Category: Uncategorized

Got the ‘Stang Running

KevinLeave a comment

Got the ‘Stang Running

Fuel tank dropped, flushed, cleaned & reinstalled with a new sending unit, fuel line blown out, and carb rebuilt, she’s back on the road after sitting in my garage for five years:



Anybody want to bid on her? I have a few more things to do before I put her up on eBay, but she’s looking pretty good at the moment.

Edited to add: Reflecting on the Quote of the Day above, I was reminded of this quote, WRT this car:

After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true. – Lt. Cmdr Spock, Amok Time

Quote of the Day

KevinLeave a comment

Quote of the Day

For Deyan:

“Common values” and “universal values” are not all that common and universal, and the willingness to defend those values is even rarer. They’ve been sustained over the long haul by a very small group of countries. In the years ahead, America has to take the American moment seriously — in part, to ensure that the allies of tomorrow don’t make the mistakes Western Europe did. That means at the very minimum something beyond cheeseburger imperialism. In the end, the world can do without American rap and American cheeseburgers. American ideas on individual liberty, federalism, capitalism, and freedom of speech would be far more helpful.

In 2004, Goh Chok Tong, the prime minister of Singapore and a man who talks a lot more sense than most Continental prime ministers, visited Washington at the height of the Democrats’ headless-chicken quagmire frenzy. He put it in a nutshell: “The key issue is no longer WMD or even the role of the UN. The central issue is America’s credibility and will to prevail.”

The prime minister of Singapore apparently understands that more clearly than many Americans. – Mark Steyn, America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It

And one Bulgarian.

“I Have Power! I Have Power!”

KevinLeave a comment

Those are the words reported to have been shouted by a Stasi TSA agent in Chicago when a passenger, forced to drop his trousers in full view of other passengers, asked to see her supervisor.

More and more, this seems to be the attitude of those who draw .gov paychecks.

A couple of days ago a reader (thanks, Russ) emailed me a link to this story along those same lines:

Home science under attack

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports that Victor Deeb, a retired chemist who lives in Marlboro, has finally been allowed to return to his Fremont Street home, after Massachusetts authorities spent three days ransacking his basement lab and making off with its contents.

Deeb is not accused of making methamphetamine or other illegal drugs. He’s not accused of aiding terrorists, synthesizing explosives, nor even of making illegal fireworks. Deeb fell afoul of the Massachusetts authorities for … doing experiments.

Authorities concede that the chemicals found in Deeb’s basement lab were no more hazardous than typical household cleaning products. Despite that, authorities confiscated “all potentially hazardous chemicals” (which is to say the chemicals in Deeb’s lab) from his home, and called in a hazardous waste cleanup company to test the chemicals and clean up the lab.

Pamela Wilderman, the code enforcement officer for Marlboro, stated, “I think Mr. Deeb has crossed a line somewhere. This is not what we would consider to be a customary home occupation.”

Allow me to translate Ms. Wilderman’s words into plain English: “Mr. Deeb hasn’t actually violated any law or regulation that I can find, but I don’t like what he’s doing because I’m ignorant and irrationally afraid of chemicals, so I’ll abuse my power to steal his property and shut him down.”

In effect, the Massachusetts authorities have invaded Deeb’s lab, apparently without a warrant, and stolen his property. Deeb, presumably under at least the implied threat of further action, has not objected to the warrantless search and the confiscation of his property. Or perhaps he’s just biding his time. It appears that Deeb has grounds for a nice juicy lawsuit here.

There’s a lesson here for all of us who do science at home, whether we’re home schoolers or DIY science enthusiasts. The government is not our friend. Massachusetts is the prototypical nanny state, of course, but the other 49 aren’t far behind. Any of us could one day find the police at the door, demanding to search our home labs. If that day comes, I will demand a warrant and waste no time getting my attorney on the phone.

There’s a word for what just happened in Massachusetts. Tyranny. And it’s something none of us should tolerate.

Ms. Pamela Wilderman, “code enforcement officer” for Marlboro, has power, and she’s not afraid to abuse it! At the end of the news piece she added:

“He’s been very cooperative,” Ms. Wilderman said. “I won’t be citing him for anything right at this moment.”

Remember the Ayn Rand quote. He broke some law or laws. All he has to do is provide any resistance at all, and they’ll find some to cite him with.

There’s far more tyranny in government than just the BATFE.

And by all means, read the comment thread.

UPDATE: From the newspaper comment thread:

I am the daughter of Victor Deeb and what they did and took from my father is not only unfair but devastating to an old man whose life for the last 40 years has been chemistry. They not only took all of his chemicals (which he used in his research for non-toxic sealants for baby food jars) but 20 years of notes that were valuable only to him. Now his research notes have magically disappeared into thin air. Can someone tell me where the justice is in that?

-m deeb

Where indeed?

I’m Shocked, SHOCKED I Say!

KevinLeave a comment

I’m Shocked, SHOCKED I Say!

Well, now that the dust has settled over yesterday’s shooting of Arkansas Democratic State chairman Bill Gwatney, I thought I’d comment. The AP reports (no link, on purpose):

The man who fatally shot the chairman of the state Democratic Party had a Post-It note at home with the victim’s last name and phone number along with 14 guns, antidepressants and a last will and testament, according to court documents.

I’m shocked to discover that the killer was taking antidepressants. The 14 guns? Not so much. We’re talking about Arkansas here.

The one thing that lefty blogger Markadelphia and I agreed on (aside from the individual right to arms issue) was that it appeared that mind-altering chemicals seemed to be the one thing that the overwhelming majority of “rampage shootings” had in common. The shooters were on Selective Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, etc. As I’ve said before, if these medications affect 1/100 of 1% (.001%, literally one in 100,000) in such a way as to reduce or remove the inhibition to suicidal violence, it would be too small a population to statistically determine. But there are literally millions of people on these drugs.

So every time I hear about a “rampage shooter,” the first question I want an answer to is “Were they on antidepressants?”

And this one was.

OK, What’s This?

KevinLeave a comment

OK, What’s This?

A screencap from a Reuter’s video story of a Georgian TV reporter getting shot on camera (she took what appears to be a minor wound to an arm, so I don’t think she was actually shot, but might very well have been shot at:


That looks like a scoped, suppressed AK-47? Note that he’s carrying something else across his back. Nice ninja-disguise, too. I suppose Russian Army troops really need to conceal their identities because this is an undercover invasion, right?

Answer in the comments: It’s a VSS Vintorez. Chambered for 9×39 subsonic. I’d never heard of it.

From the Dept. of “Make ‘Em Mad”

KevinLeave a comment

From the Dept. of “Make ‘Em Mad”

David Codrea points to the latest in .gov thuggery from that bastion of freedom, Maryland, where former Attorney General J. Joseph Curran published his 1999 manifesto A Farewell to Arms: The Solution to Gun Violence in America (PDF) Here’s just a part of what Curran recommended:

In the short run, we must change our gun culture. People must come to realize that we endanger our lives and those of our children by owning and carrying handguns, and by tolerating it in our neighbors. There is no reason why, in going to a movie theater or grocery store, we should worry that someone’s gun might discharge accidentally and kill our child. As attitudes have slowly but surely undergone radical transformation regarding such critical public health issues as smoking and using seatbelts, bicycle helmets, and child car restraints, so too must owning and carrying handguns come to be seen as dangerous and aberrant behavior. We must change people’s minds about how far they are willing to endanger themselves in tolerating the choice of others to carry a gun.

Thus, I call upon everyone – private employers, government agencies, schools, physicians, and especially parents – to help. First, to put teeth into this initiative, I ask the General Assembly to take the lead and make guns in public accommodations illegal. It is one thing to continue to tolerate people choosing to endanger themselves and their loved ones by keeping a gun at home. We should no longer, however, allow them to force others to endanger themselves by going to a movie theater or baseball game where guns are permitted. In addition, private employers outside the context of public accommodations should prohibit guns on their premises, with prominent signs to remind the public that guns must be left at the door.

In other words, this:


One thing I noted through Curran’s entire manifesto: he never said how he intended to disarm, you know, criminals.

Anyway, it looks like the departure of Curran in 2007 didn’t have any salutary effect on Maryland’s official hoplophobia. It would appear that the State monitors ammunition purchases and checks them against their list of registered firearms. And if there’s a discrepancy? Do they send an officer of the law to politely ask about whatever might be concerning them during, say, normal working hours?

Oh no! Instead they ninja-up and go tacticool. From the Maryland Shooter’s forum:

In case anyone isn’t on the MSI mailing list, this is from the latest. Reading this made me feel physically sick. This is straight up police state stuff, and someone could have been murdered by the police had it gone down a little differently. This has got to stop. Something HAS to be done.

Hello Henry.

I just wanted your organization to know what Our State Police are up too. The incident below happened to me, a legal gun owner in La Plata, Maryland two nights ago (August 4, 2008 at 12:30 PM). Next time, they won’t get in without a warrant. You live and you learn. Below, is the e-mail I sent to Mr. Chris Contee NRA, Chief Counsel at his request. I know I’m not an isolated incident so I hope your members keep their doors locked.

Dear Chris,

It was great to speak with you today by phone. Sorry but also glad you are so busy with our legislative matters. What would we do without you and the NRA?

As I told you by phone, my Wife and I were unfairly besieged late last night by the Maryland State Police. I have also relayed this occurrence to “Citizens Group for the right to keep and bear arms”. I believe they are in Seattle Washington. Enclosed is my summation for your review. Good luck on your trip and safe travel.

Last night at 12:30 pm a MD State Police “Armed Response Team” showed up at our door. I was dead asleep, my Wife was laying some ceramic tile on our basement floor when our driveway alert went off several times. She looked at the camera monitor and screamed that Police in Assault gear were running up to our front door. That made me sit straight up from a dead sleep.

We thought they were there for my Brother in Law who had just been mailed Bench Warrants to our home, but he doesn’t live here and he is already incarcerated, so my Wife opened the door for them. Then I heard one of them say he had some papers for me or needed to speak with me,so I got up to speak with them 6 or 7 officers in full assault vests, etc. and NO ONE in uniform. Four heavily armed police came into the house while at least two others walked around outside of our home.

One, began to talk to me asking me about the types of weapons I own. Remember now, I was just startled from a dead sleep and I kept asking why are you here, why do you want to know about my guns? Every gun I bought in Maryland I bought from a MD Dealer. Well this Trooper said that I had purchased a “large amount” of ammunition recently and wanted to know why. When I questioned why he was asking, then he changed his tune to what type of Handguns I had. I told him I just purchased my first handgun in Maryland last week, but had not even picked it up from the Store . He questioned me about other handguns I might own and I realized that he was “fishing” to match his list of my ammunition purchases with handguns that I owned. Then I told him about my C&R license that I had purchased 2 with that but was not required to register them with ST. Police. Moreover, I told him it was the MD. ST. Police who approved me as a “designated collector” so why are they here in storm trooper fashion at 12:30 pm maybe to kill me because I legally bought some handgun ammo? He told me that most of the ammo I purchased was for weapons that they had no record of me having registered so the “SYSTEM” Flagged me. Flagged me for what? Death, Harassment at midnight by 7 Storm Troopers?

I asked, “… does your system know that it is stupid to buy ammo with your own ID if your are going to do something illegal, Does your system know that I have a C&R and can buy weapons of various calibers without your knowledge, Does your system know that you yourselves registered me as a designated collector, who “collects” so it is not unusual for me to buy any type or manner of ammunition and finally, Does your system know that it is NOT illegal to purchase handgun ammunition in the State of Maryland whether or not you own that caliber handgun?”

The Trooper (plain clothes), had a list of ammo calibers that he referred to and I agreed, there’s no secret that I bought the ammo, but so what? And I’m still not sure of the States definition of a “large amount”. Look, I’m not outfitting a Militia, hate group, or giving it to someone who can’t buy it, or even buy ammo for a stolen weapon I don’t want to register. Any weapon I have every owned has either been purchased at a Gun Store or I personally knew the individual I bought it from and its origin. And, last time I looked it is not illegal to buy handgun ammo, even if you don’t own the caliber weapon OR you don’t own a weapon at all !! So unless the law is changed, Police cannot harass people who do so.

That being said, the young Trooper told me I “should” voluntarily register all my weapons or this would happen again… because the “system” flagged me. And another thing, he kept asking where I kept my weapons, in a safe? I never answered him and he asked me three separate times as to the locations of any weapons I might have. I got the distinct impression he wanted me to voluntarily let him see/inspect the handguns for the calibers I bought ammo for, but I was ready for that. No warrant, no see. I mean, I would hope you could trust the Police, but why should I let six or seven or so strangers know where I keep guns? If indeed I had the calibers he was inquiring about?

The point here though, is that Police came to my home without a warrant, dressed to kill, trying to intimidate me about something that is NOT illegal !! This was not an Interview it was an interrogation under duress.

Funny the last thing he said to me before leaving was “… Mr. Curtis, sorry to have HARASSED you, you have a good night.”

Read the whole thread.

Sounds like Maryland’s effort to “change the gun culture” are proceeding apace, doesn’t it? Are you mad yet?

Now That’s Service!

KevinLeave a comment

I received my M1 Carbine from the CMP a couple of weeks ago, and I noted then that the serial number on the Certificate of Authenticity didn’t seem right to me. According to the information I could find, the serial number the CMP thought the rifle carried would have made the receiver a Saginaw, but it (and the barrel) were clearly marked “IBM CORP.” So I fired off an email noting that I thought they’d misread the second digit of the S/N as a “6” rather than an “8”, where the “8” would have made it a 1943 production IBM unit.

I just received a new receipt and a new Certificate of Authenticity in the mail with the correct serial number. That’s pretty good service!

Quote of the Day

KevinLeave a comment

Quote of the Day

In the months after the Afghan campaign, France’s foreign minister, Hubert Védrine, was deploring American “simplisme” on a daily basis, and Saddam understood from the get-go that the French veto was his best shot at torpedoing any meaningful UN action on Iraq. Yet the jihadists still blew up a French oil tanker. If you were to pick only one Western nation not to blow up the oil tankers of, the French would surely be it.

But they got blown up anyway. And afterwards a spokesman for the Islamic Army of Aden said, “We would have preferred to hit a U.S. frigate, but no problem because they are all infidels.”

No problem. They are all infidels.

When people make certain statements and their acts conform to those statements I tend to take them at their word. As Hussein Massawi, former leader of Hezbollah, neatly put it, “We are not fighting so that you will offer us something. We are fighting to eliminate you.” – Mark Steyn, America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It

Something I think far too many people deliberately refuse to acknowledge, much less accept.