brickhistory

Never met him in person. Via e-mail, however, he couldn't have been nicer and more helpful to a novice writer like me some years ago. Willingly gave some TTPs regarding the publishing and aviation-writing game. Godspeed and thanks.

Outstanding!

I did a review of my Walther P99AS sometime back. GREAT pistol. A lttle big for me in the CCW department, but for a home/car scenario, definitely.

Zero Dark Thirty...meh. Not bad. Not great.

nsplayer, You say you are not a "one issue" voter and that is your perogative. And on a lot of issues, I could agree with you on that. A "better some than none" approach which is the hallmark of political interaction. That said, attempts to subvert the very foundation of our democracy, of our way of life, of our society, is a one issue go/no-go for me. If the Second Amendment can be "adjusted" via non-Constitutional means, what is to stop any other guaranteed right - given by simply existing and not by any government - from being "adjusted?" If that is your thinking, I can make arguments on "adjusting" the First, Fourth, and Fifth very easily. This is a serious, fundamental issue and not simply about owning an AR or AK platform. Those are symptoms of a very serious issue, mainly that of control. I choose to keep it, the current (and recent past one as well, I admit) wants to take it. BTW, Chris Christie is very PRO-gun restrictions for those that sing his praises. I hope he is not a contender next time.

For this one issue, yes. It is that important.

Same physical standards upheld or not (they won't be), same capability to be a down-in-it grunt or not, adding females to male-dominated/oriented high-stress situations like, say, combat simply adds another, and very primal, stressor to the equation. Males, of any species, are males (save for the 10% gay ones that liberals like to make comparisons to) and will be influenced, usually negatively, by having females in fight situations. I will call BS for anyone that says introducing females into flying squadrons, artillery BNs, etc, hasn't produced ccok fights, friction, and trouble related to the mixing of males and females. It is, not even human, animal behavior. Add in house-to-house, getting the bejeezus shot out of you on a ridgeline, etc, etc, etc, and it's gonna cause problems. Ivan/Li Xu/Hajji, etc, are gonna have fun with this one. I am not hating on the females who do the job now. This is not about you the individual. This is about biology. Good luck, LT Snuffy, of 1st Platoon. You are gonna need it...

As are just the 10/22s themselves. The prices on some of the sites are just ridiculous! For a .22?! UFB. Separate but related, I had my eye on a Ruger .44 magnum carbine. Just about the same as the 10/22 in appearance, just in the bigger caliber. They no longer make them and the prices for used good ones used to $500-600. Now it's hitting $800 and up. Sh1t...

Sorry, that is doctor - government - patient privileged information...

Take her to a range with a wide selection and have her test fire them. Most decent ranges should have those you listed or suitable substitutes. A small investment up front before committing to the purchase. And technique only, if you are going to consider the Walther PPS, then the M&P Shield should probably make your list. Ditto for the Walther P99c if you are considering the M&P 9c. I have full size M&P and P99. Both great. I like the Walther better, but it is much price-ier as well.

:beer:

Reading the press reports of Obama's EO, he is basically making it illegal to do the illegal actions such as 'straw buying.' Unless, of course, you work in the ATFE. But, he was seen to be doing something. Just as he was seen to be doing something for Hurricane Sandy. Which is FUBAR'd still. Just as he was by appearing in the Rose Garden after a US ambassador was killed in Libya - on his way to Andrews to fly to Vegas for fund-raising. Just as he was seen to be doing during the bin Laden raid. Never mind the leak of classified information. Just as he was seen to be doing during the Gulf Oil spill. Walking along the beach meant so much while 100 days of devastation occurred. Just as he did when signing his FIRST EO to close Guantenemo Bay prison. But it 'feels good.' nsplayer, I get it. You don't like everything Barry is doing, but he's your horse. I definitely didn't like everything W. did, but he beat the alternatives of Gore and Kerry. I wonder how long until New York's law is challenged and how far it will go up the judicial chain?

The next President of the United States. (or at least a Democrat candidate...)

How about the one that smoked an American citizen, and his 16 year old kid, with no due process? As a practical matter, I have no issue with al-Alwaki (sp?) getting a Hellfire enema. Philosophically, I do. How about ordering the armed forces of the United States to engage in a protracted offensive military campaign against a sovereign nation without any sort of Congressional approval as in Libya? I did, and do, have a problem with that. As well as Congress acting like a puss and not pursuing it. Or appointing members of government requiring a Senate confirmation without one via recess appointment despite the Senate saying it was in session? Again, the Senate let him get away with it, so that's on them. Shall I continue?

It is this line that I hate more than anything else. Everybody wants me and some tens of millions of law-abiding gun owners to "be reasonable." To compromise just a little bit. If I am not vilified outright, I am subjected to such polite condescension that I want to puke (no cute emoticon for you!). I did nothing wrong. Being "reasonable" means I have to alter my behavior to suit yours, or someone like you, opinion. I want you and others like you to be reasonable and leave me the hell alone. Your, and others like you, way means I have to change. I have to compromise. I have to give up a part of a fundamental right as an American so I can be thought of as "reasonable." My way means you, and others like, you don't have to do anything. To anyone. At anytime. Which way is more reasonable?

Hmm, a little extreme reaction to a hypothetical. But ok, the premise is valid. Going full-on crazy to meet your bu11sh1t response; IF the President were to declare AR-15s illegal or contrary to public safety under some ATFE rule and therefore must be turned in within one month or any person possessing one will be detained as violating ATFE rules, I am asking thoughtful citizens to consider what they would do. I know my answer. I am not advocating anyone else to follow suit or state, other than in the hypothetical, what could happen. But, I expect the EO, if issued, to be more along the lines of directing the ATFE to be more rigorous in conducting gun seller inspections, more picky about paperwork, and other such annoying but publicly palatable shows. Which, and most definitely not in the hypothetical, is ironic considering this same ATFE directed lawful gun store owners to sell to known straw buyers during Operation Fast and Furious. Just shy 2,000 of these dreaded semi-automatic weapons were walked, with the government knowing and condoning such activities. There have been some 200-400 Mexicans, including children, teen-agers, and women, not to mention a US Border Patrol agent in Arizona and an ICE agent in Mexico, killed so far with these weapons. And as of about two months ago, the Attorney General of the United States admitted that half of the guns were still unaccounted for and more deaths were expected. From the whisky rebellion, to the Civil War, to the internment of the Nisei during WWII, Uncle Sam can be a powerful, vengeful motherfcuker if he so chooses. So you can shove your vomiting condescension up your ass to think this government can't do things that are beyond the pale.

Potential gut check time. Is an Executive Order issued restricting any part of the Second Amendment lawful and therefore must be obeyed? Should any serving uniformed personnel choose to answer, I encourage you to keep it hypothetical. I don't think it is, and would eventually, be overturned (but I was dead wrong regarding SCOTUS and Obamacare, too). The pity is the number of weapons that would be destroyed until that ruling. Will ATFE agents enforce such an EO? Would state and local LE? Again, this may be nothing - Obama's very first EO was to close Guantenemo Bay, remember - but it has serious bad ju-ju potential. Pity about that tragic canoeing accident in the Missouri I had...

And thus spending continues unconstrained. Obama and Reid are not playing by the same rules and are cleaning the fiscal conservatives' clock. If they won't play by the rules, then to compromise (actually roll over and say "uncle") is to get nothing at all. Meanwhile, the spending continues, the debt increases, and the results are Soylent Green.

Then I know for sure that you are not my Congressional rep as he voted against this. There comes a time to say "enough!" I respect that you think you did the best for your district and your conscience (sp?), but there is a time to say "enough." You may think that fighting for cuts at the debt ceiling is the way to go, and as you are a professional politician, you may know better than I. But, you and those who voted for this, intentionally lost a battle. The spending side is relentless; you should be to. The alternative of cliff-diving would've been better because then those who don't have skin in the game but do get Uncle Sam's money would get a dose of "hey, I pay for this stuff?" Respectfully, I disagree with your vote.

Fcuk! I'm gonna write a note to my unborn grandkids telling I'm sorry we screwed them... I am sad.

"Fighting for the French Foreign Legion," by Alex Lochrie. A Scotsman's story of his 11 years in the Legion starting with his joining in the 1980s. Fairly typical of the genre except the guy was 38 when he joined. Gotta respect that.

Another date/wife movie is "Silver Linings." It was a complete waste of 2+ hours, but she enjoyed it. Me, I thought it was a movie about nothing - fcuked up people, starring Bradley Cooper and DeNero, living their life in Philly. No real point or story.

Good customer service - Springfield Armory In late November, I was shooting my new-ish XD-S. At that point, I'd put around 425 rounds through it. While shooting, I noticed I couldn't see the front site. I've been re-training to shoot both eyes open instead of the old way of close weak eye and line everything up with the strong eye. As it was pretty new to me, the blurred two front sites thing occurred frequently, but it was/is improving. I thought that was the problem until emptying the clip (all 5 rounds...) and bringing it back for safety check and reload. I noticed the loaded chamber indicator was up - which it is not supposed to be on an empty chamber. Verified status, yep, empty. Indicator - which is basically a metal bar about 1.5 inches long and hinged towards the back/grip end bent at about 30 degrees. Obviously, the synchronization in firing and this thing moving didn't quite work out at least once. I called Springfield the next day, approxamately 22 Nov. They e-mailed me a FEDEX label right then and there with instructions on how to ship the slide back to them. I received the repaired slide with functioning indicator back yesterday, 29 Dec. Five weeks including two major holidays. Not bad. Now I'm sure they are hyper-sensitive to any sort of negative publicity regarding their new handgun release, but I was impressed by their response and quick fixing of the problem.

Good soldier, good leader, won his war by staying focused on what the military objective was, stayed mostly apolitical afterwards. Godspeed, sir.

But I'm betting some seriously toned "muscles."