“We do aim them, but their God changes their path in mid-air.”
Take the hint, barbarians.
Thursday, August 7, 2014
It's Called a Clue
Reportedly from the mouth of a muslim terrorist after a sudden wind blew the missile aimed for Israel off course.
Take the hint, barbarians.
Take the hint, barbarians.
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Glassware, the Old and the New
It's no secret, we're fans of beer glassware around here. That fondness is based more on fun than anything else. Yes, I agree that there is truth in the idea that certain beers are better served in specific glasses, but in the end it all comes down to overall enjoyment. Some glasses feel good in the hand, other glasses bring back memories, and others are more utilitarian and good for parties.
I was struck recently be a couple of articles on glassware the seemed to be at opposite sides of the spectrum.
First, there is this high-end glass from Spiegelau. Designed specifically for Stouts, the glass is "precision-engineered for maximum enjoyment when you’re drinking a stout, thanks to a combination of high-end glass, strategic curves, and the inherent deliciousness of beer itself."
But, there is always room for a classic. According to this BBC report, the old dimpled mug is making a comeback.
I was struck recently be a couple of articles on glassware the seemed to be at opposite sides of the spectrum.
First, there is this high-end glass from Spiegelau. Designed specifically for Stouts, the glass is "precision-engineered for maximum enjoyment when you’re drinking a stout, thanks to a combination of high-end glass, strategic curves, and the inherent deliciousness of beer itself."
But, there is always room for a classic. According to this BBC report, the old dimpled mug is making a comeback.
But having stared extinction in the face, the dimpled glass is returning. And not just to traditional pubs in the north and Scotland. Take the Shacklewell Arms in Dalston in east London. The clientele can fairly be described as hipsters - replete with rolled-up trousers, lumberjack shirts and woolly bobble hats. Rose Dennen has been general manager there for six months and the pub has had dimpled jugs since then. They offer a choice to bitter drinkers - there's straight glasses as well. But everybody chooses the dimples.
I haven't seen the dimpled mug used much here in the U.S., but having hoisted large, heavy mugs at a local Oktoberfest, I can tell you there is something satisfying about hefting a solid and heavy mug of beer. Coincidently, I was recently given a couple dimpled mugs by a friend. I think I'll put them to good use very soon.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Ego Crusher
Just as soon as I'm feeling pretty good about my shooting, I come across this video.
Yea, that's a 1,000 yard shot, off hand. With a revolver. On the second try.
The man is a machine. I'm pretty jealous of his ammo shelf too.
Get Bent Mountain IPA
Get Bent Mountain IPA pours a bright marmalade-orange color with a thin head. The appearance is slightly cloudy. The aroma is syrupy, but not cloying, with resinous and pine notes in there as well. The bottled version didn't smell as citrusy as I recall when I had it on draft previously, but that may or may not be an accurate memory. The flavor is a hoppy blend — a mix of bitter citrus, pine hops, along with a hint of fruit. In the mouth, the beer feels creamy and moderately "thick." The finish is dry, with some lingering bitterness.
Parkway Brewing Get Bent Mountain IPA is an enjoyable IPA. It's got enough bold hops to keep it interesting, but doesn't overwhelm the tastebuds. In fact, even at a moderate 7.2% ABV, it's deceptively smooth. I won't have any issue finishing off the rest of the six pack during Virginia's craft beer celebratory month.
Monday, August 4, 2014
It Was a Good Sunday
After Mass on Sunday morning, we headed to the grocery store to pick up a few odds and ends for the week ahead, not the least of which were a few more Virginia craft beers. An inventory of my beer fridge had revealed a shortage of beers for Virginia Craft Beer Month. For now, the grocery store selection will do. Then we headed out for the annual Knights of Columbus family picnic at a local park.
I opted out having any beer at the picnic, as I was planning to get my gun back from the gunsmith in the afternoon, and knew I would want to hit the range to test it out. (My non-drinking decision was made easier by the selection of factory beers I saw being offered.) You know it's going to be a fun afternoon when you are approached by a priest who says "I hear you are a big fan of beer." (Quick, think, this could be a trick question.) Father and I proceeded to have an enjoyable conversation about local breweries, as well as his experiences drinking beer overseas.)
After the picnic, I met up with my armorer friend, and returned home to grab my gear for the range. With a bit of dry firing, I could clearly feel the difference in the trigger pull. I hadn't really noticed how mushy the trigger had gotten. Even the easy, single action trigger pull felt noticeably more solid. Thirty-thousand (plus) rounds without a spring replacement might just be a tad excessive!
As I began shooting, the effect of new springs was obvious, and the trigger felt solid. My first quick 10 rounds from seven yards were nearly all touching. After that I spent time shooting from various distances, shooting not quite at match pace, but certainly not all that slow either. (Even in practice I don't have the patience for slow, aimed shots.) I didn't do any movement, but did shoot a lot of controlled pairs from a draw.
It was a fun afternoon, but it was obvious I was under no match pressure:
Those are the hits I need to make when I'm shooting a Classifier stage at a match. I felt much more in control of the trigger press with the new mainspring. And I saw no light primer strikes like I've been experiencing recently at matches again and again. I'm looking forward to getting some more range time before the next match. A big thanks to Mark at Immortal Arms for a quick turn around on the work too.
Good shooting aside, a quick trip to the range is a great way to spend an hour on a Sunday afternoon. The sun was low enough that the bay was in the shade, which made an already pleasant day even nicer. But all good thingscome to an end give way to other good things, and after cleaning up at home, it was finally time to enjoy that Virginian beer. Parkway Brewing Get Bent Mountain IPA was my pre-dinner choice. But that's a story for another post.
I opted out having any beer at the picnic, as I was planning to get my gun back from the gunsmith in the afternoon, and knew I would want to hit the range to test it out. (My non-drinking decision was made easier by the selection of factory beers I saw being offered.) You know it's going to be a fun afternoon when you are approached by a priest who says "I hear you are a big fan of beer." (Quick, think, this could be a trick question.) Father and I proceeded to have an enjoyable conversation about local breweries, as well as his experiences drinking beer overseas.)
After the picnic, I met up with my armorer friend, and returned home to grab my gear for the range. With a bit of dry firing, I could clearly feel the difference in the trigger pull. I hadn't really noticed how mushy the trigger had gotten. Even the easy, single action trigger pull felt noticeably more solid. Thirty-thousand (plus) rounds without a spring replacement might just be a tad excessive!
As I began shooting, the effect of new springs was obvious, and the trigger felt solid. My first quick 10 rounds from seven yards were nearly all touching. After that I spent time shooting from various distances, shooting not quite at match pace, but certainly not all that slow either. (Even in practice I don't have the patience for slow, aimed shots.) I didn't do any movement, but did shoot a lot of controlled pairs from a draw.
It was a fun afternoon, but it was obvious I was under no match pressure:
 |
| 5 shots, 10 yards, Strong Hand Only |
 |
| 7 shots, 10 yards, Weak Hand Only |
Those are the hits I need to make when I'm shooting a Classifier stage at a match. I felt much more in control of the trigger press with the new mainspring. And I saw no light primer strikes like I've been experiencing recently at matches again and again. I'm looking forward to getting some more range time before the next match. A big thanks to Mark at Immortal Arms for a quick turn around on the work too.
Good shooting aside, a quick trip to the range is a great way to spend an hour on a Sunday afternoon. The sun was low enough that the bay was in the shade, which made an already pleasant day even nicer. But all good things
Saturday, August 2, 2014
August Is Virginia Craft Beer Month
It's Craft Beer Month in Virginia. Any excuse for a party, I guess.
There are lots of events planned around the Commonwealth to celebrate the great beer brewed in Virginia. The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild is the driver behind the month-long recognition has a list of scheduled events events here.
It doesn't appear that there are any "official" events in Fredericksburg. That's okay, we recognize the quality of Virginia craft beer all year long. For my part, during the month of August I'll make an effort to concentrate my beer consumption on Virginia-brewed beers. That shouldn't be too onerous of a task. Who knows, I might even discover some I haven't tried yet!
There are lots of events planned around the Commonwealth to celebrate the great beer brewed in Virginia. The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild is the driver behind the month-long recognition has a list of scheduled events events here.
It doesn't appear that there are any "official" events in Fredericksburg. That's okay, we recognize the quality of Virginia craft beer all year long. For my part, during the month of August I'll make an effort to concentrate my beer consumption on Virginia-brewed beers. That shouldn't be too onerous of a task. Who knows, I might even discover some I haven't tried yet!
Friday, August 1, 2014
Happy Birthday, Faithful Companion
Our faithful family canine, Colonel Mulholland of the Irish Brigade, or Colonel for short, turns 12 years old today. He's a Brittaney, and as such a natural hunter, though he's been solely a house dog. He is however quite adept at catching moles and voles, and there's not a blue-tailed skink near our house that has a complete tail. He is also an impressive stalker of birds, rabbits, squirrels and turtles in the yard. Colonel's an old dog with a very young heart.
As a pup, his energy was boundless, often bordering on manic. But he's mellowed with age, and now spends most of his time sleeping. He often insists on resting with his paws on top of the feet or arms of one of his humans. After all these years he's now claimed, with little resistance, couch privileges. Colonel's still a tough old dog, having survived the years with a heart murmur, erliychia, numerous wasp stings, uncountable scrapes and cuts from running through the woods, and even two copperhead bites (the most recent just two weeks ago). Yet, he just keeps on going! He rotates his time equally among family and friends, allowing everyone the opportunity to scratch his chin.
His play time is less frequent these days, but he'll still greet you at the door with noisy exuberance. Well, if he's awake that is.
As a pup, his energy was boundless, often bordering on manic. But he's mellowed with age, and now spends most of his time sleeping. He often insists on resting with his paws on top of the feet or arms of one of his humans. After all these years he's now claimed, with little resistance, couch privileges. Colonel's still a tough old dog, having survived the years with a heart murmur, erliychia, numerous wasp stings, uncountable scrapes and cuts from running through the woods, and even two copperhead bites (the most recent just two weeks ago). Yet, he just keeps on going! He rotates his time equally among family and friends, allowing everyone the opportunity to scratch his chin.
 |
| Best. Dog. Ever. |
His play time is less frequent these days, but he'll still greet you at the door with noisy exuberance. Well, if he's awake that is.
Day of Prayer, Adoration, and Solidarity for Persecuted Christians
Please take some time today to pray for fellow Christians who are being persecuted, driven from their homes, and slaughtered for refusing to deny their faith by converting to islam.
Read more at New Liturgical Movement.
After our silent prayer, we must realize it is also time for worldly action. It's not just Christians in the Middle East who suffer from islamic oppression. This tenant of genocide extends to our Jewish brethren, and reaches even our own homeland. Christians and Jews the world over are victims of ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the moslems. This is not a new phenomena, "convert or die" has been the mantra of islam for 1400 years. Religious and civil leaders, lay people and clergy alike, must speak up and stand strong against this barbarism.
It's time to fight back. I can't emphasize it enough, this is not an issue relegated to a far off land. Genocide and jihad is being preached and carried out right here in the United States. And it's all happening without objection, and even with tacit praise, from the current administration. Remember Mariam Yahya Ibrahim, the Sudanese woman condemned to death for marrying a Christian? When she was finally released, it was the Italian government that provided the transportation. The U.S government, despite the fact that her husband is a U.S. citizen and was also detained by the islamic government, did nothing to help this family.
My Christian friends, "Turning the other cheek" does not mean acquiescence.
Friday, August 1, 2014 is the day chosen by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) for a worldwide day of Public Adoration of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament in supplication for our persecuted brethren in Iraq, Syria, and the Middle East...
Read more at New Liturgical Movement.
After our silent prayer, we must realize it is also time for worldly action. It's not just Christians in the Middle East who suffer from islamic oppression. This tenant of genocide extends to our Jewish brethren, and reaches even our own homeland. Christians and Jews the world over are victims of ethnic cleansing perpetrated by the moslems. This is not a new phenomena, "convert or die" has been the mantra of islam for 1400 years. Religious and civil leaders, lay people and clergy alike, must speak up and stand strong against this barbarism.
It's time to fight back. I can't emphasize it enough, this is not an issue relegated to a far off land. Genocide and jihad is being preached and carried out right here in the United States. And it's all happening without objection, and even with tacit praise, from the current administration. Remember Mariam Yahya Ibrahim, the Sudanese woman condemned to death for marrying a Christian? When she was finally released, it was the Italian government that provided the transportation. The U.S government, despite the fact that her husband is a U.S. citizen and was also detained by the islamic government, did nothing to help this family.
My Christian friends, "Turning the other cheek" does not mean acquiescence.
"I am a Nazarene too."
"Christianity is not the creed of Asia and Africa at this moment solely because the seventh century Christians of Asia and Africa had trained themselves not to fight, whereas the Moslems were trained to fight. Christianity was saved in Europe solely because the peoples of Europe fought. If the peoples of Europe in the seventh and eighth centuries, and on up to and including the seventeenth century, had not possessed a military equality with, and gradually a growing superiority over the Mohammedans who invaded Europe, Europe would at this moment be Mohammedan and the Christian religion would be exterminated."
--Theodore Roosevelt, writing at the start of the 20th Century
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