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