These interesting, but totally weird wheels, were the defining feature on an otherwise piece-of-shit Chevrolet truck seen today while out and about. Yes, all four wheels were like this.
Where else could this happen other than in Tijuana del Norte?
I spotted this shiny black 1940 Chevy Coupé in traffic today. I love it when somebody takes the time to restore a classic and allows it to be seen in public. They bring a little class, nostalgia and beauty, to those of us that can appreciate it.
Clickable image.
These loaded magazines demonstrate the three photographic perspectives: linear, aerial and focus. Three .45 cal 230 gr. 10-round double stacked magazines.
Very artsy-fartsy if I do say so myself.
For the first time ever, the better half and I decided to take our Christmas vacation on the road. In order to prepare for the trip, I anticipated a couple of things about our trip and equipment that might compromise our personal security.
First, I figured the door locks on the camper section of the RV we rented would be crappy. I was absolutely correct - if you didn’t have the dead-bolt in place, the door would pop open
Second, I knew that we would likely stay in a remote area campground where there would be little in the way of lights and security. Right again - a couple of the campgrounds were away from 911 coverage on the wireless - you know, NO BARS.
Given flimsy locks and remote locations, I was very glad to have the S&W 686 tucked away in the sleeping bag as we blissfully slumbered in the peace and tranquility of the night.
UPDATE: Thanks to Liberty Sphere, this post made the Second Amendment News Roundup.
Last week, I posted about our December 28, 2008 crossing Hoover Dam on U.S. 93 northbound from Arizona to Nevada. Dam Security was the topic, but a remark in the comments about the Hoover Dam bypass project got me to do a little research. I found a lot of good information on the Hoover Dam Bypass Project website.
Image: What the future bridge will look like.
Here’s some of the history:
Design work for the Hoover Bypass Project began in August 2001. The earlier studies and environmental evaluations had identified the Sugarloaf Mountain Roadway Alignment as the preferred alternative. The new roadway alignment will begin near the Hacienda Hotel and Casino on the Nevada side and follow a route just south of existing U.S. 93 to the Reclamation warehouse area. The proposed alignment will then cross over the existing roadway in a northeast direction, curve back around to the southeast and cross back over to the south side of the existing roadway. The proposed alignment will then proceed in a southeast direction and cross the Colorado River approximately 1,500 feet downstream of the Hoover Dam. The new highway will then proceed past Sugarloaf Mountain and tie into existing U.S. 93 at about milepost 2 in Arizona. The proposed construction includes canyon crossing bridges, grade separation structures, wildlife crossings and the Colorado River crossing. Several power line towers will also have to be relocated to make way for the new highway.
After the bypass is completed the existing highway will remain in service but will not carry US 93 through traffic. The existing roadway will continue to provide access to the dam and the Bureau of Reclamation facilities. Also, the existing roadway will be needed to provide access for tourists visiting the Dam facilities. The design team is studying options to provide visitor facilities. These options will accommodate vehicular traffic, parking and pedestrian activities, both at the dam site and at the new bridge.
The inset image above is clickable; it came from a webcam image at the construction site, so I assume this is the current state of construction. The project, according to the website. is on schedule and will be open to traffic in late 2010.
If the first amendment were treated like some politicians treat the second . . .
To speak out publicly, you would need to pass a political competence examination, both written and orally. Then you would need to have a thorough background check, fingerprinting and pay a registration fee. If approved, you would have a waiting period of 10 days or more before you can express yourself.
Once you are approved for public expression, you may select only approved topics from a Department of Justice list. You will be restricted to only one political speech or blog post in any thirty-day period. Regardless of whether you have properly followed the process before, you will have to subsequently repeat the entire process each time you wish to express yourself.
Any electronic medium (computer, wireless device, etc.) by which you express yourself will have to be on another approved list and be registered with the DOJ. A fee will be required for each device registration.
You will not be allowed to speak out within earshot of certain places like schools, parks, hospitals, town halls or shopping centers. Your electronic publications will not be allowed behind the firewalls at these locations.
Of course, if you have spoken out without following the process, your rights will be permanently suspended. You need not apply again.
Oh, and if you expect to be able to attend a spoken or electronic expression show to make your views known, forget about it. The expression show loophole will have long been closed.
With all of the preceding in mind, does it make any sense at all to treat any component of the bill of rights any differently than the others? Think about it.
Just some simple gun pr0n for a Sunday evening . . .
About 50 rounds of 158 grain .357 target ammo went through the S&W 686 today. Sometimes, it would hit near the center of the target, too. A lot of fun, indeed.
I get my truck into the shop every few months for a tune-up and oil change. If something needs fixing, it gets fixed. I keep my truck compliant with all safety and emissions requirements imposed by the state. I pay to have it inspected every two years. I have a good driving record and get a break on my liability and collision vehicle insurance. I’m a long-standing member of the Auto Club.
Clickable Image: Piece of Shit Flatbed
That’s why it galls the living shit out of me when I see a piece of shit (pre-Nissan) Datsun flatbed piled high with a tenuously-secured teetering load, making “poomp poomp poomp” noises and spouting gray smoke from the exhaust. How in the hell, I wonder, does this asshole comply with safety and emissions requirements?
There seems to be a special “exception” for non-compliant vehicles used in pursuit of a “business.” Oh, by the way, the state recently imposed additional emissions restrictions on the rest of us in order to offset the shit coming out of these “exceptional” vehicles.
It’s time to get these piles of crap off the streets.
