FRIDAY SURPRISE: Up, up and away!
I've previously mentioned my appreciation for the work that NASA has done over it's 50-year history. NASA grew up right along with me - or me with it - and NASA was always doing the exciting stuff boys of that era were smitten by: Astronauts. Fast planes. Rockets. The Moon.
(It wasn't just spectacle, though; NASA was the catalyst for technological progress that continues to be felt today. A surprising number of the things we now take for granted can be traced directly back to some NASA project.)
We learned about the exploits of the engineers, technicians and astronauts through NASA-supplied pictures in the magazines of the day. My early interest in science was kindled by those pictures, and some of them I still remember.
NASA documented everything, but not all of their photos were of general interest. A large percentage of their images were never seen by the general public because the media was understandably reluctant to publish anything of interest only to nerds. Through the magic of the internet, however, we now have ready access to some of those great pictures.
The agency has launched a new site just for NASA images. You can search or browse and download your selected pictures, drawings, and illustrations - some of them of quite high resolution. You'll find lots of astronomical images, of course, but you'll find all kinds of other things too.
Two of my favorites from the 1969 launch of Apollo 11, taking the first men to the moon:
Saturn V rocket FTW!
If you're a science buff like me, you can spend large amounts of time on their site. I recommend that you not try this a) at work, or b) when your significant other expects you to be paying attention to him/her/the kids/household chores/your dinner guests. You have been warned!
-=[ Grant ]=-
|
"The Rest of the Story"
Wednesday, August 06, 2008 Filed in:
Techniques
& Training,
Other
resources
A couple of weeks ago, I linked to the story of a thug who showed no remorse about killing a couple of musicians.
Well, it seems that there was more to the story, and Jim Jacobe (www.jimjacobe.com) sent me a link to an article on the U.S. Concealed Carry Association website. It's the "other side" of the incident - the mother and the instructor of one of the victims.
It is a must-read. (You'll have to scroll down their page just a bit for the article, titled "No Safe Places", by Don Myers. It's worth the effort.)
-=[ Grant ]=-
REVOLVER ALERT: Non-lock S&W revolvers for sale!
Monday, August 04, 2008 Filed in:
Revolvers
Regular readers know that I'm not a fan of the internal locks on current Smith & Wessons, and I refuse to personally carry a gun so equipped. I've documented far too many cases of spontaneous lock activation, which renders the gun inoperable in the middle of a string of fire, to ever feel confident in that mechanism for self-defense applications.
If you have the same opinion, you'll be excited to learn that Smith & Wesson has released a very limited run of Model 642 Airweight Centennials without the internal locking system! These are new production guns made with "leftover" non-lock frames, according to S&W. In addition, these guns have the traditional screwed-in barrels, as opposed to the sleeved liner type that the company is now using.
They were able to put together approximately 4,000 of them, and there will be no more.
The unexpected availability of these guns makes it possible for the person who wants a "non-lock" gun to get one new in the box, as opposed to hunting gun stores and gun shows for an example in decent shape. I urge anyone interested in an Airweight Centennial to pick one of these up.
RSR Group is the exclusive distributor of these revolvers. Their stock number is SW103810FC, and as of this morning they had 1,136 left in stock.
RSR Group is a distributor, not a retailer, and require an FFL and a dealer account with them to order a gun. Ask your local dealer to contact RSR and order one in for you - chances are that there will be more than yours in the package, as the dealer will probably want one for personal use too!
Folks, these won't last long. You'll need to move fast if you want one!
-=[ Grant ]=-
FRIDAY SURPRISE: The pitter-patter of little feet. LOTS of little feet.
Friday, August 01, 2008 Filed in:
Friday
Surprise!, Completely
irrelevant
Let's say you have a million dollars or so to spend, and want a home in an exclusive neighborhood. You'd expect a certain level of amenities in the house, with good restaurants and shopping close by.
Oh, and neighbors whose properties were as pristine and aseptic as yours.
Right?
Not in Pacific Palisades, California.
Yuck.
-=[ Grant ]=-
I do not think it means what they think it means.
Friday, August 01, 2008 Filed in:
Current
Events
I wasn't going to comment on the story about the decapitation on the Canadian bus, but something bothers me about the whole incident.
A Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) spokesperson characterized the actions of the passengers - who ran screaming from the horrific scene - as "brave".
Now do not misunderstand me here: running away from danger is a normal, human reaction. Saving oneself is a perfectly legitimate response to a life-threatening situation, and is nothing to be ashamed of.
But it's not "brave."
"Brave" would have been tackling the murderer and beating him senseless; "brave" would have been hopping on the lunatic's back and holding him from stabbing while someone else pulled the victim to safety.
Running away? Not so much.
I'm not sure just when our society lost track of the true meaning of words like "brave" and "hero", but I for one am tired of the trend.
-=[ Grant ]=-
A Special Detective Special
Wednesday, July 30, 2008 Filed in:
Recent work
Here's a quick pic of a
Detective Special I did a little while back. It has the "full
Monty": Master Action Tune, Front Sight Mod, Black Pearl finish,
polished trigger face, chamfered chambers, dehorning, custom
Herrett's stocks - plus a neat "extra" that you can't see in this
picture.
I hate to sound like a "secret squirrel", but I'm not at liberty to say more at this point. No intrigue, black ops or anything like that - simply that someone else has the rights to talk about it first. You'll see more of it in a couple of months; stay tuned.
-=[ Grant ]=-
I hate to sound like a "secret squirrel", but I'm not at liberty to say more at this point. No intrigue, black ops or anything like that - simply that someone else has the rights to talk about it first. You'll see more of it in a couple of months; stay tuned.
-=[ Grant ]=-
Housekeeping...
Wednesday, July 30, 2008 Filed in:
Blog stuff
I've streamlined the tags
(to the left) for the blog entries. Having a gazillion different
tags was neat, but it was a pain just to remember which tags I had,
let alone how to actually categorize any one article! The
consolidation, I hope, will leave everyone a bit less
confused.
I've also alphabetized the tags, with the exception of the first two, for easier scanning. That's something I should have done a long time ago, and thanks to the reader who pointed out the issue.
Also, another reader suggested that I put pictures of recent work in the blog. I do have a page for "Recent Projects" on the site, but it's a pretty formal page and updating it takes considerable time and effort. A blog, on the other hand, is supposed to be sort of a "right now" affair, and it makes sense to put some quick pics and notes about recent projects here. Why I didn't make that connection myself will remain a mystery, but thanks for spurring me to action!
-=[ Grant ]=-
I've also alphabetized the tags, with the exception of the first two, for easier scanning. That's something I should have done a long time ago, and thanks to the reader who pointed out the issue.
Also, another reader suggested that I put pictures of recent work in the blog. I do have a page for "Recent Projects" on the site, but it's a pretty formal page and updating it takes considerable time and effort. A blog, on the other hand, is supposed to be sort of a "right now" affair, and it makes sense to put some quick pics and notes about recent projects here. Why I didn't make that connection myself will remain a mystery, but thanks for spurring me to action!
-=[ Grant ]=-
Light blogging today, but take a look at these BIG guns!
Monday, July 28, 2008 Filed in:
Blog
stuff, General gun
stuff
Somewhere out there, someone is disappointed that the title does not refer to scandalous pictures!
I had a long weekend, working as an assistant instructor in a rifle class. A very small class compared to others, but it still occupied a couple days of productive time. I'm back in the office today to catch up on a ton of paperwork.
Not to worry, though, because I've got a great link to a Dark Roasted Blend story. Normally we see their content in the FRIDAY SURPRISE, but today they've provided something that is more-or-less on topic: guns. Really big guns. Guns where the powder is measured in barrels, not grains.
Have a look.
-=[ Grant ]=-
FRIDAY SURPRISE: Fighting fire with fire
You hate telemarketers. I hate telemarketers. Everyone hates telemarketers. (If you're a telemarketer, I'm sorry - I just can't work up any sympathy for you. Yes, I realize you need that job to buy diapers - but life's tough enough without getting your phone calls in the middle of my dinner!)
The hapless victims of telemarketers are finally starting to fight back. Take a look at this collection of tips about turning the tables on those who interrupt your life to sell you cheaper long distance. (Courtesy of Dark Roasted Blend.)
-=[ Grant ]=-
"You're gonna need a bigger holster"
A reader emailed me this link to a rather unusual bar-b-que setup.
Me want. (If you have one, don't ask me for an action job!)
-=[ Grant ]=-
My muckraking safety articles
Monday, July 21, 2008 Filed in:
Techniques
& Training
I've been asked to provide a
permanent link to my articles on the failings of gun safety rules.
Happy to oblige!
The original article: "On Safety"
Followup article: "Following the safety rules religiously"
Please read them and consider them carefully. Of course, I'm always happy to hear comments from readers!
-=[ Grant ]=-
The original article: "On Safety"
Followup article: "Following the safety rules religiously"
Please read them and consider them carefully. Of course, I'm always happy to hear comments from readers!
-=[ Grant ]=-
In praise of the "boy's rifle"
Monday, July 21, 2008 Filed in:
General gun
stuff
When I was a kid (which was not all that long ago - at least I don't remember it being all that long ago) we had "boy's rifles." Today they're known by a more politically correct term, but as Juliet said "That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet."
The boy's rifle was chambered in .22 LR, and was most often a single-shot bolt action - though repeaters were not unheard of. Their wood stocks were sized slightly smaller to fit a teenager's frame (before the days when teenagers were routinely 6' tall and weighed in over 180 lbs), and were slim from butt to forearm. The grip area was smaller in circumference to fit shorter fingers, and the receivers and barrels were similarly proportioned.
Though not normally fitted as nicely as the adult-oriented rifles in their respective lines, they usually shot pretty well. Some, in fact, were downright amazing, especially considering the very simple sights they carried.
People used to larger guns are often astonished when they pick up an old boy's rifle; light weight, quick handling, and superb pointing characteristics are almost foreign concepts today. Unfortunately, those attributes usually lead to snide comments about feeling "like a toy." Were they to actually shoot one - or, better yet, pack one into the field - perhaps their opinions would change. I know mine did!
Like many people, I have a number of "adult" .22 rifles, none of them weighing under 7 lbs. I recently acquired an old Stevens Model 66, which is a bolt action tube fed repeater. At barely 5 lbs, it's definitely a lightweight - but this 70-year-old gun, well worn on the outside but pristine on the inside, is an absolute joy to shoot.
The best word I can use is "handy". It's the kind of gun that carries unobtrusively on the shoulder, yet springs immediately to eye level when needed. It makes my "grown up" .22 rifles seem ungainly by comparison.
Give one a try. You may just get hooked - and wasn't that the whole idea behind the boy's rifle to begin with?
-=[ Grant ]=-
FRIDAY DOUBLE FEATURE: An interesting thought about hunting
Friday, July 18, 2008 Filed in:
Friday
Surprise!, Things I
like
I don't know why, but today's other feature about the vegan strip club seemed the perfect lead-in for this!
As I've mentioned, I'm not a "hunter" in the sense that most people use the term. Trophies do not interest me; I've never had my picture taken with a kill, and don't foresee the day when I would. For me, hunting is about eating. (I subscribe to the school of thought that claims "vegetarian" to be an old Native American word for "lousy hunter.")
At the same time, I'm also a bit of a health nut. I eat organic food whenever possible, not because I believe in any leftist/communist causes but because I care about my health. I'm uncertain about the long-term effects of the processed chemicals that we put in our bodies, and do whatever I can to reduce or eliminate them. Thus, the organic food - including delicious meat - in my diet.
(As an aside, it's always interesting when my wife and I go shopping in the local healthy food emporiums. Everyone in those havens of collectivism dresses in the trendy eco-friendly fashions of the minute. My wife and I, to put it delicately, do not. I'll admit that we do tend to stick out a bit amongst that crowd, but we would no matter what we wore.
Just by looking one could tell that we're not like the sheeple that populate those places, and it's as much about attitude as anything. One time she whispered in my ear "do you realize there are only two guns anywhere near this place, and we've got both of them?" I replied "I wonder how many of these people would faint if they found out!" We then chuckled softly yet maniacally as we went about our shopping.)
Forgive the digression.
As it happens, one of the most organic sources of protein available is wild game. Meat which has been harvested from animals in the wild not only tastes great, but is great for you. I won't bore you with the numerous studies which show various kinds of game having more good things and less bad things than factory-raised protein, but the facts are clear: wild meat is good for you.
It is odd, therefore, that some of the most vocal anti-hunting shills in the world wear their organic diets as badges of honor while denouncing some of the cleanest, purest foods available. It seems to me that if one is truly concerned about eating a healthy diet, one must of necessity either grow, or hunt, one's own meat. Hunting is the proactive approach to maintaining a healthy lifestyle when one does not have the real estate on which to raise their own.
(Of course, I don't want to get a trend started, else there wouldn't be any of that delicious and nutritious game left for me!)
-=[ Grant ]=-
A proud member of PETA: People Eating Tasty Animals
FRIDAY SURPRISE: Is that a parsnip in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?
As the New York Times observes, there are two things you can find in Portland: vegans and strip clubs. That's pretty accurate.
Out state constitution has a very broad protection of freedom of expression, which the courts have consistently held to cover "exotic dancing." The result is that Oregon in general tends to have more strip clubs than other parts of the country. Portland, being the biggest city, naturally has the largest single selection of such establishments.
So, one Johnny Diablo (Carpetbagger-CA) decided to combine his love of vegetarianism and his love of...uhhh....flesh to create the first vegan strip club.
This is not his first attempt at an off-the-wall establishment: he tried a pirate-themed vegan restaurant last year, which despite intense media attention failed miserably. His new venture, Casa Diablo Gentlemen’s Club, has gotten even more media attention, which I cannot recall a strip club ever receiving. When it seems that every other corner has such an establishment, one would have to do something very unusual to warrant any media notice. After all, how many other strip clubs have been profiled on the Earth First website?
Here's a local story on the joint.
Here's the NYT take on the place.
(Disclaimer: I'm not a vegetarian, nor a patron of strip clubs. My omnivorous wife is thankful for both.)
-=[ Grant ]=-
Yes, Virginia, there is such a thing as Evil.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008 Filed in:
Other
resources, Techniques
& Training
Go read this article over at Xavier's place. NOW.
Then take the time to read this terrific piece over at Michael Bane's hangout.
Then spend a bit of time considering the intersection of the two. You'll be safer and more confident for doing so.
-=[ Grant ]=-