Boom Goes The Tannerite!

A good friend of mine Mike recently bought a new Springfield XD 9mm, so a bunch of us gathered up our favorite guns and headed up north to Flagstaff to go shooting. Sam has a great place to shoot close to his house, in an abandoned mining pit right across the highway. It really is a fun ride up there, and it got noticeably cooler as we climbed elevation. We were hauling up the mountain in my GTO, and registered a 480ft. per minute climb rate at one point on my skydiving altimeter! Woohooo!!

Mike, Ben and I met Sam and his wife Tia, loaded up and headed to the pit to set up tables, targets and such. We had a couple of ARs, a semi-auto shotty, a .22 or two, Ben brought his cool Sig .223 pistol and we had a plethora of handguns to choose from. We certainly had paper targets, and brought a bunch of clays to shoot at, but the coolest targets of all is the Tannerite! Tannerite is a perfectly legal explosive target that will make a BANG and a puff of smoke when you hit them with a rifle round. It is shipped in a plastic jar of foam pellets with the grey/blue powder propellant in a separate bag. Once mixed up and shaken thoroughly, they make great targets at about 100 to 125 yards. We only had one 1lb boomer (large Tannerite) that day, and set up the jar in a purposely difficult long shot under half a steel oil drum, and got started.

Mike looked VERY comfortable with his new XD, and was shooting impressively by the time we wrapped up for the day. We were taking turns with each other’s guns and having a great time, but I really wanted to concentrate on dialing in my iron sights on my Ruger SR-556 prior to making a decision on optics. Ben and Sam helped with a final adjustment on my front post and BINGO! Man was I dialed in! I was dealing deadly damage to the clays way out past 100 yards, even with my ‘old man eyes”! I was so impressed that I handed my rifle to Sam and asked him to verify how straight this thing was shooting. Well he grabbed the rifle, took a knee and hit the shot of the day by hitting the difficult Tannerite target FIRST SHOT!! Boom goes the Tannerite, Baby! The oil drum went flying up about 30-40ft in the air, and traveled to the right even more than that. Awesome!

Another great day of shooting, Mike did really good and my iron sights are definitely dialed in. I am ready to start thinking about optics, and want to thank Sam and Tia for the hospitality. Sam wins the blog ‘shout out’ for shot of the day, and Tia’s soundtrack was awesome! I highly recommend that shooters check out the Tannerite, simply Google it (and then look it up on the computer) and impress your friends with how fun it makes your next outing. Always remember to be safe and responsible out there, we need you guys for the revolution!

Shedding some light on Dark Theories

Scientists often describe things they don’t understand as “dark”, such as Dark Matter and Dark Energy. The both describe measurable phenomenon that has cosmologists and theoretical physicists alike racing for answers.

Dark Matter, Einstein’s cosmological constant. The only way for Einstein to describe accurately how stars in the outer edges of galaxies move and the way galaxies interact gravitationally with each other was to introduce a constant source of ‘additional gravity’ to the equations. This was justified decades later when we discovered that mathematically, most of our universe was missing. There simply wasn’t enough detectable matter in the universe, enter Einstein’s constant, now called Dark Matter. It is believed to be very dense matter that does not reflect light or interact with visible matter so is difficult to detect. Difficult, but not impossible. It is real, and it does matter. Dark Matter is important because we believe it makes up the vast majority of the detectible mass in our universe. I like to think of it as the reason galaxies don’t fly apart and why the universe doesn’t collapse in on itself.

The static universe vs. big bang theory battle was all but decided by the discovery that the universe was indeed expanding. Since the universe was expanding, we could theoretically reverse time and expect the universe to have both a beginning such as a the big bang, and also insinuated an end of the universe as well. I would be intuitive at this point to expect the expanding universe to be slowing down. However, subsequent measurements have concluded that not only is the universe expanding, but it is ACCELERATING as well. The reason for this acceleration is currently unknown, hence the term Dark Energy. Dark Energy is important because it conflicts with the intuitive counter to the big bang beginning of our universe, the big crunch end of the universe when the expanding universe would be gravitationally pulled back to the big bang singularity. Dark Energy will therefore play a profound role in the theory of how the universe will ultimately end.

Much will be learned about Dark Matter and Dark Energy in the next few years as the activity ramps up a the new Large Hadron Collider build by CERN straddling the Swiss French border. After a rocky start, the collider is poised to provide answers to the burning questions about the functionality and history of our fascinating universe.

Thou Doth Protest Too Much...

The new AZ Immigration Bill has caused a political tsunami regarding potential civil rights violations by law enforcement officials in the state of Arizona. The truth is: there is NO new requirements for citizens, legal or otherwise, in this law whatsoever. This bill has been cleverly crafted to mimic federal law which already requires citizens to carry proof of citizenship, visa, green card and the like. Just like American citizens are required to carry paperwork when visiting foreign countries. It also specifically prohibits profiling by requiring law enforcement officials to already be involved in lawful contact with suspects. Look, it was unlawful to sneak into this country before this new law, and it was also unlawful to profile the public by law enforcement officials. The only thing that this new law does is make the federal law = state law as well, so that SOMEONE might finally enforce it.

So why all the fury? Stop the hate? Racists? Boycotts? Refried beans swastikas and civil disobedience and attacks on law enforcement officers? Me thinks thou doth protest too much. We have an approximate 360,000 person illegal alien problem in this state which is immediate and real. How long are we to put this issue on the back burner to protect against a POTENTIAL civil rights violation? I honestly don’t see much difference between being asked for proof of citizenship verses being asked to provide proof of mandated health care insurance. The opposition should put this issue into perspective and ramp down the rhetoric a bit. I see the level of hysteria as an indication of how effective the opposition feels that this new law will actually work.

Which brings me to my last point, the laws purpose and effectiveness. I appreciate the renewed attention that border security is receiving at this point, but I also consider this new law as a band-aid expression of frustration from Arizona lawmakers. I feel that border security and national security ultimately are a federal issue, not the states. We don’t want inconsistencies from state to state in immigration and security laws, and whatever issues are felt at our southern border are surely a concern on our northern border as well. It is a national issue that warrants the appropriate action at the federal level via the enumerated powers granted the fed by the states. The separation of powers is a two way street.

It is for this reason I find myself at odds with the recent polls that show the majority of Arizonans favoring this new law. We don’t need divisive new state laws to see this issue through, we need to force the federal government to fulfill its obligations on the border. If this new law accomplishes this, great! But hopefully someday it can be struck down as being redundant and obsolete.

The Golden Touch

“The world’s most powerful investment bank is a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money”. That includes the recent sub-prime mortgage crisis, to the tune of $3.4 Billion profits last year betting against the mortgage bundles they were peddling. Infuriating, no doubt, but bear in mind they profited from the crisis, NOT caused it.

Current plans for finance reform have Goldman Sachs in the hot seat, but fail to address the root issues stemming from the lending practices of Fannie and Freddie. And the consumer protection clauses are particularly troubling. Take the populist anti-profit view and get the ‘fat cats’ if you must, but unintended consequences of this proposed legislation ultimately adversely affect small business when they need it the least. Besides, some investors actually want to partake in riskier investments to reap the potentially larger rewards. Unlike us taxpayers who were roped into investing in GM without our consent.

If Goldman Sachs broke laws, they should be held accountable. I’m just not buying that every “reform bill” this congress touches will return taxpayer gold….

Trivial if true

A daring operation in which a prominent Al Qaeda operative was captured has resulted in unfortunate Court Martial proceedings for three brave young Navy Seals. This suspect was believed to be behind the brutal deaths of four Americans in which the burned bodies were dragged behind cars and cheering crowds before being hung from a local bridge and celebrated. Witness claim the three Seals roughed up the suspect while detaining him, resulting in what has been described as a "bloodied nose" and "punch to the gut". Gen. Cleveland has, I am sure based on advice from legal counsel, proceeded with the Court Martials.

It just seems a shame to me that this incident could'nt have been put in perspective a bit and spared the careers of these extremely talented and brave Americans. Far from elimination orders, these guys risked their lives in an extraodinary effort to capture this individual in the most hostile environment possible. The roughing up of this operative happened at the emotional endgame of a profoundly dangerous mission most could not even imagine. I'm not saying what they did was right, just trivial if true.

This administration appears to want to treat these combatants as criminals and we are not in the habit here at home to prosecute law enforcement officers who tackle a fleeing bank robber and bloody his nose. I realize it's not entirely fair comparison, but I do believe that this could have been handled with a verbal or letter of reprimand, and does not warrant the destruction of these hero's careers, which is bound to happen if convicted.

Recently five additional sailors have been granted immunity in the case who apparently can discredit the prosecutions witness, and there is still time for Gen. Cleveland to have a change of heart and end these unfortunate proceedings. Hey, why don't we just take 20yrs off this violent loosers death sentance and call it even?

My First Track Day

One day a couple of years ago, Robert and I were on our way to Eloy to Skydive, and we saw some people racing sporbikes around a road course at Firebird Raceway just south of Phoenix. I was thinking how much fun that would be, and even bought a racy looking sportbike to learn how to ride. I took all the riding courses and learned to ride on the twisty canyon roads outside of town. The twisties were so fun (and I am so lazy), that I never did get down to Firebird to run on the track. Probably never would have, but Robert bought a georgous Ducati and started riding with me on the weekends.

Well, last weekend, Robert and I fianlly did our first Track Day at Firebird, and WOW was it fun! Robert and I rode our bikes to the track, and Robert's wife Lynn drove the SUV packed with all the luxuries one comes to expect from the Jones familly. EZ-Up awning, chairs, cooler stuffed with drinks and the such. The first thing we had to do was register and get our wrist band, then prep the bikes and get through TECH inspection. The mirrors had to be removed and the lights, turn signals and reflectors taped up so as not to be a distraction to the other riders. Protective clothing is also a requirement, and I had a hell of a time finding rental leathers that would fit. They must think all sportbike riders are fit 18 year olds, my fat gut and skinny legs made it difficult. Finally squeezed into the biggest, nastiest size 54 they had and was done with it!

Being first timers, we registered in the Beginning Group, which is a relaxed pace and prohibits passing in the corners. It wasn't long before our group was called over the PA to stage up for our first of four 15 minute sessions. Once out there, Robert and I stayed close and set our own pace, following other riders and learning the course. It seemed entirely too soon when I saw the checkered flag ending our session. Lots of smiles and high-fives back in the pits! The next session started the conservative passing, then we streached our legs so to speak. By the third and fourth session, Robert and I were running quite hard, and having an absolute BLAST!!

The experience kinda reminded me of my first Skydive. I just could not stop thinking about my first track day, and the "buzz" lasted an entire week! Profoundly fun, and we are already thinking about another track day in April. Robert did such a great job, even scraping off some of his boot sole on the track, and the pics we got are awesome! Thanks for draggin me down there, buddy! I will never forget it!

Woohooooo!!!

The dog doesn't like the food!

This week we will witness the potential endgame in the year long battle for Healthcare reform. And what a year it has been. Particularly interesting has been the constantly sliding poll numbers since last summer's town hall meetings, and the suprising results of the Massachusetts special election, in which Scott Brown ran on the platform of being the 41st vote in the Senate to break the Democrat's fillibuster proof supermajority.

That special election result put a spotlight on the publics response to the current legislation, and caused both the Obama administration and congressional leaders on Capital Hill to hunker down and re-assess the growing opposition. The bunker down mentallity of a tight core group of presidential advisers obviously did not include additional input, and appears to have resulted in a "group think" mindset that has mis-diagonosed the proceedure vs. policy. Unable (or unwilling) to accurately read the T.E.A. leaves and opinion polls, the POTUS has focused squarely on the public's disgust of the special deals and closed door meetings, read: THE PROCEEDURE. While correct, he neglected the more important of the two issues, read THE POLICY.

The dog doesn't like the food. The American people do not like the current policy. You can certainly try putting the dog food in a different bowl, or try parlimentary proceedures like reconciliation, but the dog STILL doesn't like the food! It's not like were not hungry, Americans want healthcare reform, just not this current 2,700 page progressive redistributive deficit busting spending monstrosity. It's about reforming healthcare costs, not an oportuinity to expand coverage. I believe that common sense reforms to reduce costs by increasing competion and tort reform would expand coverage simply by making insurance more afordable to those who choose to participate, and would spare the American people the draconian manditory measures and resulting bloated bureaucracy.