Ender’s Game

11/07/2013 MadOgre 6 Comments

The movie was fantastic. I read the book when I was young, and my sons have as well. We were not disappointed. We all enjoyed it a great deal.
Well acted, well directed, good casting, and awesome effects.
The story is solid. A good morality tale.

The ending of the conflict had an important dialog. Normally I’d agree with Harrison Ford’s Character that Winning was all that mattered. But Ender’s response that how they win is more important. This is true in any War based on Political Agenda. World Wars I and II were both Political Wars. The Civil War and our Revolutionary War were Political Wars. In these, “How You Win” is critical. Look at WWII specifically. Germany and Japan, who were our biter enemies, quickly became our allies. How You Win is what made the difference here. Look at WWI, how the Allied nations in that case is what set the ball in motion to start WWII. Many reasons for this, but allow me to oversimplify. The Allies were poor Winners in that conflict. Ender went the extreme route to Poor Winner, by the utter destruction and genocide of the enemy.

We see that pretty much as the goal of our Enemies now. The extremist Muslims who vow extermination of everyone that is not Muslim. As a result of these statements, a lot of guys I know have said the same thing in reverse… That we should exterminate the Muslims. This is the wrong tact. The wrong direction. And it’s counter to our beliefs as Americans. America is a Mixing Pot.

The talk of killing Muslims just because they are Muslims makes me ill and disappointed. We shall fight to defend, certainly. But only to defend. We kill only to protect. We do not engage because someone has a different belief system than our own. We do not shun someone because they come from a different corner of the world than our own ancestors who came here from a different corner of the world.

I enjoy Orson Scott Card’s works, and Ender’s Game was the first of his that I read.
I’ve had a few chances to meet OSC. Sat in on a lecture on writing once. Interesting fellow. While I do not agree with him in certain political areas, I do like his work.

Weapons

All New

11/03/2013 MadOgre 16 Comments

What really bugs me about the Gun Industry is how they change one or two small details and act as if it’s something completely new.

Take a look at SIG Sauer. They have the TACOPS 1911, which is a great gun. They Cerakote it tan, change the grips, and all the sudden it’s a “Scorpion” and thus a completely different gun. Some rifle makers will change the stock, and now it’s a completely different model. For the most part, the gun is only cosmetically different. Yet the gun companies wave flags of originality and claim innovation. Look, if you are using off the shelf parts that have been on the market for over a year, you should not be allowed to use the word “Innovation” or anything in a thesaurus that is similar. Worse yet, the Gun Writers out there who have to review these things. Never mind that its the same damn gun with different cosmetics… these guys have to write another 2,000 words with photos on how this is something new and fresh. And they publish those articles and people buy those magazines and it’s all just rehashed shit from 20 years ago. I’m not naming names but I swear to the All Holy that I read the same rifle article 20 years as I just read in a new magazine 20 minutes ago, with the only difference being the freaking handguards. Its the same thing.

I was going to say Clark Kent and Superman, but I hate Superman… he’s a Douche. But look at Bruce Wayne. League of Shadows Ninja, and then changes costume to become Batman. Really only cosmetically different. Bruce Wayne could still kick your ass without the Dark Knight costume. He doesn’t need the costume to perform. And just because he is in the costume, doesn’t mean he’s suddenly a better fighter. He’s no tougher, no stronger, or any smarter while in the bat-suit.
Who else does this a lot? Kimber. Freaking hell, they only make like 3 different 1911’s but given them different skin treatments and all the sudden you have guns from 699 all the way to 1400 without any special Custom Shop work… just cosmetics.
Poor Gun Review Writer. This is one of the reasons I stopped writing gun reviews. I got really jaded and sick of rewording the same review for the same gun that’s just had a small detail difference.
Kimber Custom II. Kimber Target II. Same flippin gun, just a different rear sight. But according to Kimber, it’s a whole new model.
Now, I’m not busting Kimber’s nuts on this, or SIG’s… because so many other gun makers do it too… they all do it. Accept for Taurus, who has so much CQ issues, everything they make is totally different.

Imagine if you will, if the Auto Industry worked in the same fashion? This car is the same as that one, but this one has XM built in, so it’s a totally different car! We call this one the Stallion, and this one the Tornado Hunter! See, it has a pin stripe too. (Well, they kind of do… looking at the Subaru and Toyota sports car, but that’s another subject)

No, people would not tolerate this in the auto industry. Yet it’s SOP in the Gun Industry. I like what the Car guys do those… They have Trim Levels. Same car, with a series of steps in upgraded add on features that go from basic to fully loaded.
The Gun Industry should look at that model for awhile and think about it really hard. Because right now it’s just ridiculous.

Now, I understand that a gun company needs to make new stuff to sell more stuff. But I think these guys are going about it all wrong. Let’s look at to examples.
Glock. They make the same damn gun in 3 sizes in common calibers and that’s it. That’s what they do… because they’re Glock. The do what they do and they do it very well. You don’t hear about quality control issues with Glock. You don’t hear about anything other than “It’s a Glock”. And they sell and sell and sell to the point that Glock’s Marketing effort is about like the Maytag Repairman’s schedule. Because you know what you are getting with a Glock… Your getting a Glock. Now look at SIG. The P250 the P2022, the 229, 228 M11 226 MK25 and they are all different and you really don’t know what you are getting anymore with SIG or anything from SIG wearing that badge… I’m saying this because I love SIG and really I’m feeling like they have let me down. Lost their way. Looking more at Cosmetic Themes than keeping a tight ship… because I’ve seen some SIG’s with some serious issues that should not have been there.
Some guys have said they wished Glock was more colorful or fabulous like SIG is. When really I’d like to see SIG act more like Glock. The worst thing Glock stamps their name on is those disposable pens they give away. SIG’s? That could take all day talking about. You don’t know what you are getting with SIG anymore and that’s a shame.

Gear

MacBook Pro

11/02/2013 MadOgre 9 Comments

I have turned to the Dark Side. I acquired a MacBook Pro. In fact, I’m using it right now. Can’t you feel the elevated smugness?

Overall my impressions are very positive. It’s new and shiny and mysterious. Everything is an adventure of discovery… such as “Where the hell did my video download to?” And “What is OSX Maverick?” And “I keep hitting the wrong key!” This is going to take some getting used to… but I’m digging things about it. A lot.

Such as the fact that my Drift HD camera I was so excited about getting earlier this year, finally allows me to edit with audio. Before, no matter what I tried, I could never get the audio track. Seriously, the audio track disappeared. I tried 5 or 6 different Converters to change formats and such, with no luck. Huh, iMovie opens it, edits it, and guess what? I can hear it. Imagine that. So this is going to allow me to deal with HD movies all the better. I’m excited.

Other things about the Mac, well, I’ll learn to get used to them. Such as a sudden desire to sip Chai Tea and sneer at Muggles.

This is the 13 inch one, because I prefer a laptop to be more compact… it has the latest OSX version on it. An I7 Processor, and has a ton of Ram and Gigs and can basically is the envy of all the other MacBook Pro owners who does not have the latest and greatest. Carrying it out of the store, there was bowing going on. “Yes, you filthy masses… I have the Shiniest Apple.”

Egads, the Mac Effect is already turning me… I suddenly must go to a Starbucks, occupy a table, and roll my eyes at everyone coming in.

Food

Disappointing.

10/31/2013 MadOgre 20 Comments

Breakfast Burritos. I’m a huge breakfast guy. The whole “Most Important Meal Of The Day” is a tradition that I follow. Those are words I live by. Yes, I live by those words. And they have never failed me. And of all the breakfast foods one could have, my favorite thing to eat in the world in the morning… The Breakfast Burrito. Food of a Loving and Caring God.
And there are none to be found in this area. I’m not going to say that North Carolina doesn’t know a good breakfast… they have that Southern Breakfast thing down. Grits and Eggs, all that and then some. But they don’t know a good Breakfast Burrito. At least not that I have seen.
Now, I did hit a Sheetz gas station chain with the fancy touch screen menu that lets you pick what you want in the burrito – and that was good. Namely because I was able to pick what I wanted in the thing. Other than that… Every breakfast burrito I’ve had in North Carolina, and Virginia for that matter, has been somewhere between Poor and Terrible.
Let me put it this way… they have been so bad here, that they make me miss the horrible breakfast burritos made at the IGA Deli behind Basin Sports in Vernal, Utah. Because those, as nasty as they usually were… you could ever once in awhile get one that was just “MMMM!” and it was delicious and made right all the disappointments before it. I’ve not had that in a Breakfast Burrito since I’ve been here.

Closest thing is Sonic. You know Sonic… the red button and the car hops that bring the food to your car. Yeah… they have their Super Sonic Breakfast Burrito, which is okay. But the problem is that Sonic hasn’t embraced the BB. So they don’t care. So they don’t fill the BB like they could. They make them small and thin and filled with disappointment and regret and after eating one you are still hungry, but not enough to do a second one. This morning I had one from Chic-Fil-A. Now, they do make a good chicken sandwich, I’ll give them that. But the just really need to avoid attempting a BB. Because what I had this morning was probably the worst thing ever. McDonald’s little cigarette thin things they call Breakfast Burritos, while just stupid, at least taste better than the shame Chic-Fil-A rolled into a stale flatbread. And McDonald’s. Just… stop. No… I mean it… just stop it.

Government

Jeremy Clarkson is right.

10/30/2013 MadOgre 6 Comments

Some years ago Jeremy Clarkson said upon returning home to the UK from a trip to the US, that he was glad to be back in a free country.
This statement of course, pissed me slam off. How dare that pompous imperial claim that the ultimate nanny state of the UK, was a country with more freedom and liberty than the great US of A. That arrogant unmitigated asshat. That jowly overstuffed, jean wearing, Corvette Driving, cowboy boot strutting, clown of a man… would be proved right by our own Government.

Here we are, years later. Our Government has attempted a take over of the Auto Industry. Has taken over 1/6th of our Nations Economy and has told us to buy their Insurance or Else. Our phones and emails and all other forms of communications are recorded for use against us. Drones are in the skies above us. Our Police Officers are pointing guns at us. Our Military is told that we are the bad guys, those of us who go to church on Sunday and might read the Drudge Report. We are the problem, and more Government is the solution.

And Jeremy Clarkson is right.
Damn that man.

I was comfortable being smug knowing that he was wrong and that he had to cope with security cameras at every corner and “Health and Safety” was always looking out for him. But he’s only Monitored when he steps out of his front door, or gets behind the wheel of some car with more than 10 cylinders. In the UK, the Ministries really don’t care what he does unless he breaks a law. And now I sit back and wait for the CIA and the NSA to message me that I made a typo here and that they agree with me. Because I know now that here in the USA, freedom is only an expensive illusion. We are the problem, more Government is the solution. (Homeland Security just let me know I dropped a letter “Y” on “they”)

I however believe that the Government is the problem and that we are the solution. Unfortunately no one is going to throw the switch.

Uncategorized

Morally Justifiable

10/23/2013 MadOgre 25 Comments

Couple weeks ago I went through my DVD collection and pulled out all my Rated R movies. These movies were put into a box, leaving only the lesser rated movies. The purpose was to clean out any movies which did not uplift or teach a valuable and morally justifiable lesson.
After reviewing the films remaining and those removed, I quickly found that the R rating was no watermark for judging a movie’s content. Some movies I put back on the shelf. Some for the lessons or historical perspective or moral object lessons provided… Rob Roy, Saving Private Ryan…. among others.
And then I looked at the rest that remained… Films rated PG-13 and such “Safe” movies. Many were light minded, vapid, or every bit as deserving of an R rating due to content and language. Many had no historical lessons or held any moral justification. Many I felt were more spiritually damaging than some which had been culled.
I didn’t have time to finish the filtering… but will do so later. But my goal is to leave movies which have a purpose. Talking about this with my Bride, we determined that the deciding factor would be “What lessons do we want to our sons learning?” Movies, like literature often carry lessons for life. These can shape one’s views and opinions which can effect future moral decisions. Don’t try to tell me that Film is a weak medium and has no effect on Character. Film is visual literature and literature helps mold Character one way or another.
Take a look at the films in your homes. What lessons are you getting from them? How is that R Rating matching the lessons you want to share with your prodigy?
My Grandfather served in World War II. Saving Private Ryan, while a work of fiction, gives a very realistic interpretation of some of the things my Grandfather experienced or witnessed. The story it’s self walks through a series of some things that had actually happened in that war. And while no documentary feature, I feel it is a good example of that era in history. It also tells of of the moral of service and sacrifice and duty to causes higher than one’s self. That’s just an example of a rated R movie that is probably worth keeping. I’m keeping it.
Mormons as a whole try to avoid R rated movies in general. But I tell you what… I’d rather my kids watch The Patriot or The Last Samurai than Dumb and Dumber or Twilight.

Automotive

Where Pontiac went wrong.

10/19/2013 MadOgre 22 Comments

I’ve seen a lot of classic old cars lately. One in particular stood out to me. A GTO. Everything good about Pontiac started out here.

Small car, simple, reliable, clean lines, and a nice big fat powerful engine. This is a winning formula. But Pontiac drank the Koolaid of their own greatness, bowed to the pressures of Parent Company GM who force fed them crap like they were Tail End Charlie in The Human Centipede. But Pontiac used to be good… and at times along the way, shown absolute brilliance.

Pontiac’s catch phrase was “We build excitement”, and after that was “Wider is Better”. Unfortunately “Excitement” meant that they took something totally coma-inducingly boring, and threw on some plastic body cladding to make it wider. This was utter failure on every level. At no point now one had the guts to tell upper management that they were all complete idiots. The G8 GXP was absolutely awesome. But it came too late. The 2004 GTO was the first time since 1967 that the Brand really looked at it’s self and said that they needed to get serious again. Shortly there after, they brought out the Solstice. Which was great, but was a close miss. It was almost there. The Solstice was also run as the Saturn Sky… Which was a solid hit. Can you see the difference? The Solstice looks like it was swollen from a food allergy, where the Sky looked lean and mean. This small, light, efficient sports car may not have sold all that well, but they did sell to those that appreciated the concept. The Sky’s are demanding a premium price still, where several of the Solistici that I’ve seen have been selling for a deeper discount.
But where did Pontiac go wrong? What happened to that Excitement? 2001 happened. Pontiac released the Aztek. Worse yet, the Design Team of the Aztek was not abducted and executed by firing squad as a sacrifice to the Gear-Headed Gods of Horsepower and Torque. Pontiac keep pushing the Aztek through 2005. Which means they kept backing it and hoping that it would take off with a sudden appreciation for it and Dan Colen paintings. I had a friend that was a Pontiac Salesman at a Dealership. I asked him what the hell was wrong with Pontiac. He just shook his head and quit the next day. This was about 4 months after the Aztek had come out and landed at his dealership. He had worked there for 12 years.

Another guy that left Pontiac – John DeLorean. He’s the guy that gave us the Pontiac GTO and tried to do many other awesome things at Pontiac until 1969, when he was sent to Chevy. But when LeLorean left, that was the death knell for Pontiac since no one after him had enough balls to keep the brand alive. Look what happened to Pontiac after he left… The Firefly, the 6000, the Sunburst, the Wave, the 3rd Gen “Tempest”… don’t even get me started on the Montana. And then that Aztek.

None of them had the Excitement that the Pontiac Badge tried to sell.
So where did Pontiac go wrong? They didn’t find the next John DeLorean. John went on to bigger and better things… He build the 1.21 Gigawatt Time Machines (that only produced a measly 130 horsepower at the wheels) and then he went and originated the Breaking Bad concept.
Pontiac needed a Rockstar Lead Singer… but never found another. They were Guns and Roses after Axle left. They were David Lee Roth after Van Halen left. Pontiac was doomed.

GM should have set Pontiac apart from the rest… made them their performance marquee brand. They really had something special and they crushed the life out of it, slowly, cruelly, like keeping an unloved child locked in a basement all it’s life, until it dies and gets buried in the back yard in the middle of the night. Shame on you, GM. Shame on you.

Weapons

My disagreement with Grant Cunningham and Rob Pincus…

10/17/2013 MadOgre 44 Comments

My disagreement with Grant Cunningham and Rob Pincus regarding the Beretta 92FS.

I checked out a podcast that Rob Pincus was guesting on not too long ago. The question was asked “What gun do you hate when they show up at your courses” or something along those lines… I forget, it’s been awhile since I heard the podcast. Rob’s answer was “The Beretta 92”. Now, I respect Rob a great deal, and while we differ in opinion on something, I always respect his opinions and positions because he always has a well reasoned explanation for them.

Rob tends to not like the Beretta because it’s large and heavy for it’s caliber… it is. It has an old fasioned DA/SA Trigger mechanism… it does. And it has an upside down, slide mounted safety lever. Yup. It has that too. This is a trifecta of good reasons not to like the Beretta. Rob is a believer in consistency, and a good consistent and simple trigger mechanism as in a modern striker fired pistol gives the shooter some advantage… Yes, that’s true too.
But I still disagree with him regarding the Beretta 92. More on my rationalizations later.
This morning I read an article by Grant Cunningham on why the Beretta 92 is an inefficient handgun for defense. And now I’m like “Oh come on.” I like Grant, and respect his opinions as well. However, I disagree with him on the Beretta 92.

“When you need to use your handgun, it should ideally come out of the holster in a ready-to-fire condition without you needing to do anything extra before pulling the trigger.”

I agree, Grant. And here is what I do… When I holster the Beretta, I then flick the weapon Off Safe. The Beretta is certainly safe to be carried in such a manner. Because in order to fire, the trigger must be pulled all the way to the rear to move the rather large and over-sized firing-pin block up and out of the way of the firing pin. Also, the trigger being pulled to the rear moves the hammer back against spring tension, into the firing position before it can be released to fly forward to hit the firing pin. These things are not going to happen on their own if the weapon is riding in any holster of half decent quality. Anything that could impact your holstered weapon hard enough to cause a discharge… Well, you’ve either been hit by an RPG or rapidly moving Osh-Kosh built M-ATV armored truck. Either way, you’ve got bigger problems to worry about than the risk of a 9mm wound in the leg.

As far as DA/SA trigger pulls go. This is a training issue. I’ve seen many shooters running DA/SA guns, do so with great skill and with great results. SIG’s, HK’s, CZ’s, S&W’s, and most self loading guns that are not 1911’s or Striker Fired Polyguns are in fact DA/SA guns. A shooter can and will get used to the trigger mechanism if they will actually get out to the range and fire their weapons once in awhile and practice with them.

Here’s the thing that the DA/SA guns have over most of these Striker Guns… That SA pull. I’ve fired some DA/SA guns with triggers so good it makes you want to go slap Gaston. Even with my tricked out Glock trigger, which is really dang good… It’s not as good as the SA pull on my Beretta 92. It just isn’t. Because mechanically all that trigger has to do is release the hammer. In the Glock and M&P, the trigger still has to pull that striker back just a little more before it can release. This gives it just a bit more take up… a little longer… just not quite there where a good SIG or Beretta or CZ trigger can be. I won’t say HK, because they have triggers like toggle switches, but that’s because the Germans believe in Corporal Mortification or something… I don’t know.
But back to the Off Safe Carry, the process is simple. After firing, you decock and safe the weapon, holster safely, and then flick the weapon off safe. Done. The most dangerous moment in handling the weapon is when holstering. And holstering a decocked Beretta 92FS is probably the safest gun you could ease into any holster. It doesn’t get safer. The trigger is disconnected and the firing pin transfer is rotated 90 degrees away from the firing pin. There is no way a round could go off in this condition. No matter how sloppy your reholstering is. Once safely nestled in it’s holster and everything is good… *Flick* Your weapon is now read for a rapid draw and fire without worrying about an external safety.

This method is not new or unique by any means. I know many Military Personnel who carry in this manner and are trained to carry in this manner. It’s safe and efficient and requires very little training to get used to doing. 1 day at the range. That’s it. Drill the motions for awhile, and then reinforce throughout a day of shooting… pretty much done. This is not solving a Rubik’s Cube. Give the Students more credit. Many who detract the Beretta’s mechanics make allowances for the 1911’s. Yet the Beretta has a couple distinct advantages. One, the Beretta’s safety when carried Off Safe is only manipulated after the fact. When everything is cooling back down and the gunshots are still ringing in your ears and your getting your breathing back into control… your checking yourself and following your training and thinking again. The 1911’s safety is manipulated in the heat of the “Oh Shit” moment when you “Skin Leather” and all your thinking about is that Treat Target that’s closing that 21 Foot Rule distance like a Saber Toothed Cheetah. It’s in that moment with a 1911 that you have to remember to sweep the lever Off Safe. Easier putting it on when reholstering than taking it off when drawing. See my point? Two, the other big advantage with Beretta is that I can load and unload the weapon, press check, and do whatever in need to with the Safety On. With the 1911, any slide movement has to be done with the safety off. And since you are gripping the weapon when doing it, you most likely also have the secondary grip safety disengaged as well. How many 1911 Operators out there have a 5 Gallon Bucket of Sand they use for Clearing and Loading in their home? Not many? Who’s safer? Advantage Beretta. I’m not saying a 1911 is unsafe here. But if we are boiling down Shooters as thick headed cavemen, I think I’d much rather see the students with a Beretta than a 1911. Personally I do cringe when students bring 1911’s shorter than 4 inches… but that’s because those guns are going to be jamming like a jazz band before the end of the day. And I’m saying this as a guy that loves 1911’s. But it’s an Aficionado’s gun. An Expert’s gun.

The gun is large and doesn’t fit everyone. True. But if I am buying the gun for myself and it fits me, then why the hell do I care if it might not fit someone else? This is my gun. Don’t “What If” unlikely scenarios that support your throwing your weapon to a small handed partner to support your argument. Leave such moves for the next Die Hard movie. Sure the 92 is a large pistol. My hands are not all that large, and it fits me. I can shoot the Beretta quite well. And I enjoy doing so… Because evidently shooting the same gun that has served both Military and Law Enforcement roles around the world for the last 30 years is something again to grinding your own flour and baking your own bread these days. Quaint and rustic. Like rolling down a car’s window with a crank.
Here’s the deal… The 92FS/M9 pistol is a fantastic handgun. It’s battle proven around the globe. It’s both accurate and reliable, and has proven to be more accurate and reliable than most. It’s passed all the tests and it’s leaped all the tall buildings and it’s still serving strong. It’s one of the very best handguns in the world.

Government

Only Three.

10/16/2013 MadOgre 11 Comments

There are only three people in DC that are worth a damn.
Ted Cruze, Mike Lee, and Rand Paul.
Everyone else is completely useless and dangerous. And what’s worse is that the GOP is flat out against them.
Working with the Democrats means giving in to them. Look at our Nation. How’s that worked out for us?
The argument is that if we dont, we lose elections. Whats the point if we give in regardless?   You know why we lose elections? Two reasons.
One: Open Caucuses.   We let anyone come in and vote for the Republican candidate… this lets the Donks pick our Candidate.   Thats how we got McCain as our Candidate which is why we have Obama now.
Two: Voter ID. You gotta have an ID for everything these days; except to Vote. Some states require it. Others don’t.   The Donks always sweep No ID states. This is the precursor to Voter Fraud. If an ID was required, that would be a huge step to having an actual valid election.
If we fix these two issues, the political landscape would be set straight in short order. We wont even get into Term Limits and Congressional Salary and Pensions. Perhaps a Congressman should only recieve a stipend for living expenses and sit in office for no more than 4 years and have no pension.   Live like Monks instead of Rock Stars. Learn what the hell Public Servant means.
Perhaps if serving in DC was a sacrifice than people like McCain and Pelosi and Reed wouldn’t be there… but more people like Mike Lee would hold Offices. People who believe in our Nation and would not use it for graft. And any accusation of wrong doing that’s proven true, be subject to instant Recall. If this was how it was in DC, our Nation would truly be the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

Uncategorized

The Fox Says

10/13/2013 MadOgre 30 Comments

Ask me what the Fox says one more damn time…
I’ll break you in half, shove your head up your ass, and throat punch you in your dick.

And since I’m now a kinder and gentler Ogre, I’d then forgive you and spend the rest of the day on the beach sipping peach iced tea.

Mad Ogre