The Pentagon has announced that the Airbus team has won the Air Force tanker contract bid.
I'm angry. I'm livid. I'm mad. I'm frustrated.
What ten year old in a general's uniform who never studied history made that call? What moron with the common sense of a table decoration decided to trust the French to build an entire fleet of critical aircraft?
Boeing was offering a tanker which has already completed a flight test and service ready program. For another air force, true, but the development would have been the easiest and most reliable possible program. Airbus is offering a plane that doesn't exist.
Boeing's entry would have been build mostly in the US. Airbus' will be built mostly overseas.
We've already seen the French government play politics with Airbus. What if they decide to slap down the US a few years from now and hold up delivery of tankers?
Azel grant me patiance.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
The Sun
Post 200!
The Sun has been on my mind a lot lately.
Primarily, because in a highly unusual move it has been showing itself to the Seattle area for much of the last week.
I tend to forget just how hot it can get in a car, even when it is cold outside, under direct sunlight.
Today I picked up a National Geographic in the doctor's office which had a cover story about the Sun.
I also read a bboard discussion about climate change, which always makes me think of the sun.
I'm puzzled at the people who deny the sun could be responsible for the environmental changes the earth appears to be going through. If my house gets hot, I don't tend to assume it is because ninjas came in and added a bunch of insulation to the walls overnight. I turn down the furnace, and life is good. The insulation plays a part, of course, but the real mover and shaker is the furnace.
The Sun is the furnace of our home planet Earth. If the Sun were to vanish all the CO2 in the universe wouldn't save us from freezing to death.
The Sun has been on my mind a lot lately.
Primarily, because in a highly unusual move it has been showing itself to the Seattle area for much of the last week.
I tend to forget just how hot it can get in a car, even when it is cold outside, under direct sunlight.
Today I picked up a National Geographic in the doctor's office which had a cover story about the Sun.
I also read a bboard discussion about climate change, which always makes me think of the sun.
I'm puzzled at the people who deny the sun could be responsible for the environmental changes the earth appears to be going through. If my house gets hot, I don't tend to assume it is because ninjas came in and added a bunch of insulation to the walls overnight. I turn down the furnace, and life is good. The insulation plays a part, of course, but the real mover and shaker is the furnace.
The Sun is the furnace of our home planet Earth. If the Sun were to vanish all the CO2 in the universe wouldn't save us from freezing to death.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Shooting
Went shooting Saturday for the first time in years. I broke in both the S&W 686 and the Winchester 1300, and reaquianted myself with the Browning Buckmark. My marksmanship skills have, predictably, dropped quite a bit.
The new weapons worked flawlessly, though they take much more effort to clean than the .22 does. The feed issue I was worried about with the shotgun only seems to happen with the snap caps (no problems at all with the live shells, although the I literally blew one of the targets off the hangers), and the 686 is even nicer than I remembered. One of the range guys, while helping me find a left-handed holster, noted that he thinks it has a custom trigger. If so I got an even better deal at the gun show than I thought. :-)
Rounds fired:
12ga: 25
.38: 50
.357: 12
.22: ~50.
The new weapons worked flawlessly, though they take much more effort to clean than the .22 does. The feed issue I was worried about with the shotgun only seems to happen with the snap caps (no problems at all with the live shells, although the I literally blew one of the targets off the hangers), and the 686 is even nicer than I remembered. One of the range guys, while helping me find a left-handed holster, noted that he thinks it has a custom trigger. If so I got an even better deal at the gun show than I thought. :-)
Rounds fired:
12ga: 25
.38: 50
.357: 12
.22: ~50.
Meepo the Super Kobold
(Historical note: For the full text and score of The Ballad of Meepo, please see appendix B.)
It is dark as I write this - oh Shining One, grant that your servant Gridley may live to gaze upon you again!
Meepo led us to the local kobold Queen. Thistle persuaded the queen that we could recover the dragon the goblins had stolen from them. The Queen granted us Meepo as a guide, though at the time I felt he would be of little use. We rested for a day, and awoke with myself somewhat recovered from the rat's Filth Fever, which I was now able to recognize, but with Baast sickened. Although Kieros still felt healthy and I believe I have drained the worst of the poisons from his wounds, I expect him to sicken tomorrow, if we survive.
Meepo knew of a back way into the goblin-occupied portion of the ruins, although he said that no kobold had survived entering it. Leading the way he quickly discovered a pit trap, and was badly wounded in the fall. I pulled him out and healed him, a small kindness for which he was grateful then, and I am grateful now.
We soon came to a locked door. Thistle, now in the lead, picked the lock and opened the door, only to be hit by a pair of crossbow bolts and fall to the ground unconscious. Three goblins charged us, one being injured by Marclar and then finished off by Meepo. I rushed forward to heal Thistle, but lost my concentration and could not reach her immediately. Another goblin fell, and Meepo skewered the third as it attempted to retreat. I admit I had not thought he possessed the skill and strength to fight so well. I healed Thistle's wounds, worried that I had only my weakest spells remaining, and we went on.
Another hall, and behind one door we could hear the mutter of goblin conversation. Leaving Kieros to guard it, we checked the others and found one that was locked. Thinking this promising, Thistle picked the lock. Inside I glimpsed a tiny white dragon. While I knew it to be evil, I hoped to persuade it that going along with us was in its best interests, and foolishly I entered to speak to it. This did, however, save the rest of the party from the first blast of its icy breath.
A long and cold fight followed. Although we outnumbered the beast, we had great difficulty in subduing it. Finally, with all but Kieros injured and myself all but unconscious, we tied up the dragon. I used the last of my spells to staunch the worst of my wounds.
As I write this there is debate as to what course to take. Our injuries are many, and our spells few. We have the dragon we came for, but it seems imprudent to return to the Kobolds in our weakened state. I would use the two healing scrolls that remain, but they will not suffice to heal everyone, and they are my last reserve of magic.
It is dark as I write this - oh Shining One, grant that your servant Gridley may live to gaze upon you again!
Meepo led us to the local kobold Queen. Thistle persuaded the queen that we could recover the dragon the goblins had stolen from them. The Queen granted us Meepo as a guide, though at the time I felt he would be of little use. We rested for a day, and awoke with myself somewhat recovered from the rat's Filth Fever, which I was now able to recognize, but with Baast sickened. Although Kieros still felt healthy and I believe I have drained the worst of the poisons from his wounds, I expect him to sicken tomorrow, if we survive.
Meepo knew of a back way into the goblin-occupied portion of the ruins, although he said that no kobold had survived entering it. Leading the way he quickly discovered a pit trap, and was badly wounded in the fall. I pulled him out and healed him, a small kindness for which he was grateful then, and I am grateful now.
We soon came to a locked door. Thistle, now in the lead, picked the lock and opened the door, only to be hit by a pair of crossbow bolts and fall to the ground unconscious. Three goblins charged us, one being injured by Marclar and then finished off by Meepo. I rushed forward to heal Thistle, but lost my concentration and could not reach her immediately. Another goblin fell, and Meepo skewered the third as it attempted to retreat. I admit I had not thought he possessed the skill and strength to fight so well. I healed Thistle's wounds, worried that I had only my weakest spells remaining, and we went on.
Another hall, and behind one door we could hear the mutter of goblin conversation. Leaving Kieros to guard it, we checked the others and found one that was locked. Thinking this promising, Thistle picked the lock. Inside I glimpsed a tiny white dragon. While I knew it to be evil, I hoped to persuade it that going along with us was in its best interests, and foolishly I entered to speak to it. This did, however, save the rest of the party from the first blast of its icy breath.
A long and cold fight followed. Although we outnumbered the beast, we had great difficulty in subduing it. Finally, with all but Kieros injured and myself all but unconscious, we tied up the dragon. I used the last of my spells to staunch the worst of my wounds.
As I write this there is debate as to what course to take. Our injuries are many, and our spells few. We have the dragon we came for, but it seems imprudent to return to the Kobolds in our weakened state. I would use the two healing scrolls that remain, but they will not suffice to heal everyone, and they are my last reserve of magic.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
The Mayans used Cobol!
I've heard, here and there, claims that the Mayan calendar predicts the world will end in December of 2012.
Being me, I've been rather more than a bit skeptical.
Today I finally ran across an explanation that makes sense.
According to this article, the Mayans had a long form calendar that used a finite number of variables, each with a finite number of possible values. The beginning date (lowest value for all variables) being known, the latest date (largest value for all variables) can be calculated and comes out to December 21st, 2012. All well so far, and somewhat interesting.
The article then goes on to claim that therefore the Mayans knew that an apocalyptic event would happen at that point.
By this argument, COBOL programmers in the early computer age knew that an apocalyptic event would happen on December 31st, 1999, at midnight (or technically at one minute after midnight, depending on how you look at things). Our precision in predicting such things has certainly improved, hasn't it?
Did the Mayans know something we don't? Possible. They apparently whipped up a nice calendar without the instruments we'd need to produce something like it.
Y2K came and went with scarcely a whimper, though I wish I'd taken the chance to buy a cheap, near-new generator in January of 2000. :-) I suspect that December 21st, 2012, will be little different.
Being me, I've been rather more than a bit skeptical.
Today I finally ran across an explanation that makes sense.
According to this article, the Mayans had a long form calendar that used a finite number of variables, each with a finite number of possible values. The beginning date (lowest value for all variables) being known, the latest date (largest value for all variables) can be calculated and comes out to December 21st, 2012. All well so far, and somewhat interesting.
The article then goes on to claim that therefore the Mayans knew that an apocalyptic event would happen at that point.
By this argument, COBOL programmers in the early computer age knew that an apocalyptic event would happen on December 31st, 1999, at midnight (or technically at one minute after midnight, depending on how you look at things). Our precision in predicting such things has certainly improved, hasn't it?
Did the Mayans know something we don't? Possible. They apparently whipped up a nice calendar without the instruments we'd need to produce something like it.
Y2K came and went with scarcely a whimper, though I wish I'd taken the chance to buy a cheap, near-new generator in January of 2000. :-) I suspect that December 21st, 2012, will be little different.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Hardened
I was reflecting the other day on the extent to which being in EMS hardened me. I used to get quesy at the sight of blood.
I'm still not happy at seeing mine, but...
Today, I went to the local clinic. The doctor decided he wanted a blood sample, and after taking my blood they gave me a granola bar. As I was on my way out, munching on the granola bar, I saw that a man had just come in with a towel wrapped around his hand. He was obviously in pain and had blood spray on his chest and arm. As I went past a nurse removed the towel, revealing a deep and still bleeding laceration & crush injury to the hand. I overheard the person with him say he'd gotten it smashed between two pallets while helping unload a truck.
And I? Well, I walked on by, munching on the granola and mentally estimating his probable blood loss.
I conclude from this that I either completely lack empathy for strangers, or that I'm immune to the sight of blood and broken bones. I hope and believe it is the latter.
I'm still not happy at seeing mine, but...
Today, I went to the local clinic. The doctor decided he wanted a blood sample, and after taking my blood they gave me a granola bar. As I was on my way out, munching on the granola bar, I saw that a man had just come in with a towel wrapped around his hand. He was obviously in pain and had blood spray on his chest and arm. As I went past a nurse removed the towel, revealing a deep and still bleeding laceration & crush injury to the hand. I overheard the person with him say he'd gotten it smashed between two pallets while helping unload a truck.
And I? Well, I walked on by, munching on the granola and mentally estimating his probable blood loss.
I conclude from this that I either completely lack empathy for strangers, or that I'm immune to the sight of blood and broken bones. I hope and believe it is the latter.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Go EAST Young Man!
Saturday I reversed the common advice and went east on a day trip to Spokane.
Spokane wasn't full of whiskey, women, or gold as far as I could tell, but I did aquire the shotgun I went out there to buy.
Mapquest called it 307 miles each way; total round trip, door to door, was 11 hours, 45 minutes.
Some observations:
Snoqualmie pass was impressive. On the way out there were snow banks over twice the height of the cars right next to the road. On the way back one lane was blocked by a collapsed bank, and there was a full-size backhoe clearing it up. On the return trip we hit the pass just at sunset - it was beautiful. I hope the pictures came out. Taking pictures from a moving car with rain on the windows and poor exterior light is tricky.
I think I need a photo catchup week - I owe picks of the SCA scroll, and should put up ones of the shotgun and the pass. Can anyone think of anything else I need to post pictures of?
Eastern Washington is even emptier than central Pennsylvania, which is saying something. Both eastbound and westbound I had a stretch of over a hundred straight miles where I just set the cruise control and steered without ever needing to change speed.
Spokane surprised me - I thought four-lane one-way urban streets were limited to Pittsburgh. :-)
Spokane wasn't full of whiskey, women, or gold as far as I could tell, but I did aquire the shotgun I went out there to buy.
Mapquest called it 307 miles each way; total round trip, door to door, was 11 hours, 45 minutes.
Some observations:
Snoqualmie pass was impressive. On the way out there were snow banks over twice the height of the cars right next to the road. On the way back one lane was blocked by a collapsed bank, and there was a full-size backhoe clearing it up. On the return trip we hit the pass just at sunset - it was beautiful. I hope the pictures came out. Taking pictures from a moving car with rain on the windows and poor exterior light is tricky.
I think I need a photo catchup week - I owe picks of the SCA scroll, and should put up ones of the shotgun and the pass. Can anyone think of anything else I need to post pictures of?
Eastern Washington is even emptier than central Pennsylvania, which is saying something. Both eastbound and westbound I had a stretch of over a hundred straight miles where I just set the cruise control and steered without ever needing to change speed.
Spokane surprised me - I thought four-lane one-way urban streets were limited to Pittsburgh. :-)
Friday, February 15, 2008
Prophetic Dreams
Since I actually seem to have generated some interest, I'll follow this up with a main post, not a comment.
In my first year at college I had three dreams in close succession. At that time I generally didn't remember my dreams even when I woke up, and the memory tended to fade rapidly. These three hung around.
The first and third I won't discuss in detail, save to say that while they closely mirrored events that happened to me later, it is arguable that those events were predictable, and my subconscious was trying to tell my conscious, "Hey, buddy, take a look at what's gonna happen if ya keep on like this."
The second was rather more disturbing.
I dreamed that I was doing CPR - chest compressions, to be precise. In that strange way dreams can impart information I knew it was someone that I knew, but not who it was. When I woke up in the morning I wrote it off to my new status as a First Responder with campus EMS, and left it alone. Later that day EMS was dispatched for a person with chest pain. I arrived on scene and found... someone I knew. He went into cardiac arrest shortly after we arrived.
OK, you're saying, coincidence. I find that unlikely. For one thing, that EMS squad got one cardiac arrest every few YEARS. Add in the fact that I'd been on campus less than a year at that point - what percentage of the population do you think I knew? Add in the chances that I'd be on duty (50% at best).
More importantly there's the character of the dream itself. In all three of the prophetic dreams, I was doing things. Talking, chest compressions, etc. Maybe not with good results, but they centered around me wanting to act and being able to act.
The lion's share of my dreams, well before then and to this day, center around me being UNABLE to speak, or run away, or act in some way.
Toss in the fact that except for a few flashback-type dreams I don't remember a single other dream I've had about emergency medicine.
I don't have an explanation for why I had those three dreams. Make of it what you will. Call them psychic vibrations or visions or prophecies or coincidences. I believe there are one or more powers in this universe that are not limited by the 'natural laws' science has worked out. Call it/them 'god(s)' if you like. I'm not sure what I believe about their natures or intentions, but I believe in them very firmly, and those three dreams are part of the reason.
In my first year at college I had three dreams in close succession. At that time I generally didn't remember my dreams even when I woke up, and the memory tended to fade rapidly. These three hung around.
The first and third I won't discuss in detail, save to say that while they closely mirrored events that happened to me later, it is arguable that those events were predictable, and my subconscious was trying to tell my conscious, "Hey, buddy, take a look at what's gonna happen if ya keep on like this."
The second was rather more disturbing.
I dreamed that I was doing CPR - chest compressions, to be precise. In that strange way dreams can impart information I knew it was someone that I knew, but not who it was. When I woke up in the morning I wrote it off to my new status as a First Responder with campus EMS, and left it alone. Later that day EMS was dispatched for a person with chest pain. I arrived on scene and found... someone I knew. He went into cardiac arrest shortly after we arrived.
OK, you're saying, coincidence. I find that unlikely. For one thing, that EMS squad got one cardiac arrest every few YEARS. Add in the fact that I'd been on campus less than a year at that point - what percentage of the population do you think I knew? Add in the chances that I'd be on duty (50% at best).
More importantly there's the character of the dream itself. In all three of the prophetic dreams, I was doing things. Talking, chest compressions, etc. Maybe not with good results, but they centered around me wanting to act and being able to act.
The lion's share of my dreams, well before then and to this day, center around me being UNABLE to speak, or run away, or act in some way.
Toss in the fact that except for a few flashback-type dreams I don't remember a single other dream I've had about emergency medicine.
I don't have an explanation for why I had those three dreams. Make of it what you will. Call them psychic vibrations or visions or prophecies or coincidences. I believe there are one or more powers in this universe that are not limited by the 'natural laws' science has worked out. Call it/them 'god(s)' if you like. I'm not sure what I believe about their natures or intentions, but I believe in them very firmly, and those three dreams are part of the reason.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Sleep, or lack thereof
The last two nights I've woken up at 3:30AM and been unable to get back to sleep.
I frequently wake up at some point during the night, but at different times and I'm almost always able to get back to sleep again. I don't think I've ever woken up early at the same time two nights in a row and been unable to get back to sleep.
As long as the prophetic dreams don't start up again I'll survive, but I'd really like to know if this is coincidence or if there's something going on. Hopefully two short nights will knock me out far enough that I'll sleep through.
I frequently wake up at some point during the night, but at different times and I'm almost always able to get back to sleep again. I don't think I've ever woken up early at the same time two nights in a row and been unable to get back to sleep.
As long as the prophetic dreams don't start up again I'll survive, but I'd really like to know if this is coincidence or if there's something going on. Hopefully two short nights will knock me out far enough that I'll sleep through.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Excel
Generally, I consider myself to be very good at Excel (the spreadsheet program, for those who might be confused). One might even say I excell at it. Some of this is practice, some of this is playing with spreadsheets for about two decades (ah, MultiPlan - DOS based spreadsheet goodness).
Today, however, I had to do the unthinkable - I used the program Help utility.
My honor is lost.
Today, however, I had to do the unthinkable - I used the program Help utility.
My honor is lost.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Rats!
Chapter 2 of the Journeys of Gridley of Pelor
(Historical note: The reader may wonder why Gridley spends so much of his narrative discussing his early adventures. The answer is simply that Gridley recorded his adventures as he experianced them, right up to the very end. Well, not QUITE the very end, of course, Gridley was no Diviner, nor did he take notes in the heat of battle. Rather than editing his narrative to remove those portions of less historical interest, we have retained the whole in the hope that it will reveal more of the character of the cleric himself.)
Thistle carefully descended the rope into the darkness, followed by Baast. Hearing the sounds of fighting below, I slid rapidly down the rope to find my companions battling a pair of dire rats, which Baast quickly dispatched. I lit as torch as the rest of the party descended, and we began to wind our way down a switch-back path to the valley floor.
Part way down the path no less than seven dire rats charged out of holes to attack us. Thistle slew one as they approached, but the others closed. These rats were more determined, and most of the party were wounded. Yasir's song lifted our spirits, but Baast had a great deal of difficulty balancing on the path and could not bring her sword to bear. Marclar also had difficulty maintaining his balance to cast, but we eventually killed three more rats, and the rest fled. I healed most of the party's wounds, using all my spells, and we reached the bottom landing.
Lured into a false sense of security by the retreat of the rats, I fell into a pit trap at the bottom of the path, and found yet another dire rat waiting for me at the bottom. The might of Pelor guided my mace, but I was badly wounded and needed to use one of my few scrolls to heal myself.
The party, battered and all but spell less, rested the night on the lower platform. I awoke the next morning to find myself a victim of the rat's diseased bites, weaker and less nimble than usual, but over the worst of the disease. The others showed no immediate effects, although both Keiros and Baast's wounds seemed infected as well.
We entered the base of a tower that seemed to be the only structure still intact on the valley floor. Four recently killed goblins occupied the ground floor, stripped of all valuables. Baast spotted a secret door, and Thistle opened it to reveal three skeletons! Though I had never seen any of their foul kind before, I let my training light my way and called on the full power of the Sun. Pelor heard my call and the creatures had time for but a single attack each before I turned them to dust. We found a magic arrow and some coins among their remains.
Two doors led out of the tower. One led to a collapsed corridor with a stone door on one wall. This door had a dragon on it with the keyhole in the mouth. Choosing discretion over valor we examined the other tower door, finding that it led to a corridor with three doors. One had a scene of aquatic dragon-like creatures, one led to an empty room, the other led into what appeared to be an improvised shrine.
A fire pit occupied the center of the room, and a large cage stood against one wall, but my attention was drawn to a bench, on which a figure under a blanket moaned in pain. Unable to resist the appeal of one in pain I hurried forward, and drew away the blanket to reveal a kobold. The creature pleaded for its life, and Thistle and I assured it we meant no harm to it unless it threatened us.
Thistle questioned the kobold, who told us it was a dragon keeper, and that some orcs had stolen their dragon. She told the kobold we might be able to help find the beast, though we were not able to determine what color dragon it had been. The kobold led us deeper into the fortress, and other kobolds came to meet us, with weapons in their hands but no immediately attacking. We continued onward.
(Historical note: The reader may wonder why Gridley spends so much of his narrative discussing his early adventures. The answer is simply that Gridley recorded his adventures as he experianced them, right up to the very end. Well, not QUITE the very end, of course, Gridley was no Diviner, nor did he take notes in the heat of battle. Rather than editing his narrative to remove those portions of less historical interest, we have retained the whole in the hope that it will reveal more of the character of the cleric himself.)
Thistle carefully descended the rope into the darkness, followed by Baast. Hearing the sounds of fighting below, I slid rapidly down the rope to find my companions battling a pair of dire rats, which Baast quickly dispatched. I lit as torch as the rest of the party descended, and we began to wind our way down a switch-back path to the valley floor.
Part way down the path no less than seven dire rats charged out of holes to attack us. Thistle slew one as they approached, but the others closed. These rats were more determined, and most of the party were wounded. Yasir's song lifted our spirits, but Baast had a great deal of difficulty balancing on the path and could not bring her sword to bear. Marclar also had difficulty maintaining his balance to cast, but we eventually killed three more rats, and the rest fled. I healed most of the party's wounds, using all my spells, and we reached the bottom landing.
Lured into a false sense of security by the retreat of the rats, I fell into a pit trap at the bottom of the path, and found yet another dire rat waiting for me at the bottom. The might of Pelor guided my mace, but I was badly wounded and needed to use one of my few scrolls to heal myself.
The party, battered and all but spell less, rested the night on the lower platform. I awoke the next morning to find myself a victim of the rat's diseased bites, weaker and less nimble than usual, but over the worst of the disease. The others showed no immediate effects, although both Keiros and Baast's wounds seemed infected as well.
We entered the base of a tower that seemed to be the only structure still intact on the valley floor. Four recently killed goblins occupied the ground floor, stripped of all valuables. Baast spotted a secret door, and Thistle opened it to reveal three skeletons! Though I had never seen any of their foul kind before, I let my training light my way and called on the full power of the Sun. Pelor heard my call and the creatures had time for but a single attack each before I turned them to dust. We found a magic arrow and some coins among their remains.
Two doors led out of the tower. One led to a collapsed corridor with a stone door on one wall. This door had a dragon on it with the keyhole in the mouth. Choosing discretion over valor we examined the other tower door, finding that it led to a corridor with three doors. One had a scene of aquatic dragon-like creatures, one led to an empty room, the other led into what appeared to be an improvised shrine.
A fire pit occupied the center of the room, and a large cage stood against one wall, but my attention was drawn to a bench, on which a figure under a blanket moaned in pain. Unable to resist the appeal of one in pain I hurried forward, and drew away the blanket to reveal a kobold. The creature pleaded for its life, and Thistle and I assured it we meant no harm to it unless it threatened us.
Thistle questioned the kobold, who told us it was a dragon keeper, and that some orcs had stolen their dragon. She told the kobold we might be able to help find the beast, though we were not able to determine what color dragon it had been. The kobold led us deeper into the fortress, and other kobolds came to meet us, with weapons in their hands but no immediately attacking. We continued onward.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
New Purchase
I went to my first gun show yesterday, and found a pistol I've been looking for. Of all the centerfire pistols I've shot, the Smith & Wesson 686 was the nicest.
The weapon was used, but in reasonable shape - the cylinders were fairly dirty, but the barrel was clean and the trigger as nice as I remembered it. Best of all, I got the pistol, two speedloaders, a holster (right handed, but hey), a belt pouch for the speedloaders, and a case of ammo for less than I was willing to pay for just the weapon itself! Perhaps my luck hasn't run out after all. :-)
Friday, February 8, 2008
And the luck ends
Well, I'd been having a pretty good week. Took care of a number of things on my to-do list, generally things were breaking in my favor. Apparently in balance, a co-worker has been having a run of really bad luck. Spilling coffee on herself, etc.
Well, the run appears to be over. I'd picked out three pieces with a common theme for the upcoming Aquaterra Bardic Championship coming up in March. Today I got an email with the rules. One of my pieces (the best IMO, and the one that was going to be my "original work" entry) isn't a valid entry. Worse, I can't think of anything I can do within the criteria to maintain my chosen theme. Filk and modern are out, and those are my two best catagories. I've got very little period stuff on tap.
I may have to drop back to a single entry (which means I wouldn't actually be competing for champion, a goal I'd set for myself), or put up something that is very second-rate (which strikes me as a poor showing indeed).
Well, the run appears to be over. I'd picked out three pieces with a common theme for the upcoming Aquaterra Bardic Championship coming up in March. Today I got an email with the rules. One of my pieces (the best IMO, and the one that was going to be my "original work" entry) isn't a valid entry. Worse, I can't think of anything I can do within the criteria to maintain my chosen theme. Filk and modern are out, and those are my two best catagories. I've got very little period stuff on tap.
I may have to drop back to a single entry (which means I wouldn't actually be competing for champion, a goal I'd set for myself), or put up something that is very second-rate (which strikes me as a poor showing indeed).
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
I SWEAR I didn't make this up
KASHIWA CITY, Japan, Feb 6 (Reuters Life!) - A spacecraft made of folded paper zooming through the skies may sound far-fetched, but Japanese scientists plan to launch paper planes from the International Space Station to see if they make it back to Earth. On Wednesday the University of Tokyo researchers tested small, origami planes made of special paper for 30 seconds in 250 degrees Celsius (482 F) heat and wind at seven times the speed of sound. The planes survived the wind tunnel test intact. The theory is that paper craft, being much lighter than space shuttles, may escape the worst of the friction and heat that much heavier space shuttles face on re-entry to the atmosphere. "Paper planes are extremely light so they slow down when the air is thin and can gradually descend," said Shinji Suzuki, a professor of aerospace engineering. Suzuki said the technology might one day be used for unmanned spacecraft. The team has asked a Japanese astronaut to release the 20 cm (8 inches) long planes, made from paper chemically treated to resist heat and water, from the space station. It will take several months for the craft to reach Earth and there is no way to predict their landing spot if they make it, Suzuki said. "It's going to be the space version of a message in a bottle. It will be great if someone picks one up," he said. "We are thinking of writing messages on the planes saying 'if found, please contact us' in a couple of languages."
OK, my take on this. Even if you randomly drop 10 of these into atmosphere, assuming ALL of them survive reentry, statistically only about 3 will actually reach land. About 20% of the land area of the earth is used for growing crops. Let's double that for odds of a plane landing where it will be found by a human before it is destroyed. So one or maybe two of the ones that reach land will be recovered.
Now my question: do you think the odds are higher of that one plane actually being returned, or of it landing in the US and the Japanese being fined for littering?
OK, my take on this. Even if you randomly drop 10 of these into atmosphere, assuming ALL of them survive reentry, statistically only about 3 will actually reach land. About 20% of the land area of the earth is used for growing crops. Let's double that for odds of a plane landing where it will be found by a human before it is destroyed. So one or maybe two of the ones that reach land will be recovered.
Now my question: do you think the odds are higher of that one plane actually being returned, or of it landing in the US and the Japanese being fined for littering?
Manyshot: Not just for Rangers any more!
Amazingly enough, the arrows stayed quite close together after firing. At 25' they were around 2" apart, and I was as accurate as I ever am with a longbow. :-}
Braaaiiins
I have joined a forum called "Zombie Squad." Despite the name, they actually seem to (mostly) be quite serious and knowledgeable people. Zombies are used as a convenient metaphor, plus as is frequently pointed out, "if you're ready for the dead to rise you're ready for anything."
http://zombiehunters.org/who.php
I've decided that this year is a good time to get myself prepared for emergencies. To that end I'm working on getting back in shape (New Year's resolution, going well so far), researching and aquiring capital equipment and supplies, and stockpiling consumeables.
My goal is, by the end of the year, to be able to survive for three days in reasonable comfort in my house during a total failure of all utilities (power, water, etc.), to have medical gear suitable for a squad-level medic (though remaining legal will force some compromises), and to have a packed 'bug out bag' for wilderness survival.
http://zombiehunters.org/who.php
I've decided that this year is a good time to get myself prepared for emergencies. To that end I'm working on getting back in shape (New Year's resolution, going well so far), researching and aquiring capital equipment and supplies, and stockpiling consumeables.
My goal is, by the end of the year, to be able to survive for three days in reasonable comfort in my house during a total failure of all utilities (power, water, etc.), to have medical gear suitable for a squad-level medic (though remaining legal will force some compromises), and to have a packed 'bug out bag' for wilderness survival.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Filters
Do you filter your blog/livejournal/etc. posts based on who you expect to read them?
I don't really filter based on anyone I know is reading my blog. I do filter on the potential that certain people are or might in the future be reading my blog. I don't actively lie, though I'm sure some people would consider some of the things I've said here misleading.
I don't really filter based on anyone I know is reading my blog. I do filter on the potential that certain people are or might in the future be reading my blog. I don't actively lie, though I'm sure some people would consider some of the things I've said here misleading.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Housewarming Party
Well, I'm going to put Saturday down as a success.
Unless you count gaming sessions (I don't), I haven't hosted a party in years. It was nice, and now I'm thinking of occaisions to celebrate in the future.
There were a total of eight people, including myself. We did a little hanging out and chatting, but mostly we played games.
I was soundly trounced in three games of Pirateer. Four of us started a game of The Order of the Stick boardgame, but then some other people showed up and we packed that up and played the first eight-player game of Illuminati any of us had been in. I was the UFO's, and nearly got wiped out (I really need to start just grabbing an EASY group that no one will care about on my first turn...). I managed to recover to a respectable position, but was never a real threat to win the game. Still, it was really interesting to see what it is like with everyone in play. Many agreements were made, openly and secretly, though very few special cards showed up. The winning play was the control of Girlie Magazines. Gotta love that. :-)
Desparate for a win, I challenged the remaining folks to a game of Robo Rally. I was taught this game by a master, and while I've never reached his skill level, I'm pretty good at moving those little guys around. I pulled off a win. :-) Of course, it didn't hurt that I was playing against three novices. :-}
Unless you count gaming sessions (I don't), I haven't hosted a party in years. It was nice, and now I'm thinking of occaisions to celebrate in the future.
There were a total of eight people, including myself. We did a little hanging out and chatting, but mostly we played games.
I was soundly trounced in three games of Pirateer. Four of us started a game of The Order of the Stick boardgame, but then some other people showed up and we packed that up and played the first eight-player game of Illuminati any of us had been in. I was the UFO's, and nearly got wiped out (I really need to start just grabbing an EASY group that no one will care about on my first turn...). I managed to recover to a respectable position, but was never a real threat to win the game. Still, it was really interesting to see what it is like with everyone in play. Many agreements were made, openly and secretly, though very few special cards showed up. The winning play was the control of Girlie Magazines. Gotta love that. :-)
Desparate for a win, I challenged the remaining folks to a game of Robo Rally. I was taught this game by a master, and while I've never reached his skill level, I'm pretty good at moving those little guys around. I pulled off a win. :-) Of course, it didn't hurt that I was playing against three novices. :-}
Friday, February 1, 2008
Self-Fullfilling Prophecy
Oh no! A Recession is coming! You'd better get out of the stock market and start saving money!
But won't that contribute to a recession? In fact, if enough people do it, won't that cause one whether it was going to happen or not?
Umm... no, no, economic theories are far too complicated for simple people like you to understand.
Is that why economists can't agree on them either?
Nonsense! Economosts all agree that we're about to have a recession.
And would they have agreed on that a year ago? For that matter, do they agree on how long it will last, how bad it will be, or how much of the world it will effect?
(Sound of crickets chirping in the background.)
Seriously, every time I think that weathermen and climatologists were put on this earth to make astrologers look good, I wind up remembering that the astrologers, in turn, were put here to make economists look good.
I'm also reminded of the story of the French union leader, who sees a bunch of people run past him. He thinks, "Aha! I must find out where they are running to so I can lead them there!"
But won't that contribute to a recession? In fact, if enough people do it, won't that cause one whether it was going to happen or not?
Umm... no, no, economic theories are far too complicated for simple people like you to understand.
Is that why economists can't agree on them either?
Nonsense! Economosts all agree that we're about to have a recession.
And would they have agreed on that a year ago? For that matter, do they agree on how long it will last, how bad it will be, or how much of the world it will effect?
(Sound of crickets chirping in the background.)
Seriously, every time I think that weathermen and climatologists were put on this earth to make astrologers look good, I wind up remembering that the astrologers, in turn, were put here to make economists look good.
I'm also reminded of the story of the French union leader, who sees a bunch of people run past him. He thinks, "Aha! I must find out where they are running to so I can lead them there!"
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