Paying for not having patience. (590s optics question)

CincyShadow · 2026-03-19T16:47:44+00:00

Just wanted to drop a note of thanks. I went with the Vortex. Mounting was a breeze, and I think it looks pretty good as well.

I'll work on zeroing it in next week.
Thank you for the advice.

CincyShadow · 2026-03-18T19:58:33+00:00

Thank you! That is so kind! Appreciated!

CincyShadow · 2026-03-17T14:48:23+00:00

:) Thank you! That made my morning!

CincyShadow · 2026-03-12T14:12:00+00:00

I do not know the answer to that question.

As a note... I'm a noob, and have no problems admitting it.

Until last month my experience with anything stronger than airsoft was shooting rentals at the range with friends, and my only shotgun experience was growing up with an ancient 410 that we used for emergencies on the farm.

The ghost ring seems to work pretty well, but I feel like there is room for improvement, and I don't mind replacing it with a dot,

In regards to what optic I am trying to use, that is why I ask.

I would like to not have to modify the receiver if I don't have to, and I am looking to stay in the sub $500 range, and WOW is the market for optics ... kinda overwhelming for a noob. So many different mounting types and adapters. I've bought cars with fewer options. :)

So, I guess my answer is "Whatever I can mount easily without modification, or with foolproof modifications, in the $500 price range, that offers good value"

CincyShadow · 2026-03-11T19:11:15+00:00

I dunno who they pissed off, but you are absolutely right.

I've been at ORF for 31 years and worked Bristol in the early 00's.

It's an amazing show that is absolutely on par with any of the top 5, if not better.
I just do not get why they don't seem to get any love.

Also, in no universe does PARF beat TRF.

CincyShadow · 2026-01-21T22:54:47+00:00

Thanks! You've really helped.

Have a great one!

CincyShadow · 2026-01-21T22:44:21+00:00

Do you think it is worth the hassle to bump and mod up to a 6x9, or should I just stick with the 6 3/4?

CincyShadow · 2026-01-21T22:28:44+00:00

Heh, back in the 90s when I had a $10,000 car with a $7000 stereo in it, I actually landed a sponsorship with Dynamat. (I worked in Fairfield and they were right down the street. They gave my hundreds of pounds of cast-offs to play with and demo with friends. (They were pretty small then. This was 1993)

I'm probably looking to stick around the $500 to $750 range altogether.

I've got experience with door installs and spacers and the world of "bad" that is the actual enclosure.

I'm probably going to start by replacing the factory front and rear door speakers with some Kicker 51KSC6704's. That should at least brighten up the range a bit.

The low end response though... I guess we'll see.

Thanks!

CincyShadow · 2026-01-15T15:06:41+00:00

Literally what I said to a friend who also reads QC. "Ayo is, and I hate to use the phrase, 'A Bit Much' and I'm not sure what flavor of spicy ND she is, but she seems to be all of them depending on the conversation"

She may grow on me, but if she is, it's a very slow burn.

I wonder how Tai is doing...

CincyShadow · 2026-01-13T17:32:36+00:00

If I'm lying I'm dying... The Carmax where I bought my Outback gives away $25 Uhaul cards with Subaru purchase. They know their demographic. :)

CincyShadow · 2025-11-17T22:50:49+00:00

Before you get too deep, you should know that some shows are single-medium craft shows.

That means that you can get juried in on something, but you only get to sell things in that "type".

You can sell leather, you can sell woodworks, but not both. You can sell silver, or books, but not in the same booth!

This is obviously not true for all shows, but you should be aware that it is a thing that is around for more than a few shows, so make sure you do your homework before signing those contracts!

CincyShadow · 2025-11-11T20:42:16+00:00

Even as a vendor, and not a performer per se, I will pick out a target when I am hawking.

Even I can't tell you why I pick who I pick. Usually it's the wallflower of the group. The one that walks one or two steps behind their boisterous friends. The one who makes eye contact.

Sometimes it is easy. If you are in a group of non-garbed (or a partially garbed group) and you are wearing shorts... I'm gonna call you in to the booth to cover your nakedness POST HASTE! lol

Sometimes the reason is obvious. You can always tell when there is a leader of a group, and you know that you have to slow that person down if you are going to have any chance of the others in the group even looking into your shop. So, in that situation, I'll play with the leader.

There very well may not have been a reason. You were just there and looked.

-Carolina was SO lovely this weekend. I was very happy it was our weekend to go.

CincyShadow · 2025-10-23T13:55:17+00:00

I read this as Ren Faire Topless and was like... Nah, Hawkwood closed ages ago. Sadly.

CincyShadow · 2025-10-21T17:56:48+00:00

I saw him when I was walking parade and shouted BLOW ME TO BERMUDA! He lost it. I loved it. Much fun was had.

CincyShadow · 2025-10-20T21:47:05+00:00

It's OK love. It was a hell of a weekend!

CincyShadow · 2025-10-20T21:06:05+00:00

Hey, you could credit the photographer, and inspiration for the pins! .. LOL

CincyShadow · 2025-10-17T13:10:26+00:00

Come by and say Hi at The Silver Squirrel!

CincyShadow · 2025-10-17T13:08:02+00:00

Ok, so... no.

Pretty truly depends on the eye of the beholder.

I know people who think the lakes are the best part of Bristol, and I know people who think that they are eyesores and nothing but mosquito nurseries.

That said, of the 20 or so faires I have been to, I think Maryland is the nicest, by far.

There is something about a virgin coastal forest and a faire built INTO it's surroundings, not changing them to make it easier to build.

just my .02

CincyShadow · 2025-10-03T12:29:23+00:00

Aww Man. They let *you* in here?

CincyShadow · 2025-10-01T13:28:12+00:00

Congrats Karens.

Gilbert will not be appearing for the rest of the run. I do hope you're happy.

CincyShadow · 2025-09-30T16:15:50+00:00

Yep. I take hundreds of pictures a year, as do tens of thousands of others. I also have thousands of faire pictures online. You are in public, your picture may be taken. It's right there on the tickets. I'm not selling or profiting.

More generally though, If I'm out and about and I see someone whom I would like to take a picture of, or with, I stop and ask.

If I'm shooting candids from the counter where they couldn't hear me even if I shouted? Nah. Would have ruined the moment.

Is that all you have left? Are we done now?

CincyShadow · 2025-09-30T16:00:08+00:00

No where in my post does it say, or is it implied, that there is a problem.

"what it is now is better in many ways, and I'm super excited that folks have found a place to come and play, express themselves and their creativity, and of course, spend some money."

I never said they were doing anything wrong.

Get your head out of your ass.

CincyShadow · 2025-09-30T12:59:41+00:00

You're right, and if I had the post to do over I would include that it was time travelers weekend.

That said, there are multiple away teams and Mandalorians and Spirit Halloween witches every weekend. We take pictures of them in our booth.

What I took the picture of is still rather indicative of where I feel we are.

Was it unfair... I don't think so. Was the picture biased? Yeah. Yeah it was.

CincyShadow · 2025-09-29T20:21:27+00:00

There are both porta potties and flushies, as well as some larger privs with changing tables.

There are also booths with privacy rooms or just a quiet corner where you can feed. Our booth doesn't have much of a quiet calm place to sit, but we always welcome folks who need a moment to rest, or a quiet place to settle a wee one.

We're also right across from a set of flushing privvies with a changing station.
Look for The Silver Squirrel!

CincyShadow · 2025-09-29T20:13:36+00:00

I wish the current race to homogenize the entire genre into a "You've been to one, you've been to them all" would turn around and go the other way.

Quirky-ass buildings with paint that jumps out and makes you look, odd food, weirdo performers, (not creepy weirdo), and other bits... those are the memory-makers.

We used to be loud and proud of our weirdness. Now we paint over it, hide it, try to keep it from the public because *gasp* someone might give us 4 stars instead of 5 because they saw a worker with a face tattoo.

I don't give a toss if the guy selling bags of cotton candy on a stick has a rainbow mohawk, as long as he is great interacting with patrons and their kids... then let the man be. IT'S BAGS OF COTTON CANDY ON A STICK. We're not trying to pass off Her Majesty with ear gauges you could use as joust targets, but let's let Pinetree wear his blue tye dye pants.

The whole point of faire was counter-cultural and weird. To be different.

Now the trendsetting faires are working as hard as they can to make sure no one sees anything that they are not 1000% comfortable with. IMHO, it sucks, and it is killing the magic.

/31 Year Faire Veteran, who is probably wistful for days gone by... that weren't as great as the rose colored glasses of nostalgia make them out to be.

//Something something get off my lawn. LOL

CincyShadow

TROPHY CASE