You want to know how much someone means to you?
Wrong them, see the look on their face, then see how you feel.
If you're like me, you might almost break your hand punching the steering wheel.
hastag bad day
hashtag dontlietoyourlove
01 September 2014
27 August 2014
I'm on a bit of a tear...
As the one of my readers knows, I am an avid proponent of the 2nd Amendment, the right to keep and bear arms.
Having said that, I was sickened to see the reports of the accidental death of a shooting instructor in AZ, killed by a 9 year old girl, who was learning how to shoot a fully auto Mini or Micro Uzi in 9mm.
*Can of Worms OPENED*
This death was senseless. I see the fascination with the little machine pistol. It is a bullet hose, and in my opinion, lest you are clearing a room, has no practical use. It is inaccurate, and expensive to operate, not to mention DANGEROUS to the user. The Mini / Micro Uzi, a smaller version of the bigger (and less dangerous) Uzi sub-gun, is best used suppressed by competent professionals.
I fault the instructor, G-d bless him, and the parents of this little girl, who put her in the situation.
My heart goes out to the little girl, the parents and the family of the instructor.
I speak from experience. I have, at a previous time in my life been issued, by Uncle Sugar, a damn fine General Purpose Machine Gun, the M60. It was belt fed, and fired the 7.62x51mm NATO round. I have also had the opportunity to fire an MP40 sub-gun of Nazi fame, M1A1 and M1928A1 Thompsons, and an M3 Grease Gun. I am proficient with the M4, and M4A1 carbines, and the M16A1 and M16A2 rifles (the M4A1 and the M16A1 are both capable of fully auto fire, where the M4 and the M16A2 have a three round burst setting).
In a recent experience, I asked a serving member of the United States Military Special Operations Community, "How often to you use the "fun" (full-auto) switch," on his M4A1?
"Outside of training? Never - can't be sure where every bullet goes. Not to mention, but it's a waste of ammo," was his reply.
I do not have the longest military experience. But I only remember a single time using the BURST or AUTO setting on any carbine or rifle I was ever issued. It was in training, and we were firing blanks. Made my rifle extra dirty.
I would NEVER give a sub-gun to a 9 year old. Hell, I wouldn't give ANYONE with no experience with firearms a mini or micro sub-machine gun. I am not a fan of sub-machine guns. They turn money (ammo) into smoke and noise, with minimal effect - unless you're really good with them. Semi-auto fire is accurate and effective than spraying bullets out of a hose with an 8 inch barrel.
I have an 11 year old daughter. She is an excellent marksman. I started her off gradually- she could repeat the 4 RULES to me and could identify all the working parts of a firearm before anything happened. Then, close supervision on a Daisy 880 BB gun (single shot, mind you - the gun you have to pump up). After that, a Ruger 10/22 rifle with me scant inches from her (1 round in the magazine). When she showed proficiency and responsibility, she graduated to an M1 Carbine. After that, an M1 Garand. Only when she was comfortable and safe with long guns did she even get to hold an unloaded pistol. When she had a new (to her) firearm in hand, I was always right on top of her, and we were on BLM land in Western Utah with a clear target and a mountain range as a backstop, with NO ONE around. She was told in no uncertain terms that once she had a firearm in hand, I would disarm her quickly and not-nicely should she do anything unsafe.
I get what the parents of that 9 year old in AZ were thinking - how cool it would be to have Facebook video of their kiddo lighting off a mag of 9mm from an Israeli bullet hose. I seriously doubt it was solely her idea. I'm sure the facility and the instructor had children firing probably the same gun many times before. Something different happened this time, though...
I believe in teaching children how to shoot, responsibly. I believe in the responsible use of firearms.
Likewise, I believe in teaching kids, when they are old enough and in a safe manner how to drive. Handing that little girl a Mini or Micro Uzi was like strapping her into a high horsepower car and putting it into gear for her. The noise and vibration are shocking, and they might cause a stress reaction and get into an accident that might result in death(s).
This is not about ownership of full-auto weapons. If you jump through the hoops (hugely expensive firearms and tax stamps and transfer fees, background checks and a huge amount of effort and time) and want to own one - knock yourself out. This is about not putting your child needlessly into a situation where they might hurt themselves or someone else. My child does dangerous things - she mountain bikes and skis, but she has experience and close supervision when she tries something new.
That 9 year old is going to need a lot of therapy. All my hopes and prayers for her and her family and the family of the instructor in this time of tragedy. I wish her parents had wanted her to shoot an M240, M249 or an M60... The instructor could have more easily controlled the situation (had her fire from the prone from the bipod), and she'd have a great memory and cool videos to remember her vacation in the desert, as opposed to the nightmare it became.
4 RULES
- Treat all firearms as if they were loaded
- Never allow the muzzle of a firearm to cover anything you are not willing to kill and destroy
- Keep your finger off of the trigger and out of the trigger guard until your sights are on target and ready to fire
-Be sure of the target and what is behind and adjacent to it
CRAZED AMERICAN, out.
Having said that, I was sickened to see the reports of the accidental death of a shooting instructor in AZ, killed by a 9 year old girl, who was learning how to shoot a fully auto Mini or Micro Uzi in 9mm.
*Can of Worms OPENED*
This death was senseless. I see the fascination with the little machine pistol. It is a bullet hose, and in my opinion, lest you are clearing a room, has no practical use. It is inaccurate, and expensive to operate, not to mention DANGEROUS to the user. The Mini / Micro Uzi, a smaller version of the bigger (and less dangerous) Uzi sub-gun, is best used suppressed by competent professionals.
I fault the instructor, G-d bless him, and the parents of this little girl, who put her in the situation.
My heart goes out to the little girl, the parents and the family of the instructor.
I speak from experience. I have, at a previous time in my life been issued, by Uncle Sugar, a damn fine General Purpose Machine Gun, the M60. It was belt fed, and fired the 7.62x51mm NATO round. I have also had the opportunity to fire an MP40 sub-gun of Nazi fame, M1A1 and M1928A1 Thompsons, and an M3 Grease Gun. I am proficient with the M4, and M4A1 carbines, and the M16A1 and M16A2 rifles (the M4A1 and the M16A1 are both capable of fully auto fire, where the M4 and the M16A2 have a three round burst setting).
In a recent experience, I asked a serving member of the United States Military Special Operations Community, "How often to you use the "fun" (full-auto) switch," on his M4A1?
"Outside of training? Never - can't be sure where every bullet goes. Not to mention, but it's a waste of ammo," was his reply.
I do not have the longest military experience. But I only remember a single time using the BURST or AUTO setting on any carbine or rifle I was ever issued. It was in training, and we were firing blanks. Made my rifle extra dirty.
I would NEVER give a sub-gun to a 9 year old. Hell, I wouldn't give ANYONE with no experience with firearms a mini or micro sub-machine gun. I am not a fan of sub-machine guns. They turn money (ammo) into smoke and noise, with minimal effect - unless you're really good with them. Semi-auto fire is accurate and effective than spraying bullets out of a hose with an 8 inch barrel.
I have an 11 year old daughter. She is an excellent marksman. I started her off gradually- she could repeat the 4 RULES to me and could identify all the working parts of a firearm before anything happened. Then, close supervision on a Daisy 880 BB gun (single shot, mind you - the gun you have to pump up). After that, a Ruger 10/22 rifle with me scant inches from her (1 round in the magazine). When she showed proficiency and responsibility, she graduated to an M1 Carbine. After that, an M1 Garand. Only when she was comfortable and safe with long guns did she even get to hold an unloaded pistol. When she had a new (to her) firearm in hand, I was always right on top of her, and we were on BLM land in Western Utah with a clear target and a mountain range as a backstop, with NO ONE around. She was told in no uncertain terms that once she had a firearm in hand, I would disarm her quickly and not-nicely should she do anything unsafe.
I get what the parents of that 9 year old in AZ were thinking - how cool it would be to have Facebook video of their kiddo lighting off a mag of 9mm from an Israeli bullet hose. I seriously doubt it was solely her idea. I'm sure the facility and the instructor had children firing probably the same gun many times before. Something different happened this time, though...
I believe in teaching children how to shoot, responsibly. I believe in the responsible use of firearms.
Likewise, I believe in teaching kids, when they are old enough and in a safe manner how to drive. Handing that little girl a Mini or Micro Uzi was like strapping her into a high horsepower car and putting it into gear for her. The noise and vibration are shocking, and they might cause a stress reaction and get into an accident that might result in death(s).
This is not about ownership of full-auto weapons. If you jump through the hoops (hugely expensive firearms and tax stamps and transfer fees, background checks and a huge amount of effort and time) and want to own one - knock yourself out. This is about not putting your child needlessly into a situation where they might hurt themselves or someone else. My child does dangerous things - she mountain bikes and skis, but she has experience and close supervision when she tries something new.
That 9 year old is going to need a lot of therapy. All my hopes and prayers for her and her family and the family of the instructor in this time of tragedy. I wish her parents had wanted her to shoot an M240, M249 or an M60... The instructor could have more easily controlled the situation (had her fire from the prone from the bipod), and she'd have a great memory and cool videos to remember her vacation in the desert, as opposed to the nightmare it became.
4 RULES
- Treat all firearms as if they were loaded
- Never allow the muzzle of a firearm to cover anything you are not willing to kill and destroy
- Keep your finger off of the trigger and out of the trigger guard until your sights are on target and ready to fire
-Be sure of the target and what is behind and adjacent to it
CRAZED AMERICAN, out.
10 August 2014
What an amazing world ..,
I am in the middle of the desert. In a Quonset hut. On an Army cot. A rifle next to me. Add to it, the fact that I'm being paid every day, three times what I made a month.
I have access to the web, it's air conditioned. The food - MRE's, but these are amazing future food. Quite good, actually. My biggest complaint?? Should've brought a pillow.
02 July 2014
Star Trek - the State of the Prime Universe
...or how I learned to stop worrying and have come to meh the JJ-Verse.
OK, folks... it's been a while, I admit, but I have to get something out there.
The Crazed American is a Star Trek fantatic. I loved the Original Series, loved The Next Generation, Loved DS9, tolerated Voyager, found Enterprise to be every hit or miss. In terms of Star Trek Movies, I loved 1-6, tolerated 7, loved 8-9, disliked 10 (Nemesis). 2009's Star Trek (directed by JJ Abrams) I enjoyed.
That brings us to the most recent iteration: 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness. Big, loud expensive. Great cast and good effects wasted on a, frankly, dumbed down and derivative story. I enjoyed seeing it in IMAX 3D, letting my senses get battered into submission. It was pretty. Dumb, but pretty.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982, Directed by Nicholas Meyer) is, not only my favorite Star Trek movie, it is my favorite movie. Full Stop. This "homage" (read: rehash) to TWoK is, the more I think about it, galling. You've taken the effort and literally spent hundreds of millions of dollars at this point "rebooting" the Star Trek Franchise with an exciting, great cast, and still all you can come up with is a rehash of a better movie with about 1/10th the budget?? The only saving grace has been the idea of it all being an alternate universe - giving crazies like me the fictional excuse to not really care what is happening in the new movies.
So, I have been trying to find a sum up of the Star Trek Prime Universe. Last thing we heard was from the events of the 2009 Star Trek move. Ambassador Spock entered the alternate universe in a fancy Jellyfish like ship (apparently designed by Commander Geordi LaForge and maybe Wesley Crusher), after apparently being involved with the destruction of Romulus.
So with no Romulus, galactic politics in the Prime Universe is mighty different. Ever since the events of the poorly received Star Trek: Nemesis, the Romulan Empire was on the ropes. The Reman Insurrection had eliminated the Romulan Senate, and the empire was disintegrating. Former Romulan colonies and protectorates undoubtedly either band together, or begin pestering the Federation directly for membership. The Federation would have to be on the ball to keep the Klingon Empire from immediately invading, although after the casualties incurred during the Dominion War, the Klingons might not be too quick on the forever war.
Things are mighty interesting in the Alpha Quadrant. There are 100,000 stories that could start with the previous two paragraphs. And we are stuck with a convoluted, silly, rehash of something done better 31 years before???
Roberto Orci, one of the writers of both of the new Star Trek movies will apparently be directing the next 2016 Star Trek movie. My advice and request: do something new - you're 240 r so years in the future - you have an FTL Starship and a legendary crew at your command, you're in outer space - find a new story to tell!
Tell me I'm wrong?
Crazed American, out.
OK, folks... it's been a while, I admit, but I have to get something out there.
The Crazed American is a Star Trek fantatic. I loved the Original Series, loved The Next Generation, Loved DS9, tolerated Voyager, found Enterprise to be every hit or miss. In terms of Star Trek Movies, I loved 1-6, tolerated 7, loved 8-9, disliked 10 (Nemesis). 2009's Star Trek (directed by JJ Abrams) I enjoyed.
That brings us to the most recent iteration: 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness. Big, loud expensive. Great cast and good effects wasted on a, frankly, dumbed down and derivative story. I enjoyed seeing it in IMAX 3D, letting my senses get battered into submission. It was pretty. Dumb, but pretty.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982, Directed by Nicholas Meyer) is, not only my favorite Star Trek movie, it is my favorite movie. Full Stop. This "homage" (read: rehash) to TWoK is, the more I think about it, galling. You've taken the effort and literally spent hundreds of millions of dollars at this point "rebooting" the Star Trek Franchise with an exciting, great cast, and still all you can come up with is a rehash of a better movie with about 1/10th the budget?? The only saving grace has been the idea of it all being an alternate universe - giving crazies like me the fictional excuse to not really care what is happening in the new movies.
So, I have been trying to find a sum up of the Star Trek Prime Universe. Last thing we heard was from the events of the 2009 Star Trek move. Ambassador Spock entered the alternate universe in a fancy Jellyfish like ship (apparently designed by Commander Geordi LaForge and maybe Wesley Crusher), after apparently being involved with the destruction of Romulus.
So with no Romulus, galactic politics in the Prime Universe is mighty different. Ever since the events of the poorly received Star Trek: Nemesis, the Romulan Empire was on the ropes. The Reman Insurrection had eliminated the Romulan Senate, and the empire was disintegrating. Former Romulan colonies and protectorates undoubtedly either band together, or begin pestering the Federation directly for membership. The Federation would have to be on the ball to keep the Klingon Empire from immediately invading, although after the casualties incurred during the Dominion War, the Klingons might not be too quick on the forever war.
Things are mighty interesting in the Alpha Quadrant. There are 100,000 stories that could start with the previous two paragraphs. And we are stuck with a convoluted, silly, rehash of something done better 31 years before???
Roberto Orci, one of the writers of both of the new Star Trek movies will apparently be directing the next 2016 Star Trek movie. My advice and request: do something new - you're 240 r so years in the future - you have an FTL Starship and a legendary crew at your command, you're in outer space - find a new story to tell!
Tell me I'm wrong?
Crazed American, out.
14 January 2014
Tuesday off
With the new day job shift (still getting used to) I now have the random day off. Ah, glories of working retail sales.
Do have a meeting tonight, but have the rest of the day off. Glorious.
There had been talk of doing a touch of snowshoeing this AM, but the Missus is still ensconced firmly in DreamLand, and I am having way too much fun drinking too much coffee and surfing the internet.
The morning is beautiful, sounds of the road are strangely comforting, light snoring of the dog beneath my feet, reassuring.
This post has no point other than to merely say: Hi.
I'm grateful for many things in my life right now, and just wanted to get that out there.
Crazed American, out.
Do have a meeting tonight, but have the rest of the day off. Glorious.
There had been talk of doing a touch of snowshoeing this AM, but the Missus is still ensconced firmly in DreamLand, and I am having way too much fun drinking too much coffee and surfing the internet.
The morning is beautiful, sounds of the road are strangely comforting, light snoring of the dog beneath my feet, reassuring.
This post has no point other than to merely say: Hi.
I'm grateful for many things in my life right now, and just wanted to get that out there.
Crazed American, out.
06 January 2014
Changes!!
Finally did the smart thing and jumped ship to a new day job. First time in the longest time I feel like my head is screwed on straight.
I'm putting it out to the universe that 2014 is different. Currently stripped of the comfortable (and as it turns out, unpleasant) veneer.
For real. Put up or shut up time.
I highly reccomended against getting in my way. If you do, you will be treated with positivity and kindess. But I will go over, around or through.
I'm embarking on a multi-pronged Assualt on mediocrity. I will be happier, healthier, wealthier and better for it.
Hang on.
10 November 2013
the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month
Tomorrow (11 November) is Veteran's Day .
To all of those who have served their country \- my respect to you. You did / do what most can't - or won't: be prepared to give your everything for your people.
...also you take it to the designated bad guys with a quickness and alacrity!
Let us also remember that the 11th of November is also known for the folly of ending a war on a cute date. Horrible that operations continued up until the agreed on date. Such is the folly of war.
Sincerest gratitude to the veterans of the US Military. Thanks for everything you did, and everything you continue to do.
To all of those who have served their country \- my respect to you. You did / do what most can't - or won't: be prepared to give your everything for your people.
...also you take it to the designated bad guys with a quickness and alacrity!
Let us also remember that the 11th of November is also known for the folly of ending a war on a cute date. Horrible that operations continued up until the agreed on date. Such is the folly of war.
Sincerest gratitude to the veterans of the US Military. Thanks for everything you did, and everything you continue to do.
09 November 2013
State of the (Personal) Union: Parte Dos
The search for a new game for which to win bread is on, and it continues, albeit with little to show. The job market is unrelentingly soft, unless, that is you are looking for part time or seasonal work. This bodes poorly for the economy in general. Not wanting to launch into a diatribe, but if wages continue to decline for most, the economy will continue to tank, faster and faster. Companies are focusing so much on productivity, and keeping expenses and wages in check (as is their right as private entities) that they are squeezing ever more out of ever fewer people. That, in conjunction with steadily expanding taxes and steepening inflation, is destroying the middle class. What solution do I have for our current system? I don't, and neither does anyone else. More regulation? Tried it - failed. Less regulation? Tried that - got corrupt, failed. I, along with a goodly numbers of other far more qualified to opine, are coming to the opinion that the current system can't be fixed. The future will get interesting, at a faster and faster pace.
Long story short - I am owed nothing. I owe loyalty to only those who owe loyalty to me. I have to do a better job of not carrying water, saving the bacon, for people who don't care about me in any other way than what water I carry or bacon I save. If I do a job, I need to be paid. At this point in my life, with the other opportunities that are possible, I need hourly pay, and a flexible schedule. The salary I am currently paid? On paper, it's great! But, if you were to calculate what I make with all of the overtime I work, I make less than minimum wage. I need to be able to have time to enjoy my family and not think about work all of the time. I need to have an employer that might actually ask me how I am once (not once in a while, but my direct report, a person I was a friend to, and helped build a business hasn't had a personal conversation with me in over two years that I haven't initiated).
There, I feel better getting that out there to you, gentle reader. Am I whining? Maybe a bit, sure. But I need to get this out into the universe - to manifest my intentions - this is the mostly anonymous way i have chosen to do it.
Not the only reason I started hashing this blog post out. I wanted to say that the future is still a bright one. Opportunities abound, I just have to work harder to seize them. I also realize that I need to have the time and mental discipline to do this more. To create, to opine, especially if no one, or a very few, ever see it.
So there it is, that's it in a nutshell.
Crazed American, out.
Long story short - I am owed nothing. I owe loyalty to only those who owe loyalty to me. I have to do a better job of not carrying water, saving the bacon, for people who don't care about me in any other way than what water I carry or bacon I save. If I do a job, I need to be paid. At this point in my life, with the other opportunities that are possible, I need hourly pay, and a flexible schedule. The salary I am currently paid? On paper, it's great! But, if you were to calculate what I make with all of the overtime I work, I make less than minimum wage. I need to be able to have time to enjoy my family and not think about work all of the time. I need to have an employer that might actually ask me how I am once (not once in a while, but my direct report, a person I was a friend to, and helped build a business hasn't had a personal conversation with me in over two years that I haven't initiated).
There, I feel better getting that out there to you, gentle reader. Am I whining? Maybe a bit, sure. But I need to get this out into the universe - to manifest my intentions - this is the mostly anonymous way i have chosen to do it.
Not the only reason I started hashing this blog post out. I wanted to say that the future is still a bright one. Opportunities abound, I just have to work harder to seize them. I also realize that I need to have the time and mental discipline to do this more. To create, to opine, especially if no one, or a very few, ever see it.
So there it is, that's it in a nutshell.
Crazed American, out.
03 November 2013
State of the (Personal) Union
Sorry for the dearth of posts, dear imaginary readers (or spambots from Russia).
The Crazed American is coming to the realization that either I have made some serious career related mistakes, or I just need to do a better job in interviews.
Also, my current situation is also revealing truths about the current state of the American Economy.
Prices are up, wages are WAY down, no question. Employers are asking for and apparently getting people to do work for way less than they used to. I want to work for myself and want to move in the direction of self employment. I'm old enough to admit, that I'm not an idea man, but I am one HELL of an implementer. Therein lies the rub.
Anyone have any ideas?
Got to keep positivity in my thoughts. Have to keep plugging away. Have to make a change for the better, even if the better is only the environment in which I toil. I thank heaven for my wife and my daughter, my family near and far. I am thankful for the BaseCamp, and the wealth I currently enjoy. I admit, I'm whining and quibbling about details. I want to find a new day job, one that suits me better than the one I currently have.
We'll see. This week hopefully will bear fruit!
Mazeltov,
Crazed American, out.
The Crazed American is coming to the realization that either I have made some serious career related mistakes, or I just need to do a better job in interviews.
Also, my current situation is also revealing truths about the current state of the American Economy.
Prices are up, wages are WAY down, no question. Employers are asking for and apparently getting people to do work for way less than they used to. I want to work for myself and want to move in the direction of self employment. I'm old enough to admit, that I'm not an idea man, but I am one HELL of an implementer. Therein lies the rub.
Anyone have any ideas?
Got to keep positivity in my thoughts. Have to keep plugging away. Have to make a change for the better, even if the better is only the environment in which I toil. I thank heaven for my wife and my daughter, my family near and far. I am thankful for the BaseCamp, and the wealth I currently enjoy. I admit, I'm whining and quibbling about details. I want to find a new day job, one that suits me better than the one I currently have.
We'll see. This week hopefully will bear fruit!
Mazeltov,
Crazed American, out.
10 September 2013
So what happens...?
... When the Syrians turn over all of their Chemical weapons?
I'm sure the Russians will be more than happy to release batch and date codes.
Putin might just love the resultant loss of American face if the Syrian weapons are actually Iraqi, or worse, American weapons, given to the Iraqis.
Why else is good ol' Bashar in such a hurry to get rid of his most powerful deterrent and leverage? Could be he knows that after he "turns them ALL in". He can use them, but what if he knows that the Obama administration got backed into a corner by Kerry and Obama being rather dumb.
This could really torpedo American credibility which is already taking on a lot of water.
Interesting to think about the possibilities... Really wishing the Obama administration would really think before they make grand pronouncements.
Do not construe this as me saying the Republicans would do an even remotely better job. John McCain is a stooge who should be voted out of office. Mitt Romney might have been "see which way the wind blows" enough to gauge the opposition to action, but who knows?
We'll see...
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