btq96r

So, I just got an email from TFA.  I take the time to read it because, with the state legislature in session, I would assume they would be busy with firearms related legislation, and that has interest to me.    However,the email is asking for my support for a 'day of action' against the Medicaid expansion here in Tennessee.  They make the argument that it all connects to Constitutional issues, but I'm starting to get the impression that TFA is just a conservative's only club, and the flavor of the month can carry the day with them.  Hardly the single issue organization I felt I was giving money to when I paid for a membership.   I'm getting disappointed with them.

While not the official definition of nothing, it's just as good.

  That's not an apt comparison.  eBay and PayPal are just services that use established currencies via traditional means such as bank drafts and credit/debit card transactions.   Bitcoin on the other hand is a stand alone currency, guaranteed by no nation and without guidance by a monetary policy from any central bank.  With nothing behind it, it's doomed to fail.

I know a guy who lost quite a bit of money in the Bitcoin craze.  I really think it's not something that is sustainable in a global economy that is more or less run by central banking.  They don't want a currency they can't control, or more specifically manipulate, in the hands of the common folk.

Great store.  You can loose track of an hour on their website very easily, as well.  I'm a lifetime member and they have my business for many needs.

The conference table at the Chamber of Commerce would be raised by about 6" if they read this thread.  The very woes discussed are what their "pro growth" policies were all about about.  Advantage, employers.

What legitimate purpose would it serve?  The current tax-free weekend is for school supplies, to help students get ready for the upcoming year.  Yes, I know people who abuse it for clothing shopping and to get a new computer, but it's a real relief for those who need the savings.   I can't find a good reason for adding guns to it, other than it would be nice, and laws that are made with that mentality are rarely useful.  I'm with David, I'd like to see legislation that helps gun owners 365 days a year, not just a weekend.

This is cute... In a letter to the regulator, the cable industry’s largest lobby group, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), called the FCC’s new definitions “entirely out of step” with consumer demands and said they “exaggerate the amount of bandwidth needed by the typical broadband user”. It's funny how plenty of the internet packages the cable industry markets to customers are at or above the amount they claim "exaggerate(s) the amount of bandwidth needed by the typical broadband user."

  Of course.  Comcast isn't dumb, they pay for winners.  Her wasta within the House Republicans is high enough to get a bill to a floor vote, and that she is safe enough in her heavily conservative district to withstand any blow-back from screwing over her constituents.    Not to mention her role as Vice Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which overseas the Communications and Technology subcommittee is a great position to push their agenda from.

  Please forgive me if I continue to harbor doubts that a for profit company might decide to incrementally raise rates beyond inflation in operating costs to improve their bottom line.   Point made on the web traffic analytics, but I'm not about to put it past them to try and get that rewritten to their favor someday.  Google is very well represented on K Street these days.       There have been local alternatives here and there.  Chattanooga is one such example, and there are a few more in Tennessee- Clarksville is one, I think- where the electric company is offering internet service at a better rate than the cable companies.  The competition is out there, but a lot of people don't know about them, because they don't advertise like Comcast and AT&T, who seem to each send me mail offers every week to upgrade services.  Also, the ISP's are getting laws written with those paid off legislators to help prevent such things.

  The MSRP for an AR these days isn't anything firm, unless the lower is stamped Colt or Daniel Defense.  But you did get a great, great, deal on your first AR.   You would be surprised at how many people do only the bare bones cleaning on their guns.  It doesn't take too much time to give your weapon the love and attention it deserves and it actually relaxes me.

  Good rules of thumb for the distances listed.    I do believe that reflex fire out to 25 yards/meters is generally quicker and more accurate for the standard shooter with a red dot.  Irons work too with enough practice, but drilling it with a red dot well enough and someone can get scary good.  I never did reflex fire past 25 meters, however, so my experience ends there.       Concur.  That's one of the reasons I like the carrying handle so much, no flip up spring to worry about, or any parts out there on their own that can get caught up.  DD's rear sight is good against those concerns, but the classic detachable charging handle is as near to indestructible you can get.       My old battalion commander and Sergeant Major tried that setup with EoTech's in 2005.  Their zeroing at the 25M range was all dicked up since the sight to bore difference was blown out of the water.  They were also having issues because the height of the optic made the traditional nose to charging handle method impossible.   I'm guessing you dialed it in at somewhere around or past 50yds?

If you're going pure irons, might as well pick up a carrying handle to go completely retro.   The only true advantages to a red dot are for targets <50 meters/yards, IMO.  Anything further out requires the same fundamentals for either or.  I really wish more people would start out shooting on iron sights, get the basics down, then transition to a red dot. But, this is the real world and people want to only do the cool things.

Whoever procured that shotgun for him needs to be investigated to see if they violated the laws.  If so, they can be cell buddies with the birthday boy.   Idiots like this do no favors to our cause.

I think any TGO YouTube channel, should be Tennessee centric.  With local gun shop reviews (maybe even our vendors will let a TGO'er film a review in shop), range walks showing off the features of local ranges, local 3-gun competitions, ect...someone who is searching for what Tennessee has to offer gun wise has a great resource.    Other things can be put on there, but adding things that are already on YouTube in abundance doesn't offer anything unique from our online community here.

  I doubt you'll find any love for Comcast, or any of the other cable empires anywhere, certainly none from me.  For your business, Google fiber can be a benefit for you.  But for the average home, the only difference will be the cost, and even that will creep up sooner or later.    I really think the biggest reason Google is doing this is to have full time access to learn people's internet usage.  The profits from monthly service are a nice bonus, but having the ability to pull data and analyze entire cities worth of web traffic will take their advertising sales into a new age.  I'm not naive enough to think they are doing this help us escape Comcast on principle alone.  There is a definite benefit for them in the process.

Does anybody know how large of a radius they plan on for this?  Just Nashville, or out into the surrounding cities and towns?

Gigabit speed sounds great...in theory.  But anything on the internet that isn't within your local network is a two way process.  You may be paying for a gigabit, but the sites your streaming or downloading from can only get that data to you as fast as their upload speed allows.  They may or may not have comparable service.   I have a 25Mbps pipe for my needs, and really, it's more than enough.  I only have that much so I can run multiple devices at a time, and someday I might get a PS4 so I can play my buddies across the country in Madden.  I can see where people with a full household would need more, but a gigabit?    I'm on-board with the 'Eff Comcast, et. al' bandwagon no matter the topic at hand, however.  :up: 

The OP never mentioned any college savings, so not sure how useful all the 529 plan discussion is.  Seemed, to me at least, that investing was focused on being able to pay for a big ticket item like a car, or down payment for a house.   Plus, for everybody's situational awareness, as good as the 529 plans are, they aren't safe from changes.  Doubt it happens under this plan, but changes could come in some way. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/critics-pounce-on-obamas-plan-to-cut-the-tax-benefits-of-529-college-savings-plans/2015/01/23/43ea75bc-a2a8-11e4-903f-9f2faf7cd9fe_story.html

  If you have the cash, you can pick up something like this and it should solve your problems. http://www.amazon.com/Channel-Master-DVR-Bundle-subscription/dp/B00JGZQ17Q/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0G492JMYM3R46KB5JF7W

  Searching for the topic, than re-reading old threads make a good starting point.  You can read what has been said before then start your thread, or just bump up an old one, with informed questions, and possibly knock out some of your questions entirely.     As to your questions, I have an OTA antenna sitting outside (a real antenna, not those indoor half assed ones I tried and ended up returning) along with a Roku to stream.  I even have HBOGo set up since Comcast keeps throwing in HBO with my internet service.  With the new Dish network offering of online channels (ESPN and Disney included) you should be able to make the full transition if you want.

  I like the idea of having multiple organizations so that people can pick and choose where their priorities align.  With only one org to fall in on, it's their way or the highway.  Also, having another org that comes from the grassroots like TGO represents, can help keep the other orgs from resting on their laurels.  Kind of like how GOA and SAF acting on an issue can force the NRA to move faster than they wanted, lest they be accused of not acting hard enough.

With only $250 to start, at least a few places won't even let you open an account unless you agree to make monthly contributions along with it.  You will need to shop around to find one that will work for you.   I use Vanguard for about 85% of my investments, and I'm quite happy with them.  With 20-25 years to let funds grow, you can choose high risk now, where they put most of it in stocks, then over time, they gradually move over into safer investments like bonds.  Continuing to add money, even $10-20 a month. is the key.  With only $250 to start, you aren't going to see much come back through dividends. 

Even more when you scroll down past what's show here...

If you have the money to buy anything covered under NFA laws, you more than likely have the money to have a trust set up by one of our resident attorneys. If there is truly no more money left for their services after accounting for your new firearm or can, then your short and long range ammo forecasts aren't looking too good, and your NFA firearm isn't going to get much use.