Recorders set to roll!

Surfing the channels tonight... Oh Nellie! TCM has put together a winner:Airplane! is on now, followed by Zero Hour!.

I think most are familiar with the parody classic Airplane! even though it's 30 years old. However few are familiar with Zero Hour! The fact that both titles include an exclaimtion point is a clue.

That's because it's the same story, originally told as a serious drama and then in parody.

It's amusing to watch a movie you've never seen and still be able to quote most of the dialog.

Sorry this is too late for most this go round (Airplane! is on now) and Zero Hour! will be on in about 25 minutes. But watch for it next time or drop it into the 'queue.

Range day Saturday...

I've been meaning to take the Father in law out to the range for some time. He shot quite a bit in the Army but likely hasn't been to the range in at least a decade if not a score. A year ago the SCQueen found some guns rusting in a storage unit and took them into protective custody.

I don't know many details of his military service... I think he served during part of WWII. Most of it seems to be the mundane life of a Finance Officer. But he liked to shoot and became a range officer. In time he apparently became the head RO and ran the range.

note to self... bring the MP3 recorder and get him talking at all family functions. He's well into his 80's and we need to transfer these stories into a more durable format than his memory. Mebbe even tomorrow at the range. It won't be much use during the shooting periods, but he might open up during the ceasefires.

He relates a story of a time his office needed their annual shooting qualifications. They took everyone to the range. Most qualified but some didn't. To those he suggested they join him on the range the next Saturday. He then schooled them in the fundamentals and qualified the rest that day.

I think he liked the 1911 and fondly remembers the shooting tests [This is in contrast to the other ex-army people I've talked to that loathe the GI-1911. "Better off throwing the gun at the enemy" is the comment heard more than once.] But he liked it and apparently shot it well in the classic one handed stance.

So the question tonight is planning what to take. Obviously we'll bring his .22 rifle. Probably an M1 Carbine as well. A Garand and a Mauser to pay heed the WWII era. Then an AR to get the flavor of the modern era. Next question is how good are the eyes, or more directly, what distance do we set the targets? Can he see an SR-1 target at 100 yards?

We'll bring a nice selection on the pistol side as well. There are a dozen "Seeing Stars" targets printed and in the range bag. If all goes well we will have five ePostal entries to submit.

He's well into his 80's now and none to steady. One of his offspring suggested we keep a close eye on him. Obviously we will but I suspect the 4 rules are so deeply ingrained he'll still be practicing muzzle discipline 10 years after he's dead and planted.

Stay tuned for a range report with pictures tomorrow...

Four rules, and you broke at least half of them

Reported by the local ABC affiliate

Short version,

Dad shoots 4-YO son in the head with a Flare gun. Later uttered "I didn't think it was loaded".

Skull fracture... Nice.

One question for dad... WHAT [no that's not strong enough] WTF WERE YOU THINKING? What is the possible upside to playing bang-bang with your sons armed with a GUN?

Four Rules: Learn them, live them.
1. All guns are always loaded.
2. Never point a gun at anything you do not intend to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until the sights are on the target.
4. Be sure of your target and what is beyond.

Doesn't matter if the gun is a .22, 9mm. 1911, Walther PPK, .38 snubbie, big Mo 50 cal 16", Nerf(tm) gun or a flare gun. A gun is a gun, apply the four rules and avoid the regret. I'm pleased as punch this was only a flare gun rather than a "gun" gun.

Meanwhile, it looks like pizza is on the menu tonight... It's a benefit for three year old Landon Smith who reportedly found a gun under the couch and managed to pull the trigger. Same question for the owner of the gun found under the couch "WhatWTF WERE YOU THINKING?" Most of these stories end a couple days later with a "died after valiant fight" story... Fortunately this one is different. Landon is doing far better than expected, eating on his own and only a bit delayed.

Jan/Feb ePostal range day

I hit the range today to shoot Merle's Jan/Feb ePostal match. Normally the range is pretty busy [meaning all benches full and a waiting list] this time of year. But it rained this AM and that seemed to keep the numbers down. Last time the range was this empty was during that football match a few weeks back.

Here is one of my worst... Stage 3, off hand only. One hit, two misses and two not even on the paper.

I don't worry too much about the scores mostly because the local range minimum distance is 11 yards, better than 50% further than spec'd in the course of fire. Doesn't matter... It's a good excuse to hit the range with a mission. I sent Merle a rimfire score of 16 and centerfire score of 11.

You can play too! Merle's match runs through the end of February. Then Mr. C's monthly ePostal starts up in March.

Finally, noticed something different as I was cleaning up to come home. A guy and a girl set up on the next bench, early to mid-20's, looks like it could be a date. They had one gun, might've been a centerfire Glock, but I didn't get a decent look. They prepped a target for the next cease fire and started loading magazines.

The interesting part is, the gun is hers and he is the noob! YOU GO GIRL! We need more like you! Great job.

Valentines Day

The SCQueen said she wanted to go flying on Valentine's day. One of the most picturesque airports with an attached restaurant is Sedona. Here is a panorama as we approached from the SouthEast. Humphrey's Peak, the highest point in Arizona sticks up above the plateau (click on image to embiggen). The airport is the light line left of center and below the plateau rim.
There are worse ways to spend a February day in the desert ;-)

Three Stearmans arrived as we were putting the plane away.

PS... Happy Birthday Arizona! The 48th state turns 98 today.

Do you think

I could get away with covering my garage doors like this by sleeping with the HOA president*? Off the top of my head I can't think of any CC&R that it might violate. Though the general rule is that any changes visible from the street need approval of the Architectural Committee (and I'm sleeping with that committee too.*;-)

Click here to see more options.

However at $600+ for the three slot option it's fun to think about but far beyond my "would be fun" budget. Single slot entries run about $230 (still beyond what I'd be willing to pay)

Also, I'm a stickler for details... This doesn't quite look like any aeroplane that has ever flown. There haven't been many four engine transports. B707 and DC8 used straight turbojets not turbofans as these nacelles suggest. The fuse is too short for a B747. It's waaaaay to small to be an A340. There are probably some Russian models but those would be copies of western planes. Sorry, only place this has flown was on the graphic artists screen. The center section looks like a 737 while outer sections appear to be 747.

I'm thinkin' my good blogfriend True Blue Sam should negotiate some antique steam tractor images for something to hang on the barn doors. Hmmm an Su-27 would look nice. I like the old/new, Soviet/USA contradiction (what would the neighbors think?).

They'll also do custom designs for about $350 (Euro 259).

H/T Jon @ exurban League

* The SCQueen is both HOA president and the Architectural committee.

Darwin Entry Attempt

Or Alcohol, Gasoline and Gunpowder don't mix:

From AzRepublic

Just how much alcohol does it take to think "Man I think I'll strap this muffler full of gasoline and gun powder on my back and sled down the hill" is a good idea?