...I listened to The Lark Ascending just a day or so ago.
I like the Variations On A Theme of Thomas Tallis more, though. It came in at #3, I notice.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Strike While The Iron Is Hot, Sez I
Let's cash in while these Navy SEAL pirate hunters are still a hot commodity.
You can bet there's always someone inspired by news headlines to make a buck in Hollywood.
Of course, to be politically correct the Hollywood version will probably make the pirates white and half of the Navy SEALs black...
You can bet there's always someone inspired by news headlines to make a buck in Hollywood.
Of course, to be politically correct the Hollywood version will probably make the pirates white and half of the Navy SEALs black...
It's Just An Ornamental Swine, Officer. *Nudge Nudge Wink Wink*
A UK man has been arrested for "harassing" his policeman neighbor with an ornamental pig and a sign saying "No Pigs."
Sometimes A Pig Is Just A Pig?
It's the sort of court case that couldn't be brought in the US because of the 1st Amendment. Read the whole story. Butter wouldn't melt in this guy's mouth.
It's the sort of court case that couldn't be brought in the US because of the 1st Amendment. Read the whole story. Butter wouldn't melt in this guy's mouth.
UK To Practice Genocide On Immigrant...
...American Gray Squirrels.
Although some groups are upset about it, and want all the squirrels to gather together in a circle and sing kumbaya.
Government officials are watching the program closely, with an eye to adding other species if it proves successful.*
*not really, I added that last bit. Still, it's the natural progression if the gray squirrel extermination works, isn't it?
Although some groups are upset about it, and want all the squirrels to gather together in a circle and sing kumbaya.
Government officials are watching the program closely, with an eye to adding other species if it proves successful.*
*not really, I added that last bit. Still, it's the natural progression if the gray squirrel extermination works, isn't it?
The Library Stink Test
The Schaumburg Public Library don't need no stinkin' bodies.
Wonder how they feel about obnoxious gardenia perfume?
Wonder how they feel about obnoxious gardenia perfume?
Music Arrival
Slaid Cleaves' new CD is on pre-release status, as a subscriber to his newsletter I had the opportunity to buy an advance copy; the general release will be on April 21st.
Here's the CD cover to Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away...
You can buy a copy here.
I'm listening to the CD as I type this. Give Slaid a listen, if you like Americana/Alt-Country/Folk, you'll like this. Writer Stephen King is a fan and wrote the liner notes. If Slaid appears in your town to do a show, be sure to go, he's an entertaining rascal, and for you ladies, real easy on the eyes. If you're lucky he'll even do a yodelling song or two.
Here's the CD cover to Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away...
You can buy a copy here.
I'm listening to the CD as I type this. Give Slaid a listen, if you like Americana/Alt-Country/Folk, you'll like this. Writer Stephen King is a fan and wrote the liner notes. If Slaid appears in your town to do a show, be sure to go, he's an entertaining rascal, and for you ladies, real easy on the eyes. If you're lucky he'll even do a yodelling song or two.
Nationalized Dentistry: Prepare To Pull Your Own Teeth Out
"Free" dentistry, the UK way.
And remember: this is the sort of "free" dentistry that the Democrats here in the US hold up as a shining example to be followed.
And remember: this is the sort of "free" dentistry that the Democrats here in the US hold up as a shining example to be followed.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Milsurp Arrival
Picked up a K31 Schmidt-Rubin carbine on Saturday. Walnut stock, nice clean bore, $219 at Classic Arms.
Here's a pic:
It does of course need some cleaning: stored for decades, it has protective cosmoline inside and out which needs to be removed. The stock, made of walnut, has received dings, dents and scratches during its lifetime, which can perhaps be removed or lessened with a bit of effort with a steam iron, damp cloth and some sandpaper, or maybe not; I have yet to make a final decision. At the very least, however, the cosmoline needs to be removed from the bore, the interior metal parts, and especially from the bolt, which will need to be disassembled for this process. I've heard that underneath the steel buttplate can often be found a paper with the name of the original Swiss soldier who long ago possessed this rifle. I've read tales of milsurp purchasers who traced down these old soldiers to let them know the fate of their old rifles.
All this, and I get to shoot it, too.
*grins happily*
Here's a pic:
It does of course need some cleaning: stored for decades, it has protective cosmoline inside and out which needs to be removed. The stock, made of walnut, has received dings, dents and scratches during its lifetime, which can perhaps be removed or lessened with a bit of effort with a steam iron, damp cloth and some sandpaper, or maybe not; I have yet to make a final decision. At the very least, however, the cosmoline needs to be removed from the bore, the interior metal parts, and especially from the bolt, which will need to be disassembled for this process. I've heard that underneath the steel buttplate can often be found a paper with the name of the original Swiss soldier who long ago possessed this rifle. I've read tales of milsurp purchasers who traced down these old soldiers to let them know the fate of their old rifles.
All this, and I get to shoot it, too.
*grins happily*
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Take a Copper Pipe And a Chinese Rock...
...add the skill of a master craftsman, and you end up with...this:
A ring made for my by my friend Michael McRae of Scotia Metalwork.
A ring made for my by my friend Michael McRae of Scotia Metalwork.
When Librarians Screw Up
When you're a librarian and you receive a new book into the library, you have to determine where to place it on the shelves. Usually the easiest way to figure this out is to look at the verso page, which is the page that is on the back of the title page. The verso page provides copyright information and, in more modern books, information about how the book might be classified and shelved. If you can't figure it out by using the verso page, you might read a summary of the book on the dust jacket, or glance at the contents page, or, if all else fails, try to classify it via the title.
This last option is apparently what happened at UK's Manchester University Library when the librarians were confronted with a book titled Homo Britannicus.
The conversation probably went something like this:
1st librarian: 'Eee, it's called "Homo Britannicus." Is it about poofters, then? It says "Homo" right there in the title.
2nd librarian: Oh, it must be. There's so many books about gay lads out now.
1st libarian: All right, then, we'll put it with the gay books.
Unfortunately for our Manchester librarians, Homo Britannicus is a scholarly discussion of man's origin and the archaeological record.
I wonder what they would have made of a book titled Homo Erectus?
This last option is apparently what happened at UK's Manchester University Library when the librarians were confronted with a book titled Homo Britannicus.
The conversation probably went something like this:
1st librarian: 'Eee, it's called "Homo Britannicus." Is it about poofters, then? It says "Homo" right there in the title.
2nd librarian: Oh, it must be. There's so many books about gay lads out now.
1st libarian: All right, then, we'll put it with the gay books.
Unfortunately for our Manchester librarians, Homo Britannicus is a scholarly discussion of man's origin and the archaeological record.
I wonder what they would have made of a book titled Homo Erectus?
Thursday, April 09, 2009
From The Grill
Today's lunch: Sirloin!
In other outdoor tasks, I'm adding another coat of boiled linseed oil to my Mosin/Nagant M38 stock, and I rinsed pollen and other maple sex excretions from my car.
In other outdoor tasks, I'm adding another coat of boiled linseed oil to my Mosin/Nagant M38 stock, and I rinsed pollen and other maple sex excretions from my car.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Hell, They Were Just Metallica Fans
A former Cape Cod Police officer has agreed to pay restitution to fans at a Metallica concert after he urinated on them.
Which means, of course, that they were pissed on and pissed off simultaneously, which sounds like it should be physically impossible.
Which means, of course, that they were pissed on and pissed off simultaneously, which sounds like it should be physically impossible.
Florida: Dive-Bombing Birds
Mockingbirds and Red-Shouldered Hawks, engaging in protective behavior during nesting season.
I have personal experience with this. When I was a boy we lived in a house with a trellis on the front porch, roses climbed the trellis and were a favorite spot for mockingbirds to nest. My sister and I were dive-bombed regularly by the parent birds when we went outside.
I have personal experience with this. When I was a boy we lived in a house with a trellis on the front porch, roses climbed the trellis and were a favorite spot for mockingbirds to nest. My sister and I were dive-bombed regularly by the parent birds when we went outside.
She Has A Passion For Bean Curd?
The Colorado Department of Revenue rejected a woman's request for a personalized license plate.
The woman, who professes to love tofu, proposed a license plate reading ILVTOFU.
Presumably you can see why the Department of Revenue rejected her request?
*snort*
The woman, who professes to love tofu, proposed a license plate reading ILVTOFU.
Presumably you can see why the Department of Revenue rejected her request?
*snort*
Knives From My Collection
Since I've been lax at posting recently, I'll try to make it up to you all by posting a few photos of knives from my collection.
First, a knife made from a Russell Green River Works blade. The handle is red Dymondwood, pins are nickle silver, sheath is a dangler-type. The blade is carbon steel and is in a butcher knife pattern, although much shorter than a typical butcher knife. A knifemaker friend assembled it and made the sheath.
Next is a Randall knife, the Model #10 "Salt Fisherman & Household Utility." It is made of 440 stainless steel with cocobolo Dymondwood handles, brass pins, belt pouch sheath. Unlike most other Randalls, the #10 is not forged but is made by the stock removal process. When I purchased it these knives were available for delivery within a month or two, but since then have been added to the standard wait list for Randalls, and can take up to five years for delivery.
Finally, a Randall Model #12 "Smithsonian Bowie." This is made with an O-1 carbon steel blade, stabilized Maple handle, and brass furniture, and a leather belt sheath. This is an extremely heavy knife, heavier than a butcher's cleaver, made of 3/8" stock. I think personally it is too heavy and should be made with 1/4" stock at most. The Randall shop did a poor job on the finish of this blade, grinder marks are still visible. Frankly this is a wall-hanger, it's too heavy to be a practical carry knife; you'd be better off with a $10 machete from Wal-Mart. Still, it's a great big Bowie, 11" blade, and makes you feel 10 feet tall when you hold it in your hand. The photo is a bit overexposed, I should have shot it in shade.
First, a knife made from a Russell Green River Works blade. The handle is red Dymondwood, pins are nickle silver, sheath is a dangler-type. The blade is carbon steel and is in a butcher knife pattern, although much shorter than a typical butcher knife. A knifemaker friend assembled it and made the sheath.
Next is a Randall knife, the Model #10 "Salt Fisherman & Household Utility." It is made of 440 stainless steel with cocobolo Dymondwood handles, brass pins, belt pouch sheath. Unlike most other Randalls, the #10 is not forged but is made by the stock removal process. When I purchased it these knives were available for delivery within a month or two, but since then have been added to the standard wait list for Randalls, and can take up to five years for delivery.
Finally, a Randall Model #12 "Smithsonian Bowie." This is made with an O-1 carbon steel blade, stabilized Maple handle, and brass furniture, and a leather belt sheath. This is an extremely heavy knife, heavier than a butcher's cleaver, made of 3/8" stock. I think personally it is too heavy and should be made with 1/4" stock at most. The Randall shop did a poor job on the finish of this blade, grinder marks are still visible. Frankly this is a wall-hanger, it's too heavy to be a practical carry knife; you'd be better off with a $10 machete from Wal-Mart. Still, it's a great big Bowie, 11" blade, and makes you feel 10 feet tall when you hold it in your hand. The photo is a bit overexposed, I should have shot it in shade.
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