Lurking Rhythmically

Friday, December 31, 2021

Happy New Year?

Yikes, it's been a busy season for me, Between the holidays and trying to clean up the various messes that dad has left us (both financial and literal), I've been pretty absorbed lately. So absorbed, in fact, that I forgot to post the My Little Pony Christmas card that has become traditional around here. So, since Christmas is a season of the church that lasts until January 6, I'm posting this here and claiming that no, I'm not at all late.

And because one of my friends pointed out "No love for Applejack", I rationalize that away by saying:

AJ is wrangling the sheep.
Fluttershy is leading the bird chorus.
Rarity is in charge of costumes.
And Pinkie Pie is running the concession stand.

Right, so that's Christmas handled. As I write this, Twenty Twenty Won is ticking down its final moments, and I hope that the new year is merely 2022 and not Twenty Twenty, Too.

And now, some festive New Year's memes:

Art by Lily Seika Jones

I wish everyone (including myself -- hell, especially myself) a healthy, happy, prosperous, and above all else a SANE and NORMAL 2022.

Monday, December 27, 2021

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 182: Keep 2A Advocacy Non-Partisan

In This Episode

Erin and Weer’d talk about why you shouldn't mix partisan politics with Second Amendment activism;
Xander brings us his Independent Thoughts on dealing with emotion-filled holidays;
and superfan Nyssa tells us a story from work that is full of surprises!

Did you know that we have a Patreon? Join now for the low, low cost of $4/month (that’s $1/podcast) and you’ll get to listen to our podcast on Friday instead of Mondays, as well as patron-only content like mag dump episodes and our hilarious blooper reels and film tracks.

Show Notes

Main Topic:

Rob Pincus Screenshots:
NRA: Border Patrol Agent Has PERFECT 2A Message In Response to Biden's Vaccine Mandate
Brady: The Filibuster is Killing Us (video)
Brady: The Filibuster is Killing Us (article)
Unknown Armies

Independent Thoughts With Xander Opal:

Life of Brian: Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

Monday, December 20, 2021

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 181: The Low-Energy Show

In This Episode

Erin and Weer’d are both feeling a bit under the weather.
Still, they are uplifted to hear that the gun prohibitionist candidate for Texas Governor Beto O'Rourke is not doing well in the polls;
then David tells some horror stories of life behind the gun store counter;
and finally, Weer'd sits down with Paloma Capanna to discuss the strange tale of Jeremy Brown.

Show Notes

Main Topic:

Gun Lovers and Other Strangers:

Paloma Capanna Interview:

Monday, December 13, 2021

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 180: ABC- Always Be Cautious

In This Episode

Erin and Weer’d discuss the arrest of the Michigan school shooter's parents;
David explains the operation of the Colt Single Action Army revolver;
and guest Paloma Capanna talks about cellphone security.

Show Notes

Main Topic:

Gun Lovers and Other Strangers:

Paloma Capanna Interview:

Kaffeine Kate

Katherine Saunders was a barista at Starbucks while studying to be a doctor at Paragon City University (endocrinology, if you must know). As the course load became heavier she started drinking more coffee in order to stay awake longer, cramming for tests and writing term papers. Eventually, she drank so much caffeine that her minor mutant power, the ability to process stimulants more efficiently than other humans, kicked into high gear and mutated further.

Her metabolism now permanently overcharged, Kate exists in a perpetual state of caffeine overload. She jogs at 60 mph, and when really wants to go fast she can outrun anything that isn't jet-propelled. Her nervous system is also a powerful superconductor, able to discharge powerful bolts of bio-electricity she calls "Java Jolts" that will fry non-EMP resistant electronics and turn most enemies into twitching, drooling lumps.

Although her boots and gloves are made of a special material that grips surfaces tightly without restricting her mobility, the rest of her costume is little more than a runner's spandex unitard because heat buildup, flexibility, and above all chafing is a concern for her. She doesn't worry about road rash because in addition to heightened speed and reflexes, she can manipulate the levels of caffeine and blood sugar in others. Essentially a "caffeine vampire", she can take energy from others to supercharge herself (including her healing factor) and induce speed or lethargy to others as needed.

She wears a ruggedized microphone and speaker on her face because shenormallytalkislikethiswhichsoundslikeataperunningatfastforwardwithoutanybreaksbetweenwords and most people can't understand that, so the mic catches what she says, records it, slows is down to a rate that people can understand, and plays it back for them. This entire process is incredibly boring for Kate, and so she is constantly fidgeting, moving, and doing things while waiting for people to catch up to her. She's become somewhat of a favorite among the ADHD crowd for this and does a lot of advocacy work for related charities. The Kaffeine Kate-brand fidget spinners are quite popular.

Now a paid spokeshero for Starbucks Corporation (LookIgottaeatandsuperheroingdoesn'tpaythebillsandlookatmedoyouthinkIcouldworkaregularjobImeanreally), Kate spends her time between promotional and charity appearances doing heroic deeds and delivering hope, inspiration, and a much-needed caffeine boost to all the overworked heroes of Paragon City.

Does she even sleep? No one knows.

Kaffeine Kate: a Kinetics/Electric Blast defender

Monday, December 6, 2021

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 179: Monkey Brain is Dumb. Ignore It!

In This Episode

Erin and Weer’d discuss the Ahmaud Arbery verdict, the Shooting of Chad Read, and a new poll showing that young American's support for gun control is "cratering";
Xander asks how to get to Carnegie Hall;
David talks about the history of air guns;
and Paloma Capanna discusses Robinson v Sessions, aka the best court case you've never heard.

Show Notes

Main Topic:

Gun Lovers and Other Strangers:

Interview With Paloma Capanna:

Monday, November 29, 2021

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 178: The Return of the Queen

In This Episode

Erin's back, and she brings good news!

Erin and Weer’d discuss the trials and verdicts of Kyle Rittenhouse, Ahmaud Arbery, and Andrew Coffee IV.
Steve reflects on the Rust homicide by comparing it with his own experience on the set of Strain 100, another movie with gunplay.

Show Notes

Main Topic:

Tales From the Trunk:

Monday, November 22, 2021

Clarification. It's a Beautiful Thing.

I've received an immense amount of pushback from some people regarding the Operation Blazing Sword - Pink Pistols press release on the Rittenhouse verdict. This is disappointing, as I took great pains to make the statement as neutral as possible regarding Rittenhouse himself and focus solely on the gun rights aspect of the case.

I stand by my assertions that if Rittenhouse had been convicted, ADA Binger's position of "You were armed, therefore you deserve violence upon your person" may well have taken root and destroyed what we have left of the right to keep and bear arms. Pink Pistols cannot perform its function if using a weapon for self-defense automatically negates your right to self-defense, and it is for that reason we agree with the court.

Once the argument of "You aren't allowed to defend yourself" has been accepted by the courts, it doesn't matter your political affiliation, race, sex, religion, disability, or anything else; that charge will be used against you.

You are either for self defense or you are not. There is no grey area.

On a related note, there are an astonishing number of people who cannot wrap their heads around the concept that there can be an overlap between behavior that is "Perfectly legal/Well within your rights" and behavior that is "Ill-advised/Self-endangering."

It is perfectly legal for me to dress up in a skimpy bikini with $100 bills stuffed into it and totter down the sidewalks of a rough neighborhood in stiletto heels after midnight. I have every right to do that. However, this also puts me in significant danger of assault, theft, robbery, etc.

Now, if I am assaulted/robbed/etc, it's the fault of the criminals. It's not my fault, because a crime needs a criminal to commit it: no criminal, no crime. It's not my fault because even if I'm not there, the criminal may decide to prey upon someone else. But doing such a thing proved to be ill-advised and self-endangering, because I increased my chances of becoming a victim happening by making myself an easy, enticing target.

Similarly, Kyle Rittenhouse being in Kenosha, openly carrying a rifle while trying to protect businesses and stop fires and offer medical treatment, was perfectly legal. He had every right to be there doing those things. (If you doubt that, look at what the court ruled.) It was also ill-advised of him to do so, and it put him in significant danger. He will be forever scarred by this, and the repercussions will follow him all the days of his life.

And it wasn't his fault, because we have footage showing he was attacked first every time. However, he made himself a tempting target, because he looked like a vulnerable child with a valuable gun. If he hadn't been there, then other crimes would have happened; they just wouldn't have happened to him.

It astounds me that there are people who can't grasp this concept that just because something is ill-advised doesn't automatically make it illegal. If everything dangerous was made illegal, we would have no police, no firefighters, and no military.

Your head is there for more than just decoration. Please use it.

Saturday, November 20, 2021

Press Release: the Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA (20 November, 2021):

On Friday, 19 November 2021, the jury of the Kyle Rittenhouse self-defense case in Kenosha, Wisconsin returned a verdict of Not Guilty on all counts.

This case was more than a simple matter of “Was it legitimate self-defense or was it murder?” On trial beside Mr. Rittenhouse was the right of all citizens in the United States to lawfully carry firearms for the purpose of self-defense. The prosecution built a case which claimed that carrying a weapon constituted an automatic provocation of whatever violence was perpetrated upon Mr. Rittenhouse; had he been convicted, then those of us who lawfully carry weapons for protection could one day find ourselves on trial with the prosecution claiming that being armed somehow negates our right to self-defense. It is gratifying that the jury saw the implied indictment and removed that prosecutorial theory from any consideration.

It is the mission of Operation Blazing Sword - Pink Pistols to promote lawful self-defense with legally owned and carried firearms, and such a miscarriage of justice would have resulted in yet more violations of the Constitutional rights of U.S. citizens. Our position is that gun rights are queer rights because guns in the hands of queer people protect queer lives, and therefore any law which seeks to prevent us from carrying a gun for self-defense is anti-queer and a threat to our lives.

Operation Blazing Sword - Pink Pistols strongly encourages anyone who wishes to exercise their right to keep and bear arms to seek out as much firearm education and training as they can manage, for alongside that right comes the responsibility to use that right correctly and within the law, including the legal requirements for self-defense. To that end, Operation Blazing Sword maintains a database of over 1400 queer-friendly firearm volunteer educators in every state of the USA.

Operation Blazing Sword, Inc. is a grass-roots 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping queer people become responsible firearm owners through volunteer education. www.blazingsword.org

Pink Pistols, a division of Operation Blazing Sword, is dedicated to the legal, safe, and responsible use of firearms for self-defense of the gender and sexual minority community. www.pinkpistols.org

Media Contact:

Erin Palette

386-401-0386

erin@blazingsword.org

Monday, October 11, 2021

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 173: NRA Lawsuit 101 with Professor Capanna

In This Episode

Erin and Weer’d discuss Smith & Wesson's departure from Massachusetts after 196 years, and then analyze The Trace's softball interview of David Chipman.
Paloma Capanna comprehensively dissects the New York Lawsuit against the NRA. For the first time ever, all of the elements are laid out clearly and in order for all to see!

Show Notes

Main Topic:

Paloma Capanna Interview:

Monday, October 4, 2021

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 172: All the News is Awful

In This Episode

Erin and Weer’d discuss the line item in the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) which contains an ERPO (red flag) law against military personnel, and California's sharing of gun owner private data with any university that wants it;
Xander brings us his Interdependent Thoughts on gun safety for kids;
and Weer'd fisks a CNN Interview with the director of the gun-prohibitionist documentary The Price of Freedom.

Show Notes

Main Topic:

Independent Thoughts:

Weer’d Audio Fisk:

Sunday, October 3, 2021

A Booby Trap

I was hit with this challenge by my friend Adrian, so here's my best shot.

Let's be up front about things which were always up and in front: she had a large bosom, she knew its effect on people, and she dressed to use it to her advantage. But that was not the extent of her character; those who could pry their eyes away from her inviting cleavage could see the quirk of amusement upon her delicate mouth and the gleam of judgement within her deep brown eyes. Her unruly black hair fell past her shoulders in long waves, and her fresh face and fair complexion suggested youth and naiveté in exactly the same way that the lair of a trapdoor spider suggests a lovely, harmless place to spend time. She was a huntress, and what she hunted were those who couldn't see the woman for the boobs.

You can't ignore that cleavage, and trying to do so would be disingenuous. But that expression of hers tells me that she's up to something, so I imagine she's smarter than she (deliberately) appears to be, and when she goes on dates she tries to figure out what kind of person she's with is. She wants you to look... but if you look for too long, you've failed her test.

It is, quite literally, a booby trap. ;)

Thursday, September 30, 2021

My Toons, Let Me Show You Them: Palette

Wow, I can't believe I've never talked about my first level 50 on City of Heroes, my namesake Palette.

She wasn't my first character, but she was the first character I played as me, i.e. she was the character I made when I gave myself permission to explore the possibility that I was transgender. "I'll make and play a girl character," I told myself, "and see how long it takes for someone to accuse me of being a guy."

That never happened, of course, and that's how I'm here today. It just seemed fitting, then, that I honor her by taking part of her name as my own for my new life.

I am really, really pleased with how this came out.

Her biography is a lot more simple than some of my other characters, partly because I created her when there was a much shorter word count allowed and partly because I was still learning to write well. Still, I think I captured the spirit of the Mighty Marvel Capsule History:

A bohemian artist of the surrealist style, Sarah McLughan was accidentally sucked into one of her own painted landscapes. She soon realized that her paintings were, in fact, mental gateways to other dimensions, though she isn't sure if she creates a new world each time she paints, or if her paintings come from clairvoyant visions. She now uses her connection to the realms of chaos to disorient criminals by scrambling their senses with synesthesia.

Oh, and her art? A critic once described it as "A cross between Dali and Escher, on an acid trip." Sales are good.

If you know me and you know my taste in fiction, you can instantly see an homage to the Chronicles of Amber and their use of tarot-esque cards to travel between dimensions. This doesn't mean that Palette was specifically an Amberite... but I wasn't ruling it out, either. I wanted to keep things open-ended.

Later on, my character discovered the Shadow Shard, a land of illusion, and I thought "Hey, maybe Palette's from there." Then the game introduced Praetorian content, and I liked the highly magical vibe of Night Ward, and... well, you get the idea. I went through a bunch of origins for her, and none of them felt especially right... or especially wrong, either.

At this point, I enjoy and embrace the ambiguity. It seems fitting, and it mirrored my quest to get her costume right. Not "just right", but merely "right". Oh, my original concepts were horrible. No, I don't have them saved, they were that bad. I was trying to make her costume represent synesthesia, and that just didn't work out at all. Eventually I just went with pink and purple, because 1) pink and purple and Palette are all p words, and 2) the colors matched that of her powers (this was long before the game allowed us to customize the colors of our powers).

https://medium.com/@katelynn30till/memory-and-synesthesia-82e0c841599a

For those curious, her main powerset is Illusion Control, which is explained in the game as "You can manipulate light and sound to manifest all sorts of Illusions, aiding your allies as well as deceiving your foes," but I always imagined her powers as "Synesthesia, but cranked up to 11."

With regular synesthesia, your senses are cross-connected, such that numbers have colors or sounds have tastes. This is a quirky bit of neurology, but to my knowledge people with synesthesia don't suffer from it.

BUT! Imagine if it were to come upon you unawares, strong and sudden, while you were trying to do something highly stressful like, I dunno, rob a bank or something. Suddenly the sound of the bank alarm is generating flashes of light which obstruct your vision, and the tastes of all the differently-colored numbers turns your stomach, and the screams of the bank tellers makes your skin feel like it's on fire. I imagine it would be terribly disorienting and painful to have your senses amplified and cross-connected in a manner which you couldn't process. You'd probably fall down and curl into a twitching ball.

That's why I made her an illusion controller, and that's why I named her Palette: because of the palette of colors, sounds, and sensations she had at her disposal. She's a strange hero, and quirky in the fine tradition of B-class heroes (more quirky than The Question, less quirky than Ambush Bug) and I like her just the way she is.

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

You Have Milk

It's 1997. Rammstein's most popular song has debuted, and I know just enough German to be dangerous.

My friends and I hear the music on the radio for the first time, and we start headbanging. Then the lyrics begin, and I start laughing so hysterically that I have difficulty breathing.

When I've recovered my composure enough to explain to my friends why I'm pissing myself with laughter, I explain "Du Habst Milch" in German translates to "You Have Milk" in English.

Not once do I ask myself "Why would a hardcore German metal band write a song proclaiming that someone has milk?" No, I just take it as a given, because in my world this makes perfect sense.

Needless to say, I was EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED to learn that the actual lyrics were "Du Hast Mich" which, translated, means "You Have/Hate Me". *

I still prefer my version of events.

* Before anyone gets all "Well, akshually" on me, let me explain that the song is more complex than people realize.

Du Hast = You Have
Du Hasst = You Hate

Hasst and Hast sound a lot alike, especially when sung aloud.

Also consider that the chorus, Willst du bist das tod euch scheidet, treue sein fur alle tagen, which means "Will you stay true to each other for all of your days until death separates you," is the German version of wedding vows, including "Till death do you part."

Put it all together and it's pretty clear that, as someone said on Facebook, the song is clever wordplay regarding the dichotomy of love and hate in marriage.

Monday, September 27, 2021

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 171: Precedent is a Powerful Thing

In This Episode

Erin and Weer’d discuss:
- The recent school shooting in Russia and the gun control laws that failed to prevent it;
- The massive influx of new gun owners and some of their vital statistics;
- The ruling by a US Military Appeals Court that bumpstocks aren't machine guns, and what this holds for the future.
Next, Sean Sorrentino gives more detail on last week's story where Grassroots North Carolina called for disciplinary action against an anti-gun State Senator;
and David geeks out on cartridge cases and primers, and what makes them unique and interesting.

Show Notes

Main Topic:

Sean Sorrentino:

Gun Lovers and Other Strangers:

Sunday, September 26, 2021

Gun Rights Policy Conference 2021

Due to the issues with getting my father into a nursing home for the period of February through mid-August of this year, I was unable to record a video for the Gun Rights Policy Conference this year.

However, you should watch this year's GRPC anyway! The SAF and the Gottliebs have been good friends to me and to Operation Blazing Sword, and I hope you will continue to support them as they fight for our 2nd Amendment rights.

There are five videos in the playlist. This is the first, and the others will auto-play in order.

Monday, September 20, 2021

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 170: The Mutineers

In This Episode

Erin and David get a jump on Talk Like a Pirate Day by having a mutiny!
... but Weer'd is allowed to return to talk about a 2A North Carolina Group demanding censure on a lying anti-gun politician.
We observe the final installment of Chipman Watch!
Xander brings us his Independent Thoughts on fear and politics;
David discusses the lesser-known Dardick pistol and its strange Tround ammunition;
and finally, Matt from Geeks Gadgets and Guns tells a story of an experienced gun owner who was complacent and paid the price.

Show Notes

Main Topic:

Gun Lovers and Other Strangers:

Sunday, September 19, 2021

My Body, My Choice: Comparing Abortion to Lethal Self-Defense

Let's kick the hornet's nest right into the bubbling cauldron of poop and give it a good stir, shall we?

"Erin, what are your thoughts on abortion?"

To me, speaking only for myself, the opinions I express are not that of any organization, etc etc, so on and so forth: Abortion carries the same weight as shooting someone in self defense. It's not something I ever want to do, but if the worst ever happens, I want it to be legal and available to me.

If I ever have to kill someone in self-defense, I'm pretty sure it'll mess me up psychologically, but it's better than me dying.

If I ever have to abort my child to save the life of my wife, I'm pretty sure it'll mess me up psychologically. But it's better than her and the child dying.

Some things are awful but need to be kept legal because the alternatives are more awful.

This, by the way, is why I despise abortions of convenience. Homicide to save a life is justified, but homicide because "I don't want to suffer the consequences of my actions" is reprehensible. That said, see the previous paragraph before you get mad.

I don't ever want to abort a child... but if it's necessary, I want it to be legal, I want it to be a viable option, and I want regulated and licensed professionals (i.e. members of the medical system) backing up my decision and giving me support.

I don't ever want to kill someone in self-defense... but if it's necessary, I want it to be legal, I want it to be a viable option, and I want regulated and licensed professionals (i.e. members of the legal system) backing me up and giving me support.

"My body, my choice" also includes "My choice in how I protect my body."

"But Erin, what about pregnancies resulting from rape and incest?"

I'm not those pregnant people, and so I'm not going to decide for them what's right and what's wrong.

Is it fair to force a woman (or worse, a minor) to carry the child of her assailant for 9 months, a constant reminder of her assault? Of course it isn't.

Is it fair to an unborn child to be terminated through no fault of its own? Of course it isn't.

Both choices are awful, and (thankfully) it's not my problem, so I leave that decision to the affected parties. It's between them, their consciences and whatever God(s) they have, and it's none of my business because I don't know all the facts and the decision doesn't affect me.

Again, for those in the back: Some things are awful but need to be kept legal because the alternatives are more awful.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

I'm certain this post will elicit a lot of heated discussion, so here are the ground rules:

If you're rude, your comment won't be approved.
Benefit of the doubt will be given to people who post under proper accounts. Comments from anonymous people may or may not see the light of day, according to my whim.
Attack the argument, not the person.

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Blue Check Erin?

So the other day I received this notification on Facebook:

I found this funny, because this is the same platform which censured me for daring to suggest that people who were committing arson should be shot to prevent such arson in the first place. But hey, let's find out what it takes to be a Bluecheka, maybe it will help me get my message out to more people. So let's click on Start Request...

"Please attach government-issued photo ID that shows your name and date of birth."

Yeah, that's a "No" from me, dawg. Even if my photo ID didn't have my deadname on it, I still wouldn't do it, because no way no HOW do I just give Facebook, Facebook's employees, Facebook's employees' spouses, and anyone else associated with Facebook a way to collect personal information about me that could be used to violate my privacy or screw with my credit or expose my location to others.

They'll just have to buy my information from the Chinese like everyone else.

Monday, September 13, 2021

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 169: Cuomover (Cuomo is Over)

In This Episode

Erin and Weer’d discuss the veto of the North Carolina Pistol Purchase Permit, and then a potential mass shooting in New York that was foiled by a concealed weapon holder and the anti-gun reaction to it;
David gives a history of the political career and downfall of Governor Andrew Cuomo;
and then Xander gets lost and is found again, and he brings us his independent thoughts on GPS.

Show Notes

Main Topic:

Gun Lovers and Other Strangers

Friday, September 10, 2021

Flash-Over

Ever wonder why the name Spider-Man is hyphenated and Superman isn't? Me too, all the time. I have no idea why other than it just looks right when hyphenated and wrong otherwise, although perhaps that's because I've only ever seen it as Spider-Man and not Spiderman or Spider Man.

As an aside, I am now obligated to post this:

So in a similar way, I feel like Flash-Over just plain looks better as a superhero name than does Flashover, even though the latter is the proper spelling of the thermal event wherein most of the directly exposed combustible material in an enclosed area simultaneously ignites due to a significant heat increase.

Yes, I was watching a lot CSI: Crime Scene Investigation when I first made this character back in 2004. Sue me.

Yes, she's wearing heels. She flies, so it doesn't matter how impractical they are.

Rebekah Koenig was a scientist studying tissue and DNA samples of flame-based heroes in the hopes of understanding their biology. One night, a gang of Hellions attacked the lab, seeking to increase their flame powers with Rebekah's discoveries. They assaulted and poured chemicals over her, then callously set her on fire. Little did they know that previously that night, Rebekah had managed to isolate the "flame gene" and had replaced a hero's DNA with her own! The solution bonded to her, and while she was engulfed in flames, she was not harmed. Pity the same couldn't be said for the Hellions...

Rebekah the meek researcher is no more. Now a thrill-seeker, hot-tempered and vengeful, she has left the secluded life of research behind her. Taking her name from the event that transformed her, she now brings cleansing fire to the streets of Paragon City. In her Secret ID, she now works as an arson investigator and volunteer firefighter.

Flashie is my first blaster, and she is all fire, all the time (Fire Blast/ Fire Manipulation/ Flame Mastery). Fire draws an impressive amount of aggro with its area of effect attacks, making it one of the most dangerous power sets to the character. She compensates for this by being a cackling whirlwind of mad destruction, and fights are over very VERY quickly. She's completely nuts to play and the destruction she wreaks is quite cathartic.

I absolutely love her costume. It's simple, it's straightforward, it's badass like a hot rod and it wouldn't look out of place in any comic book from the 1960s to today.

In case you're wondering, the doohickeys on her arms and shoulders are thermal regulators. You don't want someone with a fiery temper and fire powers to literally set things on fire just because she's having a bad day, so they act as a heat sink to give her brain time to override her reactions. They also help control and direct her flames the way she wants, because otherwise she'd just be emitting plasma unidirectionally like the sun. She has smaller units for when she's in her secret ID (less need for magnetic direction means a smaller profile). They attach to her using rare-earth magnets and are controlled through a hardwired neural interface beneath her skin that links to her brain at the base of her skull.

If any part of that doesn't make sense, just understand it's comic-book super-science and leave it at that.

Monday, September 6, 2021

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 168: This Is Our Shocked Face

In This Episode

Erin and Weer’d discuss the cancellation of the NRA Annual Meeting and its implications;
David talks about how and why you might want to make a chamber casting of a firearm;
and finally, Weer'd revisits the debate between Colion Noir and John Rosenthal to fisk the anti-gun talking points that Colion missed.

Show Notes

Main Topic:

Gun Lovers and Other Strangers:

Weer’d Audio Fisk:

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Good Stuff from an Away Game

I am hilarious, and if you're not laughing your ass off at this, well, you're wrong.

Monday, August 30, 2021

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 167: There's Good News and There's Bad News...

In This Episode

Erin and Weer’d discuss Biden's ban on importing Russian ammunition and North Carolina's pending repeal of their Jim Crow-era Pistol Purchase Permit law;
Continuing our "Chipman Watch!", Weer'd sits down with Steven Gutowski of The Reload to talk some Chipman Conspiracy theories;
Weer'd also interviews Paloma Capanna about social media and government overreach;
and finally, Xander brings us his Independent Thoughts on how to sow the seeds of successful activism.

Show Notes

Main Topic:

Stephen Gutowski Interview:

Paloma Capanna Interview:

Independent Thoughts:

The Parable of the Sower

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Thoughts on Afghanistan

To all my veteran friends:

I know you're suffering, and I wish I could help.

I never had the honor of serving in the military; I tried, but was deemed medically unfit to serve. Even though it wasn't my fault, I still feel ashamed of that.

Despite that, however, I do have some idea of what you're going through right now. My father is a Vietnam veteran, and I grew up on stories of how the politicians tried to run that war and that's how and why we lost. I can see, as you do, that our time in Afghanistan was just a repeat of Vietnam, albeit on a larger scale.

I don't know that there's anything I can say which will help you feel better, but regardless, I want you to know that you didn't fail. Rather, it was your leadership which failed you. So long as you served honorably, you have nothing to be ashamed of.

An oncologist who helps a patient fight cancer into remission, only to have have patient die 20 years later, did not fail in their fight against cancer; rather, they gave that patient 20 more years than they would have had otherwise! That is what you accomplished in Afghanistan. You have changed the lives of so many, some of whom were able to get an education and leave that country to better their lives. Compassion is never wasted.

If you are feeling overwhelmed or depressed, please reach out to friends, family, and battle buddies. Reach out to me if you have no one else. Just please, practice self-care right now, and not self-harm.

You have value and the world is better with you in it.

Veteran's Crisis Line:

Call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1
Text 838255
Chat online: https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/chat

Don't be on of the 22 veterans a day who kill themselves. Don't suffer alone. Please reach out.

What others are saying about me

"I should just quit blogging at this point. The internets have been won, for all time. Well played, Erin Palette. Well played." -- MSgt B

"Erin's posts may not always be work safe but if there ever was a friend I had that I would be safe with, it's Erin." -- Brigid

'Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are Anger and Courage.' Augustine forgot the third, whose name is Erin." -- dovekie

"You can be my Destroyer anytime." -- Sean Sorrentino

"Yours is a deeply and creatively disturbed mind." -- Jennifer Paradis

"I appear to have strayed into one of the scarier corners of the interwebs."-- a troll

"It's official: you're a freaking voodoo princess. I'm scared of your power." -- Squeaky Wheel

"She’s a nice enough person, but I’m crazy enough myself, without adding her nuttiness to my list of things to deal with." -- Carl "Bear" Bussjaeger

"In other words, go read Erin; she says things." -- Linoge

Pages

Friday, December 31, 2021

Monday, December 27, 2021

Monday, December 20, 2021

Monday, December 13, 2021

Monday, December 6, 2021

Monday, November 29, 2021

Monday, November 22, 2021

Saturday, November 20, 2021

Monday, October 11, 2021

Monday, October 4, 2021

Sunday, October 3, 2021

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Monday, September 27, 2021

Sunday, September 26, 2021

Monday, September 20, 2021

Sunday, September 19, 2021

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Monday, September 13, 2021

Friday, September 10, 2021

Monday, September 6, 2021

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Monday, August 30, 2021

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

The Fine Print