Not much to report today. We shot the usual assortment of guns and calibers. All of it was enjoyable, if not close enough to the center of the targets. We’re getting better, though.
Here, Damsel aims her Para Warthog Compact .45 caliber pistol at a paper target seven yards downrange.
Damsel and I attempted to go to the Gun Show today. We got as far as the parking lot at the fairgrounds when we noticed a HUGE throng waiting in what appeared to be an hour-long line to get into the show. Clearly, the Obama elect effect is in evidence here today.
We mutually decided that the wait, plus what would obviously be overcrowding inside, would not be a good investment in our time nor in the wear and tear on the nerves. We executed a missed approach and headed back to home base.
I ordered everything that we had on our gun show wish list (except ammo, of course - %&*?!@ California laws) from on-line sources when we got home. I found some good deals on the shooting accessories and cleaning items we needed.
In a while, I’m going to fire up the BBQ and crank out a couple of Beef Tenderloin Steaks for the main meal today. I’m nursing a Samuel Adams as I write this and Damsel is sipping some Chardonnay - our attitude adjustments are in progress.
“They” say that black Friday is called that because it’s the first time retailers begin to see profits, i.e. going from the red into the black. I’m not into all of that sort of merchandising lingo, so I’ll interpret it to mean that we should buy something black. Examples:
Anyhow, ‘Black Friday” will have to wait until Saturday for us, since the GUN SHOW is tomorrow. We’re in a shopping mood, like many gun buyers in America.
The current ‘gun run’ is explained, in part, by Frank Brownell in his current “WebBench” newsletter:
Of all the factors causing the current buying rush, the Obama-nation effect has the largest impact because of the Democratic agenda and their penchant for banning guns. The current make-up of the House and Senate, being almost filibuster-proof, also adds to the fray. Keep in mind it was the Dems who put together the most restrictive weapons ban law we have seen. Word from those in the know is that the Assault Weapons Ban will come back for a vote - hi-cap mags for rifles and handguns are just the tip of that mess - however, this time there won’t be a sunset clause. They also want to close the so called “gun show loophole”, limiting private sales of firearms between individuals. We should expect the first shot across the bow not long after January 20th. They also plan to try to slip this through with little warning or discussion.
Emphasis mine.
I braved my way out into the light Southern California rainfall this morning to capture this photo of what will be our last plumeria bloom of the season.
Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
A couple of things:
First, reach out to our men and women in uniform this holiday by supporting one or more of these important charities.
Just scroll down in the right sidebar and find our links to these charities. Click on over and check out how you can help our uniformed heroes.
Year end is coming and tax write-offs are a good thing, but not as good as that nice glow you get knowing that you have made a military man. woman or family a little happier this holiday. Just do it.
Next, this article came in today from Afghanistan from Michael Yon. It reminds us of the grim truth that our job is not done when it comes to the Global War on Terror:
Happy Thanksgiving from Zabul Province, Afghanistan.
The Taliban seem to be mostly afraid of American soldiers. They do attack U.S. and inflict damage, but all around I hear from Afghans and U.S. soldiers that the Taliban are mostly trying to avoid contact with U.S., while focusing attacks mostly on Afghans. Some people see the Taliban as courageous, but I am seeing more and more that they use cowardly tactics, often hiding behind women and children.
I am tonight in Zabul Province and have been out with New York National Guard. Their morale is high and they think they are winning the fight, despite the long series of frustrations that come with the terrain of war. Especially in Afghanistan.
Our cell phones are not working tonight; the Taliban forces cell phone operators to turn off the towers at night. The Taliban are afraid of being tracked, and are afraid the Americans will interrupt their sleep. The cell towers are cut off from 5:30 PM to 7:00 AM. An American captain told me that one group of operators decided to turn off the system late one night, so the Taliban came, killed one man, and tortured two others.
On an interesting side, Americans and Afghans are giving very high marks to the Lithuanian Special Forces who operate here. They are less impressed with Romanians; Afghans and Americans say the Romanians are afraid of the Taliban, but that the Lithuanians are having a field day chasing and killing Taliban.
On the Iraq front, please read Down with Barriers, Up with Iraq.
The Iraq war is over, but the Afghan playoffs will begin in 2009. This fight is just getting started. Please send lots of Marines, and lots of training teams for the Afghan Army and police.
Your correspondent,
Michael
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I’m a couple of days late on this, but there is movement in the blogosphere to proclaim last Saturday as “VICTORY IN IRAQ” day. I have placed this logo in the sidebar for a few days with a link to the Victory in Iraq website.
Despite clear signals from the military and others in a position to know that the war is won, you won’t see or hear much from the media. Congress won’t be declaring victory. The talking heads from the left will continue to trivialize the tremendous effect that the surge had in securing Iraq.
Worst of all, the men and women of our armed forces that took part in this significant achievement will be coming home to the complacent masses who don’t know why they voted the way they did except it ‘felt right.’
We commend our armed forces and wish the best for them as they return to their civilian or military regular jobs. Good work folks, and God Speed.
Hat tip to Kini who put the bug in our ear about this.
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As always, we had fun at the target range today. Among other things, we took our shotguns and took turns trying to shoot the targets in two. In this video, Damsel almost gets the job done with her 20 gauge Remington 870, leaving the bottom of the target hanging by three narrow threads of paper.
I don’t have it on video, but after she left the target setup for the coup de grâce, I stepped into the booth with my 12 gauge Remington 870 and took out the three remaining thin threads with the first three shells. Not to worry though, Damsel has taken out plenty of setups that I left. We don’t keep score, since both of us do about the same.
In the last frame of the video, notice the ejected 20 gauge shell just about to hit the right booth wall.
Nothing to report about the shooting today other than everything seemed to be 100% functional and we had a lot of fun.
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We were surprised on our regular visit to the County Recycle Center today to find out that right across the boulevard there was a Fire Expo in progress being presented by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The venue was the South Coast Botanic Gardens, where the firefighters set up an impressive display of equipment and demonstrations for the public.
They were demonstrating how to prepare for wildland fires and disasters. There was rescue equipment on display including a helicopter, heavy equipment, fire engines and transport trucks. Kids were be able to squirt fire hoses in an attempt to knock some traffic cones over. The firefighter turnout was impressive, with crews from all over the County.
As these firefighters got off of their “Fire Hawk” helicopter, they reminded me of the scene in “The Right Stuff” where the astronauts were walking abreast in the hangar.
All of our first responders, all over the country, are the Right Stuff, as far as we’re concerned.
Click the image for the wide-angle view.
Aesthetically speaking, this cellular antenna disguised as a windmill, is no less an eyesore than the conventional, undisguised cell tower. Within a couple of miles of this beast is a cell tower disguised as a palm tree, another tower supposed to be some kind of a conifer and the usual kind, atop buildings, billboards and on standard towers.
In the quest for ‘harmony’ with the landscape and an attempt to blend into the infrastructure, all of these are dismal failures. The palm and conifer trees are a joke with plastic fronds and synthetic pine needles whipping in the breeze around an array of non-tree-like cell antennas painted green. Utterly hilarious - and UGLY!
And as for this piece of work, will someone please call the Man from La Mancha?
The only thing better than a .357 magnum revolver, is two. Click for bigger.
In October of 2004, the Mount St. Helens Volcano went through a period of relatively high activity. The frames that went into this pseudo-movie all happened on the morning of October 4, 2004 within an hour and 15 minutes or so. Please note that I added the sound for dramatic effect and the time scale is highly compressed.
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