Monday - August 24, 2009

FOUND AT LAST.  THE POSSIBLE ORIGINS OF HIP-HOP

some fancy footwork?

OK, SO IF YOU INSIST ON FINDING THE STORY THAT RUNS WITH THIS, GO HERE

AND TO THINK, THE PUTZES WHO DREAM UP THIS STUFF ARE UNELECTED AND PAID BY ???

Sure. Who do ya think they get paid by?  BMEWS didn’t hire these absolute schmucks.  Aggghghhhhhhh

RCOB ...  Jerks. All jerks. I’m trying to think of something clever here.  Forget it. BLANK. Just blank.

These ppl really do not have anything else to do. Do they? Maybe they aren’t employable. ?  How do they manage to see things that just are not there.  Jeesh.

Right-hand man, gentleman’s agreement and whiter than white: PC quangos ban common phrases to avoid causing offence

By James Slack, Home Affairs Editor
Last updated at 2:19 AM on 24th August 2009

Nonsense: Matthew Elliott said ‘Most people assumed that this sort of PC madness went out in the 1980s.’

Right-hand man, gentleman’s agreement and whiter than white are the latest phrases to fall foul of the political correctness lobby.

Government quangos have issued fresh lists of phrases they are seeking to ban to avoid causing offence.

Staff at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission have been advised to use ‘miserable day’ instead of ‘black day’. The Commission claims that certain words carry a ‘hierarchical valuation of skin colour’.

It also cautions that the term ethnic minority can imply ‘something smaller and less important’ and should be used with care.

The examples of political correctness emerged in answer to a series of Freedom of Information requests.

Some institutions have urged workers to watch out for gender bias or sexism in language.

The Learning and Skills Council wants staff to ‘perfect’ their brief rather than ‘master’ it while Newcastle University reckons ‘master bedroom’ can be problematic.

The National Gallery in London says the phrase gentleman’s agreement may be considered offensive to women and suggests using ‘unwritten agreement’ or ‘ agreement based on trust’ instead.

The phrase right-hand man is also considered taboo, with ‘second in command’ thought more suitable. Advice issued by the South West Regional Development Agency says: ‘Terms such as black sheep of the family, black looks and black mark have no direct link to skin colour but potentially serve to reinforce a negative view of all things black.

‘Equally, certain terms imply a negative image of black by reinforcing the positive aspects of white.

‘For example, in the context of being above suspicion, the phrase whiter than white is often used. Purer than pure or cleaner than clean are alternatives which do not infer that anything other than white should be regarded with suspicion.’

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘Most people assumed that this sort of PC madness went out in the 1980s, when Margaret Thatcher reined in the Left-wing councils, so it’s unbelievable that it’s rearing its head again.

SEE MORE HERE

Here’s what a few Daily Mail readers had to say.

ALL GLORIOUS COMRADES TAKE NOTE.  ATTN PLEASE WHILE EUROPE PRONOUNCES

Stupid fuckin socialist dipshits!

PUBLIC URGED TO SNOOP ON BLUB SHOPS

THE public has been urged by the govt. to inform trading standards officers about shops that continue to sell traditional light bubs banned by Europe.

From Sept. 1st it will be illegal to make or import coventional pearl or frosted bulbs of any shape or wattage.

All traditional incandescent bulbs of 100watts will also be banned.  They will be replaced by energy-saving bulbs.

But it is thought that consumers still prefer the traditional type because of the apparent poor quality of light from the new bulbs.

Daily Telegraph
Monday
24 August ‘09

it is thought that consumers still prefer the traditional type
Well duh.  Who pays any attention to the consumer when the eu speaks?

note to p. BUY another hundred bulbs today.

ON the other hand.

‘Green’ Germans hoard traditional bulbs to beat ban

By David Derbyshire
Last updated at 1:34 AM on 24th August 2009

Germans have been stockpiling vast numbers of energy-hungry lightbulbs

Germany’s green credentials have long made it the spiritual home of tree-huggers across the world.

But those who actually live there seem reluctant to embrace the eco-warriors’ latest symbol - the energy-saving lightbulb.

Germans have been stockpiling vast numbers of old-fashioned energy-hungry lightbulbs ahead of next week’s EU ban on many of them.

Sales of conventional incandescent bulbs shot up 34 per cent in the first six months of this year as consumers hoarded the dwindling supplies.

In most other European countries, sales fell over the same period. In Britain, where big retailers introduced a voluntary ban on 100 watt bulbs in January, sales are down by a fifth.

Brussels is banning all pearl or frosted traditional bulbs and clear 100 watt bulbs from September 1 as part of its drive to cut carbon dioxide emissions and tackle climate change.

Stocks are expected to run out in most towns by the end of next month, forcing householders to buy energy-saving compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) or low-energy halogen bulbs.

The figures highlighting Germany’s unwillingness to switch to CFLs have surprised some in a country with such a strong green movement and which brought the world the eco-friendly repairable Birkenstock sandal.

DAILY MAIL

   Sunday - August 23, 2009

Adventures in moving, day 1

I got both my cleaning jobs done today, and got home. Super hot and muggy. Best time to haul furniture around. But I was smart, and got one of those “forearm forklifts” to help. You get a pair of 4” nylon webbing straps, about 7 feet long, and each one has padded loop sections on the end. Slide the things under a big piece of stuff, slide your arms into the holes, slide the webbing right up to the edge of your elbows, grab, and lift. And son of a B, it’s a whole lot easier. Even my little bitty wife was able to lug her end of things.

So we get back from taking a carload over, soaked with sweat. The power isn’t on in the new place yet, so no air conditioning or fans or anything. Phone rings. It’s Doc, he wants to talk reloading. Yeah Doc, that was 47 grains of powder we used. Sorry, I’m kind of busy. So I gave him the 30 second story about our living situation, and how we’re jumping on this deal ASAP. “So what the heck are you taking carloads for? Get down here and borrow my Suburban.”

And we did. This is what these land whales were made for. 110” long sofa? Right inside. Plus it’s cushions, plus 4 bags of clothes, plus 2 rolled up rugs. One load. Giant section leather sofa? 2 trips, but we also took the Ottoman, 2 lamps, and a couple bags of stuff. Dining room? One trip. Dining table ( I took the legs off ), 6 chairs, sofa table, side board. Friggin awesome. We made about 6 trips and moved a third of our furniture. I had to get the truck back cuz they’re taking #1 daughter off the college tomorrow. And I was a good guy and put some gas in it. Actually, I put in quite a bit more gas than I’d intended. We only drove maybe 40 miles total, and the gauge was still nearly on 3/4 tank. So I pulled into the gas station and told the guy to fill it up. Hey, how bad could it be? The tank filled up, the needle went to full, the needle went past full, and the thing continued to take gas for another 5 minutes. I swear. I put 20 gallons of gas in that truck. Holy cow. $50!!! So I took it back, said how great it was ... and he’s telling me the truck story, how he knew some guy who was moving to England, who got all ready to go and was nearly out the door on the way to the airport when he remembered he was supposed to sell the Suburban. So he calls up Doc, who gives him $3000 cash for it on the spot. For an 8 year old Suburban. “Oh, and this one is sweet too. It’s got all the extras. Leather seats, fancy stereo, trunk liners, dual tanks, power everything...” Dual tanks? “Yeah, dual tanks. I fill it up about once every two months, since we don’t use it that much.” Ok, now I get it!

Jokes on me. Besides, it would have cost me that much to rent a truck for the day anyway.

But boy am I tired right now. I’ve got time to throw the 4 shirts I soaked with sweat in the wash, take another shower, and get to sleep. I’ll be taking little Saturn loads of stuff over all this coming week, maybe 4, 5 times a day. While trying to get everything else done. By Wednesday I think I’ll be crazy.

   Saturday - August 22, 2009

He must be looking for his own personal tax break

Shilling For The Left: Travel Guide Arthur Frommer


Travel Icon Says He’ll Avoid Arizona Because of Gun Laws

PHOENIX — Well-known travel icon Arthur Frommer said he’ll avoid visiting Arizona because state laws permit “thugs” and “extremists” to openly tote guns.

Frommer, the author of budget-travel guides, said on his blog Wednesday that he was “shocked beyond measure” by reports that protesters openly carried guns and rifles outside a Phoenix building where President Barack Obama spoke on Monday.

As a result, Frommer said he won’t be spending his tourism dollars at the Grand Canyon, or anywhere else in Arizona, because he doesn’t want to travel in a state where civilians carry loaded weapons as a means of political protest.

“I will cancel any plans to vacation or otherwise visit in Arizona until I learn more,” Frommer wrote. “And I will begin thinking about whether tourists should safeguard themselves by avoiding stays in Arizona.”

And I am totally certain that Arizona does not give thugs - at least those already convicted of being thugs - the right to openly carry, or probably even own, firearms.

Free Bowling For Everyone

Woo hoo! Free Bowling!!

The USBC is giving away a free game of bowling to anybody and everybody. The want the whole country to stop by their local lanes on Saturday September 5th and give it a try.

Coupons can be downloaded from here. Fill out the form, download it, print one per person, and go. That’s all there is to it.

Ok, you’ll have to rent a pair of bowling shoes if you don’t have any.




Well, there is an easier way ...

   Friday - August 21, 2009

Moving on out

Well, I guess it’s a done deal. We’re moving.

I don’t have much say in the matter.

Three weeks ago this wasn’t even a blip on the radar.

Now I have a week and a half to pack up this whole place and shuttle it over to another apartment. And if all goes well, I’ll get to do that all over again soon thereafter.

I guess it’s a step in the right direction, but frankly I could do without the whole thing.

So glad I spent half a day this week getting the cable service squared away. I hope the account is transferable. I think it is.

So, assuming we can get the power turned on, services activated, et cetera, in good order, there shouldn’t be any interruption of blogging here at BMEWS. Assuming my PC survives the trip.

And I know damned well it’s going to be me doing 95% of the work, just like always happens with any other project “we” get involved in. Always.

And of course, it has to happen when the weather is just friggin sweltering.

Can you tell I’m just thrilled to pieces? And so looking forward to the whole thing? No? Neither can I.



UPDATE:

Ok, it’s not as bad as I thought.

Here’s the deal. We’re looking to purchase a home, either a small house or one of these condos here in the area. If you can buy right now, you can get in on this $8000 first time buyer’s tax credit, and if you haven’t bought a house in 3 years you qualify as a first time buyer. And right now the market is a bit depressed around here. Lots of homes on the market, not many buyers. We’ve been watching the “comps” on these condos, and while there are about 40 of them for sale in the 8 condo parks in the area, very few are actually closing. Less than one every other month for the past year. Prices are down ... some. Not enough in my opinion: in 2000, places like the one we’re in right now sold for $80,000. In 2007 they were asking $200,000 but closing on $185,000. Now the asking price is down to $163,000, and the rare closings are in the low $150s. And we’ve found several that need some fixing up, modernizing, or some general repairs for less than that. We’ve found a couple that are in foreclosure, or short sale, or REO (whatever that means), for as much as $30,000 below market. So we’re hot to get one.

So why move? Well, the lease is up here in a couple of weeks. And by a very long, involved, soap opera -esque story, my wife’s boss has a bigger condo in perfect condition, in the swankier area, that he prepaid an entire year’s rent on, that he can’t unload. It was occupied for just 3 weeks, and now he needs a tenant. We are moving in, but only paying the same rent that we’re paying here. And that place has gas heat, so the utilities bill will be less.

And it’s huge. It’s easily 25% larger than this place, with better parking to boot. Brand new carpet in all the rooms, brand new lino in the kitchen. Everything works, even the intercom and the alarm system. He’s willing to eat a couple hundred bucks a month loss, instead of the whole thing. So while we try and wheel and deal for a place of our own to own, we can live there, in style, for a few bucks less than what it’s costing us now.

And I’m going to try and get a job from him. Maybe I can become an eyeball tech like my wife, or just be a receptionist. The pay isn’t going to be great, but it’s steady work, indoors, with no heavy lifting. You see, he suddenly finds himself in need of another tech. And another junior receptionist. Because his tenants were his employees and they both quit, single mother and just out of high school daughter. And they moved out. And they took all the clothing and furniture he had bought them. And stuck him with a prepaid year long lease on a really nice apartment he has no use for now. See, doc was a bit of a playa ... and was only thinking with the little brain, not the big one. So we can help him out by letting him help us out, and if I can get a job there it will be helping him out even more, and the regular dependable employment there will only help us mortgage-wise.

I’m getting too old to be hanging off of ladders washing windows. And while the money is AWESOME when I get work, I’m not getting enough work to make it worthwhile. The big jobs are few and far between, and the little jobs have just about evaporated in this bad economy. So it’s time to get a regular job again. But at least I was my own boss for a few years, and that’s a good thing.

So I’ll be taking stuff over to the new apartment one carload at a time for the next week, then we’ll rent a truck to move the big stuff. And if we have to pay a little extra to our landlord to keep this current place another week or two, that’s fine. Why knock ourselves dead, when the move is less than 5 miles away? Take it slow and easy. And if it takes a couple months to close on a short sale home, we have a nice place to stay in the meantime. Heck , we can stay there 11 months if we want, and then pay full rent thereafter. But I don’t think it will take that long.

crowder time

Take your wins where you can find them.

I’d call this a small step in the right direction. When I see my Senators burning the health “reform” bill on the steps of the Capitol, then I’ll celebrate.

“Of course we can beat them. I shall drag the United States in.” Churchill, 1940

Well heck. Seems to be my day for living in the past.

Actually, the Mail has been running a series on Churchill from a Max Hastings book and it is really very interesting.
For example, I knew many Brits were somewhat envious of the ‘Yanks’ once the war started and they (Yanks) were, “Over Here.”
I knew many a poor Tommy was jealous too coz many a Yankee was seen as horning in on his territory re. the ladies. I guess that sort of thing was normal.  With Americans making so much more money compared to the Brit serviceman, and being able to afford so much, I guess it’s just human nature after all. That plus throw in real Nylons and hey.  In like Flynn, as the saying later went.

Ah, but what I’d never realized before today was, these folks didn’t much like us anyway. Even if the many didn’t even know us except through Hollywood, they sure as hell loved our movies.  There was a thread of dislike. A thin one to be certain, but it was there nonetheless.  And it got worse later, perhaps with good reason. 

Privately Churchill called them ‘bloody Yankees’ - but with a lover’s ardour he fawned, flattered and flirted to woo the U.S.

By Max Hastings
Last updated at 8:54 AM on 20th August 2009

Next month sees the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II. It was a conflict that Britain could not have won without one man - Winston Churchill.

And it was his inspiration that prevented us from joining the rest of Europe in surrendering to Hitler. To mark the occasion, the Mail is publishing a major two-week series by the distinguished war historian Max Hastings.

Today, in part four, he tells how Churchill realised Britain’s only chance of beating Nazi Germany lay in persuading the United States to join the war.

Winston Churchill was standing in front of the washbasin in his bedroom and shaving with his old-fashioned Valet razor when his son Randolph burst in.

Churchill had been prime minister for a week, taking over in a crisis as German troops were on the march, scything through Belgium and France and heading for the Channel ports.

I shall drag the United States in.

Randolph sat and waited. Later, he described what happened next. ‘After two or three minutes of hacking away at his face, he half-turned and said: “I think I see my way through.” He resumed his shaving.

I was astounded, and said: “Do you mean that we can avoid defeat?” (which seemed credible) “or beat the bastards?” (which seemed incredible). He flung his razor into the basin, swung around and said with great intensity: “Of course we can beat them. I shall drag the United States in.“‘

Here was a characteristic Churchillian flash of revelation, and all the more brilliant because it came in 1940, when the fighting had barely begun and the prospect of the U.S. joining in was remote.

A poll at the time showed Americans were opposed to participation in the European conflict by an overwhelming 13 to one. The Senate rejected a proposal to sell ships and planes to Britain and the attorney-general ruled such a sale illegal under the Neutrality Act.

In Britain, meanwhile, few people had anything but contempt for Americans for absenting themselves from the struggle against Hitler. ‘I have little faith in them,’ a Battle of Britain pilot wrote. ‘I suppose in God’s own time God’s own country will fight.’ But he wasn’t holding his breath.
Hitler

Bitterness and suspicion came from all levels of society. Lord Halifax, Britain’s ambassador in Washington, admitted in private that ‘I have never liked Americans.’ Many Tory MPs shared his distaste. One wrote: ‘They really are a strange and unpleasing people. It is a nuisance that we are so dependent on them.’

Even Churchill was heard to refer to ‘those bloody Yankees’.

Yet he perceived with a clarity that eluded most of his fellow countrymen that U.S. aid was the only thing that would make an Allied victory over Hitler possible. On its own, the best Britain could do was to avoid defeat. Not until the U.S. joined the war could winning be a realistic aspiration.

Thereafter, Churchill wooed, flattered, charmed and strong-armed the United States with consummate skill as he fought to persuade Americans to set aside their caricature view of Britain as a nation of stuffed-shirt sleepy-heads and to see her people instead as battling champions of freedom.

But it was a slow process, with numerous humiliations for Britain along the way. When the U.S. lifted its arms ban and agreed to supply Britain with guns, tanks and planes, it was on one strictly enforced condition - cash on delivery.

While America reaped huge profits from these arm sales, the British government exhausted every expedient to meet U.S. invoices. From Cape Town in South Africa, an American warship collected Britain’s last £50million in gold bullion.

During the Battle of Britain, the chancellor of the exchequer suggested calling in all the nation’s gold wedding rings and melting them down to pay the bills. Churchill vetoed such a drastic measure, unless it became necessary to make a parade of it to shame the Americans.

The underlying problem was a widespread American belief in British opulence, quite at odds with reality. The U.S. administration even demanded an audited account of Britain’s assets because it suspected Churchill was not being honest about resources. British ministers found the demand humiliating.

It was only when the last of Britain’s gold and foreign assets had been surrendered that the embattled nation began to receive direct aid from the U.S., through the ‘lend-lease’ scheme.

When the U.S. Congress agreed this in March 1941, Churchill’s relief was boundless. It ensured that, even though Britain’s cash was exhausted, shipments of weapons and supplies kept coming.

But the long-term price was high. Many British businesses in America were sold at fire-sale prices for whatever American rivals chose to pay.

Lend-lease’s conditions constraining British trade were so stringent that London had to plead with Washington to be allowed to buy Argentine meat, vital to feeding the British people. The governor of the Bank of England, Montagu Norman, wrote in March 1941 that ‘we are entirely in the hands of American “friends“‘.

Churchill pleaded with Roosevelt that, if Britain’s cash drain to the U.S. continued, then, though ‘victory was won with our blood and sweat, and civilisation saved, we should stand stripped to the bone’. Roosevelt ignored him. He gave not a thought to Britain’s post-war solvency.

Read the rest HERE

IT’S AUGUST 21st … 1 9 3 9 The issue is Danzig ….  13 DAYS TO WAR

The Telegraph has been running excerpts from the war years and 100 days before Sept. 3rd, 1939.  Each day another and seeing it in print in the hard copy, even if they didn’t give the the inches space I’d have liked, is still enjoyable. I wish they had done what used to be the practise of bygone years. That is, reproduce an entire page. Too costly I guess.

I’ve decided that surely there must be many of you besides myself, Turtler and Drew who have passions for history.  Speaking for myself, I can never seem to get enough of it. Not just the second war either. There’s just something about the past and it’s cultures and customs and architecture and wars and manners, that attract me.  I even enjoy historical novels when there’s something new to learn.  So I thought that over the coming weeks from time to time I’d share things here with BMEWS readers, and hope I won’t bore or drive away anybody. 

In addition to the postings from The Telegraph I will include some things on the same dates copied from a book I’m going through for the second time.
That would be Count Ciano’s diaries covering the years 1937 - 1943.  It’ll take a bit of doing since I am not a typist and the print in the book while quite readable, does present a minor problem. But I hope it will all be worth the effort.  I think it will but I can’t be the final judge of that. That’s up to our readers.

Danzig’s hour ‘approaching’ - Aug 21, 1939
“Come what may, we shall see the Fuehrer in Danzig. The hour is approaching when Danzig will return to the Reich.”

Published: 12:01AM BST 21 Aug 2009

Thus declared Herr Forster, the Danzig Nazi leader, to-day, addressing 4,000 of his followers at Langfuhr, near Danzig.

He added: “The Fuehrer will settle Germany’s problems calmly and peacefully,” although he capped it by saying the situation was critical.

“If the Poles had accepted Herr Hitler’s offers of last October and March,” he went on, “the Fuehrer would have renounced the Corridor and even much more. We Germans are a good-natured people. If we had not been so good-natured there would not be a Polish question to-day.”

Recalling the Czech crisis, Herr Forster said:

“In the Czech question the French and English must have realised that they could not frighten the Fuehrer, and they had better not put their fingers in to other people’s affairs.

“Every man and woman in Danzig must feel the tension in Europe to-day. All must feel that the storm is coming, because the present situation cannot endure.” – B.U.P

DANZIG

As many will know already, Count Ciano was the Italian Foreign Minister and Mussolini’s son-in-law. He was executed in 1943 on Mussolini’s orders, for voting in council against his leadership and the war. Which he had doubts about for a long time.  He fell into a trap in 43, thinking god knows why, that he might find safety with the Germans who he did not like at all. And especially the Nazi leadership who he saw for the most part as uncultured thugs.  But the Germans turned him over to The Duce, which should not have come as any surprise.  It’s so easy looking backward now that we already know what happened. The temptation to talk out loud to the long dead and say NO. Not that way, the other way. Turn around.  It’s tempting sometimes to want to talk to them all.
Man how I’d love to talk to Nelson and Drake and Lee and the list is endless.

On August 20, 1939 Ciano made this comment in his diary ...

Conference with Mussolini and Attolico.  The Duce has made up his mind and says its’ already too late to drop the Germans. If this should happen, the world press would say that Italy is cowardly, that’s not ready, and it has drawn back when faced with the specter of war. I try to debate the matter, but that is useless now.

AUGUST 21, 1 9 3 9

Today I have spoken clearly: I have burned all my bridges.  When I entered the room Mussolini confirmed his decision to march with the Germans. 
“Duce, you cannot and must not do it.  The loyalty with which I have served you in carrying out the policy of the Axis demands my speaking clearly to you now.  I went to Salzburg in order to adopt a common line of action.  I found myself faced with a dikat. The Germans, not ourselves, have betrayed the alliance in which we were supposed to be partners, and not servants.  Tear up the pact.  Throw it in Hitler’s face and Europe will recognize in you the natural leader of the anti-German crusade.  I will go to Salzburg and speak to the Germans as they should be spoken to.  Hitler will not have me put out my cigarette as he did with Schuschnigg.” I told him this and more.  He was very impressed and approved my proposal; namely, to ask von Ribbentrop to come to the Brenner Pass, speak frankly to him, and reafirm our rights as Axis partners.  He does not want the Axis to collapse for the time being, but if it should I would not be one to weep over it. 

We telephoned von Ribbentrop, who was unavailable for some time.  Fianlly, at 5:30p.pm., I speak to him and tell him that I want to see him at the Brenner Pass.  He says that he cannot give me an answer at once because he “is waiting for an important message from Moscow (sic) and will call me during the evening.” I report this to the Duce, who asks me, as he frequently does these days, what the tone of the conversation had been and what the German mood sounded like.

Another conference with the Duce.  He approves the document that I have drawn up for my discussion with von Ribbentrop and we settle on four points relating to events that might present themselves.  In my opinion three do not count, but one is fundamental:
The one which insists that we shall not intervene if the conflict is provoked by an attack on Poland.

ICE CAPS ARE MELTING … REALLY? WELL, MAYBE NOT SAYS GREENPEACE?

In a rush at this moment but found this and must post.
H/T Watts Up With That and James Dilingpole

Well it is that time of year again, the Arctic ice begins to melt, as it does every year, and all sorts of crazy talk starts coming out. This time from Greenpeace. I am encouraged though, as they have come around to the idea that maybe they are doing more harm than good by overselling the alarmism.

NSIDC also has taken a more moderate tone, announcing that there will “likely be no record low ice extent in 2009“. This is a sharp contrast to last year’s ridiculous press statement from NSIDC’s Dr. Mark Serreze about an “ice free north pole”. Now that Greenpeace has come clean on their statement, maybe Dr. Serreze will finally admit his statement was “a mistake”. – Anthony

From Not Evil Just Wrong:

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/08/19/ice-capades-greenpeace-recants-polar-ice-claim/

link for more

   Thursday - August 20, 2009

.45-60 Project, part 4 I think

In which Drew and Doc spend an afternoon sweating buckets, while using lead to shred 100 pounds of newspaper in the backyard. And great fun was had by all.



Spent some time this afternoon with Doc and his Uberti 1876 Winchester reproduction in .45-60. He came into a Dillon 550 press for just about free, so I’m teaching him how to reload.

Today we made ammo with the components he had on hand, plus fired off a few rounds I’d made him several months ago.

He had Reloader 7. In a round silver paper can. How old is that? It’s been in a black plastic jug ever since I’ve been rolling my own. But it was a sealed can before today, and the powder still worked, mostly.

None of the loads we tried today exceeded a calculated pressure of 27,000psi on the QuickLoad software, which is less than the rated pressure for this rifle, and none of them met the expected velocity either. Which leads me to believe that, as usual, QuickLoad generates pressures and velocities on the high side, for safety reasons. We were probably in the 20-22,000psi range.

Using Starline brass, with the rims thinned to 0.063” and the cases cut to about 1.89”, we loaded the Meister short nose 300gr cast bullet. That’s the one with 2 small crimping grooves. Seated to the rear groove it functions through the action with no problems at all. This gives an OAL of 2.239”, a hair short of the maximum 2.25” length.

Loads were of older Reloader 7, with charges going from 38 to 43.5gr, and average (6 shots each) velocity from 1733 to 1933ps. That’s from the Uberti’s 28” barrel. No pressure signs or even the slightest difficulty in extraction.  THIS LOAD DATA IS NOT FOR ORIGINAL WINCHESTER RIFLES, NOR FOR ANY OTHER BRAND OF REPRODUCTION 1876 RIFLES. Actually, I won’t be using any of these loads either. They went off, we got good velocities, but the shot to shot variation was too large. These are NOT GOOD LOADS. DO NOT USE THEM if you want any kind of repeatable accuracy.

But he only had Remington 9 1/2 Magnum primers, which he neglected to tell me! Velocity variation was pretty awful, varying from 90 to 124fps per 6 shot batch with these loads. Was it the primers or the powder? It could be either.

Magnum primers give much larger velocity variation than do regular primers. And they are totally unnecessary in a case as short as the .45-60.

Even the largest charge of Reloader 7 we used came nowhere near being a 100% density charge. Lower density loadings often have more velocity variation. Plus the Uberti has a small throat in the chamber. This means that the bullet can move about 2/3 of a diameter forward before it engraves itself on the rifling. I have a personal theory that this is the actual effective length of a cartridge, because before that the bullet has no real resistance against it, and you can’t build up pressure behind it (and thus get a clean powder burn) until such resistance happens. So this travel room equates to even more unused interior volume, which lowers the actual load density, which in turn can lead to even more velocity variation.

A “magic load” would be about 104% density, either settled or slightly compressed, so that on ignition it was still over 95% density at the bullet’s engraving length. This situation doesn’t really happen with modern bottlenecked cartridges, only the older straight walled ones. In a bottlenecked cartridge, (and the steeper the neck angle the more this applies) the bottleneck causes the igniting powder to swirl within the case, burning there all nice and dense, instead of being blown down the barrel before it gets fully ignited, as is often the case with straight cases. While most pistol cartridges are straight walled cases, they are comparatively very small, and they use much smaller amounts of powders that burn much, much faster, so this situation doesn’t really apply to them either. But large charges of slow powder in a big straight rifle case will often take 4” to over 12” to burn properly. And with a repeating rifle like this one, you can’t just seat the bullet to a longer length. The cartridge has to be kept short enough to function through the action. So it’s a challenge.

This project is even more of a challenge, since a) very little smokeless powder load data exists anywhere for this old black powder cartridge, and b) what little smokeless data there is, is for original rifles which are precious antiques by now. So those loads are little popgun rounds, which still manage to match the anemic original black powder velocities of around 1250fps. There is one person - ME - actively trying to develop modern loads for this modern version of an antique rifle and cartridge. But hey, that’s the same thing I’ve been doing for a decade with my .45-70, and I’ve been pretty successful at that.

I had some rounds I had loaded with 40gr of new Reloader 7, behind the Cast Performance 300 GCPFP bullet. Seated to it’s crimp groove, this round is too long for the action at 2.32”, but it single rounds hand feed just fine. And my loads used either CCI or Federal regular primers. These loads averaged 1850fps, but had a 80fps spread from the 6 rounds we fired. Not great.

The last ammo I had for him used the same Cast Performance bullet, same length, but 49gr IMR3031. 5 rounds. The first 4 were all within 15fps of each other, averaging 1875fps. Round 5 went 1812fps, throwing off the variation of the whole batch. Was that an anomoly indicitave of a bad powder choice, or did I use a slightly lighter charge? I don’t know. I try to weigh each charge to well within a tenth of a grain, but I’m not a machine. And a small breath of air or a small temperature change can throw off the scale’s reading. You do your best, but shit happens anyway.

So we learned several things: the new .45-60 from Uberti is a great rifle, though it’s very heavy. It’s toggle link action is at least strong enough for rated pressure loads. The .45-60 in a modern proofed rifle is easily the equal of the .454 Casull or .450 S&W lever guns, and encroaches on .45-70 factory ammo specs. Reloader 7 is not the right powder. IMR3031 might be better. Next powders up will be Norma 200, Reloader 10x, Ramshot X-Terminator, and maybe BLC-2. We’ll try a little faster, a little slower, and see what happens. If I could lay my hands on some XMR 2015 - the stuff is really hard to find lately - I think that one would be just about right.

We fired the bullets from 10-15 feet, across the chronograph and into bundled dry newspaper. The Meister bullets penetrated about 2 feet of that but then shattered. SHATTERED. Into dust. Way too brittle an alloy. The Cast Performance bullets drilled right through 3+ feet of newspapers and magazines, and kept right on going. Though to be fair, by the time we got around to shooting them, the paper was pretty chewed up. So who knows? But they shot right through all of it. Good thing the rifle was pointing towards a patch of woods.

This was my first time shooting into dry newspapers. They get hot! Put a few 300gr bullets into them and the papers are hot to the touch. And utterly destroyed too. We turned 100lbs of newsprint into confetti, just about. Fun! 45 caliber bullets like these chew a hole into newsprint nearly as big around as your forearm. Easily 1 3/4” in diameter. That’s a damn big bullet hole.

Thugs and Fools

Plaxico Burress Gets 2 Years In Jail

For shooting himself in the leg

Wow, that’s really shooting yourself in the foot, ain’t it?



I’m starting to wonder if NFL should stand for Nutha Felon League?

Former New York Giant Plaxico Burress pleaded guilty Thursday to a weapons charge and agreed to a two-year prison term for accidentally shooting himself at a Manhattan nightclub.

The ex-wide receiver pleaded guilty to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon, a lesser charge than he initially faced. Under a plea agreement, he agreed to a two-year prison sentence and two years of supervised release.

Burress was indicted earlier this month on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment. He faced a minimum sentence of 3 1/2 years if convicted at a trial.

The football star and former teammate Antonio Pierce were at the Latin Quarter nightclub in late November when a gun tucked into Burress’ waistband slipped down his leg and fired, shooting him in the right thigh. The bullet narrowly missed a nightclub security guard who was standing inches away, prosecutors said, lodged in the floor and was recovered by a bartender.

Geex, this guy is like 300lbs, 8 feet tall, and all muscle. And he goes to places where even he feels the need to carry a gun, laws be damned. Horry Clap. If you’re living in the area where this shooting took place ... MOVE !!!



And you know what’s going to happen. He’ll go to jail, spend the entire time there working out, have his much publicized Come To Jesus moment, be released early, and get an even bigger contract than before. Just like Michael Vick.

Funny how paroled felons in every other walk of life in our country have a hard time getting work. But in sports they go right back in. Even the sportscasters. Pretty much no matter what the crime is. Truly, you can kill people and still keep your job if you play pro sports. But don’t say the word “monkey” or you’ll be fired forever!

Wow, this must be humiliating

She’s a Man, baby?



Lady looks like a dude?



Gender Bender in track & field?

A South African teenager will be forced to take a test to prove she is a woman after storming to victory Wednesday in the 800-meter sprint at the world championships.

Caster Semenya’s dominating run, which she won by a massive 2.45 seconds, came on the same day track and field’s ruling body said she was undergoing a gender test because of concerns she does not meet requirements to compete as a woman.

About three weeks ago, the international federation asked South African track and field authorities to conduct the verification test. Semenya had burst onto the scene by posting a world-leading time of 1:56.72 at the African junior championships in Maruitius.

Her dramatic improvement in times, muscular build and deep voice sparked speculation about her gender. Ideally, any dispute surrounding an athlete is dealt with before a major competition. But Semenya’s stunning rise from unknown teenage runner to the favorite in the 800 happened almost overnight. That meant the gender test — which takes several weeks — could not be completed in time.

The test takes several weeks? I’d figure a peek in her panties would take about 3 seconds. But I guess there’s more to it than that, and this could be the can opener that pops the lid on a whole huge can of worms. I have no idea of whether this Semenya is male or female, or even what the “requirements” of being a woman means. But if this is a border line case, then it will force the sports world to figure out what the role of the transgendered is in sporting competition. Because you can’t exclude them, even if they don’t fit easily into traditional gender categories.

And while we’re on the subject, what about elective sex changes? If a man is willing to take tons of hormone drugs and snip off his willy, does that mean he can compete in women’s events? If so, will this be the next deliberate path to sports fame? The sports world has not even been able to come to one decision about steroids, so this could be possible. Such an idea scares the peep out of me, but for some, fame and fortune is worth any price.

But that woman sure looks like a man to me.

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