More to follow.

Paul

As sakorick would say.

It's Monday morning, and I'm in the SeaTac airport headed to Los Anchorage after visiting/babysitting the grandsons in Utah while Mom, Dad, and little sister attended a wedding in DC.

All the ammo is loaded, (.338 Win Mag and .416x.348  Win ( NOT Ackley'd)) rifles sighted in, hotel rooms reserved, and permits and authorizations in order. (Show me your papers!) Sakorick arrives on Wednesday, and we leave for Delta Junction Thursday morning. We should be meeting Grant in DJ for aerial recon Friday afternoon after the morning 'orientation' from ADF&G. I am authorized to start hunting Saturday morning.

Based on the aerial recon, hopefully we will be able to find out where the majority of the herd is. If on private land, then I will get out my wallet and cough up the $400 or more, ($500 is my personal limit). If they are on public land, then we'll see if all of the horror stories about "combat hunting" are true.

God willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll be on some animals pretty quick. This past week here in Utah, I was able to get "up close and personal" with about 200 or so of them free-ranging on Antelope Island in the middle of the Great Salt Lake. Gave me a chance to watch how they move and get good visuals on picking the bulls out. It's not difficult if you are experienced in telling big males of ANY ungulate from the females. Nevertheless, it's always good to be observing the details you want from real animals as opposed to pictures. Fortunately, I have no legal obligation to shoot a bull as I have an "either secks" tag. However, as always, I'll be looking for the most meat, and in spite of all the BS to the contrary, males are bigger (and stronger and faster) than females, so I'll be looking for the biggest animal I can get a good, clean shot on.

Bison shoulder mounts don't particularly interest me. If you've seen one set of bull bison horns, you've pretty much seen them all. I will however be keeping every square inch of the hide, including the hooves. Getting that tanned will likely cost upwards of $1000. (So I've seen.) That will 'hurt', but I think the hide will be a better "trophy for posterity" than a shoulder mount would be.

Today is the first day of of the season for "group one". I'm in group two, and as I said, I can start hunting on Saturday the 5th. It's supposedly raining in DJ today and tomorrow, with highs in the high 30s (Fahrenheit). Wednesday the rain stops, but it remains cloudy and cold through Thursday. Friday is supposed to snow 2", and "trace amounts" on Saturday with daily highs still in the mid to upper 30s. Probably good tracking weather, but might preclude aerial recon on Friday.

That's about 'it' for the pre-hunt report. I'm gonna be pretty busy from here on out, so this may be the last report until Rick and I get back to Wasilla next week.

Paul

So.... My computer access to the internet has been off for at least the last 48 hours. I called my ISP and was told I need a new modem. I got a new modem. That wasn't the problem. Turned out I didn't have any dial tone on my landline. I called "Service". They checked, and said it wasn't on their end up to the house, and they would have to come out and have a look inside my house. A few hours later, I got a knock on my door. It was the tech people. They wanted to check my phone line. I said OK and let him in. He said:

"A bull moose tore up your pedestal. Ripped the cover off, and 'went at it' with all the wires inside. Completely destroyed the pedestal. You can see where he raked the sides of the cover. We fixed it and just want to make sure you have phone connection."

That'll teach that impudent phone pedestal!


Paul

It's always tougher than I think it's going to be. It was the first time I have used a vet to do it. On one hand, it was probably better for the dog, but on the other, it was a lot harder on me because it took so long. The better part of 45 minutes for the 'whole thing'.


14 years ago...

 

Paul

https://www.facebook.com/dawie.grundlingh.9/videos/365955690988422/


Paul

Yesterday, I got informed that both my youngest's father-in-law AND my 93-year-old, only remaining aunt, (maternal or fraternal), have both been placed in hospice care. My daughter's father-in-law might make it to Christmas. My aunt won't make to the end of next week. For those that don't know, when one enters into hospice care, ALL 'treatment' ceases. Period. The only therapy employed is pain management and providing for the most comfort.

Yesterday I made an appointment to have my dog put down.

A little over a month ago, my last remaining "uncle" died. (He was actually a cousin that was so much older than me, that he was more uncle than cousin.)

I know it's "the circle of life", but honestly, there is no solace in that hackneyed phrase. "Gone" is gone. Gone is gone.

Paul

My youngest has embarked on a path that has been throughout recorded history, a 'tough row to hoe'. She has chosen the 'artist's' path. While history gives us many examples of artists that have 'rock star' status, many were not famous in their own times. Caitlin has chosen to be a writer, and while my opinion as her father can hardly be viewed as objective, I still say that she is very good. When she graduated from high school, I told her that she was a more skilled writer than I was when I graduated from college.

In addition to being an author, she is starting a business as a publisher. (Red Sweater Press) In large part, the publishing business is a function of publishing her own works, but as she has be working as an author, (and as a journalist), she has come to realize the value, (and need for), people that can edit the written word. She is very good at editing, and therein lies the foundation for her business of publishing. She has a novel in the last stages of being edited, (not by her, but by another professional editor), and another in first draft form. She currently has 5 books of poetry published and one other book, (I'm not sure "what" it is exactly, not poetry, and not novel. It's a "theme" book. Maybe.)

A great deal of being a successful artist, (in this cas, author), is getting your 'name' established. Getting known. People can't know if they like your 'stuff' if they don't know you exist. Which brings me to the point of this post: I would like to ask my friends here at THL to help her get her name "out there". Caitlin's books are for sale on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Caitlin+buxbaum&ref=nb_sb_noss) and Blurb (https://www.blurb.com/b/9547639-wabi-sabi-world). I have no particular interest in the money that Caitlin would get should you decide to buy her books. In fact, I suspect that for the most part, "you guys" aren't exactly "poetry people". (I DO actually read a lot of poetry, and have since I was in HS. "You" aught to try it. You might find that you actually like it!) I think some of you might actually like some of Caitlin's poetry, but that's a little beside my point. My request is that you buy her books and give them to people that you think might like them. I'm thinking your friends, your children, your grandchildren, etc. Also, you could simply buy them and donate them to your local library. Or better yet, talk your local library into buying their own copies. The more her art is seen (read), the greater the opportunity for people to "find" her.

I don't want anyone to think I am twisting anyone's arm here. I don't want to know if you "did" or "did not" buy any of her books. Truly, it's not about "the money". I don't have enough friends at THL to make a monetary dent in the cost of running a business. BUT... My THL friends are found around the world, and planting a few seeds around the world just might help launch her career. I can't see how it could hurt. Frankly, I thought about buying the books myself and giving them to "you all", but that didn't seem quite 'right'. I would prefer that you buy the books AND READ THEM because you want to.

To give you a taste of her poetry, here's a copy of one of her poems - as yet unpublished.


                                  My Father's Journal

Caitlin Buxbaum (Copyright 2019)

I. Before I have even opened the book in my hands,
I sense I possess something sacred, a known name
scrawled across the top, doodles inked below  
in a familiar style (the kind I used to watch him
create in church services and business meetings
when I was a child): dashed lines along the spine
and geometric shapes carefully contained  
within four, fluid, amoeba-like homes —
those cells and squares aren't going anywhere.
   
This faded, verdant, cloth-bound record may be  
all that's left, someday, of a certain part of history
that won't seem significant to some,  
but means so much to me.
   
Inside, I don't understand the drawings, but I know
they're not the absent-minded wanderings of the cover;
something more predictable, mechanical, functional —  
circuits, perhaps ("mobiles," he tells me later).
   
And then there are the pages — two, it appears
have been ripped out, and I can't tell if it's
disappointment or excitement welling up in me,
wondering when the removal took place. But
before I can ponder any longer, I'm distracted
by the date — no year — on the present paper,
and the metaphor of a flat horse that makes me
snort like one. (Was he trying to be cool, or
was this the standard slang of the day?)  
   
As I read on, I'm astonished to find myself  
poring over poetry, something I never  
expected to see in a submarine. And ere
I've had time to marvel, delight, truly  
process the stylized words before me,
I am sunk into the emotional depths of despair  
caused by the realization, "Nobody listens,"  
followed by self-doubt and a slip into the script  
rarely used today, and never so neatly
by a 20-something male, anymore.
   
II.
It's the punctuated "****." at the end — in print —
that hooks me. Cursive is all his hand knows now,
aside from that. And then there's the love, even
sensuality, not for my mother. These are revelations
from an era outside of me, beyond and before
in a way that means I can never truly know it.
   
III.
The fear, viscerally rendered by the two torpedoes,
is as real as the aftermath, in which war is made
a memory, so quickly and comically it makes him
angry, and me too. Don't they know? Don't they care?
We both know the answer, or think we do.
   
IV.
Offshore, but headed back to sea, I feel the  
brokenness of his hands, and the bitterness
of leaving his loved one behind — not  
that he would ever want her with him
in that god-forsaken prison, but that
the stress of his pending "duty" and
separation from his bride-to-be
is already showing on his skin.
   
V.
"Variables," he says, in an attempt at "brighter thoughts"
that seems almost forced, are what constitute life —  
the "contrast" between discipline of the mind &  
volatility of emotion, pragmaticism & dreams.
This young man has not met God, but he is not wrong
when he says, "Even death is life."
   
VI.
"I am my originality." I don't understand it
until he compares his self-proclaimed gift  
to the art of a painter, or sculptor, or writer;
he doesn't know it yet, but he is a beautiful creation
blessed (and cursed?) with thoughts that trouble
other people as much as entertain. He asks
his followers to "let go" of their fears and
"come with me," not hearing Jesus in his words
or considering why he changed his name to Paul.
   
VII.
Anger. Rage. The urge to fight, unprovoked.
He doesn't say it, but I see the red in his eyes,
feel the rattle in his bones, the venom on his
breath, the growl in his chest, the boiling of
his blood — I've seen it before, in him and
in me. Maybe this is where it started —
"Suppression."
   
I feel the necessity of forgiveness
and pity for fools.
   
VIII.
Keep your cards close to your chest, my husband
always says, and I comprehend how different
his heritage is from mine, which talks of being
outspoken and punished by stupidity incarnate
for seeking truth in the opening of one's mouth.  
   
Suppression — there it is again.
   
The decision to be silent
is no less combustible
than the one to speak.
   
IX.
Duty be damned — he needs to see her.  
Is paranoid, but knowledgeable (about
what, I don't know). Falls in love, again
and again, but maybe not with the same
woman, maybe not in the present.
   
He thinks there will be no plateau
with Mary Beth, but I know better.
   
Still, I can't tell him.
   
X.
Over, finished as it's barely begun,
with notes of months, maybe years,
gone by in the form of slides inventoried
for storage — prints and negatives of pets,  
a wedding, plants, and a place I can't  
pronounce, then more of the same, though  
"Vanilla Fudge & Jimi Hendrix" stands out,
along with the play I already know
from the stories that aren't secret;
"Very good," he notes.
   
At least three quarters of the journal is empty,
and I can't help but wonder why (though I've  
been guilty of the same), and want to inquire
after a sequel. This slim volume
opens such a wide window,
but it is not enough.
I hunger for "the rest" without  
considering what it might cost.
I have no opinions (yet), only curiosity,
and a longing for a life lost, but only just.
   
Perhaps this sliver of the past
has many more to be added to it,
to sketch a clearer picture of a reality  
that seems unreal, as my own writings
may do one day, for another who writes  
a poem about a parent's journal.


Paul

  p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; direction: ltr; line-height: 115%; text-align: left; }

Just a quick note about my 2019 "harvest". The 'end' is near, and I have started harvesting the plants I have on my deck and patio. As I mentioned elsewhere, I decided to try "potatoes in a bucket" this year to see if what "they" say on YouTube comes even close to the Truth. Turns out it does. I planted three 5-gallon buckets. (You've seen their pictures.) We had a wind storm a week or so ago, and two of the three took quite a beating. One of them was looking 'done for', so I decided to 'look inside'. Here are the pictures:













Total weight was only 4.5 lb, but I am pleased with that. I wasn't expecting a year's worth of potatoes from a 5-gal bucket.



The coriander crop:




The rattlesnake grass crop.



Paul

Which reticle gradation would you choose, given the choice? You can comment without voting, but PLEASE, if you vote, provide your rationale for the choice.

Paul

My wife's cousin, and her friend Wayne, are visiting. Mostly, they are doing the tourist "thing", but of course Wayne had a hankerin' for some "wilderness Alaska" fishing. The best I could do on short notice was pink salmon. (Too late for sockeye and too early for cohos.) We drove north about half an hour from my place and got into a mess of pinks. Here are some pictures.


















Paul

I've been waiting since May for the 'local' (25 miles away) range to reopen. The State Department of Transportation has been "improving" the road on which the range resides.


The range reopened today.


Today is also the first day of "hunting season": Sheep, goats, early moose, and caribou open today throughout most of the state. Black bears are open year 'round in most of the state. Due to being closed ALL SUMMER, and being the first day of hunting season, I expected it to be packed.

We've had a spectacular spring and summer, setting records for both high temperatures and littlest rainfall.


It started raining on Monday - today is Thursday.


Nevertheless, I really need to get the loads for these guns (the .416x.348 Win on the Ruger #1, the Quigley chambered in .50-90 Sharps, and the .338 Win Mag on the Sauer 90), checked out at longer ranges of 100+ yds. I gathered my stuff and headed out.

First 'issue' was that they did !@#$%^& LITTLE to the road. "Careful grading" is about all I could tell, and they closed the range for THREE MONTHS - THE MONTHS OF SUMMER. We were lead to believe that they were paving it. They did not.

Second, I got to the range, and sure enough, it was 'packed', AND there was an "official" of some sort - I don't know if ADF&G, DoT, or Department of Parks and Facilities - there "checking" people. I stuck with the plan to "tough it out". But then...

I got out of my van, walked to the back, and opened the hatch.


No guns.


I closed the hatch, got back in the van, and drove home.

Paul

Fire717 - sakorick's son - was having some trouble posting images, and inadvertently found an unbeknownst-to-me feature of THL that allows you to post multiple LIVE images in one post WITHOUT using a 3rd party image manager like Photobucket or Postimage!

Here's how it works:

1) In the post editor, go to the "Manage Attachments" that you normally use to select and upload images. Choose the images you want to see, and upload them.
2) Back up at the text editing locale, find the "paperclip" icon and click on it.
3) It will ask you which images (that you already uploaded) you want to "attach". Select "Insert All".
4) Finish editing your post.

You should see ALL of the images "live". In other words, you won't have to "click on" the image link in the post in order to see the images. However, the images will still be AT THE END of the post. You still will not be able to insert them into the text.

I have attached 6 images below to illustrate the result.

Paul[ATTACH]15757[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]15758[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]15759[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]15760[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]15761[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]15762[/ATTACH]

One has more success in gardening when one doesn't 'spit into the wind' as I am wont to do now and then. Like trying to grow plants from the equator on other continents! . However, I do grow things that are native to Alaska too, and, as one might expect, they grow "like weeds". :D Such is the case with raspberries, and as it turns out, raspberries are one of my favorite berries. This morning I went out and picked the first of this year's production. It's a little early, but it's been a very warm year. Anyway, breakfast today was fresh raspberries, with some cream and just a touch of honey.




Paul

I don't really "garden", per se, but I do very much like to grow things. Plants are easier to grow than animals so it's plants mostly for me these days. I grow stuff in pots on my deck, and I have a modest pair of planters (about 3' x 15' each) outboard of my patio. I have more permanent plants in my patio planters: A rhubarb bush on one end of each planter and gooseberry plants on the opposite ends of each planter. In between the gooseberries and rhubarb my wife plants some vegetables like, bok choi, and summer squash, and I plant things like chives and nasturtiums. This year I've let the volunteer sunflowers from the bird feeders on the deck continue to grow. But it's the deck plants that get most of my attention. There are some 'standards': birch trees, nasturtiums (so I don't have to go downstairs to 'graze'), pansies, basil, sage, and zonal geraniums (cultivars, not wild types). I usually try some 'new stuff' each year. Of the 15 or so years I've had the deck 'garden', this year has been the worst as far as 'success' goes. Too bad really, as this has been a record-setting year for heat. Nevertheless, I have had some success, and I'll post some pictures.

Not included in the above list of "standards" are some that I have grown off and on over the years: Cilantro, mint, thyme, lupine (AKA "blue bonnet"), poppies, rattlesnake grass, and snapdragon. In addition to those, are some new experiments: Fig trees, three species of oak, four baobab (Adansonia sp.), sweet peas, columbine, kumquats, bristlecone pine (supposedly one tree being the oldest living thing on earth at 4,773 years old), Peruvian daffodils, persimmon, black spruce, red cedar, wild Alaskan iris (from seed), white spruce, apple (from grocery store-bought apple), "potatoes in bucket", and continuing for it's second year, black coral pea (Kennedia nigricans from Australia). It's supposedly a biennial, and doesn't produce fruit (flowers) until its second year. I started it last summer and nursed it through the winter in my house in south-facing windows. It has grown 'enthusiastically' so far this summer, but no sign of fruit/flowers yet. I'm keeping my hopes up for that one to bloom.

Here are the pictures. (Not all of them are good pictures as I left my DSLR in Oklahoma when I visited my cousin, and I'm having a difficult time getting it back, so these pictures are all from my cell phone.) I'll start with the 'standards'.

Pansies - I love the yellow ones as they have the most wonderfully sweet (and strong) fragrance.



Zonal Geraniums: Very difficult to get digital cameras to get "red" color right.





 
  One of my little birch 'clumps':



Mint, thyme, and cilantro:
June 24th


July 11th






Nasturtiums.
June 24th


June 26th




July 11th


"8-Ball" zucchini:
June 24th




June 26th






July 11th



Sage:
June 24th


July 11th


Columbine:
June 24th


July 11th
 




 Lupines:
June 24th




June 26th


July 11th







 
Now for the 'experimentals'.
 The only baobab that germinated - so far.
July 11th



The Peruvian daffodils.
June 24th



June26th



July 11th - Still no flowers.



The figs! REALLY hoping to get some fruit from these next year!

 





Rattlesnake grass:
June 26th




July 11th



The oaks! I planted 5 acorns, only three came up. Actually a fourth did 'come up', but died.

June 24th - this is the one with the biggest, greenest leaves:




June 26th - Still just the one with big leaves.




July 11th - Her are the three survivors:










Persimmon. This is the ONLY seed that germinated out of SEVENTY-TWO that were planted! No apple, no black spruce, no white spruce, no cedar, no iris, no kumquats and no bristlecone pine.



Snapdragons:
June 26th



This is a picture of the black coral pea back on June 26th. Didn't take one of it yesterday, but there has been significant additional growth. Just no flowers yet.


And finally, the potatoes! They are growing like crazy! Looking forward to a good harvest.
June 26th






July 11th







Whew! Lotsa pictures.



Paul

As some of you may recall, the "home-made" swaging press I have is a behemoth (71 pounds) and isn't designed for use on anything but a "substantial" stand/table. I broke a solid wood bench top that is 2.5" thick using it. In order to use it with any regularity, I needed to come up with a SUBSTANTIAL stand. And so I did.



The top plate to which the press is attached, is 5"x6"x1/2" steel plate.



The "post", is a 2"x5"x40" steel tube with 1/8" walls, and the foot is 6"x9"x3/8" steel plate.

I was going to weld it together myself, but I have ZERO experience welding, and practicing with a very nice little stick-welder that j0e_bl0ggs gave me, wasn't instilling any confidence that I could do a good job on the VERY FIRST welding project I ever tried. The short story is that I traded some walnut lumber for some professional welding. I'm happy with the result and the 'deal'.

Here are pictures of the mounted press and the whole contraption mounted to the wall.







If I pull that off the wall, there's 'something wrong'.

Paul

I have been reading that quail are a bona fide excellent, and maybe BEST, 'natural' defense against ticks. Which, reminds me of 1) ticks at your place, and 2) your quail 'enhancement' plan. In re #2: How's that going?


Paul

I got tired of wondering about when I was going to get my hunt info, so I called the Delta Junction ADF&G office to see if I could get any information. Turns out, it was the right day to call as they had just finished "figuring all of that out". Here it is. (More for me than "you", so I have a place to look when I want to recall or pass on info.)

I am in "Group 2".
My fall start date is October 5th. (Hunt starts Oct 1.)
My fall period is October 5 through November 3.
My "spring" (I'd call it winter) start date is February 8.
My spring period is February 8 through March 8.

I will be sent the above information via email "within a week or two".

The paperwork package including the tag, maps, and information will be sent out in July.

ADF&G holds "orientation" classes in the Delta Junction office the day before every start date, so 2 pm on the 4th of October for me. I expect to attend that class. One SHALL either attend an in-person orientation class prior to the hunt, OR take an on-line class. I have already taken the on-line class and have the certificate, so I'm 'good to go', but I'm sure there will be information to be gleaned from the in-person class in Delta Junction.

So I won't be hunting "opening day", but I will be in the second wave. That's better than being in the 'last wave'.

If I understand correctly, there were 100 permits awarded: 45 were bull-only, and 65 were either-seks. (I have an either-seks permit.) The 45 bull-only hunters get start dates parsed from Nov. 1 through Nov. 15, and then once they start, they get to hunt every day until March 31.

The either-seks hunters get 30 days between Oct 1 and Nov 30, and another 30 days between Feb 1 and March 31. So if they let 11 of the 65 either-seks hunters 'in' every 5 days, that accounts for 30 days (11 into 65 equals 6, and 6 times 5 days equals 30). Since every either-seks hunter gets 30 days total in each of the fall and spring hunts, the last group would start on the 30th of October and their last fall day of hunting would be the 29th of November. The fall hunt officially ends on the 30th of November, so those 'calculations' sound about right.

When I get to start, there will be a potential of 21 either-seks hunters in the field, (11 from the first wave plus the 10 from the second wave - I'm not counting myself), plus however many bull-only hunters they have apportioned to the first and second wave. I assume that at least SOME of the first 11 will have been successful in their first five days, so it is unlikely that all 22 potential either-seks hunters that CAN hunt WILL be hunting at the same time as me, but it is possible. Then there will be the first and second waves of bull-only hunters added to that 22. I would assume the same 10-ish per wave. So that adds another potential 20 hunters for a potential total of 42 hunters in the field on the day I get to start hunting.

Each 5-day interval after opening day the number of hunters in the field will increase by 20-ish, but then there will be some leaving the field every day due to hunters filling their tags.

In terms of probabilities, "it is what it is."

Since I have an either-seks tag, I anticipate success in getting A bison within 60 days of hunting. However, I think that the probability of getting a 'mature' bull in that same interval is quite low.


Paul

I'd put this in the "Send in the Clowns" subsite, but it's not really funny:

You don't need a smoke detector; that's what the fire department is for.

Now...if you think that sounds stupid, you know how I feel when someone says I don't need a gun.
[/COLOR]
Paul

I am not so self-absorbed to think I caused this change, but I do think I might have been another 'rock on the pile'. I made a lot of 'noise' on several forums where Corbin had MANY sycophants. When someone finally demonstrated the chutzpah to actually challenge the Great and Mighty Wizard, (see Wizard of Oz), several other people that weren't real happy with Corbin's RIDICULOUS delivery times chimed in. Whatever the reasons, read Corbins NEW "delivery" policy:

What? Slow Delivery?

For decades, Corbin swaging dies have been in such demand that backlogs were common. The small, dedicated staff of skilled die makers could barely stay within 18 months of the latest orders. Chat rooms and word of mouth was that the products were the best and worth the wait, but the delivery could be discouraging.

So we took a hard look at redefining our main mission, to provide top quality swaging equipment at the best price, and what was taking the most time away from accomplishing this goal more quickly.

After much study, we identified two bottlenecks.

First, we were making too many kinds of accessories that, while useful, were not necessary to the main purpose of swaging bullet.
Second, we were accepting too many unusual experimental jobs no one else would tackle, and the time spent on them was far greater than the income it produced, while taking that same time away from production of "normal" products.


Quicker Delivery Accomplished!

Today, we are delivering over 90% of the new orders either off the shelf, or within about 10 days. Depending on the shapes and calibers, and quantity of items in the order, it could be a day or two one way or the other, but that's a long way from our old 90 days to 18 months!

We've been able to provide the "other 10%" of orders, the more unusual and experimental jobs, on average within 90 days, and most of that within 45-60 days.

Now presses typically are in stock or, in the case of the Hydro Press, will be within 10 days for up to two presses at a time. Most single die or punch orders, even special ones, are now ready to ship well short of our old 45 day rush overtime option. That means in essence we are providing rush delivery without charging for overtime work.

Very complex or multi-caliber orders still can take up to three months, but many of even these jobs go out much sooner. It depends on how many jobs might have come in first and are currently using the machines, heat treatment ovens and die makers' time, of course.

Could that change? Yes, I'm sure it is possible for a flood of orders to take all of our inventory of some product, and tie up the die makers and machinists for longer than usual. Still, the average delivery time has vastly improved, to the point where we expect all orders to be shipped within 90 days. We still do the jobs no one else will attempt. But we are more careful about accepting certain kinds of experimental work, in order to provide the fastest delivery to the greatest number of customers.


Furthermore, they are offering several new products, some of which I am keenly interested: "Points" - http://www.swagedies.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=CBST&Category_Code=Tips

And 50 caliber jackets - http://www.swagedies.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CBST&Product_Code=J-50-177&Category_Code=RIFLEJKT

And possibly these: http://www.corbins.com/prj405.htm for .416 bullets. HOWEVER... Since I LIKE the Hawk bullets, and Corbin's prices aren't exactly "bargain basement prices", I will have to think long and hard about making the dies necessary to use the .416 jackets.

I am intrigued by the "points".

Paul

I can't stands n'more.

Popeye was my favorite cartoon character when I was a kid. When he got to a point of action, he would say "That's all I can stands. I can't stands n'more!" That's where I am with microsoft. Period. Effective today, I'm going to rid myself of every microsoft product I own or use. It won't happen over night, but it WILL happen. I cannot express the level of hatred I have for THE PEOPLE that work in that organization.

Apple is no better. Probably, if it is possible, worse.

If I had the resources, I would devote my life to destroying microsoft. There is hardly a more noble cause in today's world. That may sound 'odd' given the tragedies occurring throughout the world today, but hear me out. While microsoft itself may not be DIRECTLY responsible for some of these great tragedies, they ARE indirectly responsible for MANY of them because they FORM a BIG part of the world's business "collective mind". HOW businesses do business is formed by the way REALLY BIG businesses conduct themselves. Microsoft, and a few others, "set the bar".

I refuse to go to Apple. I have had recent BUSINESS dealings with them, and they are SATAN. (I use that comparison only slightly exaggerating.) Apple is essentially IDENTICAL to microsoft in terms of business culture. These are evil PEOPLE.

We all will do what we choose to do. I am not 'recruiting' in this thread. I have no illusions that I will 'stem the tide' of humanity hurtling to Sodom & Gomorrah, but I am finished with one element (microsoft) that is 'greasing the skids' of humanity's demise.

As of this very moment, I'm not sure what form my personal adjustments will take. Extracting the microsoft parasite from one's life is not trivially accomplished. It will take some time. Since I assume at least some THL members may also desire to remove microsoft from their lives, I'll post here at THL the processes, I (with help), figure out, and the replacements that seem to work.

One BIG change I have to make is extraction from Windows. By also refusing to use the alternate SATAN, Apple, I put myself in no small bind. I am a "quantitative" guy. Every piece of quantitative software I use STARTS with Windows as it's operating system. Including QuickLOAD, a program I use almost daily. The only operating system alternative I am aware of is Linux. Linus doesn't 'work' for A LOT of programs I use. Or at least it didn't the last time I checked.

One aspect of 'life' that makes this extraction easier is that I am old, and past HAVING to use microsoft in my business. Removing microsoft from my life will be difficult, but it will be easier for me than for younger people.

No one needs to concern themselves with THL continuing - I DON'T THINK. While I am using it on a Windows platform as I write this, I don't THINK GoDaddy or vBulletin require Windows for viewing. I'll decide how I'm going to proceed if and when I find out otherwise.

Paul

PS - New, hopefully 'forever' email: pskvorc@protonmail.com

Paul