The Lone Libertarian

This my friends is amazing.

A 11-year old girl field strips and reassembles an AR-15 in less than a minute.

Nice.

H.R. 6458 introduced on July 10, 2008 by Rep. Jackie Speier [D-CA] is yet another knee-jerk reaction by Congress concerning the rising cost of gasoline.  This bill is more or less a throwback to the 1973 legislation enacted after the OPEC embargo that set the national speed maximum to 55 MPH.

The bill states:

(1) a maximum speed limit on any highway within its jurisdiction in excess of 60 miles per hour, other than a highway on the National Highway System located outside of an urbanized area;
(2) a maximum speed limit on any highway within its jurisdiction on the National Highway System located outside of an urbanized area in excess of 65 miles per hour;

So by decreasing overall productivity, creating wealthy police departments via enforcement, and forcing us to conserve, do you really think it will cause the price of gasoline to fall?  It didn’t exactly work in the 70’s, what makes you think it will work now.  Someone needs to send Rep. Speier a history book for Christmas.  The reason the 55 MPH speed limit was made permanent in 1977 was due to safety issues (not gasoline costs), and I think cars are quite a bit safer now.

This measure will end up costing us more in the long run.  Currently this bill is in committee.  I’ll report more as action occurs.

An interesting development came from the Barr campaign yesterday.  It would seem that the Democrats and Republicans have missed the August 26th filing deadline in Texas, and thus they will not be on the November ballot for the Presidential election.

Now, lets see what rule-bending the state Dems and Reps perform in order to allow their candidates on the ballot, when they rigidly require other parties to follow by the letter.  I predict election fraud and corruption in Texas in the coming weeks.

The official Texas ballot can be found here.

Press release:

Barr Only Presidential Candidate on Texas Ballot

Republicans, Democrats miss deadline to file presidential candidates in Texas

Atlanta, GA - Bob Barr is slated to be the only presidential candidate on the ballot in Texas after Republicans and Democrats missed the Aug. 26 deadline to file in the state.

“Unless the state of Texas violates their own election laws, Congressman Barr will be the only presidential candidate on the ballot,” says Russell Verney, campaign manager for the Barr Campaign and the former campaign manager for Ross Perot.  “Texas law makes no exceptions for missing deadlines.”

The Texas Secretary of State Web site shows only Bob Barr as the official candidate for president in Texas.

“We know all about deadlines,” says Verney. “We are up against them constantly in our fight to get on the ballot across the nation.  When we miss deadlines, we get no second chances.  This is a great example of how unreasonable deadlines chill democracy.”

“Republicans and Democrats make certain that third party candidates are held to ballot access laws, no matter how absurd or unreasonable,” says Verney. “Therefore, Republicans and Democrats should be held to the same standards.”

I am a serial tinkerer at heart (some call us hackers).  I like to learn how things work, tweak them, and make them work better.  Mind you, it doesn’t always happen that way.  Just ask my mom about the several household objects that I destroyed by tinkering as a child (a stereo, an old tv, a tape deck, etc).

I purchased a new computer 2 months ago and something about the case just bothered me.  The machine seemed to run hot.  A temperature of 47 C at idle seemed a little too hot for “normal.”  The video card ran at about 62 C idle.

So what do I do?  I purchase a different cooling solution for the CPU, one of those new fangled heat-pipe with alumnium fin designs.  Upon receiving the new cooler, I found that it wouldn’t fit in the case.  Rats.

One thing I did notice was that the hard drive in this cramped case was mounted an inch away from the RAM and processor (that cant be good for heat management).

I had a Coolermaster Centurian 5 case with my old machine in it, so I thought, “Gut that thing and slap the new machine in.”  Needless to say this was an endeavor that lasted until the midnight hour.

One thing I learned about this adventure was that SATA connectors are complete and utter crap (and possibly the sockets as well).  As I was unplugging my hard drive from the motherboard, pushing the release on the connector, the connector as well as the SOCKET came clean off the board.  The pins of the socket were still affixed to the board, staring at me.

This scared the CRAP out of me, and thoughts of “I just ruined my new machine” and “Why can’t I just leave stuff alone” ran through my head.  At this point, I figured if the pins were still there, I could reattach the socket somehow.

Then came issues with removing the motherboard and backplate.  PC manufacturers, PLEASE do me a favor and NEVER screw a cover over the integrated VGA port with a non-standard “star patterned” screw head.  I couldn’t remove the motherboard from the backplate, so I took and unorthodox approach and pushed the backplate out along with the motherboard.  Putting it in to the new case was a bit tricky because they were attached, but easily done.

Even more fun.  I opted to use my better Coolermaster power supply, however the two SATA power connectors it has are daisy-chained and not long enough to reach both the hard drive and the DVD drive.  Guess I’ll have to find a molex to SATA power converter this afternoon.

I broke the release on the hard drive SATA cable but finally got the connector out of the yanked-out socket (it took a TON of force). I can’t say for certain, but I think the manufacturer glued the connector to the socket, thus causing my folly.

I carefully realigned the plastic socket over the pins and pressed it down onto the board, then plugged the hard drive into it.  I hope it doesnt come loose or fall out one day when I’m doing something important.

I plugged it in to the wall and viola it works.  The larger, more roomier case ran 9 C cooler that the cramped case.  The graphics card runs 10 C cooler.  Nice.  All I need is the extra SATA power connector, and I’m back to 100%.  Gonna troll the local electronics stores this afternoon.

Yes, I’m a geek.

I have got to say, the live feed that the Democrats at broadcasting via the web of the Democratic National Convention is pretty nice.  It’s not that I really want to participate in the hopechangefreehealthcaresocialism love fest, but I’d rather get a raw feed without the news networks’ comments or dilution.

I’m not going to link the actual site that the feed is on (because I don’t want to pimp the Democrats more than I already am), however it is easy to find.  The feed is pretty impressive with a “TV Guide like” schedule and previously recorded video that you can watch as well as live video, and looks to be HD.  You have to have Windows with Silverlight installed to watch (Mac users can too), however no love for the Linux crowd.

Here is where I rib the Tennessee and US Libertatian Party.  You guys should take a look at this technology and take note.  A live feed on CSPAN occasionaly, or prerecorded speech is not enough.  A live internet feed insures that people can get the entire event unabridged and untainted by biased opinion.  Virtually speaking it gives “new media” (bloggers, podcasters, vloggers, etc) a press pass to event without having to travel.

Cost-wise, it is relatively inexpensive to broadcast via the Internet.  The more eyes that are on Libertarian events, the better for the party and the movement as a whole.

If nothing else, I would like the state and national parties to sell convention DVDs with the highlights and speeches, or place them on YouTube.

The technology is there to reach a larger audience, it just needs to be leveraged, and soon.

Squeaky and I hit the gun show at the fairgrounds in Memphis yesterday.  She scored some good deals on a 12-ga shotgun and a small .380.  I scored on some great tasting jerky.  Heh.

This would be the second “R. K. Shows” gun show that I have attended, and I was a little underwhelmed.  I was there for two things, a decent carry belt, and a good IWB holster for my G17.  There was no leather vendor at all, much less anyone carrying belts.  The holster vendors were more or less selling Uncle Mikes or rebadged Uncle Mikes.  There was one that had Galco, but my search turned up empty there.  So, needless to say, I’m a little disappointed in the outing.

Squeaky seemed to get the deal of the year with the $199.95 Mossberg 12-ga with 6-round magazine.  This is where my n00bish side comes out when it comes to guns.  A vendor was selling them as a “show special”, when I saw them, it did catch my eye, but that seemed too cheap for a Mossberg to me.  My thoughts went instantly to: A) They’ve got to be used, B) They are “entry-level” with a low build quality, or C) They must be discontinued.

I REALLY need more education when it comes to gun brands, types, and prices (I was telling Sqeaks that I had never even heard of Mossberg until the tactical shotgun class at Rangemaster).  I obviously made a gaff by walking away from the table.  I guess I should go to my local news stand and pick up a few magazines/books to read.

We walked around for a while after spotting them, and then I started to talk myself into buying one.  We had visited the table twice already.  We were on our way out, and visited the table a third time with intent to purchase.  There were 4 when we walked in, and 4 when we visited the table 30 minutes later, and only one left when we got back 15 minutes later.

That’ll learn me.  Heh.

Anyhow, she struck gold and I came up empty handed again.  Next year, hopefully I’ll be well studied enough to find a good deal.

Time to study up.

I know I’m way late on this one, but I had to stay away from politics for a few weeks, blood pressure problems and all.  I have got to say, Joe Biden as Obama’s nomination for Vice President may be the nail in the coffin of his campaign.

All that hope, change, and challenging the “establishment” is really eclipsed by the fact that Biden, a 30-yearer in the hallowed halls, IS the establishment.  This guy worked in the public sector for 4 years after graduating college and then was elected Senator of Delaware at the tender age of 29, and has sat in that seat until the present.

Lets take a look at some of the gems of Biden’s career, shall we?

You cannot go to a 7-11 or Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian Accent.

Ah yes, all the tolerance you’d expect from a liberal, in a crusty, white-haired package.

I think I have a much higher IQ than you do.

And folks said Obama had an elitist attitude.  By the way, whats up with VPs seeming to have short-man’s syndrome, ever since the Clinton era?

The McCain campaign is running with this gem.

I think he can be ready, but right now I don’t believe he is.  The Presidency is not something that lends itself to on the job training.

I would be honored to run with or against John McCain.

I guess it also doesn’t help that Biden is a liar.

Hope.

Change.

Rubbish.

According to the RangeUSA website, they had structural failure in the wing of the building that houses the restaurant and the large range.  I’m not sure if the ceiling caved, but the large range is out of service as the target retrievers crashed to the floor.  The restaurant is also closed indefinitely.

The smaller range is still open, but man thats going to be cramped for the number of people that come in and out of there in a week’s time.

That was my favorite area range.  I guess I’ll have to select another area range as my “home range” for the interim.

Everyone seems to still be abuzz about the computer simulated fireworks display (that was admitted to by the networks, while it was happening), much ado about nothing if you ask me.

I think the Blue Screen Of Death that occured during the opening ceremony is more newsworthy.

And the chairman in control of the IT setup during the games said Vista was too unstable to use, so they picked XP instead.

Try as you may, you cannot escape the BSOD!!!  Heh.

I really envy those who take life by the reigns and throw all caution to the wind.

In the news today, retired US Air Force Colonel Jack Moelmann has rented Radio City Music Hall for $120,000 so that he can live his dream of playing the organ there.

Tomorrow night Jack, and a few organists that he is paying out of pocket to join him, will play for two hours for anyone who decides to show up.

Colonel Moelmann doesn’t seem to care if he makes any of his money back, he just wants to fulfill his dream and mark one more item off his bucket list.

Bravo.  If I lived in New York, I would not miss this show.