Shotguns

Hi there! Today, my fellow friends and minions of Derek, we are all going to learn a little thing about shotguns.

Now, I must say, I am not a complete expert with this sort of thing, and yes, a lot of my information comes from computer game-related topics. So, there is a small chance that I will be completely wrong.

SO! The first thing we are all going to learn about shotguns, is that they are not like normal guns.

Shotguns do not have normal bullets. Where you might think 'If I shoot at a target one kilometre with a shotgun, the bullet will at least reach that distance in a sort of straight line.'

Sorry, but that's incorrect.

To somehow clear things up, let's get some pictures up in here. My character, Israel, has a shotgun that is perfect for what I want to talk about.

This is exhibit A.

And exhibit B.

Ah, much better.

Ok, so his weapon is something called a Double Barrel Shotgun. Say it with me, class. That's right.

The title practically refers to what it is. It's a shotgun. With two barrels.
This gun, however, is more commonly referred to as a sawn-off, because of the way that both the stock (the butt of the gun, the end that presses against your shoulder) and the barrels (um, i'm guessing you all know these) are sawn off of the gun. This allows for easily carrying around the gun and hiding it under, say, a jacket.

But no, that does not mean that you can have a sawn-off bazooka. That would just be way too silly :P

Where was I? Ah yes, teaching. Alright, so now I want to get on to the actual 'bullets' that this beast of a gun shoots.

In Exhibit B, do you see those green cylinder-looking things? Those are called shotgun shells. In this particular gun, it can only hold two at a time.

If you look closely at the shells in Exhibit B, you can also see the gold rim on the outside. Take note of that.

With a double-barrel, there is a sort of flick-switch thing (visible in Exhibit A, if you can spot it. It's on the top, nailed into position by one of the screws) that, when flicked to the side, lets the barrels fall forward a little way on a hinge. This is what we call a Break Barrel. Because the barrel of the gun is breaking in half.

And quite obviously, sitting very tight and cozily in the barrels there, are the tops of two gold-rimmed shotguns shells. (exhibit A.)

Now then, i'm not quite sure about the mechanisms of it all, but from what i know, the trigger gets pulled, hammers swing backward and then forward, making contact with the metal rims of the shells and creating a spark. The spark sets off the gunpowder inside the shells (i don't know how it does, please don't ask) and instead of a bullet being let loose, many SMALLER  bullets do. Pellets, really. But flying at such a high rate that they are deadly.
The moment these pellets leave the barrel, or buckshot, as it is actually called, it spreads out in all directions, covering a wide amount of space.

Shotguns do not shoot very far. A good one will most likely shoot one hundred metres. A bad one, probably only fifteen. By the time the buckshot has reached the target, is has spread out to a wide area, and will most likely make a large mess of whoever it is being fired at.


So, when you are writing, and you say 'The bullet missed him by inches', try and remember if you are writing about a shotgun, because if you are, it would most likely be not missing them by inches, and instead either shooting them to bits, or they dive out the way and it causes havoc to whatever's behind them.
Therefore, a shotgun blast cannot whiz past your head, because i assure you, if someone has a shotgun to your face, there is no such thing as a warning shot, unless it is directed into the air. No way could you judge exactly where each and every piece of buckshot is headed.

Alas, the double barrel shotgun is a very old gun indeed. Nowadays, we have automatic shotguns, which are practically shotguns but they shoot continuously.

For instance, here we have the AA12. Watch this youtube video:

And that's just about all i had to say.

I am not in a mood, i am not taking a dig at anyone, and i'm not pissed. Just so you all know....i re-read this and it kinda sounded like I was annoyed at everyone :/ I'm not, i swear! You're all awesome!

Really, really good cookies :D

Hey Y'all! Skyril wanted my mum's recipe for awesome chocolate cookies, so here it is. This is in US measures, btw


Bafesda bars (no joke, its what they're called)

2 1/4 C. all purpose flour
1/2 C. white sugar
1 C. packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 C. butter flavored Crisco
2 eggs
2 C. chocolate chips (about 2 handfuls)

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1) Preheat the oven to 375 F
2) In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking power, and salt. Set the bowl aside for later
3) In another, larger bowl, beat the Crisco, both kinds of sugar, and the vanilla together until it's a uniform color and fluffy (if you have a stand mixer it makes it a lot easier)
4) Add the eggs and mix in well
5) Gradually add the flour mixture and mix till there are no dry patches
6) Fold in the chocolate chips and mix everything till its is all even and looks good
7) Grease a 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1 cookie sheet (make sure it has sides on it) and pat the dough into the pan, making sure that it's all even
8) Put the pan in the preheated oven and set a timer for 20 to 25 minutes. Bake until the cookies are golden brown and look ready. Use your good judgment ;)
9) Let the cookies cool for a little bit before cutting into squares (as big as you want!)

These taste awesome over vanilla ice-cream!

The Pink

Hey y'all, a few people have been requesting pictures of my rifle, so here ya go.

My custom painted Marlin 795, given to me as a gift for my 13th birthday.

I'll think up snappy captions later, right now i need to go to my Grammy's house for dinner. Comment please!

Awesome Derek Landy Picture

Whilst talking on the blog to Mar-Chu she posted a link to a hilarious picture of the Golden God.

I felt that it simply had to be shared with you all.

Isn't that an EPICA picture?

The Loss of Hiashiness

This is a second poem for Mary Hiashi. I'm glad you poured out your heart to us and I hope that this counts as a little bit of wisdom from some one else. I believe that this poem will strike a chord with your feelings in some form and help you in some way. Enjoy.

The Loss of Hiashiness

I used to have ambitions

I had hopes and goals and dreams

But my dreams remain unfinished

And my hopes are just extremes.

My wishes are impossible

I long for childish things

And for people to respect me

And to fly with golden wings.

For life it seems so drab and grey

You work then breathe your last

For the future came to nothing

But a wistful broken past.

I used to think I’m special

In a way that I could be

More important than diamonds

More powerful than the sea

But the nightmares overcame me

With my fears and tears and screams

Crushing all of my ambitions

Whilst reality quells my dreams

And I wonder why my family

Ignores my own belief

Why don’t they accept me... well as me?

Why cause me pain and grief.

My soul is shattered

My minds breaks

My body yearns

My heart aches

For you’ve asked the greatest question

Which is simply labelled Why?

What’s the point at all in living

When eventually you die.

For humanity is temporary

And all things end with time

And this knowledge is our burden

We perceive it as a crime

Does the universe have meaning?

Only if you give it one

If nobody appreciates it

Why has it begun?

Nature’s only beautiful

When viewed by human eyes

Unobserved it comes to nothing

As do clouds in endless skies

For life has deeper meaning

We can learn and we can love

We can try to create order

From the chaos far above

Why we live I do not know

But there is fun and laughter

And I don’t think that it matters

To the happily ever after

Life is meant for living

So enjoy its little treasures

Such as humour and surprises

And manifold other pleasures

Such as poetry and literature

And your own imagination

The sunshine and the crystal rain

A starry constellation

So treasure every moment

For life keeps moving on

And the Earth will keep on spinning

Long, long after you are gone

You dream a dream of impossible things

But at least you dream at all

And hope still burns inside you

Though the candle may be small

You are special, you have purpose

And I wish you “Blessed be”

You are loved and you’re befriended

You’re Miss Mary Hiashi

 

I hope that you see this poem. I would post a link to it on your blog but I can't comment on it for some reason that my computer won't tell me.

Church Signs

The following are actual signs found on church property.

"Free Trip to heaven. Details Inside!"

"Try our Sundays. They are better than Baskin-Robbins."

"Searching for a new look? Have your faith lifted here!"

"When down in the mouth, remember Jonah. He came out alright."

"How will you spend eternity-Smoking or Non-smoking?"

"Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long and the pay is low. But the retirement benefits are out of this world."

"If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns."


"If you don't like the way you were born, try being born again."

"Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire insurance soon."



I couldn't resist sharing these with you guys. :]

That For Which I Yearn

A heart yearns for everything,
It knows it can never have,
It sings a song a thousand times,
But knows it's never heard.

A fairytale to plague the mind,
With friends and foe alike,
A sight to see them in your head,
A place you'll never find.

A place to mind your weary soul,
From the lonely jaded road,
Where kings weep and fallen sheep,
Cluster in silent hope.

A heavy wind to knock the gates,
Of heavens blissful role,
A devil's way of making pain,
Become a daily chore.

And the heart aches,
A mind breaks,
A soul shatters,
And the devil's won.
Blessed be,
Miss Mary Hiashi

The Creation of a New Word!

I have a little challange for you all.

I want you to create a new word for ultimate supreme ruler guy.

I want to use a word in a poem but king, lord, sultan, khan, duke, archbishop, emperor, tzar, kaiser, shah, tisroc, grand poohbah etc.. doesn't seem to fit.

So I shall hold a little competition and who ever win gets their word used in my poem. (Prize may differ).

I will of course try to think of one myself but I'm interested to see what you think of.

They are a good leader. Or not good as such but not evil. Proud and noble. Powerful and slightly arrogant.

Have fun and happy word creating!

Ya'll Will Like This Post :D

My dad e-mailed me this article he'd read and I thought I'd cheer all of you up by showing you!

"Dark chocolates are 'super food', healthier than fruits--study    

 

Here’s good news for the chocolate lovers. A new study by US researchers has discovered that this sweet snack is actually healthier than many fruit juices.

Chocolates are often eaten for pleasure, but several studies in the past have shown that the treat may have certain beneficial effects on human health.
Chocolates, especially dark ones, are rich in antioxidants including flavonoids that the study says help prevent damage to healthy cells.


Chocolates boost health more than fruit juice
The study, conducted by the US-based chocolate company Hershey Co., has suggested that chocolates appear to be more beneficial to health, when compared to fruits.
Touting the chocolates as the next super food, scientists at Hershey’s centre for health and nutrition said dark chocolate and cocoa have more anti-oxidant capacity than fruit juices.
Even the products made of chocolates have more flavanols and polyphenol, which are beneficial to human heart, according to New York Daily News, citing study findings.


Study details
The scientists reached their conclusion after carrying out a comparison test between cocoa powder, dark chocolate, and fruit powder, which contained powders made from acai berries, blueberries, pomegranates, and cranberries.
The researchers found that both dark chocolate and cocoa had more antioxidant activity and more flavonols than blueberry, cranberry, and pomegranate powder.
However, the hot cocoa mix came last in all the tests, likely due to the antioxidants being stripped out during processing.


Chocolates should be classified as super fruits
After overall comparison and evaluation, the study found that dark chocolate had the best anti-oxidising activity.
'The compounds in dark chocolate are just as good as the botanical compounds in fruit,' said study’s senior author Debra Miller, insisting that chocolate should be labelled a superfruit.
'Cocoa seeds should be considered a ‘superfruit’ and products derived from cocoa seed extracts, such as natural cocoa powder and dark chocolate as ‘superfoods’'
The findings of the study released Sunday in the Chemistry Central Journal.


Health benefits of chocolates
Dark chocolate has long been touted for its health benefits, including lowering the blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
The antioxidants in dark chocolate have also been proven to increase the levels of nitric oxide in the blood as well as improve the functions of blood vessels.
Past studies have shown that eating a bar of dark chocolate a week may significantly improve blood sugar and insulin sensitivity, which may considerably cut back diabetes risk.
The treat has also been linked to the regulation of physical energy, mood, and attention as it contains small amounts of a chemical called phenylethylamine (PEA), or the ‘love drug’."

Umm...So a lot of these are unfinished pictures...And if you can't see any of them I beg pardon...but I didn't feel like scanning them. But uh...Yep. See I told you I can't draw Ichigo's eyes...

Blessed be,
Miss Mary Hiashi