Vacuum packed for freshness!
Order your own copy here, and read all the adventures at I Work On A Starship.
My sincere apologies, Bobbi, I have no excuse for taking so long to order my copy.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Lookee what I got!
Order your own copy here, and read all the adventures at I Work On A Starship.
My sincere apologies, Bobbi, I have no excuse for taking so long to order my copy.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
QOTD, 10/24/2013
Quite possibly Quote of the Decade.
From Mike Williamson on Facespace:
From Mike Williamson on Facespace:
Let us hope the administration doesn't try to implement a nationwide energy policy. I suspect they can find a way for us to lose knowledge of fire.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
A change in position, or an exiting from the closet?
The armed-self-defense closet, in this case.
Exclusive: After Westgate, Interpol Chief Ponders 'Armed Citizenry' - ABC News
Interpol has not been noted as an international organization supportive of the Right of The People to Keep And Bear Arms -- note that it was run by Nazis in the 30s and 40s.
This is especially noteworthy because Mr. Nobel was Undersecretary of the Treasury for Enforcement under President Clinton, in charge of, among other things, the Secret Service... and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.
Exclusive: After Westgate, Interpol Chief Ponders 'Armed Citizenry' - ABC News
Interpol has not been noted as an international organization supportive of the Right of The People to Keep And Bear Arms -- note that it was run by Nazis in the 30s and 40s.
Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble said today the U.S. and the rest of the democratic world is at a security crossroads in the wake of last month's deadly al-Shabab attack at a shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya – and suggested an answer could be in arming civilians.
In an exclusive interview with ABC News, Noble said there are really only two choices for protecting open societies from attacks like the one on Westgate mall where so-called "soft targets" are hit: either create secure perimeters around the locations or allow civilians to carry their own guns to protect themselves.
This is especially noteworthy because Mr. Nobel was Undersecretary of the Treasury for Enforcement under President Clinton, in charge of, among other things, the Secret Service... and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
WINTER IS COMING
Ya' know how I know?
Both cats have taken to curling up in my lap, together, at the same time.
No hissing involved, although there have been hints of mutual grooming.
Both cats have taken to curling up in my lap, together, at the same time.
No hissing involved, although there have been hints of mutual grooming.
It's The Law!
In Washington State,
Hurrah that I live in a state with such a law, though.
Defendants who claim self-defense, and win their cases, are entitled to reimbursement for lost wages and other costs, a Washington state appeals court has ruled.It's been the law in WA for a while that, if you successfully argued "self-defense" and won, you would be reimbursed for d=legal costs. Now the State Appeals Cpourt says you can be reimbursed for other costs as well, including lost wages. Defendant wins back wages, other costs in ‘stand-your-ground’ ruling | Local News | The Seattle Times
In its ruling, the appeals court leaned on an earlier Washington state Supreme Court case that said the reimbursement law was broadly meant to ensure that no “costs of defense” are borne by a person acting legally to protect his or her life. Thus, in Villanueva’s case, the Court of Appeals said, the lost wages “constituted lawful earnings he would have received but for being prosecuted.”The original arrest was in 2010, he was acquitted in 2012, and the appeals court just made it's decision. Alas, that this counts as "swift" justice in today's America.
The court went on to rule that because Villanueva was also defending himself legally after the trial, through the appeals process on the monetary reimbursement question, he had piled up additional reimbursable defense costs since the verdict, the judges said.
“Therefore, we award him reasonable appellate costs,” the order said, in sending the case back to the trial court to determine what a reasonable added amount should be.
Hurrah that I live in a state with such a law, though.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
GOAL Post 2013-UPDATE 3
FROM: GOAL [goalwa@cox.net]
TO: undisclosed-recipients:
Sent: Fri 10/18/2013 12:29 PM
SUBJECT: GOAL Post 2013-UPDATE 3
Legislative Update from Olympia 17 October 2013
Bi-partisan groups of 51 U.S. Senators and 101 Representatives sent separate letters to President Obama opposing the UN ATT. While ratification by the Senate is unlikely, there is something to keep in mind: the Constitution requires approval of 2/3 of Senators to ratify a treaty. This DOES NOT necessarily mean 67 Senators. The Constitution says "2/3 of Senators PRESENT" when a vote is taken. A case of a Republican-only flu or similar legislative shenanigans could put us at risk. Would Harry Reid do that?
On Thursday, 3 October, the Washington state House Judiciary Committee conducted a "legislative work session" on firearm background checks. This was not a public hearing, but an internal workshop intended to provide information to lawmakers on the tops of the session. Of the 13 members of the House Judiciary Committee, only five members attended the session -- all Democrats. In addition to state employees from the Washington State Patrol, the Department of Licensing, the Department of Social and Health Services, and Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza testifying, input was taken from a Special Agent from the Seattle Office of the ATF and two representatives of the gun community: myself and a Federal Firearms Licensee from Vancouver.
While the session was supposed to inform legislators about how the current background system works, most of the testimony from the state employees sounded like it was a budget development session, with several complaints about inadequate staffing, inadequate funding, inadequate time to conduct background checks, etc. (And gun control advocates want to EXPAND the background check requirement EXPONENTIALLY by requiring background checks on ALL firearm transfers (including loans)?)
DSHS recommended expanding the current mental health prohibition to include individuals put on a 72-hour mental health "hold" for evaluation. ABSOLUTELY NOT. Haven't they heard about fundamental Constitutional rights and due process?
There was brief discussion of extending the state handgun background check process (separate white form, etc) to long guns. No one was hot for the idea, but that doesn't mean it won't come up in January!
The sole FFL present had very little to say.
I covered gun show procedures, both as conducted by the Washington Arms Collectors and commercial gun shows, then spent time addressing other background check-related issues, as well as answering questions posed by the Representatives present.
Overall, it wasn't much of an "educational" session. Again, the focus was supposed to be on the CURRENT system, not an examination of future proposals (such as I-594). The session was aired live by TVWashington, and is available from their archives at http://tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwplayer&eventID=2013100061
During its 2013 session, the Democrat-dominated California legislature passed at least 11 gun control bills. Given the demographics in the Golden State, that is likely all we can expect from Sacramento as long as our republic lasts. To his credit, Governor Jerry "Governor Moonbeam" Brown (D) only signed four of the bills into law. He vetoed the remaining SEVEN.
Bills that are now law in the State of California include those prohibiting the use of lead ammunition for hunting (!), expanding the child access prevention (CAP) law (i.e. "lock up your safety") adding full civil liability for parents/guardians, banning the sale of parts or repair kits that could be used to build a magazine with a capacity of greater than ten rounds, and finally, expanding the current requirement for a buyer to obtain a "handgun safety certificate" to buy a handgun to long gun firearm transfers as well.
Brown vetoed bills expanding and adding new registration fees to semi-automatic "assault weapons" not previously covered as well as banning future sale/transfer, further restricting the sale of handguns not on the official "Attorney General's approved handgun list" (almost all older handguns), effectively repealing California's existing already-less-than-perfect state preemption law, making it a crime to fail to report to police a stolen firearm, banning gun shows at the Cow Palace (a hot issue in San Francisco), banning certain non-traditional shotguns, and lastly, expanding the list of persons prohibited from possessing a firearm to include anyone convicted of DUI Of a motor vehicle or boat.
As sure as death and taxes, most of those bills will be back before the governor in the future.
Colorado is another state where Democrat-dominated politics resulted in passage of restrictive gun control laws this year, including a ban on normal capacity magazines. Colorado gun owners did not take this sitting down. They ran recalls on two of the leading state Senators involved in the gun control feeding frenzy: Senate President John Morse and Senator Angela Giron. The recall petition drives were successful AND the recall elections themselves were successful by strong margins. Both long-term state Senators are now drawing unemployment. The Democrats now hold only a one-seat majority in the state Senate, 18 to 17, and gun owners have initiated a THIRD recall election for another gun-grabbing Senator.
The success of the Colorado recalls has sent signals throughout the western states and perhaps nationwide about what can happen to elected officials who demonstrate a willingness to deny fundamental rights. Meanwhile USA Today reported that pro-gun-control Democrat Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper is urging outside gun control groups (such as soon-to-be-unemployed Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns) to STAY OUT OF COLORADO. Bloomberg contributed $350,000 to Morse and Giron, money thrown down the tube.
Both pro-gun I-591 and anti-gun I-594 are moving forward. The Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility says it turned in 150,000 petition signatures to the Secretary of State a short time ago. They're now collecting additional signatures to ensure they have a margin of safety for the 246,000 VALID signatures needed to get the initiative before the legislature in January. I-591, too, is close to the necessary amount of signatures needed to move forward. They should be turning over signatures in the near future.
TO: undisclosed-recipients:
Sent: Fri 10/18/2013 12:29 PM
SUBJECT: GOAL Post 2013-UPDATE 3
Legislative Update from Olympia 17 October 2013
- KERRY SIGNS UN ATT
- BI-PARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES OPPOSE
- LEGISLATIVE "WORK SESSION" ON BACKGROUND CHECKS
- CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE GOES HOG WILD FOR GUN CONTROL
- COLORADO RECALLS SENATORS FOR ANTI-GUN VOTES
- INITIATIVES
- GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM TRAINING EVENTS
Bi-partisan groups of 51 U.S. Senators and 101 Representatives sent separate letters to President Obama opposing the UN ATT. While ratification by the Senate is unlikely, there is something to keep in mind: the Constitution requires approval of 2/3 of Senators to ratify a treaty. This DOES NOT necessarily mean 67 Senators. The Constitution says "2/3 of Senators PRESENT" when a vote is taken. A case of a Republican-only flu or similar legislative shenanigans could put us at risk. Would Harry Reid do that?
On Thursday, 3 October, the Washington state House Judiciary Committee conducted a "legislative work session" on firearm background checks. This was not a public hearing, but an internal workshop intended to provide information to lawmakers on the tops of the session. Of the 13 members of the House Judiciary Committee, only five members attended the session -- all Democrats. In addition to state employees from the Washington State Patrol, the Department of Licensing, the Department of Social and Health Services, and Thurston County Sheriff John Snaza testifying, input was taken from a Special Agent from the Seattle Office of the ATF and two representatives of the gun community: myself and a Federal Firearms Licensee from Vancouver.
While the session was supposed to inform legislators about how the current background system works, most of the testimony from the state employees sounded like it was a budget development session, with several complaints about inadequate staffing, inadequate funding, inadequate time to conduct background checks, etc. (And gun control advocates want to EXPAND the background check requirement EXPONENTIALLY by requiring background checks on ALL firearm transfers (including loans)?)
DSHS recommended expanding the current mental health prohibition to include individuals put on a 72-hour mental health "hold" for evaluation. ABSOLUTELY NOT. Haven't they heard about fundamental Constitutional rights and due process?
There was brief discussion of extending the state handgun background check process (separate white form, etc) to long guns. No one was hot for the idea, but that doesn't mean it won't come up in January!
The sole FFL present had very little to say.
I covered gun show procedures, both as conducted by the Washington Arms Collectors and commercial gun shows, then spent time addressing other background check-related issues, as well as answering questions posed by the Representatives present.
Overall, it wasn't much of an "educational" session. Again, the focus was supposed to be on the CURRENT system, not an examination of future proposals (such as I-594). The session was aired live by TVWashington, and is available from their archives at http://tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwplayer&eventID=2013100061
During its 2013 session, the Democrat-dominated California legislature passed at least 11 gun control bills. Given the demographics in the Golden State, that is likely all we can expect from Sacramento as long as our republic lasts. To his credit, Governor Jerry "Governor Moonbeam" Brown (D) only signed four of the bills into law. He vetoed the remaining SEVEN.
Bills that are now law in the State of California include those prohibiting the use of lead ammunition for hunting (!), expanding the child access prevention (CAP) law (i.e. "lock up your safety") adding full civil liability for parents/guardians, banning the sale of parts or repair kits that could be used to build a magazine with a capacity of greater than ten rounds, and finally, expanding the current requirement for a buyer to obtain a "handgun safety certificate" to buy a handgun to long gun firearm transfers as well.
Brown vetoed bills expanding and adding new registration fees to semi-automatic "assault weapons" not previously covered as well as banning future sale/transfer, further restricting the sale of handguns not on the official "Attorney General's approved handgun list" (almost all older handguns), effectively repealing California's existing already-less-than-perfect state preemption law, making it a crime to fail to report to police a stolen firearm, banning gun shows at the Cow Palace (a hot issue in San Francisco), banning certain non-traditional shotguns, and lastly, expanding the list of persons prohibited from possessing a firearm to include anyone convicted of DUI Of a motor vehicle or boat.
As sure as death and taxes, most of those bills will be back before the governor in the future.
Colorado is another state where Democrat-dominated politics resulted in passage of restrictive gun control laws this year, including a ban on normal capacity magazines. Colorado gun owners did not take this sitting down. They ran recalls on two of the leading state Senators involved in the gun control feeding frenzy: Senate President John Morse and Senator Angela Giron. The recall petition drives were successful AND the recall elections themselves were successful by strong margins. Both long-term state Senators are now drawing unemployment. The Democrats now hold only a one-seat majority in the state Senate, 18 to 17, and gun owners have initiated a THIRD recall election for another gun-grabbing Senator.
The success of the Colorado recalls has sent signals throughout the western states and perhaps nationwide about what can happen to elected officials who demonstrate a willingness to deny fundamental rights. Meanwhile USA Today reported that pro-gun-control Democrat Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper is urging outside gun control groups (such as soon-to-be-unemployed Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns) to STAY OUT OF COLORADO. Bloomberg contributed $350,000 to Morse and Giron, money thrown down the tube.
Both pro-gun I-591 and anti-gun I-594 are moving forward. The Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility says it turned in 150,000 petition signatures to the Secretary of State a short time ago. They're now collecting additional signatures to ensure they have a margin of safety for the 246,000 VALID signatures needed to get the initiative before the legislature in January. I-591, too, is close to the necessary amount of signatures needed to move forward. They should be turning over signatures in the near future.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Earworm, 10/17/2013
Lyrics:
1984
Knockin' on your door
Will you let it come?
Will you let it run your life?
1984
Knockin' on your door
Will you let it come?
Will you let it run your life?
Someone will be waiting for you at your door
When you get home tonight
Ah yes, he's gonna tell you darkness gives you much more
Than you get from the light
Classic plastic guards well they're your special friend
He sees you every night
Well he call himself the brother but you know it's no game
You're never out of his sight
1984
Knockin' on your door
Will you let it come?
Will you let it run your life?
It's time you started thinking inside your head
That you should stand up and fight
Oh just where will you be when your freedom is dead
Won't you listen tonight?
Those classic plastic coppers, they are your special friends
They see you every night
Well they call themselves protection but they know it's no game
You're never out of their sight
1984
Knockin' on your door
Will you let it come?
Will you let it run?
1984
Knockin' on your door
Will you let it come?
Will you let it run?
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Fun Show 10/13/2013
So, on Sunday I went back to the Fun Show and helped teach an NRA Home Firearms Safety class.
Alas, the day was a nice one, so we only had maybe half the people who had originally said they'd be there, which experience tells us probably means we only had about a third that would have been there if it had been a chilly and/or rainy day. Only one adult there with a youngster, which was maybe even more disappointing. Oh, well.
Went well, nevertheless.
We always try to make a point that we're not there to talk politics, or to advise folks on gun purchases. it is, of course, getting harder and harder to avoid at lest acknowledging political issues.
Not that that means I was entirely justified in making those cracks when discussing the AR15 about features (pistol grip, magazine release) that are evil and illegal in California...
Mea culpa.
Plus, once again, a student was asking us for more detailed advice about "What gun should I get for self-defense?" than we like to give. (All joking aside, I do try to avoid using the "Anything that starts with a '4' and ends with a '5'" trope.)
Also, it turns out that someone does sell 7.62x54R dummy rounds. (They have most calibers likely to be needed, except for .22LR. Plus some interesting sounding training aids.)(More if you scroll down.)(Plus, they also sell Bullet Jewelry making Supplies.)
Alas, the day was a nice one, so we only had maybe half the people who had originally said they'd be there, which experience tells us probably means we only had about a third that would have been there if it had been a chilly and/or rainy day. Only one adult there with a youngster, which was maybe even more disappointing. Oh, well.
Went well, nevertheless.
We always try to make a point that we're not there to talk politics, or to advise folks on gun purchases. it is, of course, getting harder and harder to avoid at lest acknowledging political issues.
Not that that means I was entirely justified in making those cracks when discussing the AR15 about features (pistol grip, magazine release) that are evil and illegal in California...
Mea culpa.
Plus, once again, a student was asking us for more detailed advice about "What gun should I get for self-defense?" than we like to give. (All joking aside, I do try to avoid using the "Anything that starts with a '4' and ends with a '5'" trope.)
Also, it turns out that someone does sell 7.62x54R dummy rounds. (They have most calibers likely to be needed, except for .22LR. Plus some interesting sounding training aids.)(More if you scroll down.)(Plus, they also sell Bullet Jewelry making Supplies.)
The Great Washington ShakeOut - 10/17/2013
The Great Washington ShakeOut - Get Ready!
Lots of resources at the link, even if you're not in the Evergreen State, let alone if your school or employer is not participating.
A tip: The old advice to seek safety in a doorway has gone by the wayside; while the door frame MAY be strong enough to resist collapsing, the door itself is going to swing back and forth...
Instinct may be to get the hell outside!!! Resist the urge: Running for the door -- which is likely to be unmanageable, see above -- will waste time that could be better used seeking cover inside. Plus, your footing will be unsteady, to say the least.
Lots of resources at the link, even if you're not in the Evergreen State, let alone if your school or employer is not participating.
A tip: The old advice to seek safety in a doorway has gone by the wayside; while the door frame MAY be strong enough to resist collapsing, the door itself is going to swing back and forth...
Instinct may be to get the hell outside!!! Resist the urge: Running for the door -- which is likely to be unmanageable, see above -- will waste time that could be better used seeking cover inside. Plus, your footing will be unsteady, to say the least.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Fun Show, 10/12/13
Finally figured out that the .45 Mrs Drang has been trying to find (again) is a Star PD. I'd been looking at a nice refinished one with aftermarket grips, which I had seen at every show I went to for months. I guess she was looking at it, too.
- It's gone, but we found 2 others, one like new, the other beat up but functional--and cheaper, of course. Neither has followed us home, yet, but at least we know which it was...
- One of the guys also had a Colt 1903, which had been refinished long enough ago that the new finish had itself aged nicely.
ARs are now readily available for ~$600.00. I may scrap my plan to build Mrs Drang one, and just buy her one and paint it. Teal blue, the last I heard.
Ammo supplies are OK. Prices are back to just a little more than they were last year this time, albeit some variance by caliber. (.44 Special seems to be the most expensive, for some reason, and .22 LR still the hardest to find, at least locally.)
Things you don't think about buying at gun shows: In addition to Beanie Babies and jerky and jewelry, we can now add camera bags to the list. Condor Tactical now has a camera bag with MOLLE attachment points on it. The only other such a camera bag I've seen was by Hazard 4, and Condor is far more affordable.
( And probably less durable, but I'm not a combat cameraman...) The bag that came with the DSLR is just about big enough for the DSLR and little else, so I've been wanting a replacement. This should do just dandy, with the MOLLE I can attach a water bottle holder, maybe a first aid kit, etc.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Better and better!
As if this weren't bad enough: Weather Service sees ‘Pineapple Express’* winter for area | Local News | The Seattle Times we in the Puget Sound region also have this to look forward to: The next giant quake: It’s coming and here’s how | Pacific NW | The Seattle Times!
*Pineapple Express. Not too cold -- little snow, not too warm. Unpredictable, often times lots and lots of rain...
*Pineapple Express. Not too cold -- little snow, not too warm. Unpredictable, often times lots and lots of rain...
Saturday, October 5, 2013
"Informational Session" in Oly' re: background Checks
Joe Waldron mentioned on the WA-CCW Yahoo! list that there had been
Focus is on how background checks work in Washington State, but covers a lot of data on NICS and the FBI/ATFE, so might be of interest to those in other states.
an "educational" work session in Olympia yesterday. (A work session is an internal event where staff and sometimes outside experts brief members on topics of interest; no advocacy is allowed.)I wanted to see what was covered, so I did some web-searching, which is often almost but not quite as harrowing as soul-searching, and found this on TVW:
Subject of yesterday's session was "firearm background checks."
Focus is on how background checks work in Washington State, but covers a lot of data on NICS and the FBI/ATFE, so might be of interest to those in other states.
Friday, October 4, 2013
HUZZAH!!!
Just scared the crap out of the cats yelling "YES, YES, YES!!!!
Amazon has Kindle editions of John Meyers Meyers' books! Silverlock! The Moon's Fire-Eating Daughter: A Sequel to Silverlock! (The claim that this is a sequel to Silverlock is misleading.) Historical novels Dead Warrior and I, Jack Swilling and The Wild Yazoo! and western history The Saga of Hugh Glass! Historicals Out on Any Limb: An Elizabethan Adventure and Harp And The Blade: A Medieval Adventure!
Now they need to digitize The Alamo and Deaths of the Bravos (AKA Bravos of the West.)
Note that the Amazon.com John Myers Myers Page does not show most of these. And there does not seem to be an Amazon.com John Meyers Meyers Kindle page.
Update: Publisher is Prologue Books. At this time, their web pages do not show ANY of the John Meyers Meyers books. They have a lot of other stuff, including A Bertram Chandler and E.E. "Doc" Smith.
NOTE: Today, Silverlock is a Kindle Daily Deal, ninety-nine cents.(Expired, but the books are still available)
Amazon has Kindle editions of John Meyers Meyers' books! Silverlock! The Moon's Fire-Eating Daughter: A Sequel to Silverlock! (The claim that this is a sequel to Silverlock is misleading.) Historical novels Dead Warrior and I, Jack Swilling and The Wild Yazoo! and western history The Saga of Hugh Glass! Historicals Out on Any Limb: An Elizabethan Adventure and Harp And The Blade: A Medieval Adventure!
Now they need to digitize The Alamo and Deaths of the Bravos (AKA Bravos of the West.)
Note that the Amazon.com John Myers Myers Page does not show most of these. And there does not seem to be an Amazon.com John Meyers Meyers Kindle page.
Update: Publisher is Prologue Books. At this time, their web pages do not show ANY of the John Meyers Meyers books. They have a lot of other stuff, including A Bertram Chandler and E.E. "Doc" Smith.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
I was sure it was an article in The Onion
But, no, as seen on The Daily Caller (h/t Drudge), Health and Human Service's phone number for ObamaCare really is 1-800-318-2596.
If you look at the letters, that's
If you look at the letters, that's
F1UCKYO.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Interesting NY Times article on the Nairobi Mall Attack
During Siege at Kenyan Mall, Government Forces Seemed Slow to Respond - NYTimes.com
The Kenyan government is coming in for massive criticism. Some of it may be undeserved and unrealistic. But what really strikes me is this summed up in this quote:
Within minutes... gun club members, neighborhood watch volunteers, off-duty police officers and other armed Samaritans rushed to the mall.
The Kenyan government is coming in for massive criticism. Some of it may be undeserved and unrealistic. But what really strikes me is this summed up in this quote:
There was no shortage of valor or self-sacrifice that day at the mall. The gun club members and off-duty officers helped rescue hundreds of terrified shoppers.More:
Abdul Haji, a local businessman, drove “like crazy, even on the wrong side of the road,” to get to the Westgate mall, where his brother had texted him to say he was hiding in a bathroom. The son of a former Kenyan defense minister, Mr. Haji had a licensed Ceska handgun and a full clip of ammunition.The first people Mr. Haji saw when he arrived were volunteer members of a neighborhood watch patrol, equipped with walkie-talkies, bulletproof vests and handguns. Some had received {a} text message from {a gun club} member {who had been a bank in the mall} who was afraid for his safety to have his full name published.
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