Folly '13 #2

The basis of a folly is that it has to be outside the norm, maybe outside my comfort zone.  It usually has unplanned elements and a loose time schedule.

Folly '13 D-Day is next weekend.  I'll be dropped off, on foot, alone, with minimum resources.  It'll be my job to get back.  Weather should be in triple digits.

DOMA ruling helps gun owners

This week's Supreme Court ruling striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act will also aid gun owners.
The next step hurtle for gay marriage proponents is that gay couples legally married in one state aren't recognized in another state.  What's expected to happen is that this will be challenged under the Fair Faith and Credit Clause.  This is the same clause that allows a drivers license from one state to be valid in every state.  If we carry this logic through, even if a state doesn't itself legalize gay marriage, it has to recognize the marriage from another, then gun owners will be able to challenge the lack of reciprocity of concealed carry licenses between states.

I am a gunsmith?

I am not a gunsmith.  I did, however, assemble my first gun this week (or at least the lower half of one).  The recipe is easy: one AR-15 stripped lower, one AR-15 lower parts kit, one AR-15 carbine stock kit.
The stripped lower is a block of aluminum with a bunch of holes and slots in it.
The lower parts kit contains about 40 parts, installed into the lower to allow it to shoot.
The carbine stock kit is 6 pieces and installs onto the stripped lower.  It's the butt-stock and recoil system.

The process is about 10 steps, each step using about 4 parts.  Following the guidance of a pair of youtube videos, including one by CMMG, the maker of my lower parts kit.  The CMMG video was really helpful, as it referenced the parts by the color bag they were shipped in.  I was nervous about the pin installation, as you normally use a hammer and a pin punch.  However, in the second video the installer uses a pair of Kniplex pliers, which have parallel jaws, to squeeze the pin into the hole.  I don't have one of these, but I do have a locking adjustable wrench (Chapman Tiger-Lock) which also keep the jaws parallel.  Using it, I was able to install all the pins without needing the hammer or punches.  The rest was just making sure I lined holes up and put the pin through them.  It was simple.

I have a second stripped lower, but I think I'll go for a higher-end build, with a quality trigger, grip and stock.

on the road, rest, on the road

Back from Mesa, AZ.  15 hours down (with stops), a day there, and 15 hours back.  Shared driving, with 2 hour shifts.  Time passed quickly for the most part.  Hitting wind and snow in southern Colorado on the way back amped up the stress and brought down the speed. 

Had a good time there.  Relaxing afternoon at the Muster talking with other attendees.  I even got drawn 3 times for the two fixed blades and the pen.  Very happy with that.  One DDR waved with FRAGGED handle, and a Mick Strider custom in 5160 steel.

Trip back was smooth until the above mentioned snow.  Hit it starting in Raton, NM, petered out near Trinidad, started up again at Walsenburg, CO and didn't let up until Colorado Springs.  North of there a few flakes, but nothing sticking to the road.


Scooter was delayed, so I didn't miss delivery.  Should be here Wednesday.

Follies and synchronicity

It's time for another of my follies, or should I say two.  A quick trip 'only' two states away happens to be happening at the same time another folly, a new project scooter, is being delivered.

The scooter is a 1981(?) Honda Motocompo.  It's a scooter that was designed to fit a Japanese micro car, the Honda City.  It's collapsible to a box shape with the wheels sticking out.  It Weighs 100lbs.  A modern version of this concept is the DI Blasi.  The DI Blasi is only 70lbs and looks like a Honda Rukus crossed with a Honda Monkey.  So, I get a better form factor, but give up 100lbs and the modern engine, for about the same price.  The DI Blasi says it has sealed fluids so it can be stored on its side, not sure about the Motocompo.  They make an electric DI Blasi, which has the same performance and weighs even less, but is much more expensive.
The Plan is to throw this in the trunk and use it as urban transport in downtown Denver or around town.  I guess another advantage is that the Motocompo won't lose value, and it MAY be slightly easier to get parts for as it is a Honda and shares an engine with the Honda Monkey, Solo, Jazz, and Gorilla.
Oh, it needs a key to operate, which adds security when I'm away from it.   I may use a U-Lock too.

The other folly is a quick three day trip.  Drive 900 miles out, a day there, and 900 back.  Hope to see a bunch of friends and do some shopping.  Gonna be sharing the trip with Ted, so I won't be zonked by all that driving.

Back to the Motocompo, it may end up being delivered while I'm away, so I need to make arrangements for a friend to receive it while I'm gone.

The cost of saving

Jeep is introducing a diesel for the Grand Cherokee this year.  It gets roughly 4mpg better than the V6 (21/28 vs 17/24).  The cost of fuels today is $3.50 for unleaded, and $4.00 for diesel.  If you drive 10,000 miles a year, all at highway MPG, you'd use 357 gallons of diesel, or 417 of unleaded.  Multiplying that out, it would cost you $1428 for the diesel and $1460 for the unleaded, a savings of $32.  Plus, you have to add urea every 10,000 miles to the diesel vehicle, which more than likely cost more than $32.  The cost of the diesel is $2300 over the V8, which itself is $2200 more than the V6 this year, for a total premium of $4500.  It'd take 140 years to make up that cost (without including the urea), although you'd get some of it back when you got rid of the vehicle.

The stars align against me this week

Not having great luck this week.
  Got some ammo in that turns out to have no powder in them: propellant is the primer only.  This gives me the performance of a pellet gun.  I don't mind but wonder if they have enough power to cycle the action on any of my pistols or rifle.
  Got a package of magazines in that are for airsoft guns not real guns.
  Got a knife with a 'custom made sheath' that's not custom made for this knife.  Also turns out I paid too much.
  Got a knife in with some serious wear.  Love the knife, but it may need to have an adjustment done by the maker.
  Got a real bad paper cut under my fingernail from the edge of a strip of velcro.


I'm must be tired or something as most of these problems are from a lack of me reading the descriptions and understanding them; I wasn't tricked.  I think I need a vacation.  Actually, what I need is a good nights sleep.

Two quick notes

I was cleaning the basement today, and I went to grab an empty bandoleer, or one I thought was empty.   Seems a field mouse died in one of the pockets.

New series, Continuum, premiered on SyFi last night.   The  series will be about our hero trying to stop a group of terrorists.  She's good, they're bad.  However, in the pilot we get her/their backstory.  They've positioned them as anti government, but freedom seekers.  Nice.

Our national nightmare ends (says Canada)

The NHL strike ends this week.  This is going to cause some interesting changes in our minor league hockey league.  We're two steps down from the NHL, but the strike has allowed both the level above us as well as some teams at our level to sign NHL players causing a shuffling of rosters.  Alaska signed some NHL players, and have the best record in the whole league.
Some interesting times are ahead as everyone will shuffle up, replacing the NHL players who have to report to their teams.  Rosters will return to 'normal'. 
It's also just about mid-season, with the all star game in two weeks.  I think a comparison of records from the first half vs second half may show that some teams were propped up during the strike.
In the West, our standings as of today are:
Team     GP  W   L   OL SL Pts  GF  GA
Alaska   37  28  8   0  1  57  125  89
Idaho    34  22  7   1  4  49  137  94
Colorado 37  18  16  1  2  39  134  124
Utah     33  14  14  2  3  33  108  126

Ontario  35  24  9   1  1  50  135   97
Stockton 38  19  12  4  3  45  129  125
Las Vegas34  15  15  1  3  34   89   98
San Fran 35  13  17  1  4  31  101  134
Bakerfld 36   8  25  1  2  19   86  146


So, I hope to revisit this at the end of the season and compare.  I believe each team plays 72 games.

Travel note

I traveled too much last year.  It's expensive, plus I have to pay someone to work for me.  This year I plan on traveling less.  One business travel, one personal trip, and a family gathering.  One up side to the travel is that I'm one plane trip away from earning a free flight to Las Vegas.  I might use that trip to see the Eagles play an away game.

$5 Shake pt 2

As a glutton for punishment, I went back and ordered a large Surf and Turf to go.  This was on new years day and the place was empty except for all the employees.  This time, my to-go container was packed to the lid.  It contained three JUMBO shrimp on top.  I didn't care for the cheese used on this, and the meat was not as apparent.  I know it was there, but it's not like I was hitting a big thick slice of beef.
The price was still expensive, but I got a better value this time.

I'll go back a third time.