S&W 629

 I received a review holster for the S&W 629; even using the kit for breaking in the holster (to make sure you get a tight fit while allowing for slight manufacturing tolerances), the thumb break will not snap.  We are not talking a small difference but many tenths of an inch.  Even gently tapping with my plastic headed gunsmithing mallet is not going to solve this.  It strikes me that my 629 has an adjustable rear sight that looks like it could be the reason for failure to seat.  I believe fixed rear sight 629s are quite rare, usually special order 3" barrel versions, for those of you not getting enough daily handweb abuse.  Any other guesses?  

This is a tight enough fit that I do not see it as a big deal: I am not going to carry this beast except if hiking in grizzly bear territory (which really never happens), or when running to the store during a Zombie Apocalypse (which is slightly less likely).  If I ever live somewhere that requires concealed carry of a .44 Magnum,  it is time to move (perhaps off-planet).  I also do not see myself running or jumping fences with this mass of beautiful stainless steel on my belt, either.  The snap break is just not needed.  I am just trying to figure out: Why?

Those Lathe Chucks That Would Not Hold Workpieces

 I disassembled them, cleaned out grit and shavings from the scroll channel and the jaws with a pick.  After my usual several tries, I managed to reassemble these little puzzles with a drop of 3-in-1 oil and everything works again.  My guess is that you can't get a tight fit with extraneous stuff, so even a little vibration loosens everything up.

What if President Trump Dies

 Dead people win elections. I am sure those electors pledged to him would gladly elect President Pence.  And he has the advantage of none of Trump's often abrasive style.  The worst that the left has found about Pence is that he does not meet women without his wife.  This both prevents "he said, she said" disputes, it also prevents any suspicions that might naturally develop if your husband was spending time with someone beautiful and stimulating.  I would expect Pence to continue Trump policies and judicial appointments.

Hydroxychloriquinone

 10/2/20 Reuters:

Combining trial data suggests hydroxychloroquine benefit

In a series of randomized controlled trials, the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine did not show a statistically significant impact on the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. But when data from five of those trials were combined, researchers found that early use of the drug by people who were not hospitalized yielded a statistically significant 24% reduction in risk of infection, hospitalization or death. "The meta-analysis pools together the studies and increases statistical power," said Dr. Joseph Ladapo of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, coauthor of a report posted on Wednesday on medRxiv ahead of peer review. But a weakness of the meta-analysis, Ladapo acknowledged, is that infections, hospitalizations and deaths were grouped together into a "composite outcome." Combining all those events into one big number makes it more likely researchers will find that treatment had a significant effect. Coauthor Dr. Harvey Risch of the Yale School of Public Health noted that seven nonrandomized controlled trials have also shown "statistically significant reduced risks with early outpatient use of hydroxychloroquine." Along with the meta-analysis, he told Reuters, "This is extremely strong evidence of benefit." (https://bit.ly/2SlHEeE)

Remember Trump was called names when he touted this early on.

Low-Profile Focuser

 I still cannot get the lathe chuck to hold the 1.5" OD tube.  Next step is probably disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly.  On the plus side, I found a source of 1.259" ID 1.375" OD tubing, so no need to do any turning.  The downside is that I still need a step to prevent the tube from falling through the base, and there are only a few threads to hold an 8-32 thumbscrew in place to prevent eyepiece motion.

Solution: Machine a sleeve about .25" long from that 1.5" OD tube into which the 1.375" tube slides.  (Such a short piece should be held adequately by the chuck, and I will be boring the inside, not turning the outside.)  Glue with epoxy to hold in place.  Now I have .25" of aluminum to hold the 8-32 thumbscrew.

No need for epoxy; I bored that .584" long piece of 1.5" OD to a diameter where it would just barely press onto the 1.375" OD tube.  Then I tapped it for a 6-32 knurled head thumbscrew (which I seem to have bought 10 of them, some years back).  I also bored the 1.259" ID tube just slightly larger so that all my eyepieces slide in, and only the thumbscrew holds them in place.  

I had thought of making a brass compression ring to prevent the thumbscrew from marring the barrels, but this is a plastic coated thumbscrew, so no need.  Those brass compression rings are a real pain.  You have to excavate a shallow (.050") channel with a reverse rake boring bit, then cut a very narrow piece of brass to fit in the channel.

Because the OD of most of the new tube is 1.374", I am making a new base with a 1 3/8" hole.  That is mostly waiting for the slotting program.

Doing My Best to Follow James: Help Me If I Fail

My wife points out that it is too easy to let our words take us places we should not go:

How do we walk humbly in this age of inflammatory language, opinions parading as facts and words spoken under the guise of Christianity, but seem to be a far cry from the Lord we profess to follow?  James weighs in with how poisonous our tongues can be, and in this age of social media, our words can become especially hazardous: ...

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. (James 3:1-6 NLT)

9/18/20 NPR quoting Trump:

"Renowned for her brilliant mind and her powerful dissents at the Supreme Court, Justice Ginsburg demonstrated that one can disagree without being disagreeable toward one's colleagues or different points of view," the statement said.

And yes, Trump could take a page there.  

This is a real problem.  There are policies that our opponents promote that are bad ideas, sometimes evil ideas (every white person is a racist, it should be legal to suck the brains out of a baby just a couple minutes before birth).  But the correct response to bad and evil ideas is to counter the ideas, not engaging in name calling or ad hominem attack.  (And I admit that the amusing play on Rep. Octavio-Cortez's name is quite witty, and I have used it at times, but no more.)  If someone engages in unlawful or depraved behavior (using your position as the VP's son to get contracts or bribes, using young girls as sexual playthings, or as bait to blackmail people), we can and should condemn their actions and hold them to account.  But not everyone on the left is evil; many are simply miseducated or looking for simple solutions to complex or painful problems.  Treat these erring people gently; savage their bad ideas.

Ever Wonder Why Armed Men Invaded the Michigan Statehouse?

 10/2/20 Detroit News:

Lansing — In a landmark ruling with far-reaching implications, the Michigan Supreme Court decided Friday that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer violated her constitutional authority by continuing to issue orders to combat COVID-19 without the approval of state lawmakers.

The state's high court ruled 4-3 that a state law allowing the governor to declare emergencies and keep them in place without legislative input — the 1945 Emergency Powers of the Governor Act — is unconstitutional. 

The court was unanimous in ruling that a separate law — the 1976 Emergency Management Act  — did not give Whitmer the power, after April 30, to issue or renew any executive orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic after 28 days without Legislative approval.

The ruling, which was requested by a federal judge earlier this year, serves as advice to the federal court and indicates how the court would rule on a suit challenging Whitmer’s emergency powers.

And her response to being told to stop by the courts?

The order essentially brings an end to Whitmer's ability to use emergency powers without legislative approval, but there are differing takes as to when the practical effect of the ruling would be felt. 

Whitmer argued her powers will remain in place for at least 21 days, an apparent reference to a 21-day period in which the governor can request a rehearing from the Michigan Supreme Court. ...

Whitmer said Friday she "vehemently" disagreed with the court's ruling, which she said made Michigan an "outlier" among the majority of states that have emergency orders in place.

The governor said that even after the Supreme Court ruling takes effect, her directives will remain in place through "alternative sources of authority."

It is almost like she thinks she is above the law.  When governmental officials do not follow the law, there is only one response left.