Oh Shoot

All these spook stories aside, this being TN, pretty sure I'd know if it's a good shoot or not and imagine I'd give a full statement, unless I felt so shaken I didn't feel in full control of myself (doubt it, but ya never know till it happens). - OS

No, he just owns a home there. Also has homes in MA and Kali. He's Michigan boy, worked for years in Boston, which led to his becoming gov of MA. (where "everything is illegal") - OS

Not yet, as I understand it; the audits haven't kicked in. That's why they're making record profits by gouging premiums while they can. All because Obamacare will limit them. All of them. Which kills competition. Fed only controls balances traded with the Federal Reserve. While it "suggests" max rates, the actual rates to you and me for loaning OUR money (CDs, etc) are determined by supply of and demand for money. If institutions need more money to lend, they'll pay higher rate for it. Problem is lending is down, partially because demand is down, but even many folks with excellent credit can't borrow money because the lending institutions are spooked about the value of anything they lend money on. Because of uncertainty about just what these Obama admin idiots will do next. Though admittedly somewhat biased, I suggest the current American Rifleman for a nonetheless pretty good synopsis. I only mentioned gun control because of the forum on which we're opining. The key word is CONTROL. Of every aspect of life. Because the government knows best and you don't know jack. Already been one conservative, forget which one, said he was waiting till after this coming election to retire; obvious he didn't want O to pick his successor, and is hoping O doesn't get reelected. But sounded like he'd do it regardless after 2012. Four justices will be in their eighties before the end of O's second term. The odds are at least one (or several) will croak or become incapacitated. Ginsburg, although a liberal, is old and has so far survived two types of serious cancer; but it hasn't been that long, and her replacement will make her look like a right wing extremist. Right "leaning" is correct, not staunchly right. Plus it takes a long time for the right case to work it's way up to be reheard; abortion is a strange thing though when it comes to "liberal" or "conservative" judges. Though conservative politicians tend to be mostly "pro life", haven't seen exactly the same with the judiciary. In a way, I'm surprised that it's come to be the way it is; you'd think conservatives would be more "pro choice" in the sense of "stay away from MY body" and liberals would be more "pro life" in the sense of protecting human zygotes much like snail darters. Borrowing .40 of every buck spent can't do anything but hurry it up; and it's possible that with enough shared pain, the US could actually be the lone solvent major country in the world. The idea of eating more bologna and beans to prevent eating each other. No, it hasn't happened, and yes, it's a recurring scenario, but these are unprecedented times with unprecedented population levels and densities, unprecedented supply logistics, and unprecedented rapidity of change. I'd feel okay about it unless O won TN. I voted Lib last time, for same reasons you state, but admit I thought O might actually do okay, and was sick of the same ole GOP. I've been shocked. Now we've got the same ole GOP again, and as I predicted the Tea Party has been effectively diluted and absorbed by it. However, in apprehension that enough anti-O votes might be siphoned off by write ins, Lib, maybe even a third party or independent run by Paul, that I'm gonna bite the bullet and vote that damn GOP this time, for what I see as a MUCH less evil. But all in all, these "interesting times" are less a curse to me personally than indeed just that -- interesting -- fast paced times to live through as a "contemporary historian". Birth, peak, decline, possible resurgence, sometimes even death -- it's a natural process and no country has beat it yet. We've just doing it faster than most and rose higher, quicker. - OS

From main statute: 39-17-1309 "© (1) It is an offense for any person to possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, any firearm, not used solely for instructional or school-sanctioned ceremonial purposes, in any public or private school building or bus, on any public or private school campus, grounds, recreation area, athletic field or any other property owned, used or operated by any board of education, school, college or university board of trustees, regents or directors for the administration of any public or private educational institution. It is not an offense under this subsection © for a nonstudent adult to possess a firearm, if the firearm is contained within a private vehicle operated by the adult and is not handled by the adult, or by any other person acting with the expressed or implied consent of the adult, while the vehicle is on school property." Whether that means loaded or unloaded is a constant source of debate, but read the whole statute, and this paragraph only differs from the previous one, with respect to "going armed" NOT being mentioned, and also note that this permission does NOT depend on having an HCP -- so I think most of us agree that the intent is for the gun to be in unloaded condition, since that is the only way one without an HCP can legally have one in vehicle. Since "unloaded" means also no ammo in proximity, though, this makes it pretty inconvenient to arrive with a loaded gun, then unload it and separate ammo before leaving vehicle. And of course you must "handle" it to do that. You'll find that many of the TN weapons statues have a large gray WTF built in. - OS

Eskabar is even better, same knife, but the handle is little more comfy. They make micarta scales for one or both of them, cost about as much as the knife, though. Also you have to buy an add on clip for the sheath for either of them, unless you wear them as neckers or lash them to something. Oh, many use para cord to make two loops through sheath holes for belt carry, can do vertically or horizontally that way and you don't need the accessory clip. And most folks just braid para on the handles of both of these, all kinds of examples of that. I even did it myself, turned out pretty comfy. https://www.google.com/search?q=becker+necker+paracord+wrap&hl=en&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=5gh&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvnsfd&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=qyjoTojpM4bNtgeB9vSaCg&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1519&bih=793 https://www.google.com/search?q=eskabar+paracord&hl=en&newwindow=1&client=firefox-a&hs=r0M&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=cijoTtrsG4uEtgeW9fmECg&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CBkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1519&bih=793 - OS

I personally haven't seen that buzz... I only have some larger ones, Rodan, Varan, and Kumunga, no Bushlore. They all came sharp enough to push cut printer paper even though the blades are thick. I haven't personally put them through their paces, but beau coup others have, video reviews galore out there. Also, if you haven't noticed, rave reviews abound for the leather sheaths that come with Condor stuff, thy are indeed very nice. Also also, SMKW carries Condor stuff, if you get over that way you might could lay hands on a Bushlore before you decide. - OS

Want to go a little cheaper so can buy something else too, this Condor model has become quite popular. The wood handled model is on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Condor-Bushlore-4-375-Inch-Walnut-Leather/dp/B002CC6BPM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1323807822&sr=8-2 You could even get the mini Bushlore as companion: http://www.amazon.com/Condor-Bushlore-3-Inch-Walnut-Leather/dp/B004WMFI0Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1323807822&sr=8-4 - OS

Needs iron sights as backup. Or even primary. - OS

Seems spot on to me.... The crux, I think is in these three paragraphs (for those that don't read the entire article, note that "unionists" does not mean "unions" in labor force connotation): "If Theodore Roosevelt’s New Nationalism at least attempted to put the people at the reins of an unlimited authority, his cousin’s New Deal was scientific government in all its totalitarian horror and bureaucratic incompetence. A horror that no one learned anything from. The New Deal gave way to the New Frontier and the Great Society and finally Hope and Change, leaving the country deep in debt and at the mercy of an ideological bureaucracy tightening its grip on power. And yet any attempt to roll back the rolling disaster is met with cries of “Reactionary” as if local power and local authority were nothing less than cave-dwelling cannibalism. The only solution is to go forward, to bigger unions and larger federal monstrosities that share all the flaws of the old version but promise to restrain them by having smarter people sitting in one room and making all the decisions. Anyone who points out that this is a bad idea is treated as if he had suggested that maybe the sun does revolve around the earth after all. It’s the unionists, though, who put forward a determinedly geocentric model of the human solar system. It is they who insist that the massive sun of the people must revolve around the planet of government, rather than that government should revolve around the people. Adding more mass to government does not make it into a sun, a source of energy and light, it makes it into a heavier satellite, but no matter how heavy planet government becomes, it will not unleash a gravity field that will force the people to revolve around it." - OS

Yeah, I know...and yet even EOs pale in comparison to the long term effects from Supreme Court appointments. Due to age demographics of the present court, could be that he gets to select more than any president since FDR. - OS

I am now paying $5,845 per year to only have to pay another $7,500 of the amount of your bill (my total out of pocket for a calendar year). And I'm in pretty good health. But can't switch insurance. Obamacare says they can't turn me down regardless of my pre-existing conditions or medical history. But it doesn't prevent them from quoting a price I can't afford, either. So if there actually would be any benefits from insurance under Obamacare for me, it doesn't kick in until I'm already Medicare eligible. If that'll mean much of anything anymore. Depends on what the Death Panel says when I enroll, I guess! - OS

Perhaps there was an attempt at a pic? If not, then Baja is just missing something (else). :) - OS

Although "scared" is somewhat of a euphemism, off top o' my head, to put it on as personal a level as possible. - My health insurance went up to almost equal my rent, jumped 75 per month. This is directly due to Obamacare (the fact that insurance companies are limited in % jumps NEXT year). - Little doubt that in two years, Medicare ain't gonna treat me nearly as well as traditionally expected. Maybe I'll be lucky with my health, maybe not. My doc, for example (who is part of a quite large partnership based health care fiefdom) has admitted they may terminate Medicare acceptance. They gave up on TennCare some time back, for example, and see Medicare as almost to same point of diminishing returns for them. - Living on $9K less than when I retired 3 years ago. Interest rates; was finally losing ground on my nut I'm looking to buy my last property with. Pretty much directly tied to fact money isn't needed now, because even though the banks and financial institutions were bailed out, they sit on the money rather than lend it, etc. All directly and indirectly tied to climate of business uncertainty regarding ever increasing regulation either passed or proposed by O's admin. - And by virtue of Obamacare, Homeland Security, BATF, Treasury Dept, FEMA, Justice Dept selective enforcement, chicanery, litigation against states, etc ad nauseam, I perceive encroachments on individual liberty now becoming an all out assault. Since we're here on a gun forum, if one thinks that given a majority in House and Senate for say, only two of O's last four years, and doesn't think hje's going to have to jump through some pretty big hoops at the least to maintain same level of firearm freedom within a few years, I'd suggest one is infected with terminal Pollyannaism. - And forget Congress: O has the biggest ace in the sleeve of a president in a long time: he'll get to appoint God knows how many Supremes in the next four years. And as long as Senate stays Dem, no worries. You're liking Sotomayor and Kagen? Hell, they'll be foaming right wingers compared to the next ones. The odds are he'll get to appoint at least 2 and maybe even 4, depending on the croak factor. This is a legacy that would essentially gut what little is left of the constitutional as far as states' rights and individual liberty. Basically, there will be one de facto default judgement for most every question: i.e., the federal government can do whatever it wants because it's best for you. - Mainly, though in the most immediate of concerns, I really do believe we're on the verge of a big financial crash. And I mean catastrophic. I don't think we can endure a long bleak Russian type decline after their crash in the 90's, or the Argentine hyperinflation in the 80's, because of drastic differences in population totals and densities, JIT supply lines, and just lack of a unifying national ethos. Whether a different admin can at least slow that, I don't know, but this admin has just sped it along. Yes, much of this I see as inevitable, due to population/resources upside down pyramid, but I still see O's reign as speeding it all up. And again, "scared" really isn't accurate, more "sadly fatalistic". If I had family, though, "scared" would probably apply. - OS

I'm actually more concerned about a semblance of freedom being retained for as long as possible. I ain't gonna defend Mitt, cause I don't like him either. He's the epitome of the slick two faced politician, his little fake heh heh laugh makes my skin crawl, and everything's illegal in Massachusetts. Although however fricked up that MA health care thing was, it's true it was only done to do something about the 8% or so of folks who had no insurance at the time, rather than a sweeping change of the entire industry, with required participation by every resident of the state. Don't know that it was really any more drastic than TennCare's various incarnations, and maybe less so. But I'm also actually afraid of Obama. And there IS the chance that both chambers could again be Dem by 2014. And yeah, as you recently said, probably which party is at the helm probably really does only control the speed of arrival rather than the ultimate destination, but at my age I'll selfishly hope that a slower pace to the inevitable spares me having to face it. Seems to me O has already shortened the interval significantly in just one term, really in just two years before he mercifully lost the House. - OS

I caught an hour of Savage on walk this evening. He ranted about Newt but didn't say anything about the million buck offer. He just thinks Mitt is the only one who can beat O, even though he doesn't like Mitt either, and that's the prime directive. I tend to agree. Says more about the electorate than it does about the candidates, but I see Barack Hussein Obama as one of the most dangerous men in American history -- difficult to imagine a GOP nominee I wouldn't vote for this time around. On the bright side though, if O is reelected and the Senate goes GOP and the House stays GOP, maybe everything can be 4 years of stalemate. No progress is better than "progressive progress". - OS

I've also mentioned that this is looking like best chance since forever (FDR?) for that too, now see it being mentioned on MSM too. Would certainly make things interesting, but see no way it could help strengthen GOP in eyes of voters.... UNLESS, there were a None Of The Above Dark Horse Shining Hero To Save The Day thrust into the nomination. Nah, this is GOP, party of the same ole same ole. - OS

Haven't heard ole Mike in a while...so he likes Mitt better? Or going to offer Mitt TWO million to drop out? - OS

Not for many many years. Current issue is M9 Bayonet, by Ontario. Army doesn't even get that, AFAIK? - OS

I make 2.

If (likely, when) that goes wonky, go with Ruger BX-25 mags, they're all aces. - OS

Ruger's higher end model is the 77/22, dunno how it stacks up against various other bolt guns accuracy wise. Ruger® Rotary Magazine 77/22® Bolt-Action Rifle Models - OS

You might try a poll to see who's ever heard of it. - OS

Ah so, thanks. Didn't know that variant existed. - OS

Ya reckon Weasel Zippers is pretty influential in shaping public opinion, huh? - OS

Can't find a pic anywhere, not on KT's site -- we talking about same gun? What parts are different colors? - OS