I try to listen to B B & Guns every chance I get. When I don't listen, it's cool; I download the podcast. I still have several I haven't listened to yet, but I still love the show. Breda's been holding down the fort just fine during Bonnie's hiatus, bringing in guest hosts to keep the show fun. Lately, she's had one of my favorite bloggers and good friend JayG sitting second chair. It's been cool.
Last night the show's topic was "Out and Proud." The idea there is derived from a phrase frequently used in reference to a homosexual's decision to no longer hide their sexuality or, "coming out of the closet." Gun owners - particularly those who legally carry concealed weapons - are generally trying to keep that a secret in much the same fashion, and, quite honestly, for very similar reasons. Society as a whole tends to be very ignorant of all things gunnie and, as a result, tends to be fearful. Gunnies get treated differently once we come out of the gun safe. Jay referred to it as the "deathbeast." Gunnies become the deathbeast when everyone finds out, and it's tough - sometimes impossible - to change people's minds.
It's actually worse in Texas, believe it or not, because you don't have the option to carry openly. You cannot carry openly in Texas, so when you carry concealed you are required by law to maintain absolute secrecy. Sure, you can tell people (if you're stupid) that you have a gun, but that would make about as much sense as walking into a police station and telling the cops that you have an ounce of weed in your shorts. Either way, you're gonna end up under a pile of cops before the law itself is considered.
I, being a glutton for punishment, have some friends who are gay. We go over there and hang out pretty often. There's usually a bunch of people over there, and the majority of them are gay. Many of them very liberal. I go over there with my gun on, and occasionally sit in silent fear that my pistol gets spotted (a fear I just don't have in public, strangely enough) because I get too relaxed, or someone flat outs me.
So I can sure as hell see the similarities between being a gun owner and being gay. It ain't easy either way. You can keep it a secret and only share who and what you really are in small circles of close friends, or you can be out and proud where you'll have to find some way to cope with the masses whose default condition is generally fear.
Makes me wish there were a bunch more folks like Breda and Jay around where I live.
tweaker
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Perhaps Just Death
You know, as opposed to Death and Taxes.
Having received my first full paycheck from my shiny new employer has revealed that I am officially in the next tax bracket. Meaning my tax rate went up. Basically, it's like being penalized for making more money.
Needless to say, I'm madder than a fucking badger. I worked my fingers to the fucking bone for too many years to finally get to the point where I'm making enough money to be any kind of comfortable - and believe me, it ain't nowhere near six-figures - and Uncle Sugar decides that he's gonna stick his fingers that much deeper into my pockets.
Nothing like being ass-raped by someone who claims they do better with what they're taking from you than you can.
I can only imagine what the +$250K/yr. folks feel like.
As a result, I will be adding to my list of New Year's Resolutions the following: I will, in the coming year, say Fuck The Federal Government more than I already do by approximately double the percentage increase in my taxes.
Bastards, the lot of 'em.
tweaker
Having received my first full paycheck from my shiny new employer has revealed that I am officially in the next tax bracket. Meaning my tax rate went up. Basically, it's like being penalized for making more money.
Needless to say, I'm madder than a fucking badger. I worked my fingers to the fucking bone for too many years to finally get to the point where I'm making enough money to be any kind of comfortable - and believe me, it ain't nowhere near six-figures - and Uncle Sugar decides that he's gonna stick his fingers that much deeper into my pockets.
Nothing like being ass-raped by someone who claims they do better with what they're taking from you than you can.
I can only imagine what the +$250K/yr. folks feel like.
As a result, I will be adding to my list of New Year's Resolutions the following: I will, in the coming year, say Fuck The Federal Government more than I already do by approximately double the percentage increase in my taxes.
Bastards, the lot of 'em.
tweaker
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Lousy Sex
If, during That Special Moment, your partner decides to play a round of How Many of the Four Rules Can I Break All At Once, your odds aren't looking too hot. Find some other way to mix things up in the sack, k?
Stupid should hurt, but not other people. My sympathies to the family of Rebecca Sedille.
tweaker
Stupid should hurt, but not other people. My sympathies to the family of Rebecca Sedille.
tweaker
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Anniversary Recap, pt. 2 - The Recappening
So, in my last post I mentioned The Wifey's reciprocation for her Shiny New Ride. As a reward for faithful servitude To say thank you, she was going to surprise me with a bad-ass new 58" Panasonic plasma I'd been eyeballing for some time. Unfortunately, her surprise was ruined by the retailer being out of that item. Not the store, but every store in the not-at-all-small Great State of Texas. Warehouses, too. All. Out.
They will pay dearly, once the whole world domination thing finally goes through.
Fortunately for me, I had a backup plan for the 58". I had also been eyeing the 54" version of the same TV. Four inches less diagonal, but about $200 cheaper. Win, right? Only if you don't count how the retailer was out of that model as well. Stores, warehouses, Texas, yadda-yadda.
%$@#&!
Okay, howzabout a 50"? Still eight full inches larger than the 42" LCD that died on me, and I have a buddy with the previous year's version, and it looks great.
Out.
Right before going full-on-postal, I decided to do a bit of research. After all, having spent 10 years in the high-end custom install business I knew there are always several models in each size. A quick look at Panasonic's website revealed that there was a model that was, electronically, pretty much a carbon-copy of the one that had been selling for $699(!) but had a stay-clean bezel and an anti-glare screen (a must for plasmas, anyway). MSRP $1199, on sale for $869. My local retailer had it. Huzzah! Off we went...
...Only to find out they couldn't get their hands on either of the two they showed to have in stock. They did, however, stand scratching their heads while I located an Open-Box model. That's basically any item that someone returns within the 30-day, no questions asked return period on TVs and stuff. Enticed by an additional 10% off, I had them lift the lid on the box.
Epic Win.
My guess, judging by the plastic still factory-installed on the bezel, the condition of the styrofoam, etc., is that the box was opened, the TV was too big/small/spensive for the original intention, and was subsequently returned. This thing was probably never plugged in. It promptly came home. Course, since a ride home in the bed of a truck going 70+ m.p.h. in 40-degree weather can set conditions for the releasing of the Magic Smoke if you turn it on immediately, it sat in the box in the hall overnight to get back to room temp.
The next morning two things happened: first, the TV was all assembled and set up. Second, it became readily obvious that HOLY SHIT THIS THING OVERDRIVES GREEN. Seriously. Red was pushy, everything else was normal. Resolution was great. Green, however, looked like it had been mega-amplified. Calibrated the basic settings (with test patterns. You cannot set up a TV with your eyes. Anyone who says they can is lying) and same result. Great black levels, great overall light output - for a plasma - but green. Lots and lots of green.
I searched every menu. Nothing. I tried all the tricks I knew of. Nothing. I was just starting to look for a replacement (Best Buy carries nothing else I'm even remotely interested in, and nothing that can come close to this plasma's picture for less that three times the price) when I decided to see if anyone else had this problem. "It couldn't just be me," I thought, and I was right.
In a certain picture mode, the Panny deliberately overdrives red and green. "Why," you ask? Simple. Torch mode. "WTF is Torch Mode?" you ask? That is when a manufacturer sets the display up from the factory to be as bright as possible (which means the picture looks like shit, BTW. All of them.) so a consumer will be drawn to it like a moth to a flame. The TV has to be bright, because it's going to be mounted to a wall along with dozens of other TVs competing to be the flame du jour.
Plasmas have to be the Little Engine That Could on those giant video walls for one simple reason: LCDs are, as a general rule, have much greater light output than plasmas do. Plasmas generally have way better black levels and can reproduce color much more accurately than LCDs do, but who gives a shit when you literally have north of 75 flat-panel displays all calling your name? Factor in the high ambient light being brought to you by the bazillion-watt mercury-vapor lights they run in those retail stores and you have a recipe for disaster for plasma makers. How do you compete, when most folks either don't give a damn about picture quality or think picture quality means brighter TV?
If you're Panasonic, you cheat. Overdriving red and green tricks the average Joe into believing the display is brighter than it actually is. It can now compete with other TVs. Well, I'm not average Joe, and I a) know what actual picture quality is and b) give a damn, two shits, and a fuck about picture quality.
So it would have been real nice, Panasonic, if you'd just told me about that little "feature" before I quite nearly returned your shit.
Now, having been corrected, I can tell you that, dollar for dollar, you will not find a better picture than you will on a Panasonic TC-P50S2. 'Specially when you got that shit for 10% off.
Thanks, Honey. I lurves my new TV!
tweaker
They will pay dearly, once the whole world domination thing finally goes through.
Fortunately for me, I had a backup plan for the 58". I had also been eyeing the 54" version of the same TV. Four inches less diagonal, but about $200 cheaper. Win, right? Only if you don't count how the retailer was out of that model as well. Stores, warehouses, Texas, yadda-yadda.
%$@#&!
Okay, howzabout a 50"? Still eight full inches larger than the 42" LCD that died on me, and I have a buddy with the previous year's version, and it looks great.
Out.
Right before going full-on-postal, I decided to do a bit of research. After all, having spent 10 years in the high-end custom install business I knew there are always several models in each size. A quick look at Panasonic's website revealed that there was a model that was, electronically, pretty much a carbon-copy of the one that had been selling for $699(!) but had a stay-clean bezel and an anti-glare screen (a must for plasmas, anyway). MSRP $1199, on sale for $869. My local retailer had it. Huzzah! Off we went...
...Only to find out they couldn't get their hands on either of the two they showed to have in stock. They did, however, stand scratching their heads while I located an Open-Box model. That's basically any item that someone returns within the 30-day, no questions asked return period on TVs and stuff. Enticed by an additional 10% off, I had them lift the lid on the box.
Epic Win.
My guess, judging by the plastic still factory-installed on the bezel, the condition of the styrofoam, etc., is that the box was opened, the TV was too big/small/spensive for the original intention, and was subsequently returned. This thing was probably never plugged in. It promptly came home. Course, since a ride home in the bed of a truck going 70+ m.p.h. in 40-degree weather can set conditions for the releasing of the Magic Smoke if you turn it on immediately, it sat in the box in the hall overnight to get back to room temp.
The next morning two things happened: first, the TV was all assembled and set up. Second, it became readily obvious that HOLY SHIT THIS THING OVERDRIVES GREEN. Seriously. Red was pushy, everything else was normal. Resolution was great. Green, however, looked like it had been mega-amplified. Calibrated the basic settings (with test patterns. You cannot set up a TV with your eyes. Anyone who says they can is lying) and same result. Great black levels, great overall light output - for a plasma - but green. Lots and lots of green.
I searched every menu. Nothing. I tried all the tricks I knew of. Nothing. I was just starting to look for a replacement (Best Buy carries nothing else I'm even remotely interested in, and nothing that can come close to this plasma's picture for less that three times the price) when I decided to see if anyone else had this problem. "It couldn't just be me," I thought, and I was right.
In a certain picture mode, the Panny deliberately overdrives red and green. "Why," you ask? Simple. Torch mode. "WTF is Torch Mode?" you ask? That is when a manufacturer sets the display up from the factory to be as bright as possible (which means the picture looks like shit, BTW. All of them.) so a consumer will be drawn to it like a moth to a flame. The TV has to be bright, because it's going to be mounted to a wall along with dozens of other TVs competing to be the flame du jour.
Plasmas have to be the Little Engine That Could on those giant video walls for one simple reason: LCDs are, as a general rule, have much greater light output than plasmas do. Plasmas generally have way better black levels and can reproduce color much more accurately than LCDs do, but who gives a shit when you literally have north of 75 flat-panel displays all calling your name? Factor in the high ambient light being brought to you by the bazillion-watt mercury-vapor lights they run in those retail stores and you have a recipe for disaster for plasma makers. How do you compete, when most folks either don't give a damn about picture quality or think picture quality means brighter TV?
If you're Panasonic, you cheat. Overdriving red and green tricks the average Joe into believing the display is brighter than it actually is. It can now compete with other TVs. Well, I'm not average Joe, and I a) know what actual picture quality is and b) give a damn, two shits, and a fuck about picture quality.
So it would have been real nice, Panasonic, if you'd just told me about that little "feature" before I quite nearly returned your shit.
Now, having been corrected, I can tell you that, dollar for dollar, you will not find a better picture than you will on a Panasonic TC-P50S2. 'Specially when you got that shit for 10% off.
Thanks, Honey. I lurves my new TV!
tweaker
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Anniversary Recap*
*I was gonna title this post "Anniversary AAR," but After Action Report just didn't seem right. Anyhoo.
It was a pretty good anniversary, if I don't say so myself. See, I've been dreaming for years of being able to do something big for an anniversary. I mean big. Well, a 10th Anniversary calls for big, right?
We've been tossing around getting rid of the Journey we bought a couple years ago. It's been in the shop waaaay too many times in the 34,000 miles that we've owned it for. Electrical problems, handles ripping off of seats, sun visors literally changing colors; we've seen a lot. The last straw came when we realized that the brakes must be replaced about every 25-28,000 miles. That's pads and rotors, front and rear. Even the do-it-yourselfer (I would fall under that category) can expect to pay $350 for parts alone to do this work. Dealer parts? Double that figure. Have someone do the work for you? You're pushing a cool grand.
I ain't havin' it. Some folks may not bat an eye at that type of scratch, but I don't have that lying around to blow on excessive maintenance. Not when I drive a truck (Tundra) with 73,000 miles on the original brakes. Not when there are other vehicles that get that type of life out of their brakes. Certainly not on a vehicle that spends that much time getting warranty work done. It was time for a change.
After many hours spent poring over makes and models of vehicles, The Wifey finally found what she was looking for. She calls me at work and tells me she wants a Toyota Venza. We looked, and we found one at the dealership that is literally within walking distance of my house. I happily obliged:
That, y'all, is the showroom model, complete with Big-Ass Bow on top. Ladies, look at me. Now look at your husband/boyfriend/strange man in your house. Now look back at me. Has your man ever bought you a car with a Big-Ass Bow on it?
Naturally, The Wifey was overcome with joy. She was so happy with her gift, she did something... special. Something we'd only talked about before. Something from a fantasy.
...
She bought me a TV. Get your mind out of the gutter! Geez.
;)
More on the TV later.
tweaker
It was a pretty good anniversary, if I don't say so myself. See, I've been dreaming for years of being able to do something big for an anniversary. I mean big. Well, a 10th Anniversary calls for big, right?
We've been tossing around getting rid of the Journey we bought a couple years ago. It's been in the shop waaaay too many times in the 34,000 miles that we've owned it for. Electrical problems, handles ripping off of seats, sun visors literally changing colors; we've seen a lot. The last straw came when we realized that the brakes must be replaced about every 25-28,000 miles. That's pads and rotors, front and rear. Even the do-it-yourselfer (I would fall under that category) can expect to pay $350 for parts alone to do this work. Dealer parts? Double that figure. Have someone do the work for you? You're pushing a cool grand.
I ain't havin' it. Some folks may not bat an eye at that type of scratch, but I don't have that lying around to blow on excessive maintenance. Not when I drive a truck (Tundra) with 73,000 miles on the original brakes. Not when there are other vehicles that get that type of life out of their brakes. Certainly not on a vehicle that spends that much time getting warranty work done. It was time for a change.
After many hours spent poring over makes and models of vehicles, The Wifey finally found what she was looking for. She calls me at work and tells me she wants a Toyota Venza. We looked, and we found one at the dealership that is literally within walking distance of my house. I happily obliged:
That, y'all, is the showroom model, complete with Big-Ass Bow on top. Ladies, look at me. Now look at your husband/boyfriend/strange man in your house. Now look back at me. Has your man ever bought you a car with a Big-Ass Bow on it?
Naturally, The Wifey was overcome with joy. She was so happy with her gift, she did something... special. Something we'd only talked about before. Something from a fantasy.
...
She bought me a TV. Get your mind out of the gutter! Geez.
;)
More on the TV later.
tweaker
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
People Are Strange
Public service announcement:
If, in the course of a day's Christmas tunes at work, you hear the Bobby Helms version of "Jingle Bell Rock" and inform the masses that, upon hearing said tune, you are reminded of cocaine, nakedness, and suicide, your coworkers will look at you strangely.
That is all.
tweaker
If, in the course of a day's Christmas tunes at work, you hear the Bobby Helms version of "Jingle Bell Rock" and inform the masses that, upon hearing said tune, you are reminded of cocaine, nakedness, and suicide, your coworkers will look at you strangely.
That is all.
tweaker
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