Ugly Gun Sunday

Here's a serious case of Silk Purse Sow's Ear Syndrome. The original gun, a Volunteer Commando Mark 3 in .45 ACP. The finished product: a Volunteer Commando Mforgery SKS.

The Commando was an inexpensive way to own something that was intended to emulate a Thompson submachine gun for those without five figures of disposable income. With minimal machining and fitting, and using surplus M3 Grease Gun magazine, it filled a niche in the shooter's market for nearly ten years before fading away.

It was no beauty straight from the factory:





but someone managed to to take it down a notch.

Aging Sucks

My dog has developed a slow leak. The vet says for a ten year old Golden, that's not much of surprise, although it's seen more females. So, it's pills twice a day in an attempt to tighten up aged bladder control muscles in an effort to keep him house-worthy. That's in addition to glucosamine tablets for his arthritic joints, and low-dose steroids for allergy control. He's starting to remind me of some of my elderly patients, except he's better-natured than 75% of them.

I used to watch him do running laps around the yard just because he had energy to spare. Watching him age is truly depressing, and knowing he'll probably expire within the next three years is awful. Most dogs deserve better than this; he certainly does.

Ugly Gun Sunday

Krylon rules! But don't take this artist for a simple spraypaint jockey. Note the fine hand-applied cylinder details. And the mark of a true professional: taking off the grips before whipping out the can. When I think of the work that went into this, I almost tear up.

I'm Sure It's For A Good Reason

I mean, why shouldn't we allow the government access whenever they want to our personal computers? You got something to hide?

I hate Leftists. Lying scum who use flowery rhetoric to convince useful idiots to give up even more of the little independence they have left. Because "it's for the greater good". I wish everybody who voted for this administration had to live for one month in a country that's had socialism for a couple decades. Because that's were they're taking us. Bastards.

Idiots - Vital to the Economic Recovery

Ho. Lee. Shit.

This stuff is being shilled on TV now. "Lithograph". Isn't that fancy-speak for "poster"?

I predict the market demographic buying this crap will be the same one that bought the really nifty Obama coins that were stickers on quarters. Enjoy your investment, wackos. And don't forget to start saving up for the memorial plates that should be shipping in "limited" tons from China soon.

Beer Summit?

I'm formally sick of hearing about the President and prof. Gates getting together to have a beer and clear up this "misunderstanding". Bullshit. The only misunderstanding was Gates' concept that his color grants him special privileges to verbally abuse cops for doing their job. I'd be damn happy to have our local police check on my place if someone reports a middle-aged man crawling through the basement window of my house (which immediately preceded the new family policy of always leaving a key outside the house. Crawling through decades of cobwebs is gross, and the five foot drop to a concrete floor is no picnic either).

But there's definitely racism involved here. It's evident that white cops who don't know their place (e.g., uppity) are to be smacked down. And it was certainly a pleasure watching our first post-racial president shoot his mouth off about something he hasn't bothered to research. But then, at least he's consistent. I'm surprised President O is letting Officer Crowley in the White House; he'll probably try to steal the silver and ogle Michelle.

Good luck, officer, and enjoy your Arugula Pale Ale.

No! Bad Patient!

If you have a pacemaker, and the battery is almost expired, perhaps you should take advantage of the offer to be the first patient of the day. Especially as you've been retired for decades now, and have more free time than some of our other patients. But, if you must delay your procedure, it would be really, really nice if you would follow the nurse's instructions and NOT eat a bowl of ice cream several hours before your procedure. We don't do that because we think it's fun to make people hungry and dizzy; we do it because aspirating vomit into your lungs tends to compromise your ability to breath, which somewhat complicates the procedure. As we explained it to you several times before, please excuse us for not giving in to your expectation to be heavily sedated when you passed into the room.

Eventually, we managed to get started. Only to find out your leads also need to be replaced, in addition to your pacer. No big thing, that happens a lot. Thing wear out, we fix them. That's why we told you that this could happen. And sometimes we find out that other things have changed since you had your device installed many years ago. Like that your heart has an unpleasant tendency to drop into asystole without a pacer. So, it's certainly a good thing you have a pacemaker. And it's a good thing we replaced that poorly functioning lead that lets it stimulate your heart. What would be extra nice, would be if you would not do those things I just finished telling you to no do that could pull that new lead out of position, leaving your heart to its own, probably fatal, rhythm.

Last, I'm sorry you're upset I ruined your plans for the evening by telling you that you will be spending the night here. As both the doctor and I explained what could happen if your lead is dislodged, we thought it reasonably clear that being in a cardiac care facility is a good thing if you're heart stops. Stupid us. You've obviously seen through our charade, and into our master plan to rob you blind through forcing the government to use your tax dollars to make Medicare pay for your procedure.

Still, best of luck. I'd rather see you in another ten years to replace your expended battery, but somehow I won't be surprised if it's sooner.