One of the LSI guys had in his sig for internal mail, "Clamo, clamatis, omnes clamamus pro glace lactis." I didn't know what it meant, but knowing the individual, I figured it had to be humorous, so I looked it up. Apparently it's Latin for, "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream." Brilliant.
I found on a forum a bunch of other useless phrases translated into Latin which is good for a laugh.
2011-03-31
Flares, etc. @ Sipsey
Just now noticed on Sipsey St. a praxis post regarding flares and other pyrotechnics. Since I was looking at getting a flare gun, it seems like good background information.
2011-03-30
USGI Web Gear
Ruger 10/22 Peep Sights
While searching for Tech-SIGHTS reviews, I found an article on 10/22 peep sights from someone who prefers an alternative:
So the recipe for my favorite final setup is as follows:Of course, this combination costs way more than the Tech-SIGHTS. I'd like to see what NDS comes up with for the Ruger receiver.
- Williams FP-AG-TK Receiver Sight (sold with adj. knobs now)
- Lyman Globe Sights: #17ATC @ .852″ height,”
- Williams Aperture 3/8″ Diameter with .050 aperture
- Weaver T0-9 top mount base ( one piece tip-off base )
2011-03-29
哀戦士
I haven't seen Gundam, but Ai-Senshi is a great song. The few English translations I've seen online suck, so I'll have to give it a go one of these days.
The original lyrics:
The original lyrics:
哀戦士Theme song for a revolution?
作詞：井荻麟／作曲：井上大輔／編曲：井上大輔／
歌：井上大輔
哀 ふるえる哀
それは 別れ唄
ひろう骨も 燃えつきて
ぬれる肌も 土にかえる
荒野をはしる 死神の列
黒くゆがんで 真赤に燃える
哀 生命（いのち）の哀
血の色は大地にすてて
新たな 時をひらくか
生き残る 哀 戦士たち
荒野をはしる 死神の列
黒くゆがんで 真赤に燃える
死にゆく男たちは
守るべき女たちに
死にゆく女たちは
愛する男たちへ
何を賭けるのか 何を残すのか
I pray, pray to bring near the New Day
哀 かなしみの哀
いまは 残るだけ
名を知らぬ 戦士を討ち
生きのびて 血へど吐く
疾風（はやて）のごとき 死神の列
あらがう術（すべ）は わが手にはない
死にゆく男たちは
守るべき女たちに
死にゆく女たちは
愛する男たちへ
戦う男たちは
故郷（ふるさと）の女たちに
戦う女たちは
信じる男たちに
何を賭けるのか 何を残すのか
I pray, pray to bring near the New Day
2011-03-25
Political Ideology
From Kevin, the five worldviews, according to Michael Lind via Salon.com.
Contrast that with the list of political ideologies on Wikipedia. Of course a worldview isn't the same thing, but the two are intricately related.
The categories that Lind postulates are gross caricatures of each faction, e.g. "libertarian isolationism"—which is really just don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong. I suppose the point was to get everyone up in arms, but at least he gets it right that the world views of Bush, Clinton, and Obama are one and the same, which he terms "neoliberal globalism".
Still, it's abundantly clear that we "can't all just get along"—there will always be conflict where humans deal with one another.
Contrast that with the list of political ideologies on Wikipedia. Of course a worldview isn't the same thing, but the two are intricately related.
The categories that Lind postulates are gross caricatures of each faction, e.g. "libertarian isolationism"—which is really just don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong. I suppose the point was to get everyone up in arms, but at least he gets it right that the world views of Bush, Clinton, and Obama are one and the same, which he terms "neoliberal globalism".
Still, it's abundantly clear that we "can't all just get along"—there will always be conflict where humans deal with one another.
2011-03-23
This article is from over a month ago, but here it's languished in my reader. The article itself was crappy, since it's from Time magazine's left-biased crew, but there was one comment that I liked, reposted below for the two salient links.
Yih-Chau ChangThe last link is pretty good.
Reading through this Time Magazine article, it appears that Alex Altman has heavily quoted many noted gun control advocates but left the gun rights side of this debate largely underrepresented. Perhaps presenting a more balanced approach to the issue of gun rights/gun control would serve Time magazine's readership more effectively.
If additional gun control laws could somehow manage to curb the violent crime rate in society, then we would have seen dramatic reductions in violent crime in Washington DC, Chicago, or England, just to name off a few real-life examples. However, instead of the reductions in violent crime that were expected, the violent crime rates in all of these areas have increased dramatically after their handgun bans were put in place. It wasn't until the US Supreme Court struck down the unconstitutional handgun ban laws in DC and Chicago that the violent crime rates have started to come back down. The results were so dramatic in Washington DC that the violent crime rate dropped 36% in just two years after the US Supreme Court's Heller decision in 2008.
I am certain that everyone has the same interest in preserving public safety during these very difficult economic times. Let's take a proven method of reducing violent crime--common, law-abiding citizens being armed in a public setting, and allow this practice to help keep criminals at bay. For a look at the phenomenon of an armed general populace and its effect on violent crime from the academics, take a look at this video.
http://www.responsiblecitizensofcalifornia.org/video/john-lott-more-guns-less-crime-2
For independent confirmation of Dr. John R. Lott, Jr.'s findings, one has to look no further than the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy.
The Mauser-Kates Study, "Would Banning Firearms Reduce Murder and Suicide? A Review of International Evidence", was academically peer reviewed and then published on Volume 30, Number 2 of the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy (pp. 649-694).
http://law.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7212&context=expresso
Hopefully, this information sheds some light on the facts regarding the emotionally charged topic of gun control during a time of national tragedy and helps to foster a calm and level-headed discussion moving forward.
2011-03-22
NYT Article on Appleseed
The anti-gun bias drips off the page. I did get something out of the article, though: I didn't know Fred's real name (Jack Dailey).
NoDakSpud 10/22 Sights
In a previous post regarding Liberty Training Rifles for Appleseed, I mentioned Tech-SIGHTS. On an Appleseed forum post, a dealer mentions that they're made in Taiwan. Then I found on Arfcom that NoDak Spud makes a similar product with a rail, which is made in the U.S., but currently only for their 10/22 receiver.
Nuclear Brouhaha
Nuclear community snubbed reactor safety message—this doesn't surprise me at all. But Sorensen patented his reactor design, so there was probably some vested monetary interest....
SL-1—Troy posted this link on FB. I hadn't heard of it, but it was apparently the only fatal reactor incident in the U.S.
SL-1—Troy posted this link on FB. I hadn't heard of it, but it was apparently the only fatal reactor incident in the U.S.
FBI Records
How to see what the Feds have on you:
Individuals may obtain a copy of their criminal record by writing to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Include a letter stating why you are making the request, a set of fingerprints and a money order (no checks) for $18. Mail to: FBI, Criminal Justice Information Services Div., 1000 Custer Hollow Rd., Clarksburg, WV 26306. Telephone: (304) 625-3878. Web: www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/fprequest.htmI also didn't realize that the rap in "rap sheet" is an FBI acronym for "record of arrests and prosecution". Huh.
Individuals who do not have a criminal record can make a request under the Freedom of Information Act to determine if the FBI has compiled information about them. The request must be in writing and should include a complete name, address, date and place of birth and notarized signature. It should be sent to FBI, Freedom of Information Privacy Section, at the same address and telephone number as the previous paragraph.
2011-03-19
How to Win Political Arguments
I haven't watched this video yet, but it sounds interesting. Also from AJE.
2011-03-14
Tonoharu
MRG sent me this link to a cartoonist, Lars Martinson, who uses ex-pat life in Japan as a basis for his material. He's a Minnesotan, so he's something of a kindred spirit.
Also, linked from his page was the site for the Japan America Society of Minnesota, which I didn't know existed.
Also, linked from his page was the site for the Japan America Society of Minnesota, which I didn't know existed.
2011-03-12
Articles about WD's Acquisition of HGST
I was still at work in Japan when the note came out. That definitely was a shocker. Of course it hasn't been finalized yet, but there isn't much that would stop it, eh.
Merger to Create PC Drive Giant [WSJ]
日立がHDD事業を米Western Digitalへ売却、43億ドル相当の現金と株式で [Cloud Watch]
Viviti? With the IPO we were going to be Viviti? Come on guys, surely you could've come up with a better name than that!
Merger to Create PC Drive Giant [WSJ]
日立がHDD事業を米Western Digitalへ売却、43億ドル相当の現金と株式で [Cloud Watch]
Viviti? With the IPO we were going to be Viviti? Come on guys, surely you could've come up with a better name than that!
Japanese Whisky
A coworker had requested that I bring back some Japanese whisky, and since I didn't really know of good varieties, I referred to the Google oracle. (Once I'd tried some Nikka Black or somesuch and didn't care for it. However, that's before my tastes in alcohol became more refined.) An article that popped up noted that in 2008, Nikka Yoichi of the 20-yr-old variety took first place in Whisky Magazine's world competition for single malt, and Suntory Hibiki was the best blended whisky.
I bet that pissed off the Scots, getting owned by Japanese whisky on both awards in one year.
I bet that pissed off the Scots, getting owned by Japanese whisky on both awards in one year.
2011-03-03
The Oracle's Picks
WSJ ran an article on Warren Buffet's latest investment advice from the shareholder's meeting.
Previously I wanted to buy a share or two of the class B stock so I could go to the event in Omaha. Then I found out in 2008 that Buffet is a Democrat. And also after the B stock split, I sort of lost interest.
Anyway, his favorites: KO (thinking the dividend will double), SNY (cheap relative to what BH paid previously), KFT (depressed due to the takeover of Cadbury), JNJ (cheap stock, fair dividend), WMT (not interested in China-Mart, though), BRK.B (currently 1.3x book versus the 1.6 historical average), and WFC (not interested since they're anti-gun).
Previously I wanted to buy a share or two of the class B stock so I could go to the event in Omaha. Then I found out in 2008 that Buffet is a Democrat. And also after the B stock split, I sort of lost interest.
Anyway, his favorites: KO (thinking the dividend will double), SNY (cheap relative to what BH paid previously), KFT (depressed due to the takeover of Cadbury), JNJ (cheap stock, fair dividend), WMT (not interested in China-Mart, though), BRK.B (currently 1.3x book versus the 1.6 historical average), and WFC (not interested since they're anti-gun).
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