It's that time...

Y'all have a good winter holiday, of whatever persuasion you like! ;)

Now wait just a second (or maybe several trillion)

From the Weekly Standard, via Cold Fury:

Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) pointed out some rather astounding language in the Senate health care bill during floor remarks tonight. First, he noted that there are a number of changes to Senate rules in the bill–and it’s supposed to take a 2/3 vote to change the rules. And then he pointed out that the Reid bill declares on page 1020 that the Independent Medicare Advisory Board cannot be repealed by future Congresses:

“It shall not be in order in the Senate or the House of Representatives to consider any bill, resolution, amendment, or conference report that would repeal or otherwise change this subsection.”

This is not legislation. It’s not law. This is a rule change. It’s a pretty big deal. We will be passing a new law and at the same time creating a Senate rule that makes it out of order to amend or even repeal the law.

I’m not even sure that it’s constitutional, but if it is, it most certainly is a Senate rule. I don’t see why the majority party wouldn’t put this in every bill. If you like your law, you most certainly would want it to have force for future Senates.

I mean, we want to bind future Congresses. This goes to the fundamental purpose of Senate rules: to prevent a tyrannical majority from trampling the rights of the minority or of future Congresses.

Paging Sarah Palin: the death panel is unkillable.

Go and watch the Demint's full comments: we REALLY need to find a way of curtailing parlamentary games...

Humpday Hardware: Service Revolver

Ok, got distracted. I really am trying to make this a regular feature. and at least I actually got it out while it was still wednesday (barely)...

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One of the many gunnie arguments that infects the interwebs is age old: revolver or autoloader. At one point though, there WAS no argument: if you wanted a pistol, it was a revolver.

Up to 1911, the US government used revolvers of various sorts: the famous Colt SAA, The S&W Schofield, and the Colt 1892. And that's the subject of today's post.

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The Colt 1892 was the first revolver with a swing-out cylinder, and is a design that was carried forward until they finally discontinued the Python in 2004. This example is a 1901: planning on checking the serial number to get date of manufacture at some point in the future.





It came into my hands fairly recently: a friend was looking for Christmas money, and decided to sell this piece, along with a factory sealed box of original ammo for it. When I saw the box, I about flipped: it's going on GunBroker now.



Trigger is smooth, although the double-action pull is a bit stiff. Single action, she breaks like a glass rod. Haven't had a chance to get her to the range yet, although that'll be happening in January.

Finish is about what you'd expect from such an old gun, although the bore looks fairly clean. Grips are in fairly decent shape, although I'm pretty sure they're aftermarket.

The ammo, just blew me away: stamped May 5 1913, and still wrapped in cellophane. Going to be interesting to see what it fetches on GunBroker!




This was also the last of the US Military revolvers as a standard sidearm: the 1901 (and later 1903) were the guns that were used (and which failed) in the Philippines and led to the adoption of the Model 1911 .45 Automatic.

Some guys have all the luck

Jay G made a simple, off-hand comment here. Which resulted in this, then this, and now this. Of course, I'm omitting the range reports and suchlike, but still.

How come I can't get that kinda response from a company? Oh, yeah... need to post more.

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Yes, I'm jealous of Jay: not so much at his good fortune, but because I am NEVER going to get that kind of response. I'm just not a big enough name. However, Humpday Hardware WILL be back, posting again sometime after noon tomorrow. This time, something a bit historical... ;)

Still lives in infamy

On this day in 1941, the US suffered the most devastating military attack on our territory in history.

If you don't live under a rock, you know all about the attack by the Japanese against Pearl Harbor, which launched us full-bore into World War II.

FDR's speech sums up rather well:

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And, while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.
And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has therefore undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.

Franklin D. Roosevelt - December 8, 1941

I'd like to ask everyone to hold a moment of silence, to remember our brothers and sisters who died that day.

I just... wow... a new class of stupid...

So... cruising through Auction Arms, looking at Arisaka's for shits & grins. Found this listing, and thought "not bad". Then I looked more closely at the pics: in fact, this pic:



That would be an Arisaka Type 99, with a full chrysanthemum. You know: the symbol that was supposed to have been removed or defaced before bringing the rifle back from Japan. The crest that, if intact, makes the weapon worth FAR more...

Bubba here needs to have his thumbs removed, before he destroys any more collectibles.

I'm gonna go cry now...

Natalie Portman: are you paying attention?

Ok... here's one for the celeb watchers.

Although she doesn't directly say it herself, in a blog entry at HuffPo, this paragon of virtue (and bad prequels) spouts off with a quote:

"He posits that consideration…which has more to do with being polite to your tablemates than sticking to your own ideals, would be absurd if applied to any other belief (e.g., I don't believe in rape, but if that's what it takes to please my dinner hosts, then so be it)."

Bold mine.

So... you could presume from this, that Ms Portman is against rape (as she is against eating animals). After all, she casts them in a similar light.

Oops.

Scroll down to "Edit: new names".

Yep: she's signed herself onto the "Free Roman Polanski" BS.

So... let's connect the dots.

Eating meat = rape
Being a Hollyweird bigwig = rape is ok
Being a Hollyweird bigwig = eating meat is ok

Everyone got that?

"Just Kids"

Yes, I know... I missed Humpday Hardware again. I'm working on getting my posting up to speed. Sue me: I'm pretty sure my lawyer can take yours.

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Stingray over at Atomic Nerds just posted this gem, and I have to expand on it a bit.

You see, I have a working theory. From my observations, most of humanity never really matures out of their teenage years.

Now, don't get me wrong: folks can and do go about leading productive lives. But, for the most part, we all still have that whiney, boundry-pushing teen lurking in the depths of our souls. The reason we don't act on it (much) is that we learn where our boundries are, what's acceptable and what's not. But we still have ways that it shows...

Way back in the Dark Ages, I was dating a wonderful young lady in college. She was complaining one day that "I thought college would be different! But it's just the same as high school!". I started questioning her on some specifics, and realized that the same things that bothered her in high school (and now, college) existed out in the "real world" as well.

She wasn't happy when I pointed that out to her.

So, comes the question: "Why do we, as a society, allow this BS to go on?". Stingray asks it (though not in so many words). I'm sure AD and the rest of the emergency services crew asks it at some point (whether it's AD himself at am accident scene, or LawDog dealing with yet another Sumdood sighting). And we always ask, when we see someone who should bloody-well know better pull a "Hold my beer and watch this!" stunt: "Why do we tolerate immature assholes like that?"...

It's simple, really: it's because so many of us are hoping that our own immaturity will be overlooked, in one form or another.

Think of a group of guys going out and getting plastered. There may only be one bonehead in the group that'll do something absolutely mind-bogglingly stupid that night, but they'll all defend their friend... at worst, you'll hear "oh, he's just drunk".

That's not because they're standing by their bud out of a sense of loyalty, it's because they know THEY will likely do something just as stupid at some point, and are hoping to earn forgiveness for their transgression.

Do we ALL fall into this trap? Not all the time: I know I tend to call folks on their mistakes, regardless: helps them learn, which is more important to me than "being liked" (which is funny: that usually means folks come to me to help them figure out their problems).

But you've got the group that has the most impact on a person's behavior (their "herd") making excuses for bone-headed behavior (if not actively encouraging it), what's going to be the end result?

That's right: more bone-headed behavior.

Is there an answer? Yes and no: I can see it in the small scale, but I see no way of fixing the bigger issue directly.

And that, more than anything, scares the crap out of me.