A Thought from the Master

A friend sent me this quote from Robert Heinlen that I'd forgotten:

"Always listen to the experts. They will tell you what can't be done, and why.
Then do it."

Cheers me up, to be sure. Have I mentioned the 1897 Winchester project gun? it's still in the evaluation stage, but basically a year or so ago I picked up a 1903 vintage '97 pump 12 gauge at my local gun shop — I walked into the shop and the owner said, "Hey Bane, there's a piece of crap over in the corner you're going to take home."

The '97 was actually in okay shape for a gun more than 100 years old, so I took it home for kibbles and bits. Do they have me pegged, or what?

I was gonna cowboy it out just to have it...not as many original '97s around as there used to be, but it lay in the safe pretty much unscathed until recently, when I hauled it out to the range and put a few rounds through it. It got me thinking that it would be cool to have a vintage '97 for trap and even sporting clays...sort of the shotgun equivalent of self-abuse.

I sent it off to Tom at Old Western Gun Repair for the basic safety work and overhaul — extractor, extend forcing cone, ream chamber, install screw-inc choke, etc. If Tom vets the Old Dog, it'll go for wood refinishing at the Stockfixrs, then onto to Doug Turnbull for charcoal bluing. Finally, Ill get it professionally fitted, and I'll end up with a gun that is not nearly as good as a new Remington 870, but a lot cooler. At least, I think so.

Of course, it's one of those "cash available" deals...it'll stay in the safe until I have the spare cash for each step. Tom Knapp need not start worrying yet...

...and while I'm putzing around with guns, NYU students are pondering what they would take to give up the right to vote. Read all about it:

Most at NYU say their vote has a price

Two-thirds say they'll do it for a year's tuition. And for a few, even an iPod touch will do.

That's what NYU students said they'd take in exchange for their right to vote in the next presidential election, a recent survey by an NYU journalism class found.

Only 20 percent said they'd exchange their vote for an iPod touch.

But 66 percent said they'd forfeit their vote for a free ride to NYU. And half said they'd give up the right to vote forever for $1 million.

Reminds me of that old Harvey Danger song "Flagpole Sitta:"

Been around the world and found
That only stupid people are breeding,
The cretins cloning and feeding,
And I don't even own a TV