Sniper Country Duty Roster

Sinister,

WELCOME BACK Sir! If you pass thru this way on your way to your new assignment and need a place to stay, you are welcome here.

Edited to add: Bring your stick, we will go shoot some on the Bruce Robinson UKD Ranges.

Bobby Whittington
Grandfield, OK, USA - Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 00:01:52 (ZULU)

Sinister-welcome back good sir.

JoeM-let's not be too hasty about shuffling the greens off this mortal coil. They can always be used for harvesting ala the Russian model. Let 'em do low carbon footprint harvesting with scythes, pitchforks and horse-drawn wagons.

Think of what a lottery to supervise ol' Al at work in the fields would raise:))))))

WR Moore
Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 00:52:17 (ZULU)

sinister: Order a red combination plate with sopapillas and a dos equis from "Little Anita's".

CDC'
Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 00:53:24 (ZULU)

search tool demo :-)

Little Anita's

3041 University Southeast

Albuquerque,NM,87106

+1 505 242 3102

New Mexican cuisine

Category:OthersNeighborhood:North Valley

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 01:06:56 (ZULU)

Rod,

More impressive than a simple google search would be for you to find the post where Joe arrived at his alias "Boris"

medicjim
Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 02:28:15 (ZULU)

Sinister: Welcome home.

Rod: Waste straw does not have a good lobbying firm working for it. Corn, OTOH...

WR: Still gotta feed them...and the "harvest" in the Soviet Union was a major factor in the outcome. The greens would be more liability than farm hand...Toss 'em overboard!

Joe M
Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 05:21:49 (ZULU)

MedicJim:

First appearance of "Boris B" in SC archives:

http://www.snipercountry.com/roster/AllArchives/duty112005.asp

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 06:29:17 (ZULU)

I wonder who's going to cry the loudest when Venezuela sets up there oil rigs in Cuba and starts sucking oil out from under the Florida coast.

Gary Kaney
NW, ILL, - Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 12:11:18 (ZULU)

Sinister WELCOME HOME SIR!! Send me a e-mail so I can contact you. KIRTLAND, you'll only about 180 miles away!! Heck I go to Albuquerque on a semi- regular basis!!

Sarge

Sarge
Southern Area 51, NM, USA - Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 13:27:03 (ZULU)

Sinister,

Welcome home and thank you Sir.

Cheers,

Doc

Doc Holloway
The sunny Ozark boonies, MO, USA - Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 13:47:32 (ZULU)

Sinister,

Welcome home, and thank you, all of you, for what you are doing.

Sean T.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 15:32:19 (ZULU)

I lost my bookmark file (again!!)

Can one of you guys tell me the name of the company that sells the rebuilt cream puff Military rifles, like Springfields, P-1917s, Garands, M1-Carbines, Johnson 1941's etc.

Tnx.

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 17:58:45 (ZULU)

This article reminds me of the over-exposure of "soldiers" who speak out against the war, desert the service rather than deploy, or who actively oppose the civie leaders: The left points to these isolated cases and says "see? Even "they' agree with us":)) It is lost on them that the statistical analysis barely registers these cretins as a fraction of a percent against the overwhelming majority who see things quite differently,but there ya go. Here is another such case from a CIA retiree, click.

Talk about being wrapped in his own bubble tightly; to say that a nuke is low probability and therefore oughta be dismissed as fear mongering is to dismiss the fact that just one dud would suck bad for those in the local area:)) This guy breezes right past the Saudi export of madrassas, influx of sizeable muslim populations into the west, birthrates differences, and general regressions of assimilations within those existing immigrant communities. All are signs of a develoing threat that we really ought to take seriously. Our current ops can be catagorized as merely holding the line--pacing the threat if you will, while not reducing it. To "back off" and relax would be absolutley foolish. But, we have a highly vocal minority opinion that is well organized and positioned to win in the fall--willing to do just that.

Ken H: You really think I am off my rocker on the economy? Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac just got a huge vote of no confidence. If I am wrong, you oughta be buying up shares by the truckload of these two giants of finance--they are trading in the basement this weekend. But stay away from IndyMac--it was seized by the feds this week:)) Second biggest bank failure ever. My analysis is not based on analyzing any of these sectors alone: marklet performance, overhated bubbles in certain sectors, congressional spending, Fed key rates, inflatiionary pressures, guvmint interventions and regulatory policies, the war, energy pricing, or commodities' surging prices--nor just on the political shifts in policy or the size of the herd for that matter---but instead my views grew from the overall impact that these topics "trended' towards as a package deal. In other words, if you try to single source my analysis within any of these individual topics--you will find what you look for whether you want to refute me or to see that I am right. Within each is contradictory data; the market rises even as oil does on some days, and the Euro falls against the dollar here and there. By itself, these individual segments mean nothing. Taken together--I put on a tin hat:)) Mainly because I can envision what would come next too. As a very isolated example---a New Orleans' cop decides his duty to family rises above his duty to others. Doesn't matter that it is moral or not---just that it was. Aw, heck...do the math. At some point, any society will disintigrate. Our rule of law is the exception, not the rule of human experience:) To be immeresed in it all of one's life is to assume otherwise, eh? I put my money where my mouth is, to a large degree: No longer have an account with my broker:)) I do however still have a dang 401 that is heavy in stocks. Tax ass-whipping to divest that.

Joe M
Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 18:18:13 (ZULU)

'lito,

Are you looking for Mitchell's Mausers? If so, click on my name.

Cheers,

Doc

Doc Holloway
The sunny Ozark boonies, MO, USA - Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 19:35:09 (ZULU)

Sinister,

Thank you Sir, and welcome home.

HDR
OK, - Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 19:44:29 (ZULU)

Sinister,

Welcome home, Sir!

'Lito,

I think you're looking for MilTech arms.

Click my name for primo pricy restored M-1, M-1 Carbines, 1941 Johnsons, Springfields, and Mausers.

Doc Mac
The Cradle of Naval Aivation, FL, USA - Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 20:04:15 (ZULU)

JoeM: "Ken H: You really think I am off my rocker on the economy?..."

JoeM - I'm KenH -- is there another Ken that you were talking to? I have not challenged your economy analysis....

Sinister -- thanks for the service, greatful for your safe return.

Take care all,

Ken Hunter

Ken Hunter
Nokesville, Va, Keep America - God Fearing, Armed and Free!!!.. - Sunday, July 13, 2008, at 21:50:17 (ZULU)

Ken H: I could have taken this any number of ways: "and thanks for helping our 'so called' sagging economy (sorry - couldn't stand it)"--and I would bet now that I took it the wrong way. It was the "so called" part that made me think you were being optimistic on where things are going:)) Soooorrrrry!

I think I have found myself an internet scam; or, a too-good-to-be-true deal on a F350 dually diesel. If this can go down face to face, I will have to buy another dang ford:)) The price screams "scam" though...as well as the email addy.

Joe M
Monday, July 14, 2008, at 02:21:14 (ZULU)

decent search engine for people: http://www.zabasearch.com/

I also searched "her" email addy on the domain that allegedly hosted it---no such addy.

Rats...a scam.

Joe M
Monday, July 14, 2008, at 02:43:33 (ZULU)

Sinister,

Welcome home and THANKS!

Sharon

Larry J. Porter
Boonies of the Panhandle, Texas, USA!!!! - Monday, July 14, 2008, at 02:44:07 (ZULU)

Joe M: Don't worry about rationing your "got mildots?" t. Got a new batch coming up soon.

Joe

Joe Ducos
Turlock, CA, - Monday, July 14, 2008, at 03:02:39 (ZULU)

Sinister,

Welcome home, Sir, and Thanks Very Much.

jc
Cordova, TN, USA - Monday, July 14, 2008, at 04:55:06 (ZULU)

sinister: One of my nephews knows the good from the okay. He recommends "El Pinto" and "Los Quates". "El Patio" is good and is close to the base. It is located at Silver and Harvard.

Thanks for your good work and congrats on remaining upright and air-hole free.

CDC'
Monday, July 14, 2008, at 05:15:06 (ZULU)

Joe M, I don't radically disagree with your projections, for they are possible, I just don't see them going that badly, simply due to the rest of the world being even more FUBAR.

I, for one, like high food/energy costs, if the rest of the world is starving, they do Stupid Shit(TM), countries that do Stupid Shit(TM), generally cause the non brain dead Americans to wake the hell up that the rest of the world is precisely the shithole it has always been but they never clued in on til it hit them in the face. And we're still going to make the food, we may just do like the Asians are currently doing with rice and not export it(due to law) and then the ROW will find out just how SOL they are without food.

Concur about limiting the franchise being a good thing. On welfare? Are you a net drain on society? Politician? No vote for you until you unscrew yourself. Hell, if the USG simply stopped rewarding and perpetuating urban failure, more than a few "public disasters" would self correct. But the politicians need problems so that they are accorded the authority(money) they so crave.

My largest fear and greatest font of hatred is that the USG will continue the nanny statism and bail people out of the results of their stupid decisions. ANYTHING that disconnects the public from the cause/effect process is evil. It prevents learning/evolution. Let the market work, let businesses fail. In fact, the shareholders have far too little power over the corporate officers and CEO/CFO's. If you run a business into the ground, you should suffer the consequences of it. The risk/reward balance is AFU. Life in America is far too easy, too many people are just too damned stupid for the health of our nation. I'm not seeing too many people living in tents or out of cars yet, except druggies and other self destructive human failures so it simply isn't that bad, yet.

Hey, if it all goes to Hell, I have a stocked refuge on the military crest of an agricultural area with long sight lines and geographically limited access to heavy vehicles that I don't have the firepower to deal with. Joe, you house isn't too far off my path to get their, think due W about 120miles.

It pays to have options:) S/F.....Ken M

Ken M
Monday, July 14, 2008, at 08:15:23 (ZULU)

Pablito,

Another one is Springfield Sporters.

John
WI, - Monday, July 14, 2008, at 13:07:30 (ZULU)

Doc Mac...

Thanks.

Miltec is the one - I have the hots (but no money) for a cream puff clunkie ol' P-1917, and I wanna keep their website in mind in case I discover some greenies.

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Monday, July 14, 2008, at 15:00:42 (ZULU)

I dropped 'yoke bait' an email the other day and got one back. He's apparently doing a bit better health wise and is still getting out to shoot here and there...

Just thought some of you would be interested.

medicjim
Monday, July 14, 2008, at 16:35:59 (ZULU)

medicjim....are you coming down for the "father son shoot" in August???????

Got back from Montana 2 weeks ago..49 day varmint killin' road trip with the dog and a bunch of guns was great fun but it was wet and cold a lot of the time. Still, shot a serious bunch of bullets despite the weather. Shot some in North and SD on the way back. Home in time to work on woodchucks as the first of the hay is now cut.

Rod and Brock say Hi!

CDC...Have you shot a Springfield EMP yet?

Glad to see little has changed here.

outa here

markwell

the Alleghenies, WV, - Tuesday, July 15, 2008, at 02:55:36 (ZULU)

John,

Glad to hear you had fun out west. I won't be coming down for the father / son shoot...my son is not quite up to it (he is now 5 weeks old and his form behind the rifle is terrible, what with the drool and all <g>). You guys are doing a great thing with that match, I hope it's still around when my little guy is old enough to attend.

medicjim
Tuesday, July 15, 2008, at 13:57:10 (ZULU)

story about the porous Pakistan/Afghanistan "official" border:

http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/World/1067679.html

Published: 2008-07-15

Little more than a toll booth

A $1 or $2 bribe will buy entry into Afghanistan from Pakistan

By ALEXANDER PANETTA and A.R. KHAN The Canadian Press

SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan — Bribing your way out of Afghanistan through the border still costs less than a cup of coffee, even seven years after the Sept. 11 attacks made this region the centre of the international war on terrorism.

Rampant corruption at the Pakistani border was documented by The Canadian Press in several dozen trips through one of its few supposedly official crossings.

The history of this chaotic frontier goes a long way to explaining the decades of ongoing violence in Afghanistan, and the ubiquitous role played by Pakistan.

Generations of dispute over the border have helped trigger a chain reaction of Pashtun nationalism, Islamic militancy, the rise of the Taliban, and the modern-day insurgency.

Even some of the guardians paid to protect the border today treat it as little more than a personal toll booth.

Pakistani border guards demand $1 or $2 bribes through a well-known catch phrase that is familiar to many of the estimated 40,000 people who cross this frontier every day.

"Open your mind," Pakistani guards would tell passersby at the road crossing between Spin Boldak, Afghanistan, and Chaman, Pakistan.

They would then stick out their hands.

If they received their payment — 50 or 100 Pakistani rupee notes — they would tuck it into their pockets and then allow the traveller through with either a hand gesture or an unspoken glance at the crossing.

A freelance reporter who made the trip multiple times noticed that only when the bribe wasn’t paid did guards ask for a passport or ID card.

Bribery was not an issue on the Afghan side. But border guards there systematically waved people through without demanding ID and only asked a few questions about a traveller’s residence and destination.

The ritual was much the same coming back into Afghanistan through the double-sided checkpoint: the Pakistanis took bribes, the Afghans asked a few questions, and rarely did either ask for documents.

From there, a pedestrian traveller could hail a taxi and ride into Kandahar City or Quetta, Pakistan, for less than $10.

And this was at one of the few declared checkpoints along the 2,500-kilometre border.

There are hundreds of well-known illegal crossings, and an unknown number of mountain passes, foot paths, and goat-herding trails through the mountainous region.

Canada has budgeted $32 million over the next three years for initiatives aimed at improving international co-operation and new technology to help close this porous boundary.

The neighbouring countries have revived talk of introducing a biometric ID system at border checkpoints. The last time they tried installing one in Spin Boldak-Chaman, it lasted two days.

Rows of computer systems are now gathering thick layers of dust just a stone’s throw from the checkpoint after major protests on both sides of the border disrupted the project.

One Afghan man says the high-tech scanning system was abhorrent to the region’s Pashtuns, who dismiss the idea of being screened to visit their families across the border.

"I cross the border without any passport," says Abdul Nafey, who lives in Spin Boldak and transports goods back and forth.

"We have a lot of close relations in Pakistan with other Pashtun people."

A Pakistani businessman named Haji Akber says: "Pakistani security knows the people very well. They can judge strangers by their eyes, and then ask for money."

Tensions flared over the border again several weeks ago when Afghan President Hamid Karzai threatened to send troops across it to chase down militants who find sanctuary on the other side.

Pakistan’s prime minister countered that even if every soldier in his country’s mighty army were stationed there, they could never block the notoriously porous border.

It was far from the neighbours’ first dispute over the frontier, and the impact of their longstanding spat has been far-reaching.

Afghanistan and its dominant Pashtun ethnic group have never accepted the boundary established in 1893 by British diplomat Sir Mortimer Durand.

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Tuesday, July 15, 2008, at 23:31:53 (ZULU)

Dubb-ya did a news conference today. He agrees with JoeM about the drilling ban...

Sharon

Larry J. Porter
Boonies of the Panhandle, Texas, USA!!!! - Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at 02:52:05 (ZULU)

Markwell: "CDC...Have you shot a Springfield EMP yet?"

No. Tell me about it.

Click my name.

CDC'
Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at 07:31:57 (ZULU)

Sharon,

That's no reason to stop listening to Joe!

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at 09:50:05 (ZULU)

JoeM: My crack about helping our "so called sagging economy" meant "thanks for adding your share of $$ to the economy through the purchase of those two hawgs recenttly..."

Take care all

Ken Hunter
Nokesville, Va, Keep America - God Fearing, Armed and Free!!!.. - Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at 11:55:57 (ZULU)

Travis, I did NOT say I was going to stop listening to Joe...

Sharon

Larry J. Porter
Boonies of the Panhandle, Texas, USA!!!! - Wednesday, July 16, 2008, at 14:36:38 (ZULU)

CDC Being a orange Gunsite Guy like you the 45 ACP is my First love. Started shooting 9mm 1911s for IDPA several years ago due to arthritis in my wrists and hands. Even had Kurt Wickman build me a Commander in 9mm to carry....Anyway, I've always had a case of "butt pinch" with Commanders when carried IWB..Mostly when in the car/truck; not always, but 30+ years of it caused me to look at guns with slides a bit shorter than the Commander. This past winter at a gun show the EMP caught my eye and I decided after handling one to give the little bugger a try, even though it's a 9mm. Had some trouble and sent it back. Was a very early production gun and it had some fleas. Came back with a new slide, re-cut feed ramp on the ramped barrel, and some other stuff.... The little gun has now run in excess of 2k rounds without a hitch and doesn't pinch my butt in the car. Had the front strap checkered 25 lpi and did away with the ambi safety; other than that it's totally stock. trigger is good at a bit over 4lbs. Accuracy is way better than I expected; head shots at 25yds are easy if you bear down and press. Carrying it in a cut down GW Davis 455 IWB holster. Mag capacity is the same as the Colt at 9 rounds. Mags are Mec-Gars specific to the EMP. Am carrying 124 Federal Hydra-shoks. Weight is essentially the same as a Commander and recoil is very managable. It's a cool little carry gun. Have even shot it in a few matches.

outa here

markwell

the Alleghenies, WV, - Thursday, July 17, 2008, at 01:18:39 (ZULU)

Markwell: How much did your mini-1911 cost? Can you get extra mags?

CDC'
Thursday, July 17, 2008, at 03:15:29 (ZULU)

Happened to be leafing through the Cabellas book whilst in the meditation chamber. Bushnell is producing an interesting scope for them with Mil-Dots and 80 or 100 (depends upon model) MOA adjustments. Listing a skosh under 800. Anyone actually look at these?

Since Meade sold Redfield et all, to Loopy, wonder what will happen to the revisions to the tactical line they were promising for this summer?

WR Moore
Thursday, July 17, 2008, at 15:22:57 (ZULU)

Per Joe M.......he's in NC. Blake graduates from Basic tomorrow, on to Airborne school on Monday. He's one proud pop!

Geoff M
WI, USA - Thursday, July 17, 2008, at 21:32:18 (ZULU)

WR Moore...

That $800 Bushnell somehow got past the lady that engraves the elevation markers so you know how many turns you have mad on the turret.

Without those hash marks, you cannot use the elevation turret to dial in ranges, cuz you can't know where you are.

BADD!!!

Meade's career in the shooting sports sure was short - they have dumped it all, after screwing up several of them.

It's a shame, cuz they make great astronomical scopes.

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Thursday, July 17, 2008, at 21:53:20 (ZULU)

CDC EMPs run around $1K. Mags are available and not overly expensive, although I forget how much; I have 6. Only thing I'd do if I were the factory (and I had mine done 25lpi) is checker the front strap. Other than that the little bugger was good to go, after the return trip to Ill......................

the Alleghenies, WV, - Friday, July 18, 2008, at 01:32:58 (ZULU)

Well, Obama came throught the Embassy today. The net effect of his visit was to make us lock everything down until it was too late for us to convoy back for any kind of dinner. Not an auspicious start, nor was it calculated to win my support. As shitty as the food is (ever wish you WERE eating an MRE?), it's the high point of my day. I'm not impressed.

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Saturday, July 19, 2008, at 16:56:13 (ZULU)

Dammit, Charles, I was counting on one of you guys to have an ND or something when I saw that horse's ass on T.V. this morning. He's, in my opinion, potentially the worst thing to happen to this country, EVER! What a piece of shit.

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Sunday, July 20, 2008, at 04:30:32 (ZULU)

Travis,

Dont give up on our boys just yet....

We can still hope they missed an IED.And if it did happen that way then the Anti's cant say "Gun Control".But as much as you,I and the some others would love to see it...

It wont happen.

UnPat

UnPat
Wi, USA - Sunday, July 20, 2008, at 13:56:01 (ZULU)

Yeah,

I saw Candidate Obama on tv. No matter what channel you turned to there he was in that gym in the 'Stan shooting hoops. Sure made me want to vote for him.

His plan is based on his hatred of the USA. He loves taxes and hates this country. Sure sounds like a good liberal democrat to me. The media won't touch anything that might hurt his image of being such a breath of fresh air. He failed the "sniff" test many years ago. A POS if ever there was.

Bill

BillBledsoe
HA!, HAHA, USA - Sunday, July 20, 2008, at 19:15:40 (ZULU)

My wife said she wanted to Sky Dive, so I gave a gift certificate for her birthday.

Mannnn...that was a HIT. She couldn't stop smiling. At $180/pop this could rin in to $$.

My kids told me that they prefer golf to shooting.

Tears came to my eyes.

CDC'
Monday, July 21, 2008, at 04:40:26 (ZULU)

CDC:

Have your children tried Sporting Clays? Shooting sport's answer to golf...

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Monday, July 21, 2008, at 06:55:59 (ZULU)

UnPat,

You fucker! Next thing, you're gonna be telling little kids there's no Santa! Don't go bashing my hopes! If I could get three wishes, one of them would be for Hillary and Obama to get blown up while she's reaming him with a strap-on. ....in the CNN studio.

CDC,

Maybe all those "Arts" programs weren't such a good thing! None the less, I feel for ya.

Mine's 12, and seems to enjoy shooting when I take him, but if I ask him if wants to go, he always says, "no". WTF kinda 12 year old boy don't wanna go shooting? He did alright at sporting clays during one of the Young Hunter Education Challenge events I was volunteering at, but when I took him to find a shotgun for him, he said he didn't want one! WTF ???

He likes golf, too, so I go hit a few balls with him at the park, but I really don't get why anyone would spend time on golf when they can have shooting or rodeo gear handed to them.

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Monday, July 21, 2008, at 07:35:13 (ZULU)

Golf is the sport of industry-any industry. Whole bunch of stuff happens there. Somebody thinks shooting is expensive needs to price the gear and greens fees for serious golf.

After hearing about what goes on at our company golf outings, I decided I wasn't gonna dig the clubs out of the basement-haven't been on a course since I was 23. For certain personalities, riding around drinking, the after the round bet settling session at the 19th hole etc. is appealing.

Like several other physical activities, it can be absorbing if you wish to do well. There's a whole lot more actual thinking/planning going on than is apparent.

What puzzles me, is how many golf courses there are. What we need is another range building outfit to take advantage of the current situation. Someone who learned from the Winchester Gun Club thing.

WR Moore
Monday, July 21, 2008, at 12:51:44 (ZULU)

re: Golf

Concur with WR Moore's comment "Golf is the sport of industry-any industry". Lots of golf-centric sales conferences in the Information Technology industry. My guess would be that it is a slow-paced sport that can safely support a big spread of skill levels, and lots of opportunity for talking. Perfect for inter-personal "networking". Prefer the shooting sports myself :-)

I don't know why teens would be attracted to golf.

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Monday, July 21, 2008, at 16:45:52 (ZULU)

Fort Benning does not specialize in turning out Infantrymen; it also has a niche in turning boys to men:) Wow..so that is what my relatives meant all those years ago when they said "you changed..." My theory is he has accomplished something he is deeply proud of--with no mommy or daddy to water it down or to catch him if he failed. A major challenge with no safety net, all on his own. His shoulders squared with an air of confidence that wasn't there before. His voice was full--no mumbling; his gaze set on those he spoke with. He was respectful and polite to everyone around him all wekkend, while being sure of himself and what he wanted...man, was I ever the proud pops. His mom was blown off her rocker, and just beamed thru her tears all week. I was only going to go to the airborne grad (next month, 15th or 22nd) due to my girls' being my charges full time now---glad i found a way. I had to though, since he took the long way thru the process; that he stood up when quitting is the usual outcome made it a bit different. I just had to be there for both for that reason. And, he graduated from the same barracks I did 26 years before:)) It took me a while to figure that out, since my one landmark--the old Sand Hill theater, was gone. And all the little planted pine bushes are now towering trees!

Atlanta Airport will never be a destination, transit point, or a originator for my travel again if I have anything at all to say about it. What a shithole. That city is corrupt, and Hartsfield is their cash cow. The sooner the state seizes it from the city the better--and until--no way I go back. FUBAR is all I can say...So I drive the truck down next month! Between rentals and airfares, it isn't a bad idea anyway. Lodging is easy as my mentor lives at the halfway point.

Interesting article---some good comments as well. Click.

Golf had its uses; the GWOT largely eliminated that. For that, I was grateful. On another note of some topic relevence--Fort Stewart used to have a skeet range that adjoined a fairway on one of the holes of the O club course. A friend was shooting skeet. Same friend called Abizaid a "tactically inept POS" on Grenada years before--and was suffering the reversal of fortune that comes with insulting a petty man who had big connections. One day, while blasting clay, an overly early party of four wanted to play thru. The big fat guy with the loud voice told the skeet range to cease; but the rule was those hours were for shooting. My bud told the fat guy he'd leave if he beat him in a round. Went to a few extra rounds before the tie was broke. The fat guy would have to wait to play thru. Fat guy was Stormin' Norman...and the clay ressurected my bud's career:)) He was hired on the spot as his aide, but had to be promoted to Major as Norman was getting his third star. My bud was on conditional continuation of service as a captain with pass-overs at the time, too dedicated to leave, too fucked to make it meaningful to stay. Last we saw each other, he was commanding a brigade team and John Abizaid had just announced retirement. That occasioned a procurement of some good, aged contraband and two cubans as we watched his his company teams light up Udari range from a tower:)) Golf has its uses...but shooting sports are better, eh?

Joe M
Monday, July 21, 2008, at 16:55:15 (ZULU)

THe link Joe posted in his name is interesting. More interesting are some of the comments posted by readers of the article. One that really captures the imagination:

"This is a good article, but I'm getting really tired

of people assuming that "they" are making

mistakes.

These are expert fisherman. They know how to

set the worm during the bull and reel in during

the bear.

They don't make mistakes.

Mistakes are only a cover for their agenda.

Just like the war in Iraq.

Just like the Great Depression.

Just like the creation of the Federal Reserve.

When an agenda is contrary to public benefit.

Mistakes are how they explain their actions."

And apparently, as one reader pointed out, a group of about 15 of the top world financial institutions have been banned from short trading with each other. Hmph.

All very interesting. I don't buy any large scale conspiracy crap. But I could go all in on a theory that says the top 5% richest people in the world are greedy enough to systematically engage in conduct that screws up the financial system for the rest of us, no cooperation or conspiracy required.

Geoff M
WI, USA - Monday, July 21, 2008, at 18:27:52 (ZULU)

Travis,

There is no Santa.

UnPat

UnPat
Wi, USA - Monday, July 21, 2008, at 19:05:24 (ZULU)

Geoff: Turn the cash "worthless" thru inflation; squeeze the lower end of the income ladder on basic necessities; lose a pile of your own cash in the process (but who cares if it was rendered worthless)...and come out owning all the stuff on the far end:)) yeah, major economic downturn may wreck a bank's balance sheet in the short term--but owning all the places we need to live is not a bad trade off. There is much written along these lines on the Rothschild conspiracy. Whether it is or not doesn't matter---but the mechansim for the money changers is for fact--they lose for now, win later. A bad run of the economy looks bad for them, but isn't bad for them. No doubt about that...

Joe M
Monday, July 21, 2008, at 19:53:59 (ZULU)

Travis wrote, "Maybe all those "Arts" programs weren't such a good thing!"

I don't understand what you mean. How do arts programs make kids prefer golf to shooting?

So the kids learn to play golf. They come with me when I go to the range. They bounce golf balls around with .22s. Yesterday we did man on man comps on a spinner target. We had fun.

CDC'
Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at 02:04:43 (ZULU)

Hawgs,

unless I messed up again somewhere that I'm not aware of, the archives are up to date again - my apologies.

Marius
Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at 05:21:42 (ZULU)

UnPat, please advise before posting like that again, keyboards are hard to clean, and hard to replace in this part of the world! And, good coffee is too dear to spew on laptops....

Joe, I'm not really happy to hear about ATL. Company's switched from Emirates to Delta Airlines, and now I'm going to have to go through ATL instead of direct to Houston. At least they're still paying the freight for the trip. And I'm happy as a clam to hear about your son. You can't decide if yer gonna pass out, or blow up, huh? Tempus fugit.....

Anyone have any experience with Barrett's new 6.8 Grendel M4 variant? Just saw one on the BW website, went over to the Barrett page and took a look. Interesting, and I'm gonna need a new toy for Christmas, and a new reason to head up to B'Lands for a week. LMK if you have any comments.

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at 07:41:25 (ZULU)

Correction to last post, I meant 6.8 SPC.

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at 15:00:59 (ZULU)

Charles,

Sorry about that...Shot that one out there without thinkin.

UnPat

UnPat
Wi, USA - Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at 18:08:54 (ZULU)

Back when I used to travel a lot on the east coast, the phrase "Atlanta Standard" referred to a 2 mile walk and a 2 hour wait."

The joke was, "When I die, I don't know whether I'm going to heaven or to hell, but I'll surely have to change planes in Atlanta."

Lindy
Mountains of Colorado, U.S.A. - Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at 21:31:34 (ZULU)

Geo-political country -

Just finished a great book called "The Second Russian Revolution" by a BBC staff writer named Angus Roxburgh. Sources for the book were his own reporting and interviews with many, many people in the Communist Party and Soviet Government during the 80s and early 90s....including all the top politicians of the times such as Gorbachev himself, Boris Yeltsin, etc. The thrust of the work is Mikhail Gorbachev and his "glastnost" and "perestroika" programs. The book details Gorbachev's rise to power, the internal power struggles of the Soviet goverment and the Communist Party, and goes over, step by step, the different changes Gorby implemented, the direct consequences to the Soviet Union of those changes, the backlash by conservative (hard core communist) factions, etc.

What a great book. It lends some perspective to the thought that Reagan singlehandedly brought them down. He didn't. Us fighting the spread of communism was the right thing, but it wasn't the defining factor. It also illuminates another reason why Reagan is so hated by the liberals...they believe he killed off the world's bastion of communism. Once again, he didn't, but I'm sure liberals will continue to cling to that notion rather than believe that communism collapsed under it's own weight.

I can't believe that people in the USA consciously want the government to have more power and responsibility rather than less. The Soviet Government is the highest example of top heavy and underperforming, dehumanising bureaucracy ever, and illustrates where the liberals would take us once they get their way and the problems get worse instead of better. Socialist or not, when the government has complete control, it's always worse rather than better. Something the Founding Fathers knew, but liberals do not. With information like this out there that details the utter failure of the one country that tried pure 100% socialist policies and government control, I can't believe there is anyone left on the planet that continues to espouse these policies as a solution to the relatively minor problems we face in the United States.

Highly recommended reading.

Geoff M
WI, USA - Wednesday, July 23, 2008, at 21:13:57 (ZULU)

Click. Guy dies after being tased nine times. In the dept's history, they've used the taser 14 times. 10 were on this guy.

Methinks we have a Darwin Award nominee! Should officer "Fun Button" get an honorable mention for the assist?

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Wednesday, July 23, 2008, at 21:37:50 (ZULU)

Morgue: We're up 360 USD per 1000 invested in dinars, dude! And that is just marginal stability appreciation...just wait til they settle the petro-dollar legislation and open foriegn oil company investment (all pending final details and voting)---oughta take off pretty good. Qatar's currency is a downer though...luckily that was only beer money:))

Geoff: Reagan did a bit more than build up the military, or act tough at Brandenburg. Those histories are yet to be written, pending declass. The thing was, the soviet economy was a shell game, but it wasn't all lies for the west's benefit--they lied to each other too about how sunny things were in various sectors. Knowing that made for some interesting ops. A wounded giant is sometimes worse than the healthy one, eh? Reagan was the right guy at the right time...a carter or a mondale would've found a way to prolong the inevitable death:))

Joe M
Wednesday, July 23, 2008, at 22:30:15 (ZULU)

W.R. Moore said, "What we need is another range building outfit to take advantage of the current situation. Someone who learned from the Winchester Gun Club thing."

Maybe meds are making me dense, but what do you mean? What was the "Winchester Gun Club thing"

Rod,

I fear that my kid's generation will be too lazy for golf, and will do their networking via LAN while playing "Halo". I know some that are too lazy to load magazines, and would opt out of real shooting for the gaming version, where they simply press "R" for all the loading and mag changes they need.

Just the other night, I was wondering what happened to the days when "networking" in the south happened while dove hunting(or quail, or pheasant, or ducks), then deals were sealed over bourbon?

Joe,

Maybe you could hook up an auxillary tank and cruise down there burnin' free veggie oil? Between the free fuel and the parental high you're on right now, you'd not stop smilin' for a month!

CDC,

The "arts" teachers are mostly liberals, and too often use their position to preach their idiotic viewpoints. I've noticed several kids I know that have somehow gotten the idea that guns, shooting, and doing anything in the outdoors other than hugging a tree is ditasteful. After speaking with them for a while, it became pretty clear where this seed of stupidity came from. Their fucking hippie teachers.

Charles,

You like Starbucks? What kinda blends or flavors do you prefer? I've gotta pretty good selection I could send ya,(unopened, of course) now that my GI tract seems to rebel whenever I have more than a few cups a week. Rostermail me an address for a coffee and Copenhagen supply drop. I can throw in a few outdoor magazines, as well. I've been saving coupons for the Cope.

If you're flying Delta, bring a change of clothes or two. Those idiots lose my baggage every time. I had to wait over two weeks one time. That's bullshit.

Travis Morgan
Wichita, Ks., U.S.A. - Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 00:40:41 (ZULU)

Oil prices dropped! To what? 124 FRN? BFD. That is 100 plus above the inflation adjusted average of 24/ barrel that has remained steady for many years. Click for a great history of oil pricing. I get tired of my liberal family telling me that a 4% rise in the market proves me wrong when that merely meant that the losses are "just 23%" as of that point. Duh.

What the drop does show is that the dollar is screwed and that the world, including OPEC, is bound to the dollar's decline just as we are. A cycle has started that can only feed on itself.

Mexico's State Oil company is begging for a law change to get foriegn investment to expand production. That company is 40% of Mexico's government; without petro dollars, they lose parity with the cartels. Anyone care for a failed state on your doorstep? Yes, they export now...but current projection show a net importer within 3-7 years. I suppose I could explain several ways this will impact us negatively other than energy-wise, but what fun would that be?

GM and Ford are on the verge of a major downgrade on creditworthiness. The housing market is still settling out (downward) the excesses, and the larger problems facing us can only be addressed by throwing these and other sectors to the wolves. Thus far, not only are we unwilling to think of propping the dollar--we are actually trying hard to kill it. No one has the balls to tell us "tough shit"--so, instead we try to spend our way up from the depths. FWIW, Spain is the first to show the signs of the problem within the EU. Watch the slow-motion cancer spread over the next few months...

So what if the world takes a dive? How about the world calling in our debt? Care to mortgage entire towns? Imagine the second year of your home and the bank calls for payment in full...The problem is and remains too many dollars created from nothing...congress and the fed both are fueling a disaster.

On the lighter side, Obama "probably" is not the antiChrist and the mayan calendar was "probably" just missing a few pages.

Joe M
Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 02:15:57 (ZULU)

Travis-back in the 1960's Winchester decided that what the shooting world needed was an equivilent to the golf club and went about establishing a chain of Winchester Gun Clubs. The only one I went to was aimed at the skeet/trap folks on the upper end of the income scale.

Now I understand the skeet/trap thing, cause those folks shoot a lot and spend accordingly. The safety zone isn't as large as needed for rifle, but they could have arranged a pistol range. However, when asked, management at that site indicated that such a thing would lower the tone of the establishment.

At any rate and for whatever reasons, most of them went belly up.

WR Moore
Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 05:05:02 (ZULU)

Golf:

An ineffectual attempt to drive an uncontrollable sphere into an inaccessible hole with instruments ill-suited to the task.

jc
Cordova, TN, United States - Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 05:49:12 (ZULU)

Joe M: "the soviet economy was a shell game,"

Someone said that the unsolvable problem with the Soviet economy was encapsulated in a joke; "We pretend to work and they pretend to pay us". I'm not sure it applies, but it sounds plausable.

CDC'
Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 06:09:40 (ZULU)

Winchester Trap/Skeet Club in Sturtevant,just 15 miles away from me running strong.

The Playboy Club in Kenosha went....T/U.

For those runnin diesels...AVOID Pilot fuel.... seems they got some really bad fuel on the market.Easy to spot.Kinda yellowish-orangish color.Might run about 70 miles after a fill up,then leaves ya on the side of the road dead.Changin filters dont work.Gotta drain/bleed whole system and start over.

UnPat

UnPat
Wi, USA - Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 09:39:41 (ZULU)

A certain other member of this board and I often talk about food/ water storage issues, stockage levels and other foodstuff related concepts (like seed in my case). Lately, the non-availability of stuff has been a topic. Here's one surprising reason, click!

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=70281

I can't think of a better endorsement for stockpiling some non perishables. Heheheh.

Joe M
Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 16:03:54 (ZULU)

JC,

Your description sounds like my last romantic endeavor.

Indiansinger

Roger C. Carpenter
Sweet Potato Capital, MS, USA - Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 16:05:56 (ZULU)

Roger/ jc: The golf bit was funny as hell, the metaphor to romance put me off my rocker and unto the floor! Them's was good posts...

CDC: Applies...errr, applied. Speaking of the coldwar in the past tense is still a mental challenge for me, especially since Putin came along:))

UnPat: WTF? If it is excessive water, got the tee-shirt. But if they have worse stuff going on, the lawsuits will destroy them. Things like clogged or ruined injectors and blown seals on high pressure pumps cost major buckage.

The dems are bummed that fuel usage is down if only because so is their fuel-tax revenues (pork funding, vote-buying highway slush pot). So, while I pay stupid diesel prices thanks to these fuckwads (ultralow sulfer standards and lack of refinery to handle the mandates)--all for growing corn, I might add; and you and you and you feel the pinch as well---these dems now want to increase the tax by 10 cents a gallon to make up revenues! OK...think about it this way: These same asshats claim that excessive taxing on cigarretes is designed to scale back usage---now they want to apply the same thinking to gas to get MORE money? How can they know that increasing taxes will reduce use on one hand, while expecting to somehow get more money from this increase? I really did not need this example to know that they are idiots...Oh, and the rich will drive still drive...it's the poor who will walk. And pay me for that tax thru their food bill too:)) "Progressive" applies to these clowns only in levels of stupidity...as in progressively dumber by the day.

It is all part of the cycle of economic doom I keep preachin' here.

Joe M
Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 16:22:15 (ZULU)

re: shotgunning

The conventional wisdom is that the shotgunners are the wealthiest of the sport shooters...

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 16:31:18 (ZULU)

One of the reasons that economic data often conflicts with my analysis can be seen thru currency moves against the dollar: A great example is "Mexico's Peso at 6 year high against the dollar." Which means that 6 years ago, the mexican peso was just as high as it is now, and nothing bad happened. Ok, fair thought process and the article is designed to make that the conclusion. But, without knowing that the mexican peso also was soaring over most other currencies at the same time (due to new assessments on their oil reserves)--it is a moot point. You should expect any given currency to have good days and bad--and to isolate any one against the dollar is done to portray a devil-may-care attitude about such movements. But, that is not the way to track currency--it is better to track a broader trend against numerous currencies, and why such movements take place. Generally, there are easily identified market forces at work. In today's case, the force at work is devaluation due to too many dollars chasing tight markets. The more you print, the more they want. And...we are printing at record pace. So, do not look at any single point of reference in the markets to try to divine where we are...look at the broadest picture you can, and add in some down-home psychology to boot. Then, make your assumptions.

Joe M
Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 16:41:36 (ZULU)

re: food stockpiling

Joe, you're (justifiably) scaring me...

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 16:50:32 (ZULU)

Joe M,

Cant say for sure what it is.It almost sounds like water/rust.But I was told it isnt.I got it from a driver,and seen a warning issued in in print on it.Most of the fuel I have been seein is green to greenish blue.Problem stuff is yellowish-orange like I said and as far as I know it is from Pilot.Will try and gather more info and will let ya know.

UnPat

UnPat
Wi, USA - Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 19:18:25 (ZULU)

The low sulfur diesel we use on the railroads is dyed orange/red. The dye is used to designate if the fuel has been taxed or not......red fuel is not taxed and is illegal for on-highway use.

Willing to bet Ken M knows what is going on......

I'm getting more hours now and gonna start looking hard at a .50 upper when I can start playing with some riffles again. I don't want an AR50, too heavy and it's a gun, not an upper. The BOHICA upper is reported to have some minor extraction issues that have been fixed with a "Mk 2" release. Also, there is an outfit (Safety Harbor) that has a magazine fed repeating upper for under $2k. Available barrels include 18" (OUCH!), 22", and 29". I've seen one report of one making hits on a 10" plate at 1500 meters. Anybody here have experience with it?

Geoff M
WI, USA - Thursday, July 24, 2008, at 21:18:36 (ZULU)

Offroad diesel is dyed purple/red and its huge fines if it's found in an onroad diesel. I occasionally find people using it in reefer trailer units.

The yellowish stuff is standard ULSD(Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel) which has been the rule since late in '06 for the '07 emissions compliant engines. It requires a fairly complex additive package to provide the same lubricity as older low sulphur diesel, which can be green'ish tint in some cases. If you get some fuel that did not get the proper additives, ULSD can kill fuel pumps and injectors PDQ. The 07 EPA motors are pure shiite with the added crap often going wrong and shutting down the motor in many cases. IMO, there should always, ALWAYS be manual overrides on unessential BS like this emissions crap. I'd rather have a nice mechanical motor like a 400 BC VI Cummins or Cat 3406 mechanical which is a fully known quantity and will run until the operator breaks it. The pre-emissions(pre 02 actually, as some crap was foisted on us in 02) Cats and ISX Cummins are acceptable as the computer motors are more undoubtedly efficient but they are more fragile as there's more crap that can go wrong. S/F.....Ken M

Ken M
Friday, July 25, 2008, at 05:03:56 (ZULU)

"The conventional wisdom is that the shotgunners are the wealthiest of the sport shooters..."

That certainly seems to be the case at the gun club where I shoot. Followed closely by benchrest.

Long range (High Power, F-Class, etc.), with a few exceptions, is close to the bottom of the totem pole.

jc
Cordova, TN, United States - Friday, July 25, 2008, at 05:14:16 (ZULU)

Fuel Country:

This is what I been able to find out so far.

The problem fuel is in the Toledo Area.Dont know how many Pilots stations are affected.Boss says its water/rust related and is plugging the systems in 70 miles.Driver that told me about it,was gonna show me a sample of it,but got distracted when he saw my Shovel and started askin question about that.I was busy makin his trailer work and pickin up my tools and forgot to ask.

Offroad diesel is dyed red.Many farmers use it also,as well as heavy construction equipment.Big no-no for Highway use.Cant remember the fine but it will ruin your year.

Sorry about the redundancy...Was typin,cookin and eatin at same time Ken was just typin...

UnPat

UnPat
Wi, USA - Friday, July 25, 2008, at 05:32:30 (ZULU)

If it's rust related, it was probably some dummy who filled right after they started refilling the fuel bunkers. When you pump 10k gallons of fuel into the main tanks, it stirs up all the crap and the pumps suck it up into the trucks. Now, there are filters on all the pumps, but you can plainly see that some have not been changed in living memory. Or perhaps that station has not had their tanks cleaned or perhaps there is a microbe growth problem in their tanks. Or maybe the dude had a microbe problem in his tanks and the fuel he got had a decent biocide additive package and that clogged his filters/fuel system(or his tanks got dosed with biocide at some point in the past and it finally clogged his system). Or any # of things.

I find that changing the fuel filters only works about 10-20% of the time. But companies always want you to try it because they're cheap and don't want to pay for the tow toa dealer for proper diagnostics. And since I positively hate smelling like damned diesel for the rest of the day, I make sure to charge accordingly for this service. S/F......Ken M

Ken M
Friday, July 25, 2008, at 07:30:27 (ZULU)

A little friday morning satire.

www.jouster.com/cgi-bin/guntalk/config.pl?read=88289

Gary Kaney
NW, ILL, - Friday, July 25, 2008, at 12:47:39 (ZULU)

Guys,

A "Leatherman" type tool for AR-15:

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/productdetail.aspx?p=26570

FYI, YMMV

Duman
Friday, July 25, 2008, at 17:59:17 (ZULU)

Hey guys,

Recovering from emergency surgery today. I had some mild pain and just a wierd feeling. I opted to act on it and drive myself to the hospital in the middle of the night...no idea why, that little voice just said "do it, now". This would have been the end of me in an austere world.

Very humbling.

medicjim
Friday, July 25, 2008, at 19:24:26 (ZULU)

Well, this guy isn't too bright..... I think he's tempting Darwin.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=39193478

Duman
Friday, July 25, 2008, at 20:18:14 (ZULU)

Gary,

That guy can really write. Great satire.

Duman,

Damn! Another gadget that I may "NEED". That guy is lucky his wife didn't ventilate him as well as the house.

medicjim,

Glad you listened to that little voice. Hope you're not laid up too long.

Cheers,

Doc

Doc Holloway
The steamy Ozark boonies, MO, USA - Friday, July 25, 2008, at 21:43:23 (ZULU)

Medicjim:

Glad you dodged that "bullet".

Listening to that little voice can make all the diference.

The conventional wisdom is that our "little voice" is our subconscious, which is not as easy to distract as our conscious mind.

I vaguely recall that John Farnam commented upon the occasions when he was injured by enemy action in Vietnam, he had ignored what his little voice was trying to tell him.

rod regier
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - Friday, July 25, 2008, at 22:50:32 (ZULU)

Medicjim...

What was broken?

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Saturday, July 26, 2008, at 02:03:36 (ZULU)

atypical acute appendix with damage to the intestine...

medicjim
Saturday, July 26, 2008, at 02:35:53 (ZULU)

"atypical acute appendix with damage to the intestine..."

Ouchie!!

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Saturday, July 26, 2008, at 03:59:16 (ZULU)

medicjim: Bad stuff. I'd HATE to die with a belly-ache.

CDC'
Saturday, July 26, 2008, at 06:01:29 (ZULU)

Joe M,

Think this fits in with some of the gloom and doom ya been speakin about?Doyle and Greenies wastin tax money. Click.

In case it dont work.

http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/BD/BD-CA-Diesel-Grant-Program.html

UnPat

UnPat
Wi, USA - Saturday, July 26, 2008, at 06:21:26 (ZULU)

CDC wrote "I'd HATE to die with a belly-ache"

Exactly...that's all the warning I had. I am stupid lucky.

medicjim
Saturday, July 26, 2008, at 15:41:00 (ZULU)

medicjim: Full recovery expected?

CDC'
Saturday, July 26, 2008, at 21:37:23 (ZULU)

Yes, full recovery and no drama expected at this point..

medicjim
Sunday, July 27, 2008, at 02:46:27 (ZULU)

CDC...

>"I'd HATE to die with a belly-ache."<

"Heey, Hoombre'. You have put a leeetle hole in my belly"

... Frank Silvera to John Russell - 1967

'lito

CatShooter
Spring has sprung, da' creek has riz, I wonder where dem kitties is? - Sunday, July 27, 2008, at 03:49:48 (ZULU)

CatShooter...

>>"You got a lot of hard bark on you, Mister."

Cicero Grimes to John Russell. He had a bellyache too.

====

medicjim; Then you dodged another one. Good deal.

CDC'
Sunday, July 27, 2008, at 04:39:19 (ZULU)

MedicJim: You are indeed lucky on numerous fronts, my friend. I think that you might have enough luck spilling over to warrant purchasing a lotto ticket:)) My acute appendicitis came with the wrath-of-God pain levels---probably due to my heathen life as a teenager. No ignoring--or mistaking--that excruciating "lie down and die" signal. OTOH, maybe God knew that it'd take that to get thru to me--while you only needed a subtle hint. Lucky you...so far as you made your own luck by paying attention:)) Glad to hear you avoided the septicemia that comes with the bursting nastiness...those two weeks were spent in a morphine-induced fog with an IV course of antibiotics....I think it was miseable; but damned if I can remember:)) At any rate--you beat some odds...time to play the numbers!

Western-country:)) My girls and I have been catching up on the spagetti's lately. They love those movies:)) Maybe it is the young Clint they like...uh-oh...

Peanut is departing for her first GS camporee right now. Mom is a nervous nelly:)) I think she'll do fine. She is starting to master the SAA clones this week. Now that is something to see: Big ol' gun with little paws wrapping it up. She likes the "boom" of 45LC over the "pop" of her pink riffle:)) But, she is ready for new challenges...and the camp is just another one to tackle.

Joe M
Sunday, July 27, 2008, at 17:04:44 (ZULU)

CDC: I clicked your link from your now missing post: "if you're gonna shoot, shoot."

Now, the question is: Where the hell did that whole post go?

Joe M
Monday, July 28, 2008, at 05:40:10 (ZULU)

Joe M: It was deleted. Here it is again.

For my "Best Spaghetti Moment" nominee, click my name.

CDC'
Monday, July 28, 2008, at 06:05:18 (ZULU)

medicjim.....Glad you're OK!!!

Had a delightful time at Ft Harmar rifle club on Sunday. They had a Quigly match for big bore single shots. Steel "bucket" at 250 yards. just loads of fun! Took the Sharps and just launched those big ol' bullets.

outa here

markwell

markwell
the Alleghenies, WV, - Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at 02:19:10 (ZULU)

A few years ago, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's. The main symptom is an oscillation in my left hand. Medication made it tolerable. The oscillation's amplitute is increasing and it is spreading to my right hand and jaw.

The medication helps with the shakes, but the stuff isn't all sugar and sunshine. Click for "mirapex" info and check out the side effects. I got a whole grab bag of those effects. The two that are especially problematic at the moment are insomnia and my new tendency to fall asleep at awkward moments, such as while driving.

Around town I'm good, but highway travel now has the potential of giving everyone involved interesting stories to tell. Everyone who survives, anyway.

It is difficult to over-emphasize how displeased I am with that.

One of my nephews and I are going to try to...hold on...

CDC'
Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at 11:43:23 (ZULU)

...climb the Grand Teton's Exum Ridge (click) in a couple of weeks. After 38 years of hopping in my rig and going any-damned-where-I-please, my wife is insisting that she drive me.

I'm going to have to do something different.

On the bright side; The "obsessive compulsive" side effect has made it easy to stick to an exercise program and insomnia has given me plenty of time.

CDC'
Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at 12:01:45 (ZULU)

CDC - sorry to hear about your condition, you had let out some hints to the effect over the years, so it comes as no surprise. I wish you luck on your climb, if I were closer, I'd offer to drive just so I could see the place.

medicjim
Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at 13:38:06 (ZULU)

Pakistan is quite the mess...all we hear about is how we need to do a surge for A'Stan, but all the while, that little mountainous slab of realestate could be an intentional deception by the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Their real interest might just be Pak's nuclear weapons...

From an editorial in the locally influential Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Mashriq (some of youz have already read this):

""It is as a result of [this deal] that peace in Peshawar is now in danger. Every other day there are indications that suicide bombers and vehicles loaded with explosives have infiltrated the city. Interior Security Advisor [Rahman Malik] has told the National Assembly that the situation in the NWFP is volatile, and that a limited [military] operation will be needed. Maulana Fazlur Rahman, head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), has told the Assembly that the NWFP government no longer has any authority [in the province].

"[But despite this,] the [NWFP] government is not taking a serious view of the situation in the province. The Taliban are running various towns in the province, and we are sleeping. By the time we wake up, the province may be [completely] in the hands [of the Taliban]. The lack of concern on the part of the NWFP government, despite the statements [heard] in the National Assembly... [and despite the situation in Peshawar and Swat], raises doubts regarding the [life expectancy] of this government..."

Now that is a sunny thought. We sit forces in A'stan and say "here we are, come and get us" while fully expecting our presense to be their immediate concern. Our problem is that we see meaningful results of anything as occurig tomorrow, or at the worst, certainly in our lifetime. They, OTOH, see change as something to effect over generations of descendants. It is that difference that may leave us blind to what their intent truly is. But those nukes...well, that raises the stakes somewhat, eh?

Our media ignores this and other signals of doom from that part of the world, largely because to sound any alarm about pakistan is to make McCain look like a better choice this fall. I do not think it is overt thinking on the media's part (that assumes more intelligence than I could ever credit them with)--but rather a choice was made politically by journalists, and now they desperately seek "facts" that can only reinforce their beliefs. Doubt, curiosity and honesty is long gone from the media.

Joe M
Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at 15:37:36 (ZULU)

Joe:

In the meantime, IRoA is seeing an increase of Talib activity IVO Kabul City. Indian Embassy, various BBIED's and increases in rocket attacks and attempts. Diversion from real intent?

I'm getting a little leery of the ANA and MOI lately. MTR to and from Embassy is limited to very few routes, and some of them are getting closed off. I'm starting to feel like we're being funneled....current politcal situation/corporate policy dictates we roll in "armadillo" mode, all buttoned up. I hope the Level VI armor is sufficient.

OTOH, the food is getting better. Apparently, G4S may be a good thing.

Salaam.

Charles S. Hunt
San Antonio, Texas, USA - Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at 03:11:02 (ZULU)

medicjim: "The Grand" is a spectacular-looking rock. We're considering the Upper Exum route. Click my name.

CDC'
Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at 05:25:11 (ZULU)

Charles: I hated travelling dictated routes. The only solutions, really, are to either break the rules flagrantly or to roll out looking like the Polish Spec-Ops teams in Iraq (they were so anxious for a firefight that it was comical). Picture the beverly hillbillies' truck bristling with armament:)) But, across the boarder things are fallign apart fast. The 'new' government that the west was so anxious to get voted in is in disarray; they recently tried to move ISI from Mil to civilian control under the interior ministry--but the Generals said fuck you--and that was that. ISI, for those with memories, was the fanclub that propped up the Taliban, and now has AQ "sympathies" throughout its ranks. We knew this, know this, and still ignore it for various political reasons. The short term gain from such actions are in no way a viable long term strategy. Our current pay off is mere lip service, while AQ and Taliban slowly infiltrate all levels of this nuclear state.

Some interesting points from the fannie/ freddie collapse (quotes from articles):

"At issue here are what HUD calls its "affordable housing goals and subgoals" for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Authorized by Congress itself — ironically, in the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 — these goals strongly promote the purchase of home mortgages for social and political reasons, not because of the underlying soundness of the loans...HUD directed Fannie and Freddie to meet "subgoal performance figures" such that 45% of homebuyers whose mortgages they purchased would be of "low and moderate income," 32% would come from "central cities, rural areas and other underserved areas," and 22% of purchased mortgages qualified as "special affordable" — meaning, those made to "very-low-income families or families living in low-income neighborhoods."

And then there is this:

"However, by the mid-1990s the countries that had large trade surpluses with the United States — primarily in East Asia and the Persian Gulf — began to demand a better return on investment than that offered by Treasury paper. In response, the New York Fed began to buy them “federal agency” paper — including large amounts of obligations from Fannie and Freddie. This paid somewhat better interest, and while it was not officially guaranteed by the government in the way Treasury bills were — well, you know, if push came to shove, Washington could be counted on to do the right thing.

These foreign-government accounts now hold $985 billion worth of Fannie and Freddie paper. It explains why, in mid-July, Secretary Paulson (as well as Senator Chris Dodd, the Connecticut Democrat who heads the Senate Banking Committee) began giving press conferences about how sound the two firms really were, no need to worry. Behind the scenes, Treasury officials overseas made phone calls to the local central banks and finance ministries, stressing that the two mortgage giants would weather the storm."

So, the real reason we have a "mortgage crisis meltdown" and the real reason we have a tax-payer bail-out: Congress! So now if you piss off China or the arabs, they will repo your house:))

Joe M
Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at 14:08:25 (ZULU)

/stupidity on my part deleted...

Ken Hunter
Nokesville, Va, Keep America - God Fearing, Armed and Free!!!.. - Thursday, July 31, 2008, at 02:55:41 (ZULU)

Ken,

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/afghanistan.asp

Sharon

Larry J. Porter
Boonies of the Panhandle, Texas, USA!!!! - Thursday, July 31, 2008, at 03:53:54 (ZULU)

Regardless of the Snopes piece Obama is still a shithead.

jc
Cordova, TN, United States - Thursday, July 31, 2008, at 05:49:10 (ZULU)

I got the same e mail a couple days back also.It wouldnt matter to me if the author of it was ranked as low as a PFC,the authors credibility would still be higher then Obama's.

On a slightly differant note:

Took a run on the Shovel to see my Sis over the weekend,Angel followed in her Explorer(her back cant handle a 400 mile bike trip) and packed the rifle along too so I could play at the range.Jammin along at 5 over the speed limit and just enjoyin "Road Mode".

At two differant times I was cutoff and had to lock 'em up and slide it to avoid hitting the jerks.Traffic was light and there was nobody in front of me in either lane of a 2 lane road till I got clipped off.

What ever the reason they just HAD to be right in front of me when there was nobody else around.I thought it real interesting that both cars had Obama '08 bumper stickers.

Seems Obama's followers are just as disrepectful and rude as he is.

UnPat

UnPat
Wi, USA - Thursday, July 31, 2008, at 12:45:37 (ZULU)

UnPat, if you'd said "clueless" instead of "rude" you'd have been just as correct. Workin' in Charlottesville now, and if the head-in-the-clouds adult children that make up the Left amuse you, this is the place to be. Parody is impossible: they beat you to the punch ever time.

SSG Mac
Thursday, July 31, 2008, at 13:05:38 (ZULU)

Sharon: that will learn me to not believe most of the stuff that comes through the sewage pipe - I mean internet...

take care,

Ken

Ken Hunter
Nokesville, Va, Keep America - God Fearing, Armed and Free!!!.. - Thursday, July 31, 2008, at 17:10:57 (ZULU)

CDC

Good luck on the Grand. Tried it summer(Exum Ridge) and winter (East Ridge) but never summited. Climbed the South, and Moran (up Skillet and down CMC) and some lesser things in my younger days. The Tetons have always been one of my favorite places. To bad the whole area is over run with people with more money than God. My son would have probably moved to Jackson permanantly if he could have had a future there. Unfortunately, as you know, it's a tough place to make a living and realestate is out of control pricewise.

Anyway good luck on your climb; just the walk up Garnite canyon is worth the trip!

outa here

Markwell
The Alleghenies, WV, - Thursday, July 31, 2008, at 19:05:39 (ZULU)

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