Seriously guys, this is a big showdown. And who is rooting China along? We are. We buy shit made in China every day. Fueling China's war machine. But this is just our culture. It's forgivable, isn't it? Every Day Low Prices. I think we are going to find out that it was all very expensive. But what I really don't like, is traitorous assholes. Like Philip Bennett. Do you know him? Have you heard of him? He is the Managing Editor of the Washington Post. I wonder who's side he is on. Let's ask him. “I don't think the US should be the leader of the world.” What kind of traitorous bullcrap is this? And who does he tell this to? China. Our number one threat.

But China isn't a threat.... What are they doing... I mean, other than pointing missiles at Taiwan and threatening to sink US Carriers? Oh, I don't know. If they are selling this shit to Iran. Who else are they selling it to? Mexico? Canada? France? The Palestinians?  The Democratic Underground?

The WMD's that have been determined to have actually been in Iraq. Yeah, I was going to mention that last night, but I think I'll just give you a quote tonight. “He BETRAYED this country! He played on our fears!” Who? The Democratic National Committee. Kennedy. Gore. Clinton. Kerry. Dean. All of them. Everyone one of them who cried out that we had to do something about Saddam, and then after Bush does it – called Bush a liar. The DNC is flat out just as untrustworthy as the UN. Every one of you slackjawed, sniveling, spiteful, dishonest, and intellectually shallow Liberals needs to apologize. To Bush, Rummy, Rice, The Nation, Conservatives that supported Bush and the war... and most of all to all of our Service Men. Living, Wounded, and Dead. All you Liberals, you just became Pat Tillman's bitch. This was the right war. This is the right war. But you Liberals are right... It was at the wrong time. We were too late. We came to the game years too late. Now let's take a good hard look at where this game is heading.

Iran.

North Korea.

Syria.

China.

And where else where they think they can dictate terms to the USA.  It's time for America to roll up our sleeves like we did back in the 40's and stand up. If America is going to Lead, then we need to do so. And we better get moving before it's too late.

A package arrived for me today, containing something that needs to be tested. I've been keeping track of the relevant numbers for some time. We shall continue to do so as is our habit. Reading about this stuff, I was most impressed with review by the Confederate Air Force. Have you ever heard a real live DC-3? Up close? This stuff can smooth out those engines? The question is when can I do the treatment. The process calls for a warm engine and 1 hour's worth of driving, and a full tank of gas for the fuel system treatment. I will have to wait until this weekend to give it a shot. It takes me 12 minutes to get to work, and my engine isn't even warmed up by then.

Sunday, March 13th, 2005: Late Night.  Two things.  First, a quick and dirty primer on Islam.  So many folks are talking about Muslims, and they really know nothing about them.  This is what I put together from notes I had from last semester.  There are holes, and probably some errors, but this is the gist of it. 

Second is: The Guns Of: The Way of The Gun.  This is actually still in the works, but this is what I have so far.   I'll finish it up later. 

Noonish: So I was driving down the street heading towards a business deal, when I noticed a hell of a lot of trucks parked along the road. Pickup trucks, more than you have ever seen in your life. The further I went along, the thicker they got. It was the big auction that had been advertised on the radio about 20 times an hour for the last few months. The advertising paid off, because there was quite a crowd. Naturally I headed right over to where they were selling the guns, and before I knew it, I was bidding. No, I didn't win any bids because everything was going for 100% over value. A Phoenix .22 auto that you can buy new for $79.95 at any gun show sold for like 175 there. There was a Marlin 1894 .357 Magnum I bid on a few times. It went well over what I've been seeing them at. You don't even want to know a Makarov “Makeroova” went for. Crazy. Evidently I had been bidding against my gunsmith a few times... Oops. I went over to his shop some time afterwards to check up on my Marlin. Generally it's not a good idea to bid against your gunsmith... bad karma that. But he didn't hold a grudge. Still waiting for parts to get here, so we talked about what could be done. He showed me another lever he did... extremely smooth and sweet. I didn't think Marlins could even get that slick. I handled a Wild West Co-Pilot a few months ago that was built out of Marlin parts, and it wasn't nearly that slick. I'm really looking forward to seeing how mine turns out.

Speaking of rifles, I picked up an overhead rifle rack for Brutus. (my Bronco) Not bad price, 60 bucks and it holds two rifles. Good padding. So I can carry my lever in there and whoever rides shotgun can carry his or hers too. But I was most tempted to buy a .22 auto. Price as NIB, 139 for this 10 shot mag fed Remington 527 with a grey synthetic stock. It was almost too good to pass up, but it's been there for some time and I think it will still be there if I decide to go for it. I don't have a semi auto .22 rifle and that would fit the bill nicely. I might go back for it if these .40 cal S&W Sigma police trade in guns don't go through. Of course I'd rather have had that .357 1894, but I'll get over it.

Coke with Lime: I like it. I've sucked down 3 today. I think Vanilla is still my favorite Coke, but Lime is quite good. The Diet version is nasty, but the high octane variety is different, better.

THE PACKAGE: It arrived in Iraq safe and sound with everything intact:

“Hey! We finally got THE package. All 22lbs of DVD, CD and munchie glory! How did you put all that together!? We distributed the coppenhagen, tea, CD's and stuff. A few of the movies we are keeping! HOW IN THE HELL DID YOU GET THE FULL LENGHT DUNE??!! That was a feat above and beyond mortal comprehension. The gun cleaning stuff will definitely come in handy... especially because the army doesn't give us any. I already cleaned and lubed my M-9 with the stuff. Well, today is my day off, so I'm going to go watch some movies! Thank you Bro!! Peace Out!”

“Got your box! Holy cow! Where did you get all that stuff??! That was a lot! don't tell me you bought it all! Extended edition of Dune? Now where in the world did you find that? A million thanx Bro!”

I think we can safely say that the package was a hit. The movie “Dune” they are talking about is the Alan Smithy edition. It's about 45 minutes or more longer than the theatrical release and it is a great deal better. Dune is a family favorite and this movie has been sitting in my private collection. I knew they would love it so I threw it into the box. The part of the response back that surprises me is “The army doesn't give us any.” Gun cleaning kits... full kits for rifle and pistol. That's going to be the main part of Package 2.0. I'd like to send a bunch of Otis Technology's Deluxe Military cleaning kits or Kleen Bore's Tactical cleaning kits. With the solvents and cleaners sent last time, the full kits will be a great enhancement. I'd like to send as many kits as we can, to include patches and pipe cleaners and other such items. “Marine Tough Cloths” would be great too. I really liked the looks of the Microlon Precision Oiler, we only sent one of them, maybe if a couple Horde Officers could throw in for a couple more of those too, that would be great. Whatever you guys think would do well, let's throw it in there. Rods and Brushes and patches... the essentials. Let's make sure the guys over there have everything they need.
Freaking John Kerry... “I voted for the 87 Billion, before I voted against it.” Asshole. You know I knew Kerry was an asshole and was never for the troops. You know why? Cause he would run off to the hospital ships every time he got scratched. Real soldiers, real men, when the shit goes down and they get hurt – they want to keep fighting. They want to stay with their unit and help their brothers in arms. We have seen plenty of examples of this in Iraq. Men wounded in battle that have to be dragged out of the fight by their companions so these guys can get some medical attention. Because if they didn't drag them away, they would never go on their own. Not until the shooting stops. To leave would feel like a betrayal. Kerry had no problem leaving. Even if it was just to get a stinking band aid. And now Kerry gets to vote down money for the very guys that are buying our liberty with their blood. That shows me that there is something very wrong with America today.

Friday, March 11th, 2005: Late Night: A fellow I work with has a couple quad ATV's. We both got out of work early today, 1:00. So we went and did some riding. I've never really had the chance to really ride an ATV, I'm more of a 2 wheeler kinda guy and never understood the attraction of a quad. Until today.  Just north of Vernal, Utah is a lot of hills and small mountains. Through these winds a maze of small trails where ATV riders like to go play. We played. It was a heck of a good time. Learned some things I had forgotten.... such as don't smile with your mouth open... Goggles are not just for welders and snowboarders... and it's a lot easier looking going up than it is going down. Especially if you don't own the quad. And quads, much like a decent bike, can get going much faster than prudent. Even the units we were riding. Vince was riding a Polaris 300CC unit of some sort and I was on a Honda 350. It was a Foreman I think, or something like that. Full time 4X4 and a manual transmission. I tried the Polaris, but it just didn't have the grunt to move my big ogre butt. Vince knew how to work that smaller unit, and I had a hard time keeping up. Well, this was my first time on a trail on a machine like this. Most of my ATV riding has been around large rifle ranges, airports, and places where the ground was very predictable... so negotiating trails on one of these things was different. Out here the trails are a combination of surfaces. We had mud, sand, dust, and rock that ranged from gravel to Moab style slick rock with some “rock crawling” type obstacles. But I think I did very well, and pretty soon I was keeping up with no problem. Well, one problem, hence the comment about the goggles. Dust in the eyes made me keep a distance.  We had a little run in with a BLM “Pine Pig” but he was cool, checked to see the ATV's were registered and that was it. He and another ATV rider filled us in on a funny story... Some guy in an S-10 was seriously stuck down in a ravine.  Fool when wheeling in his little truck, that was slammed (that means lowered) and riding four bald street tires.  No, he wasn't drunk either, just really stupid.  To top it off, he was doing this at night, which is how he got into the ravine.  I wish I had photos of the area he got stuck in.  15 foot almost vertical drop down into that big crack in the earth, and then follow that crack 100 yards and there it was, sunk up to it's doors.   Here I am, hours later, and I'm sore.  Sheesh. I must be really out of shape, or riding is quite a workout. Lot's of upper body work keeping a quad on the path at speed. Especially when negotiating steep climbs and descents while on off camber curves. But still, that was a hoot. I really enjoyed it. The Honda 350 had enough power to do anything I asked of it, but I think If I was to buy a little trail rig like these, I'd go for a 450 at least because it did feel under powered. Auto or Manual transmissions? I don't know... I liked the manual, but with the thumb shifting I did miss shift a couple times because I wasn't used to it yet. Same with the thumb-trigger throttle. I kept twisting the grip for throttle and nothing happened, oh, yeah, it's on the thumb lever. Duh. This unit had a cooling fan that kicked on a few times... that was cool. Honda makes for a pretty solid ATV. One section of trail was like a half mile of high banked curves in soft sand. We attacked that section pretty hard I think... snaking through at a pretty good clip... that was so fun. I'm still covered in fine dust and grit. I can still taste the dust in my mouth and nose. And can feel it when I blink. But it was great. I'll have to talk him into riding again some time. Or just get my own some day.

The Anarchangel hosts the Week 4 “Carnival of Cordite”, and I'll let him explain to you just what that is. Hit it.

I'm starting to get more and more popups with Firefox 1.0.1. The #1 source of these popups is The Drudge Report. I have to de-link Drudge because of this. Selling advertising to guys that use pop-ups is bad enough, but popups that defeat Mozilla? That is intolerable. So many people when to Firefox just because it blocked popups. Hey Matt Drudge, SCREW YOU! Replacing Drudge on my roster will be the Washington Times. As a news source, it is just about as excellent as a newspaper can be. It's actually one I've bookmarked and scan through on a daily basis anyways. Mainly because daily my Dad sends me about 3 or 4 links to Washington Times articles. You know what? My Dad was right. Great articles. Solid reporting and none of that silly shit you get from political hacks pretending to be journalists.

Speaking of Washington Times articles, this one just about made me pop my cork. Churchill just might be getting a buy out. The University will get rid of him, but they have to pay him off. This is a load of crap. The University should be suing Churchill's pants off for falsifying his application and then making the school the laughing stock of the western states. There should be no reason that the school has to pay this fool off. He lied to the school, he lied to his peers, he lied to his students. He has forged artwork and tried to pass it off as his own. He didn't even put any effort into it, he just did a reverse image and that was it. Copying some words from someone else's paper at school is one of those unpardonable sins. But then you have a Professor doing this very same thing with a work of art? This is just unbelievable that the University hasn't told this jackass to pack his bags... and now they are trying to pay him off? Make an example out of him! Hang this guy out to dry. But they wont do that. And in not doing that, the University of Colorado becomes about as valid an institution as the U.N. That's sad. Because it takes a lot of effort to sink that low.

Freedom of Religion! Just as long as it isn't Christian.

Thursday, March 10th, 2005: Evening: "Insiders fear Jackson will commit suicide.” We can only hope. I know that sounds overly harsh, but really it's not. I mean, just look at him. Going from a black man to a skinny white woman to a skeleton... death is only the next step in his makeover process.

China's 800 missiles: Aimed at Taiwan by 2006. Currently they have 700. That's nuts. They only need like 20 or so if they are nuclear. Maybe not even that many. Unless the intention is to turn Taiwan into glass. Even that many conventional warheads would pretty much push the island back under water. And China would do it too. Because they are just friggen nuts. This is essentially the mad man at the button scenario. How do you cope with it? Well, pretty straight forward. You shoot him in the farking head. Can this approach be used on China? Decapitation strikes to China's government? Yeah, we could do that. But what about all the individual military commanders who are all anxious to get it on? It would be like trying to decapitate a mythical Hydra. You can't do it. How do you kill a Hydra? You kill it's heart. It's will to fight. You break it from the inside. Can this happen in China? It can. It is very possible. The Chinese people do not want to fight the US. They don't have to. Look at China's history. Thousands of years older than damn near anything else save the Egyptians... a long and vibrant history. Vibrant culture. And all this was thrown away for what? Communism? I think pretty much all the Chinese have a case of buyer's remorse right now. They know what is going on in the world and they don't like it. This is why the communist Chinese government is keeping a very tight grip on the internet and have complained that it is all too “American” for their liking. They want to limit the people's access to knowledge because the more they know, the more they want to be like America and not fight America. China is blowing this little island nation of Taiwan all out of proportion. Why do they want it so bad? Manifest Destiny? No. They want Taiwan because it is an economic powerhouse. So? So they can funnel all that money into their military. Every damned dollar. What for? So they can have a showdown with the USA. The Chinese government wants to go to war. Because if they can kick the USA's ass – then China will become the #1 super power in the world. Right now America is, and they want what we have. And hear we are negotiating with China all the time... giving them Favored Nation Trade Status that only accelerates the clock's ticking till high noon. But hey, as long as we can buy plastic carrot curlers for a buck less at Wal-Mart, it's all good, right? China, as a Nation, is the biggest military threat to America and by extension, the rest of the world.

Now here is where I have the biggest problem. France and Russia is selling weapons and equipment to China. The Russians, we have known about this for ages and this isn't unexpected because Russia is one giant asshole. France? Look up the word “Whore” in a dictionary and describes France pretty well. So France's involvement is no surprise. It was bound to happen. But what really gets my goat is ISRAEL. Yeah, the same Israel who lives day by day by support and backing of the USA. Israel is selling weapons and new weapon technology to China too. This is a stab in the back. In as little as a year, this could be a literal stab in the back. The US Government needs to send Condi Rice over to Israel right now – and basically throw down the gauntlet. Pick Your Side. I'm sick of our so-called allies taking a piss on us. Italy, Spain, Canada, Mexico, Israel... What's next? England to send us a Dear John letter? I wouldn't be a bit unhappy about the USA withdrawing everything from foreign soil. Close all overseas bases, and pull back all American hardware, assets, investments, and of course “Foreign Aid”. Just for a year. See how the rest of the world likes that. Germany would crumple over like it was kicked in the stones. France would flail about dramatically and bitch about what great friends we were. Israel would disappear off the globe. And whole states in Africa would evaporate. The UN needs to realize this. The UN will if we kick their thieving asses out of the USA. (or maybe I am giving them too much cognitive credit) A little isolationism might be a big help. Now, I'm not saying we pull out of everything. No – We reward loyalty. We take care of our own. Make those that have stayed by our side like Family and run The Family like they did in New York and Chicago. And those that cross a Family member – We have a talk with them. Sounds grim, but this is what the world needs. A new League of Nations. Because when it comes time to get frisky with China, we will have to be able to trust those on our side... this will make WWII look like a game of Stratego over the kitchen table.

The new links I mentioned yesterday... I threw them in to the section there on the left but I've not ordered them in anyway.  I wonder how I should arrange them.  Arrange them by popularity? by name?  How about this.  Email me with the links in the order you would like them to appear.  I'll average the order out and put it up that way... The Horde can arrange the links in their own order.

I've obtained a "Way Of The Gun" DVD, and will be doing up the "Guns Of" article maybe this weekend.  I reviewed "The Punisher" but to be honest, I didn't like it.  It was too "cartoony" and not even fun.  I mean, hell, they destroyed the GTO before the end of the movie?  Before we got to see what it could do?  That sucked.  That and just where the hell did this ex cop character get several hundred thousand dollars worth of weapons before he takes the cash from Mr Saint?  Visa?  I just didn't like it.  Sorry.  Still in the works is "The Guns of El Mariachi" but I think I'll just start out with Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico".  Those are the most interesting. 

The question regarding Microlon's engine treatment and if anyone has tried it... well... No one has.    Not one response.  However there was response to the idea of engine treatments.  Basically The Horde remains skeptical.  Microlon as taken the question as a challenge and has "thrown down the gauntlet".  We will be putting the engine treatment to the test in Brutus.  I'll be recording fuel consumption data as part of this.  Brutus will be a good test bed for this. 

The Green Marlin should be finished pretty soon.  I'm very much looking forward to getting it back and taking Ranger up into the mountains so we can try it out on the bunnies.

Wednesday, March 9th, 2005: Question came in if I had tried the Microlon Engine Treatments, and what I thought of them. No, I've not tried them. Typically I do not put much faith in engine treatments. They all work, for a time and then the effects of the treatments tent to go away. Some after just a couple days, the good ones will last for a couple weeks. A few will last until you change the oil. Microlon's engine treatment boasts a one time use. This makes me skeptical. I like Microlon's other products. As they say back in Richmond, the stuff is “the shit”. But engines generate a lot more heat and friction that a weapon does. Sure a bullet can be compared to a piston, but guns don't fire at an average rate of 2500RPM for as long as you are traveling. An engine works much harder. Most lubricants break down. Some lubricants can break down almost instantly at the first piston stroke. For this reason some engine treatments you see at the autoshops are actually still fighting federal lawsuits, with one being nothing more than colored mineral oil. I'm not saying Microlon is sketchy, I'm just saying that after all the bullshit that I've seen and dealt with, I am skeptical to a very high degree. So for this reason, I am asking if there is anyone out there within range of the Internet... if they have used this Microlon Engine Treatment stuff and how it worked out.

Looks like I am over due in editing my links list over there. Some fine blogs have dropped off the air and will most likely not come back. Also, some blogs have started to suck. Time to do some pruning. Also, there are some websites that are due and it's time to add them. If you know of a good solid site that isn't listed, give me a heads up on it.

Airborne Combat Engineer

Anarchangel

High Desert Wanderer

American Drumslinger

Anthroblogogy

Neanderpundit

Cinomed

New York Ronin

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Irons In The Fire

TFS Magnum

Section 9

Warded Neuron

Scottish Tanker Hooligans

Suman Palit

Wapsi Square

Tuesday, March 8th, Evening: Remember when I said I wanted a Springfield Service Model slide on a Sub Compact frame? I love it when my ideas are realized. Check this out. Bloody PERFECT. Even the Ogre Green frame. It's so beautiful, it makes me cry. Inquires have been made and I am awaiting response. I would love to get one of these things.

Speaking of getting guns... check this out. I was talking to a certain Police Chief about some things and something interesting came up. The department is trading in some .40 cal autos with high caps and night sights. Only 150 bucks. The only downside is that they are S&W Sigmas. Still, for 150 that is a screaming deal. I might pick up a couple for my bros for when they get back from The Sandbox. If I can swing the cash past the wiffy. (Sshhh!)

HIGH DROOL FACTOR WARNING: Nighthawk Custom. Some of the top gunsmiths left Wilson Combat to make 1911's they way they thought they should be made. I'm thinking that they may have been right. Look closely at some of those pics... the checkering is absolutely flawless. The Talon III pistols... Lustful. These guns all look to be exceptional.

One last gun related note: Adding 3 new manufacturers to the Gun Maker's List.

Seems I have pissed off a few people about my observation that HP and Emachines share the same motherboard. But the truth is that these observations are fact and not opinion, and if you are offended, well, I'm sorry you have thin skin. But it is not my fault you purchased a piece of shit. Send your complaints to HP, not the Ogre. Look, if you really want a decent system, either I can build you one or you can just order something out of the Dell catalog.

I'm testing some new anti-spyware tools that I just found today. One is a better and more detailed alternative to “Hijack This” and the other is an interesting networking tool that network admins can use to see who's computer is screwing up the network. I'll also be testing a new scanner that has been top rated by PC WORLD magazine that I've never heard of before.

Monday, March 7th, 2005: Evening: Yes, the Tsunami was all America's fault. Our bad. Sorry. Wont happen again. So of course some jackass lawyer in Vienna is suing the USA. No, I'm not kidding. Here is what I'd like our Attorney General to say in response, on official USA Government letter head... two words:

“Sod Off.”

This case is just such total bullshit that I can not even comprehend the insanity that it would take to file this with a court... and for the court to actually accept it as a case. Typical Lawyer Logic. Something happened, so we are going to make bank on it. Doesn't really matter what it is. Doesn't really matter who it happened to or where. If you are aggrieved in any way, there is a lawyer somewhere to take the case. Even if you don't ask him to.

I really hate spyware. More than I hate Spam and Spammers. Spyware and companies that disperse spyware... it should be perfectly legal to storm their corporate offices with torches and pitchforks. At work, I battle spyware daily. Viruses too. Some days, this is all I do... nothing else... because this crap is effecting so many people. I've been trying different tools and different methods of fighting spyware and viruses trying to come up with the best, cleanest, and most efficient method of eradicating an infestation. Here is the process that I have found that works best across the board:

1. Disable all Start Up processes (RUN – MSCONFIG) and System Restore.

2. If McAfee is installed in any way shape or form, uninstall it.

3. Delete all files in: Temp, Temporary Internet Files, and all System Restore Files.

4. Install AVG or Uninstall and then Reinstall AVG and update before running a full system scan. If system is “Loaded” or has problems with complete scanning, pull HD and run scan in a known clean computer.

5. If AVG finds viri and doesn't remove them automatically, do so manually.

6. Install, update, and scan with “Spybot Search & Destroy” as the first Anti-Spyware application. Then follow up with Ad-Aware. If system is WinXP, then use Microsoft's Antispyware. Regardless of system, scan once with “Hijack This” to verify that the system is clean. Some forms of spyware might require a manual uninstall through the Add & Remove Programs tool in the Control Pannel. Like Lexmark printer software.

7. If system has any form of Kazaa or Limewire on it – uninstall and delete.

8. Install and use Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird instead of IE and Outlook Express.

9. Open up MSCONFIG again and turn back on selected individual start up processes, such as the two relating to AVG or whatever is special to you.

10. If Spyware is still evident, try another anti-spyware application called Spysweeper or one called Pest Patrol. If this doesn't finish everything off, it may be time to back up all the data and do a reformat.

If you have any questions about any of these steps, feel free to ask for further light and knowledge about it.

Oh hey, check this out. The Bronco's U-Joints. I didn't need just one replaced, I had to have 3 replaced, and some related parts too. Ron showed me the parts he had to replace and pointed out in graphic CSI autopsy style detail why they had to be replaced. Had these parts been from a living creature I'd have puked my freaking guts out. The carnage was horrible. I wish I had my camera so I could have taken photos of it, but unfortunately the camera has gone missing in action. Had I taken the photos, I'd have had to have put up disclaimers and warned you to send your children out of the room. I pretty much got out every yard out of those things that I could. The whole rear drive shaft was literally ripping itself apart at both ends. Fortunately the shaft itself was still fine. With new hardware installed the driveshaft is spinning smoothly and silently... and 90% of my vehicle's vibrations are gone. I'm not kidding. Now when I'm in Brutus, all I can hear is his throaty, big V-8 exhaust growl, and the BFG A/T's shredding the ground. Brutus will have no problem making it out to SLC now. No problem at all. The only question is if I should put the top back on for the trip. We shall keep an eye on the weather. The downside to this was that the work was over a hundred bucks more than I was expecting. But Ron is a good man and I trust him... he didn't have to show me the bad parts to prove he had to replace those... I would have taken his word at face value. He saw the problem, knew that replacing just the parts I requested would have resulted in another near future replacement. He did the job right, like how he would have done it on his own rig. Next paycheck I owe him another 'hunerd, but that's fine. I'd rather pay more to have it done right than to have to done fast and cheap and have to do it again before its time. Good Mechanics are like gold. Which reminds me of my friend Carl up in Logan. I might have to swing from SLC up to Blackfoot, on the way, if I get the chance I'll have to swing through Logan and stop by to check up on old Killer. See how he's doing. We haven't heard from him lately.

I finally found a cell phone that I liked. It's an older style Nokia. It's one I used to use back in SLC. Thought I had lost this one. It was the only decent cell phone I ever had. Took it in for activation. “Oh, we can't activate this kind... it uses a SIM card.” CRAP! I like this phone. Oh well. I shall continue to look for “Cell Phones that Don't Suck.”

Oh, another technical note, some of you might find interesting. I had two machines up on the bench the other day. One was an almost brand new HP. The other, and almost brand new E-Machines. Working between the two I started to forget which machine I was on. I thought, “this is odd... why do the look so much alike inside?” Then it hit me. The motherboards look exactly the same. Upon closer inspection I found that the motherboard's model number to be the same, save the HP's board had an extra dash number. Pretty much the same freaking motherboard. Certainly made in the same place and coming off the same production line. I've always known Emachines sucked big time, but HP is now using the same boards? They used to be pretty decent boxes those HP's. Not great, but not total suckage like an Emachine. This means the list of computers to avoid grows from just Emachines and Gateways to include HP's and Compaqs as well. I've said it before, and I shall repeat it again. If you are going to buy a factory made system, buy a Dell. Similar price level Dell machine was on hand and I took a quick look at it's board... not from the same place. This is a good thing.  But it looks like I have put out this information too late.  Damn it. 

Sunday, March 6th, 2005: Evening:  This Italian Anti-American Hack that was released by Terrorists who was shot at. I have a hard time believing a word she said. She says, "feeling yourself covered with avalanche of gunfire from a tank that is beside you..." Wow. That sounds horrible. This poor thing. We have obtained photos of the car in question. I put red circles around possible bullet holes. I'm not even sure if these are bullet holes, but these are the only places on the car that looks like bullet holes. I don't know about you guys, but I am not seeing an avalanche of tank fire here. I don't think this is the work of soldiers who have murderous intent. In fact that's pretty conservative in my estimation. 3 hits. With the spacing of the (possible) hits, to me that looks like a single burst from an M-16A2 which fires a 3 round burst at it's most angry setting. I'm looking at the military's story and her story... and I'm just not believing this lady. I think she is lying. It's sad that the one guy died... I really am. But it looks to me that the troops trying to stop the car were holding back. A lot. That tells me that the soldiers really and seriously did not want to kill anyone. Because the average grunt is packing enough firepower to turn that little car into something looking like a work of modern art, but that is not what happened.

If you are at work and you hear some liberal asshole bash the US Military because of this – show them these pictures. Ask them if that looks like the work of an avalanche of tank fire.  I have to say this – those marks that might be holes. How do we know that they were not there before this incident? We don't know. We don't know anything other than these guys were running a checkpoint and our troops did their duty which was to stop it. That's it.

Afternoon:  Have you seen "Phantom of the Opera". Great film. I loved the musical, but this film adaptation is actually much much better that what was on stage. And Christine is just waay too sexy in the movie. The girl playing the roll, Emmy Rossum has been singing with the Metropolitan Opera since she was only seven years old. Or so I've been told. On stage the Phantom comes off as a creepy old guy stalker. In the movie you actually get a sense of the seduction and the romance... thanks to some very good acting that just doesn't come across when you are sitting 30 rows back. I'd like to see all the great musicals done on film like this – if they can do it on film this good. Some great musicals are already on film and could not be redone any better. 1776 and Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum are my two favorites. If you haven't seen either one, give yourself a treat and pick them up as rentals. Good for the whole family.... well, maybe FTHOTWTTF isn't quite... a touch racy at one part, but older kids will find it entertaining. Now if there was only really such a place as the Island of Silent Women.  *sigh*

Email from Reader: "Recent convert to your blog. RE Jeff Cooper and the Scout Rifle, have been a fan of old Jeff since the early 70's but you are right about his fixation with the rifle. He seems to do that with any project that he had input on like a certain handgun that was a rather spectacular failure in the 80's. By the time it was in production it looked nothing like what Jeff had said it should but he supported it even after the company went out of the biz. DetCraig" You hit the nail on the head right there, Craig.

I was looking for oil filters here in Vernal, and I was hoping to find my favorite, the Mobil 1 filter. Well, Vernal being Vernal of course I couldn't find one anywhere. Checkers did have one filter that I was curious about... the Bosch Premium. It looked to be the best one going, especially when all the other filters available around here are total crap. When it comes to oil filters, you really do get what you pay for. So I sprung for the Bosch. If anyone has any detailed or technical information about these filters, I'd like to hear it. Does it compare with the mighty Mobil 1 or is it second rate like everything else? After searching things out I see the regular Bosch filters are actually the POS Champion filters, but these Bosch Premiums look different. I don't know, but I'm going to run it and see how it goes. Maybe after I change it out in 2500 miles I'll cut it open and see whats inside... Not that it will do me any good as I am not a filter expert and I wont know what I'm looking at. Just call me Curious George. (Note: This Site says the Bosch Premium and the M1 are pretty much the same)

Saturday, March 5th, 2005:  The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly: Let's start out with the Good. OpenOffice.org has version 2.0 Beta out now. It's almost like a Christmas gift for a writer. Tons of improvements and new features. It's awesome. Also good: NVU .90 is also out. Booya! Very good. Both open source projects are rolling forward and doing very well. Also Good: After the Seafoam treatment, and a fresh Mobil 1 oil change, Brutus is running like a new truck. I even had a compliment on it from someone who has never complimented me before.

The Bad: Unfortunately Brutus is making some nasty noises that had me very worried. Turns out that it is just the rear driveshaft U-joints. I'll get them fixed Monday, while they are clanking they are not really that bad. And if they do break – no biggie. I can wheel around off the front end until I do get them fixed. But not a worry as I am not going anywhere far this weekend. Once I get that fixed, then Brutus will be in good shape for anything I ask of it. Including a trip out to SLC after my next paycheck. It's time to go pay a visit to my Grand Father who is dying of cancer out there. Will also have to swing by Steve's place for a visit. We have to put some rounds through his FN FiveseveN.

The Ugly: I'm going to buy a motorcycle as soon as the tax return gets in. The only problem is getting this past my wife who is pretty much against the idea and wants to use all the tax return to get into a house... I'd be down with that but the house situation is all fucked up for the time being and I'm done with it. We can't come to any agreement anyway, so I'll just get my bike so I can get out of the Uintah Basin whenever I feel like it. Salt Lake and back again for ten bucks... I could have a life again. Just have to get this past Mrs. Ogre... this is a problem.

Friday, Mar 4th, 2005: Evening: The Italian Journalist freed in Iraq, and then shot at by US troops. This is a sad story... but it is not the fault of the troops. It is the fault of the jackass that was driving the car. I am very sorry for our Italian brothers... but you DO NOT drive as fast as the car can go, racing to a US Check Point, Ignore the warnings and the waving and the warning shots to slow and stop. This you just do not do. If you run at a US Check Point – you can expect to get lit up. That's what the hell they are supposed to do. The US Soldiers did their job, and if there is any blame here, blame the idiot driving. This is all I have to say about this case.

Bloggers do not get the same "legal protection" as journalists? WTF? What about the First Amendment? Let's look at this another way. What is the difference between a Blogger and a Journalist? Well, a Journalist writes for a publication. And a Blogger? Posts writing on a website publication. Any real difference? No. Oh well, Journalists go to college and study journalism. So have a lot of bloggers... who have also studied other subjects that might just give them more knowledge in a given field such as politics, history, law... than a measly journalism degree. Then their are the armies of journalists out there that have been crowned with the title who have never even finished one semester of college but had some skill with a pen and a notepad that got hired on with some rag and just started working. (like a lot of Sports Journalists or NYT employees) I suggest all Bloggers refer to themselves as Journalists. Because there is NO difference. None. You want to talk about Credibility? What credibility does the major media have? You want to look to the Major Media's credibility? Fine. Let's look at the New York Times, who's had a couple "Journalists" busted for just making shit up. Let's look at Dan Rather who takes obviously forged bullshit documents and puts them in front of the American Public as genuine. Where, I ask you is the credibility. Journalists do not get licensed or certified as say Doctors or Policemen or Lawyers... they only get what they write published in a periodical of some sort or for broadcast media like Radio or TV. A Blogger is a Journalist who publishes to Internet. Considering the growth of influence that the Internet has, I offer that publishing to the internet is every bit as valid and meaningful and powerful as publishing to dead-tree newsprint. Wait a second. Let's look at me for a second. I get published in print in a periodical. I publish to the internet. Does that make me a Journalist more so that the bigtime Blogs that have more readers than the New York Times but don't publish to print? No. I don't think it does. Not hardly. I think any Blogger can call himself or herself a Journalist if they simply take themselves seriously about what they are doing, conduct themselves with more dignity than say any given person on the NYT payroll can and should be considered a digital Journalist. Just take a look at John Hawkings over at Right Wing News. Blogging is just a new form of Journalism and the Old School Journalists absolutely hate it because they fear it. Because this new form of ours can give the news, break new stories, cover new topics, and give our opinions however we want and we don't have to worry about some producer breathing down our necks and changing our stories before they go to print to fit in with their corporate positioning statements. We can truly enjoy the First Amendment.

This evening I ran a whole can of Seafoam through the Bronco. Whoa. Just awesome. Some of it I poured into the oil. I'm going to change it tomorrow, I've already got the Mobil 1 oil and a premium Bosch filter – Mobil 1 filters are not to be found out here – standing by and waiting. After I drive it around a bit to let the Seafoam clean up the inside of the engine some more I'll do this thing. Already the engine is much much stronger, so it looks like the miracle that happened in the Jeep is happening in my Bronco. Sweet! However I am concerned about a new issue with the Bronco. I can hear a metallic knocking coming from the underside of the rig as I drive. It's not the engine... it's not the transmission. It might be exhaust or something else. It's like a knocking or a rattling, but it's not good. This will prevent me from taking the Bronco out to SLC.

Thank you to those who have been concerned about my health. It seems the issue was a combination of problems involving decongestants, low levels of CO2, too much O2, and sudden drops of blood pressure or something along these lines. So in essence I was hyperventilating and that was causing the chest pains and numbness and blacking out from it. Looking back at it, the scene played out pretty much like the first part of the movie "Analyze This". My men are out looking for Billy Crystal right now. I'll say no more on the subject. My own mortal condition and the corruption of flesh that is my physical being angers me... I can not stand weakness of any sort. Mental, Physical, Spiritual... weakness is a pet peeve and to succumb to my own physical weakness is intolerable to me. I am not the person I see in the mirror, and this angers me.

Thursday, Mar 3, 2005: Evening: Well, I had my first EKG today. Hopefully the last. To make a long story short, I wasn't feeling well... so I wheeled my ass into the Doc's Joint, breaking traffic laws and everything... stumbled in through the doors, said I was having difficulty breathing, and blacked out. I'm a fucking drama queen. I'll be alright... I'm okay. But the experience was extremely disconcerting.   The thing was, I wasn't afraid of dying. Not a bit. I was feeling that I was sorry that I wouldn't be able to be there for my family... but fear of death wasn't an issue. Well, I'm home now and I'll be going to bed as soon as this is posted. I'm done for the day. I'll live.  And I'll be in to work on time in the morning.

This is "The Pot calling the Kettle" right here. In this case "The Pot" is a huge freaking witch's cauldron pointing a finger at a little sauce pan. Greenspan has served under how many different Presidents? And now he is a political hack? Please. While on the other hand we have, who? The Democrat Party Senate Minority Leader? What are his interests? Why, his Party of course. Do you think maybe he might be just a little bit biased? Biased might be one thing, but Reid is just flat out retarded. I'm not kidding here, and no slight to the disabled... but seriously... there is something very wrong with Reid's brain. I don't care if he claims membership in the same church as me... I don't like this guy one bit, and I don't trust him one bit. He is doing the Dance of the Liberals here, in spouting off outlandish lunatic ravings for the sole purpose of getting exposure. There is another term for this: Attention Whore.

Oh my hell. I'm going to puke. What were the students thinking? The last two female teacher sex cases, you could see why... the typical Hot For Teacher thing because the teachers were cute, or in the last case... just flat out hot. But this? She's one of the Trolls from Lord of the Rings!   6^th Graders? Take this thing out and shoot it. (along with all other Child Predators)

Mrs. President? Looks like The Media is already hard at work pimping the idea of Hillary Clinton as the President. While Geena isn't a Clinton, this will be putting the idea out there that a female democrat as President isn't a bad idea. Let's look at Democrat Presidents in TV and Movies... They get all the "good" camera angles, don't they? West Wing. Dave. An American President. And a whole bunch of others. Where are the Republican Presidents? The Reagans. That's My Bush. Do we see any bias here? Naw.

Howard Dean is an evil raving madman. He expresses his total hatred of Republicans and Everything They Stand For. Then he calls Republicans (and everything they stand for) evil. Let's look at the evilness here for a second. Republicans are primarily in the Red States of course... and if you look at the counties – pretty much everywhere that isn't a huge major city. The Democrats live primarily in the big cities. Is this evil? No, but the same maps do tend to show where the most church going and religious people are. Where the people are who tend to have a picture of Jesus in their home at least. You don't see too much of that in the big cities. Democrats (and Dean specifically) support partial birth abortion. This is where they take a baby who is full term and they deliver it... 90% of the way. The baby would live... the baby would be perfectly healthy in most cases... and the baby is kicking. Then they take scissors and stab the baby in the back of the head and snip the spinal cord at the base of the skull. The baby goes limp. The docs then shove a vac tube into the dead baby's skull and suck out the brains. Then they collapse the skull and toss the dead baby body into the garbage like it was a used tampon. Republicans tend to be against this and have tried repeatedly to ban this. Now you tell me who is evil here. Democrats tend to think of the Bill of Rights as nothing more than a speed bump or just toilet paper. Republicans tend to consider the document a bit more important than that. Now you tell me who is evil here. Political Correctness isn't Righteousness. Howard Dean can (and will) go to Hell.

That's it for me tonight... I'm spent. I'm laying down now. The drugs are starting to kick into high gear and I'm feeling like I'm in a Hunter S Thompson story now. If I wake up with a smoking .357 Magnum in my hand and the letter Z written on my forehead, I will not be surprised.

Wed, March 2nd, 2005:  Evening: I honestly thought I would catch a lot of flak from my comments regarding Cooper and his Scout Rifle. The reality is that The Horde is in perfect agreement with me on this matter. Everyone that has commented on it has commented about the Scout's universal appeal – in concept – but in the form as put forth by Steyr, it is not attractive in the least. This is most unfortunate for Old Cooper, but it is an example of a Good Idea Made Bad. Why he continually pimps it is a mystery. He has said he gets no money from Steyr for it, but he pimps it like he was on commission.

I've had a lot of good Scout Rifle suggestions. Here are some of the best:

Remington's 673, Savage's Weather Warrior, Winchester's Model 70 Classic Featherweight (great suggest that one!) and the Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight. All good suggestions... anyone of them would do very well with a set of iron sights and or a forward mounted scope if that's your liking. If you want to build a scout... you don't even have to buy a new fancy rifle for it either. You can do it on just about any MilSurp rifle you want. I had one based on an Enfield, and let me tell you... 10 rounds of .303 on tap does very well. I sold it... like a dumbass. It was a rifle made by Kevin McKlung, aka Mad Dog that he called the "Snout Rifle" as a way of thumbing his nose at Cooper's Scout rifle. A Scout could even be based on an automatic platform... As is the case with a 7400 Synth.

Selling guns is always a mistake. Always. Because in some way, some how, it will always come back to bite you in the ass.

Wacko Jacko. Here is my take on this freak... someone needs to put a bullet through his medula oblongata. The defense lawyers are doing everything they can to discredit the kid and his mom. That, to me, doesn't matter one bit. He was doing freaky shit with kids. That's enought. That's it. That's all we need to know. Everything else is besides the point, and further details will only serve to cause indigestion.

As creepy as Jackson is... this is just as creepy if not more so. Dolls that watch you. Just as long as they never put this robot crap into a clown doll. I'd have to put Redmond to the torch if they did that.

China is protesting to the UN that the USA has too much control over the internet? HEY CHINA, fuck you! WE INVENTED THE INTERNET. Consider yourself lucky that we allow you on it. Drudge had the headline most of the day, but it disappeared off his site. But seriously... the internet... it's an American thing. Other countries have come on board and have helped it grow, but it remains an American thing. More so now than Apple Pie and Elvis. Man, I am so sick of China's bullshit. I'm about ready to petition my Senators to just start throwing high explosive darts at China and let's get it on. Once we kick their asses back to the stone age they'll shut up and go away. Screw China and especially screw the UN. Oh, and wha'ts this news about the Oil For Food Program being run by Koffi's right hand man? And he didn't know anything about it? Not even with his own son's involvement? He was just oblivious? Tell me, how is the UN still relevant to anything now? Kick the UN to Canada!

Follow Up on the work for Taso's shotguns: Briley or JP Enterprises look to be the tops for shotgun competition work.

Monday, Feb 28th, 2005: Night:  Question from our man in Greece: "I have a question for you and the horde. Do you know of anybody who tricks out Browning shotguns, namely the newer models (Fusion and Gold) for practical shooting? - Tasos" 

Anywhere near Greece?  I don't know.  Here in the states? I would have to say Vang Comp Systems.  Anyone have a better suggestion?

Okay, some of you guys are asking for hints about what article I'm doing next. I'll give you two. First hint: It's small. Second hint: It's an automatic. Guess away. Like I said before, I'm not sure what the next one will be. I'm still waiting to hear back from some manufacturers about press samples. I can't buy a new gun for every article... If I could... then getting press samples wouldn't be a problem because I'd just buy whatever I wanted. How would that be? I wouldn't know. Maybe if I was as well known as say John Taffin. LOL. Well I'm not, but I take consolation that I'm better looking.

How many of you guys use Fobus holsters? Some of you? Any of you? If you use one or know a guy using one, take a good hard look at this. If you want a kydex rig, get a G-Code. Friends don't let friends use Fobus. One of our Utah brothers was wearing a new Fobus when he went to sit down in his car. Pop goes the holster. Broke just like that. I don't see the point of spending money on one.

Thank you for your suggestions for shell carriers for my Green Marlin. I had one this morning, and 4 others this afternoon, all pointing to only one source. Evidently Kirkpatrick Leather is the only joint doing these no days. Email was sent quickly over the Eric at HBE Leatherworks to give him a hint at a new product idea. I don't know if I'm going to order one of these things for 60 bucks... I've seen other ones out there that looked more secure because they strapped around the butt to prevent it from sliding forward. That's what I'd rather have. Oh well. I'm such a picky bastard.

I have a confession. I am loosing respect for "The Guru" Jeff Cooper's Commentaries. I still have respect for Jeff for what he is and all, but his Commentaries are becoming little more than a shill for the Steyr Scout. Personally I think the "SS" is ridiculous. You can find them from 2,000 to 2,600 dollars. I've fired a couple examples and here is my opinion. The bi pod is chinsey as hell, the barrel is goofy looking, and the rifle is just not accurate enough to justify the price tag. It's supposed to be a General Purpose rifle, right? Then why does Jeff keep harping on it and dropping comments about other rifles "not being a real scout". You know what? I wouldn't want a "Real Scout"! The things look like something off a Star Trek set, very expensive, doesn't even shoot all that well, and Cooper is pimping it so hard like this? Please! You want to know what I think a real Scout is? Check this out.

Yeah, it's a Ruger. Nothing special in my book, but a sturdy enough arm, accurate enough (probably more so than the Steyr) and it's priced right. MSRP of 800 so you can probably find them around 650 to 700. Priced as such, you can actually USE it as a Scout and not keep it under lock and key for fear of scratching your investment. It's in the same caliber. You can even top it with the same scope as the Steyr. There you go. Jeff might look down his nose at these: "...they fall quite a way short of the Steyr Scout." But it would do just fine. And if you want more grunt than .308, you can actually get it in calibers that you can find in your local gunshop like .300WSM and 7MM-08. Let me be frank about this... Just because Jeff has a fetish for the Steyr because they rolled out his "concept", it is not imbued with any supernatural powers beyond your own skill level. In my opinion there are better options for your 2 and a half grand. Jeff once shrugged off the idea that the rifles were expensive with the quip that "so is a Porsche". He as a point. But slapping a Porsche badge on a Ford Focus and pricing it in line with a 911 Turbo doesn't make it any less of a piece of shit. I'd rather have the 911 that was wearing a Ford logo if you know what I mean. Were I to buy a long brown bolt gun to serve Scout Duty... It would probably be a CZ. I love the lines of the stock. Very elegant. Maybe too refined for an Ogre?

Of course, there is nothing at all wrong with a "Lever Scout". Jeff himself is quite disdainful of Marlin, but I am fond of Marlin's line. I think an ideal Lever Scout would start out with the new 336SS platform. .30-30 might not be all that potent compared to other rifle cartridges out there, but perhaps a 336 in .35 Remington? That would certainly serve, even in bear country. Most would rather go with a .45-70 and that's not a bad choice either. I still don't really see the point in scoping a lever gun. I'm not even sure which scope I'd want to use for a Lever Scout. Certainly not a Swarovski or Kahles. I don't think I'd be scoping my lever. Ever.

Early AM: This weekend I was tempted beyond my own patience. First, the weather was just fantastic. It might have been too early in the season but I had to take the top off the Bronco and do some wheeling. Right now Brutus is sitting outside wearing a nice coat of mud that I shall have to clean off tomorrow if I get the chance. The sun, while shining and warm, had not dried the ground yet. In fact the sun had only served to melt the snow and ice and only served to cause more moisture in the ground. A lot of moisture. The mud was thick and deep. I could have become stuck had it not been for a wheeling technique I like to call "Shear Brute Force". This is easy to do with a 351W. This was a most refreshing weekend for this reason.

Speaking of cleaning, this is the second thing. The samples of the Hoppes Elite just had to be put to use. There are two products, the gun oil and the gun cleaner. The gun oil is simply repackaged Mpro7. Not bad stuff at all, but I've used it before and have decided that it isn't my first choice. What impressed the socks off me though was the simply named Gun Cleaner. I've always used good old Hoppe's #9 for cleaning. Time to retire the #9 after you use the last of what you have on stock... and buy large quantities of the Elite Gun Cleaner. This stuff is the real deal. I used it in what I thought was a clean bore. In fact, I had cleaned it with #9. Wow. You guys have got to try this stuff. As good as Hoppes #9 has always been – their new stuff is that much better. I'm not kidding. I'm not exaggerating. You must get some. I was so impressed, I cleaned several of my guns, making sure I had enough left over to use on the Marlin once it is returned. They were small samples. I have been receiving samples of gun care products for some years now. Few have impressed me to the point that I would place orders. CorrosionX, Microlon to name names... and this stuff. I'm ordering some more as soon as I run out of my #9.

Speaking of the Marlin... I am looking for a leather "Butt-Cuff" for a .30-30 Marlin. Last one I saw was at a gun show before I got the Marlin and since then I've not been able to find one. I tried searching around and I can't find any place to order one online. Maybe I'm not looking in the right places. If you know of a joint that has them for sale, drop me a line. Same goes for any synthetic stocks that would fit a 336.

As far as gun reviews go, I am trying to get a couple press samples from different places. Not sure which one will pan out first. I'm going to keep my mouth shut about them until they get back to me, but either one should be interesting. You guys should be getting the latest issue of Concealed Carry Magazine shortly, so keep an eye on your mailboxes. Um, I don't remember which article of mine is coming out in it.

Friday, Feb 25th, 2005: 1800hrs: Thank you Michaels of Oregon for the sample of Hoppe's Elite Gun Cleaner and Oil. Looks like some good stuff. I shall test it out shortly. Perhaps on the Marlin after I get it back from the Smithy and dirty it up again. This stuff looks very promising.

I'm a little peeved at the Federal Government right now. Fed NTC Judges have just cleared the way for construction of a nuke-waste dump only 45 miles south-west of SLC. This isn't out in the middle of nowhere... this is right in the back yards of over 2/3rds Utah's population. I consider this to be completely unacceptable. This has got to be stopped. If you look at a map of Utah – the Fed's own damn near everything and "The State" of Utah only really consists of a narrow corridor along I15 and a cross of I80 with a few spots around the fringes. There are huge regions of the state that no one ever goes and only the US Air Force flies over once in awhile. Could this nuke-shit be put out there? Naw – let's put it right next to where all the people are! If you don't know where this area is – you are not an outdoors desert kinda guy or you are not an Off-Roader kinda guy. Off-Roaders used to go out to this location all the time to enjoy the clean air and freedom from pavement. This is just freakin dandy.

Terri Schiavo. The woman who was in a comma and now she is about to get her feeding tube pulled out so she can starve to death because her husband wants her dead... She's been in the news a few times, you might have heard of her. They call it "Life Support" and it's only as much of Life Support as eating is life support. When they "Pull the plug" on her – she isn't going to die. She is going to starve to death... a slow, painful, and utterly horrible way for a person to die. The order to pull her feeding tube is an execution order... one we would never sentence a murderer too. It's too cruel. But that's what Terri is going to go through. Question, if she is sentenced to this death; would it be murder to give her a quick and painless death? Say, a lethal injection, a gunshot, or maybe a quick slice of the jugular vein? Or would it be mercy? This asshole, Michael Schiavo, her husband... there is evidence that he is the one that put her in this condition. Funny how it's he who wants more than anything for her to die. If someone has to do it, it should be him. All the blood should be on his hands.

You gotta love Canada's position against a US Missile Defense System. They state how they are so against it... yet will reap the benefit from living under its protection. Canada is trying very hard to become France. Forgive me for not having a lot of warm fuzzies for them, but this is just stupid. Having your cake and eating it too, eh Canada? We'll remember this.

One more reason to dislike Microsoft: No more online CD-key authentication and product activation. After Feb 28^th everyone will have to call in to Microsoft's neat little phone system to activate Windows. WHAT A HUGE PAIN IN THE ASS! This might not be that big of a deal to most people, but if you work in a tech shop – this is going to cost us a lot of wasted time.

Thursday, Feb 24th, 2005: Afternoon:  More thoughts on Ward Churchill. This guy is a complete lunatic. "It's not just an attempt to purge me," he said. "It's a purge of the academy." No, Ward. We just want to purge you. The Academy isn't the ones who called 9/11 victims "little Eichmanns." That is the most asinine statement I've heard from academia outside of Peter Singer. For someone who is a college professor, who is responsible for the education of tomorrow's leaders, I believe this to be totally unacceptable. Then he goes off about being an Indian. "Let's cut to the chase; I am not," he said. His pedigree is "not important," Churchill said: "The issue is the substance of what is said." No again, Ward. The issue is you being a fanatical liar. While you might not have admitted it, everyone can see you are not Indian, and the tribe you claimed to be from has not claimed you. In fact, they have said you are not one of them. You have lied on your application to teach at your school. You lied to all of your students, and according to the speech you gave that was broadcast on CSPAN – you lied to America. That is the issue. You come to the University and get tenure based on falsehoods. That is the issue. The fact that you are spouting off some of the most repugnant anti-American drivel isn't the issue at all. No. In fact, I support your first amendment rights to bake an ass out of your self in public. I support your first amendment rights to tell the world how you hate America and the American way of life. That's fine. But what I don't like is you docking the grades of your students who disagree with you... for saying that they believe you were not of any Indian heritage... and generally because I think you are an asshole. You have no credibility. You have no honor. And you have tarnished the dignity of the University that hired you. You should be removed from your position and barred from any further teaching position at any school. And I'm saying this because it is my first amendment right to do so.

Fears: I have a lot of fears. I'll be honest about that. I worry and stress far too much. Not about myself, but about my kids. Nothing else scares me as the thought of one of my boys getting hurt. I have nightmares about that. Gruesome ones that cause me to wake in the night wanting to puke. Sometimes it's about gun safety... with one of my kids grabbing one of my guns and BANG, someone is killed. That one dream alone prompted me to sell both the revolvers that I had, and has prevented me from bringing home another. I know it's silly... but it's real. I couldn't sleep while I had them in the house. It's irrational. I know. But what can you do when you are faced with such nightmares that keep you from sleeping? This is why now I keep my Home Defense guns in Condition 3. Unless the gun is on my hip, the gun is in Condition 3. This is a loaded magazine, but an empty chamber. I know all the arguments against C3, because I made them. Search TheFiringLine.com and you will see me lay out some very good reasons against C3. But my own fears have for now taken hold and have dominated my habits. So much so, let me admit something else... the only handguns I carry in Condition 1 are my CZ P-01 and the Beretta Cougar. My other handguns are just not loaded at all, and one of these is at home in C3 for home defense use if I have the other one on and I'm out. I guess this paranoia started when my littlest one, my little trooper, got hurt so bad. He got cut very badly by a broken window. A horrific injury that still gives me nightmares. He is healed from it now, and doing just fine... but the scar remains and haunts me. I've become absolutely anal about safety issue things. A space heater? I can't rest unless I know it's set up in a safe spot with proper clearance. This is why I don't have a revolver now. This is what is keeping me from having another revolver. I have finished up my SP101 article, and in writing it, have become very fond of the little magnum. It is an ideal self defense weapon. When it comes to a small but powerful sidearm, it's almost ideal. But I wont take one home. I just start to worry about all the "What If's"... I'd just lay awake at night worrying about them. I saw a sweet Thunderer .45LC the other day and it was awesome. Loved it! But then I thought about leaving it at home... and I just couldn't do it. I've got a little vault that I can put all my handguns in... but it doesn't help. These are irrational but tangible fears. I don't know how to overcome them. And my boys? They are great! They know what a real gun is and they know not to touch them. They know all about what firearms can do because even my littlest one has been taught about the power and danger of a real weapon and the difference between toys and firearms. But the fear remains. I'm going to have to buy one of those large gun safes that I can lock everything in at once. I think that's the only way I'm going to be able to get over this bullshit phobia.

Observed today, a nice looking 87 or 88 black Bronco with blue interior. $200. I'm not kidding. $200. This was sitting out at the Ute Indian reservation with a couple other vehicles for sale for incredibly little money. The Bronco did have a downside: Bad motor and tranny. But still... For only 200 bucks you can drop a grand on a tranny fix and get the engine fixed for a few more. The insides looked pretty good too. The very back, the floor was a bit icky and it would all need to be cleaned out, but dang... 200 bucks. That's worth it for the tires and wheels alone, which where in great shape! Not even talking about the other parts that you could sell... the tailgate and the top... part it out and make a huge profit or fix it up and sell it for a big profit. Shoot. If I only had the two hundred bucks.

At work we have been looking for a good CRM package. We've looked at Techexcell, Seible, MircoSoft's new CRM... and a bunch of others. Now let me remind you, I'm working in a small shop in an area that has more cows than people. We don't want to have to spend a lot of money on a CRM package... I think we found exactly what we are looking for. Suger CRM. It's cheap, but it's full featured and well appointed. Has some good package options, has a fully configured rack mount option ready to go out of the box, and we can resell it with our own company logo on it. How cool is that? I'm loving it. If there is anything out there that is actually better – let me hear about it.

AM: Ward Churchill, Ethnics Studies professor in Colorado and self proclaimed Indian admits he is not an Indian. This guy insulted everyone that was not him, and now says his being Indian or not is not important, but it's his message. No. No it's not. What is important is that he lied on his application about his race in order to get his job and his tenure. What is important is his intellectual and educational dishonesty. What is not important is his "message" about hating America.  For his University to retain any credibility, he should be thrown out. 

More on this later, I have to run.  Looks like I have a couple networks to set up out of town.

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