The wit. It's back.

After a while of me wondering if I had lost my touch, I had a pretty good one come out the other day.  After helping my new roommate move in, he asked if I was having a hard time with the old roomie not being around anymore.  In the most mundane manner, I replied, "Well, I like to think that instead of losing a son, I'm gaining a daughter."

Even he had to laugh at that one; and it made me feel pretty witty for a moment there.

familiar foliage (or lack thereof)

So there's an article on TFB that's about tannerite, which was an interesting little read, but what really got my interest was the picture used for the article.  Very familiar looking area right there...

Now, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but that looks awfully like the bit of southern Utah that I grew up near.  Specifically, it looks like a place not far from the Hurricane Mesa.

Update: I just had to add in a link about the mesa for those not familiar with the area and too lazy to Google it.

Whew!

Just got done moving the roomie for the past two and a half days.  So worn out that I think I broke a world record for longest shower.  Even as I type this post, my arms are so noodle-like that the spell check is going bonkers on me.  Oh well.  So to continue the run on classic hip hop I started last week, how about some music for the day.

Run D.M.C - Rock Box

A real independence day

Have I mentioned how popular the 24th is around here?  The only downside to living on my street is that since the parade comes down it, there's no chance of doing anything else all day, as there's far too much pedestrian traffic to open the street at all.  I wish I would have taken a picture of my street this morning with hundreds of chairs lined along it's length, but my phone was dead.

I enjoy the parade, I just don't enjoy the day of the parade. So, in preparation, my standard operating procedure is to load up on snacks, movies, and games and hunker down for the duration.

In other news, it appears the site Aviation Intel may be coming back with a vengeance, which makes me happy with mil air exitement. 

real networking aint social

You know, converting IPv4 addresses into binary code and vice-versa is actually pretty fun.  IPv6?  Now that, on the other hand, is just dang annoying.

Anyways, the studying is going good, I'm constantly busy, work is still constant, and I have no social life again because I spent all my time and money on the Steam summer sale.  So, business as usual.  I did get to hear from my cousin today, which was cool, and it look like he'll be taking a vacation near my neck of the woods with his new bride in the next couple months, so I'll be looking forward to that.

In the meantime, go watch some of the funniest gun-related humor on the internet by checking out the Carnik Con channel on Youtube.

sometimes...

You're just in the mood for some serious old school hip-hop, and then ya gotta go lookin for the perfect beat.

Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force - Looking for the Perfect Beat

My shocked face

I dunno what it is, but I am very rarely surprised or excited by things in the gun world, like new guns, collector's guns, new parts or accessories.  But on the few occasions in which I am surprised or excited, it's because I read about something immensely cool on Forgotten Weapons.  They seem to feature nothing but things I never would have heard about otherwise.

The thing that really caught my eye today, was the article about a machine pistol version of the Czech vz.52.   Wow.  I've always wanted to snag me one of those things because of that fun little test conducted by The Box O' Truth, and my mind is still reeling from the possibilities of a machine pistol version.  Just too cool.

Also, in other news, I've been seriously considering getting an AR.  There are a number of things I don't like about the AR platform, which make me desire a number of other systems (like the XCR), but due to the lackluster customer service/support with these companies, along with rising prices, I've become more disillusioned with them over time. So, I've come back to the idea of an AR, even though I've held a bit of apprehension before.

In the past, these were my primary issues with the AR-15:

1. I hate the direct impingement gas system
2. the charging handle just sucks
3. the standard (STANAG) magazines suck
4. I don't like or want 5.56mm/.223
5. The barrel profiles for most ARs are completely bass-ackwards
6. I dislike nearly all the flimsy, non folding stocks made for 'em

But, now with the insane proliferation of the AR in this day in age, there are a million aftermarket parts that address all of my complaints, while still keeping it in roughly the same price range as a more modern alternative.

For example, there is a massive surge in piston systems for ARs, there are loads of 5.45mm uppers, I found those custom lowers that accept AK mags a while back, stumbled across heavy barrels for the 5.45 AR, Magpul and other companies have been putting out much better stocks for it, and another thing to catch my eye has been the recent news on TFB about a drop in side charging handle for the AR-15.  So, I'm thinking it is finally time for me to build an AR.

The news you could have lived without

Since all I'm doing is studying day in and day out, I'm not exactly a fount of excitement.  however, I do come across a lot of cool things on the internet, which have peaked my attention.  First off is the Kickstarter for a graphic novel being written by Max Uriarte, creator of the Terminal Lance comics.  I've already had to donate to the project, and I highly encourage you to take a look as well.

On a related note, Kickstarter is starting to become a massive time sink hole for me when I'm not studying.  There are way too many cool projects on there that are worth time and money, and the many that aren't, are (usually) at least worth a laugh.

Also, I found via Say Uncle, a really cool article and accompanying video about a young German engineering student who built her own tracking turret nerf gun with built in IFF.  It already feel like I've just read about the inventor of an early portal turret, or TF2 turret.  I think I'm in love.

Where I am once again proven wrong

So, remember a while back when I complained that the SLC comic con was nothing special, and that they didn't have many people of interest showing up?  Well, looks like they managed to conjure up a lot more interesting folks to drop in on the event.  They now have the likes of Adam West and Burt Ward, along with Larry Correia and even the Shat.  Looks like I may actually break down and stop by to check this stuff out.

In other news, the roomie is still moving out at the end of the month, but I have been lucky in finding a new human-style person that is willing to move in next month, so I'm glad that's working out so far.  Also, if ammo availability trends continue, I'm thinking we're gonna have another nice big shooting trip in the near future.  It's been far too long since I've had some 9mm to fool around with.

Peace sells

Along with cool books.  So, I feel terrible for not having mentioned the book bomb that was organized by Larry Correia a bit earlier in the week.  It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Minimum Wage Historian, and when I heard he has a book, I just had to grab that thing despite not having any money to my name this month.  So go check it out, it's good, it's cheap, and it's supporting a local writer.

Oh, and here's some cool music to round off your week:

Megadeath - Peace Sells

Marketing: business by vodka

We just got an advert in the mail at my work for data backup services, and the first thing I see is this little gem on the card:

Okay, good intentions or no, you have to be vodka-soaked to the point of being waterlogged to find it a good idea to ship this picture to promote your business.  What the hell?

The fattening

It looks like it may be one of those Fridays with nothing going on at work.  Thankfully, we've managed to prepare for this by treating the whole department to Boston Cream Pie.  Breakfast of champions...or something like that.

Anyways, the movie last night was very enjoyable, although I was right in predicting it would be a guilty pleasure.  Basically, is was a live-action giant robot anime, but without the good story or varied characters.  Even got me one of those cool stylized IMAX posters after the show.

Speaking of which, another guilty please I seem to be falling back into again is Star Trek Online.  I can't say with enough emphasis just what a crappy game STO is.  That steaming pile of crap is nothing but a money siphon for Trek fans, and has little more thought put into it than the average side scroller, despite being the "official" RPG.  Yet here I am, playing that sack of crap because no one else has made even a halfway solid trek game in nearly 13 years.  Ugh, I hate that dang game, but my rabid fanboy antics keep me playing that crap.

I know too many awesome people

So what's been happening?  Well, I went and saw Oz the great and powerful at the dollar theater with some friends last weekend.  Final verdict for the film?  Meh. Not bad, just not really good either.  The roomie was kind enough to treat me to some chipotle the other day, and I'm planning on going to see another movie tonight with the roomie and some friends.

Speaking of which, the movie I'm planning on seeing is Pacific Rim.  I think I can safely say without having seen anything more than trailers, that this movie is going to be awful.  Awful in the sense that it may end up being a real guilty pleasure for me.  From what I can tell, if I try to make sense of the story, I will get a migraine along with borderline depression, but I'm a massive sucker for giant robot action, GLaDOS, Ron Pearlman, and Charlie Day, so that means I'm guaranteed to pay money to go see this thing.

The only thing I'm wanting from it is giant robot crazyness with commentary by GLaDOS, and I have no doubt it will deliver.

Oh my gosh. I found it.

A real post will follow soon, but right now I'm so stoked about finding this, I'm just beside myself.  I've been looking for an English version of this documentary for ages.

I remember watching this fascinating little show on NOVA when I was young called Top Gun and Beyond, and we even recorded it on VHS, and I subsequently ran that dang tape into the ground watching it over and over.  So, the tape died, and for the longest time I tried searching every dark, obscure corner of the internet and the aviation community to find a copy of it, with no success.

So, imagine my frustration when I stumbled upon a copy in Spanish on youtube a while back.  It was cool to see the footage again, but I was really dying to watch this thing in a language I could understand again.  But now, I just barely find out there is a full copy of it on another corner of youtube; in English this time, just masquerading with a different name (the original name was much cooler).  This copy isn't the original dub, it's a version with a different narrator for the British market, although he's reading the same script.  My only complaint with this dub, is that it seems to cut some bits of the (at times) awesome soundtrack, particularly the ending theme.

There are a few views that are dated in it, and some that are blatantly wrong (such as the very pro lightweight/low-cost short-range fighter philosophy), but many of the points it covers still holds up pretty well.   Nevertheless, enjoy one of the coolest documentaries on fighter combat I've ever seen.

Top Gun and Beyond

Festivity wasteland

So, I'm a little disappointed this year, as it appears that there is almost nothing of interest going on for Independence day.  No airshows, no parades (that are good anyways), no special events at any of the gun ranges, and barely any fireworks.  The next airshow at Hill AFB isn't even gonna happen 'till 2014!  Phooey.

On the bright side, I am going to go see Despicable Me 2 later tonight with a few friends and their kids, so we'll see how that goes.  I really liked the first one, so I expect it to be pretty good.

Study

Blogging may be a little light for the next few weeks, as I am reverting into full hermit mode so that I may study for my upcoming exam of epic proportions.

But, before I do, the recent news is that the roomie is moving out, so if you know anyone looking for a place north of Salt Lake, lemmie know.

And lo, a phantom passes

Just found out that Germany retired the last of it's F-4 Phantoms on Saturday.  Which, if I'm not mistaken, makes Iran the last remaining Phantom fighter user other than Japan.  Greece and Turkey still have Phantoms, but they are exclusively the photo reconnaissance variant.  So, enjoy a nice little farewell video.

John Dreamer - Dark Souls