You have to love cooking a steak with a computer controlled laser.  Especially when you can spell this out:
 
See the entire project here.
Courtesy of Greg and Beth.
Month: September 2007
Female Suicide Rate
It pains me to write that headline, because I do love the ladies (especially one lady in particular):
The suicide rate among preteen and young teen girls spiked 76 percent, a disturbing sign that federal health officials say they can’t fully explain.
For all young people between ages 10 to 24, the suicide rate rose 8 percent from 2003 to 2004 – the biggest single-year bump in 15 years – in what one official called “a dramatic and huge increase.”
Of course, the gun control folks will be disappointed in this:
The study also documented a change in suicide method. In 1990, guns accounted for more than half of all suicides among young females. By 2004, though, death by hanging and suffocation became the most common suicide method. It accounted for about 71 percent of all suicides in girls aged 10-14; about half of those aged 15-19; and 34 percent between 20-24.
Well, we haven’t exactly made guns less accessible since 1990, so it would seem that guns aren’t a driving factor behind female suicide, especially as more young women arm themselves. They definitely aren’t going to like this:
It also said the suicide methods suggest that prevention focused solely on restricting access to pills, weapons or other lethal means may be of limited success.
I’ve never found the prevention of suicide a compelling reason to restrict access to anything, because I believe that it’s a person’s fundamental right to terminate his life. But it’s nice to know studies are showing it wouldn’t work anyway.
Hat tip to Ms. Moneymakers
UPDATE: ZendoDeb has more.
Springfield M1A SOCOM II
Head over to Walls of the City for some M1A gun p0rn.  Sorry about the lack of posting, it’s been one of those days.
Riposi in Pace
My Impression
Reading Kevin’s open letter to Robyn Ringler, the impression I’m left with is the gun-control movement, because it has always had a friendly media willing to print anything without question or criticism, has never had to seriously defend its views in an open forum, and is discovering they aren’t prepared for it.
Philadelphia Protests on Aug 28th
Eric has some pretty good coverage of how things went, including the Philadelphia media reaction.  I feel guilty letting Eric do all the hard work, but I was busy importing another evil baby killer into Pennsylvania from Idaho.
I have the FedEx tracking number. My Citori is on its way from Reds!
Shameless Gun Blogger Rendezvous Promotion
It seems we’re a little short of participants for the Gun Blogger Rendezvous in Reno on October 11th., 12th., and 13th. We’re looking for a few (or many) good men and women to come out and hang out. If you can’t make it, at least consider making a donation to Project Valour-IT, who is the GBR charity and Guest of Honor this year.
But seriously, if you can make it, you should come.
DC v. Heller Petition
It seems to be the buzz on the blogosphere from people who are in the know is that the cert. petition in DC v. Heller is rather unusual, in that it discusses at length the merits of The Districts position, rather than discussing why it’s important for the Supreme Court to hear the case.
I almost have to wonder if DC doesn’t want the Supreme Court to actually hear the case.  For political reasons, Fenty had to file for cert., because he has to be seen as standing up for his city’s position on their gun ban. But you can bet the anti-gun groups don’t want to cast this die.  If Fenty appealed with a crappy petition, it would get him off the hook, he did everything he had, after all, but the anti-gun movement as a whole wouldn’t risk putting their entire future in jeopardy by having to go before The Court, and quite possibly losing.
I have to wonder.
AR-15 Alive and Well
And winning competitions, according to Michael Bane and The Shooting Wire. So much for a gun that doesn’t have any sporting use eh?
I’ll Second That
SayUncle talks about the importance of Reasoned DiscourseTM, and that 52% of Canadians support a ban on handguns. Truth be told, I’m surprised it’s not higher.
Those two items are certainly related. As Uncle said, we’re not trying to change the anti-gunners minds, it’s the people who respond to those surveys we’re trying to reach. It’s also the gun owners, hunters and shooters who have had little exposure to the issue, and don’t realize that their rights are in jeopardy too.
Also not to be underestimated is the value in demoralizing your political opponents. They may never change their minds, but we can certainly sow the seeds of doubt in regards to the future of their movement.