May 27, 1937
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE OPENS
San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, a stunning technological and artistic achievement, opens to the public after five years of construction. On opening day--"Pedestrian Day"--some 200,000 bridge walkers marveled at the 4,200-foot-long suspension bridge, which spans the Golden Gate Strait at the entrance to San Francisco Bay and connects San Francisco and Marin County. On May 28, the Golden Gate Bridge opened to vehicular traffic.
NRANews.com's Cam Edwards interviewing Ronnie Barrett of Barrett Firearms live on Cam & Company (NRANews.Com & Sirius Patriot 144). Ronnie is an excellent supporter of 2nd Amendment Rights. So much so that when California put a ban on the civilian ownership of .50 BMG rifles, Barrett Firearms instituted a policy of refusing to sell to or service rifles for any California Law Enforcement Agency until they change the law. Way to go Ronnie!
Audible.com Summary:
Imzadi: to the people of the planet Betazed, including counsellor Deanna Troi of the Starship Enterprise, it means "beloved" and denotes a special closeness that can never be truly broken. Or can it? Best selling author Peter David explored the special bond between Troi and Commander Riker in his earlier novel, Imzadi. Now, he examines the heart of Deanna Troi from an altogether different perspective, as he reveals for the first time the full story of Troi's troubled romance with Lieutenant Commander Worf. At first glance, they cannot be more different. She is an empath, gentle and acutely sensitive to the needs and feelings of others. He is a fierce Klingon warrior, dedicated to a harsh and war-like code of honor. Brought together, however, by a common need to care for Alexander, Worf's troubled, motherless son, they discover hidden reserves of courage and compassion within each other and embark on an unexpected courtship, much to the suprise and discomfort of William Riker. But does Worf's future really lie with Deanna...or on a distant outpost called Deep Space Nine? And who shall Troi ultimately call Imzadi? Imzadi ll is a compelling story about an untold chapter in the history of the U.S.S. Enterprise.
Not as good as the first one but still some interesting elements.
Author: Peter David
Narrator: Robert O' Reilly
Running Time: 3 hours
Book Rating: ** 1/2
Production: ***
(out of 5 stars)
Audiobook
Paperback
Again, I woke up at 4:30am, showered, got ready to go. I was informed by Dave via e-mail that he wouldn’t be going back up with me. Apparently he was too tired out from Saturday. Whatever.
Since I didn't have to pick up Dave, I took another way to Milwaukee. It was actually a much easier drive since I was able to get into downtown using the Kilbourn Tunnel.
Again, I arrived around 7:30am.
As I walked up the catwalk the guards in the middle of it informed me that they were told to only let staff pass to the inside of the convention center until 8:00am. No big deal... I'd sit outside with a cigar. I turned around, walked back towards the parking deck, took the elevator to the ground floor and walked to the front of the convention center. At which, I was able to walk right in with no problems. I walked around, bought a muffin and soda from one of the Levy stands and scoped out the location of the seminar I was going to attend.
It was called "NRA and the Media--A Forum for Straight Shooters" "A panel of three journalism professionals will discuss the media’s accuracy and fairness in their coverage of NRA and firearms’ issues. The panelists include: Wisconsin radio talk show host Vicki McKenna; Brian Patrick, professor of journalism and author of NRA and the Media, and Cam Edwards, host of NRAnews.com and author of many articles on Second Amendment issues. Moderated by NRA Board member Susan Howard."
The seminar was quite interesting. The three panelists were an excellent choice for a seminar of this nature. It was nice to meet Vicki & Brian and of course nice to see Cam again.
I had a great conversation with a guy at the Crimson Trace booth. They seem like nice people to deal with and I was able to play with a bunch of their laser grips on various models including the new Glock version which I had yet to see in person.
The guys at North American Arms were a disappointment. They weren't very friendly or responsive to questions which is shitty since I own 2 of their guns and I've never had a problem with their people before.
I had a quick chat with an absolutely HOT twenty-something at the SIG-ARMS booth. I was happy to take the pin & poster she was offering.
I spent some time at the Beretta booth towards the end of the day and noticed that they were selling off everything they had left at their 'store' at a LARGE discount. I picked up a Beretta 92FS Cleaning kit that was originally $20 for a mere $5. I was happy. They also had a lot of clothing but nothing appealed. I assume all of their hats were gone... cause at 75% off I certainly would have picked up a style or two.
My pick for “Best Unknown Company” (to me) was a company that can convert specific firearms (special barrel/rod/spring) into guns that you can target shoot inside your home using specialized ammo. It’s really interesting technology. The price is WAY to high right now but it’s a cool idea just the same.
After my last row, I headed back to the NRA Store. Picked up a couple of things, walked back to the car and headed home. The NRA Convention was a GREAT experience with lots of really great people (I was only 1 of 55,000 people who attended.)
I highly recommend going. I've already made my reservations for next April in St. Louis!
1995 Phoenix, AZ
1996 Dallas, TX
1997 Seattle, WA
1998 Philadelphia, PA
1999 Denver, CO
2000 Charlotte, NC
2001 Kansas City, MO
2002 Reno, NV
2003 Orlando, FL
2004 Pittsburgh, PA
2005 Houston, TX
2006 Milwaukee, WI
2007 St. Louis, MO
2008 Louisville, KY
2009 Phoenix, AZ
The original plan involved staying the night in a hotel in Milwaukee on Friday & Saturday nights but that was changed when I was informed that the Member's Banquet was full and the Tour we wanted to do didn't have enough people to run it. Since Milwaukee isn't that far from us, I decided we'd drive up and back both days.
Saturday, May 20, 2006
I woke up at 4:30am. (I absolutely HATE waking up that early) Showered, dressed, made sure I had everything I needed and headed on the road to Harvard. I had to stop at Walgreen’s to get AA batteries since the GPS in my car will no longer connect to the cigarette lighter power adapter due to a broken piece of plastic. I’ve owned my Garmin eMap since 2001 and it has served me very well, but it’s getting time to replace it.
After that short pit stop, I was on my way to Harvard where I picked up Dave and we headed towards Wisconsin.
The drive was going well until we ran into a “Road Closed” near Lake Geneva. After a stop at a local gas station to look at a detour map that took us on many a side street by The Abbey Resort, we were back on Rt 67.
I soon realized that my GPS didn’t have the street level maps for Milwaukee uploaded to it. I knew it had the Madison area and figured Milwaukee was in the same data set… I was wrong. So all I had was a 5 mile US Base map to assist.
We were cruising at 70 MPH for a while on I-43 until we reached Milwaukee’s MASSIVE road construction project. Microsoft’s Streets & Trips gave me directions that were soon worthless as many exits were closed and we were diverted many miles past downtown.
I pulled off at the first exit I could and turned on the next major street to head back South to Downtown. Luckily, the drive was pretty simple. We arrived at the parking deck (I looked at a map of the parking decks in the area and picked this one specifically due to its location right next to the convention center and the US Cellular Arena.) Even at 7:20am it first 3 levels of the deck were full.
In the middle (bend) of the catwalk there were a couple of security guys that asked it I had a convention badge. I said yes, took it out of my camera bag and put it on. We were allowed to continue to the inside of the convention center.
By this time it was around 7:30am. The Members Meeting and the show floor opened at 10am. We knew we’d have some time to kill so we waited upstairs for the NRA Store to open at 8am. Once it opened we perused every aisle. Since most of the stuff sold there was already available on their website and the fact that I didn’t have a lot of money for this convention, my philosophy was to only buy a couple of things that were convention specific. Anything else I liked I could buy later.
After seeing everything that the store had to offer we headed back outside because it was cigar time. Last weekend at Kate’s wedding I received a few Cuban cigars so to celebrate Dave and I making it to the convention, we both savored the Cuban stogies while waiting for the US Cellular Arena to open for the members meeting. Once we saw people going in to the arena we tapped out our stogies and headed into the arena. We made our way down the ramp and it was time to vote. We voted for the 76th Director and picked up all of the NRA Annual reports. We then proceeded to the arena.
We chatted with a few of the people around us. The guy sitting next to me was attending his 10th NRA Convention! The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem.... it was strange to say the pledge since the last time I recall doing it was back when I was in school... many moons ago. It was very interesting to see Parliamentary procedure first hand. There were speeches a many. Including all of the key players at the NRA. They also showed a video every American should see. A video of law enforcement in New Orleans going house to house disarming law-abiding citizens. Taking away their right to protect their families and homes when they needed to most in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Just under 3 hours later the meeting was adjourned and we headed back to the convention center.
I was really eager to check out the show floor. Dave was more interested in eating lunch than checking out the show so we parted ways and agreed to meet up in an hour or so.
Then… frankly… I was like a kid in a candy store. Off hand I cannot think of an aspect of the Shooting Sports industry that wasn’t represented. All the big boys had a booth. Smith & Wesson, Glock, Colt, Remington, Ruger, Browning, HK, Benelli, Beretta, CZ, Kimber, Marlin, Mossberg, North American Arms, Para-Ordnance, SIG Arms, Springfield Armory, Taurus, Thompson Center Arms, Weatherby, Winchester, Walther, Bushmaster, etc.
And accessory companies like Crimson Trace, LaserMax, Birchwood Casey, Dillon Precision, Hogue, Leupold, Uncle Mike's, Butler Creek, Hoppe's, Midway USA, etc.
Ammo makers like Winchester, Remington, Cor-bon, Glaser, Hornady, Wolf, etc.
After a trip around the convention center I found them next to NRA's big booth at the entrance. There I was able to meet Cam Edwards (host of Cam & Company), Ginny Simone, Joel Brewer, John Popp. & Mike McCarville. I stood around for at least an hour watching them interview some people for later playback and when their Live show began at 3pm. It was very interesting... I was able to watch Cam interview Chris Cox, John Sigler, Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, Wayne LaPierre & more.
We went out in front of the Midwest Airlines Center and sat down and lit up. A few minutes later Dave asked... "Isn't that the President of the NRA?" I looked in the direction he was pointing and said, "Yes."
Sandy (and several security guys) were outside in front of the Convention Center with the large NRA banner doing an interview for Fox News. We watched her do the interview (very windy out at the time) and as she was taking off her mic, I pulled out my name badge and a pen so I can have her sign it. When she was done she kindly signed my name badge and then I had an assistant take a picture of us. Dave stopped her for an autograph too.
Just before 6pm we decided to call it a day… we headed back to the NRA Store so Dave could spend some more money and we headed back to the car. $16 in parking later we were working our way to 94 South (East) We were both tired and we had another big day tomorrow... or so I thought.
Audible.com Summary:
Years before they became crewmates on the U.S.S. Enterprise, Commander William Riker and ship's counsellor Deanna Troi had a tempestuous love affair on her home planet of Betazed. Now, as their passions have cooled, the two serve together as close friends. Yet the memories of what passed between them linger and Riker and Troi remain Imzadi, a powerful Betazoid term that describes the enduring bond they still share. On a delicate mission involving negotiations with an aggresive race called the Sindareen, Deanna mysteriously falls ill...and dies. But her death marks the start of an incredible adventure for Riker - an adventure that takes him across time, pits him against one of his closest friends, and forces him to choose between Starfleet's strictest rule and the one he calls Imzadi.
A wonderful story that explains how Riker and Troi first met. Once scene from the book is right out of TNG's episode 1 at Farpoint Station.
Author: Peter David
Narrator: Johnathan Frakes
Running Time: 3 hours
Book Rating: ****
Production: ****
(out of 5 stars)
Audiobook
Paperback
Audible.com Summary:
The U.S.S. Enterprise is chosen as the marriage site for a wedding that will unite two powerful rival families of the spacefaring merchant race, the Tizarin. But Captain Picard's happiness is soon cut short by the arrival of the Federation delegate from Betazed: Lwaxana Troi - the mother of the ship's counsellor, Deanna Troi. Despite Lwaxana's nagging presence, the festivities proceed smoothly until the arrival of the notorious and all-powerful being, Q - who has come to examine and challenge the human concept of love. Suddenly, the celebration is in turmoil, the Tizarin families are on the brink of war, and Lwaxana is determined to teach Q a lesson in love that he will never forget.
A VERY quick story but quite amusing. I've always liked the Lwaxana's character and Majel doing the voice of her own character made for a wonderful narration.
Author: Peter David
Narrator: Majel Barrett and John de Lancie
Running Time: 1 hour and 30 min.
Book Rating: ****
Production: ****
(out of 5 stars)
Audiobook
Paperback
Okay... it's true... I've decided to take a short break from James Patterson. My last 8 audiobooks were by James Patterson and I wanted a change.
Just after finishing "Jack and Jill" I wanted something shorter and less serious. Q-Squared was the answer...
Audible.com Summary:
In all of his travels Captain Picard has never encountered an opponent more powerful than Q, a being from another continuum that Picard encounterd on his very first mission as captain of the Starship Enterprise. In the years since, Q has returned to harass Picard and his crew. Sometimes dangerous, sometimes merely obnoxious, Q has always been mysterious and seemingly all-powerful. But now, Trelane, another member of the continuum who Captain Kirk and his crew first encountered over one hundred years ago, has tapped into an awesome power source that makes him more powerful than the combined might of the entire continuum. Q warns that, armed with this incredible power, Trelane has become unspeakably dangerous. Now Picard must get involved in an awesome struggle between super beings. And this time the stakes are not just Picard's ship, or the galaxy, or even the universe - this time the stakes are all of creation.
Star Trek audiobooks are vastly different from a James Patterson or John Grisham because they contain audio & sound effects from the show, most are abridged and are much shorter. Which works well for me just for a quick change of pace.
A good story that merges an episode from the original series and the next generation.
Author: Peter David
Narrator: John de Lancie
Running Time: 3 hours and 1 min.
Book Rating: ****
Production: *** 1/2
(out of 5 stars)
Paperback
Audiobook
Okay, I was gonna call this the Celebrity Hit List but with Google being as good as it is, I don't want to come up in an FBI search should one of these people end up... well... burning in the fiery pit of hell... lol
So I'll call this one... Celebrities (and not so much) that if I saw trapped in a burning car, I'd look for a stick and break out the marshmallows...
ben afflick -- need I say more?
rick berman & brandon braga -- because of what they did to Star Trek
ray ramano -- because NOT everyone loves Raymond.
michael jackson -- just because money can buy freedom, doesn't make it right
george lucas -- I'll give you THREE guesses... I wish I could just wish him away...
michael moore -- because I'm american!
sean penn -- because some people need to keep their uneducated mouths closed!
tom cruise -- come on tom... time to get out of the closet!
mayor dick daley -- no dick... the entire state of illinois ISN'T chicago!
governor blago -- and I thought the corrupt george ryan was an idiot!!!
the guys at FOX who decided to cancel Firefly
rosie o'donnell -- well.. duh!
more to come
It is said that you can learn a lot about a person by what their answers are to this question...
So here we are in no particular order...
Steve Jobs
J.K. Rowling
Kevin Smith
Joss Whedon
Leo Laporte
All running the new Intel chips. Might be a good time to upgrade this 12" G4 Powerbook!
That are still in production...
It is said that you can learn a lot about a person by what their favorite TV shows are...
The Shield
Lost
Nip/Tuck
Rescue Me
24
South Park
Prison Break
Sopranos
I'm also into many "edutainment" shows like Modern Marvels (History Channel), Deadliest Catch (Discovery), & Seconds from Disaster (NGC)
Amazon.com Summary:
A child killer is stalking the inner city of Washington, D.C., his latest victim Shanelle Green, an adorable first grader from Sojourner Truth School. This killing is especially unsettling to Detective Alex Cross. Sojourner Truth is the school his son Damon attends, just four blocks from his home. While the death of an inner-city black child doesn't garner much media attention, another murder is making big headlines. The same day that Shanelle was beaten to death, Senator Daniel Fitzpatrick was found handcuffed to a bed and shot execution style. The only clue the police have to go on is a bizarre rhyme, signed "Jack and Jill," promising more high-profile executions, ultimately targeting the president of the United States. When Cross is called in to help protect the president, he begins to suspect that the two cases are somehow related. As he races to put all the pieces together, the killers continue their bloody rampage, paralyzing the city.
Right off of the heels of "Kiss the Girls" I began the 3rd book in the Alex Cross series (1997). A pretty good book that was a little slow in the middle for my tastes. And once again... somebody REALLY needs to talk to James Patterson about guns! In the past several books I've finished it should be noted that you don't "cock" a Glock and it is NOT a service revolver!
Author: James Patterson
Narrator: Michael Kramer
Running Time: 11 hours and 41 min.
Book Rating: *** 1/2
Production: ***
(out of 5 stars)
Audiobook -- I couldn't get this from Audible.com unabridged so I had to borrow it from the library. This Amazon link isn't the production I just finished. Mine was narrated by "Michael Kramer" from "Books on Tape"
Paperback
