Lurking Rhythmically

Monday, July 31, 2023

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 260: the Sloppy Seconds Round Table

In This Episode

We're not making this the standard format. However, we didn't have enough segments to do a regular show, so we chose to do another Round Table episode instead.

Weer'd, Erin, Oddball, and David discuss:

An anti-gun politician who pleaded no contest to keying somebody's car, despite stating that he thought they might be a "Gun Nut".
A mass shooting in New Zealand. Weren't we told that their 2019 gun prohibition laws would stop this from happening?
A new study showing that children who are taught firearm safety are, in fact, safer around guns!
A federal judge upholding San Jose's gun owner tax and mandatory insurance law.
Ontario Knife Company shutting down their New York factory after a buy-out.
A 5th Circuit victory in the challenge against the ATF regulating 80% kits as firearms.
T-Rex Arms releasing scans for the 3D printing community.

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

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Status Update

People have been asking me how I'm doing, and I appreciate that they care. Thank you. ❤ Because I don't want to keep replying to the same question, however, I am making this post.

My father died last week. He was 87 years old. I don't know yet what he died from (we are still waiting on the death certificate, because apparently the coroner can't be bothered to sign it), but from all reports his death seems to have been from natural causes. He was frequently sick in the VA home, and I believe his most recent illness was some kind of pneumonia. He also had a suite of problems stemming from his diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease, which was caused by Agent Orange exposure during his service in Vietnam and which resulted in him being declared 100% disabled as far back as 2019 or 2020, I don't quite recall. I do know that he passed quickly, as the VA gave us no warning along the lines of "He's dying, come say your goodbyes now" and they had always been very good about letting us know his medical condition (at least once before they were pretty sure he was dying and we received such a message).

How am I doing? I'm tired and stressed, because in addition to this there's a lot of other things going on at home, with stuff breaking on a regular basis and the insurance company dragging its feet on paying out our mold claim for 6.5 months now. It's fortunate that my father handled his funeral preparations years ago, before the dementia set it, because that saves us about 95% of the work... however, that 5% is still a fair bit and it's almost all aggravating paperwork (such as notifying insurance of his death, which requires a death certificate, WHICH WE STILL DON'T HAVE AFTER A WEEK) or the logistical fandango of scheduling a memorial service and funeral so that family members who live in two different time zones can attend.

How am I feeling? At the risk of being labeled callous, I don't feel any different. I mourned my father a long time ago; due to various factors, including dementia, the moment he left home and went to the VA he basically forgot I existed. (For example, he didn't even acknowledge me on Christmas or my birthday.) I took my mother to the VA on Sunday and we cleaned out his room, and I thought that maybe it would hit me emotionally that "my father is gone and I'll never see him again" but it never did.

People are asking how they can help, and the sad truth is that unless you can give my mother $250,000 so that she won't have to worry about financial stability for the rest of her life (she's 84) there's really nothing you can do. We treasure all the prayers and well-wishes you offer, of course, and I don't want to discourage that, but in terms of things you can do to improve the situation there aren't any.

The funeral is set for mid-August, and hopefully we won't have a hurricane during that time. I will not be posting my father's obituary or other details online; this is to protect my mother's privacy from anti-gun and/or anti-queer zealots who would use the details to dox and harass her because she's related to me. If you wish to do something, then in lieu of flowers or cards I ask that you donate to the charity of your choice and let me know (via comment or email) to whom you donated. If you are looking for suggestions, then any charity which fights Parkinson's or helps veterans is appropriate, but again any charity will do.

Thank you all for your love, care and concern.

Monday, July 24, 2023

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 259: The Fran-tastically Tired Round Table

In This Episode

It’s an ACP Round Table, and we're all exhausted. Join Wee’d, Erin, Oddball, and David as we tiredly discuss:

the pending gun ban in Massachusetts;
new firearms on the California handgun roster, and Biofire's AC brief supporting the lawsuit against it;
a new addition to the Tennessee red flag law, and the NRA is involved;
a lawsuit which claims that "wanting to purchase an AR-15" or "testing a firearm's trigger" is a red flag;
a federal judge has ruled that Oregon Measure 114 is indeed Constitutional, while at the same time states are lining up to speak out against magazine bans;
and New York citizens are buying guns in response to rising crime.

Show Notes

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Something's Got to Give

So, about that last post. Apparently God decided I wasn't getting enough of a challenge.

I am at my limit. I cannot take any more.

Effective immediately, I am stepping down from everything that does not bring me joy, because if I don't the next bit of stress will send me to the hospital or the morgue. That includes this blog and Blue Collar Prepping. Whether or not the podcast brings me joy right now is iffy; I'm sick to death of doom and gloom topics. I will hopefully have a better answer by Monday.

I wish to point out that I don't know if this hiatus is temporary or permanent. Treat it as temporary for now; if I need to make this permanent I will give you an official notice rather than just leaving things hanging.

Please do not ask questions. If I want you to know, I will tell you. Thank you all for your care and concern.

I Am Still Alive

... that's really all I can say I've accomplished lately. I'm eating a solid meal of stress daily, the insurance company is still playing fuck-fuck games with us because they don't want to pay to repair the rooms that they paid to tear up, and it seems like everyone is trying to take advantage of my mother because she's in her 80s and her husband is in a home and I guess they think that means she's vulnerable? Oh and it's summer in Florida, so that means afternoon storms, and that means near-daily sinus headaches, some of which can render me nonfunctional for hours.

So yeah. I'm not dead yet, despite the universe's best efforts, and I've been eating and sleeping and bathing and wearing clothes and doing necessary stuff around the house, and that pretty much uses up all of my spare time and energy these days, which is why I'm tossing out this blog post at nearly 3 am.

I would really like it if God would please stop testing me, because I don't know how much strength I have left.

Monday, July 17, 2023

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 258: We've All Had a Bad Day

In This Episode

Erin and Weer’d discuss:
- the murder rate in the US is dropping again, but the legacy media still wants us to be scared;
- the spree killer in Philadelphia is a mess, and also may be a gun prohibitionist;
- the attempted spree killing in Las Vegas, and how a little luck and armed security put an end to it.
Oddball had a power outage and wanted to tell us his preps for when the lights go out;
and David has a segment on the history of the legendary Remington Rolling Block rifle.

Show Notes

Main Topic:

Oddball’s Corner Pocket:

Gun Lovers and Other Strangers:

Monday, July 10, 2023

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 257: Cowards and Heroes

In This Episode

Erin and Weer’d discuss:
- a new Massachusetts law that puts all the other firearm prohibition states to shame;
- a US District Court judge throws out the ATF "receivers and parts kits" rule;
- the acquittal of the cowardly school resource officer who hid while kids were being murdered in Parkland, FL;
- and the heroic officer who responded to the mall spree killer in Texas by doing everything right.
Xander talks about having the right gear for the job;
David talks about fireworks safety for Independence Day;
and Myles returns to talk about pistols for southpaws.

Show Notes

Main Topic:

Independent Thoughts with Xander Opal:

Gun Lovers and Other Strangers:

Monday, July 3, 2023

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 256: The Jet Lagged and Road Weary Roundtable

In This Episode

It’s an ACP Round Table! Join Weer'd, Erin, Oddball, David, and Xander as we discuss:

Erin crushing her prepper presentation at LibertyCon;
The Club Q Killer receiving one of the longest prison sentences in Colorado history;
Hunter Biden's sweetheart deal on tax and gun charges;
ATF Form 4473 being challenged in court;
Maj Toure of Black Guns Matter being arrested for carrying a gun illegally;
and the House passed a bill to legalize pistol braces... but the Senate did not.

Show Notes

Pages

Monday, July 31, 2023

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Monday, July 24, 2023

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Monday, July 17, 2023

Monday, July 10, 2023

Monday, July 3, 2023