This past weekend, I took some video while Damsel was shooting at the range. Apparent in the videos was the flash associated with firing. Also apparent, is the concussion and report. I did some research and found these interesting characteristics associated with Muzzle Blast:

Muzzle blast characteristics

The muzzle blast is often broken down into two components, an auditory component and a non-auditory component. The auditory component, the sound of the muzzle blast, is important because it can cause hearing loss or give away the gun’s position, while the non-auditory component, the overpressure wave, can cause damage to items near the blast.

Auditory

• Sound - The sound of a gunshot can be loud enough to produce hearing loss, and with big guns such as artillery, that danger can extend outwards a significant distance from the muzzle. Muzzle blasts can reach levels of 140 decibels, which can cause permanent hearing loss even with brief and infrequent exposure.
• Overpressure wave (concussion) - The overpressure wave from the muzzle blast of a firearm can contain a significant amount of energy; in artillery, the force of the muzzle blast can cause damage to surrounding structures and vehicles. Residual pressures at the muzzle can be a significant fraction of the peak chamber pressure, especially when slow burning powders or short barrels are used.

Image - Damsel firing (top) the Glock 30
         and (bottom) Smith & Wesson 686

Non -auditory

• Muzzle glow - Muzzle glow is a reddish glow that is visible before the bullet leaves the barrel. Muzzle glow is created by superheated gases that have leaked past the projectile and have exited the barrel.
• Primary flashes - The primary flash is caused by propellant gases exiting the firearm behind the bullet. Although amongst the brightest of the flashes, the heat of the primary flash dissipates quickly and thus is no longer visible.
• Intermediate flashes - The intermediate flash is caused by shock waves created by the high speeds of the escaping gases and projectile, and appears as a reddish disc shape in front of the muzzle.
• Secondary flashes - Secondary flash appears farthest from the muzzle as a large white or yellow flame. Secondary flash is caused by the mixture of fuel-rich gases and oxygen in the atmosphere surrounding the muzzle.
• Sparks - Following the dissipation of the muzzle flash, partially unburnt powder or other heated materials can be ejected from the muzzle and appear as sparks.

Not apparent in the images above is the report and concussion. Both the .45 and .357 have a loud report and although the flash appears less intense in the .357, the concussion is significantly stronger than the .45.

U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) led the charge in the U.S. Congress where she, and 54 other Senators, along with 250 U. S. Representatives and Vice President Dick Cheney signed on to one of the many amici filed in the D.C. vs. Heller case. Senator Hutchison also authored an article containing rationale on how the D.C. Gun Ban affects the entire nation.

In the article, Senator Hutchison concludes:

The U.S. Supreme Court has the perfect case to affirm an individual’s Second Amendment right to self-defense. Though gun-control advocates have questioned this through the years, Congress never has.

From the Freedman’s Bureau Act of 1865 to the Property Requisition Act of 1941, Congress reaffirmed the solemn position of the U.S. as a defender of one’s right to protect his being and his home with an operable firearm. I hope the Supreme Court will affirm the individual right to self-defense with a firearm so that it is clear and unambiguous.

It is an opportunity, perhaps, of a lifetime.

Meanwhile, Texas Solicitor General R. Ted Cruz, organized the Solicitors General from 31 States in filing another amicus brief. The 31 states filed a brief explaining that “the individual right to keep and bear arms is protected by the United States Constitution and the constitutions of forty-four states.” The 31 amici states also note that “the District of Columbia’s categorical gun ban is markedly out of step with the judgment of the legislatures of the fifty states, all of which protect the right of private citizens to own handguns.”

Ted Cruz will argue the States’ rebuttal to the petitioners ’state militia’ before the Supreme court. Alan Gura, one of the attorneys arguing the case on behalf of Heller, has allotted time for Ted to engage the Court’s attention.

Gura, in his post The States Weigh In speaks highly of R. Ted Cruz, while allowing as how the U.S. Solicitor General, with their failure of principle and logic, can get their own time for arguments.

The opportunity to collaborate with so many old friends is among the many perks of working this case. Among our amici briefs coming this Monday, we expect a brief from over thirty states, voicing support for the individual right view and rejecting the Petitioners’ “state militia” theory, authored by Texas SG Ted Cruz. I’ve known and respected Ted for many years for his legal (and poker) acumen. Considering the significance of this brief, we’re delighted to consent to Ted’s request for ten minutes of argument time. [Ted and I had discussed dividing argument time at the D.C. Circuit stage, but we did not have enough time to divide.]

Of course, we would not begrudge the U.S. Solicitor General’s desire for argument time as well. However, considering his position is adverse to our clients, it would be inappropriate for him to detract from our argument time. Accordingly, we suggest to the Court that should the U.S. Solicitor General desire argument time, he be granted such time in addition to, and not instead of, the parties’ time.

Thanks to Senator Hutchinson and Ted Cruz - and also to many other significant Respondents Amici, there will be a lot of energy working to save our basic second amendment freedoms.

We went to the local home and garden emporium after shooting today. We had a list of things we needed and, of course, I had to get some things we don’t need. One of those was this Red Spike Iceplant. I like to get a six-pack of these and put them in planters around the patio for color. You can’t argue that this one isn’t colorful!

We took a ride down to Point Vicente today to visit the Interpretive Center and maybe spot some whales migrating along the coast. We didn’t see any spouting whales this time, but were treated to several flights of California Brown Pelicans as they soared along the cliffs. As this bird flew by, he was only a few yards away from the path where I stood to take this picture.

As the flight continued southeastward, I snapped another shot as they (almost effortlessly) followed the cliff line toward the lighthouse. Please click on the image to open the viewer and see them in full panorama.

Now that the football season is over, I have the usual withdrawal syndrome. This is the first weekend in a long time without the usual football fix.

I’m not too crazy about NHL, NBA or March Madness, so those aren’t an outlet. Baseball doesn’t interest either of us very much until September or October, and by then the gridirons are active again. So what do I do in the meantime?

Well, for one thing, I got a Reyn Spooner official 2008 Pro Bowl NFC Hawaiian Shirt. It’s just like the coaches and teams wore in Hawaii last weekend. That helps.

And, just in case that isn’t enough, we have the following excellent list of football-themed DVDs queued up in the DVD player to watch on the new big-screen HDTV. That should help more. Sort of like football methadone.

• Friday Night Lights - Billy Bob Thornton
• Game Plan - Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
• Gridiron Gang - Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
• Invincible - Mark Wahlberg
• The Longest Yard - both old and new - Adam Sandler and Burt Reynolds
• Radio - Cuba Gooding Jr.
• Remember the Titans - Denzel Washington
• The Replacements - Orlando Jones, Gene Hackman, Keanu Reeves
• Rudy - Sean Astin

Photo Credit: Damsel

You remember the answer that Miss Teen South Carolina gave when she was asked why one-fifth of Americans can’t find the United States on a map. I couldn’t find a transcript of her incoherent ramblings but this is a synopsis of the event:

“I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because some people out there in our nation don’t have maps,” she ventured.

During her meandering response, she also tossed in out-of-the-blue references to “the Iraq” and “Asian countries” and their need for the support of the American educational system in identifying the United States on the map.

Upton is described as a varsity athlete and student leader at Lexington High School, where she graduated in June with a 3.5 GPA.

Despite the on-camera gaffe, Upton finished as third runner-up.

And then there was this screed from Senator John F’n. Kerry in response to media questions about a recent tornado disaster:

[I] don’t want to sort of leap into the larger meaning of, you know, inappropriately, but on the other hand, the weather service has told us we are going to have more and more intense storms,” Kerry said. “And insurance companies are beginning to look at this issue and understand this is related to the intensity of storms that is related to the warming of the earth. And so it goes to global warming and larger issues that we’re not paying attention to. The fact is the hurricanes are more intensive, the storms are more intensive and the rainfall is more intense at certain places at certain times and the weather patterns have changed.

Maybe it’s just me, but that made less sense than Miss Teen SC’s response.

Miss TSC had the disadvantage of being in a high-stress situation, and did the best she could do given her state of mind.

Kerry, on the other hand, fights his way through to be in front of the media, and is certainly used to bloviating. I can’t cut him any slack for that, and he sounded like an idiot while trying to politicize the tornado disaster.

Despite his lack of articulation, however, Kerry finished second in his last big contest. Go figure.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Here’s why hearts, flowers and candy are associated with St. Valentine’s Day:

During the medieval era of chivalry, the names of English maidens and bachelors were put into boxes and drawn out in pairs. Each couple exchanged gifts and the girl became the man’s sweetheart for a year. He wore her name on his sleeve and was bound by duty to attend and protect her (the accepted origin of the phrase, “to wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve”). This old custom of drawing names was considered a good omen for love and often foretold a wedding. In 1537, King Henry VIII declared, by Royal Charter, that all England would celebrate February 14 as “Saint Valentine’s Day” and with the passage of time, February 14 became the traditional date for exchanging love messages and simple gifts (such as flowers or candy), with Saint Valentine becoming the accepted Patron Saint of Lovers.

Did you know that St. Valentine was not only the patron saint of lovers, but also of epilepsy, fainting and the plague?

St. Valentine was a Priest, martyred in 269 at Rome and was buried on the Flaminian Way. He is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travelers, young people. He is represented in pictures with birds and roses.

Enjoy the candy - Click on the pictures for larger size.

I took this close-up of the Goodyear Airship ‘Spirit of America‘ during a pass almost directly over the house this past weekend.

You can see the twin 210 horsepower engine nacelles configured as pushers. Behind the props are a pair of scoops which collect some of the propwash to direct airflow to ballonets which assist airship trim and control. The gondola is about 22¾ feet long and can hold a pilot and six passengers.

Coincidentally, the light display had the word ‘ON’ displayed which looks like it’s saying ‘NO’ from this angle.

When the flower stem started upwards from the bulb on this Amaryllis, it didn’t rise straight up like I’m used to seeing with these. Wanting to prop it upright, I put an orchid stick in the pot and got some bag ties to hold the stem to the stick. As soon as I stood it up, though, the stem snapped - almost in two! See the inset for the damaged stem.

Despite the damage and supported by only a thin part of the stem, these beautiful flowers emerged with a couple more on the way. Amazing.

For the last couple of weeks, we have used these huge silhouette targets at the range. First, we use the target when we shoot our hand guns. When there are too many holes in it to see what we’re hitting, we haul it back in and stick on an adhesive target (we get the ‘Shoot ‘n’ See’ targets that turn neon green at the point of impact). The adhesive target rejuvenates the silhouette enough for at least the next box or two of rounds.

Image right - Damsel gets ready to unload on the target.

Finally, it’s time for the shotguns. These targets usually don’t last too long after the shot starts flying, and are frequently shot off of the target tee. This hardy fellow, however, hung in for all fifty rounds (25 twelve and 25 twenty gauge shells). He wasn’t much of his former self, but he saw to it we got our money’s worth. Now don’t get me wrong - we can afford targets and often will put one up for a few rounds to check sighting and individual accuracy. Today, however, we were having a lot of fun seeing how long this one would last.

Image left - remnants of the target as we prepared to leave for the day. Click either picture for a closer look.