Fantastic: Steam Powered RC Reverse Trike

Get today’s steam fix by watching this (lot’s of nice detail shots):

I think maybe it needs a snow plow on the front like that land locomotive Ernie Hudson drove in Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (in 3D!).  Nah, it’s perfect the way it is.

Upgrade: Kel-Tec KSG is now Semi-Auto!

Well, at least according to Gun World

KSG is Semi-Auto!

 

Deal Alert: “Unicorn Sale” 90% off Safariland Lvl 3 Holster LH G17/22/31

Remembering several recent pleas to Open Carry advocates to “get better holsters“, I thought I’d share this with you: a name brand, professional grade, level III retention holster for $20.  If you happen to be a left handed Glock shooter.

That’s a pretty good deal if you’re a southpaw.  At that price, you could even buy one as a gift for your left-handed glock-toting tightwad OC buddy.

Finetac finish Safariland 6070

[I had to look up what the FineTac finish is; it’s basically bare kydex.]  Click here to go to item page.

BTW, this message is provided as a public service to enhance the image and security of open carriers.  I have no affiliation with OMB Express other than having purchased from them before.

11/11/11 – Nigel Tufnel Day!

It’s One Louder!

 

My Tinfoil Hat is Tight Today

For some reason, everytime someone mentions the National Emergency Alert System Test scheduled today my brain replaces the word ‘test’ with ‘demonstration’.

Advice from the .gov = Don’t Panic!

Panic? Don’t be ridiculous.

Nov 8, 2011 Election: Texas (& Harris Co) Voter Resources

The King Street Patriots have a handy list of resources, including a rundown and explanation of the Texas Constitutional Amendments on the ballot.

Go vote, people.

 

Pistol Packing Pizza Purveyor (with Permit) Prevails, Pops Probable Plunderer

[set alliteration to ‘off’]

Yet, again a pizza deliverer disobeys his employer’s mandate to disarm and survives because of that choice.

The 31-year-old driver told police he was walking to the door of the house when he noticed a man hiding behind a bush in the yard. The man called out to him and told him to drop his money. That’s when the driver says he pulled his gun and fired.

The article actually states that two different pizza guys died in two other attacks prior to this particular event and then closes with a statement from Papa John’s that employees are prohibited from carrying weapons.  Think about that.  Faced with the choice between possible death versus unemployment it seems pizza delivery folk and pharmacists seem to be prone towards self-preservation and anti-authoritarian tendencies.  I can relate.

There was a time, not too many years ago, when I was working three different jobs to get by.  One of those jobs was delivering pizzas for the Chickenfoot Pizza Co*.   I thought that I had been pretty sharp by choosing a store location in a well to do area surrounded with McMansions and high end condos.  It was a bit of a surprise to find that the coverage area also included a substantial portion of an area best described as “the wrong side of the tracks”.   Nothing really encourages rigid adherence to daily carry like having to dress in bright colors and go strolling through the darkened labyrinths of the worst housing projects and cheapest apartments.   Afterwards it occurred to me that I hadn’t considered the proximity of such neighborhoods to the store because it was second nature to me to avoid those same neighborhoods.  I’ve always been a bit bigger than most, but it was in that job where I became utterly determined to ‘not look like food’.  I gathered my height, squared my shoulders, strode with purpose and made eye contact.  I didn’t hint at challenging anyone; to a predator that would have to be answered with a show of strength.  My intention was to silently acknowledge awareness of my surroundings and present myself as more effort than I was worth; to create just enough doubt in others to remain safe.

It was a fact that the job required me to assume risk to myself in order to complete the duties of the position.  Never was that more evident when I delivered a stack of pizzas to group of about a dozen cholos.  I’d made it a conscious habit to hold the insulated box carrier with my off hand to keep my strong hand free.  Standing there on the fourth floor walkway next to a thin railing barely three feet tall looking into an apartment devoid of furniture but packed with guys wearing khakis, tank tops and black shoes, I began to think maybe I should have stitched my holster to the underside of the bag rather than wearing it in my waistband.  Gladly, the delivery was uneventful.  I smiled and handed them the pizzas, took the cash they handed me and without counting it said, “Thanks” and left.

No matter the job, I’ve always striven to put in an honest day and earn my pay.   That does not mean I give my unquestioning loyalty to an employer.  I read my employee handbook and knew weapons were forbidden.  My boss was a good guy and thankfully not too diligent in getting my to sign the employee agreement.  Oddly, I always managed to forget to sign it, lose it in my car, etc.  Even if I had eventually been made to sign it, I still would have carried.  Being cognizant that the corporate bean counters established the policy to reduce liability (their risk), I felt no compulsion to agree to a policy that shifted that risk to me and stated (in essence) that in the event I were I challenged on the battlefield of pizza delivery, it was easier for them to console my grieving family than to fight a lawsuit from the surviving family of the “choir boy who was turning his life around”.  I could easily tolerate being fired from a menial job rather than bleeding out on a dark stairwell witnessed only by feral cats.  At that time my only concealable handgun was a Ruger SP101 DAO in .357 Mag; I carried it in a IWB kydex holster from Hoffners and kept a Surefire Z2 (60 lumen incandescent) in my offside front pocket.    The episode above was a stern wake up call that even with a spare speedloader, having only 5 shots on tap was a risk in itself.  As soon as I was able to afford it, I quit that job to further reduce risk to myself.  I understand that no aspires to be a pizza delivery man, and certainly not all delivery jobs may entail as much risk as I endured for that short time, but for those that are in such situations I strongly advocate that they enact their own “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.  Because in the end, sometimes the correct thing to do is apologize after the fact than to ask permission beforehand.

[*not that brand matters, AFAIK all corporate pizza companies have the same policy]

h/t SSI for the news story

Mossberg Announces Tactical Anti-Zombie Levergun

Just announced on Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk radio program is the Mossberg 464 SPX lever-action rifle.  The .30-30 rifle will sport tactical rails, an adjustable stock, vertical foregrip, and and A2 style flash hider.  The Mossberg spokesman also said that they have partnered with Hornady for the production of Hornady’s new Z-Max ammunition in .30-30 Winchester.

LAPG Rides the Zombie Bandwagon

Hey, if it works for Brownells, DPMS, Hornady, Gerber, Kabar, Impact Guns, Guns & Ammo and even Sears, why not for LAPG too?

The comic book style composition is a nice touch.

The meme may have jumped the shark but, for the time being, I still smile seeing stuff like this.

[BTW, who did I miss in the link farm above?]

Update: Taurus is now in with the Zombie Responder [h/t Cocked and Loaded]

Update: Toshiba?

New MRE’s: Now with Caffeinated Beef Jerky!

via DVICE

There are now 24 different MREs to choose from (up from 12), including items like apple-cinnamon muffin tops, Asian pepper steak, chicken and rice, and beef lo-mein. A brand new snack food is caffeinated beef jerky sticks, which provide as much wake-up power as a cup of coffee.

Caffeine + Beef Jerky = WIN!

From the Perky Jerky website:

Perky Jerky is the new high-protein, ultra-premium, functional food for active lifestyles taking the nation by storm. We start with premium all natural beef (no MSG, no nitrates), and add our 7 ingredient marinade, which includes Guarana, a little berry from the Amazon that is commonly found in energy drinks.

Hmmm, so it’s the marinade, eh?  I guess that qualifies as Awesome Sauce.

I’m seeing a world of possibilities now….  *starts crafting caffeinated maple syrup to create caffeinated maple flavored thick sliced bacon*

Product Review Update:  Noting that the Perky Jerky website says their product is available at *Bullseye* stores, I purchased a bag during lunch today.  It’s labeled “Ultra Premium” and at $5.00 for 2.2 oz, I’d say that qualifies.  The printed expiration date on my package is for 10 months exactly from the date of purchase; that’s plenty of storage life even if you rotate food stocks in your BOB only every few months. The nutritional information on the back does not list the amount of caffeine per serving and the only place guarana is listed is 7th (out of eight) in the ingredients right after pepper and just before ‘organic Worcestershire sauce’.  In fact there is no mention of caffeine anywhere on the packaging.  The product is very consistent and I was surprised at the moisture level of the jerky; the meat was soft, flexible and easy to chew compared to some other known brands.  Most pieces were about an inch and a half wide, of varying lengths and about an 1/8th of an inch thick.  The flavor is fairly bold and slightly sweet due to the seasoning being mostly soy sauce and brown sugar.  While my preference in jerky is for less sweet, locally produced smoked beef, I’m glad I didn’t pass up the chance to try caffeinated meat.  I do appreciate that they do not use preservatives or nitrates as my wife is sensitive to some such things.  Their statement that a portion of their earnings are devoted to MS and Down Syndrome research is something that I can appreciate as well.  Overall, Perky Jerky is at least as good as the other jerky brands sold at major retailers/grocery stores and I’m glad I tried it even it was primarily for the novelty of it.