Some observations.

Was on Mental Militias today and from that, and the experiences we(a friend and I) have had on IrateNation: I find it hard to discuss anything online with the exception of a handful of people.(and one of the reasons I have been doing more lurking than posting lately)

Far too many fractured and fragile personalities online. I see it as a sign of the decline of our culture myself. To few willing to step up and call things as they see them. Far to many willing to take offense at the slightest affront to their point of view.

America is sick. I really see it now. Its not just the politics either. They are just a symptom of the disease that show better since its isolated among a handful of the total populace. My grandparents wouldn't know this country if they were alive today. I think that is one reason I am desiring of moving to somewhere more "country" in attitude. Somewhere that people understand self reliance above all. Communities are fine but if the core of the populace isn't self reliant, the foundation of that community is non-existent. What was the saying? "all for one and one for all"? That should be the call to arms for the future. You can stand alone but to rise up take a multitude of people, skills, and ideas.(and resources) Something that, at one time, this country had aplenty. Not so much anymore.

Probably one of the reasons I have so few 'friends' here in town. The ones I do have are just as self reliant as myself and multi-talented. Also elusive as we don't "need" each other very much and tend to be loners. LOL and that is our downfall too. We aren't herd animals and the herd is able to be heard (no pun intended) better. Yet the herd will be dependent upon those of us with a clue when things get rough. I think one of the founders said " the patriot is the most despised person in the community until his services are needed." or something to that effect. Patriot. Self-Reliant. Morally upright and Steadfast in resolve. All the same and all different but all the basis of what this country was built upon. We are the smallest minority now.

I have been following the goings on in Haiti through Hermit and GR4U and see how quickly things can break down. The Herd will bleat for help and the wolves will do what wolves do. I have heard of the 72 hour cascade before but seeing it in action is something else. Hours 1-24 find everyone, to some extent, helping each other out. hours 25-48 find the wolves waking up to killing fields but not going into action yet. 49-72, the Wolves realize that they are now the law and things really escalate.

I mention the above Haiti points in reference to the first part of my post. With such fractured and fragile personalities afloat in the country, I see an added level of "prepared" people with false confidence. These are the ones that will inadvertently arm and feed the wolves. This will further raise the confidence of the wolves.

I do see many that are prepared for the worst but not thinking the environment through. People that have the means but not the big picture of what could be.

Then I meet people like Hermit. Already in place and far enough out that he may never feel the pinch except in boredom from lack of Internet.(and for his sake I hope that is the worst of it.)

No matter where our future goes, we are in for interesting times. Some days, I wish it would all blow up so we can get on to the restructuring that needs to be done. Other days, I hope it doesn't happen in my lifetime.

Sorry for the downbeat post. Just some random thoughts in my head today while catching up.

Back for a couple of days, then....

Back to putting together someone else's new life. I will be getting into building my new future here shortly(no excuses, the weather sucks for working outside, I am not the springbuck I once was and certain comforts are mandatory now, Like warmth!)


In the meantime, The Reluctant Paladin has posted something I felt appropriate and needed passed on to the rest of the blogosphere. He posts a picture of his ultimate driving force, I post a picture of mine.


I see no need for further explanation.

Let the Adventure begin.

Started working on 'Renovating' the Van today. Prepping walls and ceiling for Insulation. I don't want any rust starting up on the inside of the walls after I put this insulation in so I am cleaning up any Scratches and stuff and painting with rust-o-leum. With the weather being so cold I am going to give that a day or two to cure, then start on the insulation. I am going to be using that board style polyurethane stuff with a Silvered backing on it.
I found a pretty good site for "vandwellers" and it has a 'store' that has better prices than I am finding elsewhere. Still I do shop around as I have to stretch every dime as far as possible. My key areas that I am working on are basics like cooking and power for comfort/communications. The cooking I have a solution for that is fairly inexpensive and functional. Heating will be either propane or something similar. With the size of the van and good insulation it shouldn't take too much to keep comfortable. I am worried about ventilation but that 'store' has a solution there too. I only have to make some cuts for it that are going to have to be sealed up but that's what this project is about. My comfort for the road, and not doing it twice.

I won't be doing the solar thing just yet(unless I hit the lottery or some other wild miracle LOL) but I will be making 'reserve power' in the shape of Two Optima blue tops tagged into the vehicle electrics separated by a disconnect so I am not draining the Vans battery while idle. There will also be an "Edison" hookup for a charger that I am adding inline when House current will be available to me. (note: I always crack up when I here house current referred to as Edison current. He wanted to make things all DC and it was Tesla that made AC what it is today. Still, trends continue, most times without reason.)

One aspect that I am trying to maintain is 'stealth'. I want to keep that Contractor/Cargo van look as much as possible. I figure that I will be bothered less if I look like a work truck. I am even thinking about bolting a ladder to the rack for 'camouflage'. Granted I am setting up the rear under the bunk with Tool storage and the battery compartment, so its not a stretch to call it a work truck. I am going to have to consider how to store firearms though. I don't want them to be obvious, but I don't want to leave them behind either. I am down to three at this time. I have been pairing down on everything and that leaves me with my SKS, the PSL and one handgun. Obviously the Handgun will be more accessible than the rifles on a daily basis. Still, how to hide them in the open so to speak.

OK, its late, I am tired, and I am rambling. Will post more later and have pictures to boot. Probably after Christmas. So till then, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with those you care the most about. If you have lost someone in your life, think of them in fondness and warmth and know they would do the same for you. God bless.

News

Phone interview today. Hope to hear something a little more solid soon.

Could use something steady for once. Some say the economy is growing, I think its illusory numbers generated by Economists trying to keep the 'good feelings' afloat nationwide. People know we are in trouble but in denial. The numbers can't be denied when you really look at the big picture. Anyone with experience balancing a checkbook should know that we are bleeding cash faster than we are generating it. Its hard to generate anything when 90% of our economy is based on service industries and not manufacturing. Even 'Intelligent Properties' like Programs, Operating systems, etc are enough IF we have enough of them. Biggest problem is we outsourced so many of these things in the last 10 years we would have a hard time bringing them back to our shores.

Back to the original point of this post. Job hunt. Have been sending out 3-4 resumes a day for the last 4 months and today is only the second call I have received. Least to say I am not holding my breath on this one but it did give me hope. I like being a carpenter but the work really isn't steady enough to count on. One of the points of trying to move and build is to become self sufficient. I have enough skills to manufacture items given a workshop and enough internet savvy to generate a small income from that. I would have the property to raise a garden, areas for hunting in the right season, and family around to keep me company. If I could get my daughter to face reality and move with me I could also help raise the Granbehbie and educate her the way the schools aren't.(she would be the Tomboy, truckdriving wrench wielding, gunshooting envy of all the boys. Just gotta get by Grandpa and Mom. LOL)
Maybe I am pipe dreaming here. Its enough to help me hold out a little longer in a town I despise though. I know My chances of getting ahead are here first and foremost, FOR NOW. Once I hit a point though I will be making that move faster than you can scare a cat. I only fear getting caught in this town when things start getting rough. Getting out could be hairy at that point.

Range report. (stupid Diogenes)

Well when I came too this morning it was not to a coffee maker or an alarm clock. It was to the crack of thunder. Lovely. NO range trip for now.

Well of course I checked email and read my daily's and surfed the job sites and Craigslist. That took about an hour or so and still RAIN Grrr.

Back to bed. (the only advantage to being unemployed.)

Awoke a couple of hours later to


CLEAR SKIES WOOT!

On to the range.

Cold range not a person in sight on any of them. Range master is taking a nap in the office. DOUBLE WOOT!

Set up my targets and fire off 20 of the wolf black box to warm up the barrel and get her a little fouled. I have found that this rifle likes to be dirty and won't shoot for squat without carbon in the barrel.
First 20 are kinda scattered about but all about 6 inches above center. I expected that and I am trying to get the POI 3.5" above POA at 100m. Thats my Zero for 250m
Ok. Now its time to see if things tighten up.
10 rounds with the Czech ammo.

WTF! 8" target and only 3 on paper and nothing showing a problem (like breathing or trigger jerk.) Now is when I realize that I was stupid. I only brought 10 rounds of each and nothing more. Now I have to move on no matter what.

10 rounds Hungarian.

better. But now everything is to the Right of center and sitting about a 6" pattern.
Grr. Make no changes and move on.

10 rounds of Wolf.
WTF! now I am back on center and high. at least that much is being consistent.

10 rounds Winchester SP

first three rounds. Look down range and don't see anything on the target.

Luckily I am still the only one on the range so I just put a clip in the carrier and walk down to see what the heck is going on.

The target is centered on a 2'X 3' backboard. The three rounds I shot are right on the upper edge of the board and within 1/4" of each other. That's 16" high on center. Seeing the placement I know that this is not me but a setting somewhere on the rifle. Just for giggles I return and shoot dead center bottom of Board. Three rounds.

Dead center of target.

I start to look over the rifle to make sure that nothing is loose or came out of adjustment. Nothing out of whack. Since I mainly shoot the cheap stuff I leave the settings alone and fire off the last 4 rounds.(still kicking myself over that one) By this time there are a couple of guys unloading gear and setting up so I just pull my targets.

I didn't take pics this time since I not only failed to take spare ammo to recheck myself; I also forgot the camera. The targets tear to much removing them from the back board so no pics there either.

Looking on the net it seems that there is a difference of only 2 grains in bullet weight between the milsurp stuff and the Winchester 122v124 but there is also a difference of 2 grains in powder. The Winchester is most definitely hotter. AND newer. the milsurp stuff I have is about 30 years old. It still shoots but it definitely has lost some 'ummph'

After seeing the difference that newer ammo makes to the equation I am seriously considering reloading in the future. Even though I had to give it some Tennessee windage to get on center with the new ammo the pattern was amazing. 7 rounds in the red center and not touching the edges. If I had more of it I would have been able to shoot the center out of that target. Sadly this is not a good time to be considering reloading as a hobby since it has become so much harder to find the components. While I was packing up one of the guys there asked if I had seen any large rifle primers in the stores.

The other aspect of that is I would rather reload something with a more standard case. Like .30-06 or .308 the 7.62X39 case is a bear for primers and bullets.(.310) I do like the way it shoots but I think if I am going to reload I want something that has a little more Range to it.

NOTE: Having seen what the New ammo can do I am perfectly happy with this rifle for hunting. Especially in the midwest were I Highly doubt that I will be making 100+yard shots. Maybe out west there would be a need to upgrade but not here.