The "Verboten Topics" Mother of All Threads

[Bogeyman]

Before I retired I was a wholesale liquor dealer. One year we were invited by a large Scotch Distillery to come over to the Highlands for a tour and introduction to their processes. After dinner on the first night I was talking to one of the hostesses, a cute young Scottish girl. She was explaining how they are trained to deal with visitors they get from all over the world. When to bow for the Japanese, various food concerns, etc.
I asked her how they were taught to deal with the Americans and she replied "they told us to just try to survive...".

 

[a777fan]

Here are few of his research papers and published articles he wrote regarding mainly diesel engine lubrication.

The photograph is of my grandfather, on the right, with his colleague and co-inventor of a cold-starting system for engines in Arctic conditions that he invented. Basically it was a system that fired a measured "dose" of Ether into the intake manifold to enable the engine to fire easier in extremely cold temperatures. He did a lot of testing of this system in Alaska. It was mainly designed for heavy equipment, such as bulldozers and locomotives.

Given that much of this relates to Diesel engines, the @gsxr ought to have quite a "woody" over it......

Fascinating. I wish i knew as much about what my grandfather did, as you do.

Unfortunately he was 'the quiet type' (I blame the years he lived with my grandmother ), and I was always of the impression that he didn't want to chat or talk about it much. All I have gotten has been after the fact from my Dad (who also didn't have an extremely close relationship with him) and his siblings.

 

[maw1124]

Fascinating. I wish i knew as much about what my grandfather did, as you do.

Unfortunately he was 'the quiet type' (I blame the years he lived with my grandmother ), and I was always of the impression that he didn't want to chat or talk about it much. All I have gotten has been after the fact from my Dad (who also didn't have an extremely close relationship with him) and his siblings.

The Silent Generation strikes again... I didn’t realize they were called such... but it fits.

maw

 

[gerryvz]

Fascinating. I wish i knew as much about what my grandfather did, as you do.

Unfortunately he was 'the quiet type' (I blame the years he lived with my grandmother ), and I was always of the impression that he didn't want to chat or talk about it much. All I have gotten has been after the fact from my Dad (who also didn't have an extremely close relationship with him) and his siblings.

I only learned as much as I did when my mom gave me a couple of boxes of his papers. Some of his Naval Academy papers and letters, and one of his midshipmen’s uniforms from the early 1920s, my mother and I donated to the USNA Museum here in Annapolis.

Here is a letter officially thanking him for his WW2 Naval duty, after the war. It was signed by Adm. James Forrestal. Yes, the namesake of the CV-59 (USS Forrestal aircraft carrier) and the first US SecDef. Came across it today in my grandpa’s papers.

 

[emerydc8]

I'm offended by people being offended by the 2nd Amendment of the United States Constitution.

We cannot pick and choose which human/civil rights are "good" or "bad." It's a package deal. Part and parcel of living in this country.
That's not a political statement. That's a statement of fact.

+1000!

​

Something about that typewriter font that adds a touch of personality to any letter.

 

[Kyiv]

grocery stores that had a 'Shoppers Bar' in the back. The stores were large and had anything and everything you could want including a full service bar. Ah, the good ol' days...

That's Ukraine today. Just one example: there's a grocery store in Kiev with a whiskey degustation bar (20 ml portions). 40 or so bottles of selected stuff, that's mega bucks per bottle otherwise (25 year old Glenfiddich or Belavenie - right away Sir... In a grocery store). Gas stations that have lounges akin international business class airport lounge, where you can uncork bought here Hennessy XO (or something much simpler) with a home made chicken noodle soup and a beef tartare is a mundane thing.

 

[nocfn]

One note for those in other lands. The barriers to own firearms in the usa are pretty onerous, for good reason. Law yielding citizens have a sense of duty and responsibility for the rule of law, and collect or protect with their lawful purchases. The system works very well when enacted to the letter of the law by buyers, sellers, and agencies cloaked in responsible and timely data entry. People who lawfully own guns in the US with rare exception, do not use the weapons often past training or sport. The criminal element do not follow laws of government, nature or conscience.

Keep the guns, laws and regulation around ownership and use. More laws will not keep the electorate safer, it will embolden the ones who do not follow the law in the first place. I wont post anymore on this, its just an opinion and observation of a citizen who does not own a weapon but fired them for sport. I strapped a 9mm to my hip during Hurricane Harvey and that alone helped would be looters to leave my cul-de-sac. It was not loaded but I was packing

 

[msq]

I realize the rules of the forum are no politics etc. so delete if inappropriate, but got this from a friend yesterday so thought it was worthwhile injecting a little humor here:

“it was awfully quiet from the women equal rights feminists yesterday with 16 inches of snow on the ground”

 

[RicardoD]

Leonid Brezhnev was imprinted into my 10 year old American midwesterner brain as the embodiment of all that is evil and wrong. And yet here I am having a lounging Brezhnev phoning in words of wisdom to me on this forum and my brain is exploding.

 

[gerryvz]

Well, there's no question that @kiev is a little off....its what happens when you are raised in a Communist country. Brezhnev is imprinted into the brain as the embodiment of all that is good and right.

 

[Kyiv]

Well, there's no question that @kiev is a little off....its what happens when you are raised in a Communist country. Brezhnev is imprinted into the brain as the embodiment of all that is good and right.

There were are. An immigrant from 2nd/3rd world country is being marginalized by a gun-toting white male.

Edit: just in case: I'm obviously joking

 

[szvook]

My current (and any future) firearms are strictly for sport, period. There’s a reason why summer and winter olympics still showcase shooting competitions.

I have never hunted or have any interest to hunt. Back in my short life from the motherland, my dad and my grandfather used to always go to shooting ranges, where various air rifles were available (similar to the Baikał MP-512M air rifle) to shoot pellets and would bring me along. Although I was very young, I was allowed to shoot if I could show that I could load and unload the rifle, properly shoot and check if the rifle is empty - no different then using real ammo, I was 8 years old then. I remember having to stand on a box to reach the counter where the rifles (attached by long chains to the counter) were placed in long soft mounts. Both my dad and my grandfather used to tell me back then to respect a firearm, only use it for sport and never look at it as a weapon against anyone. So to this day, I go to the range to practice my shooting skills I acquired as a kid. I don’t use any targets that have a human shape of any kind, strictly bullseye targets. Being at the range resembles tracking your car on a fast twisty track. You are there to do one thing and one thing only, and all of your attention needs to be heightened...I like being in that state, I guess going through one’s check list is like the calm before the storm.

The numerous times I went camping with a bunch of friends, I never brought any of my firearms with me. I like steel (especially Japanese steel) and have a deep respect for it. So my camping choice is bellow.

 

[LWB250]

So to this day, I go to the range to practice my shooting skills I acquired as a kid. I don’t use any targets that have a human shape of any kind, strictly bullseye targets. Being at the range resembles tracking your car on a fast twisty track. You are there to do one thing and one thing only, and all of your attention needs to be heightened...I like being in that state, I guess going through one’s check list is like the calm before the storm.

Exactly. While I have hunted, it's not something I would do of my own volition. I've adopted the approach that as long as something isn't shooting at me, I'm not shooting at it. I enjoy my range time and use it to hone my skills and "exercise" my firearms. I've never used a target with anything but a bullseye - I don't think I could shoot at something that has a human shape.

Dan

 

[Kyiv]

I'm wondering if we're still at "gradually" or "all at once" stage?

 

[Jlaa]

Watching the insanity from Washington with my jaw scraping the floor. Unreal.

Mate, this is three new thread for civilizational divisions:

The "Verboten Topics" Mother of All Threads | Off-Topic Discussions

With my recent firearms posts here in my OWNER thread, I got a few PMs from people here on the forum who are extremely offended and emotionally upset by all things related to guns and weapons. It seems that all of my firearm discussion hurt some feelings and "triggered" some emotional reactions...

www.500eboard.co

November 7, 1917 also fell on Wednesday Kids in school, people at work, mail delivered... Just saying

Or as some of us call it: Wednesday

Yeah so far I think its just a blip. See screenshot below. Sensationalist news on the left and on the right ..... but look in the middle. The markets are treating it as a non-issue.

 

[Melville]

Yeah so far I think its just a blip. See screenshot below. Sensationalist news on the left and on the right ..... but look in the middle. The markets are treating it as a non-issue.

View attachment 122073

What??? A non-issue??? How can reporting of this historic event be "sensationalized"? While I'm out of DC now, that's my home. This is insane. Totally insane.

 

[gerryvz]

Just the latest skirmish in the civil war.

I recently bought a big slug of stock in Olin, the chemical company (NYSE: OLN). They also own Winchester, the ammunition maker. Olin is one of only a couple of US-based ammnunition manufacturers.

It's been the very best performing investment I've made in a very long time. I expect it to continue to be so. They also pay a 3% dividend yield, which is quite good.

A far better investment than a 500E garage queen, for sure.

Just wait until Congress legislates more gun control. You ain't seen nothing yet.

 

[Kyiv]

Yeah so far I think its just a blip.

I was more referring to USA becoming a one party state (georgia senate elections). As Gerry said events in DC is "just another skirmish".

As to markets, when Trump won in 2016, I remember markets went down

 

[maw1124]

These news reporters do need to calm TF down though... this is not some national crisis... it's just what happens when the ill informed (a few thousand who actually believe some election was stolen -- don't ask me how someone believes that) meets the ill prepared (Capitol Police -- don't ask me how they were not prepared) meets the purposefully manipulative (guess who)... people in other countries like "oh my God"... leave God alone... lock these crazies up, including the soon to be former 45th President... or not... but it's nothing like a national crisis... a disgrace, certainly though.

maw

PS. OLN is likely a good stock bet though... people stockpiled toilet paper last Spring so I suppose ammo isn’t a bad bet from all I’m hearing... it’s likely to be as useful as the toilet paper was though, but that doesn’t make it a bad stock pick

 

[ace10]

It's simply a matter of WHO is doing the protesting.

That fact determines how the situation is presented by the media.

 

[gerryvz]

OLN is a diversified company, but the demand for ammo has skyrocketed this year.

Note that 40% of first-time gun buyers this year have not been Republicans.

 

[maw1124]

I’m picking up on what you’re laying down, @gerryvz ... the people I’m hearing from aren’t republicans either... and I like the diversified chemicals angle... I’ll dig in and do my own research... just because people are crazy doesn’t mean I shouldn’t profit off of them... I would have loved to have been alive at the end of prohibition and invested in Seagrams... which is why I’ve “helped” launch two cannabis companies in as many years.

“Never get emotional about money.”

maw

 

[gerryvz]

I’m picking up on what you’re laying down, @gerryvz ... the people I’m hearing from aren’t republicans either... and I like the diversified chemicals angle... I’ll dig in and do my own research... just because people are crazy doesn’t mean I shouldn’t profit off of them.

maw

Also take a look at Square and PayPal. Both are back-door (read: safe/respectable) Bitcoin plays. Expensive but excellent returns if you got in a year or two ago.

Another one I pulled the pin on this week: Docusign (DOCU). Priced high, but upside is very very large.

it’s not a good idea to be an emotional investor. It’s a recipe for financial ruin. Better to be more objective. And have good advisors who have their eyes open.

 

[maw1124]

I got to those before the rush... but thanks.

maw

 

[LWB250]

And be long in the markets.

My investment firm is Wu-Tang Financial:

Wu-Tang Financial

Dan

 

[maw1124]

And be long in the markets.

My investment firm is Wu-Tang Financial:

Wu-Tang Financial

Dan

C. R. E. A. M.

 

[LWB250]

C. R. E. A. M.

 

[a777fan]

OLN is a diversified company, but the demand for ammo has skyrocketed this year.

Note that 40% of first-time gun buyers this year have not been Republicans.

View attachment 122075

Elmo has a conceal carry now?!

Sesame Street has taken a turn...

 

[alabbasi]

OK so who invited jamiroquai?

 

[Kyiv]

I'll just leave it here. A tragedy and a comedy at the same time

Amazon Seeks to Postpone Alabama Unionization Vote

The technology company is pushing for in-person union ballots in place of a mail-in option that was allowed due to the pandemic.

www.google.com

 

[LWB250]

I'll just leave it here. A tragedy and a comedy at the same time

Amazon Seeks to Postpone Alabama Unionization Vote

The technology company is pushing for in-person union ballots in place of a mail-in option that was allowed due to the pandemic.

www.google.com

Yeah, I read that article earlier today and had to chuckle about Amazon's claim that the things weren't "catastrophic" enough (or something to that effect) to require voting by mail. Having people vote at work makes it a lot easier to intimidate them.

Having had a family member work in an Amazon distribution center, I can attest to the conditions being pretty awful. There's no question they exploit their workers and continue to do so since there's a constant stream of people to take their place when they leave. I'm sure the idea of their employees organizing is freaking them out.

I'm no fan of organized labor, but if that's what it takes to keep employers from exploiting their workers I'm for it.

 

[Kyiv]

Having people vote at work makes it a lot easier to intimidate them.

This, and also, allowing people to vote by mail, makes it easier - with external aid - to help vote a certain way the people that would have otherwise not cared to vote because they had no thought-out position, or any position at all on the issue.

 

[nocfn]

@kiev can we at least stencil a BRA on the picture of the former Premier. Those MOOBS need tassels at least.

 

[Kyiv]

@nocfn, you have my official permission to limit his ice cream serving to just one scoop.

 

[Kyiv]

@nocfn, say... you want to do a few several shots bottles of Zubrowka sometime?

 

[7delta]

@kiev can we at least stencil a BRA on the picture of the former Premier. Those MOOBS need tassels at least.

I think, it'd be called a BRO.