Computer reboots immediately after starting Windows (problem is presisting)

Posted on November 9, 2013 by Oleg Volk

I just clumsily pulled the main power cord from the battery/UPS, turning off the PC while it ran. Now it boots into Windows 7, and a few seconds later reboots. The first time it did so, it displayed a message “CPU overclocking failed”. I checked CPU setup and it’s at normal mode. Does it in safe mode, too. It doesn’t restart if in pre-windows mode, such as in a setup utility. No idea what went wrong, would appreciate advice on fixing it.

For a while, Windows wouldn’t start at all, “the boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible”. Windows CD isn’t allowing a repair. Then Windows started again and is running for now.
The guy who built that computer for me talked me through turning off overclocking for sure, then it started to re-boot itself again. Unless I can get help in Nashville, I’ll have to drive about three hours to get it looked at…

Posted in advice requested | Tagged | 18 Comments

“Shoot to Win” by Chris Cheng

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Oleg Volk

For the past year, I’ve been taking photos for Chris Cheng’s upcoming book.

This book is now available for pre-order. I endorse it.

Posted in book, rkba, self-defense, training, weapon | 1 Comment

Loaner mousguns needed.

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Oleg Volk

I’d like to borrow a Browning Baby (or the similar .25 Colt, Beretta) and any flavor of NAA Mini revolver in 22LR for a test firing in Nashville. Anyone?

Posted in pistol, weapon | Comments Off on Loaner mousguns needed.

Snapshots from various years.

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Oleg Volk

These have only one thing in common: they were taken with pocket cameras, either mine or borrowed.

Posted in nature | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

This is why I like Boberg XR9

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Oleg Volk

The gun is small, light, has a good trigger and very low recoil.

First, I tried it on paper.

Rapid fire from 21ft shows lack of trigger control on my part, I am still not used to DAO triggers. That said, none of the shots hit further than 1.5″ from point of aim, which is ok for a pocket pistol.

Pumpkins are fun targets, so I rolled out a fairly small, about a foot in diameter, one onto the range.

At 25 yards, rapid fire puts all 8 shots in a fairly tidy groups. Larger holes are from double hits. The advantage of the longer barrel show up on the photos showing the back of this pumpkin.

Thanks to the high muzzle velocity, 124gr Golden Sabres did a nice job of expanding even on the hollow target. Felt recoil was on par with locked breech Walther PK380 chambered for 9×17(380Auto).

I recommend. Get your own.

Posted in pistol, training, weapon | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Right rifle for left-hand shooters

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Oleg Volk

RRA Operator-L with EOTech sight, X5L RS light/laser, Magpul 40rd magazine and AFG. The fashionable hat is from Henschel.

Posted in interesting people, light/laser, rifle, weapon | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

No time for a sight picture?

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Posted in light/laser, pistol, self-defense | Tagged , | 1 Comment

New on AllOutdoor: Designing meaningful practice targets

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Oleg Volk

How to learn from every range trip…on the cheap.

Posted in pistol, rifle, self-defense, training | Tagged , | 2 Comments

New on AllOutdoor: Henry Arms survival kit

Posted on November 4, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Henry Arms survival kit reviewed by my friend Frank and photographed by me.

Posted in hunting, nature, tools | Tagged | 2 Comments

Heller Commemorative .44 Bulldog

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Charter Arms supports Heller Foundation. You can also support them, either by buying this revolver or by making a direct donation.

Posted in pistol, rkba | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Little mouse.

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Today, while on a photo shoot with me and another friend, the author of Just People found this tiny comatose mouse. The model wanted to warm it up, but its prospects looked poor.

Posted in beast, nature | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Social service homicide

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Oleg Volk

The killing at LAX was done rather inefficiently, but the sole surprise is that this hasn’t happened much sooner. Given that our side — non-government people — tends to avoid violence, this was probably squabbling among thieves escalating to a predictable end.

Posted in civil rights | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

USB card reader connection drops repeatedly.

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Oleg Volk

For some reason, all three of my CF card readers drop connection while I try to transfer files from them. They do it with all five cards, all six USB2 and both USB3 ports — but this was a very occasional problem till yesterday. Now I have to re-start transfers several times in a row. Any idea why? Other devices work fine on those ports. I tried multiple cables, too. Every so often, the transfers begin at USB1 speeds, too.

The computer is stable otherwise.

Posted in advice requested | 11 Comments

WordPress posts no longer copying to Livejournal. Why?

Posted on November 2, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Does anyone know how to fix the break in the propagation of these blog posts to LJ?

Posted in advice requested | 2 Comments

Scary Halloween thoughts.

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Oleg Volk

This year, same as last, the scariest deeds aren’t being shown on C-SPAN. They are being done on the quiet — so take C-SPAN level of scary and multiply it by some unknown but considerable coefficient to get the idea of how much evil is afoot this Fall.

Posted in civil rights, humor | Tagged | 5 Comments

Loaner video camera needed.

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Oleg Volk

If anyone in Nashville has a current prosumer video camera and would be willing to let me try it out, please let me know. I’d like to figure out if the ergonomic advantages of a dedicated video camera would be worth going to a smaller sensor.

Posted in advice requested, camera and lens | Tagged | Comments Off on Loaner video camera needed.

Alternatives to QuickBooks?

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Oleg Volk

I am looking for a simple program capable of downloading and consolidating credit card and bank transactions, to do simple accounting, including preparing data for tax forms. Has anyone successfully used open-source (such as GNUCash 2) accounting programs for these purposes? Or a simple and reliable commercial software (I don’t need most of the features found in QuickBooks)?

Posted in advice requested | 10 Comments

Strange shotgun

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Mossberg 500 shotgun converted to take Saiga 12 magazines.

Posted in shotgun, weapon | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Slavery reparations?

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Has anyone considered the reparations owed to those who served involuntarily as draftees before that shameful practice was discontinued? Unlike the reparations to the long-dead slaves who were in bondage pre-1860s, these actually have a chance of reaching the living.

Posted in civil rights | Tagged | 22 Comments

Twenty photos from SkyDogCon 2013

Posted on October 28, 2013 by Oleg Volk

Photos | About SkyDogCon

Posted in interesting people, tools, training | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Twenty photos from SkyDogCon 2013