I like science. A lot. I find scientific study very interesting and I'm completely enthralled by data. I love looking over data, discussing the ramifications and pondering the meaning from it. I try to make decisions and develop opinions based on data. I sometimes have a hard time relating to people who don't.
I associate with a lot of people who also believe in science. And yes, that's what I mean- they believe in science. They believe in it as a principle from with to make rational decisions. They observe the world around them, absorb the data and make decisions based on that. They research a topic, putting weight in proven facts over opinions. The alternative is making decisions based on emotion or ideology. People who do that don't see science as a guiding principle whether they think they do or not. People who make decisions and form opinions based on unproven ideologies are quite prevalent in this world. And that's OK, in a free and open society people are welcome to make decisions based on whatever criteria they so choose. But I've found in my journey through life many people think they believe in science, but when it comes to many subjects are actually ideologues. Today I'm going to discuss my thoughts on one of those groups that I come into contact with rather frequently.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Life is Too Short to Drive Boring Cars
Although admittedly, I'm doing that now. I've recently had a chance to drive a couple cars and came away entirely unimpressed. I must not be a typical driver, because how these cars are tuned is pretty much entirely unsuitable to me, and these cars are mainstream cars that get pretty good reviews.
Now, admittedly until last summer my ride for almost 7 years was a Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Yes, they need more acronyms in that name. But that car kicked ass. The handling was great, the power was sufficient (300hp and 300 ft-lbs) and the traction made the car unstoppable. It was just as much at home jumping railroad tracks, blasting through traffic or making really good time in the snow. I actually got a ticket in that car, in the snow, for "Excessive Acceleration". I'm rather proud of that one!
Now, admittedly until last summer my ride for almost 7 years was a Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Yes, they need more acronyms in that name. But that car kicked ass. The handling was great, the power was sufficient (300hp and 300 ft-lbs) and the traction made the car unstoppable. It was just as much at home jumping railroad tracks, blasting through traffic or making really good time in the snow. I actually got a ticket in that car, in the snow, for "Excessive Acceleration". I'm rather proud of that one!
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
When Police Dress for War, Every Call is Treated Like a Battle
I post frequently on the militarization of police, something that continues to scale up despite crime going down year by year. This morning some news on the radio caught my ear. LAPD got a call about noise from a college party and responded with 79 officers in riot gear with helicopter support. There was no violence, no fighting no kids with guns, just a typical college party and the cops show up ready to bust skulls.
The entire basis of them rolling in cops in armor at this college party? Well, lots of the kids there were black. Oh, and the DJ played the music too loud. That's it. This is what happens when you have a disparity in power between a government and a populace, the government officials can harass and discriminate against whoever they choose.
This is the problem with having so many standing SWAT teams, departments look for any excuse to roll out paramilitary troops. Police should be de-escalating situations, especially peaceful ones. Showing up with a chopper, body armor and machine guns is the opposite of that.
The entire basis of them rolling in cops in armor at this college party? Well, lots of the kids there were black. Oh, and the DJ played the music too loud. That's it. This is what happens when you have a disparity in power between a government and a populace, the government officials can harass and discriminate against whoever they choose.
This is the problem with having so many standing SWAT teams, departments look for any excuse to roll out paramilitary troops. Police should be de-escalating situations, especially peaceful ones. Showing up with a chopper, body armor and machine guns is the opposite of that.
The Dangers of Transporting Fuel
More than a year ago I offered my thoughts on the Keystone XL pipeline project. Of course it's still in the news as the president waffles on whether or not to build it in the US or not. It's a great political issue, one that energizes certain groups and allows the parties to grandstand and even push their agendas in certain cases.
One of the reasons I suggested building the pipeline makes sense is safety. That oil is less likely to be spilled if it is transported by pipeline rather than by tanker truck. As well, moving the fuel via pipeline is a more environmentally friendly way to move it than via truck. Oh, and sometimes the trucks explode and kill two dozen people. That's bad too.
We need to start evaluating decisions like this based on rational thought and science instead of emotion. Making decisions based on emotion put people at risk.
One of the reasons I suggested building the pipeline makes sense is safety. That oil is less likely to be spilled if it is transported by pipeline rather than by tanker truck. As well, moving the fuel via pipeline is a more environmentally friendly way to move it than via truck. Oh, and sometimes the trucks explode and kill two dozen people. That's bad too.
We need to start evaluating decisions like this based on rational thought and science instead of emotion. Making decisions based on emotion put people at risk.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Standards, part 3
If you read this blog regularly, you've perhaps already read my thoughts on standards. Shockingly enough, I have another example to share.
I listen to a fair bit of NPR during the week which I've talked about a few times. This week talk of the bombers has been prominent, as it is on most news stations. But one of the programs really caught my ear for the hypocrisy. In the very same segment, I heard the statement "We don't want to allow people to use this tragedy to push immigration legislation." and "We need to look at how guns were used in this instance and determine if we need any new laws.". This is incredulous in that the speakers don't even realize the have a double standard applied to the same event. In their mind anything is fair game to promote gun control, but it's dishonorable to use tragedy to push other ideals.
If it didn't happen so often, it would boggle my mind.
I listen to a fair bit of NPR during the week which I've talked about a few times. This week talk of the bombers has been prominent, as it is on most news stations. But one of the programs really caught my ear for the hypocrisy. In the very same segment, I heard the statement "We don't want to allow people to use this tragedy to push immigration legislation." and "We need to look at how guns were used in this instance and determine if we need any new laws.". This is incredulous in that the speakers don't even realize the have a double standard applied to the same event. In their mind anything is fair game to promote gun control, but it's dishonorable to use tragedy to push other ideals.
If it didn't happen so often, it would boggle my mind.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Being Prepared for Emergencies
I have a lot of friends who make being prepared a priority in their life. Part of the mentality is having a set number of items a person carries on their person everyday. This is frequently referred to as Every Day Carry, or EDC.
A person's EDC list likely includes things you normally carry as well. An ID. Some money. A bank card. A phone. It's pretty common for most people I know to carry all of those things. But some of the more prepared may add other things to that. A bandana, flashlight, knife and multitool make my list. If you see me, I have at least those things on me. I find I use the knife, flashlight and multitool almost every day.
Many people I know add a firearm to their EDC list. Depending on who you are, I think that's a rational choice. But there is one thing that a person may find more useful more often, and that's a first aid kit. Just look to the bombing in Boston- a first aid kit and the training to use it could have helped people. A gun would have been a liability as the police and military cracked down. I'm not saying a person shouldn't carry a gun, only that if you do, it makes sense to carry a first aid kit as well. And if you don't, it still makes sense to add a first aid kit to your EDC. Many people I know carry a quality first aid kit in a bag, perhaps a backpack, purse or satchel. If you want to be prepared it seems like a reasonable inconvenience.
A person's EDC list likely includes things you normally carry as well. An ID. Some money. A bank card. A phone. It's pretty common for most people I know to carry all of those things. But some of the more prepared may add other things to that. A bandana, flashlight, knife and multitool make my list. If you see me, I have at least those things on me. I find I use the knife, flashlight and multitool almost every day.
Many people I know add a firearm to their EDC list. Depending on who you are, I think that's a rational choice. But there is one thing that a person may find more useful more often, and that's a first aid kit. Just look to the bombing in Boston- a first aid kit and the training to use it could have helped people. A gun would have been a liability as the police and military cracked down. I'm not saying a person shouldn't carry a gun, only that if you do, it makes sense to carry a first aid kit as well. And if you don't, it still makes sense to add a first aid kit to your EDC. Many people I know carry a quality first aid kit in a bag, perhaps a backpack, purse or satchel. If you want to be prepared it seems like a reasonable inconvenience.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
The New Bike
I finally snapped a couple pics of my new bike. It's the first motorcycle I've spent any money on right off. Typically I don't customize vehicles, because I see that as wasted money. It impacts me being able to get my money back out of them. I also tend to buy used for that reason. Nothing is better than buying something used, getting to experience it for a time, then selling it for what you bought it for. It's one of the great attractions of firearms to me.
But, you have to do a little work to new vehicles, thanks to the EPA. New cars don't run as efficiently as they could because they have to comply with EPA regs for cold start pollutants in a wide variety of conditions, 100 degrees at sea level to below freezing at 4,000' of altitude. This means that many compromises need to be made, and efficiency suffers. I've written about this before here and here.
But, you have to do a little work to new vehicles, thanks to the EPA. New cars don't run as efficiently as they could because they have to comply with EPA regs for cold start pollutants in a wide variety of conditions, 100 degrees at sea level to below freezing at 4,000' of altitude. This means that many compromises need to be made, and efficiency suffers. I've written about this before here and here.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Innovative Arms W.A.R. Gas Adjustable AR-15 Upper Reciever
If you've been reading along, I've spoken about finally putting my SBR (Short Barrel Rifle) together after having my paperwork approved for a year. I ended up going with relatively fancy components since it was an effort a couple years in the making. Since I was planning on running my SBR suppressed some of the time, I chose a Innovative Arms W.A.R. Gas Adjustable Upper Reciever.
The idea is similar to Noveske's Switchblock. Since you get X amount of gas to operate your rifle when it's unsuppressed and some amount greater than X gas when you have a can affixed, in theory you can regulate this with a gas port so you aren't overgassed when the can is on. My other suppressed AR-15 is certainly overgassed. Even with some sealant at the charging hande, if you dump 20 rounds fast through it it sprays oil on your face. It's not harmful, just annoying. And probably bad for one's pores.
The idea is similar to Noveske's Switchblock. Since you get X amount of gas to operate your rifle when it's unsuppressed and some amount greater than X gas when you have a can affixed, in theory you can regulate this with a gas port so you aren't overgassed when the can is on. My other suppressed AR-15 is certainly overgassed. Even with some sealant at the charging hande, if you dump 20 rounds fast through it it sprays oil on your face. It's not harmful, just annoying. And probably bad for one's pores.
Suppressor Comparison
As mentioned in this post, I am now the proud owner of two rifle suppressors. They are a Surefire 762 Mini and a AAC Ranger 2. They are of similar size and weight, with the Surefire being a bit longer and heavier. There are two main differences.
The Surefire has a quick detach (QD) mount, allowing me to quickly attach it to anything with a matching muzzle device. As well, the Surefire is a .30 caliber suppressor, where the Advanced Armament one is for .223 (and smaller) only. As well as being for .30 caliber, the Surefire is rated for more powerful cartridges. I couldn't shoot a 22-250 through my Ranger-2, even though it's 22 caliber, because the pressure is too high. I could damage it. However, cartridges of that power are perfectly fine to shoot through my Surefire can. It offers more utility for the extra size and weight.
The Surefire has a quick detach (QD) mount, allowing me to quickly attach it to anything with a matching muzzle device. As well, the Surefire is a .30 caliber suppressor, where the Advanced Armament one is for .223 (and smaller) only. As well as being for .30 caliber, the Surefire is rated for more powerful cartridges. I couldn't shoot a 22-250 through my Ranger-2, even though it's 22 caliber, because the pressure is too high. I could damage it. However, cartridges of that power are perfectly fine to shoot through my Surefire can. It offers more utility for the extra size and weight.
Standards, part 2
I've spoken before about media bias and media companies being propaganda machines. There is some recent evidence of that in this subject, but that's not my main message.
You may have heard of the Kermit Gosnell trial. Or you may not. Kermit Gosnell (allegedly) has committed some atrocities as his work as an abortion provider. Legal atrocities, this isn't me taking a moral stand against abortion. Gosnell would instruct women to come in very late in their pregnancy and perform the "abortion" in a manner that often equated to a live birth, then kill the baby and sometimes cut off parts for keepsakes.
Again, this isn't me speaking out against abortion or reproductive rights, if you read about this man's actions he's obviously operating outside of legal abortion and purposefully so. You may have not heard about it because most news companies have decided to not carry the story. The reasoning is that by making the public aware of this man it could hurt abortion rights. People may read the story and think that more regulation in that industry is a good idea. They may want to restrict the right of abortion in some way.
You may have heard of the Kermit Gosnell trial. Or you may not. Kermit Gosnell (allegedly) has committed some atrocities as his work as an abortion provider. Legal atrocities, this isn't me taking a moral stand against abortion. Gosnell would instruct women to come in very late in their pregnancy and perform the "abortion" in a manner that often equated to a live birth, then kill the baby and sometimes cut off parts for keepsakes.
Again, this isn't me speaking out against abortion or reproductive rights, if you read about this man's actions he's obviously operating outside of legal abortion and purposefully so. You may have not heard about it because most news companies have decided to not carry the story. The reasoning is that by making the public aware of this man it could hurt abortion rights. People may read the story and think that more regulation in that industry is a good idea. They may want to restrict the right of abortion in some way.
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