Bad News

I just noticed over at the "Nation of Riflemen" that the BATF is imposing yet another restriction on gun enthusiasts. Apparently they are banning “any frames, receivers, or barrels for firearms that would be prohibited from importation if assembled.‚” The problem here is that these parts are often identical in illegal and legal firearms. So if there is a fully auto or other illegal version of your perfectly legal firearm, you won't be able to get replacement/repair parts. And of course this may also make it impossible to import otherwise legal firearms which share the same parts as some illegal firearms.

So now we get to sit back and watch the prices climb these rifles and their parts. What really hurts is that this will impact the M1 Carbine, one of the wonderful old military rifles that I've been salivating over.

At least the rifle isn't being banned outright, though that's still somewhat of a risk here in Illinois. Pardon me while I go work off a little frustration.

Quote of the unspecified temporal interval

I've made an odd discovery. Every time I talk to a savant I feel quite sure that happiness is no longer a possibility. Yet when I talk with my gardener, I'm convinced of the opposite.
Bertrand Russell

It was in the stars

Have you ever heard something so odd that it made you contort your face like you were eating something really sour? Well hold on because you'll either get that look on your face or break out laughing.

Most of you probably heard how NASA launched a probe into a comet in order to make a crater and study the comet's structure and material. Well apparently not everyone is pleased with this little adventure. It seems a Russian astrologist is worried that this will change her horoscopes. So worried, in fact, that she has decided to sue for damages. And I thought I had heard everything...

Home Once Again

I have just heard the sound of ultimate satisfaction and triumph, and it sounds quite a lot like my front door closing behind me.

That's right I'm finally through with traveling for a little while. Now if you'll excuse me, I've been looking forward to doing a little housekeeping.

Quote of the unspecified temporal interval

On engineers and engineering:

I take the vision which comes from dreams

and apply the magic of science and mathematics,

adding the heritage of my profession

and my knowledge of nature's materials

to create a design.

I organise the efforts and skills of my fellow workers

employing the capital of the thrifty

and the products of many industries,

and together we work toward our goal

undaunted by hazards and obstacles.

And when we have completed our task

all can see

that the dreams and plans have materialised

for the comfort and welfare of all.

I am an Engineer

I serve mankind

by making dreams come true.

- Anon (supposedly found during the construction of the Konkan railway)

In case the quote doesn't give it away, things have gone pretty well at work. I'm the only one from my workgroup who is left at the plant. Here's hoping there are no glitches! (and that I'll be home tonight)

Things That Make Life Fun

I have some wonderful friends and they have a knack for making life interesting. (Not to mention fun!)

Before I left the university campus I had to do something a little wacky and unusual to wrap things up. So I decided that I would join a small group in an unusual (and legally questionable) activity. A campout on the main quad. And of course thanks to Anna there is photographic evidence of the whole event.




Me Breaking a fire ordinance or two by lighting up my camp stove on the quad (with Paula shivering in the background) Of course as luck would have it, the moment we committed to spending the night on the quad it decided to rain and drove us under cover.



Here are Lindsay and Adam taking shelter from the rain in front of Davenport Hall.


Eventually the whole gang wound up under just a few blankets so we could keep warm. Anna, the ringleader of the gang, is seen on my right, dodging the camera's flash.


In a stunning (and quite rare) turn of events Paula managed to capture and try on my treasured Tilley Hat.


All too soon dawn came to the UIUC campus and I had to get up and drive myself to Chicago so I could move into my new apartment (pictures of which will follow if I ever manage to get away from this job in Minnesota)

It was a fun time and a delightfully wacky way to end a memorable college career. Many thanks to Anna and all!

Quote of the Unspecified Temporal Interval

"Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily available, they will create their own problems."

-Scott Adams

How true it is...

Happy Birthday USA

*www.mccullagh.org
Have a happy 4th everyone! Celebrate, relax, and be safe.

Merry-go-runaround

Well ladies and gentlemen, I am once again off on a grand adventure. Unlike the last time I'm going to be out with plenty of co-workers, which is good because they're great people and because the weight of this trial (and it is a big one) does not fall on me alone.

The last trial I went (by myself) never really got off the ground. It was sort of a last minute affair given to me on a Thursday morning. By Thursday afternoon I was on a plane out of O'Hare. Then of course I had an hour and a half (or longer, I don't remember) drive to the plant location where I checked into a hotel for the night. The next day I went to the plant where the parts I needed for the trial were supposed to be arriving by UPS next day air.

Remember Murphy's Law? The parts didn't show up. So I got the tracking number and started calling UPS. The parts were stuck several hundred miles away in a terminal. Or so we thought. The frustrating part was that calling UPS did almost no good. The automated system will only tell you that the package is "in transit" and the operator could only tell me that the package had made it to Louisville Kentucky. There was no information on whether it was still in that location or shipped out or even in one piece.

So after several hours of not getting anywhere, there was little choice but to call it quits, load up the rental car, and make the trip back to the airport where I flew back to the busiest airport in the world, got in my car and drove home through rush hour traffic.

It wouldn't have been so bad if I could have reported a success but thanks to UPS that wasn't possible. Moral of the story, don't trust UPS (and several other companies) when they say "next day."

Here's hoping this trial goes better.

Evil Yet Amusing

A pumice pun? Excellent!