From the CEOs of Southwest and American, testifying during some Congressional hearing:
“I think the case is very strong that masks don’t add much, if anything, in the air cabin environment. It is very safe and very high quality compared to any other indoor setting. High-grade HEPA air filters on planes capture virtually all airborne contamination and air quality is helped by how frequently cabin air is exchanged with fresh air from outside the cabin.”
So much for masking policies on airliners.
Both New Wife and I got our second (“booster”) Covid jabs a couple weeks ago, and boy, how I suffered.
For the next two days, I couldn’t raise my left arm past shoulder height without it aching like a muscle pull. Then on the third day, it rose again [sic] without a problem.
In other words, I felt fine — not even mildly “off”, like I did with the first one the day after — and New Wife felt no side effects at all.
I honestly don’t see what all the fuss is about.
I do think that I’m growing a new head out my chest, though that may just be the gin talking.
And:
And from Mr. Free Market:
Sent to me by several Readers, this joyful story:
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the 77-year-old was in his garage when a vehicle pulled up and the alleged robber exited and “demanded his belongings.”
The 77-year-old, a concealed carry permit holder, drew his gun and opened fire, striking the alleged robber in the head and chest.
The Chicago Police Department noted that the shots proved fatal.
Mozambique, baby!
Best part:
“Offender was also using a vehicle that was carjacked yesterday.”
… just to help him get to choir practice, of course.
With FN/Browning no longer making the wonderful P35 / High Power, there is a vacuum in the Force as we know it. (In modern terminology, that’s known as a “gap in the market”.)
Step forward Springfield Armory, who not only took over the 1911 from Colt many years back, but (thanks to Reader Simon M, who told me about it) now has manufacturing set up for the High Power.
From their sales spiel:
Made in the U.S.A., the SA-35 features rugged forged steel parts for strength and durability, improved ergonomics and enhanced controls, modern sights, an improved feed ramp design, and an increased 15-round capacity. Configured without a magazine disconnect for a drop free magazine the SA-35 features a factory-tuned trigger with a smooth pull and crisp, clean break.
If all that’s true, I cannot find a single thing wrong with this resurrected phenomenon.
My only quibble is the “matte blue” finish:
…instead of the gleaming, shiny blue of its predecessor:
But that’s just my preference; others may vary. Whatever:
Daughter has been eyeing my High Power for years…
And the P35 is WAY too good a pistol — better still than so many others on the market — for it to disappear,
To Americans, who unlike the Brits are self-consciously class-indifferent, this piece might be a load of old nonsense, but here we are:
When your job involves abseiling out of helicopters, kicking down doors and taking out the bad guys, you might be forgiven for thinking that it doesn’t really matter what school you went to.
But the SAS is getting worried that not enough posh officers are applying to command its high-stakes operations.
The elite regiment has typically been led by former public schoolboys whose privileged education is said to instil the leadership skills and poise required.
‘The typical SAS officer is confident, relaxed, bright and unflappable,’ said one of the regiment’s warrant officers. ‘Many of the most successful officers have been to the top public schools, but recently we have seen a number of guys coming forward who just don’t cut it. It’s a shame, but they are just not posh enough. The bottom line is that the officers shouldn’t be speaking like soldiers. We don’t want officers who are shouters or know-it-alls.’
…Former officers of the SAS include General Mark Carleton-Smith, the head of the Army, and Major Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a former Private Secretary to Princes William and Harry, who one source described as ‘the archetypal SAS officer’. Both were educated at Eton, while other recent commanding officers attended Winchester and Harrow.
Over There, the term “officer and a gentleman” used to be something of a redundancy — one could only become an officer if one was of the privileged class — but it seems like it has been somewhat undermined, and not to everyone’s liking, either. Imagine taking orders from this guy…
Round about now, Mr. Free Market (who was an officer in the Paras under the old regime) is chuckling into his whisky.