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)

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)

   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)

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)

   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)

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)

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)

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

UnPat

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

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

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)

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)

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)

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

There is no Santa.

UnPat

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

"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)

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)

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)

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)

   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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

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

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

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)

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

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)

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

    outa here

    markwell

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

Sharon

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

Take care all

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

   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)

No.  Tell me about it.  

Click my name.

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

Sharon

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

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.

© 2008 The Halifax Herald Limited

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

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)

   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)

Just thought some of you would be interested.

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

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)

Another one is Springfield Sporters.

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

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)

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

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

Welcome home, Sir, and Thanks Very Much.

jc

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

Joe

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

Welcome home and THANKS!

Sharon

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

Thank you Sir, and welcome home.

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Sarge

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

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

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)

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)