XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source! - Blogs http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blog.php This is a vBulletin Forum BBS about the Springfield Armory XD Extreme Duty Pistol SA-XD and defunct HSARMS HSAMERICA HS2000 9mm Pistol en Fri, 16 May 2008 04:33:28 GMT vBulletin 5 http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source! - Blogs http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blog.php Staples http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/63-staples.html Tue, 06 May 2008 11:28:00 GMT I have 3 staples in my scalp. I had a fight with one of the antennas on the plane and it won. I have 3 staples in my scalp. I had a fight with one of the antennas on the plane and it won. ]]> The Knight Of Light http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/63-staples.html recommendaton for info on the antichrist, rapture, great tribulation, and millennium http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/buttstroker/62-recommendaton-info-antichrist-rapture-great-tribulation-millennium.html Mon, 05 May 2008 20:35:22 GMT Image: http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/3039/act5zc8.jpg Image: http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/412/act6zo5.jpg Image: http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3098/act7kz9.jpg Image: http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/2558/act8ty1.jpg
]]> buttstroker http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/buttstroker/62-recommendaton-info-antichrist-rapture-great-tribulation-millennium.html The Coffee House http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/jim/58-coffee-house.html Mon, 05 May 2008 16:08:42 GMT I was lucky enough to have lived during the period when many US cities were still a bundle of ethnic neighborhoods and coffee houses were THE place. In the Turkish neighborhood you found coffee so thick and sweet you ladled it, instead of pouring it. In the Italian neighborhood you found ornate steam espresso machines, glistening on the back counter and reflected in the shining mirror. In the Polish neighborhood you often found fruit syrups to add to your coffee, cherry or orange or raspberry or strawberry.

But none of those places was the Coffeehouse, the home of folk music and rebellion, of ideas and dispute punctuated by musical interludes that gave you time to reflect and often a new perspective.

One of my favorite Coffeehouses was Patches 15 Below.

The entry was down 15 steps into the basement of an old building, a single light extending from a stanchion above the door. Patches, of course, was Spotty Lickle (fullname Jarrett Spotswood Lickle) and he and his wife Liz ran a place with no alcohol or drugs, but great teas, coffees and entertainment. On poetry nights I would get up and make a fool of myself but for the other days of the week, the fare was folkmusic and the occasional jazz.

Patches was one of the television pioneers, originally appearing as a buckskin clad singer and story teller, later after moving to WBAL and WJZ to end up with almost a dozen different children's programs. In this time before Sesame Street, Liz's hand puppets and Patches' stories were a staple.

The coffee selections were not that broad and you were pretty much limited to coffee or espresso, but the atmosphere, the heady nature of the place and time all seemed to work together. That was a time when lots of folk were doing the coffee house circuits and I remember a young songwriter named John Denver as well as a young singer named Emmylou Harris stopping in. Another kid that came by on his way to the Cellar Door in DC was Don McLean.

But folk music faded away and the coffeehouses disappeared from the scene for awhile. The newest rebirth as Charbucks and an internet portal may even have a broader selection, but the feel and warmth of the 50-70's Coffehouse is gone. ]]> Jim http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/jim/58-coffee-house.html Growing up in a big city during the 40s and 50s was wonderful. http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/jim/57-growing-up-big-city-during-40s-50s-wonderful.html Sat, 03 May 2008 16:42:25 GMT Growing up in a big city during the 40s and 50s was wonderful. At that time a child could still go most anywhere and be safe, no one hurt children, it just wasn't done.

My fathers office was in what at one time been the carriage house for one of the town houses that sat around Mt. Vernon Place and often he would take me to work with him. Sitting in an Insurance office with parents and grand-parents and aunts was not the most exciting thing in the world, particularly when you are seven or eight and there is a whole world waiting just outside so after the first hour or so I'd ask if I could go exploring.

Mt. Vernon Place itself is a great cross with the Washington Monument (the first one dedicated to George Washington in the Nation) at the center. It had a circular stairs inside (that always smelled bad) and you could climb the worn steps to the top and look out over the roofs of the buildings to the harbor down the bottom of the hill.

The Square was filled with statues and building with beautiful windows and pools and fountains and places to explore.

Then there was the Peabody Conservatory and Library.

The Peabody sat on south side of the square and you could hear the students practicing their music from the open windows, an enticing cacophony of scales and songs and the rap rap rap "No!" of the teachers. As you entered the front door there were often exhibits on the left and the 'information desk' where you always had to stop before you could go look at any of the books.

When I first went there they lady at the desk said I was too little to go into the "Stacks" where the books were kept. "How big do I need to be?", I asked.

"Well", she said, "You need to be tall enough to see over this counter."

So I found an old wooden milk crate and dragged it all the way over and stood on it and was tall enough to see over the counter and she said if I really wanted to read the books that much I must be old enough. But the stacks were way too high and sometimes you had to walk right near the edge and there was just a rail and I was scared and so the lady would come with me and hold my hand and help me find the book and I would take it down to the tables and read it and always take it back to the desk when I finished.

At the very bottom of the hill was the harbor and the boats came in and docked at Pratt St and along Light St. On the corner of Pratt and Light streets sat McCormick and Company, the spice folk. When they processed spices the whole area smelled of cinnamon or clove or garlic or coffee or teas. I also wandered in there and they would let me take a tour and I got to see how they taste teas and try it myself and they gave me a little button I could wear on my collar that said I was a tea taster and that I could slurp when I was tasting but not all the time or at the dinner table when there were guests. ]]> Jim http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/jim/57-growing-up-big-city-during-40s-50s-wonderful.html The Deli http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/jim/56-deli.html Thu, 01 May 2008 16:39:08 GMT I grew up in the only Christian family in a Jewish neighborhood. I guess I was in middle school before I found out that the lions didn't eat all the other Christians.

A few blocks north of our row house was the "Deli".

Now it was not like what passes throughout most of the country for a deli, this was a true Jewish Deli.

There was the great oak barrel of pickles and you stuck your hand down in the brine squeezing them to pick out the biggest, firmest pickle you could find. On the counter was the aluminum tray of Coddies (cod fish cakes) and saltines and folk helped themselves and snacked on them while browsing the store. I always suspected they were delivered on Mondays and Wednesdays and on Tuesdays and Thursdays they simply turned the uneaten ones over.

The rolls of fly paper hung from the ceiling as the big ceiling fans turned slowly giving the illusion of a breeze but mostly simply mixing the smells and the hot, humid air.

At the farmost rear corner of the Deli was an old wooden table littered with newspapers in Hebrew where older men gathered, some clean shaved, others bearded, all speaking at the same time in a mixture of English and Yiddish. Often in the mornings they would have a plate with a half eaten Bureka sitting in front of them and as their hands slapped the table the small white cups of coffee would dance in the saucers.

The Deli roasted their own beans and you could tell when coffee was being roasted from a block away. The whole neighborhood took on the air of expectancy when the coffee was roasting and people walking on the street raised their heads and sniffed the air, their destination forgotten as their paths converged for that cup of just roasted coffee.

As a kid, I was not allowed coffee, it would stunt my growth, but Mr. Blumberg would always give me a small glass filled with milk with just a touch of coffee added, and would tell me "don't let your parents see that" in a voice that everyone in the deli heard. But as a child, I knew it was "our secret" and I would take my glass to the back and sit at the end of the table trying to be as near invisible as a goy can be at a table filled with adults in a Talmudic Dispute.

Eventually mom and dad would call me and everyone at the table would stop talking and look at me. As I'd gulp down the last of my "coffee" and run to catch up I'd always hear someone at the table say "Such a good boy."

Little did they know. ]]> Jim http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/jim/56-deli.html Easter, Pentecost, and origins http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/jim/55-easter-pentecost-origins.html Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:42:23 GMT *Easter and the Pentecost; Passover and Shavuot.* *Easter and Pentecost. On Easter Day we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus and on Pentecost the arrival of the Holy Spirit. As a Jew, Jesus would have celebrated Passover and Shavuot at the same times.* *But what are Passover and Shavuot?* *Jesus had made his annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. Passover is one of the three Pilgrimage Feasts mandated in the Torah. The other two mandated Pilgrimages are Shavuot and Sukkoth.* *Most of us grew up learning the stories of Exodus, how the Israelites were warned to stay inside their homes and to paint the door frame with blood so the Angel of the Lord would pass over their homes as he killed the first born son of the Egyptians.* *Shavuot is likely less familiar, but like the other two Pilgrimage Festivals, is related to the Exodus story. It celebrates the day that Moses was given the Torah on the Mountain of Sinai, and the day that the Jews accepted God’s Law, became a Nation of God.* *Like Easter, it is a movable feast and falls seven, seven day weeks after the Second Day of Passover. It is called “The Feast of Counting” as the Jews anticipate the days, count the days, from Passover to the day of acceptance.* *But how did the exact time of celebration come about?* *No one actually knows when the Passover happened, or when exactly Moses received the Torah, so why do we celebrate Passover, Shavuot, Easter and Pentecost at these particular times of year?* *Historically, Passover was celebrated with the first offerings of Barley. Wheat ripened slightly later and Shavuot was also the first offering from the Wheat harvest. The timing for these Pilgrimages corresponded to bringing the first of the harvests to the Temple, as offerings and for blessings.* *The Third Mandatory Pilgrimage is Sukkoth. It too is related to the Exodus and when I was growing up, one of the most fun celebrations.* *I grew up in an almost all Jewish neighborhood, so all my friends were Jewish. I was the Shabbat Goy, the Christian boy the orthodox Jews could call on to do things on Shabbat, turn on lights, turn on or off the stove, run errands.* *One advantage though was getting to celebrate Sukkoth with my friends. Sukkoth commemorates living in the desert while on the Exodus march. All the kids get to make tents from tables and we got to sleep in them and have our meals on the floor and eat with our hands and get dirty and all the things we couldn’t do at other times.* *But even Sukkoth is timed with the harvest. One of the traditions of Sukkoth is shaking the Four Species. The Four Species are Date Palm Fronds, Willow Branches, Myrtle and Citron, a fruit like lemons. As folk living here in the Rio Grande Valley know, citrus fruits are a Fall Harvest. * *To celebrate, you take the Date Palm Frond, some Myrtle and the Willow in the left hand, and hold the Citron in your right. As you bring the two hands together, they are blessed. You then shake them three times to each of the four corners, to North, East, South and West.* *The ceremony is a prayer of thanks for the year’s bounty and that there be rain enough for all the coming years’ growth.* *Beyond the symbolic meanings of the Exodus in Passover, Shavuot and Sukkoth, beyond the symbolic meanings of Easter and the Pentecost, there was life, and an acknowledgement of the cycles of life and the harvest.*
Easter and the Pentecost; Passover and Shavuot.

Easter and Pentecost. On Easter Day we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus and on Pentecost the arrival of the Holy Spirit. As a Jew, Jesus would have celebrated Passover and Shavuot at the same times.

But what are Passover and Shavuot?

Jesus had made his annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. Passover is one of the three Pilgrimage Feasts mandated in the Torah. The other two mandated Pilgrimages are Shavuot and Sukkoth.

Most of us grew up learning the stories of Exodus, how the Israelites were warned to stay inside their homes and to paint the door frame with blood so the Angel of the Lord would pass over their homes as he killed the first born son of the Egyptians.

Shavuot is likely less familiar, but like the other two Pilgrimage Festivals, is related to the Exodus story. It celebrates the day that Moses was given the Torah on the Mountain of Sinai, and the day that the Jews accepted God’s Law, became a Nation of God.

Like Easter, it is a movable feast and falls seven, seven day weeks after the Second Day of Passover. It is called “The Feast of Counting” as the Jews anticipate the days, count the days, from Passover to the day of acceptance.

But how did the exact time of celebration come about?

No one actually knows when the Passover happened, or when exactly Moses received the Torah, so why do we celebrate Passover, Shavuot, Easter and Pentecost at these particular times of year?

Historically, Passover was celebrated with the first offerings of Barley. Wheat ripened slightly later and Shavuot was also the first offering from the Wheat harvest. The timing for these Pilgrimages corresponded to bringing the first of the harvests to the Temple, as offerings and for blessings.

The Third Mandatory Pilgrimage is Sukkoth. It too is related to the Exodus and when I was growing up, one of the most fun celebrations.

I grew up in an almost all Jewish neighborhood, so all my friends were Jewish. I was the Shabbat Goy, the Christian boy the orthodox Jews could call on to do things on Shabbat, turn on lights, turn on or off the stove, run errands.

One advantage though was getting to celebrate Sukkoth with my friends. Sukkoth commemorates living in the desert while on the Exodus march. All the kids get to make tents from tables and we got to sleep in them and have our meals on the floor and eat with our hands and get dirty and all the things we couldn’t do at other times.

But even Sukkoth is timed with the harvest. One of the traditions of Sukkoth is shaking the Four Species. The Four Species are Date Palm Fronds, Willow Branches, Myrtle and Citron, a fruit like lemons. As folk living here in the Rio Grande Valley know, citrus fruits are a Fall Harvest.

To celebrate, you take the Date Palm Frond, some Myrtle and the Willow in the left hand, and hold the Citron in your right. As you bring the two hands together, they are blessed. You then shake them three times to each of the four corners, to North, East, South and West.

The ceremony is a prayer of thanks for the year’s bounty and that there be rain enough for all the coming years’ growth.

Beyond the symbolic meanings of the Exodus in Passover, Shavuot and Sukkoth, beyond the symbolic meanings of Easter and the Pentecost, there was life, and an acknowledgement of the cycles of life and the harvest. ]]> Jim http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/jim/55-easter-pentecost-origins.html Growing up in Baltimore in the 40s and 50s. http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/jim/54-growing-up-baltimore-40s-50s.html Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:35:45 GMT Baltimore in the late 40s and 50s was a great place to grow up. In that time before airconditioning, doors and windows were almost always open during the hot summer months. As the temperatures rose, activities moved into the shade during the day but outside as evening came on. Except on Saturdays.

Saturday was the day that the steps got washed.



Saturday was a time for iced tea from a sweating pitcher in tall glasses but never until the steps were washed.

The street lamps were gas and there was a lamp lighter who actually came around to tend them. He had a small ladder that was narrow at the top and hooked over the arms of the lamp. He'd climb up and wash the glass and trim the mantle and then light the lamp. We'd follow along for a few blocks and hand him the bucket of water, or run inside and refill it when it was low.

One wonderful thing during those pre-airconditioning days were the screen paintings. People would paint landscapes and cityscapes and seascapes on the screens. During the day they were visible and acted as a privacy feature as well as reflecting light back outside, and when you looked at a house the windows might show flowers or forest or cows in a field, things that were seldom seen.



Life moved with the temperatures, in winter coffee helped hold off the bitter cold that was most of the house except when standing on the grate in the floor that let the warmer air rise from downstairs, and in summer iced tea was available all day long. ]]> Jim http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/jim/54-growing-up-baltimore-40s-50s.html Aunt Jane http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/jim/53-aunt-jane.html Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:33:15 GMT I thought it might be interesting to explore some of our childhood experiences that helped mold what we are today. To start, I thought I'd begin with some memories of Aunt Jane.

I grew up mostly a city boy. I wandered the city streets, was as comfortable down by the docks as wandering into museums or libraries. I knew all about flowers and stuff since they held a big flower mart every spring. Flowers grew in small carts and green paper.

Mom and dad thought I need to learn more about nature and growing things, what a small town was like. That's where Aunt Jane came in.

Every summer they'd pack me off for a visit in the country. Aunt Jane lived in a small town called Saint Mary's Mead or something and for a young kid, there could be nothing worse.
She had a reputation as a busybody but that wasn't fair. She wasn't, but she did notice things that others never saw. I remember the day after I arrived she took me for a walk up Lansham Road to visit a friend of hers, Mrs Bantry.

On the way back home she asked me if I thought the tomatoes in Baker's Grocery looked ripe enough for sandwiches. I didn't remember seeing them. She looked at me in surprise, and asked if I'd seen the baskets? I had to admit I hadn't noticed. She went on to describe the veggies out in front of the grocery, the baskets at the basket weavers, the dog sitting outside the Blue Boar, all things I had not even noticed.

The trip home became an adventure, trying to see if all she had listed were still there (they were), and the tomato sandwiches, thick slices of tomato, fresh lettuce from farmer Gile's, homemade bread and lots of mayo, were the best I had ever eaten.

Every day for the rest of the vacation became a safari. We'd go for a walk and I'd work as hard as I could to see everything and remember it all. Yet still, in the evening when we'd talk about the day there would dozens of things I'd missed. I got better day by day though and when it came time to return to the city Aunt Jane said I had "a good eye".

That was better'n a medal. ]]> Jim http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/jim/53-aunt-jane.html <![CDATA[National Open Carry Day & Weekend.]]> http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/krackels/52-national-open-carry-day-weekend.html Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:07:32 GMT A friend of a friend brought this to my attention.

http://www.patriotpages.net/nationalopencarry.htm
Quote:
National Open Carry Day©
and
National Open Carry Weekend©
Because "a Right restricted is a Right denied" and "a Right not exercised is a Right lost."
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed" Thomas Jefferson
The next National Open Carry Day is July 4th, 2008
The next National Open Carry Weekend is July 4th, 5th and 6th, 2008
Everyday hundreds of thousands of law abiding citizens carry handguns for self defense all across America. Most of those arms are concealed. "Open Carry Day and Open Carry Weekend seek to bring those people who normally carry concealed out of the shadows and into the light. As responsible firearms owners we understand that firearms do not cause crime, but rather prevent and stop crime. In that light we bring to you the National Open Carry Day© and National Open Carry Weekend©.
If you live in a state that precludes open carry consider wearing a empty holster to show solidarity

Thank you all for the overwhelming response thus far. A quick google search of the words "Nation Open Carry" yields dozens of hits on many different message boards and blogs, not bad for this page only having been up since 3-28-2008. Please continue to spread the word!
This idea and webpage is a work in progress. It is merely a start to inform those who fear firearms and to work towards the removal of unConstitutional legislation that infringes on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Including those laws that prohibit law abiding citizens from carrying a firearm. Please check back frequently as we get this off the ground.

***Please ensure that Open Carry is lawful in your state before openly carrying a firearm.***
***We are NOT responsible for your lack of knowledge on state laws regarding open or concealed carry***
*** Please carry responsibly and lawfully***
If you are planning on participating please drop an E-mail with your state initials to: National Open Carry

I'm not a big advocate of open carry, but I could certainly exercise my open carry rights over 4th of July weekend. ]]> Krackels http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/krackels/52-national-open-carry-day-weekend.html New to me!! http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/sgtwkpii/51-new-me.html Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:27:53 GMT Just picked up a new to me 1992 Suzuki DR650S! $1600 with 13K miles!!! Image: http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8634/dr650vz8.jpg Image: http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/4289/dr6501ed3.jpg Image: http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/6679/s6300256bp3.jpg Image: http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/3206/s6300268vy2.jpg Just picked up a new to me 1992 Suzuki DR650S! $1600 with 13K miles!!!






]]> SgtWKPII http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/sgtwkpii/51-new-me.html I am off!! http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/50-i-am-off.html Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:02:38 GMT To a place with more sand than a Florida beach. I don't like being there, I am away from my guns and I can't practice for the upcoming Area 3 Championships but hey...

You can't have your cake and eat it too can you???

Anyway... It is only 2 months and I will be back in time to get about 15 days of practice in before the Area 3 match. I might even try to hit the Area 5 match again. You never know! ]]> The Knight Of Light http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/50-i-am-off.html My new Kimber! With range report. http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/sgtwkpii/49-my-new-kimber-range-report.html Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:54:17 GMT I have been wanting one of these for a very long time! ---Quote (Originally by SgtWKPII)--- Here she is, being a dirty girl after 300 rds... Image: http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg63/wkpeterman/S6300144.jpg Image: http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg63/wkpeterman/S6300153.jpg The first 100 rounds at 10 yards! Image: http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg63/wkpeterman/S6300168.jpg 5 round small target at 3 yards Image: http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg63/wkpeterman/S6300157.jpg Needless to say, I am in love!!!! ---End Quote--- Kimber Custom TLE II I have been wanting one of these for a very long time!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SgtWKPII View Post
Here she is, being a dirty girl after 300 rds...






The first 100 rounds at 10 yards!




5 round small target at 3 yards



Needless to say, I am in love!!!!
Kimber Custom TLE II ]]> SgtWKPII http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/sgtwkpii/49-my-new-kimber-range-report.html <![CDATA[... 'cause the government can protect you.]]> http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/krackels/48-cause-government-can-protect-you.html Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:44:47 GMT http://www.usatoday.com/printedition...cops31.art.htm
Quote:
Civilians handle minor duties for strapped police
Departments under budget burdens hire outside help
By Alan Gomez
USA TODAY
Facing tighter budgets, law enforcement agencies across the country are increasingly turning to civilians to respond to some calls that sworn officers and deputies are usually responsible for.
That means people calling 911 to report a traffic accident, a burglarized home or a stolen car may be greeted by a civilian in a polo shirt instead of a gun-toting officer.
"It hasn't been universally adopted throughout the country. But most areas have at least thought about the alternative and are more open to it now because of the economy," said Richard Brady, president of the Palo Alto, Calif.-based Matrix Consulting Group that has worked with more than 250 law enforcement agencies.
The idea of using civilians, who require less training and are less expensive than sworn officers, to respond to minor police calls has been around since the late 1980s.
Brady said the practice died off for years as the economy improved and departments were augmented after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
As the economy slows again and state and local governments face major cuts, many have turned back to the old practice. Among them:
•The Orange County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office plans to hire 18 civilian "field service officers" in the coming months.
•The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department hopes to add a dozen civilian report takers.
•The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department will resume hiring for its civilian officer program this summer, hoping to add five.
Civilians have long been used to handle tasks such as dispatching and other administrative duties in the office — but sending them into the field for even routine calls that have little chance of becoming dangerous has been a contentious issue.
Lynne Jantz, director of selection for the Las Vegas police department, said civilians working for the police don't respond to accidents where alcohol or injuries are involved.
Since the unit was created in 2003, Jantz said, no civilian officers have been injured.
"Maybe a paper cut," she said.
Capt. Mark Strobridge, who oversees Orange County's implementation of the civilian program, said civilians will be deployed only during daylight hours and will not work in high-crime areas.
The benefit, according to Jantz and Strobridge, is that civilians can free up sworn officers from filling out mundane reports to concentrate on higher-priority crimes. The civilians concentrate on property damage, lost and stolen property and other things that require a police report for insurance purposes but don't require a sworn officer.
The civilians also come much cheaper. In Las Vegas, a sworn officer who has cleared his initial probation period makes at least $54,000. Starting salary for civilian responders is $32,000.
Jim Pasco, executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police, said civilians have worked well in some administrative office duties, but there's a "bright line" between what civilians can do and what sworn officers carrying guns can do.
Pasco said that even the most simple-looking traffic accident can escalate into road rage or worse, putting the civilian officer in danger.
"If it's a routine fender bender, there is no way of knowing whether the person involved is (fleeing) from a bank robbery or a drug deal or just taking the kids home," he said.
When any basic investigation is required, Pasco said, civilians are far more likely to make mistakes that can help accused criminals escape a conviction. In Orange County, sworn officers receive 10 months of training, compared with three months for civilians.
"There's a tremendous potential for a gap, and that gap will be filled by a defense attorney," Pasco said. "You get what you pay for."
Oh wait, I'm sorry... forget what I just said.

Carry on. ]]> Krackels http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/krackels/48-cause-government-can-protect-you.html Headache http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/bree/46-headache.html Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:19:28 GMT I woke up today with a headache. Stupid throbbing is really annoying. Why I ask myself do I have to start my Friday... the Gateway to the Weekend... with a headache?

So I get down to my office and look out the window and everything is white. The trees are white. The evergreens are white. There are several inches of fresh snow that fell last night. It's March 28th and this month is supposed to go out like a lamb! What's up with that?

Now I have to shovel snow, forego riding my motorcycle for yet another week, and work with a headache. I'm going to the shooting range and I'm taking the shotgun. If I have to throb, it might as well be a 12 gauge throb. ]]> Bree http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/bree/46-headache.html <![CDATA[It's official, I'm a whore]]> http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/krackels/45-its-official-im-whore.html Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:26:25 GMT Yesterday was the last day to register to vote or change your party registration in Pennsylvania and I did it... I changed my party registration to Democrat.

Apparently, the two women at the Voter's Registration Office said they'd been pretty busy changing party registrations. Not many new registrations, but a lot of "converts" (as she called them).

This could be a very good sign.

Oh and ...

Hillary for the primary of '08!

:mrgreen: ]]> Krackels http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/krackels/45-its-official-im-whore.html Random Thopughts of and Amateur Gun Guru http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/44-random-thopughts-amateur-gun-guru.html Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:37:29 GMT Most commonly an amateur is understood to be someone who does something without pay or formal training.

Most people think that because you are an amateur that you don't know squat about what you are talking about. I see it a little differently.

Amateurs don't get paid.

Professionals do.

Amateurs can be just as good if not better than the pros as we have seen on shows like Pros vs Joes.

I don't get paid for my opinions and I don't really care what people think of me or my opinions. You need to do your own searching on the internet and come up with your own opinions. If someone takes my advice and it works out great for them then AWESOME!

If it doesn't...

Oh well. I tried.

More often then not I have done a lot research into whatever topic I am commenting on and I know what I am talking about. I don't try to pretend anything or give a bullsh!t answer. I hold a person's integrity to the highest and I will continue to call a spade a spade no matter what anyone gets a offended at.

We should all strive to be the best at what we do and I have to say I am slacking. I have not been giving XDtalk my fullest attention considering I have been dividing my attention between internet arguments(wrestling with pigs in some places), work, the forces of reality, and a the demand for a normal sex life keep me elsewhere. I can't over emphasize the necessity of practice in shooting and I can't tell you guys enough that just cuz the gun didn't work for you doesn't mean they are all broken.

Anyway...

Those of you that still believe Glocks are crappy, ask Dave Sevigny what he thinks.

Those of you that think traditional DA handguns are crap, go ask Ernie Langdon about that one.

To all those Revolver haters out there, Jerry Miculek has a few things to show you.

That is all I have to say for now.

Go find yourselves some answers.

Shawn ]]> The Knight Of Light http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/44-random-thopughts-amateur-gun-guru.html My bike. http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/sgtwkpii/43-my-bike.html Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:00:44 GMT My bike is nearing completion. Here are a few pics... Image: http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/5506/bikeal5.jpg Image: http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/554/p1020344tj3.jpg Image: http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2496/p1020348rw0.jpg Image: http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/8932/p1020359en1.jpg For full build pics go to. http://www.customfighters.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10323 The blog will only let me host 4 images. My bike is nearing completion. Here are a few pics...






For full build pics go to.

http://www.customfighters.com/forums...ad.php?t=10323

The blog will only let me host 4 images. ]]> SgtWKPII http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/sgtwkpii/43-my-bike.html EVO Kicks A$$ http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/utahconcealer/42-evo-kicks.html Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:52:50 GMT Well, had a full day of EVO today (Emergency Vehicle Operations). Holy hell, freakin awesome. 05 Crown Vics w/ roll cages and 5 point harnesses doing 100+ around the race track. Tomorrow we are doing mock day pursuits then are doing night pursuits in the dark. Going to be freakin awesome. Today did track maneuvers like triple lane changes at 50mph with no braking. What a blast. More good times tomorrow and Friday! Well, had a full day of EVO today (Emergency Vehicle Operations). Holy hell, freakin awesome. 05 Crown Vics w/ roll cages and 5 point harnesses doing 100+ around the race track. Tomorrow we are doing mock day pursuits then are doing night pursuits in the dark. Going to be freakin awesome. Today did track maneuvers like triple lane changes at 50mph with no braking. What a blast. More good times tomorrow and Friday! ]]> UtahConcealer http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/utahconcealer/42-evo-kicks.html Random Thoughts of an Amateur Gun Guru http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/41-random-thoughts-amateur-gun-guru.html Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:26:19 GMT Amateur Gun Guru's often have things they need to get off their minds...


Sometimes we have trouble with that.


]]> The Knight Of Light http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/41-random-thoughts-amateur-gun-guru.html Well, its broken... http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/utahconcealer/40-well-its-broken.html Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:34:34 GMT So I went to the doc yesterday and confirmed what I suspected. I cracked my fourth rib about a half inch from where it turns to cartilage. What a freakin bust. So now I'm in pain...blech ]]> UtahConcealer http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/utahconcealer/40-well-its-broken.html 5 More Weeks! http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/utahconcealer/39-5-more-weeks.html Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:31:40 GMT Only 5 weeks left at the academy...have EVO all next week so I'll be driving 100+mph around the track for a week. Can't wait for that. Can't do anything upper body in PT for a couple weeks minimum as I'm pretty sure I cracked a rib last week doing ground fighting. Going to the doc today so we'll see...aight, laundry to do and dr to go to... ]]> UtahConcealer http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/utahconcealer/39-5-more-weeks.html Random Thopughts of and Amateur Gun Guru http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/38-random-thopughts-amateur-gun-guru.html Fri, 14 Mar 2008 03:58:33 GMT Guns that are improperly loaded for will have catastrophic failures.

It is that simple. 8 grains of bullseye in a 9mm will do that.

Follow published data. In every instance of a KaBoom you find on the interwebs, you will notice that it was loader error that caused the failure.

Sure there is the odd ammo fail but that can easily be attributed to unsafe handling practices in some way.

Glocks are not the only guns this happens to. Plenty of other firearms like AR15's, M16's, M1A's, M1 carbines, and many other have been documented KaBooms.

Don't judge a book by the sh!tty review it gets from an irate ex-owner. Some people just have know idea what they are doing!!! ]]> The Knight Of Light http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/38-random-thopughts-amateur-gun-guru.html Random Thoughts of an Amateur Gun Guru http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/36-random-thoughts-amateur-gun-guru.html Sun, 09 Mar 2008 22:43:29 GMT Reloading for people that like to shoot a lot.

Find a Manual.

I don't care what manual you get just get one. My favorites are the Loadbooks. You can get them at most outdoors stores that sell firearms products and they have a large wealth of information on the specific caliber you reload for.

I have one for every caliber I load for.

Get a Chronograph.

Especially if you load for a rifle. These are indispensable and getting cheaper. If you are not chronoing your ammo you won't know if you are Making your Power factor(for the competition shooters) or if you are going way over pressure. I have the Shooting Chrony Alpha Master set. It has a 15ft remote read-out and works very well. It is only 114$ and that is not a lot for piece of mind on reloading.

Buy a good press.

Dillon is what I choose because it is what my dad bought for me. I have a RL550B. Is it better than other Progressive presses? Yes. Is it the best? I don't know. I use it because I have one.

If I were spending your money???

I would buy a Dillon 650. It has more options.


Components.

Powder is one of those things you buy because you have too. Many people have their opinions about which one is best but I feel the crowd is the way to go. I have used many many different powders over my few short years of reloading and I can say the one I can't live without is Titegroup by Hodgdon. It works for so many different calibers that you can't go wrong. It burns clean and meters very well through my Dillon measure. I use it in 9mm, 40SW, and 45ACP. Loading in this way can reduce you cost by letting you purchase in bulk rather than several different powders. You can also save by having one powder measure vs 2 or 3 for different powders. This saves you time and gets you loading faster. This means more time on the range and less time in the reloading room.

Primers are simple. Get the cheapest ones you can get. They will still go bang just like the expensive ones. Again I use a standard primer for several different loads. I buy Winchester Small RIFLE Primers. These work in 9mm, 40SW, and 223rem. They only add about 100psi to the load and really don't have an impact on velocity or pressure. This saves you money in that you can buy bulk primers as well.

Cases.

Cases are a debated subject. Debated to death!!! Don't buy brand new cases. Go online and search for once fired brass. There is someone out there that gets a kick out of cleaning range brass and selling it dirt cheap. Brassman, Brassreloading, and Brassworld are all great sources for once fired brass. By lots at once. Like in the 1000's.

Bullets.

Bullets are easy. Get them on sale at as many different locations you can. Get Copper coated, plated, TMJed, or whatever.

LEAD SUX!!! It sux to clean out of your barrel, it sux to clean off your fingers, it sux to clean out of your cases, and it is bad for you and the environment. Unless you have a melting pot and lots of time to mold bullets you will not be able to get your money's worth out of making bullets.

I like using the cheapest bulk bullets I can get for practice and high quality bullets for competition. I buy Zero Bullets for Competition loads and Xtreme Bullets for my play loads.

Get some stuff and start loading.

DO IT NOW!!!! ]]> The Knight Of Light http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/36-random-thoughts-amateur-gun-guru.html huh ? a blog http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/mvician/35-huh-blog.html Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:39:24 GMT does anyone really read these ? does anyone really read these ? ]]> mvician http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/mvician/35-huh-blog.html Huh, a XDTalk blog... http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/utahconcealer/34-huh-xdtalk-blog.html Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:15:01 GMT Why the heck not...everyone is doing it...so two days ago the weather guy says "sunny and 55 degrees on Saturday" so I think AWESOME, I can break out my bike, polish it up, go for a nice ride...well, its SNOWING outside...WTH? Oh well, maybe next weekend... ]]> UtahConcealer http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/utahconcealer/34-huh-xdtalk-blog.html The First Ammendment........part 1 http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/rev-arb/31-first-ammendment-part-1.html Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:28:56 GMT Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. _a. Freedom of religion_ I believe that these lines are the center to the whole document. Most of those who came to the Americas came to be aways from the church/state that they were under before. Therefore it was important to create a state/nation where a plurality of faiths could be existent. During the reign of the England they had been controlled by Rome /Catholicism and by the King/Church of England. This was corrupt on both accounts. Later immigrants came to the US for the same reason...to be free from the church/state that controled what to believe and to say. The irony is that the very protestant reformation turned into the thing that they were reforming from. America is unique in that we do not have single majority faith. Many may be Christians but there is still the freedom for individual doctrine. Simply the 1st Amendment states that there can be no formal or state sanctioned faith. It is left to the individuals. Therefore it is essential for the individual to have the positive influence on the nation and government. Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

a. Freedom of religion
I believe that these lines are the center to the whole document. Most of those who came to the Americas came to be aways from the church/state that they were under before. Therefore it was important to create a state/nation where a plurality of faiths could be existent. During the reign of the England they had been controlled by Rome /Catholicism and by the King/Church of England. This was corrupt on both accounts. Later immigrants came to the US for the same reason...to be free from the church/state that controled what to believe and to say.
The irony is that the very protestant reformation turned into the thing that they were reforming from. America is unique in that we do not have single majority faith. Many may be Christians but there is still the freedom for individual doctrine. Simply the 1st Amendment states that there can be no formal or state sanctioned faith. It is left to the individuals. Therefore it is essential for the individual to have the positive influence on the nation and government. ]]> rev-arb http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/rev-arb/31-first-ammendment-part-1.html Defending our Rights http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/rev-arb/29-defending-our-rights.html Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:18:30 GMT First I would like to thank rpsmith for posting the video on Silencing the Christians the other day. This has provoked a lot of thought on my part.

How many of us know our rights? Some years a go I read the motto from the Iowa State flag and it intrigued me as well. Their motto is "Our Liberties We Prize and Our Right We will Maintain". We can not prize and maintain what we do not know and what we are willing to defend.

Slowly but surely these liberties are being stripped from us. Take away our voices, take away our religion, take away our guns and all of sudden there is are nice complyable rats racing through the maze to get to the food at the end. They will do what they are told and move when they are told. Friends this is scary. I fear for our nation at this hour.

We need some strong leadership now more than ever.

Rev. ]]> rev-arb http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/rev-arb/29-defending-our-rights.html Random Thoughts of an Amateur Gun Guru http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/28-random-thoughts-amateur-gun-guru.html Mon, 03 Mar 2008 06:11:33 GMT Forums are places to learn and discuss. However sometimes all we do is the cuss part. Of all the people here there are very few true experts. Sure we have Google and Wikibulledia, but in reality none of us is a true expert. Those few that are can really prove it showing particular gun or maybe a picture or video of our skill level. Thinking of this from a USPSA veiw... most of us are B-class shooters. Nothing wrong with that! nothing at all! What it does mean though is that we know just enough to make us think we know everything. Forums are places to learn and discuss. However sometimes all we do is the cuss part. Of all the people here there are very few true experts. Sure we have Google and Wikibulledia, but in reality none of us is a true expert. Those few that are can really prove it showing particular gun or maybe a picture or video of our skill level. Thinking of this from a USPSA veiw... most of us are B-class shooters. Nothing wrong with that! nothing at all! What it does mean though is that we know just enough to make us think we know everything. ]]> The Knight Of Light http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/28-random-thoughts-amateur-gun-guru.html Thoughts on Freedom and Liberty http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/rev-arb/27-thoughts-freedom-liberty.html Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:23:51 GMT At First I thought it might be fun to just post some random thoughts. However, I later thought that at least for the beginning I wanted to focus on something that is dear to my heart. That is our freedoms. So over the next days, weeks months, what ever it ever takes, I want to review the US Bill of Rights. Try to give my thoughts and as well give somewhat a of a Biblical perspective. If anyone has some creative and constructive input it certainly would be appreciated. Blessings and peace Rev At First I thought it might be fun to just post some random thoughts. However, I later thought that at least for the beginning I wanted to focus on something that is dear to my heart. That is our freedoms.

So over the next days, weeks months, what ever it ever takes, I want to review the US Bill of Rights. Try to give my thoughts and as well give somewhat a of a Biblical perspective. If anyone has some creative and constructive input it certainly would be appreciated.

Blessings and peace
Rev ]]> rev-arb http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/rev-arb/27-thoughts-freedom-liberty.html PIMP That Vote! http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/krackels/26-pimp-vote.html Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:58:25 GMT One definition for the word PIMP is given as: to pimp is to advertise (generally, in an enthusiastic sense) or to call attention in order to bring acclaim to something; to promote. And that's exactly what I'm going to do for Hilary Clinton.

You see, my party's candidate has already been chosen, so how I vote for my current party will have 0 effect.

My logic is as follows:
Hilary Clinton, as much as I don't like her, is a better candidate to run against John McCain. She's a very polarizing figure, people love her or they hate her. None of the Republicans like her, many Democrats don't either, and the Independents might just decide to stay home or vote for Nader if she runs for President. Lastly, (gasp!) if she were elected President in the primary she'd actually be less harmful for our country.


Also I KNOW that if Barack Obama runs against John McCain, the media will make it COMPLETELY about RACE. If he doesn't get elected it'll be because "America hasn't grown up" or "people still harbor deep-seated racial prejudices", and personally I think any discussion about how our country is still harboring racist feelings is a step backward and only serves to drive a wedge between races.

Obama is framing his campaign exactly like John F. Kennedy did. Part of me thinks that he's doing this purposefully because if people really find out how liberal he is, he actually voted against a bill that would have given babies born alive the constitutional rights afforded to everyone else i.e. a right to live, or how little experience he has to be President his campaign would fall apart. So in order to gain people's votes he has to highlight his strong points: giving pretty sounding speeches that say absolutely nothing, looking good, and being black.

Take a look at the similarities between JFK and BHO.
  • Both at the time of their campaigns are relatively young (JFK-43 & Obama-47) and attractive.
  • Both had bathing suit photos of themselves taken and published shortly after announcing their candidacy. Obama while on vacation in Hawaii and JFK while in California.
  • Both are wonderful speakers and very charismatic.
  • Both are/could be pioneers. JFK was the first Catholic elected President, a big no-no for a nation with Prostestant roots and a large Protestant populace, and Obama could be the first African American President.
Finally, let me add this short little bit. I don't have anything against African Americans. I feel that just like any job even moreso with the President of the Greatest Nation on the planet, a person should be chosen on the qualifications and in this case the policies that they may or may not support. I'd be all for the first African American president (or woman President) if I truly felt that they were the best person for the job and not because we could make history, he's a good speaker, or because he's charismatic.

Help preserve our country and tell our politicians that we want to keep our nation the Land of Opportunity, not the land of taxpayer funded health care and high taxes.

So if you haven't had your state's primary yet consider pimping your vote to assure Demcratic defeat in 2008.

How do I change my party affiliation you might ask?

Simply go to http://www.democrats.org and click the register to vote link on the top. From there a form pops up and you can change your party affiliation. You just fill out the pertinent information (including proper identifiers, i.e. driver's liscense number or ssn and your name and current address), and you can print it out and drop it off at your local court house.

Another alternative is to take advantage of all those Democratic staffers at your local office and ask them how to change your party affiliation. They'll be more than happy to help you change your party affiliation, and they'll probably even fill out some of the paper work for you.
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]]> Krackels http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/krackels/26-pimp-vote.html Assault Weapon http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/bree/25-assault-weapon.html Fri, 29 Feb 2008 23:07:09 GMT The idea strikes me that the real assault weapon is the attempt of the NY Legislature to prevent me from having my AR-15 Varminter. I am not assaulting anyone with my gun. I am using it to poke holes in targets that are far away. It challenges me. It is good wholesome fun.

Their Bills to 86 "assault weapons" end up making me feel like a second class citizen... some kind of bad person because I have a gun that can shoot bullets as fast as I can pull the trigger as if that meant anything.

I have never physically hurt anyone in my life. I have never stolen anything. I have never initiated a fight where I struck someone in violence. I have not killed anyone. Heck... I have never even been unfaithful to a partner or spouse... EVER!!

I wonder how many of these legislators can match that. Fact is that they are the assault weapon!
:shock::shock::shock: ]]> Bree http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/bree/25-assault-weapon.html Excellence http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/bree/24-excellence.html Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:51:59 GMT One of my favorite quotes is from Spinoza's Ethics. I will post the quote and then its context.

Quote:
All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare.
Here is the entire context. These are the final words of the book.

Quote:
Note.--I have thus completed all I wished to set forth touching the mind's power over the emotions and the mind's freedom. Whence it appears, how potent is the wise man, and how much he surpasses the ignorant man, who is driven only by his lusts. For the ignorant man is not only distracted in various ways by external causes without ever gaining, the true acquiescence of his spirit, but moreover lives, as it were unwitting of himself, and of God, and of things, and as soon as he ceases to suffer, ceases also to be. Whereas the wise man, in so far as he is regarded as such, is scarcely at all disturbed in spirit, but, being conscious of himself, and of God, and of things, by a certain eternal necessity, never ceases to be, but always possesses true acquiescence of his spirit. If the way which I have pointed out as leading to this result seems exceedingly hard, it may nevertheless be discovered. Needs must it be hard, since it is so seldom found. How would it be possible, if salvation were ready to our hand, and could without great labour be found, that it should be by almost all men neglected? But all things excellent are as difficult as they are rare.


Now you can see why I have always loved Philosophy. Great words. Excellent.
:idea::idea::idea: ]]> Bree http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/bree/24-excellence.html Politics http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/bree/23-politics.html Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:44:24 GMT About 6 weeks ago, I stopped watching any and all political television shows. I used to watch several of them every day. I was intensely interested in it.

I became very annoyed with my media favorites switching from reporting the news to trying to create the news. We don't have a good batch of candidates in either party and the more corrupt the process becomes the less I like it. So I simply shut it off.

I discovered some very nice episodes of Star Trek Voyager that I hadn't seen and some excellent Weaponology shows.

Thanks to the media for freeing me so that I can expand my horizons!
:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen: ]]> Bree http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/bree/23-politics.html Snow http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/bree/22-snow.html Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:39:24 GMT I got the snow muncher out yesterday and had to cut through 5". Did our house and the two neighbors' houses on either side. Well we are getting 2" right now, 2" tonight and 2" tomorrow.

This is just getting a little bit ridiculous! I have a motorcycle that wants to be ridden! I have a new AR that wants to be taken to the 300 yard outdoor range and shot. This may work for skiers and snowboarders but it is not working for me!

I want it to STOP right now! Thank you.
:cool::cool::cool: ]]> Bree http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/bree/22-snow.html Spending opportunity? http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/bat1159man/21-spending-opportunity.html Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:28:14 GMT Well, our company had a very good year in 2007. Personally, it was a trying but successful year for me. Within a week, I will be getting my 2007 bonus. Not a whole lot but should allow me to spend around $1500 for firearms and another $500 for a safe.

My initial thoughts were -

$900 on an AR-15 M4 styling 7.62 x 39 with 6 magazines (friend at work is getting divorced)

$500 on a SA 1911 Mil-Spec .45acp - I don't shoot my old M1911 anymore and need a replacement

$400 on gun safe

$200 on ammunition both .45 and 7.62

Now, I am open to suggestions from the forum members. Convince me that I am going down the wrong path. :shock: ]]> bat1159man http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/bat1159man/21-spending-opportunity.html Random Thoughts of an Amateur Gun Guru http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/20-random-thoughts-amateur-gun-guru.html Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:37:01 GMT Gimmicks

Weapon lights are gimmicks. Just because you see them in a magazine doesn't mean that every single agency with an acronym uses them on some uber tactical squad.

They can afford it so of course they are going to use them. They also buy them in huge amounts like 100+.

When it comes down to it any flashlight that help you identify your target will work.

Shoulder holsters are gimmicks. If you don't train with them you are more likely to shoot your own arm or someone behind you than the bad guy.

Get a hip holster. When you don't get how people carry in the summer you will understand that most of us have a little tiny pocket pistol.

Thigh holsters are Gimmicks. They are for people wearing heavy body armor. If you want to be a mall ninja then do it right go by a level 3A vest.

Tactical vests are gimmicks. Are you going to be fending off waves of bad guys?

Yeah yeah yeah...

I like the ability to do it but I would rather have a gunsafe. Every tactical vest attachment you buy takes away from the amount you have to spend on your safe.

Excruciatingly expensive optics on your AR are Gimmicks!! 500$ and eating ramen for the next 2 months is not cool. Learn to shoot with the iron sights first. Then buy something on sale.

Which brings up another thing...

Iron sights on an AR are not Gimmicks! Get a set. If your AR has some then learn to use then and sight the darned things in!!

Treating competition like the real world is a Gimmick!!! You will never get better at shooting until you start understanding how to shoot in competition like a competitor. You can have all the tactics in the world but if the other guy shoots you first cuz you were bein' "tactical" means you weren't being offensive. Competition is an offensive shooting scenario. You have the advantage and surprise!

I think that is all for now....

Until next time

The Amateur Gun Guru ]]> The Knight Of Light http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/20-random-thoughts-amateur-gun-guru.html Meet Barley http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/sgtwkpii/19-meet-barley.html Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:24:05 GMT Image: http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/9566/barleysq6.jpg Image: http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/4152/barleyjc9.jpg

]]> SgtWKPII http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/sgtwkpii/19-meet-barley.html The Biker* http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/kauzi-xd45/18-biker.html Thu, 28 Feb 2008 04:09:10 GMT

I saw you, hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store
line. But, you didn't see me, put an extra $10.00 in the
collection plate last Sunday.

I saw you, pull your child closer when we passed each other
on the sidewalk. But, you didn't see me, playing Santa at
the local mall.

I saw you, change your mind about going into the restaurant.
But, you didn't see me, attending a meeting to raise more
money for the hurricane relief.

I saw you, roll up your window and shake your head when I
rode by. But, you didn't see me, riding behind you when you
flicked your cigarette butt out the car window.

I saw you, frown at me when I smiled at your children.
But, you didn't see me, when I took time off from work to
run toys to the homeless.

I saw you, stare at my long hair.
But, you didn't see me, and my friends cut ten inches off
for Locks of Love.

I saw you, roll your eyes at our leather jackets and gloves.
But, you didn't see me, and my brothers donate our old ones
to those that had none.

I saw you, look in fright at my tattoos.
But, you didn't see me, cry as my children were born and
have their name written over and in my heart.

I saw you, change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere.
But, you didn't see me, going home to be with my family.

I saw you, complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can
be. But, you didn't see me, when you were changing the CD
and drifted into my lane.

I saw you, yelling at your kids in the c ar.
But, you didn't see me, pat my child's hands, knowing he was
safe behind me.

I saw you, reading the newspaper or map as you drove down
the road. But, you didn't see me, squeeze my wife's leg
when she told me to take the next turn.

I saw you, race down the road in the rain.
But, you didn't see me, get soaked to the skin so my son
could have the car to go on his date.

I saw you, run the yellow light just to save a few minutes
of time. But, you didn't see me, trying to turn right.

I saw you, cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I
was in. But, you didn't see me, leave the road.

I saw you, waiting impatiently for my friends to pass.

But, you didn't see me. I wasn't there.

I saw you, go home to your family.

But, you didn't see me.

Because, I died that day you cut me off.

I was just a biker. A person with friends and a family.

But, you didn't see me.

Re-post this around in hopes that people will understand the
biker community.

If you don't re-post this, It sucks to be you. I hope you
never loose someone that rides.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE US, RESPECT OUR RIGHTS TO RIDE WHAT
WE CHOOSE AND TAKE A FEW EXTRA SECONDS TO BE SURE WE'RE NOT
IN 'YOUR' WAY
LIVE TO RIDE . . . . RIDE TO LIVE ]]> Kauzi XD45 http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/kauzi-xd45/18-biker.html Hmmmmm... http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/sgtwkpii/16-hmmmmm.html Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:27:48 GMT Of all passions that which is least known to us is idleness; she is the most ardent and evil of all, although her violence may be insensible, and the evils she causes concealed; if we consider her power attentively we shall find that in all encounters she makes herself mistress of our sentiments, our interests, and our pleasures; like the (fabled) Remora, she can stop the greatest vessels, she is a hidden rock, more dangerous in the most important matters than sudden squalls and the most violent tempests. The repose of idleness is a magic charm which suddenly suspends the most ardent pursuits and the most obstinate resolutions. In fact to give a true notion of this passion we must add that idleness, like a beatitude of the soul, consoles us for all losses and fills the vacancy of all our wants. Of all passions that which is least known to us is idleness; she is the most ardent and evil of all, although her violence may be insensible, and the evils she causes concealed; if we consider her power attentively we shall find that in all encounters she makes herself mistress of our sentiments, our interests, and our pleasures; like the (fabled) Remora, she can stop the greatest vessels, she is a hidden rock, more dangerous in the most important matters than sudden squalls and the most violent tempests. The repose of idleness is a magic charm which suddenly suspends the most ardent pursuits and the most obstinate resolutions. In fact to give a true notion of this passion we must add that idleness, like a beatitude of the soul, consoles us for all losses and fills the vacancy of all our wants. ]]> SgtWKPII http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/sgtwkpii/16-hmmmmm.html Random Thoughts of an Amatuer Gun Guru http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/14-random-thoughts-amatuer-gun-guru.html Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:44:16 GMT I feel it necessary to bring up training.

It is easy. Get some.

Don't go watch a video and think you can do it all. Go spend the 100-500$ and get some decent training. At least you will have an instructor that can give some quick hands on "intervention" for bad habits.

It might even give you a look into a world you really might like!

How many people do you think carry with nothing more than an attitude and basic understanding of how their pistol works?

Do you want to be "That Guy"?

I hate preaching to the choir but I have to. Some times the choir just doesn't pay attention.

I am not an expert but I know what works and what doesn't.

Finger on the trigger guard doesn't work.

Thumbs down grip doesn't work.

Hand on the bottom of the magazine like in the show 24...

DOESN'T WORK!

Sometimes sh!t just doesn't work. that's why guys that have been doing this for a long... LONG time teach the stuff that does work.

Dryfire works(REALLY TRY IT!).

9mm is a fine round or the NYPD, LAPD, OPD, and countless other agencies would have switched long ago

45ACP is not the answer to everything. It is a fine old bird but I say carry what you can shoot.

If you holster set-up doesn't conceal your pistol then look in the mirror. Does your gut hang over the top of it? Might want to try some thing else.

The only guy I ever saw carry a full-size 1911 was an old friend that was 6ft and weighed in at 170lbs. He had 0% body fat and carried that gun all the time. He said he hardly knew it was there. I told him, "You need love handles to know," and to get bent!

I have never been to a range where I didn't see holes in the ceiling, walls, trash cans, fence, or anything else people seem to want to shoot at and that was a nice range.

Well that is all for today. I hope you enjoyed it! ]]> The Knight Of Light http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/the-knight-of-light/14-random-thoughts-amatuer-gun-guru.html Democratic Politicians http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/blogs/sgtwkpii/12-democratic-politicians.html Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:49:13 GMT Successful democratic politicians are insecure and intimidated men. They advance politically only as they placate, appease, bribe, seduce, bamboozle, or otherwise manage to manipulate the demanding and threatening elements in their constituencies. The decisive consideration is not whether the proposition is good but whether it is popular -- not whether it will work well and prove itself but whether the active talking constituents like it immediately. Politicians rationalize this servitude by saying that in a democracy public men are the servants of the people. Walter Lippmann (1889-1974) The Public Philosophy, 1955 Chapter 2, Section 4 Successful democratic politicians are insecure and intimidated men. They advance politically only as they placate, appease, bribe, seduce, bamboozle, or otherwise manage to manipulate the demanding and threatening elements in their constituencies. The decisive consideration is not whether the proposition is good but whether it is popular -- not whether it will work well and prove itself but whether the active talking constituents like it immediately. Politicians rationalize this servitude by saying that in a democracy public men are the servants of the people.


Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)
The Public Philosophy, 1955
Chapter 2, Sectio