An interesting review of some gas plugs for M1 Garand

I was watching the youtube channel InRangeTV and their review of various gas plugs for M1 Garand rifles. It is some interesting points. So I thought I would share. I have not owned or fired an M1 on a regular basis in over ten years. Watching videos like this reminds me of just how much I enjoyed firing the rifle type. I might have to purchase one again in the future.

What makes a good photography? Let's see what Imogen thinks.

I always like listening to Imogen's point of view on photography. She is a British model, who works extensively with British photographer Mark Wilkinson. What I like most about them is they try to spread what knowledge they have about photography skills and techniques. Their efforts can be found at http://www.weeklyimogen.com/

Practicing some photography this Spring.

A change of directions

I am trying to organize all the social media I have. I have almost to many outlets. So I'm going to start using my old Blogger journal for such things as major  hobbies that interest me. That means I will be avoiding posting about politics or current events here.

I will restrict it to opinions on entertainment productions. I will also be restricting my focus in hobbies to martial arts, history, photography, archery, fitness, and travel.  The science and attempts at being a writer I'll restrict to my writer's face book account: https://www.facebook.com/earl.tower.39

I will try to be more active with visual means for my deviant art account under the user name grayburst and my instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/graybursttrue/?hl=en

Wes

In my thoughts the biggest threat to the ‪‎2nd Amendment and ‪‎gun rights in this country is not the hard left gun grabbers. They tend to motivate people to check their insanity through the courts and political process. No, the biggest threats are the idiotic people on our own damn side. You know the ones that want to prove a 'shall not infringe' part of the 2nd Amendment, so they carry a semiautomatic long arm with tactical accessories to a mall opening, or shopping holiday.

I just posted a commentary about the NFL's ban on conceal carry, even for police officers, and got some ranting idiot telling me that conceal carry is the law of the land and 'read the 2nd Amendment'. This is the other type of threat to gun rights, the buzz word bandit who runs around screeching their self righteous, poorly thought out drivel. They sound like a dumb kicked chicken with no brains. They do more damage to the cause across social media than even the mail ninjas who abuse open carry. There are tons of moderates on the fence about what level to regulate 2nd Amendment rights, well guess what, sounding like a verbally abusive brat with Tourette's Syndrome pushes those people to OPPOSE our side of the issue.

And i don't even want to start with the guys who think the second American Revolution is just around the corner. I stand firmly in my oath of service to the Constitution, and I do believe it is a natural and constitutional right to be armed to repeal a tyrannical government, but we are a HUGE long way from even being near that point. If these people think 20 years of incompetent politicians are tyranny, they would put their thumbs and their mouths and cry for mommy under the threat of a real police state.

Air Force maybe more F-15s

'I would just be happy to see it. My greatest fear over pursuing a pie in the sky aircraft such as the F-35 is that it reduces overall capability just due to reduced air frames. The single most important strategic factor right now for the US Military is having ENOUGH units to get and meet all its demands. If Lockheed Martin had keep their contractual promises and the F-35 was operational 5 years ago, we would not have this fear, but right now we do not have enough carrier air wings, not enough air frames for USAF training and AEFs, and any where near enough CAS aircraft.

For the past 35 years, the USA has keep and needed a minimum 3 squadrons of fast movers in the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asian region. Those have been Marine, USAF, and Navy aircraft, but they were and still are needed there. That is a significant number of air frames taking a lot of air hours and operational degradation.

For the last 14 years we have needed a minimum of 2 squadrons of fast movers in Afghanistan. And that necessity also does not seem to be diminishing. And that is also a significant number of air hours and operational wear and tear.

The USA has keep a minimum of 3 squadrons in Europe for NATO obligations throughout this entire time period as well. With a strategic resurgence on the part of Russia, that strategic minimum of squadrons should be raised.

The constant threat of North Korea ties down another two squadron minimum. And that is yet another strategic quagmire that is not going away in the foreseeable future.

A rising China forces two to three squadrons to be fully operational in Japan at all times. It forces squadrons to be operational from Guam to carriers, and an expansion potential into basing in the Philippines is yet another two squadrons forward deployed.

Then you have the minimum number needed to keep carrier wings operational and Marine expeditionary forces covered.

Then we get into training needs. At any time there are hundreds of daily training sorties within the 3 air equipped services, (including the Reserve and Guard components), of just fast movers, much less larger air frames.

Then there is the concept of air defense of the North American Command responsibility region which ties up yet another 4 squadrons at any one time.

This is the absolute bare bones, no fat, max lean strategic NEED of the USA from its military services. Those are combat air craft that need to be on the tarmac/deck or in the air ready to go at a moment's notice for strategic operation. That doesn't count air frames down for maintenance, back to depot for refurbishment or major repairs, or still in production testing stages.

And no amount of wand up the ass, pie in the fracking sky fairy fighter godmother, F-35 that MIGHT be here in 5 years is going to change that requirement. The USA needs real answers with solid time tables NOW. this very minute. We can not afford to drop below those minimums at any point, or deterrence and strategic obligations are a no starter. IF anything the USA should be looking to add 50% to our strategic air capability THEN worry about increase in technological capacity

It is about damn time. NASA does a superb job when it is keep to what it was assigned as a mission when created under Ike : education, space exploration, and technological development. Beyond that we should have moved to commercial space programs two decades ago. We should also keep our military space program strong but separate from any civil space program or commercial space program; and any potential adversary should be able to clearly be able to recognize which is which.

http://spacenews.com/spacex-gets-first-commercial-crew-order/