tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50883648344857405352024-03-15T17:57:47.256-07:00Rocket SongA blog about guns, guitars, filk and folk music, physics or... whatever else takes my fancy.Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.comBlogger379125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-84065914257419799032024-03-15T17:56:00.004-07:002024-03-15T17:56:48.331-07:00Unfettered Skies<p> Unfettered Skies is now available on BandCamp</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/album/unfettered-skies">https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/album/unfettered-skies</a><br /></p>Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-20989058217082801022023-04-02T21:50:00.004-07:002023-04-02T21:50:35.682-07:00Dreams of Dragons 2.1<p> </p><p> New rewite of Dreams of Dragons up on YouTube</p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kar-l4kXx1A" width="414" youtube-src-id="Kar-l4kXx1A"></iframe></div><br /><br /><p></p>Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-24163279616359881992023-03-03T01:09:00.000-07:002023-03-03T01:09:03.324-07:00Lands & Lore is now Live on Bandcamp<p> Just released:</p><p>https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/album/lands-lore</p><p><br /></p>Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-31946750593049365542022-11-15T19:25:00.009-07:002022-11-15T19:25:54.008-07:00Artemis I<p> As I write this Artemis I is on the pad. For, I think the third time. </p><p>Now Artemis is the bureaucratic love child of Apollo and the Space Shuttle. Bloated, overpriced, and "government", but it's a launch. And we are going to celebrate every launch.</p><p>So...</p><p>Dear NASA, do NOT screw this up! I already wrote you a nice song. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="346" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LP8Q8b8tOt8" width="483" youtube-src-id="LP8Q8b8tOt8"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-57909203311082962222022-08-07T22:24:00.002-07:002022-08-07T22:24:16.931-07:00Oleander Highway now up on Bandcamp<p> </p><p>I plan to put this up on the next album, but no reason not to release it as a single as well. Ended up multi-tracking guitar, bass and vocals. </p><p><br /></p><p>https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/track/oleander-highway<br /></p>Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-59549589045022094472022-06-03T23:24:00.002-07:002022-06-03T23:24:49.826-07:00New EP - Troubled Times - Up on Bandcamp.<p> I have a new EP up on Bandcamp. An EP is variously described, but generally it's a short album of under 30 minutes. Typically 4-5 songs. </p><p>https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/album/troubled-times</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br /></p>Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-86376367641040257922022-04-04T21:00:00.000-07:002022-04-04T21:00:08.160-07:00FKO Song contest<p> The prompt for this year's FilkOntario (which was virtual again) was "Building Bridges". My first thought was, how uninspiring...</p><p>... and then I wrote this:</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/24YfqGyY8KU" width="320" youtube-src-id="24YfqGyY8KU"></iframe></div><br /><br /><p></p>Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-76030983500647060932022-02-02T00:44:00.004-07:002022-02-02T00:44:47.088-07:00FAWM 2022<p> Doing FAWM again. Posts will be on my YouTube channel.<br /></p>Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-30023497280375640932021-10-02T20:09:00.000-07:002021-10-02T20:09:06.714-07:00Drive the Bronco - Ft. McDowell<p> Ford is just a "wee bit" behind on building the new Ford Bronco. As a result, FoMoCo has been sending out swag and other incentives to keep the hype going.</p><p>This week, they brought some Broncos out to let reservation holders drive one on some off-road trails at Ft. McDowell.</p><p>Nice fun event. Easy trail drive. Less challenging than the Power Line Road I used as a
shortcut between New River Road and Table Mesa Road a few months back.
But fun. (Google lies, that Power Line Road was in no way an actual "road")<br />
<br />
The Event had 7 Broncos, plus two displays. On of the 7 demos was a stick shift. Also, one of the displays is a
stick, so that gives them an extra manual if needed. I got to drive the display
which was a 2-Door Black Diamond 7MT.<br />
<br />
Almost stalled out once on a steep incline, but got it back down into
1st in time. Used Crawl to smash over some dirt/sand piles. Plenty of
power with the 2.3 for off road use. Clutch felt smooth, though I would
prefer a slightly heavier feel. Feels like a modern stock Mustang
clutch.<br />
<br />
NOTE: They are supposed to reserve the Stick Shifts for reservation
holders that ordered a stick. Have a copy of your DORA or order sheet
with you. (I had a copy on my phone)<br />
<br />
They also give you a free Bronco hat. (I showed up wearing a Ford one)<br />
<br />
</p><div class="lbContainer lbContainer--inline " data-lb-container-zoom="1" data-lb-id="_xfUid-1-1633230072" data-lb-single-image="1" data-lb-trigger=".js-lbImage-_xfUid-1-1633230072" data-xf-init="lightbox-custom" style="cursor: pointer;" title=""><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.imgur.com/a1UTnAe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="450" src="https://i.imgur.com/a1UTnAe.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br />
</div>
I drove the Black Diamond pictured here.<br />
<br />
There are a few uphills where you need to keep up your momentum. Also
some sand pits. I never got stuck, so never got to try the rear locker,
kept her in 4<br />-Hi the whole time and never played with any of the Goat
Modes.Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-25750569175603195772021-05-02T18:54:00.001-07:002021-05-02T18:54:10.063-07:002021 LepreCon - Concert<p> Another virtual convention, and another virtual concert.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="373" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hKBA_Trn598" width="448" youtube-src-id="hKBA_Trn598"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-65633192690763725562020-09-13T18:56:00.002-07:002020-09-13T18:56:11.985-07:00A ship in harbor is safe..<p> </p><p> ... but that's never been what a ship is for:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P_91gBwK6-0" width="320" youtube-src-id="P_91gBwK6-0"></iframe></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p> <br /></p>Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-61998134886379759472020-07-13T18:22:00.001-07:002020-07-13T18:22:13.586-07:00Crew Dragon - 10 million streamsWe watched the Crewed Dragon flight live, with 10 million of our closest friends.<br />
<br />
That is, between NASA, NASA TV, and SpaceX livesteams there were over 10 million folks watching. And note, that's devices, not people. So the person count is far higher.<br />
<br />
I of course, wrote a song.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GDM8lfFw5gM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GDM8lfFw5gM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-39326577644495325832020-04-05T23:34:00.002-07:002020-04-05T23:34:18.537-07:00Virtual ConventionsThanks to all the restrictions, Sci Fi conventions are being cancelled left and right. Several have moved into virtual spaces, using Zoom, and Facebook, and YouTube (and all three mixed together).<br />
<br />
I was asked to do a concert for HELIOsphere. Here it is in all it's ugly glory.<br />
<br /><br />
<a href="https://youtu.be/BeVVarKOEE0" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/BeVVarKOEE0</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BeVVarKOEE0/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BeVVarKOEE0?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-40296447547010689022020-02-07T22:12:00.002-07:002020-02-07T22:12:36.798-07:0016 MinutesColumbia (STS-107) flew apart 16 minutes prior to her scheduled landing:<br />
<br />
16 Minutes<br />
Words and music (c) Mark E. Horning 5 Feb 2020<br />
<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
16 minutes from home, and the board is looking green<br />
16 minutes from home, and the danger's still unseen<br />
--Radar trace says she's right on track<br />
--Coming home now, out of the black<br />
--Once you commit, there's no going back...<br />
16 minutes from home.<br />
Just 16 minutes from home.<br />
<br />
16 minutes from home, and the weather's looking great<br />
16 minutes to home, where we all will celebrate<br />
--Bearing eastward and homeward bound<br />
--Families waiting down on the ground<br />
--A sight that never ceases to astound...<br />
16 minutes from home.<br />
Just 16 minutes from home<br />
<br />
16 minutes from home. When the alarm began to blare<br />
16 minutes from home. They didn't have a prayer<br />
--A leading edge that was compromised<br />
--Fire blazing across the skies<br />
--Just seconds of warning - before they died...<br />
16 minutes from home.<br />
Just 16 minutes from home<br />
<br />
16 minutes from home - so close... yet so far<br />
16 minutes from home - they died to touch the stars<br />
--16 minutes from home<br />
--16 minutes from home<br />
--16 minutes from home<br />
16 minutes from home<br />
Just 16 minutes from home</div>
Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-17396010487942245252019-07-16T22:12:00.000-07:002019-07-16T22:13:22.211-07:00Fifty YearsFifty years ago, the world watched in awe as three men rode into space
on one of the most powerful machines ever built by man. Some days later,
the entire world watched enraptured when one of those men stepped forth
on another world. We returned five more times. And then.. stopped. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Fifty Years</b></span><br />
(c) Mark E. Horning 2019<br />
<br />
Do you remember - where you were that fateful day?<br />
Do you recall now - how we said we're there to stay?<br />
Red white and blue - blazing so proud against the grey.<br />
Returned in triumph - then threw it all away.<br />
<br />
--50 years... since those footprints in the dust.<br />
--50 years... they rode nine-million pounds of thrust.<br />
--50 years.... we set our dreams aside to rust.<br />
--50 years... broken dreams and broken trust.<br />
<br />
<br />
Do you remember - when the future was foretold?<br />
Do you recall when - we were willing to be bold?<br />
The first footsteps - we thought were a foothold.<br />
When we were fearless - against the dark and cold.<br />
<br />
--50 years... since those first footprints in the dust.<br />
--50 years... she made nine-million pounds of thrust.<br />
--50 years.... and nothing's left but rust.<br />
--50 years... broken promises and trust.<br />
<br />
<br />
Let me remind you - we held tomorrow in our hands.<br />
It was a new day - amidst the rubble and the sand.<br />
That brilliant sky road - leading outward to new lands.<br />
When the future - It was ours... ours to command.<br />
<br />
--50 years... there's still footprints in the dust.<br />
--50 years... looks like the future's been a bust.<br />
--50 years.... of tears, despair, and rust.<br />
--50 years... broken dreams ... broken trust.<br />
<br />
<br />
Do you remember.. where you were that fateful day?Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-76823856234146620272019-07-08T01:23:00.002-07:002019-07-08T01:23:45.796-07:00Mark's Coffee Cake<br />
Modified from my 1969 Betty Crocker Cookbook:<br />
<br />
1 1/2 cups flour<br />
3/4 cups sugar<br />
2 1/2 tsp baking powder<br />
3/4 tsp salt<br />
1/4 cup shortening<br />
3/4 cup milk<br />
1 egg<br />
<br />
Cut in the shortening into the flour and then combine the rest of the dry ingredients. Mix then stir in the egg and milk.<br />
<br />
Grease an 8x8 or 7 x11 baking pan.<br />
<br />
"Topping"<br />
<br />
2 Tbs butter, melted<br />
1/2 cup brown sugar<br />
2 tsp cinnimon<br />
1/2 cup steel cut oats<br />
<br />
Put 1/2 the cake batter in the pan. <br />
Sprinkle on half the topping.<br />
Add the rest of the cake batter<br />
Sprinkle on the rest of the topping.<br />
<br />
Bake at 370 for 25 minutsMark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-21701017098437915402019-03-24T17:07:00.000-07:002019-03-24T17:07:24.471-07:00Government 101There is an old expression: <i>If you trust the government, you clearly failed history. </i><br />
<br />
Americans are not meant to trust the government. Americans were never meant to trust the government. Trusting the government is unAmerican. This fundamental principle is baked into the founding DNA of the nation. The founders understood how dangerous the power of government was, necessary, perhaps, unavoidable even, but terribly dangerous.<br />
<br />
To that end, James Madison wrote a constitution that specifically constrained the new Federal Government to clearly delineated, restricted, limited, and enumerated powers. The response from the several States? <i><i>Not good enough, and we don't trust you. </i>. </i>We need a Bill of Rights.<i><br /></i><br />
<br />
Federalists like Madison and Hamilton argued that the Constitution did not need a bill of rights. The powers delegated to the Federal Government were explicitly limited and the people and the states kept all other power. The Anti-Federalists (who eventually won out - or at least won a compromise) held that a bill of rights was
necessary in order to safeguard individual liberty. Why? Because the Constitution is <i>not good enough, and we don't trust you. </i>We want it in writing.<br />
<i><br /></i>
So Madison swallowed his pride, plagiarized George Mason (Virginia Declaration of Rights), and drafted up a package of 12 amendments to satisfy the various states. Ten of those amendments became the first ten amendments which we now know of as the bill of rights, the first actually became the 27th amendment. The last one dealt with making certain that congressional districts didn't get to large and was never adopted.<br />
<br /><i></i>
Here is the key thing though. <u>The Bill of Rights does not establish or create ANY rights</u>. Everyone from the most ardent Federalist to most vehement Anti-Federalist agreed on this principle. The rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights were just that, enumerated. Just as the Virginia Declaration of Rights didn't create them but declared rights. They already existed. Fully formed, like Athena from Zeuz's head.<br />
<br /><i></i>
These rights, be they freedom of speech, or religion; the right to keep and bear arms; to be secure in ones papers and possessions; the right to be judged by ones peers; or to be free of cruel and unusual punishments... These are not granted by the constitution. These are pre-existing, fundamental, inalienable, inseparable, basic rights of the People. All people. Wherever they are and whomever they might be. Not American Rights. Universal ones. From the single mother in Modesto to the goat herder in Uzbekistan.<br />
<br /><i></i>
Any other interpretation is a lie. A falsehood. Incongruous with the historical record. And when a government claims otherwise? <i>Not good enough, we don't trust you, we never will. </i><br /><i></i>Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-71979503606274349992019-03-18T18:25:00.001-07:002019-03-18T18:25:27.774-07:00And away againOk. So I sold the D-03R-12 to a musician who was in town just for two days. Band is from North Carolina, touring through the country in a beat up van.<br />
<br />
Apparently they had a gig at the MIM Sunday Night.<br />
<br />
Gave him an outstanding deal. Hopefully that should prevent the guitar from returning.Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-64498323025861943062018-12-21T14:17:00.000-07:002018-12-21T14:17:07.459-07:00They keep coming backSold two nice wooden guitars to a fellow on the Larrivee forum:<br />
D-03R-12 (Rosewood Dreadnought)<br />
LS-03 (Semi-Custom Forum Guitar) <br />
<br />
They get there, and he says they are Fabulous. Woot! Customer is happy so I go ahead and order a custom Emerald.<br />
<br />
Two days later he wants to return one of the guitars. And of course, it's the 12 string. What is it with buyer's remorse and 12 Strings?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/dkQBCaE.jpg?3" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/dkQBCaE.jpg?3" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I offered him a discount, but in the end told him that as long as he ate the shipping both ways I'd take it back. Arrived today.<br />
<br />
No more long distance selling of 12-strings. If anyone local wants a killer deal on a solid rosewood 12 let me know.Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-9581671715679902882018-06-27T19:11:00.002-07:002018-06-27T19:11:42.001-07:00Glorius Day - JanusJanus wins at the SCOTUS!<br />
<br />
I hate unions, with a passion. But the one thing I hate more than unions is being FORCED to join one against my will.<br />
<br />
Forced unionism <i>prima facie</i> runs smack up against the 1st Amendment's protection of the right of association. And no, the whole, "well you don't have to join the union, just pay us a bunch of money anyway" isn't a sufficient fig leaf.<br />
<br />
Janus was decided on Free Speech though. Sure, forcing someone to pay for political activities he opposes is also clearly unconstitutional (Despite what 4 robed activists might otherwise think) but it's a secondary argument. If you can't force me to <i>associate</i>, you can't force me to <i>pay</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
Regardless, it's a major victory for freedom and the Constitution.<br />
<br />
As for the Unions. <u>Bite me!</u><br />
<br />
Now my dad loved the union, but they actually earned that. They earned it by funding their own retirement system. They earned it, not demanded it.<br />
<br />
For everyone who thinks a union is a good thing, earn it. Because it's going to be voluntary association, and if you want people to associate, you better make it worth their while.Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-67001073206749969982018-04-27T18:11:00.000-07:002018-04-27T18:11:43.380-07:00Frustration - 12 String EditionA guy I have known for years on-line posted a want-to-buy add on the Acoustic Guitar Forum for a Guild F-212. This is Guilds "Small Jumbo" body size. Same size as a Taylor GA, though obviously Guild was decades before Taylor.<br />
<br />
I happen to have one. A nice 1973 F-212. Condition is excellent other than a few bits of missing finish on the back of the headstock. Basically outstanding for a guitar of this age and vintage.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.imgur.com/U0RLyyl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="551" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/U0RLyyl.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It may need a neck reset. It's borderline. The guy looking for an F-212 doesn't care if it needs a neck reset if the price is right. I offer to sell him mine for $850 plus actual shipping. That's a very fair price assuming it needs a $400-500 neck reset. With a good neck angle these are worth $1200-1500.<br />
<br />
Sent him a bunch of pictures and measurements and he jumps on the deal.<br />
<br />
Packed everything up nice and tight in a proper guitar box I got from Elderly Instruments. Went to UPS and they said $122. I'm like "your online calculator said 80". Their response, "I don't know man, says $122."<br />
<br />
"So... I can drive home, pay on line, drop it back off with the shipper and save 45 bucks?"<br />
<br />
"I guess so.. We close at 8"<br />
<br />
Got mad and went to FedEx. Came to $77.18<br />
<br />
Nervous as all get out shipping a 45 year old instrument from AZ to OR. It <u><i>should</i></u> be ok, but FedEx...<br />
<br />
Anyway, it arrived safe and sound today.<br />
<br />
And... my buyer has a problem. He thinks the bridge has been shaved and that's going to be an issue, so he want to ship it back. I'm of the opinion that the bridge has not been shaved, and even if he needed to change the bridge when he has the neck reset that's going to be less than the cost of shipping it back. Remove bridge, glue new one, that's not an expensive job.<br />
<br />
But I think I'm going to just end up taking it back, with the "buyer" paying shipping both ways.<br />
<br />
People are hard.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-10117749711308551102017-10-25T01:18:00.002-07:002017-10-25T01:18:42.243-07:00The Disappointment of Flake<div class="_5pbx userContent _22jv _3576" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_7">
Thoughts on Mr. Flake's senate speech:<br />
<br />
I watched my Junior Senator give a long speech today, where he
lambasted the "Tone" from the top of the government, i.e. Mr. Trump.
Specifically he called out the present "coarseness of our national
dialogue".<br />
<br />
Well I have to agree. I don't like it either. I
would much rather have someone with the Class and Eloquence of Mr.
Reagan sitting up there. I'd rather have someone with the honesty and
integrity of Mr. Carter, though certainly not his horrifically flawed
policies or politics. I understand that JFK could be very
inspirational. I can't think of a president who sang Amazing Grace
better than Mr. Obama...<br />
<br />
In the last election I wanted Cruz, or
Walker, or Johnson, or even Rubio. I certainly didn't want this guy
either. But to somehow pretend that the coarseness in the national
dialog is somehow new? That's disingenuous at best, and a bald-faced
lie at the worst.<br />
<br />
I watched a president on national TV tell
American small business owners "You didn't build that". I watched him
berate the majority of the country as being bitter people who "Cling to
Guns and Religion". I watched his state department hold a press
conference and blame the murder of an American Diplomat and his security
team on a freaking You-Tube video. I heard the former Speaker of the
House state that the only way to find out what was in a bill
constituting the largest government power grab since they made it
illegal to slice bread was to actually "pass it to find out what's in
it" for goodness sake.<br />
<br />
Yet somehow the coarseness of our
national dialog is somehow new? And somehow it's Mr. Trump's fault?
He's certainly continued it, but anyone who thinks this is new has not
been Paying Attention.<br />
<br />
Frankly I don't care what the orange
buffoon tweets. He's not the problem. You are the problem Mr. Flake.
You. You and the other 51 senators with an R behind your name.<br />
<br />
Because you made promises to the American People. You made promises to
your constituents. A lot of promises. You promised smaller government.
You promised a repeal of the ACA. Tax Reform. Restoration of Civil
Liberties. Gun Rights. Regulatory Reform. Entitlement reform.<br />
<br />
I
haven't seen a lot of legislation Mr. Flake. In fact, other than one
very high profile vote to confirm Justice Gorsuch (thank you by the
way), I haven't seen much of anything. So the problem is emphatically
not the "tone from the top". The problem appears to be that your
promises don't amount to a bucket of warm spit.<br />
<br />
Instead of
whining and trying to play tone police with the executive, how about you
do your<i> Damn JOB</i>. Pass a bill. It doesn't even have to be a big and
grandiose one. A single sentence bill repealing the unconstitutional
individual mandate. You know, a start, baby-steps. Anything. I'll even
write it for you.<br />
<br />
Do something for the American People. Forget
about the tone from the top or the coarseness of the dialog. That's not
important. It's not important because I guarantee that no matter what the tone from the
top, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer will do everything in their power to
prevent us from moving the nation forward. They will do everything
possible to cling to "power and the religion of large government" to
paraphrase the last guy at the top.<br />
<br />
They, and their media
lackeys, will move mountains to prevent this president, or your party,
from getting a "win" no matter the cost to the American people or
constitution.<br />
<br />
So here's a idea for you: Man up and do the job we elected you to do.</div>
Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-84349832922125649592017-10-25T00:01:00.001-07:002017-10-25T00:01:39.435-07:00A year later and still barking up the wrong tree<div data-contents="true">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ccofc" data-offset-key="dmmv1-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="dmmv1-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="dmmv1-0-0"><span data-text="true">I am SO DONE with leftists claiming that anyone who disagrees with them on their nutty "big government is the answer to everything" is a racist. Grow up. The only folks who ever put people in camps were <i>DEMOCRATS</i>. But folks who can't read the Constitution can't read history books either.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ccofc" data-offset-key="1eqr5-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1eqr5-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1eqr5-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ccofc" data-offset-key="f21s9-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f21s9-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="f21s9-0-0"><span data-text="true">Free advice if you ever want to win an election ever again. Every time you start frothing at the mouth and claiming that folks who want to cut taxes and government spending or limit government to it's actual limited and defined jurisdiction is a racist: You LOSE. That's one of the reasons your side lost the last election. (Nominating someone even more crooked than LBJ certainly didn't help) </span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f21s9-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="f21s9-0-0"><span data-text="true"> </span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="f21s9-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="f21s9-0-0"><span data-text="true">I'm sure it's great virtue signalling to the fringe, but to the rest of us it just makes you look unhinged.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ccofc" data-offset-key="ca2as-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ca2as-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ca2as-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ccofc" data-offset-key="12alp-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="12alp-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="12alp-0-0"><span data-text="true">You want to know what most folks want from the Federal Government? They <i>Want To Be Left Alone</i>. They want them out of their lives, out of their livelihoods, out of their wallets, out of their bedrooms, out of their business, and out of the way. That's not racist, that's America.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ccofc" data-offset-key="brol7-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="brol7-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="brol7-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ccofc" data-offset-key="7rv68-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="7rv68-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="7rv68-0-0"><span data-text="true">So go ahead and double down on the hate speech. Because that's how you lose, and keep on losing.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-63497337582459492632017-10-04T20:54:00.002-07:002017-10-04T20:58:51.159-07:00And here we go again - Las Vegas Edition.<div class="_5pbx userContent _22jv _3576" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_7">
Now is not the time to discuss gun control.<br />
<br />
<i>- If not now then when?</i><br />
<br />
Not when, where.<br />
<br />
<i> - Where? What do you mean where?</i><br />
<br />
Where. The place. The proper location. The proper location to discuss gun control
is in History Class. Yes, History Class. Along with other failed ideas
that belong on the Dustheap of History along with the War on Drugs, Jim
Crow, Internment Camps, Anti-Miscegenation Laws, and Central Planning. A
failed utopian ideal that causes more harm than good.<br />
<br />
Or, I suppose we could try again...<br />
<br />
<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">We can double down on bad, failed, policies. Just one more time. One more chance. Maybe, if we just tried
harder this time... Used better camps, or more efficient gas chambers.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Maybe this time, we could make people... better. <br /><br />Gun
contol has never been about guns, always about control. No gun law would have
stopped this guy. No gun law would have stopped any of the last 20
years of mass shooting events. All but one of which took place in posted Gun
Free Zones. <br /><br />It's time to admit that not only is gun
control a colossal failure with respect to the stated goals, but that all
it has done is to create more defenseless victims.<br /><br />How
man women have been killed by "waiting periods"? How many of the poor
have been killed by Saturday Night Special laws. How many children
killed due to continued demonizing of inanimate objects instead of
teaching them how they work? How many families murdered due to secure
storage laws?<br /><br />How many more Americans are you
willing to see die to support your precious fantasy that more government
control could possibly do good if only we tried even harder this time?<br /><br />No. Gun
control belongs on the ashheap of history along with eugenics, the
Japanese internment camps, gas chambers, "separate but equal", poll taxes, and every other racist policy
that we have sadly invented in our long history of humanity.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">It's time to draw the line. Time to say Enough is Enough, Time to stare evil in the face and announce, <i>This Far, No Further!</i> Time to claw back inch by inch every bit of freedom we have surrendered in the past 104 years.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class=" UFICommentActorAndBody"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">Now is not the time to discuss Gun Control. Now is the time to dismantle it. </span></span></span> </div>
Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5088364834485740535.post-45504092255271207942017-06-25T00:52:00.002-07:002017-06-25T01:32:56.848-07:00Outdoor UkuleleThere are many reasons to use alternative materials in the construction of musical instruments. Sometimes it is because traditional ones have become too expensive or restricted (like Brazillian Rosewood since the late 60's). Sometimes it is a pure cost savings measure like the use of laminates. Other times, it is to achieve specific performance goals.<br />
<br />
Rainsong first made carbon fiber guitars to avoid the problem of very high humidity and wooden instruments. Those of us who live in the desert southwest value them for their ability to handle LOW humidity. In Phoenix a humid day means we use two digits.<br />
<br />
This brings us to one of the newer players in alternative materials. Polycarbonate. Yes the same plastic used for fighter jet canopies and bullet-proof "glass".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/vDtTuKL.jpg?2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="485" height="320" src="https://i.imgur.com/vDtTuKL.jpg?2" width="194" /></a></div>
I'm going to call this one GHOST...<br />
<br />
Why polycarb?<br />
<br />
Well for one it's immune to humidity, and it has a melting point just under 300 degrees Fahrenheit, and this is Phoenix. Not quite the surface of the sun even if it does sometimes feel that way. It was not quite 120 degrees out when I took that picture.<br />
<br />
Outdoor Ukulele is a Father/Daughter team up in Bend Oregon, the actual injection molding is done in Idaho, that makes the Outdoor Uke <i>Made in the USA.</i><br />
<br />
Mine is a tenor.<br />
<br />
I paid an extra 5 bucks to have a strap button installed where an endpin would go on a guitar. The polycarb is not quite clear, there is some glass fiber in the mix to give it a nice frosted effect.
Size wise it is slightly smaller than a Kala, and about 1/2 inch less body depth.<br />
<br />
Since it is assembled using cyanoacrylate glues from two pieces, there is a seam between the top and body, and between the fretboard and the neck. This seam is actually recessed a bit. You can feel it with your fretting thumb, but it's not sharp or anything like this. Feels somewhat like a bound fretboard.
Pinless bridge design similar to the old Tacoma guitars. In this case one ties a figure 8 knot in the end of the string and drops it through a hole in the molded in bridge.<br />
<br />
Everything is molded in. Frets, nut, saddle. So, nothing is adjustable whatsoever.<br />
<br />
Outdoor Uke is using actual Grover open backed geared tuners. Bonus points for nice tuners. I'd prefer sealed ones, but open back are all the rage these days, and name brand tuners are a nice touch. Mine are nickel with black buttons. These nicely match the black dots on the fretboard.
Note, there are no side markers. So we have to assign a few negative points for that. I normally don't use markers on the fretboard since you normally can't see them when holding an instrument, that's why they are normally on the side. I might add one at the 3rd and 5th fret.<br />
<br />
How does it sound? Aye, that's the rub.<br />
<br />
It's fairly quiet. Sustain seems to be about the same as my wife's spruce topped Kala. But it definitely quieter, and does not project as well. I don't have a mahogany topped uke to compare it with, but it definitely has fewer overtones than spruce.
Several on-line reviews have stated that these sound considerably better once one changes out the stock fluorocarbon strings to Aquila Nylgut (possibly the new Reds). Aquila would be my preferred strings anyway, so once these wear out I'll switch.<br />
<br />
So while it's not quite as good sounding as a wooden uke, it's also impervious to heat to roughly 240 F, and you can take it and leave it places that would utterly destroy a wooden instrument. Of course, a carbon fiber uke would do the same thing. Those are well over $1000 bucks though, which is always relevant.<br />
<br />
This was a bit of a lark, and if I stick with the Uke I will probably get a Kala for playing out and use this one for more outdoorsy stuff, which is of course, what this type of uke was made for in the first place.
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Bottom line:</b> Great instrument for camping, backpacking, or singing around the campfire. You probably want an actual wooden one for recording or gigging.Mark Horninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09079931981472939913noreply@blogger.com0