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Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Pink Pistol Patches

One of the reasons I wrote that "Why I Prefer Queer to LGBTQ" essay last week is because people are always asking my thoughts on the subject and I got tired of having to type the answer each time. 

The other reason is because I wanted to have a ready-made explanation handy for when I introduced this patch: 


You see, the original Pink Pistols motto was "Armed Gays Don't Get Bashed", and I felt it was time to update that because not all of our constituency is gay. However, I didn't want to go the LGBTQ+ route because, as I explained last week, that way lies madness. So after much discussion with other people it was decided that "Queers" would cause the least offense (although it's already caused more than a little) and would be a nice umbrella term. 

The patches themselves are 3.5" diameter and come with a velcro backing. They cost $10 per patch and shipping is free (unless you order some ungodly amount or want them shipped off-continent). 

When you order, please ensure that your shipping address is included! I've had some orders sent to me via PayPal and Venmo that didn't have an address telling me where to ship them. 
And yes, there are still some Operation Blazing Sword patches available if you'd like one of those too. 



Monday, January 25, 2021

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 137: Erin is Reminded of a Davey Crockett Quote...

               

...specifically, "You may all go to Hell, and I will go to Texas."

In This Episode
  • Erin and Weer’d discuss the NRA's Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, its impending move to Texas, and what this all means for the future of gun rights groups;
  • Xander brings us his Independent Thoughts on the care and feeding of our rights;
  • David talks about the term "Bubba" and what it really means pertaining to firearms;
  • and finally, Weer'd asks Logan Metesh of High Caliber History about how one goes about field stripping an old and unusual gun.




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, January 21, 2021

Why I Prefer 'Queer' to 'LGBTQ'

I like the word queer and I give you all permission to say it. Yes, even the straight folks.

I want you all to say queer because saying LGBTQ is awkward. I can do it smoothly because I've practiced, but a lot of people have trouble with it because it's literally a mouthful of consonants. It's difficult to work into a sentence, especially if you trip over it when speaking. 

I also like queer because the current hotness dictates that LGBTQ is not inclusive enough and that we must add more letters. The last time I checked, and this could have changed, is LGBTTQQIIAP2S+: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Ally, Asexual, Pansexual, Two Spirit, and the plus is for "everything else we might have missed." As you can expect, this just rolls off the tongue in casual conversation. [/sarcasm]


I don't like this term. I don't like it because it's unpronounceable, I don't like it because it's awkward, and I don't like it because people won't use it. We are a culture who has literally said "It's too much effort to say I am so we're going to say I'm instead," so what makes you think anyone is going to take the time to spell out an acronym of 12 or more letters?

In order to be welcomed and accepted and included and listened to, we need to make it easier, not harder to talk about us. I want people to be able to talk about me and people like me, because the moment they stop talking about us is the moment our voices are no longer heard, and silence = death. 


And so I want to encourage you and everyone else to use the word queer for the following reasons:
  • It's an actual word. We already know what it means and we already know how to say it. 
  • It's a single syllable, making it very easy to say. 
  • It's a nice umbrella term. Q already exists in LGBTQ, and it already means "an umbrella term to be more inclusive of the many identities and variations that make up the LGBTQ+ community." Why do we need anything more?
My problem with using all of those letters instead of the collective "queer" is that in an attempt to be inclusionary, we further exclude people. LGBTTQQIAAP2S+ has 14 characters, but I can already see some gaps. 
  • What about people who feel like they have no gender? We should add another A to that list for Agender. 
  • What about those whose gender identities change on a regular basis? We need another G for Genderfluid. 
  • What about Demisexuals and Demiromantics? We should add two more Ds to the list. 
Just off the top of my head, we're up to LGGBTTQQIAAAP2SDD+, and I can guarantee you that's not the end of it. I call this inclusionary exclusion because the more letters that get added, the more people will say "Everyone else has their own letter, I need one too!" and we end up fighting over labels and who goes into which labeled box. We end up divided, with each faction willing to tear down the others instead of working as a group to uplift us all. 

No. I say We Are All Queer, because unity is more important than labels. 

Now, I understand the people of a certain generation have a problem saying queer because in their time it was an insult, a word of hate. I sympathize with that, and I'm not going to force people to use it. But I also feel quite strongly that it's the duty of certain minorities to reclaim hurtful words and make them words of power. 

As an example, I am a transwoman and I adore the word tranny. It's hilarious to me, although I couldn't tell you why; it just is. More importantly, though, that word has no power over me because I think it's funny. It's as powerless as a child taunting a straight man by saying "You like kissing girls!"  Well yes, little boy, he certainly does and there's nothing wrong with that, and perhaps one day you'll like kissing girls too. 

I acknowledge that just because the word isn't hurtful to me doesn't mean it's not hurtful to others, so I am certainly not going to call another transgender person tranny because it might hurt them and I don't want that. When I use it to describe myself, however, I rob it of its hurtful power over me and perhaps over over people as well, because those who would use it to harm may hear me say it about myself and think, "If she's using that term, then it must not be an insult anymore" and they lose that arrow from their quiver.

That's why I use queer, and I encourage everyone to use it. I say that you can say it. If anyone gives you problems, send them to me and I'll set them straight... or set them queer, as the case may be. 

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Neat Christmas Presents

 I'm trying to get back into the habit of writing here regularly, even if it's just stuff like this. 

Somewhere along the line I got in my head the nasty notion that if I don't do "real writing" here then it doesn't "count". What it doesn't count for or against is unclear, and that's beside the point that I started this blog to encourage myself to write more and become better at it, and if I wait until my stuff is "good enough" then I may never write here again. So, here's some written crap you may or may not enjoy!

I have neat friends who send me neat things for Christmas. This year I got two gifts which I think my faithful readers will appreciate. 

The first is a really cute set of rum cups that come in their own little box! Thank you, Oddball!






Another friend send me this, and it speaks for itself:


The actual gift was a gift card underneath the herring. Still, I give him many points for a funny joke!

As for the herring itself? Well, despite looking like the fourth week of Lilith Fair...


...it wasn't that bad. 

Mind you, it wasn't great, either; it tasted a lot like tuna in a mild ketchup. 

Finally, I'd like to thank all the lovely people who pitched in and helped me get a new-to-me computer on Cyber Monday. My old one was slowing down by the day and wouldn't have lasted until my birthday, so I asked some people if they would donate so I could by a replacement. They did, and I'm happy to report that I'm very pleased with how it performs!

Here are the specs:
  • HP Z220 Workstation
  • Intel Quad Core i7 3.4GHz processor
  • 16 GB DDR3 RAM
  • 1 TB SSD HD
  • Windows 10 Pro
What's more, the same model (but with a SATA HDD) is now selling for $80 more than what I paid in November! So thank you for helping me save money as well!

All right, that's all for now. Let's see if I have the gas to keep this up for a week.. and then a week after that...

Monday, January 18, 2021

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 136: I Don't Know If These Black-Eyed Peas Are Working....

              

In This Episode
  • Erin and Weer'd briefly discuss the events on the capital, then talk more about some proposed gun laws in the wake thereof and what you can do to stop them;
  • David gives a recap of his message to the new gun owners as they enter the fold;
  • Oddball got a chance to handle the new Kel-Tec P50 and gives us his thoughts on the new "outer space gun"!
  • and Weer'd sits down with Logan Metesh of High Caliber History to talk about the day-to-day duties of a museum curator in a museum full of guns.




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:

Gun Lovers and Other Strangers:

Oddball’s Corner Pocket:

Logan Metesh Interview

Monday, January 11, 2021

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 135: Black-Eyed Peas for Good Luck

             

In This Episode
  • We welcome in the New Year and give you a Southern recipe for good luck: Black-Eyed Pea Dip!
  • Erin and Weer’d discuss some revelations into the management of Michael Bloomberg's anti-gun lobby Everytown For Gun Safety;
  • and then Weer'd fisks an episode of Designated Survivor, where they extol the virtues of gun control without providing anything but the flimsiest of strawmen in opposition.




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

Monday, January 4, 2021

Assorted Calibers Podcast Ep 134: 2020 Goes Out With a Bang

            

In This Episode
  • Erin and Weer’d analyze the ATF's withdrawal of its notice to classify rifle-caliber pistols with arm braces as short-barreled rifles;
  • Oddball gives us a report on the Christmas Day bombing in Nashville, and its impact on telecommunications;
  • and finally. Weer'd fisks Kamala Harris in an interview with Shannon Watts.




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

Friday, January 1, 2021

Palette Family Black-Eyed Pea Dip

I don't know about you, but I have been eating as much black-eyed pea dip as is humanly possible, because I want as much good luck as possible this year. 

Since apparently some of my dear readers are uncultured heathens who have never heard of such a thing, please feel free to use my family recipe. 

Palette Family Black-Eyed Pea Dip

2 c. Ranch Style black-eyed peas, drained
3 Jalapeno peppers
1/4 medium onion 
1 can green chilis (4 oz.)
1 clove garlic

1/4 lb. Old English cheese (Kraft glass jar)
1 stick butter

Put first 5 ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth. Heat mixture in a chafing dish or microwave. Add last 2 ingredients & stir until melted. 


I prefer to eat mine with multigrain Tostito Scoops, but this also tastes great spread on warm cornbread.