Conventioneering

First of all, I am on record for not enjoying training conferences by in large. I’m also not a fan of Laughin, Nevada mainly because it’s a run down city on the other side of the Colorado River from Arizona. However, I have bandwidth for the computer (quite a change from the status quo at the White Wolf Mine). 
Sometimes I wonder why I volunteer to do things like this.
There are a lot of people at this conference whose identities are completely wrapped up with their service in rural fire districts. Lots of ego. Lots of fire logo stickers on four wheel drive pick ups in the lot. And part of me is glad that they derive such pleasure from self-identification in the way that they do. They’d run through a burning building to rescue me…maybe. Maybe not if they knew that it was “me”…

But yeah, the conference is a bit boring.

The New Sig

Because you can’t have enough toys.  I’d really like to have one, but could I afford to shoot it? The answer is that I’d end up selling almost all of my other toys if I had to, just to buy ammo to feed this bad boy. We need to open up the laws in Arizona… Nothing says love like an MG338. Share with those you love that this would be THE PERFECT Valentine’s Day gift.

Thought of the Day

I was thinking about stellar black holes. They (and dark matter) are the glue that holds galaxies and star clusters together. And if you’re not quite familiar with how they work, this may not make a lot of sense to you. Memory is like an event horizon. What is caught in it is gone – but it’s always there. Until you get old and then there is no telling…

15 COMMENTS

  1. Part of the reason that many volunteers identify so strongly with their roles as fire fighters is that many of them, out of necessity, LIVE that role, with its attendant responsibilities, sometimes 24×7, every day of the year. Just like soldiers – without that ego, it would be hard to do the job.

  2. Agree with DaveS. Also, due to their economic situation, that is the only outside interest they can afford.

  3. The MG 338, rate of fire $3000 per minute. I doubt that I'd get one for Valentine's or any other holiday. Now given the better half's Sicilian heritage, a lupara may be possible. I'd settle for that.

  4. I hadn't thought about the economic angle. Maybe because it's not an issue with me. Other than the car/truck you drive (and that's not a true indicator), it's difficult to know what people's economic status is in deeply rural America. I drive a 12 year old Toyota FJ, but it's not about money. Lots of Jeeps, tricked and not tricked.

  5. You take my meaning when I write that it would be an expensive hobby. More expensive than a demanding woman (is that sexist or just the truth?). But it is a sexy beast all on its own.

    Ok, I'll compromise for an M1 A1 Thompson (Navy, with the cocking lever on top).

  6. Surely, as leader of a Highlands militia, you're entitled to that Sig. And I don't know why but black hole event horizons and dark matter put me in mind of the Uraine.

  7. Entitled – yeah, that's a good way to put it. I'm entitled to a lot of ammo too, but wishing in one hand and a photo of grandkids in the other — one is heavier. Which means that it will likely remain a wish.

  8. How many acres do you have? I'd think you would want at least a 1000yard firing range for that thing…

    It is pretty sweet though, and I suppose if I had the billions I'd need to play with it, I could afford my own extraterritorial island to shoot it on, too.

    -Kle.

  9. I'd want a berm, and no chance of anything but trespassers in the firing area.

    Perhaps excessive caution from living in a State with 1000 people per square mile…

    -Kle.

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