Another gun poll about to disappear...

...Based on the results.

The Monday Poll: Is it time for action on guns? | The Kansas City Star

This oughta be good...

I've never had any interest in watching this show, but:

Obama to test wilderness skills on Bear Grylls TV show | Reuters

Considering that the man's concept of "wilderness" is slicing into the rough...

Not helping...

Anent my last post but one...

Amateur Repeaters Fall Victim to Washington Wildfires

Two Central Washington repeaters, owned and operated by the Lake Chelan Amateur Radio Club, have been destroyed by one of the wildfires raging in that state. The co-located machines, one on 2 meters and one on 6 meters, were sited on Slide Ridge near Manson, Washington, in Chelan County. On August 27, the First Creek Fire completely leveled the building housing the repeaters. Scorched antennas and support structures are still standing but are likely beyond repair. The club’s Roger Odorizzi, W7CH, said the repeaters had been offline for several days.
“We knew the fire had wiped out the power going to our site, but we hoped for the best, that our mountaintop building was possibly spared,” he said. “Now we have confirmation this was not the outcome.” Odorizzi said the area remains closed, and the club likely will not have access to it “for a long time.”
The club’s Ken Rau, K7YR, said the loss, in addition to the building, included the two repeaters, duplexers and antennas. The repeaters provided coverage in North Central Washington. Rau told ARRL that it’s unlikely that the building housing the repeaters would be replaced. It once housed radio and TV broadcast translators, most no longer in use. Topography is also a factor. “This is a mountain site — 4900 feet above mean sea level — with power lines that were installed on a very steep slope.”

Remember that old riddle, what runs faster uphill than down...?

Anyway. Not gonna be cheap. Also likely to have a major impact on plans  to have today's drill exercise the ability to have Western Washington EOCs communicate via Eastern Washington sites...

(If they hurry, the Lake Chelan Amateur radio club may be able to get in on Yaesu's deal on their new digital repeater, but they'll need someplace to put it/them...)

Laugh of the day

Urging civility, Obama appeals to Jews on Iran deal

Urging civil...

BWA-HA-HA-HA!!!

Urging ci...

BWA-HA-HA-HA!!!

Obama urges ci...

Oh, stop!  You're killin' me!

Speaking of the weather...

ARES/RACES Volunteers Face Fire Threat While Supporting Emergency Communication

UPDATED 2015-08-27 1620 UTC] The North-Central Washington town of Republic touts “air you can’t see” on its website. That’s not the case today. Wildfires in the US Northwest have not only hampered the air quality and visibility, but led to a Level 2 evacuation order in the Ferry County community of about 1000 residents. That could rise to Level 3. Amateur Radio volunteers in Ferry County have been on the front lines of the wildfire emergency there. In Republic, a combination of Ferry County Search and Rescue (SAR), Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and ARES/RACES volunteers have been supporting communication for a shelter housing some 4 dozen evacuees — with more to come, according to Ferry County ARES Emergency Coordinator and RACES Radio Officer Sam Jenkins, WA7EC.

Every fifth Saturday -- that is, every time a month has a fifth Saturday, which is about quarterly -- there is an emergency communications drill. ARES and RACES groups across Washington State will staff Emergency Operations Centers, Fire Stations, etc, and and the like, and follow some scenario or exercise design.

Tomorrow's drill (in which I will not be participating, thanks to some overtime) looks to be complicated by the fact that many of the Emergency Operations Centers and Fire Stations and Et Cetera are going to be busy dealing with forest fires.

With any luck, it will rain enough to end these fires.

In the meantime, 73, OM...

Umm... Yay?

Actually, yes, as long as it doesn't go too far...


Wind Advisory
Statement as of 2:29 PM PDT on August 28, 2015

... Wind Advisory in effect from 11 am to 5 PM PDT Saturday...

The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a Wind Advisory... which is in effect from 11 am to 5 PM PDT Saturday.

* Timing... midday through Saturday afternoon.

* Winds... south wind 15 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph.

* Impacts... downed limbs and local power outages.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Wind Advisory means that winds of 35 mph are expected. Winds this strong can make driving difficult... especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution.


Special Statement
Statement as of 6:02 AM PDT on August 28, 2015

... A strong Pacific storm could bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to western Washington on Saturday...

A much stronger system will impact the region on Saturday. This system has the potential to bring winds of 20 to 35 mph with gusts of 45 to 50 mph to parts of the coast... northwest interior... and I-5 corridor. Winds this strong usually occur in fall and winter. Thus... this wind event could create more problems due to the deciduous trees still having their leaves. This will make the branches more prone to snapping in strong winds. In addition to the possibility of downed tree limbs... the gusty winds could cause local power outages.

Rain will be locally heavy at times on Saturday. Rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are forecast for the coast and in the mountains... with a half to one inch elsewhere... during the 24 hour period ending at 5 am PDT Sunday. This amount of rain will likely end or help reduce the size of any ongoing wildfires.

In addition to the wind and rain... temperatures will be below normal on Saturday. Highs are forecast to be mainly in the mid to upper 60s across The Lowlands.

Those planning outdoor activities in the mountains in particular this weekend should pay close attention to the latest forecasts from the National Weather Service.

Www.Weather.Gov/Seattle

More Thoughts On Murderous Nutjobs

Seen at Powerline Blog:
Dylann Roof and Vester Flanagan: Compare and Contrast | Power Line

Executive summary:

• Cracker nutjob tries to ignite a race war by murdering the members of the congregation of an African-American church, and the country loses its mind, bans the Confederate Battle Flag.
• Gay black nutjob tries to ignite a race war by murdering two former co-workers, and It's The Guns.

Thoughts on murderous nut jobs

Well said: Virginia journalist killer getting just what he wanted. Editorial originally from the Arizona Republic, reproduced here in the Detroit Free Press.

In the meantime, of course, The Usual Suspects are waving the bloody shirt and demanding that us non-murderous non-nut jobs should be deprived of our rights.

Because it's the guns.

And, since the murderous nut job in this case was a member of the media, who murdered two fellow members of the media, the media will ignore the possibility that maybe the problem isn't guns, it's murderous nut jobs.

In addition to being a member of the media, the murderous nut job was a member of two other protected categories, as a gay African American male. Who was reportedly censured on the job for reporting on Election Day while wearing an Obama pin or sticker. And had to be escorted from the work place when he was terminated, after having filed grievances against just about everybody there.

But it's the guns.

Nut jobs are gonna nut, they're gonna find a grievance -- goes with the territory -- and once they go all murderous, they'll find the means.

Doesn't have to be a gun.

Trump: Whatever he is, he is no conservative

Key 'graphs from John Hinderaker's ower Line Bog post Trump: Not a Conservative On Taxes

Two points: First, Trump criticizes Walker for not raising taxes. If you were under any illusion that Trump is a conservative, this should disabuse you. Second, everything Trump says here is straight out of the Democratic Party’s anti-Walker talking points. The idea that the state has a $2.2 billion deficit is ludicrous, although Democrats have tried to float that number. Wisconsin’s budget is required by law to be balanced; one of Walker’s triumphs is that he balanced the budget in the face of a projected shortfall without raising taxes. For a true picture of the state’s budget go here. The “borrowing to the hilt” that Trump refers to consists of bonds to pay for road construction.

Why would Trump attack a fellow Republican by parroting the Democrats’ talking points? Probably because Trump doesn’t think of Walker that way. When Walker was the point man for Republicans nationwide, absorbing more abuse than any politician within memory while beating the Democrats in three elections in four years, Trump was contributing to Democrats’ campaigns, explaining why the financial collapse of 2008 was the Republicans’ fault, and telling reporters that he agrees with Democrats on most issues.

I keep hearing that people are fond of Trump because he's  not a mainstream politician.

Thing is, as Professor Reynolds noted the other day here

The candidate {Trump} most resembles, actually, is Barack Obama, circa 2007.

So, apparently...

...all it takes is you...

No, wait.

When I got home from overtime in the Salt Mines today (part of why I didn't go to Gun Blogger Rendezvous X) Mrs. Drang was cleaning house with the TV on.

The TV was showing Law and Order, which may not {added, DWD} be the nes plus ultra of statist hoplophobic television, but I don't want to see the show that's worse.

Plus, its another of those shows where pretty much no one is an attractive charactor. Even Fred Thompson; sorry, Senator, but you play a lawyer...

Anyway.

According to the episode I walked in on, a guy with a drug dealing conviction on his record can get his Federal Firearms License for $75 by simply "forgetting" to tell the ATFEieio that he got busted, and then he's Good To Go for selling guns to high school students.

I damn' near went Full Elvis on the Tee and Vee...

US Marines Military: "Send Me"

France train shooting: Americans overpower gunman - BBC News

US marine who prevented Moroccan terrorist's train shooting in France 'in critical condition' | Daily Mail Online

UPDATE/CORRECTION: No offense to the Oregon National Guard or US Air Force, but it turns out that, in fact, no personnel from what would normally be considered the (or a) "First Team" were involved.

Damned Cowboy Americans, even their support pukes have to ride to the rescue.

Finally!

Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen is finally available on Kindle!

John Carr is up to 6 or 7 sequels, by the way. More at Hostigos.com : The home of H. Beam Piper's Lord Kalvan saga

Well, this is... interesting...

Incest, suicide, and murder: What we can expect from Tolkien's dark new story. Published 8/20/2015. World.

"Oh, that wizard and hobbit stuff is for kids!"

Which is right down there with the attitude of a former co-worker that "It's all just demonic crap."

A Report From Crazy World

Language warning!

Good description of what is wrong with Sweden.

The Left, of course, holds up Scandinavia as the ideal of a progressive society.

Which explains a lot about Seattle, being Squarehead Central.

Curmudgeonry, Cinematic

WatchingThe Quiet Man, and I can't help but think that

1. This is one movie that could not possibly be re-made today, and 
2. If they did, the credits would have to include the line "No redheads were harmed in the making of this film."

Oh, please, oh please, oh please...

Remaining Government Stock of WWII M1911's Handguns to Be Sold Off to The Public.....

QOTD, 08/11/15

...as much as democrats like to think that they’re all about tolerance, there is something incredibly emasculating about watching your candidate get chased off the podium of his own rally. There’s a reason the Black Lives Matter protestors haven’t invaded Hillary’s space, because we all suspect she’d shriek “GUARDS! SEIZE THEM!” super villain style, and then have them devoured by her nanotech enhanced attack weasels. {Emphasis added, DWD}

Larry "Monster Hunter" Correia
My Election Predictions | Monster Hunter Nation

Which is worth reading in it's entirety. 

Earworm, 08/10/2015

60 Years Ago Today

Tex Johnson bet Boeing's farm by doing not one, but two, barrel rolls in the prototype 707.

Almost cost him his job, but the aviation world was never the same.

Source: 60 years ago: The famous Boeing 707 prototype barrel roll over Lake Washington | The Seattle Times
(If the attenpt at embedding the video fails, it's there.)

A photo from same source, halfway through one of the death-, industry-, and career-defying stunts:

QOTD 8/9/15

Barack Obama is a terrible president, but he is a worse man.

Source:Barack Obama’s Lowest Moment Yet? | Power Line

This explains why I don't trust the man...

Instapundit » Blog Archive »
ROGER SIMON ON WHY TRUMP WOULD BE A DISASTER AT FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

Here’s how I would imagine they would handle Trump. They would love him to death, treat him like the king of the world, the genius at deal-making, ask him for advice on everything from golf courses to hospital maintenance,  and if he got suspicious, love him even more, say great things about how rich he is, what a wonderful plane he has, ask for a tour, get pictures with him for People and Der Spiegel… then, after he feels like he’s been just the perfect president and has settled everything, that’s maybe six months,  snatch the Baltic states (Russia), explode your bomb (Iran), move in on practically everything west of Honolulu (China) and look the other way when ISIS blows up three shopping malls in Dallas.
What would Donald do about it? Say “You’re fired”? Brag about his money? I’m not optimistic.

Maybe if he was running as a Democrat, which what he was registered as until 2009. Which, oddly, is when he claims he gave up on Republicans. Huh?

Admit it: We've all thought about it.

​Popular Mechanics: How to Shoot Down a Drone

Found my candidate

With a hat-tip to Sebastian:

Sweet Meteor O'Death 2016

An Observation...

It's amazing how many "How To" videos on YouTube prominently feature the wannabe teacher's back, or hands, or...

Especially when he's saying "Take this like that and push there..."

"WHAT? WHAT? HOW AND WHERE?!"

One for the good guys...

Police: St. Paul victim had gun permit when he killed armed suspect - StarTribune.com

And, despite details like this:

Only months before Lavauntai Broadbent, 16, was shot and killed on a St. Paul river bluff during a botched robbery, authorities say he was part of a violent mob of teens that led a rumble in a downtown St. Paul hotel.

and this:

Broadbent was wearing a mask and gloves, police said.

and this:

Broadbent was a young man caught up in a culture of gang violence, according to court documents from an April 18 fight at the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown St. Paul. Details from the hotel fight, along with information released about Broadbent’s death and St. Paul’s youth gang culture, show that easy answers are difficult to come by and that many of St. Paul’s young men are swept up in a tit-for-tat cycle of retribution.

this:

“At one point, [Broadbent] is observed kicking someone on the ground and chases another person off camera …” said the criminal complaint in the hotel fight.

this:

Broadbent pleaded guilty in May to third-degree riot in a gang-related fight among 50 to 100 juveniles at the Embassy Suites in which members of the Ham Crazy and Everybody Killer gangs fought with members of the Shoota Boy Gang.

We still have to put up with crap like

Broadbent’s mother, Leeann Broadbent, said Monday that her son didn’t “have that kind of heart” to pull a gun on someone.

And, of course

He did confirm that on Sunday night, a car drove off the street just before midnight into Shadow Falls Park, where some people had gathered for a vigil for Broadbent. Shots were fired, and the suspects fled on foot because their vehicle had struck a concrete planter. It’s unclear where the shots were fired from, Linders said, but no one was hit.

 In the meantime, the citizen who defended himself

...took off his shirt, rendered first aid to Broadbent and called police...

So, good for him. Apparently, that attitude is widespread:

Ramsey County attorney spokesman Dennis Gerhardstein said the robbery cases have been presented for charges. He said the office had not yet received a case on the shooting. “We understand that [the shooter] was not arrested and that the police view him to be the victim,” he said.

I don't need this. I don't need this. I don't need this...

Building your own CNC router/milling machine

Every time I think "You know, I haven't even clicked a link in the email from Instructables lately, maybe I just unsubscribe", they post something that has me thinking "Maybe I should go ahead and send them some money..."

QOTD, 08/01/2015

I actually saw this yesterday, but I already had a QOTD for yesterday, so it got deferred to today.

At what Tamara likes to refer to as "An away game", and while discussing the Cecil The Lion "scandal", which in the way of these things devolved into a free range discussion of hunting, and what was Right And Proper and Pure, and What Was Evil and Wrong And Bad, David S. observed

How is it that so many of us in the gun community, who distrust the "liberal media," are so willing to accept this story at face value?

I've never been on an African "Safari"¹. If I had the money for same, I'd probably invest half and spend the rest on an Alaska hunt instead.

So here's what I know from talking about it with people who have been on Shikar²:

• You pays your money, you hires the Professional Hunter and his staff.
• The PH takes you around, and tells you when and where and which animal to shoot.
• That makes you the sport, not the, or a, "hunter."
• You have the option of paying "trophy fees" and getting a mount of the head.
• The meat is distributed among local communities.
• Hunting is controversial, especially among those whose knowledge of actual ecology ended at viewing Bambi at a young age.
• Hunting different from the way you/I do it is also controversial. 
• Mid-Westerners who "stalk"with a rifle or shotgun are liable to view those who hunt from a stand as some kind of barbarian, regardless of whether hunting from the ground there is practical, or even legal.
• People who have a scope on their shootin' 'arn feel the same about those without, and vice versa, ditto regarding legality.
• (EDITED TO ADD:) That goes double for weird styles of hunting involving strings and pointy sticks, guns that load from the front, or guns that look... icky.
• Also, some idiots are so much more concerned about the fate of a wild (well, semi-wild) animal than the facts that the "sport" in this case has received death threats, and the enlightened government of Zimbabwe (!) is demanding that said "sport" be extradited.
• Cecil was 13 years old. 
• The Average Life Span Of A Lion in the wild is 10-14 years.

Clearly, it's time to move to a cave in the mountains with a pile of "dead tree" books and give up on the human race.

***

1. Safari: A long overland trip, usually for diplomatic or trading purposes.
2. Shikar: Hunt, hunting.
This pretty much exhausts my knowledge of Swahili.