What Harriet Beecher Stowe did in 1853 [showing the horrors of slavery in Uncle Tom's Cabin] John Ross has done for today's struggle for individual freedom...Read it!

Aaron Zelman
Executive Director
Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership    
On the book Unintended Consequences

There are only nine shooting positions still avaiable.  I have the remainder of the target bodies (cardboard boxes) on order and they should arrive by next weekend.  Barb and I rented a motor RV for the kids to retreat from the rain and wind (assuming the weather is typical Boomershoot weather) in and for us to sleep in while there.  We probably will make it available to the press during the day too.

The event is now a Lewiston Pistol Club event instead of a Palouse Practical Shooters Club event.  You should see those changes on the web site soon.

Yesterday was a very long day for me.  I woke up at 3:30 but didn't have to get up until 4:15 (Mountain Time) to catch the 6:00 AM flight out of Albuquerque.  Martin (co-worker from PNNL) and I had dinner and then talked for four hours the night before so I didn't get much sleep that night.  Then the airport security was all screwed up (they should just get rid of passenger screening) and no one but law enforcement and TSA was allowed in the 'sterile' area (gate area) of the airport when I arrived.  Even flight crews had to wait while the dogs and people searched the area.  Some TSA person had left a door unlocked Friday night and they had to search for people, explosives, and weapons.  Our plane left the gate about 40 minutes late, and touched down in Salt Lake City just as our connecting flight to Pasco was scheduled to leave the gate.  They didn't hold it for us and we sat in the terminal for over three hours for the next flight.  Not as bad as it could have been, but it took another hunk out of my precious weekend time at home.  By the time I drove home it was after 15:00.

Barb, Xenia, and I picked up James about 16:30 to go to dinner and a movie in Pullman.  While waiting for our food to arrive he realized he had forgotten to sign up for classes the night before.  He barely had an appetite.  He was very concerned he wouldn't be able to get some of the classes he wanted.  After dinner we did some war driving for a bit but didn't find anything open and finally went home to get Internet access.  James signed up for classes and things looked good for the most part. He didn't get one instructor he wanted but everything else looked good.  We had cake and icecream and James opened his presents.  Then we went to see Sahara since we had missed the start of Phantom of the Opera. I liked the movie. It stretched your credibility a bit much in places but it was okay.

Happy 21st birthday James.

I didn't get to bed until 23:00 or so (Pacific Time) but I slept well and didn't get up until after 9:00 this morning.  I feel so much better now.

If it ever becomes times to shoot someone, do they need to be shot a little? Or a lot?  If that time comes you should shoot early and often -- until the threat is over.  If you shoot a "set", such as a double tap, you may stop shooting too soon.

Greg Hamilton
Self Defense Instructor
February 5, 1997

Sucks to be the good kid.

James Huffman-Scott
2004
Referring to all the money and attention given to his sister Kim.

Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.

Albert Einstein

Katy once got upset hearing, from the other room, the sounds of a dynamite shoot video.  So when I got this call from her the other day asking how to make a particular type of pyrotechnic device I was just a little bit surprised.  I always figured she just tolerated me because I was married to her husband's sister.  I keep the guns and explosives away from her and try not to bring the topics up in her presence.  But she called me Tuesday and asked, “How can I make pink smoke?”  Not exactly in my domain of expertise but not all that far out either.  I told her I would research it for her and that I was pretty sure I could help her.  But what did she want it for?  How much smoke did she need?  How soon did she need it, etc.?  She has to have it by Monday because the local television crews were going to be there to film it.  Huh?  She explained--she and others think the Pope should allow women to be priests.  The conclave (did I get that right?) will release smoke to announce a new Pope has been selected.  Katy and friends want to release pink smoke as a form of protest.  Okay, that's a reasonable enough request.  It's probably not illegal even inside the city limits of Chicago.  And certainly, if done halfway right, no one will get hurt which is far more important to me that not offending the sensibilities of the city of Chicago.

I did the research and found a safe way for them even with their short time frame--but it will be violet instead of pink.  Pink is doable but they didn't have the time and expertise to pull it off.  Katy thanked me then sent an update this morning:

Joe,

Just had to tell you the latest before I run off to work!
I said “local”
Well….now it is national, CNN is coming! They want to see pink smoke!
Maybe international-maybe the boys in the Vatican in Rome will see us in Chicago.

WOC national contacted Skylighter and that is what we will use.
It won’t be pink but violet and violet is the color of stoles we wear! 

Thanks for your contact

Let us hope it is bright and shining on Monday.

Katy

So if CNN shows violet smoke on Monday you can thank, or curse, me for enabling them.

A resolution from the Idaho State Legislature has me a bit confused.  I suspect it started out 'straight' and amendments got added to make fun of it.  But I just don't know for certain.  A sample:

  5        WHEREAS,  the  State of Idaho recognizes the vision, talent and creativity
  6    of Jared and Jerusha Hess in the writing and  production  of  "Napoleon  Dyna-
  7    mite"; and
  8        WHEREAS,  the scenic and beautiful City of Preston, County of Franklin and
  9    the State of Idaho are experiencing increased tourism and economic growth; and
 10        WHEREAS, filmmaker Jared Hess is a native Idahoan who was educated in  the
 11    Idaho public school system; and
 12        WHEREAS,  the  Preston  High School administration and staff, particularly
 13    the cafeteria staff, have enjoyed notoriety and worldwide attention; and
 14        WHEREAS, tater tots figure prominently in this film thus promoting Idaho's
 15    most famous export; and
 16        WHEREAS,  the  friendship  between  Napoleon  and  Pedro   has   furthered
 17    multiethnic relationships; and
 18        WHEREAS,  Uncle Rico's football skills are a testament to Idaho athletics;
 19    and
 20        WHEREAS, Napoleon's bicycle and Kip's skateboard promote better air  qual-
 21    ity  and  carpooling  as alternatives to fuel-dependent methods of transporta-
 22    tion; and
 23        WHEREAS, Grandma's trip to the St. Anthony Sand Dunes highlights  a  long-
 24    honored Idaho vacation destination; and
 25        WHEREAS,  Rico  and Kip's Tupperware sales and Deb's keychains and glamour
 26    shots promote entrepreneurism and self-sufficiency in Idaho's small towns; and
 27        WHEREAS, Napoleon's artistic rendition of Trisha  is  an  example  of  the
 28    importance of the visual arts in K-12 education; and
 29        WHEREAS,  the schoolwide Preston High School student body elections foster
 30    an awareness in Idaho's youth of public service and civic duty; and
 31        WHEREAS, the "Happy Hands" club and the requirement  that  candidates  for
 32    school  president  present  a  skit is an example of the importance of theater
 33    arts in K-12 education; and
 34        WHEREAS, Pedro's efforts to bake a cake for Summer illustrate the positive
 35    connection between culinary skills to lifelong relationships; and
 36        WHEREAS, Kip's relationship with LaFawnduh is a tribute to e-commerce  and
 37    Idaho's technology-driven industry; and
 38        WHEREAS,  Kip  and LaFawnduh's wedding shows Idaho's commitment to healthy
 39    marriages; and
 40        WHEREAS, the prevalence of cooked steak as a primary food group pays trib-
 41    ute to Idaho's beef industry; and
 42        WHEREAS, Napoleon's tetherball  dexterity  emphasizes  the  importance  of
 43    physical education in Idaho public schools; and
 44        WHEREAS,  Tina  the  llama,  the  chickens with large talons, the 4-H milk
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1    cows, and the Honeymoon Stallion showcase Idaho's animal husbandry; and
  2        WHEREAS, any members of the House of Representatives or the Senate of  the
  3    Legislature  of the State of Idaho who choose to vote "Nay" on this concurrent
  4    resolution are "FREAKIN' IDIOTS!" and run the risk of having the "Worst Day of
  5    Their Lives!"

From Periodic Journal of my wandering.

Update: I fixed the link to the bill.

A couple minutes before midnight (Mountain Time) Kim called to ask if Othello was on highway 26 going the right direction.  She didn't remember it going the other direction.  It was there and she was on the right road going the right direction.  She just needed to stay on 26 until she gets to Colfax.  Colfax is “home territory” and close enough that Barb can rescue her if necessary.

She should be home by now.

That the said Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of The United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.

 Samuel Adams

Hi Dad. The pass was bare and dry.  No problems at all.  I got a late start but I would have been stuck in traffic if I had left earlier anyway.  I was wondering... Does I-90 turn into highway 36?  Or is it 26?

Groan.  I-90 goes until it turns into Chicago.  And she needs to turn off I-90 at Vantage to get on highway 26.  She accepts my correction gracefully and goes on:

Is Wenatchee between home and the Tri-Cities?  Because I saw a sign and wondered if that would be a quicker way to get home.

Wenatchee is way north of where she wants to go.  I reply, “No, that is Washtucna you are thinking of.“

Oh, that's right.  Okay.  Well, I'm doing just fine.  Love you Daddy.  Bye.

I'm over a 1000 miles away from my namesake (Kimberly Joe versus Joseph Kim), who has no concept of impending doom, and now I'm supposed to sleep?  At least we have two kids in reserve who probably will live to see their 25th birthdays.

The trip from Pasco to Albuquerque was pleasant enough considering all the violations of my 4th Amendment rights in the process.  Ben and William met me at the range and I put 50 to 60 round down range with my Microsoft Gun Club Object Embedding Tool (a special edition Olympic Arms PCR-1).  AKA an AR-15.  We are at about 5000 ft above sea level here and the setting on my scope for 500 meters is about right for 650 yards.  The wind was just about head on and even with the 50 grain bullets I didn't have to compensate for the wind but the tiniest bit.  I was shooting at a steel plate that was about 18 inches square and once I got on target I could hit it every time.   It was a bit boring so I started practicing shooting faster.  Could I get off two accurate shots before the sound from the first one came back?  Just barely.  Cool!

I shot Williams Garand too.  I've never had my hands on one before.  Odd that it kept shooting low for me.  The first shot was close and thereafter even though I kept raising the point of aim it would hit way too low.  I must have been flinching or something.  Very odd.

Ben and William took me out to dinner afterwards and we talked about guns, Henry, and Boomershoot.

The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand, arms like laws discourage and keep the invader and the plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property.  The balance of power is the scale of peace.  The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some WILL NOT (original emphasis), others DARE NOT (original emphasis) lay them aside... Horrid mischief would ensue were one half the world depraved the use of them;... the weak will become a prey to the strong.

Thomas Paine
Literature
Thoughts on Defensive War (1775)

Kim is off to Seattle in her car you would have trouble trading for a family meal at nice restaurant.  She should arrive about midnight.  She 'needs' to help out her roommate who was visiting her ex-husband when she had a miscarriage of someone else's baby.  Or some such thing like that. 

I'm off to New Mexico tomorrow morning and can't hang around to rescue her if she has problems on her way back.

I wish she wouldn't worry her parents so much.

Henry, my “opponent” on a variety of subjects from government mandated ID cards to gun control, shows up on this page.  At least it is his name -- “Henry Boitel”.  His name is among the “Special Thanks“ credits for a movie called “Inside Deep Throat” along with well known (in some circles) actresses Marilyn Chambers, Nina Hartley, Candia Royalle, and others.  He's a lawyer so it's possible probable that he did some lawyer type work for them rather than contributing “original material“.

It's also interesting that my website gets the highest ranking by google for a search on his name.  I could do “interesting” things with that if I wanted too...

An explosion may be defined as a loud noise accompanied by the sudden going away of things from the places where they were before.

Joseph Needham
Science and Civilization in China

His alternator did something odd while he was delivering the Tannerite.  It probably had something to do with the Duke's of Hazard type driving across the creek or out through the scab patch to the Taj Mahal.  Anyway, about 1:30 AM this morning he made it back to Redmond and posted a summary of his lazy Sunday.

The tank, the B-52, the fighter-bomber, the state-controlled police and military are the weapons of dictatorship. The rifle is the weapon of democracy. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military. The hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws.

Edward Abbey
The Right to Arms
[New York, 1979]

Kim didn't show up on time and was some place other than her house because of some dispute with her roommate or her roommate's boyfriend or the seven cats or some such thing.  We couldn't even find her.  She left her cell phone in our living room so we couldn't call her.  This was very much unlike Kim and I was worried about her.  James has spent the night and of course Xenia was her so the three of us picked up Sara and left nearly 40 minutes later than we planned.  I asked Barb to keep calling people and asking about Kim.  Kim called about 12 minutes later.  She was very apologetic. Someone had borrowed the cell phone she had borrowed to use an alarm.  It was in another room and no one heard it go off or had turned it off.  I told her to just meet us there.  We arrived on site and found the ground wet and very soft.  I nearly got stuck going through the wrong part of the creek on the way to the Taj Mahal. The creek was completely dry five weeks ago.  We starting setting up.  Xenia and Sara pounded the stakes in the ground.  James and I setting up to make explosives.  Kim showed up still in her pajamas.  She hadn't even gone to the bathroom yet this morning and she had her toothbrush and toothpaste with her.  She and I went to my parents place to get ten gallons of gasoline for the fireballs and we both used the bathroom.  Dad wanted to show me the new tractor and so I lost another five minutes there.  We got back to the Taj Mahal and still had more setup to do.  It probably took another 30 minutes before we actually started making targets.  We are at least an hour behind what I had planned.  Kim forgot to take her medicine and had to walk back to her car and walk back out again, we were probably 20 minutes without her.  Once she came back however she really cranked out the targets.  If it hadn't been for her we would have been very, very late getting the targets done.  As it was we were about 20 minutes later than what I had told Dave.

I did the shooters meeting while Kim took Xenia and Sara to my parents place then came back to blow the air horn for the ceasefires.  Xenia and Sara had homework to do and had their jobs completed.  Dave and ten others set up and started shooting.  After ten or fifteen shots a boomer detonated.  It wasn't as powerful as I expected.  People started saying they were hitting them without getting a detonation.  I was worried.  Something wasn't right.  We called a ceasefire and James, Kim, and I examined the targets.  There was a problem.  They were getting solid hits without detonations.  A closer examination showed why.  We took apart each target, while crouched in the mud, fixed the problem and remounted the box on the stakes.  The wasn't something Kim or James had done wrong while packaging the material.  They did it exactly as I had told them.  It was one of those things you never would have thought of until you did the tests.  Moving the targets 300 yards and a few hours in the space time continuum had screwed us.  I'm so incredibly glad we did this real world test three weeks before the big event. We only had 50 targets we needed to rework while 11 people were waiting on us rather than 600+.targets while there was 100 people waiting.  The boomers started going boom.  Frequently there would be 'smoke' (water vapor actually and powdered lime) from multiple boomers in the air at once.  They eventually stopped shooting about 15:30.  They said all the targets were gone.  James, Kim, and I started setting up the fireball targets.  There were still several targets left.  Some completely untouched. This is tyipcal.  It's tough to see everything from 375 yards away.  Dave and his gang drove across the bridge and walked out to the target line. They lined up about 25 yards from the berm and I ignited 11 flares behind the 11 gallons of gas behind the 11 reactive targets.  If you look closely in this picture (click on the picture to get a hires version) you can see the flares.  In this next picture the hot spots have grown some:

The second guy from the right is dodging some material that came back his way.  Kim said she got hit with some dirt.  Everytime we have shot stuff up close she gets hit with something.  Always before it was a prill of ammonium nitrate.  No AN prill this time but at least she has her 100% hit record intact.  There were lots of big grins on the people's faces when they left.  A couple of them signed up for the event on May 1.

The complete photo album of the adventure is here.  Click on the pictures to get a larger version.

Ry showed up as we were almost comletely done with clean up.  He was delivered some Tannerite.  We did some very quicky tests and found it was no more senstive to impact than our mix and couldn't really tell it apart in terms of power.  It's far, far more expensive however.  It's a binary explosive and can be shipped via UPS so it's a great product for a lot of people but it's not a market I want to get into with our mix which has four ingredients.  Ry's alternator light came on just as we were about to leave at 18:00 and he still had 8 hours of driving ahead of him as he has to go back to Redmond and Microsoft tonight.  He figured he could make it to Moscow on his battery and figure out things there.  I brought the kids back to a nice meal Barb had prepared for us.

I'm tired and it's been a long day.  Enjoy the pictures and start planning a Boomershoot for your future.

The weather forecast (Orofino which is a little warmer) is fantastic. 

High 64° F
Maximum RealFeel® 73° F
RealFeel Shade® 65° F
Winds SE at 1 mph
Wind Gusts 2 mph
Maximum UV 5
Thunderstorm Probability 0%
Amount of Precipitation 0.00 in
Amount of Rain 0.00 in
Amount of Snow 0 in
Hours of Precipitation 0
Hours of Rain 0

Gusts of 2 MPH.  There have been boomershoots where the wind never went below 10 MPH.

The van is packed, I'm ready to go.  Pictures and report sometime after we get back.

I feel the earth move under my feet
I feel the sky tumbling down
I feel my heart start to trembling
...

Carole King
I Feel The Earth Move
From the album Tapestry
[Today is a Boomershoot Adventure day]