Just who determines what is and what is not practical?

Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (Full Version)

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jlf1961 -> Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/17/2014 3:13:10 PM)
The One World trade center tower is designed to withstand the impact of aircraft, a truck bomb the size of a fully loaded tractor trailer, chem and bio air filtration system, expensive but in light of the facts, practical. Engineers routinely design for one, two, even 300 year storms, again deemed practical. The common philosophy in the two statements is that you plan for the rarity, not the daily occurrence. Therefore, the following would fall into the idea of practical preventive measures. 1) A howdah, a double barreled large bore pistol worn by hunters while on elephants to use as a weapon of last resort if a lion or tiger attacks the hunter on the back of the elephant. Reasoning: While the odds slim, this situation may arise in the middle of Texas, Montana or Central Park. 2) Home with 3 foot thick blast proof reinforced concrete walls shielded against EMP, radioactive fallout, chemical warfare agents, bio agents, volcanic dust and super heated atmosphere caused by planetary debris re-entering the atmosphere after a large comet or asteroid strike, and of course all intake vents designed to be tsunami proof just in case the impact is a water impact resulting in a super tsunami capable of coming 500 miles inland. 3) Monster truck just in case some pandemic leaves the high ways and streets packed with abandoned cars. 4) Ge mini guns mounted in gun positions around the upper floor of the house in case of attack by zombies, terrorists, ford fanatics. 5) Whiskey still in the basement in case whiskey is outlawed. Now I challenge you folks to either prove the above are not needed, or add to the list. Whatever.

TheHeretic -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/17/2014 4:42:45 PM)
Lovely ideas. Who's picking up the tab on that?

jlf1961 -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/17/2014 4:50:20 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: TheHeretic Lovely ideas. Who's picking up the tab on that? I was thinking about sending the bill to Obama, if I dont win the Powerball Jackpot on Wed. I mean seriously, considering how bad he screwed up health care reform, among other things, everything I listed would probably be his fault. Actually, at present I am trying to justify the Howdah. There is a local gunsmith who just got his license to manufactur firearms, and he is seriously considering making a modern version of the pistol, chambered for either the baby 50 cal round, or the original 50. Now considering the recoil of the original 50 cal machine gun round, I want to meet the guy or girl who can shoot it from a combat stance with no ill effects from any of Newton's laws.

TheHeretic -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/17/2014 5:46:39 PM)
I've never understood the point of having a firearm that will do the shooter a disabling injury. My own readiness is much more geared towards a medium term (2-4 weeks) loss of all utilities and services, than to a complete breakdown. My part of the world is due for a big earthquake. If the zombies come, then I'll be ambushing some Beverly Hills prepper on his way out of town, and taking his Range Rover full of good shit. If I'm really lucky, he'll already have the bunker location programmed into his GPS.

MasterCaneman -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/17/2014 6:01:59 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: jlf1961 quote: ORIGINAL: TheHeretic Lovely ideas. Who's picking up the tab on that? I was thinking about sending the bill to Obama, if I dont win the Powerball Jackpot on Wed. I mean seriously, considering how bad he screwed up health care reform, among other things, everything I listed would probably be his fault. Actually, at present I am trying to justify the Howdah. There is a local gunsmith who just got his license to manufactur firearms, and he is seriously considering making a modern version of the pistol, chambered for either the baby 50 cal round, or the original 50. Now considering the recoil of the original 50 cal machine gun round, I want to meet the guy or girl who can shoot it from a combat stance with no ill effects from any of Newton's laws. I believe there is a BP replica out there somewhere. But if you wanted to cheat a little, you could cut down a 20 or 12, rifle the barrels, and that satisfies GCA '34-'68. If the can do it for 28 ga. & .410, why not? Pedersoli Howdah 20 Gauge Pistol is the closest you'll get right away. I don't think there's a person on Earth who could handle a .50 BMG in a handgun, or a frame that size that could handle it, to be honest.

DesFIP -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/17/2014 7:50:10 PM)
The whiskey still is impractical and unnecessary because I very rarely drink and when I do, it's never whiskey. I've always understood the howdah to be the seat on top of the elephant. I've never before encountered the phrase 'howdah gun'. I appreciate the opportunity to learn something new. And it's unnecessary and impractical in Central Park as I don't believe they have tigers or lions there. You would have to go to the Bronx Zoo for that.

FrostedFlake -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/17/2014 10:43:54 PM)
A real practical sort of guy wouldn't stop before installing and stocking the doorbell operated trapdoor above the front door to automatically drop the startled guard dog on to the Jehovas Witnesses. ETA : And their kids.

MercTech -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/18/2014 11:07:07 AM)
Opinion: A whiskey still is always practical. Medicinal alcohol. Alcohol stove fuel. And you need a small amount of ethanol to turn vegetable oil or animal fat into bio diesel. And, according to legend, if you don't have whiskey the Irish will take over the world.

jlf1961 -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/18/2014 11:23:13 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: DesFIP The whiskey still is impractical and unnecessary because I very rarely drink and when I do, it's never whiskey. Whiskey is practical, necessary, and depending on what you age it in, makes a great addition to meats when cooking. I've always understood the howdah to be the seat on top of the elephant. I've never before encountered the phrase 'howdah gun'. I appreciate the opportunity to learn something new. And it's unnecessary and impractical in Central Park as I don't believe they have tigers or lions there. You would have to go to the Bronx Zoo for that. I said the odds were slim, but not outside the realm of possibility, kinda like winning the lottery. Back to the whiskey, I for my other property that I have, there is a few large fields that have not been taken over by mesquites, which I have thought of putting into production, including one 12 acre section that I am seriously considering planting in either peanuts or soybeans, just for the oil production. One of the others in either corn, rye, some decent grain to make near 200 proof alcohol for making bio diesel, which is legal if you get the proper license from the atf. I mean it will not be for drinking, scouts honor (Was I a scout, cant remember.) I mean it is not like I was some descendent of a North Carolina mountain family and did not take my first drink of shine until I was 16 (actually I was 13, but whatever.) And anyone who has ever watched films of the post apocalyptic civilization downfall genre or History Channel's Earth Without People, knows that a sudden catastrophe that eliminates a large part of the human population results in animals taking over the cities. So my question to you is: "If you are trying to escape from New York City on the back of a trained circus elephant from the Ringling Bros circus that was at Madison Square Garden when the pandemic hit and you are attacked by a tiger that escaped from the zoo, and you dont have a howdah pistol, what are you going to do, say nice kitty and offer it some cat treats?

FrostedFlake -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/19/2014 11:33:45 AM)
Probably shouldn't try that, "Nice kitty?!?" bit. It arouses contempt. I suggest you point convincingly and say, "Look, a bird!" If he goes for it, don't forget to jump off the elephant. You won't have long. If he doesn't go for it, at least you haven't made things any worse.

ExiledTyrant -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/19/2014 11:42:45 AM)
I do, Benjamin Franklin was the devil!

DesFIP -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/19/2014 4:03:22 PM)
No 'nice kitty', you offer catnip. About 50 pounds of it and run while it's buzzed.

TheHeretic -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/19/2014 7:02:11 PM)
Since I haven't seen the results of the Powerball drawing, I can still fantasize that the one ticket I picked up while buying a gallon of milk is the single winner, and I'm feeling that the combination quad/jetski I saw on Top Gear the other night is a practical way to spend a little of my lucky fortune. (Even if common sense says it isn't going to be either a very rugged off-roader, or very agile on the water, and it costs more than a really good one of each would run you.) "Quadski" if you wanna Google it

slavekate80 -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/19/2014 7:02:38 PM)
Alcohol is pretty handy as an antiseptic, though I'd recommend plain vodka instead of whiskey. You can use it on minor wounds to help prevent infection and as an oral hygiene rinse if more common medicines aren't available. Non-medically, it dissolves a lot of gunk that water won't and it evaporates faster. And it's flammable.

Arldaddy -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/19/2014 7:13:47 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: jlf1961 3) Monster truck just in case some pandemic leaves the high ways and streets packed with abandoned cars. Umm, you can get a TANK plated and Inspected in the state of Texas and IMHO it is better than a monster truck for such uses. I only know this because I looked at buying one. [8\|]

Dvr22999874 -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/19/2014 7:51:31 PM)
There is a vodka that you can get in Poland called 'Spyritus'. It has two bases; one is grain and the other is potatoes (both fairly easily available, even in a post-apocalyptic shit-fight). The grain is 96.5 proof and the potato is 96 proof. I think that's the right way around but regardless, I am sure if the poles can do it, with a little bit of brainstorming and effort, most anybody could. Strictly for medicinal purposes of course !! Two glasses of that and believe me, you are chasing the little animals on the wallpaper.

MercTech -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/20/2014 12:22:37 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: slavekate80 Alcohol is pretty handy as an antiseptic, though I'd recommend plain vodka instead of whiskey. You can use it on minor wounds to help prevent infection and as an oral hygiene rinse if more common medicines aren't available. Non-medically, it dissolves a lot of gunk that water won't and it evaporates faster. And it's flammable. Vodka comes from potatoes Whiskey comes from barley and rye Bourbon comes from corn (maize) Rum comes from sugar cane Tequila comes from agave cactus Gin comes from wheat A lot of the flavoring of these comes from post distillation treatment. Bourbon is aged in oak barrels with charcoaled interiors. Gin is marinated with botanicals to pick up essential oils then re-distilled. But, it all starts at pure grain alcohol with the exception of rum.

jlf1961 -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/20/2014 2:11:51 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: MercTech quote: ORIGINAL: slavekate80 Alcohol is pretty handy as an antiseptic, though I'd recommend plain vodka instead of whiskey. You can use it on minor wounds to help prevent infection and as an oral hygiene rinse if more common medicines aren't available. Non-medically, it dissolves a lot of gunk that water won't and it evaporates faster. And it's flammable. Vodka comes from potatoes Whiskey comes from barley and rye Bourbon comes from corn (maize) Rum comes from sugar cane Tequila comes from agave cactus Gin comes from wheat A lot of the flavoring of these comes from post distillation treatment. Bourbon is aged in oak barrels with charcoaled interiors. Gin is marinated with botanicals to pick up essential oils then re-distilled. But, it all starts at pure grain alcohol with the exception of rum. So you are saying that if I age 99% grain alcohol in charred Oak barrels it would not be suitable for use in making bio diesel?

Dvr22999874 -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/20/2014 2:29:38 PM)
Maybe not but you could sure use it for rocket fuel

jlf1961 -> RE: Just who determines what is and what is not practical? (2/20/2014 2:54:47 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Dvr22999874 Maybe not but you could sure use it for rocket fuel My father's family is from the mountains of Western North Carolina. The area is known for tobacco farms and moonshine, which averages 93 to 99% pure alcohol. One of my great uncles took over from his dad in 1945, after his dad got a 3 year sentence for bootlegging. He made his living hunting ginseng in season, and he put up anywhere from 5 to 15 gallons of quality shine every month, in hand made charred oak kegs. He passed in 2008 at 101. His grandson and great grandson have carried on the tradition. There is shine in their basement that has been aging since 1946. Every time I go back, I come home with three cases of 2 quart mason jars of well aged whiskey. FYI, I started drinking shine on our vacations back there at 13. Nice and smooth going down, however, when it hits bottom, it basically sets your belly afire, but that passes after the third or fourth swallow. Since it is aged, it doesnt take your breath away. Good stuff, I would say it is as good, if not slightly better than a 50 year old single malt from the highlands.

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