All those who are believers in individual liberty and a culture of self-reliance. One of the greats hangs it up.
And here I was having a good day because this followed me home yesterday.
I’ll be better next Wednesday when the electrician shows up to put a 230V/50A line into my garage.
No, I didn’t pay MSRP.
Face it, it’s a disgusting mess. And they’re going to make you eat it.
Calif. Rail Authority Tried to Intimidate Consultants to Hide $1B Cost Overrun
The estimated cost of the initial segment of California’s bullet train, Golden State Governor Jerry Brown’s pet project, has (excuse the pun) just shot up from $6.19 billion to $7.13 billion. If this is the only overrun encountered in this opening phase, which would be atypical, and if the California High Speed Rail Authority has similar experiences during the remainder of the project, assuming it’s ever completed, its cost will rise from a currently estimated $68 billion to about $78 billion.
Obviously a big cost overrun is news. But normally, evidence of an attempted government coverup of such an overrun is even bigger news. But not at the Los Angeles Times. The paper’s Ralph Vartabedian kept it out of his headline and waited until his story’s ninth paragraph to note it. Even then, his description was needlessly vague.
What kind of interest would the LAT have in telling their readers about corruption. They endorsed all the people, and their appointees, who committed the corrupt behavior. It’d be like telling readers “Vote for the guy we didn’t endorse.”
The UK is testing the waters for their friends in D.C..
In the Budget, Chancellor George Osborne outlined plans for new powers to recover tax debts from anyone who owes more than £1,000.
Now HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has explained how the system will work.
An accountancy body which previously described the powers as “draconian” said limits to the rules were “robust”.
…..
The tax authority said that the average debt of those likely to be targeted was £5,800. It added that in a half of cases, debtors had more than £20,000 in their accounts.
The new powers would allow HMRC to seize money owed in tax, or owed as a result of tax credit overpayments. HMRC would be able to take the money from bank accounts, building society accounts, and Individual Savings Accounts (Isas).
I guess this is better than sending in 100 heavily armed operators to your ranch. Though I’m not sure how many times they could do this without getting the same response.
Of course, having discovered how much in back taxes is owed by federal employees, I think they should start there first.
Found @ Samizdata
It pays to have them.
About $20 million taxpayer dollars worth, it turns out, if you’re friends with Joe Biden.
….. in 2012, OPIC approved a $20 million loan to help an American businessman build a luxury car dealership in Ukraine. Here’s how OPIC described the project they were financing with taxpayer money:
The proceeds of the loan will be used to (i) expand Winner Import Ukraine’s automobile business, (ii) construct and operate “Winner Autocityâ€, which will have two new, state-of-the-art dealership facilities for Porsche and Land Rover/Jaguar automobiles, each of which will be “3S†(showroom, service and stock)
The car dealer, John Hynanksy, happens to be a good friend of Vice President Joe Biden and a donor to President Obama and Biden. When Biden spoke in Ukraine in 2009, he called out “my very good friend, John Hynanksy, a very prominent businessman.” In that same speech, Biden said “Democracy and free markets work best when they deliver what people most want.”
I’ve posted on my feelings of the waste that Overseas Private Investment Corporation in the past.
In this case, they gave $20 million to a guy who was not going to employ a single taxpaying American, or sell American produced goods, in a country that was run by one of the most corrupt governments on that side of the Atlantic.
I’m sure that some of Putin’s favorite and most trusted advisers are very thankful for your contribution to their new personal transportation options.
I finally had a few free moments and some good weather yesterday so I used it to get some pics of my prototype shooting bench creation.
This is something I’ve had in my head for a while now. I had seen a number of different types of benches, both homemade and commercially available, and even created some very crude versions to use at Boomershoot. The first one that I built and took to Boomershoot 2005 used an engine stand built for a big block. Sadly, while the idea was right, it didn’t even come close to solving the problems as I had envisioned and I ended up using David’s bench built for a left-hander that year.
The second was used at Boomershoot 2006 and was a modification of David’s bench, which used straight and 45 degree angle pipe bits for the legs. While it solved the problems and served the purpose, it was wonky, cumbersome and not “aesthetically pleasing”.
During the ensuing years, I have been to the big-box sporting goods stores and looked through catalogs online and only seen uncomfortable, flimsy and forgettable products I probably wouldn’t even accept as gifts. At the other end of the spectrum I’d seen some very expensive and overly complicated set-ups that I would accept as gifts, because I could never afford them.
With the opportunity I’ve made for myself in my choice of schooling, I have set out to build a shooting bench that is fully adjustable for people of all sizes, shapes and dexterites, works with just about any shooting discipline that needs a steady rest, and most importantly of all, is comfortable enough for shooting off all day long.
I’d like to introduce to you, the Heavy Metal Bench.
Yes, I do my own modelling. I’m on a low budget.
Built from the same materials you would use to tow a boat or travel trailer, but because of its modular design, it is still light enough that a teen could carry it around. The assembly is also straightforward enough that that same teen could put it together with a crescent wrench in a couple minutes. Also, except for the seat, it is small enough to store in the corner of a closet.
The top is adjustable for height. The seat is also adjustable for height as well as distance from the top. The legs are adjustable so that it will sit level on just about any terrain. These pictures were taken on the driveway alongside my house. It is not level. But the top is.
Another feature that I have seen nowhere, is this
Because of the materials used to build it, it is compatible with your hitch receiver. I was hoping to get a picture of this bench plugged into Dave the RNS Photographer’s Suburban. I can picture this option being popular with guys who varmint hunt. Pop open the hatch of your SUV and “go dogging” all day out of the back of your vehicle. Need more ammo? Spin to your right. Need a soda? Spin to your left.
I shot all three days of Boomershoot 2014 off this bench. I even ate lunch sitting in it. No sore back or cheeks.
As you can probably tell, I’m looking to sell a few of these. If you or anyone you know is in the market for something of this magnitude of awesome, hit the email addy button and get in touch with me. These will be very reasonably priced. There is about $225 worth of steel in the rig, and I work relatively cheaply. I’d really rather not have to take a boring factory job and quit school in August. I’d rather go to school until next March and build shooting benches, AR500 steel shooting plates for up to .50BMG and these kick ass tables after class and on the weekends.
For folks who don’t need 2″ square tubular steel or who have a smaller SUV with an 1.25″ receiver, I can also build these in 1.25″ square tubing. It will be just as adjustable and close enough in strength as makes no difference. I’m also open to discussing user specific mods. Only ever shoot from the right-handed position? I don’t need to put on a center or left position. Saves me time and you money.
Sometime this Summer I will be getting a plasma cutter. When I do, I will be posting about the different shapes and designs of shooting plates I plan on making. These too will be very reasonably priced. You’ll pay my price for materials and $10 to $20 per cut depending on the complexity.
Watch this space.
This was manufactured in Plymouth, Michigan [cue Jeopardy countdown music]
Maybe this will help . . . .
OK, I’ll make it easy . . . .
It is a double barrel BB gun from who the hell knows when.
I stayed over at Trib’s Place an extra day and joined Trib and Kenda with another couple for Cinqo de Mayo dinner at the always tasty Mexican restaurant in Orofino. During the dinner conversation, Trib’s friend Jim mentioned he had a couple of old rifles that I might want to see. Of course I was interested and we stopped at their house and Jim brought out a couple of items for my perusal. The above piece is a double barrel BB gun given to Jim back in the 1930’s. Lot’s of rust, but plenty of memories.
The other piece is a Model 38BÂ bolt action .401 shotgun with a box magazine made by J. Stevens Arms Co. of Chicopee Falls, MA.
According to Jim, lots of squirrels did not die in their sleep.
Suitable for use by adults at Boomershoot
Oleg was at Boomershoot taking plenty of pics and sometimes hamming it up a bit.
After several seasons of Boomershoot under Phil’s 3- position canopy, I felt that a suitable sign was in order . . . .
Sign of the Times
Muzzle Awareness !
Not to worry, Ry didn’t get shot
