Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Devil Dogs Get A New Ride

Heard on All Hands Radio News that the Marines got themselves a new ride.

The new Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV) should make Marines safer when dealing with potential IED and minefield areas. From the Marine Corps Times:

Combat engineers use line charges to blast a path through minefields, but they don’t always work.

If a line charge fails to detonate, someone has to walk into the minefield, place an explosive manually, light the fuse and run like hell.

Engineers call it the Medal of Honor run, but the Corps intends to make it a thing of the past by training and equipping engineers with a new Assault Breacher Vehicle designed to keep them safe in the midst of a minefield.


Shiny Lance Corporal talks about the ABV here.

After the demise of the Army's Grizzly project early in the decade, the Marine Corps started working on their own breacher vehicle. They took existing M1A1 Abrams chassis, removed the turret, and bolted on the plow blades, line charge launchers, and other breaching hardware. This configuration is apparently proving very effective against explosives, and provides the crew substantial protection from RPG and other anti-armor attacks.

More info here and here.

And now for some really cool video, courtesy of StrategyPage.



It's fast, functional, and gets the job done. It looks like something out of Warhammer 40K. It saves Marine lives. I'm not seeing anything not to love.

Lokidude.

(I know it's an old article, but the radio only brought it to my attention this week, as they've now seen combat action in the sandbox.)

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

My kind of Christmas Carols

Some days, I have a hard time coming up with a tune for On Stage Thursday. This week, not so much. There may even be a Christmas Encore to follow it up.

Me, I like Twisted Sister. Dee Snider may look like a fruit, with hair so epic that Christina Aguilera had to steal it two decades later, but the music was loud and hard and always damn fun to listen to. That, and Mark Mendoza is, in fact an animal on the bass. And how do you not love a guy who told a sitting US Senator, during a Senate hearing, that said senator's wife had a dirty mind.



Merry Freakin Christmas, kids!

Lokidude

Holiday Greetings...

from the House of Dude!

This is the time of year for family, and friends, and reflection, and just having a good time. In the interest of honoring multiple traditions this season, the House of Dude offers the following greetings:

For my Christian friends, Merry Christmas.

For my Jewish friends, Happy Hanukkah.

If I have any Buddhists reading me, have a pleasant Dōngzhì.

For the Seinfeldians out there, enjoy Festivus!

If anybody really feels like following ancient Greek or Roman traditions, hey, it's Saturnalia!

If any Africans find me, Kwanzaa rolls around right quick now.

For the Wiccans (knowing my friends, there's a decent chance of those), Yule is upon us!

And if I didn't manage to catch your particular belief structure, Have a Nice Day!

Lokidude

Wedding Guns

There's a little undercurrent in the gunny world, with regards to the topic of "Wedding guns." Not a shotgun wedding, but actual firearms involved in a wedding that mean something special.

Wedding guns can take many forms. For some, it's a gift given to welcome a new family member.

For some, it is a beautiful and practical replacement for jewelry.

For me, it's a little different. I bought my wedding gun myself, because I wanted something different, unique, and a touch gentlemanly, I guess. While making my regular circuit of the local shops, I happened across the perfect gun to fill that bill.

Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless

Click to embiggen.


I might get up a couple other pictures after I blur the serial. Said serial, BTW, dates the gun to approximately 1913. Just shy of 100 years old, and runs like a top. Yeah, .32ACP isn't any kind of massive defensive cartridge, but I really don't care. To paraphrase Obi Wan Kenobi, it's "an elegant weapon for a more civilized age." I'll probably end up making the holster for it myself, as good dress holsters for century-old guns can be a bit troublesome to find.

I look forward to wearing it under a tuxedo coat.

Lokidude

Blackberry is back up

It seems that as of roughly 0115 hours Mountain time today, Blackberry service is back to normal (and actually running pretty quickly.) Verizon informed me that the outage affected roughly 50% of ALL Blackberry users, on all networks, reducing a metric shitload of people's phones, including both of those in the House of Dude, to really expensive, really basic phones. It felt like 2001 all over again.

Damn, every day I want a Droid more.

Lokidude

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Eat and Run

There's something wonderful about how a sandwich with a good hard salami and mustard can improve your mood.

Lokidude

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The enemy feeling out our camp?

Making the rounds through my Sitemeter (such a cool toy), what to my wondering eyes does appear...



But a hit from Handgun Control, Inc?

Yeah, I see you hiding in the corner over there. Sit down and listen, you might learn something.

Lokidude

Movie Review

Obligatory FTC disclaimer going in: Nobody paid me a bloody cent for this review. In fact, I rented the movie my damn self, with my own dollar (plus tax.)

Better half and I watched Julie & Julia tonight. Yeah, it's a chick flick. No, I really don't care.

The movie follows Julie Powell's personal mission to cook every recipe in Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in one year. 524 recipes, 365 days. At the same time, it follows Julia Child's own mission to get the same book published, while dealing with the chaos of her own life.

Meryl Streep does a wonderful job portraying Julia Child, bringing smiles whenever she's on screen. Her performance borders on over-the-top, but anything less would have seemed... wanting.

Amy Adams (as Julie Powell) shows a woman at the ragged end of her rope, one step away from utterly falling apart, whose mission drives her to chaotic, obsessed depths, and who is eventually saved by the love that originally started the mission.

The jokes are fun, the story engaging, and the transitions between the two halves are smooth and effortless. I have no doubt that we'll end up buying it when we find it in the $10 rack.

Lokidude

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Go Big or Go Home - The Full Story

So, earlier I mentioned Caleb taking on a Brady-tard. Better half and I got up at 0415 local to catch the interview, and even she, even with her limited exposure to gun politics, was calling bullshit on Dennis Henigan throughout the interview.

I then spent the next hour and a half (that were supposed to be dedicated to more sleep) explaining the utter depth of fertilizer that is really contained in gungrabber lying-points.

Squeaky has firsthand experience with the Commercial Appeal nonsense of putting women in danger of continued assault from violent exes.

The point of it all is that both the Bloomington and Nashville firestarters are actively interested in outing not just gunowners, but gunowners who VOLUNTEER for additional scrutiny from the police. When I got my permits, I had to pay right in the neighborhood of $100 for each of them, submit my fingerprints and other personal information, and have state and federal law enforcement agencies perform criminal background checks on me. I know for a fact that several states actual run their ENTIRE CCW DATABASE through the federal criminal database daily, just to make sure that their CCW holders haven't been charged with some crime. When Dennis Henigan and the editorial staffs of these papers are willing to pay money out of their own pockets and voluntarily submit to the same, then they can talk to me about performing a public service because they can pull a "Gotcha!" on a minute percentage of permit holders who may or may not be prohibited people that the police may or may not have missed with the background check.

Until then, they're nothing but arrogant blowhard fools.

Lokidude

Go Big or Go Home - A Preview

I woke up at 0415 this morning to catch Caleb debate a high-ranking Brady-tard. He acquitted himself very well, and he and the Fox News commentator let the Brady hang himself beautifully. I really wish he'd had 15 or so minutes, so he could properly rebut the absolute lying-points that are par for the gunbanners' course, but if wishes were fishes...

Full story when I'm home and on a real computer so I can properly link things.

Lokidude

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Music and Dreams

It seems fate argued with my intended selection, and won. I woke up this morning from a dream, involving my impending nuptials, tonight's song, and a Gibson Thunderbird. Every time I selected a new song on my iPod, within 5 songs, it was back. Can't ignore a message like that, so here it is...



Lokidude

Friday, November 27, 2009

Best. Thanksgiving. Ever.

Cruising around my feed reader, I see everybody enumerating what they're thankful for. For me, a list like that just doesn't really do it. The people that need thanked have been, the people that need hugged and kissed have gotten them. For my Thanksgiving rambling, I'm goin a different direction. I'm gonna talk turkey. And everything that goes with it.

I come from a family where food is love, and my beltline will corroborate my story. I've always loved Thanksgiving, because it's always been a holiday where the whole family is together, and there's never less than three people in the kitchen, and everybody else is standing around swapping lies, catching up, and just being... family.

This year, as we were planning the holiday, was shaping up to be very different. It was going to be Bex's first Thanksgiving away from home, and she is her family's designated holiday cook, so she was planning on spending the whole day at her mother's house cooking. Her mother's entire guest list was six adults and a young child. This will be important in a minute.

My family's traditional large guest list withered to nothing this year as well, as my grandmother is in a rehab facility for a couple more weeks, Mama's younger sister and her husband went to spend Thanksgiving with his family, and Mama's older sister and her husband are EMTs who had to work the holiday this year. That meant Mama and Dad had a guest list of five, including myself and Bex.

Thanksgiving dinner for six and five is darn near impossible, without 3 months worth of leftovers. Trust me here.

Bex's mom jokingly said we should combine Thanksgiving, which planted the seed that was to become today's mighty feast. That, and it was going to be the first time that she and I drew virtually sole cooking duty for the holiday. No grandparents, no major parental assistance, just us. Which was a riot. Throughout the day, family and food filtered in, introductions were made all around, and our families, who'd never really met before, meshed like old friends. It was just like Thanksgivings from when I was younger, football and snacks, stories and lies, and lots of laughter and love. Some serious bonding time with my future niece (seriously, 3 year olds find me riotously funny and good company), and a beer run with one of her brothers (drinkin beer with the brother in law... I said it was the Best. Thanksgiving. Ever.) Said brother in law and I are planning on going shooting Saturday while the women are handling dresses for the wedding, and her other brother would have been invited too, but his uber-cool job is taking him away for a couple days. His loss.

All told, I'm amazed at how perfectly everything worked out, and am still grinning ear to ear, over six hours after everybody went home. The more time I spend with her, and with our families, the more I see exactly how good my life is, and is going to be. And those people, those memories, and a life well-lived and full of love, THOSE are the things to be thankful for, because they're the only things that matter.

Go make a turkey sandwich and hug somebody who matters.

Lokidude

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Comment policy

Due to some recent kerfluffles in the blogosphere, I feel it necessary to lay down the official House of Dude Comment Policy (for what few comments I currently get).

In brief:
Dissent is cool. Asshattery is not.


Have an opinion. Bring it with you. Bring some facts for backup, and we'll have ourselves a grand debate. You prove me wrong, and I'll even admit it, right here in public.

Ad hominem attacks will be in the least deleted, or, if they're laughable enough, will be held up to the light to expose the stupidity of both the argument and the person making it.

Links to ad hominem attacks, or to anti-American or anti-freedom drivel will be summarily deleted, or rerouted to a site of my choosing, at my sole discretion.

Be adult, and play nice.

Lokidude

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Epic Visitors...

While I was out making my appointed rounds today at work, it seems I had a visitor. When I got back to my office, I had a little note on my desk.



That's right, John Linebaugh himself came to see me. I'm excited and nervous to call him back tomorrow. All I know is that he wants to talk to me about a gun.

Watch me twitch impatiently.

Lokidude

Everything gets hotter when the sun goes down

It's Baby Brother's birthday today, so for On Stage Thursday, I'm going with a song that he and I actually got pounded out as a duet, and sing pretty much anytime we're together. I don't know how far he got on the guitar part, but I had the bass work down solid.



Happy Birthday, bro!

Lokidude

National Ammo Day AAR

Back from making my Ammo Day rounds. The damage is presented below.



That's 15 rounds of Remington 00 buck, 500 rounds of .22lr, 100 Hornady XTP .45 bullets, and a set of .45ACP Hornady dies.

Unca Loki's got a box o boom!

Lokidude

100 Rounds

It's November 19, which means, among other things, that it's National Ammo Day! The basic premise and goal of National Ammo Day is to remind retailers, and hopefully our elected representatives, how large and powerful an economic and voting block American gun owners are. This is accomplished via the purchase of at least 100 rounds of ammunition, or the components to reload that amount. Personally, I prefer the local mom and pop shop, but really, the retailer doesn't matter. What matters is the purchase.

So step to it.

Lokidude

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

"She wanted to know what it felt like..."

I've been withholding comment in the matter of Shaniya Davis, simply because I can't come up with enough apologies to my mama to cover the words I'd use if I started on that topic.

But there's another case that's as disturbing in my mind, that I feel safe offering commentary on, the murder of Elizabeth Olten.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Blessed with a Friday off school, 15-year-old Alyssa Bustamante dug two holes in the ground to be used as a grave, authorities said. For the next week, she attended classes, all the while plotting the right time for a murder, they said.

That time arrived the evening of Oct. 21, when Bustamante strangled 9-year-old neighbor Elizabeth Olten without provocation, cut the girl's throat and stabbed her, prosecutors said.

Why?


Why, indeed? That's a question for folks a lot smarter than me. I don't know that I want to understand. If I understood, it might start to make sense, and that's a possibility I'm unwilling to contemplate.

"Ultimately, she stated she wanted to know what it felt like," Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. David Rice testified Wednesday during a court hearing over the slaying.


My only analysis remains that, for some reason, this 15 year old girl is fundamentally broken. A girl who should be swooning over her latest crush, and scheming with her friends, instead was planning a brutal murder, to find out "what it felt like."

I have no desire to find out what taking human life feels like, and honestly, if that's something WANT to know, I consider you irreparably broken.

God rest the souls of these little girls, and be with the grieving in their time of need.

Lokidude.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Tuesday! Tuesday! Tuesday!

It's Tuesday, and Tuesday means another edition of GunNuts Radio! Details at the link.

Be there or be quadrilateral!

Lokidude

Monday, November 16, 2009

SCHWEEET!

Larry Correia mentions that gears are moving for an MHI film! How cool is that?

For a little mental exercise, me and some fellow nerds started assembling the cast. What we have will be posted here. Suggestions are, of course, most welcome.

Characters with a * are my personal submissions.

Owen Zastava Pitt - Clive Owen*
Sam Haven - Sam Elliott* (backed by JayG, as I read some of my notes)
Milo Anderson - Alan Tudyk*
Agent Franks - Adam Baldwin*
Earl Harbinger - Terence Stamp
Ray Shackleford - Gary Busey
Susan Shackleford - Catherine Zeta Jones
Julie Shackleford - Rachel Nichols
Dorcas - Judy Dench
Trip - Don Cheadle
Albert Lee - John Leguizamo (Yeah, I know Lee's supposed to be Asian. Make me a better suggestion, then.)

Still plenty of roles to cast, so help me out.

Lokidude

Newsflash!

Attention, everyone who panic-bought any and all guns and ammo they could get their hands on: You overpaid. Dramatically. Prices have gone down, a lot. I don't care how much you paid for your gun. I don't care that you never fired it. It still is classified as "used." Which is how you have to price it now that you have to liquidate to cover for your panic stupidity. No, I also don't care that your wife will kill you if you lose that much money on the deal. If I can buy a brand-new-in-my-local-gunstore complete AR that's at least the equivalent of yours, for $250 less than you're asking, there's no way in hell your gun is selling.

Seriously, pay your stupid tax, shut the hell up, and don't be a dumbass next time around.

Lokidude

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Happy Birthday, Devil Dogs!

234 years old today, and still kicking ass like you're not a day over 150. Keep it up, boys, it is noticed and appreciated.

This Bud's for you, as it were.

Lokidude

Saturday, November 7, 2009

No charges, but I still find fault

It seems that no charges will be filed in the matter of a shooting death at Colorado's Rampart Range.

So, the gun suffered a mechanical failure which caused it to go off. Okay, I buy that. Happens sometimes, due to failures in maintenance, design, or some other failure. But that does not excuse the shooter from fault. Whether or not he pulled the trigger, he pointed a gun at another person, and that gun went off, striking and killing his friend.

The Four Rules are sacred and inviolate for a reason. This shooting involved at least a violation of Rule 2, and also, I would say, Rule 1.

The Rules save lives. Follow them and live.

Lokidude

Friday, November 6, 2009

RIP, Jim

Jim inked his own death warrant this morning.

Brother, know that you died for a greater good.

*snicker*

Lokidude

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Two from the Crue!

It's been a good day, and I'm in a great mood. Good moods require good mood music, and around here, that means Motley Crue. I think that the most flat-out fun I've ever had at a rock show was when I took my friend J to see Cruefest in '08. It was all about girls, booze, rock, and just an all-around good time. Since I'm in such a good mood, I'm pulling another twofer tonight, one old, one new. No explanations required, just pour your favorite brew and rock like tomorrow doesn't matter.

Girls, Girls, Girls



Saints of Los Angeles


- Free videos are just a click away

Lokidude

Friday, October 30, 2009

Weekend incoming!

The weekend's rolling in, and boy do I need it. Expect minimal posting.

First off, JayG gets quoted in the Boston Globe.

And in anticipation of the weekend, I'm gonna let Dierks convey my feelings...



I'll catch y'all on the other side.

Lokidude

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Oh! Yeah!

It's Thursday again, which means two things... First, Snarky has a picture up guaranteed to induce diabetic coma, or double your money back.

And second... Another edition of On Stage Thursday!


Chickenfoot "Oh Yeah" - A funny movie is a click away

Chickenfoot is awesome in so many different directions. First off, Sammy Hagar seems to have never lost the fun that is the soul of music. Satriani is a legend, a status he's earned over a timeline longer than my life. Chad Smith is the most underrated member of the group, but his work with Red Hot Chili Peppers more than speaks for itself. And then there's Michael Anthony. I've wanted to be as cool as the mighty Van Halen bassist since before I first picked up a bass. If I could be half as awesome at 50 as they are, I'd be farther than I could ever imagine.

Rock on.

Lokidude

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Squee!

SHE'S HERE!

Now pardon me, while I do a happy dance and unload her car.

Lokidude

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Pele Breakdances? Who Knew?



H/T to Salamander.

Lokidude

Arming the Privateers

Came across something today that's perfect for Stingray's Privateers. A real-life antique harpoon gun! Prepare to be boarded, you low-life Somali sea rats!

Thanks go out to my buddies over at The Gun Counter.

Yo ho!

Lokidude

Apologies and excitement

First, I'm sorry for the light blogging lately. Been a busy couple weeks. The light blogging is tied to the excitement, though. I've been making room for my fiance to move in this weekend. The dishes are all done, the living room and bathroom are cleared out and the place looks much less like a bachelor pad. All that's left is to haul a half-dozen boxes downstairs, and clean out the bedroom. I have roughly 30 hours. I can do this, so she can feel right at home when she gets here.

I can't wait.

Lokidude

Friday, October 16, 2009

Holy Cool, Batman!

I'm a geek. To say the least. So, this hit on my sitemeter made me squee like a fanboy, and I'm not ashamed to admit it!



NASA? How much cooler does it get?

Thanks Robb!

Lokidude

Blogroll updates!

Today, we have four additions to the blogroll for your reading pleasure. Coincidentally, all four of them happen to be members of the Conspiracy.

First we have Silver, daughter of Christina over at Lucrative Pain. Gamer chick, anime fan, and a clarinet player, she's an all-around cool kid.

Next up is Top of the Chain. Because, hey, he's got opposeable thumbs! A cool 2A fan, and just an all around good egg.

Next up is Earnest Truth at To Which I Replied... Pretty much like his name says, he tells the straight truth, with no sugarcoating on it. Put on your hockey pads and prepare for the truth.

Last, but in no way least, is Salamander over at Armed and Amphibious. A grand combination of snark and haiku, and just all around fun. Also, he dropped me a line to let me know he'd blogrolled me and request the add.

Yes, that's a hit from the Cluebat(tm), now with 50% LESS NERF! As I've said, I try to reciprocate the blogroll love, so if I'm on yours and haven't added you already, please drop me an email or leave a comment, and I'll be sure to add you with a quickness.

Now go, read what my friends have to say.

Lokidude

Five Rifles?

Gun Nuts Radio this week debated the Top 5 rifles of all time. In the spirit of the show, tonight, I'm putting up my list. This is list is in no particular order, because I really didn't want to go to that much effort. So, without further adieu, here's my list of the five most significant rifles in history.

Benjamin Tyler Henry's lever rifle. Lever guns are just cool, and this pretty much began lever guns as we know them today. It was also one of the earliest repeaters, and was said to be a gun you could "Load on Sunday and shoot all week long."

United States Rifle, Caliber .30, M1
The famed "M1 Garand." This rifle changed warfare forever. The Garand, chambered in the mighty .30-06, saw heavy use in World War II and the Korean Conflict, and limited use in Viet Nam, being replaced in service by it's mechanical descendant, the M-14 rifle. After WWII, in large part due to the Garand's effectiveness, no army went into war without a semi-automatic weapon in common service.

Lebel Model 1886 rifle The first rifle to successfully employ nitrocellulose-based smokeless powder, which is what is almost universally referred to today as "gunpowder." Before the Lebel, all cartridge arms used the same "black powder" as muzzleloading weapons. Smokeless powder represented a massive improvement in ammunition technology, allowing for much higher velocities for the same case capacities, granting much longer ranges and greater accuracy than was possible before.

Mauser Gewehr 98 The Mauser 98 is the action that inspired all controlled-round-feed bolt actions in use today. Basically, if you use a bolt-gun for hunting, it draws a large portion of its lineage from Paul Mauser's designs. Unlike earlier Mausers (such as my 1896 Argentine), which were cock-on-closing, the 98 cocks when opened, making for easier and smoother cycling. These rifles are still popular target guns today, and are not unheard of in hunting fields.

British Army Land Pattern Musket (Brown Bess) The famed Brown Bess musket served the British Army for over 100 years, and with all its variants, served for roughly 140 years, seeing action in over six major world conflicts (counting all the Napoleonic Wars as one). Not truly a "rifle," the Brown Bess was a smoothbore, but it is truly one of the most significant weapons of all time.

I'm also adding two other rifles that I consider less significant historically, but that are just too cool for school.

Krag-Jorgenson An action that's slicker than boiled owl snot. Magazine cutoff allowing single-loading of rounds, until a soldier needs to use his magazine for volume fire. A unique, side-loading magazine that actually works very well with gloves. What's not to love? Truly, these are beautiful rifles, both in form and function.

Dreyse Needle Rifle Called a "pinfire," the Dreyse rifle employed paper cartridges with a percussion cap at the base of the bullet. When the trigger was pulled, the firing pin punctured the base of the paper cartridge, through the powder, and impacted the percussion cap, which ignited the powder, from a forward position. This firing pattern actually is more efficient than modern systems, but modern brass cartridge casings offer other benefits that overpower the efficiency gains.

Because, as Caleb says, "Guns are fricken COOL!"

Lokidude

Thursday, October 15, 2009

We were wrapped up in our music, that's why we never saw...

I'm feelin a bit outlaw tonight, so you get this little gem...



I actually love the original Waylon Jennings version of this song just as much as the Hetfield version, and both are in high rotation on my iPod. But I seriously felt that the rougher sound of James's cut is just more my style.

Music knows no boundaries.

Lokidude

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

And the winner is....

Hey, 500 hits since I put up the SiteMeter! Cool beans!



You, Mr Firefox/XP user from Delray Beach, Florida, win the Kewpie Doll!
(not really, as I have no clue what in the hell a Kewpie Doll even is...)

And a special thanks to JayG for directing our lucky winner here today!

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Tragic

Prayers and love tonight go out to the members and family of the American Fork High School marching band. They took first place at the Pocatello marching competition, but suffered a terrible accident on the way home.

Damn. Just damn.

Lokidude

Friday, October 9, 2009

At least when Nobel shits himself...

he shits dynamite. And he's definitely shitting himself today.

In their latest effort to solidify their corruption and utter irrelevance, the Nobel committee awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Hussein Obama.

Now, personally, I think he hasn't done much in his entire life that's worthy of active commendation, much less in his current office. But the real kicker here is that nominations for this year's Prize had to be submitted no later than February 1, 2009. He's been given an award for a total of ten, count 'em, TEN days in office. He didn't have time to properly adjust the his chair in the Oval Office before that deadline.

That, or he got the award for being the Messiah, or at least not G.W. Bush.

It seems the roads to Hell and Oslo used the same paving contractor.

Lokidude

Brrrrrr

19 degrees and icy this morning on the drive to work.

Welcome to the tundra, kids.

Lokidude

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Meleanie Hain shot to death

The woman who gained national press attention as the "gun-toting soccer mom" was found dead in her home on Wednesday, the victim of an apparent murder-suicide. It appears at this time that her husband, a parole officer, was responsible for the shooting.

Breda has the best take I've yet found on the matter.

It's a shame to see a bright, articulate, loving mother taken from the world in such a terrible way. All of the condolences from everyone at the House of Dude go out to her family, especially to her children, who witnessed this horrible act. May they somehow find peace and calm in the midst of this hell.

Go hug someone you love.

Lokidude

Edit: No On Stage Thursday tonight. It just doesn't seem right. Maybe I'll make it up to you tomorrow.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

The pirates need better intelligence...

Or... "Holy cow, the French didn't immediately surrender? WTF?"

We learn today that our favorite misunderstood Somali seafarers were unfortunate enough to pick the wrong target. Instead of a cushy merchant ship, the fools tried to take the La Somme, a French Navy oiler. Not only did they not succeed in taking the vessel, but shockingly enough, the French gave chase and captured one of the pirate skiffs, and five of the pirates. No word on whether they exercised long-standing naval law and hung said brigands, or if they took the gentler approach of bringing them in for trial and rehabilitation.

Shockingly, tonight, I say Go Frogs!

Lokidude

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Moonlight

There's something truly unreal about driving under a Wyoming full moon.

Thank you, that is all.

Lokidude

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Goin Old School

Tonight, I was lacking inspiration, so I trolled some incredibly random music, and was hit by this utter retro gem.


Fishbone - Sunless Saturday (Official Music Video) - Free videos are just a click away

Ladies and Gentlemen, Fishbone! In the height of the grunge movement, these guys were keeping ska and reggae going as strong as ever. They had their biggest hit, and their greatest fame, at a time when everything on MTV was flannel and bad overdrive.

That's powerful.

Lokidude.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

My Gun Culture

Tonight's topic on GunNuts (the fastest hour on the internet) was "gun culture." When I read that earlier today, it immediately brought to my recollection an editorial by Mike Venturino from a couple years back in American Handgunner. Thanks to Salamander over at Armed and Amphibious for his help in locating the text of the article. I think Mike says it all pretty well.

My gun culture
American Handgunner, Nov-Dec, 2007 by Mike Venturino

Recently, while browsing DVDs in a rental store, l saw one that labeled its movie as a "Look at the dark I underside of the gun culture." And in the wake of the Virginia Tech killings, the news media has made its usual references to "America's gun culture." Essentially, those with the rigid mind-set of so-called liberals love to portray people with our interests as "on the edge" just itching to put bullets into live tissue, or some place bullets don't belong.

That stuff drives me up the wall because I've been an active member of the so-called gun culture now for 40 years. Let me tell you about how I see it. In my gun culture words like honor and integrity are not obsolete, and other peoples' property is still sacred. In my gun culture someone's word is still their bond. When I came aboard this magazine three years ago, editor Roy asked me if I felt we needed anything in writing. He and I had been friends for some years already at that time and I said, "No. I know you will do exactly as you say you will, and I hope you feel the same about me." Evidently he did.
COPYRIGHT 2007 Publishers' Development Corporation
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning


I'm not so sure that the guns have so much to do with it, but the people that gunnies tend to be, and associate with, are people who're a cut above par, people who tend to believe in live-and-let-live, earning what you take, and giving back freely to those who need a deserve a little help. The Golden Rule has nothing to do with having gold. For me, the crux of my "gun culture," as it is, is associating with people I WANT to introduce to my parents, and living in such a way that I can look in the mirror each night and be proud of who I am, and look my father in the eye, and know he's proud of me.

Just do good things, because they are good.

Lokidude

Horry Clap, Man!

Perusing my sitemeter, I learned that Robb Allen over at Sharp As A Marble blogrolled me! Wow, that just feels cool!

Of course, immediately thereafter, I felt like an utter tool, when I realized that I have Robb on my reader, but not on my blogroll. This error was rectified immediately, though.

Lokidude

Monday, September 28, 2009

Interesting

It would seem I'm the number 2 result on Google for the search string "exite chemicus sum." This ranks me above Larry Corriea's blog, where the Exite! Chemicus Sum! was a winner in the MHI2 patch contest, and above the Nerds themselves, the designers of said patch. I'm truly flattered, and totally mystified as to how this actually happened.

Lokidude

Friday, September 25, 2009

You're Almost There, It's Gone

Apologies for missing last week and being late with this week, it's been a long couple.

I find myself sometimes sitting around listening to old music I'd almost forgotten, and remembering how epic it was at the time, a soundtrack to my youth, to memories that I'm sure are greater than the actual acts, and more precious than gold.



Treasure them, even if they are a bit inflated.

Lokidude

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Arrrr

We at Redneck Command be reminded that today be International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Ye best be larnin to live and learn the life of ye inner scurvy buccaneer, or ye be walkin the plank right ta Davy Jones' Locker!

Yo ho!

Lokidude

Thursday, September 17, 2009

You have GOT to be shitting me

From the UK, we get the story of a 12 year old boy who is prepping for a transgender operation.

I can't even manage to pull a money quote from there to show you the idiocy. I have zero problem with transgender operations. If you feel you need to alter that in you, go right ahead. But to perform such an operation on a prepubescent 12 year old is medically neglectful, entering into the realm of criminal malpractice. Such massive, elective, non-lifesaving procedures should be reserved for people who've reached the age of majority. Minors are not, and should not be, considered able to make an informed decision on matters like this. That's why we call them minors, and why they legally require guardianship.

Rule Brittania

Lokidude

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Race card's gettin worn

Robb Allen once again knocks one out of the park.



Personally, I think the "card" is getting a touch worn. Hard to claim "The Man" is keeping you down when you ARE "The Man."

Lokidude

Monday, September 14, 2009

I'd call Kanye West a douche

but that would be an insult to respectable douches everywhere.

(I gotta apologize, mama, I know you'll read this, but I'm just pissed enough that some grown-up language is gonna come out, and I can't hold back any more than I am.)

Normally, I wouldn't waste the bandwidth on the waste of carbon-base that is Kanye West. I find him to be one of the worst-educated, worst spoken, and most blatantly racist people ever to disgrace this planet. I firmly feel that any respectable media establishment should be ashamed to grant him a mic, a voice, and airtime.

A quick refresher as to one of his greater moments.



Now, we learn that at the MTV VMA awards this weekend (showing how much I care, I had no clue they were even on), Kanye chooses the acceptance speech of tiny little 19-year-old Taylor Swift getting her first VMA ever to spout even more of his racist drivel.



Now, personally, him being a racist shit doesn't make a difference to me either way, and proving yourself to be nothing more than an asshat in public is something I'm all in favor of. But having to walk all over a little girl who never did a damn thing to you? Kanye West, you're officially a bitch.

May you never sell another album, and your mother deny she ever gave birth to you.

Lokidude

Friday, September 11, 2009

I haven't forgotten

I have not forgotten what today is, what happened 8 years ago, and what it all means. Honestly, I didn't post today simply because I haven't been able to form the thoughts and emotions swirling around my skull into something cohesive and sensible. There will be something posted about September 11 this weekend, as soon as I get things focused enough to write them down.

Lokidude

Thursday, September 10, 2009

What's in the Arkansas water?

How the entire police department of Jericho, Arkansas isn't currently incarcerated is beyond me. After reading this, my blood was pretty much set on a rolling boil. I grew up around firefighters, for my entire childhood. Some of my very good friends are the next generation of smokeaters, and several are second generation. In the real world, cops and firefighters get along, with the exception of the yearly softball game.

The fire chief went to court to dispute a ticket, which it seems is all this department did with regards to "law enforcement." In response, he gets a second ticket, and then shot in the back while he was unarmed and surrounded by seven cops. Now, I'm normally willing to give the police the benefit of the doubt, but 7-1 against an unarmed man? No chance. If they couldn't control the situation through physical restraint and arrest control techniques (and that's assuming the chief was physically aggressive with them, which I find highly doubtful), then they have no business carrying badges. For the record: A gun is not a universal problem solver, and you are NOT authorized to shoot simply because you're angry. Lethal force is authorized and acceptable only when all other options have been ruled out in the cause of protecting yourself and others from harm.

Lokidude

Giving it right back to them

Heard today on Navy Radio News (a neat little newswire that the local AM carries), the USS New York has been commissioned. My favorite touch, personally, is this:

Steel salvaged from the World Trade Center wreckage has been used in the construction of New York. The shipyard and Navy inspected the steel and found that it was of sufficient material strength so that it could be incorporated into the bow stem of New York.
That's right. They broke it. They thought they broke us in the process. And now, we've salvaged what they've broken, reforged it, and are going to use it to send Marines, SEALs, and the associated support equipment around the world, spreading peace when possible, doing violence when necessary, and always pursuing that which is good.

And that is why we will not be broken.

Lokidude

Meet the family

Tonight, it's time for you to meet some of the family. Specifically, Baby Brother. Not Little Brother, not since he was about 11. But always Baby Brother.

Anyways, BB's a little different breed of redneck than me. I'm from the "Trans-Am, Lynyrd Skynyrd" school of redneck. He's more of the "cowboy hat, twangy country, bad moustache" breed. He's also embodied the famous last words of "Hey, watch this!" And he's a big showoff for the ladies. So, this On Stage Thursday is dedicated to the giant oaf with a heart just as big, my Baby Brother.





Love ya, bro!

Lokidude

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Might not be all that bad

When we heard that Disney bought out Marvel, all of us comic book geeks were, to put it lightly, concerned. I mean, seriously, can you say "This Week's Sign That the Apocalypse Is Upon Us?" But the whiz kids over at Unreality came up with a dark, horrible, beautiful possibility for the Princesses.

Seriously, that's pretty kick ass.

Lokidude

The Votes Are In

The voting ended for Larry Correia's Monster Hunter International patch contest, and we have the results. As per the original rules, Utah County won the most votes, and therefore won the contest, despite having an advantage best described as "unfair."

However, Larry, in his infinite wisdom, altered the terms of the deal. Pray he does not alter them further.

What it all means is that Larry has decided to also use the Atomic Nerds' patch, "Exite! Chemicus Sum!" Go Team Nerd!!! If you voted for my buddies the Nerds, you rock. If not, then you, yes, YOU, are what is wrong with America today!

Back off, man! They're scientists!

Lokidude

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

It really wouldn't surprise me

Circulating the tubes, we have this neato guide, handily available for any journalist who needs to write a story that mentions guns.
Sadly, I sometimes wonder if this guide isn't exactly what the press uses.

H/T to Robb Allen and Sebastian.

Lokidude

"Rodents Of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist."

Ah, but our good Westley seems to have been wrong. ROUS found in Papua New Guinea. Seriously.

Measuring 82 centimeters (32.2 inches) from nose to tail and weighing around 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds), the species is thought to be one of the largest rats ever to be found.
Folks, that's a nearly 3 foot rat. Pretty much your housecat. Wow.

Hat tip goes to the future Senator from Massachusetts, JayG.

I think we need a bigger boat.

Lokidude

Monday, September 7, 2009

More Blogroll Updates

Hey, there's a couple fresh faces on the blogroll today, send em some love. Also, I'd like to run a reciprocal blogroll, if you read/link me and I'm not repaying the favor, please, drop me a comment or send me an email to utredneck at gmail dot com and I'll add you post-haste.

First on today's list, Gay Cynic over at FreeThinker. I know, rednecks, especially in Wyberia, are supposed to be all bigoted and such, but sometimes perceptions need to be altered. Anyway, GC is good people.

FarmGirl over at Tractor Tracks got added, too. She's admitted to liking visits, so give her some!

Lokidude

Somehow, I doubt it.

Yay! My very first oh-so-amusing Google hit! I'd like to thank the Academy, and my parents, and... no, wait, that's something entirely different. Anyways, here goes...


(click to embiggen)

Somehow, I'm not sure that, judging by where you're being educated, you have much room to criticize, kid.

Lokidude

Friday, September 4, 2009

How it should be done

There are few things that hack me off more than "The Star Spangled Banner" performed by the latest no-talent, MTV fueled, video-killed-the-radio-star rejects at any particular major sporting event. In fact, many of them, I consider flat insulting. As a NASCAR fan, I get at least halfway respectful performances of the Anthem, but still not what I'd call "outstanding."

This, ladies and gentlemen, is how it should be done, performed by kids (and I can call em that, as I have almost a decade on more than a few of them) who have an intimate knowledge of what the song means, what the flag stands for, and what having the biggest stick really guarantees you.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Made it by midnight...

Sorry this week's On Stage Thursday is late, I was tinkering on the truck and then went out for chinese, because I was in the mood and haven't been down to see Christopher in forever.

So, here ya go. Some folks might call it a cop out, it's a simple tune, I can play it in my sleep.



Here's the thing, though. This is the first song I ever learned on my bass. In fact, it's the first song a great many bassists learn. Five fingerings, one string, I could pretty much teach this song in 30 seconds to anybody who can get their hand around the neck. And quite honestly, it's just a fun song to play. It's one of those songs that, when I hear it come on, if my bass is handy, I feel an unstoppable compulsion to play.

Even simple can rock.

Lokidude

Updating the blogroll

Updated the blogroll tonight, with a couple overdue ones...

First up is Newbius over at The Newbius Papers. He's just an all-around good egg.

Next up are Stingray and LabRat, the Atomic Nerds. Snark, brilliance, and funny from the glowing capitol of the world, Los Alamos.

EDIT:

How did I miss Christina over at Lucrative Pain? Man, I must be slipping.

Read em and enjoy.

Lokidude.

Exite! Chemicus Sum!

So, I have love for this book, Monster Hunter International. You should buy it, because it's a rollicking good time and the author, one Larry Correia, is just that cool. When he found out that fans were designing their own MHI unit patches, he put together a contest, the winner getting an autographed copy of the first book, and their patch getting used in the second MHI book, due out sometime in 2010.

The Atomic Nerds put together a submission that I personally think rocks monster socks. Anybody that might actually read this should go to Larry's blog and vote for the Nerds' patch, "Exite! Chemicus Sum!" Let's face it, radiation is cool, and the Nerds really should have some MHI love.

"Back off man! I'm a scientist!"

Lokidude

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Hard to believe...

I almost missed it. It's hard for me to believe that it was a year ago Monday that I got on a bus and forever left my ex wife behind. I can't believe it's only been a year, it seems to have been so much longer. The U-haul ride down was the longest ride of my life. Yes, I drove her down, I needed the chaos and anger over so badly I was willing to do anything in my power.

The Greyhound ride home was an entirely different matter. I was conflicted and my head was swimming, but for the first time in a long time, I had peace. I was met by a very good friend (the future Lady of the House, though I had no clue at the time), and rode into my future.

Through the hell of it all (and never doubt for one second that divorce sucks), I've managed to learn a bit. The biggest thing I've learned is this: Uncertainty is entirely bearable, if you have good friends, good family, and the confidence in yourself to be willing to try difficult and new things.

I had no idea when I started this post that it would be so personal, but it is, and there you have it.

Peace,
Lokidude

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Twofer

Once again, it's On Stage Thursday. This week, I knew the band, but picking just one song wasn't exactly possible. So, instead, tonight you get a twofer. Even getting to that point was tough.

People who hang out with me much have all heard the phrase "I hate Nickelback." Of course, if they spend about another five minutes with me, they learn that I really don't hate Nickelback, they put on a hell of a show, have a good time, and are quite seriously talented. What I truly hate is my lack of a five-string bass, so that I can play the badass bass lines that Mike lays down.

Nickelback-Never Again


Never Again... Driven, fat, beautifully deep bass. Yes, the lyrics are violent, and harsh, and not really happy and fun. Hell, I think it scared the shit out of my ex wife the first time she heard it (we happened to be driving home after our wedding, ironically enough). Of course, I also contend that the world can be violent and harsh, and isn't always happy and fun, but that's not the point of On Stage Thursday. Through good speakers, the bass on this song cuts straight to the center of your body, threatening to pick you up and toss you backwards.

And for the second:

Nickelback - "Far Away" Video


Far Away... An entire change of pace. An absolutely beautiful bit of songwriting, with a very subtle and almost unnoticed bass part. Lyrically, this song conveys as much emotion, syllable-for-syllable, as anything on popular radio today. The video hits some very tender spots, Dad finally quit fighting fires after over 20 years, so I can empathize firsthand with the fear and concern, which makes it even that much more powerful for me.

Now, it's late, I'm tired, I'm off to bed.

zzzzzzzzzz,
Lokidude

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Fear the IRC

Today on #gunblogger_conspiracy

<RobbAllen> You put your IRC in, you take your IRC out, you put your IRC in and you shake it all about.
*RobbAllen realizes all of a sudden that the Hokey Pokey is Rule 34 in musical format.

Gah

Dear iTunes: Your auto-complete feature for song info is nifty, but QUIT OVERRIDING MY DAMN CHOICE IN CAPITALIZATION! Yeah, I'm looking at you, Jobs. Bad implementation! Fix it! kthxbai

Lokidude

Sunday, August 23, 2009

News of the Weird

I'm not sure what I can possibly add to this. There's just epic levels of wrong involved in this one.

I'm pretty much reduced to this:

Billy Madison - Industrial Revolution Puppy





Just... wow

Lokidude

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Sometimes /b/ provides epic humor

via Silver, we get the wonder that is Metallolcats!

It's that time again!

Thursday night, which means it's time for another edition of "If I Ever Play On Stage..." Tonight, a little guilty pleasures music of mine.



Mark White is my hero, playing lefty, with a whammy bar, and often in gloves. And laying down some mighty licks.

Also, tonight's music brought to you by early 90's Seattle coffee, and Mr Yuri Orlov, who's now added to my blogroll, for being that cool.

Enjoy,
Lokidude

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Sympathy for the Wasted

Jimmy Buffet singing "Margaritaville" on one stereo, the Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil" on the other. It makes the fuzzy overlap area kind of interesting.

In other news, Pearl Jam being played on my local classic rocker makes me feel old. Music I listened to in school, while excellent, should not qualify as classic rock.

I feel some days like this is the Assisted Living House of 'Dude.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

I promise, I'm not calling anyone Betty...

In contrast to the last song in the "If I Ever Play On Stage" file, tonight's submission has a very active and complex bass line. Which may, in the end, be why I love it so much.

Tire Trouble in Turn 4

(At least I kept it out of the SAFER barrier...)

The tires on my beloved truck have been marginal for a while now, but I've been holding out buying new ones, as it doesn't get driven much, and I figured I could wait until closer to winter before I had to worry. Yeah, that's what I get for making plans. I go out last night to wire in my CB antenna and set up to mount the CB, and I notice the right front on my truck has maybe 10 pounds of air in it. I know it's going flat, and plan today around getting the tire fixed, hoping there's enough tire to fix. For the record, this makes three tires, on three vehicles, in about six weeks. Ironically, all of them were right fronts as well.

Anyways, I finally get the tire off today (learning in the process that the star wrench from the truck is in the Volkswagen back home, yay), and take it to the tire shop, only to find out that the sidewall has separated, causing the leak. This means I have to buy four new skins, about 2 months earlier than planned. And I get this news two days before payday. Hooray for broke.

Dad's going to do some checking with the mechanic at his work, and see if he can pick me up a set of the Dueller A/T Revo tires that they put on the work trucks and save me some cash. Either way, this means I'll have to cancel one of my runs down, most likely. Probably for the best, though, cutting out one of a pair of 1000 mile round trips in a five-day period.

Man, this is gettin old...

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Performance Anxiety...

Wow, I'm a bit nervous now. A blog has been set up for my 10 year class reunion (watch me feel old), and they linked to me. People I actually know in meatspace might read what I write now. Means I might have to, yaknow, write something every so often. I told myself when I started this little project that I was writing for myself and nobody else, and that holds true, but if I end up with an audience, I oughta give em something.

To all of you from the Class of 2000 that end up reading this, welcome. 10 years is a long time. Lets catch everybody up on what's gone on in that stretch. In the past decade...

I've had about half a dozen jobs, my current one for the last half of that time.

I've acquired about a half-dozen ex girlfriends (most still on good terms) and one ex wife (terms on that one not so good.)

I've owned more cars than I care to count, but now have it pared down to three, including a vintage VW project car.

I've lived in three states, and all my moves have involved work. I love my job, it's taken me good places, at times I was ready to go to them.

I met my current fiance, about 9 years before we realized that we are, in fact, a match you read about in story books.

Welcome to the House of 'Dude, and enjoy.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

If I Ever Play On Stage

I've been putting together a list for a while of songs I'd love to play if I ever play bass in public. The latest addition:

Steve Earle - Copperhead Road


The bass part isn't complicated at all, but I just love the song, so it's on the list.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Home

Back home, after another ass-long driving weekend visiting family. This time I saw an aunt I haven't seen in months. Now, Monster Hunter International. Review as soon as I finish.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

The joys of Yahoo! Answers

I'm known to bounce around Yahoo! Answers, particularly the Outdoor Recreation section, trying to share a bit of what I've learned from a life enjoyably misspent in the great outdoors. However, far too often, you come across utter idiocy in there. Normally, I let it drift right by like so much sewage, but I saw one today that just bent me the wrong direction.

Should the Cubs, and Scouts be reclassified as?
Youth Paramilitary Groups? And then banned?
Additional Details
You know Baden Powell based the Scouts on the Hitler Youth, don't you?

Now, then, you should know, I'm an Eagle scout, became involved with the Scouting program on my eighth birthday, and am a full-on, 100%, drank-the-Kool-Aid-and-it-was-yummy believer in Scouting, what it does for boys, and what kind of men it tends to turn them into. So, on this very morning, I took this quite personally, as an attack on something near and dear to my heart. My reply:

I suspect that you are nothing more than a troll, in the textbook internet sense, doing nothing more than baiting and trying to cause trouble. However, I'm in the mood to feed the troll right now. I hope you like a diet of crow.

The modern Scouting movement, originally started in England and shortly thereafter brought to America, predates the rise of Adolf Hitler and the "Hitler Youth" by almost two full decades. Therefore, your little shot in Additional Details is completely null and void, rendering your entire argument useless.

As to your original question, what, exactly, in Scouting is in any way "paramilitary?" I'll limit the scope of my reply to BSA, simply because that's where my experience lies. Scouting encourages physical fitness, but not to anything approaching a military or combat standard. They teach camping and rudimentary wilderness survival skills, true. There is some basic firearms and archery instruction, but not enough to become a proficient game hunter, much less any variety of combat soldier. Is it the fact that there is a rank structure? The rank hierarchy in Scouting is far from military, it lacks the discipline and authority that military hierarchy requires. It is more akin to a business environment, and knowing how to operate within that structure is a life skill best learned at a young age.

So, no, there is nothing even remotely military about the Boy Scouts of America. And I have a question for you: What is it about young men learning valuable life skills to make them better men when they're grown that terrifies you so? Is it that you lack those same skills yourself, and the motivation to acquire them, and scream and throw a tantrum if the government won't bring everyone down to your level? For shame, sir. Elevate yourself, instead of demanding the government drag everyone else down.
Harsh? Most certainly. But oh-so-gratifying today.

Monday, July 13, 2009

A Good Night

Sitting here, drinking a Budweiser, watching the home run derby. If it gets better than this, I don't know how.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

They DO exist!

I just proved the existence of the Flood! You know, the original Halo? I just smashed this MASSIVE spider, and it exploded into a plethora of little tiny spiders. Gross, I know.

Watch your backs, keep your Needlers and Plasma Grenades handy.

Lokidude

Thursday, June 11, 2009

ROFLcopters and gigglesnorts

This may be the greatest thing the internet has ever belched up for me.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Just A Monday.

Beer in the fridge, burgers sizzling on the stove. Life is good at the House of 'Dude.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

I'm for law and order, the way that it should be...

I hate hoodlums and gang bangers, probably more than most folks. I think that they live by the sword, and deserve most of what they get. This goes way overboard.

The suspect was down, submissive, and surrendering. Whatever he's done up to this point, he's now adopted a non-threatening posture. Cuff and secure him, haul him in, handle him according to the law. Baton shots are possibly justifiable in a severely combative suspect, but I cannot imagine any agency having a standard procedure which authorizes penalty kicks using a subject's head.

On a lighter note, he'd have been fine if he'd obeyed some simple guidelines. (Not embedded because it's somewhat NSFW.)

Monday, May 4, 2009

Home

Back home, after a long weekend of driving. Silver lining is, the park opened up this weekend and we got some killer pictures. I'll post them when I'm not so tired. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Musings on Gun Safety

Too many times in the news, we hear stories of someone being shot unintentionally. When interviewed, the shooter says, invariably, "I don't know what happened. It just went off." This is, quite simply, almost never the case. Firearms in good working order do not just "go off." There are two kinds of "accidental" firearm discharges, negligent and truly accidental, and a simple set of rules to dramatically lessen the loss of life and limb from these discharges.

The Four Rules

There is a simple set of four rules of firearm safety which, if followed, eliminates virtually all death and injury from unintentional discharges. Here they are, in order (not of importance, in my mind, all are equally important), as they were taught to me and I teach them to people I take shooting.

Rule 1: All Guns are Always Loaded

I've heard this better stated possibly as "Know the condition of your weapon at all times" but it's simpler and easier to teach someone that, unless you've established for yourself to the contrary, any weapon you handle is assumed to be loaded, and you must conduct yourself accordingly.

Rule 2: Do not point a weapon at anything you are not willing to destroy.

Quite simply, unless you are ready and willing to damage, destroy, or remove something from this planet, DO NOT point a gun at it. You can't kill or injure someone with a gun if it's not pointed at them.

Rule 3: Keep your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to fire.

Guns that are in good working order and safe to fire require a mechanical action of the trigger to fire a round. It is that simple. Some triggers are very light, some are heavy, but if your finger isn't on it, the gun will not fire.

Rule 4: Be sure of your target, and what is beyond it.

Be aware not only of what your sights are on, but what is behind what your sights are on. Be sure your buddy isn't behind the trophy deer you're about to take, or that a truck isn't driving down the ridge you're using for a backstop. Also, make sure that you're not firing against a surface that might cause a dangerous ricochet, or any other hazardous condition.

Accidental vs. Negligent Discharge

As stated earlier, there are two types of unintentional gun discharges. A true accidental discharge is quite rare, and often related to either problematic ammunition, or a mechanical failing in the gun. These can be avoided by proper inspection and maintenance of your gun and ammunition.

The vast majority of instances where a gun "just went off" are actually cases of negligent discharge. These occur when an individual pulls the trigger on a loaded gun that he or she did not intend to fire. These tragic incidents are virtually eliminated by following the Four Rules above, every time a firearm is handled. Complacency kills, attention to detail prevents accidents.

Be safe out there.

Lokidude

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Layout

Tinkering with the layout and look... pardon the dust.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Motivation

Blogging is something I've been meaning to do for a couple of years, but never could seem to find a starting point, or a reason. Just recently, however, I came to the realization that my perceived reasons for wanting to write were wrong. I wanted to be able to say something meaningful, to change the world. The fact of the matter is, I'm not sure it matters to me if I end up with 1000 readers every day, or if I'm lucky enough to have 2. I don't need to write for anybody but myself. I don't WANT to write for anybody but myself. This is my outlet, my way to let the million pinballs rattling around in my brain out to see the world, for better or for worse. If I manage to say something meaningful, something that affects some random person's day (hopefully for the better), then that's gravy. But it's not requisite for me to feel satisfied with this little project.

Thanks, and welcome to the house of 'dude, Redneck Command.

Lokidude