Archive for the ‘Endorsements’ Category

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“What you gonna do when you get out of jail?…” part 323

Wednesday, February 17th, 2021

I thought today I’d try some more random gun crankery.

There’s a company called Optics Warehouse. I find it surprising that they sell rifle scopes in the UK, but I digress.

Anyway, they have a series called “Master Sniper”. This is episode 4, “British Sniper Rifles Through The Ages”.

One reason I wanted to mention this: Swift and Bold Publishing, the folks behind The British Sniper, A Century of Evolution (which I have previously discussed) have a new book coming out at the end of the month, The Green Meanie L96A1. Swift and Bold has been a pleasure to deal with in the past, and I endorse this product and/or service. (Even though the price does give me the leaping fantods, but again, have you priced sniping books recently? With shipping from the UK?)

Short bonus video #1: I haven’t used anything from the US Army Marksmanship Unit recently, so here’s an interesting video on the concept of “maximum point blank”.

Bonus video #2, from the School of the American Rifle, “AR-15 Cleaning Equipment”.

Bonus video #3: from Brownells (so keep in mind that they are trying to sell you product, though in my experience they are honorable and honest people): “Quick Tip: Tools Every Gun Owner Needs”.

Posted in Books, Endorsements, Guns, History | Comments Closed

Now that we are in the Christmas season…

Thursday, November 26th, 2020

…I can post this.

There’s a new Lame Excuse Books catalog out. Books from Lame Excuse Books make fine presents for the SF and/or fantasy fan in your circle of family and friends.

I feel like I got an early Christmas present this year. Maybe. I haven’t decided if I’m going to go see this in a theater, or wait for the home video release.

David Fincher has a new movie coming out. Apparently it will be released to Netflix on December 4th, but there is a theatrical run already at the Alamo Drafthouses in Austin.

I think Fincher is an interesting director. But: he has scientifically designed this movie to get me to put money on the table for it.

Director David Fincher’s MANK is a journey into the black-and-white era of Hollywood through the eyes of alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz, played with droll, boozy, intense wit by Gary Oldman. The film follows the former journalist as he races to finish the screenplay for the landmark 1941 film CITIZEN KANE – leading to a battle with wunderkind director Orson Welles over the screenwriting credit.

Posted in Books, Christmas, Endorsements, Movies | 2 Comments »

“What you gonna do when you get out of jail?…” part 113

Tuesday, July 21st, 2020

Time for some more military geekery. And I think that’s appropriate in this case, because this covers two interesting areas of research.

“Holloman — Frontier of the Future”, a documentary about Holloman AFB in New Mexico and some of the work going on there at the time. In addition to missile testing and flight operations, Holloman has a long (35,000 feet at the time: it was upgraded to 50,917 feet in 2000) rocket sled track: this is where John Paul Stapp did his work, and he’s interviewed briefly in the film.

Holloman was also the home base for Project Manhigh (though the balloons were launched from other sites).

If you can find a copy of it at a more reasonable price, The Pre-Astronauts: Manned Ballooning on the Threshold of Space by Craig Ryan (affiliate link), which is mentioned in the notes, is a swell book that I enthusiastically recommend.

Bonus video: and now for something completely different (and longer). I have not watched this yet, but I’m bookmarking it here for reasons I’ll go into in a moment.

From the National Capital Area Skeptics video channel on YouTube: Dr. Eric Cline lecturing on “1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed”.

I was totally unfamiliar with the Late Bronze Age Collapse until Paul Cooper covered it on the Fall of Civilizations podcast (which I enthusiastically endorse). Dr. Cline’s book (affiliate link) is on my Amazon wish list, and I’ll probably be ordering a copy soon-ish.

Posted in Bookmarks, Books, Endorsements, Geek, History, Planes | Comments Closed

“What you gonna do when you get out of jail?…” part 103

Saturday, July 11th, 2020

This popped up randomly in my recommendations, but I would have posted it no matter what once I knew it existed.

From the “World Of Warships” channel: “Naval Legends: USS Batfish”.

As you may recall, Mike the Musicologist and I visited the Batfish…cheez louise, it has been almost six years?

And as I think I’ve mentioned before, the USS Batfish was damaged in the flooding of 2019, and the Friends of the Muskogee War Memorial Park are trying to raise money to put it back into shape. If you have a few dollars to spare, why not float them over to the Batfish?

Bonus video: an episode of “The Silent Service” TV series about the USS Batfish.

The Silent Service is an American syndicated anthology television series based on actual events in the submarine section of the United States Navy. The Silent Service was narrated by Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykers, who retired from the Navy in 1949 after twenty-two years of service. He began each episode with this refrain: “Tonight, we bring you another thrilling episode of Silent Service stories, of warfare under the sea.”

Fun fact: “DeForest Kelley appeared in three episodes as Lieutenant Commander James C. Dempsey and Leonard Nimoy appeared in two episodes as Sonarman.” Also appearing at various points: Edward Platt (who played a lieutenant commander, not a chief), Jack Lord, Bob Denver, and Dennis Weaver. And that’s not an exhaustive list.

Posted in Endorsements, History, TV | Comments Closed

I heartily endorse this event or product. (#20 and #21 in a series)

Tuesday, June 16th, 2020

I’ve backed the Kickstarter for Escape the City: a How-To Homesteading Guide by Travis J I Corcoran.

For those unfamiliar with Mr. Corcoran, he’s won two Prometheus awards (back to back) for his SF books, The Powers of the Earth and Causes of Separation.

Unlike those books, this is not fiction: this is a how-to/things I wish I had known/lessons learned book from someone who abandoned suburban life, moved to a farm in the country, and maintains an active coding career while raising his own food and living as close to a self-sustained lifestyle as he can get.

I have personal reasons for backing this book. But even if you don’t plan on moving to a farm, there’s almost certainly something in it that will justify the $20 you spend on the e-book: stuff about meat and meat processing, recipes, workshops and workshop tools…well, there’s a table of contents on the Kickstarter page.

Mr. Corcoran probably doesn’t need my help, though I’m happy to provide it: we’ve had friendly correspondence in the past. The Kickstarter is already at $25,000+ out of an initial $2,000 goal. But I’d like to make sure that everyone who can get any sort of benefit from it has a chance to kick in and get early access.

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Noted: The National African American Gun Association. I didn’t know about this (though it’s been around for five years) until SayUncle mentioned it. Now that I do know about it, I’m delighted and fully support the organization, just like I support the Pink Pistols/Operation Blazing Sword.

Posted in Books, Endorsements, Guns | Comments Closed

I heartily endorse this event or product. (#18 and #19 in a series)

Wednesday, March 25th, 2020

I’ve actually never been to the Mysterious Bookshop in New York City. I haven’t been to NYC in more than 30 years.

But I’ve ordered a few things from them online. I’m not a steady customer, but I do like them. I also like Otto Penzler. I’ve never met him, but I hope to one of these days (assuming we’re not all dead by then).

The Mysterious Bookshop has always struck me as being kind the kind of place that just barely hangs on. I don’t mean that in a pejorative sense: pretty much any bookshop exists on the edge, doubly so if it is a specialty shop, and triply so if it is a specialty shop in NYC.

As you might guess, they’ve been hit pretty hard by recent events, and could use a little help. Why not go pick up something from them? I have (or else I wouldn’t be asking you). If you’re not a mystery fan, maybe you know someone who is. If you can’t think of anything you’d like to pick up right now, they sell gift cards (for you, or that other person who is a mystery fan).

I’d hate to see them close for good behind this thing. If you’ve still got a job, and have a little money that you’re not spending at bars or eating out or on gas for your car, how about throwing them a few dollars?

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Based on the recommendation of FOTB (and official firearms trainer for WCD) Karl Rehn, I ordered a copy of FBI Miami Firefight: Five Minutes that Changed the Bureau from Ed Mireles’s website.

I ordered it on Friday, because it isn’t like I don’t have enough books to read while I’m under confinement. (I’d actually been meaning to order it for a while: I didn’t want it to disappear on me.) It was in the mailbox on Tuesday. Which I personally think is pretty darn impressive, under the current circumstances.

I flipped through it some last night, and, while I haven’t read all of it, my first impression is: I’m liking it more than I am the other true crime book I’m reading at the moment (which deals with another famous shootout: I may write more about that one after I finish it.) I do want to throw an endorsement Mr. Mireles’s way, though, just based on him getting the book out the door that fast.

Posted in Books, Endorsements, Guns | Comments Closed

Charity.

Tuesday, February 18th, 2020

I saw the GoFundMe for Clay Martin cross the Twitter feeds I follow.

I didn’t post about it here because my resources are limited: I can’t give money to everyone I think is worthy. I wish I could, but I generally try to limit my donations to people I know personally. I’ve never met Mr. Martin, and know nothing about him other than what I’ve read on Twitter.

But then I read on Twitter last night that there are apparently a group of vets who don’t like Mr. Martin’s opinions, and are metaphorically crapping all over his GoFundMe.

I’m trying to avoid strongly worded language these days (for reasons). And saying “f–k those guys” doesn’t do anything positive.

This does. I’m kicking in a few bucks, because nobody deserves to be crapped on when they are hurting (or trying to help someone who is hurting).

Posted in Endorsements | Comments Closed

I heartily endorse this event or product. (#17 in a series)

Saturday, December 14th, 2019

Thirty Eight Pecans.

It’s a store. That sells pecans. He does wholesale and mail order all year, but he has a retail store (buried in the back of a strip center off of 183, next to an animal hospital) that’s open during the holiday season.

His selection is amazing: Tennessee Honey or Jack Daniels flavored pecans? Got them. Amaretto chocolate? Dark chocolate? Milk chocolate? Cajun? Just plain ones for baking? Got it all. Looking to ship a sampler to someone? Just go in: he’ll take care of the packing and shipping. All you need is an address (and payment).

We’ve been there twice since the season started, picking up pecans for ourselves and to ship to relatives. The thing that finally pushed me into writing an endorsement, though, is this: Mark, the guy who runs the place (origin story here) is incredibly nice and flexible. It seems like everything we asked for (and granted, we didn’t ask for anything really exotic and outlandish), his response was, “Sure, I can do that,” as well as, “Sure, I can get those in the mail today. I’m going to the post office anyway.”

This is another one of those people who I want to have trouble sleeping at night: because all of those $100 bills stuffed in his bedding are making too much noise.

My impression is that he’s going to be open next week (if you want to do last minute shopping), closed Christmas week, and will be open again January 2nd. After the first of the year, he plans to have a fire sale to clean out inventory until he opens up again next winter.

If you don’t have a convenient Knights of Columbus branch selling nuts, or even if you do, throw some business Mark’s way. I want these people to stay around and prosper: they’re really good folks.

(I didn’t get anything for writing this endorsement. Not even free samples. I just wrote it because I really like Mark, and his store.)

Posted in Endorsements, Food | Comments Closed

The most fun I’ve had recently with my clothes on…

Thursday, November 14th, 2019

…or, for that matter, off.

I’ll start with the musical interlude. I rather like this, though the banjo player should put on a damn shirt.

So, last night, I was down at the Austin Film Society. (It sounds more amusing if you say it with kind of a snooty accent.) What was I doing there? Getting some culture into my system…

(more…)

Posted in Endorsements, Movies, Music, Rhode Island | Comments Closed

Well, how do you like them apples?

Saturday, October 5th, 2019

I went over to GT Distributors this morning for Glocktoberfest. Oddly, while it isn’t terribly far from my office, I don’t make it over there that often: they tend to be more police and tactical oriented, and have less on the vintage S&W side. (Bill Orr, the founder, is a highly respected member of the S&W Collectors Association. It’s just that vintage Smiths aren’t their main line of business.)

But I had some Glock related stuff I was kind of looking for, and thought I’d swing by and check out Glocktoberfest.

Of course, they were doing door prize drawings. I went ahead and signed up, even though I never win door prizes. Then I browsed a little and waited for the door prize drawing at the top of the hour.

I’ve got my ticket out and am listening to them call the numbers. As I said, I never win door prizes, but hope springs eternal, right?

Then they called my number.

Well, okay, then. I don’t want to make a big deal about it: this was one of the hourly door prizes, not the big final prize (a new Glock). But the hourly prize was one of those snazzy 5.11 Tactical RUSH 24 backpacks. It’s kind of like walking into some place, hanging out for a bit, and then someone hands you a $100 bill right out of the blue.

(And I did pick up a few relatively small items: they were selling used Glock 22 and S&W M&P .357 SIG/.40 standard capacity magazines for $10 each. At that price, I figured I’d pick up a couple of each as a hedge. I also picked up some of the tchotchkes they were giving away for free, a Glock 42 magazine +1 mag extension for experimental purposes, and some FMJ .380 auto.)

They did take my photo for promotional purposes (with my enthusiastic consent) but I don’t see it on Facebook yet. I hope I didn’t break the guy’s phone…

Posted in Endorsements, Geek, Guns | Comments Closed

Bibilohoplophilia.

Sunday, March 17th, 2019

Or is it hoplobibilophilia? What do you call it when you have a fondness for gun books?

Whatever it is, I have the fever. And the only cure is…more cowbell, er, buying more books. Now it’s your turn to suffer for my -phila.

Seriously, I’ve picked up a couple of books lately that I want to endorse and document Lawrence style. (Please do not confuse “Lawrence style” with “Gangnam style“.) Half-Price Books has been having another coupon sale, but the first two books here I actually ordered new from the publishers.

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Posted in Books, Endorsements, Guns, Holsters, Hoplobibilophilia | Comments Closed

I heartily endorse this event or product. (#16 in a series)

Thursday, March 14th, 2019

Great and good friend of the blog Karl Rehn (official trainer to WCD) has a new book out, co-written with John Daub.

Strategies and Standards for Defensive Handgun Training is available in paperback and Kindle form. Quoting Amazon’s summary:

What percentage of carry permit holders attend training beyond the state minimum? What are the barriers keeping people from attending firearms training that isn’t mandatory? What are realistic standards for minimum defensive handgun competency? What are the best drills to practice? How can you compare the difficulty level of one drill to another? Written by two trainers with decades of experience, this book explores those questions and others related to defensive pistol training.

I haven’t read (or ordered) this book yet. But as you know, Bob, I’ve known Karl for a while and taken classes from him, so I don’t have any qualms endorsing this. I plan to order my copy soon, and will report back once I’ve read it.

Besides, if you can’t pimp your friend’s products, whose products can you pimp?

Posted in Books, Endorsements, Guns | Comments Closed

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