Forget Gold or Silver

Invest in brass... ATK (CCI, Federal, Speer) reports that they will be raising ammo prices from 5% to 15%.

Via Guns For Sale.com

Our Rights Protected

The Supreme Court ruled that the protests at military funerals are protected under the First Amendment. Sounds good to me. I'm all for protecting our rights. (Funny how some people pick and choose which rights they want to protect, but that's another story.)

However, when my friend's nephew died of complications from a gun shot injury he suffered while serving in the Middle East, I was very angry that there were threats that protesters would attend his funeral. There is a time and place for everything, but to make a political statement at the expense of a mourning family is in poor taste to put it mildly.

I was very glad that some members of Rolling Thunder offered to handle any protesters. Nothing came of it, but I am thankful that there are people willing to stand up for what is right and willing to deal with the legal consequences.

On a tangent, I happened to be in DC last year on Memorial Day and got to witness the Rolling Thunder ride. The video doesn't do justice to the number of riders and the roar from their motorcycles. It is truly deserving of the Rolling Thunder name.

CCA Discounts via Text

From the CCA Facebook page:

"We at Coal Creek Armory have purchased software that allows us to send text messages to our customer base so that everyone can be notified of special promotions and giveaways we have going on.

Text "Fire" to: 508-315-9971 and you will be automatically added to any future messages.

I promise WE WILL NOT bombard your phones with meaningless mishmosh or sell your information to ANY outside source!"

If I don't win the GLOCK, then I may need a special discount.

Knox Vegas Bloggers Unite!

After discussing the much publicized Knoxville Bloggers Get-Together (a.k.a BBQ-N-Bullets) with my co-workers, we decided that the Knoxville bloggers need to form an organized group to seek better pay and benefits. Perhaps some sort of union as they seem popular these days.

As with any group, we need to start with a good name.

Local 556 - Lead Workers Union (Thanks to TNJeff for suggesting lead.)

I thought it would be easier to come up with some clever names, but it turns out to be harder than I thought. I've got some lame ones below. Anyone got a better one?

AFL-CIO - American Firearms League - Constitutionally Involved Operators
SAG - Serious Arms Group
Change to Winchester Federal
UAW - United Arsenal Writers
HSLDBK - High Speed, Low Drag Bloggers of Knoxville

Harry Potter in Space

Well, not exactly, but rumors of a screenplay of Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game are circulating. I loved the book and it is one that I could read again. (It is an easy read.) After reviewing the article, I must surmise that I am a little fuzzy on the details since I don't recall Ender being extremely violent. At the time, I must have thought his actions were justified. I'll have to dig out my copy and take it to the beach for a re-read.

Of course, I think Harry Potter could be cast in a similar violent light. It is hard for me to find fault with a character that is persecuted and fights back. As an aside, it also reminds me of Gord from the Greyhawk Adventures by the Gary Gygax, co-create of Dungeons and Dragons. Gord was a small, homeless orphan who had to fight for survival. As with Harry and Ender, Gord becomes very powerful and must deal with the responsibility that comes with that power.

Do You See What I See

With these Hunter's Specialties i-KAM XTREME video glasses, you will be able to see what I saw. Not a bad deal for only $90 at The Gun Source. I do wish they gave some detail about the lens and their protective ability.

Top Shot 2 - Compound Fracture

The compound bow expert can hit an aspirin thrown in the air at a distance of thirteen yards. Amazing.

Top Shot — Season 2 Episode Guide — History.com

Posterized

I was at this game when Scotty went off. He showed us what we thought he would do every game. I think he had three crazy dunks that game and this one was just my second favorite. The best one was when he went slashing across the lane and just left everyone flat footed. He saved them for the second half so he could jam in front of the students and the bench.

Kindle Price Trajectory

Some speculation that Kindles will eventually follow the razor and razor blades model at the Business Insider - see chart below. I have less problem with the $135 for the Kindle than I do for the ridiculous price of the books. I'd be happy to have a "free" Kindle, but I can't see paying extra for an eBook. Sure, it has advantages, but the cost to sell it to me have to be lower, too. Seriously, Amazon's incremental cost must be almost nothing. And there is always the chance Amazon could delete the book from my device. I know that they are looking at ways to enable loaning eBooks, but nothing beats the simplicity of sharing a hard copy.

For example, I bought my used copy of Atlas Shrugged at McKay Books for about $8. The Amazon alternatives:

Paperback - $14.66, Kindle Edition - $18.99

Tech for Encounters with Police Officers

Man uses Google Tracks GPS data to avoid a speeding ticket. (Via Slashdot.org)

Open Watch - Android app to record and annonymously upload videos.

It is nice to have the ability to upload anonymously, but it is a shame that we need the option because the police or other officials think that they should be the only ones to record these interactions. At least we are getting that fixed in some places - Okay to record TSA.