physical health

A PAPERLESS Society?

When I worked at my last job, we did many things on a computer terminal.  I was there over 20 years, and saw many changes.  Of course, as the technology evolved, so did our machines – usually about 4 years after everyone else did.

They kept harping about A PAPERLESS SOCIETY, but kept us using paper and printing on it.  More electronically, but, eventually paper was involved.

Now, my roomie prefers the really soft, cushy roll of paper.  You know the kind – advertised by cartoon bears in the woods.  Sadly, roll it about two-times-over and one is down to the cardboard tube.  Time to change the roll.

I prefer the 1000 sheet-single-ply.  If they could, they’d rate it with a sandpaper grit number.  More sheets; don’t have to change the roll as frequently.

My experience is the female-of-the-species prefers as my roomie does.  Better soft than abrasive.

This has evolved into two roll dispensers in the main bathroom, his and hers.  And ‘roll follies’ when one roll is needed upstairs, but the reloads are downstairs.  But, all-in-all, we work it out.

As we humans know, unless one is in a less-civilized part of the World, eventually, paper is involved.

Christmas Gift Idea!

For that little glow-in-the-dark child in all of us…

 Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab

Only available from 1951-1952, this science kit for CHILDREN included 4 types of uranium ore, a Geiger counter, a comic called “Dagwood Spits The Atom” and a coupon for ordering MORE radioactive materials. One of the four uranium ores included was Po-210 (Polonium) which, by mass, is 250,000 times more toxic than hydrogen cyanide. “Merry Christmas Kevin, here’s that giant box of poison you asked for.”

GUN SHOW, the After Action Report

Buoyed financially by a number of Internet friends, my roommate and I were able to attend opening day of the big Crossroads of the West Gun Show, yesterday!

The show opened yesterday @ 1100, and went until 1700.  Today it goes 0900-1700, Sunday 0900-1600 at the Arizona State Fairgrounds.  Parking is $7.00; admission $16.00 per person.

As previously recounted in these pages, I missed attending the past few years due to health issues.  We did try last year, but these health issues got the better of both of us, and we only saw about 10% of the show.  I’d not been in the three years previous.

This year we saw over 50% of the show!!  (Progress, not perfection. Sigh.)

Part of the problem is it’s all walking and standing.  My roommate also has health issues which limit her participation in such things.  But she’s a crack shot with her Nighthawk, so I don’t complain!    And we took many breaks to sit and re-hydrate, and get off our feet.

For those familiar with the venue, we had to park North of the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum, then walk South to the exhibit buildings, along the South and West borders of the fairgrounds.  (several hundred yards?)  I think it totaled seven fair exhibit buildings, plus the asphalt between them with four (not the traditional two) tarpaulined venues with even more tables!

While it’s known as the ‘big’ gun show of the year, it didn’t seem quite as populated as some of the big shows in the past.  Still crowded though – I suspect today and tomorrow will mimic sardine cans.  There seemed to be more military customers about, and while the number of women increases every show, there were perhaps fewer yesterday than I remember seeing in the past.  Fewer rotund gentlemen in overalls, though!   (Not me, I wasn’t wearing overalls!)  But quite a few men with long established beards – ZZ TOP clones abounded.

It’s been said of art, I don’t know it, but I know what I like.  Not having an interest in Japanese militaria (for example), Arisaka rifles don’t interest me.  Samurai swords do, so they get more of my attention than the Arisakas.  A table with all manner of WWII items might draw my interest – but I shun tables displaying just Third Reich crap.  Doing my part in the free market to not support such folk.

If you like combat Tupperware, this is your show.  All manner of polymer-framed pistols and stocked rifles, and all their accessories could be had!  Many plastic AR-15 magazines, even though the Marines just announced they were no longer approving anything but metallic magazines for their rifles.  Perhaps that’s why they were for sale?

And every time I passed the ammo case displays, there were long lines, and persons with dollies and hand trucks.  I hope this portends just being prudential?  In this vein, very little out-and-out anti-administration stuff.  Some bumper stickers, a poster, a few t-shirts.  Nothing advocating anything but free speech that I noticed.  I guess if you want hate speech (whatever THAT is) go to an SEIU event!

There seemed to be more Mare’s Leg carbines for sale than I’ve seen in previous shows.  Both the cheap foreign knock-offs and quality American-made brass receiver/octagonal barrel types!  Perhaps it’s the Firefly meme – or this guy:  

And, as a pleasant surprise, for some inexplicable reason, a plethora of Baby Brownings!  Some new-in-box (with requisite prices), some with factory engraving (below) and Browning (TM) gun rugs, and one seriously under priced ($175!!).  It appeared to be a private sale with the port side blemished from years of sitting in someone’s nightstand or sock drawer!

Of course, while I had funds for parking, admission and food, I had none to spare for acquisition of any firearms.  This was simply nose-up-against-the-glass window shopping for us!

And while we couldn’t see everything, we did enjoy ourselves thoroughly!

Hey, there’s always next year?

(We did miss seeing Mark Bell, though, as we did last year…   )

Some gotta win, some gotta lose…

Guffaw’s got the blues…

I try not to let the state of the World the Nation my life get to me.  I try not to be self-centered.  I do realize that there’s very little I can do regarding the state of either the World or the Nation.  I’ve let my opinions be known, and I voted.  I’ve spoken out on this blog.  In many places on the globe these things are not allowed, and subject to sever penalties.

But, I can do something about my attitude!  I’m approaching a landmark anniversary in my life (if you reckon in Base 10); I’ve no partner to share it with; no money – on disability (which is both a description of lack of funds and physical ability).

I’ve a number of chronic conditions, and seem to acquire more every day.  I owe medical bills.

I drive a 13 year old car, when I can afford gasoline.

And last Summer, because my disability income is 60% lower than my previous meager income,  I lost my home.  (“We lived in a hallway!”  “We dreamed of living in a hallway-we lived in a cardboard box!” – Monty Python)  Fortunately, a good friend offered me a place to stay.

Two weeks ago, my sister had a minor stroke.  (If there is such a thing).  She’s back to work, and coping, but it does get one’s attention.

But all is not lost.

Re: this upcoming calendar mark – My new neighbor and EX-wife (and friend) contacted me, and asked if she could put a little celebration together in my honor!

HOLY SHNIKIES!!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, “If you have friends, you have everything!”  You know, like the end of that Christmas movie…

Time to remove my head from it’s regular inverted resting place and get moving.

Thanks for listening.

STICK It To ‘Em!

…or other implements of defense it to ‘em! (link)

I have owned (but have rarely used) a Cold Steel Walking Stick.  It has a metal ferrule on the end, so its more for show than actually using as a walking stick.  (Even though my ever-increasing disability probably warrants use of such a device!)  I DID place a rubber crutch tip over the ferule to make it more ‘walk-friendly’ for me! 

I did do some police baton training back-in-the-day, so I’m certain that will translate to walking stick-fu!

I own some other Cold Steel products (like a set of fine kitchen knives with durable rubber handles) and find them to be reasonably priced and serviceable .  One of the kitchen knives was even a replacement piece, as the original was missing after my burglary.  I suspect they were trying to use it to unlock the Fort Knox safe, after they pried off the combo dial and handle.  It didn’t work for that!

Cold Steel also makes some excellent knives, and striking implements, and their free DVD shows them torture testing some of the knives – Excellent!  I highly recommend them.

The Crossroads of the West Gun Show extravaganza (you know, the big one with the SAR folks included!) is scheduled for November 30 through December 2.  I only hope I have enough stamina to be able to walk the entire show as I have in shows past.  If so, I plan on drooling at the Cold Steel exhibit for a while…

Might even bring my walking stick…

(attention FTC – neither Cold Steel, Crossroads, or Fort Knox provided me with anything save fine products at a reasonably price!  Bye-Bye Nosy Bastards!)

“Do you feel LUCKY?”

“Well, do ya, punk?”

Most firearms and film aficionados will recognize the quote snippet above.  For the uninitiated, it’s Clint Eastwood as Inspector ‘Dirty’ Harry Callahan.  Spoken while pointing his 6″ Smith & Wesson model 29 .44 magnum at a wounded bank robbery suspect’s head.  One of his more (in)famous tag lines.

The Smith & Wesson was developed in the 1950s as a hunting handgun.  Knowledgeable gun folks understood it was too heavy and bulky to carry for self-protection.  And the full-house rounds was well, stout, when shooting.

But, like many folks who came-of-age in the 60′s and 70′s, the iconic Dirty Harry gun had large appeal.  Just like the Walther PPK of James Bond fame – only MUCH larger!

And, there was a small window in my life where I had the funds to acquire one.  I was ‘smart’ enough to have the 4″ barrel.  And stainless.  It was concealable – or more so than the 6″.  But still big and heavy.

It was the first gun I carried after the State issued me a permit for doing so.  At the mall, just because.  Kind of a field test.  No one saw anything.

But, as with carrying any full-size or service sidearm, it was heavy.  And somewhat difficult to conceal – even for a big guy like me.  Soon, I evolved into carrying a full sized 1911, or a electroless-nickeled S&W 442 for ‘light days’.  And the .44 was returned to the safe.

I did take her shooting a few times to show off.  Mostly with new students.  Very accurate, coupled with much blast and flash. And recoil.

And this is my point.  I found out a while back that many Gunsite-taught folks have changed over to 9mm, instead of the ubiquitous .45 ACP, because they are less painful to shoot!

Could age and infirmity be driving our choices over stopping power?  It certain did over my 629 Smith.  So you gotta ask yourself one question:

Do you feel lucky?

Prepper Mindset

Brigid has a terrific post regarding prepping.  Not so much the specifics, but the attitude.  You should go read it!

Home on the Range

The key line is the final one:

Being prepared is harder work than remorse, a lesson that as individuals and a nation, we often learn the hard way.

I’ve thought much of prepping – ever since the onset of survivalism (ala Mel Tappan) in the 70s.  But rarely have had the resources to do it properly.  And I’m no former specops guy; wasn’t a Boy Scout, and as an older, infirmed, overweight, crippled American on regular medication, there is much I cannot do.  Not to mention my income was cut 60% a few years back – due to my disabilities.  It’s not as if I can shave a couple gold bars to trade for some cases of ammunition and Metformin.  I’ve no gold bars.

But Brigid’s post brought up for me the mindset.  After all, didn’t Sun Tzu say we first fought with our minds?  I may not be able to have a survival bunker in the wilderness stocked with food, fuel, ammo, gold and water.  Hell, if TEOTWAWKI arrives, or even an earthquake or a bank run, I won’t panic and expect my government to take care of me.

I can fend for myself.  That’s the beginning.

The Swimmer

The other day I posted a video in my You Tube widget from Burt Lancaster’s 1968 avant garde film The Swimmer.  This was not coincidental, as upon moving into my new digs, one of the bits of information I gleaned was not only does the townhouse community have tennis and basketball courts, but they have a pool. (!)

I’ve not been swimming in years, but between disability and weight issues, I think it could only help.  I’m pretty sedentary.  So the other day I took a test swim.  I’m generally up early, and decided if I went first thing I wouldn’t be disturbed (any more than I already am) and would avoid the direct Sun of mid-day.

It’s a small pool, no diving allowed, and not very long.  But, it worked for me.  My only complaint is it’s being small, the laps aren’t very long  – as if I could swim an Olympic pool length, anyway!  And, given my size, I do resemble a big dog in a kiddie pool.

But, we’re gonna keep at it.  Perhaps as the Summer winds down it will feel less like bathwater.  And maybe, eventually, one of my muscles will become toned.

I’m TIRED…

I’m TIRED.

This project J and I have been working on continues.  While progress IS being made, the simple fact is neither one of us is as energetic as we once were, and we’ve fallen into a pattern.  Work one or two days, concurrently moving stuff, then on the third day, we rest.

It’s not a choice, it’s a requirement.

I AM convinced we will complete the assigned task within the time allotted – but BOY are we tired!  Maybe it’s something to do with stairs and 100 degree F + temperatures (?)

I’m hoping when this is completed at the end-of-the-month, things will get back to ‘normal’ (whatever THAT means!)

Madeline Kahn (as Lilli von Stupp) said it best.  If only I were tired for her reasons…
“I’m Tired” NSFW

Traditional Mindset = Bigotry

Naw, not Col. Cooper.  The other mindset with which we’ve all been beaten brainwashed conditioned taught for most of the last 50 years…

From The View From North Central Idaho: