Kids say the darnedest things...

     April 26th we found out our baby is a boy! That will be boy number three for us and at the very least we will rack up some more experience in the field. The two we already have are a handful at times to say the least, but a blessing to be sure. The name of this blog actually came from our two boys, Dominic and Gracin. When i was trying to think of what I would name my page during the inventing stage, they were being so loud playing that I couldnt think so it seemed only right to just name it after them...Dominacin.
     Needless to say, they never seem to run out of energy and they are always good for a laugh. Recently I started keeping a brief log of some of the things they have said to me so I could share them with all of you.

So here some of them are in countdown format...

     5. "Daddy can you get me a wallet...and put some of your money in it?"   The blunt honesty is refreshing.

     4. "If I eat good food after I eat bad food I dont have to brush my teeth, because the bad food gets knocked off."      I got to admit it has its logic for a 5 year old.

     3. "Daddy, when you were little did you have hair on your head?"   For the record, yes I did.

     2. "I dont actually like Dora, I just watch it so I can know spanish."     Riiight...Suuuure

     1. "My neck hurts when I dont play video games." Yes he actually thought that would work.

        Heres looking forward to a whole new personality in the family with his own excuses and one liners.
    

Steel Match (Hornady trial 2)

          This is the second part of my trial and review of Hornady ammunition. This time I decided to try out an economically pleasing brand they have called “Steel Match”. These bullets are encased in a steel shell as opposed to brass. The down side of this is that they cannot be reloaded, however, if you don’t reload your own ammunition anyway and you’re looking to save some money than this is for you.

                I fired nearly forty rounds of these 180 grain steel match hollow points before taking a few moments to evaluate their performance. I found them to be a very smooth shooting round and again, true to Hornady form, pretty accurate for a factory load bullet.  I did however encounter one small problem shooting these from one of the guns we had. The Ruger P944 .40 auto seemed to have a little difficulty ejecting some of these cartridges. About one in every five failed to be pulled out with this guns extractor pin. In the interest of fairness we decided to shoot the last of them through a different model .40 caliber handgun and had no problems.  This is probably because the Ruger’s extractor is a fairly thick sort of spring steel and just didn’t match up well against the steel cased cartridges. I would definitely recommend this to anyone with a polymer type or lightweight handgun such as Glock, H&K, Sig Sauer, High Point, or the like, but the heavier steel constructed firearms may have a problem cycling this ammo. You can find these bullets at Hornady’s website here.

Winner

We have a winner! Stacy, the owner of the blog Mom in training was the lucky winner of the persnal defense stun gun. Congrats to Stacy and thanks to everyone who entered. I am sure I will do another one at some point since it seemed pretty popular. In the meantime if anyone is interested in buying one of these stun guns they can email me and I will provide the details on how to do that for them.

Last chance!

     Hey everyone, just a reminder that the stun gun give away is ending today (I will officially count all entries before midnight tonight 4-15-11) so get yours in if you havent. Good luck to everyone who has entered and thanks for following. It has been brought to my attention that since the stun gun is a rather unique give away I should do it again sometime so everyone may have some more chances coming sometime as well. I think I followed everyone back that added me and left comments, if I forgot anyone please let me know and I will make sure i do. Have a great day and once again...Good luck!

Hornady Critical Defense

                  As I shared in my last post I have a firearm for home protection, and since self-defense is kind of the theme this week I thought I’d share some results I had recently with some defense ammunition I was given the opportunity to test out manufactured by Hornady. Hornady’s reputation in self-defense ammunition is second to no one. They have state-of-the-art equipment and high-tech underground testing facilities where the ammo is continuously checked for quality and reliability. They have one of the widest varieties of ammunition consisting of over three hundred different types of bullets and they put a lot of research into what works and what doesn’t so their bullets perform the way they are supposed to every time.  The first box I got to try out were the Hornady Critical Defense FTX hollow points pictured below.

   

          These rounds come in boxes of twenty and have a red rubber insert in the cavity of the hollow point to aid with the expansion of the round. This forces the bullet to open quicker and more evenly than many other brands of hollow point ammunition, limiting penetration and maximizing energy deposit.  The silver casing ensures high visibility in low light situations and also adds to the already asthetically pleasing round.
          One of the biggest problems facing many brands of hollow point bullet is penetration. Either the round opens too quickly and has trouble penetrating thick materials like leather or denim, or they penetrate too much and dont open at all. I found these Hornady FTX bullets to perform very well in this category. I tested the ammunition out on trap targets that had a double layer of denim over the front to simulate this type of obstacle and found that the insert Hornady places in these rounds does a very good job of preventing the cavity of the hollow point from getting clogged with material, thus preventing it from doing its job. Pictured below are three bullets. The first two on the left are a leading brand of hollow point ammunition and the one on the right is a Hornady Critical Defense FTX round. Its easy to see which one did its job better.

The first two rounds got clogged with the denim and were not able to fully open the way they are designed to do. The rubber insert of the Hornady FTX round (which i removed to better demonstrate how well it expanded) prevented this from happening. I also found this ammunition to be incredibly accurate for a factory load bullet, hitting the same spot on the target time after time. I would absolutely recommend the Hornady Critical Defense FTX round to anyone who wants a reliable, accurate self defense ammunition.

I did it at home.

                         “Don’t try this at home!” Haven’t we all heard that from time to time? Every day we are all reminded that the things we witness on television are for “trained professionals only” but do we ever listen?  I think it’s a safe bet that most of us have all tried something at home that we were warned not to at some point because no matter what they say on TV we all feel like we are trained pro’s. At Crazy dog T-shirts I found a shirt that tells everyone I’m not afraid to do it at home and possibly suffer the consequences. The “did it at home” T-shirt is one of the shirts offered in the funny section of Crazy dog T-shirts web site. They also have many other funny T-shirts as well as offensive T-shirts for those whose sense of humor may be a little bold. The communication is amazing with Crazy dog. They really put customer satisfaction first. I was actually surprised at how comfortable these cotton T-shirts were right out of the package.  They also have a wide variety of sweatshirts and hoodies available at very reasonable prices. Now with the help of Crazy dog’s funny T-shirt section everyone will know that I did it at home, even if I shouldn’t have.

Zombies among us

                                    Do you have a zombie survival plan? If the world was taken over by hordes of the undead would you know what to do? Would you know what weapons to gather? Where to go?  If you are a big fan of horror than you love zombies and if you love zombies than Costume Squad has something for you. They even have categories dedicated to things like zombie t-shirts, horror t-shirts, and Halloween costumes, but you don’t have to be a big fan of scary movies to find products you like at Costume Squad. They have a little something for everyone, including costumes from some of your favorite movies and clearance items for that last minute Halloween party you didn’t have time to prepare for. Whether you like to dress up, dress down, or anything in between you will be able to find something you like here. They even have costumes for your dog. Now tell me you don’t think the taco bell Chihuahua would look great in an Elvis costume. Can’t make up your mind?  That’s ok too, just visit their best sellers section for all the most popular choices and go from there.  The quality is top notch and the communication is great! Give it a shot, you won’t be disappointed. You can find the zombie survival plan T-shirt that I got in the zombie T-shirt section of costume squad’s website.

Fantasy football champion.

                                Every year I play fantasy football. I know it may be a little corny but it’s addicting and it seems like I get a little better every year. This past season I thought for sure I was going to become the fantasy football league champion but alas, it was not meant to be. So instead I have to bestow that honor on my friend. At Nachomamatees I found a t-shirt that will do that perfectly. The FFL t-shirt is brilliantly designed and states loud and clear that you are the best fantasy football coach in the world, well at least in your league. Nachomamatees has a section of shirts for anyone who likes winning, whether its fantasy football or not. Are you the kind of person that doesn’t buy anything unless you can get it really cheap? They have daily deals for $6.99 on all kinds of t-shirts. Funny, vintage, St. Patrick’s Day, they even have Chuck Norris t-shirts.  They offer free exchanges, global shipping, and their customer service is great. They also except pay pal as well as all major credit and debit cards, making it really easy to find something you like and get it delivered in the shortest time possible.  I found my fantasy football league champion shirt in the funny T-shirts section.

Be prepared

                 I was reading articles recently from various news agencies online and I came to the conclusion that no matter how far downhill this world travels there are things that happen every day that still shock me. One piece was about an elderly couple that was beaten and robbed over eighteen dollars. The woman’s injuries were eventually enough to do her in and the suspects left without as much as a trace to their identities. A second article described a woman who was physically assaulted and left in a coma after a dispute over a parking spot with a much larger man. 

                The two stories share a common bond. Criminals will do whatever they have to do to better their own situation and it doesn’t matter who you are or how innocent you may be. They prey on those who make the easiest targets such as the elderly and people much smaller than they are. They will use any advantage they can find to control and take advantage of their victims. Leverage is the only thing that matters in these types of situations and if you don’t have as much as they do you are in trouble.

                I have always been an advocate of self-defense measures, especially within the home or car. When I read these stories the only thing I can think is “If these people were better prepared, could they have escaped? Could they have fought back?” I own a firearm, which I keep locked in my home for protection, but guns aren’t for everyone and some people are understandably nervous about having them around, but there are many other less-lethal means of defending yourself and your loved ones available that many people don’t get to hear much about.

                A while back I had found a perfect gift for those who may be a little leery of carrying a gun for self-defense but would like to do something to be prepared in case they ever need to protect themselves or their family. It is a hand held 3.8 million volt stun gun with a built-in LED flashlight and carrying case. These miniature stun guns fit perfectly in a purse or strap to a belt and don’t look much different than a cell phone. They deliver a shock that can render a person temporarily disabled or unconscious, giving you precious time to fight back or escape an attack. They can be left in a glove compartment and if nothing else you would always have a bright flashlight around.

                They were reasonably priced so I bought a shipment of them and began giving them away to friends and family as gifts and they proved to be quite popular. Now I will be giving one of these self-defense stun guns away right here on my blog. If you are already following me just leave a comment to this post saying you want to be entered for a chance to win. If you are not following me just start following and post a comment telling me you are interested. One person will be randomly selected from the comments to receive a brand new stun gun for free. I will even pick up the shipping!

                So good luck! I look forward to meeting some new followers. The winner will be selected in 2 weeks on April 15th.

My suspense experiment

                  It was a clear evening. The kind that makes all your senses seem to operate at a higher level than they normally do. Sounds are sharper, smells are stronger, and it’s bright enough to see forever. The sky was brilliantly lit with a silky veil of stars that were only outdone by the neon glow of a nearly full August moon. A group of quietly chirping crickets was the only audience in attendance for the occasional sounds of automobiles passing by on the highway, sounds that otherwise bounced around the still night and fell upon abandoned corn fields in the dark. The wind was slow and steady, never really gaining or losing momentum as it softly carried all the faint aromas associated with diesel fuel and late summer cook-outs through the towering pine trees of the neighboring forest.  

                During daylight hours the areas wildlife is abundant. Various species’ of bird sing to whoever listen, chipmunks chatter relentlessly, and the occasional deer can be spotted grazing in the taller grass. Once in a while one may hear an owl, or the faint call made by a loon on the lake in the distance, or a flock of geese traveling north to escape Maine’s seasonal misery, but at night the signs of activity are scarce. Tonight, it seemed, only one woodland creature stirred, a lone rabbit making its way across the corn field.

 He moved slowly through the dried stocks, barely making a sound as he took one long hop after another, pausing in-between each one to stand up and sniff the air. His dark brown coat made him almost invisible among the other shadows in the night, a small patch of white fur on his chest was the only visible clue that he existed. He was silent, cautious, and deliberate, like a mouse that had broken into a kitchen to pillage what it could from the cupboards. When he stood his ears rose, straining to identify any sounds of possible danger.  It was another fifty yards to the section of woods that contained his burrow, a complex system of underground tunnels that afforded perfect protection from intruders overnight. He stood one more time and threw his nose up into the air, his head rolled from side to side, slowly scanning the perimeter of the field, then he felt it.

                It wasn’t anything he heard. In fact the night had taken on a disturbing silence now. Even the crickets, who moments ago had been serenading him with song, were now mute. All of the fur on his back stood on end. A cold shiver slowly rose up his spine. His instincts told him to get out of there, but he didn’t know which direction to run. He was frozen in fear by something he couldn’t see, something he couldn’t hear, but he could feel its eyes on him. From somewhere in those woods it was watching him… waiting.

                Suddenly, as if Mother Nature had shot the terrified rabbit from a gun, he kicked with both of his long powerful legs and bolted in the direction of his hole. In four lengthy bounds he had traveled more than sixty feet, making only the slightest thumping sound every time the big pads of his rear feet hit the ground. His heart was beating so fast it seemed like it was on the verge of exploding, and then as abruptly as he started, he stopped. At first he didn’t know why. Once again, instincts had taken over and immobilized every muscle in his body. The wilderness beckoned to him. He wanted to go home but couldn’t. It was there, directly in front of him, from just inside the cover of the forest that a pair of eyes met his. Two glowing yellow ovals floating in an endless sea of darkness. The moonlight gave them away, reflecting off of them much like cars headlights reflect from the eyes of animals caught crossing the interstate at night.

                It was the last thing the rabbit saw. As it stared into the ominous pair of yellow beacons ahead of it, a razor sharp set of claws crushed down on its back, immediately silencing its attempts to scream. Its legs kicked one last time, spraying dirt onto the rows of dried out corn stocks. A low growl could barely be heard over the sounds of ripping fur and flesh. The once white patch on its chest now stained crimson red. Its eyes still holding the look of terror it last experienced.

A guitarist's friend.

I have been playing guitar as long as I can remember. I guess it was somewhere around junior high that I really began learning new songs and experimenting with different tunings but it seems like I have always had a guitar lying around somewhere, and one of my favorite things to do when I’m bored is pick it up and bang around some. I never had any global expectations or big dreams I was chasing. At first I never even thought I would ever attempt to play publicly or in a band at all, although lately it has seemed like it would be kind of fun. No, my interest in playing guitar was strictly extracurricular. It was something to do and I never really even cared if I made it big or impressed anyone with it.    

As with any hobby or profession there are always little pet peeves, or pains that every musician deals with. My biggest one was always hunting for a guitar pick. It seemed like I never had around when I wanted it and although they aren’t very expensive, it gets old making a trip to the guitar shop once a week to buy more simply because I couldn’t hold onto mine for more than ten minutes. Any guitarist reading this has to know what I am talking about. I would jam them in the strings of my guitar, but I never really liked doing that. I would put them in my guitar bag, but when I needed one I would still have to rummage through the bag, moving everything else in there aside to find a pick the size of a quarter. Recently I found an item that everyone may not know about, but should. I purchased a Dunlop Scotty pick holder from guitar center, a site I found online that has everything you need for music, and my life has been easier ever since. This spring loaded pick holder is only a few bucks and sticks to your guitar with an adhesive back. Depending on the thickness of your picks, you can hold five or more picks at a time in it. I loaded it up with all of my favorite picks and now I always have one at my fingertips. My friends and people who have seen me play always comment on it, so it doubles as a conversation piece as well.            

I have bought a lot of products in my day, both expensive and cheap, and I have never found an item that served me so well for so little money. The guitar center is a fantastic site that carries anything you may need for any instrument you play. It amazes me that until recently I had never owned one of these. If you play guitar and have the same problem I used to with holding onto your picks you will definitely want to check this out. http://links.t.guitarcenter.com/ctt?m=862896&r=LTIyOTI0NzgyMQS2&b=0&j=MjU2ODYyMTcS1&mt=1&kt=12&kx=1&k=www_guitarcenter_com_&kd=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guitarcenter.com%2F

Scare me...Please.

For quite some time now I have been a big fan of horror. Did I say “big”? I meant huge! I own well over three-hundred titles that could be classified as horror/thriller alone. A lot of people would probably find my collection a little weird but suspense seems to be the only thing that will keep me entertained for two hours. I guess it’s those temporary adrenaline rushes. That tingle in your spine. The momentary muscle paralysis that comes from only the scariest moments on film. My dilemma? I can’t find it anymore.

Maybe it’s because years ago I was more affected by the tactics horror directors used to “shock and awe” their audiences. I guess certain exposure to anything repeatedly over time would eventually cause someone to grow immune to its effect on them. To recycle a timeless cliché, maybe they just don’t make them like they used to. It would be easy to settle on that theory except that a few in recent years have sufficiently done the job.  I actually got a little chill on one part of Paranormal Activity when I first saw it. Those films seem to be fairly rare now though, or maybe I’m just a more difficult customer.

  I have been turning to blogs and surveys lately online to find out from everyone what some of the scariest movies they had ever seen were.  I am holding onto the belief that there are some really good horror films out there that haven’t found me yet.  Unfortunately it seems like time is running out on a dying breed. Maybe I’ll have to try bungee jumping. If that doesn’t scare me it’s time to hang it up…or maybe start making movies.

Expecting again!

     With all the financial difficulties facing a majority of the nation, its not hard to understand why so many people seem to be in a bad mood now-a-days. Debts are on the rise, opportunities are getting less and less and it seems that every day there is something new to complain about. In the midst of all the negativity the world throws at us though, there is always one thing thats sure to bring a smile to everyones faces. The addition of a new family member.
     At some point in September my girlfriend and I will have an addition of our own to talk about. So like every expecting couple, we have been glancing through catalogues, discussing baby names for both genders, and window shopping every time we are out. I have a five year old son already, as does she. So our new baby boy/girl will have two brothers six years older than him/her. Of course, this could be great or it could be hard (I'm not sure which yet). Maybe our little girl will have two protective older bro's to make my job easier. Maybe our little boy will have all the hand-me-downs he could ever need. Although it would be at least five years before they fit him so is it even worth it? Maybe the six year gap will make him/her feel singled out.
    So, I am writing this in hopes of some sage advice from all you parents out there. Have you been through similar child-raising experiences? How did it work? What products really helped you out or made things hard?