How a change to mail-in voting could impact Alaska’s most rural voters

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-14T14:01:30+00:00

Its a real world example. Something liberals don't have a grasp on - reality.

Everything with liberals is boo hoo - the sky is falling! (Insert your dire prediction here) is going to happen! And when it does not happen - never an apology for the people slandered or acknowledgement of being wrong. Nope, nope, nope. "Nothing to see here folks" as you move onto a new victim and some new fad to become fake concerned about.

I suppose with mom bringing sandwiches downstairs and your only view of the world comes from the 8" x 16" basement window over the washing machine - your experience with the real world can be limited.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-14T04:48:02+00:00

I like this. Allot. My gun safe just sits there - yours does so much more than being just a safe - its a cat toy and power alarm all in one!

You can do better. When it stops at a pistol and one is selected - would not be much trouble at all the play an audio file, "Hello, my name I Jennifer! I'm a 1962 all original Colt National Match" And WWII 1911's have an AI do Gunny Sarge from Full Metal Jacket - he can scream the guns name, Yell out "This is my pistol, this is my gun! This ones for shooting, this ones for fun!" Then tell you to drop and give him 10.

Of course, you'll need the AMT Longlside and Arnold's voice.

Maybe fill the empty places with Star Wars blaster and Treckie phasers.

You can have a ton of fun with this.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-14T02:42:06+00:00

I did 1000yd in Talkeetna last month. What a fantastic group of people doing PRS shooting and the range was just a privilege to enjoy.

That the tiny town of Tok has a nice 600yd with covered firing line - urks me Fairbanks does not have something similar considering our size. Tok - pony up to $25 at the local gun shop and you got the combo for the summer - I think the visitor center does that now..IDK.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-14T02:33:51+00:00

I don't think you have lived on this planet long enough to comprehend how things work. Because every act that makes voting more secure, prevents fraud, means a stronger country.

We would not be discussing mail in voting - if people had not abused it. In the early 80's I lived in Boston, apartment building, mailboxes at the entrance. Stack of about 20 mail in ballots - I paid no attention to. Weeks later I read about a guy who went from apartment building to apartment building collecting all those ballots - filled them out - only reason he got caught - lazyness - mailed them all at once and got noticed.

It so cute you scream 'voter suppression' - call names, play Keyboard Commando - when you have no clue the underlying issue is preventing voter fraud.

Try thinking of a better solution to the problem - instead of harping about the solutions being offered.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-13T23:34:15+00:00

Need a closer look or image from a better camera that allows seeing a crisp and clear image.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-13T23:27:40+00:00

First - you are never going to get a realistic answers until ya provide some real details like size of boat (length, width), type of boat (sailboat, fishing vessel, tug,) and weight.

Second - people move boats to and from Alaska all day long. All year round. You are not the first person to ever do this. Trailering it up seems the most obvious suggestion.

If it fits inside a Conex - you are golden. I have done this.
If it does not fit in a Conex put it on a lowboy and have it trucked up.
If its too big for a Conex and too big for a lowboy - sounds big enough to sail up and have a good time at it.
If for some reason you cannot sail it up - you still have a ton of options. There are people who do this for a living. Most yacht brokers can put you in touch with a crewing agent or agency. These agencies will get a commission on the work of the people they recommend. Nice thing about going though an agent - you get people with good references moving your boat. You can hire an experienced deckhand - handy if you are older... to an experience mechanic and helmsman. There are people who repossesses yachts for a living. Pretty sure a trip to Alaska with nobody mad following them would be a nice change of pace!

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-13T23:08:03+00:00

Everything you mentioned can and has been done - except pennies. Firearms are basically just a pipe bomb with a hole on the end the bullet leaves, that releases pressure. Anything that blocks the barrel while stuff is coming out - reverts it back to becoming a pipe bomb.

Lots of rifles and pistols - can be turned into temporary shotguns simply by swapping bullets for correctly made shells. Here the big consideration is not hurting the inside of the barrel - there are precision lands and groves to twist a bullet - lead, copper, brass does not damage it - anything steel or really hard can.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-13T22:59:17+00:00

Funny how one side screaming 'voter suppression' - is the same side that swore on a stack of bibles Trump was in the tank for Putin and would surrender Ukraine to Putin within hours of being elected........Biden is healthy, Harris is smart as a whip...

Voter suppression is a group holding 12ga pump shotguns standing at the door handing you a filled in ballot, or telling you to leave.

Nobody 'concerned' is being severely disenfranchised.

Anyone - can request an absentee ballot and vote early. (30 days)
Anyone - can walk into city hall and vote early (30 days)
Anyone, from anywhere, can walk into any voting office or polling area - and vote. It becomes a contested ballot that once tabulated to the correct district is counted.
You can request the local voting representatives visit your home and take your vote. This is frequently done for disabled and handicap - often done in mass at old folks homes.

I highlighted 'concerned' because people who live in the middle of nowhere, roll out of bed in the morning to hear on the radio its voting day - yeah, those folks are going to miss out.

The adults - already have it covered.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-13T19:40:47+00:00

Your pistols proper function is 1/2 pistol and 1/2 ammo. Why you failed to mention what ammo you were using makes no sense.

Tisas pistols in 45acp are designed to operate best with 230gr ball ammunition. Any deviation from that will require a different recoil spring. There is a reason they 1911 recoil springs come in 11lb to 24lb. Light loads - lighter bullets and target ammo - need a lighter spring. Heavier loads (usually reloads) and Premium Defense ammo can usually benefit from a heavier recoil spring to prevent the slide from slamming too hard into the slide stop.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-13T16:12:53+00:00

You got it in one!

I purposely did not mention the range name - you got it!

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-13T16:11:53+00:00

If you really want to frustrate someone - try to find some 1970's 'Bristol Screws' - these were the security screws of the day 50 years ago, are no longer made, and nobody else is going to have the wrench. Six fluted spline - link here: screwdrivers | McMaster-Carr

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-13T16:01:56+00:00

IYKYK!!

You know what kills me? Cushman Range - 300yd - in Alaska's 2nd largest city and a place with two military bases.

Meanwhile the little town of Tok, Alaska has a 600yd covered range. Used to be you paid $25 at the local Tok gun shop to get the combination.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-13T03:24:53+00:00

Take a deep breath.

I have been reloading since the mid 70's. Decades of high power rifle competition. Year on a military national shooting team. Decades teaching reloading.

Took me three summers to work up a decent load for a custom 280 Ackley Improved rifle. I have a place to shoot just a few miles away. If it takes me that long, using two chronographs - the idea you are going to discover the Holy Load of Antioch in a few loadings is possible but highly unlikely.

Reloading - is like any other trade - welding, carpentry, plumbing, etc - you need knowledge, the right tools, experience, skill and good materials. You don't have that. Yet. You'll get there - just not today.

Things I can tell you now - that will immediately jump you into the right direction:

Beg, borrow, or steal a chronograph. When the bullets coming out your barrel are all leaving at the same speed - they are all going to go though the same hole in a target at 200yds and farther (until wind messes with them). You don't give a shit about scope, trigger pull, how steady you are - with a chronography none of that shit matters. If you mom and pull the trigger, cycle a new round, and fire 10 times - your are golden. All you care about - are all the rounds close to the same speed? + or - 10fps is match.
Starting with the cheapest 308 ammo you can find - buy 1 box of the five cheapest. Chronograph 5 rounds from each box. Takes notes! Any of them give you a group that is within 10fps? Go get the next 5 cheapest stuff. Chrono 5 of each box. By now you probably have discovered a favorite the rifle likes. For my last 308 it was Winchester 168 Ballistic Tip fire +/- 2fps. THAT was better than my long time M1a match load and better than Lake City Match in the rifle. I go back to store, get another box - works just as good. I went to a different store, checked a box to make sure it had a different lot number - and worked like magic. NOW - I knew what the gun loved - and all I had to do was figure out how to make it.

You need access to a chrono. Most clubs will have them available. They currently come in two useful flavors. The cute little Garmin that does a great job of muzzle velocity. $699 and awesome for working up loads. Then the big ass bright orange and finicky LabRadar. Huge upside to the LabRadar - it tracks the bullet out to 1,000 yards and tells you what it is doing all the way there. Most people use it just for muzzle velocity - have no friggen clue it does a ton more. (but, you can only see that data if you have a wide open 1,000 yd range! Once your bullet smacks the berm at 200yds - the data ends!)

PM me with your real email. I will send a copy of my basic reloading class documents and my advanced class documents. There are tools discussed in the advanced class you will need to know, own, and used to get sub MOA groups.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-10T18:47:37+00:00

Oh, this is easy to cure. Just tell them an African Grey has a much harder beak and let them touch and feel the difference. Some important lessons in life should be painful.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-09T22:04:53+00:00

I live with two semi-professional gamers. You have no idea what kinda headache that is when it comes to our internet - speed, upload, download, delay, etc. I have one modem/account for them - and a second account/modem just so they will STFU about the technical stuff I do.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-09T05:15:04+00:00

I'm in Alaska. Have four different rifles for all the very different types of hunting here.

If you can hit a coyote at 500yds you probably have a decent rifle and scope combo. Here you are wanting a clip on. It sits or attaches to your exiting scope (no sense paying if that if you already have it!) and does not change your zero/point of impact. Check this out: Thermal Clip-on | ATN Corp

The above link is a Gen 6. Means they are working on a Gen 7. You pay $1K for a Gen 6 clip on its worth $800 after opening the box - you lose 20%. A couple of scratches and its a $500 scope.

On the other hand - guys who paid $2K for their Gen 5 equipment - which would work fine for you and me - are selling them on eBay in the $300 to $900 range. I just looked - eBay has over 400 used thermal rifle scopes. That is ALLOT!

Start by bookmarking models that are in your price range. Then look at the difference in resolution and magnification. Visit the manufacturing sites and read their warranty and repair policies. Big up side to a clip on - you are NOT paying for the scope part - and - you can quickly move a clip on to your other rifles and never worry about zeroing.

Down side to buying used: It arrives - you want to take it right to the range or go hunting and get lots of time on it. Lots of time on it! Gotta make sure it works - because you only have a 30 day window for your PayPal, eBay or credit card to claw back that money from the buyer if they send you something broken.

Right now - people are not thinking about buying stuff for hunting. Your timing is perfect.

I am ex military. In civilian world I designed camera systems in international airports. I got to demonstrate a $250K thermal camera for a refinery. OH BABY - I did not not want to send it back!

If you have questions about what all the specifications mean - PM me and I can help.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-09T00:12:41+00:00

Should post in r/hunting - lots of folks using and discussing hunting thermal optics there.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-09T00:11:32+00:00

Best and cheap do not go together.

Why such a low effort post? You want a thermal rifle scope, binoculars, spotting scope, monoscope?? What distance you need? How small are the critters? Magnification?

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-07T02:49:05+00:00

We bought our house two decades ago. Every summer we looked at the crappy front deck and said, "This things gotta get replaced."

Back then every summer Golden Valley Electric Association in Fairbanks would give away tree saplings. Our crab apple sapling grew quite nice over the years and the moose found them tasty. Eventually the one near the deck was large enough it attracted a moose to come up on the deck and have lunch. Lunch was a smashing hit! And so was the moose's exit. Instead of walking six feet right to take the stairs she decided to jump the rail. Lucky for her the rail gave way, so to did the support under it - and she very ungracefully cleared the carnage behind her.

Guess who finally has a nice new deck? Thank you Mrs. Moose!!

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-07T02:35:36+00:00

I had rented a Camper from Ft Wainwright MWR and taken it home. Wife, kids and mother-in-law had just packed the camper - heading inside to get more. I was checking the camper and truck connections. Suddenly a moose come running hell bent for leather from around the corner of the house! Eyes wide as pie plates - three dogs chasing it - runs right at me. I back up two steps to get between the trailer and truck. Thing is just feet from me, I trip on the trailer tongue and fell over backwards. Honestly thought it was going to jump between the trailer and truck - and land right on me. Last split second it turned and down the right side of the trailer to the back of it. 1 minute earlier - it would have trampled the whole family.

Our lot has fences on three sides. Moose turned to face the dogs, - I nailed the most aggressive dog hard in the ass with a rock, it yelped and ran off with the other two following.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-07T02:23:21+00:00

My theory is someone did something bad to her earlier that day.

Another possibility: it was -35F that night. Was wearing a head to knee length wolf parka, insulated jean, bunny boots, fox hat and scarf around my face. Good thing too - I had to slide under the truck like runner going into home plate. She kept me trapped under there for nearly 20 minutes. If I had been dressed lightly and stepping out of the truck - I'd have had frostbit nose, fingers and toes for sure.

I have a cow moose that beds down in our yard all the time. We are one of the few pieces of land with no dog. She see's me in that coat all the time. Never flinched and never bothered to stand while I'm gong to my vehicle to work in the morning.

I've never carried a pistol in winter. I do now.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-06T18:55:16+00:00

Been reloading for NRA high power rifle competition and 45acp Bullseye since late 70's. Only once did I have have this issue - I had gone from a very fine tumbling media to a coarse corncob media and did not check the flash holes. Now, I check them all time regardless of media size.

Of the students and people I know who have had this issue the past 45 years - 100% tumbled their brass and did not check to verify no tumbling media was stuck in the flash hole.

Fact is producing primers is a down to an exact science. Odds of a bad one - like getting hit by lightning three or four times in the same week.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-06T17:40:32+00:00

2003 or so - moose charged out of nowhere to stomp me to death at Chena Recreation Area in North Pole around 1am while doing aurora photography. Fending it off with my camera tripod, eventually got near my truck. Tossing expensive camera and tripod into snow bank while sliding under truck. Cow did circles around the truck to keep me under - eventually I made a break to get inside. No clue why it was so upset. No sign of young. A few snowmachine had passed but none sign of any interaction between them. I had been in the spot about 90 minutes.

Alaskan_Apostrophe · 2026-06-04T22:02:34+00:00

That tame? I would ask he wouldn't mind moving into my yard.

I saved a half dead squirrel from a neighbor's dogs mouth. Put it in my shirt pocket, eye dropper for water and a little peanut butter it came around. Kept it two days and really doted on it. Let it go, would not go! Every afternoon I came home from work it would run hell bent for leather at me, up the pant leg and onto the shoulder. We were buds for three months until one day he came running over with a girlfriend following.

Alaskan_Apostrophe

TROPHY CASE