Tobacco Tax

As if the CONFICKER Worm wasn't enough to plague us, we also have Politicians.

Worms are everywhere we look.

Politicians, in their infinite wisdom, have decided to increase the Federal tax of that Demon Weed ... Tobacco.


As a confirmed Marlboro Man (" I miss my lung, Bob") I am grateful for this venue to vent my anger.

Federal taxes on a pack of cigarettes are now one dollar. Thanks to President Nero, a new law, beginning April 1 (coincidence? I don't think so!) will add about sixty-two cents ($0.62) to the cost of a pack of cigarettes.

Federal Tax Increase: The congressional SCHIP bill signed by President Obama on February 4, 2009 includes an increase in the federal tobacco tax (mostly from an increase in the federal tax by 61.66 cents per pack of cigarettes) and other changes, which the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimated would increase budget revenue by $32.5 billion over 5 years and by $65.6 billion over 10 years.

Why?

Tobacco taxes continue to be a focus of attention for states in 2009, with dual interests: raising state revenue and achieving health public policy goals.

Let us dispose of the "achieving health public policy goals" immediately. If Nero's goals are met by his committed timetable, health insurance will become a national issue within the year. Before the end of his first (and hopefully final) term of office, it will be both national policy and federal law. As a committed Socialist (Nero is, after all, nationalizing the Banking industries and the Automobile industry, even as you read these words), he will follow the National Health example of Great Britain.

In other words, the National Health Service will not provide medical help for overweight (fat) people, nor will it provide life-extending services for old people. Particularly, it will not provide medical health for people who smoke. It's simply "not in the budget". Great Britain (see: Canada) has already learned that a National Health program cannot server it's (involuntary) subscribers and consequently must cut expenses on "fiscally unsupportable patients". Even if these patients could pay for the treatment (again, using the experiences of Great Britain and Canada as models) they will not be allowed access to the facilities because there is no incentive for hospitals and medical care facilities to invest in the expensive machinery, or the not-so-expensive (under Socialism) surgical expertise needed to service "extreme" patient needs.


So when someone tells you that the increase in tobacco taxes is part of the "achieving health public policy goals" effort, just call them either a liar or a fool, and move on.

On the other hand, raising revenue is definitely part of the goals of a politician. Especially such an out-of-control bunch of politicians which have become incumbent under the leadership of Nero.

After all, we have just doubled the National Debt, and have gone from being the most prosperous nation to the most-indebted nation within the short span of Nero's First 100 Days.

And if He has His way, we will see our National Debt tripled before the year is out.

Right now, a carton of cigarettes costs nearly $10 more than it did six weeks ago; that cost will increase another $6.20 tomorrow, which raises the cost from $50 to $57 (approximate).

Let's go back to our earlier question:

WHY?

Answer: Because They Can.

Actually, the money is going to fund the S-CHIP program.

That's right. For "Children who are not otherwise insured" (State Children's Health Insurance Program). "Children", in this case, are defined as 'individuals up to the age of 25 years who are still living at home'.



Here's another question:

Who is this going to hurt the most?

Answer: those who can least afford it.

Not only are the payers of cigarette taxes poorer as a group than the payers of these other taxes, but there are fewer of them. The burden on the lowest-earning 20 percent of households from a cigarette tax is 37 times heavier than if the government raised the money with the federal income tax.

(The above article debunks five specific "myths" about the benefit of increasing taxes on tobacco:

1. Higher cigarette taxes deter youth from smoking.
2. Smoking is harmful and cigarette taxes reduce those harms.
3. Smokers act irrationally in believing smoking has benefits, and the tax corrects for that mistake.
4. Raising cigarette taxes is proper tax policy because smokers impose costs on government and society.
5. We need more revenue.

Well, it must be admitted that with the new "Tax and Spend" policies of the current administration, the money has to come from SOMEWHERE. One can't be criticized too strongly for wondering from where this money is to be found. Still, it's difficult to believe that increasing the tax on tobacco will bring in nine trillion dollars over the next ten years. Are smokers destined to shoulder the burden of the entire national debt?

Wait a minute! In 1994, the Clintons proposed that a fifty cent tax per pack of cigarettes would pay for HillaryCare. I guess, if you're a Liberal, this sounds reasonable.

But then, the Clintons were not Nero.

Stumble It!

CONFICKER

IF you can read this, your computer may not be infected.

On the other hand, you may be.

"CONFICKER" is a virus which takes over computers and turns them into 'bots'. Think BORG ("Resistance is Futile; You will be Assimilated.") Rumor has it that it will be activated on April 1, 2009. Really? I don't know, but reliable sources say it's going to happen.


Fox News has a valuable article which defines the obvious symptoms, and what you can do about it, in case you are a victim of this April Fools Day trick (which may or may not be a real threat ... until we get hurt, it's hard to tell whether or not a threat is real.)

One of the characteristics of the bug seems to be that it prevents its victims from accessing the anti-virus websites which offer a 'fix':

One scary thing about Conficker is that it spreads without human involvement, moving from PC to PC by exploiting a security hole in Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system.

The hole was fixed in October, but if your computer doesn't get automatic updates from Microsoft, you could be vulnerable.

Lots of computer worms disable antivirus outright, which can be a tip-off that something is wrong.

But Conficker doesn't do that. Instead, Conficker blocks infected PCs from accessing the antivirus vendors' and Microsoft's Web sites, so victims won't get automatic updates and can't download the Conficker removal tools that those companies have developed.

So see what Web sites you can visit. If you can navigate the Internet freely except for sites owned by Microsoft or antivirus vendors such as Symantec Corp., McAfee Inc. or F-Secure Corp., your PC might have Conficker or a similar bug.

What are these "blocked sites"?

One of them is the Symantic Anti-Virus website (specifically, this one which deals with Conficker Worm).
Another is the Microsoft Malware Protection Center website; here's the MS warning page on Conficker.

So if you click on these links, and you can't make a connection ... there's a good chance (according to the Fox advisory) that you have a problem.

The computers most at risk are those which are running Microsoft XP or VISTA, and do not automatically receive updates from Microsoft (which should provide the latest 'fixes' to the notoriously vulnerable MS Operating Systems.)

---

There's a moral to this story.

That is, if you do NOT already receive and install MS updates, if you do NOT subscribe to a good Anti-Virus software package, or if you don't have the latest updates, or if you haven't scanned your hard-disk lately, just remember the words of Robo-Cop:

"Secure the computer, or There May Be Trouble."

No, that's not right. What I should have said is: BUY the security software, INSTALL the software, UPDATE the viral profiles regularly, and SCAN your hard-disk often!

PS: If you don't see any updates to this blog by the end of the week, I may be the one in trouble. In that case, I expect one of my many friends to send me the 'fix'. Preferably, without adding insult to my injury.

Stumble It!

Earth Hour

Late Saturday Night, SWMBO advised me that we were suppose to be observing "Earth Hour".

This was purportedly "a global event organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and is held on the last Saturday of March annually, asking households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change."

I said: "Holy Gosh Darn-it, Bat-Girl, we have dropped the ball!"

She replied: "Oh, I don't think so. The lights are out in the Computer Room and the bedroom."

So we turned the computer off.

Stumble It!

Introduction to USPSA: April, 2009 (Part III)

I'm changing the parameters for ti Introduction to USPSA class, scheduled for Saturda April 4, 2009.

I'll have a new Demonstrator for that class.

No reflection on "Yawn", who has been a huge help at several classes. In fact, I'm encouraging him to take his enthusiasm for the sport to a new level of volunteerism. I think he would be a fine officer in either the Albany Rifle and Pistol Club, or the Columbia Cascade Section. He's a natural hard-working volunteer. I think his energy and enthusiasm have been wasted by working only as a Demonstrator at the USPSA class. (Yes, it's an important function; but he deserves the chance to grow, and I can't give it to him.)

I want to use the post of Demonstrator to the Introduction to USPSA as an entry post for more volunteers, and toward that end I am inclined to use this function to encourage volunteerism.

It has occurred to me that a Limited-Division Master-Class shooter would be an excellent choice.

Not only can we train a potential Instructor replacement, but it expands the list of folks who are given the opportunity to "Give Back To The Sport".

One of the things I'm looking for, by soliciting the assistance of a new Demonstrator, is to re-evaluate the course Syllabus.

Jan ("Yawn") has been extremely helpful in the past, and he has helped to define the information flow from Instructor to New Shooter. He was a member of my July, 2008, class so he knows what New Shooters need to know.

But it's unfair to call upon his personal time too much, and so I've decided to accept the offer made by Guy early this month.

Guy has been competing in USPSA/IPSC since Christ was a D-shooter, While there is no doubt that he has already Done His Bit with his monthly column on "Reloading" for The Front Sight Magazine, that's no reason why he can't be allocated a spell doing the fun stuff by helping new shooters learn about how to compete in USPSA.

Guy volunteered for the position, I accepted his offer, and he has already confirmed the acceptance.

I've already encouraged a "New Shooter" to assist in this course, working under the assumption that he would provide insight into the issues that other New Shooters would need special insight. Now I'm inviting an Experienced Shooter to provide a contrasting perspective.

It is my hope that encouraging more competitors to Volunteerism will in turn encourage them to volunteer for more 'public offices' within the organization.

Another reason for this change is to encourage 'veterans' of the class to move on to offices of more responsibility. We need to do whatever it takes to encourage a New Generation of administrators in USPSA. These energetic folks can choose to serve at the club, the Section or the National level, or they can switch to the fast-track of taking Range Officer Certification classes and serve on the weekly (0r monthly) local level ... or expand their training to serve as Range Officers at Major Matches.

Even if they go no further than to certify as Range Officers for Club Matches, they will help the rest of us to become more familiar with Competition Rules.

Ultimately, I hope this policy will provide some more administrators at all levels. We do need to encourage competitors to become Range Officers, and we need New Blood at both the Section and Area Level.

Whether they go on to serve at the National Level is up to them. The United States Practical Shooting Association has enjoyed a multi-year boon of qualified, experienced and dedicated people for the past several years. These folks are beginning to retire. If we don't find energetic and qualified (experienced) new candidates determined to ASK to be voted into these positions, we will find ourselves with the same tired, clue-less candidates which we suffered a decade or more ago.

We need new blood. Some folks work toward this goal by encouraging Juniors to enter USPSA competition. But we don't have a program designed to funnel experienced, mature people to Volunteering to take a leadership role.

I'm doing my part to find new people to fill these essential roles. What are YOU doing to encourage volunteerism?

Stumble It!

Reloading and Dundee Match

As it happens, I slept late last Saturday morning and didn't even wake up until 8:30am. This was a short half hour before the Dundee match started. Given only 30 minutes to dress, load the truck and drive over anhour to the match, I decided not to compete in this match. So I still have no idea how my newly reloaded ammunition will perform.

There is no image so sad as a temporary reloading press set up to see the morning sun, on a day when the ammo will necessarily stay 'in the box'.

I may have saved myself the trip, and the match fee. I don't even know if the ammunition I loaded so laboriously on Friday will work. I'll test-fire it next weekend before I teach the Introduction to USPSA class at ARPC. If it doesn't perform reliably, I'll have a week before I need to have new ammunition for the ARPC Monthly Match a week from then.

Stumble It!

Reloading with a non-progressive press: Part I

Remember how I told you I was having problems with my Dillon XL650, and I was gonna ask them to fix it for me?

Well, I never did get around to it.


That's why I spent the better part of eight hours today loading 200 rounds of 10mm to prepare for the Match later today. (Yes, I am up WAY past the bedtime of any Honest Man to get this task finished, and to "boast" about it.)

Very big grin here. I'm not actually very proud of how long it took me to set up a Lee Turret Press from scratch for a 'new' caliber ... I haven't actually reloaded on that press for a few years, and never for 10mm.

But I did have a LEE Sizing Die (which I used to full-length size 10mm brass ... it is reputed to be 'better than' Dillon or RCBS dies to get the FULL length of the case squeezed down to a diameter which fits in an STI chamber.

I also had several hundred rounds of once-used 10mm brass which had been full-length resized by a vendor, including in the deal a complete primer-decapping and a liquid-tumbling which left the brass shiny-new inside and out.

Anyway, this is grist for the mill of an entirely different (and Geek Length) post about my experiences of the actual process.

For now, it's enough to state that I decided to use my STI Edge in 10mm for the forthcoming match at Dundee (which starts in about 7 hours, and it's an hour driving time --- so I better close this soon so I can get some sleep!).

I may not post on Saturday night; I expect to be entirely worn out. Besides, I don't have enough pictures yet. Nor do I have the results (consequences) of my untimely reloading session.

By tomorrow evening, at a minimum, I expect to be able to provide a "Range Report" on the results of loading ammunition "On Spec" from specifications which are several years old, and which have NOT been tested before the match.

It's all smoke and mirrors. I have need of counsel from a Professional Reloader.

Wish me luck!

Stumble It!

ARPC Full Auto Shoot - May 16-17

This year the Albany Rifle and Pistol club (ARPC) will, once again, sponsor it's Annual Spring Full-Auto Shoot.


This is not a match. More like ... a demonstration. Lots of folks with Class 3 licenses will bring their (entirely legal) fully-auto sub-machine guns and machine-guns during this weekend, and for the low low price of Ten Dollars U.S., you can watch.
(Click on the picture for the Full Image)
Not enough for you?

You're in luck.

For a slight additional fee, you can elect to actually SHOOT these here machine guns.

What do you get for your money? Let's look at it the other way around. The owners of the machine guns will set 'em up, provide targets,. load the magazines (or belts) with their own ammunition, and for a price (which probably doesn't exceed, say, $15, but may be lower -- let you shoot at the targets.

Be a Rambo, Smoke 'em if you've got 'em. (No, I'm not implying that you can smoke a stogie while you're smoking the targets. On the other hand, maybe you can. After all, it's an Outdoor Event.)

Directions to the range are provided on the poster (see above). If that is insufficiently explicit for you, you can also find directions and a map here. (Remember that you're expected to go to Oregon, and somehow "intuit" how to find the Interstate "5" freeway. If you can't handle that, you probably shouldn't be shooting Full Auto Firearms anyway.)

Never fired a full-auto gun before? Afraid that you'll embarrass yourself in public?

Don't worry about it. You WILL embarrass yourself, because almost nobody can hit more than one target on full-auto. I've been trained and am experienced (U.S. Army), and I CHS (Can't Hit Shit) on Full Auto.

But still, it's almost "The Most Fun You Can Have With Your Clothes On".

I'll probably be there, at least one day; taking pictures for future blog articles, and meeting folks. Chances are you won't notice me, even if I DO have my "Jerry the Geek" Internet Region shirt on. Believe me, you'll have more interesting things to watch.

Be there or be bored.

(No, it's not like this ...

... It's more like THIS!


Better ... Stronger .. Faster!







[Geek Seal of Approval]

Stumble It!

Introduction to USPSA: April, 2009

Once again we're looking forward to the next month, and the possible addition of New Shooters joining the Columbia Cascade Section of USPSA.

That means that, on the First Saturday of the month, I will be found from 1pm to 4pm at the Albany Rifle and Pistol Club (ARPC) teaching an "Introduction to USPSA" match.

By now you understand how much I enjoy meeting these eager New Shooters, and you probably understand how enthusiastically I approach each class.

It occurs to me that, even though I've tried to share my syllabus with others who intend to teach similar classes, I've never codified the information which I provide to students.

Here then, is the note which I attempt to send to each student before the class:

My name is [My_Name]. I've been a member of (and a competitor in) USPSA since 1983. I will be your instructor in the [class_date], "Introduction to USPSA" class.

To complete the certification process, you need to do the three things which [Head_instructor] has already defined. My part is the "#2" thing: "Attend Live Fire Safety Session with one of our instructors."

We have provided this instruction (in my personal experience) for a single person, and for as many as 13 people. Sunny weather seems to bring more people to the range. The medium attendance seems to be 3 or 4 people. As a member of a smaller class (if that so happens), you're lucky because we have more time to attend to the nuances.

USPSA People LOVE to have new shooters. Expect to be welcomed by the 'old' competitors at your first match; we like to see new people.

We want you to feel entirely comfortable, so here's what you will learn on the first Saturday of next month, when you take the class, and (hopefully) the second Saturday of April, when you will complete your certification.

Here is some information so you know what to expect during the Class and during your first match.


Two Things You Need To Know:

1. What the Certification class will be like;
2. What you need to bring, both to the Class and to your First Match.

1: What the USPSA Certification Class will be like:

You will need to bring with you:

• Your completed test
• Handgun (minimum: 9mm)
• Ammunition (minimum: 50 rounds)
• Wear a belt which is wide enough and strong enough to support the 'stuff' you should carry on your belt.
• At least two, preferably four (depending on your magazine limits) Magazines, and sufficient Magazine Carriers which will fit on your belt. You will need to reload at least once in the certification course; you will need to reload at 3 times at your first match. (Note that this varies according to which Division you declare for competition. This is because some Divisions only allow 8 or 10 rounds per magazine, and others have no limits on the number of rounds which can be loaded in your magazines.)
  

Your handgun must fit your ammunition, your ammunition must fit within reload magazines, all reload magazines must fit your gun. This probably seems obvious to you. We'll talk about this in the class.

We will meet at the designated bay on the North Range of the Albany Rifle and Pistol club ... probably bay 3 or bay 5. I'll try to put a sign out in front of the entry to the bay, before your expected 1pm time of arrival.

Bring your 'test'. The first hour of the class will be devoted to discussing the test question, and the various nuances of the test questions. Read the book, know the answers.

After the talking part is through, we will walk you through several scenarios designed to teach you what you need to know about safe gun-handling, and USPSA competition. Note that there will be plenty of opportunities for error. During these exercises, we will faithfully follow the three steps of successful training:

1. Describe the training scenario
2. Demonstrate the training scenario
3. Walk the student through each stage.

You are ALWAYS encouraged to ask question during the class.

The scenarios used to teach you safe Gun Handling skills, and competitive skills (also etiquette and an understanding of the Squadding procedure) are as follows:

1. Stage 1, designed to familiarize you with Standard Range Commands and revisit basic Gun handling skills: Engage one target with one shot. NOTE: also teaches range commands, and the appropriate shooter reactions to errors in understanding;
   
2. Stage 2, designed to re-enforce previously taught skills, also to learn the skill needed to engage multiple targets. Engage two targets with at least two rounds each. The student may reload as needed. A mandatory reload requirement may be included, depending on the mood and whimsy of the Range Officer, to teach you how to reload during moments of competitive stress..
   
3. Stage 3, designed to teach you the principles of safe movement, shooting behind a vision barrier, safe reloading and indexing from one shooting position to another: engage two cardboard targets with at least two rounds (see above), then move down-range to a shooting box behind a Bianchi Barricade (with a shooting box behind it.) . There you will be expected to engage one USPSA Steel Target, and one USPSA Pepper Target, from opposite sides of the Bianchi Barricade. (Note to yourself: always be certain that during movement, you make it obvious to the Range Officer that your finger is NOT on the trigger during these two events.)
   
4. Variations on the above themes, as they seem necessary to the instructor.
   

(1a:) What you need to bring both to the Class:

1. Handgun; caliber 9mm or larger
2. Ammunition, at least 50 rounds.
3. Magazines (if appropriate to handgun, assumed to be a semi-automatic pistol); at least three;
4. Magazine carriers, at least two .. preferably three (for a match);
5. Belt, sufficient to carry holstered pistol, magazines and magazine carriers. At least 1-1/2" wide, sturdy enough to support the weight of the pistol yet withstand the action of drawing the pistol without excessive 'give'.

Again; variations may be included, but these are the basics.

2: What you need to know and bring, to your First Match.

You will need the same equipment to our first match as you need to bring to your orientation class. However, expect that you will need a minimum of 150 rounds of ammunition to successfully complete the match. There will be six (6) stages at the match, with an average minimum round count of 25 rounds per stage. My personal criteria is to bring at least 50% more ammunition than the minimum, which suggests 225 rounds. For your own satisfaction, I strongly suggest that you bring 100% more ammunition than the minimum .. 300 rounds. You'll use it up eventually, so you should seriously consider bringing much more ammunition than you will need for the first match.

Depending on the Division restrictions for ammunition available in each magazine, you will need more magazines than the minimum required to complete a single stage:

• Singlestack (8-rounds maximum per magazine) bring at least 5 magazine (40 rounds available);
• Production or Limited-10 (10-rounds maximum per magazine) bring at least 4 magazines (40 rounds available);
• Limited (either 18 or 20 rounds maximum per magazine) bring at least 3 magazines (54 rounds available);
• Open (up to 30 rounds maximum per magazine) bring at least 3 magazines (75 - 90 rounds available).

The reason to bring MORE magazines than you expect to need is because if you lose a magazine, or experience a failure-to-feed jam, you may need to jettison a magazine. You should ALWAYS bring more ammunition, and more magazines, than you expect to need.

You should bring sufficient magazine carriers to legally carry the maximum number of magazines. Note that you can carry 'extra' magazines in your pockets, and use them after all of the magazines in your magazine carriers have been expended. If this financial investment is excessive to your ability, don't feel that you cannot be competitive. Bring what you have, and expect to "go to the pocket". Still, at least two magazine carriers are strongly advised no matter what Division you choose to compete in.

Procedures:

You should show up at the range by 8am, certainly by 8:30, for a 9am start to the match. This will allow you sufficient time to sign up for the match, and get your gear on and magazines loaded.

The match will start at 9am. There will be a Shooters Meeting, usually given by the Range Master (RM_Name), often followed by a "Walk-Through" of the stages. During the walk-through, the Range Master will describe the requirements for each stage. These requirements are described in you test. You will want to know, and be clear on, the requirements for each stage.

During sign-up you will want to make the statistician aware that you are a New Shooter. If the statistician does not do so, you will want to mark each score sheet (one for each stage) with the comment "NEW SHOOTER". This will help others in your squad to know that you should be the last shooter in your squad to shoot each stage. This is for your benefit; you will be able to watch the rest of the shooters in your squad engage the targets, so you have adequate time and experience to evaluate the best way for YOU to engage the targets on each stage.

Squadding: there is a 'squad sign-up sheet' available in the stats room when you sign up for the match. Find a group of people who you wish to shoot with, and put your name on the same squad sign-up sheet. Look for my name ([My_Name]), or the name of the demonstrator who assisted during your Certification Course. Usually, this is [Demonstrator_Name]. IF another demonstrator worked during your class, look for that person. If those squads are full, it doesn't matter what squad you join as long as they know that you are a New Shooter. Experienced shooters will almost invariably be happy to help you get through your First Match safely.

>From this point on, just ... coast. Your goal is to get through your first match safely. Do not attempt to shoot 'fast';, shoot SAFELY, and your second priority is to conform to the stage procedures. The third priority is to shoot accurately; hit each target with the first shot if possible. Be certain that you can at least engage ("shoot at") each target without running out of ammunition.

That's a lot to remember. Don't feel that you need to remember all of this. We will discuss every point, and demonstrate most of them, during your certification Class. If you have questions, don't feel shy about asking them during any part of the class.

This is suppose to be fun. It's not suppose to be as intimidating as this email probably suggests. Be assured that you will leave your Introduction to USPSA class with all of your questions answered, and you will have plenty of advice (much of it unsolicited) from the members of your squad at your First Match.

All you have to remember is (a) shoot safely, and (b) have fun.

You aren't expected to win your first match. The only expectation is that you will shoot safely, and will become irretrievably "hooked on IPSC" after a single match.

Ask questions. You can reply to this email if you have any concerns which are not already answered.

Looking forward to meeting you on [class_date].

Stumble It!

Coulda happened here ... maybe

Blogmeat for March, 2009!

This is devoted to the weird and awful things that "just happened, I don't know why!" around the world,

Chances are, a careful review of the TCPALM ("Florida's Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches") would reveal similarly bizarre stories. Such as here and here and here -- just for example. But tonight we're criticizing 'those other folks'.

So let's be about it.

First, in Indonesia:

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Two Komodo dragons mauled a fruit-picker to death in eastern Indonesia, police and witnesses said Tuesday, the latest in a string of attacks on humans by the world's largest lizard species.

Police Sgt. Kosmas Jalang said 31-year-old Muhamad Anwar was attacked on Komodo, one of four islands where the giant reptile is found in the wild, minutes after he fell out of a sugar-apple tree on Monday.

He was bleeding badly from bites to his hands, body, legs and neck after two lizards, waiting below, attacked him, according to a neighbor, Theresia Tawa. He died at a clinic on the neighboring island of Flores soon after.

Next, two stories from Ireland:

(1) "Naked ******
Paintings Removed" I'm not sure what "taoiseach" means, but two paintings of the Prime Minister of Ireland (Brian Cowen -- naked) have been placed on display in Dublin Art Galleries.

A painting of Mr Cowen holding his underpants appeared in the Royal Hibernian Academy and one of him pictured on the toilet ended up in the National Gallery.

Sounds scandalous, right?

One woman who saw the painting reportedly offered to buy it.

(2) From "The Independent"

Man who shot himself "by accident' is critical":

A WELL-known criminal who is a central figure in Limerick's ongoing feud was in a critical condition on a life support machine last night after he accidentally shot himself.

Feared gangster Philip Collopy (29) from St Mary's Park, Limerick is in the city's Mid-Western Regional Hospital where he has been since he shot himself in the head on Saturday morning.

The career criminal shot himself with a glock handgun at close range in a house at St Munchin's Street, St Mary's Park. He had been inspecting the gun and removed the loaded magazine from it while handling it. However, he failed to realise a bullet was still in the chamber before he discharged the weapon while it was pointed at his head.

(No comments about "Darwinism In Action" or "Chlorine in the Gene Pool" here. Move along.)



Finally, let's hear it for Vietnam, where three men trying to saw through a war-era bomb (apparently an artillery shell, irresponsibly left laying around by those vexatious Americans):

The men, between 19 and 44 years old, were trying to break open a 105mm shell when the blast happened in southern Tay Ninh province on Friday, local policeman Nguyen Minh Kha said.

"The poor men wanted to sell the metal for money. They could not escape the sudden blast,'' he said.

According to earlier figures from the Public Security Ministry, more than 38,000 Vietnamese nationals have been killed and 100,000 injured by explosives left over from the Vietnam War, which ended in 1975.

This is another thing I don't understand. My Vietnam experiences taught me that the Viet Cong were experts at recovering expended 'dud rounds' as the basis of what we then referred to as "Booby traps", and which are now demurely referred to as "IEDs" (Improvised Explosive Devices).

What happened? Have the Vietnamese grown soft? Have they not passed their skills down to the Next Generation? I guess, in this case, we can truly refer to them as "X-Gen".

Yeah, the "Late X-Gen", here.

I can understand the recovery of the metal ... sort-of. But to whom did they plan to sell the explosives?

Never mind, it's all academic now. Except to the three squatting savages with a hacksaw and without a clue ... or (now) contiguous body parts. I have seen the uncomfortable results of too-close consanguinity between Viet Names 'civilians' and Artillary. It's not a pretty sight. Apparently, Capitalistic ingenuity and high-explosives are still a deadly combination.


Okay, I can't let this go without including a couple of stories from the United States:

First, "Miss Cleo" (late of "The Psychic Hotline") is Back! She's bad, she's free, and she's gay.

At a tiny, earth-toned coffeehouse, the fliers advertise mediums and meditations. Wind chimes ring and dream catchers spin.

It's early afternoon. The plush couches sit empty.

And seated at a table, a silver snake earring dangling from one ear, Miss Cleo says she couldn't be happier.

''I'm a proud voodoo woman,'' she says in the thick Caribbean accent that many late-night television viewers can well recall. ``And I make no apologies to anyone.''

Around the turn of the millennium, Miss Cleo was the face and voice of the Psychic Readers Network in TV commercials and infomercials across the country, many of which still live on at Web sites like YouTube.com.

Draped in colorful robes, she urged nighthawks to call in because ``the cards never lie.''

That lasted until the Psychic Readers Network, run by Access Resource Services of Fort Lauderdale Is your Fort Lauderdale restaurant clean? - Click Here., succumbed to a storm of lawsuits from consumers who said they were grossly overcharged.

Cleo, a spokeswoman but never the boss, was sued, too. But she was not found liable.

Ultimately, let's look at Cane-Fu.

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. - Pay no mind to the groans that come with stretching, to hair that is gray or gone altogether. Ignore the cautiousness of their steps and the canes in their hands.

These seniors are ready to fight.

A rainbow of martial arts belts dangles above the mirror along one wall of this small dojo; swords, nunchuks and sickles hang near the front. Punching bags and torso targets line the room, but they'll need none of these. Their weapons are their canes.

At the helm of the class is one of the country's most recognized cane fighters, Mark Shuey, a slight man who, at 62, has hair and skin starting to show signs of age. He has traveled from Lake Tahoe, Nev., to teach this group of 16 how to protect themselves from attackers.

He calls it Cane-Fu.

Cane fighting classes have popped up all over the country, in part due to the influence of Cane Masters, the company Shuey founded that sells wood canes made of harder, thicker wood, to sustain wear and wider crooks to fit around an attacker's neck. Now, it's being offered at dojos and increasingly in senior centers and retirement communities.

(See the link for details and a video. Video also available at AOL.)

"It's a medical device, you need one to get around on. And they do let you on the airplane with it."

Geez, I wish I had thought of that.

I coulda been a contender!

That's it for Blogmeat on Tuesday, March 34, 2009.

Stumble It!

Lunge, Parry, Thrust

Thanks to Jim Shepherd at The Shooting Wire, I have here an excellent summary of recent Federal attempts to infringe upon your Second Amendment Rights.

Some of these issues I have already mentioned; some ... not.

First issue: The National Park Service attempt to 'technically' renege on its recent agreement to allow shooting on Park Service land.

Second, reports about the "Springfield Armory Historic Site and Museum" being newly lead by a director who doesn't think that people are interested in "old guns", and consequently may want to shut down many of the services and exhibits. I don't get that one at all; maybe you are more intuitive than I am.

Finally, new Justice Department head Holder is taken to task by 65 Democratic members of congress in response to 'whispers' that the 1994 Assault Weapons band may be re-instated by the Obama Administration. Response: "We never intended to do that AT ALL!" That one I do get. We knew long ago that Obama is no friend of the Second Amendment. Hint: Obama will never directly attack "The Gun Lobby". He hasn't the intestinal fortitude (or has too much Political Ambition) to attack gun owners directly. He will always, always use his henchmen and attempt to maintain a position of "The High Ground". Look for statements such as: "I will not contradict nor oppose members of my cabinet as they go about addressing issues in the way they think best. If Congress sends me a bill addressing Public Safety issues, I will sign it."

Weasel, words, to be sure. Bush did the same thing during his tenure, and it bit him so hard that he still carries teeth-marks on his sit-down. (And well deserved they are!)

Now read Jim Shepherd's latest article:

Lunge.

Parry.

Thrust.

Sounds like the three key elements of fencing, but it's the government moving up- and back - on firearms and ammunition restrictions. Last week, two thrusts, a feint, and some retreat made the week infuriating, but telling to gun owners.

First, the National Park Service bans lead - all lead - on any property under NPS control. Then, the Department of Defense puts ammo brass into a different category for disposal. Rather than being able to sell the spent casings, they'll have to be mutilated.

Two lunges.

The first parry came from Senators Tester and Baucus of Montana - a letter advising them that such an action might have consequences for DoD funding. The DoD quickly issued a clarification saying they weren't really intending to go through with the mutilation, they were going through a process of review because of -you guessed it- the catch-all excuse of all excuses - national security issues.

Now, the National Park Service says its no-lead declaration last week was a "misstep" and the lead ban was for the National Park Service employees and agents only. "You can still use lead shot and lead ammunition. The point of the announcement was to let the public know that internally we want to get away from lead-based products," said Bert Frost, Associate Director of Natural Resource Stewardship & Science for the National Park Service."

Now I got it. Thanks for that clarification. Maybe the next time they close down a shooting area for no apparent reason, we'll find it's only closed to NPS employees and agents.

The latest thrust is a disquieting report we've received concerning the Springfield Armory Historic site and museum. As we reported in last Friday's edition of The Shooting Wire, sources at the NPS tell us there's a new boss at the museum, one who doesn't think people would be interested in "old guns". Consequently, a change of emphasis seems to be taking place there - as in closing down research, reassigning employees and maybe- we're told - even planning to return the weapons to storage.

As we promised last week, we're on the story. And, as expected, we're up against a stonewalling process. But we're still tracking on the story. So, too, is our colleague Michael Bane. They'll find Michael's considerably less patient with bureaucrats, so they can't say haven't warned them.

See a pattern emerging? The process of incrementalism through a ceaseless pushing of the boundaries of tolerance. It's as if the anti-gun groups have studied the advancement process of crabgrass. Once it's in the yard, it's almost impossible to get out without wiping out the yard and starting over. As the anti-gun philosophy seems hard-wired into the current administration's thinking, it doesn't look like relief is in sight.

Sixty five Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent Attorney General Eric Holder a letter last week in which they served notice that they will vigorously oppose any efforts to reinstitute the 1994 ban on select semi-auto guns and magazines. They reminded Mr. Holder that the '94 ban was an abject failure, but don't count on his remembering the warning - or the assault not coming from another quarter. Incrementalism relies on that continued pushing. Politicians have managed to add an element of misdirection, but the ultimate goal is the same- disarming "average" citizens.

And the Illinois Supreme Court has dismissed another baseless lawsuit against a firearms manufacturer. In 2001, a suit was filed against Beretta U.S.A. Corp. following a criminal shooting. The suit, as was the pattern at that time, basically sought to hold the manufacturer liable for the shooting. The dismissal was based on the 2005 Protection in Lawful Commerce in Firearms Act which bars lawsuits against firearms manufacturers and retailers for the criminal misuse by others of lawfully sold firearms.

It's not all good news for gun owners. A federal judge has blocked former President Bush's last-minute rule allowing visitors in national parks to carry concealed weapons.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued the ruling in favor of the three groups bringing a suit against the rule - the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees. Those groups, expectedly, hail the decision as keeping the parks safe for visitors. Hopefully, those visitors won't walk up on any of the illegal drug growers and manufacturers who have discovered the advantages of setting up shop in national parks and wildlife management areas.

(If you are not already subscribed to The Shooting Wire, I urge you to do so here. Geek Rated "Alpha Geek" ... and it don't get no better than that!)

Stumble It!

Daniel Patrick Moynihan

I have before, and I will again, make casual reference to the Anti-Gun stance (and legislation) exhibited and proposed by the late Democratic Senator from New York, Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

To facilitate our understanding, these are the anti-gun bills which he proposed in a single Legislative session. (I don't have the session number, or the year, immediately available. I'll see if I can research this to our mutual satisfaction 'in the future'.)

S. 152 Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (NY-D)- would increase the tax on handgun ammunition and impose special occupational tax and registration requirements on importers and manufactures of handgun ammunition. To the Committee on Finance.

S. 153 Sen. Moynihan- would prohibit the use of certain ammunition. To the Committee on the Judiciary.

S. 154 Sen. Moynihan- A bill to amend title 18, US Code, with respect to the licensing of - ammunition manufacturers, and for other purposes; To the Committee on the Judiciary.

S. 155 Sen. Moynihan- would require the collection and dissemination of information on injuries, death and family dissolution due to bullet-related violence; require the keeping of records with respect to dispositions of ammunition, and increase taxes on certain bullets. To the Committee on Finance.

S. 156 Sen. Moynihan- would prohibit the manufacture, transfer or importation of .25 cal., .32 cal. and 9 mm ammunition. To the Committee on the Judiciary.

S. 157 Sen. Moynihan- would tax 9 mm, .25 cal. and .32 cal. bullets at 1,000%. To the Committee on Finance.

S. 158 Sen. Moynihan (D-NY)- would regulate the manufacture, importation and sale of ammunition capable of piercing police body armor. To the Committee on the Judiciary.

For our own purposes ... that is, to demonstrate how extreme measures can be proposed by an honorable and conscientious legislature "for our own good", these bills are noted that they were all left to die "in committee" for the simple reason that they were demonstrably too extreme to be acceptable to the voting public.

Let us leave these bills in their rightful place of obscurity, but remember them as a measure of anti-gun rhetoric and extremism.

Stumble It!

TSA "Reconfirms" Commitment to FFDO Program

ALPA, Intl. FastRead
(Please click on the above link to read the entire statement in its original form.)

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), in a response to an editorial from the Washington Times, confirms that the dera; Flight Deck Officers program (FFDO), which allows airline pilots to be armed in order to defend against aggressive take-overs of civilian airline planes, is NOT being terminated by de-funding the program. Rather, the program is expected to expand.

This is in stark contrast to not only the WaTimes editorial, but also to early reports that the United States Federal Government has historically made it exceptionally difficult for qualified Flight Deck Officers to take advantage of the opportunity to qualify for the program OR to acquire the training.

During this initial report on Cogito Ergo Geek ("Guns On A Plane"), we noted the difference between an "Editorial" and a news report. We also noted that this "opinion" is "... long on opinion and short on facts."

Historically, Liberal MSM sources have blurred the difference between "News" and "Editorializing". In this specific instance, the (conservative) Washington Times has fallen into the same editorial trap, to its supposed embarrassment.


We're not convinced that this 'expansion' of the program is the original intend of the government; it's possible that the clarification was the direct result of the initial outrage of those writers who took the Times Editorial to be literal fact.

Yes, I am suggesting that the intentions of the Federal Government have been changed in response to public outcry.

However, there is no evidence currently available to support this presumption, so I don't propose it as a valid 'conspiracy theory'.

On the other hand, just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me.

Stumble It!

Social Security Warning - Not a Current Bill!

Boy, it's sure hard to keep up with the junk mail we get.

This week I received the following email from a well-meaning friend:

SOCIAL SECURITY CHANGES

It does not matter if you personally like or dislike Obama. You need to sign this petition and flood his e-mail box with e-mails that tell him that, even if the House passes this bill, he needs to veto it. It is already impossible to live on Social Security alone. If the government gives benefits to 'illegal' aliens who have never contributed, where does that leave those of us who have paid into Social Security all our working lives?

As stated below, the Senate voted this week to allow 'illegal' aliens access to Social Security benefits.
Attached is an opportunity to sign a petition that requires citizenship for eligibility to that social service.

Instructions are below. If you don't forward the petition and just stop it, we will lose all these names.

If you do not want to sign it, please just forward it to everyone you know.

Thank you!

To add your name, click on 'forward'. Address it to all of your email correspondents, add your name to the list and send it on.

When the petition hits 1,000, send it to comment@whitehouse.gov

PETITION for President Obama:

Dear Mr. President:
We, the undersigned, protest the bill that the Senate voted on recently which would allow illegal aliens to access our Social Security. We demand that you and all Congressional representatives require citizenship as a pre-requisite for social services in the United States.

We further demand that there not be any amnesty give n to illegal aliens, NO free services, no funding, no payments to and for illegal immigrants

(follows: 994 names, with city and state of residence)

With a little help from GOOGLE, I determined to my own satisfaction that this was not a true interpretation of any current bill. I send the following to all of the original recipients of MY email, and I encourage you to pay attention to the cautionary statement:

I think this is not a current bill.

There was some discussion about a similar bill in 2006:
http://www.factcheck.org/article447.html
(Note that this source is dubious, as 'factcheck.org' is a notiously Liberal website.)


The nearest thing to a current bill with reference to Social Security requires a valid SSN.


I see no other current bills which refer to a clause which will allow benefits to illegal aliens ... assuming that these individuals do not have a valid Social Security Number (A Tax Identification Number, which most illegal aliens use to report taxable income, is not sufficient.)

There remains a problem if illegal aliens are able to acquire a valid SSN in their own names. I would rather see a move to tighten up the regulations regarding the assignment of new SSN to "Undocumented Immigrants" (eg: "Illegal Aliens").

---

Please remain dubious about any internet/email 'warning' which does not cite a bill number. Usually these are generated by people who fall within three groups:
1.) they don't understand the bill that they read
2.) they don't realize that the bill is 'old news'
3.) they are deliberately 'scamming' the public just to cause trouble.

I assume that the originators of this email alert fill into the third category. If they are upset about a bill which is three years old, they would still identify the bill. These folks didn't perform that basic requirement, so I can only believe that this represents a deliberate attempt to embarrass recipients/responders, a thousand people at a time.

Also, sending the 'petition' to the whitehouse when it reaches a given number of names (here, 1000 names are required) will inevitably result in more confusion than it would be helpful. Expect that each person forwards the email to 4 or 5 other concerned friends; the petition sign-up will result in tens of thousands of petitions with the same people signing up. Also, petitions are not legitimate without the full residential address. Just giving the town and state does not uniquely identify petitioners.

Finally, we should all be more considerate of our own and our friends' confidentiality. We don't want our names to be displayed across the internet, if only to protect ourselves from Identity Theft.

Please, for your sake and for mine, do NOT proliferate SPAM ... for this is what we see here.

I've just spent 5 minutes researching the subject and came up with links showing that the last time a bill even close to this one is at least three years old, and no current bill comes close enough to the 'warning' to be a definite match.

As concerned citizens, we need to be aware of current pending legislation; but signing 'email petitions' is not the way to respond to offensive bills.

Instead, if you would rally your friends and neighbors, do the research and ALWAYS include the bill number (and date, and applicable text to support your contention that the bill is odious.)

And then, do NOT add your name to a chain-letter. Write directly to your congress-critter. Or better yet, send a snail-mail letter, or phone their congressional office.

Whatever you do, don't send it to me!

Stumble It!

Guns on a plane

Washington Times - EDITORIAL: Guns on a plane

After the September 11 attacks, commercial airline pilots were allowed to carry guns if they completed a federal-safety program. No longer would unarmed pilots be defenseless as remorseless hijackers seized control of aircraft and rammed them into buildings.

Now President Obama is quietly ending the federal firearms program, risking public safety on airlines in the name of an anti-gun ideology.

The Obama administration this past week diverted some $2 million from the pilot training program to hire more supervisory staff, who will engage in field inspections of pilots.

This looks like completely unnecessary harassment of the pilots....

A recent Washington Times Editorial suggests that President Obama's might be quietly taking steps to undermine the FFDO (Federal Filght Deck Officer) plan which allows some airline pilots to take special training to qualify them to carry firearms on the Flight Deck of airplanes, to defend the flight crew and passengers from Terrorist attempts to take over control of in-flight airplanes. (See: Twin Towers, Penatagon, Pennsylvania, 9/11.)

The article ... and please note that this is an EDITIORIAL, which means it is someone's interpretation and extrapolation of minimal FACTS ... describes the othewise-unsupported conclusion that this is a subtle blow at teh FFDO program.

Well, maybe it is. We note in passing that annual funding for this program is on the order of $15 million, and it's difficult to see where the money is being spent since anecdotal evidence is that pilots pay for their training, on their own time. What has the money been spent on so far?

The assertion that funding is being diverted "... to hire more supervisory staff, who will engage in field inspections of pilots." Our interpretation is that the Obama Administration is adding one more layer of bureaucracy to a program which is already under-funded, unsupported (by Congress, and other layers of the Federal government) and is the "Red Headed Stepchild" of 9/11.

Still, this ... "editorial" ... is long on opinion and short on facts. It's either a "good catch" by investigative reporters, or an unsupportable logical extention proposed by an Editor with an axe to grind against the incumbent administration and it's carefully hidden agenda vis a vis Gun Control.

Doesn't that about summarize the alternatives?

I have a lot more to say on this subject, but rather than to bore you with my personal interpretation I'll just provide the link and allow you to make up your own minds.

A thorough reading of the comments attached to this post will serve to acquaint you with the various 'positions', in response to the article. Although there are a few commentors who seem to be completely Clue-less about the concept of "Concealed Carry", both sides make pertinent points.
'
Usually, the discussion focuses (Rightly, I think) on whether the ruling is significant; and if it is, what does that mean?

I'm not as entirely clueless as I probably sound, but this uncertainty about the factual basis of the EDITORIAL is regretable. I would wish that the author had made a more thorough search on the background, the effect of the ruling, and the consequences. Does this mean that fewer FFDO's will be certified to carry a weapon on the flight deck of commercial airplanes? And what about the efficiency of U.S. Marshals riding (armed) on no more than 3% of the domestic flights?

Oh yes, while I have much to say, I have more to ask. Which is why I'm not saying much, while at the same time suggestion questions for the discerning reader.

Hopefully, during the next few days, more information will become available ... which will allow we few to form an informed opinion.


The best I can say at the moment is;
it seems folly to allow almost ANYONE on board a vessal which can easily be turned into a Weapon of Mass Desruction. (CF: 9/11)

Also, we already know (if we have read our day-to-day News Reports) that the FFDO program is not widely supported among Democratic Congressmen ... who form a majority in both houses.

Finally, we know that Gun Control measures, no matter what name they may hide behind, are only likely to significantly affect the Law Abiding. Terrorists will not be inconvenienced, let alone disuaded' by the potention penalties they may have to pay if they are found having toboard an airplane while in possession of a clearly definable "WEAPON".

Until we have more information, we are lot likely to express an opinion.

Still, it does generate some very interesting questions.

Stumble It!

Military Brass Unavailable: Change 2.0

Feds undercut ammo supply

But wait ... there's more!

As soon as I announce the End of The World, there's a new story to tell.

This has to do with the U.S. Military announcing that they will no longer make used Military brass available for public purchase.

Well, things have changed.

A couple of Congressmen (Democratic Senators from Montana) heard about the Department of Defense (DOD) plan to 'mutilate' all used brass before offering it for resale. They realized that it would constitute a serious lack of availability to reloaded ammunition in Military calibers, and they responded by encouraging the "Defense Logistics Agency" (DLA) to reconsider the decision.

Again, the reason was that it would reduce the amount of affordable ammunition to the public, which they (rightly) decided was A bad Thing.

Given the concerted Senatorial attention, the DOD and DLA crawfished as fast as they could, and today released a notice that they have reconsidered their plan and scrapped it.

The policy already had taken a bite out of the nation's stressed ammunition supply, leaving arms dealers scrambling to find ammo for private gun owners.

Mark Cunningham, a legislative affairs representative with the Defense Logistics Agency, explained in an e-mail last night to the office of Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., that the Department of Defense had placed small arms cartridge cases on its list of sensitive munitions items as part of an overall effort to ensure national security is not jeopardized in the sale of any Defense property.

The small arms cases were identified as a senstive item and were held pending review of policy, he said.

"Upon review, the Defense Logistics Agency has determined the cartridge cases could be appropriately placed in a category of government property allowing for their release for sale," Cunningham wrote.

The Defense Department liaison was responding to a letter yesterday to the Defense Logistic Agency's Vice Admiral Alan S. Thompson from Tester and fellow Montana Democrat Sen. Max Baucus. The senators argued "prohibiting the sale of fired military brass would reduce the supply of ammunition – preventing individual gun owners from fully exercising their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. We urge you to address this situation promptly."

That's right. Once-used Military brass will once again be available for resale to the Public (eg: private ammunition remanufacturing companies such as Georgia Arms) in un-mutilated form.

Note that this offers little or no direct benefit to the hope that more brass will be made available to other cartridge manufacturers who are experiencing a market down-turn on the availability of raw materials to form 'new cartridge cases' from raw materials. The availability of alloy appropriate to 'New' cartridges made in the United States will remain low, if only due to the increased Military demand for ammunition.

Consequently, those of us who use a LOT of 'new cartridge cases' in non-military calibers will continue to pay premium prices (often over twice the price at which they were available only a couple of years ago).

Still, this is overall Good News if only in that some members of Congress realize that military expedience and Political Correctness should not, and (now) will not, take precedence over protection of the Second Amendment.

Specifically, any Governmental rules which infringe upon the free access to affordable ammunition also infringes upon the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

After all, if you can't afford or Can't Get the ammunition, a firearm is nothing more than a doorstop, or an expensive club.

This facet of the Second Amendment has been made clear, now, and although we will probably have to fight the same battle again, under a different scenario, at least this small battle has established a precedence which confirms the right of private citizens to not only "Keep and Bear Arms", but also to be able to feed those arms rather than to allow their utility to be undermined by the lack of affordable ammunition.

Take THAT, Daniel Patrick Moynihan!

Stumble It!

No More Military Brass

Michael Bane's Blog laments the recent decision of the Department of Defense to discontinue reselling used Military brass to ammunition reloaders.

Michael goes into fine detail, citing at least two sources, and I encourage you to read the article for the details.

We're here to talk about the consequences of this decision.

Essentially, the DOD will no longer resell 'used brass' to reloaders. Instead, the new requirement is that the brass must be "mutilated" to the point at which it is no longer usable for reloading.

If you reload in the common Military calibers (to include .223, 9mm, .308 and/or .50 BMG), you have probably already noticed that the cost of reloaded ammunition, or the cases thereof, has at least doubled during the past year or two.

In fact, if you reload ANY caliber, you have seen the same or even greater effect. The U.S. Military is taking so much of the product of ammunition manufacturers that components have become almost prohibitively costly ... as availability is reduced. (The Law of Supply and Demand rules, it's a Free Market thing.)

This latest ruling, though, takes an even bigger bite out of the availability.

For those of us who use exotic or esoteric ammunition, such as .38 Super or .40 S&W ... or almost any caliber which is not commonly identified as a 'military component', this might serve to hold steady, or even lower the cost of reloading components.

If the problem is that 'original' cartridge manufacturers (such as Winchester) and 'original' component manufacturers (such as StarLine) find it difficult to compete with 'reloaded' ammunition, this decision dumps what may turn out to be "A Bunch" of ammunition-appropriate brass metal alloys on the market.

Starline et al (Cartridge Case manufacturers) cannot compete directly with reloaded ammunition manufacturers. The best they can do is to cut corners in their industrial process, and emphasize their availability of 'new' brass in all calibers ... subject, of course, to the availability of raw materials.

This new DOD directive renders an increased availability of raw materials. In fact, they are not exactly "new". That is to say, the market for 'amunition quality' materials may have just increased expodentially.

The composition of the metallic components of cartridge cases is, we suppose, not terribly different for .50 BMG and 9mm Parabellum. Any raw (or recycled) metal is cost-effective depending on the similarity between the available metal, and the end product.

Since 'mutilated' military brass is likely to be metallurgically similar to the desired end product (I'm making up terminology as I write, I hope you don't mind), the cost of converting "mutilated military brass" to "marketable civilian cartridges" should logically be minimal; after the Smelter costs (to convert "mutilated military brass" to ingots appropriate to an industrial production line), there are NO further economic differences between "mutilated military brass" and ingots produced by a smelter. In fact, it should be less expensive because there is little or no need to add other metals to change the base metal to that alloy which is appropriate to cartridge cases.

We're going out on the economic limb here, but it seems reasonable to expect that within the forseeable future (three to six months), the cost of 'new' brass in "non-military" calibers might actually be LESS than the current prices, assuming that the manufacturers pass on the savings to their customers.

And why wouldn't they? If they don't, their competitors will.

I don't much like the Obama Administration. My personal prognostication is that, because of his economic miscalculations alone, Barry Obama will be the most-despised president since Jimmy Carter .. if only because the Presidential priorities tend more toward encouragement of Socialism than toward Economic Health for this nation.

But while this policy seems, on the surface, to encourage the increase in price for the Reloaded Ammunition market, it may ultimately result in a decrease in price of at least one component: brass for less 'popular' calibers.

Save your Confederate Money, Friends.

The South Will Rise Again!

Stumble It!

The Brits and The Brats

EU bans use of 'Miss' and 'Mrs' (and sportsmen and statesmen) because it claims they are sexist | Mail Online


In the past we've indulged ourselves here at Geek Central pointing out the social and legal (and cultural) "Faux Pas" of our lovable, cuddly friends in England. Oh, it's not their fault that their governmental lackeys seem determined to undermine their entire culture. After all, they are accustomed to being British "Subjects" .... which is entirely different from being "Citizens".

And it's also not their fault that writers Aldous Huxley and George Orwell (two Brit writers of some reknown) seemed to feel free to base "1984", "Brave New World" and "Animal Farm" on the 'if this goes on' Science Fiction tool of extending 'current' English cultural trends into the future, to the present embarrassment of their fellow countrymen.

But now The Brits have a New Master: The European Union. You know, the friendly neighborhood Spidermen who attempted to make it a crime to advertise supermarket produce price by the "Pound" rather than by the Kilogram. (Hereinafter referred to as "The Brats".)

Today, The Brats have, in their infinite wisdom, decided that it is politically incorrect to use the terms "Miss" and "Mrs".

Also verboten: "Policeman", and any other reference which refers either to gender or marital status.

Instead of using the standard titles, it is asking MEPs to address women by their names.

And the rules have not stopped there - they also ban MEPs saying sportsmen and statesmen, advising athletes and political leaders should be used instead.

Man-made is also taboo - it should be artificial or synthetic, firemen is disallowed and air hostesses should be called flight attendants.

Headmasters and headmistresses must be heads or head teachers, laymen becomes layperson, and manageress or mayoress should be manager or mayor.

Police officers must be used instead of policeman and policewoman unless the officer's sex is relevant.

The only problem words that do not fit into the guidelines are waiter and waitress, which means MEPs are at least spared one worry when ordering a coffee.

You may consider this latest scheme by The Brats to exceed the bounds of permissibility in their attempt to 'standardize' terminology.

In point of fact, so do a few of the Brits:

[MEPs] (Members of European Parliament?) have reacted with incredulity to the booklet, which has been sent out by the Secretary General of the European Parliament.

Scottish Tory MEP Struan Stevenson described the guidelines as 'political correctness gone mad'.

He said: 'This is frankly ludicrous. We've seen the EU institutions try to ban the bagpipes and dictate the shape of bananas, but now they seem determined to tell us which words we are entitled to use in our own language.

'Gender-neutrality is really the last straw. The Thought Police are now on the rampage in the European Parliament.

'We will soon be told that the use of the words "man" or "woman" has been banned in case it causes offence to those who consider 'gender neutrality' an essential part of life.'

I happen to agree with MEP Struan. This latest decision by The Brats seems not only unilateral and arbitrary, but excessively determined to fix a "problem" which doesn't generally exist.

Want to know the really SCARY thing?

Read the comments. There are actually British Citizens Subjects who approve of this in the COMMENTS section following the article:

This is one EU decision that's very good. I don't view it as being politically correct, but simply fixing an outdated title system.
- Jo, Cheshire, 16/3/2009 11:18

Darn! The Brits have a Brat in their midst.

Those Poor Brits.

On the other hand, are we so far behind? After all, we are currently under the leadership of "The O".

Stumble It!

SWMBO: Back Home On The Range

This weekend there was a match at the Albany Club (ARPC).

I had planned to shoot the match, but I couldn't reload ammunition because my reloading press was then, and remains, 'broken'. So I decided to just show up and monitor the progress of the Certifying Students from last week's Introduction to USPSA class.

To my surprise, the night before the match SWMBO suggested that she might want to go to the match with me.

I say "to my surprise", because I had been expressing the same idea for several months. Since the chemotherapy was discontinued, she began regaining her energy and her strength (not to mention her hair). And she has missed the people we meet at the USPSA matches.

Saturday morning SWMBO and I returned to our past weekend routine: up at a reasonable hour (7:30), breakfast from Burger King to eat on the way to the range, after we had geared up in waterproof clothing because not surprisingly the weatherman forecast rain.

We arrived at the range perhaps 20 minutes before the 9am beginning of the match, and it was a treat to see the surprise on the faces of our friends as they realized that when I attempted to introduce them to "My New Girlfriend", it was SWMBO.

Neither of us signed up to shoot the match, but we followed the crowd through the Walk-Through. On the first stage, Match Director Mike McCarter re-introduced SWMBO as " ... a competitor who has been missing, and missed for several months". Dozens of our friends stopped by to say hello to her, and to get her traditional greeting hug.

That afternoon, SWMBO and I had a big meal in celebration. She did not rest well that evening. She was unaccustomed to the exertion of walking, to eating foods which were not on her 'normal' diet, and perhaps to the excitement of going to the range.

But we both slept well, having experienced one more surprising event.

The postman brought her retirement check. She is unable to work, but when Social Security Disability kicks in (and later Social Security retirement funding), she will be able to pay the bills necessary to ensure a full, if frugal, standard of living.

Sandie and I would like to thank our friends for their fulsome welcome and constant support.

Stumble It!

What is it with March Hares?

There's a lot of maniacs out there, we know that. But during the past 15 or so years we have learned to expect them to 'act out' during April.

Mostly, this is because the homocidal maniacs slash mass-murderers in public places have generally chosen April (Hitler's birthday) as the best time to strut their insanity.

I may be wrong on some of the dates, but if I recall correctly we can place the Oklahoma Bombings, Ruby Ridge and Waco (reverse psychology ... it was the FEEBS), Columbine, etc. in April.

Perhaps the 21st Century Assholes have decided to advance their agenda. Let's look at March 11, 2009:

Witness:

• Alabama: guy kills his family, and strangers; total of 10, plus he suicides when cornered.
  
• Germany: Kid kills sixteen at his former school before police shoot him.
• Illinois: Gunman shoots preacher in church, plans "Death Day"; accidentally stabs himself with his own knife defending against outraged congregation.

That's all bad, all the time. They're all mad as March Hares.

Even the "Good Guys", those which stop unwarranted violent attacks, aren't completely unscathed:

• Palm Beach (March 9): Convicted Rapist breaks into old woman's home at night, is beset by ex-bouncer (300#) son of old woman, who rips him a new one with rapist's own screwdriver. Says Bouncer/Son: "Son, You're Going To Die Tonight!" (Rapist doesn't die.)
  
• Imo, South Carolina (March 9): Pair ambushes Pizza-man, Pizza-Man shoots the crap out of assailant (who dies). Pizza-Man 'suspended' by Pizza Hut. Pizza-Man states "That's okay, I needed some time off."

(This last story is most upsetting of the two. What happened to the Second Amendment? Nothing, it doesn't apply to your employer. OR does it? Remember the precise words?

" A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. "

Infringed by whom?

Does it apply to Congress only? To Federal and States Legislation? To agents of the State (eg: universities, who charge a student, faculty or staff with 'tresspassing' and/or discharge from employment or enrollment for carrying a handgun on campus, or to employers who discharge an employee for carrying a weapon on the job?

I don't know for sure, but I suspect it does. Still, this stuff goes on and Pizza-men all over the country lose their livlihood for protecthing their lives and their employer's small-change.

But I digress.

The thing is, we keep getting more 'anti-gun' laws passed to restrict the rights of honest men and women to protect themselves, but the March Hares keep on slaughtering honest men and women (and children) because the laws don't apply to them.

We still have "Gun Free Zones" (and "Gun Free" occupations), and the only ones who are limited by these laws and zones are the innocents.

This is the way it has been for centuries. Even with the advent of the United States of America, and it's constitutionlly protected right to "Keep and Bear Arms", bureaucrats and 'elected officials' have found ways to get around the strongest possible support for free men to defend themselves.

Legal restrictions, economic restrictions, 'safety' restrictions ... "If It Saves Just One Child!" restrictions. They're all bogus, they're all phony, and they all make criminals of honest men.

In the meantime, the March Hares are like wolves circling a flock of sheep, picking out the young and the old and the lame ... the weakest victims with the least ability to defend themselves.

The Yaks and the Gnus and the Elephants and the Zebras of the animal world know that the strong must protect the weak, but humans .... ah, humans!

We're so civilized, we emasculate the strong and then fail to protect the weak, thus making victims of our most vulnerable members.

Why?

Poliltics.

Politicians make the laws. You know them. You voted them into office.

Why do they do this? To protect their own positions, by appearing to 'do something about the problem' while acting to make the problem even more unsolvable by hamstringing our natural defenses against Predators ... who, like The Poor, "will always be with us".

And not incidently, in doing so they encourage the Predators by insuring that they feel free to act aggressively, with little fear of retaliation.

Folks, I don't know why this world is full of Predators, but it is; always have been, always will be. The way to fight them is not to expect Bureaucrats to defend us. The only way to fight them is ... to fight them.

In the final analysis it doesn't matter whether the Predators choose to prey upon us in March or April. The only thing that matters is that a reliable personal defense is not the responsibility of anyone but you.

Nobody else.

Just you.

Stumble It!

It Sucks To Be Geek

This may have been titled: "No Match This Weekend: Further adventures of the XL650" . But that was insufficiently pithy.

And it goes beyond that.

You may possibly have noticed that we haven't been doing a lot of writing lately. Many reasons for that, mostly involved in the un-Geekly concept of "Having A Life".

There is a phenomenon in living which might be summed up as "Everything Breaks At The Same Time". My bathroom sink hot-water tap is shut off because the washer is eroded, but so is the screw holding the handle onto the tap and I can't get it off to replace the washer. Speaking of washers, my washing machine has decided that there is no need to actually spin during the spin cycle, so if I do laundry I have to hand-wring the contents before I pop them into the dryer ... for two or three hours until they dry out (the clothes, of course, are stiff with soap which has not been adequately removed from the material).

I can't get get a repairman in .... can't spare the full day off work to watch him earn his money. And I can't get a new washer installed, because I'm doing my annual Spring HouseCleaning and the path to the utility room through the garage is cluttered with boxes of 'stuff' which has been accumulating through-out the house during the winter months.

Oh ... and my water heater can just barely produce enough hot water for a 2-minute shower. It takes me 3 minutes to get clean. At least I can be sure that my shower will wake me up in time to get to work, except that I dread my morning shower.

To complete the litany of 'water-related' foibles, the garbage disposal unit in the kitchen sink is hors de combat, having been jammed by a penny in the whirly-gizmo unit. No, please don't ask me how the penny got there, but I am reminded of the poem about "for the want of a penny, an nail was lost, for the want of a nail a shoe was lost ..." etc.

Oh, and as I FINALLY decided to actually write something tonite, I discovered that the battery on my hotsy-totsy wireless mouse was run down. No, it's not replaceable -- it's rechargable and the recharging unit chose this day to turn itself OFF without stopping the mouse to be running all day. (My failure to put the mouse back on the charging cradle correctly may have played some small part in this Domestic Tragedy). I have barely enough charge (now that I have it charging correctly) to jump my cursor from one place to the other in this screed, so if it looks really negative, that's my excuse.

But you know what really frosts my cookie?

Two things:

First, two weeks ago the STI started acting up, and I never found a thing wrong with the gun. Doesn't matter, I don't have ammunition for it anyway.

Second, the Dillon XL650 is also devolved into a pile of metallic sludge, metaphorically speaking.

Last night and tonight I have spent two hours changing the press from the .38 Super configuration (small primers) to .10mm configuration (large primers). I found a primer had jammed UNDER the primer feed disk, which explains part of my pre-existing problems, and thought I had it fixed.

It took most of last night to find all of the parts, including the primer feed tubes for Large Primers.

Tonite I actually reassembled the press in the new configuration, only to discover that no matter WHAT I do, the Primer Feed Disk will not index all the way to align with the thingy that punches the primer into the base of the case. I have never claimed to be 'mechanical', but this goes beyond all expectations in the "Screw The Geek" category of Machinery's Little Ways To Frustrate Humans.

The funny thing is, I finally found all the XL650 parts and all of the reloading components, and still I can't reload ammunition.

So here I sit, smoking on a Marlboro and sucking down some cheap Canadian Rye Whiskey, trying to figure out how I am going to load 150+ rounds of ammunition before bed-time (approximately 1 hour away) so I can compete at the ARPC match this weekend.

[NOTE: my spell-checker on BLOGGER isn't working tonite, either. At this point, it would be disappointing if I could go for a half-hour without finding some other piece of Technology to betray me.]

In this situation, what would a Normal Man Do?

I phoned SWMBO. I told her that I was having a frustrating day, she gave me some "Poor Sweet Baby" consolation, and I'm going to eat dinner and go to sleep.

Somehow, it just doesn't matter that Technology Hates Me. SWMBO likes me, all's right with the world.

The match on Saturday? I have three students from the Introduction to USPSA class last weekend who will be competing safely to complete their certification. I told them I would be there at the end of the match to give them their certification card, and I will. I can probably do a lot of Range Officer stuff during the match, and a lot of visiting with my friends and neighbors. The shooting is only 50% of the event anyway; I go as much to mingle with the good people I've met at USPSA matches as I do to shoot.

And I'll call my landlord next week to get the faucet and the garbage disposal fixed. My landlord can also decide what he is willing to do about the water heater ... that's one of the benefits of renting instead of owning a house.

I'll shop for a new washing machine, and let the delivery guys figure out how to get it through the garage to the utility room.

I'll call DILLON and see if they can suggest how I can fix my primer feed mechanism ... or will send me a new one.

Only thing is, my car needs to go into the shop. The power door locking mechanism will unlock every door except for the driver's. I think I'll have to drop the car off at the dealer's garage, right?

Is that what you would do?

Here's the good thing: What else can go wrong?

DO NOT COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE!!!

I would rather it come as a surprise to me.

Stumble It!