GlockSpock

This reminds me of something. When I was a kid, I used to run around our property and the woods behind our property. I remember finding a "pit" of what was essentially gold (garbage). Some clothes hangers (metal), maybe a few tin cans, and a few bullets. I seem to remember that it was probably a .22lr. All of it was buried probably a few inches under the ground. In all honesty I thought it was a monumental find. It was probably someone's makeshift shooting hole a few decades ago.

  I was thinking the same thing. For the "hardened" criminal, the greater the number of years they spend in prison, they are probably more likely to "not make it" compared to someone wearing a button up shirt to the office every week. Also consider the fact that it is very difficult for a hardened criminal to adjust to an honest living (harder time finding work, prejudices, etc), and then that makes them repeat offenders. As they get more desperate, they sometimes take more chances, eventually coming to the end of their shortened life expectancy.   Heresy says that the average US inmate has a higher standard of living that the majority of 3rd world countries, thus I think it has more to do with lifestyle instead of the living situation (prison).

Do you think center-fire ammunition would have just as good of a chance of firing? I would imagine that, unless sealed, the way the primer sits in the brass could allow for moisture to seep in over the years?   :x: Why don't we have an accuracy report?

  Understood. 

  Meaning that essentially I can take my gross income, subtract $,4,320 that I pay for healthcare, and then be responsible for the taxes on gross income - $4,320?

  This is all something I'm familiar with. Unfortunately one of the major parts of the problem is that a lot of Americans do not take care of themselves. With government considering pizza a vegetable and junk food being subsidized to the point it is cheaper than quality, fresh food, you have a large part of society that cannot afford and doesn't care to eat healthy, doesn't care to exercise, and then expects to get free healthcare, well to put it lightly you have a very screwed up healthcare system. We have the best available healthcare in the world, but consumers aren't interested in taking steps such as living a healthier lifestyle to bring the overall cost of healthcare down. They'd rather just expect someone other than themselves to pay for their healthcare. It's depressing.

  This is the main reason I wonder and hope perhaps I can keep the same amount of coverage for my wife while reducing the monthly premium I pay. My company pays for me, so that is no issue. However, I feel that my wife is much healthier than the average health of the people of the company I work for. But I'd still have to factor in that currently it is paid for before taxes are taken out. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but 12x360=4320. Is that $4,320 income that I am not currently taxed on, or taxed at a lower rate? In that case, if I started paying for it out of pocket, that would be $54 more tax liability I'd have per month? So instead of beating the pricepoint of $360, it'd be more like the pricepoint of $306?

    I have no reason to dislike BCBS currently. The only real comparison shopping I am doing here is seeing if I can get my wife covered by BCBS with the same medical/dental benefits for cheaper than $360. I know I could save several hundred per month if I wanted to go cheap on the benefits, but I am not willing to do that. I am just checking to see if I could save a hundred or so and keep the same benifits. I seriously doubt it.

  Unfortunately I am not as familiar with healthcare as I am some other aspects of our world. I know Congress and the President rushed a huge bill through congress that not a single soul knew everything it consisted of. I haven't taken the time to research all of it because frankly it just infuriates me more. Without going into too many specific details, what is the gist of what will happen in 2014? Any good links to read?

  I have been. Been paying it ever since I started as a full-time employee. I won't be quick to make any decisions. I did contact TRH to see what they have to say. I have a feeling that in the grand scheme of things, $360 is probably a good amount to pay. I think I could certainly pay a whole lot less...for a whole lot less coverage. 

$360 is just for her. I understand about the different coverage rates and deductibles making the difference.     This sounds very interesting.    I'll definitely shop around, and to keep things simple I'll make the request to have them quote me with benefits being equal. 

Seven months ago I started my first professional job and also got married in the same time frame. My company pays for my health insurance (BlueCross Blueshield). I also have the opportunity to pay for my wife to have the same insurance. So, I have been. It's roughly $360 a month. However, a conversation with an older friend last night made me question if I am paying too much. Just getting started in the professional field and having never paid any health insurance premiums, it was very easy for me to not question the rate and just go with it. It is easy to assume that you are getting a good deal. It makes sense to me though that since family coverage in the company is a flat rate, the larger families and unhealthy families have to be subsidized by the young married couple with no kids and no health problems.   My friend felt like I should be able to shop around and get insurance off the street for my wife for probably less than half what I am paying right now. She is in her early twenties and as healthy as a carrot. Does this sound right to everyone?   What health insurance advice does everyone have?

Good catch.

From Sen. Bell,  

    I think that it is currently "live". Bell is the Sen. who introduced it, and he is also my Sen. I wrote him an email supporting it, and asked him the status and whether he thinks it will pass. Hopefully soon I will get a response.

I just wrote my Sen. (Bell) stating support for the bill, and I also asked him if he thought the political climate was right for such a bill's passage. He is great about responding, so we'll see. I also copied the message to Rep. Brooks. We'll see how things go, and I'll update with any response Bell provides me with.

  I am not on top of all the laws regarding this, but the do spell out very clearly that you must go the SBR route if you wish to add their stock to the setup.

I saw this in an ad on some site I was browsing, and it is very intriguing...   http://www.zipfactory.com/   It's a modular .22lr that can be setup as a handgun, rifle, etc. Takes 10-22 magazines.

If your main concern is accessing it without a network, Evernote and Dropbox both can store things locally on the phone. If your main concern is security (or lack thereof), then I understand.   Stanza is what you need on the phone. Calibre is what you need on your computer.   You will have to essentially import/create/author "ebooks" in Calibre and save them as a .epub format. Then you can put them on the iPod/iPhone via Stanza. With Calibre, you can setup a "server" on your computer, and then navigate to your "server" via your local WiFi network, and import books that way. I think you can do wired as well.

Well, I'd definitely suggest considering setting up a Kindle account if you haven't already and perhaps putting a large collection of fictional novels on there as well. Textual documents take up very little storage, and could provide invaluable entertainment and morale in the right situation.    Perhaps:   Knife Sharpening Books Gunsmithing Books Edible Plants/Foods Books Maps (Geographical/Topographical) These would be invaluable! You would have to find an app that lets you store the date locally though. These would probably take several GB's Family Photos Flashlight App (One that uses LED for camera) That's all I can think of right now. However, I do have a few more things to add. Check out Evernote if you haven't already. Also, I know money doesn't grow on trees for us normal folks, but I would personally feel really good about doing the following. Buy a new/used iPod touch in as many GB that you can, get it ready right now. Put everything you wish on to have on it for preparation. Take your solar charger, iPod case, Zagg Invisishield, and any other accessories along with your iPod touch that you wish, and make them EMP proof. I'd go overboard with it. That is, if you truly wish to be prepared. That way, it is ready (so you don't have to sync it in an emergency). Aluminium foil is supposed to work, I did have a lot of luck blocking all signals to a radio with it. Place the radio (on and turned up) in a carboard box. Wrap the box completely with aluminum foil. Once the radio stops playing, theoretically it is EMP proof. They also have these:   http://techprotectbag.com/   Without lots of money for testing and stuff, I don't know if those are just a gimmick to take advantage of some or if they actually work.    Just my thoughts

I wonder if they are going to post...

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/entertainment/pro-gun-celebrities-yep-some-actually-exist Some of those surprised me. However, I wonder what many of their views have "evolved" into recently? Just saying.      

  This reminds me. I once called Fugate Firearms to inquire about a transfer. She informed me that it'd be $20 + $10 BC + Sales Tax. I disputed the sales tax part. She stuck to the story that it is state law. I have never had this brought up by anyone else before.   Thoughts?

Been listening to a bit of it, decided now just to stop.   Too much of this will make a person muy loco :screwy:

  Liberator Pistol   Interesting. That's the first I've ever heard of such plans. Fascinating! They cost $2.40 to make, and are now worth $1200 to a collector! Wish I had a few pallets of them! Seriously though, I'd like to have one pistol for collector's sake, but I'm not paying $1200 for one.  I'd consider it at $50.   Intriguing though! EDIT: Don't forget the Deer Gun!