July 16th to 31st 2003

July 31st, Thursday:  Lunchtime:    I think we need to take the terrorist threat seriously in this country and stop with the “It Can’t Happen In My Town” way of thinking.  However we also need to make sure we don’t get carried away about it and thus give up our essential freedoms for a little bit of perceived safety.  Ben Franklin put it best we he said that if we did that, we deserved neither the freedom nor the safety.  This is a lesson that needs to be beaten into the heads of a couple politicos… hopefully with a 15 pound maul.  Namely Senator Mike Enzi, a Republican from the great state of Wyoming, who is in lock step with a the Democrat Asshats Schumer (see the Fecal Roster) and Frank Lautenberg from Jersey.  What the hell is a Wyoming Republican doing work with NY and NJ Democrats?  This is something he had best explain to the good people of his home state before they “Get A Rope”.  The issue isn’t guns or air travel or boarder issues…  Nope.  It’s the hobby of science students all over the world.  Model rockets.  Enema Enzi seems to think that a model rocket is going to be the next big terrorist weapon.  Model Rockets, rocket propellants and Black Powder.  He thinks Black Powder is a dangerous High Explosive that could turn a toy rocket into a cruise missile.   Clever idea Enzi, but not workable.  First off, Enzi, you’re a fucking retard and I am deeply disturbed that a Republican from a state like Wyoming could pull something like this out of your ass.   You have been sipping tea with the Democrats for far too long.  Let me give the obligatory defense of the hobby.  I enjoyed it for a little while when I was a young kid.  I never used my rockets to take down a 747 nor did I use them in rocket attacks against my school’s rivals.  It’s about science and exploration.  It’s about learning.  It’s about everything that makes America America.  Black Powder is not a high explosive like your claiming it is, Enzi, dipshit.  You are just trying to use the ignorance of the public to your advantage.  Black Powder is also something that a clever young rocket scientist (unlike yourself) could make himself with a small chemistry set.   Ancient Chinese monks made it by the ton.   This is something that should not be regulated, I’m sorry.  Especially since it is a back handed slap at black powder guns.  Oh don’t give me that, “Potential Terrorist Weapon”.  If your worried about that, why don’t you ask the FBI where it’s 800 missing firearms are?  Hmmm?   There is a new kind of terrorism in the US and it’s legal.  It’s a bunch of pussies with some authority ripping apart our freedom because they know what is best for us.  Sure, Sept 11^th was horrible and shocking… but our politicos are doing it the slow burn way but it’s no less devastating and potentially lethal.  If I was a citizen of the State of Wyoming, I would be taking a hard look at this retard you have representing you.  It is said you can judge a man by the friends he keeps… Not looking good Enzi!  And if I might be allowed one more insult to Enzi… he smells funny.

The Great Wall is in the news again.  Not of China.  Of Israel.  Israel is continuing to build this great big fence to keep the Mongols out.  Er, the Palestinians.  If this makes them feel better, roll with it.  I’m wondering why everyone of bitching about it.  It’s on Israel’s side of the property line.  I guess they are just pissed because now they wont be able to get close enough to Jews before they pull the pins on the grenades they have in their asses.    I think I’d use something more concrete and less chicken wire… but they are still building so we shall see.  Hopefully they will hook up some high voltage to it.

Arnold is getting more press than Davis is, and it’s just because he said “no”.  That’s funny.  This drama in California is the most entertaining thing to come out of Hollywood in a long time.  It’s like “Pirates” but more realistic.  *sitting back with popcorn waiting to see who wins*

Who the hell is this JD Powers and who are his associates?  They are telling people that the worst cars for needing repairs are Jeeps, Audis, and Volkswagens with the worst being Land Rovers.  I grew up with Audis and have had Volkswagens and Jeeps.   Hmmm.   Maybe I need a Land Rover.  I never take my cars to the dealership for service.  Never.   Sure, I have had to pick up special parts from them, but they don’t fix them there.  That is until I got my reportedly utterly reliable Subaru.  This Subaru has been in twice.   Reliability in an auto is a relative thing.  I much prefer the once a month opened hood in the drive way than the twice a year dropping it off at the dealership.   But that is just me.  I’m not afraid that little lever that pops the hood.  Then again, I have never paid more than $5,000 cash for a vehicle either.  Wait a second… maybe it’s closer to 3 thousand.  I’m serious.  I don’t see the need.   When it comes right down to it, I don’t see the need to spend such huge amounts of money and financing to buy a new car that loses so much of it’s value and requires expensive dealership service to maintain.   I’d rather change my own oil and filters and plugs… and save the money.  And don’t talk to be about time.  You don’t have time to deal with things like cars…  then you shouldn’t be driving.  More and more people are saying “I don’t know how to drive a Stick”.  More and more people are growing into adulthood who have never used a clutch let alone popped the hood.  America is dumbing down big time.  If BUICK is getting the JD Powers best pick award, you know something has got to be seriously wrong.   We spend so much time on Sex Education in schools… what needs to be taught is Vehicle Education.  Seriously.  Take a look at what kills people the most, and its CARS.  Not SARS, not Guns and not Ozone – it’s cars.  Usually it’s cars mixed with alcohol and stupidity.  Kids need to a detailed and thorough education on automobiles… History, Development, Appreciation should be included as bonuses to the program.  Requirements should also be things like shifting without a computer or a tachometer’s shift light.  Understanding the engine and its workings and requirements.  How to drive a stick.  How to deal with an overheated engine.  How to change a tire.  How to change the oil.  How to change the air filters and spark plugs.  Instead of these things that might make a person self sufficient, they are only learning to be good and needy consumers.  To buy new cars and cell phone a tow truck as soon as a light blinks on in the dash board or to push the On Star button and call for help and then finance a new car because this one has become a problem.  My automotive heroes are the Cubans.  When Castro took over, the stopped getting in new cars.  The newest ones they have are from the 50’s.  Yet they are still driving those same old cars.   I’m sorry, but that is very cool.  Back to American Automotive stupidity.  On top of all the ignorance about vehicles is the attitude that they are superior because of the lack of knowledge.  The other day I pulled over and stopped to help a young lady who was in a panic at the side of the road.  She was really upset because if a “Check Engine Light”.  I’m not making this up… I’m dead serious.  The light came on and she just stopped the car.  Yet in all her helplessness she was very proud to say “Oh, I don’t know anything about cars”.  As if she was on a higher aristocratic level because of this.  As if there is nobility in ignorance.  It took me less than 30 seconds to diagnose her issue when she was just dialing for a tow truck.  The light came on because it was time for an oil change.   I explained that she could finish driving the 2 miles to the shop to have it changed for her and she was almost offended that I would suggest something other than a tow truck or something other than “Her Dealership”.  I got back into my 86 Cherokee and went on my way.  Along with other little details about how to live with a car… the biggest thing that needs to be taught is HOW TO DRIVE.  I’m not talking “Green Lights Mean Go” and that kinda crap… but how to be a “Driver”.  Teach them that Drivers do not need ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS.  Cell Phones and Mirrors are bad enough, but in dash DVD players and Play Stations?  Excuse me, but if your in the driver’s seat – you need to be driving the car and not playing games.  If you want to play games, buy a Gameboy and take the fucking bus, okay?   I’m all for personal liberty and personal responsibility, but this is one place where I think some things should be banned.  The reason being is that it has a drastic effect on others when one is being a retard behind the wheel.  Because some dumbshit is not paying close enough attention because driving is boring, they drive their happy ass into the vehicle transporting a family.  This is a life ending/altering tragedy that never had to have happen if the driver was paying attention.   Hell, it’s not even just about distractions… it’s about RAIN.  You get a rain storm and people die.  I’m not even talking about winter conditions… I’m talking about just some rain.  Fog is bad enough.  They don’t know what to do if the car starts to skid.  People don’t know how to drive in America.   I could rant on this for days… I just have to stop right now.  Freaking Buicks.

Email from John:  “Morning MO, I would have to agree with you about the school for queers only. I remember VA tried get a Public School for Blacks only and it was shot down. Basically you can send you offspring anywhere you want, just don't expect me to pay for anything special or perverted!  But the real question is will these little gay kids get a decent education? What kind of tests will they have to take. I bet they'll do well on any Oral tests! Will the school have a mascot? What would it be? Maybe a Pink Fairy or something cute. I also hope that the custodians have a sandblaster ready for all the graffiti that the school will attract!  The point is, anything different will be made fun of. Its a fact of life! I watch the Sparrows at my bird feeder chasing away the Albino Sparrow. They shouldn't try to shelter people from the cold hard facts of life. Normalcy is for the majority and its a fact in nature! So go-a-head and pack fudge. Just don't expect me to except or like you.  John”  I don’t care if people are gay or not, just like I don’t care what skin color they are.  What I don’t like is the expectation that I have to make exceptions for it.  For example, it is against the law and against common decency for a couple to fuck in public.  Yet people look the other way when it is a gay couple.  Regular people would be set upon by authorities if they walked around with a bare ass… yet a gay man can do that all he wants when he is being accompanied by another gay man.  This is becoming a problem in a lot of places, thank heavens it’s not happening in Utah.  Look, no one has a problem with you being gay and holding hands… not anymore.  It used to be that public displays of affection, such as a kiss in public, was considered vulgar.  Now people are fighting to try to keep sodomy out of the public eye.  Look, go ahead and be gay if you want… but be gay in the privacy of your own homes, just like straight people.  Okay?  And put some freaking clothes on, because gay or not, your white hairy asses are still nasty.

Email from Michael:  “About the bar question you were asked... my mother is a bartender.  Allow me to relay a little story about it.  Back in 1999, she was having a very busy night.  There were two bartenders and over a hundred customers in the joint (it was completely packed).  This college student comes in, and orders a drink.  She cards him, and gives him his drink. After she left, he gives the drink to his 18 year old girl friend (who's allowed in the bar under MI law, being an adult, but can't drink).  She gets tipsy, rolls her jeep on the way home, and her family sues the bar for giving her a drink (even though they didn't).  My mom, the other bartender, and the two owners of the place had to go before a review board of the Michigan Liquor Control agency, and WEREN'T EVEN ALLOWED TO SPEAK, OR TELL THEIR SIDE OF IT.  (The MI Liquor control is the very model of corruption).  And, of course, the guy that actually GAVE her the drink isn't held liable at all.  In the end, the bar owners were fined.  My mother and the other bartender almost were, but managed to avoid it somehow.  The place has since been sold and my mom works somewhere else.  What's happened to our society, Ogre?  A person willfully gets drunk and blames the place they bought the drink from.  Is there no end to the stupidity?”  Dayum.  I've heard of similar stories before... but not being allowed to speak?  WTF?  I'd sue them.  If it's possible.  I'd sue the state if needs be.  I'm not sue happy... I just like fighting for my rights.  The problem can only be resolved by a national change of attitude - Make people responsible for their own stinking actions.  What a novel idea!  Again, this is a subject that I could rant on for days.  I’m stopping right now before I get really wound up. 

Any knife ordered now will get same day, or next day shipping.  The number of requests for custom worked knives are going to be a big too much time wise so I am not going to do it.  However I might take some time to do one at a time, with extra embellishments and attention to details etc.  And these individual knives will be sold separately.

July 30th, Wednesday:  Early in the morning:  Knife issue:  Some of the knives that I ordered are not available at the moment.  Hence a delay in the shipping.  I was expecting them to be arriving any day now, but when I called I found out they have yet to ship.  They wanted to ship them all together.  *sigh*  Good help these days, I swear.  The upside is that there are a few new designs that are even better.  I like them so much better in fact, that I am going to run these new ones and not deal with the others.  I’m keeping two of the old ones and will run them with the new ones.   I also found out that the scales are in fact “G-10” just like Benchmades or other high end knives.  Check out the knives for sale page and take a look at these new knives.  Your going to love them.  This change doesn’t effect anyone who has already ordered a knife… well, other than a delay. 

Last night we took the boys over to a cousins place not too far away.  Dogs, Chickens, Rabbits, and horses.  They were in heaven.  All the boys got to ride a horse and they loved in so much.  Maybe this place isn’t so bad after all?  If we could just get into a house outside the city limits and get out of this freaking apartment, things would be a lot better.  I hate apartments, but getting into this one was pretty much an only option.  We had to get out of our old house before we were able to find anything else.   Then we had to do a 6 month lease.  Not cool.  Luckily that 6 month sentence is nearing an end.  This means we can look at other options.  Hopefully we can find something that has more space and allows pets.  My boys need dogs to play with.  Need to get these guys some puppies.  I'm thinking a pair of German Shepard, Norwegian Elkhound, or Doberman pure breeds. 

Email from Steve:  “Each side has their point.  But both are using it to their advantage.  Underage drinkers are committing a "fraud" to get into a bar to get drinks.  Bar owners are trying to sue the students that they may or may not have known were underage.  Where do you draw the line.  For legitimate bar owners, if there are any, checking for an ID or two forms of an ID is a burden placed on them.  Now come the what if's.  What if the student had 2 forms of Fake ID?  Can the Bar owner still sue the student?  This argument can almost be tied to guns store owners and people that buy guns.  If a person provides 2 forms of Fake ID, and the BATF shut them down, can the Store Owners sue the person?  I'm still undecided on this as it makes me wonder about all the possible scenarios.  You can't please everyone. – Steve”  Obviously there needs to be a limit of liability.  If the student shows two forms of a fake IDs… then the student should be held in criminal contempt.  In Virginia the charge is called “Utterance” and is a 6^th degree felony.  Not much worse than a misdemeanor – but it’s still a felony with all the loss of rights that go with it.  Including are year or more in the hole.  Even on something such as fake ID’s to buy beer… it should still be “Utterance” and the liability is on the Student and not the store since it’s the student that has made every effort to defraud the store.  (Excuse me if I am incorrect, but it’s been 5 years since I have read the Virginia Criminal Code and even if I still have the handbook on my book shelf, I’m not going to bother cracking open the little grey book for this… I’m right, but might be off on a little detail or something.  If I am… just let me know how close I was and not wrong, Okay?)  Translating this over to a gun store… if a fellow does 2 forms of fakes, signs the federal forms swearing everything is correct, and the store calls in the checks and everything shows up clear… yet turns out some time later that the guy was lying… How can the store owner be liable?  It’s impossible to know the truth all the time in the face of a dedicated effort to defraud.  However the stores being able to sue the person who defrauded them?  I think that is golden.  I say “roll it”.  Make the jerks suffer.  I was never one to condone the notion that College is just 4 years of drinking and screwing.  That’s BS, and that notion has lowered the property values for anyone holding a 4 year degree.  It’s bad enough when people with Master’s are in the unemployment line due to the economy… but when more and more employers are saying “A paper degree holds no water, we want raw talent and experience”?   Kinda makes the whole effort to get the degree seem futile.  Back to the bars… these kids are being stupid jackasses and because of it, they can cost someone a business and the employees some jobs.  I think everyone that works for the bar should be able to sue the punks.

July 29th, Tuesday:  Noonish:  I had the strangest criminal dream last night.  The Libertarian push for a “Free State” has rolled forward and Idaho was the selected State to make it happen in.  Idaho isn’t a tropical paradise or anything, but the advantages of the “Free State” concept attracted hundreds of thousands and a great deal of media attention.   There was a problem politically and there were no guns being allowed to be shipped into Idaho.  So a plan was put into effect and myself and some other gentlemen were assigned to a metal shop in Washington State.  We arrived there just an hour before a couple truck loads of guns did.  These were the guns that should have been sent to Idaho FFL’s and transferred to owners.  A couple moving trucks full.  See, they arrived with the intention of them being cut up – destroyed.  But because of our Libertarian network we had other plans.  It involved a large quantity of black plastic dummy guns, some made from quick moldings and spray painted, but many from the old Stembridge gun rental company that served Hollywood.  With a slight of hand, each gun to be destroyed was replaced by a fake.  The serials of the real guns were logged in the book while it was the fake that was cut up and the parts tossed into the trash cans.  Trash cans were loaded up, while the real guns went out a chute to be loaded up in a different truck later.  We had about a dozen guys working on this all of us “Members”.  Handguns of all types, AR-15’s and AK’s… You name it…   Thousands of guns.  We had to work in shifts.  When it was over, there was bunch of pick up trucks heading to Pocatello to be have the guns redistributed and the intended owners all got the guns and the left over guns (they must have came from other sources to be certified as destroyed) were distributed to our group of “Militia”.  It was the next day that someone in Seattle discovered the destroyed parts were all plastic and all the sudden it was discovered that everyone on the destruction crew didn’t exist because of fake names and numbers.  It was an interesting and felonious dream.  I’m not the criminal type and I’ve never had a dream about break the law, so having a dream like this was quite odd.   Just had to share.  I think this might be a crime just posting something like this!

We have all heard now about the all gay public school in New York.  Judas Priest, what has America come to?  I’m don’t care about the fact that the school has students who are gay and bi-sexual… but what I am worried about here is the fact that we are giving a special interest group their very own school paid for by tax payers.  Now, if we had the school voucher system in place that allows enough kids to make that choice to put them in this school – then that is different.  But that is not what is happening here.  What we have here is a blatant abuse of public resources to cater to a special interest group.  I’ve heard other’s takes on the subject, for and against… I’ve yet to hear any good and valid point in the “for” category.  This is just the continuation of the Liberal agenda to allow adults to fuck kids.  That’s all this is.  This is just another step in that direction.  I can only guess NAMBLA will have an office in this school some place.  What the hell are the sex education classes going to be like?  3^rd Period Giving Oral Sex classes?  This is an outrage!  Education should be about prepping the kids for the future… turning them into candidates for contributing members of society… not all about their sexual preference.  What is next?  Schools for Boys who with a fixation on girls?  How about that?  Or how about a school for the Vegetarians?  How about a public school for the animal rights activists?  No… better yet… how about a public school for CONSERVATIVES?  *SHOCK!*  Or even CHRISTAIN CONSERVATIVES!  How about a school like that?  No… Of course not.  Because those schools wouldn’t be putting it into the kids heads that it’s okay to bend over and take it in the ass from an adult for his lunch break nooner.  Talk about grading on the curve.  Dayum.  The world is a sick sick place… The liberal agenda only serves to make it worse.   I’m just glad it’s in New York, a place far away from me.

Email from reader:  “Saw your take on Cowboy Bebop today.  I also really enjoyed the movie.  I originally watched the series when it was a part of the Adult Swim lineup on Cartoon Network.  Usually I do not care for anime, but Cowboy Bebop was an exception.  I loved the attention to detail on the firearms. The story, animation, and dubbing were all very good as well.  When I heard the movie was being released in the US, I was looking forward to seeing it. Unfortunately, I live in Kansas and it was only shown in a couple dozen theatres in major markets. I finally got a chance to see it when I bought a copy at the local Suncoast video store in the mall.  I was not disappointed.  Here's a link you might want to check this out. This guy has prepared an exhaustive guide to almost every firearm ever shown in the Cowboy Bebop series and movie.  He doesn't seem to be a gunowner, but he has had a lot of help from readers that are and does a pretty good job with it.   He seems to think Vincent's gun is a Western Arms Strayer-Voigt (SV) Infinity, not the Les Baer you mentioned.  Brian”  Thanks for the email, Brian.  Your right… it is an SVI gun… the magwell gives that away.  I didn’t look that closely when I was watching the movie...  I was ogling Faye. 

Another email from one the Horde:  “Hey Ogre, thanks for the heads up on the headache article about the gun laws in Utah.  I followed your link and read the article and you were right, that article is a real headache creator.  I had to email the author and basically tell him his article was BS.  It probably won't change his outlook on anything, but..... Below is a copy of what I sent him (I don't live in Utah, but sending this helped ease my headache)  Mr. Knickerbocker your article titled Utah Law Tests Limits Of Gun Culture In West in the Christian Science Monitor is probably one of the worst pieces of so called "journalism" that I have read recently.  Your "experts" are not very knowledgeable concerning crime and how concealed firearms affect crime.  If they had actually checked into the truth and reality of this perhaps your article might have more of a ring of truth to it instead of sounding very liberally hollow.  As far as gun bans working to stop crime, look to our nation's capitol; Washington DC is once again the murder capitol of the US.  By the way, Washington DC has a TOTAL gun ban in place.  Or look to Chicago, or New York, or Los Angeles, or....  Where there are strict firearms laws there is rampant crime.  Where these laws are few, the crime rate is considerably lower.  Perhaps you should read the book Slander by Ann Coulter.  You being a "journalist" might find it useful.   Thanks Ogre for posting information about these kinds of things,  Mike”  Thanks for the email Mike.  My reaction to the article would make it unsuitable for some of the forums I visit, so I had to post it here.  You don’t have to live in Utah to have a desire for truth from journalism.  I considered sending this to the asshat in question, but decided not to.  While your right, It would feel good to do so, it wouldn’t change his “opinion” and it wouldn’t reach his audience either.  Even if I did clean up the language.  *sigh*

Another dispatch from the Horde:  “Hey Ogre.  What do you think are good practical uses for intermediate cartridge (5.56x45mm/.223 Remington, 5.45x39mm Soviet, 7.62x39mm Soviet, 5.8mm Chinese, etc.) rifles and carbines?  You've expressed before that infantry rifles need more power to deal with the increasingly thick armors many soldiers will be wearing.  (I can't tell this enough to the 5.56mm guys, you don't WANT a battlefield bullet that fragments.  Sometimes bad guys hide behind trees.)  But there are also a number of 5.56mm rifles that you like (such as the AR-180 and G36) so I was wondering what the official Ogre opinion on the subject is.  Most armies worldwide now use intermediate rifles; the AKM series is the most common rifle in the world, with some fifty million in production.  And here in the west, we have the M16, Sig 550, G36, AUG, etc.  How would you equip an infantry squad, if you were suddenly in charge of such things? Mike”  (Different Mike)  If I was all the sudden in charge?  First thing I’d do would be to just reissue all the M-14 rifles we have in storage.  We have all the logistics to handle such a move with all the strategic stockpiling.  While we are using the M-14s again, then we could develop or work on implementing a new battle rifle.  And it wont be the XM-8.  The XM-8 would be rechambered for .300 Whisper and fitted with suppressors for any special operation unit needing such a weapon… Such as the Green Berets, Detachment Delta, and the Rangers.  This is just to start.  I would have more important fish to fry… such as canceling out of the Strykers and the V-22’s… but I think all the Grunts would be happy enough to start with this.    Good uses for intermediate cartridges are for intermediate guns.  SMGs in these calibers would be just fine, since that was what they were developed for… largish SMGS and squirrel guns.  I think 7.62MM Nato is about “Just Right” for a battle rifle cartridge.   Looking at other rifles in this caliber, I’m not really fond of any of them.  They could all use some lightening and shortening a bit.  The best one was just a prototype made by Gale McMillan.  It was an M-14 action in a bullpup configuration.  THAT would be awesome.  Of course with all the SOPMOD attachments for the high speed guys.     

July 28th, Monday: 1900HRS:  Journalism or just rampant bullshit in the guise of journalism?  I call it bullshit.  Total steamy bullshit.  I can’t believe I was even able to withstand the accelerating pain inside my skull from the pressure build up due to reading such complete bullshit!   Just reading the headline was the clue right then and there to down ½ a bottle of Excedrin Migraine before continued reading.  It’s a good thing too.  Had I not done that, I probably would have had to be hospitalized.   “Utah law tests limits of gun culture in West”.  Oh man, here take a second to down some meds… your going to need it.  I’ll wait.  Lovely weather today isn’t it?  Oh, your ready?  Okay.  Here is the link.  Now, I have a few comments about this spewed-tripe… and they start right in the first paragraph: “At the Salt Lake City International Airport, a sign on the door warns people not to bring firearms into the building. Yet just a few minutes away, it's easy - and perfectly legal - to stick a loaded pistol into your pocket or purse and walk into a public school.”  Sounds like Utah doesn’t have any gun laws doesn’t it?  Hell, Utah is just one giant Dodge City, isn’t it?  Well, no it really isn’t because the author of this disaster of an article is one Brad Knickerbocker who doesn’t live in Utah, and wouldn’t know the difference between a Pistol and a Revolver if you shoved them both up his flaccid ass.  Utah doesn’t allow “Open Carry”.  Meaning you can not just strap a gun to your belt and head on out the door.  It is illegal.  Doing so will get you some nice legal repercussions.  Also, you can not just stick a loaded pistol into your pocket and head on out the door.  Because if you get caught you will garner some nice legal repercussions.   The only way for a civilian to be allowed to carry a gun in Utah is to be licensed.  More on this in a moment… back to the article for now:  “Supporters of a new law that loosens restrictions on the carrying of concealed weapons in Utah assert that allowing teachers, janitors, and other school staff to carry such weapons will add to school security. It will deter or prevent Columbine-like tragedies, they say, even though those carrying concealed weapons don't have to tell anybody they're doing so and even though they aren't required to have any special training.”  At least asshat Brad got this part right.  Absofuckinglutely… It will prevent a Columbine-like tragedy from happening in Utah because if something like that starts up and there is someone there with both the gun and the balls – they can stop it.  It's just common sense!  This has happened in another school where the teacher had a gun in his car.  He was able to get his gun and stop the rampaging student… who was on his way to another school to continue the mayhem.  Of course you probably never heard that story did you?  Just like you never heard of the story about the armed airline pilot who stopped a mid-flight hijacking before it got carried away?  Hmmm.  Figures.  Guns SAVE lives, people.  It’s a proven fact.  Lets continue:  “Opponents say it's just as likely that letting untrained persons carry guns in schools will lead to accidents or the theft of weapons. School security, they say, should be left to professionals.”  Is he talking about the same professionals that lose more guns every year than all the civilian lost or stolen gun figures combined?  Is he talking about the same professionals that have more accidental/negligent discharges than the US Army and Marine corps combined?  Not to down cops in any way, I am just point out the fact, and this will be substantiated by most Ogre Readers… Cops do not get this wonderfully magic Ninja-School gun training.  I myself can out shoot 95% of the cops I have ever seen shoot.  Not only that, I would be happen to face a challenge from ANY Utah police officer in any form of Gun Knowledge, Gun Shooting competition.   My point being – You don’t have to be a badge wearing sworn officer to be safe or good with a gun.  In fact, wearing a badge has nothing to do what so ever with your competence and safety with a firearm.  I would submit that the badge gives some cops a big head and a huge chip on there Kevlar clad shoulders and are sometimes even worse because of it in terms of firearms safety.  There was a video circulating recently showing an officer with a negligent discharge who could have killed both a fellow officer and a subject in custody.  Let’s move on:  “Not so, says John Donohue, professor of law at Stanford University, who has researched the subject for the Brookings Institution. In fact, he says, "criminals may become more likely to carry or be quicker to use a gun in response to increased gun carrying among prospective victims."  Well, John Donohue, who is safe and snug behind the walls of Stanford’s acamania has no fucking clue what he is talking about.  Statistics prove time and time again that the presence of guns in the hands of the citizens reduce crime, almost every single time.  Because criminals by nature are not just stupid… but cowards.  This is why they prey on the weak, timid, and the unarmed.  When jailbirds were asked what they feared most, number one answer was an armed victim.  I suggest John Donohue take some classes from John Lott.  Or if he would like, I would be happy to help reeducate him personally.  By the time I am done with him – JD will be a gun owner himself.  Forward:  “The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence rates Utah as one of the worst states "at protecting its children from gun violence."  Of course… you have to get a quote in from the Brady Center, don’t you?  If Utah is the one of the worst states at protecting kids… Let’s run a statistical comparison as to who is “better” according to Brady estimates, and who actually has the lower number of children injured by “gun violence”.  In all humility, I submit that Utah is one of if not the safest places for kids when it comes to not just Gun Violence… but ANYTHING.  I would in all humility submit that Utah is one of, if not the best place in America and on Earth to raise a kid.  Sarah Brady is an ignorant, ugly, and bitter, stupid bitch.  That’s just my opinion, I might be wrong.  Forward:  “"Utah also forces police to let people carry hidden handguns in public, even into schools, and does not require background checks at gun shows."  The thing about concealed carry is that you don’t know who has a gun or not.  This isn’t Tombstone so it’s more than likely that where ever you are, there is no concealed handgun around you.  However, luckily, your odds of another good guy near you having a gun on him (or her) is greater than in most other states.  Utah isn’t forcing anyone because the poor oppressed people don’t even have a fucking clue.  This is a totally unsustainable claim that should not be in any sort of self respecting journalism.  And in fact, Utah does require background checks at gun shows.  If you want to buy a gun from a dealer at a table, 100% of the time you will have to not just submit to the back ground check, but also pay the fee for that very check.  Now, if the author is talking about between two citizens in a private transaction – then the author is correct.  Utah doesn’t require background checks from private citizens in private transfers of ownership.  This is called a “Freedom”.  This is a good thing.  However, if a private seller so wishes, at the gunshows there are the means for a background check to be done on the buyer – if the buyer wishes.  Again, this is a freedom and it is a good thing.  Forward:  “Part of it is the Western attitude toward firearms - the right to keep and bear arms with as little government interference as possible. It also may have to do with Utah's history of violence, including the murder of Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Mountain Meadows massacre of non-Mormon emigrants from Arkansas on the way to California in 1857. Utah is one of the few states where those convicted of capital crimes can be executed by firing squad.”  This is rich… The best examples of violence in Utah is from 146 years ago.  People, this is a damn good track record.  Funny how people who hate Utah ALWAYS dredge up the Mountain Meadows Massacre… something that is fraught with conjecture with little evidence that Mormons actually did it with nothing more than hearsay to point the finger...  Hearsay from people who hated the LDS church and looked for ways to indict it.  Instead of the MMM… Why didn’t this “Journalist” mention the EXTERMINATION ORDER given my Governor Boggs of Illinois that made is perfectly legal to shoot a Mormon on sight?  Hmmmm?  No mention of that is there?  No wonder Mormons are a little defensive.     Forward:  “Yet, she says, "We're not the wild West anymore....There's just places where guns ought not to be."  No, this isn’t the Wild West anymore… and that is really too bad.  Back then there were no gangs of truant youths rampaging across state committing burglaries and all manner of dirty deeds all over the place.  People didn’t have to lock the doors at night because people respected one another and kids could run around unsupervised… explore the woods and fields and mountains with the only worry being a hungry critter or a loss of direction.  Now days in our much more advanced and civilized world – you don’t dare let your kids out to play unsupervised.  You don’t know what kind of sick bastard is hiding in the bushes, or what gangbanger is waiting to peddle drugs to your kids.  This call of “It’s not the Wild West anymore” is an indictment of our open minded civilized society.  When the Wild West was lost, it was a shame.  The most famous Utah Bandit was Butch Cassidy… outlaw and bank robber.  But here in Utah, he was a gentleman who helped people out and donated money to the local good causes.  I’ll trade a thousand Butch Cassidy’s for every one of our local modern thugs and gangsters.  Not the wild west anymore.  No kidding.  Forward: "It's another example of the gun lobby using senators as puppets to fulfill their legislative priorities," says Chris McGrath, executive director of Handgun-Free America, an organization dedicated to banning handguns nationwide.”  You mean this is an example of Politicos who actually listen to constituents instead of special interest groups?  You mean Politicos who might have actually read the freaking constitution?  How horrible is that?  Not at all if you love freedom.  This last comment coming from a fellow who is dedicated to destroying the second amendment?  This guy’s opinion is automatically voided… his stupidity is criminal.  Look, dickhead, I have a gun for the same reason the police have guns.  I have a handgun for the same reason Officer Todd “Barbrady” Rassmussen has his gun… pictured in the article nicely tucked away in his belt scabbard.   The only difference between him and myself, is that I am not paid to carry a gun.  I used to be… but now I carry a gun all on my own because it’s the right thing to do.  Chris McGrath, and what say you about any other lobbyist group?  Are you lashing out at them for there small legal victories?  Gimme a break Chris!  Wait a second here… Countering this article has taken the pain tolerance of a Kwisatz Haderach.

Oh, one more thing… The Mad Ogre playing card pictured below… it was made by THR Member MMcCall.  Special thanks to MMcCall we are most appreciative and amused by the talent and humor displayed.  MMcCall is the man. 

Noonish:  Puerto Ricans are still crying about the loss of income from pushing the US Navy out.  Let me see if I can roll up a tear for the plight of these really stupid people.  Wait a second... almost... no.  No tears.  Any sympathy?  No?  Dang.  Not even a spot of sympathy.  Hey Puerto Rico... Look at it this way, at least now you will be able to drive through those gates you assholes ripped down any time you want to!  Fox has a report on it.  This is the most amusing thing I have heard all day.

In other news, Drudge reported that the Kobi Bryant rape case involved anal sex.  Hey Drudge, thanks for that lovely little detail.  I didn't need to know that.  Especially since it was posted on the smoking gun last week.  Anyways.  I'm starting to form an opinion on this case.  My level of concern for it is still rather low, but I am thinking that this is a case of False Witness.  I don't think he raped the girl.  I think they had some freaky sex and the girl then decided to dig for some gold and Kobi refused to pay up so she cried rape.  This girl is reported to have bragged about this to friends at a party.  This girl is reported to have 2 other rape cases pending.  This girl is totally void in credibility in my opinion.  I'm saying this not in defense of Mr Bryant... He put his dick where it didn't belong.  He made a grave error.  But I don't think he had to force sex upon this girl.   Lot's of people are making Bryant look like as holy as a Catholic Priest, and I guess Drudge has given us a tie in to that... but let's not push for his sainthood just yet.  This girl is clearly a villain according to all the leaked news and rumor.  The thing about these kinds of leaks is that most of it is actually true.  Truth has a way of bubbling to the surface.  I just don't believe any of this girls claims.

BASIC.  Interesting movie, but over done.  It's worth it as a rental.  However I think the story was too forced and the writers were trying too hard and as a result they over twisted the plot.  Plot twists are fine... but when you have plot twists that just come out of no where.  This was a story written by committee and it shows.   Yeah, I listened to the writer's commentary on the DVD and at first you think this guy is brilliant, but then you realize that higher level studio people started to hack up his story and now he is trying to defend it.    Just my opinion... I may be wrong.

Cowboy Bebop, the movie.  Rented it.  Watched it.  Liked it.  Probably the best anime out there.  Oh, Spike's gun... Jericho 941/Baby Eagle.  You can tell by the controls and the shape of the muzzle end of the slide and dust cover.  Faye's gun is clearly a Glock 30.  You can tell that by the lettering "Glock 30" on it.  I say this to point out the level of detail that is given to this flick.   Something you don't see in western animation.    Oh, and Vincent used a Les Baer "Monolith" custom gun.

Had an email yesterday pointing out that there are two other sources on the net that are selling the same knives I am selling for a cheaper price.  That's fair enough.  But if your going to sell something you buy it at one price and you have to add a few bucks to the selling price if you want to make a profit.  That's just the way it is.  I never said it was the cheapest price available for these knives.  I'm not like PriceLine.   I've made no claims to that effect.  I just said these are great deals.  And when you look at the suggested retail price that I posted... you can see that they are good deals.  I'm not giving these away because I want to make a few bucks.  I'll even tell you what I want the money for.  I'm selling knives so I can buy a new gun.  Okay?  Is that alright with you?  Yes, I am a greedy capitalist because I want to buy myself a new gun.  There.  I said it.  Are you happy now?  If you want to help me out, you can buy a knife or just donate through PayPal... so I can buy another gun.  See, as much as I love my Beretta 92FS, it's not ideal for CCW.  I want a gun that I can carry concealed with easier.  A smaller gun.   Your going to bust my chops for few bucks per knife?  Sorry you feel that way.  However, even at the grossly inflated and outrageous demand for 20 bucks per knife - once you get one - you will find that they are worth much more than what I gouged you for and will still be well pleased on the value.  Bang for your buck is there in spades.   I am thinking about taking each knife and rework it a little.  Sharpen the edge, take the knife down clean and coat the washers in moly, polish the bearing surfaces and reassemble the knife tighter than how it comes stock.  I just did this to my example and the result is outstanding.  I'd even compare it to a Benchmade now. Seriously.  I said Benchmade.   But if I did that, I couldn't sell it at 20 bucks because of the time investment... but this is something anyone could do themselves.  If you do it... you will love it... opens with a flick of the wrist and locks open solid with no play in the blade.  For a twenty dollar knife, these are KILLER.  I don't think there is a need to haggle.    If these knives catch on and become popular, the prices are going to go up due to supply and demand.  The price I buy it at, will effect the price I can sell it at.  There is nothing I can do about that.  That's economics 101. 

Remember my past comments about the CZ-52?  Well Magsafe is reported to have released it's idea of defensive ammunition for it.  Its a prefragmented 52 grain slug that hustles 2120 feet per second.  DAMN!  Guys, that is smoking!  Consider this, the average velocity of a round fired from an M-4 Carbine is just a touch better than 2500FPS.  And this round is almost as fast out of freaking PISTOL!  What would this do out of a longer barreled gun like the Russian Bizon SMG?  Judas Priest!  Unlike the M-4 round - this round WILL fragment.   Stunning.  Man, I LOVE the CZ-52!  And the best thing about it, it's a Curio and Relic type gun.  Means you can get them cheap.  A magazine holds 8 rounds.  They are slow to reload because of the heel clip mag release... but since the guns are cheap you can buy 2 of them and when you run dry, you can "New York Reload" and just pull the other loaded gun.

Looks like Cali will not get the Terminator as Governor.  I guess this is for the best... Ventura who looked good starting turned into a big freaking limpy.  Don't feel too bad, Cali, there are still other "Predator" cast members to run as Governor. 

July 26th, Saturday:  The Crossroads of the West Gun Show today was a gigantic disappoint in terms of the show its self.  I did bump into a few fellows that I have not seen in some time.  Chief among them is our good friend, Correia.  He found the show more than disappoint as well… along with damn near everyone else he or I talked to.  The gun show had a wonderful gardening section this time, along with a fine selection of imported east European crystal and stem wear.  The petting zoo section included a curious little creature called a Sugar Glider.  It’s a small flying squirrel type creature that is just cute as the dickens.  One observer is quoted as saying “the $250 Flying squirrels were pretty damn cute...but that’s damn expensive food for my son’s python.” Indeed.  The most abundant weapon this time was the paintball blow gun… Followed closely by the largest selection of tasteless sunglasses I have ever seen.  The only problem is that all of this has nothing to do with a fucking GUN SHOW! I spent 5 hours of driving to attend (round trip) that carnival and the damn Chiropractor that had a table at the gun show wasn’t even there to lecture about his rolling skeleton and how screwed up all of our spines are going to be if we don’t get crunched regularly.    So yes, Virginia, I am disappointed.  Especially since I paid 9 bucks to enter the gun show!  NINE BUCKS!  And it’s soon going to be 10 from what I heard.  All the good dealers that I knew… the trustworthy and honest dealers that I have had satisfactory transactions with… have skipped this show this time and probably wont be back.   I guess this is good for the lady with the damn scented candles and the freaking clown that kept offering to clean my glasses every time I stalked past with his magic dish soap based glass cleaner!  They will have more room to sell snake oil next time!  Oh, and speaking of oil - You want to buy some cleaning kit supplies?  Like for example – GUN OIL?  There was only ONE table that I noticed that had some to offer.  Only ONE!   My hell.  You have a better selection of gun oils from SEVEN FREAKING ELEVEN!   I want my 9 dollars back.   (This entire rant is being sent to the Crossroads of the West people, F-bombs and all)

I showed the knife that I am offering for sale to several people and they were all impressed with it.  The consensus is that the knife is a bargain considering the quality value.  When I get the rest of the line in stock, I will offer a special deal to all my MadOgre.com Horde Regulars and of course to all the TFL Gathering Crew.

Gods & Generals.  When I was out in Virginia earlier this year, G&G was big.  It was the thing everyone was talking about.  I didn’t attend the theatre to view this then, and I have only just now watched it.   Was this flick for real?  No, seriously… Was this satire?  It seemed that this was an effort of satire.  The movie was, in my opinion, an utter joke.  All the acting was blatant overacting and every damn bit of dialog was either a speech or quoting poetry, scripture, or Shakespeare… and some times all of it at once.  The directing was absolutely horrible.  The battles scenes were poorly filmed with little effort from the people in the costumes.  One scene had a few extras in the middle of the shot that looked like they were actually playing patty cakes instead of acting like they were trying to kill each other.  Having seen what artillery can do – even old civil war artillery – I can tell you that it doesn’t look like a sudden random puff of white dust while everyone runs through it and past it unscathed.  Now, sometimes they would show the same plume of white dust – and half the people on the screen would fall down.  WTF?  Stonewall Jackson was indeed a noble character.  But this movie made him look like freaking MOSES.  I don’t know, maybe he was… but it’s hard to tell because around him, every other actor was pimping for an academy award nomination and emoting Oscar-Slut performances instead of actually acting like what someone in that situation would really act like.  I’m not sure what they would really act like, not being a General in the Civil War myself… but one thing is for sure… and I know this for a fact… when your about to launch an assault the farthest thing from you mind is giving an eloquent recital of poetry and Shakespeare!   No!  Instead your going to be checking your weapons, checking your gear, checking your buddies gear, and doing a lot of kneeling chest crossing and praying.  Not standing majestically looking into the sunset while giving lines from Julius Caesar!    While I liked the films approach that the Civil War was a war of northern aggression and not all about freeing slaves… I found the whole thing to be utterly unrealistic.  I mean my hell… in one scene you have snow on the ground, and on the trees, but right there in the front and center, you can see the people flocking the trees could be bothered to flock the tops of the trees – only the bottoms.  Last time I was in Virginia – snow fell DOWNWARDS.  In another scene, we have the North building a bridge our of pontoons to cross the river… yet a few cuts later you have a lone Confederate Soldier walking out to the middle of the same damn river to share a cup of coffee on Christmas morning with a Yankee soldier who walked from the other side out on stones.  Aw… the humanity and sentiments is killing here.  If you could just mosey across the damn river on rocks, WHY DID THEY HAVE TO BUILD THE FREAKING BRIDGE?  WTF?  No continuity, no realism, no real dialog, nothing TANGIBLE in this picture at all.  But please, someone call the Vatican because they need to make Stonewall Jackson a frickin SAINT over here and build a damn cathedral in his name!  Seriously though, I always liked General Stonewall Jackson… he had balls and brains.  Something most civil war officers lacked.  Living in Richmond, I would often cruise Monument Avenue and look up at Jackson’s statue as well as others… passing the statue of some tennis player named Arthur Ash.  I also liked how they made General AP Hill look like a total boob.  Having spent way too many nights in the woods of Ft AP Hill, I consider this is richly warranted.  AP Hill was the worst Fort I have ever been too.   I think it is now just a big Boy Scout camp.  In summary, Gods and Generals is worth renting, but unless you’re a civil war buff, don’t bother ordering it off Amazon.com. 

Going to the gun show today.  Will comment when I return.

July 25th, Friday:  1630hrs:  Of all the silly news out there the silliest news comes from Puerto Rico.  You might not know it, but PR has been the 51st State thanks to the US Navy for as long as anyone can remember.  It's whole economy is based on the Navy.  Well PR just won the "Cut off your own nose" award.  They rabidly protested our dropping bombs on one of the small unused islands.  They sued the US to make us stop.  And we did.  Now we are pulling out of PR and all the sudden the people there are saying "Whoa, wait a sec!  We still need your money!"  And we said "Well, you should have thought about our leaving before you stopped our bombing."  Then they said "But we didn't think you would actually leave!"  *sigh*  I guess it's America's fault that collectively Puerto Rico is a dumbass.  I guess that it's our fault we gave them what they asked for.  I guess it's our fault that this little inconsequential island nation full of delusions of it's significance is going to be left economically devastated because they bit off the hand that fed it.  Excuse me for not feeling your pain, Puerto Rico... but you are a freaking dumbass.  Really, what other use does the US Navy have for your rather pathetic island other than dropping bombs on it?  No, really.  Tell me.  To be perfectly honest we didn't even need to bomb your island anyway... We were only doing for fun as a favor to you.  If you haven't been watching the news, for the last 10 years we have had a lot more important things to drop our bombs on.  Hey, look at it this way... all that space we stopped bombing on?  Plant some Banana trees on it.  My kids love "Nannas".  You can sell them at market and make at least some money off the ground.  Not nearly what you guys were making before... but something.  Forgive me for laughing at you but you guys were 100 Grand a Year business executives that all decided to quite and take minimum wage graveyard shift jobs at 7-11.  But hey, you can sleep better at night knowing the ugly US Navy isn't banging away at your little freaking spot of ground out in the middle of nowhere.  Right?  

Email from 14 different Puerto Ricans "I'm gunna cut you good, man!"

Fox News has had both Palestinian and Saudi apologists on for interviews.  Regardless of the issue, the only reaction was a pathetic act of "your hurting our feelings".  Oh man, gimmie a break!  You asshats kill innocent people on a whim!  Screw your feelings and answer the fucking questions!  If the Palestinians would stop bombing people, Israel's IDF wouldn’t' be shooting back at you.  This is called cause and effect you retards.  And Saudi… you guys need to straighten the hell out fast because you are highly suspect and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if we cut you jackasses off completely.  Hey Saudi, let me put it this way.  No one trusts you, no one even likes you and the only reason we deal with you is because of your stinking oil.  Your not the only game in town for oil either.  Not by a long shot.  You shitbirds need to take an active roll in fighting terrorism and fess up to your sins of supporting it.  No… I changed my mind.  Fuck you.  I don’t want to deal with you any more.  I’m writing a long letter to all my politicos about the benefits of tapping oil from our environmentally friendly off shore resources and enjoy some awesome fishing since those platforms attract fish like dung beetles to camel poop.  Oh, speaking of camels… our beautiful and scenic Alaskan fields will offer pleasant views for our roughnecks and they can watch our majestic caribou instead of your uglyass camels.   My point being Saudi… your not as needed as you would like to think you are and our patience is wearing really thin with you.  

YEAH!  The Davis Recall just got the green light from the California Supreme Court.  Sweet!  Forgive me a cruel chuckle.  Everyone is now wondering just who will be running for his slot.  There are a lot of people wanting it, but the most serious candidates are playing it cool because Cali is in an economic shit-storm and they don't want to be the one to be the stepping stone for someone else.  Davis said "I'm a fighter" and he is going to fight this.  WTF?  Davis, your not a fighter, you a fucking pencil-neck prick who hides behind the legal system.  I know fighters Davis, and your no fighter.  However, I suspect it will be a fighter who replaces your sorry ass.  Arnold might be a likely choice if he wants to roll with it.  A Hollywood elitist prick who owns guns and a flock of big HUMMER SUV and smokes cigars... but thinks you shouldn't be allowed to have any of the above.  He is a RINO to the Nth degree.  (That means a Republican In Name Only - because other than his registered party he is as liberal as the rest of them)  So a Liberal Republican who has huge name recognition and will pretty much support all the liberal ideology that is ingrained in the California power base - he would do very well.

I just want to point out something... The above recall effort was a Grass Roots effort that caught on.  It CAN work.  You just have to work hard for it and fight for it.  Speak your mind and vote with your feet and the ballot.  YOU do matter.  The good people in California just might be able effect a positive change in Cali because some people believed, and some people took action.  WAY TO GO GUYS!  

Funny... Just a few hours after Bush announced the deployment of forces to Liberia, the Liberians announced a cease fire.  This is a good sign, but then again I may be overly optimistic about Liberia's want for peace and it's potential.   Then again Liberia is vastly different from other nation that we have dealt with.  Liberia is our national bastard child... I believe that we have a degree of obligation in Liberia.  I also thing this will be a very positive mission with fantastic potential. 

I have used the word "fantastic" in too many posts today... I have to go look at color swatches and curtains now.

Oh, hey, check this out.  The two evil Saddam boys are still dead!  These are 2 guys that I really wanted to see cut down.  However, there are still 3 other guys that I also want to see stretched out...  Saddam, Osama and that dwarf, afro wearing, insane troll in North Korea, Kim.  This just means to me that we have a lot more work to do.  Isn't it cool how the Democrats are crying that killing Saddam's sons was wrong and a distraction from the more important issue of the economy... and just a few short hours later the economy just freaking soars!  Excuse me if I thumb my nose at you Democrats.  If you think the economy had a spurt because we killed the two boy villains... just you wait until we bust a cap in Daddy's ass! 

And one last thing for the moment… I still have these awesome knives for sale.  If you want one, let me know.

This is posted late - I thought I had already posted this: 

0930hrs:  It’s about freaking time.  We are finally pushing into Liberia.  Thank heavens.  This move has probably already saved lives.  You might not agree, but then again your probably less intelligent and would rather bicker over other issues claiming that they relate… such as why we didn’t go into a different country instead.  Well, first off, get the hell off MadOgre.com.  We are there now and that is all that matters.  I’ve explained it before, many times.  I’m not going to do it again.  I think this mission is worthy and I think it’s one we should have done a long time ago.  I have no worries about it.   We should be seeing Taylor stepping down soon and all the ruckus ebbing.  It wont take much effort (relatively speaking) to put Liberia in order and anchor a much needed friend in the region as a base for future African efforts.

It’s amazing… I am still catching shit from jackasses all over the place about my Why I hate the AR-15 article.  Come on… I didn’t even catch this much shit about bashing on my Lando article.  (Old Star Wars article)  I really find this amusing.  The AR-15 article is the single most read article I’ve ever written thanks to all the indignant AR-15 owners emailing the URL to the article out to all the friends with a “Can you believe this guy?” in the subject line.     I think I will forever be locked into this image of a seething assault rifle hater because of this and people reading just that one page and not reading the rest of MadOgre.com.  Of course I can’t blame them in this.  MadOgre.com is very large, with few pictures and lots of words they don’t understand.

0100hrs:  I am unable to sleep tonight.   To be honest, I've not been able to sleep for weeks now.  My dreams are only nightmares now and I can't even stand to close my eyes anymore.  PTSD night terrors.  As soon as I get to the point where you can feel yourself falling asleep, I suddenly hear screams and can feel something grabbing at me.  I see angry twisted faces in front of me, coming out at me like bubbles in boiling water, biting at me.  Man, I really have to stop watching CSPAN!    

For this reason I wanted to make a list of all my top Movie Villains.  I was going to make it a top 10 list, but the Honorable Mentions were just too evil to let slide.  So we have a top 15.  I think you will agree with me: 

15.  Dr. Evil, Austin Powers.  I don’t know why, but this guy is a leader in the world of evil from some reason.  Probably due to his invention of sharks with lasers attached to there heads.   I mean, come on, that’s pretty fricken evil.  Isn’t it?  Throw me a bone people.

14.  Ming the Merciless, Flash Gordon.  He does whatever he wants, whenever he wants to whoever he wants and controls the whole universe with his will.  That and he can control people’s mind and give woman orgasms by mere thought.   He has people killed left and right for just thinking about opposing him.  This guy makes Saddam Hussein look like an alright fellow.

13.  Darth Vader, Star Wars.  He kills people on a whim.  He destroys planets.  He kills his boss is the Emperor of the, uh, Empire.  He tries to kill of his whole family… he kills all his old buddies.  He can catch blaster fire in his bare hands.  He has the power to bend everything to his will.  He has James Earl Jones’s voice.  To top it all off, he has the coolest sword, ever.

12.  Marcellus Wallace, Pulp Fiction.  The smooth criminal.  Marcellus is down the way all gangbangers wish they were.  He has a nice house, a nice car, and a hottie wife… he controls the criminal underground with a crew of slick yet stupid hitmen yet unafraid of going medieval on your ass if he takes you personally.   

11.  Sheriff of Nottingham, Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves.  Anyone who cancels Christmas is very very bad man.  This Sheriff does just that.  He Kills Robin’s Dad, he takes all of Robin’s estate, he rapes and pillages the whole country… “You ten o’clock.  You ten thirty, and bring a friend!”  He wields his evil power like a drunk sailor on shore leave.  We like that.  This is what we might do our selves.

10.  Mok, Rock & Rule.  Mok is a unique villain.  He is a superstar rockstar obsessed with power he uses 80’s heavy metal rock music to summon a demon.  This makes all southern Baptist parents say “Figures”.  He is a little predictable, but has more than enough charisma to overcome it.  After all he is an egomaniacal super rock star that mixes Mick Jagger and David Bowie with some kind of techno-sorcerer. 

9.  Hans Gruber, Die Hard.  He makes bank robbery look like a 7-11 hold up.   He takes out cops, he takes out a lawyer/salesmen guy.  Wait a sec… he could almost make the hero list for that move.  Wait, no… he is too evil for that.  A German terrorist who wants to take all the money he can and doesn’t’ care who he has to roll over in order to get it… including the FBI, and an office building full of people at an office Chrismas party.

8.  Agent Smith, The Matrix.  Nice suit.  Cool sunglass.  A relaxed self confidence even when kicking ass… and to top it off, a fifty caliber automatic handgun, and back up just like him.  He can’t be killed.  He can’t be bargained with, but he will string you along if he feels like it.  He is smart, has great lines.  And makes being the badguy in authority seem like it’s the cool thing to be.  I think he is also a Democrat.  He trumps the snot out of Terminator when it comes to unstoppable killing machines. 

7.  Kahn, The Wrath of Kahn.  Revenge is a dish best served cold, and it is very cold in space.  The way Ricardo Montalban’s character says that line is just chilling.  Kahn is a genetically engineered super human.  He is strong and powerful physically, but with the mind of a genius.  He kicks Captain Kirks ass twice, and if it wasn’t for Gene Rottenberry’s hard on for Kirk, Kahn would have killed him and taken the Enterprise.  This would have made for a hell of an interesting series and Star Trek would probably have not been cancelled as we all would have loved watching Kahn take control of the universe.  He seduces Enterprise crew women, and probably some of the men too… he kills off a whole starship full of people and then a whole space station full of them too.  But worst thing… he puts giant mutant monster earwigs into people’s ears.  How fucking sick and wrong can you get?

6.  Castor Troy, Face Off.  One of the coolest super villains ever.  He dabbles in sex and drugs and will kill anyone he wants when ever he wants.  Has a soft spot for his little brother… makes him a man of depth.  Especially with impeccable taste in handguns… a pair of gold Springfield .45s.  This is the kind of bad guy most bad guys want to be.

5.  Cunningham, Tim Roth’s character in Rob Roy.  This guy is a fantastic villain, he is pure evil.  He has sex with young boys, he rapes Rob Roy’s wife, he murders Rob Roy’s friend and sets Rob up.  He even shoot’s Rob’s dog and burns down Rob’s house.  What an evil bastard!  This is a character so vile, so slimy, so icky, that you just want to kill him… very badly.  More so because of his smug and foppish attitude.  Few times do you ever really stand and cheer when the bad guy dies… this is one of those times.   I did.  I can appreciate a good villain, but this guy made me want to cut his dick off and shove it down this throat.

4.  Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, Dune.  Are you kidding me?  The Baron is one of the creepiest villains of all time.  He is a twisted sort of huge morbidly obese homicidal homosexual who is covered in randomly bursting boils and carbuncles and gets off sexually on killing young men.  Either with his bare hands or by pulling out a plug he has installed into his victims hearts.  He plots evil plots trying to destroy his enemy, who is anyone who is good.  This guy is evil to the very core.  He is much much worse in the books.  I suggest reading from the start of the Dune Saga, House Atreides in order to really get an understand of how evil this fat freak really is.

3.  Count Dracula, Francis Ford Copula's Dracula.  Smooth and sexy when he wants to be… haunting his women’s dreams and seduces them until they want him to kill them.  He can change into rats, bats, wolves and even into a fine mist.  Count Dracula is old school evil… Once being a Count who defended the church was changed into an undead lord when he cursed God and defiled an alter.  He became immortal, a legend, a being who was all but unstoppable.  Played by Gary Oldman, Dracula is unforgettable… this is Dracula’s best representation.  No one did it better before or since.

2.  Cardinal Richelieu, Disney's Three Musketeers.  Tim Curry gives us his best performance ever as the Cardinal… Don’t give me Rocky Horror, that movie was just retarded.  I never liked it and think there is something wrong with those that did.  Back to the Cardinal.  He plots against the young king, had the previous King murdered, abuses his position as a man of God and tries to seduce the queen.  On top of his hypocrisy, he is plotting to join forces with the enemy, the Duke of Buckingham!  Being of Scottish decent, this is outrageous and unforgivable until I remember that the Cardinal himself is French, and that alone is an even worse offense.

1.  The Devil, Time Bandits, Devil's Advocate and an assortment of other movies… What can I say about Satan?  Evil doesn’t get any eviler (is that a word) than him.  Hell, he invented evil.  Come to think of it, he invented hell too.  This is the guy that all the other villains work for, want to or not.  He is the Don of Evilness, he is evil its self.   Turning people into part oyster and part carrot is just a hobby… but to be played by Pacino.  Flawless.  Pacino makes a good devil.  Ferocious, isn’t he?

Well, there you have it.  The Ogre's Top Movie Villains.  I tried to do a list of a top 10 female villains, but that didn't work as they were all Walt Disney characters and I didn't want to do cartoon characters.  Well, other than Mok, because Mok is just that cool.

Is Symantec Anti-Gun?  Decide for yourself.  Sure looks that way.  This is troubling.  Symantec is the best thing going for anti-virus and personal firewall software.  Not to mention all the other utilities.  If you don't have Symantec you might as well not have a PC.  I've not played with the content blocking features... but I can hit all the listed sites with no problem.  Maybe they changed things since I got my version.  I don't know.  Check this out.

July 24th, Thursday:  1900hrs:  Oh dear.  I looks like the AR-15 Zealots are going to be quite upset very shortly.   Rumor has it that Israel is going to be phasing out the M-16 series rifles. (To the less educated, the AR-15 rifle is a civilian variant of the M-16 series.  Differing only in the lack of a select fire capability… that means the AR-15 will only fire one time per pull of the trigger, meaning it is not an Assault Rifle like the idiot fuckwit anti-gun crowd would have you believe)  They are going to be rolling out the new and very good even if it is in 5.56MM IMI TAVOR rifle series.  The TAVOR is a super sexy weapon that makes me want to move to Israel just to get the chance to play with one.   Anyways, this is especially bad news when considering the fact that the US Military is going to be phasing out the M-16 series as well.  The US is going to be going with the XM-8 weapon system to go along with the XM-29 weapon system.  The same 5.56MM cartridge in an even shorter barreled weapon.  Don’t get me wrong… I like short barrels, but I also admit to the drastic reduction in ballistic performance because of it.    This is something that the 5.56 Follower do not do.  They always talk about fragmentation of the round and how it’s a force multiplier when it comes to wound ballistics… yet they never mention the fact that these rounds don’t fragment all the time, or they don’t fragment at all when fired from the shorter barreled M-4 Carbine rifles due to the lack of velocity.   Nor do the mention that the US Army doesn’t even use the damned fragmenting rounds!  Sure they have them… but they don’t get issued.  When your out in the field, you don’t get your choice of ammo.  You use what you are given.  And the Army is giving out what they have the most of… and that is ammo that doesn’t fragment even from the full length M-16A2 rifles.  Oh dear… poor Zealots are going to be left with the argument “Well the Canadians are using it!”.   Tsk tsk tsk…  I feel bad, I really do.  Okay, maybe not.  The M-16 should NEVER have been adopted and the rifle has probably killed more troops due to failures since it’s introduction than the French Chauchat machinegun of WWI infamy.   

Questions about the knives have been popping up here:  The knives are good.  Damn good.  I have the LEO model clipped to my pocket right now.  Seriously.  I'm ordering in a number of the knives from the importer directly.  This is why I can sell them really cheap, even if they are not cheap knives themselves.  Like I said before, these knives are just as good as anything you would spend twice the amount for from Columbia River... I'm not exaggerating.   In fact, I think these are better because they have a better blade steel then the Columbia River knives.  The fixed blade knives will be available shortly... I'm waiting to get more information on them and to get one of each to see for myself if they are worthy.

AM Post: I got everything set up to start selling a new line of high quality, low priced folding knives.  Check them out.  Everyone needs a knife and these are excellent low cost examples of Man Kind's oldest tool.  The reason I am selling these things is because I am so flat out impressed by them. 

I'm getting really fucking tired of all the petty little games the DemocRATS are playing.  They are now bashing Bush because Saddam's evil sons were killed instead of arrested.  Oh, BOO FUCKING HOO!  Those evil... I don't even have words for them... evil spawn of an evil man... is there a word for that?  I'll just call them shitheads.  Those evil shitheads didn't want to be arrested.  They wanted to die fighting.  They fired on US Soldiers who were indeed wanting to arrest them.  Those shitheads made the choice.  They knew what the result would be but they made choice.  There is no sense in crying about them.  There is no good that can come of ripping into Bush or the US Army for the deaths of these vile murderous shitheads.  See, the Democrats think that they can make points against Bush by making him look bad.  When really, what they are doing is insulting everyone who made the effort to get these guys.  They are making themselves look bad.  They do this daily.  The Democrats are slipping so far and so fast that it doesn't matter what they say or do anymore.  They know 2004 is a lost cause so they are just throwing out whatever spew they want along with the last shreds of dignity and any hope for the party's recovery.  Stand back people... this is going to get ugly before it gets any better.    These people... these Democrats are only slightly better than a raging case of jock itch.  They are truly Anti-American to the very core.  They revel in suffering.  They revel in sorrow.  They revel in disaster.  They revel in anything that brings Americans down.  They are absolutely giddy at the prospect of any national bad news... and even look for ways to perpetuate it.  These people are vile.  These people need to be stopped.  They need to be removed from power.  To do this we need good people of the Silent Majority to stand up and take action.  Political action.  Protest what you can when you can.  Run for offices and take back the government machine.   Bitchslap a Liberal For America! 

July 23rd, Wednesday: THR has a funny thread going on right now.   THR Card Game.  It’s a riot.  Well, I guess it is if you are a THR member or long time lurker and know the people being poked fun of.  I laughed my butt off… and then got zinged myself.  A little humor break amidst all of life’s tensions.  Especially with us Conservatives.  Conservatives are often a straight faced lot.  Why is that?  Well, it’s because we have to take everything seriously.  It would be too easy being a liberal… It would be like just being high all the time and it wouldn’t matter if what you said was right or wrong… as long as it felt good when you said it.  This is the price we have to pay to be Conservative.  We might not be that much fun at parties… but at least we make sure you can have your parties.   Your welcome… you pansyass Liberals.  (Shrek 2 is coming... can't wait.)

Couple up and coming flicks I’m interested in… First one on the table is called “Underworld”.  Vampires are against Werewolves in a flick that is like a combo of Blade II and The Crow with the obligatory dash of Matrix.  Looks fun.  The trailer looks pretty good.  We are also liking the scary bade main character.  Between the two, I say the Vampires would kick the Werewolves asses.  Hands down.  Of course this largely depends upon which Vampire Universe your using.  Rice’s with 0 solar tolerances, or the original Stoker’s, with just a weakening of powers during solar exposure, but a dependency on defiled old sacred earth.  If it’s Rice’s universe, well, those Vamps are Wussy.  Resorting to hiding and blending in with people and totally uninspired.  Most Vampires are more of the Rice family.  Now, you have the Stoker Vampires… the real deal… The OG.  Those fuckers are going to get you no matter where you are.  They are smart, they are vicious, and  can transform into bats, rats, wolves, mist… anything they want.  What ever it takes to get you.  Then there are the Werewolves.  Or Wererats or Werecats, or Werebears… but they are all essentially the same.  They are all allergic to Silver Injections.   Should be a short, but entertaining fight.  The other movie that is looking really good is called Open Range.  About another fight.  The only downside to this one is Kevin Costner is playing another badass.  This just doesn’t work.  Other actors that should have had that role would have been Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, or if they wanted someone a little more mature… Bruce Willis maybe.  Or hey, you could have even rolled with a Vin Diesle… but Costner?  He is about as sinister as an Easter Bunny.  Acts about the same too.  When Costner was younger, I have to give him credit for his roll in Silverado.  One of the better western flicks ever made.  But Costner pretty much ended his western efforts with Dances with Puppies… because I am sorry, his Wyatt Earp flick sucked profuse ass.   Tombstone spanked it and put it to bed.  Now, I have to give Costner some more credits for producing this Open Range flick… Kudos… but Kevin, you don’t have to be in it.  Next time… try something called “Casting”.  And let someone else do it.  Okay?   I’d be glad to help you on this.  You can call me any time.    The last flick I have got to say looks the most promising.  The Last Samurai.  This flick looks just awesome…  In a way that hasn’t been made since RAN or Heaven and Earth.  I’m looking forward to this one big time.  It’s due out in December… same time as the RETURN OF THE KING.  Which will be the absolute best of the Tolkien series.  Just wish they would do The Hobbit… but I can see why they can’t.  Anyways…  TLS looks amazingly good.  And we are glad to see Tom Cruise in it.  Tom is a good actor… a bit over hyped, but good.  Should be a great flick.  Before you watch this one, check out the others I mentioned… and also Shogun.  To get you into the spirit of things.

I've got some more serious commentary to post tomorrow.  But right now, I'm taking it easy. 

High Noon:  I woke today feeling somewhat smug.  Those evil sonsofbitches of Saddam are still dead.  It wasn't a case of mistaken identity or anything... Dental records have confirmed it.  What is this?  2 Aces in the deck?  I got a question for the Dead Hussein Brothers.  "Who is your Daddy and what does he do?"

Because of this... I just had to go over to Grouchy Media and download his two new videos.  We all remember the Taliban Bodies video, right?  Right?  Who said "No"?  What pussy out there said no?  Go to grouchy, and download these videos...  Only Sissy French Liberals dislike these videos.

July 22nd, Tuesday:  2000hrs:   Email from one of the Horde’s agents:  “Its Sohan again...been a while since I emailed you.  MY GOD! You are the ONLY one that I know who thinks the FX45 is one of the sexiest things on 4 wheels! My brother's friend was able to lease one for a good price (single male, making a good living, not much living expenses = lots of cash laying around). Just last week I was able to ride along in that thing. I'm telling you, its the only Japanese car that I know of that "grumbles." Its a really neat sensation; the car is very quite on the inside, but yet, you can feel that 4.5 liter V8 idling, like its got some pent-up fury under that hood. Boy, does it roar when you rev it up. Very intense. I think Nissan/Infiniti have their stuff together now. They seem to be pulling out all the stops in their performance market, doing things other Japanese auto makers wouldn't dream about. Think about it, their 2004 full-sized pickup, the Titan, will come with a 5.6 liter V8. That’s bigger than any American truck in its class. From Nissan? That’s insane.  Anyway, nothing new has happened on my end. If you recall I bought Raven Shield a while back, and I'm still playing it online along with Battlefield 1942. That’s a great game if you don't care about realism and just want some good hearty action.  Just today I purchased a set of Klipsch Promedia 2.1 computer speakers. 200 watts, baby! This sounds amazing, and can seriously be cranked up without any audio problems. I listen to jazz, rap, techno, and a little metal, so it'll take one hell of a system to accommodate my needs. The Klipsch's do so without missing a beat. Definitely worth the $179.99 retail price tag.  Anyway, I gotta get some sleep. Still love the webpage, keep up the good work! - Sohan”  Good to hear from you again Sohan.  The FX45 is… sinister… isn’t it?  “Grumbles” the way a V-8 should.  I would love to work on that engine and open it up and see what the potential is on that thing.  Put in a custom exhaust and capitalize on the raw power.  All in a package that drives as good as it looks, and can carry and pull everything.  Evil knows evil.  The FX45 is the only vehicle made after the 1990’s that I would spend my money on.  If I had that kinda money that is.   180 bucks for speakers?  They better sound beautiful.  Personally, Ogre doesn't bother wiht the nice speakers.  Being 1/2 deaf from firing weapons and being next to guys firing weapons without earplugs... I couldn't hear the difference between those nice speakers and cheap 20 dollar jobs.    Word to the wise... firing a weapon in a bathroom is like a rock group's concert tour rolled all into one big all of the sudden event.    You would want to avoid this if it's at all possible. 

What a great day this has been.  The Saddam boys got waxed.  How wonderful is that?  When I heard that on the news this morning… I was doing a happy ogre dance in the kitchen.  It wasn’t pretty but I sure enjoyed the moment of frolic.  Those evil sons of bitches are finally dead!  You know, I bet since this happened, the attacks on US forces in Iraq will drop off.  This is just awesome!  You know, I bet you anything there are lots of Democrats out there kicking a dog about this.   This is bad news for them.  Liberals are probably up in arms.   I bet you they are calling it murder or an atrocity.   Well, hell, if you have warrant for your arrest and the guys come to get you… and you say “no” and fire at them with machineguns… you are going to get a “use of force” in return.   They reaped what they sowed.  NA NA NA NAAA, NA NA NA NAAAA, HEY HEY, GOODBYE!

Another bit of good news... The Democrats got caught with a hand in the cookie jar.  Like in a scene from "The Matchmaker", the Democrat officials were talking about prolonging the budget crisis to keep the Republicans under pressure.  They said this over an open microphone for everyone to hear.  This is funny.  This is very funny.  When confronted the Democrat's excuse for planning such an underhanded plot was "It was just a Bull Session."  Well I can tell you any time two or more Democrats are talking to each other it is always a bull session.  But in this case, its also an illegal conspiracy.  Fuck these guys, they should be in jail.

And the icing on the cake?  The Eiffel Tower caught fire.  HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!  What a great day this is!  HA HA HA HA HA HA *GASP*  HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA *Passes Out*

July 21st, Monday: 2230hrs:  I think my readers are well read enough to appreciate this little observation.   Reading Frank Herbert’s Dune series, we know that the most important element in the known universe is the spice malange.  This is what allows the Navigators of the Spacing Guild to fold space.   We also know that there is only one source of the spice, and that is Arrakis.   Without it, the empire would crumble.   The Spice Must Flow!  Well, I have my own personal spice malange that I require for navigation.  The Caffeine Must Flow!  Tonight I opened my beverage cooling apparatus and discovered to my horror that our supply of this most important commodity has run dry.  The empire is already showing signs of cracking!   We can only hope that we can be resupplied in time.  We have already dispatched a Highliner directly to the source, but it wont be until tomorrow that it will return with it's cargo!  DAMN IT!  I suspect the Harkonnen are behind this.   Where is my Duncan Idaho?  Hmmm… I could just run up the street and my a Mt Dew.   *sigh* 

1930hrs:  Warning - Inflammatory Opinion Follows:  “Diversity” is racist.  Affirmative action is racist.  And those that promote the same are also racists.  If you liberals want to try to claim the racially neutral moral high ground, then you have to be blatantly and completely color blind.   I think there is a lot less racism on the conservative side than on the liberal side of things.  Abe Lincoln?  Republican.  Former KKK leader… Senator Byrd of West Virginia… that’s right… he is a Liberal Democrat.  Now, who is the racist?  Besides… guess what… Blacks are not the number one minority anymore.  You want to talk about minority issues… then you need to be talking Latino issues.  You need to be speaking Spanish my friends. (I use the word “friend” sarcastically)  The idea that giving handouts based on skin color is diversity, is completely and utterly laughable.  If you want to talk equality then you DON’T talk equality.   BE COLOR BLIND.  Race makes no difference?  Then make it make no difference.  See what I am getting at?  You’re diverse group is not gaining any moral altitude because you are meeting your racial quotas.  What you are in fact doing is perpetuating stereotypes and keeping the brothers and sisters down with your 1960’s attitudes.  “Let’s bring Franklin in because we have to have another black person.”  That is racism.  If you want diversity and equality… then race can have no part in it.  I am sure “Franklin” would have much rather been accepted with the comment “Franklin is perfectly qualified with a solid education and background in this field… let’s bring him in.”   If you want to talk about a “Color Blind Society” then you absolutely must base all such matters on merit and not a racial quota.   Don’t even give applicants the racial survey.   Make race a moot issue across the board and you will have real equality.  The better candidate gets the better job.  This would be a boon to the bleached white skinned albinos… those guys are always shunned and are forced to live a life of crime.  Seriously… watch any movie with an albino in it and the albino is always evil.  Okay, that was a poor joke.  The bad guy is always either bald or in a goatee.   I’m both.  Shit.  I better not miss any church meetings or I’m toast spiritually.  Anyways, back to race.  People keep calling me "Caucasian".  What the fuck is a caucasian?  I'm not caucasian... I'm scottish!  And fuck you if you say otherwise!  Okay, I have Irish blood too.  I'm CELTIC damn it... not Caucasian.  This means I'll wear a kilt and stomp a mud hole in you after cutting you down with a claymore and then spend the rest of the day in a pup making up a stupid song about your sorry ass.  Diversity.  Feh. 

1230hrs:  The one country on the entire continent of Africa that has a crush on the US, is Liberia.  Liberia made a simple request.  And we have so far seemingly turned them down.   Nice…  And as a result, we are pissing them off.  We should send in an MEU, that’s all they want.  Sent them in to keep order and help make some changes.  Someone in Liberia fired mortars the US embassy.  We already have Marines there.  Let’s throw in some more and have our guys start kicking ass and setting things straight.    Let’s do this while we still can make an easy job of it.  I’m not sure where the 26^th MEU is… but they need to get into Liberia NOW.    President Bush is fucking this up and it’s already cost American lives there.  Get in there, get rid of that fuckrod Taylor and bring people to the table and talk reconstruction.   There is no reason to dance around this.  If we don't have enough "Troops" to do this... we are "spread too thin"... fine.  Send a National Guard unit... the 29th Light Infantry.  They kick profuse ass and can handle Liberia easily.   It's not like Pentagon is going to send the 29th to Iraq or anything.

July 20th, Sunday: 1611hrs:  Neverwinter Knights.  This is the only roll playing game that I've really been able to sink my teeth into.  When I first got the game it was new and the only module for it was the main Neverwinter missions.  It was good... real good... but it left something wanting.  Well, what was wanting was more creativity and more scope.  Here it is a year later and we now have that greater scope.  There are more modules out there than you can download, and some of them are very good.  Some are total crap, but some are just excellent.  I think the Dreamcatcher series is the best one.  If I'm wrong about that, let me know.    Bang for your roll playing buck, Neverwinter is your best bet.  There is no monthly fee, the graphics look freaking awesome, and you can download hundreds of modules, characters, and even make your own modules.  It doesn't get any sweeter than that.  It reminds me of the old pen and paper D&D game that I played a couple lifetimes ago... But a lot better then what D&D ever was.  No dice rolling, no stacks of books... No circle of players comprised of people you would otherwise not associate with.  You can play it totally alone or you can play with friends... it's great.   I really dig the Ranger character class.  If you don't know what that is, think "Strider" from Lord of the Rings.  He's a well rounded character class that balances sword play, stealth and ranged weapons like a bow.   High level rangers can even summon animals to fight for you.  My most successful ranger is a female character that can summon a pair of "Dire Wolves".   I'm liking the Cleric too.  They can be... Uh...  Judas, I'm such a fucking geek.  Anyways, when you are in a Utah summer and its too damn hot to do anything that involves being someplace other than right in front of a blowing AC unit... It's a diversion.   

I had a good question.  What about the AR-180B?  Easily, it's one of the better 5.56MM rifles out there.  I consider it to be superior to the AR-15.  While it still has a few shortcomings, it's the better rifle for serious work and not just punching holes in paper.  The 180 stays much cleaner than a 15, meaning there is much less carbon building up inside the essential internal parts... This gives the 180 a much greater potential for reliability.  Accuracy is just fine.  If you are popping rounds while in a position other then benched you are not going to see any difference from a standard 15.  It's also less expensive then an AR-15.  It would be my choice for a working rifle in 5.56MM that uses the common M-16 type mags that you can buy by the duffle bag full.  Another option would be a Vepr K that can be had in 5.56 as well... It's about the same dollar wise, but the mags are more expensive.  Accuracy is about the same as well.  Between the  2, I'd rather pay the extra bucks for the funky mags and go with the Vepr K.   While I'm at it... I'd get it in a different caliber too.  But that’s just me.  With all the customizations available for the AR, you can have a staggering array of configurations.  I bet all such configuration can be had with an AR-180B.  I'd like to see what a good gunsmith could do to one.  I bet dollar for dollar, you can build up one hell of a rifle that will smoke an AR-15.

1144hrs:  We went and saw Pirates.  I admit it.  I was wrong.  It’s good.  Very good.  It’s a very “Fun” movie that sets it’s self up with the attitude, “Look, this is going to be fun so don’t take it too seriously” so you can just sit back and enjoy this ride.  It does take a couple scenes from the pirate ride at Disney Land, but it doesn’t hit you over the head with it.  If you liked “Three Musketeers” then you will like Pirates.  Lots of humor and good swashbuckling action and good characters.  I admit to being completely wrong about it.  Depp’s character is a instant classic.  Expect to see elements of “Captain Jake Sparrow” in many characters yet to come.   He smacks of “Porthos” from Musketeers.  And the girls… I don’t know who she is but she is a doll.  Wow.  I want the DVD on this one.   I’ve not heard from anyone who didn’t like this one.  Best movie of the summer.  Blows T3 away.  The T series was tired anyways, in my opinion.  Still… looking forward to this winter.  November, Matrix Revolutions and December it’s Return Of The King.  Good movies are coming.  If we can just survive the heat of this Utah summer.  Judas, its hot out here!   I still stand behind my assertion that a pirate movie about some of the real pirates out there would be awesome.  The two pirate women, Blackbeard, Captain Morgan… there is so much material there, why it hasn’t been tapped, I’ve no idea but consider it to be a huge oversight.  Instead they make moves about “Dude Where is my Car” and “Dare Devil”… *sigh*  

Email from reader: “With the arrival of my new computer, I finally started buying all those great games I've been missing out on for over a year.  I picked up the "Game of the Year" edition of Operation Flashpoint. First, some nitpicks.  For one, Soviet troops must all be star quarterbacks, 'cause they can throw grenades like two hundred yards.  That should be toned down just a bit.  Also, the people aren't modeled as well as the rest of the objects in the game world.  Other than that, though, it's an amazingly detailed game.  I was driving this jeep, getting bitched out by some NCO, and I could practically smell the diesel.  They've gotten so many little details right that it should bring back a lot of memories to anyone who's been in the service.  (Oh yeah.  It needs a FAL.  I'm sick of using the stupid M16 all the time.) Also, it's HARD.  Just like real combat, I suspect.  You die quick and frequently.  The game has a pretty steep learning curve, actually, so I've shelved while I play Medal of Honor.  I like realistic first-person-shooters.  Well, they don't have to be super realistic.  My number one complaint with most of them is that the weapons are weak; I like weapons that'll kill a badguy with one shot to the chest, frankly.  I don't mind games with blasters, lasers, and zap guns, so long as they're plenty powerful.  (Though I hate it when energy pulses from blasters move about as fast as you'd throw a softball, making them practically useless as ranged weapons).  What's the Ogre Recommended List of computer games?  I haven't gamed in a long time.  Anything I should pick up? – Mike”  Mike, you need to look into the OFP expansions first and foremost.  Look on the net for some downloadable mods too.  There are weapon packs and new vehicles… all kinds of stuff.  Look to my Technology Section for further recommendations… however don’t look at my Top Ten games… it’s out of date.  “WarCraft” and “StarCraft” have been trumped by some others and “Dungeon Siege” needs to be replaced by “Neverwinter Knights”.  I also talk in some detail about Op Flashpoint with some tips and tricks.  One thing I love about OFP is the realistic bullet flight model.  You have to lead your targets and the bullet takes the appropriate amount of time to reach the target… or miss it.  The use if realistic sights and breathing is also excellent.  The number one FPS games right now are Raven Shield and Ghost Recon.  However due to FPS Overload, I am into roll playing and specifically, NWN that I have been mentioning often lately.  After some more NWN… I’ll look back into the FPS genre but I don’t see anything interesting on the horizon.  Not unless Clive Barker does another Undying in a realistic fashion.  I’m looking forward to Doom 3, but not as much as most guys.  I don’t want to have to drop 500 bucks on a Cray II Graphics card just to play one game.  I think computer games need to be more about the game design, development, story, and experience rather than just sheer graphical amazement.  Remember MYST?  Looked awesome on the screen… sure.  But it was about as playable as a fallen log.  Same with all the other games of it’s type.  I remember one game that looked just awesome… Iron Helix.  Sucked.  I am sure the Doom III cats are doing a great job, but I’m not feeling that vibe right now.  I want another Undying.  That’s what I want for an FPS game.

July 19th Saturday: 0944hrs:  Iran is becoming our new main military adversarial focus. They are making nukes.  This is frightening because the Shiite Muslims are nucking futs.  Those guys will scream “JIHAD” after they plunge a dagger into your back just for not being Shiite too.  Hell, for not even being as devout a Shiite as him.  And now these maniacs are building nukes.  Lovely.  Something needs to be done swiftly.  I suggest the prolific use of MOAB bombs.  Drop them like confetti at a ticker-tape parade.   Scorch the earth, and move on quickly.  There is no need to dwell on those fuckers.  We are already mired in Iraq.  Yes, I said mired.  Iraq is perfect environment for picking of American soldiers.  Especially since it seems Saddam is still alive.  Iraq isn't going to be over in a long time - or ever.  Here is what I think we need to do:  1.  Allow our Intelligence machine to use a limited amount of torture in our integration of high ranking Iraqi officers.  We have got to locate and capture Saddam.  2.  Public execution of these top officials for war crimes and mass murder... including Saddam.  This is harsh - but it's the only message these bastards understand.  We shall show these people in a way that they can understand a couple of simple facts.  Saddam is now really and truly d-e-a-d and his regime is really and truly over... and America is not to be fucked with.  Ever.  I think we should also get a little medieval on those that attack Americans, solders or otherwise.  Even if we already killed them in a fight... hang the bodies.  If they attacked and we not killed... hang the bastards.  Line the streets with the swinging corpses of those that harm Americans.   Those that comply with our will... treat every Iraqi citizen like he was the King of England, and every Iraqi woman like she was the Queen of Pooka Pooka.  Let them know that we are there to help... just DON'T FUCK WITH AMERICANS.  I think we can indeed send both messages.  Most of Iraq is glad Saddam is gone and they want Americans there to help set everything back up.  However we must use extreme caution in any heavy handed approach.  If we go to far, we will be no better than what we replaced.  We are doing good work there... the media is just not reporting it... so we are all thinking Iraq is another Viet Nam.  There is a lot of resistance at home to our effort there, but the effort is a righteous one.  I heard many soldier’s wives are staging a protest to bring the troops home.  Oh, that is just what the guys over there need.  That is just brilliant.  Stupid girls who married PFCs want the boy toys home.  Well, Honey, the fighting isn’t over and just because your not believing in the war doesn’t believe your little love soldier doesn’t either or that the war isn’t worth fighting.  Because if we just up and leave now, the Shiites are going to just take over the whole damn place and turn it into one big fucking Iran.  You know why Saddam had so much power?  Because we gave him all the aid required to help him stop Iran!  Iran was THE name in Terrorism long before Libya and long before Taliban became well knows common household words.  It was all Iran.  You could almost say Iran is The Fountain of Evil, if it wasn’t for Washington DC competing for the title.  Let me paint the picture for you.  We leave.  We do just what the Peaceniks want and just drop everything and go home.  Within hours of that, riots break out everywhere.  Mayhem reigns.  The Shiites take control of everything through brutality that makes the Taliban look like a Methodist Sunday School gathering in Georgia.  (I went to one… lovely affair with spring flowers and lemonade and little girls with white dresses and big bows in their hair)  Within a matter of weeks the boarder between Iraq and Iran is just a line on the map.  The Shiites become a huge powerhouse.  All none Shiites are subjected to inhumanity that would make even Lucy Ferr wince.  Bolstered by all of this, the Nuke program rolls forward and the next thing you know they turn to look at us… the Great Satan like we owe them money.  And in a matter of weeks after that, September 11^th 2001 will look like a freaking stubbed toe.  That’s why we are not pulling out of Iraq just yet, you fucking unibrow, mouth breathing, imbeciles!   Because the few lives being lost over there are protecting millions of lives over here.  Your watching the cost of your freedom being paid, right there, in your home, in color, and live.  Suck it up.  What the hell do you think all the flag saluting and pledges of allegiances were all about?  Open your eyes people.  There is more to it than just Oil.     

Infinity FX45 - The only modern vehicle that sparks my automotive lust.  I saw one here in my po-dunk little Utah town.  Power and Glory on wheels.  If I was filthy rich... like a basketball star... a silver one.  Oh yeah.  Motogasim just thinking about it.  Speaking of basketball stars...  

Kobi Bryant is now charged.  I don’t care.  I’m not a fan of round-ball.  Now, if this was Steve Young (he plays real ball) then I would be most concerned.  I love football and Steve is the frickin MAN!  But another NBA player getting busted for putting his dick where it wasn’t supposed to be… I am uninterested.  This has happened too many times for it to be news worthy.  I don't care if some people think this Kobi person walks on water.  "NBA player busted" has been the subject of many a news report the last 5 years.  I think this is a result of poorly educated persons being given waay too much money for playing a freaking game in front of people.

Still getting this knife deal worked out… I’ll let you know when I’m ready to roll on them.  Just to let you know, I’ve been using this knife here… exactly like the ones I’m going to be selling.  It’s good.  I took it on a picnic yesterday and used it to slice up ripe mangos.  Very juicy mangos.  Then some juicy apples.   I let all the stickiness dry on it.  All the acidic juices had time to work… and then I just opened the blade and threw it into the dishwasher.  This has just about ruined some knives I’ve done that to.  But not this knife.  When the machine stopped and the door was opened, the knife looked bran spanking new again.  The action felt just like it did when I first got it.  For kicks I administered a couple drops of FP-10.  The knife was simply transformed.  Smoothest thumb stud opening folder I have ever felt.  I am not exaggerating.   Seriously.   When I start selling these for only 20 bucks… EVERYONE that reads this needs to get one.  It will be the best 20 bucks you have ever spent on a pocket clip folding knife.  And hey, if you don’t like it, give it to your cousin or brother or buddy... the one with the Pakistani made flea market knife…  He will think you just gave him Excalibur.

We are going to go see "Pirates" today.  Taking the kids.  I am told this is a fantastic movie.  We shall see.   Some time ago this subject came up and this is what I said: “If they wanted to film a pirate movie, they should have made one about Edward Teach, aka Blackbeard... a real pirate that dominated the coastline of our southern states meeting his end in the Carolinas. Or better yet, what about the two women pirates? They were quiet ferocious and when finally caught, they got off on the court's mercy because they were pregnant or something.   Interesting stories could be had from real history instead of a lame amusement park ride.  And let's not forget the true nature of the subject matter. Pirates are not nice people, heroes, or romantic icons. Pirates were horrible. Time and Romance Novels have sterilized the Pirate's reputation... A cool flick would be about not the Pirates, but the Privateers that hunted the Pirates.   If you want a cool flick about the old warships of that era, check out A&E's mini series "Horratio Hornblower". Cool characters, well written, and they did a fantastic job of filming it all.”  Well, there you have it.  I'm a Doubting Thomas.  But I will admit I was wrong should I be wrong.  We shall see this and judge it for ourselves.

July 1st to the 15th is now archived.  July was getting long.

July 18th, Friday:  1100hrs:  Did you guys catch Prime Minister Tony Blair’s speech to Congress?  Wow.  What a fantastic speaker.  I was impressed.   I wish GWB could speak like that.  Bush was the right man in the right job at the right time… but he isn’t much of a speaker.  He is more of a doer and that’s fine too.  I guess Moses wasn’t much of a speaker either and he set a lot of middle eastern people free too.  Right?   Okay… I’m kidding.  Bush is no Moses.  But Blair… I had to stop what I was doing and listen to that.  Even the Prime Minister of England said “America must lead”.   Whoa… wait a sec.  A Euro Nation Leader just admitted America is where global leadership comes from.  Amazing.  Now, if France would just admit this… then Lucy Ferr could plan building his first ski lift just of the banks of the Styx.  France is trying to position themselves as an international powerhouse in global leadership.  This is the funniest thing… They ruin the country and then lop off the heads of everyone who knows how to run it… then for about 150 years they drag ass and finally build up some civilization only to let it get stomped into a mud hole by the Germans.  Twice.  Then they (after we give France back to the French) position themselves as if they were the victors?  As if they had the moral high ground?  The unsubstantiated air of superiority makes the French more foolish looking then their own “Fashion Designers”.  The only good thing the French have come up with in the last 80 years is the FAMAS rifle.  I fantastic little rifle that while handy in all cases, is easily carried on the back until the time it’s required to be placed on the ground when they have to hold their arms high up in the air.  The only good French military unit is the Foreign Legion, that is do mainly because they are full of people who are not French.  They have even had some military success.  Nothing major… just some small African Bush War stuff that really has no global significance.  Yet these guys want to be able to lead the world?  Interesting.  The whole country has Napoleon Syndrome, but without the faculties to back up the bravado.  Now understand this… Mad Ogre is also a rational and forgiving Ogre.  An understanding Ogre.  A generous and charitable Ogre.  I think we should give France the chance.  No, really.  Let’s GIVE France all the slack it needs.  All the rope it wants… to hang themselves from.  And when they are swinging from it and their legs are kicking in spasms…  then we drop the UN on them.  We move all the UN facilities to France.  Let them swim in it.  The UN should never have been brought to New York.  I think the UN would be very much at home in France.  I just feel bad for England and Italy and Spain for putting it so close to them.  No one wants a garbage dump in their back yard.    But it in Iceland for all I care… let’s just get it out of NY.  In it’s place, create a new group.  A group of those who know right from wrong and appreciate democratic freedom.  The US, England, Italy, Czech Republic… Countries like Iran and Iraq and Libya need not apply.  France, no way.  They are not even willing to be members of NATO anymore.  Screw France.  Screw Germany.  Let’s take out the trash.  Let’s make room for the real global leadership so we can get work done and not be tied down by the bullshit that is the UN.  When Tony Blair is no longer the Prime Minister of England… he can lead this new group. 

I find it completely typical that Grey Davis is being pampered even in the middle of his last dance.  This guy is on the way out.  He is obviously finished.  Yet he is digging in like the blood sucking tick that he is.  His treatment by the media is a clear picture of how biased the network news propaganda machine really is.  If Governor Davis was named Governor Jeb Bush, or was simply just a Conservative… oh man… He would already be long gone.  This would have been pushed continually into he was rode out on a rail and forced to sell sexual favors on some Las Vegas back street corned.   Yet Davis is pampered.  He is treated with sympathy by the media… as if Davis was a child that just had a bad day at school.   There is a stark contrast between Davis and Bush.  1.  Bush isn’t a fucking idiot.  2.  Davis is a fucking idiot.  Yet your not going to hear that on the CBS Evening News.  We liberated Iraq.  Let’s liberate California!   People should petition Davis personally to step down with some degree of dignity.   Davis should do this for the sake of the people of California.  Instead he is trying to bleed it and this is going to cost California hundreds of millions.  Show some honor, Davis.  Step Down!

France has banned the word “e-mail”.  There is no limit to French Foolishness is there?  Email is now officially to be called "courrier electronique".   Yes.  That is much better.  I wonder if they have a better term for “Blogging”?

Enough of this… Let’s look at something awful.  It’s Photoshop Phriday.  This time it’s all about Civil War madness.  Some of these are subtle.  Look carefully.  Some of them made me bust out laughing. 

A college course in Ever Quest?  Yup.  You gotta have Ever Quest and a 3 month subscription.  I know some people out there who are working Doctorates on this.  At least now it’s accredited. 

And the last piece of weird news… Loch Ness Monster?  They found her.  She’s dead.  No wonder she has not been popping up lately.  Big Foot is in mourning.  Yetti and Chupacabbra unavailable for comment.   I suspect foul play.  I think the Aliens did it.

I’m getting report that the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean” is a fantastic movie.  “Best in a long time” is the general theme of these reports.  I am surprised.  I was expecting this flick to be silly as hell.  Now my curiosity is peaked.  Depp has turned into a great actor.  I have liked all his movies since Sleepy Hollow.  Well, that’s too far.  I have liked his work in all his movies since Sleepy Hollow.  “From Hell” sucked, but he did a great job in it.  He was also great in Fear and Loathing, even if I loath that movie.  I think we might take the boys to go see Pirates in a matinee tomorrow.  Maybe.  Depends on what we have left over after paying bills today.  *shudder*    Of course ANY movie is just a hold over until Matrix Revolutions and Return Of The King come out.

July 16th, Wednesday:  1500hrs:  Senator Hatch is an interesting character.  He has done some great things… then blows it with that wanting to allow companies to hack people’s computers if they suspect copywrite violations.  But here is something very good he has just done.  I doubt it will get very far, but we hope for the best.  I got this from John Spangler by way of email:  “Sen. Orrin Hatch introduced the DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PERSONAL PROTECTION ACT (number not yet assigned). Provisions include:
* Permitting law-abiding DC citizens to possess handguns and rifles in their homes and businesses;
* Repealing the DC registration requirements for firearms and
ammunition;
* Eliminating DC criminal penalties for possession and carrying of firearms in their homes and businesses; and
* Correcting an erroneous DC provision which wrongly treats some firearms as if they were machineguns.
This is a bold, and long overdue, initiative to roll back restrictions on law abiding citizens.  It is blatantly obvious to any fair minded observer that the District of Columbia's experience where virtually every scheme of the anti-gun extremists has been in place for nearly a decade proves one thing.  GUN CONTROL DOES NOT REDUCE CRIME!  Repealing DC gun bans is one distinct issue.  However, the greater
significance of Senator Hatch's introduction of this bill is that it provides strong evidence that any further legislative efforts to restrict law abiding gun owners is an ineffective and stupid idea.  This is true at the federal, state and local level.”   Now Senator Hatch, in all due respect, if would just be so kind as to put in some legislation that actually helps people from THE STATE OF FUCKING UTAH THAT WOULD BE GREAT!  BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ELECT YOUR ELITIST ASS TO REPRESENT THE DAMNED DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA!!!!   YOU DODDERING OLD SKINNY ASSED WANKER!!!!!!   I would at least hope this bill would allow Utah CCW holders to visit DC with a concealed weapon.  Because I guarantee you that I don't go to DC without one.  

For some unknown reason I reloaded Neverwinter Knights and played it through again.  It’s a good game but it can be difficult and long winded.  I guess this is what some Roll Players really like in a game.  I like a good story and a good overall experience.  Neverwinter gives that to you.  Along with a nice interface and good graphics.  Now, the best thing about Neverwinter is something most gamers probably have never really tapped into.  The Modules.  Specifically, THE module.  I’m somewhat of a geek… and that means I like Monty Python.  Almost all geeks do.  Well, there is something for you.  It’s the Monty Python’s Holy Grail module.  It’s worth downloading, even if one of the files is a large 10 meg beast… It’s worth the wait.  There are two files to get, one is a .hak and the other a .mod.  Unzip these into the respective folders in your NWN folder and launch a new game using “Other Modules”.   Doing this will give you a Python treat that is most amusing.  I played this through last night and found it to be the most enjoyable gaming I have done since some at work LAN parties some time ago.  Anyways, just thought I would mention this.  I know I have some serious gamer readers here.  The Brave Sir Robin, The Old Man from Scene 42, The Chicken of Bristol, Dinsdale… if you like Python, this module is for you.   I’ve tried some other modules, and they are either really stupid, really buggy, or really short.  Luckily there is a new official module that should make for a good adventure.  The downside is that you have to buy it on CD.  I guess that isn’t so bad.  Fan made modules are all armature effort with some better than others.  There is the Dreamcatcher series and it’s pretty good.  Then there is the Lone Wolf series and I think its pretty lame.  If there is one that you really liked let me know.  I’ll try it.  But if it sucks, I will flame you mercilessly for a month at least.

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