Gaming Blogs (78)

I've been in and out of the model helicopter hobby a few times in nearly 50 years, overcoming a divorce, the loss of both parents, two serious car accidents and multiple job changes. I started back around 6 years ago, it was with some very small and inexpensive models that could only help me practice at a slow pace. I've since upgraded to larger models that are more powerful and fly with more authority. The only drawback is the cost... several thousand per model. It's a fact that no serious pilot can get by with only one radio controlled helicopter.

It's not possible for me to dedicate myself to the sport like I want... there are other obligations. 30 years ago, I recall levels of obsession where I would come home from work and practice on a computer simulator for 2 hours, break for dinner and get back to another 2 or 3 hours of practice.
It didn't matter how good I got, as going to competition or fun-fly events I could always find guys who were better pilots... much better. There was a guy who invented an electronic device, patented it and sold the product to a car manufacturer. His company was self sufficient to the point where he didn't have to work and would come to Florida every winter to practice flying at a local field for several hours each day.
Being exposed to that level of talent was incentive to continue improving and never reaching a plateau.

Most of us are flying 'pod & boom' style helicopters at have a fiberglass canopy to cover the motor and electronics with a long tail boom and a few fins. They aren't attractive, but fly great. There is a visual drawback, so we often wrap them in brightly colored sticky tape so they can be seen better when far away.

Often these models have names that reflect the size of the blades, like Logo 700 or RAW 580. 700 indicates the main blade length is 700 millimeters. Others have cool names like Dominator or Whiplash. There is one model that has a full fuselage to look like a real helicopter. Lots of guys have them but not too many are out flying them. Mentioned on a previous blog, a friend buys and sells models and recently picked up some used helicopters in a package deal that he plans to maintain and resell. One was a model called Kraken, named after the legendary sea monster.

I've seen them fly. They are very attractive and easy to see in the air. So, I made my friend an offer to trade one of my pod & boom models plus some cash for his Kraken.
He accepted the offer. Part of the deal was to go through the electronics and make sure all was good. He rewired a few connections because the guy who built it originally wasn't meticulous.

After initial testing, my friend flew it, made a few tweaks in the settings and handed it to me to try. Yes, smooth and predictable.

I've only got 2 sets of batteries that fit this model and this week, I'll order 2 more!
Aye, the Kraken...

I will be joining some single peeps in the Fresno area at the end of this month for a game night. I imagine there will be men there that will bring their chess games because us single introverts like games like that…heady games, so I learned chess in one afternoon.

Ask me if I’m good at it though because that’s a whole other ball game…

I couldn’t understand what a stalemate was to save my life for a bit. So now without the aid of the internet I will try to tell you all what it is in my own words…and someone told me not to feel bad because it’s hard for a newbie to grasp but I want to understand damnit!

It is when the king, if he moves in any direction, will become under attack but he is not under attack until he does so. So the game is a draw.

Checkmate is when the king is directly under attack and when he attempts to move out of the way then he is still under attack. So the game is over.

Am I right or wrong?

Oh lawd.



This is fun though. I’m learning something new.

My own pick for game night though is a game called score four. I played that with a man once. He beat me every time but I had a blast playing that game. It’s like a three dimensional game of checkers. So I will be bringing that one to share.

Swatting as in being swatted is when someone calls the police falsely stating a crime was committed at the address of another person... in this case it's Georgia representative, Marjorie Taylor Greene. On Christmas day, with family attending her party, crisis hotline received several calls requesting emergency services giving out her address.

This is not the first time it's happened to Greene. On X / Twitter, she stated it was the 8th time!
So Merry Christmas to MTG as it made someone else merry too!

Technically true. I was with friends at the park flying model aircraft and the moon was in view in the western sky. I was doing loops with the moon in the background so it appeared that I was flying 'around' the moon.
The weather was awesome, with big puffy clouds and a slight breeze.
I did some screen shots from a video so the images aren't perfect, but it's enough to see a large bird that got into the movie!

Hi Anyone have Instagram. I need comments by write his name in comments. Because he is nominated for best MMA coach. Tomorrow is last day of voting

There's talk about Ron DeSantis hosting rallies for Republicans across the country. I believe he may be attempting a 2024 presidential run and on the road doing these rallies.

In the past, Ron has argued 'gun-free' zones are less safe. Good Ron, then allow guns at the rallies you are appearing. I see a quandary here as many event organizers prohibit guns at their venues.

,,,,,,,,,,,,QUIZ..........

I am remarkably well and thoroughly sound.
Cut me quick and it will be seen,
That I instantly have a marvelous sheen.
New appear, sometimes old disappear;
I am a wonderful help to mankind,

Proud woman grabs holds me hard,
The wise and knowledgeable man is sure of it.
Even the fool knows it.
The rich man wants it.
The greatest of heroes fears with out it,
Yet the lowliest of cowards would die for it.
What is this upon which I ponder?


2....which month have 28 days
....?


3....“Who was the first film star to appear on a postage stamp ?”

According to Wiki, John Gotti (John Joseph Gotti Jr.) was an American gangster and boss of the Gambino crime family.
"At his peak, Gotti was one of the most powerful and dangerous crime bosses in the United States. During his era, he became widely known for his outspoken personality and flamboyant style, which gained him favor with some of the general public. While his peers generally avoided attracting attention, especially from the media, Gotti became known as "The Dapper Don", for his expensive clothes and personality in front of news cameras. He was later given the nickname "The Teflon Don" after three high-profile trials in the 1980s resulted in his acquittal, though it was later revealed that the trials had been tainted by jury tampering, juror misconduct and witness intimidation. Law enforcement authorities continued gathering evidence against Gotti, who reportedly earned between $5 million-20 million per year as Gambino boss."

In 1992, Gotti was charged with: Racketeering; racketeering conspiracy; murder; Illegal gambling; obstruction of justice; and conspiracies to murder, bribe a detective, obstruct justice, commit loan sharking, and commit tax fraud. The verdict was guilty. His sentence was, life imprisonment without parole and $250,000 fine.

I've heard before if you want to make a conviction stick, follow the money.

Come Up With Anything So PERFECTLY INSANE That Woke-Fascists Haven't Actually DONE It ... Here We Go!
...

I'm back from a short trip to Ohio this weekend to see my brother. The trip was initially to take measurements for furniture and an office relocation. But, that wasn't more than a day's task.

We went fishing at 3 places on Friday and only caught a few fish too small to keep.
I ate lots of food including a Cannoi that was the best I've had in years. Much better than the Italian bakery in Miami where I grew up.



On Saturday, we drove to the outskirts of town to visit an outdoor shooting range.
We stopped at a gun shop on the way so I could purchase a 1-day firearms permit.
Interesting that the gun license was $5 and the 1-day fishing license was $15.

There was lots of testosterone on display at the gun range and I counted more than 20 semi-automatic tactical rifles for the guys in the 100-150 yard section.

My brother and I were in the 5-10-15 yard area as he brought a Smith & Wesson 380 semi-automatic pistol.



I did some quick research and see it's in the low-end of the scale in price. My brother only goes to the range once or twice a year so he cannot justify something more expensive. He had 2 full boxes and one opened ammo, so I'm guessing we fired off more than 120 rounds.

The place is supervised and an instructor followed us out just to see what we were all about. With a bullseye of 8 inch diameter at 10 yards my brother for got all of the first clip into the inner 3 rings and one into the bullseye. The instructor was a bit surprised as my 74 year old brother with shaky hands did so well. With a smile, I told her he's a retired Army Major. She acknowledged we didn't need supervision.

Every shot I took was in the in the 8x8 stick-on target, but I was disappointed my accuracy wasn't better.

For a few weeks now I've been having earaches since I went to a jobsite where they were removing a tile floor and again when they were core drilling a cement slab (reminder to self ALWAYS carry ear plugs when visiting construction sites) so the ringing in my ears (tinnitus) was at an all-time high. I had construction ear plugs inside the ear muffs and it was a good thing.

I've always been sensitive to smells and having witnessed fireworks over the years, I noticed the fired gunpowder was different than common fireworks. Yeah... the smell was awesome and I wonder if the fascination of people discharging firearms is partly due to the smell.



Mmmm.... Cannoli