Sorry folks, a ‘tad’ busy for a couple of days… But one to laugh (or wince) at… A woman out shopping with her husband spots a pair of boots she loves. The husband says: ”No chance love, they’re way too expensive”. Later on in bed, the wife is just falling asleep when the husband tries his luck and places his hand on her hip. She turns to him and says. ”I don’t think so, pal…. If you’re not prepared to shoe the horse then you sure as hell aren’t riding it” Based on wandering around Naples looking for a pizzeria tonight, you can’t throw a dead cat without hitting a church… And using a church as a reference just Does. Not. Work… After three wrong turns, four alleys, somebody’s private courtyard, we finally met up with the rest of the party… Go read the folks on the sidebar!!!
For those who travel through Munich, some ‘new’ changes to the customs and immigration procedures if you’re flying United to Lufthansa connection… Come in to Terminal H (as always), but no longer clear C&I in H, you walk down to Terminal G, go past the security check (NOT through it), and you’ll see a new C&I set up there. Once through, turn left, go downstairs to the G gates, and no second round of security!!! 🙂 Yeah US!!! Munich was typical, cold/drizzly, Naples is typical warm, humid, but for a change NO garbage strike! My nose and sense of smell are VERY appreciative… For those from the Northeast, one of your ‘traditions’ has apparently percolated over to Italy, and that is the guy washing the windshield in traffic… LOL, the taxi driver was NOT appreciative, and I thought we were going to have to break up the fight! On another note, apparently the watch thieves are back at it, not only in Naples, but Rome, Florence and Venice, so don’t wear a good watch, or ANY watch if you don’t have to…
1. The nicest thing about the future is . . .. That it always starts tomorrow.
2. Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail.
3.. If you don’t have a sense of humor, you probably don’t have any sense at all.
4. Seat belts are not as confining as wheelchairs.
5. A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you’re in deep water.
6. How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night?
7. Business conventions are important. . .because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without.
8. Why is it that at class reunions you feel younger than everyone else looks?
9. Scratch a cat . . . And you will have a permanent job.
10. No one has more driving ambition than the teenage boy who wants to buy a car.
11. There are no new sins; the old ones just get more publicity.
12. There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong number at 4 a..m. – like, it could be the right number.
13. No one ever says “It’s only a game” when their team is winning.
14. I’ve reached the age where ‘happy hour’ is a nap.
15. Be careful about reading the fine print. . . . there’s no way you’re going to like it.
16. The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket.
17. Do you realize that, in about 40 years, we’ll have thousands of old ladies running around with tattoos? (And rap music will be the Golden Oldies!)
18. Money can’t buy happiness — but somehow it’s more comfortable to cry in a Cadillac than in a Yugo.
19. After 60, if you don’t wake up aching in every joint, you’re probably dead.
20. Always be yourself because the people that matter don’t mind . . .. . And the ones that mind don’t matter.
21. Life isn’t tied with a bow . .. . .. . .. . But it’s still a gift.
Snuck out Phlegmmy’s for a couple of days to meet up with friends and get in some quality down time, and of course a little ‘play’ time too!
We (like THIS is any surprise), got around to discussing pistols, and these were ‘handy’, e.g. came out of various pockets…
And no, we weren’t dissing the revolvers, this post is just about the pocket semi-autos…
We (like THIS is any surprise), got around to discussing pistols, and these were ‘handy’, e.g. came out of various pockets…
And no, we weren’t dissing the revolvers, this post is just about the pocket semi-autos…
Top to bottom- Kahr PM-9 (9mm),
Kimber Solo (9mm), Colt Mustang (.380)
They are sitting on top of a 7 yard target we shot with the .380. Of note, all three are almost identical in size, the only real difference is the width of the .380 (it’s slightly thinner).
These DO take a bit of work to shoot well, as the smaller grip surface and shorter distance to the trigger do cause a bit of re-thinking. When Phlegmmy was shooting the .380, even with her very small hands, she was getting a bit too much trigger finger on the trigger; having said that, she was able to shoot it pretty well!
All three DO favor a high grip, and the beavertails are comfortable with no slide or hammer bite.
The Mustang does have less ‘barrel flip’ than either of the others, due to slightly less power, but for those who are recoil averse, it’s not a bad choice.
Sadly, I had to leave early due to ‘other’ commitments, but I know they’re having fun! And damn, those crawdads, corn and potatoes were GOOOOOOOD!!!
As always, good friends, good food and good conversation made for a great couple of days.
Sigh, now back to the regularly scheduled BS…
I was asked in an email to back check on whether or not the Vietnam Memorial was actually open on Memorial Day, because there were ‘rumors’ that it had been closed for Obummer’s photo op…
THIS is what I found out… Thanks to 5440 or Fight for getting the truth out there, and I just find this VERY hard to believe…
We do have to respect the office of the President, but the individual IN the office has to EARN our respect, and this one hasn’t done that.
THIS is what I found out… Thanks to 5440 or Fight for getting the truth out there, and I just find this VERY hard to believe…
We do have to respect the office of the President, but the individual IN the office has to EARN our respect, and this one hasn’t done that.
Damn you Murph… 🙂 You just ‘had’ to put that post up about the Misty FACs didn’t ya…
So… I go read that one, and it reminds me of Ed Rasimus‘ books about going ‘Downtown’. Ed’s books are butt in the seat, first person memoirs of his two tours flying out of Korat, first in F-105s (When Thunder Rolls) then in the early 70s in F-4D/Es (Palace Cobra). Ed also did a third book on Robin Olds (Fighter Pilot).
I like both the first person books, because they are from a JO’s perspective, and also show the true stupidity of the way we fought that ‘police action’… He also gets the details right on the politics/peccadilloes of the USAF policies, some of which had me rolling on the floor laughing (not that the Navy wasn’t ALSO doing stupid things). All of those books are highly recommended!!!
Next is Only Son, written by our own Wyatt and Pam Meister. Again a well written book; a murder mystery with plots, sub-plots and sub-sub-plots, all tied up nicely, and an excellent inside look at the reality of police work! This is another highly recommended read!
Next up is JD Kinman’s, Above Reproach, I was honored to be one of the pre-readers on this book, and it’s about ‘average’ Joes that stand up for their and other’s rights in the face of a cell of Jihadists! JD’s background has allowed him to build a believable story, and take it all the way to a surprise conclusion. I ‘will’ say you might recognize a person or two in the book! 🙂 This is another highly recommended read!
And I truly hope JD writes a sequel to this one… (hint, hint)
And lastly, since it just came out (well kinda sorta), is Larry Correia’s Monster Hunter Legion, but it’s only available as an e-arc from Baen. Once again the gang is back, and in Vegas! Owen, Julie, Earl and the rest plus some newcomers start with an oopsie bar fight, and things go ‘sideways’ from there (as usual)… And damn you Larry for the cliff hangar at the end! 🙂
The ‘real’ book is due out in August/Sept 2012, again a highly recommended read!
All good folks, all good writers, and IMHO, MUCH better than 90% of the drivel out there today…
Go. Read. ENJOY! I know I did!
So… I go read that one, and it reminds me of Ed Rasimus‘ books about going ‘Downtown’. Ed’s books are butt in the seat, first person memoirs of his two tours flying out of Korat, first in F-105s (When Thunder Rolls) then in the early 70s in F-4D/Es (Palace Cobra). Ed also did a third book on Robin Olds (Fighter Pilot).
I like both the first person books, because they are from a JO’s perspective, and also show the true stupidity of the way we fought that ‘police action’… He also gets the details right on the politics/peccadilloes of the USAF policies, some of which had me rolling on the floor laughing (not that the Navy wasn’t ALSO doing stupid things). All of those books are highly recommended!!!
Next is Only Son, written by our own Wyatt and Pam Meister. Again a well written book; a murder mystery with plots, sub-plots and sub-sub-plots, all tied up nicely, and an excellent inside look at the reality of police work! This is another highly recommended read!
Next up is JD Kinman’s, Above Reproach, I was honored to be one of the pre-readers on this book, and it’s about ‘average’ Joes that stand up for their and other’s rights in the face of a cell of Jihadists! JD’s background has allowed him to build a believable story, and take it all the way to a surprise conclusion. I ‘will’ say you might recognize a person or two in the book! 🙂 This is another highly recommended read!
And I truly hope JD writes a sequel to this one… (hint, hint)
And lastly, since it just came out (well kinda sorta), is Larry Correia’s Monster Hunter Legion, but it’s only available as an e-arc from Baen. Once again the gang is back, and in Vegas! Owen, Julie, Earl and the rest plus some newcomers start with an oopsie bar fight, and things go ‘sideways’ from there (as usual)… And damn you Larry for the cliff hangar at the end! 🙂
The ‘real’ book is due out in August/Sept 2012, again a highly recommended read!
All good folks, all good writers, and IMHO, MUCH better than 90% of the drivel out there today…
Go. Read. ENJOY! I know I did!
Bob Hoover, one of the greatest and longest flying acrobatic demonstration pilots got a rather special 90th birthday tribute
This is what Jeppesen did for him; definitely one of a kind, for one of a kind!!!
This is what Jeppesen did for him; definitely one of a kind, for one of a kind!!!
This ‘approach’ plate was designed as a tribute, and all the little ‘stars’ are people he knew and flew with…
And in case you’ve never seen him in action…
Did ya notice, the engines were OFF for the last half of that demo? He calls that part of the show “Energy Management”…
Sadly he was grounded in the early 90’s due to a medical condition, but if you ever had a chance to see him fly, he was TRULY one of the greats!
That was the start of the Vietnam ‘police action’…
Interesting Veterans Statistics off the Vietnam Memorial Wall
There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010.
The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date and within each date the names are alphabetized. It is hard to believe it is 36 years since the last casualties.
The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth , Mass. Listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965.
There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall.
39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger.
8,283 were just 19 years old.
The largest age group, 33,103 were 18 years old.
12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old.
5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old.
One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old.
997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam ..
1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam ..
31 sets of brothers are on the Wall.
Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons.
54 soldiers attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia . I wonder why so many from one school.
8 Women are on the Wall. Nursing the wounded.
244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall.
Beallsville , Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons.
West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation. There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall.
The Marines of Morenci – They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National Forest . And in the patriotic camaraderie typical of Morenci’s mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home.
The Buddies of Midvale – LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martinez, Tom Gonzales were all boyhood friends and lived on three consecutive streets in Midvale, Utah on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived only a few yards apart. They played ball at the adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to Vietnam . In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all three would be killed. LeRoy was killed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Jimmy died less than 24 hours later on Thanksgiving Day. Tom was shot dead assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 ~ 245 deaths, during the TET OFFENSIVE. The most casualties suffered on January 31st – 2nd BN., 5th Marine Reg., 1st Marine Division Regiment FMF (Pacific) Reinforced – III MAF at Hue .
The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 – 2,415 casualties were incurred.
For most Americans who read this they will only see the numbers that the Vietnam War created. To those of us who survived the war, and to the families of those who did not, we see the faces, we feel the pain that these numbers created. We are, until we too pass away, haunted with these numbers, because they were our friends, fathers, husbands, wives, sons and daughters. There are no noble wars, just noble warriors.
And this song is apparently NOT getting on radio because it’s not politically correct… By Diamond Reo…
Got a new addition to the ‘stable’ and took it to the range today, along with the Ruger 22/45 and the big 1911.
It’s the NEW Colt Mustang 🙂
Left profile
Right Profile
Slide Open
I put 25 rounds through it, cleaned it and shot another 25 just to break it in. It’s ‘comfortable’ to shoot, and the one thing I don’t care for is the grey front sight. I was shooting steels at 15 yards and they were dirty, so I had problems picking up the front sight against them. I guess I’ll do ‘something’ to the front ramp to make it a bit more visible.
This was the one ‘target’ I shot with it at 7 yards. The first round was low, the next four were a ‘tad’ low and the last one was a bull (I quit with that one…LOL).
22/45 with new sights and Volquartzen trigger
Put a couple of hundred rounds through it, working on sight picture and trigger press, as it now matches the .45 below for both 🙂
And .22 is not worth a DAMN for knocking over steel, unless you hit em ALL the way at the top… dammit… I never did get a clean run where I actually knocked all six down… sigh…
Size comparison for Mustang with ‘normal’ 1911
Yep, I think this one is a keeper, and it will be my primary BUG, and I can ‘retire’ Momma’s .38 to the safe for fun shoots!
Big Brother in the form of the Department of Homeland Security has a list of hot words where upon when they monitor emails will select yours for scrutiny. But it took the Brits to gain the list. Go HERE for the Daily Mail list… sigh
And how’s that texting working out for ya now???
And speaking of DHS/TSA…
May or may NOT be a joke… Sigh…
And then there’s THIS from PMSNBC. Hayes video from his MSNBC show yesterday morning of the too-refined-by-half Hayes explaining why he is “uncomfortable” in calling America’s fallen military members “heroes.”
And I’ll leave you with a positive one…
This is what Military pilots see on final into Offutt AFB
A farmer does this with his tractor. He uses GPS to get the letters readable.
Hat tip to the Bellevue farmer who made it happen!
h/t JP and Woody