Opuscula I like “cheap”

ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, I prefer to pay less for something.

If it meets my needs why spend more?

My flivver is a 2008 Hyundai Elantra. I get the oil & filter changed every 3,500 miles or so. The vehicle is MECHANICALLY in great shape; the interior no so much, but it gets me from Point A to Point B just fine.

Could a Caddy do better? Do I need the speed of a souped up (do people still use that expression) pony?

It’s pretty good on fuel as long as I stray within the legal limit and its fairly comfortable — all-in-all, I consider it money well spent.

I’ve had Fords, Lincolns, Oldsmobiles, Buicks, and even an American Motors Rebel wagon — another good vehicle — but the Hyundai does the job and I’m happy with it.

My daughter gifted me with a smart phone. It’s a Redmi 6A. Hardly a top of the line Motorola or Samsung, but it turns out it sounds better than the Spouse’s more expensive (and slightly bigger) LG.

All the reviews I’ve read are that it is a very good phone for the money.

It meets my needs as a phone, a text message exchanger, and a platform for WhatsApp.

What’sApp for anyone who doesn’t know, is a free, international voice/image service similar to Skype but sans the heavy hand of Microsoft. The “better performance” mentioned above is via WhatsApp.

The daughter got the phones as part of a wireless plan. She also got one for her 7 year old daughter, a/k/a My Favorite Grand-daughter. (She’s my only grand-daughter so no one will have hurt feelings.)

The Princess & her Twin Princes

The phone is a “little” small for my fat fingers, but the Spouse gifted me with a stylus from a neighborhood dollar store. The $1 stylus includes ! a flashlight (torch for those from across the pond) and a red (ruby?) laser pointer. Both work on a replaceable battery — and all for one U.S. dollar.

Actually, styluses — to be correct, “stylii” — are 10 for $10 on line, but with a flashlight AND laser pointer?

Our phone service — smart phones and pseudo-landline — are from Consumer Cellular.

Consumer Cellular, hereafter “CC,” is a pretty good service. I have a ZTE “wireless home base” that converts cell phone signals to something my ancient Uniden cordless system (of two stations) can use.

The Unidens are often more comfortable to use than cell phones of any type, especially when on hold.

CC just sent me an email telling me it was upgrading the service to four or five “G.”

I’ll have to swap out a SIM card and hopefully the card will match my account. Fortunately, CC has “pretty good” customer support; it’s better technically than the billing unit.

The combined CC bill — two cell phones with voice, text and data, and the ZTE (voice only) is less than the bill for our former landline-only service.

Since 90% of all data — including WhatsApp — is via our modem/router, our data usage with CC is minimal. (We still have the ISP to finance.)

My name is not Benjamin Kubelsky (right) and I am not “cheap.” It is just that I hate to pay for a “name” that the only benefit it carries is snobbishness.

True, a Caddy may be better built than my Hyundai — then why doesn’t it have Hyundai's 10 year/100,000 mile factory warranty? — and a Moto smart phone may have a better camera — but does it compare to my 4*5 (inch) technical camera or my old Canon F-1?

My Spouse drives a Benz 350 that is so technologically advanced she can’t use many of the goodies. We had a Jaguar X40 (a/k/a XJ6) — in order to change a headlight the whole front end had to be removed ! — and neither vehicle was as reliable as the Hyundai.

I won’t buy something because it is inexpensive if it is cheap.

“Cheap” meaning “shoddily made” or “made of inferior materials.” That is throwing good money after bad (or something); in the end it is wasteful.

But, when I find something that has good value for the money (even if it is manufactured in China such as are the cell phones and the stylus — the Hyundai is from South Korea), if I have a need for the item, I’ll buy it.

There is a difference between being frugal and being Benjamin Kubelsky cheap.

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PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

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Opuscula Car in space marked For disabled person, SHOW YOUR TAG!

I HAVE A HANDICAPPED OR DISABLED hang tag (right) due to being “mobility disadvantaged.” In other words, I don’t walk well; I’m handicapped and I don’t care if that’s “PC” or not.

There are lots of people who, apparently, have non-visible handicaps. Some, people with breathing problems, deserve to park close to the their destination.

Some, less generously, are only mentally handicapped; they are inconsiderate of truly handicapped people.

IT IS BAD ENOUGH watching a person with a hang tag walk, sans apparent disability, to his or her destination.

Even if the person can run a 15K marathon, that hang tag protects them from getting a ticket and possible $250 fine.

I learned this in Norfolk VA when a cop was about to write a citation and the vehicle’s driver produced a hang tag — a tag that was not hung.

I would LIKE to confront the apparently healthy individuals, but the risk to MY welfare is too great.

In Florida a man had words with a woman driver while her husband/boyfriend/kin was in a quickie mart. The woman’s husband etc. came out and took physical issue with the person chastising his — let’s all her his “partner” as a catch-all term. He pushed the complainer to the ground at which point the complainer pulled out a handgun and shot (and killed) the woman’s partner.

The shooter is claiming he’s covered by Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.

Whether the shooting was legal or not — and there is some evidence that the shooting was not a true “Stand Your Ground” issue — is up to the court to decide.

The law is very specific. If a person feels a life is in danger AND the attacker is approaching, then Stand Your Ground may be acceptable. If he attacker is backing off or otherwise is no longer a threat, Stand Your Ground morphs into murder. Everyone who has a concealed weapons permit MUST know this; if they don’t they should not have a permit or even a weapon!

When I see someone who appears to be healthy park in a reserved spot and walk away sans hang tag, I start looking for a cop. I won’t call 9-1-1 since there is no real emergency, but I I happen to see a passing cop car I’ll flag it down and suggest that the officer might want to look at the tag-less vehicle.

I am told by a person with handicap plates that even with the plates he still had to hang the hang tag from the vehicle’s mirror.

It is a real challenge not to confront a person who parks a non-tagged vehicle in a handicapped-only slot, but I forego the opportunity.

No reason to get into a gun fight over someone’s stupidity and lack of decency.

It’s crazy what some people claim as a Stand your Ground defense.

A guy chased another fellow on a Dade County street. He hit the fellow and the fellow died. In court his lawyer claimed his client was “standing his ground.” The judge, looking at a video of the incident, disagreed. Who said “justice is blind?”

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PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Comment on Handicapped hang tags

Opuscula Israel bashers Should ask why Arabs abandon Gaza

ACCORDING TO HONEST REPORTING¹

Last year, a reported 35,000 Palestinians emigrated from Gaza. Take your pick of Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post, Haaretz, Israel HaYom and Ynet coverage.^{2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

Surely “The Squad” will call this “ethnic cleansing”; however, Israel is not removing anyone from Gaza; it merely is facilitating the exit of Muslims who have had enough of Hamas’ rule of terror.

ARE REFUGEES FROM GAZA the new Jews?

According to the reports (ibid.)

Israel is willing to pay for Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip and has been in contact with other countries about the possibility of absorbing the emigres. 

A source flying with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Ukraine told reporters that Israel would make an airfield available and even pay for the flights, but no countries have so far agreed to accept the Gazans.

”But no countries have so far agreed to accept the Gazans."

 

Left wing HaAretz claims that

Official says Israel ready to pay for flights, but that no country has agreed to accept emigrants.

The official added that the (Israeli) government had asked a few countries, including some in the Middle East, whether they would be willing to accept Palestinians from Gaza, and was turned down.

Last year, 35,000 Palestinians emigrated from Gaza via the Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt. Most of those leaving are young people who are relatively well off, including 150 doctors from Gaza hospitals. Most of those leaving fly to Turkey, where local intermediaries put them on ships bound for Greece, and from there they continue to Europe.

Interesting to note the refugees apparently are not seeking refuge in a Muslim country. Think about that.

Right wing Israel HaYom reports that

The Israeli government has been actively encouraging Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip to leave the coastal enclave and is willing to foot the bill, an unnamed senior Israeli official said on Monday.

The government is currently in talks with countries in the Middle East and Europe to absorb the potential émigré, but so far no country has agreed.

Cartoon by Jeff Koterba, Omaha (NE) World Herald

The English-language Jerusalem Post notes

According to an NPR report last month, between 35,000 to 40,000 people have left Gaza via Egypt since Egypt opened the Sinai-Gaza border in May 2018. Egypt reportedly allows a few hundred Gazans to cross the frontier each day.

According to these reports, some of those exiting Gaza via Egypt fly from Cairo to the Gulf. Others remain in Egypt, while some fly to Turkey and in the hope of smuggling their way into Greece, and from there to other European Union countries.

The Times of Israel reports that

The (Israeli) National Security Council has recently spoken to European leaders and even countries in the region, asking if they were ready to accept Palestinians who want to leave the Strip, he said. So far, no country has agreed to absorb them, though. However, an “independent emigration” continues by those Gazans who manage to find host countries on their own, the official said.

There was no immediate reaction from Palestinian officials to the Israeli efforts.

The Hamas terror group — which took over Gaza by force in 2007, leading Israel and Egypt to impose a blockade — has imposed measures to stem the tide of emigration, according to a report by the Haaretz daily in May.

Ynet basically reported what all the other publications were reporting.

Sources

1. honestreporting.com

2. http://tinyurl.com/y3mvuabe

3. http://tinyurl.com/y6846g98

4. http://tinyurl.com/y37k74ks

5. http://tinyurl.com/y2tk39ec

6. http://tinyurl.com/y5tplhyn

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PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Comments on Gaza exodus

Opuscula Jail & heavily fine Firms, individuals Who employ illegals

THE GOVERNMENT REALLY WANTS TO reduce illegal entry into the country it can do so very simply.

ARREST, FINE, AND JAIL PEOPLE WHO EMPLOY ILLEGAL ALIENS.

If a corporation employs illegals, JAIL THE CEO.

Photo credit NY Daily News (http://tinyurl.com/y5f2a9lr)

MINIMUM SENTENCES should be $10,000 fine for each illegal and not less than one year in jail — sans work release program — for the executives who hire them.

If hired by an individual, same penalties.

 

Harsh?

It is intended to be harsh.

The illegals flock to the U.S. because they are pretty sure someone will hire them, even for little more than off-the-books “slave wages.”

Any illegals caught in the U.S. should be rounded up — with their families — and deported.

If the illegal claims it would be dangerous to return to the place they left — Somalia is a good example — let the illegal find a country willing to give them refuge; let them immigrate to that country LEGALLY.

It will cost America less to deport people to, say, the paradises of Panama or Venezuela, than it does to incarcerate whole families here where taxpayers must feed, clothe, educate, and provide medical care for the illegals, often benefits the taxpayers do not enjoy.

Optionally, force the employers to pay for the illegal’s deportation costs — in addition to the aforementioned fines and executive’s jail time.

The illegals deserve some pity, some sympathy. They are trying to survive.

The Americans who hire them deserve neither pity nor sympathy.

Each year hundreds of workers cross America’s borders legally to work the fields, doing jobs Americans — even those long on the dole — refuse to do as if it is beneath them.

That situation is not unique to the U.S.

As long as greedy Americans can take advantage of the disadvantaged, they will do so.

That being the case, the federal government (in the guise of ICE), must expand its focus to include not just the illegals but, more importantly, the people to take advantage of the illegals.

Raids on factories are proper.

But so are raids on private homes staffed with illegals.

Likewise businesses of all sizes that are not concerned with legalities.

The laws setting financial penalties already are on the books.

The penalties need to be increased and accompanied by COMPULSORY jail time for an organ­i­za­tion’s executives.

Ideally, the financial penalties should be paid by the executives rather than the stockholders (which also should apply to bank escapades). In reality, it won't happen, but the jail time — sans work release or other special treatment — would impress both the executive and the stockholders.

All the above is just a pipe dream.

Politics being what they are, certain people are exempt from obeying the law.

Still, what is suggested here would reduce the illegal immigration problem.

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PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Comments on Illegals’ employers

Opuscula SET UP

RASHIDA TLAIB PROVES she is a true “Palestinian.”

Tlaib cried crocodile tears so Israel would allow the Israel basher to cross Israel to visit Granny in the PLO area.

Despite being told by Donald Trump not to allow Tlaib into Israel — when did he become Israel’s Chief Executive? — several members of Knesset agreed to let to her pass through Israel to visit Granny in PLO-land.

Israel set one condition: That she refrain from lying about Israel while she was in Israel, a condition to which she agreed.

Before the ink was dry on her permission to enter, she recanted.

Poor Granny, the victim of a politician’s self-centeredness.

Did Tlaib ever really intend to

(a) Visit Israel and Granny, or
(b) Comply with her agreement?

While I cannot know what Tlaib thinks, we KNOW she’s a true “Palestinian” in the mold of terrorist Abu Mazen, a/k/a Mahmoud Abbas and his predecessors who, repeatedly offered land-for-peace, repeatedly rejected the offers, even the overly generous offer from far left politician Ehud Barak who was willing to give away Israel’s security and capital.

Tlaib (right), unlike Israel’s Prime Minister-for-Life, is not two-faced. She knew exactly what she was doing when she appealed for a humanitarian visit to PLO-land via Israel.

In bowling terms, she “sandbagged” Israel.

Aryeh Deri, Shas’s #2 politician (behind Yitzhak Yosef) and Israel’s Health Minister was suckered by Tlaib. She’s good; Deri was convicted of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust and served 22 months of a 36 month sentence for his crimes. If a fraudster cannot spot a fellow fraudster, she must be good.

Israel HaYom reports on 18 August that Deri is once again being investigated. The current investigation, which focuses on illicit property ‎deals and tax offenses, supports suspicions of money laundering, ‎bribery, breach of trust, perjury and tax evasion, the police said. (See http://tinyurl.com/yy4euett.)

Deri was not alone. Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan (new Likud) also fell for her appeal.

IF TLAIB REALLY wanted to visit Granny without entering Israel, she could have arranged for Granny to travel to Jordan — crossing to/from Jordan is commonplace — and Tlaib could have flown to Amman (there are at least 20 airlines flying between New York-area airports and Amman, Jordan). She could have avoided seeing the depressing lifestyle of Muslims in Israel; Muslims who, for the most part, do not want to live in PLO or Hamas-controlled areas. She won’t have to see Muslim businesses or villas in Israel, nor will she have to see Muslims having all the benefits of Israeli Jews and Christians in Israel.

It seems obvious to me that Tlaib really did NOT want to visit Granny. Granny was just a pawn to be sacrificed on the alter of hate.

Granny could have been flown to Europe or the U.S., but at Granny’s advanced years that might not have been good for her health — but then Tlaib would have yet another unjustified rant against Israel and the U.S.

Bottom Line: Tlaib suckered Israel and then embarrassed the politicians by showing the world that this Little Red Riding Hood was more interesting in making fools of soft-hearted Jews than visiting Granny.

AND NOW Democrats mull revenge after Israel bars Omar, Tlaib (http://tinyurl.com/y4whwch7). These are people of the party whose petty president invited Israel's prime minister to dinner and then failed to show, snubbing the leader of an allied country!. These are the people who cannot bring themselves to chastise several of their own for hate-filled speeches full of untruths. Talk about unmitigated chutzpah! Revenge is not something they should seek; rather they should apologize for their members' unstatesmanlike behavior.

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Comments on Tlaib 1, Israel 0

Opuscula Taurus Model 692 Wheel gun: First look

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A TAURUS USA Model 692 revolver. I traded a Taurus Model 605,

The 692 is unusual, albeit not unique, in that it comes with two cylinders: one for .38 Special and .357 magnum ammunition and one for the much less expensive and usually more available 9 mm.

Translation: I will use the 9 mm on the range and the .38 or .357 as the carry round.

Taurus Model 692 with additional 9mm cylinder

THE FIRST THING I did was RT*M. I also read the manual when I buy a (new to me) car. I used to write manuals so if nothing else I compare “styles.”

The Taurus document is “OK.”

The second thing I did, after thoroughly cleaning the gun with Ballistol^®, was to swap cylinders.

It is indeed as easy as “seen on tv” (OK, YouTube). Remove one, install the other. Confirm the newly installed cylinder is locked in place, and it is ready to be fed. The 9 mm cylinder is clearly marked 9mm; the .38/.357 cylinder is marked “.357 MAGNUM.” Both cylinders also are marked, as are the gun’s frame and barrel, with the gun’s serial number.

There ARE differences beyond the ability to easily “swap out” cylinders between the Model 605 and the Model 692. ^{1, 2}

The most noticeable, to me, is the way Taurus secures the weapon.

The old Model 605 had a small key hole near the hammer; insert and turn the provided key, the gun could not be fired.

The new Model 692 comes with a padlock (two keys) and a connecting cable. It looks very much like a short bicycle lock. The cable is to be routed from the lock through the weapon and back to the lock, preventing insertion of ammunition, or in the case of a wheel gun, closing the cylinder. This is a “universal” lock designed to work on all firearms (assuming it is used).

Given that most handgun owners have the guns for home protection, the likelihood that the lock will be used for a gun is minimal. (This scrivener has a gun safe that accommodates my gun and a visitor’s sidearm.)

Since installing a cylinder is quick and easy, that might seem a good way to make the weapon safe – remove a loaded cylinder and keep it handy. The problem is that the cartridges tend to fall out when the unmounted cylinder is handled. Taurus tells users to remove/install only empty cylinders.

Taurus used to have an industry-standard “lifetime” warranty.

The Model 692 comes with a one year limited warranty that is not transferable.

Has Taurus lost faith in its Brasilian manufacturing operations? (Most Taurus sidearms are made in Brasil^cq; the company has U.S. offices in Miami FL.) Perhaps the “industry standard” has changed.

Taurus proved to me with the old 605 that its “lifetime” warranty is not really all that worthwhile. (Details upon request.) The alternative, I suppose, is to become friends with a local gunsmith.

The 605 held 5 rounds.

The 692 holds 7, BUT there’s a “catch.”

In the old days — before internal safeties — cowboys (and others) carried five rounds in their six-shooters. The gun’s hammer rested on an empty chamber. If the gun was dropped on the hammer, there was nothing under the firing pin to go “bang.”

Perhaps Taurus no longer trusts its internal safety mechanism. Only Taurus knows for sure. It now recommends the empty chamber safety option. In any event, six shots should be enough, especially moving from a five-shooter. (Taurus has been making seven-shot revolvers for a number of years.)

The 692 has a “ported” barrel; that is, there are vents at the end of the barrel to allow gases from the cartridge to escape. ( See image at right) The idea of the ported barrel is to reduce recoil or “kick” from the cartridge. For a .38 (not “+P”) or 9 mm, the recoil is minimal and easily handled by most folks with most sidearms. The recoil of a standard .357 magnum is another matter, and except for the lightweight (50 grain) Liberty cartridges, hurts the hands.

The Model 692 in my gun safe has a 3-inch barrel (vs. the 605’s 2-inch barrel); there also is a 6.5-inch barrel version — not suitable for concealed carry — that due to the additional barrel length and gun weight (2.88 pounds sans ammunition) is said to have even less felt recoil.

One problem, according to my police detective son, is that the ported barrel can injure the shooter if it is held close to the shooter’s body. The flame from the barrel is enough to light up the night. In a self-defense situation, the aggressor should never get close close enough that the 692 user needs to fire the gun from close to the body.

Both the 605 and the 692 come with a Taurus rubber grip; it was comfortable enough on the 605 except when firing 158 grain .357 rounds.

The Model 692, as with most Taurus wheel guns, is SA/DA; translation: SA=Single Action and DA=Double Action. An SA requires the shooter to cock the hammer before pulling the trigger; a DA cocks and drops the hammer in one shooter action. DA guns generally require a stronger trigger “pull” that can take the gun off target. That was the case with the Model 605 and is again with the Model 692. (The 692, being new, requires a very strong pull. The “pull” can be lightened, but there may be unwanted consequences.) SA trigger pull is, as expected, much lighter.

There is a significant difference in (unloaded) weight between the 605 (1.25 lbs) and the 692 (2.19 lbs) – nearly a pound more for the new gun.

The Model 692 has, as does the 605, a fixed front sight, but unlike the 605, a small orange-red tape is applied to the top of the sight.

The rear sight is adjustable; the 605 sight was fixed.

I can understand the need for an adjustable rear sight on the competition-level 6 1/2-inch barrel Model 692, but the 3-inch snubbie for close-quarter (within 20 feet) self defense? Puts me in mind of the old “High Hopes” song³ or the slightly off-color joke about an ant and an elephant. Since it is there, I’ll give it a try, at least with the 9 mm on the range.
At about 2 ½ pounds loaded, the Model 692 may be tiring when practicing on the range.
 
Comparing revolvers and semi-automatics?
What advantages, if any are there to owning a revolver vs. a semi-automatic?
The effectiveness of 9 mm and .38 cartridges are close; .357 offers a little more punch with a heavy bullet.
Revolvers usually are more reliable given routine maintenance. Maintenance is easier and the gun does not, as with a semi-automatic, need any disassembly.
Revolvers are available in 9 mm, but most require moon clips, a drawback. On the other hand, 9 mm range ammunition is relatively inexpensive and carry ammunition usually available for a price no greater than .38 Special. Translation: It costs less to own and use a 9 mm revolver or semi-auto.
Revolvers hold less ammunition. The only time a civilian should be concerned is reloading the gun is at the range. Leave the fire fights to the police.
The Model 692 is a heavy weight at about 2 ½ pounds loaded. Many semi-autos are lighter and carry more cartridges.
While trigger pull varies, getting a cartridge into a semi-auto requires pulling back the slide; this can be difficult for some people. Revolvers do not have a slide.
You can pick up a revolver and easily see if it is loaded; this is not the case with all semi-autos.
While a semi-auto is slightly thinner than a medium to large caliber revolver, there is not a significant difference between a 9 mm semi-auto and a .357 revolver for concealed carry.

Interesting side note: I bought, with some back-and-forth with a Taurus Customer Service Rep (CSR) five additional moon clips (US$9). The price was OK, but the “standard shipping rate” of $8.75 for something that can be mailed via USPS in a standard #9 envelope borders on highway robbery.
The back-and-forth with the CSR proved to me that Taurus USA in Miami FL leaves something to be desired.
Why do I need ten seven-round moon clips? I want to pre-load 10 moon clips (70 rounds) before I set off for the range and its “by the hour” charges.
FOLLOWUP on 21 AUG. Taurus has waived the shipping fee ! I am thinking more kindly toward Taurus' Customer Service.

 

To be continued after a trip to the range.

Other “convertible” revolvers

Ruger Blackhawk .357 Magnum Convertible Revolver, SA only: http://tinyurl.com/y43asxrh

There are other 9 mm revolvers, but none I could find on the WWW other than Taurus and Ruger that came with interchangeable cylinders.

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Sources

1. Model 605 specifications: http://tinyurl.com/y3eqbhqo

2. Model 692 specifications: http://tinyurl.com/yxc47ya7

3. High Hopes song: http://tinyurl.com/y5hq8ef4

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Comments on Taurus Model 692

Opuscula Giving up some Civil rights for Good of nation

AMERICANS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR DEMANDING their civil rights be treated as sacred.

The leftists attack anything that would identify a criminal’s race. They rush to the defense of someone photographed — by anyone — in a public place (e.g., street, park).

The ones on the right loudly defend “gun rights” and the right to speak against what they perceive as attacks on freedom of speech.

Perhaps it is time to tone down the rhetoric and to start exercising our mental capabilities to find a reasonable to most common ground.

HERE IS A THOUGHT: President Trump can issue an Executive Order — his predecessors were good at that — to (a) ban sales of large capacity magazines, (b) require local AND federal (FBI) background checks on anyone who wants to buy any firearm, and (c) limit ammunition purchases to 100 rounds. He also could ban small caliber assault rifles. Give Congress six (6) months to create and pass a bill to replace the executive order. See which politicians run to the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the executive order.

IN TRUTH, Americans have been losing rights for decades.

At one point, an American could travel anywhere in the world sans passport.

Now, Americans must show a passport (or equivalent card) to enter the country from anywhere — even Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean islands, long weekend destinations; no visa required.

On the other hand, Franklin Delano Roosevelt imprisoned thousands of American citizens BY EXECUTIVE ORDER simply because he deemed their ancestry “suspicious.” THAT was a real loss of civil rights.¹

Americans are told to give their Social Security numbers at any number of places.

(A former employee of the Social Security Administration says there are only a few organizations that have the legitimate right to collect and use your Social Security number, mostly limited to the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service).

The SSN probably is the main source of identity theft — yet most Americans share the information with anyone who asks. ²

There are privacy issues on so-called social media.

Those privacy issues need to be dismissed. Anyone posting on this media knows it is not secure; it equates to walking down a public street or sitting in a public park. Social media is public media.

Many attacks — with guns and with other weapons — have been announced on social media well before the event. A look at the attacker’s on-line history also gives a clue as to the person’s mental state. At the same time, law enforcement MUST get its act together and share information with appropriate organizations (other law enforcement, schools, mental health, etc.) At the same time. the ability to hold a person suspected of a mental illness needs to be extended from three days to five.

Is there ANY reason a hunter needs a 30-round magazine? For that matter, is an assault rifle — an AK 47 or M-4 carbine type weapon — really a good deer rifle? The M-4 fires a 5.56mm (.222) round, lighter than the minimum for deer-size animals.

Is there any reason a home defense long gun needs a 30-round magazine or a side arm a 16-round magazine? Are homeowners expecting fire fights or are they just playing “cowboy?” If a fire fight — a highly unlikely event — is expected, keep several loaded 10-cartridge magazines at hand.

In any event, a short-barrel shotgun is a better home defense weapon that either a long gun or a side arm.⁴

It goes without saying that all fully-automatic weapons should be limited to the military.

Everyone buying any type weapon needs to prove they know how to use it safely and undergo a thorough background check, including fingerprints, at both state and federal levels. We have licensing tests for drivers — why not for gun purchasers?

Bottom line for guns: magazines with less capacity, a total ban on fully-automatic weapons, and thorough background checks, with fingerprints.

Leftist must realize that just because a person is Caucasian and conservative that the person is not automatically a racist, xenophobic, white supremacist. At the same time, those on the right must acknowledge that the incumbent in the White House sometimes — often — has a knee jerk reaction even to minor criticisms that provoke leftists.

It’s not a matter of “civil rights.” It’s a matter of civility.

We — left and right — need to SHUT UP AND LISTEN to what the other side has to say. Too often we shout down different opinions, some of which may be worth consideration.

The left, more than the right, has been successful at preventing any opinions but their own to be heard; freedom of speech has to work both ways.

Civil rights still does not allow anyone to yell FIRE! In a crowded theater.

 

America is a great country. We have had political differences since before nationhood, but in my lifetime I never have seen such hatred of different opinions, such vilification of opponents and their views. The width of the space between left and right now has become a chasm, with the middle ground a no man’s land.

America can survive many things, but it cannot survive in its present state.

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Sources

1. FDR imprisons citizens - http://tinyurl.com/y53mztcw

2: Social Security - https://www.usa.gov/about-social-security

3: Hunting ammo - http://tinyurl.com/y2ad9drf

4. Shotgun - http://tinyurl.com/y4rw7k5q

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Comments on Civil rights

Opuscula A few more Words about Gun control

ISRAEL HAS “PRETTY TOUGH” GUN laws for all of its citizens.

Guns normally are not even the “weapons of choice” for terrorists from the PLO and Hamas-controlled areas and their sympathizers.

WHAT ARE THE JEW-HATERS favorite weapons?

#1: Knives
#2: Bombs (suicide is considered “heroic”)
#3: Rocks, stones, and building materials
#4: Rockets, compliments of Iran

Guns are used when available, especially against unarmed Israelis (Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc.)

 

This screed was prompted by a recent incident in California where, according to the Associated Press’ Robert Jablon, A man who was “full of anger” went on a two-hour stabbing and robbery rampage in Southern California, killing four people and wounding two others, authorities said Wednesday.¹

MSN’s Jaclyn Cosgrove reported that Garden Grove Police Lt. Carl Whitney said the motive appeared to be robbery, as well as anger and hate. Police said there was no indication that the attacks were racially motivated.²

Knives, standard kitchen knives, are used in more attacks than acknowledged.

Guns are the choice for murderer want-to-be’s because the killer can stay distant from his or her victim. Knives require getting close and personal.

Close and personal means that the victim might prevail and the potential killer could end up dead or captured.

Kitchen knives and cleavers are common household items. Translation: they are easily acquired. Axes require a trip to the garage, shed, or hardware store and proclaim that the Assault with a Deadly Weapon (ADW) was planned; premeditated.

When a resident of a PLO or Hamas-controlled area enters Israel with a weapon, the crime only can be defined as “premeditated.”

Bayonets and hunting knives seem to be out of favor for potential murders. They simply are not as accessible as kitchen knives.

Although only four people were murdered — with two more wounded — in California, I doubt the politicians clamoring for gun controls will have a word to say about the knife-wielding suspect other than, very likely, that it all is President Trump’s fault.

(Unfortunately for those about scream “white supremacist,” “racist,” or “xenophobe” in this case, the AP reported, The suspect and all the victims were Hispanic.¹)

TALKING HEADS DEPT.

This morning a network tv promo told me that people in places the president visited turned out en masse to protest the visit.

When the more complete report aired, the “reporter” said that crowds turned out both to support ( ! ) and protest the presidential visit.

By the way, one word could turn the previous paragraph from “reporting” to “slanting” the news. Instead of the “reporter” said if I wrote the “reporter” admitted the slant might not be obvious, but it would have had an impact, subconscious or otherwise. Reporter, in quotes, does show my disdain for today’s journalists, which I admit.

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Sources

1. https://apnews.com/5e44f7bd106f4fce8da21c2c11f334fc

2: MSN http://tinyurl.com/yx9q83fs

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Comments on Knives kill

Opuscula A few words About gun Control options

I AM

A gun owner

The father of two sons, one a police detective, who own both sidearms and long guns

A holder of a concealed weapons license in my home state

Not a member of the NRA

Politically conservative

Caucasian but NOT a “white supremacist”

NOT xenophobic

A one-time (long, long ago) military medic

Image of firearms from http://tinyurl.com/y37fdtnv

I have

Been shooting since I was about six years old (starting with a .22 rifle)

Owned sidearms and long guns

Never killed, or even shot, anyone

I firmly believe

In-depth background checks are needed for everyone who wants to buy a gun, any gun

That in order to buy a firearm the purchaser needs to prove he/she knows how to safely use it — we have to pass a driving test, why not a shooting test?

That too many guns of all types are illegally acquired sans any control

Fully automatic weapons should be limited to the military (not even law enforcement)

That there is NO need for high capacity magazines in any weapon

That there are better hunting rifles than assault rifles; they should be limited to the military; does a hunter really need 30 rounds to kill an animal? (If "Yes," then the hunter needs give up the weapon.)

A shotgun is a much better home defense weapon than an assault rifle

That law enforcement agencies at all levels MUST share information

That “social media” must be considered as “public” as a sidewalk and information on it shall not be protected nor require law enforcement to seek judicial permission (warrants) to view it

That “see something, say something” should be encouraged; several of the mass shooters made clear their inclinations or intent, but no one said anything until after the fact

I do NOT believe

The U.S. needs a total ban on civilian-owned firearms; places where firearms are banned or severely limited still have crimes committed with firearms; bans are useless

Anyone has ever been murdered by an NRA member

That gun control should NOT be a political issue; it is above politics

 

BOTTOM LINE In this scrivener’s opinion, we need reasonable gun laws and strict enforcement, with greatly improved cooperation between law enforcement agencies and citizens who report what they see to authorities who will ACT on the information. If some “civil rights” are abused, it is for the welfare of the entire community. Remember, Democrat Franklin Delano Roosevelt put AMERICANS of Japanese, German, and Italian descent into concentration camps "for the good of the nation."

PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Comments on Gun control