Blackavar's New Writeups

benefits of leaded gasoline (idea)

2002-03-05T00:24:16Z

Higher octane can help to prevent detonation ( 'knocking' or 'pinging' ), as well as preignition. These two problems are not merely noises heard from the engine, but are symptoms of something going very wrong, and these problems can literally destroy an engine, breaking piston rings (or apex seals in the case of a rotary engine), holing pistons, breaking connecting rods, and otherwise causing major damage.

Tetraethyl lead, in addition to its octane-increasing benefits, also lubricates valve seats and other portions of the engine that are not exposed to crankcase oil. Newer engines have special hardened valve seats that do not require this lubrication. However, running an older engine on unleaded gas can cause damage to the valve seats.

Modern high-compression and highly-tuned engines are more susceptible to detonation, especially on modern lower-octane gasoline. As an engine is leaned out to maximise power output and fuel economy, detonation also becomes…

Convergence (thing)

2001-10-15T22:35:22Z

Convergence was created by the North American net.goth community to be an answer to the UK's gatherings at Whitby. Each year, the various sites that wish to host a Convergence put up their bid websites, and net.goths from alt.gothic flame each other and the various committees to a crisp before voting on the site that will get to host the next year's Convergence.
Convergence is at its core a party for the alt.gothic newsgroup, but later ones have welcomed those net.goths who mainly follow mailing lists, LiveJournal and even MySpace. Convergence 7 caused much controversy by advertising in the Village Voice, and by being run by Cliff Low, a notorious (in the mid/late-90s NYC goth scene, anyway), socially inept greaseball.

Convergence itself is half convention, half party. There are bands and other forms of live entertainment, occasional celebrities stopping by (i.e., Jhonen Vasquez showing up at C3, and Peter Murphy's surprise…

sports (idea)

2001-09-20T04:45:50Z

Also an acronym for the immediate corrective action for failure to fire malfunctions of the M16 rifle and its cousins. It is basically an M16-oriented version of the tap-rack-bang drill for handguns.

As always, before any malfunction-clearing drill, there is an implied move to cover if possible, before stopping to clear the malfunction.

SPORTS
Slap the base of the magazine, to insure that it is seated fully into the weapon.
Pull back sharply on the charging handle, to clear any defective rounds from the chamber.
Observe the ejection port, noting any round flying from the port.
Release the charging handle, allowing the bolt to snap forward. Do not "ride" the bolt forward.
Tap on the bolt forward assist (somewhat euphemistic; actually, give it a healthy smack to help the bolt chamber in case of fouling of the locking lugs)
Squeeze the trigger. Hopefully, your M16/…

El Presidente (thing)

2001-09-20T04:23:54Z

Long time standard multiple target defensive shooting drill. Requires quick follow-up shots, quick movement between targets, and quick reloading.

Setup:
Three silhouette targets 10 yards away and 1 yard apart, all of same height. Shooter will need one extra magazine or speed loader.

Procedure:
Start facing away from the targets, hands above the shoulders, handgun concealed. On start signal, turn and fire twice at each target, reload and fire two more times at each target. Score as appropriate for your sport.

Variations and Similar Drills:
You could vary the height of the targets or their distance from your starting position. There is also the Vice Presidente: Targets 7 yards away, start facing them.

Credits:
Jeff Cooper in the 1970s.

mozambique drill (thing)

2001-09-20T02:08:38Z

A defensive shooting drill intended to counter a failure to stop after two rounds to center of mass do not seem to stop the attacker, such as in the case that the attacker is wearing a protective vest or is under the influence of mind-altering chemicals. "The problem for the shooter is to change his pace, going just as fast as he can with his first pair, then, pausing to observe results or lack thereof, he must slow down and shoot precisely. This is not easy to do. The beginner tends to fire all three shots at the same speed, which is either too slow for the body shots or too fast for the head shot. This change of pace calls for concentration and coordination which can only be developed through practice." -- Jeff Cooper in Jeff Cooper's Commentaries

Setup:
Single silhouette target; distance based on shooter's skill level.

Procedure:
Start facing the target. On the signal, draw and fire two shots to center of mass and then one to the…

Retreat from Kabul (idea)

2001-09-16T00:45:16Z

On January 6, 1842, after Elphinstone accepted Mohammed Akbar's offer of safe passage to India, the British forces prepared to flee. The nearest British garrison and therefore the only place where safety could be guaranteed was in the city of Jalalabad, and it lay over ninety miles away, through the Afghani mountains, threatened at every turn by Afghanis whose hatred for the British had been honed by the excesses of the British occupation of Kabul.
The British had little confidence in their leaders and even less in the trustworthiness of Mohammed Akbar's promises of safe conduct through the passes. It was therefore a very cold, dispirited throng, there was such confusion it could not be called an army, that left their home of the last three years and headed for the mountains. Almost 17,000 people left the cantonment that dark day. About 700 were Europeans, both soldiers and civilians, another 3,800 were Indian soldiers and more than 12,000 camp followers. There…