This is a glorious video!
It's time put the Catholic back in Catholicism.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
iPad Beer Magic
Remember the iPint app for the iPhone? Here's someone who has taken it one step further to create an entertaining, at least to drunk people, illusion with his iPad.
Sadly the iPint app is no longer available in the US due to copyright issues.
H/T to Beerpulse.com.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Memorial Day Range Fun
On the day dedicated to honoring those who died protecting our freedoms, our family decided to celebrate one of our basic freedoms by spending the afternoon at the range. It was especially fun for me as our son joined us. He's usually busy with school work or other interests so we've not enjoyed his company at the range for far too long. I'm proud to say he's still quite competent with a handgun. We were also joined by a good friend and regular shooting companion who was visiting for the holiday celebration.
Both pistol ranges were occupied when we arrived so we started with a bit of shotgun work. We shot at some static clays and ran some one-on-one challenges to see who could clear their clays first. There's some work to be done there; I'm not as accurate when I'm racing.
Both pistol ranges were occupied when we arrived so we started with a bit of shotgun work. We shot at some static clays and ran some one-on-one challenges to see who could clear their clays first. There's some work to be done there; I'm not as accurate when I'm racing.
A pistol range cleared and we set up four target stands and worked on various drills, both standing and moving. The training target "Buddy" was along to offer a bit of reality too. We shot at him from behind cover, and also used him as a "good guy" and engaged paper targets set up behind him. He was a good sport about the whole thing. I was happy that my son got to experience a bit of "reality" shooting.
I also tried out the Combat Focus Shooting iPhone app to run some drills. I'll post a review of that soon.
Some hypocrites spent the day giving lip service to our fallen heroes, while they themselves are working to restrict the freedoms those men and women died defending. Our day at the range was good fun, but also a reminder that we are facing a critical point in history when our rights are being challenged on so many fronts.
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| Confirmed. I'm glad I didn't buy a compact car. |
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Center Of The Universe Located
Richmond BizSense is reporting that Center of the Universe Brewing Company has signed a lease on a 12,000 square feet building in Ashland, VA, just off Interstate 95.
This is exciting news for me. The location is one I pass by on my way home from the IDPA and Steel shooting matches held down at Black Creek. Readers know I'm a fan of relaxing with a good beer AFTER shooting. This just may fit the bill perfectly!
See "One hurdle crossed" for more information on the brewery's plans for the space.
A previous Musing on this new brewery is here.
A fledgling local brewery has finally found its home in the center of the universe.
Center of the Universe Brewing Company this month leased 12,000 square feet on Air Park Road in Ashland, just off Interstate 95 near Bass Pro Shop.
The building sits on 1.3 acres and was previously occupied by the Herald-Progress newspaper.
With its claim officially staked, Center of the Universe, founded by brothers Chris Ray and Phil Ray and named after the unofficial nickname of Ashland, is aiming for a November opening.
But there’s a lot of work left to be done: There’s the lengthy process of state and federal licensing. They’ll then await the delivery of all the giant tanks, boilers and fermenters that will produce the liquid gold.
A build-out will give the brothers warehouse space for the brewing components and a front area that will become a tasting room.
This is exciting news for me. The location is one I pass by on my way home from the IDPA and Steel shooting matches held down at Black Creek. Readers know I'm a fan of relaxing with a good beer AFTER shooting. This just may fit the bill perfectly!
See "One hurdle crossed" for more information on the brewery's plans for the space.
A previous Musing on this new brewery is here.
Monday, May 28, 2012
In Thanks & Remembrance
On this Memorial Day as we remember those who gave all, let us not dishonor their memory by allowing our freedoms to be trampled. Those who seek to limit our rights do so in contempt of our fallen heroes. Honor the fallen, and remember what they were protecting.
“Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present Generation to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it.” -- John Adams
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Memorial Weekend Steel Match
The Black Creek Shooters held a special Memorial Weekend match on Saturday. It's been many months since I was able to get down there for a steel match and was looking forward to it very much. It was a small crowd, just 57 shooters total. The small crowd meant a quick match, and I was on my home by 12:30. Still plenty of time to do some chores before settling in for the rest of the three day weekend!
The entire match consisted of falling or swinging steel, with the lone exception of 2 static targets. There were four stages in all, for a total of 109 rounds minimum.
Stage 4, where my squad started, was a quick stage requiring just 18 shots. Multiple shots on two static targets, as well as some spring-loaded targets, and a dueling tree. Let me just say, those dueling tree plates are small! Without really thinking I shot the plates from top to bottom. That wasn't the most logical way to do it, as I was working against the recoil to bring the gun down to the next target. Shooting from bottom up would work with the recoil. On the last static plate which required 3 hits, I wasn't calling my shots well and was not sure I was hitting, so I ended up taking 5 shots. When I was done I asked if I had hit it three or four times. "You hit it five times" was the reply. Despite that, this was my best stage of the match, finishing 14th out of 36 in my division.
Stage 1 required engaging a plate rack through a low port, then 6 poppers and another dueling tree from the middle of the bay, and finally moving to another position with another plate rack. This time I remembered to shoot the dueling tree from bottom to top. It was a fun stage with a good mix of targets. Stage 2 consisted of a mix of falling poppers, including split versions of both sizes, to be shot from 5 different shooting boxes. I struggled on this stage, not seeming to be able to get my shots on target. Those small split poppers were mocking me I'm sure! Stage 3 was the largest of the stages, in shot count, requiring a minimum of 35 shots. All the steel was shot from a single position.
It was a fun match. I still need to work on consistancy when shooting these steel matches. I suspect I may be looking over the gun to see the steel hit when I shoot. The last time I shot a steel match was in October of last year, and then as far back as April prior to that. Overall, I finished 25th out of 36. I need to get to more of these matches and spend more time shooting the various steel targets. I probably need to devote more time to dry firing as well.
As I was waiting for the match to start, I saw a familiar face walk by. It was someone I recognized from church who also happened to be shooting the match. We ended up on the same squad so got to spend some time chatting. It was a nice surprise, and it turns out we have mutual friends who are also shooting enthusiasts. It really is a small world!
The entire match consisted of falling or swinging steel, with the lone exception of 2 static targets. There were four stages in all, for a total of 109 rounds minimum.
Stage 4, where my squad started, was a quick stage requiring just 18 shots. Multiple shots on two static targets, as well as some spring-loaded targets, and a dueling tree. Let me just say, those dueling tree plates are small! Without really thinking I shot the plates from top to bottom. That wasn't the most logical way to do it, as I was working against the recoil to bring the gun down to the next target. Shooting from bottom up would work with the recoil. On the last static plate which required 3 hits, I wasn't calling my shots well and was not sure I was hitting, so I ended up taking 5 shots. When I was done I asked if I had hit it three or four times. "You hit it five times" was the reply. Despite that, this was my best stage of the match, finishing 14th out of 36 in my division.
Stage 1 required engaging a plate rack through a low port, then 6 poppers and another dueling tree from the middle of the bay, and finally moving to another position with another plate rack. This time I remembered to shoot the dueling tree from bottom to top. It was a fun stage with a good mix of targets. Stage 2 consisted of a mix of falling poppers, including split versions of both sizes, to be shot from 5 different shooting boxes. I struggled on this stage, not seeming to be able to get my shots on target. Those small split poppers were mocking me I'm sure! Stage 3 was the largest of the stages, in shot count, requiring a minimum of 35 shots. All the steel was shot from a single position.
It was a fun match. I still need to work on consistancy when shooting these steel matches. I suspect I may be looking over the gun to see the steel hit when I shoot. The last time I shot a steel match was in October of last year, and then as far back as April prior to that. Overall, I finished 25th out of 36. I need to get to more of these matches and spend more time shooting the various steel targets. I probably need to devote more time to dry firing as well.
As I was waiting for the match to start, I saw a familiar face walk by. It was someone I recognized from church who also happened to be shooting the match. We ended up on the same squad so got to spend some time chatting. It was a nice surprise, and it turns out we have mutual friends who are also shooting enthusiasts. It really is a small world!
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| Stage 3. Photo by Black Creek Steel Shooters. |
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Innovation You Could Use This Weekend
The days of fighting to get ketchup out of the bottle may soon be a thing of the past. The scientists at MIT have put their smarts to good use. They created a non-stick coating for food containers that may solve this scourge of picnic tables everywhere.
See more demonstrations at "MIT’s Freaky Non-Stick Coating Keeps Ketchup Flowing."
(For those reading via RSS, you'll need to click through to see the video.)
(For those reading via RSS, you'll need to click through to see the video.)
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