Three years ago I posted about taking some of the SandCastle Queen's father's guns into protective custody after she found them stored in an outdoor shed.
We made it clear these are still his guns, we are merely providing secure storage and taking some protective measures. We were hoping in time we'd be given the guns but today the other shoe dropped.
Her eldest brother is in town this week. Her father called today saying "give him the .22". To say she is disappointed is a vast understatement. Me too. But it's her dad's gun and he can do what he wants with it.
She is concerned he will pass it on to his son who will likely sell it. Her brother once had a nice collection but the then wife, now ex, convinced him to "get those things out of the house." No doubt she has passed those same hoplophobic attitudes on to her son (see also "The Wall" by Pink Floyd).
Just to illustrate how brainwashed these kids are, I offered to take them flying to see the area. Mom refused - apparently her father was killed in a plane crash. The kids initially wanted to go but the morning of the flight, the younger son freaked out just heading up the steps to get into the plane. The elder daughter got in and strapped in but did the same freakout before we'd taxied the 100 yards. Mom had clearly done a number on those kids.
We made it clear there is a standing offer to buy the gun just to keep it in the family. I really hate that scene in the pawn shows where some young guy walks in to sell grandpa's rifle and ends up walking out with a fraction of it's actual value.
Disappointment. It's what's for dinner.
22 March 2012
19 March 2012
Talk about a tragic failure...
... of the victim selection process. More here.
Here's the scenario... ChoirBoy enters a home not his own 3am-ish, wakes the residents with a gun to the head. Presumably giving the "don't move or you're dead" message delivered with considerably more vulgarity & volume.
Unfortunately the intended victim is a UFC fighter and is immediately waaaay inside said choir boy's OODA loop. He's likely practiced the scenario a hundred times before. Choir boy quickly finds himself disarmed and in a headlock waiting for police to arrive.
Nicely done. From a societal prospective, I'd rather the good guy had removed the ChoirBoy from the gene pool and would thus be ineligible to repeat this crime. However taking any life places the taker in a very uncomfortable legal place. He seems to have used very measured force against a superiorly armed foe and came out on top. Good on ya, Well done.
Apparently ChoirBoy entered through an unlocked door. While I don't have the resident's chops, I can at least verify 1st line security. I check every door I walk by and constantly encourage the SCCrew to lock every door they enter.
Here's the scenario... ChoirBoy enters a home not his own 3am-ish, wakes the residents with a gun to the head. Presumably giving the "don't move or you're dead" message delivered with considerably more vulgarity & volume.
Unfortunately the intended victim is a UFC fighter and is immediately waaaay inside said choir boy's OODA loop. He's likely practiced the scenario a hundred times before. Choir boy quickly finds himself disarmed and in a headlock waiting for police to arrive.
Nicely done. From a societal prospective, I'd rather the good guy had removed the ChoirBoy from the gene pool and would thus be ineligible to repeat this crime. However taking any life places the taker in a very uncomfortable legal place. He seems to have used very measured force against a superiorly armed foe and came out on top. Good on ya, Well done.
Apparently ChoirBoy entered through an unlocked door. While I don't have the resident's chops, I can at least verify 1st line security. I check every door I walk by and constantly encourage the SCCrew to lock every door they enter.
17 March 2012
Some of my troubles just drove away...
I sold my truck today. It was 25 years old, 187k miles and lots of problems. The AC quit last summer (I think it blew a seal), it failed smog and probably needs a new engine. The front drive axles probably need to be replaced. It was also a couple months past due on the registration. I've swapped engines and stuff in the past but I don't have time for those kinds of projects these days. I just wanted it gone.
We didn't use it much but there are times you just need a truck. A lot of things just don't fit into the Miata. Also I've found a spare car is the height of luxury. Meaning if I was working on my car and needed a part, or that I had options for getting to work tomorrow. As much as we used it, it will probably be cheaper to rent the local HD truck at $20/hr than to maintain the spare vehicle.
I decided as the month started it would be gone by the end of the month one way or another. Even if "another" meant donating it to charity. We finally got a for sale sign on it middle of this week and a guy stopped by today.
We settled a little below my bottom line but all those troubles are now SEP (Somebody Else's Problems). And that has a value all it's own.
The SCSon also got a lesson in free market economics. He was upset the guy was getting it for less than my bottom line. But I explained this is how the free market works. We negotiated and agreed on a price. No one had a gun to his head. I wanted his cash more than I wanted the truck and all it's problems in my driveway. He wanted my truck more than he wanted the cash in his pocket.
And I now have some spare BAG day funds. I'm not really in the market for anything in particular. Perhaps we'll just invest it in some precious metals.
We didn't use it much but there are times you just need a truck. A lot of things just don't fit into the Miata. Also I've found a spare car is the height of luxury. Meaning if I was working on my car and needed a part, or that I had options for getting to work tomorrow. As much as we used it, it will probably be cheaper to rent the local HD truck at $20/hr than to maintain the spare vehicle.
I decided as the month started it would be gone by the end of the month one way or another. Even if "another" meant donating it to charity. We finally got a for sale sign on it middle of this week and a guy stopped by today.
We settled a little below my bottom line but all those troubles are now SEP (Somebody Else's Problems). And that has a value all it's own.
The SCSon also got a lesson in free market economics. He was upset the guy was getting it for less than my bottom line. But I explained this is how the free market works. We negotiated and agreed on a price. No one had a gun to his head. I wanted his cash more than I wanted the truck and all it's problems in my driveway. He wanted my truck more than he wanted the cash in his pocket.
And I now have some spare BAG day funds. I'm not really in the market for anything in particular. Perhaps we'll just invest it in some precious metals.
29 February 2012
There is another option.
Arizona Board of Regents released a study on the costs of complying with SB1474 which would allow guns on the state's three universities. The bill prevents them from adopting policies to keep guns off campus but allows them to keep guns out of buildings if they put up signs and safe storage lockers.
Bottom line they see $13.3M initial costs to put up lockers and signs, with another $3.1M annually to hire more officers. Lots of money to ordinary mortals but a mere drop in the bucket to bureaucrats used to spending OPM by the millions, billions and trillions.
ASU's budget alone is > $2B. UofA is probably similar and NAU is smaller. Together they probably total around $5B. That $13M one time cost amounts to a quarter of one percent the first year and about 0.06% annually.
But there is another option. The bill only requires the lockers & signs if Regents insist on disarming the students inside buildings. They could just let students carry concealed and not have to incur any costs.
The bill really puts a price on their victim disarmament zones. It would be even better if it made the Regents personally liable as Florida did.
ASU's budget alone is > $2B. UofA is probably similar and NAU is smaller. Together they probably total around $5B. That $13M one time cost amounts to a quarter of one percent the first year and about 0.06% annually.
But there is another option. The bill only requires the lockers & signs if Regents insist on disarming the students inside buildings. They could just let students carry concealed and not have to incur any costs.
The bill really puts a price on their victim disarmament zones. It would be even better if it made the Regents personally liable as Florida did.
17 February 2012
Playin' Hookey
The SandCastle Son had a nothing day at school today (A day long assembly, no actual schoolwork occurred). Coincidentally the Yuma Hamfest started today. It was a gorgeous day:
So I took the day off and we flew on down to Yuma, AZ. According to mapquest, the fest site is across the street from the airport and the FBO we fly into is on the north side. Looks an easy walk. Unfortunately many moons have passed since visiting Yuma and that FBO I used to visit has closed. Now the only general aviation parking is on the west side. I was also concerned at the "Million Aire" name on the side as they cater to jets and have a reputation for expensive parking rates and/or extortive fuel prices for merely putting a tire on their ramp.
I couldn't have been more wrong and I'm happy to admit it. They let us park a few hours for free and even offered up a lift to the 'fest. I bought some gas at the self serve pumps before departing and the price was right on average price here in the area. I was wrong and I admit it.
The Yuma airport is shared with the USMC and as previously mentioned the 'fest is across the street. They apparently do a lot of Harrier training here as the jet noise (AKA, The sound of freedom) was a frequent visitor.
The fest had a plethora of vendors. I picked up a nice assortment of small connectors and stuff. I was looking for a 1:1 balun to put up an HF dipole but
came up empty. Looking at what I brought home, I'm thinking I should have bought 2x of each!
My big score was a PS2 to USB keyboard & mouse adapter for $4. Most of these are simple passive pin converters and depend on the MCU inside the keyboard to detect which connector is active and switch to the appropriate mode. The keyboard I have in mind, and old Microsoft ergonomic split keyboard, pre-dates USB. I need an active device that will enumerate itself as a keyboard and convert the PS-2 key codes. Four bucks is a steal! (and I'm using it tonight!)
A couple engravers were there and I probably should have picked up some name tags. The SCSon liked this one:
Can't say I disagree..
Once we figured we'd seen was there was to see, we started to head out. I was about to call on the talk in repeater to see if anyone could give us a lift. But I overheard a nearby conversation that included the words "Well I guess I'm done I guess I'll head out." I introduced us and imposed for a ride.
He agreed, a little reluctantly which I thought was a little odd. I've found NRA and amateur radio folks about the nicest and most helpful folk you could ever meet. Turns out he was more concerned with the seating arrangements. He drives a pickup with two bucket seats meaning one would have to ride in the bed. We had a nice conversation back to the airport.
It was a beautiful day and well spent a little out of the ordinary. These are the kind of days I hate to be locked in a cubicle so I was happy to be out with the SCSon. These are also the days he will remember forever! It also frees up Saturday for some of the other things that looked interesting. The hometown is hosting a tech-fest Saturday or something as part of the Arizona Centennial. Also the SCQueen reports the ABC group (Arizona Bloggers Conservative) and getting together Saturday as well.
Some times you just need to play Hookey. Or as we call it, take a Mental Health day.
(Photos by the SandCastle Son, Copyright 2012.)
So I took the day off and we flew on down to Yuma, AZ. According to mapquest, the fest site is across the street from the airport and the FBO we fly into is on the north side. Looks an easy walk. Unfortunately many moons have passed since visiting Yuma and that FBO I used to visit has closed. Now the only general aviation parking is on the west side. I was also concerned at the "Million Aire" name on the side as they cater to jets and have a reputation for expensive parking rates and/or extortive fuel prices for merely putting a tire on their ramp.
I couldn't have been more wrong and I'm happy to admit it. They let us park a few hours for free and even offered up a lift to the 'fest. I bought some gas at the self serve pumps before departing and the price was right on average price here in the area. I was wrong and I admit it.
The Yuma airport is shared with the USMC and as previously mentioned the 'fest is across the street. They apparently do a lot of Harrier training here as the jet noise (AKA, The sound of freedom) was a frequent visitor.
came up empty. Looking at what I brought home, I'm thinking I should have bought 2x of each!
My big score was a PS2 to USB keyboard & mouse adapter for $4. Most of these are simple passive pin converters and depend on the MCU inside the keyboard to detect which connector is active and switch to the appropriate mode. The keyboard I have in mind, and old Microsoft ergonomic split keyboard, pre-dates USB. I need an active device that will enumerate itself as a keyboard and convert the PS-2 key codes. Four bucks is a steal! (and I'm using it tonight!)
A couple engravers were there and I probably should have picked up some name tags. The SCSon liked this one:
Once we figured we'd seen was there was to see, we started to head out. I was about to call on the talk in repeater to see if anyone could give us a lift. But I overheard a nearby conversation that included the words "Well I guess I'm done I guess I'll head out." I introduced us and imposed for a ride.
He agreed, a little reluctantly which I thought was a little odd. I've found NRA and amateur radio folks about the nicest and most helpful folk you could ever meet. Turns out he was more concerned with the seating arrangements. He drives a pickup with two bucket seats meaning one would have to ride in the bed. We had a nice conversation back to the airport.
It was a beautiful day and well spent a little out of the ordinary. These are the kind of days I hate to be locked in a cubicle so I was happy to be out with the SCSon. These are also the days he will remember forever! It also frees up Saturday for some of the other things that looked interesting. The hometown is hosting a tech-fest Saturday or something as part of the Arizona Centennial. Also the SCQueen reports the ABC group (Arizona Bloggers Conservative) and getting together Saturday as well.
Some times you just need to play Hookey. Or as we call it, take a Mental Health day.
(Photos by the SandCastle Son, Copyright 2012.)
14 February 2012
I voted today
Of the four still on the stage, Well you're known by the company you keep and Ron Paul supporters look (and act) an awful lot like the self proclaimed 99%. Not to mention his foreign policy ideas are show stoppers. No Sale.
Keeping with the "known by the company you keep" theme, Mitt accepted an endorsement from John McCain ("The guy that couldn't beat Obama endorses the guy that couldn't beat McCain" - heard on Rush). McCain's "My Friend" endorsement of Mitt is a strong negative for me. November Fox Whiskey. I don't understand why Mitt shared the stage with him. Um no thank you...
I voted for Newt. I remember how positive I felt on that election day in 1994. I liked him when he was Speaker of the House.
Rick
Yea I know he has strong negatives. So does Barry this time around. Gas is 83% higher today than inauguration day. Taxes are going up due to the health care law the majority didn't and still doesn't want. The list goes on. And on but why bother.
And you know Newt will mop the floor with Barry on the debate stage, teleprompter or not.
Oh, And National Review, you sealed the deal. Thanks for the endorsement.
$.02
Happy Birthday Arizona!
Today is a lot of things...
Valentines Day (hope you bought your honey a card!) The SandCastle Queen commanded "only a card" this year as she has already procured an epic "family valentine gift".
Starbucks Buycott
Arizona's Birthday.
Not just any birthday, our Centennial. Today she turns 100.
Arizona was the last continental territory US to become a state. Only Alaska and Hawaii followed into the union. (so far, but we have a long ways to go to get to 57 states).
Arizona is an interesting state. Most people here are from somewhere else. We have a lot of "snowbirds" here. A while back RNS linked a slide show extolling the virtues of Wa State. Hey great, but we sure see an awful lot of Washington state plates round these parts this time of year. Why is that? And why are they trying to turn left from the high speed lane instead of the provided left turn lane?
The SandCastle Queen is a rarity: A native, born and raised here. She has personally seen more than half the life of the state.
I'm not a native but I'm an Arizonan by choice! I was born and raised elsewhere, but purposefully chose to live here. I used to visit the parental units in the Peoples Republic of Kalifornia the week between Christmas and New Years. The papers were always full of "new laws enacted this year and taking effect on 1/1/xxxx" After about three days of this I'd just get mad and yearn for my free state of Arizona. Crossing the Colorado river I'd always let out a yell to celebrate my return to freedom. Alpha Mike Foxtrot Kalifornia.
Arizona is not a perfect state. Far from it, We have a big illegal immigrant problem and a budget problem as big as any other state (proportionally), but it's one of the best from the personal freedom standpoint. Arizona has constitutional carry.
Happy Birthday Arizona!
I'm glad to be here!
Valentines Day (hope you bought your honey a card!) The SandCastle Queen commanded "only a card" this year as she has already procured an epic "family valentine gift".
Starbucks Buycott
Arizona's Birthday.
Not just any birthday, our Centennial. Today she turns 100.
Arizona was the last continental territory US to become a state. Only Alaska and Hawaii followed into the union. (so far, but we have a long ways to go to get to 57 states).
Arizona is an interesting state. Most people here are from somewhere else. We have a lot of "snowbirds" here. A while back RNS linked a slide show extolling the virtues of Wa State. Hey great, but we sure see an awful lot of Washington state plates round these parts this time of year. Why is that? And why are they trying to turn left from the high speed lane instead of the provided left turn lane?
The SandCastle Queen is a rarity: A native, born and raised here. She has personally seen more than half the life of the state.
I'm not a native but I'm an Arizonan by choice! I was born and raised elsewhere, but purposefully chose to live here. I used to visit the parental units in the Peoples Republic of Kalifornia the week between Christmas and New Years. The papers were always full of "new laws enacted this year and taking effect on 1/1/xxxx" After about three days of this I'd just get mad and yearn for my free state of Arizona. Crossing the Colorado river I'd always let out a yell to celebrate my return to freedom. Alpha Mike Foxtrot Kalifornia.
Arizona is not a perfect state. Far from it, We have a big illegal immigrant problem and a budget problem as big as any other state (proportionally), but it's one of the best from the personal freedom standpoint. Arizona has constitutional carry.
Happy Birthday Arizona!
I'm glad to be here!
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