posted by Caleb on Apr 21
Check out below for today’s podcast, on the pros and cons of having been Vegas for the last 3 months, as well as a little waxing nostalgic for my adopted state of Indiana.
If the embedded flash player doesn’t play the audio correctly, just hit the link labeled “download” to listen, or you can click this link to download it on iTunes. The embedded flash player doesn’t always like Internet Explorer 6, however audio should play fine in Firefox or Internet Explorer 7.
posted by Caleb on Apr 8
Upon entering the Grand Canyon yesterday, the first thing I was greeted with was a large sign saying “no firearm”, referring to the current National Park Service rule which prohibits the carrying of concealed weapons in National Parks. Now, you also know that NRA and the Senate are working to change this rule, but it currently remains in affect.
What I found amusing about the “no firearms” sign was that during our walking and driving through the park, I saw no fewer than a dozen signs warning of the dangers of approaching wildlife. Things like “do not approach coyotes, they can bite and inflict serious injury” or “mountain lion area, use caution” were pretty common place.
I understand that wildlife is dangerous, and the park is under a legal obligation to post signs warning stupid tourists that it’s a bad idea to throw your ham sandwich to the cougar; it just seems odd that they would then deny you access to the tool that we invented in part because a human being is not a psychical match for a cougar in a fight.
posted by Caleb on Apr 8
As I mentioned, Mrs. Ahab has never been to Grand Canyon, and the last time I was there I was about 8 years old and didn’t really remember that much. The Grand Canyon is about a 4.5 hour drive from Las Vegas, so we figured we’d saddle up for a nine-hour round trip to take in the Canyon.
We took a ton of pictures, so I’m going to put a cut in the blog. All the pictures and blog tales are beneath the cut, so I don’t clutter up the home page. It is totally worth it to check them out, although I must say that pictures honestly do not do the Canyon justice. It is hard to express with pictures and adjectives the sheer sense of enormity and grandeur that came over me at the sight of the thing. Certainly, it is a big hole in the ground, but it is magnificent in a way that I have a hard time explaining. Click the cut to view the pictures. Click any of the pictures for the fullsize version.
posted by Caleb on Apr 8
As I mentioned, Mrs. Ahab is in here with me in Las Vegas. We did a little sightseeing over the weekend in the Vegas area, and took a few pictures of the kitsch just to say we could. Having been in Vegas for going on three months, this is the first time that I’ve done the tourist thing, as when I was alone I had no real desire to fly solo.
We stayed for the weekend at the MGM Grand, which was pretty pimp. Not a lot of pictures, because we were busy hanging out at the pool/gambling/drinking. I should point out that Mrs. Ahab and I pretty much fail at Vegas, since we only lost like 40 bucks while gambling. Here are some pictures.
We took a photo of the lion outside the MGM grand. To give you a sense of scale, it’s roughly the same size as a pair of tractor-trailers. As always, click each picture for the fullsize version.
The fake New York skyline of the “New York, New York” casino.
The view from our room at night. I didn’t have a tripod handy, so it ended up looking like some ephemeral green ghosts were rising from the lights to claim my soul.
That was pretty much it for the Vegas photos; quite honestly Vegas just doesn’t blow my skirt up that much. It’s like my hometown of Lancaster, CA got too big for its britches and started allowing gambling.
What was cool was the Grand Canyon, which I’m working up a post on as we speak.
posted by Caleb on Mar 7
All that nice stuff I said about the TSA when I flew on Monday? Well, I guess that DHS believes that no kind word should go unpunished, and as such I just had easily one the worst and most degrading experiences at the security checkpoint that I’ve ever experienced.
Figures. I bet those TSA spooks found my blag and decided to put the screws to me. /tinfoil hat
posted by Caleb on Mar 3
That was easily the most painless trip through the security checkpoint I’ve ever had, and it was the first time I didn’t get flagged for additional screening at the Indy airport.
Well done, I guess. Now if you could just tell the difference between a belt buckle and a derringer, we’d be in business.
posted by Caleb on Feb 8
Finally on my way home from Vegas. Hopefully the Las Vegas TSA won’t think I’m a terrorist, and I can have an uneventful flight home.
Blogging will be light today, because the problem a 4 hour flight going east is that I lose three hours to the time change. I may put some content up while I’m in the airport, but in the mean time check out all my SHOT SHOW coverage by clicking on the banner above. Or, go through the links on my sidebar for more gun and political coverage.
posted by Caleb on Dec 28
You might be a gunnie if:
I’m sure that there are plenty more travel gunnie stories, especially ones involving actually trying to check guns through security. I’ve only had to do that a couple of times, back when I was traveling with the Academy’s pistol team. Truth be told, a bunch of guys in uniforms checking about 20 pistols didn’t really raise a flap back then; although it might now.
posted by Caleb on Dec 26
Another travel day, this time from Seattle to Indy by way of Wisconsin. Weather seems to be nice, and I have a crappy/awesome sci-fi novel to amuse myself with on the plane.
Today’s travel gripe is the word “pre-board”. Since I’m just ripping off an old Dennis Leary bit with that gripe I won’t go into further detail, but it really does annoy the hell out of me. You can’t pre-board anything. You’re either boarding, or you’re not.
That concludes today’s travel gripe. Here’s to hoping I don’t set off the bomb detectors at Sea-Tac.
posted by Caleb on Dec 24
I forget when I’m not here how much I miss the natural beauty of this place. The mountains, the coast line, the evergreens; there really isn’t anything about this area that I don’t find aesthetically pleasing. I do find the political climate to be less than pleasing, but such is life.
Yesterday, we did a little tour of the area wineries; if drinking excellent Washington Wines before noon on a Sunday is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.
Blogging continues, albeit sporadically. The political scene has been somewhat quiet lately, possibly owning to the whole “Christmas” thing that is rapidly approaching. Tomorrow, after the opening of the gifts ritual, I’ll do my duty and report any gun related haul that may come my way.
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