tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42948532386162746512024-03-05T17:30:39.246-06:00Life, The Universe, and HomeworkRandom musings of a college conservative shooter. Topics range from politics, guns, philosophy, life, the universe, homework, and pretty much anything else I feel like writing about.The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-32955788676335949212011-09-23T23:29:00.003-05:002011-09-23T23:32:50.435-05:00Moving HouseRecently I have been becoming progressively more annoyed at the title and URL of this blog, both of which seem rather unwieldy and irritating. As such, I have moved house to the new, redesigned Scribbler's Scrawls at <a href="http://scribblerscrawls.blogspot.com/">http://scribblerscrawls.blogspot.com/</a><div><br /></div><div>All my content should have transitioned already, and any new content will turn up there. Apologies for any and all inconvenience.</div>The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-52283150008781023112011-09-23T10:06:00.002-05:002011-09-23T10:37:35.537-05:00Changing PerspectivesDespite expecting this to some degree, I am still occasionally taken aback by the differences between Dallas and Chicago. Most are minor and of little interest, like people complaining about 70 degrees as being too cold, but a few have caught my attention.<div><br /></div><div>I can be a conservative and not get ostracized, or even remembered as 'that conservative guy.' In Government this morning, when the professor asked the perspective of the lefty progressives in the room, three people made noncommittal statements. When he polled the conservatives, far more people spoke up and entered the conversation. In Chicago, it would have been quite the opposite. All I can assume then is either the balance is legitimately shifted that far, or the campus conservatives just have louder voices.</div><div><br /></div><div>The other area near and dear to me that I've noticed a change in is firearms. Yesterday I had someone say to me "yeah, both my parents have ccw, it's just part of being in Texas," which I found heartening. Due to a mix of being on a college campus and not knowing what to look for, I haven't been able to definitively say I've seen someone carry, but I'm pretty sure on a couple cases, especially involving Hawaiian shirts.</div><div><br /></div><div>Every pawn shop around here has at least a few guns, and the Walmart is loaded for bear.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the same conversation as the one quoted above, a fellow Illinoisian tried to make the claim that assault weapons were ridiculous, and you wouldn't shoot a deer with an assault weapon, to which someone replied that they had. Hunting is part of the fabric of existing down here, even in the more urban areas of Dallas, and the associated weaponry is just taken as is.</div><div><br /></div><div>The one strange aspect to that last is that most of my friends actually know very little about guns. They have grown up with them, shot them, and been around them, but couldn't tell you what the difference between a bolt-action and semi-auto rifle is. When I asked the same friend I keep mentioning what rifle she has, she didn't know, not even the caliber.</div><div><br /></div><div>I suppose it's just a side effect of living around them. People start to take them for granted. Growing up in Chicago, firearms were something of a taboo, and something entirely outside the culture. As such, much of my interest ended up being academic. I found them interesting because they were partially foreign, and there was so much to know about them. The perspective here says 'eh, it's a gun. I've got a couple.' and doesn't care beyond that. I can't quite decide which I like more.</div>The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-29189738963801570582011-09-16T11:46:00.002-05:002011-09-16T15:46:07.452-05:00Marine tanks....Not of the Abrams variety, but the salty kind. My graduation present from my parents is a work in progress at this point, a nano-reef aquarium. I ordered the tank and other components two weeks ago, and to my surprise, found that earlier this week I was set to add corals to the tank.<div><br /></div><div>Under normal reef setup, you have to wait upwards of a month for the live rock to 'cure.' Live rock is old pieces of dead coral and rock that have been coated with a layer of microorganisms and dirt, providing biological filtration for the tank. When purchasing live rock, most of the time it has been shipped dry, and much of the needed material has died. As such, one must put the live rock in water for a while to rebuild the filtration.</div><div><br /></div><div>I purchased mine locally, which had the twin benefits of being able to pick and choose, and being thoroughly pre-cured. It is beautiful stuff, with hard coraline plaque algaes of assorted colors coating it. I can't get a picture that adequately shows the colors, especially since my camera died, but once I can, I will share.</div><div><br /></div><div>After I saw the tiniest of cycles lasting all of two days, the rock was ready to take corals and other critters. After a couple more days monitoring, I started with a peppermint shrimp, a couple hermit crabs, and three snails. All of them have been doing quite well, wandering around and eating loose material from the rocks. The peppermint shrimp has the added benefit of eating Aiptasia, or nuisance anemones, of which I had a couple in with the live rock.</div><div><br /></div><div>A couple days ago now, I took the first major jump and added corals. The manager at <a href="http://fish-tanks.net/">Aquatic Design Aquariums</a>, which I heartily recommend by the by, helped me select a few hardy, attractive corals, gave me a very fair price, then knocked off ten dollars for a first tank. Right now I have two mushroom corals, a blue and a purple, a kenya tree coral, two different types of Zoanthus polyp, and the prize of the tank, a single head of frogspawn coral. </div><div><br /></div><div>There are also a few patches on the live rock that look like they might be corals, and two that I know are. One is a fairly beat up cabbage leather coral that is making a nice recovery. The other is some variety of Acropora that I bought apparently dead, but woke up this morning. I'm not sure if I can keep that one alive, as they are fairly high maintenance and generally too difficult for a small tank, but I hope it lives. I may have lost one mushroom that kept getting blown around by the current from the filter, but I've got it secured now, so I'm hoping it'll come back.</div><div><br /></div><div>All that's left to go into the tank are a couple more corals, another shrimp, and a fish. Hopefully I'll have those ordered within the week.</div><div><br /></div><div>Overall, things are going very well. I am pleased.</div><div><br /></div><div>This has been a remarkably painless introduction to marine tanks. Whether it will stay as such remains to be seen. </div>The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-5287017679709190732011-09-11T11:01:00.002-05:002011-09-11T11:21:03.609-05:009/11<a href="http://worldpittsburgh.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/9-11-flag.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 800px; height: 540px;" src="http://worldpittsburgh.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/9-11-flag.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.september11news.com/PentagonAirView14th.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 293px;" src="http://www.september11news.com/PentagonAirView14th.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><u><br /></u></span></div><a href="http://www.september11news.com/Flight93CraterReuters.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 450px; height: 295px;" src="http://www.september11news.com/Flight93CraterReuters.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Remember. Not in the pansy way the media takes nowadays, 'how did YOU feel that day, what were YOU doing?' but proper. Remember the people who don't have a today because of 19 sick godforsaken pigs. Remember what they tried to do to our country. Remember that for as long as we live in fear and allow our government to whittle away our liberties out of fear, they won.<div><br /></div><div>I don't like losing.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's an easy thing to win. Remember, and grow up.</div><div><br /></div><div>I will not forgive and I will not forget.</div>The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-65815648946959958152011-09-06T22:37:00.002-05:002011-09-06T23:06:43.672-05:00Sunday<div style="text-align: left;">This is likely to not be particularly PC. If you offend easily, go away now.</div><div><br /><div><div>In a few days, it will be one decade since a small group of God-forsaken bastards tried to run my country into the ground. I was eight years old, and remember sitting under a blanket watching the footage repeating. It didn't really make sense at the time. I thought they were just trying to kill people.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Ten years later it does. In many senses, those lowest pieces of shit I can imagine succeeded. For years, people would turn and stare at a hijab or turban passing on the street. We entered into two apparently unending wars. We have had encroachment after encroachment on our civil liberties in the name of our protection.</div><div><br /></div><div>We forgot.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We forgot what it was they were trying to destroy. They wanted a weak America, a crippled America. They wanted a people living so thoroughly in fear that they would roll over and disappear. More than killing Americans, they wanted to kill America.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tell me, how many foundational American principles have been violated in the last ten years?</div><div><br /></div><div>Tell me, how many of your enumerated rights can you really count on?</div><div><br /></div><div>Tell me, are you safer in your home because of all these things?</div><div><br /></div><div>Tell me, if they hit us again, could we take it?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Buildings don't matter. People Matter. Ideas matter. Freedom matters.</div><div><br /></div><div>This:</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQo9UqICxyfnaPK04CP3QvFEmqnjyyY3yYt1iJ2sdXsArCBP2pC_xv3E6OsfCENDJj1C-FaYd8jDSRXdOw-fOPsvxboXhrNxfCAOwwplHlKy8duGAUTNRqEimt5CfPo-VNW2wnPatwHY/s1600/9-11-before-collapse.jpeg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 420px; height: 282px;" border="0" alt="" /></div><div>only matters so long as we don't succumb, and we don't forget. So long as we don't allow our America to die by the wayside, victim to its own timidity. Do not let them destroy us. Buildings don't matter. America does.</div><div><br /></div><div>Remember, or they won.</div></div>The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-36609928572753107492011-09-02T19:59:00.002-05:002011-09-02T21:13:39.002-05:00Pawn Shop ThoughtsI enjoy wandering into pawn shops. Any number of interesting things can be found in them, including the occasional deal.<div>
<br /></div><div>Today when one of my friends was getting a haircut, I wandered next door into the pawn shop. Their prices were, to put it bluntly, ridiculous, (as new prices for decidedly not new items) but it was entertaining nonetheless. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I get the sense that over time, pawn shops get a flavor to them. This particular one had two rooms, one of which was devoted entirely to old tools. The main room had one half devoted to assorted audio equipment and guitars. The back corner had the firearms, with a decent collection of shotguns, a fair few hunting rifles, one AR, and a paltry selection of handguns, including what I think may be a pawn shop necessity: a Llama. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>They had a couple firearms that were either very antique or very fake, but the thing that caught my eye most was a walnut stock Browning A-bolt in 30.06. It had a relatively high end scope of make I do not recall right now. The most interesting thing to me though was that it had the air of a rifle someone didn't want to have to give up. The finish in places had been carefully redone, such that it was difficult to notice but for a slight change in the reflections.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>It has some sort of story behind it. If I wasn't a poor college student from out of state living on a gun-free campus, I would have bought it. As is, I left it on the shelf.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I think I will make a habit of stopping into pawn shops when the opportunity arises. Dallas may be a fairly metropolitan, urban area, but there are still interesting shops in it, which I cannot say for Chicago. I'll post whenever I find something interesting. I'll take pictures when I can as well.</div>The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-203592613670009942011-08-26T00:43:00.005-05:002011-08-29T09:41:58.222-05:00We Saw This ComingI was assigned recently to read two of the Federalist Papers for my Government class, specifically <a href="http://www.law.ou.edu/hist/federalist/federalist-10-19/">#10</a> and <a href="http://www.law.ou.edu/ushistory/federalist/federalist-50-59/federalist.51.shtml">#51</a>. Both concern Constitutional Principles in different aspects. I'll cover #51 later, but for now I have a few comments to make relative to #10.<div>
<br /></div><div>The essay can best be summed up as 'the madness of crowds and a Republic's means of dealing with it.' Faction, as it is referred to in the essay, is a highly dangerous force in straight democracy. Mob mentality makes people accept things that on reflection they might find abhorrent, but due to the illusions of acceptability conferred by consensus, said reflection very often simply never occurs.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I know it is generally considered taboo to use this example for anything, but Nazi Germany is a fine example of these sorts of issues. Before a charismatic sociopath came to power, Germans by and large tolerated, if not particularly liked, the assorted peoples persecuted through Hitler's reign. There was resentment for the international treatment post WWI, but they had neither the will nor the power necessary to seek recompense. Forward came a man capable of wielding absolute power in Germany, who played on the fears and resentments of the populace and gave them an outlet for their frustrations, and the vast majority of Germans either participated or accepted this.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I have heard the argument that the actions of the Fuhrer were not reflective of the people. This is absurd. Considering real power to be the ability to enforce your will on your own, he was powerless. The power he wielded came from the consent of the governed, and the might of the military.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Most modern opinion clearly finds Hitler abhorrent, and I would say rightly so. Most every modern German is in agreement.* If a run of the mill German citizen in 1939 were transported to the present, odds are they would not call for the same things they supported in their own time. Mobs are a frighteningly pervasive and persuasive element of society.</div><div>
<br />The interesting thing that crops up later is the application of faction and mob mentality to the governing body. The proposed solution is simple. The US is big enough that, in theory, there will be enough factions competing that none of them are rendered effective.</div><div><blockquote></blockquote><div><blockquote>The influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular States, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States. A religious sect may degenerate into a political faction in a part of the Confederacy; but the variety of sects dispersed over the entire face of it must secure the national councils against any danger from that source. A rage for paper money, for an abolition of debts, for an equal division of property, or for any other improper or wicked project,** will be less apt to pervade the whole body of the Union than a particular member of it; in the same proportion as such a malady is more likely to taint a particular county or district, than an entire State</blockquote></div><div>Here enters our modern problem. How many true factions exist within congress? While they may subdivide into RINO, Blue Dog, Tea Party, Libertarian, Green, etc, the two broad categories are of course Democrat and Republican. In an increasing percentage of votes, especially on financial matters, the vote distribution is entirely partisan.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The nature of a two party system is dangerous. Both parties now are relatively indistinguishable, and neither serves as an adequate check against the other. Neither has achieved their end goals because the balance of power see-saws back and forth so frequently. When in agreement on an issue, the American people have little option in redress. Take the following.</div><blockquote>The apportionment of taxes on the various descriptions of property is an act which seems to require the most exact impartiality; yet there is, perhaps, no legislative act in which greater opportunity and temptation are given to a predominant party to trample on the rules of justice.
<br /></blockquote>Taxes are indeed by international standard fairly low. This does not change the fact that they are ridiculously high. Increasingly we see a government bleeding it's constituency dry and offering nothing substantive in return. Both parties are guilty.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The Tea Party seems then the best thing to happen in a long while. While other parties have attempted to break the two party system, none have received the backing and numbers of the Tea Party. The upcoming elections will likely increase the foothold already established. Even if you don't agree with their politics, adding another layer of difficulty and obfuscation to passing a law, not through bureaucratic but diplomatic means, can only be a good thing.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Our government no longer has the benefit of the entire nation at heart. Their methods of social engineering are failing, and taking the country down with them. This should come as no surprise to anyone. The institutions of the constitution so freely ignored today are specifically designed to prevent this.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Of additional gripe, there is an entire faction of huge import no longer represented in congress. The 17th Amendment took the election of Senators from the state governments and handed it to the people. This rendered the two houses largely identical, and increased the potential for popular mob rule to carry law significantly. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>One closing point. <a href="http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/">Kevin Baker</a> points out that this is <a href="http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/2011/08/quote-of-day-mark-steyn-edition.html">it</a>. The US is the hill to die on. I don't believe we are quite to the point of open revolt, though it seems not inconceivable within the next 3-5 years. I think we can still make a recovery through the mechanisms in place through the US Constitution. Repeal the 17th Amendment. Elect constitutionalists who will restore the workings of this country to their proper form. Remove the propaganda and indoctrination of public education.*** Do not stand by and watch the country crumble. If revolution comes it means we as an American people have failed as thoroughly as our government has failed us.</div><div>
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<br /></div><div>*Note that the Most I am referring to in both cases excludes mostly crazy people, neo-nazis, and white supremacists. These factions are not, for the moment, representative of any meaningful group.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>**Note how many of these things are being actively supported if not already firmly in place, eg paper money.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>***For those who think this makes me crazy, go read Kevin Baker on <a href="http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/2011/05/failure-of-critical-pedagogy.html">modern</a> <a href="http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/2008/05/balkanization.html">educational </a><a href="http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/2010/02/critical-pedagogy.html">failings</a></div>The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-18924621465637443032011-08-23T23:22:00.007-05:002011-08-24T13:51:58.099-05:00Meme on<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; ">
<br />I give in to peer pressure.
<br />The NPR's Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy novels with the ones I have read in bold:
<br />
<br /><b>1. The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien
<br />2. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
<br />3. Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card
<br />4. The Dune Chronicles, by Frank Herbert (I have read Dune, but none of the others)</b>
<br />5. A Song Of Ice And Fire Series, by George R. R. Martin
<br />6. 1984, by George Orwell
<br /><b>7. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury </b>
<br />8. The Foundation Trilogy, by Isaac Asimov
<br />9. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
<br /><b>10. American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
<br />11. The Princess Bride, by William Goldman </b>
<br />12. The Wheel Of Time Series, by Robert Jordan
<br />13. Animal Farm, by George Orwell
<br />14. Neuromancer, by William Gibson
<br /><b>15. Watchmen, by Alan Moore </b>
<br /><b>16. I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov</b>
<br />17. Stranger In A Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein
<br />18. The Kingkiller Chronicles, by Patrick Rothfuss
<br />19. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
<br /><b>20. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley </b>
<br />21. Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick
<br />22. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
<br />23. The Dark Tower Series, by Stephen King
<br /><b>24. 2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke </b>
<br />25. The Stand, by Stephen King
<br />26. Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson
<br />27. The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury
<br />28. Cat’s Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut
<br />29. The Sandman Series, by Neil Gaiman
<br />30. A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess
<br />31. Starship Troopers, by Robert Heinlein
<br /><b>32. Watership Down, by Richard Adams </b>
<br />33. Dragonflight, by Anne McCaffrey
<br />34. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, by Robert Heinlein
<br /><b>35. A Canticle For Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller
<br />36. The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells </b>
<br /><b>37. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, by Jules Verne </b>
<br />38. Flowers For Algernon, by Daniel Keys
<br /><b>39. The War Of The Worlds, by H.G. Wells</b>
<br />40. The Chronicles Of Amber, by Roger Zelazny
<br />41. The Belgariad, by David Eddings
<br />42. The Mists Of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley
<br />43. The Mistborn Series, by Brandon Sanderson
<br /><b>44. Ringworld, by Larry Niven </b>
<br />45. The Left Hand Of Darkness, by Ursula K. LeGuin
<br /><b>46. The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien </b>
<br />47. The Once And Future King, by T.H. White
<br /><b>48. Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman </b>
<br />49. Childhood’s End, by Arthur C. Clarke
<br />50. Contact, by Carl Sagan
<br />51. The Hyperion Cantos, by Dan Simmons
<br />52. Stardust, by Neil Gaiman
<br />53. Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson
<br />54. World War Z, by Max Brooks
<br />55. The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle
<br />56. The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman
<br />57. Small Gods, by Terry Pratchett
<br />58. The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever, by Stephen R. Donaldson
<br />59. The Vorkosigan Saga, by Lois McMaster Bujold
<br />60. Going Postal, by Terry Pratchett
<br /><b>61. The Mote In God’s Eye, by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle </b>
<br />62. The Sword Of Truth, by Terry Goodkind
<br />63. The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
<br />64. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
<br />65. I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson
<br />66. The Riftwar Saga, by Raymond E. Feist
<br />67. The Shannara Trilogy, by Terry Brooks
<br />68. The Conan The Barbarian Series, by R.E. Howard
<br />69. The Farseer Trilogy, by Robin Hobb
<br />70. The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
<br />71. The Way Of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson
<br /><b>72. A Journey To The Center Of The Earth, by Jules Verne</b>
<br />73. The Legend Of Drizzt Series, by R.A. Salvatore
<br />74. Old Man’s War, by John Scalzi
<br />75. The Diamond Age, by Neil Stephenson
<br />76. Rendezvous With Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke
<br />77. The Kushiel’s Legacy Series, by Jacqueline Carey
<br />78. The Dispossessed, by Ursula K. LeGuin
<br />79. Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury
<br />80. Wicked, by Gregory Maguire
<br />81. The Malazan Book Of The Fallen Series, by Steven Erikson
<br />82. The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde
<br />83. The Culture Series, by Iain M. Banks
<br />84. The Crystal Cave, by Mary Stewart
<br />85. Anathem, by Neal Stephenson
<br />86. The Codex Alera Series, by Jim Butcher
<br />87. The Book Of The New Sun, by Gene Wolfe
<br />88. The Thrawn Trilogy, by Timothy Zahn
<br />89. The Outlander Series, by Diana Gabaldan
<br />90. The Elric Saga, by Michael Moorcock
<br />91. The Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury
<br />92. Sunshine, by Robin McKinley
<br />93. A Fire Upon The Deep, by Vernor Vinge
<br />94. The Caves Of Steel, by Isaac Asimov
<br /><b>95. The Mars Trilogy, by Kim Stanley Robinson
<br />96. Lucifer’s Hammer, by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle </b>
<br />97. Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis
<br />98. Perdido Street Station, by China Mieville
<br />99. The Xanth Series, by Piers Anthony
<br />100. The Space Trilogy, by C.S. Lewis
<br />
<br />23 out of 100 - That's just plain embarrassing. I may have to use this as a required reading list now.</span></span></span>
<br /></span>The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-25594961731361534212011-08-23T01:13:00.001-05:002011-08-23T01:15:05.017-05:00Black ListedI've been <a href="http://gunblogblacklist.blogspot.com/">black-listed</a> and I'm proud.<div>
<br /></div><div>I've read bits and pieces of a great many of those blogs, and most seem at least worth a look. Go see. It's been added to the blogroll.</div>The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-49159092069312161122011-08-20T11:58:00.004-05:002011-08-22T14:43:38.940-05:00Scouting SpiritSome of you may know that I made Eagle Scout recently. If not, now you do. After 11 years of scouting, I am now officially graduated and moved on.<div>
<br /></div><div>Scouting has, on the whole, been good to me. I've learned any number of valuable skills, and I think I am a better person for the messages and lessons of the Scout Law and Oath.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I got into both fishing and firearms through scouting, one through the riflery merit badge, the other through getting a fishing pole in reward for selling popcorn. I do both competitively now, though I haven't been able to shoot such for quite some time. I write this blog, started because of my interest in firearms. Even my major, Mechanical Engineering, has some factors from scouting. It's everywhere in my life.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Scouting teaches young boys how to be men. Done right, it teaches the assorted skills necessary to be self sufficient in life, from finances to cooking to communicating. It also teaches the proper uses of those skills. Communication skills can just as easily be turned to deception and ill as honest purposes. Scouting seems a near perfect learning tool, far better than modern public education.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Why then do only one in four boys across the nation ever join the scouts? Those numbers are down far from their former highs. I can't pick out any single cause for this shift. Contributing factors probably include the plethora of other activities available to people, the increase in schoolwork, and the modern style of parenting. Shorter version, Scouting is not the cool thing to do.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The other baffling thing to me is why so many scouts never finish the road and become Eagles. 99 scouts out of a hundred will not make Eagle. I think that this is probably also multifaceted, maybe even moreso than enrollment. On the one hand, all the assorted reasons to not join in the first place still apply. Adding to that the true difficulty of the rank, and some institutional problems, and I can understand a high rate of attrition. 1% completion is not a good sign though. (Yes, this assumes that Eagle is 'completion' but really, it is. It's the last stage in the natural course of scouting)</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Scouting is worthwhile. Scouting looks good on resumes because it legitimately means that the applicant has marketable skills. The army automatically promotes Eagle Scouts to Private First Class on enlistment. Over 75% of men at the Military Academies are Eagle Scouts. Scouting helps people.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>If you have kids, or are yourself of scouting age, I recommend scouting.</div><div>
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<br /></div><div>That being said, I have some bones to pick.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>First, to just get this out of the way, the BSA stance on homosexual leaders is just silly. Homosexuality does not equate with pedophilia. Gay leaders are no more a threat than woman leaders, which are widely accepted. It also rings a little disingenuous with the spirit of scouting, which leaves no room for unjust discrimination.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Second, certain sectors of the scouting administration seem to have lost sight of what said spirit is. My troop has been criticized and examined because we have had an extraordinarily high retention and Eagle rate. More boys in our troop make Eagle than not by a healthy margin, due to truly exemplary leadership. Instead of greeting this record with praise, appreciation, or good will, it is treated with suspicion, because perhaps we are cutting corners and doing things the easy way out. We're not.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Also, I have seen firsthand and heard countless other counts of Eagle Projects hijacked. National requires an adult coach, and my council required a mentor. In many cases, the coach and mentor overstep their role as advisors and helpers into planners and doers. The project becomes more theirs than the scout's. That is screwed up. If Eagle is supposed to be a sign of true leadership potential, then why are these leaders taking away that role? Also, the projects that the scouts put forward may not be professional quality work, but that's proper. The scouts aren't professionals. It should be a good project, well done and useful, but it doesn't need to be professional grade. Similarly, contracting out the building or design to professionals seems counterproductive.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Scouting is hurting right now. There are things that can be fixed, on a national, council, troop and individual level to help. The councils and national both seem to be getting bureaucratic to an unhealthy level, and unconcerned with the ideals and spirit of scouting. I hope the 100th anniversary can serve as a rejuvenation period, and stop some of the problems that are cropping up. I have my doubts</div><div>
<br /></div><div>All that being said, the balance is still towards scouting by a huge margin. The problems are small. Society would be well served with more scouts, and scouting itself would be likely to benefit, with some of the problems adjusting for the new impressions, scouts, expectations, and pressures. If you're involved in scouting at all, I commend you.</div>The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-40135889984884360332011-08-18T22:47:00.002-05:002011-08-18T22:52:50.880-05:00I'm All Growed Up!Today I got my first semester course registration completed, and consequently my full status as a student at the University of Texas at Dallas. So far, so good. It also means I get to change the top banner to reflect my new status. The relative freedoms in reslife here compared to high school are remarkable. It's going to take some getting used to that I can be out and about after 10:00.<div>
<br /></div><div>A quick proof that this college is awesome. This afternoon we had a snowball fight. In Texas. In August. In triple digit temperatures. Snow cones are useful for more than staining mouths.</div>The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-3298676879074620512011-08-16T20:11:00.001-05:002011-08-16T20:13:34.809-05:00Moved inI've managed to move in fairly well, and I don't think I forgot anything major. My dorm is quite nice, better than any other I have heard of in fact. So far so good. That's all for now.The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-87706602042675513302011-08-13T12:32:00.002-05:002011-08-13T12:51:45.106-05:00BoxesI am slowly managing to get the last pieces of my life in order for the move to Texas in the morning. I'm not sure I want to see another box for at least a week, but no luck there.<div>
<br /></div><div>I'm simultaneously excited about the move, dreading it, and a touch nervous. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>The excitement comes from moving out of Illinois, starting a new chapter, and all that good stuff. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Dread comes because I am not what many would call an organized person. Moving to and from my high school every year was hassle enough, and when I inevitably forgot something important, I could pop back the next weekend and bring it then. Now, if I intend to use it in the next three months, it needs to come now, or be shipped. Add to that a pathological desire to avoid packing and unpacking, and avoid chaos, the next half-week isn't likely to be particularly fun.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The unknowns make me nervous. That's pretty much to be expected.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Posting is likely to be light for a little while as I get acclimated and over the move. I've got a few things lined up that might make an appearance in the next week or so.</div>The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-66577832006473358462011-08-11T00:04:00.002-05:002011-08-11T14:00:38.378-05:00NO!<a href="http://www.thebredafallacy.com/2011/08/so-tell-me.html">Breda</a> has up a post concerning the participants of SlutWalks, and their apparent take on women's self defense. Since reading it, I've had a few nagging thoughts about it I thought I'd share. I can't figure out how to embed the video, so y'all will have to wander over to Breda's to see it.<div>
<br /></div><div>Back?</div><div>
<br /></div><div><div>Ok. First and foremost, these techniques are physically ineffective. As <a href="http://www.weerdworld.com/2011/more-on-martial-arts/">Weer'd</a> points out, no full contact martial arts allow men and women to fight, and all are heavily divided into weight classes. All the martial training in the world can be overcome by being bigger and stronger than your opponent. Put simply, these palm-strikes and eye-pecks are going to do just about diddly.</div></div><div>
<br /></div><div>The main thing that has been bothering me isn't the ineffective nature of the defense. In the instruction, the woman makes special note that you must shout "No" during the attack. I find this bizarre on several levels.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>These techniques are supposed to be used on rapists, yes? Is this rapist supposed to hear the woman say 'no', and say, 'oh, oops, I guess she doesn't want to be raped. I'll just leave now.' What then is this shout supposed to accomplish? It's doing squat to change the attacker's mind. Yes, indicating the lack of consent is wise, but don't rely on that changing anything. Rapists don't care about the wishes of their victims. If they did they wouldn't be rapists.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>It also violates the separation of the talking stage and the laying on of hands stage. For an excellent discussion of that separation, head to <a href="http://thelawdogfiles.blogspot.com/2006/11/meditations-on-police-brutality.html">Lawdog</a>, specifically the line </div><div><blockquote>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(41, 48, 59); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 243, 219); "><strong><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); ">This doesn't happen with all arrests -- but, during the "laying on of hands" the talking part is over and done. There is no negotiation, making deals, or asking for co-operation once the talking has failed."</span></em></strong></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(41, 48, 59); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 243, 219); "><strong><em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); "></span></em></strong></span></div><div>The same applies to personal defense. If you find yourself having to use force, you use force until the threat is gone. Be that by the perp running away, curling into a ball and whimpering, knocked cold, or well ventilated doesn't matter right here and now. Why ventilated is better is a later post. Mixing the talking and fighting bits just ends up unpleasant. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>When I brought this point up to a friend, she said she had always thought it was more to get attention than anything else. This surprised me too, because the English language has a much more appropriate word for getting help in that circumstance, being, well, 'help'. Shouting 'no' may get the attention you want, but may also be disregarded. Shouting help is actively requesting that attention, not just hoping to get it en passant.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>It seems to me that in attempting to put the blame where it belongs, with the goblins, SlutWalks has accidentally ignored some of their own social responsibilities and proper self-preservation. Saying it's not your fault if you get raped is not an excuse to be unprepared to defend yourself. Counting on anyone else to save you is foolhardy and unfair to the people you are begging. Your safety is your own responsibility.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>To sum up, talk when time to talk. Make sure the goblin knows this is not consensual, especially important in date-rape and other similar circumstances. When talking fails though, all vocalization should be attempts to get help, not negotiating. And, to quote Weer'd, "Carry your damn guns!"</div><div>
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<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">To clarify, I do not even remotely blame the women for finding themselves victimized. The only party at blame in a rape case is the rapist. I support that part of SlutWalks. I do think the women will be best able to get through the encounter by being sensible.</span></div>The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-7955929081721116592011-08-08T17:45:00.002-05:002011-08-08T19:05:12.616-05:00Peppers a la ScribIngredients:
<br />6-7 Large Green Poblano Peppers (technically you only need one per person, but this makes a lot of stuffing. They keep well)
<br />1 Can Sweet Corn
<br />1 Can Black Beans
<br />1 Can Seasoned Tomatoes and Green Chiles
<br />1 Can Salsa Verde
<br />1 Large Onion
<br />1/2 Sweet Potato
<br />1 lb Taco Steak
<br />Queso Quesadilla
<br />Queso Cotija
<br />Meat Seasonings (I recommend Penzey's Arizona Dream)
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<br />Stuffing:
<br />First, fine chop the onion and sweet potato and begin frying in a large (largest you have) pan. Once the onion is starting to carmelize, and the potato is starting to soften, add in the tomato, drained and rinsed black beans, and drained corn. turn to low heat and allow to simmer, stirring occasionally. In a separate pan, cook the taco meat with seasoning to taste. Add to pan with rest of stuffing, and stir together. Keep on heat until most tomato juice has been absorbed or evaporated.
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<br />Peppers:
<br />This sounds more complicated than it is. The peppers must be roasted and peeled. Turn your oven broiler on, and place peppers on a cooking sheet as high as it will go in the oven. Keep turning the peppers. After a short time, the skins will start bubbling and cracking, separating from the flesh of the pepper. Turn them such that the skin is fairly uniformly removed. Remove from sheet and place in a paper bag to cool.
<br />
<br />When cool, peel skins off (they will shred easily. it is not necessary to remove it all) and cut a slit into each pepper. Remove the ribs and seeds, and as much of the interior of the stem as possible. Rinse under cool water to remove lingering seeds. Place the peppers alternating directions in a glass baking pan. You will have extra stuffing, which makes a tasty side
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<br />Bring it all together:
<br />First lay out a generous layer of your quesadilla cheese in the bottom of each pepper. Then spoon stuffing in, making sure to reach into the corners around the stem. When full, you should be able to close the slit to about 1-2" wide. Coat the entire pan in a thick layer of quesadilla cheese and place in the oven at 325 for about 15 minutes, just to warm the peppers and melt the cheese. Remove pan from oven, drizzle salsa verde over the whole ensemble, and sprinkle with cotija cheese. Serve and enjoy. Pairs well with fruit salads, guacamole and chips, horchata, prickly pear margaritas, and cornbread.The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-15226517684288995492011-08-07T22:54:00.002-05:002011-08-07T23:20:31.441-05:00Home againI am now, regrettably enough, home from Michigan. I'd like to say this will mean more posting, but I leave again for Texas a week from today. I have a bunch of ideas rattling around in my head, but finding time and mental wherewithal to put them into being may prove troublesome.<br /><br />Reentry has been relatively gentle for me, but less so for the actually employed people. Exiting again is proving more problematic. I am decidedly not looking forward to packing my life into boxes to travel a thousand miles.<br /><br />Shooting apples with a .38 is fun.<br /><br />Shooting berries with a .22 is rewarding.<br /><br />My freshwater tank can't come with me to Dallas, which is disappointing, but I am setting up a Marine picotope down there, which is exciting.<br /><br />I made dinner tonight. Stuffed poblano peppers. Before any readers get the mistaken impression that this means I can cook, I know how to make this recipe, pasta, toast, bacon, and if i'm lucky a sandwich. I've noticed in the last two times i have made this recipe though, the peppers have been unusually hot. I am wondering whether they are sold riper later in the summer, with corresponding increase in heat. In any case, it's still pretty much my signature recipe.<br /><br />I can't leave well enough alone and follow a recipe. I take after my dad in that, but the poblano stuffing I invented, and i seem to have accidentally reinvented Oaxacan horchata. While at the Mexican market today for ingredients, I found Prickly Pear Cactus fruit, and decided to try it out. After plucking a few dozen tiny needles from my fingers, i skinned them (with the help of the internet) and found the flesh to be sweet, fruity, yet still green tasting, and altogether quite pleasant, if loaded with seeds. Dad juiced the uneaten bits, and made prickly pear margaritas for the alcohol drinkers, and I added some of the juice to the horchata out of curiosity. I thought I had invented something fantastic until the internet told me that it is one of the more common serving styles for horchata.<br /><br />I will post recipes for both horchata and peppers tomorrow, hopefully.The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-83333756075768492432011-07-27T21:28:00.004-05:002011-07-29T11:21:59.710-05:00Crack... BonkAs referenced yesterday, today I had the astounding good fortune to be the guest of one of the members of the Turtle Lake Club in Michigan, my grandmother's cousin (who for convenience sake I shall call my uncle). The day started out with a truly spectacular sunrise, with nice low cirrus clouds to give it some real fire. Packed up the Mosins and my fishing gear into my uncle's car, and drove for an hour twenty to get to the lodge.<br /><br />Toast is one of those weird things that can be bad, but never seems to have the other side of the bell curve. Yet, somehow, the toast at breakfast was far tastier than any other toast I have ever had, and a fair sight better than most french toasts. Despite the absolute jaw-dropping nature of the club, I still noticed the toast.<br /><br />The club is, in the most literal, true sense of the word, awesome. I had, throughout the entire day, a feeling of awe. The club has between 24000 and 26000 acres, depending on who you ask, and those acres are the most beautiful, healthy forests i may have ever seen. For all that it is a hunting club, the deer and other wildlife are visible, healthy, and plentiful. I was impressed.<br /><br />Once dad and I managed to pluck our jaws out of our shoes, we took a looong drive out to the thousand yard range. Dad and I started on the Mosins at 100 yards. My uncle decided that iron sight accuracy was simply insufficient, and so brought out his Sako .308 with Nightforce Scope and proceeded to show that it is indeed worth its $7500 price tag. Dad and I took turns with the rifle, ringing plates at 300, 400, 500, 700, and finally, 1000 yards. Both dad and I managed to put shots onto a 2'x2' plate at over half a mile, which I found satisfactory. And exhilarating.<br /><br />After the shooting finished, I got a chance to see just how far these shots were. I had to go out and paint the plates out to the 700. (The thousand was inaccessible due to a marsh.) Walking out there, I couldn't avoid stepping in deer tracks. I also came across two sets of bear tracks and what looked like bobcat. Passing the 400 mark, the thousand target still seemed rather farther away than was reasonable. By the time I got to the 700, I couldn't understand a word my dad said as he was trying to talk to me.<br /><br />Having policed the range and gotten everything back together, we drove around the property for a while before coming to the short range, which only goes out to 300 yards. (Only being a very relative thing.) My uncle fetched out his crossbow, which provided an entertaining few minutes, before Dad and I started running a few pistol drills. Turns out we both are relatively good at it.<br /><br />Having a few minutes before lunch, we headed out on the lake, with the understanding that we would only have about 20 minutes of fishing. Despite the time strangulation, I managed to catch three decent bass. In a typically irritating moment, my first cast resulted in a beautiful birds nest (I'm still getting used to my baitcast,) which was complicated slightly by a bass on the end of the line. Both dad and I caught bass on the first cast. Back in the boathouse I caught a mess of panfish just dipping my lure in the water, as well as a nice rock bass.<br /><br />Lunch was quite tasty, though I was impatient to get back on the lake.<br /><br />Heading back out, I caught another four bass, including a 16-17 inch smallmouth. Dad caught the biggest fish of the day, an almost 18 inch largemouth. At the end of the day, we had 4 15"+ fish in the live well for my uncle's upcoming game dinner. We only fished for a grand total of about an hour and a half.<br /><br />It was actually very useful for me to be able to catch fish like that. I rarely get the chance to fish on good lakes, so I have never been sure what lures, presentations, and styles are most effective. I got the chance there to experiment with different retrieves and lures, and really nail down a better technique. Case in point, this morning (now two days after I started writing this post) I managed to get a fairly vigorous strike on Burt Lake where I am staying, which is highly unusual, as it has been fished too heavily. I also managed to catch two monsters, being probably the two largest crawdads I have ever seen.<br /><br />I need to find more places I can fish like that. I need to find a good range. I need a nice, accurate rifle.<br /><br />*sigh*<br /><br />While I'm at it, can I have a unicorn too?The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-58553158079078048732011-07-26T21:46:00.002-05:002011-07-26T21:49:01.006-05:00Excitement1000 yard range, Mosin Nagants and a Sako. Followed by fishing on a stocked sport lake. I am unbelievably psyched. Tomorrow is likely to be good. Pictures and things may come after, but life tends to be full up here. Posting still to be intermittent.The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-22416468381171576282011-07-23T11:40:00.001-05:002011-07-23T11:41:28.371-05:00Vacation HiatusI am out of town for a couple weeks. Posting will be light if existent.The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-8487682745584245602011-07-22T22:11:00.002-05:002011-07-22T23:19:40.498-05:004th thoughts... Finally.I knew I'd get around to this eventually. I had a bit of an outbreak of life I had to attend to.<div>This past 4th of July I had a few thoughts rattling around in my head. In no particular order,</div><div>
<br /></div><div>1<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Independence day is a Right-Wing holiday now? If the left doesn't want it, fine, but it makes me think we ought to just do away with them. The only problem is that I don't want to secede, I want all of them to.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>2<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The manner in which we celebrate the 4th seems to fit a victory. Explosions, barbecues, and booze are what you do after the war is over. The 4th is certainly worthy of celebration, but I always see it as something more of a somber holiday, more in line with memorial day. This country hasn't come free. To me, the celebration should include a dose of seriousness commensurate with what the holiday really means</div><div>
<br /></div><div>3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Go read the <a href="http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm">Declaration of Independence</a>. I'll wait.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>4<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Done? How many of the grievances strike a chord with modern US Government? My first read through, this jumped out at me "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; ">He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance." Sound familiar?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; ">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; ">5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>For all its failings, this country is still good. I have faith, while not in the US Government, but in the American People. The obvious and loud assail that faith with remarkable tenacity, but at its core i think this country can still be great.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; ">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; ">6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>That greatness will not come from the Federal Government</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; ">
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">It is all too easy today to lose faith in this country. I keep doing it accidentally. I keep getting it back somehow.</span></span></div><meta charset="utf-8">The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-71862851750743790092011-07-10T22:17:00.002-05:002011-07-10T22:19:13.149-05:00Busy weeksI've been meaning to post more about 4th of July stuff, which will come in due course, but real life caught up with me for a while. Today was my Eagle Scout Court of Honor, and there were enough last minute tasks to put a damper on posting. Thoughts on the 4th, AAR for the range time, and thoughts on Scouting will all appear soon.The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-15242200101083278582011-07-04T12:26:00.002-05:002011-07-04T12:28:52.304-05:00The 4thHappy Birthday, USA. 235 years and still ticking. Few thoughts to go up later. For now, I feel like doing something American.The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-66435145354492269532011-07-03T00:35:00.002-05:002011-07-03T00:53:23.775-05:00Celebrating the 4thTomorrow, (or today rather, is that really the time?) the choice of activities seems to be two freedom loving, capitalistic activities befitting the holiday weekend. On the one hand, we can go to a U-Pick blueberry farm in Michigan and lay in enough blueberries to feed Colp, IL* for a month. Supporting private growers and spending a day outdoors picking tasty things seems appropriate. The chance to see an old friend helps that plan too.<div><br /></div><div>The other is finally getting to a rifle range to complete my laundry list of wants with my rifles. I need to shoot my Mosin, sight in my Savage, and maybe get some pistol time in too. This appeals well to me, but has the downsides of regrettably being an activity for dad and I without the rest of the fam. Oddly enough, this also means leaving the state, as the only range in a reasonable radius that would allow what we need is in Wisconsin.**</div><div><br /></div><div>At this point, we will most likely be blueberry picking, but should that fall through, the range calls. I'll put up an AAR in either event.</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>*Colp is probably the smallest town I have ever been in, at least that I was aware of being in, with a population of 512. Quite literally while passing through once I sneezed and missed it.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>** Of course, to me, having two options both of which mean leaving the state is entirely satisfactory.</div>The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-37892690974964123782011-07-02T12:57:00.002-05:002011-07-02T13:09:06.856-05:00Code Monkey!I went into this blog's HTML today to add a Google+ button to posts. (Look down and left... it's the +1 button.) Being a good coder, (heh, I made a funny) I copied the original HTML to a separate document first in case I managed to screw it up too badly.<div><br /></div><div>What this then showed me was exactly how much I appreciate Blogger. I can type WYSIWYG and drag and drop, and everything works fine. To do everything I can do with the Blogger interface with pure HTML, I would need hundreds of lines of code I do not know to get my random mumblings out into the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>Quite simply, the interface makes this worth my while. Coding is frustrating to me. If I had to hand code all of this, I wouldn't bother. I get the feeling a great many other bloggers wouldn't be doing this either if it weren't for things like Blogger, WordPress, Dreamweaver, etc. that make it possible to do these things simply.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's good to live in the future.</div><div><br /></div><div>PS If you are of the social media type, Google+ actually seems pretty good. If you can snag an invite, it has my tentative recommendation. I haven't messed with it long enough to really decide if I like it, but first impressions are good.</div>The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4294853238616274651.post-33527299399824367882011-07-01T00:11:00.007-05:002011-07-01T00:31:49.979-05:00Pics as promised.<div style="text-align: left;">I think I can actually figure out how to upload pictures now. Ok, let's give this a shot.</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div><div><div><meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgfyyKVugxuZrETCMQr3lvy5qAgx7cgYoyoagWaNoCgYO1tDk3YPP90aDLAZm_ButXrHQN8PBO3Bg1rGwZ3vqF3aqCQi5QDQxcQco9Zsex5_WBA6jDAgslth05ogh9coURMSz4itTiVA/s1600/GEDC0735.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgfyyKVugxuZrETCMQr3lvy5qAgx7cgYoyoagWaNoCgYO1tDk3YPP90aDLAZm_ButXrHQN8PBO3Bg1rGwZ3vqF3aqCQi5QDQxcQco9Zsex5_WBA6jDAgslth05ogh9coURMSz4itTiVA/s320/GEDC0735.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624247893787567970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgfyyKVugxuZrETCMQr3lvy5qAgx7cgYoyoagWaNoCgYO1tDk3YPP90aDLAZm_ButXrHQN8PBO3Bg1rGwZ3vqF3aqCQi5QDQxcQco9Zsex5_WBA6jDAgslth05ogh9coURMSz4itTiVA/s1600/GEDC0735.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div>
<br /></div><div>This is the tank in a full view. I try to go for a natural look where possible, and would have all natural plants if I could afford it. As is, there are several live plants in.</div></div><div>
<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFvMNeHjWhAuI0dZoJAVLlSwqJC34MD8QeK4bpXaIMkzuP5k7cBqGmM54yzfRFZbAPRqSWoh-B4fZumwYn0Fs2KgrzYfeU1bCvwqEU-a_s0JcW6_4lK_PEuXnAJDfCXmupWirmKPsiZs/s1600/GEDC0731.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFvMNeHjWhAuI0dZoJAVLlSwqJC34MD8QeK4bpXaIMkzuP5k7cBqGmM54yzfRFZbAPRqSWoh-B4fZumwYn0Fs2KgrzYfeU1bCvwqEU-a_s0JcW6_4lK_PEuXnAJDfCXmupWirmKPsiZs/s320/GEDC0731.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624248515579254466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div><div>This is Clyde, the male. He stands still for pictures well</div></div><div>
<br /></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-uS5b4mBOk_g5UfnA7uJV9aQCuWBSqjK8-ObKllPZeRCkhXrM3yoKQBMmjBD3WhckCgGJ9ryNRSE8x-coOxOdawPfrgKb0a9LIGhMmdF6H1zUTxIg_tddOBSu1Z5mJy5M-L4Gs5WWeM/s1600/GEDC0739.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-uS5b4mBOk_g5UfnA7uJV9aQCuWBSqjK8-ObKllPZeRCkhXrM3yoKQBMmjBD3WhckCgGJ9ryNRSE8x-coOxOdawPfrgKb0a9LIGhMmdF6H1zUTxIg_tddOBSu1Z5mJy5M-L4Gs5WWeM/s320/GEDC0739.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624249169677758210" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">This is Bonnie, the female. She stands still well, but only at the back of the tank where I cannot well photograph her. She is significantly prettier than this picture suggests.</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On a related note, photographing fish is remarkably difficult. The environment is frequently dim, but the fish frequently move very quickly. As such, it is very difficult to get a non-blurred photo of a fish. For context, this is what my camera can do under the same circumstances with a stable target:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GUZHB665TdY8k3VE4du1_Co_nHYBzhRrD12wmuUBRojpzAGnXXXSYPuyCnd1lsJjnRro3_fUiW7l7001LGGRSWgeSWgipocXJoaeByvfoI8lg2lxqBbH0Hku55heDVDWOg47dHmIUL4/s320/GEDC0740.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624250978393241890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is Roomba, my albino mystery snail. Being a snail means he isn't constantly twitching about, so a good, stable picture is possible. Fish are just uncooperative.</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Everyone still seems to be in decent shape for the move/move-in. Hopefully things will stay good.</div>The Scribblerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13759199694035145628noreply@blogger.com4