that that dumbness should be punishable by death, but I had a pretty good day. I do hope though, in a situation like this, his insurance doesn't replace the plane, and that the Coast Guard sends him a bill for the airtime of one HC-130 and one rescue helicopter. I'm always curious how things work in a rescue situation like this.
Stupidity like this does not necessarily deserve the death penalty(he deserved to be rescued), but it's fine by me if it's soooooo painful that you wish you were dead.
Home Safe
Made it home safe and sound from out friends Halloween Party.
It's only been a year since we moved, but I forgot how freaking Beautiful Puget Sound and The Olympic Mountains can be on nice day. As the ferry was pulling was rounding the bend in Kingston, The Olympic's were back-lit by the sunshine in a gap between the high cloud cover.
I was very full of regret that we forgot to pack our nicer camera for the trip, but the view was TOO nice to take at least some pictures from my cell phone. Justice is not even close to being served, but, it's still a beautiful picture.
It's only been a year since we moved, but I forgot how freaking Beautiful Puget Sound and The Olympic Mountains can be on nice day. As the ferry was pulling was rounding the bend in Kingston, The Olympic's were back-lit by the sunshine in a gap between the high cloud cover.
I was very full of regret that we forgot to pack our nicer camera for the trip, but the view was TOO nice to take at least some pictures from my cell phone. Justice is not even close to being served, but, it's still a beautiful picture.
10.08.2011
The 99
Lack of posting the last two days has been caused by my 'oh-so-active' schedule. Thursday evening, my wife went out to play Bunko at friends house, so one of my buddies came over with his kids, and last night my wife and I went out for dinner with my boss. Not super busy stuff, but just enough to keep me off the free ice cream machine.
This weekend won't be much calmer. This morning, we are hoping in the car and driving over to the Kitsap Peninsula to go to a Halloween Party, and see some folks we haven't seen in about a year.
I just haven't had a whole lot of time to get all spun up about any stories in the news lately. I'm going to admit I have no idea what this whole 'Occupy' protest thing is about. My gut instinct is that 90% of the people protesting have no idea what they are protesting either....'Oooo...an excuse to go cause trouble and stick it to The Man, and not go to work tonight! I'm there.'
Finally, a friend of mine tried to explain this whole 'We are the 99' thing me yesterday. Ezra Klein ran with a story in the Washington Post, and referenced a tumblr called 'We are the 99 percent', which was a bunch of folks with their sad stories written on card board signs.
In Ezra's article, he tries to inject a little reality, saying, it's probably not 99% that aren't happy with things. For instance, if you are in the 85th percentile, you are making over 100K, and probably don't have many sad stories(and I'm here to tell you that's wrong...I knew many couples where both husband and wife and working, and make over 100K, and they have sad stories too). He really summed it up on the end with:
I'm too lazy to get into actual statistics, but An Overwhelming Majority of those sad stories involve a discussion of debt, and almost always student debt. 'I've been going to school for 4/6/8 years, and I have 25,000/50,000/100,000 worth of student debt. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts/History/Masters in Education, and was a good student, I had a 3.17/3.24/3.29 GPA.'
I'm not sure what 'play by the rules' means....stay out of Jail maybe? I never received a Rule Book for lifeand don't know anyone who did(unless you count The Bible, which involves being a Good Person).
As far as 'Getting Ahead'...this might be the number one problem in America....people wanting to 'Get Ahead' RIGHT NOW, and taking out more loans for a house that is bigger/more expensive than you need with a 56-inch TV and surround sound system in the living room.
So, yes....being convinced that you NEED to go to college, even if it means starting your professional life with 2-3 years worth of your salary having to go to student loans, might be a problem. Going to school and graduating with a degree of dubious usefulness is also a problem(If we have to blame someone, let's blame the guidance counselors).
Buying a house that you really can't afford, because you don't understand what a variable rate mortgage is, or that an 'interest only loan' only works if the housing market keeps going up FOREVER. I'm not saying the banks aren't to blame aso, but things don't exist in a vacuum.....they wouldn't be able to loan money out if people weren't begging for it.
As someone who is getting ready to once again drop the price on a house I bought 7 years ago, to the point where I am going to asking $25K LESS than I paid for it, I'm more than willing to admit that things are broken. I'm also willing to admit there IS no easy answer...not for politicians, and not for crowds in the street.
The sad stories are going to get sadder, because things are not going to get better, without them getting worse first.
This weekend won't be much calmer. This morning, we are hoping in the car and driving over to the Kitsap Peninsula to go to a Halloween Party, and see some folks we haven't seen in about a year.
I just haven't had a whole lot of time to get all spun up about any stories in the news lately. I'm going to admit I have no idea what this whole 'Occupy' protest thing is about. My gut instinct is that 90% of the people protesting have no idea what they are protesting either....'Oooo...an excuse to go cause trouble and stick it to The Man, and not go to work tonight! I'm there.'
Finally, a friend of mine tried to explain this whole 'We are the 99' thing me yesterday. Ezra Klein ran with a story in the Washington Post, and referenced a tumblr called 'We are the 99 percent', which was a bunch of folks with their sad stories written on card board signs.
In Ezra's article, he tries to inject a little reality, saying, it's probably not 99% that aren't happy with things. For instance, if you are in the 85th percentile, you are making over 100K, and probably don't have many sad stories(and I'm here to tell you that's wrong...I knew many couples where both husband and wife and working, and make over 100K, and they have sad stories too). He really summed it up on the end with:
It’s that 99 percent of Americans sense that the fundamental bargain of our economy -- work hard, play by the rules, get ahead -- has been broken, and they want to see it restored.On that statement, there is a potential he is correct. But...I would attack his statement. I think 'Most Americans(maybe even 99%) have been misled/lied too about what it means to 'Work Hard', Play by the Rules' and 'Get Ahead.'
I'm too lazy to get into actual statistics, but An Overwhelming Majority of those sad stories involve a discussion of debt, and almost always student debt. 'I've been going to school for 4/6/8 years, and I have 25,000/50,000/100,000 worth of student debt. I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts/History/Masters in Education, and was a good student, I had a 3.17/3.24/3.29 GPA.'
I'm not sure what 'play by the rules' means....stay out of Jail maybe? I never received a Rule Book for lifeand don't know anyone who did(unless you count The Bible, which involves being a Good Person).
As far as 'Getting Ahead'...this might be the number one problem in America....people wanting to 'Get Ahead' RIGHT NOW, and taking out more loans for a house that is bigger/more expensive than you need with a 56-inch TV and surround sound system in the living room.
So, yes....being convinced that you NEED to go to college, even if it means starting your professional life with 2-3 years worth of your salary having to go to student loans, might be a problem. Going to school and graduating with a degree of dubious usefulness is also a problem(If we have to blame someone, let's blame the guidance counselors).
Buying a house that you really can't afford, because you don't understand what a variable rate mortgage is, or that an 'interest only loan' only works if the housing market keeps going up FOREVER. I'm not saying the banks aren't to blame aso, but things don't exist in a vacuum.....they wouldn't be able to loan money out if people weren't begging for it.
As someone who is getting ready to once again drop the price on a house I bought 7 years ago, to the point where I am going to asking $25K LESS than I paid for it, I'm more than willing to admit that things are broken. I'm also willing to admit there IS no easy answer...not for politicians, and not for crowds in the street.
The sad stories are going to get sadder, because things are not going to get better, without them getting worse first.
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