Sleepless in Midland

Smith & Wesson Model 625

S&W Model 625

One of the shooters at the Midland Shooters Association pistol competition today used a .45 caliber Smith & Wesson Model 625 revolver (see photo, above).  The unique feature of this pistol is that it shoots the same bullet as a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol.  There are some advantages to that.  With the full moon clip it can be loaded and unloaded very quickly which makes it ideal for competition.  Six bullets just drop into the magazine at the same time, and they pop out just as easily after they have been shot.   It's extremely easy. 

The Model 625 revolver has an advantage over semi-automatic .45 caliber pistols because the shooter who reloads his/her own bullets can make them with a reduced load to lessen the recoil in order to reduce the time it takes to re-aim for the next shot.  So, why can't someone shoot a reduced load bullet in a semi-auto pistol?  Well, the semi-auto pistol has to use a bullet powerful enough so that when it's fired it will generate enough pressure to eject the spent cartridge and inject a new bullet into the chamber.  And a bullet with a reduced load might not have the strength the pistol needs to allow it to run through the full cycle. 

There is a disadvantage, though.  The bullets have to be forced into the full moon clip, and it takes strong fingers to do that.  But, there are tools that can make the job much easier.   And, the same thing applies to removing the spent shells from the clip. 

All in all, it's a very impressive handgun.

Update - 1/12/04:The full moon clip for a revolver has a history I learned only yesterday.  The Colt 1911 semi-auto pistol using the .45 ACP bullet was adopted as the service pistol, but the factories couldn't produce them fast enough as the country geared up in anticipation of involvement in WWI.  So, Smith & Wesson developed the "1917", a revolver that would utilize the same .45 ACP bullet when used with the half moon clip.   And, Colt retooled their machinery so that the Colt revolvers could use that same cartridge, too. 

But, the half moon clip was inconvenient, and in the 1920s Remington began manufacturing the .45 Auto Rim which had a thick rim which could fill up the same the space that the clip would have occupied. 

Both S&W and Colt continued making the 1917 until the end of WWII.  Here's a link to an article about the development and evolution of the 1917.   

And, at some point S&W began making the Model 625 which uses the full moon clip rather than the half moon clip, and it has become quite popular with recreational handgun shooters because of the remarkable ease and speed of loading. 

At a speed shooting and loading demonstration Jerry Miculek with a Model 625 was able to shoot six shots, reload, then shoot six more times with an astonishing elapsed time of 2.99 seconds.   Remarkable!

Pistol Competition

There was a good turnout today at the Practical Pistol and Tactical Rifle matches at the Midland Shooters Association range.   It was a bit chilly early this morning, but by mid morning the temperature had become quite pleasant.  And, as usual there were some very good scores achieved by the shooters. 

The match consisted of six pistol stages and two optional rifle stages.  Each of the pistol stages had a different scenario.  For example, the shooter might have to engage one or more targets, reload, advance to a second position and then engage other targets.  Then, he/she might have to reload again and advance to third position to engage the same targets all the while making sure to avoid shooting certain "bystander" targets. 

The objective is to shoot as accurately as possible as fast as possible while observing strict safety rules the whole time.  It's very challenging.  And it was reassuring to see how well those participants performed who happened to be law enforcement officers. 

The match was conducted under the International Defense Pistol Association (IDPA) rules although this particular match wasn't an IDPA sanctioned event - those will occur in the even numbered months of the year.  Check out the Midland Shooters Association calendar for the exact times and dates. 

Anyway, everyone had a great time, and as usual, everyone survived unscathed.

Update:  For the match results, go  here.

Serial Bank Robber Struck in Midland, Thursday

Big Spring bank robbery, Wednesday

"Hump-Day Bank Robber." Well, I thought it was a cute moniker, but it no longer applies as the Wednesday bank robber struck again yesterday, a Thursday. This time it was at the First National Bank on Wadley St. in Midland.

El Banco Bandido is getting more aggressive. Yesterday he brandished a weapon and actually spoke rather than relying on a note. Here's the Midland Reporter-Telegram article.

The photo above appeared in the Big Spring Herald and shows the robber at the bank in Big Spring on Wednesday. Great photo, huh?

Anyone who has read my other missives (here, here, and here.) about this bank robber know that I have complained about the quality of the photographs that come from bank surveillance cameras. It's always a grainy photo that appears to be virtually useless for identification purposes. Maybe I'm missing something here. But, it seems that if they had some quality equipment that could take a representative photo and those photos were made public then this fellow could be apprehended quite easily. But, what do I know?

Anyway, no one has been hurt, thank goodness!

Hump-Day Bank Robber Strikes Again

Bonnie and Clyde, 1932

The serial bank robber struck again yesterday, this time at a bank in Big Spring, Tx. This makes five bank robberies in the area in the last 12 months by someone who matches the same description, usually strikes on Wednesday mornings, and communicates with a written note. But, this could be his first venture outside of Odessa unless a bank robbery in Fort Stockton could also have been committed by the same fellow.

According to the Midland Reporter-Telegram print version (article not online),

"Authorities will compare video footage from each of the robberies", [Big Spring Police Detective Phil] Whitten said.

Presumable, they will have the typical grainy video images with which to work. As I've said before, good images could be obtained with good equipment. And if the bank owners were really concerned about this they would upgrade their equipment.

Update: Here's the link to the Midland Reporter-Telegram article.

Pain Control

There's an interesting discussion going on in the comments at Kill-as-few-patients-as-possible between health care professionals and lay people about the use of narcotics for pain control. Apparently, there are a number of people who might fake a pain in order to get a prescription for pain control medicine. And, it follows that there would be people who are legitimately in pain but who are denied access to pain control drugs because someone thought they were maligning. Sounds like a tough situation to be in.

To put back pain in financial perspective, Duke University Medical Center, [link], has concluded in a study that Americans spent $26 billion in 1998 on the treatment of back pain.

Makes me want to improve my posture.

Good Advice from Kirk Report

Today, the Kirk Report has a pretty good article titled "Walking A Stock Up" about the practices of some unscrupulous portfolio manages who appear on tv financial shows and hype up a stock they have in their portfolios so they can fatten their own wallets:

I'd readily admit it - I do watch most of the financial related TV shows over the weekend. I usually Tivo them and scan for the stock picks and ignore the market predictions. Why do I do this - because I want to know what is being pumped up in the market. Generally, I use it as a sell indicator, not a buy as so many do.

Why? You have to realize that the vast majority of market pundits you watch on TV are not acting in your behalf. For those of you new to the game, here is how the process works. It is called by many traders as "walking the stock up" and it works like a charm most every time.

Read the whole thing to see exactly how the process works.

David Smith, Joe Millionaire 2 - Post Show Update

{scroll down for the most recent entry}

The last episode of The Next Joe Millionaire, An International Affair, ended with former Midlander David Smith selecting Linda as the prize winner.  So, the question on every fan's mind is what are those two up to now?   

David Smith is back at the rodeo and is currently participating in the bareback bronc riding event at the 71st annual Sandhills Rodeo at the Ector County Coliseum in Odessa, Texas.  The rodeo will continue this week with events beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday.   

Bareback bronc riding is a dangerous recreation.  But, David loves it.  Here's what he told the Odessa American:

"I'm never gonna give up bareback," Smith said. "I hate to say it, but I'd have to get killed. I love to work out and I love to compete… But I can't give up rodeo. It's what put me in this position in the first place."

Ever the gentleman, he had nothing but nice things to say about the The Next Joe Millionaire, An International Affair, and the girls who were on the show: 

"It's really odd seeing yourself on TV," he said. "I thought they portrayed me pretty accurately. I thought they made the girls look a little bit more money-hungry than they actually were, but that's just me. I had a wonderful time. They were all great girls, and I had great dates with all of them."

Oh, and what about Linda?

"I've been talking with Linda," Smith said. "She's really successful in her modeling in Europe. It's not like we're getting married or anything, but I felt we met for a reason. She's a wonderful person and if it's meant to be, it'll happen…They couldn't have put us any farther apart.   But if it works out, bonus. If not, I've got a great friend."

Well, let's see what Linda has to say. 

According to the Prague Post Linda Kazdova of the Czech Republic had been sent by a modeling agency to apply for a spot on Joe Millionaire.  She was one of 14 women selected for the competition, and David   selected her as the ultimate winner earning her a cool quarter million dollars.

Here's more from the December 11, 2003, Prague Post article:

She's just finished her degree in economics, so the time seems right for her to take the money and run, probably to Los Angeles.  "I would like to travel.  I would like to get into TV," she says.  "My dream is to be an anchor or to have my own talk show.  I don't know if it can happen in the States, because I'm not a native speaker.  But I know that modeling is not enough for me."

It was hard to watch the final episodes of the show and not believe there was real affection between the two. Kazdova isn't particularly forthcoming about her relationship with Smith, sharing only that he recently made a trip to Prague and that she is planning to visit him soon in Texas. But she will talk about what else she took from the show besides money.

"I've learned that I should always be myself, that I should say what I think and I shouldn't be afraid to stand out," she says. "I shouldn't be a coward and run away from problems as I did, because eventually I can succeed."

By any measure, that's an all-American success story.

Welcome to the good old U.S.A!

[A special thanks to Bob for the Prague Post link.]

Update - 2/18/04:  The February 7 Star-Telegram.com contained a nice article about David Smith and his participation in the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, and it contains some history of his involvement with rodeo:

Unlike most pro rodeo competitors, Smith didn't begin busting broncs in the junior ranks. He first enjoyed success in mainstream sports.

As his father worked in the West Texas oil patches during Smith's boyhood years, Smith became a starting quarterback at Midland Lee High School. After graduating in 1997, he attended McMurry University in Abilene and played on the school's baseball team.

He left McMurry to concentrate on rodeo but later earned a scholarship as a bronc rider at Wharton County Junior College. In 2002, he qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo.

Also in 2002, Smith joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. And last year, he qualified for the PRCA's Texas Circuit Finals at Waco in bareback riding after finishing in the money in smaller rodeos, including ones in Pampa, Big Spring and Perry, Ga.

In 2003, Smith earned $7,629 at PRCA shows. His total earnings the past two seasons are $10,739.

"I would never give up rodeo," Smith said. "It was rodeo that got me a spot on Joe Millionaire, and I love to compete. Considering my age and athletic ability, if I'm going to succeed in rodeo, it probably will have to be over the next three years. If I don't make it to the National Finals by then, I might never make it."

At the Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo, Smith turned in an above-average bareback score of 76 on Jan. 23. But the next day, he was bucked off. He is scheduled to face his third-round bronc Sunday in the matinee performance.

And, it mentions that he has a Hollywood manager who is trying to get him spots on tv shows:

Jimmy Villarreal, Smith's public-relations manager in Hollywood, said he's working to get Smith small TV and movie roles such as a feature film scene of a cowboy riding a horse or an appearance on a TV comedy like "Reba," which features country-western star Reba McEntire.

I had to chuckle at this next part:

"The trademark that sets David off is his cowboy hat," Villarreal said. "It doesn't matter if we are in New York or Las Vegas, people spot him and say, 'I know him.' When we were recently in Las Vegas at the Billboard Awards, David really stopped traffic. We were literally stopped by fans every 20 minutes."

Ride 'em cowboy!  And here's hoping you make it to the National Finals!

(Bob, thanks a million for the link.)

Update -  8/7/04:Welcome U.K. visitors!  The show was great fun to watch, and it has been a thrill revisiting that experience through your comments.  And, if you haven't seen the summary of the final episode on these pages, and you're absolutely sure that it won't ruin the show for you, here's the link.

Update -  1/6/05:Welcome Australian visitors!  The show has been popular everywhere it has been shown, and I hope this webpage contributes to your enjoyment.

Spirit

The Happy Crew at JPL

By now almost everyone has probably seen the first pictures snapped by the cameras on the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, and they are fascinating indeed.

But, this entry is about happiness. Nothing can quite match the feeling generated by success. And the folks at the Jet Propulsion Lab certainly have a right to be happy. Just check out the smiles on those faces!

Commuter Train in Houston

"All Aboard!"

Those residents of Midland who complain about the cost of the new bus system should be grateful that they don't live in Houston. Houston has some likable features, but sometimes the election results can leave a person scratching his/her head in wonder. The latest entry in that category is the commuter train system that started operation on New Year's day.

The cost? $324 million. The track runs south from downtown for a 29 minute, 7½ mile trip to Reliant Stadium costing the rider $1.

There was plenty of opposition: see here, for example. But, the best explanation I heard was from a friend who said "boys just love to play with trains".

Brian Lamb - FNS Power Player of the Week

This morning Fox New Sunday's Chris Wallace named Brian Lamb of C-SPAN the Power Player of the Week. Here's a heartfelt hurrah to that! C-SPAN provides a great service, and in particular, Washington Journal at 6:00 a.m. CST, seven days a week, is an especially good source of political information. Sometimes it can be boring, but it can be an excellent way to assess the political sentiment of voters.

The callers aren't screened, and sometimes they can really be off-the-wall. The callers are rotated between those who support or oppose a politician or an issue, and some get quite emotional. It can be an educational as well as entertaining experience.

Unusual Auction Items

Missile Boxes

Many municipalities are using online auction companies to auction their surplus stuff, and the city of Midland and many others use the services of Renè Bates Auctioneers, Inc. to handle the actual auction. And, occasionally there will be some exotic item for sale by some organization. For example, last fall Odessa College auctioned off about a half dozen Lincoln Welders. And currently, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is selling approximately 40 houses and mobile homes (without the land).

But, the most intriguing items in the Austin-Bergstrom auction are ten sets of four missile boxes (see picture). Here's the way they were described:

SET OF FOUR (4) EACH MISSILE CONTAINERS - MISSILE CONTAINERS 5' x 1.5' x 2' STEEL 2-PIECE AIR TIGHT CONTAINERS THAT CAN BE USED FOR FEED OR WATERING TROUGHS, WEATHER-PROOF, LOCKABLE STORAGE OF IMPORTANT PAPERS, GUNS, FEED (to keep out rodents and insects), TOOLS, TOYS, TIME CAPSULE, ETC. - UNUSUAL, BUT VERSATILE ITEM, USES LIMITED ONLY BY YOUR IMAGINATION - CONDITION UNKNOWN

Well, they've suggest a pretty good idea - a gun safe. Or perhaps a time capsule to stick in the back yard. Make that four, as the buyer has to buy four at a time. By the way, this one is going to be a live auction, not an online auction, at 10:00 AM CST on January 29.

New Words, Already Banned

Learn a new word.  Find out it's trite.

Don't you just hate it when you learn the definition of a word for the first time, and it's from an article about words that should be banned because they have become too trendy?

I saw the words "bling-bling" embroidered on the seat of a young woman's pants some months back, and I've been wondering what the heck those words meant.  Well, you probably already knew, and now I do too.  But, it's too late. 

A committee at Lake Superior State University, Michigan, took in over 5,000 nominations of words and phrases from around the world, and they singled out 17 they say are trendy, trite, euphemistic or just plain inaccurate.  Link.

Here's the complete list:

The 2004 list of words that should be banished for "misuse, overuse and general uselessness," according to Lake Superior State University:

--Metrosexual: An urban male who pays a great deal of attention to appearance. Critics say we don't need another word for this.

--X: As in X-files, Xtreme, Windows XP and X-Box.

--Punked: To dupe, popularized by the MTV show "Punk'd."

--Place Stamp Here: Printed on return envelopes.

--Companion animals: Also known as pets.

--Bling or Bling-Bling: Flashy jewelry.

--LOL: E-mail speak for "laugh out loud."

--Embedded Journalist.

--Smoking Gun.

--Shock and Awe.  [ Someone who nominated this one said "I'm just waiting on 'Shock and Awe Laundry Soap' or maybe 'Shock and Awe Pool Cleaner'"]

--Captured Alive.

--Shots Rang Out.

--Ripped From the Headlines: TV shows loosely based on current events are described this way.

--Sweat Like a Pig: The problem is pigs don't sweat.

--In Harm's Way.

--Hand-Crafted Latte.

--Sanitary Landfill: Also known as a dump.

So, there we have it.  Lots of new words and phrases we can't use.  Dang.