Those Soviets

If you have walked into any gun store in America lately you will notice the usually have a few of these lying around.

Yes the Soviet Mosin Nagant. I just purchased on of these WWII/Cold War Relics. It is the first none black powder rifle I have ever purchased. I didn't know it came with all of the shit you see above. Apparently it even has a tool used to measure the firing pin so it doesn't explode in your face. I thought this a very nice of the Russians. The neglected to include instructions on how to use this tool, but that is what the Internet is for.

New Mormon Add Compaign

Despite the fact that I no longer believe much of what Mormonism teaches, it is a much bigger part of my life than I would like. I live in a Mormon-centric culture. I attend Sacrament meeting almost every week to help my wife with the kids, as well as ward parties and other sundry functions.

Mormonism often really frustrates me. For example the recent Ad Campaign. This article explains that frustration. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/holly-welker/mormon-pr-campaign-good-m_b_690383.html Last Sunday's Sacrament was so unbearable boring that I almost took my daughter to 7-11 to get a cup of coffee. I hate praying. When you don't really believe in god it just feels down right silly. My stake has a "policy" that if only one member of a couple comes in for a temple recommend interview they like to meet with the other. This of course lead to me answering a number of awkward questions including if I loved my wife and kids and wanted what is best for them.


I keep trying to convince myself that this line of questioning was meant to illustrate that love and family transcend acceptance of the Book of Mormon, but it felt more like the message was, if I can't accept that God commanded Polyandry (polyandry bothers me much more than your run of the mill polygamy) then obviously I no longer love my family.

Personally, I think the fact I even showed up is educe of my attempt to be supportive.

How Do you Lose a Colony?

Imagine for a minute that you are a Colonist in the tail end of the 16th century. You and a number of your friends make a rather vexing crossing of the Atlantic Ocean to build a colony on a new land. Well a land new to you. It is populated, rather heavily in some places.

It turns out not to be the paradise you imagined so you hop back aboard your leaky wood vessel and return to the mother country for a few supplies, like pens, toilet paper, and maybe a few of those Tostinos Party Pizzas. While there your country has a slight disagreement with Spain. Spain naturally over reacts and builds a huge Armada of Ships, which is promptly sunk.

After three years of this type of nonsense you can finaly return to your colony and find it is gone. The people, the buildings, the nice little garden you planted, they have all been spirited away.

Well that is what happened to John White. Some people believe these colonist moved and were assimilated into Native Tribes, others believe they were destroyed by Native Americans or possibly the Spanish. Others suggest they were lost at Sea. Yet no one has suggested that they were abducted by Aliens, because that is stupid.

Were still in Kansas Toto

This weekend I took a trip to Kansas City. Turns out the place isn't half bad. I know, I am as shocked as you are.

After all night drive that included four hours of sleep at a nasty Missouri Rest stop we arrived at the National World War I Museum.

http://www.theworldwar.org/s/110/new/index.aspx?sid=110&gid=1&pgid=1113

No I have been to a lot of museum in my day, but this one stand above the rest. It was the perfect mix of artifacts and story. It included very personal touch without neglecting the big picture. I damned near cried twice. Honestly though that could have been the lack of sleep and three cups of coffee.

The best part was the French Tank. It has wheels made of wood. If you are ever in Kansas don't miss this museum.

Next we went to see the Steamboat Arabia. She was like a 19th century Walmart. It was full of artifacts, including fabric and clothing. The tragic part was the cloth was under such dim light I could not examine it as closely as I would have liked.