Clear Him a Space

We've been having fun. Two quick notes:

1. Being without power for 30 hours sucks. 50 degrees is cold. Dog kept looking at us funny since he doesn't understand we don't have fur.
2. My backyard looks like the Somme.

That second one bears elaboration. It is what happens when my wife asks me to clear a space in the yard for Foster to do his thing away from the house. We have icicles hanging down from the roof some 30 feet above us and they're big enough to kill him if one was to impale him on the way down. We had originally let him run under the overhang but all of the potentially lethal ice missiles above, she asked me to clear him a space out in the yard.

So I dug out a trench about ten feet and then took a dogleg to the left and cleared a 4-5 foot circle. Understand we have 2 1/2 feet of snow so that trench is pretty deep. So Foster comes trotting out, head held high and started running back and forth in his new path.

I was on to something here so I picked up the shovel and kept digging. Since he loves running in the snow, why not give him a place to run?

End result is a trench system looping around our trees, cross trenches and three puppy foxholes to hunker down in, use or explore. Plus a couple of dead ends just for fun. He's an Aussie on the Western Front.

My wife looked at it and shook her head. Apparently her definition of "clear him a space" and mine vary. I needed something do since we lacked power and frankly the thought of him running puppy crazy through the backyard in his own private trench system was too good to pass up. The other neighborhood dogs are looking on in jealousy right now. He can run down to the fence and their owners didn't even have the common decency to clear them a space on the porch.

We've had great fun watching him run and go crazy. Often the only thing we see is his tail moving sharklike across the backyard.

I'm hoping tomorrow I can get to the snowmen in the front yard. A little Bill Watterson inspired artwork ought to be useful in managing traffic flow. I'm thinking my Toyota Executive snowman aka Seppuku Snowman complete with sword will be a hit.

There are good aspects to snowstorms.

Thank you, America. Signed, Haiti

I know I haven't posted anything this year so I thought I'd start.

With the disaster in Haiti the USA is sending aid. As usual in any international crisis one of the first questions asked is "Is a carrier available?". Fortunately, there was: USS Carl Vinson. Within a day or so of the earthquake, she sortied from Norfolk, VA and arrived off the coast of Haiti this morning.

Obama, in the day after the earthquake, had the front to demand why things weren't moving faster.

The Commander-in-Chief needs better aides. Apparently our articulate, light-skinned President couldn't understand in an English dialect that a 24 hour turnaround for an docked US aircraft carrier is AMAZING. She probably left port with whatever crew they could get aboard on short notice and let supplies catch up via the air wing as they flew out to meet the ship (carrier air wings stay ashore when the carrier is in port). Similar praise for the Navy goes to getting a 'Phib with a full complement of Marines on the way at the same time.

The Air Force had cargo birds in by the end of the first day and Special Forces had established field-expedient air traffic control services at Haiti's primary airport since their control tower and associated facilities had been destroyed.

I'm waiting to hear condemnation from Europe and other "enlightened" nations about American Imperialism by going to help Haiti with military forces. Oh wait! We are going to help people with the fruits of our evil capitalist ways and social inequity but since it is aid, that's ok. Anything else and we're evil. Except for money, of course. Food and money are ok by them.

Yet if we didn't go those same people would be condemning us for not doing enough to help Haiti in its time of need. Talk about a double standard. But I want it known that those grey ships with hospital facilities, clean water and food pallets being flown into that country via helicopter are all flying the Stars and Stripes. And when the country is back on its feet and the United Nations has taken credit for American efforts, they will leave peacefully the same way the came.

One bit of trivia: The USS Carl Vinson, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, costs around $4.5 billion dollars to construct. Minus her running expenses but add in the cost of a 64 plane air wing with an average cost of $50 million dollars per aircraft, her total value is around $7.7 billion dollars.

Haiti's GDP is around $7 billion dollars.

In other words, we could buy the country outright. So why don't we? Call it a port expansion for the Navy. We buy Haiti, make it a territory of the United States like nearby St. Thomas and rebuild. I'm sure they'll be a sight more appreciative of having their standard of living raised immensely, rampant corruption largely eliminated under US government control and more future freedom and opportunities than they've ever enjoyed in the past two centuries under the thumb of French colonial rule and onwards.

That's what American Imperialism looks like. I'd say right now the Haitians would readily accept such a deal. Then the enlightened nations of the world can condemn us in one breath and breathe a sigh of relief with the other of not having to foot the bill. Or maybe not since if the UN isn't involved, they can't skim off the aid relief funds. Just another reason why we should consider it.

I'm thrilled to see the "star and bar" painted on aircraft grey in background on news reports. It is what this country does. We'll worry about the accounting later. If ever. But when there's a crisis, we are to whom the world turns for help.

They just can't bring themselves to spit the glass out of their mouths and admit it and say "Thank you.". They aren't be man enough to do so so I will:

Thank you, America. Signed, Haiti.

Doesn't Fit the Narrative

Two days ago, there was a shooting at the Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) in Woodbridge, VA, a suburb of Metro DC. Fortunately, no one was hurt. The gunman, a pathetic loser whose name shall not be mentioned by me, walked into a math class and took two shots at his instructor. Both missed. He was unable to get off additional shot due to the good fortune of his rifle jamming.

Now he is facing charge of attempted murder. Good. Here's hoping this guy enjoys his long-term occupancy at one of Virginia's fine correctional institutions.

What you're not likely going to see is this incident being splashed about by the Brady Campaign outside of a hearing room to demand for more gun control. The reason why is this incident doesn't fit their narrative. Let us count the ways...

1. No one was killed. Automatically disqualifies it right there since without blood to dance in, how can guns be blamed?
2. The firearm used was a bolt-action Marlin .30-06. A regular old hunting rifle. Worse, it likely lacked optics so it couldn't even be demonized as a "sniper rifle". So the "assault weapon" and "automatic rifle" memes can't work here.
3. The crazed student bought the firearm at Dick's Sporting Goods, a national chain. He didn't get it a seedy gun store or a gun show. So the "gun show loophole" meme is right out.
4. The student based the Federal and State background checks. The Virginia State Police does a state check in addition to the NICS check. See "gun show loophole" above.
   
5. The student was disgruntled because he was going to likely get an "F". Not under treatment for mental issues and no paperwork sitting in some administrator's file at home instead of being entered into NICS. So the cries of keeping mentally troubled people from getting guns is likely going to fall flat.

The only possible weak peg the Bradys can hang their hat on is "If there was a waiting period for guns, this crime of passion/'heat of the moment' wouldn't have happened!". It is true the student bought the rifle and ammunition the day before he decided to do this. Fortunately, his lack of experience with firearms probably saved lives.

But even this weak link fails since the Brady's can't prove that a waiting period wouldn't have stopped him. Even if there was a 3 or 5 day waiting period, what's to say he wouldn't have stewed, planned it out better and maybe practiced with his rifle to exact his twisted revenge properly? From where I sit, a waiting period may well have gotten people killed.

I would point out there is evidence for my assumption in the fact the Virginia Tech shooter acquired both of his pistols by passing background checks and the mandated 30 day waiting period between handgun purchases that exists in Virginia. He had a minimum of two months to get proficient and practice, which he did, before going on his shooting spree.

Waiting periods aren't so great now, are they?

I don't expect this one to make the rounds of the Huffington Post. It can't. It doesn't fit the narrative. The only tragedy I see in this incident is the fact if someone was carrying concealed in violation of school policy (it isn't illegal), millions of taxpayer dollars could have been saved. There was no doubt in this case who the bad guy was and had things gone worse, being expelled is far better than being dead.

Poor Bradys. Can't even use a non-tragedy to their advantage.

What's Going On

This is post 500. So a small milestone in my tiny corner of the world.

First, upcoming events. I am planning to attend the Metro DC Gun Blog Meet in Sterling, VA on December 5th. Should be fun!

Now onto fun stuff...

I've been working on the boat. Boy, has this become a project! She's not a project boat but rather just getting my elbows into the things that need to be done. I have more news on the issues front.

We've decided we will be repowering the boat with a four-stroke engine. After investigating various options, it is simply the most cost effective way to go. We'll be looking for motor deals through the winter and into the spring. It is a safety and comfort thing for my wife.

What I expected to come to pass has. The rigger did the rig inspection and the results were what I expected. We need to replace our standing rigging. The rigger reports it is probably original to the boat and his exact words were "you're running on borrowed time". Ten years is the normal service life for saltwater exposed standing rigging. I've gotten quotes for replacement ranging from reasonable to heart attack. Highest was $3100. Uh, no.

Looking to go one size up (7/32" from 3/16") in wire to gain a little safety margin but will stick with swaged fittings. I'd like to go with swageless fittings but the cost is extravagant. If we're not planning to keep the boat for 10 years, the extra cost isn't worth it.

Rigger's report was no surprise. Lifelines are corroded and vinyl covered. No longer servicable. So that became my first big order. Took advantage of a clearance sale at West Marine and ordered 100 feet of 3/16" uncovered 7x19 wire at 79 cents a foot. 3700 pounds breaking strength. For those, I did go with Suncor swageless fittings. A bonus was I can reuse my existing gates since they're threaded so that saved us $160. Under $300 for double lifelines for a 27 foot Catalina. That's a good deal.

Still chasing a single leak in the V-berth with the head plumbing. Sealed some additional deck ports and we'll see if there's water in there next weekend after a couple days of rain.

I've been frustrated since I can't do a whole lot right now so I decided to change that. In restoring a sailboat, you need to do little projects to give you a sense of progress. An easy way to do that is cosmetic.

So this weekend I decided to refinish some exterior wood.

While this may seem pointless with 3 months of winter ahead, it will give me a little practice and I can get the wood sealed before snow settles in and always do touch-up in the spring. So out came my orbit sander and some good teak tung oil.

My exterior teak is weathered and gray. I ran the sander over the companionway drop boards to smooth the raised grain and then applied the teak oil.

Here are the results:

The dark portions are where the sander didn't get down into the grain. The contrast and color, in my opinion, is beautiful. Contrast the finished wood with the gray teak of the hatch directly above and you can see what a little elbow grease and oil can do to really improve the look of your wood. I took this picture before I finished the hatch wood, so here is the final result for an hour's worth of work:

So one project accomplished! Many more to go including:

• Disassemble, service and lubricate the winches.
• Replace running rigging (waiting for a sale to order it).
• Replace standing rigging (sometime in the next month).
• Wax mast and boom.
• Glass in and reinforce transom and install new motor mount (next spring).
• Redo head plumbing.
• Finish exterior wood refinishing and seal it.
• Clean and refinish interior wood.
• Replace freshwater hoses.
• Install new outlet bronze seacock in V-berth.
• Clean sediment from freshwater tank.
• Scrub storage lockers and repaint.
• Install new fixed mount VHF.
• Install new GPS chartplotter.
• Install solar panel.
• Install new knotmeter.
• Paint bottom.
• Install new lifelines and lifeline netting.
• Install single line main sail reefing system.
• Dry out wet core on forward hatch, reinforce and install new polycarbonate window.

These are the projects that are intended for completion by launch time. Most of it I can do myself. The motor mount and standing rigging we are having contractors perform for peace-of-mind and warranty purposes. Our priorities are safety-related which means motor, standing rigging and thru-hull replacement. I'll skimp in other areas or put them on hold.

One "nice to do" project is cutting a drop board and supports to fill the space between the berths to create a double berth. It's a cheap project only requiring a sheet of marine plywood and some bolts. Nice thing with this is a double size futon mattress will fit the space almost perfectly (need to squeeze it up against the galley cupboard). We'll see where we're at come the springtime.

I think you'll like the "before" and "after" pictures. It won't be the same boat. Then a fun sailing season to look forward to!

Criminals Will Just Steal Your Gun...

Remember kids, according to the VPC and Brady Campaign, having a gun to defend yourself is bad because the uber-skilled, smart, professional gun using criminal will simply wrest it away from you and shoot you with it. Better to leave it to "professional protectors" like the police who know the secret skills of keeping their guns and using them correctly.

Apparently this shopkeeper in Prince Georges County, Maryland didn't get the Brady or VPC memos.

The headline: Man killed in attempted robbery at convenience store

The unpossible...

Two men entered the Food Zone in the 12500 block of Livingston Road around 9:24 p.m. and announced a robbery. One of the men was armed with a gun.

The store owner proceeded to wrestle the gun away from the man and then shot him. The man died on the scene.

It can't be! And this happened in Maryland. FYI, Prince Georges County is one of the most violent places to live in the state outside of Baltimore. So extra kudos to the shopkeeper for removing a violent criminal permanently from threatening other citizens. I hope he's ok and will be ok going forward.

I wonder what Senator Frosh thinks about this? Especially given his stance we don't need things like "shall issue" CCW or a castle doctrine since he doesn't believe criminals (or their families) sue their victims. I expect silence.

It's the will to fight back that counts.

Life with a Sailboat

Ahh, the cold water phase of a new boat. It occurs after the purchase euphoria wears off and you're faced with the reality that you have an older boat needing the attention of your bank account. We're tackling a number of issues.

Big surprise was the mechanic telling us after winterizing our outboard that he wouldn't trust the engine with his family on the water. This type of thing tends to get my negative attention and got my wife into the "we must replace this!" mode. When we pressed him, he said the engine had good compression and seems to run fine. So this appears to boil down to his opinion rather than a solid reason.

I don't like that sort of thing.

If the engine is on its last legs, give me a reason why. Blow-by in the pistons, bad compression, pumps not working right, transmission issues, etc. Instead I'm getting basically a variation on "It's an old engine and I don't trust it.". Sorry, I'm a little more practical than that.

Yes, it is an old outboard. 27 years old. Mercury two-stroke. But if the engine starts reliably and runs reliably, I have no issues. My wife and I expect to have to replace the engine during the time we own the boat. We acknowledged it upfront before making the offer. We just weren't expecting to have to do it in the first season.

The engine is going to see another mechanic for a second opinion and then we'll make a decision on repowering.

If we repower conventionally, it would be a 9.8hp four-stroke engine. Alas, our Catalina 27 was designed in an era when two-stroke outboards ruled the earth. So the transom hole to mount the engine can't accommodate the larger four-stroke. And because the four-stroke is heavier there's a question of whether the existing mount can take the stress.

Thus it is more than buying an new engine. We're looking at the new engine, the remote controls we had planned on originally, a new motor mount and some fiberglass work to reinforce the transom and glass in the existing hole to allow for the new, larger motor and mount.

Price tag to do this is somewhere north of $3000. That's a significant chunk of our post-purchase budget.

Given I also have the possibility of needing/wanting new standing rigging, we can wipe out our preferred refit budget on those two items alone. The other things like repairing the leaky hatch, new cushions, new running rigging, bottom paint and woodwork we can do ourselves or cheaply. But won't leave much for needed/desired electronics, extra equipment and comfort items.

So I'm looking into options. During my research at repowering with an inboard engine (and the subsequent horrified screaming that ensued), I stumbled across electric propulsion.

It's very appealing.

One option is a kit that bolts onto the top of a Yamaha 9.9hp long shaft lower. Basically an electric motor and throttle control. Wire up to your batteries and away you go. Outboard propulsion without the gas or noise. Downside to this option is cost. The kit alone is $2500 not including the Yamaha lower unit and batteries. I can easily see that option equaling or exceeding the cost of a new four-stroke.

But electric has its appeal. It's quiet. It require no gas. It's renewable with a battery charger and most importantly, it's instantly available. Turn it on and go. Few moving parts means less stuff to break.

Bear in mind I'm looking at this as a sailboat auxiliary and not for long ranges. Low-end, I want enough power to get me 2-3 miles in and out of dock with some reserve for emergencies. High-end, I'd like a 30-40 mile cruise range at 2/3rds hull speed (4 knots). Enough to motor home from the middle of the Bay or from a distant port if the wind dies or is blowing the wrong way to get home. Fairly reasonable expectations.

Which led me to discover propulsion options that replace an inboard with an electric motor and controls. The basic kit is advertised for 3-12hp for boats up to 32 feet and 10,000 pounds displacement. More than enough to push a 27 foot Catalina. The beauty of this is the higher end kit features regenerative charging. Which means under sail, the prop freewheels and charges the battery. Yes, you pay in extra drag but this is like having a Prius on the water. The act of using the wind for free also yields free energy for motoring.

Is that Green or what?

I'm still researching it since the kit also needs you to add a prop, shaft, reduction gear, batteries and extra circuitry such as charging controllers, cockpit controls and so on. I'd need to have the stuffing box and prop shaft holes opened up in my hull to fit it but that is what a mechanic or hull specialist is for. But I'm starting to think we could repower the boat with this option for the same cost or less compared to the new four-stroke outboard. With the added bonus we'd have an inboard "engine" and no fuel bills. Not that fuel is a great expense but eliminates a lot of the hassle and cost associated with an inboard engine such as fuel lines, tankage and so on.

I can easily see this route being a very appealing resale option when we go to sell the sailboat a few years down the road. Who wouldn't want an electric-powered Catalina 27? Even if someone doesn't, I like the idea nonetheless.

We'll see how it plays out.

I'm using this time to plan everything out and get started on the smaller projects. I got the hatch off the boat this past weekend and sealed the hole with two layers of plastic sheeting. Batteries are off the boat as are the cushions. I've taken the bilge cover out so I can restore it and use it for wood finishing practice. Sails are off and stored indoors in a cool, dark place. Gouges on the hull itself have been filled and are ready for sanding. The hull is a very empty and lonely shell at the moment.

Next week, I should have the rigger's and mechanic's reports and we can begin planning the real work. Clock is also counting down to January when we have to chose and arrange for a slip. We're hoping we can keep the boat right where it's at.

I'm having fun. March and April can't get here soon enough.

Justice Served

I heard on the radio over the weekend in discussion of John Allen Muhammad's execution tonight how it was necessary to try him in Virginia for a capital crime to ensure that he would actually be executed because Maryland wouldn't have carried it out. The commentator was a politician in Maryland so I found that an accurate and sad reflection on justice between the two states.

I lived in Virginia at the time of the sniper shootings. One of the shootings occurred less than a mile from my apartment. I remember stopping and getting gas, looking around to see where the shot might come from. So I fully understand the terror and fear that swept the area at that time.

Shame on anyone who would defend this piece of shit and argue he does not deserve death for his crimes because of an abusive childhood or that he was "misunderstood". To do so is to engage in sophistry and trying make yourself feel superior or more "civilized" than others out there. There is no excuse you apologists can come up with to justify not executing this piece of garbage.

In my worldview, he's getting off easy. Barbituates, a needle in the arm and off to sleep he goes. Nowhere near the compassion he showed his victims. They got shots to the chest walking down the street, out of a Home Depot or pumping gas. Not places you expect to receive a bullet. Just going about day-to-day activities before they got to endure the shock, pain and realization they had been shot. The unfortunate ones may have even realized they might not make it and had to endure that terror and realization in their last moments.

So to argue that it is not "civilized" to execute him as mercifully as we are is an abomination against reason, in my opinion, and something you should think about with a good, long look in the mirror and consider your own moral failings should you feel that way.

What he should get is a brick wall, a dozen volunteers from the Metro DC area with their own AR-15s and no blindfold. Hang a target on this chest and allow the citizens he terrorized to return the favor and test their aim. With luck, one of them might show a minor amount of mercy and hit his heart or go for a head shot. But let him see the muzzles being leveled at him and make sure he gets to see the flash and feel the pain on his way to Hell.

It's more than he gave his victims.

Any by the way, I think Malvo should join him. Anyone of mid-to-late teen years who can't make the determination that it is wrong to pull the trigger on a rifle from the trunk of a car onto a stranger wheeling a shopping cart to their parking space is beyond rehabilitation or reason.

"He was brainwashed!" you argue! "He was abused!" you scream.

"I don't care.", I respond I have as much compassion for his plight as I do a violent gang member slashing innocent people walking down the street with a machete or doing a drive-by on passersby to gain street cred. When caught, I think they should be punished swiftly and surely.

The real tragedy in this episode of justice in America is Muhammed got seven years of breathing privileges when he should have had them revoked immediately following a review of his case showing no misconduct during his trial. There shouldn't have been seven years of procedures, appeals and motions. In this circumstance, that's swift justice. He could have continued to fight and appeal and probably drag it out had he a mind to do so and deciding to mewl beyond having a rough childhood.

Spare me. I had a rough childhood. I was bullied and teased mercilessly for years. Kids can be very cruel to other kids that don't fit in and I fit that mold perfectly. Despite a few bumps, I didn't come out of it into adulthood and decide to go on a random killing spree. So I have a hard time buying the excuse that the reason a sociopath or psychopath did what they did is because they were bullied. It may be a motivation but it shouldn't be used as a reason to avoid having justice served.

No matter how badly one might have been abused, teased, bullied or assaulted, the decision to take up a weapon and use it against individuals not even remotely responsible for your torment is ultimately theirs. Muhammed and Malvo didn't have to do what they did. They chose to do so. Their motivations become secondary to the fact they inflicted untimely deaths on others for no legitimate reason. There was no self-defense, no justifiable homicide, no rushing to save others. They did it for purely selfish reasons and they should pay the price.

So John Allen Muhammed is getting what he deserves albeit not in the manner he should receive it. Better later than never I guess.

And to paraphrase Heinlein, "It is the one sure way to ensure he'll never do it a second time.".

I hope the ground in Potter's Field is cold and unwelcoming and that his resting place be ignored and forgotten and that his last meal taste like ashes in his mouth today knowing that he will not see another. I hope he struggles and weeps all the way to the gurney.

It's better than he deserves. May Satan have a special place warm and ready for him.