Holmstrom Gun

BL.5·50CAL Mk.I
HOLMSTROM
C.O.W.1916

No.42 No.42 is one of the two big 20th century guns at Fort Tórshavn (Skansin). (The other one is no.35)

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Holmstrom Gun

BL.5·50CAL Mk.I
HOLMSTROM
C.O.W.1916

No.42 No.42 is one of the two big 20th century guns at Fort Tórshavn (Skansin). (The other one is no.35)

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Poweful Ray gun

I've loved toy guns since I was a kid. I think they have positive aesthetic qualities. You could argue all day about the questionable taste of regarding a gun as an art object, but the fact of the market is that sexier-looking guns sell better, and besides, archaic weapons such as swords are commonly regarded and traded as art objects today, despite the fact that their purpose, in their day, was no less abhorrent than that of a shotgun. One could even argue that a sword is morally uglier than a shotgun; after all, no one hunts with a sword. Ray guns, in particular, are highly fanciful. Their purpose is to stimulate the imagination. It is perhaps unfortunate that real firearms are looking more and more like ray guns every day, but I'm not going to lose my interest in ray guns and what they represent because of it.

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Poweful Ray gun

I've loved toy guns since I was a kid. I think they have positive aesthetic qualities. You could argue all day about the questionable taste of regarding a gun as an art object, but the fact of the market is that sexier-looking guns sell better, and besides, archaic weapons such as swords are commonly regarded and traded as art objects today, despite the fact that their purpose, in their day, was no less abhorrent than that of a shotgun. One could even argue that a sword is morally uglier than a shotgun; after all, no one hunts with a sword. Ray guns, in particular, are highly fanciful. Their purpose is to stimulate the imagination. It is perhaps unfortunate that real firearms are looking more and more like ray guns every day, but I'm not going to lose my interest in ray guns and what they represent because of it.

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Nokia Gun Mobile Phone

Nokia Gun Mobile Phone

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Nokia Gun Mobile Phone

Nokia Gun Mobile Phone

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Sten Gun Silenced

These guns had shortened barrels enclosed into integral silencer. The silencer was rather effective so most audible sound when firing Mark 2S was the clattering of the bolt moving back and forth in the receiver. Contemporary manuals advised that the weapon was to be fired in semi-automatic mode; the full automatic fire was reserved for emergency situations, as it decreased the service life of silencer significantly.

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Sten Gun Silenced

These guns had shortened barrels enclosed into integral silencer. The silencer was rather effective so most audible sound when firing Mark 2S was the clattering of the bolt moving back and forth in the receiver. Contemporary manuals advised that the weapon was to be fired in semi-automatic mode; the full automatic fire was reserved for emergency situations, as it decreased the service life of silencer significantly.

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Sten Gun Disassembled

Over the period of manufacture the Sten design was further simplified: the most basic model, the Mark III, could be produced from just five man-hours work.

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Sten Gun Disassembled

Over the period of manufacture the Sten design was further simplified: the most basic model, the Mark III, could be produced from just five man-hours work.

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Sten Gun

The Sten emerged while Britain was engaged in the Battle of Britain, facing invasion by the Nazis. The army was forced to replace weapons lost during the evacuation from Dunkirk while expanding at the same time. Prior to 1941 (and even later) the British were purchasing all the Thompson submachine guns they could from the United States of America, but this did not begin to meet demand. The American entry into the war at the end of 1941 placed an even bigger demand on the facilities making Thompsons. In order to rapidly equip a sufficient fighting force to counter the Axis threat, the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, was commissioned to produce a significantly cheaper alternative.

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Sten Gun

The Sten emerged while Britain was engaged in the Battle of Britain, facing invasion by the Nazis. The army was forced to replace weapons lost during the evacuation from Dunkirk while expanding at the same time. Prior to 1941 (and even later) the British were purchasing all the Thompson submachine guns they could from the United States of America, but this did not begin to meet demand. The American entry into the war at the end of 1941 placed an even bigger demand on the facilities making Thompsons. In order to rapidly equip a sufficient fighting force to counter the Axis threat, the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, was commissioned to produce a significantly cheaper alternative.

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Sterling Sub Machine Gun

Of all of the weapons that Her Majesty used to loan me on a periodic basis, I suppose that I liked the Sterling Sub Machine Gun the least. Its not that I had a real disliked of it; with the benefit of hindsight I suppose that I was just ambivalent to it. If you asked me to sum up my feelings I would have to say well at least it was light which when on exercise is the most important feature of any weapon, coupled with the fact that you had as much chance of being issued with any 9mm blank as you have of holding a politician to an election pledge – so at ENDEX, all that was required was a quick wipe over as it wouldn’t have been fired. However, in comparison to say the SLR or the LMG, the Sterling just wasn’t in the same league.

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Sterling Sub Machine Gun

Of all of the weapons that Her Majesty used to loan me on a periodic basis, I suppose that I liked the Sterling Sub Machine Gun the least. Its not that I had a real disliked of it; with the benefit of hindsight I suppose that I was just ambivalent to it. If you asked me to sum up my feelings I would have to say well at least it was light which when on exercise is the most important feature of any weapon, coupled with the fact that you had as much chance of being issued with any 9mm blank as you have of holding a politician to an election pledge – so at ENDEX, all that was required was a quick wipe over as it wouldn’t have been fired. However, in comparison to say the SLR or the LMG, the Sterling just wasn’t in the same league.

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The Silver Wolf Full Metal Rubber Band Gun

The Silver Wolf Full Metal Rubber Band Gun

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The Silver Wolf Full Metal Rubber Band Gun

The Silver Wolf Full Metal Rubber Band Gun

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Sentry Gun

Sentry Gun

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Sentry Gun

Sentry Gun

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Tajima Caulk Gun

Tajima Caulk Gun

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Tajima Caulk Gun

Tajima Caulk Gun

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BB Gun With All Kinds Of Stuff

This is the Walther NightHawk BB Gun. As you can see it looks like they threw on every extra peripheral possible. It's got a flashlight, red dot sight, muzzle compensator, microwave, and I think I saw a hot tub. Okay, so no microwave. Still, it is pretty sweet looking. Unfortunately the $160 gun only holds 8 rounds per clip and shoots at a paltry 360 FPS. But besides that, it's cool. Did I mention I like the styling? I like the styling. I think this is just the thing to tote when I'm breaking into the neighbor's house to steal beer at night when I'm too drunk to drive. I've got one on the way, so I'll update and let you know how Mission Too Drunk To Drive But Not Drunk Enough To Sleep goes.

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BB Gun With All Kinds Of Stuff

This is the Walther NightHawk BB Gun. As you can see it looks like they threw on every extra peripheral possible. It's got a flashlight, red dot sight, muzzle compensator, microwave, and I think I saw a hot tub. Okay, so no microwave. Still, it is pretty sweet looking. Unfortunately the $160 gun only holds 8 rounds per clip and shoots at a paltry 360 FPS. But besides that, it's cool. Did I mention I like the styling? I like the styling. I think this is just the thing to tote when I'm breaking into the neighbor's house to steal beer at night when I'm too drunk to drive. I've got one on the way, so I'll update and let you know how Mission Too Drunk To Drive But Not Drunk Enough To Sleep goes.

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Weather Matters: Whether We Weather The Weather Underground or Above?

I posted yesterday about weather, and the torrents of rain in southwestern Mexico.  Fortunately the casualty rate due to the mudslides was less than feared, but the region has been devastated and as many as 300 homes buried.

Tropical Storm Nicole is barreling up the east coast, and should entertain us on Long Island Sound tomorrow with a bit of wind and rain.  Storms are beautiful, casualties and damage not so.  Meteorology does matter indeed, in that it can save lives.  However a larger point is at hand.

Two man-made disasters threaten ours and many other species.  Nukes and global warming.  Nukes are unfortunately only in the hands of policy makers(not a reliable place for them, to say the least-how 'bout eliminating them--the Obama administration has set that as official U.S. policy for the first time since the civilian targets Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed by the U.S. in 1945).

Global warming was indeed put on the map by Al Gore.  He may not have invented the internet, as he once claimed, but he did have an election stolen from him by one vote(5-4 party line US Supreme Court vote) and he did win the Nobel prize for advancing the facts of climate change.  To the point that even conservatives no longer try denying it's reality.

Generally speaking, those in the scientific community go unrepresented staff-wise in the news media, especially the broadcast media.  They are usually represented by meteorologists who wind up doing all kinds of other science duties, since hard science does not result in the desired demographic numbers NBC, Rupert Murdoch and Ted Turner's successors desire.

Prominent meteorologists, both local and national, tend to know their science and tend to advance certain causes when given the opportunity.  One such cause is the reduction of carbon emissions asap, because they know the damage already done and the damage being done and the damage that will be done.  As a group, these people have done much to advance many good causes.  Including investment in tsunami warning devices since the last devastating one a few years ago.  Also in tornado warning devices and systems in areas prone to twisters.  Advocating for scientific research funds.  Improving relief capabilities during disasters, especially post-Katrina.  And persistently reminding us of the imminence of the climate change threat.

Not organized in any sense, this loose confederation of on-air and off-camera weather experts are doing much to save the world, quietly, subtly and every day.  So to this small army of motivated experts, I say thank you.

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Weather Matters: Whether Weather Matters?

It flat out does.  Meteorology is the only segment of local and national news broadcasting[if what transmits electronically through cables nowadays may be called broadcasting] that can either routinely save lives or cause lives to be lost.

Tragically today, as of this posting, as many as 1,000 people may be buried under tons of mud in southeastern Mexico due to landslides caused by as much as 30 inches of rain that has fallen from the remnants of the tropical cyclone Matthew which assaulted central America late last week.  The Weather Channel, despite NBC's many blunders since acquiring the Atlanta based network, continues to do awesome work in the area of saving lives routinely.  And today's reporting by them and their reporting of Matthew since it hit Central America, and of the tropics in general this season is emblematic of the staff's commitment to helping people who find themselves in the cross hairs of all types of weather phenomenon.

Unabashed Left has become somewhat of a recreational meteorologist this year, and has been blessed with many opportunities to meet some wonderful people dedicated to saving lives through weather reporting and forecasting.  Thanks to a now very dear friend, we ordered and acquired a wall-sized hurricane map and began charting tropical systems.  At the NOAA[the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration is the umbrella federal agency which includes both the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center] website blank charts are available free for the printing.

Sally, my wife, just bought me an updated weather station for our 3rd anniversary earlier this month[hi honey, I love you].  In Wallingford, CT it is currently(3:48pm Tuesday September 28, 2010 according to the atomic clock based in Colorado) 74.1 degrees Fahrenheit; relative humidity is kind of stifling at 95%; the dew point is 73.4 Fahrenheit; wind chill equivalent is 74.1; heat index also 74.1; winds are light and variable out of the Northwest at present @ 2mph; the barometric pressure is on a slow downward trend at 1005 millibars right at this moment, skies are overcast and should continue be the next few hours, with the rainfall for the previous 24 hours at slightly less than one half inch.

On-air weather reporting done accurately and well, without what we've come to call the "one eye on the radar and one eye on the ratings" syndrome, can actually prevent lives being lost, injury and property damage.  Most obviously, for example, is the risk involved in hyping storms routinely, resulting in a 'crying wolf' scenario in which people in those areas prone to tropical cyclones are inured to weather events and choose to ignore evacuation orders or even protect property[board windows, batten down hatches on boats, secure lawn furniture, etc.].

Over the years our observation has been that The Weather Channel and its newly updated weather.com has been responsible in its reporting in general.  That's not to say that some individuals haven't been prone to exaggerate and enhance their own careers by doing so, even on TWC, but in general, the net effect of TWC I believe is to have saved many injuries, deaths and at least $millions in property damage. 

Since joining NBC's "family" of networks, the media conglomerate has botched some things at TWC, especially personnel-related matters.  They've dispensed with some on-air people who are highly responsible and competent at the expense of cosmetics such as youth, appearance, celebrity and demographic appeal.

In the long run, NBC will learn that these moves will not improve TWC ratings at all.  At weather.com, we've been privileged to participate in two online chats.  One involved the recent anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the other about Hurricane Earl as he posed a threat to the U.S. east coast.  These events included on-air personalities such as Jim Cantore, Jeff Morrow, Mike Seidel, Dr. Rick Knabb, Stu Ostro and Brian Norcross as well as out of camera range experts. 

As an aside, I was privileged to participate in an online chat at the White House recently with NOAA administrator Dr. Lubchenko through the whitehouse.gov website.  That chat surrounded the safety of seafood following the BP oil spill, and is a clearly indicative of the transparency of this White House and of the Obama administration in general(I was also privileged to participate in a chat 2 weeks ago at the White House involving a member of the Council of Economic Advisers following a major economic speech by the President).

These online events were informative, accessible and fun, to say the least.  Young people with interests in meteorology are stimulated by these types of events, and there is much more available at weather.com.  Kudos go out to all involved on-air and off for performing a very valuable and unheralded public service.

Of the news networks, CNN deserves a rare pat on the back these days for it's commitment to meteorology.  It is the only network with a stable of full-time meteorologists who do much more than meteorology.  In particular, Chad Myers did an awesome job on an ongoing basis explaining the technology involved in capping the oil spill sponsored by BP, and Rob Marciano + producer John Murgatroyd[husband of TWC reporter and graduate meteorology student Julie Martin-Murgatroyd] did a great service with a prime-time special recently on the people employed cleaning up after BP.  Also, Jacqui Jeras performs admirably as do several other meteorologists for CNN.

I've found that on social media, meteorologists from the two networks are accessible, real and encouraging.  One day, for example, early this hurricane season, I was wanting to chart then tropical storm Alex, and Samantha Mohr of TWC was on-air.  I facebooked her requesting that the coordinates be posted, and 15 minutes later and for the rest of the weekend there were the coordinates.  Thanks Sam!  On another occasion we observed reporting one morning on TWC of a potentially world-record breaking 8 inch hailstone submitted by photo through an I-reporter's lens.  We facebooked Jacqui Jeras at CNN about the story, she thanked us and put the story on CNN then and there and it became an almost viral report for the next 48 hours.  Thanks Jacqui!

The interactions between the on-air meteorological/scientific communities there in Atlanta is actually quite heartening.  I especially want to thank former TWC veterans Dr. Steve Lyons and Bill Keneely for their years of valuable service and their accessibility and enjoyable chats.  Dr. Steve is now performing valuable work for the NWS on the Texas Gulf coast, and enjoying mountain biking, fishing and other outdoor pursuits, his fans might be interested in knowing.

A special shout-out to a very special young aspiring on-air meteorologist who goes by the name Marina Carpenter.  She is a uniquely knowledgeable high school freshman, who has designed a facebook fan page called The Weather Explorers.  We recommend that everyone go there now!  ABSOLUTELY!  It is full of accurate weather information, safety tips, updates, essays and input from fans. 

Her mission is the most beautiful part of the whole thing.  Her mission statement is posted at TWE and can be pretty much summarized as having the sole purpose of "keeping YOU safe."  This Weather Explorer, Marina Carpenter, is an inspiration to me in so many ways I can't begin to recount them all.  Technologically savvy, she intends to begin live broadcasts via Skype soon, has begun a setup on Twitter and here on blogspot.com with her new blog page.  All in addition to her school studies.  If you visit The Weather Explorers on facebook you won't want to leave.  She is my technological advisor for Unabashed Left in all its manifestations, on blogspot, facebook, twitter, gmail, hotmail and more.  Thanks Marina!

By the way anyone may email us now at either unabashedleft@hotmail.com or at unabashedleft@gmail.com anytime.  Our Twitter page is under construction.  And of course we are always here at unabashedleft.blogspot.com for your political, sociological and comedic convenience. :)

Weather forecasting is an art ever inching towards science, and I encourage young people to consider it as a career--especially the engineering aspects.  Doppler radar, satellite imagery, oceanic buoys detecting wave motion and so much more has done much in the last 20 years to save lives, and much more remains to be done.  I am inspired by the great men, women and kids I've met in this journey who are almost all inspired well to do service to people and I wish the same could be said to the same extent of those on the other side of the news desk and those holding office.

Some simple advice.  If severe weather of any sort threatens you locally, tune in to local TV, radio or online.  Heed any and all official warnings, watches and especially orders.  Highly recommended websites include: hurricane.com, noaa.com, The Weather Explorers on facebook, theweatherexplorers.blogspot.com and, of course, unabashedleft.blogspot.com for all your political and military needs. :)

A quick prayer, if you would.  Lord, please bring Your peace to those affected by the rains in Mexico today, and if it be your will, that casualties be minimal.  And that for those who may have perished that You welcome them into your blessed arms and give them the eternity of joy for which we all yearn. And for the survivors, please grant them comfort and faith in the conviction that You are the Creator, the Prince of Peace and that Your peace, which certainly surpasses my understanding, be granted unto them.  Amen.

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Media Matters: An Afghan/Pakistan Rachel Maddow Quickie

Rachel got a great "get" as usual tonight in her  interview with U.S. Ambassador to the Afghan/Pakistan Situation Richard Holbrooke.   She did an awesome job threading the needle in her talk with Ambassador Holbrooke about our current drone strike campaign(missile attacks are happening at a rate never before--more than 20 this month alone) in Pakistan.

Holbrooke speaks diplomatese by necessity, and Rachel navigated it extremely well, respectfully, but got answers.  I don't think anyone on TV could have done it but she.  Holbrooke justified these remotely-manned military incursions into the sovereign Pakistani nation adeptly, but with echos of Kissinger's justifications for the private wars in Laos and Cambodia.  She expressed her disapproval well, and closed the interview with the obvious intent on Holbrooke's part to return soon for another interview.

The idiocy that is the current Republican leadership in Congress guarantees that the Obama administration cannot even hope for adult consultations with Congress on its foreign policy, let alone any sort of approval for what used to be a bipartisan matter--U.S. foreign policy, especially the Commander-in-Chief's prerogatives regarding matters military.   So one can understand Holbrooke's  frustration, and justifications for going it more or less alone when it comes to these drone strikes.

General Petraeus, yesterday's NY Times reported, has finally acknowledged that high level negotiations are ongoing daily between Kabul and the Taliban(minus the half dozen or so fools at the top, including woman-stoner "Mullah" Omar) with U.S. approval.  Ambassador Holbrooke has all but confirmed these talks for weeks in on-the-record and off-the-record comments in the media.  Just as he has all but confirmed the drone strikes themselves.

This is a clear indication that the inside war within the administration[which had to be fought] between the civilian foreign policy leadership and the uniformed brass[especially McChrystal, Petraeus, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mullens] is over, and that the civilians have won!  Secretary of Defense Gates will soon offer his resignation--mark our words.  Also good news!

But the best news of all is that Unabashed Left, as of today,  is optimistic that a negotiated and workable peace treaty in Afghanistan will happen well before the on-again off-again August troop drawdown deadline.  Congratulations are due to, in order for good reason:  VP Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama, and Ambassador Holbrooke.  And to Rachel Maddow and the best little research, editing staff on television.
Peace...

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Media Matters: Facing Up To Facebook

Loads of scumbag stuff happens. It's true, it's true.  Predation, identity theft, email scams, spam and more.  Social media is denounced regularly in the other media.  Indeed all sorts of media beat up on all sorts of other media routinely.  Segments of the same media beat up on other segments of the same media as well.  Just look at Fox and MSNBC.  Or the New York Times, the Daily News and the New York Post.  OK, forget the Post.  Keith Olberman and Bill O'Reilly.  Rachel Maddow and every Republican with an outside chance of losing(Hi Rachel!).

But social media is here to stay.  Oh yeah, that's what I was going to blog about--social media.  I forgot.  Got distracted.  What a concept.  Killing retarded people will do that to me every time.  :(

Anyhowww....   As I was saying.  Social media is here to stay.  Gotta take the bad with the good.  Cost/benefit analysis.  Gotta weigh the good with the bad.  Cars good.  Cars bad.  They'll get you there faster than Nikes or Adidas, that's for sure.  But 10s of 1000s die every year because of cars.  Cost-benefit.  Not even a close call.  Cars are here to stay.  I could walk, but everyone will get there first and be home and the place will be closed before I even get there.

Facebook.  MSNBC.  To Trap A Predator marathons, every weekend when 911 big-style news isn't happening.  Social media is a boon for sex offending scumbags.  No more Aqualung at the city park eyeing little girls in public on benches.  No risk necessary, compared to the old days.  Sucks, doesn't it.

Identity theft is now the dollar for dollar largest crime in the good ol' U.S. of A.  My spam now exceeds the total number of canned hams sold in the western hemisphere this decade.  Facebook.  I receive links to get rich quick schemes daily from a loved one who sends them to other loved ones and infects their computers without ever knowing she emailed anything, and her own computer crashed, but not long enough to stop her from unknowingly emailing more get rich quick scams.  Facebook.

The ownership of Facebook is in court.  No one really knows who even owns the enterprise.  Security breaches--news reports of "friends" viewing chats by "friends" which are unfriendly to the aforementioned "friends" without the original "friend" having any clue others were looking.  OMG.  Chatting with "friends" and having your friend drop out of Facebook sight at crucial moments dozens of times.  The old Facebook chat cliffhanger chat phenomenon.  Will he/she return or not.

Twitter is just unnavigable and really only for snobs anyway.  A computer genius nerd told me the other day that My Space was about to be absorbed by Facebook anyhow, so why bother.  I figure it must be the high-tech equivalent of Walmart gobbling up fun places like Caldor's, Sears and K-Mart.

So what good stuff is there to say about social media?  After all this is supposed to be a feel-good piece after a few days of nonsense bad news.  OK, I'll give it a try.

Good stuff and good people are happening every day on Facebook and other media.  I met an aspiring young meteorologist whose main mission in life is to "keep YOU safe."  Please check out The Weather Explorers on Facebook.  Definitely worth the while.  The technology has enabled her to help me and me to help her with our own personal electronic goals, and to become fast friends beyond Facebook.  She is near and dear to me now, and my wife and I take delight in her every success.

I've met a mother of 4 youngsters, including one with horrible challenges, the owner also of a litter of puppies, umpteen other dogs, cats, guinea pigs and much more.  One of her puppies nearly died this week.  She's real and trusts me to vent in the middle of the day about stuff that matters, not these Republican/Democrat beltway Olympic games we play every day.  She is half my age and my role model, to say the least.

I've met people raising funds and been able to help raise funds for great causes including la-spca.org which still needs the help.

I've had great debates about religion, politics, and crime + punishment and oodles of other stuff with ordinary people who think and feel.  I've met famous people who take the time to chat with a plain old guy from a blue collar neighborhood who they've never heard of before and can expect nothing from in exchange but appreciation for their time.  I've seen just tons of expressions of love of all kinds by all sorts of people, including people I never would have imagined capable of making such expressions.  I would have otherwise just blindly and ignorantly passed them by.

I've seen beautiful photography with diverse subject matter.  I've seen mammatus clouds, tornadoes, hurricanes, puppies, angels and many more photographs that will never be submitted to the Pulitzer Prize committee but which would demolish them in any fair competition.  I've seen much beautiful poetry and philosophy.

What I've seen is the good side of humanity, just like at the Tobin Chiropractic Center, as mentioned in an earlier post.  Maybe I'm looking for different things today.  I don't know.  But on balance, my Facebook experience has reaffirmed my faith that in His infinite wisdom, God has a plan that involves our species.  And that part of the plan is for me to discover in my sixth decade that most of us are, in fact, just good folks.  Not bad.  God don't make no junk, of that I am certain and Facebook is confirming this view.  Tea Partiers notwithstanding(LMAO).

I've learned some icons.  Here goes.   O:)  <(")  :-D  and that old standby :).     I am certainly no O:) or a <("), I enjoy :-D ing now more than ever, and I do <3 you, believe it or not, Tea Partier or not.  LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLLOL   TY    TTYL   PEACE

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Sociological Stuff: Teresa Lewis Killed At Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, VA

Teresa Lewis, 41, died by injection at 9:13 p.m. Thursday, Virginia correctional authorities said.  She was the first woman executed in Virginia in nearly a century.  Supporters and relatives of the victims watched her execution.
Lewis apppeared tearful, her jaw clenched, as she was escorted into the death chamber.  She glanced tensely around at the 14 assembled corrections officials before being bound to a gurney with heavy leather straps.
Then, as the drugs flowed into her body her feet bobbed, but she otherwise remained motionless.  A guard tapped her on her shoulder reassuringly as she slipped into death.
Ms. Lewis had an Intelligence Quotient of 70 as tested by the Commonwealth of Virginia.  May she rest in peace.
Facts reported by the New York Times at 10:07 p.m. EDT September 23, 2010.

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Sociological Stuff: PLEASE DON'T KILL TERESA LEWIS!!!!!!!!!

Teresa Lewis is going to die at 9pm tonight in a Virginia death chamber unless someone stops the state from committing the murder.

Teresa is a handicapped Woman with an IQ of 70 according to the Commonwealth of Virginia itself, making it illegal according to a 2002 Supreme Court ruling outlawing the execution of persons with retardation--which sets a clear guideline of 70 or under.  She has expressed remourse for her actions, is believing in God, and desires to not be executed.

Having worked with and loved literally hundreds upon hundreds of adults with retardation, please know that anyone with an IQ anywhere near the ballpark of 70 is a severely handicapped individual in our's or any society.

All involved, including The Supreme Court Justices who voted to kill her Tuesday, Governor Bob McDonnell who has so far signed off on the homicide, and those who participate in arranging for the lethal injection are guilty of premeditated murder if the mental torture they've been subjecting her to ends in her death tonight.  The motive is clear--it is revenge for her indirect participation in the 2002 fatal shooting of 2 men by Rodney Fuller and Matthew Shallenberger(she did not participate in the shooting of them).

Christians and Jews[and Muslims] abhor execution because of the Commandment provided in writing to Moses by God himself that is unequivocal and with no qualifications or legalese or fine print or asterisks or footnotes whatever.  It reads, in the King James version:

"Thou Shalt Not Kill."

That's the commandment in it's entirety.  I see no qualifications or loopholes whatsoever.  That's the good thing about the Good Book--no fine print or caveats to confuse the believer.  It's an absolute.  Thou shalt not kill-- not too hard to understand.  If she is executed, Teresa will be killed.  Thou shalt not kill my Christian, Jewish and other believing friends!

Jesus reiterated his own preference for unconditional love, forgiveness of sin and abhorrence of killing throughout his living ministry.

Evolutionists and creationists alike can only abhor the caveman mentality of revenge killing, hoping for a higher plane of morality, ethics, love and humanity. 

Both pro and anti choice people argue for the sanctity of life, in this case[and in the case of capital punishment itself] it's clear.

Nobody alive can possibly state with certainty what death for humans means.  Many believers suspect an eternity in a burning Hell where flesh is agonized with pain forever.  Others have notions of nothingness.  Some have the idea of earning a place in Heaven which fulfills all conceivable aspirations, with a catastrophic alternative such as eternal damnation for those who don't earn their ticket to Heaven.  Some postulate a lengthy "purgatory" -- a sort of waiting-room of worry and panic pending permanent placement.  Another grouping speculates that we return again and again, as either humans to give it another try or as another creature.  Still others simply don't even hazard a guess.  The fact is no one knows.  

No reasonable person can argue that killing someone by any means is not "Cruel and Unusual" by any standards of human decency unless they have a corner on the market of knowing exactly what death is and nobody does.  Certainly you have to acknowledge that reasonable people disagree on what comes after this life, and that any doubt at all renders death inherently cruel and unusual.

Reports abound that even lethal injection is torture and those killed suffer horrible pain and agony, in that consciousness persists while the lungs are paralyzed and the victim slowly dies while unable to breathe.  The movie, "The Green Mile" is a sobering one that depicts execution by electric chair and shows how merciless such torture is.

The mental anguish preceding execution, from handcuffs, through death row to death chamber--Cruel and Unusual to say the least.

Nobel Peace Prize-winning Amnesty International[world-renowned advocates for human rights] opposes death by governments for any motive, including the revenge motive and is pleading for Teresa's life here.  Human rights groups and governments the world over abhor the American death system.

How can a conservative, a Tea Partyer, a Republican or a Libertarian be so trusting of government as to desire  giving it authority over the life and death of legal U.S. citizens! The fact is that government has botched the whole scheme by executing many innocent people over the years.

DNA technology is now exonerating dozens upon dozens of inmates incarcerated for years falsely by the governments of the states and the feds.  Killing one person unjustly is too much government for me as a liberal, how much more so should it be for anyone who is conservative.

The Declaration of Independence calls "life" a "right" and the[distrustful of governmental authority] founding fathers' United States Constitution prohibits any punishment that even remotely resembles cruelty.

Iran is having a public relations field day with this and every U.S. execution. 
The  stoners of women and others in Tehran, of the Taliban, of Al-Quaeda, Mullah Omar and Osama Bin-Laden all endorse execution, as did Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Idi Amin.  Please let's get off of this pathetic committee!

Teresa is scheduled to die at 9:00pm Eastern Daylight Time tonight!  Please email Governor McDonnell at governor.virginia.gov  immediately!  Also visit saveteresalewis.org right now, please!!!

Thy will be done. We pray Lord, that it is thy will for Teresa to be spared death this day until you call her by your own determination, not by the hands of man. In Jesus' precious name we pray. Amen.

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Sociological Stuff: The Most Beautiful Woman In All The Universes

Happens to be my wife, my soul-mate, my other half, my partner, my best of best friends, the Love of my life, the very bestest of the best persons on Planet Earth, the Milky Way Galaxy, this universe, all the known and unknown universes, everything that's on either side of black holes, on either side of time and space, the ever and eternal one true woman for me: Sally(with a Y) Alexander.  I am Unabashed Left, I am Steve Alexander and I Love Sally Alexander.  She is the most beautiful woman, not only on the outside, but on the inside too. Thank you Jesus. ;)

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Sociological Stuff: A New Dawn, Anna Bright New Day

This is a story about the Tobin Chiropractic Center, a mythical practice in a mythical land named North Haven, just south of the land called Wallyworld on Route 5, and just north of the land known as New Haven, famous for Yale University and for being south of Wallyworld.  A beleaguered patient named Unabashed Left wandered in one day.  Unabashed Left happens to be the first person singular; your trustworthy author: ME!   :)    

Unabashed Left(Me) dragged his sorry spine to the reception desk where he encountered a beautiful maiden with flowing raven hair named Anna. Anna smiled a smile that broke all records. Fortunately Unabashed Left had sunsensor lenses and was not blinded by Anna's smile. Anna comforted me, and asked me to fill out some fun forms and let me play with her pen.

Anna escorted me on a tour of the Tobin facility as obliged by the duties of her calling, and did so with much good cheer despite Unabashed Left's(my) unrelenting efforts at "humor."  Another beautiful maiden, this one with golden hair, Dr. Dawn Tobin, arrived and escorted me to an examining room.

Dr. Tobin reviewed my options regarding diagnosis and treatment and other fun stuff. She and I agreed that she would x-ray me, for example. Dr. Tobin proposed to adjust me over time, and I informed her that I was, in fact, well adjusted already as my psychiatrist has agreed, that I just needed my back fixed. The kind Doctor explained subluxation to me and chiropractic treatment. I was eager to agree to this great plan.

As mentioned elsewhere in this blog during an earlier post, I have recently had treatment for a relatively minor medical condition which has sidelined Unabashed Left for many moons. Although not directly related to my spinal concerns(indeed, she's been able to educate me since that almost everything has much to do with spinal concerns) Dr. Dawn listened raptly and at length to my concerns. For a very long time. Because unless the reader hasn't noticed, Unabashed Left can be quite verbose. And verbose. And verbose.  My philosophy tends to be "Why use two words, when a thousand will do!"

So Dr. Dawn listened. And listened. And listened. But amazingly, to me, she also shared. She shared her concerns about one of her own loved one's similar medical plight. And shared. And shared, not nearly as verbosely as I, but she shared. It made Unabashed Left feel warm and fuzzy. It also made me realize that there were still medical practitioners with "Doctor" in their titles who cared inherently about their patients, trusted in people enough to confide, and humble enough to consider advice regarding navigating the nightmare that is the American Medical system from a layman, as well as accept moral support from someone who had already received the same from her.

Dr. Tobin's office allows for an open sort of environment where patients are treated at Tables 1 and 2(I still haven't experienced Table 2, Ms. Anna) with simple dividers, more or less, separating them from the reception area. Patients are always offered the option of more private care should they prefer.

For my first "adjustment," [I still have difficulty accepting that I am not already well "adjusted]" I was assigned to Table 1(as usual Ms. Anna).  During Dr. Tobin's first attempt to put an end to my subluxations, Unabashed Left abused her with repeated attempts at such "humor" as were inflicted upon the raven-haired Anna the very first day. Dr. Tobin took these pathetic attempts with grace and genuinely good humor in return.

Following my "adjustment" I rounded the corner of the Table 1 partition to view the lovely Anna. I informed Anna that I believed that I had been a "good patient" that day and requested a scratch and sniff sticker, preferably a sunflower that smelled like a sunflower with a smiley face affixed, that said "good patient." With sadness in her voice, Anna admitted that the Tobin Chiropractic Center was out of stickers, and in fact, had never had scratch and sniffs. Indignant, I selfishly demanded that the Center acquire stickers ASAP, and that none other than scratch and sniffs would do!

Time passed. And passed. And passed. Dr. Tobin continued with her adjustments despite my attempts at humor.  I noted one day that my name had not been added to the new patient color erase board. I criticized maiden Anna mercilessly. I demanded that my name be added and in block letters and in a different color than all the other writings on the board! I was even so rude as to demand of her that she erase all the other new patients' names and allow only mine to be seen. Anna ever so diplomatically and with much care and compassion for this soon to be "well adjusted" patient agreed to many(certainly not all) of my demands and my name now proudly stands front and center of the new patient wall.

Dr. Tobin adjusts families, including small children and Anna posts them with certificates for the tykes' first chiropractic experience. Featured are baby pictures on many of the certificates.  I even rudely demanded a certificate of my own for the children's wall.  Anna held firm and mandated that I must provide a baby picture if I am to be allowed to join the other kids on that hallowed wall of fame.

I sat in the waiting room one day and 2 year old Goldilocks emerged happily but shyly from outdoors into the Tobin Chiropractic Center through the front door and walked to the center of the room.  She had curly golden locks, lacked several teeth, stood between 2 and 3 feet tall and was cute as all get-go. Anna's delight was obvious for all to see, and she abandoned her post at the desk, emerged to the center of the waiting room and scooped Goldilocks into her arms. Cuteness on such a massive scale is now outlawed in 7 states, and such legislation being considered in the other 43 and the District of Columbia. Goldilocks was clearly trusting and delighted to be in Anna's grasp. Goldilocks and Anna eagerly welcomed my own somewhat awkward attempts at collegiality, as did Goldilock's Dad.

Just today a woman came in to inform Anna and Dr. Tobin as I sat in the waiting room that she was there for her own appointment, having been there earlier today with a child for the child's adjustment.  She told them that she had to leave earlier because her elderly mother-in-law had passed away. Anna responded with loving care, affection, tact, skill, and clearly helped the patient through a very difficult day to say the least, as did Dr. Tobin when she joined the conversation. Then Dr. Tobin took her in to Table 2(yes Ms. Anna, she went to Table 2--you sent me to table 1....  again) where she also eased her hip pain.

Another day I had entered the same waiting room to observe Dr. Tobin in an intense discussion with a patient. The man was discussing his children; young adults in various degrees of post-secondary education, it seemed. Dr. Tobin had to retreat to Table 2 to manipulate another patient.  The gentleman turned to me to continue the discussion he had been having with the good Doctor. He spoke of his concern about the safety and value of an automobile purchase by one of his offspring. He spoke of financing both children's undergraduate education and the dilemnas one faces in financing graduate school. I could only think, "What a great father." He seemed to have forgotten that he'd never seen me before. I offered support and concern. I told Dr. Tobin later that she seemed to have a knack for attracting only the best. 

That's the way it is at The Tobin Chiropractic Center.  Dr. Tobin and Anna are awesome good people who treat people with Chiropractic care, optional accupuncture, other good stuff and specializing in love. Yes, I did use the "L" word. They specialize in love. I told Dr. Tobin today of my observation that much more goes on at the Tobin Chiropractic Center on a day-to-day basis than Chiropractic Care.  Anna and Dr. Tobin are indeed "adjusting" people in many, many more ways than ending subluxations, which the team accomplishes quite admirably, by the way, judging by their satisfied and delighted patients. 

My first week of treatment had to be interrupted by a medical treatment for the aforementioned medical condition I've suffered this year.  Dr. Tobin requested and received a hug the day before my treatment.  I've since requested and received one other from her, when she once again confided her own concerns about her own loved one. I can only hope this hugging trend continues from time to time.  Her hugs do much to heal, as do her skilled Chiropractic hands.  I've been attending the Tobin Chiropractic Center for approximately one month. No more.

Doctor Tobin actually went shopping for scratch and sniffs, as promised. She failed to find any.  What kind of country is this anyway, where a decent Chiropractor cannot find quality scratch and sniffs at a department store, a craft store, a conveniece store or even at the local gas station--for crying out loud.  There is a happy ending.  Dr. Tobin and Anna have collaberated, and have ordered a complete set of scratch and sniff stickers for the Tobin Chiropractic Center.  We await their arrival. In the interim I have provided an ample supply of basic, generic, non-sniff Walmart stickers until the scratch and sniffs arrive.  What a day for celebration that will be. :)

My point here is simple, but not really. My mother died of outright gross medical malpractice 17 long years ago, now. I've given medical providers, especially MD's but doctors in general a bad rap ever since.  Many deserve it but many do not! Dr. Tobin and Anna are real, not mythical at all.  They are typical of the millions of providers who do their work for love. For Love. But they have to make a living, too.  Where there's money, greed happens.  It's part of God's plan, and not for me to figure out. The vast majority of medical people could make more money doing other things, but choose their lives for love. Love. And they do abide by the Hippocratic Oath even if their positions don't require them to do so. Even if they haven't read it. Even if they don't read very well at all. Aides and orderlies; nurses and surgeons; Medical Assistants and receptionists; Chiropractors, Accupuncturists and General Practitioners. Almost all exclusively motivated at the outset as children and throughout their careers by one value. Love. Yes. Love. Unabashed Left likes that. No. I love that; as well as Dr. Tobin and Anna. I'm not Unabashed Left. I am Steven Michael Alexander(named Michael after the late Michael Palmieri, the MD who delivered me).  I believe that love is a lovely word.  It should be used whenever appropriate, but only when spoken truthfully, and very, very often.  Unabashed Left is a character for the purposes of this blog.  I am actually Steve Alexander and I love you Anna and Dr. Tobin-- Dawn, if I may. I apologize for painting the greed of very few medical professionals with a broad brush and indicting many erroneously.  Very few are such. The vast majority operate out of love.  My political view is that it's high time to get the profit motive out of medicine in this nation altogether. I need to respect the views of others on this issue as much as any other, despite my personal past experiences.

Dr. Tobin and Anna are not alone in the team teaching that's being given me by my glorious higher power regarding the simple common decency and genuine love of not only medical providers, but of the species homo sapiens in general. And of every other mammal and many other creatures that walk or fly or roll around this blessed planet.  Dr. Tobin has adjusted two of her own children the day they were born.  She demonstrated how to adjust a newborn to me today. It was beautiful. Very beautiful, as she is obviously on the outside, but just as obviously where it counts; on the inside.  You do it, please Dr. Tobin, believe me you don't want my clumsy paws attempting a newborn's adjustment.  You have a golden touch(as does your incredibly capable partner Anna).  I'll just sit back and enjoy the view. :)  And maybe try to share a laugh once in a while, if you don't mind.
With Love, and Peace to Anna and to Dr. Tobin and to all the wonderful people who reduce pain, maximize happiness and extend lives out of love as their chosen career.
Hi Sally; Except for our Wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus who is the one true Christ, I Love you more than anything in the Universe!  Even if I had all eternity I could never even begin to find the words to describe the passion that is the Love that I have for you. I could never either repay you nor make up for the inadequacy of my ability to tell you just how much I love you.  I've failed to do so, and always will because the only expression of love adequate to do so was only done by Jesus Himself when I asked him how much He Loved me. He stretched out his arms as far as they would go and then died for me.  I Love you that much, and a zillion times more!
Hi Mom! Hi Joe! Hi Dad! Miss you like you wouldn't believe. I Love you and Sallie, and Janis, and Gary and Alf and everyone, too! And Grace, and Don, and Donnie and everyone, too.  And Augie, and Bluebelle, and Meow and Momcat and everyone, too.  I got two stickers today. Anna said I was a really good patient today. I think she knows.  No. I know she knows. :)
Mea Culpa

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Ingram Model 6 (M6) submachine gun

Ingram M6 (model 6) submachine gun in "Military" configuration

Ingram M7 (model 7) submachine gun in "Police" configuration

Caliber	9x19mm, .38 Super and .45 ACP
Weight	~3,3 kg empty
Length	762 mm
Barrel length	228 mm
Rate of fire	600 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	30 rounds
Effective range	100 meters

Gordon Ingram designed his first prototype submachine gun during late 1940s; soon after his first prototype he produced next design, known as Model 6. This gun was manufactured by American company Police Ordnance Co between 1949 and 1952; about 15 to 20 thousands of Model 6 submachine guns were made and sold to Cuban Navy, Peruvian Army and some US Police departments. In about 1952 Ingram also designed an improved version of the Model 6, known as Model 7. This weapon was externally similar to Model 6 but fired from closed bolt, and had a separate fire mode selector. Very few Model 7 submachine guns were produced.

Ingram Model 6 submachine guns were produced in two basic configurations, "Military" and "Police". The "Military" version had plain wooden forearm, plain barrel and protected front sight. It also was capable to mount a proprietary spike-shaped bayonet, which was stored inside the forearm in reversed position when not required. "Police" version of Model 6 featured a front foregrip similar to that of Thompson submachine gun, and a partially finned barrel.

Ingram Model 6 submachine gun is blowback operated, selective fired weapon that fired from open bolt. The only safety provided was the locking notch in the cocking handle slot, which was used to lock the bolt by its handle in cocked (retracted) position. Selection of mode of fire was made by the pull of the trigger - short pull produced single shots, and long pull produced full automatic fire.

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Ingram Model 6 (M6) submachine gun

Ingram M6 (model 6) submachine gun in "Military" configuration

Ingram M7 (model 7) submachine gun in "Police" configuration

Caliber	9x19mm, .38 Super and .45 ACP
Weight	~3,3 kg empty
Length	762 mm
Barrel length	228 mm
Rate of fire	600 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	30 rounds
Effective range	100 meters

Gordon Ingram designed his first prototype submachine gun during late 1940s; soon after his first prototype he produced next design, known as Model 6. This gun was manufactured by American company Police Ordnance Co between 1949 and 1952; about 15 to 20 thousands of Model 6 submachine guns were made and sold to Cuban Navy, Peruvian Army and some US Police departments. In about 1952 Ingram also designed an improved version of the Model 6, known as Model 7. This weapon was externally similar to Model 6 but fired from closed bolt, and had a separate fire mode selector. Very few Model 7 submachine guns were produced.

Ingram Model 6 submachine guns were produced in two basic configurations, "Military" and "Police". The "Military" version had plain wooden forearm, plain barrel and protected front sight. It also was capable to mount a proprietary spike-shaped bayonet, which was stored inside the forearm in reversed position when not required. "Police" version of Model 6 featured a front foregrip similar to that of Thompson submachine gun, and a partially finned barrel.

Ingram Model 6 submachine gun is blowback operated, selective fired weapon that fired from open bolt. The only safety provided was the locking notch in the cocking handle slot, which was used to lock the bolt by its handle in cocked (retracted) position. Selection of mode of fire was made by the pull of the trigger - short pull produced single shots, and long pull produced full automatic fire.

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Calico M960 submachine gun

Caliber: 9x19mm Luger/Para
Weight: 2.17 kg empty
Length (stock closed/open): 647 / 835 mm
Barrel length: 330 mm
Rate of fire: 750 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 50 or 100 rounds

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Calico M960 submachine gun

Caliber: 9x19mm Luger/Para
Weight: 2.17 kg empty
Length (stock closed/open): 647 / 835 mm
Barrel length: 330 mm
Rate of fire: 750 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 50 or 100 rounds

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Star SI-35 RU-35 TN-35 submachine gun

Star RU-35 submachine gun, left side

Star RU-35 submachine gun, right side

Star RU-35 submachine gun, close-up view on the controls (fire mode selector, left, and rate of fire selector, right)

Caliber	9x23 Largo
Weight	3.74 kg
Length (stock closed/open)	900 mm
Barrel length	269 mm
Rate of fire	300 or 700 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	10, 30 or 40 rounds

This submachine gun was developed by mid-1930s by famous Spanish arms-making company Bonifacio Echeverria SA, which operated under the trademark "Star". There were three slightly different model in the 1935 Star line of submachine guns: the RU-35, which had slow rate of fire of about 300 rounds per minute, the TN-35, which had fast rate of fire of about 700 rounds per minute, and the SI-35, which has dual (selectable) rate of fire. Otherwise all three weapons were similar, sharing same layout, same complicated delayed blowback action, and same overly complicated controls setup, consisting of two multi-position levers on the left side of the receiver. These submachine guns were manufactured in Spain and used by Guarda Civil. During the WW2, a version of this submachine gun was tested in USA and UK under the name "Atlantic", but was rejected on the grounds of the complexity and excessive costs of manufacture.

Star RU-35 / SI-35 submachine gun utilizes delayed (retarded) blowback operation, using two-part bolt with special locking piece, which temporary locks the bolt head to the receiver upon the early stages of recoil. Gun fires from open bolt, in full and semi-automatic modes. The SI-35 version has additional rate of fire reducer which is controlled by the rear switch on the left side of the receiver (it also doubles as a safety). Forward switch controls modes of fire (semi-automatic or full automatic). Feed is from detachable box magazines, which were supplied in various capacities. Rear sight was adjustable for range from 50 and up to very optimistic 1000 meters range. Gun was fitted with wooden stock, barrel was enclosed into slotted jacket, which also carried muzzle brake - compensator and a bayonet lug.

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Star SI-35 RU-35 TN-35 submachine gun

Star RU-35 submachine gun, left side

Star RU-35 submachine gun, right side

Star RU-35 submachine gun, close-up view on the controls (fire mode selector, left, and rate of fire selector, right)

Caliber	9x23 Largo
Weight	3.74 kg
Length (stock closed/open)	900 mm
Barrel length	269 mm
Rate of fire	300 or 700 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	10, 30 or 40 rounds

This submachine gun was developed by mid-1930s by famous Spanish arms-making company Bonifacio Echeverria SA, which operated under the trademark "Star". There were three slightly different model in the 1935 Star line of submachine guns: the RU-35, which had slow rate of fire of about 300 rounds per minute, the TN-35, which had fast rate of fire of about 700 rounds per minute, and the SI-35, which has dual (selectable) rate of fire. Otherwise all three weapons were similar, sharing same layout, same complicated delayed blowback action, and same overly complicated controls setup, consisting of two multi-position levers on the left side of the receiver. These submachine guns were manufactured in Spain and used by Guarda Civil. During the WW2, a version of this submachine gun was tested in USA and UK under the name "Atlantic", but was rejected on the grounds of the complexity and excessive costs of manufacture.

Star RU-35 / SI-35 submachine gun utilizes delayed (retarded) blowback operation, using two-part bolt with special locking piece, which temporary locks the bolt head to the receiver upon the early stages of recoil. Gun fires from open bolt, in full and semi-automatic modes. The SI-35 version has additional rate of fire reducer which is controlled by the rear switch on the left side of the receiver (it also doubles as a safety). Forward switch controls modes of fire (semi-automatic or full automatic). Feed is from detachable box magazines, which were supplied in various capacities. Rear sight was adjustable for range from 50 and up to very optimistic 1000 meters range. Gun was fitted with wooden stock, barrel was enclosed into slotted jacket, which also carried muzzle brake - compensator and a bayonet lug.

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Star Z-45 submachine gun

Star Z-45 submachine gun

Caliber	9x23 Largo
Weight	3.87 kg
Length (stock closed/open)	580 / 841 mm
Barrel length	192 mm
Rate of fire	450 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	10 or 30 rounds

The Star Z-45 submachine gun was developed in Spain by famous arms-making company Bonifacio Echeverria SA toward the end of the World War 2. It can be considered as an improved and refined version of the famous German MP40 submachine gun. The Star Z-45 submachine gun turned to be a robust and reliable weapon, and it successfully served with Spanish army and police for several decades after WW2. It was also exported to some South and Central American and Asian countries.

Star Z-45 submachine gun is based on simple blowback action, firing from open bolt. The bolt / return spring / telescoped guide setup is based on MP40. Z-45 also has similar safety arrangements ( laterally sliding bolt handle that locks the bolt when pushed inwards, plus L-shaped cut in the bolt handle slot to lock the bolt in rearward position). The Star Z-45 submachine gun can fire in single shots or full automatic, with selection being made through the pull of the trigger (short pull produces single shots, long pull - full automatic fire). Gun is fitted with wooden pistol grip and forend, and with bottom-folding metallic buttstock (all patterned after the MP40). The barrel is enclosed into slotted jacket, with muzzle brake - compensator at the front. The flip-up backsight is of L-shaped profile, with settings for 50 and 100 meters.

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Star Z-45 submachine gun

Star Z-45 submachine gun

Caliber	9x23 Largo
Weight	3.87 kg
Length (stock closed/open)	580 / 841 mm
Barrel length	192 mm
Rate of fire	450 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	10 or 30 rounds

The Star Z-45 submachine gun was developed in Spain by famous arms-making company Bonifacio Echeverria SA toward the end of the World War 2. It can be considered as an improved and refined version of the famous German MP40 submachine gun. The Star Z-45 submachine gun turned to be a robust and reliable weapon, and it successfully served with Spanish army and police for several decades after WW2. It was also exported to some South and Central American and Asian countries.

Star Z-45 submachine gun is based on simple blowback action, firing from open bolt. The bolt / return spring / telescoped guide setup is based on MP40. Z-45 also has similar safety arrangements ( laterally sliding bolt handle that locks the bolt when pushed inwards, plus L-shaped cut in the bolt handle slot to lock the bolt in rearward position). The Star Z-45 submachine gun can fire in single shots or full automatic, with selection being made through the pull of the trigger (short pull produces single shots, long pull - full automatic fire). Gun is fitted with wooden pistol grip and forend, and with bottom-folding metallic buttstock (all patterned after the MP40). The barrel is enclosed into slotted jacket, with muzzle brake - compensator at the front. The flip-up backsight is of L-shaped profile, with settings for 50 and 100 meters.

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Star Z-62 and Z-70B Powerful gun

Star Z-62

Star Z-70b

Caliber: 9mm Largo (9x23 mm Bergmann) and 9x19mm Luger/Para
Weight: 2.87 kg emptykg
Lenght (stock closed/open): 480 / 701 mm
Barrel lenght: 201 mm
Rate of fire: 550 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: rounds
Effective range: 200 meters

The Star Z62 submachine gun was developed by STAR Bonifacio Echeverria SA company of Spain circa 1962, and was adopted by Spanish army, police and Guarda Civil in 9mm Largo. For export it was offered in more common 9mm Luger/Parabbelum chambering. In the 1971 Star company came with updated version of Z62, called Z70b. This gun had minor modifications, described below, and also was manufactured in 9mm Largo for Spanish service and in 9mm Luger for export. In Spanish army it was replaced in mid-1980s by the Star Z84.

Star Z62 is a conventional blowback operated, selective fire submachine gun. The tubular receiver in its front part also acts as a heatshield, the cocking handle is located at the left side and does not move when gun is fired. The firing pin is mounted within the massive cylindrical bolt and is operated by lever, which protrudes from the bolt and moves the firing pin off the bolt face only when bolt is its forwardmost position. Another intersting feature is a two-finger trigger, which also acts as a fire selector, depending on what part of the trigger (upper or the lower) user pressed. The safety was of cross-bolt type. The metallic buttstock folds under the gun when not in use and can be used as a handguard. Rear sight has flip-up "L"-shaped blade with two settings, for 100 and 200 meters.

Z70b is in most aspects similar to the Z62, but it utilises more conventional safety / fire selector switch above the triggerguard and a conventional trigger, and also has magazine catch of different type.

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