Nerd you are not

Well, you know how I went on a rant a while back about the word nerd and it's definition etc?  Well, not being a man of science, it was pretty difficult for me to get that rant to sound right.  But thankfully it appears that an actual man of science has created a far better a webpage about the matter, so please complete this required reading of great importance, just beware of some NSFW language:

You're not a nerd, geeks aren't sexy and you don't "fu**ing love" science.

Now I'll have to scour that guy's website because it looks highly entertaining.  Hat tip to Vox Day for posting about it long before I did. 

Ah, the weekend

How refreshing.  Obviously it's been a very difficult time to draw up some content.  generally, when I have nothing to write about it always defaults back to guns as it's something I like to think I know a little about, that I'm constantly learning a lot about, so I revert in the the man's equivalent to window shopping for shoes or handbags.

The new apartment still hasn't been adequately unpacked to look presentable for anyone yet, I'm finding it harder and harder to find the motivation to do so as time goes on.  Also, I've quickly abandoned any desire to have amazon deliveries come to my place, as they hold all parcels at the office, due to it being a section 8-type place, so that's a bummer.

Finally got a minor amount of cash for me to buy the next three books in the MHI series, which I've already started delving into (and am already enjoying thoroughly).  Hopefully I'll also be able to get the Dead Six series as soon as I'm done with MHI.

What's sad is that there's not much else to tell.  I've probably just had the most boring month of my entire life, and I think I'm beginning to like it like that.  It seems whenever I get tired of the mundane, and I try to go out do fun stuff, but then I get nothing but bad experiences out of it.  So now I've become this bitter and boring old man while still in his 20s, because I'm always hesitant to go out and do more when I get nothing but screwed when I do.

Changing, but in the opposite direction

The entire gun community of late has been awash with talk of the 9mm vs .45ACP.  Recently, it appears everyone is universally acknowledging the advantages that 9 offers over .45, such as: lower recoil, higher round count in magazines, cheaper ammo so you can shoot more, and usually a lighter gun.  It also doesn't help that people are coming to their senses and realizing that the 1911 is over 100 years old and showing it's age, making for a gun that is heavy, with limited mag capacity, and quite maintenance intensive compared to newer designs.

I myself own a couple 9mm Jerichos, which I enjoy very much, but with this exploding popularity of the 9mm cartridge, I can never find it in stock anywhere.  As I mentioned earlier, I'm planning on getting myself a .45 based solely on the fact that if you can't buy 9mm, all those advantages may as well not exist.  Not only is there a fair amount of .45ACP wherever I go, it's priced reasonably, there's always multiple brands on the shelf to choose from, and I'm tired of not having any recent range time.

So, I'm jumping ship to join those going backwards from the trend, and the only problem I have is the one I mentioned in my last post about the subject.  I don't understand why nobody makes a modern .45 (not a 1911) the has more than a 10 round magazine.  It makes for a pretty short list of choices:

HK USP -Expensive, bulky, and if I wanna make it take even other HK accessories, I'm gonna be paying out the butt.
Glock 21 -Good capacity, accurate, and ok price, but I hate Glocks. And again.  Yup.
XD/XDM -I've shot 'em before, but I wan't overly impressed with the Croatian creation, also grip safeties still suck.
Para 14-45 -Nice, but, it IS a 1911, and one of these cost more that all the cars I've owned combined.
FNP-45 -Okay, I admit I haven't shot one, but the slide looks like the size of a brick, and seems like the grip is about the same size as well.
RIA 2011 -Same advantages of the Para, for a much more realistic price, but still a 1911.

After doing a bit of homework on it, I think the Sarslimaz K2 is still my best choice as many of the parts are interchangeable with both the CZ97B and Para 14-45, while remaining a relatively cheap option.  That, and I just love the classic CZ look to the gun.

I'm so excited

and I just can't hide it!

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/03/11/hk-hk243-sar-tar-semi-automatic-g36-rifle-lot-exclusive-photos/

My inner H und K fanboy is squealing with delight.

Also, the 'ol roomie just asked me, "How long until someone comes out with a .300blk version?"
"He's probably lathing the barrel right now..."  I replied.

More DOD derp

It may be pretty obvious that I'm one of the naysayers when it comes to the F-35.  Sadly, it's not so much because of the aircraft itself (though some of it is) as it is with the shady and blatantly retarded procurement and testing process given to this aircraft.  So color me not so surprised when I hear that because of being way behind in testing (or just not tested enough) that the Pratt and Whitney F135 that is supposed to power it had a bit of a snafu:

 http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/asd_03_06_2014_p01-02-669564.xml&p=1#

It will be just pathetic if this end up being a widespread issue that grounds the fleet.  Hmmmm.... You know what would help with that?  Is if we had an alternate engine program that would allow us to continue testing the airframe even if the primary engine went kaput!  Oh yeah....about that....whoops.

The whole of the DOD is so incompetent (or corrupt) they should be fired and charged with treason.

A lot of overlap in this community

Anyone at all familiar with the gunblogging community, immediately comes to know it is the most diverse group ever.  However, we all have a few interests in common that bind us together.  Aside from guns, I've noticed that a disproportionate amount of 'em are tabletop or computer gamers.

Now there's nothing wrong with that, but I can't be the only one who is massively disappointed every time I see someone mentioning RPGs in their blog and find out they aren't talking about this:

On another gun related note...

I can't help but notice that throughout the ammo shortage this past year, that no matter where I go there seems to be at least a fair amount of .45ACP available.  So, I have determined that my next pistol purchase has to be in God's own caliber.  However I've noticed a problem when shopping for an automatic pistol chambered in the brainchild of Saint Browning.  If you want to buy a well known pistol (to avoid having to scrounge for parts and mags because no one else bought your hipster gun of choice, and it's no longer on the market), you're stuck enduring the following trifecta:

State of the winter address

Well, the holidays were enjoyable, with me spending all my time down south for Christmas and then having some time round new years to relax at home as well.  Christmas is truly my favorite time of year, and I'm sad that it's now passed and that we already find ourselves on the cusp of Valentines Day.

I 'm quickly coming to miss the winter snows already, as the weather has been warm enough to be nothing but rain the past week, and we are already deprived of majestically enthralling scenes like so:

There's just something endearing me to that winter weather.  I love that stuff. 

The gift of a blade

I am blessed to know some really cool people.  People who are so cool, they know that the gifts I appreciate the most are the utilitarian ones.  I like trinkets and toys, they're fun, but I think everyone will agree you'll get more use out of a tool, clothing, or some type of supplies and those are the gifts I enjoy the most.

So I got to say that I have quickly become inseparable with one gift I've gotten this year, that has entered the realm of EDC nearly immediately.

when other people show me their knives I want to say, "may your blade chip and shatter!"

Didn't even realize the Boy Scouts of America have their own licensed knife, but I got one.  Like any other knife it has it's pros and cons, but this has quickly succeeded my Gerber as my go to pocketknife, and that's not just cause I misplaced it again.

Granted, the downsides include a grip that's just slightly too thick to be discreet, the finish was rather cheap and is beginning to wear already, but that's the worst I can say about it.  The blade itself is nice; I've been a big fan of tanto style blades for pocketknives.  It's also a thick blade for a knife of it's size and it comes with (comparatively speaking) an excellent edge from the factory.  That same edge seems to hold quite well, the screws don't seem to have any problems staying in place, the grip feels quite natural in the hand, and it's rubbery coating ensures a firm grip even when hands are slippery.

As much as I do like the BSA, I'm not too keen on it being written on the blade, but I very much enjoy the old-style logo on the grip.  I am genuinely surprised at how may people who I've shown it to that were in the scouts that have no idea what that logo was and that I had to explain it to them.

Nonetheless, a very good knife and I'm very appreciative for such a fine Christmas gift, courtesy of:

Just cause I don't' think I've made enough Shaun of the Dead references yet.

Oh thank goodness I can finally relax

January has been a cruel mistress for me, but now that it has passed, and I am now moved into the new abode, and things have otherwise begun to normalize.

As with any change there will be upsides and downsides.  The downsides: the new place aint as nice as the old place, I don't have as much time to myself, as it is much farther away than the old place, and I have to put up with the idiots riding the train.  But that don't mean that it has doesn't have it's advantages.

So, the upsides are: despite all the idiots, I still like riding the train, I am directly under the flight path to the Air Force base here (I know I'm weird, I'm the only one I know of that loves the sound of low flying jets), I'm next to a million cool places to eat (such as an excellent Irish pub I like), the place is cheaper, and I'm actually closer to a couple of friends out here.  All in all, I think I've come out on top.

Not the prettiest looking train, but at least it's patriotic in color?