Why I hate politions part: (I stoped counting)

For starters: Sen. Schumer (D-DE). Calling people names tends to indicate that you have no position and you are loosing a debate - so I don't say this lightly: You are a pompous ASS. Nearly every time this man opens his mouth it give me a headache. He now says (in Washington-ease) that he will actively block Bush's judicial nominations from now on. He believes that the SOTUS has taken a sharp right turn in the last few years based on some decisions that disagreed with on strictly political grounds. At least he is now being honest about what he has been doing with Bush nominations since day one. Yes Bush has made some poor nominations, but so have every other president before him. Nominees should be vetted on experience, qualifications, and temperament not ideology. I will say that if a president appoints a card carrying communist to the bench I would have no problem with anyone voting against confirmation. Besides it is the president's prerogative to appoint judges as part of the separation of powers. I'd say that Clinton's picks skewed the courts to the left a fair amount and the vast majority of them where confirmed with little huge public debate and over zealous media scrutiny. The court has ruled on cases that angered conservatives too. The emanate domain case is a glaring example. If you want nominees that match your (socialist) agenda run for president; otherwise stop crying like a damn spoiled 10 year old who didn't get the toy he wanted!

WTF

Damn... I can be a careless dumb ass at the worst time

A new toy.

I just bought a Finnish M39. For those who Don't know the M39 is a Russian Mosin Nagant that was captured by the Fins during the Winter War. They actually captured so many rifles (and other stores) that they stopped production of their own rifles and switched to refurbishing Nagants. The re-arsenaled rifles were then pressed into service against their former owners. Most of these guns had little, if any thing, changed in their configuration beondhavinf the hammer in sickle ground off the receiver. Later the Fins decided to update and upgrade their captured stock of rifles with beefier stocks, heavier barrels and improved sights. The result was the M39: A national match Mosin Nagant. Mine was (re)built by Sako in 1942.

I've had the rifle a couple of weeks and tried a variety of surplus 7.62x54R in it. I haven't "out it on paper" yet, but it seems fairly accurate. I can regularly hit clays at 100 yds. with it. The fatter, heavier stock makes it fairly pleasant to shoot. (That isn't saying much - I like to volley-fire my SMLE No.4 Mk1* 'till the hand guards start to smoke.) It also points more naturally than a standard m1891 Nagant rifle.

In the same vain: Last Sunday I had the opportunity to shoot two other interesting Mosin-Nagant rifles. The first was and original, non-import marked, Czarist rifle. The sights were marked in arshiens; meaning that rifle left Russia before the commies took over. The other was and M44 that a friend of mine affixed a PU scope to. It need some more coming, but I think it would make a handy brush gun.

"...celebrate our country's birth by blowing up a small part of it" -Apu

I had a pretty good 4th... I went over to my buddy's party and drank, smoke cigars and enjoyed some fire works.

I've discovered a fantastic booze: Absolut Peppar. A few people have been telling me to try it for some time now. A bottle was bought for this party and was throughly enjoyed by many. Absolut Peppar was one of the first (if not the first) of Absolut's flavored vodkas. It is infused with jalapeños, herbs, and green tomatoes to make a very interesting drink. I had a well chilled shot (imo vodka should be chilled anyway) that went down smooth and wasn't at all harsh like I expected. I could feel the cold going down followed by this wonderful warmth starting in my belly, moving up my chest and just radiating out from there. It was truly wonderful; it certanlly kept the chill out despite the rain - wow! After a shot of that I decided that more (excellent) venison chili might be a little too much spicy for me to handle. I've never been a fan of Absolut Vodka; this stuff, however, is a big exception. It's not Johnny Walker Blue good but it is quit good. It a certainly a unique kind of good... a warm, fuzzy feeling inside good.
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I don't really smoke, but every once and a while I enjoy a fine cigar. I bought a few that afternoon so that I could enjoy them outside with freinds drinking beer (or cider) and enjoying the fire.

I ended the night with a Macanudo, and reminded my self why I don't like Macanudos. This was a smaller one - about 4 1/2" long and around a 35 ring gauge - with a natural/Claro wrapper. It started a little harsh, generated mild flavors in the middle, then developed a terrible draw in the last 1/4. It wasn't a terrible smoke - I simply like more flavorful cigars - this one was more of a post wedding victory dance try out. Macanudos do have a very durable wrapper; I don't thing that I've ever had one unwrap on me because I was a little careless cutting the cap.

The second one was one of those tiny A. Fuente cigarillos. The are a cheap, good smoke when you don't feel like committing the time for a proper cigar or all you have is a Zippo to light it. I know a lot of people cringe when you mention Zippos and cigars in the same paragraph, but cigarillos can be lit with them. I just roast the end with then put it in my mouth and draw. It is not ideal, but it doesn't taste like kerosene either.

I smoked the best one first so that I could properly enjoy it before the rain:
The Cohiba Extra Vigoroso or XV - my favorite cigar. Very flavorful, almost sweet, smoke with a nice colorado maduro (Capa Corona) wrapper. The wrapper is Ecuadorian Sumatra tobacco taken only from the top of the plant and aged three years. I like the smaller - 5"-50 or 6"-45 - ones the best mostly for the better draw and the fact that I can rarely enjoy a larger one for its full duration. Cohibas tend to unwrap if you are a little rough when cutting or over zealous when using a punch (which I prefer) - especially when they start to dry out a little. More car is given to the XVs when they are wrapped so this much less likely to occur, and I have found the latest batches are even better still. It is just and excellent full flavored cigar. They are a limited production which means I enjoy them more the few times a year they com out. Read more here, and here.
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The most fun was had setting off the fire works! It started about 5:00 with bottle rockets, m-80, etc. That was a nice primer. When a man, who lives on a farm (space), is licensed (know what he is doing), and has proper permits (no po-po spoiling the fun) you can expect more. I was a shell monkey running shells to the 4" and 6" mortars - now those are fireworks!!! The steady rain made for few problems: two duds, one split mortar (we were safe so no injuries), an a hurried pace that limited coordination at times - all and all things when quite well with an excellent finish consisting of four finale boxes and a salvo of 3" mortars. I've never enjoyed running around in the rain more. The best place to see fireworks is directly underneath them!

This was one of the best holidays I've had in a long time - the next day: not so much.

I've been occupied...

...lately with my new job and some other projects. This means that I haven't had the time, energy, or inclination to read the news. No readie, no writie...


I found this article on Drudge and I have to ask: At what point did the environmentalist wackos completely loose their collective minds? More importantly, at one point were they considered part of a rational debate? We use too much of the Sun's energy! WTF!! The Sun - a giant, several billion year old, uncontrolled fusion reaction which spreads it's energy light-years into space - and overused renewable resource.

It has been said (and I butcher the quote as always): "The greatest thing about the freedom of speech is that and charlatan can stand before a crowed and set forth his views; no matter how foolish or crazed, in a learned society he would be shown (in time) for the fool that he is." More importantly: "Who is more foolish: the fool or the fool that follows him?"

At least this article from the BBC gives me hope.
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I've also read from numerous sources that GOP contenders have raised less money than the Democratic party candidates - like that is real news at this point!

First, the Republican race is more crowded and does not have as well defined front runners. Secondly, a lot of people are angry at the party's elected members because of: the immigration bill, entitlements, Iraq, etc. Thirdly, I think a lot of people are holding out 'till the general election before signing a lot of checks to politicians.

This election cycle started too damn early. A a lot of people are going to to get election/politics fatigue and simply stop caring.