I'm a Devil on the run, a six gun lover, a candle in the wind...

1st Inning.



My daughter, Lucy, playing with gravel.  So easily amused.

Highlights of the Brew Crew...Over the Labor Day weekend the wife and I loaded up the RV and along with our three daughters and friends of the oldest two we headed back to the Bucksaw Campground at Truman Lake.  We were expecting a scorcher of a weekend and we were not disappointed.  Our plan was to get a campsite with electric & water hook-ups but we failed to make a reservation online (you have to make one two weeks out before you arrive) and so it was first-come, first-serve to get a site with hook-ups.  So, as we barreled down the highway to try and beat the holiday lake crowd we were crossing our fingers.  We arrived at the park attendant's booth about 6pm and wouldn't you guess, they had one spot with electricity left and it only came available about 10 minutes prior to us pulling up due to a last-minute cancellation.  After paying we drove on to find the site and much to our delight it was right next to the swimming beach (a bonus for all the kids packed in the RV).  As we unpacked and set up our site and I got us hooked up to the electric the kids ran off to the swimming beach for an evening swim.  It wasn't too much later when the power went out and the wife came out of the RV with a confused look on her face.  I figured she had been running the microwave while the A/C was running but that was not the case.  She then pedaled her bike up to the attendant's booth to alert them to our predicament and arriving there they were well aware of the issue as it was affecting many sites in our campground loop.  The problem persisted for the next couple of hours with power coming on and going off as the electrician they called tried to solve the problem (I strongly believe that some yahoo had a bunch of crap plugged in at his site and was blowing the breaker).  Right at dark the campground attendant came by and asked us to only run the essentials if at all possible so we could make it through the night. 

My beer of choice during a weekend
with 6 females in an RV.

We did make it through the night and the rest of the weekend with only one more instance of power going off on Saturday morning which was followed up shortly by a visit by a few park rangers that advised us to only use the essentials.  The weekend was a hit as all the kids got plenty of beach and swimming time and no one got sun burned too badly.  Lots of hot dogs, bratwursts, and smores were devoured along with a bit of beer (that was for me not the kids!).       

View from my room overlooking Little Italy.

 

 

 

 

 

Upon returning home after the holiday weekend I had to travel to Baltimore for a business meeting/trip.  It was a quick team 'meet & greet' with group presentations.  Lots of boring stuff for the normal person.  I only mention the trip due to staying at a very nice hotel and eating at a couple of really nice restaurants.  We stayed at the Homewood Suites by Hilton down in the Inner Harbor area.  The first night we ate at Phillips Seafood and I enjoyed some delicious crab cakes.  The second night we ate at Aldo's Italian Restaurant where I had a filet mignon that was 'slap your mama' good.  I highly recommend the hotel and restaurants if you ever find yourself in Baltimore.

2nd Inning.

Baseball stadium bucket list...I have a goal that before I die I will catch a ballgame at every Major League Baseball ballpark.  I have already made it to a handful of the thirty stadiums and I will review them over the upcoming weeks.  The first on my list is my hometown team, the Kansas City Royals and Kauffman Stadium.  Formerly known as Royals Stadium (name changed on July 2, 1993 in a nod to the original and former owner Ewing Kauffman).  I went to many games a kid at this stadium back when it was a turf field and all the chairs were orange.  It, along with many stadiums over the years, has gone through a few renovations since I was a kid.  All the seats are blue now and they have a grass field.  There used to be a Jumbotron beyond the left-center wall but it is gone now.  As you sit in your seat, Interstate 70 can be seen out past the outfield areas.  One of the iconic things that has not changed since the stadium opened on April 10, 1973 is the big crown scoreboard behind centerfield.  Now the scoreboard did change when the stadium underwent the major renovations leading up to the All-Star game in 2012 and it was turned into a modern high-def CrownVision board and was the largest in the world until ole Jerry Jones in Texas had to make one bigger for his new stadium.  Also, another iconic feature is the outfield fountains.  You will love sitting in those outfield seats on a hot summer day when the wind is blowing and those fountains are flowing.

Prior to the renovations there was really nothing beyond the outfield walls except for some General Admission seating in the corner outfield areas next to the bullpens.  But with these new renovations came extra seating where grass once grew behind the outfield wall and a whole new outfield experience that is really nice if you have kids that need to get up and burn some energy.  The Royals Hall of Fame is also a nice recent addition and showcases all sorts of historical stuff that us baseball nerds love.  In addition to the outfield changes they also widened the concourses around the stadium.  I remember as a kid (back when the stadium was always packed) you were always shoulder-to-shoulder with people when going to get a hot dog or drink or when filing in for a game or trying to leave when the game was over.  The stadium now has resolved that 'personal space' issue.  The best deals for kids and food is out in the outfield experience area where they can get a kids meal.  The best size-for-price deal on beer is the 24 oz cans found at the small concessions stands around the main concourse.  Overall, there is not a bad seat in the entire stadium, especially with all the renovations.  If you ever find yourself in KC during the summer take a night and go see the Royals, you won't be disappointed...in the stadium.  For more on the history, check out this Wikipedia page.   

A few bullet points of interest:

• Seating capacity--37,903
• Hosted the 1973 and 2012 All-Star Games
• Shares a parking lot in the Truman Sports Complex with the NFL's Chiefs

3rd Inning.

Sports...Fantasy Football.  Over the past couple of weeks I participated in 3 Fantasy Football Drafts.  I'm going to list my drafted teams and then compare how many original draftees are still on my roster at the end of the season.

League 1--The Brokeback Boys:

• Tom Brady, QB
• Arian Foster, RB
• Maurice Jones-Drew, RB
• Antonio Brown, WR
• Reggie Wayne, WR
• Jason Witten, TE
• Chiefs, D/ST
• Stephen Gostkowski, K
• Phillip Rivers, QB
• Knile Davis, RB
• BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB
• LaMichael James, RB
• Vincent Brown, WR
• Steve Smith, WR

League 2--Mean Machine (work league)

• Tom Brady, QB
• Trent Richardson, RB
• Ryan Matthews, RB
• Randall Cobb, WR
• T.Y.Hilton, WR
• Antonio Gates, TE
• Fred Jackson, RB
• Chiefs D/ST
• Mason Crosby, K
• Jake Locker, QB
• Pierre Thomas, RB
• Dallas Clark, TE
• Donnie Avery, WR
• Benny Cunningham, RB
• Brian Leonard, RB
• Ryan Succop, K

League 3--Mean Machine (college alumni league)

• Colin Kaepernick, QB
• Jamaal Charles, RB
• LeSean McCoy, RB
• Vincent Jackson, WR
• Randall Cobb, WR
• DeSean Jackson, WR
• Antonio Gates, TE
• Chiefs D/ST
• Stephen Gostkowski, K
• Darren Sproles, RB
• Kenbrell Thompkins, WR
• Sam Bradford, QB
• Jermichael Finley, TE
• Michael Bush, RB
• Donnie Avery, WR
• Roy Helu, RB

4th Inning.

Cool Videos...

Paul Harvey recorded a great piece on the "Policeman".  I was very close to becoming a police officer and I have worked with many retired or former officers.  I grew up with a tremendous amount of respect for those that have worn the badge and being around my coworkers they have reinforced that feeling. 


He also recorded a great piece on the signers of the Declaration of Independence.  It's always good to listen to Harvey because you are bound to learn something new no matter the subject.



5th Inning.

Movie I want to see...Thor: The Dark World.  On November 8th, the second installment of Marvel's Phase 2 projects will hit the big-screen with the sequel to Thor.  Per JoBlo.com, "Marvel’s 'Thor: The Dark World' continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s 'Thor' and 'Marvel’s The Avengers,' Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos...but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all."  I wasn't much of a Thor comic book reader but when I picked up some of the recent titles over the past few years I started to like his character more and more.  Now the first movie was basically an introduction into who he was and was a challenge for Marvel Studios on how to integrate him and Asgard into reality and I think they did an excellent job.  I really liked Loki and how he played the primary villain in the Avengers.  This one looks like it won't disappoint (as none of the Marvel Phase 1 or 2 projects have yet to fail).  The trailer of the movie is below along with a video by Bat in the Sun productions that pits Thor vs. Superman.  Enjoy!

 

"Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor."

6th Inning.

American History Lesson...Labor Day.  The annual end of summer holiday.  Per History.com, "Observed on the first Monday in September, Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894. Labor Day also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans, and is celebrated with parties, parades and athletic events."  I tend to lean anti-union but let it be know that I do recognize and appreciate what they accomplished during the early industrialization period in our country.  I just feel that their time has come and gone.  Anyhow, I do believe the American workforce can be the greatest contribution to the world when it is in full force.  Someday we will fix our tax system and companies will bring back some of those jobs but in the meantime our workforce needs to adapt and overcome and prepare for the future. 

7th Inning.

Firearms Corner...1911.  The Model 1911 pistol is as some have called the 'perfect firearm' if not the most respected handgun of all time.  Sitting around the campfire at deer camp there have been many discussions on the pros/cons of the M1911 since two members of the camp carry one while I carry my 'plastic' pistol (Springfield XDm).  I have learned a great deal on the history of this handgun and John Moses Browning (greatest gun designer of all-time) from those fireside chats and while working tables at various gun shows.  I have sold them in both the .45ACP and .22LR versions yet I don't own one...yet.  If you visit YouTube you will find many 'vs' videos as folks pit the 1911 versus every major pistol out there.  The fact is that no matter the popularity of modern polymer pistols, the M1911 has sustained prominence for over 100 years and shows no sign of letting up. 

 

A summary of the need, design, and adoption per Browning.com, "Any complete history of the Model

1911 must start a decade or more before that legendary year, and half a world away in the Philippines. It was here in the tropical heat of those islands that US Soldiers and Marines found themselves locked in combat with fanatic local insurgents and the immediate need for an effective, large caliber defensive pistol became sorely evident.  In the wake of the sinking of the battleship USS Maine in Havana harbor in February of 1898, the United States went to war with Spain. Along with an invasion of Cuba, US Navy forces engaged, routed and destroyed the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay in March 1898, in one of the most lop-sided victories in naval history. US ground forces then went ashore to overthrow the Spanish colonial government and occupy the islands.  Continuing the armed resistance they had previously shown against the Spanish, the Moro tribesmen of the southern islands (reportedly fueled by a dangerous combination of religious zealotry, ardent tribalism and potent opiates) engaged the American forces in a long bout of guerrilla warfare that ultimately lasted nearly 15 years. Much of the combat was at close quarters, where the Moros’ long-bladed kris knives were used to lethal effect.  At the time US troops were armed with either .30 caliber Krag or Springfield bolt-action rifles and .38 caliber double-action revolvers. While the .30 caliber rifles proved effective in stopping the attackers, the US troop’s handguns demonstrated an unnerving lack of stopping power, resulting in numerous reports of Moro warriors absorbing multiple pistol bullets while they continued to hack away at the Americans. Obviously the US troops’ morale suffered badly in this situation.  The combat pistol situation became so acute that old stocks of Model 1873 Colt revolvers in 45 caliber, many of which dated back to the Plains Indian Wars were returned to active service, where they quickly demonstrated a much better track record of stopping an attacker with one well-placed shot.  The battlefield experience against the Moros resulted in the famous Thompson-LeGarde tests by the US Military in 1904. In these tests a variety of military cartridges of the day were tested for their penetration, ‘stopping ability’ and energy transfer, using both live and dead cattle at the target medium. While somewhat subjective by modern standards, the tests resulted in an official recommendation “…that a bullet, which will have the shock effect and stopping effect at short ranges necessary for a military pistol or revolver, should have a caliber not less than .45."  About this time two new armament technologies were also emerging - smokeless powder and the autoloading pistol.

 

John M. Browning

In 1906 the US Military, under the direction of General William Crozier of the Ordinance Department, began evaluating several pistol designs along with the suitability of a new cartridge that was designated the .45 Automatic Colt Pistol (or .45 ACP for short). As these military tests continued over the next several years, the Colt pistol began to emerge as the clear favorite.  The Colt pistol that was submitted for these military tests was designed by John M. Browning. Without a doubt the most innovative and visionary firearms designer of the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, John M. Browning earned the lasting reputation as “The Father of Automatic Fire.” Browning’s design genius was not limited to pistols. Among his other military inventions were the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), numerous .30 caliber and .50 caliber Browning machine guns and the legendary Browning Hi Power, the first successful high-capacity autoloading pistol that soon became a worldwide standard for military sidearms.  Based on the short recoil principle of operation, the John M. Browning design for the US Military pistol trials was a magazine fed, single action semi-automatic pistol with both manual and grip safeties that demonstrated a level of durability, simplicity and reliability that no other pistol design of the era could match. In fact, during a 6,000 round test fired over two days in 1910 that was personally supervised by John M. Browning, his sample pistol became so hot that it was simply dunked in a pail of water to cool it for further firing. Browning’s sample reportedly passed the test with no malfunctions.  Since cavalry troops were going to be the primary combat users of the pistol, several specific design features, like the grip safety and lanyard ring, were mandated by the horse soldiers. (Nothing will turn a cavalry trooper into an infantryman faster than shooting his own horse by accident.) The Browning pistol design was formally adopted by the US Army on March 29, 1911, and thus became known officially as the Model 1911. The US Navy and US Marine Corps adopted the Browning-designed pistol in 1913."

Currently just about every gun manufacturer produces a M1911 in either the .45ACP or .22LR chambering and they come in many sizes due to the conceal carry need.  This American Rifleman article details the many calibers that have been used in what is most commonly known as a .45.  A video of the Colt manufacturing process for the M1911 is below.  Enjoy!

8th Inning.

FFL Factoid...Continuing with the 'Top 10 Frequently Asked Firearms Questions and Answers' per the ATF.

4. How do I register my firearm or remove my name from a firearms registration?
There is no Federal registration requirement for most conventional sporting firearms. Only those firearms subject to the National Firearms Act (NFA) (e.g., machineguns, short-barrel firearms, silencers, destructive devices, any other weapons) must be registered with ATF. For information on the registration and transfer provisions of the National Firearms Act, please refer to the ATF NFA Handbook at http://www.atf.gov/publications/firearms/nfa-handbook/ or contact the ATF NFA Branch at 304-616-4500. Firearms registration may be required by State or local law. Any person considering acquiring a firearm should contact his or her State Attorney General’s Office to inquire about the laws and possible State or local restrictions. A list of State Attorney General contact numbers may be found at www.naag.org.

9th Inning.

Baseball video...This past weekend AT&T U-Verse had a free HBO weekend.  This allowed me to have a Season 3 marathon of 'Eastbound & Down'.  If you have never heard/seen this show it is hilarious!  The video below is from Season 2 and it is NSFW.  Enjoy!