Blame Canada

I thought his post was going to be about DST, but instead it is about the invention of time zones. When hams log their contacts, they use UTC to avoid confusion. There is even a dual clock that shows local and UTC time. Based on the reviews, it is a nice idea, but poorly implemented. Someone needs to put two atomic clocks together and make some money on this.

Via SnarkyBytes.

A Primer on Japan's Nuclear Reactors

Here is a great source of info at MIT on the nuclear reactors in Japan. I'd rather get my info from engineers who occasionally talk over my head than from the mainstream media that dumbs it down too much.

Via Snowflakes in Hell post #1 and post #2.

USA INC and TN INC

If the government was a company... USA INC.

In a hole - trillions in debt.
Continuing to dig - negative cash flow.

And entitlements are the back hoe in this process to get us even deeper in dept.

"Conclusion – Publicly traded companies with similar financial trends would be pressed by
shareholders to pursue a turnaround. The good news: USA Inc.’s underlying asset base and
entrepreneurial culture are strong. The financial trends can shift toward a positive direction,
but both ‘management’ and ‘shareholders’ will need collective focus, willpower, commitment,
and sacrifice."

If this was a business, I think we'd see a change in leadership. The Tea Party has already facilitated some changes in middle management, but let's replace the CEO when his contract is up.

And closer to home... As a former business man, I would hope that Governor Haslam will take a pragmatic approach to the budget.

"“The time is right to go on a rigorous diet that consumes less and exerts more energy.”

“State government does a lot of good things. We have worked hard to try and continue funding many of those things. The reality is that there are a lot of things I would like to do, that each member of the Legislature would like to do, but that we simply cannot afford.”

Link to original USA INC PDF at Business Week.

Free Gun Storage!

FREE! FREE! FREE!

That's right! Free gun storage!*

Are you tired of having to store your own guns? Sick of having the option to defend yourself? Don't like the convenience of ready access to your own weapons?

Well then, the UT Police Department has a deal for you! They will happily store those pesky guns for you. It is a great way to "own" guns without really having access to them.

*Some restrictions, especially to your Second Amendment rights, may apply.

Sarcasm aside, given the current laws, this is a nice service.

Gun Show & Gun Safety

I went to the gun show at the 640 Expo aka Knoxville Expo Center. It drives me crazy that people don't think the four rules apply in the magical dimension of the gun show.

As always, Volunteer Ordnance Works (Cleveland, TN) had a good selection of higher-end handguns. I noticed the Knoxville Tactical booth for the first time. Their orange and white 550 paracord should be popular.

It amazes me that the prices on new guns vary so much. Who is buying the Glock 19 for $600(ish) when it is $550(ish) two tables over?

It is a shame that you aren't allowed to take pictures inside the show. Add the guns and it would look something like this.

For me it is my RSS Reader

... and with that I am going to bed.

Help me identify these guns.

When my grandfather passed away, we inherited these guns. At the time, neither my Dad, my brother, or I had interest in them. We ended up giving them to a cousin. Can anyone help identify them? Click the picture for a larger view. I'll e-mail my cousin to verify, but I thought it would be fun to see if someone could tell me what they were.

People are Good

People are good, but we can't trust them with a gun. So...

If People = Good then
 Trust = True then
  Private_Gun_Ownership = True else
   Trust = False then
    People = Evil then
     Private_Gun_Ownership = True

I think I just broke my computer.

Via Snarky Bytes

Lent

For the record, I'm giving up soft drinks and tea for Lent. I don't drink a ton, so this is more about discipline than sacrifice this year.

A Dance with Dragons

I actually went to the book signing in Lexington when A Feast for Crows came out. I think that was when I was in high school - okay, maybe not quite that long ago.

"Big news. The end is in sight, at long long last, and we're close enough so that my editors and publishers at Bantam Spectra have set an actual publication date. A DANCE WITH DRAGONS will be in your favorite bookstore on TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2011."

He references A Storm of Swords for an estimated length, so probably about 1000 pages. Every year I hope it will come out before I go to the beach, but no luck. I've been reading the Wikipedia summaries as a refresher. If I had the time, I might re-read the books. Unfortunately, I still have 800 pages or so left in Atlas Shrugged before I start anything.

Previously:
George R. R. Martin - A Song of Ice and Fire
Game of Thrones coming to HBO