Movies to avoid

Suite Française (2014) — starts with an interesting premise but goes nowhere with it. The characters range from inconsistent to cartoony to unrealistic. It has all the elements of good film without actually turning into a satisfying, coherent whole.

The Dawns are Quiet Here (2015) — A remake of a differently flawed 1972 movie, with over the top special effects, bad acting and rather unrealistic props. Lousy weapons handling across the board, including the supposedly elite special forces group. Special prize for most characters mumbling unintelligibly.

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Nighthawk Custom T4: new on AllOutdoor

A particularly refined compact 9mm 1911

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Good use for a laser

Since pocket pistols usually have abbreviated sights, I find lasers very helpful for accurate shooting. Older shooters whose eyes can’t see the sights up close benefit even more.

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Acro Yoga

Four very impressive people. Organized by Bryan Flanders.

The location is Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City. It’s the only state government building I have encountered so far that doesn’t project government hostility at the visitor, and it is available for wedding and other photographers over the weekend. It’s a very visually tidy space with good light.

 

 

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Technological accomplishments

Which countries had the capability for production of modern cannon in 1850, 1875, 1900?

Currently, which countries produce modern cars (something no more primitive than a 1990 Toyota)? Computers?

Posted in advice requested | 5 Comments

Subtitles for the German portion of Suite Française (2014)

Does anyone know where to find translation for the German-language portion of the film? I found subtitles but they omit everything said in German.

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Getting your money’s worth, positive or negative.

Most of the time, I deal with responsible and competent people. However, I have encountered two exceptions who stood out in ways I find annoying.

Exhibit 1: got a small loan from me over 2 1/2 years ago. She had some difficulties in life, so I didn’t press for repayment. For about the last year, I’ve been getting regular promises of repayment “today/tomorrow/by the end of the week”, perhaps twenty in all. I find it hard to believe that the small amount involved could not have been paid off over a few paychecks. In April, I got 10% of the total paid back. Since then, more was promised by mailed check or by cash in person, but no letter ever came and all personal appointments were missed. I also find it puzzling that somebody would make promises with no intentions of keeping them.

Exhibit 2: got a slightly larger loan from me in January. I offered to provide retouching work to pay off part of the loan. Work was done consistently poorly, without attention to detail or meeting of deadlines. Several times, I gave him non-urgent projects which he promised to do well and on time. All deadline have passed and no work was done. There’s been no communication in response to my inquiries. The deadline for repayment passed five months ago.

When people pay me or do something helpful, I try to provide at least their money’s worth in services and good publicity. Is there any down side to providing my money’s worth of negative publicity. Everything is well documented. I have pretty good reach into the circles frequented by the two people I mentioned. If nothing else, it might save others from being taken by the same people.

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Just Looking

A Lucky Gunner employee practicing sitting position in the best traditions of Appleseed.

 

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Blast!

A lucky picture capturing shotgun blast in hot, humid weather. Taken at ORSA Skeet and Trap Club during a shoot with Lucky Gunner crew.

 

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In the ideal world

My friend Boris Karpa is fond of Tim Moen’s campaign slogan: “I want gay people to be able to protect their marijuana plants with guns.” I don’t think he is thinking far enough into the bright future.

If pot was legal, we’d no more need to protect a pot patch than a row of tomato stakes or a small plot of dill. For one, legal remedies would be available in case of trespass or theft, for another, the value of the plants would be insufficient to warrant depredation. Bootleggers sometimes fought each other or law enforcement during the Prohibition, but the thought of two liquor or grocery stores selling wine getting into a shootout over turf is laughable today. Chocolate, coffee and sugar aren’t evil, but try prohibiting them and you will see raids on neonatal wards of hospitals for their store of medical caffeine, and cops would imprison people over a sugar cube. Government prohibitions enable and promote rational criminal behavior by enforcing arbitrary laws and creating perverse incentives. Reduce the number and scope of prohibitions and you will see a massive reduction in crime.

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Using Optics for Training New Shooters: new on AllOutdoor

Going counter to conventional wisdom.

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Forbidden fruit and other visual musings

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Bad nightmares about good things

Last night’s dream was amusing enough, in retrospect, to be written up. I was going through an airport with my parents and a couple of friends who visited from Germany. My parents went ahead, I hanged back with the tourists. While they were dealing with the security theater, I leaned against something and felt that I had a holster on, specifically a Sideguard IWB with a 1911 in it. Something very similar to this holster:

With this gun:

At that point, the nightmare started, with me running around and trying to find some common carrier that could ship my guns and holster home to me, as it was too late to check it into luggage. Cue people who can’t help with directions, cell phone that won’t complete my searches and general frustration.

How did I know it was a Sideguard holster? I couldn’t feel the weight or the bulk of the 1911 at all until I leaned against it. That’s what Eric Srigley’s leatherwork is known for, amazing support and comfort. He’s not the only craftsman and designer of that quality, but my mind associates “comfort” with his holsters in particular.

Sad but not surprising that TSA is on the roster of unresolved problems undergoing background processing. I wonder if they or some things like them will always be with humanity, like taxes and herpes…or could some vaccine be developed eventually?

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Cimarron .38 Navy Colt: new on AllOutdoor

An 1870s design updated for practical use

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A smart guy did the math

Weeks after I asked the ballistic math questions, I got this email:

Was intrigued by your trig problem.

Herewith my answers:
1) take distance and bearings at regular intervals, say 20 seconds apart.  (take bearing and ten seconds later take distance, repeat for 1 minute.  Using change of bearing and distance, plot 1 minute of travel; use of graph paper expedites solution for speed and direction.  Alternately, use similar triangles and trig functions to calculate.

2) from cannon bearing 18.33 degrees at 7.74 km.

3) after 1 minute of travel, the cannon should be laid to 23.00 degrees at 7.50km.

4) 1 MOA at 7500 meters is a bit over 2 meters dispersion.  If one assumes that both horizontal
And vertical dispersion are the same, which is NOT usually the case with arty, then the area inside the impact zone is about 4 square meters.  Given the projected area of the ship, a hit ought to be a certainty.

Regards, Historian

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Girl with a scar

SCAR16S with 4x ACOG 

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Collectible 1903 Springfield rimfire trainer for sale

The friend who lend me the rifle for photos (1 | 2 | 3) would like to sell it. Asking $1400. You can contact him through me. The rifle is in Nashville, TN.

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Credit where it’s due

Minnesota’s recent legalization of sound suppressors is mainly GOCRA‘s achievement. Please support them.

 

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Springfield rimfire trainer, again

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Waiting shotgunner

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