Peace

1st off... that 1st cop in the picture is a BIG fellow.  - makes the mini-14 look like a toy.   2nd.  Muzzle Discipline Guys!!  - whew!  :)

As much as I hate them, solid storm doors and windows outside of your standard window (as exists on a lot of homes from the 50s and 60s) buy you a decent amount of time.  They are noisy as heck to defeat, and then the attacker has to deal with your actual window or door - after you've been alerted.   If one had storm doors locked outside of your regular door, it is just one more layer.     If one wanted to minimize the risk: -don't advertise what you have... even here.   - this especially goes for things that thugs would also like to have. -don't advertise where you live -in general don't be an "attention magnet" outside of your trusted groups.  (this goes for high school and college kids especially)  IMHO: It shoes a low sense of Situational Awareness - in a way that is easy for victimizers pick up on.

there always has to be a boogie monster... for some reason we all need one.  I may or may not agree with any particular POTUS's leadership direction, but I highly doubt this is a plan at risk of being implemented.

Reports of 4 hostages dead.  It makes me appreciate our recognized 2nd ammendment rights.  I wish those 4 hostages had the same recognition and some choice in if or how they died today.   It seems like the police did a good job in keeping this ordeal contained to 48hrs.  but....  It would stink to be held hostage and be at the mercy of the terrorist AND the police - both with urgent business - in which you are a number... with a value that is not equal to the big picture.  That's not the fault of police; it is just reality, and it is just one more reason why the right to bear arms is a very, very important, basic human right.

That all depends on whether the bus occupants have fired up the "Willie Nelson Signature Edition Air Freshener" or not.   :)

So sorry for the loss of life.  - It makes me cringe that news outlets are being terrorized for expressing .... anything.     I would like to see an analyzation of their tactics - how many, what are they armed with, how did they enter, how did they move, who did they target, and why did they leave. etc.  If one is ever caught up in something like this, it would help to have some idea of what you are up against.     **edit: after watching that video, these guys were young, green, or at least at the edge of their envelope.  Low SA, everything seemed to be coming at them very fast.  - ... and the guy had to pick up his shoe before he got back in the car.     -looks like the police officer had been hit at least once before they closed in.  Maybe utopic to say, but if every frenchmen kept a military rifle in their home (and trained with one), this would have gone differently.  I'm not saying the video doesn't have value, but in the moment, Rifle>VideoCamera.

Welcome!

I made the trip up today just for kicks.  Here's my addition to our "review".   General Thoughts: It really is about the size of Dick's sporting goods, but across the board, Cabelas has a selection of merchandise that lines up much more closely with what I like.  It seems they (mostly) only stock the good stuff.   Price: Dog bed prices were like an exaggeration of Gander & M.  If I'm going to pay $100.00 for a god bed, it had better so something that the $35 ones don't.  :)   Some ammo (22LR thunderbolt box for $26) was reasonable.  Most everything in the store had a "see-it, touch-it, feel-it" "tax".  For the quality of selection that they had, if they were local, I might be willing to pay that premium to be "hands on" before I buy.  However handgun prices (Glocks) seem to be a little higher than I expected.  Long guns... had a SCAR 16 FDE for $2749.   I'm pretty sure if you look hard, you can get a SCAR 17 for that.   Staff:  All of the staff were friendly and helpful.  Albeit, when I asked about a Berretta PX4,.. my new friend behind the counter said, "If I was going to pay $600 for a pistol, I would get a Glock."  ... I had many thoughts at this point... I suppressed them all to hear what came out next...  "Have you seen the torture videos, these things are battle-proven, they drop 'em from a chopper, freeze 'em, bury 'em and then just pick 'em up and shoot 'em.  You should watch those videos.  They make all those (videos) in Austria - that's where all of the Glocks are made,... in Austria."     I could only manage replying, "Awesome, thanks."   Nice selection of Archery gear... nice indoor lanes.   Bass Pro has a better selection of general scope hardware (rings and bases).   In retrospect, they were very strong in Range Finders and Binoculars.  They had a good variety of handgun carry ammo.  They had plenty of Federal 5.56 55gr for .37/round out the door  (6% sales tax).  They also had 2 boxes of Black Hills Mk262 77gr OTM (seconds) ... which I begrudgingly left on the shelf.  Hornady .223 75gr BTHP Match was $20.99 + tax - which is cheaper than I can get it around here.   Glad I went - would probably just plan a trip to Louisville next time.  - not sure the smaller store is worth it.

kidos to the wife/partner/friend whoever.  She did not waste a second getting that elevator back down, and phone in hand dialing (911?). - and then summoning help.   Good point to remember when helping anyone in a similar situation, did you see him pick the handgun up by the muzzle/slide when he was exiting the elevator.  He was understandably not in his right mind, but if any of us are ever helping someone in a similar situation, it's good to remember to make sure the firearm is secure and made safe.   that was cringe-worthy... right from the start.

I speak from google-foo and my own research - not from personal experience... so pour some grains of salt over it.   You've probably read about it, and the manual states it.  ... but ... Calibrate. Every. Flight.   The infamous  "I watched my Phantom xx fly off into the horizon...."  seems to happen to those who do not.

     well....never really thought about it, but I guess if I'm purchasing a handgun, it's because I want that particular handgun for some reason/purpose.  Whether or not it has a rail either will or won't be important depending on the reason/purpose.   If I wanted a particular 1911, I wouldn't pass on a it because it didn't have rails.  If I want an HD handgun with a light, it probably won't be a 1911.         In a perfect world, i guess the option would be there.  ??

It's scientific and stuff. :)  Amygdala... clicker....  Canine sensory intake is loaded differently than ours.  They also seem more tied to amygdala-based relationship. - again with the clicker.   ... but really, I just know what I've experienced.   1) Kids (and other less-than-aware humans) are vulnerable to attacks, and 2) dogs aren't humans.   I was bitten as a kid.  That moment of the bite is the only memory I have of that dog.  That angry face after the bite is the only way I have to remember it... it came off as a nasty little insecure schnauzer. - all I wanted to do was pet it.  It probably thought similar things of me.  ... different value sets.  It's a bummer for that dog which couldn't see the bigger picture.  I may have been "nasty" in its eyes, and I may have even been insecure,... but biting me was, in no way, in that dog's best interest.  Dogs (and some humans) can have a problem properly evaluating that equation.   The one person that I have known who knew more about canine biology, anatomy, and sociology than most ever will, didn't own a dog and certainly wouldn't have left one alone with a kid.  Personally, I would never leave any human with questionable alpha status alone with more than one dog.   Our pup just turned 12.  Our kids are 7, and she is their "lifetime dog" so far.  Even though she is high strung, she is a champion family dog in my book.  She wouldn't hurt them to save her own life, but I also know that she has different programming than I do, so I give her the benefit of a loving doubt.  We raised her to be around kids, and we raised our kids to be "dog smart" - even with our sweet girl.   I may be proven wrong about Pitbulls at some point, but I wouldn't trust one.  Not for one Planck.  It is not the breed's fault.  As far as my pee brain can comprehend, the pitbull breed does not have the genetic tools to predictably produce trustworthy pups.  They were not bred to be trustworthy companions.  They were bred to fight.  That's the hard truth.

I'm hoping to pick up a couple of MPVs (Mag-Proof Vest) this winter - as more and more people learn this technique, level IV plates will be obsolete.

-Ride 1,000 miles -most with a buddy.     -be a loving, thoughtful husband and father in each interaction with my wife and kids.   -become more peaceful, more centered, more skilled, and more aware as each moment passes.   -start and finish my first book.

^^ I'm so glad you mentioned this.  I have been concerned that, in a home defense situation, over-penetration could be an issue.  Would you use PMAGs, 2nd or 3rd generation? windowed?  or maybe brownell's.   I also think if I put the ranger plates on the mag, it might not be lethal after going through drywall.  I could always just go with a 20 round or 10 round mag,... but then that may not be enough to stop the attacker.   :popcorn:

https://www.facebook.com/brianscustomtheaters   They will service your turntable.  West Nashville.  Nice folks.  Alison's Record Shop (attached) is my new "most dangerous" place to stop.   Caveat:  There is a gun buster on either the HiFi shop or the record shop -don't remember which.  When I get to know them a little better, I will talk to them about it.

:)

CompTac Holster... I try to get a stall with my carry side to the wall and keep it in the holster, on the belt, and keep the pants knee high with tension.    Man, if all possible, keep it in the holster, and keep it attached.  Always observe rules 1-4 even... when going #2.   :)

I just picked up a 1967 Tony Bennett "Greatest Hits III" LP - it is a radio station release.  stunning.   I remember back in the 90s when Masterfonics was looking to sell their lathe.  If it were me, I would've kept it, but then again, I would've had to pay some lowly interns (or not!) to move it around and out of the way for years and years and years ... which is probably what they had done and just finally got tired of it.   I will say that, with a crawl space/elevated floor, we have to walk softly when the Turntable is playing... and not everyone is "enthusiastic" about that.  :)

  I generally agree.  It sounds like its days as a beloved "asset" had passed.  In times of war, it certainly could've been a vessel,... whether or not it would be an asset or liability might be in question.  Still emotional for those who love her and still sad to see it go.   Maybe with it being gone the case for a replacement will be bolstered, and maybe that replacement will come sooner rather than if it had been mothballed.  ?? 

?? could be.... don't know.

Buck, thank you for your service.  It makes me sad as well, but I know decisions have to be made.  It was kept for a long time with a group trying to raise millions to turn it into a museum.  I think ~$100k was raised.     As far as giving it away or blowing it to kindgom come... we need to keep those metals in country.  We can put smaller ships on the bottom if we so desire.  It is certainly not being "given away".  It has to be towed around the southern point of the americas and back into the gulf to be broken.  That will not be a cheap trip - not by a long shot.  It will then cost a fortune to break this ship, and those putting that capitol at risk to break it will (hopefully) make a nice return on their investment.

I am so sorry for your loss, your hardship, and your hurt.  I am wishing for strength, glimmers of joy in the midst and all of the best to you and yours in this incredibly difficult time and in the days to come.

PEPR QD w/ a Leupold 3.5-10. - when the aimpoint PRO is not on it. I don't seem to have a problem with it. :pleased:

Merry Christmas!