Out with the old, in with the new

So we bought a new stereo system this weekend. Pretty inexpensive, really. I'm setting it up tonight.

The old one served its purpose, but it was time to let it go. We bought it about 25 years ago, nice system with a good turntable and cassette player/recorder. Right before CDs killed vinyl and cassettes.

New system has a CD changer and cassette player/recorder (not that I have anything else to listen to cassettes on). Also an iPod docking station, on the chance that we ever break down and get an iPod.

No turntable, though, we'll get that at Costco here soon, to be able to turn our old vinyl into mp3 and CDs.

Happy Birthday, America

Just going to repeat a post from a few years ago:

I have no great insights or grand prose to give you this Independence Day. I can't do any better than giving you a repeat of my Patriotic Band Nerd:



and a repeat of a most eloquent quote by Benjamin Harrison, which more than any other I have ever read captures the solemnity and gravity of the signing of the Declaration of Indepencence:

I shall have a great advantage over you, Mr. Gerry, when we are all hung for what we are now doing. From the size and weight of my body I shall die in a few minutes, but from the lightness of your body you will dance in the air an hour or two before you are dead.

Happy Birthday, America. And many more.

And to all our military personnel serving everywhere in the world, our sincerest thanks and all our support. We owe you, in the words of a grand document, "our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor". You have never failed us; I only hope we will not fail you.

For our buddy Wolfwalker

Another special post, because he has a lot of good information.

This post is specifically a question on the old blackpowder arms.

As near as I can tell from the literature, the difference in designation between the "Army" and "Navy" names on the mid-19th century Colt's revolvers is in the first, or perhaps primary, caliber in which they were manufactured.

Specifically, the "Navy" designations (1851 and 1861 and possibly more) were in .36 caliber. That is, in fact, the actual caliber of the one blackpowder replica revolver (an 1851 Navy style) that I own (so far). The "Army" designations (1860 and others) are in .44 caliber for the front loaders, and larger for the cartridge revolvers (1873 and later).

Now, it is true that the Navy revolvers (as in that other post) were also manufactured in .44, and the Army and Police models were built in .44 and .36 (also .38) calibers. But I suspect that the primary designation of Army or Navy was based on the originally intended caliber for the model. And I suspect that the calibers chosen were because of weight requirements on land as opposed to onboard ship (meaning land could accomodate a greater weight per shot than ships could). But of course, this is all speculation on my part, and I'd love to hear some better information from folks in the know.

Even if those folks might (God forbid) be sheep-molester Bingley.

And apropos of that other post again...

Sadly, I learn from a distant relative (actually, not a relative but related to a relative) some very sad news. Confirmed by independent sources.

It hurts to say this, and I wish I could hide it below the fold but there ain't not fold here. So I'll just say it and let the chips fall where they may.

It turns out that, through my GGGG-grandfather Jessie Robinette, I am distantly related to ...

Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.

I'm so ashamed.

UPDATE: OTOH, there is a fair bet, though not yet proven, that I am also distantly related to Abe Lincoln. I can live with that one.

So...

... continuing my current (read: this week) obsession with True Grit, I was sitting here drinking a Bloody Mary (tomorrow starts a holiday weekend, so I mixed one up) and I clicked over to again watch that clip.

And then I wondered...

Anyone out there read the book? Reason I ask is that in this clip in the movie, Rooster uses a .45 (or a .44-40, either is a good bet) Colt Peacemaker and Winchester carbine (looks to my eyes to be a Model 92, but I think it's supposed to be a Model 73, given what is supposed to be the timeframe). In any case, said carbine has a large fingerloop on the lever, the idea being rather obviously stolen from this TV show, so that he could flip it around to chamber a new cartridge one-handed.

But the book was a bit more historically accurate. So my question to you, dear readers, is this:

In the book, what weapons did Rooster wield on his charge through Ned Pepper's gang?

And yet another celebrity death

Been a rough couple of weeks.

Oscar-winning actor Karl Malden dead at 97

LOS ANGELES – Karl Malden, the Academy Award-winning actor whose intelligent characterizations on stage, screen and television made him a star despite his plain looks, died Wednesday, his family said. He was 97.

His best role, in my humble opinion, was this one.

Apropos those last two posts

Yeah, I'm not too creative in the blogging juices recently. Been to busy at work and such. Been in contact with relatives I haven't been in contact with for some time. Sending some home movies to Melody, with whom I had a great chat a few days ago.

But tonight, I just ordered up a beer or three and sank into some youtubin' True Grit goodness. I'd forgotten this particular exchange, the timing on the delivery is impeccable:

Who's the best marshall they have?

Bill Waters is the best tracker. [chuckle] The meanest one is Rooster Cogburn, a pitiless man, double tough, fear doesn't enter into his thinking. I'd have say that L. T. Quinn is the straightest, he brings his prisoners in alive...

Where would I find this Rooster?

Reference.

UPDATE: A little more since WW commented:

Mr. Rat, I have a writ here says you're to stop eating Chin Lee's cornmeal forthwith. Now, it's a rat writ, writ for a rat, and this is lawful service of same. ,,, See? Doesn't pay any attention to me.

BLAM!

Another reference.