USB 2.0 Flash Drives

PNY's Attaché 1GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive

For years, my portable removable digital media storage solution of choice had been Iomega's Zip drive products. These drives are really reliable and can stand up to a lot of use. I started out with a Zip 100MB parallel port drive on my first home PC... a 200MHz Pentium II NEC. When I got my next PC, I went out and bought a sexier looking Zip 100MB USB (powered) drive. Sure, the Zip 250 MB had been out for a while, but I had a bunch of 100MB Zip disks. While they were backward compatible with the 250MB drive, I noticed that they performed much slower than if they were used in their native 100MB Zip drive. I opted to by the "older" technology. After all, it would be better suited for my situation and it was also cheaper. The fact that the drive was also powered by the USB connection, there was no power transformer to lug around. It was easy to swap the drive between machines without Zip drives if I wanted to.

What if I had a file larger than 100MB you ask? Well, luckily there are CD writers and CD-R media is cheap enough that I could throw files on a CD, copy them and toss the CD if I wanted to. Just about every Mac or PC sold in the last 5 years has a CD ROM drive capable of reading CD-R discs, so compatibility is not an issue. I don't transport many files larger than 700MB, so the capacity of CD-R discs has never limited me. One could always buy a DVD writer and enjoy 4.7GB capacity! Even the re-writable DVD media is reasonably priced nowadays. However, DVD drives were not standard on machines a few years old. Compatibility may be an issue. Enter, the USB Travel Drive.


Iomega's Zip 100MB USB powered external drive

USB Travel Drives are portable memory chips that are known by a bunch of names: jump drives, flash drives, thumb drives, portable drives, pen drives, etc. They all have a few things in common. They have a USB connector at one end, usually covered by a cap, and just plug into your computer, behaving like any old hard drive. You can write to them, copy from them, erase files and format them. They typically work faster than Zip drives and CD-Rs as far as data transfer is concerned. They come in capacities anywhere from 64MB to 4GB! Actually, there are larger capacities than 4GB, but they tend to not be as portable. Their size and weight starts to make cords a necessity again, cutting down on portability. Still... even the larger ones are more portable than an external drive like a Zip drive.


The Memorex U3 Mini Travel Drive 512MB

I bought my first USB travel drive recently. I needed it for work until they could order one for me to use and I intended to keep it for my own use after the order came in. I opted for a 512MB USB 2.0 drive from Memorex called a U3 Mini Travel Drive. It came with a nice lanyard to attach to the drive so you wouldn't lose it as easily. The U3 refers to the ability of this drive to have software installed on it that you can run off the chip as you would software installed on a hard disk. The programs would be self contained and could be shipped between compatible machines. When a U3 drive is plugged in, it shows up as a read only partition (mounts as a CD-ROM icon) that runs the program usage feature and a partition for read/write (mounts as a hard disk icon). I am not sure if this "feature" was the cause, but this drive did not work well from the day I bought it. File transfer would hang, sometimes crashing my computer, files would transfer to the drive then not transfer back off of it or only part of the file would. I tried transferring JPEGs, TIFFs, MP3s and on Macs and PCs... the results were always the same. The drive was completely unreliable. I guess I just got a lemon. My frustrations were eased after I found that Best Buy would refund my money even though I had to completely destroy the blister pack it came in. I kept the lanyard... bonus!

The next drive I tried is a PNY Attaché drive. This was the USB 2.0 variety with a 1GB capacity. The price was the same as the Memorex I bought a few weeks before even though the capacity was doubled. This drive has been working fine so far. It mounts as a plain old hard drive and file transfer is reliable so far. It does look a little cheesey and it feminine purple accent colors don't make me happy, but at least it works! That is the most important "feature" of any product.

I am starting to get used to the convenience of using these things. I wonder if this chip technology that requires no power for storage will begin replacing magnetic platter hard drives in the future. The size vs. capacity issue may be a problem. What I mean is, you may only be able to go so small with one of these flash drives. Larger capacity may mean lassoing a bunch of these smaller drives together. Next thing you know, you wind up with something much bigger than a bread box. Perhaps we will see Firewire travel drives or a new connector type all together for these drives. But what do I know?

Broad-er Band

A speed test result of 1488 KB/Sec with my new modem. A more "real world" test results in the 800 KB/Sec ballpark.

I just got a speed boost to my internet connection by switching out my 6 year old 3COM "shark fin" cable modem for a Motorola "SURFboard" cable modem. Since I live on Long Island, the broadband service I subscribe to is Optimum Online. They are run by Cablevision and also provide cable TV service for our area. We had been having some problems with their iO digital cable television service and it made me wonder if the cause of that problem was related to my slow internet connection. The premium channels are sent to our cable TV box in a compressed format, then decompressed and sent to the TV via the set top box. This works similarly to the way AVI, MPEG and Quicktime MOV files work on your computer. There is a compromise though as far as color fidelity in dark images and graduated areas of color. Some "stair stepping" occurs due to the compression process. Then there is the other problem we were having... network stall.

One frame of video would just freeze on the screen for several seconds while the audio would continue. Usually this frame showed the blocky artifacts of the MPEG compression. After 5 or 10 seconds, the picture would reset itself. Other times, we had to change the channel to "unfreeze" the picture. This was unacceptable, especially at the prices they charge for service. We had a service guy come out and swap out the line from the pole to the house and he re-programmed our box for better efficiency (supposedly). I was thinking that this service call would solve my internet woes. No luck though!

Speed testing of my broadband data transfer rate resulted in readings of 300 KB/sec to 500 KB/sec on a good day. On a bad day, the test wouldn't break 200 KB/sec! Those readings were from a server located near to me in New York City and should have been a very efficient connection. I started to suspect that my aging modem was dying. I started to feel that I needed to put it out of its misery when it had a hard time playing the little jingle that it would when connecting to the internet after being reset. Eventually it just started making a series of clicks and beeps. It sounded so pitiful. Something was definately wrong with it.


The 3Com Shark Fin cable modem

My brother, who's computer is currently being repaired, has a fairly new cable modem so I asked him if I could try his out while his computer is being overhauled. He brought it over and BINGO! My transfer speed more than doubled. Went down to cablevision the next day and swapped out the old modem for a new model and have been enjoying transfer speeds upwards of 900 KB/sec. There are times when it test out at 1300KB/sec, but I don't believe that is really a "true" reading. I am using a speed test provided by www.speakeasy.net for their broadband subscribers. I am testing transfer to a server located relatively close to my home - that right there will do a lot to increase the data transfer efficiency. Also, the reading given is the highest that was achieved in the 10 second testing period, not an average. Other tests to more distant servers in the U.S. result in readings from 600 KB/sec to around 800 KB/sec. Still much better than before.


My new Motorola SURFboard cable modem

I have become really addicted to having "always on" internet access and as a result, I've been paying through the nose each month for over 6 years for cable broadband. Most of my computer time at home is spent surfing the 'net for information regarding my hobbies or reading internet message boards. I have gotten so used to "dotting up" as my nephew calls it. Any question I have, from the weather report to movie times, can be instantly answered via the internet. Then there are other fun things to do like working on this blog, listening to internet radio, watching movie trailers, ordering things online and sending e-mails to my friends. Cable internet service is worth the money in my opinion. I am running an ancient Compaq 900Mhz machine with about 700MB of RAM and it works great for surfing the internet. It even performs pretty well when doing some graphic design work at home. I keep the machine "clean" and maintained and I have definately gotten my money's worth out of it even though I have had to replace the hard drive twice in 6 years.

My broadband just got broad-er and I am a happy camper!

Pumped Up!

OK... I am starting to get annoyed again. Gas prices are up to $3.20 a gallon at my local gas station. That is for super unleaded... the fuel my V6 engine requires. I have been hearing that the price per barrel of crude oil is dropping. Hmmmm... when crude oil prices go up, there is an immediate increase at the pumps. When the price of crude oil goes down, we all have to wait weeks for the prices to get lower. Sounds fishy to me.

The big five oil importers are reporting record profits even though crude oil prices are at their historical highest. They say they can't explain it. I can explain it very easily. The oil companies are increasing consumer prices by a much larger margin than their increased cost of importing. I can just see the meetings: "OK gentlemen. It is costing us 50% more to import oil. We have to pass this increased cost onto the consumer. Lets charge them 150% more for a gallon of gas! We'll blame it on the war in Iraq, on India and on China."

I am waiting to hear the "mild winter" excuse soon as a reason for raising prices. Supply and demand... what a joke.

XD Day!

This past weekend I got to try out the latest addition to my firearms collection – my new Springfield Armory XD-9. A few months ago I wrote a blog post about the XD-45ACP, the latest (caliber) addition to the XD family of handguns. The introduction of this new model rekindled my interest in this imported polymer framed duty pistol. My interest in this pistol started when I read about it on the firearm enthusiast internet forums and my decision to own one was cemented when I tried an XD out during a class at Gunsite in September of 2005. After trying the XD-9 for the first time, I had the feeling I would be parting with some hard earned cash very soon. Thanks for letting me try your XD-9 Chuck!

So what is an XD? I described the pistol in a previous post, but I will expand on it here. The “XD” stands for eXtreme Duty… meaning that this is a pistol designed as a working gun. Reliability is first and foremost with this no-nonsense firearm design. The pistol was designed in the late 90s by IM Metal, a Croatian company, and named the HS2000. It is manufactured in that country and imported into the U.S. and marketed by Springfield Armory of Geneseo, IL. A few cosmetic changes set it apart from the original HS2000.

The number that follows “XD” in the name of the pistol signifies the caliber of the weapon. For example, the XD-9 has a 9mm barrel, the XD-40 fires the .40 caliber S&W cartridge, the XD-45GAP fires the .45 caliber Glock Auto Pistol cartridge, and so on. Most XD pistols (the XD-45ACP being the exception) come in a 4 inch service model, a 5 inch long slide version labeled “Tactical” and a Subcompact with a 3 inch barrel.


Tactical, Service and Subcompact XDs

Whatever flavor of the XD you buy, whatever caliber or barrel length, certain things remain constant. The most noticeable characteristic of the XD pistol is that it has a polymer frame, a technological development in firearms manufacture popularized by Gaston Glock in the early 80s. There is no visible “hammer” as the pistol is fired by way of a striker… basically a spring-loaded firing pin. These two items alone go a long way toward simplifying function and also reducing the weight of the firearm. Where this pistol really differs from a Glock is its employment of a grip safety similar to that of a 1911 style pistol. The grip angle is also more like a 1911 than a Glock, making it a more comfortable and pointable platform for many people, myself included. I also think the XD is just a nicer looking gun than a Glock, but looks are pretty low on the totem pole of criteria when selecting a duty handgun. Still... as the saying goes... Glocks have no soul.

The XD has a loaded chamber indicator in which a lever sticks up out of the top of the slide above the breech face when a cartridge is in place. This can be felt as well as seen. The striker status indicator functions in a similar way. When the striker is cocked, a silver pin protrudes from the back of the slide providing another tactile/visual indicator of the weapon's condition. This helps since there is no external hammer to give you a clue. There is no decocker in this system, so be sure the chamber is empty before pulling the trigger to place the striker at rest during storage. The ambidextrous magazine release buttons are also a helpful feature. Metal sights are standard as is a metal safe action Glock-style trigger in trigger. The XD version of this trigger is called the Ultra Safety Assurance (USA) trigger and functions as a safety against firearm discharge if it is dropped accidentally. There is a slim hinged trigger inside the regular wider hinged trigger. The thin piece must be depressed fully before the whole trigger can be pulled rearward, releasing the striker. See the photos below.


The loaded chamber indicator in operation


Striker status indicator


Ultra Safety Assurance trigger drop safety

Disassembly for cleaning and lubricating is also a very easy task and a consideration worthy of praise. Simply unload the pistol and lock the slide to the rear. You can now swing the disassembly locking lever clockwise to a vertical position. A little “leg” preventing this motion when the slide is in battery will move through a recess cut in the slide when locked to the rear. At this point, carefully grasp the slide and gently ease it forward after disengaging the slide lock. The slide will move forward and stop. At this point you must pull the trigger to allow the slide to continue its forward travel off the frame. Now you can remove the guide rod and dual recoil spring and barrel from the slide.


Disassembly lever in its upright position

I had my XD-9 for about an hour before I took it apart and I found a few interesting things. I was amazed at how simple this pistol design actually is. There are very few parts and the mechanics inside the frame are sparse. The plastic frame weighs almost nothing; the slide is much heavier than the frame. Rather than a metal slide rail insert being molded into the frame, the XD’s insert is dropped in and held by pins that are not intended to be removed. These pins are finished with a slighty purple colored finish that looks like some sort of anodization.

I also noticed that there was some wear around the circumference of the barrel and on the top of the chamber hood. These are key lockup areas and test firing at the factory and Police Station (to enter a ballistic sample in my State’s data base) left behind significant wear marks. Keep in mind parts of your XD may look worn straight out of the box before you even fire it. This wear is normal and not really visible when the weapon is in battery. It does not get moch worse after the initial "wear in" of parts. Another item of note is that the feed ramp is extremely shiny and is inclined on a somewhat steep angle. My pistol shipped very dry with no lubrication on the rails and a sticky brownish rust preventative material on the barrel and chamber hood. I took care of that right away, lubing it up with some CLP and Wilson Ultima Lube firearm grease.


Normal chamber hood and barrel wear due to lockup function

I had to wait a few weeks before I fired the XD-9 as I was taking a break from a poorly ventilated indoor range that I frequent which caused me some lead level concerns after a recent blood test. I finally broke it in this weekend at an outdoor range near to where I live. There was a bit of a chill in the air and some wind, but I didn’t care. So what if it is chilly under this shaded overhang? I was about to shoot my new XD-9! I brought a few brands of ammo with me. I had some brass cased Sellier & Bellot 115gr FMJ, some CCI Blazer aluminum cased 115gr FMJ, and some Wolf steel cased FMJ. I should have brought some hollow points to test feedability, but I forgot. All ammo fed well, though I did have 3 or 4 failures to extract during the first 125 rounds or so of my 200 fired for the day. They may have been magazine related ejection errors or "firer interfering with the slide stop" problems. I forgot to check the magazine numbers when it happened. I was excited and just wanted to shoot some more so I neglected my diagnostic responsibilities a bit.

What can I say? Firing this pistol is fun. I noticed quickly that you really have to pay attention to the basics when firing the Service model XD. Perhaps this was due to it being a new gun. Another cause may be that I am used to firing 5 inch pistols (Kimber 1911, Beretta 92FS) that have a longer sight radius and are ever so slightly more forgiving of sloppy sight alignment. With the 4 inch XD, you really have to align your sights, focus on that front sight and press the trigger. After I got used to the feel of the gun, I began to shoot groups nearly as good as those I can muster with my Kimber TLE II that I have over 6,000 rounds of trigger time on. The XD-9 Service is very accurate. Due to its light weight, the pistol does tend to bounce a bit when firing. It has a very shallow cycle distance though and it is pretty easy to recover from the already light 9mm recoil. Quick follow up shots are easy to get on target with a bit of practice. The pistol is balanced much better than my Beretta 92 FS. The Beretta seems to place all the weight in the hand grip, allowing the slide and barrel to dangle out in front. The XD-9 is a bit top heavy, as all the weight is in the slide and almost none in the frame. However, this weight is well balanced and aids in pointability. With the help of the ergonomic grip angle, the gun wants to stay level.


The XD at work in the hands of a special security team member

This gun is a definite keeper. After a little more break-in I would be comfortable carrying it (if I was allowed to in my State). I wore the XD-9 in the freebie XD-Gear kydex holster included with the pistol and barely felt it on my hip. A double magazine carrier was also included that also works well with Beretta 92FS magazines. Though I loved the thought of the XD-45ACP, I decided to get the 9mm version of the XD. I already have a 1911 that fires that caliber in 45ACP. It is my go to gun and I am sure I would look to it in a self defense situation. I have fired over 6,000 rounds through it and I am proficient and confident with it. My Kimber TLE II may be my favorite handgun, but the XD-9 is a great addition to my collection!

See the related XD internet forum at www.hs2000talk.com for more info on this firearm. The detail photos used in this post were taken and posted by members there.

I called in to the Kevin Smith Show!

No... I am not referring to "Silent Bob" here. The Kevin Smith Show that I listen to is served up via streaming audio on the internet just about every night of the week from 10:00pm to 12:00pm Eastern time. Kevin discusses paranormal topics ranging from ghosts to U.F.O.s to Bigfoot and other so-called edge science topics. Since I was a huge fan of "In Search Of", "Sightings" and other types of paranormal TV shows, I am happy to have found this program. When I was a little kid, I always found myself glued to the TV during these types of programs even though I would get a little freaked out by some of the subjects and have a tough time sleeping at night.

Kevin broadcasts out of the Phoenix, Arizona area. Oddly enough, I found out about his show a week or so after I got back from vacationing in the area. [click here to see what I was doing there] Too bad I didn't know about him sooner. He is such a down-to-earth guy that I probably could have arranged to visit him!

Anyway... I called in during an open line show. There was no guest on this particular night, but the topic of discussion was Darwinism. It appears that the theory of our old buddy Darwin has more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese. I spoke to Kevin about viruses and how they seem to be a completely alien thing that fails to fit into the criteria scientists use to define a living thing. Viruses are simply written off as an "exception" to the rule.

I have become a fan of Kevin Smith after 6 months of listening to his show on pretty much a nightly basis. I enjoy his approach with regard to the topics. He states over and over that he does not "believe" in paranormal things... either they happen or they don't. These strange things outside our normal understanding may be as easily explainable as the occurrence of an eclipse. For instance, ghosts may be completely "natural" things in our world, we only lack the understanding to explain them because they do not fit into what we think we know. Kevin often plays devil's advocate, quite politely I might add, and tries to cut through the faith that accompanies most discussions of paranormal phenomena.

Kevin would rather hear about what his guests and callers think and not what they believe. He encourages people to simply admit that they do not know something... nothing wrong with that. When one feels they have some obligation to explain the unexplainable, they force themselves into a position of arrogance. One also limits their thought process and deprives themselves of the knowledge to be gained from further investigation.

I am amazed at the amount of shows Kevin is able to broadcast... usually 5 shows a week! Booking all those guests can't be easy. His guests have varied backgrounds and share their knowledge on varied topics. I am amazed at the overlap of the subjects as well. What do I mean? Well, it seems that you can't discuss ancient civilizations without also bringing up extra-terrestrials. Discussions about ghosts lead to discussions about human spirituality and the capability of some humans to perceive the paranormal. The alien abduction phenomenon often incorporates facets of government conspiracies and the extra-terrestrial agenda.

This stuff is way out there... and that is the point. Luckily, Kevin is as objective as he can be. His interest in these topics may make him more willing to accept the paranormal unlike others, but this is not a bad thing. Having an open mind and not being limited by one's ego is the best way to learn. Does he completely agree with his guests and feel that their take on certain subjects is the only truth... of course not. That is not the point. It is more like this: here is what this person thinks, this is their evidence, you decide what you think, but we'll have fun talking about for a while.

My words for skeptics... It is easy to tell someone they are wrong when there are no right answers.

Dido Live at the Brixton Academy

I recently picked up a concert DVD... Dido Live at the Brixton Academy. Dido is a British female vocalist and I got into her music in 1999 when she released her debut album "No Angel". Around this time, I had been getting into female vocalists and was keeping my eyes open for new acts. Dido's first CD was in a listening station at my favorite CD store. I listened... I liked... I bought. The CD was one of my favorites before anyone really knew who she was. I was certainly into her stuff before Marshall Mathers (a.k.a. Eminem) mixed her song Thank You into one of his raps. I later found out that she was also kinda cute... actually... really cute. Bonus!

Anyway, she released a second album called Life For Rent... but I never bought it. Why? Well the first single from it, White Flag, was in heavy rotation on the FM station that plays all day at work. I just reached my saturation point... got Dido-ed out I guess. Some of the other songs that were released from the album just did not seem up to snuff compared to the songs on the first album. All the melodies seemed very similar to me. Still... I could listen to No Angel any time and was never sick of it. Still a Dido fan.


Life For Rent promo image

It's been a long time since I've listened to her so I decided to pick up her live DVD. I had seen it at Borders while shopping for Christmas of 05. During the 2005 shopping... er... Holiday Season, I continually found myself repeating this mantra: You are supposed to be buying things for other people, not yourself. That kept me in check. 2 months later, I own the DVD.

So how was it? Pretty good. She has some really great musicians working with her. The music was really great and the sound was mixed well. The video editing was smooth and not jarring. She talked in between some of the songs, but was not long winded or annoying. Actually, it was kind of cute. At one point, shee seemed to get emotional as the audience was singing along with her during an acapella closing to a song. She just backed away from the microphone with a huge grin and let them finish it.

Unfortunately, I didn't care for some of the arrangements of the songs. The band went into unecessary jam sessions in the middle of some songs. On a few songs, she never even made it to the chorus because of this. In my opinion, she could have hired one less percussionist and added a backup singer. Dido sings her own harmonies on her albums and those vocal parts were not present in her live act. The songs were missing something without backing vocals. She handled the vocals in the song Here With Me a little strangely as well. There were also some parts where the audio did not sync up with the video... as if this was filmed on multiple nights and they mixed and matched the best shots with the best sound.

Sorry for all the negativity in the previous paragraph. I actually liked the DVD! Go get it... really. Maybe I am being a little tough on her because I know she is better than what was captured on DVD... but what do I know?


Ummm... cute

Springfield XD… now in 45 ACP!

Springfield Armory has fielded a pistol in recent years called the XD. This firearm may prove to be serious competition to the polymer pistols of Gaston Glock which are noted for their simplicity, reliability and ruggedness. The XD stands for “eXtreme Duty” and the pistol is a slightly altered version of the Croatian HS2000 (by IM Metal) that Springfield has licensed for import into the United States. The XD has a polymer and metal frame, a trigger safety and is striker fired like the Glock. Additional features include a grip safety and a grip angle similar to 1911 style pistols. Other nice features include ambidextrous magazine release buttons, an the accessory rail under the muzzle, cocked striker indicator and a loaded chamber indicator. The XD had been available in the following calibers: 9mm, .40 cal, 45GAP and 357SIG. About 2 weeks ago, Springfield announced they were adding another caliber to that list… the venerable .45 ACP. When I found this little bit of information out, all I could say to myself was, “I am in trouble!”

I have been looking at the XD for a while now. It’s an ugly thing, but I like it for some reason. It is certainly “less ugly” than a Glock in my opinion and it seems to have the same level of reliability and a few extra features. Sure… I don’t need another gun. However, I view the XD as a good choice for a carry pistol, should I ever move to an area that doesn’t frown on that practice.

I have had my eyes on the 9mm 4 inch barrel service model (XD-9). My eyes opened even wider when I tried the XD-9 at the Gunsite 350 class I attended in September. A student was putting one to the test in the class and let me try it out one day. It was an extremely light, comfortable, and controllable pistol. I fired a full magaziine at a target from the three yard line and made one hole about an inch wide. I know that is really close range, but the instructor still felt the need to utter and encouraging four-letter expletive when I was done. The 25 seconds that pistol spent in my hands sealed the deal for me, but I don’t need another pistol… right?

I can legally modify Beretta 92FS pre-ban 15 round magazines to fit in an XD-9, giving the pistol the 15 +1 cartridge capacity it was designed for. I would be comfortable carrying a 9mm, especially if I could carry 16 rounds in the weapon. I don’t know what side of the “Caliber Wars” you are on… I feel that a hit with a smaller bullet is much better than a miss with a big bullet. Also, a hit with a big, heavy, slower moving bullet is better than a hit with a small, light, fast moving bullet. That said, I definitely like the 45ACP round that my 1911 fires much better than a 9mm. The recoil has a different feel and as they say, a 9mm may expand, but a .45ACP will never shrink. While I love the idea of a Government sized 1911 for comcealed carry, they are a little heavy and a bit large.

I have looked into compact 1911-style autos, but they always have a low round capacity… 6 or 7 max. OK… that is not entirely true. Para Ordnance does make some compact 1911 style autos (Nite Hawg, Warthog) that hold 10 +1. Kimber has its compact versions of the “Ten II” line of pistols also. The prices of these pistols approach the $1,000 mark though and they have 3 inch barrels. You definitely pay the price as far as ballistics and economics are concerned. What would be cheaper, lighter and still have a decent round capacity and fire the .45ACP? Enter the Springfield XD-45ACP!


Can you beleve they cram all this in the XD-45ACP's magazine?

Somehow, Springfield’s engineers were able to work with the HS2000 design and fit 13 rounds into the magazine well without making the pistol much different in size when compared to its cousins (XD-9, XD-40, etc.). Make no mistake... the XD-45ACP is a full-sized pistol, but it is lighter in weight than double stack metal framed 1911s. 13 rounds of the large 45 ACP does present a design problem to firearms manufacturers. Material was shaved off in spots, other areas were beefed up – but the pistol is really not that much different than the other versions firing much smaller an lighter rounds. It is a little heavier (especially when loaded) and a little taller, but preliminary reports from owners of other XD versions say that the 45ACP version is just as comfortable and nearly identical in feel when compared to its relatives. The price is right as well. It will probably hover around $475-$550 when all the hype wears off. I can see dealers jacking up the price for these new firearms that haven’t been manufactured in any real quantity yet. At the moment, Springfield is shipping some XD-45ACP gear with the pistols. You get a Kydex holster, a double magazine carrier, and a magazine loader. This may be a “while supplies last” type of thing. The holster is cool because it has an accessory rail on it where you can clip weapon mountable light. The pistol ships with the standard 2 magazines with a 13 round capacity. If I bought one in my area, I would be sent 10 round mags as NY State has its own so-called Assault Weapons Ban. 11 rounds of .45ACP is fine with me though.


XD-Gear holster and magazine carrier

I wish Springfield luck with its foray into polymer frame style pistols. Many manufacturers have been entering this market innovated by Glock. You have Smith and Wesson with its M&P, Beretta with its PX4 Storm, Taurus with their 24/7, Walther’s P99, Kahr has its “PM” line of pistols, Fabrique Nationale (FN) has the Five-seveN and recently Kimber introduced a non-1911 style polymer framed pistol called the KPD. Springfield seems to have all the bases covered with the XD-45ACP. It seems as reliable as other XDs, it is light in weight, safe, full of features, reasonably priced, fires a decent caliber and has a decent magazine capacity. But what do I know?


Made in Croatia... imported by Springfield


Two XD Sub compacts (top) and a 4 inch barreled Service Model (bottom)


The Croation HS2000

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

A box of Wolf ammunition in .45 ACP

Not me… at least not anymore. The rifle and pistol cartridges made by Wolf are either loved or hated by the firearms community. There seems to be no middle ground here. Wolf ammunition is made in Russia and I think that does a lot to create negative feelings in the minds of firearms enthusiasts. It is also inexpensive and in the minds of many people, “inexpensive” means “cheap junk”. Some also criticize it for being a dirty firing ammo and for smelling bad. Well, I guess you’ll just have to take 5 more minutes to clean you firearm. Oh yeah… by the way… all ammo smells bad when you get a whiff burning powder while shooting.

Then there is the little matter of the cases being made from steel instead of brass. Some have said that steel cases will cause undue wear and possible breakage of small parts like an extractor claw. However, I am sure the steel used to create the casings is a very low grade. The steel used in the manufacture of firearms should be significantly stronger and not adversely affected by the steel of the casings. This is a debate that occurs weekly in the various internet forums for firearms enthusiasts. Many people have a friend who has a friend who saw some guy at the range blow up a $2,500 Wilson Combat Custom 1911 because he used Wolf ammo in it. Maybe it did happen? Who knows?

Some people have changed their stance regarding Wolf ammo due to recent improvements in the Wolf “formula”. Previously, the cases of the ammunition were coated in a laquer to prevent corrosion during storage. This laquer supposedly had a habit of melting when firearms got hot and gumming up the works. Extraction and feeding problems were reported. Well, Wolf has addressed this problem (after several years of criticism) by formulating a different coating. Old Wolf ammo had shiny olive drab colored coated steel cases – new and improved Wolf ammo has a grey case. The primers are still drenched in red sealant which has a habit of getting all over the inside of breech face, but I don’t think enough can accumulate to cause any problems with function.


An old Wolf cartridge is on the left... new and improved Wolf on the right

I started out with Wolf ammunition a few years ago when I used it to “break in” my first firearm… a Kimber Custom TLE II. The people on the message boards were horrified that I would feed my upper middle class 1911 such junk during its maiden voyage. I was scared away from Wolf ammo, even though it seemed to work just fine. I moved on to other brands like Winchester (the cheap kind known as “Government” or “White Box”), PMC, Sellier and Bellot, UMC (Remington) and CCI Blazer Aluminum. I decided to try the last ammo on the list for a few reasons. First off, it was cheap. I couldn’t argue with $7.00 a box plus shipping. Ammo prices have been going up and I needed to change brands to save some money. Also, the cases are made from relatively soft non-reloadable aluminum. I had no worries about wear and no problems throwing them away. I have been saving my brass since I started shooting. Although I do not reload, I have a real hard time throwing out perfectly good cases that I can give to someone I may meet some day who may reload them. Ammunition manufacturers actually charge more for the brass cased ammo because you can reload it. Technically, I have been throwing money away by buying brass cased ammo all this time.

So why am I switching back to Wolf? Well, the Blazer is loaded a little hot. Whatever powder they use creates a little more recoil than I like to experience when I am out for a day of fun at the range. Don’t get me wrong, it is not like the kick of a +P self defense round. Still, it is a little more than I like. Although it is controllable and I can handle it, it seems unnecessary. Why should I have a sore hand for an hour after I leave the range if I can avoid it? Then there is the price: $6.45 for .45ACP… that’s like $3.50 cheaper than other brands. The Wolf cases are not realoadable either, so I can toss ‘em with a clear conscience. I think I am going to stock up on some 45ACP and some 9mm soon.

[Nuts! I just checked the price and the .45ACP is now $7.19 a box. When you see a deal on ammo DON’T WAIT TO BUY IT! Buy a bunch and save it for later! Your wallet will thank you.]

First Year of Blogging

Time flies... it's been one year since I started this web log. When I started it, I figured that I would use it to give my opinions on current events. I have done a little bit of that, but not too much. Why? Well, I like to write about positive notable things and perhaps things I personally think are cool rather than rant about things going on that annoy me. The headlines tend to relate to negative subjects or things that get blown out of proportion. I'd rather give a review of a movie or CD than complain about something. However, there are things that get to me. So how about a non-specific, unsupported by example, end of 2005 rant?

So what aggravates me? Well, the media continually aggravates as does "political correctness" in general. We need to realize that an American citizen, by definition, is politically incorrect. I think our political systems do a lot to make this nation inefficient. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather live here than anywhere else in the world. Still, I have a hard time believing that all the senators, representatives and judges are clueless. I am sure they are working towards certain goals. These agendas are the cause of the seeming lack of common sense in government. Our Constitution is quickly becoming a meaningless document because of loose interpretation. It is as if the document was written in some foreign language that needs translation. Not for nothing, but American English has not changed so drastically in 230 years. I have read transcripts of scholars debating the change in meaning caused by placement of a comma in some reprints of our Constitution's second amendment. Gimme a break people! "Inalienable" and "...shall not be infringed" still mean the same today as they did during the era Lincoln refers to as "Four score and seven years ago." Our forefathers had much more sense than those in power today.

Just to clear it up for anyone who still doesn't understand: The Constitution of the United States does not grant it citizens their rights... it is a document that limits the rights of the government over the people it represents!!! Your rights, your inalienable rights, were yours as soon as you came into this world.

There also seems to be a movement in this country to stick it to authority. That tendency not a bad thing, but it seems to be operating incorrectly here lately. We can see where this came from if we think about it. This country was founded so that someone more powerful, the English King, could no longer make the rules. It is simply "American Human Nature." We see this at every level of life. From one's Kindergarten teacher, to their supervisor at work, to our President... it is never hip among one's peers to agree with the one in power. At some point though, the desire of the people of this country to not be taken advantage of became a need to have special treatment. For decades, minorities have pushed against discrimination so they could be treated just like everyone else. Now they push for special treatment that separates them from the majority. I understand that we cater to the individual in this nation, but the majority should have its needs met once in a while. The ACLU selectively fights for only certain Constitutional rights. They support NAMBLA... nuff said.

And another thing... frivolous lawsuits have apparently become the new pastime for this nation. I realized a long time ago that our "legal system" has nothing to do with right and wrong, but rather, what can be proven. Any technicalities that arose from the need to protect the possibly innocent have been twisted and are now used to get truly guilty offenders off the hook. Legitimate victims have a tougher time getting their deserved compensation than the guilty have with getting out of trouble. Anyone can do anything they want to you if you can't afford to pay a lawyer and go after them.

Our moral standards are completely out of whack as well. I don't think I even need to explain.

The entertainment industry has gone down the tubes. What happened to all the good music and the people that actually played their instruments? TV has become a substitute for so many levels of life. Nowadays people are more interested in watching Survivor or The Apprentice than spending some mental power thinking about more important things that actually effect their lives.

Can we put down our cell phones for a while?!? Who are you talking to at 7:30am as you drive in front of me, below the speed limit I might add, and swerve in and out of your lane. Hang up and stop making me late to work!

Let me get this one off my chest... LEARN TO SPEAK ENGLISH! I think this statement by Roosevelt makes a lot of sense:
"In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile...We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language...and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

- Theodore Roosevelt 1907

I may have to edit this post as I didn't intend for it to go this way when I started typing. I intended to write a "Year in Review" type of thing related to my Blog entries, changes I have made to it, what I have learned, etc. This was just how I was feeling today I guess... but what do I know?

Animusic 2 Review!

Animusic 2 is the sequel to Wayne Lytle's 3D computer animated music masterpiece Animusic. If you've never seen Animusic, you are in for a treat. You will see fantastic virtual instruments playing music in a very realistic way due to the way the animations are created. Being a fan of music and 3D animation, this stuff is right up my alley. All the music is written by Lytle and played through very realistic sounding MIDI instruments. This digital information is then used to "drive " the motion in the 3D animation software. This technique allows for the physics to be controlled in a very detailed, precise, yet automated way that looks natural. The Animusic team explains it this way: "Rather than reacting to sound with undulating shapes, our animation is correlated to the music at a note-for-note granularity, based on a non-real-time analysis pre-process. Animusic instruments generally appear to generate the music heard, rather than respond to it. At any given instant, not only do we take into account the notes currently being played, but also notes recently played and those coming up soon. These factors are combined to derive "intelligent," natural-moving, self-playing instruments." That about says it all I guess. Lets get on to my review then.



Five robots "get their groove on" in Starship Groove.

Starship Groove:
This selection is the first on the DVD. The characters from this piece are featured in the DVD menus and on its cover. Basically, they are the "face" of Animusic 2. These guys play on a stage that is actually a starship floating through space (hence the title). Two robots roll around playing synth pads attached to their chests, tapping them with their hands. Two more bots are attached to drum set and provide the percussion for the song. A fifth guy in the back plays some kind of electric harp thing. As the robot musicians play their instruments, different things light up around the spaceship stage. These guys are cooler than the average Animusic "instruments" because they seem to have more personality. As they play, these guys bop around and shake their heads as if they are real people digging the music they are playing. When certain musicians stop playing, they still bop around until their turn comes up to be more active. The song is happy sounding, but does have some minor key sections and odd time signatures here and there.



The Mr. Stick character gets a little more versatile adding wheels and pogo action in Pogo Sticks.

Pogo Sticks:
This selection features familiar Mr. Stick type characters, but with an upgrade... these guys are on wheels! Also, the character is no longer limited to stringed instruments as percussion instruments (drums, xylophones) are incorporated. These guys roll around on a wood track bouncing and playing. Changes in the music sections correspond with the characters making a trip through a dark tunnel where they begin to glow. Not a lot of lasers or lighting special effects here, but the environment they travel through is complicated. The song is dynamic and percussive, with slow and fast parts. The xylophone introduction section has a funk feel.



This crazy stringed instrument looks like a living thing as it plays in Resonant Chamber.

Resonant Chamber:
OK... this one is kind of creepy in a way. There is a weird instrument featured in this one that is wooden and resembles a cello, guitar, asian instrument, and a couple fretless basses all mashed together. There are places where strings overlap and necks and the resonant wooden bodies of the instrument meld together. So what's so creepy? Well, the wooden "fingers" that strum the strings or hammer-on the frets look very organic. Picture a crab or tarantula walking on the neck of a guitar. The instrument seems very organic... like it is alive. The playing is very accurately depicted as well. The dominant section of the song features an alternating 4/4 - 6/4 tempo with a "walking" feel. There's a mix of heavy and tranquil sections throughout.



Catherdral Pictures is a blend of a famous classical piece and some eerie Danny Elfman sounding stuff.

Cathedral Pictures:
This piece is set in a cathedral with a pipe organ on steroids. This thing is huge and fires light out of it sound holes. There are other wind instruments as well as harpsichords style ones, a large xylophone, a rock bass and a rock drum set. This is especially cool since this piece is a reprise of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition." The peaceful classical standard changes feel to an unsettling progressively arranged orchestral score. I thought of Danny Elfman's stuff during this one. Eventually, the peaceful classical mood returns to the music and is emphasized by some pyrotechnics inside the church. Man, if there were fireworks in my church, I'd probably go more often!



Pipe Dream Two is a new song with the same instruments from the infamous Pipe Dream piece in the original Animusic.

Pipe Dream 2:
The original pipe dream was such a cool idea, I guess it is a no wonder why Wayne Lytle felt the urge to bring it back for Animusic 2. He uses the same virtual set and instruments, but the song they play is different. In Pipe Dream, all the instruments are assembled out of PVC looking frames and balls fire out of other pipes to play the strings or percussive instruments. These balls bounce off the instruments and fall into another open pipe somewhere on the set, presumably to be recycled into the system. A circular gold xylophone is the trademark instrument here and it is joined by a travelling wood xylophone, a spinning drum mount, chimes and some odd instruments where one ball bounces off a string, another string and a bongo drum during its travel time. Very cool song, very complicated physics.



Fiber Bundles uses flowing light to make music... one of the coolest tracks on the DVD.

Fiber Bundles:
This has to be my favorite one! In this piece, a bunch of fibers hang from the ceiling and make their way down to connect to the various instruments on the stage. Through these tubes come light that triggers the instruments. This works sort of like fiber optics in that the fibers glow, but the lights appear more like flowing liquid that glows. As this liquid "pours" into the container that is the instrument, it makes a sound. Enough liquid light flows to carry out the length of the note. This proces gets pretty crazy during sections where there are rapid notes playing because it creates a visually overloading (in a good way) light show. Some of the light actually fires out of the fibers to run the drum set in the center. The song sounds very ambient but eventually rocks out. There is even a techno/trance secion here and the light show aspect makes it look like a rave party. Very cool song, extremely complicated lighting effects and physics. Like I said... this one is my favorite.



This mind boggling drum solo features three gyroscopic drummers navigating around a complicated drum kit structure.

Gyro Drums:
Unbelievable... cant really explain this one... you have to see it. A drum set connected to multiple levels of rings is played by three drummers who are also connected to rings. These rings are arranged in different levels and rotate around each other like an atom's electron shells. The drummers rotate on their rings and play a dizzying coordinated solo that would make drummer Mike Portnoy motion sick. This one is too complicated to digest in one viewing. The quad view (full scene from one angle, and a camera centered on each of the three drummers) makes for an even more complex viewing experience. Please focus on one of the four screen sections unless you have a barf bag near by... you have been warned.



An ancient temple comes alive with lasers, lights and progressive rock in Heavy Light.

Heavy Light:
An ancient Aztec looking temple forms the stage for this piece. It extrudes to reveal lazers and other beam generators beneath the stone. These play a very mystical song with a heavily synthesized progressive rock sound. There is a lot going on as usual. Stone blocks raise and lower, revealing instruments below the surface. Lasers and lights fire into the night sky. Glowing masses of light (think ball lightning) fire to trigger drums and gongs.

The Animusic series is awesome and a must have for any animation or music fan. It is no wonder that a member of Yes, the producer of Pink Floyd and members of Kansas are on the record praising the work of Wayne and his team. The style of music he writes is very progressive sounding and created in a very progressive way... digitally. So look this stuff up on www.animusic.com and buy some DVDs! You will not be disappointed. Please help to send some monetary support to this renaissance artist and his company. He deserves it and besides, I want there to be an Animusic 3!

Local weather forecast on the night of November 29th.

Do We Have Seasons Anymore?

Hi all... just checking in to say it is unseasonably warm in this neck of the woods. Take a look at my local weather conditions above... 61 degrees Farenheit. Keep in mind that it is around 11:00 PM on November 29th. The month of December starts in 25 hours. We are supposed to be in winter right now. Do we even have seasons anymore?

The trees got all confused this fall. We have had a couple of cold snaps overnight (near and even below freezing), but it has been mild. Usually I get to see the green leaves change their color to red, yellow, orange and tan and look really beautiful for a while. This year, they all just turned brown or stayed green and fell off the trees. I have been keeping an eye out during the day to find a spot where I can get a nice autumn photo. No luck.

The Grand Canyon

A view of the Grand Canyon from the Desert View observation point.

This past September I traveled to Arizona to attend a firearms academy. After my classes were complete, I stayed a few extra days because I wanted to see the Grand Canyon. The Canyon has the reputation of being such an awe inspiring sight. I had to see it! My Dad and I made the two hour drive north to Grand Canyon National Park from where we were staying in Paulden Arizona. Along the way, we were treated to some scenic views and I took plenty of pictures. Little did I know... my camera was about to get a work out!


Map of the Grand Canyon's South rim.

We drove through the park's main entrance and up to our first observation point. As we pulled in to park, there was a break in the trees and there it was... the Canyon. My Dad put the car in park and took the key out of the ignition as I gasped. My mouth was open... my eyes welled up with tears. It was beautiful. There were many feelings and thoughts going through my mind at the time. My trance was interrupted when my Dad turned to me and said jokingly, "You know you can get out of the car, right?" I laughed at myself for being so awestruck and got out.


My first ever view of the Grand Canyon.

It was just so big! This huge canyon was the first place I had ever seen that seemed unspoiled by humans. Looking down into it was like looking back in time. Trees and shrubs grew where they could and rocks perched precariously on outcroppings. I could hear the screeches of hawks and saw them soaring 7,000 feet above sea level... and I was looking down at them! Nothing but a 3 foot wall of stones separated me from the edge of the canyon. If you walked to the left or right of the viewing area, you could walk right out onto the edge. I was surprised that there were no signs warning you not to fall into the canyon. I guess if you were stupid enough not to notice the big hole in the ground, you'd probably be too stupid to read a sign. Nope... you had to take personal responsibility for yourself here. That was a refreshing realization. Looking into the Canyon gave me a feeling of freedom.


Looking through the trees.

My Dad and I went from observation point to observation point along the Southeast rim of the canyon. I took photos with my Pentax K-100 and my Sony digital camera. I made sure to put the camera down and spend some quality time quietly taking in the view with my own eyes. I was amazed every time we stopped at a new point. It looked like a completely different place each time. At one of the points, a crow flew up to my Dad and I and just stared at us. He did not fly away when we moved around and was very tame. I looked over and said, "He wants some food." My Dad walked over to the car and took out some grapes and this guy followed him! He ate a few, then collected some in his mouth only to jump straight up into the air and open his wings, letting the wind blow him back into the canyon. Very cool.

The two of us wound up at a smaller viewing station with nobody else around. My Dad and I just sat there on the edge not saying much. We stayed for a while in no rush to be anywhere. I realized at some point that the air I was breathing would probably be the cleanest air I would ever breathe. Ravens flew past us at eye level 10 feet away and I could hear the air passing through their feathers. We had a little Kodak moment there taking in the scenery. My Dad probably has no idea how special that moment was to me... just the two of us sitting there. I'll remember that for a long time.

We moved on to some of the more popular observation points. There were many more people around. We met someone from Brooklyn there… go figure. I took a lot of nice pictures during the day, but the light was starting to lessen as the sun began to set. Since there were no clouds and it was kind of hazy, I didn't really get any nice sunset photos. You have to see it with your own eyes; the camera doesn't do it justice.


This guy said he didn't mind being in the photo.

The Grand Canyon was so amazing that I'm sure I will go see it again some day. Maybe next time I'll check out another part of it. There is so much of it to see!


Looking over the edge into the Canyon.


Panorama of the Canyon.

Gunsite's Intermediate Defensive Pistol (350)

Gunsite Academy entrance at sunset

Last year I was inspired to start this web log by a trip to Arizona. During that trip I attended a pistol combat school called Gunsite and felt the need to record my experience. I had so much fun out there and learned so much, that I returned this year for the next course in the Defensive Pistol series - number 350. This time around, my father and I took the class together. He had completed the 250 course a few years ago, so we were able to attend the 350 together (having both completed the prerequisite 250 course). It was a lot of fun taking the course with him.

The 350 course was a different from the 250. It was a lot faster because the instructors were building on things we had learned in the 250 course. There were fewer lectures. Sure... we still got the standard safety lecture and a bit of a refresher on the 250 techniques, but then we were off and running. All of the students were very safe and handled their firearms well. It really showed that we had all had one course under our belt already. People "got it" very quickly when the instructors showed us something new. The smaller class size, 15 students this time around, also helped the instructors cover topics more quickly. There was no need to split the class into two "relays" like we did in my 250 (with 25 students). The square ranges have 16 stations, so we were covered with one to spare. There wasn't much downtime, but we did take a lot of breaks to "hydrate and urinate." After all, the average temperature for the week was 85° F during that week in September. Far different from the near freezing temperatures I had to endure last December during the 250.


Gunsite students on the firing line

Our instructors were Dean Caputo (course range master), Lamonte Kintsel, and Chris Weare... all three were great guys. These men posses a wealth of knowledge and experience. What's so great is that they never make you feel like you are beneath them. The instructors are excited about passing on their skills to students and are very encouraging and patient. They want you to do well and have fun while you learn. They correct the students in a manner that is very sensitive to the natural anxieties we all feel when we are students trying to learn in a performance driven course. They really do create a great learning environment.

The students were from varied backgrounds, but there were a lot of "professionals" in the class. We had police officers, a Sheriff, a few National Guardsmen - the rest were firearm enthusiasts like me and my father. No women in the class this time though... bummer. The students brought mostly 1911 variants like I did, some Beretta 92FS's and I did see a Springfield XD, a Heckler and Koch P7, and a couple of Glocks. Several people had issues with their pistols. I did have a few jams... two from limp wristing that were totally the fault of my bad form and one from a wobbly magazine follower that failed to feed a round properly. On the whole, my Kimber TLE II ran great for nearly all the 900+ rounds I fired. I'd still bet my life on it... the pistol itself is fine. At the end of class one night, we found that my Dad's slide stop had broken, but not in any way that impaired the gun's ability to fire. A trip to the 'smith in the morning for a replacement part and the thing was good as new.

My Dad and I got to do some cool things while we were there - very cool for us since the ranges out here in NY where we usually practice are very restrictive. When the instructor announced that we would be drawing and shooting "on the move", I had a big grin on my face. Always wanted to do that. We walked forward and backward while shooting. The important thing there was to do a heel-toe type of walk so your body wouldn't bounce around to much and jostle your gun. Once we had the walk down, each of us had a turn walking across the range perpendicular to targets facing our left or right side (we tried both ways). The instructor called out which ones to shoot. We then had to pivot our torso and fire without changing direction or stopping. We also did a diagonal walk, walking progressively closer to or further away from the targets we were prompted to shoot. Again, we tried this twice with targets to our left then right sides. Then there was the close quarters firing from there retention position. Here, your pistol hand forearm is against your ribs and your wrist is rotated at a slight angle (so your body does not get battered by the slide during its rearward travel). Your non-firing hand is placed palm against the back of your head and your elbow protrudes forward to help fend off the attacker.

There was another exercise during the week where we fired on 4 separate targets, each marked with a different number and placed at different heights and distances from the student. The instructor called out a number and you fired on the randomly chosen target. Simple... right? Then there were the moving targets that passed by you from left to right. Those were fun. We did the familiar El Presidente drill and the Donga drills as well during the week.

We learned how to fire from behind cover while making ourselves less of a target to our imaginary enemy. The targets were about 75ft away and steel, so you could hear if you hit or missed. We each ran through three different cover options and tried a few different stances and positions at each. I tried shooting a pistol from the prone position during this lesson (and earlier in the week), but wasn't really comfortable with it. It seems they dropped that position from the 250 when I took it so it was new to me. While it is a very stable position, I was having trouble getting into it and firing with my hearing protection in the way. The earmuffs I wear have huge cups that cover your ears and I had difficulty leaning my head against my arm to get a sight picture. It was still fun to try something I had never done before.

Another thing I'd never tried was gun handling with a single hand... and my left hand at that! I am right handed so my left is my weak hand. We learned how to get the pistol out of our holsters on our right side with our weak hand, bring it up on target, release the safety and fire. We learned how to change mags and rack the slide on our leg or belt in order to clear jams or load. It was fun, but I was a little nervous using the "wrong" hand. Even though I have some dexterity in my left fingers from playing guitar, my left hand is pretty awkward when used for anything else. Trigger finger management was a problem for some. Even though you are using your weak hand, you still have to keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you are on target and ready to fire.

We ran a bunch of simulators during this course. The indoor simulators were more of a challenge to navigate than in the 250. One instructor said he "saw my gears turning" at certain points when I was trying to decide on the best way to approach certain doorways and hallway intersections. Some of the choices were hard to make. The outdoor simulators were cool too. We were instructed on how to navigate the rocky terrain of a wash without tripping. We were also coached to avoid the tendency to crouch while searching for targets outdoors... it limits your line of sight and makes for labored breathing.


A student from another class running an indoor simulator

Night simulators were a part of this course too. We had a lecture on the different types of tactical flashlights available and a run through of the techniques for using the lights in concert with a firearm. We did a little work on the range and then moved on to the simulators. Night simulators are a whole different ball game! In the house, your flashlight casts shadows that play tricks on your eyes. Glaring of the beam off the walls screws up your night vision. Working the light and the gun while opening doors and trying to reload is a bit tricky. The outdoor night simulator gave me a new respect for cops that have to chase after or search for someone at night... especially in country areas like the Gunsite grounds. When that flashlight is off, you see nothing! When it's on, anyone can see you from a mile away! The searcher is definitely at a disadvantage.

The culmination of the simulator training was the force-on-force training where you get to interact with a real person acting as a threat. We used special pistols that fired a soap/paint pellet. The weapons that fired them were replicas actual pistols so you could use a Glock or a 1911 or a Sig, etc. The weapons function the same way. I won't spoil the simulation and tell you exactly what happened, but when it came time that I decided I need to pop the bad dude, my pistol jammed. I performed a tap-rack malfunction clearance and managed to snag the protective glove I was wearing in the slide. Eventually I shot the guy, but I guess the hits weren’t good enough because he charged me. I shot him two more times while he came at me, blue paint splattered across his chest and the instructor ended the scenario. During my debrief, they told me that during the whole thing, I planted my feet and never moved. I never tried to seek cover while a 6 foot tall guy decided to charge me even though he was staring down the barrel of a (paintball) gun. Better to make mistakes in a simulator though. The number one lesson: "Distance is your Friend."


Force on force simulator

We did the student shoot-off at the end, a Gunsite tradition. It took a long time as we were very evenly matched in skill. Nobody consistently outshined anyone else. We all won and lost at the same rate it seemed. The old adage proved true... "He who wins the (gun)fight is he who made the least mistakes." The slight bit of pressure caused by friendly competition is enough to throw you off. Imagine if you were fighting for your life. All the more reason to stay aware and stay out of a deadly situation. The best way to win a fight is to not take part in it. If someone brings the fight to you, you'd better be the one to make less mistakes during the encounter.


Me at Gunsite

Supply and Demand?

What a difference a day makes...

I am just getting around to posting the photo above, which I snapped about a month ago. It was taken the day after the one shown in my previous post entitled "I've Got Gas!" There I complained a bit about the unnecessarily increasing gas prices. Who knew they'd be that much higher just a day later!?

The photo above is from September 2nd and documents the highest price I saw per gallon of super unleaded before I left for my trip to Arizona (more on that in a future Blog post). Luckily, my tank was full when I left and prices had fallen a bit when I returned 10 days later and continued to do so. I didn't need to fill my tank until about September twenty-something.

The price per gallon had leveled off at about $3.19 and nine-tenths of a cent (okay $3.20) for super unleaded and stayed there for a couple of weeks. This morning I was happy to see $3.159 (okay... okay... $3.16) up on the board at the station.

Even though the price is much lower than it's been, it's still higher than it should be.

I've Got Gas!

These prices are nuts! 

OK... recently I was thinking about not having posted to this weblog in a while. I just haven't had anything worth commenting about. This morning, gas prices went up from yesterday's prices by 25 cents or more per gallon. I decided to share my feeling of shock. The highest price I saw today was $3.56 per gallon (super unleaded). I am sure the same station was selling gas for 60 cents less per gallon the day before.

No true economic force works that fast. These changes are purely emotional and not based, in a strict sense, on the theory of "supply and demand" that we heard so much about in high school. Sure, the refineries damaged by hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast area are causing a fuel shortage scare, but come on! Aren't we smart enough to see past this? I could see a gas station owner jacking up prices when it cost him A LOT MORE to fill up his underground tank and was therefore forced to pass it on to consumers. Luckily, I gassed up earlier in the week. These increased gas prices haven't affected me yet because my tank is full. Why then are they affecting my local gas stations? Just like myself, I am sure he didn't buy any fuel since yesterday. If it's not costing me any more to drive my car than it did yesterday, then why is it costing him more to pump gas than it did yesterday?

What worries me is that we have crossed the $3.00 line. If people get used to seeing that big number 3 up on the price signs, they may forget that anything over $2.50 seemed outrageous to them at the start of the summer. If the government taps the reserves, will prices drop drastically the next day? I think not. The reason that will be given is that it takes time for the increased production to affect the market.

So let's recap... negative things have immediate effects on economics but positive things "take time" to result in economic improvement. Got it?