The Buzzing of the Mosquito

Days ago I posted on Facebook (in my alter ego) that I might find it necessary to add a Smith and Wesson Model 29 in .44 Magnum into the mix.

The Crazed American has a love of fine handguns, and rifles, and shotguns.

Off to Cabelas I went, not expecting to find a Model 29. I found one, but it was $850.

Alas. I was also looking for a .22LR pistol. Something to plink with the Elder Crazed American and the Brother of the Crazed American... I was thinking that I might find a nice Ruger - a used Single Six or an older Mk.II or a 22/45.

I did spy a SIG Sauer Mosquito. I was able to snap it up for $199... It needed a cleaning, but it was in excellent shape.

The Crazed American, in his wandering on teh intertubes, has seen quite a bit of bad press on the SIG. Finicky with ammo they said. Only has a taste for the expensive stuff. CCI Mini-mags.

So I bought a Bianchi IWB holster, two hundred rounds of the expensive CCI and headed on home. I did a quick field strip and cleaning. Suprising how close to it's larger siblings the SIG is. Controls are similar, although there is an added slide mounted manual safety, the decocking lever and slide stop are in the same places. I speak from experience, at one point having a SIG Sauer P226 in 9mm in the armory.

Noticed that during a function check the trigger was a tag gummy. Not able to contain my excitement I headed for the range.

Burned through 60 rounds of the CCI quickly. Flawless performance, with great accuracy. Quite pleased, almost smug, I switched to the worst ammunition that I have. Remington Gold - bulk Pack .22LR. This ammunition has less than stellar performance history with me (huge number of stoppages in my 10/22), but due to the quirky nature of the fates, I have in my possession about 1500 rounds of the stuff.

Pistol came with 2 ten round magazines. I went through 150 rounds of the bulk Remington, with a single malfunction. Round rim was dented by the firing pin. Figuring it could have been a light strike I replaced the round into battery. Click.

I ejected the round into the snow. Two dents in the rim. Bad round.

Then I switched to my old standby - 36 grain copper plated Federal Bulk Pack. Burned through 100 rounds - functioned perfectly.

So I have determined that my new little SIG likes the jacketed bullets. Tonight I am going to try out a supply of Remington Subsonic and Federal Lightning. Both types are non-jacketed / plated lead. I like my new little SIG. Don't get me wrong, I love shooting my 1911, but I can shoot so much more now. Also, I take a handgun with me whenever I camp, hike or snowshoe. The small SIG weighs SO much less than my full size 1911 (and magazines).

I highly recommend the SIG Mosquito. As with it's older siblings, the SIG is built to tight tolerances and does not like dirt. So if you are not into keeping your weapons maintained, look elsewhere for a .22lr pistol.

From DoubleTapper...

http://doubletapper.blogspot.com/2009/07/iran-in-pictures.html

Picture taken in Iran - bravery in all forms...

From DoubleTapper...

ALGORE to see the NorKs!!

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.32cde4b38d55ae6af28266bb31a7221e.e11&show_article=1

What could possibly go wrong?

Tee-hee-hee...

Worst case scenario: he get's to find out what the "green benefits" of NorK Convict Labor are...


In all seriousness, I do hope he is able to win the release of his "journalists" that the NorKs are holding. Other than that, i hope he has a very un-exciting and uneventful trip...

I do wish him the best - really!

We're trying to destroy...

The American Car industry.

CAFE standards
Government ownership

Has the government ever run anything (other than into the ground)?

i understand the need to push automakers to make more fuel efficient cars, but right now? Seriously? Chrysler (almost gone), GM (slightly better, but still sinking - fast) and Ford (not in terrible shape, but hurting) have enough on their plates trying to come up with a car that doesn't suck.

Right now, with current automotive technology the only way to get cars that will meet these new CAFE standars is to sacrifice weight for economy. That means cars will be made with thinner and lighter metals and much more plastics and composites. Folks, if 10 years from now you get hit by a '78 Cadillac Brougham while you're riding around in a car lighter than a Prius, the Caddy becomes both the immovable object and the irresistable force. Physics come into play. You will be in a world of shit...

Who knows, maybe the American Auto unions (Primary shareholder of GM and Chrysler) and the Federal Government (same) under the expert engineering tutelage of President Obama and Vice President Biden, will be able to out- design and produce the profit motivated robber barons of the American Car Industry (and the Germans, Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese).

Sure, it could happen, but folks, I think I have a better chance of seeing Mr. Jesus H. Christ and Mr. John Cantius Garand (Peace Be Upon Him) sharing a cup of joe at the local 7-11.

It is apparent WHO is behind all of this:

Auto Mechanics (Technicians)
Used Car Salesmen
and the Spare Parts Industry

I for one will now keep my 165 HP Honda CR-V (gets 25 miles to the gallon) until the wheels fall off, then go buy a used one, in Mexico, for parts.

This is another thing I reserve the "I told you so" right.

So, tonight I will see it...

I am looking forward to seeing it. From what I have heard it's a good one.

I have been a fan since a VERY early age...

I reserve the right not to love it, but I have heard that the movie is a hell of a ride...

I'll let you know....

Crazed American

But as far as I'm concerned, the picture at the top is Captain Kirk...

Swine Flu

My spider-sense is a tickling.

They just closed my daughter's school (and the rest of the district) 'till Monday...

Either it's worse than they are letting on, or...

Let's just say I'd rather pick it being worse than they are letting on. Either way somebody is at the least managing our expectations, or outright lying to us, for some other nefarious purpose. What that is, I keep to myself - in the dark recesses of my fevered mind...

Or Joe Biden (Vice-President) (clueless gas-bag), by saying that he wouldn't be riding planes or trains, has sparked a wee bit of a panic, and it might be that time for him to be fired.
Article on Joe: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21925.html

Mark my words - the powers that be might use this an an excuse to cut him loose from the administration.

"...Engineered Crisis..." Hmmm....

Geo-political experts, talk amongst yourselves. Comments are always welcome, but not expected.

Because "I have a gift..."

http://wcbstv.com/topstories/air.force.one.2.996457.html

So the Federal government knowingly scared the shit out of a city.

President Obama had authorized this mission

If it was just a VC-25A and not Air Force One, why not tell anyone?

Until the Feds release a verifiable manifest of the personnel on-board (which they won't), I'm assuming it was either Air Force One, or a planeload of political donors for a little joy ride.

Not to mention this spent $328,835. Not to mention the lost wages and productivity of the people who thought they were under attack again, not to mention the counseling that some people are undoubtedly going to require.

All for a fucking photo. Nice job, Mr. President, I'd ask if you slept well, but I already know the answer.

Where's the outcry form the mass media?

Oh, and Arlen Specter is a coward and a complete asshole. Looked like he was going to loose against another Republican. The Democrats promised to run him as thier candidate. Being a Senator is the MOST important thing to him. In the immortal owrds of my Grandfather, "Don't let the door hit you in the ass". I have no money, and I am considering sending money to ALL of his opponents...

Love my first amendment rights.

Crazed American, out.

UPDATE: So, the President is not going to release the "publicity" photos from the flight.

Call the Crazed American cynical, but I now bet there are no photos...

Reasoning...

Tea Parties

The Crazed American Likes this...

The American system is strongest when the citizenry actively participate. Our problems stem from us not participating nearly enough.

Note to all of those who criticize these people, yet were happy when people protested "the war" (pick one): It's called the Freedom of Speech, look it up. Don't try to deny it to people you don't agree with...

That's un-American

Freedom - that's all I want my congress-critters to do - protect my freedom.

Crazed American, out.

Counterpoint

My bipolar condition is kicking in right about now.

A little something from the Commentaries of the Maud'Dib (if you don't know who that is - your loss...)

Any road followed precisely to its end leads precisely nowhere. Climb the mountain just a little bit to test that it's a mountain. From the top of the mountain, you cannot see the mountain.

I write this as I look at mountains. I see Iron Mountain, dominating the large window frame. I see the runs of Dreamscape and Dreamcatcher to the right and the runs of PCMR obscured by the diminutive bulk of Quarry Mountain. Bald Mountain is obscured in the clouds...

Snow blankets the earth, outside is filled with the noise of the highway, with the smells of nearby restaurants comingled with that of the highway. Here I sit, before me a picture of serene, stark beauty, cold in its depth, warm in the body and cold in the heart. My solitude is punctuated by little, only the tapping of the keys, and the muttering of voices behind me.

What does this reflection indicate to my soul, what truths from it do I glean?

Yep, that's right - life fucking sucks, (but I'll qualify it with) at times. Then in the next moment you remove yourself from your own self pity and shame and realize that the world doesn't give a shit if you're happy or not. Happiness is like the lands of Elysium. Something we all can attain in death, but we only get fleeting glimpses of it in life. I have determined that happiness is what you make. It's not a state that we wretches naturally dwell in. The gossamer sheen it places on moments in life are what make us pick ourselves up and in the immortal words of the Chairman of the Board "...get back in the race. That's Life. And as funny as it may seem, some people get their kicks stomping on a dream..."

To again hold her hands and look into her eyes on the shores of the sea.

Crazed American, out.

On Life

The Crazed American opines:

Life - sometimes it fucking sucks.

That is all.

Crazed American, out.

More on the NorK launch

via Drudgereport.com:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/15/us-failed-to-use-best-radar-for-n-korea-missile/

So, according to the story Defense Secretary Robert Gates denied Northern Command from using the SBX, a very expensive, highly capable, and extremely advanced anti-missile radar. Our best radar system out there.

"Why that dirty rascal! He's endangering us!" Some people would say.

Some people would say that, and some people would be wrong...

I agree with Secretary Gates. Why not use our best, most advanced, most capable radar system?

Easy, probably because the Russians and the Chinese wanted us to use it, so they could analyze the response a signals and energies that it generated. The more knowledge that they have about the SBX system, the more likely they are to be able to generate an effective deterrent or countermeasure, that would allow them to at least reduce it's effectiveness, should the big balloon go up and the "powers that be" decide it's time for us to live in the Stone Age again.

Also, I agree that Secretary Gates said that we didn't need to use it. The NorK Missile was very primitve, so using the SBX to track it would be like using a high powered searchlight of 500 billion candle power to look for an elephant in a room with you. A small flashlight would be just as effective. I'm quite positive the US Air Force and the US Navy kept a very close eye on things, with pre-existing systems. Not to mention, the pre-exisiting systems were on Anti-Satelite SM-3 armed Aegis Cruisers.

Good call. No reason to give the Chinese and the Russians a look at an "operational test".

Shrewd. Kudos.

I still think we should bomb the launch facility, especially now that the NorKs have promised to continue missile testing and have vowed to restart their nuclear research.

Interesting times,

Crazed American

Here we go...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_nkorea_missile

The NorKs launched their bird. Looks like nobody did nuthin'.

Diplomacy in action. The chess game begins, now. NorK's start exporting medium range ballistic missiles, now. The Iranians get to use some of this tech, now.

Iran can now hit London, folks...

I ask anyone - the NorK's said this was for a communications satellite launch - not a test of MRBM's. Let me guess no satellite?

F-ckers.

And we did nothing. Now, let's scold them some more.

Crazed American Quote of the Year:

People - individuals, they can get together with other individuals and build great and terrible things, like babies, moon rockets, symphonies, atom bombs. Countries and nations, act either like petty children or like base animals. The larger the group of people, the lower their behavior.

F-ck it. I spent two days of skiing in some of the best powder conditions that I've seen in a while. I spent quality time with my child.

My country is being run by amateurs and the corrupt (no favors, I mean the absolute lot of them). The Crazed American is thinking about running for elected office, or heading for the hills, haven't quite figured out which. Let y'all know real soon, like.

That is all,

the Crazed American

Still here...

What with the US government passing a 3.6 trillion dollar "budget", the NorKs getting ready to touch off their "Roman Candle", the Chinese government confident enough in their new "SuperCarrier Killer" that they leak it to the press, and other, not too pleasant things happening in the Crazed American's personal arena, I've been a tad preoccupied.

Apologies.

Hopefully in a few days I'll be able to post a snarky comment about the failed NorK Missile. Or a realtively deatiled analysis of Japanese Air and Ballistic missile defense. Or a snarky post about Michelle Obama giving the Queen of England a nice big hug (according to about oh, three thousand years of accepted protocol, you do NOT hug a sitting Monarch - sh*t, even I know that). Oh, and Mr. President, the Queen already had an iPod.

Maybe I already got the snarky Obama post out of the way.

Freedom and Liberty,

The Crazed American

Oh, joy...

http://closingvelocity.typepad.com/closing_velocity/2009/03/aloha-north-korea-announces-detailed-missile-flight-plan.html

And I have stolen McKittrick's graphic as well. All credit goes ti him, I take none - just tryin' to get the word out, brother...

Great - wonder what SIOP says 'bout the NorK's lobbing missiles at us.

Guess thas might fit under the "engineered crisis" that Joe "gimme a f--kin' break" Biden was talking about right before and after the election...

As Dirty Harry used to say: "Marvelous."

Good.

Japan warns it may shoot down North Korean satellite launcher

Read the rest of it here.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/13/north-korea-japan-nuclear-missile

The Crazed American is all for allowing Japan to defend itself. Now let's sell them a boat load of F22's. All profit to go to reducing the national debt, and it keeps the bloody NorKs off kilter.

Good hunting, JASDF...

Sorry

Apologies for not posting. Too busy preparing for the coming societal collapse, or the writing of my book, whichever comes first.

Hopefully the book.

F--k it.

I think I may be done with the whole "follow the news" thing. Fu-k it - I think I may be all for letting "Rome" "burn".

TARP was a bad thing.

The "Stimulus" is a bad thing.

This:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/science/earth/19epa.html?_r=1

is a very bad thing.

THE SCIENCE IS NOT SETTLED.

This is noting but a method to further damage an already crippled economy. They will be able to control everything now. the horizontal and the vertical.

Thanks for making me sound paranoid.

Thanks for trying to regulate a natural by product of life as a pollutant.

I officially reserve the right to smugly say, "I told you so".

Hasta la pasta,

the Crazed American
Opposition Website author and soon to be fugitive from "justice"

M4 Training

A video - excellent stress inducing firearms training. Not for the faint of heart (NSFW - language), or people who don't like South African "contractors".

An epihany and a new catchphrase!

So I'm bombing it down Bald Mountain, at a certain local ski resort today, and by bombing it I mean I am hauling a$$ down the gravity gradient. It was indeed one of those days.

The weather - perfect

The Snow - perfect

Me - in the zone and skiing like a god

I'm thinking about taking a lesson to clean up my form, 'cause I want to look good, and right now, I probably don't. Saying that I don't look good is one thing, but I can ski anything with snow on it.

So the catch phrase came into my head:

What I lack in ability and style, I more than make up for with a complete lack of concern.

Realized that I don't care what I look like when I ski. The mountain sure as hell doesn't care, and that's the only thing I really have to deal with when I ski.

Let it snow.