Ain’t freedom beautiful?
Michael Burrows
April 30, 2006
At Boomershoot after launching an anvil 100 feet into the air.
Category Archives: Boomershoot
How do you deliver a 700 ton bomb?
From Scripps Howard News Service:
The test scheduled for June 2 will be of a 700-ton conventional bomb. The research could aid in development of so-called bunker-buster weapons, including small-scale nuclear devices, according to the federal official overseeing the test, Doug Bruder, director of counter-weapons of mass destruction technology for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
As near as I can tell the maximum takeoff weight any 747 is about 910,000 pounds which is only 455 tons and that includes the weight of the plane and fuel. A semi truck is much smaller. The only remaining thing I can think of is a train and that is rather problematic for a number of reasons.
So this “demonstration”, as some are calling it, of a 700-ton bomb ammonium nitrate (Boomershoot uses AN as the main ingredient) and fuel oil bomb will be more “interesting” than just a big pile of AN detonating. And although there may be some fuel oil in it my guess is there will be aluminum powder as well as other stuff much more interesting that just fuel oil. This guy is openly calling it a tactical nuke instead of a conventional bomb. Tactical nuke? Sure, that makes sense. You can deliver those with artillery shells as well as cruise missiles and conventional air dropped bombs.
Iran is virtually begging for someone to attack. The Israelis claim Iran is only about a year away from having their own nuclear bomb. Others claim more time is needed, but regardless the Mideast is a very interesting place these days. Regardless, for us to claim there is too much sand and not enough glass in Iran before we take another hit will be a tough situation politically. But for us to wait might mean the near total destruction of Israel. And if we take a nuclear hit on north American soil my bet is that our retaliation will not be so “surgical” as dropping a few tactical nukes as we would prior to taking a hit. My guess is we would turn not only massive portions of Iran into glass but Medina and few other areas as well. Mecca would probably have a few bombers in permanent “orbit” around it for several years–just daring any Muslim extremist to set off a pipe bomb in some pizza joint on our turf.
Interesting times ahead…
Update: If you follow the links in Ry’s comments (and here) you will find the people I based my post on were totally clueless. Which means I was totally clueless when I made the post. Idiots. And they made me look like an idiot.
Boomershoot pictures from Xenia
Xenia posted a little bit about her Boomershoot experience. It includes pictures by and of Sara and Lexi.
Quote of the day–Stephanie Sailor
I liken Boomershoot to the state of mind when one is doing yoga. It’s very peaceful.
Stephanie Sailor
April 30, 2006
While at Boomershoot.
Boomershoot 2006 cleanup video
From Ry
Boomershoot 2006 cleanup. April 30, 2006. 14 MBytes .WMV
As Ry said, “Why weren’t you there?”
Someone else blows up a computer
At Boomershoot 2005 (last year) we blew up a computer. Watch the KING5 Evening Magazine video to see it. Someone else blew up their computer and made a really nice video of it as well.
Quote of the day–SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD
The mayor asks the state to pass laws that prevent firearms from getting into the hands of criminals. But state and federal laws already prohibit the possession, purchase or sale of firearms for felons, people with a history of mental illness or facing allegations of domestic violence. All commercial sales of firearms require a background check for such disqualifiers.
What else could the state do? An outright assault weapons ban is unfair and unenforceable. Manufacturers supply trigger locks with their firearms and the locks are widely available at no cost.
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD
Gun Control: Blaming the state
May 4, 2006
[This is a huge turn around for the PI. Add in their publication of the Boomershoot article on Tuesday and I’m a little weak in the knees. This is really good news.–Joe]
Boomershoot 2006 blogging part IX
Boomershoot 2006 is over but the blogging doesn’t stop:
- Range Report: Missoula Special Classifier, 04/23/06 (Kitiara decides not to attend Boomershoot 2006)
- NoR Spring Rally and meetup for my birthday (The Anarchangel whimpers about Boomershoot being the same weekend as the NOR Spring Rally)
- Blowing things up (Spokesman Review blog posting about reviewing the Boomershoot video to be put on their website)
- Boomershoot 2006 (Video Journal of Colin Mulvany of the Spokesman Review)
- It Blows Up Real Good. Yup, Real Good (Notes from the Technology Underground)
- Guns and booms, what’s not to like? (from Dick’s Rocket Dungeon in Maryland)
- I WANNA GO DO THIS TOO!!!!!! (JeanC’s Cat House and Shooting Society — Jeez. I can almost see her house from my house there’s nothing stopping her from attending.)
- Boomershoot 2006 (leroy_brown242, one of the Boomershoot 2006 volunteers and the first shooter to connect with a 700 yard target this year)
- Only in Idaho (f-words)
- Saturday in Moscow (Ry)
- Boomershoot (Mr. Completely–who didn’t show up to collect his free entry)
- The Soundboard: Keeping the depression away (Analog Kid feeling down because he was unable to attend)
- See what you’re missing at 2006 (Ry linking to the Boomershoot 2005 history video)
- Some of the Love and Some of the Hate (Mention of his jealousy of someone else attending but not him)
- Boomershoot, Day 1 (Clinic) (This guy, Peter Biddle, was on a business trip in Europe and flew back for Boomershoot weekend!)
- Boomershoot, Day 2 (Clinic) (Peter Biddle again)
- History Project (Xenia whining about her history homework being interfered with by Boomershoot)
- Getting closer (Ry concerned that he may not be able to attend Boomershoot)
- Can’t sleep (Ry whining about moving into his new place)
- Boomershoot in the news (Say Uncle commenting on my Boomershoot posting)
- Gallery lives! (leroy_brown242, one of the Boomershoot 2006 volunteers about to post some pictures)
- Eve of Boomershoot (William at reasonablenut–these guys drove from New Mexico to North Central Idaho stopping for only 12 minutes the entire trip!)
- Range Report / Carry Gun (Benjamin at reasonablenut)
- RNS Quote of the Day (Analog Kid–irritated that he missed the best Boomershoot ever)
- I’m off to Nebraska (David at Random Nuclear Strikes consoling himself about not being able to attend Boomershoot 2006)
In addition to blogging activity the Spokesman Review article was picked up by the AP and showed up here:
- The Times-News (Twin Falls, ID)
- KGW (Portland, OR area television station)
- Seattle Post Intelligencer (Seattle, WA morning newspaper)
Quote of the day–Lee Ellyn Frailey
Everything’s better with a boom.
Lee Ellyn Frailey
April 30, 2006
While at Boomershoot 2006.
Quote of the day–Steve Joachim
Wile E. Coyote’s got nothing on us.
Steve Joachim
April 30, 2006
After blasted an 80-pound anvil over 100 feet into the sky, which then buried itself into the ground, for halftime entertainment at Boomershoot 2006.
Boomershoot 2006
Boomershoot 2006 was the best ever. No doubt about it. I’m way too tired to say everything I want to about it now but here are some links to what the Spokesmans Review (a Spokane area paper) had to say about it:
- Boomershoot 2006 (video Journal)
- Boom with a view (on the front page!)
The high point of the event for me was seeing 17 year-old Sara Young (Xenia’s friend and one of the workers for Boomershoot) detonate a 700 yard boomer on her first shot. Of course she was using the rifle of one the Precision Rifle Clinic’s Instructors and had some expert coaching from him, but it was still quite a thrill for both Sara and I.
Quote of the day–James Hagengruber
For some shooters, the event is all about marksmanship. Others say they’re driven by politics – how the combination of guns and explosives is the ultimate expression of their constitutional rights as well as a gentle show of force for anybody watching in the federal government.
James Hagengruber
May 1, 2006
Spokesman Review: Boom with a view
Quote of the day–James Huffman-Scott
It’s an overcast day and vampires could attack at any time. We take safety very seriously.
James Huffman-Scott
Boomershoot April 30, 2006
Explaining the reason for the wooden stakes being given to every participant at check in. The real reason, which James was not allowed to know, was that each shooter was to get a personal target to put at close (20 to 30 yards) range after lunch. More context from James:
Random person checking in “What’s the stake for?”
Me: “Killing vampires.”
Possible follow ups:
“Bullets won’t hurt a vampire, they’ll just piss it off. That’s why you need a stake.”
“It’s an overcast day and vampires could attack at any time. We take safety very seriously.”
Last post until Boomershoot 2006 is over
I suspect this will be my last post for a few days. I’ll either have Xenia post a “Quote of the Day” or back date them after Boomershoot 2006 is over. I have to work all day today at my new job then drive home to Idaho tonight. Thursday morning I head out to the Boomershoot range to prepare for the big event. No internet access from Thursday morning until late Sunday night. By late Sunday night I will be ready for a shower and sleep.
Boomershoot 2005 video
It’s not done yet but it’s close. And it’s nearly seven MBytes. Boomershoot 2005 history video.
Update: It’s midnight and I just finished it. It’s nearly 7.5 MBytes now. I just need to make 100 CD’s with it (and some other stuff) on it. It’s taking about four minutes per CD so that means I should get to bed about 6:00 AM.
The high resolution version being put on the CD is here (nearly 39 MBytes).
Boomershoot 2006 weather
Weather reports are looking very good. From My-Cast (using the lat/long of 46.5422, -116.39128):
| DAY |  |
Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | Mon |
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| SKY | |
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| HI TEMP (F) | |
67 | 71 | 73 | 78 | 77 | 73 | 70 |
| LO TEMP (F) | |
42 | 42 | 46 | 48 | 49 | 49 | 47 |
I’d like to believe this will be the best Boomershoot ever. There is still lots of work to do but things are coming together quite well.
Repressive laws
It may be there is more to it than what appears in the paper. And of course the kid is living and going to school in the repressive Peoples Republic of Massachusetts. What from what I see in the paper, except for the recreational drugs (which should be legal but I would ban them in my house) if it were my kid I would be asking the police, “And your point is?” Instead they are charging him with possession of bomb-making materials.
STOUGHTON — Alexander J. Wilson, 17, who was charged with having bomb-making materials after an incident in March was ordered held on $100,000 surety or $10,000 cash bail Monday in Stoughton District Court.
…
When police stopped Wilson’s car March 29 in the O’Donnell Middle School parking lot next to the high school grounds, authorities reported finding gunpowder and a pellet gun.
Also found were model “rocket engines, igniters for those, wires and miscellaneous other stuff that could be used to make bombs,” said acting Police Chief Christopher Ciampa.
Most of the materials were in the trunk of the suspect’s car, and some were under the front seat, the chief said.
Police also recovered a small amount of marijuana and marijuana residue in a pipe, Ciampa said.
The problem is that it’s a rare house that doesn’t contain materials appropriate for making a bomb. People shouldn’t be charged with possession of things that might be used in a illegal fashion. Only if there is clear intent to do harm to someone else or someone else’s property should they be harassed by the police–which is the way it is in Idaho with explosives.
Boomershoot dinner
I’m posting this everywhere I think Boomershoot spectators might be checking for information. There is a dinner on Saturday April 29th the evening before Boomershoot 2006. Specators as well as participants are welcome. Please get your reservations in soon. Details are here.
Bullets and boomers
I’ve added a new page to the Boomershoot.org website. It’s on the relationship between bullet shapes and the detonation of boomers.
Boomershoot 2006 blogging part VIII
Lots of hits now that we are only 11 days away from the big event (and Ben, bless his heart, can’t seem to think of or blog about anything else):
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Just One Question (minor mention of Boomershoot)
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My primary (actually Ben was so excited about this post he forgot to give it a title)