Man, It Was Hot!

We love cycling. We both enjoy riding and I like collecting and building bikes as well - go figure.
Last weekend we were invited by Linda's father to Springfield, Mo. to participate in a group ride of 100mi. We have ridden as far before but it was almost 100 degrees that day putting the heat index about 106 - and not a dry heat at all!
As an aside, my last ride in this type heat was my first long solo venture in Italy last year. After days of 80s it hit nearly 100 degrees for one day and I didn't even know it. Soaking in the experience and challenge I became dehydrated and, badly cramping, pulled off the road, sitting on a pile of dirt, out of water on a lonely Tuscan pass. I was demoralized, tingling from head to toe, and angry at myself. I finally limped(make that rode - I NEVER walked!) into a familiar town for water and some gelatto and eventually made it home having enjoyed the opportunity. I restored my pride a few days later with a 67 mi route to Volterra climbing nearly 10,000 ft for the day!

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. Springbike is my father in law's local riding club and they do a good job on these events. It was set up like the MS150 with frequent stops for water and snacks.
There were about 320 riders that day, most of which decided the 75 mile course would be enough. On a bike, I tend to be a bit masochistic. Voluntary pain and endurance through what makes other quit is what it's all about. If it was easy, everyone would do it!
Basically, the route took us in a counter-clockwise rural loop around Springfield.


I started a little frustrated as I had wanted to ride to the start and, even after driving, we were there at the last minute. Some cheaters had left starting as early as 6am to usurp the heat putting to rest any hopes of us staying with a group - much less the lead group. Linda stopped for last minute instructions but I took off to hang in with a group of about 10 just pulling out. Hey wait, it's a ride - not a race!
There was good company, great support - with plenty of carbs, good route markings, and excellent roads with lots of rolling hills. That northern tip of the Ozarks has great riding IMO and I would do such a ride each weekend if I had the chance.

We finished 15 minutes apart and here's how we looked afterward at the pizza tent.

















Linda did the 75mi as planned and I was one of the few idiots to do the full century. Sushi later that eve made it all worthwhile!

The Inaugural ride!

Took it on it's first spin. Or as Linda put it, "Now officially the most annoying neighbor on the block."

65 Years Ago Today

June 6. A holiday for me and always a day I get up early and have a cup of coffee on the porch - this is the day the allies landed on Nazi-occupied Europe.

The following letter was read over the BBC and was issued to each member of the invasion force.



.... and finally, Here's why I'll always respect Eisenhower. In a show of character seldom seen today, he scribbled a private note and put it in his pocket. While it is dated July 5th, it is well established that this was penned BEFORE the invasion. I believe he might have predated it for exactly one month from the eve of the invasion when the outcome would be known. Also, there were multiple but limited options for a "go" date based on the tide, weather, and possible intelligence leaks. Here is what he wrote:


It says,
"Our landings in the
Cherbourg - however
have failed to gain a
satisfactory foothold and
I have withdrawn the troops.
My decision to attack at this time and place
was found on the best
information available.
The troops, the air and the
navy did all that
bravery and devotion to duty
could do. If any blame
or fault attaches to the attempt
it is mine alone."

Rabbits Beware!

I am into anything vintage or military. Give me something that's vintage military and I'm happy. You have seen that I collect WWII aviation gear but I have been interested in guns for about 20 years. They are of limited use to me as I have never been hunting in my life but they are marvels of technology, craftsmanship, and, if vintage, a true part of history. They are also quite expensive. Even if one has a Class 3 license own a full auto gun, you have to buy it($3000-5000 and up), find a place to shoot it, and justify $.50 - $1.00 a shot at 15 rounds a second! Several hundred bucks at each shooting session would discourage anyone. And for precision target guns? Okay I just sat down and put three shots through the same hole at 100 yds. Now what? Let's go eat! Still, they are awesome and I celebrate the right to own firearms daily!

Enter AirSoft guns. AirSoft was started in America about 30 years ago but didn't catch on. Paintball followed, did catch on, and became all but an Olympic sport. Now, however, AirSoft, using guns which shoot a .23(6mm) cal hard plastic BB by air power, is seeing a big comeback. As in paintball, games such as Capture the Flag are ways for mature adults *strike that* grown adults to play cowboys and indians. Law enforcement and even the military are now beginning to use AirSoft in tactical training.

I was never intrigued as I thought AirSoft was small rubber balls shot from lightweight toy spring guns with orange painted muzzles. I was wrong. The guns, unlike those used in paintball, are often made in 1:1 scale to their "real steel" counterparts and often feel similar. Sure the hobby is full of high school nerds with cheap plastic M4s but the official game rules limit players to 18 yrs and older and many of the weapons are impressively made. The new thing is a full metal gun that even accepts some real gun parts. Another cool thing? Many are select fire and thus can fire in full auto. AirSoft guns are built to intentionally limit velocity to about 400 fps(feet per second) as a .23 BB at greater than 500 or 600 FPS could kill small game - and in the pellet gun world, does. As a comparison, a standard .22 long cartridge shoots at about 1100fps at the muzzle. .22 cal pellet guns are not far behind, reliably shooting a pellet at 1000 fps now. The main safety feature with AS is that the precision hard plastic BB weighs 1/200 that of a lead .22 bullet. It loses velocity quickly and can't travel nearly as far. Even so, they can leave a nasty welt and could certainly damage your eyes and teeth - especially up close. From 100ft or more, wearing military clothing, one is likely to feel it hit them like a pebble. In AirSoft gaming, eye protection is mandated, tooth protection is encouraged, many opting for full face paintball masks, and strict gun safety rules apply including those to limit close range shots(calling a "safety kill"). Now if police show up near a gaming site, one had best obey these rules. So real looking are the guns that people have been shot by police while using AS guns in a crime. I say treat them as real firearms. Warnings aside, it has been proven over the past 10 yrs or so to be quite safe. As with most hobbies, it's those that are not safety minded that bring a bad name to that particular hobby.

Effective range of AirSoft is limited to 200-300 ft as the velocity drops quickly. A player operates on the honor system and must call being hit. Some games in Europe are so involved that they last for a week and use actual military vehicles. Of special interest are the WWII games. Some organizations are very picky and you must pass strict authenticity checks related to weapons and uniforms.

Okay the purpose of my post. Above is an AirSoft Thompson M1A1. It certainly isn't a dead ringer but it sure is close from 10ft. I found it as a store return "not working" for $69. I took it apart - like I wouldn't have done that anyway - and found that the electric trigger contacts were not touching. About an hour after I got it, it was working like new. There are guys making AS guns from real gun kits and doing some very elaborate AirSoft-smithing. Tightbore barrels, real wood kits, battery, motor, and gearing mods make it a DIY friendly sport. Some have them shooting at over 700fps but this is rare - not because it it difficult, but because it defeats the purpose. remember they are designed to safely shoot another player.
Here it is shooting in the back yard.

Remember Those Days?

This came in the mail today. My wife has heard me talk about this series as our only regular WWII documentary in the 70's. At the time, some WWII vets had still not reached the age of 50 years, yet, from my child's perspective, WWII was always fought in actual black and white. Color footage, still sparse today, had yet to be unearthed.

In today's age of revisionist CGI History Channel specials, I don't know if I'm watching the Disney Channel or History. In this new, often silly-looking, media - obviously designed to appeal to today's generation - it becomes ever more apparent, "Only the winners write the history." WaW, in contrast, was produced when the war was still fresh in the minds of Americans, Vietnam was still going on and the Second World War was not yet romanticized as it is today. Vets were still struggling with their inner demons and few shared their stories. WaW was raw and emotionless which let you take away from it what you would - often a dark feeling. Despite that, I look forward to watching all 34 hours - my wife ordered the entire series for me!

World at War was on Thursday nights at 8pm on PBS - back when there were only five stations. I remember being fixed to the screen and disappointed when I would turn it on and it was partially over. My only other WWII info came from weekly trips to the library. I still don't know what my mother and sis were doing but I could always be found on the floor in the "war section".

Almost Done!

After three years the 1915 Cyclone replica is almost done. And, yes, it's every bit as uncomfortable as it looks.

Driving is a Privilege - not a right!

From the Chicago Tribune:

Reckless on the road

May 6, 2009

All over America, state and local governments are busy enacting laws to stop drivers from fiddling with their gadgets when they're supposed to be watching the road.

Five states and dozens of municipalities have banned talking on cell phones while driving. Many of those governments are debating whether they need separate laws to cover BlackBerrying. Last year, Illinois joined the growing list of places where it's illegal to text-message while driving.

Lake County sheriff's police say motorcyclist Anita Zaffke was killed Saturday by a driver whose attention was diverted by a decidedly low-tech endeavor: She was painting her nails. Zaffke was sitting at a stoplight in Lake Zurich when her bike was rammed from behind by a Chevy Impala. Zaffke was thrown 200 feet.

The Impala's driver, Lora Hunt, told police she didn't see the red light or the motorcycle until it was too late because she was preoccupied with her polish. She was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. But prosecutors are weighing more serious charges, reopening the debate over whether Illinois needs a law against "distracted driving." That would give prosecutors more options when faced with an offense that seems to fall between a traffic citation and a felony reckless driving charge.

Last year, a task force headed by Secretary of State Jesse White recommended three new offenses -- negligent vehicular operation, aggravated negligent vehicular operation and negligent vehicular homicide, depending on the severity of damage caused by a distracted driver involved in a crash. The General Assembly settled for a ban on texting while driving.

That move seemed misguided, and not because we think it's a good idea to type with your thumbs while driving. We see no reason to single out texting, given all the other dangerous behaviors we observe during our daily commute. Reading the paper, flossing your teeth, applying mascara, spreading cream cheese on your bagel, tying your tie while steering with your knee -- any of these can cause tragedy in the blink of an eye. Most of us are guilty at some time. All of us know better.

The push for new legislation grew out of a 2006 case in Urbana in which a 19-year-old driver who was busy downloading ring tones struck and killed a bicyclist. The prosecutor settled for a charge of improper lane change -- which came with a $1,000 fine, traffic school and probation -- because she didn't think the driver's actions qualified as reckless homicide.

There's no need to name names, but we can think of other jurisdictions in which prosecutors would have absolutely no reservations about a reckless homicide charge under those circumstances. The law should not be applied timidly.

Lake County authorities say it could be a month before they decide whether to file further charges. They should take their time. Besides awaiting the results of blood and urine tests, they'll do an accident reconstruction and other tests.

But if a thorough investigation backs up what police have already said -- that the driver slammed into the bike because she was looking at her fingernails instead of the road -- then we hope prosecutors will spare us the hand-wringing over whether that constitutes recklessness.

What part of a behind-the-wheel manicure sounds safe?




Now I'm generally against legislation clogging up the books BUT I am into state's rights so if "open-minded" people can't control themselves like the opinionated, anal-retentive, proud, and "close-minded" people can, laws must be placed to regulate you. Actually, you will screw up either way so the laws are there for a benchmark so you can be punished as the screw-up you are.

I'm on this rant as I'm reading these stories more and more. I will always remember arriving to work in the Burn ICU a few years ago and pulling back the sheets of a newly arrived patient who had been rear-ended by an SUV at 70mph while he rode his motorcycle. His wife had been thrown clear and was in serious condition but he had been dragged by this SUV until his motorcycle exploded. I could go into great detail but let's just say he was recognizable only as human. He didn't last the hour. The staff said, "They think maybe the SUV driver had a seizure or something....." Why do we always give this benefit to those who cause such ghastly damage to others. I tried to add balance to the situation with, "Maybe he was just an A-hole on his cellphone or adjusting the bass on his rap music!" Harsh as it was, it is expected from me, and seldom challenged. I've always wondered what happened to that SUV driver. Does he think of this man every day? Is he in denial - forever mad at the guy for being in his way - with a "he got what he deserved" mentality?

It's funny, something like 80% of people interviewed considered themselves "better-than-average" drivers. Though statistically impossible, I imagine this would include those painting their nails, texting on a phone, watching a TV, or, and I've seen this a lot, reading a book propped on the steering wheel! We are all guilty of willing distraction. Consider that in Germany, automobiles are not manufactured with cup holders. The American legislators would have a field day with the proposal of a high speed "autobahn" in the USA, yet Germany's auto fatality rates are equal or below ours. And In Italy, we saw nobody carrying around a "To Go" cup. Coffee was consumed at the counter - not on the go. Cycling in that crowded country of narrow roads and speedy drivers actually felt much safer. Other countries tend to see driving as a responsibility. But in America, we "cruise". We drive aimlessly from red light to red light for pleasure in our gigantic gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs. It is a privilege that our relatively low gas prices allow. It is no longer such when we endanger others doing it. Kids hang out car windows, drag race, and attempt to add every distraction to a car possible. Granted, I did it as a kid and I consider myself lucky - not for me but that I didn't kill someone else.

Overall Americans tend to have this arrogant attitude of entitlement to "creature comforts" that is starting to not only irritate the rest of the world but cause real harm to those around us. Add to this the asocial nature of humans brought on by a faster paced lifestyle and even the anonymity of hiding behind a keyboard all day, and we don't even care who we hurt - as long as it doesn't interrupt our schedule.
Yet we continue to blame and regulate helmets, guns, acetone, ephedrine, and other inanimate objects as the real causes of these unfortunate "I'm only human" incidents.

Our "don't judge" attitudes take the focus off how we can prevent so many accidents. We do little to enforce the laws already there to prevent accidents - failure to use turn signals, rapid/multiple lane changes, and aggressive driving apparently go unnoticed - but those are things that can and do cause accidents. Now seat belt and helmet laws abound here in the US but they don't prevent anything. Ask yourself which one's get more press? We have to start thinking about why we do what we do!

I should just rename this blog, "The Eccentric Ranter" but I still want to share my hobbies. Those who know me, not even well, know they haven't heard the last of it!

You guessed it

This is an m1919a4 - the primary U.S. light machine gun of WWII.
These kits have been sold for years with the right side plate removed. These "parts kits" are useless as-is but can be rebuilt easily using a newly manufactured right side plate. The simplest reassembly would however return it to a full auto gun - illegal in all states since 1934 unless you have your class III license, which is another whole story/rant I'll get to later.
There are ATF-approved ways to reassemble this gun into a semi auto which is legal. These mods usually cost about $500 or a lot of work and machine tool experience. Funny, for about $5 in steel plate and several hours with a drill and a file you can have an illegal machine gun. For $500 in parts/machine work and the same assembly work you can have a legal gun. What message does our government really send? Actually, it is sending the right one - people will obey the law or they won't - irrespective of the availability of weapons! If they can make a gun in prison, and they do, they can make one anywhere with anything.
Overall, doing the right thing has never been the easy way out so since I don't fancy a pricey fine and the removal of all my legal toys, or worse, a prison term, I'll comply and do things as I usually do - legally - the hard way!

BTW, if you Brady Bill types can show me one instance where a "gangsta" was smart enough to rebuild one of these and use it in a crime, I will eat it piece by piece!
Don't forget, I owe you a rant!
Love,
Me

Mystery Package!

Hmmmmmmmm, what could this be?

It's small enough but it's kind of heavy and awkwardly balanced...........
I just don't know what it could be.


Guess we'll find out tomorrow after work!..........................

Well I rushed last Sunday am to get the felt paper and roll roofing on as heavy rain was again expected......... and I had to start work again that night!
That top picture reminds me of church camp cabins for some reason. Give it some time and maybe there will be some mud dauber and wasp nests too!


This shows it without the roofing on yet.

And yes, I did mow and trim the whole yard this past week.

Well, it began raining hard one night as I was leaving for work and..... it leaks! I was not happy. I later determined that it was not "my" roof(porch) leaking and not even where it joins the house shingles but is coming from higher up where some shingles butt up against the master bedroom wall(seen in the very top left of the last pic). Since the old porch was leaking right by the fascia and falling in I assumed it was coming from that overlap joint. I now think water has been running under the shingles of the house for some time now - about two years! Though I initially bought more roofing material and asphalt, I think caulking that wall seam will stop the water. I sure hope there isn't major damage to the house roof decking.......................... but with my luck!