Doodle

Self defense does not apply if you leave, return, and become the aggressor. Castle doctrine may also not apply as this occurred outside the home. Depends on state laws, of course.

Saw their Powerslave and Somewhere in Time tours back in parts of my misspent youth. Two of their best albums, imo. This new one has me listening to those older two, including Piece of Mind. What a guitar onslaught!

Iron Maiden: Senjutsu

Very impressive stuff. More I look into it, the more amazing it seems. Here's a pic from the inter webs that provides some perspective...had no idea regarding the sheer size of that gun...

The airshow also had A-10s doing simulated bomb runs, not posting pics as the crappy ones I have don't do it any justice.

I've driven down M-32 many times. Have also seen the A-10s almost scrubbing the trees in the National and state forests up there many times while out hunting. There's a squadron based out of Selfridge, just north of Detroit. Here's links to some videos. https://www.mlive.com/news/2021/08/video-shows-military-thunderbolt-iis-historic-landing-on-michigan-highway-during-northern-strike.html https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2021/08/05/watch-a-10s-use-rural-michigan-highway-as-a-runway/ Also, here's a few (not so good phone) pics from the Air Show at Willow Run yesterday, a really hot and humid affair (and loud! glad I brought the earplugs). B-25 Mitchells: Willow Run's own B-17 on the runway and with P-51 escort: Air Force Thunderbirds F-16s: Even the (modern) Luftwaffe was there:

Will have to keep an eye out at shows, I guess. Have heard the UTG ones can be hit or miss, so best to get a couple if you can find them. Thx.

Hey GRA, Were you ever successful in tracking down the reticle illuminator for a Z24? There are few out there, but really pricey; e.g., https://www.gunbroker.com/item/905463174 Leapers UTG apparently made/imported copies for a time but seems to have dried up. Would be interested if you found a source or any advice/input in tracking one down. Thanks in advance.

Love sunsets and always amazed at how fast they can go. Here's one from our trip last week to the Porcupine Mts. in Michigan's U.P. overlooking a calm Lake Superior. Managed to get my 11 year old to watch this one with me.

Our family had a Coronet 440 back in the 70s, did not look anything like that beauty! Very nice.

Great pic!

Pilot who died when F-16 jet crashed in Upper Peninsula was decorated combat veteran https://www.mlive.com/news/2020/12/pilot-who-died-when-f-16-jet-crashed-in-upper-peninsula-was-decorated-combat-veteran.html Jones, who is survived by his wife and two children, joined the Air National Guard in 2011, according to the AP. He was deployed to Japan in 2015, then Korea in 2017 and later to Afghanistan in 2019. During the course of his service, Jones was awarded two Air Medals given to service members who have been either exposed to or faced significant risk of hostile action. 🇺🇸😞

F-16 pilot died in U.P. fighter jet crash, military says https://www.mlive.com/news/2020/12/f-16-pilot-died-in-up-fighter-jet-crash-military-says.html

Remember seeing The Right Stuff film when it came out in the early '80s. Piqued my interest as a young teen in the history of aviation. Saw a 2000 something interview with Yeager talking about the sound barrier record, said it was just one of like 10 different test flight projects he was working on at the time. Sounded like another day at the office for an extraordinary gentleman.

The fighter jet was from the 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field Air National Guard Base in Madison and training flights had been planned in the evenings from Monday through Thursday. https://www.mlive.com/news/2020/12/f-16-fighter-jet-crashed-in-michigans-upper-peninsula-rescue-crews-search-for-pilot.html The crash occurred north of the U.P.’s Garden Peninsula, near the border of Delta and Schoolcraft counties in the Hiawatha National Forest. U.S. Forest Service workers joined with local authorities to set up a perimeter and begin the search late Tuesday. Military teams were joining them early today. Had the family camping up at Fayette State Park this past summer, beautiful area. Hope they find the pilot and all is OK.

Yeah, I'm missing the "artistic" part of that duct taped dickhead...the false story of the duct taped protester is better than reality, for sure!

Hear! Hear!

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/duct-tape-antifa/

Holy Cow! Might have to do the Indiana Dunes down to Bloomington and on to the Hoosier Nat'l Forest for an Indiana loop this spring-summer. Been wanting to visit Upland Brewing in Bloomington since I've discovered them a few years back. We get some of their brews up here in MI. FYI, $1.76/gal by me in MI.

That's my only remaining paper CAD, btw. 9 years ago or so all my Canadian friends and family were living large and flooding over to Michigan when $1 CAD was more than $1 USD. An effective 30% raise really changed things for border folks for a while. You are right, though, if Putin gets his way and causes the shut down of fracking and tar sands production, there will continue to be a hit to CA, but also to US. Not sure how that will shake out. All this cheap gas and we can't even drive anywhere now! Ohio is shelter-in-place as of tomorrow (Monday) night and Michigan will follow soon, I'd bet. Was looking forward to a summer of cheap gas and towing the travel trailer all over North America. Not now.

...and this is why when I tell someone my wife is originally from Windsor, I get "Oh, I wonder how you two met..." with a snicker. Ha! I also used to like telling family and friends I drive SOUTH to Canada (from Detroit). Windsor...too many great restaurants for a town of its size (besides all the strip clubs! Many of those are still there.)

Here's Harry's grandmother in 1953, a bit younger looking... FYI, I remember when the toonies came out and how so many struggled to try and pop out the centers! Reminds me I need to transfer some more USD to CAD with the CAD dropping right now.

A friend of mine has an M1A SOCOM and the brake on that is the same way --- you don't want to be anywhere around that thing except in the shooting position! I wear plugs and muffs and felt the same way as you, like someone whacked me in the head. Our club range benches are covered and I think that contributed to the blast coming right back down, but off to the sides it was unbearable, as well. Made me flinch for the rest of the day! Edit to add: The brake on the M1A SOCOM is remarkable, however, in terms of taming lift and recoil.