Monday, October 4th, 2004, 1930hrs:  Okay, here is the thing… I’m needing to find the Windows XP driver/s for this:

hl-dt-st rw/dvd gcc-4481b

This is my CDRW/DVD drive… this is what’s missing.  If I can get this driver, I’ll be able to get the drive running and then fix my Windows. 

Unfortunately I can’t find this little bastard.   I can find discussions where people are bitching about this drive… and even a couple people who are looking for it too.  But no download for it.  Not for Windows XP... for LINUX... no problem. XP? Not a chance.  Not even off Dell’s website, and I’d rather not call Dell’s World Class Tech Support to ask them for the driver.  I’d rather take out my Leatherman and use it to pull out all of my fingernails.  This is just nuts.

And YES, I tried DriverGuide.com, user name driver2, password all... yeah... I know all about it... they don't have it.

Checking out my email again, I can see I’m not the only one that has had this catch 22 thing happen to.  Back in Orem, a problem like this would have been fixed ASAP.  Here, it’s 12 miles just to check my email.  Grrrr… If anyone can point me to where I can get this download from... that would be awesome.

To vent frustrations, Yesterday I went out and blew out a whole crapload of 9MM through these two Desert Eagle Babies.  I’ve yet find out what happens when one of these things jam.  The reliability and accuracy are very good.  These things remind of a Beretta 92FS-HK USP love-child.  I like them.

I also pulled out an old recurve bow and had it strung today.  Recurves have a much better feel than a compound and I like the fact that it’s 3000 year old technology.  You can’t get any more Old School than that without involving sharp rocks.

Noonish:  My computer went down Friday afternoon.  It’s all Windows based issues that could be resolved if I could get the optical drive to work.  I can’t get the optical drive to work because the internet connection isn’t working and blah blah blah… I’m screwed.  I’m going to have to reinstall Windows… after I get the optical drive to work.   So here I am at USU trying to get everything done that I need done.   This isn’t fun.   This also means that since I am without a connection, emails are not going to be responded to.   Dandy.  Just dandy.  This has a lot of unpleasant implications that I don’t want to go into right now, but let’s just say this is a gigantic major pain in the ass. 

The upside is that I boosted the hardware on the Dell and it’s running great otherwise.  I’m now at 1.5 gigs of sweet sweet DDR, and I pulled the Hard Drive out of my old computer and put it in there… a nice Western Digital 120g unit that has 8 megs cache and spins at 7200RPM.  A step up from the no caching 80 gig unit. 

The Windows issues are very odd… If you have a take on them, I’d like to hear it.  First, optical drive drivers got corrupted, Internet connectivity disappeared, and the User identity in the Task Manager is gone.  Where you can see if something is a user task or a system task… yeah… that’s gone.  Very weird.  System Restore isn’t able to do any more restores either.  It runs it, but then runs into a problem and effects no changes.   It’s a bugger to be sure.    

I’m going to try to find the driver, save it to a floppy and install it that way.  Hope it works.  Then from there I can use my restore CD and try to repair Windows.  With the 2^nd HD in there I can back up everything so I shouldn’t loose anything save some software installs and the just reformat the C drive.  After I do that, install my software and set it to how I like it, I’m going to image the C drive, save a copy onto the 2^nd HD, and then this problem wont come back.   I’m also about to just throw Windows out the window and install Linux.   I am sooo tempted to do that… I ache to do that.  But I’m not going to and I don’t even have a good reason why not.  Maybe because I can’t find my bloody Linux CDs.   Anyways.  So until I have everything back up and running, MadOgre.com is going to remain dry-docked.  

If you have a serious issue and you need to get into contact with me, send an email to Corriea, who's address is posted in the weapons section, or email him at TheHighRoad and ask for my "analog" contact information.   He can tell you how to get a hold of me - if it's an emergency... or you have a wireless-networked, Linux powered notebook you want to send me.  

Friday, October 1st, 2004: 1800hrs: Interesting question came in from a lady attending York University in Canada.  She read my page about bullet wounding and wanted some more details about what a bullet does to flesh.  I’m not sure where she is coming from with this… but since York University is a research university instead of just a liberal arts school, I decided to give her an answer.  Here is what I sent her… All of this is off the cuff from my own memory and I’m not a Doctor… so please correct me if I am wrong... this is my laymans understanding:

“There are 2 different kinds of basic rounds.  Handgun rounds and Rifle rounds.

Let's look at Handguns first.  Even the most powerful handguns fall far short of the energy levels of a rifle.  This is why hunters don't take to the field with handguns.  A handgun bullet hits the target with and delivers blunt force trauma.  Much like throwing a rock.  The bullet penetrates because of its energy but this isn't a piercing.  A handgun bullet crushes the tissue all the way through and leaves the permanent wound channel as pretty much the only damaged tissue. 

A rifle round is different.  Thanks to the bullet shape and the higher energy levels the rifle bullet does much more damage.  First of all, the rifle round pierces the tissue like a knife blade.  It cuts through the flesh much cleaner than the blunt force of the handgun, but thanks to aerodynamic forces it does some nasty things.  First off is the vacuum effect from the bullet's aerodynamic drag.  This vacuum pulls debris into the wound channel... debris that can become secondary projectiles and or introduce infection to the wound.  (A handgun round will only punch a small bit of debris like a cookie cutter as it passes through barriers like fur or clothing) Very nasty that debris.

Now to understand what happens next, you have to have a little understanding of fluid dynamics. Have you ever watched a fast boat?  What follows the boat?  The wake.  The wake is the essentially the boat's slow motion shockwave of displacement of water across the surface as the boat passes through it.  The same thing happens with a rifle round, but much much faster.  Water can not be compressed.  Water does react though... it's pushed out and away, and then it is sucked back to fill the vacuum.  Tissue is essentially water.  Water that is held together in the collection of cells we call tissue.  The shockwave from a rifle shot moves so fast and so hard that it literally shatters the cellular walls.  The result is that in the area around the rifle hit, the tissue is pretty much transformed into jelly.  The higher the power of the rifle the greater that cavitation damage.  The shape of the rifle's bullet of course also plays an effect, just like the shape of a boat's hull.  This shockwave can also disrupt the neural network through and around the body of the creature that has been shot.

There is some misunderstanding in the shooting community about this shockwave.   It happens in a very small and ineffective way with a handgun round... yet because of this misunderstanding some guys play on it and sell handgun rounds that are advertised as creating huge shockwave damage which is just not possible.  That would be like a Bi-Plane creating a sonic boom.... it just aint happening.

I hope this helps you and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask.”

At least this is my understanding of what happens… I didn’t even get into the goodies about what happens when the bullets strike bone.  And the first twit that emails asking “What about shotguns?” – You’ll find out when I get that Beretta 1201FP!

1700hrs: Sorry for the delay, I’ve been busy… I had an actual job interview to attend to.  In the mean time, the Horde has been giving me their takes and I can see we are all in agreement.  Here are some of the emails:  

“You may wish to consider, CNN [liberal news network] is running a non scientific poll about who won last nights debate.  Most left wing liberals will say "See ...See!!!   If the results show that Kerry won the debate you and I know that W. was on the money. - Matt”

“I came into it late, like you.  I wasn't too enthralled about the debate to begin with, I know Bush, I know F Kerry.  Let the people get to see his waffling in action, sure.  I heard that there were "rules" for this debate, and what I had heard made me think it was more going to be a Q&A than a debate.  I guess my source was mistaken about the full details. 

As expected, Bush stood his ground.  WTF was Kerry doing?  little bit of the socialist lovefest stuff, I took out of it, but We were right to authorize the use of force to oust Saddam, but we shouldn't have doe it?  He agreed that he was a threat but now says that he wasn't.  I think I got from the debate that he wants to leave Iraq so he can qhoop Iran, Syria and NK?  I think I picked up that they were the threats, and we should walk away from the "mistake" of Iraq.

Great way to "lead our country" Sen Nutstain.  Let's just leave unfinished business, and go on to fuck something else up.  Where have I seen this before?  Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti... The list goes on, how many Clinton era fuckups were there?  How many things did he see through?  Pussy Democrats have talked a big game, but continued to pull out before the job is done making us look weak, and showing that they don't have the bals to finish the job.  Had we had a president with a spine, we would have made those guys, especially UBL our bitch long ago.  Mr Kerry, I highly doubt that you would see any of that through.  The first time you got a bloody nose from one of these other countries, you'd cry, file for a presidential purple heart, pull out, run away, protest, suck off the UN, France & Germany, then look for your next activity I noticed at the end of the debate when the question was Russia, F Kerry couldn't help but change the subject to Korea.  Some spine on the "moderator" for drawing him back to the topic.  

Last thing of note, It was sure amusing how they won't answer the question of the coalition.  First, let's point out that while we don't have a couple of countries in, we have a multinational task force there.  They prove their continued stupidity by referring to it as "unilateral".  When pressed, there is no answer of how they plan on getting the support of UN, France & Germany, when they show no signs of going.  I guess that's just one more  potential political lie.

Not like we needed them anyway.  Not like they'll be there for us when China sprouts a pair. - Skylance”

“I was working last night and missed the debate, but from all the commentary this morning it's clear that the decided remain unchanged.  I could be corrected, but I remember reading that during the Vietnam war, Hubert Humphrey promised to crawl on his knees to Hanoi to get the POWs back, if he were elected. Do you think North Vietnam's leaders were surely encouraged by that prospect? I think the November election results will surely play a humongous role in China's plans for Taiwan and the near future.  Would Jimmy Carter have stood up to China? Naw. He couldn't stand up to Iran.  Bill Clinton? Hell No, he gave away the technological store, and fled from Somalia. Well, maybe if he needed to draw the public's attention away from another of his scandals.  Ronald Reagan? Betcher Ass he would.  George W?  In a heartbeat. You can bet he's been aware of China all along.  John F. Kerry? Shit. He'd waffle in indecision while North Korea, Iran and China work their will in the world.  He'd be more than happy I think, to return America to it's isolationist posture of the 1930's, and pretend America lives in a vacuum...   China would expect a Kerry victory and the subsequent reduction in America's military to make it easier for China to foment trouble abroad that would leave America's military too attenuated to be able to react effectively when China makes their move.  I'm praying for four more years.  - Andy”

“Ogre, I know you watched the debate last night. I think it is safe to say that Bush smacked the hell outta Kerry. Not only that but several good quotes worthy of being taken down were uttered by the President and some very funny ones were said by Kerry. I wrote them down for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

"The only thing consistent about my opponent's position is being inconsistent." Bush. The room I was in erupted in to roars of laughter and cheering for Bush once this comment was said! Viva Bush!

"The world is more dangerous. I would've been a better choice." Sen. Kerry in response to the question if Bush was doing a good job with his foriegn policies. Once again the room erupted into laughter.

"Is that sort of like a global test? It's not a test, just common sense." Bush in response to Kerry asking him if war was necessary and not taking UN help with us.

"I admire Sen. Kerry's 20 years in the Senate. Although I'm not sure if I admire the record." Bush in response to see if he thinks Kerry is qualified to lead this nation. More laughter.

"I have no intention of wilting. I have never wilted in my life. I have no intention of wavering. I have never wavered in my life." Sen. Kerry in response to see if he could lead this nation better. Naturally after hearing this, the coke I was drinking shot out my nose in a roar of laughter. Damn you Kerry and your witty jokes!

That's the best quotes I wrote down. When you need a good laugh just remember these quotes. - SGT Bruno”

“Saw the debate tonight.  I think George could have been a little more decisive, but still John the Magic 8-Ball Kerry came across as smarmy as ever, saying "My position on Iraq has never wavered!", Puh-lease!

On the Berretta, I had one of those.  They can be a little picky with ammunition.  Some lighter loads don't like to cycle well through them, but load 'er up with some 000 and have fun lobbing buttloads of lead down range.  I keep an ancient 12 ga. break-open side-by-side by my bed as a home defense weapon and I keep it loaded with 3 inch 000.  That way if someone is dumb enough to think that they'll be safer by waking a guy up so he's too bleary eyed to aim, they'll be a bit mistaken.  All I need to do is point it in their general direction (It's been sawed of to 1/8" over the shortest legal length) and loose a barrel or two.  There's just something visceral about lobbing a handful of .38 calliber slugs down range.  That Berretta will also joyfully eat the 'Nam era flachette rounds if you can find them (there was an odd little militaria shop in Denver when I lived down there that used to carry them). – Glenn”

Ah, yes… I am still considering that Beretta.  The more I think of it, the more I like it.  I just wish you could fit a folding stock on it to shorten it up to make it easier to deploy from vehicle or closet.  There are some other faults to the Beretta, as Cowboy Blob points out: “Howdy! You may already be aware of this "feature" of the Beretta 1201FP, but in case you're not:  the sucky thing about shooting this gun in 3-Gun competition is that you have to shoot the magazine dry before adding more shells.  That's why mine stays in the corner of the gun safe on match days and my Remington 1100 comes along; you can top off the Remington as you move.  Cowboy Blob”  The other thing I don’t like is that little button just inside the loading gate in front of the trigger guard… I’ve yet to discover the “perfect” autoloading shotgun… not even the beloved Saiga, the folding stocked AK shotgun of my dreams… But the Beretta is still a good option and has some things I like about it.  Such as the fit and finish and the weight.  It works well for me even if it is a bit punishing.    Funny how I mentioned the Carbon 15 option and no one had anything good to say about it.  Hey, it’s cool and it’s super light… and uh… cool… but damn… if it was an AK type gun I’d have been all over it.

It looks like Lori Hackinging’s body has been found at the dump.  (News Radio has just confirmed the ID)  If the body is intact enough to examine, it may be possible that they could determine if Lori was pregnant.  If she was, then Mark Hacking will be charged with another murder.  This case has always been under my skin… How a man can do this to his wife… Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that such a thing is even capable in today’s world.  After all we have 35 kids killed by a terrorist car bomb in iraq.  Kids who were out of school for the day and getting some candy from US Soldiers.  That was an act specifically targeting children.  Evil is indeed in the world and it’s running rampant.  This is why we have to be strong, my friends.  We have to stay the course and be ready when ever and where ever we are – ready to stand in the gap and confront evil where we find it.    Maybe that 1201FP is indeed the best option… Because that’s what these evildoers deserve and require… a swift and sure one way ticket to hell.

This is something that John F’ing Kerry just doesn’t understand.  His big plan for Iraq is to double the Special Forces and to create 2 new divisions.  In all seriousness this “plan” only creates problems and questions.  First off, who what when where why and how is this going to be paid for?  A division is a nebulous thing… what kind of division?  Rangers?  Airborne?  Strykers? Light-I? Cavalry?  Arty?  What?  He has never said what.  How and where are these divisions going to be used?   And how is this actually an improvement over what’s going on?  Don’t get me wrong, lots of boots on the ground is a good thing… but there is such a thing as too many.  And I don’t think our numbers of grunts over there are the problem.  We are killing the enemy every time we see them… every time we find them… every time we discover where they are – we kill them.  And we are very good at killing them.  We can kill them face to face, from a mile away, from the sky, from hundreds of miles away at the touch of a button day or night.  The problem that we have and that more men is not going to fix, is that we can’t find their nests.  And for that, Grunts and SF Troopers are not the solution.  The solution is simple.  SPIES.  We need the intel coming from our undercover agents that are infiltrated and developed sources… Something that Kerry has voted against… voted and passed the decision to cut funding for developing intel resources.  Here is the deal – Kerry is one of the reasons because of that vote, that our troops are having such a tough time and we are not able to find all the targets… why it took so long to find Saddam… and why we have not uncovered OBL yet.  Because in modern warfare it’s not about strength of numbers… lining up your men in phalanx and making the charge.  In this kind of warfare the guy who sees the enemy first wins… and in this kind of warfare it’s the guy who knows where the enemy is wins.   Kerry has spent his entire Senatorial career doing everything in his power to undermine and weaken the US Military… and when you undermine the US military, you undermine America.  A weak and submissive America is the universal Liberal goal… to make Americans subservient to the United Nations.   Friends, this is UN-Patriotic.  This is UN-American.  And this is exactly the worst thing that we can find in a US President.  This is what we find in John F Kerry.

I had a Liberal Idiot ask me “What has Bush given you?”  Like it’s the job of the President to dole out gifts?  What the hell?  Where does the Constitution mandate that the President has to give you stuff?  I swear, Liberals are bitter, greedy, and just flat out unhappy people… but you know what?  George W Bush has given me something.  He has given me the ability to salute our flag again.  You can’t put a price on that.  During Clinton’s administration, it couldn’t salute the flag anymore.  I can’t explain it, but I just couldn’t do it.  Now that Bush came in… we have our national pride back.  We are becoming a strong country again because of Bush, and that’s why the Liberals hate him so much and love Kerry.  

Kerry’s 2 minute closing remarks… “As a youth I defended freedom…”  BULLSHIT.  Kerry, you sack of shit – you were only there for FOUR MONTHS and during that time you are on the record for running from a threat, shooting a kid in the back, leaving a US Soldier floating in the water while you tucked tail and ran, committed war atrocities and burned villages.  Senator Kerry – I am flat out offended that you have the audacity to claim that you defended America.   You didn’t do shit.  Others did… Others served out there tours… others gave their lives for America… others got Purple Hearts for grievous life changing wounds… others sacrificed their sanity for America… and they didn’t commit war crimes doing it… and others didn’t come home and throw away their medals… others didn’t take off to Paris France to meet with the enemy.   John Kerry has NEVER defended America and I am offended by his claims for doing so.  

Bush is defending America right now.  Our troops are over there right now defending America… and doing so with everything that that Kerry has voted against.  Voting against John F Kerry is defending America.   

On a lighter note:  I’m looking at some really cool gadgets.  The Vulcan FlipStart, the NEC MobilePro 900C, the OQO PDA, and the Samsung NEXIO S160.  Freaking awesome.  MAN!  I don’t know which one is cooler… they all rock to a shockingly high degree.  But that FlipStart and the OQO – those are just insane.  1Ghz processor running XP in a palm top?  That’s just too awesome.  Now… Can I get Linux on there, running Mozilla with wireless 802.11B/G?  That would be my techo-gadget heaven.

0958hrs: The Debate:  I walked it near the end of the debate so I didn’t get to see the whole thing, but I think I got the main gist.  Bush was being very nice and not confrontational… as most conservatives naturally are.  Kerry on the other hand was as nasty as ever.  I walked away with the same opinions that I had when I went in, and I think most people are feeling the same way.  I don’t think anyone was convinced to change their votes.   The status quo seems to have been maintained.  I know exactly where Bush is, who he is, and what he is going to do.  Kerry on the other hand, remains a nebula of political double-speak and direction changes.  He even flip-flipped right there during the debate.  

The Horde’s Mr Robert pointed out “Kerry doesn't waffle?  Ok then.  Why is it "so" important that we seek such international support for Iraq, but it's ok to tear down the international "coalition" that we are engaging North Korea with?”  That’s a good point.  Not only that, it shows that Kerry has no clue about the real nature of our relationship with China and what China wants to do to us.  

The thing about Kerry on terrorism is that he does want to win the war on terrorism, he just doesn’t want to fight it.  I see Kerry the same way as I saw him before the debate – the wrong choice for America.  The man has no core.  Bush as a core belief in a strong America… Kerry doesn’t and he had no such message.  Kerry’s only message is that Bush sucks but because of Kerry’s own wafflehouse routine, he was unable to articulate why.

More coming.  I want to post this before Rush comes on the air… Give Rush a chance to read his show prep.

Sep 30th, Thursday, 2004: 1030hrs: I’ve got a great deal of work to do today and not enough hours to do it.  So blogging will be abbreviated until I can get ahead of the homework curve. 

I’ve come across the opportunity to acquire a Beretta 1201FP.  This is a large black sinister autoloading shotgun.  The Beretta 1200 series uses the same action as the Benelli M1 family of shotguns… it is a very fast recoil operated shotgun that is very robust. 

The downside is that the recoil in these guns is a bit sharper than other guns… but that’s not really a concern.  Our friend Steve loaned me the use of his Beretta 1200 when I went to the WC3Gun match in Vegas a couple years ago.  I sucked on the shotgun stages because I suck with a shotgun, but the gun itself performed flawlessly.  On one stage I mowed down 6 steel plates in about a second… that big Beretta just roared. It was awesome.  Even the stage official said “Damn”.  Great start for the stage. 

The problem I had was when I went to reload.  I was unfamiliar with the weapon, unpracticed with fast reloading of a shotgun from ammo carried on a sling, jazzed up on fumble inducing adrenaline, and on top of all this my ammo selection was very wrong and my shells didn’t have the grunt to knock down the longer range plates with one hit.  So I didn’t do so well on that stage.  I could have done better… but I couldn’t have asked for a better shotgun to have made the attempt with.   

The 1201FP and the 1200 that I used are pretty much the same thing… I can’t see any difference.  I think a big Beretta like that would make for a heck of a good truck gun to ride along with my rifle… a good gun to take for hunting rabbits with Ranger.  That and a 12 Gauge is the most versatile of all arms one could ever hope to have.  So there are a lot of good reasons to go for this 1201FP.  There are also some bad reasons.  For example, I suck with shotguns… my bad shoulder is not exactly tickled at the notion of recoil…  Er… okay… that’s about it.  

I’m going to enjoy muttering over this choice for the next couple of days I guess.  The other option is a Carbon-15 rifle… but it’s not exactly my style.  I do love the extremely light weight though.  Just wish it was in a more robust caliber. And more reliable.   And not an AR.  Anyways.  That Beretta shotgun is tempting.  Very tempting.

I’m very much looking forward to this debate tonight… as a matter of fact, I’m downright giddy about it.  This should be a real treat.  I should be out of class in time to catch it.

Oh Shit – CHINA ALERT.  This can’t end well. What have I been saying?  What have I been telling you?  China is gearing up a lot faster than I have anticipated.  I wasn’t expecting this sort of jazz for another year or two.  Conflict between China and Taiwan means a conflict between China and the USA.  But maybe… just maybe… the US backs down and let’s China gobble up Taiwan.  But if we do that, then China is going to want to gobble up more so giving Taiwan to China is nothing more than appeasement and will only serve to strengthen, bolster, and motivate China to do more shit later and they would be even tougher to fight later.  Taiwan is a gold mine for China… that’s why they want it so bad.  With that, they could then afford to boost their military all the more and put themselves on a Toe-to-Toe level with the USA.  And I don’t think we are going to have a lot of our international friends standing besides us.  We’ll be in this pretty much all alone.    China has been itching to throw down with America… they want it.  But just watch, Bush will be blamed for this as well.

Sep 29th, Wednesday, 2004: 1040hrs:  It seems I was incorrect in the post I made yesterday about buying up .50 cal rifles while you still can.  It seems that California Law makes it illegal for you to transfer ownership of these rifles, and since they are registered, they are going to be tracking that stuff… you are stuck with them.  California has seen to it that your private property is not actually your property and you are not at liberty to sell your own property.  That is asinine to the max.  I can not tolerate that affront to liberty.  In fact, I’m getting a headache just thinking about it.   Thankfully, I am prepped for today’s news with a large roll of duct tape to keep my head from exploding and a large bottle of Advil for the pain. 

The Babs Blog has been updated:   …with the most annoying of trivial sniveling by she who would save us all if we would just listen to her reason.  The Left has taken on two new tactics that are worth note.  #1 The Major Media is in Bush’s pocket.  The Bush Administration is editing the news content and enforcing compliance.  We all know that just the opposite is true and that Babs is just a psychotic bitch queen living in the lap of undeserved luxury and has no touch with reality anymore if she had ever had it in the first place.  Her brand of Liberalism is so far beyond even looking like logic and reason that not even California Liberals listen to her.  The only heads handed to anyone in the media is Dan Rather’s head handed to Dan Rather.  This isn’t about Bush exacting retribution from anyone… Bush didn’t do a think about Dan Rather.  Dan Rather was flat out busted in passing off a bad lie as a fact.  This is about the very basis of the fundamentals of journalism that have been thrown out the window.  Everyone can see that clear as day… Everyone save Babs that is who has developed a dire care of paranoia and is any day now going to lock herself up in a hidden closet thinking Bush is going to crash through her windows.  

Forgive me, my Jewish readers if that offended you… but I am offended by her and other Liberals accusations of Nazi fascism when Bush is nothing at all of that sort.  Fascism is actually the new tool of the Left.  They use intimidation and threats and even violence against those that have a different idea than they do.  They Liberals are the Neo Fascists… They claim to have an open mind and an open heart when the opposite is true.  The are neither accepting nor are they forgiving.  You talk to a conservative person about a new idea and they will say, “That’s your opinion, fine.” And then they will get on with their lives.  You talk to a Liberal about that idea and they will insult you, ridicule you, and make it their personal mission in life to see you destroyed.  I know people who have been fired from their jobs, who have had their children attacked and shunned or kicked off teams and worse… all because Mom listened to Rush Limbaugh and agreed with something he said.  Liberals are the most intolerant and closed minded people you will ever have the unfortunate opportunity to come across.  They make North Korea look like a bunch of huggy bears.

Where was I?  Oh yes, Tactic #2: Bush is the Flip-flopper.  The Leftists have called Bush a Liar and that is proving to be working in Bush’s favor because it’s proven that Bush has in fact not lied about damn near anything in his past or the present situations in Iraq.  Bush has the reputation of being a straight up fellow and the Democrats know this.  So now they are saying (as illustrated by Bab’s other commentary below her media spew) Bush is the flip flopper. 

What is really scary about these people is the complete lack of intellectual integrity that they have on these “issues”.  For example, before you can call Bush anything – please justify Kerry’s lying and dual position statements on every issue he has ever stood on for the last 30 years.  Bush is a guy doing his job, and doing it pretty damn well I might add, popular or not.  Make that, “Popular in the big liberal cities or not.”   

Bush isn’t perfect, not by a long shot… but he isn’t bad either.  He’s weak and wrong on some issues, but on the whole, taking in the full Bush measure, it all balances out in Bush’s favor.  In my opinion.  I’m flabbergasted that Babs and anyone else is in support of a man who is documented to have lied on everything and has taken both sides of every issue and only has a 20% Job Attendance record.  

ANYONE would be a better choice for the job of President of the United States of America… Anyone one.  You search out the biggest dumbass… the biggest loser… and even he or she would be a better choice for President than John F’ing Kerry.  Kerry is so bad that even the Democrats are starting to shun him.

This was a Good Shoot.  Notice how the armed citizen engaged the man with the shotgun first?  Good tactical decision making right there.  You always engage the biggest threat first.  Good Job. 

Current object of extreme gun lust: Suppressed .44 Mag rifle.  That would be very handy around here.  Top that bad boy off with an AimPoint red dot and that would about do it. 

In discussion yesterday with newly promoted Horde Captain Amy, I mentioned the annoyance of Cell Phones in the Theatre and how I like to deal with them.  Let me tell you… it’s juvenile as hell but so much fun. Un-Popped Corn Kernels + Straw + Darkened Theatre = Vigilante Justice.  I know, I know… very childish.  But come on… When you have some asshole down in front of you (always sit in the back) talking on the phone about how cool the movie is or some dumbshit with a cell phone with those bright glowing buttons and 6 million color projector-like displays casting spotlight beams all around – screw that guy.  I bean him with a corn shot to the ear.  

Pea Shooters went out of style a long time ago, but the old technology is a good one.  The corn flies through the air almost invisibly… like a stealth missile.  Nails the target and delivers your message with precision accuracy.   Now some theatres like to use these super skinny straws that a corn kernel wont pass through… McDonalds.  They use these super fat straw cannons.  In fact, you can fire a barrage of corn kernels with those bad boys with one puff.   Or load them in your mouth and line them up with your tongue so you can fire with a rapid machinegun like effect.  That’s the best.  This is why I buy popcorn and sodas again at the movies. 

Now some folks can be rather dense and they might not get it even after a couple corn shots to the head… Then just throw your whole drink at them.  People pay money to see a movie.  They don’t want to hear about how you told your boss off… or how you hooked up at the bar… they want to hear the movie that just paid 6 to 9 bucks for.   If you have a fussy baby – take it outside.  If you have a cell phone – turn the fucking ringer off at least.  Because let me tell you – if I’m paying cash to sit in a theatre to watch a movie, the last thing on earth I want to hear is your damn digital reproduction of Ode To Joy play over and over again because you don’t realize that you’re the dumbass that hasn’t answered his fucking phone.

The other thing that bothers me about cell phones… they are too freaking small these days.  I have to break out Bi-focals and a chop stick just to dial the numbers on these new microscopic phones that you can loose in a Coke Machine coin slot if you’re not careful.   I’m sorry… I like the old Brick phones better.  You could actually hold the phone to your ear and not get sweat on your multi-function display… a real antenna to grab the signal instead of the little nipples they call antennas now… buttons that you could actually push with your finger… and the mouth bit was down by your mouth where you want it to be when your yelling at the cell phone service provider about the shitting signal strength you are getting even while standing under a damned cell tower. Aarrgh! I hate cell phones!  Almost as much as I hate the State of California, Liberals, and Barbra Streisand!  Screw’m!

Sep 28th, Tuesday, 2004: 0915hrs: Poor and unfortunate Muslim gunned down in cold blood by police.  Read the story here.  Read that article carefully.  Notice how the dead guy is called “The Victim”?  Now read what this victim did… in 2000 he went nuts with a piece of lumber and got arrested.  Then this time he goes nuts with a chair.  The officer tried to use less than lethal force but that didn’t stop (not surprising) this lunatic and the lunatic kept coming at him punching and kicking.  The cop, like anyone else in the same situation, had every right to defend himself.  This is the very definition of a “Good Shoot”, yet the lunatic is branded as “The Victim”.  Nice.  Very nice.  San Francisco is seriously full of some absolute lunatics… and they seem to all work at The Gate. 

While on the subject of Police, here is another story.  Woman arrested for talking to loudly on a cell phone.  Just how loud do you have to be to attract the attention of law enforcement? At first this had me thinking, sheesh… Cops getting a little finicky over there.  Then I read the story.  The copper asked her to please lower her voice.  To which she responded in the negative.  Further in the story we read that she was overstepping the boundaries of civil behavior by being exceedingly loud and obnoxious and cursing up a storm in public.   This woman could have avoided any and all trouble by: A. Behaving with at least a small degree of civility. And B. Telling the officer, “Please excuse my rude behavior, I am sorry.”  Telling a police officer that he has no right to moderate the peace is not a good choice of actions.   I am not a huge fan of overstepping police officers… and some of them do that.  But I think in this case and in the case in San Francisco above, we can see examples of the Police doing their jobs properly.  Two very different circumstances of course but with proper outcomes in each case.  Case 1.  Asshat was removed from the Earth.  Case 2.  Asshat was removed from the public… for at least 3 hours the public was relieved.  No, I don’t think she has seen that little Chris Rock video clip I linked to yesterday.

Being pregnant is not an open ticket for being a nasty bitch as it seems… of course I was not there to witness what happened, but it does seem that she had to have done something extremely asinine to warrant the police officer’s ire.   It is not surprising that this woman acted in this manner… there in an increasing trend in the youth of today for a lack of respect and dignity and decency to others and while out in public.  

I thought it bad enough when the trend was to allow one’s underwear waist band to show… now the trend is to have your whole ass hanging out with only your boxers covering your fanny. I am not a prude, nor can I say that is indecent… but I can say that that illustrates a lack of propriety and dignity and intelligence and respect for others.  What I wouldn’t give to have the “In Fashion” trend to be a return to Victorian era dress.  Maybe that’s a bit far back… but the way fashions go, going that far back would mean I’d be able to live out the rest of my days before I have to see a young Tu Pac wanna be’s Joe Boxers.  For the love of pete – even out here in the middle of nowhere we have that stuff going on and the young white country boy Tu Pacs walking around with Wal-Mart boxers up and the wranglers down with the belt under the ass cheeks.  How the pants stay up is a mystery to me… but even more puzzling is why they (there were several of them) would want to put their skid-marks on display.  If you have to dress like that for some reason, please… learn to at least wipe your filthy ass.  This was just outside my University campus, and those guys were going in.  I’m not sure what classes they were taking or why, but I swear, I’m dropping any class that they might be in.  Luckily there is only one guy in one of my classes that is kind of like that… but he wears his pants up and everyone is grateful.  He does however where his hat sideways.  The guy is in college and wearing his hat sideways.  Sheesh.  Why can’t the girls have that pants hanging off the ass trend?  That would at least be more entertaining and appealing I think.  Maybe in a year or two that will be the case.  Already the trend is to wear the pants so low in the front that their cooter is almost showing.  Our culture is indeed becoming excessively vulgar and I weep for the future.  As an ancient Greek philosopher once said, “Hope fades, but curiosity remains”.

There is nothing they can do.  Nothing that is save for bathing in the profits of charging almost 3 times for a barrel of oil.  Over 50 bucks a can, and they say there is nothing they can do.  This could put gas prices over 3 bucks a gallon over here and that would act like a big set of brakes on the economy.  Now, I’m not an expert on international affairs and the oil biz and all that jazz, but I do get the sense that there is something very fishy going on here.   Some action needs to be taken, and I am not sure what it should be… but I think I’d start off with MOABs.   Oil from Venezuela is being refined in Virginia as I understand.  I wonder how much that oil is a barrel and how much more of it could we get.   

Wow… looks like John Kerry is doing some face painting now.   Looks good, John… really does.  Now all you need are some Ronald McDonald shoes and a little tine car.  

I remember when Mt St Helens blew her top May of 1980.  I was living up there when that happened.  We had volcanic ash like snow… everywhere.  Looks like she is going to pop her cork again, but it wont be nearly as destructive as last time.  It should be spectacular though… hopefully we shall get some good lava spews and all that.  Earth quakes, hurricanes, drought, volcanoes…  Things are getting pretty biblical.  Best bring out the big guns.

Speaking of Big Guns… We of The Horde love big guns… Such as the .50 BMG rifle. Serbu has a killer sweet deal going on right now and even if you are not in the market for one… please… go read their page.  The guns are banned in California, but they have a deal for you so you can beat the ban.  For a grand they will sell you the serialized receiver to grandfather your rifle in before the ban takes effect.  If you live in California, I suggest strongly buying up as many of these as you can.  Empty your savings accounts on this.  Because after the ban takes effect, there will be no more .50 cal rifles coming in.  The value of your rifle with more than double.  Talk about an investment opportunity.  Get some of those things, and then bank heavy on it.   I don’t know if that’s exactly how things will happen, but looking at what these bans have done to other rifles like the AR-15, the AUG and the like… You should be able to make between 2 to 3 times your money.   

Sep 27th, Monday, 2004: 1500hrs:  I’m not a fan of Chris Rock, but I think he makes sense here.  Now how come Chris Rock can say it, but Bill Cosby can’t?  Long download time, at least for me… but it was worth it.

Saturday evening, my wife and I watched a movie that I really wish I hadn’t.  Angels in America.  The movie was nothing like what I was expecting.  Not that I was expecting anything in particular, but this movie went in the opposite direction from even that.  It was all propaganda to make Liberals and Homosexuals the new Moral Center.  I have no problems with homosexuals… and I’m not against them either… but this movie pushed the limits of acceptance.  I really didn’t need to see a guy get banged in the ass.  I also didn’t need to see Mormons portrayed as fringe nut cases.  And I really didn’t need the whole liberal political positioning statements at the end.  It seems that this movie was made for the sole point of telling people to vote for Kerry.  It was pathetic.  I don’t know what offended me the most about it.  I think it was pretty much just the whole thing.  The whole thing was disappointing to say the least, and disgusting at best.  They had some good potential to work with, but they didn’t play on it… the would just rather have hit you over the head (and up the ass?) with Liberal Politics and by offending every conservative convention that they could find.  They bashed Reagan mercilessly, Mormons on the side, and straight people as a bonus.   If you ever thought, “Hmm, Angels in America looks like a good movie.”  No, no it isn’t.  It really isn’t.    You want a good movie?  How about Man of Fire?  How about Ella Enchanted?  How about ANYTHING ELSE as long as it isn’t made or directed by Mickey Moore-On or have a Balwin starring in it. 

Email from Florida: “Ogre, Didn't have time to email before the storm, but here in western West Palm Beach County came through pretty well.  This storm, (Jeanne) was a lot stronger in winds but moving faster so it seemed not so bad. The power company (Florida Plunder and Loot) is getting power up a lot better. (side note: Gov. Jeb was on there ass after Frances.)  Some facts: Sustained wind speed here at the bunker just south of the eye (10 miles) was 115 mph, with gusts up and over 125 mph. This storms eye hit the coast just 2 miles from the center of Frances. The odds of that happening are higher than winning the lottery.  Just on the TV, shots of the barrier islands, bad a lot of destruction, hell they had no chance to recover from Frances. One million people still without power. I'm on generator (always prepared) so no problem. Still got a lot of supplies left. I have 4 people hanging in the kitchen right now sucking up the AC it's good to be able to lecture them on getting their own SHTF stuff and they are all going to do this for the future.  If any of your Horde are interested live streaming video of the local newscast are available at http://www.wptv.com  click on "Live video". Real Audio player needed.  Horde member Greg” 

Make that Horde Commander Greg.  Good job on the preparedness and the lecturing.  That’s an example for us all.  Preparedness of course means lots of Cold Ones I would guess?  That’s the best way to enjoy the lecture… while sipping a Cold One when everyone else has hot and muggy ones… which are scarcely ones at all.

So the only one out there with a take on Rome was the Maximum Leader?  Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.  I would have thought the subject of Rome would have been at the very heart of the Horde. His blog, Naked Villainy has a post regarding war for oil.  I’m not going to comment on the post itself, but about warfare for oil as a whole.  In the modern world, if not land grabbing or killing your enemies… is there any better reason for warring for oil?  Hey, gas prices have just gone up again and I’m sick of this shit.  If I was the Emperor of  America^TM I’d be pulling the trigger on Saudi Arabia. Screw those guys.

And then we'd just get all our oil from Mexico, and Venezuela… one our terms.   All Your Oil Are Belong To the US.  Some one send us up the Barrel.

Out the window this morning I observed something you don’t see very often… an eagle swooping down and snagging up a little critter to eat.  With some satisfaction I recognized the critter snatched… the kitten from the house next door.  Those guys are such assholes.  Go to the light little kitty.  The eagles out here snatched one of my kittens… a little female named “Spiro”.  Koda is the only one left. 

Meet Isis.  She is from the litter next door that Koda sired.  She is a sweetheart.  By the time the snow comes she should be large enough to survive living outside in the winter.  We let the cats (Koda and Isis) in, but most of the time they are outside.   Koda brought me a Gopher the other day.  I didn’t even know we had Gophers around here.

Beretta has a cool new online shopping tool.  Build Your Own NEOS.  If you are in the market for a .22 auto pistol, that's a pretty cool way to get one that's all your own.  Not a lot of options there, but some good ones.   The NEOS was designed by the same Italian design firm that did the Beretta 9000 and the Cx4 Storm.  They had some initial quality control issues but they seem to have been ironed out. Reports from owners now are generally all favorable and the owners like them and recommend them.  One of the things I personally like about the NEOS is the ability to switch it to a very slick carbine.  This is a good alternative to the Browning Buckmark Carbine.  Topped with a good little scope, that would make for a fine bunny slayer.  If you can tolerate the bullshit classical music and Beretta's Land Rover Patagonia marketing... Beretta makes some outstanding arms. I can not help but to love them.  If I was to buy a NEOS, that 6 inch barrel version would make for a fun, fun handgun.  I'm disappointed that they do not offer a green grip insert color. Feh. 

0957hrs:  Sorry for the lack of updates yesterday… I went to church and afterwards I spent the rest of the day laying on soft carpet, on my belly, with my face in history books.  The rise and fall of the Roman Empire is an interesting subject.   One of these days I’ll have to read one of those alternate history fictions I’ve seen around about what modern days would be like if the Roman Empire continued.  I think the defining moment is without a doubt when Emperor Constantine moved the capitol city from Rome to Constantinople.  Dividing the kingdom was a bad move… had that not been done, Rome could have lasted a great deal longer.  Just my opinion.  I could be wrong.  But history points out that the Eastern Empire wasn’t all that successful in the face of Muslim advance.  Putting all your eggs in a basket surrounded by hostile forces isn’t the best of plans.  Constantinople was a heck of a good fort for holding off the Islamists… but I would have thought it a better outpost than a capitol.  Of course that wasn’t the situation right off the bat, but I have the luxury of reading the history armchair quarterbacking it to death… something Constantine didn’t have and couldn’t have foreseen.  Old Con-Man only looked at the economical issues and probably thought it all made perfect sense and screw the poor troublesome Western Empire.  Had he put forth some effort, he could have wrapped up the western empire and solidified it under the banner of Rome and brought all the Germanic tribes in and used their warlike natures and desires to fight off the Persians and the Muslims for Rome.  Had Constantine done that - I think Pax Romanus could have lasted another thousand years at least.  

Thank you to those who have sent information to about soldier’s addresses for care packages.  This is something I firmly believe in.   An email from a soldier regarding this:

“First off, I would like to thank you and your readers for all the support. I re-deployed from Iraq in April and I'll be heading back this January. I can tell you all the letters and care packages were very much appreciated.   Some words of advice: Never mix soap or scented items with food. I ate many an Irish Spring tasting food. I don't recommend it though.  Baby wipes and recent magazines are always in demand. For some reason, we get a lot of romance novels. While there are many good women serving in Iraq, I only served with three were I was and I just couldn't bring my self to read the books. And most important, if possible, try to get the items sent to the infantry or armor. These guys work their butts off and don't get many opportunities to go to the PX /AAFES.  These were just some of my experiences. So thank you once again. Keep up the good work!(and writing)  Matt from Texas”

Thanks for the email, Matt… and thank you for your service to our great nation.  Soaps and food don’t mix.  Gotcha.  The Horde will make note.  Romance novels?  Feh… I send Playboys.  Soldiers don’t have time for romance.

The Horde did not let me down.  All the information about the Wolf armored vehicle that Israel just ordered 150 of… right here.  Be sure to check out that PDF sales brochure.  Now what I want to know is how do I get one?  Can I order one through my local Ford dealership?  Built on a Ford 550 chassis and probably using common Ford mechanicals under it… I don’t see why it wouldn’t be able to be licensed for use in rural Utah where I’m at.  I think that would make for a great Ogre Family Vehicle.  (OFV for short)  I even like the color.  

I’m confused about something… President Bush’s IQ.  The Liberals keep telling us that Bush is stupid.  But then they say he is a smart and savvy debater and that Kerry who is much more intelligent, is going to have his hands full.  If Bush was such a chump (or chimp as they like to portray him) I would think Kerry being so much more sophisticated would be able to spank Bush.  They say Bush wins also on style.  Style?  This cowboy from Texas?  I thought Bush was just a horse riding chump out getting drunk living large because he was a fortunate son… Okay, here is the deal as I see it.  Bush is smart as hell and people underestimate him until they meet him.  Bush is winner and has always been a winner.  The cat played rugby and flew fighter jets… I wouldn’t want to lock horns with him.  Kerry is a big pampered pussy who has never really faced a real challenge.  Not even during Viet Nam. (He never faced it there, he ran away from it)  Now it’s coming down to the wire and Kerry is going to have to face off against Dubya.  Bush is going to be able to absolutely shred Kerry, and Kerry doesn’t have anything to fight against Bush with other than Liberal chant phrases that have no facts to back them up.  Kerry is in trouble.  Kerry is the scrawny guy that just flipped off the Construction Worker and the Construction Worker has turned around and is stepping towards him.  I expect Kerry to either stand there and quiver and maybe wet himself, or break and run.  During the debate, I expect Kerry to resort to theatrics rather than logical and reasonable arguments.  I remember Al Gore’s bullshit stunt during his debate with Bush.  Gore was pasted and needed points so he walks up to Bush and just stands there like a dipshit 2 feet away from Bush just looking at him.  He looked like a Baby Huey standing there.   Kerry won’t be allowed to walk around on the stage or at least not approach the President… but he will pull some stunt.  If not physical then verbal.  Like, “when did you stop beating your wife” kind of questions or responses.  I don’t see Kerry as a savvy debater.  I can’t even give a good coherent speech when no one is challenging him or responding to him.  He is a flip-flopper… proven and documented.  And his “ideas” are all based in fantasy.  Especially his ideas about Iraq and International Help.  Oops!  What now, Kerry?  How can you support his record and account for his actions when he has no core stance on anything other than a blind hatred for the American Dream? 

Speaking of Presidents, Jimmy Carter should have his name in US History removed.  I’m sick of his bullshit.  All of his efforts the last 4 years have all been of a blatant anti-american standpoint.  Here is the deal as I see it.  Either Carter gets on board with the Red White and Blue, or he gets his Presidential Pension and Health Care cut off.  Completely cut off, no more benefits for him.  He aides our enemies and motivates them to fight against us all the harder.  You are either with the team or against the team, Jimmy.  You chose.  Oh, and your book… sucks.    

Looks like The High Road has gone offline again due to the hurricane.  Our prayers are with Florida… and a hope that the hurricane only wipes out those that couldn’t figure out how to vote in 2000.  THR will come back up after power is restored.  While it is down, I suggest checking out AmBack.

Horde Commander Glenn has started his own blog.  Book mark his page, he is off to a good start.   

Another blog that is worth note is All-Encompassingly.  Smashing on Moore and UVSC (a school I am now very sorry to have attended) has put this blog on the list.

Sep 25th, Saturday, 2004: Noon:  Email:  “Dear Mr. Ogre  I'm spreading the news of your new operation about sending moral comfort items to your *boys* in Iraq. I'm working myself on sending this week a first pack by postal service, at the address you post yesterday. On some French gun-themed forums, this idea is very appealing, as we aren't *eurowhussie* orientated.  Some French soldiers will be happy to enjoy some solidarity.  But they're looking to support a particular soldier more than a unity (pro-Americans initiatives aren't well seen in the hierarchy). I don't know how is working the system (if pack are collected by chiefs and dispatched later to soldiers, or given randomly). So if you can send me some information about it (and may be addresses of soldiers, that sorts of things), I will be happy to encourage the interested folks in order to support your troops. Please indulge my poor English.  Best wishes, Laurent Belkacem”

OUTSTANDING!  I don't have addresses for individual soldiers, but I think we can find some for you.   I'm going to post your email and email address, if you don't mind, so my faithful readers can hook you up with some individual addresses.  Thank you for your support. 

Guys, if you can please assist Laurent in this, it would be appreciated.  If you know of individual soldiers in Iraq, or Afghanistan that could use a care package, please send that information ASAP!

1100hrs: I would give my left nut to be able to go out to SVU and take a couple writing classed from Orson Scott Card.  Writing classes out here are a challenge.  The instructors are great – seriously.  But the “Peer Responses” just make me want to bang my head against a tree a few thousand times.  Wednesday night I dropped off a short paper to the class but I couldn’t attend because Mom and Dad just showed up.  Well, the instructor was awesome enough to mail me the peer responses…  The assignment is just a single page, double spaced, about a person.  I decided to use a bit of humor and take it from a different perspective than what has been normally been done so far in the class.  The comments are just… well, here are some of them:

“Is this about the girl or about the brother?”  The title of the paper is “My Brother”. 

“It ends with a question.”  No.  No it doesn’t.  It ends with a statement.

“Did things turn out right between you and your sister?”  She isn’t the point! 

“I want more details.”   The point was the dialog, and I only have one page of 12 point font in double spaces… there is no room on one page for more details.  Especially since the details are not important!  Sometimes details just get in the way and slow things down.  Sometimes details are awesome and required to create the atmosphere and stuff, but in a dialog it’s totally useless.  Aarrgh. 

I got some things out of the reviews… especially from the instructor’s… but some of the others. Sheesh.  These one page assignments… I find that it is much more difficult than other assignments because I have to use a shoe horn to fit everything I want to say, everything that I think is important, a whole short story all into just one single page of double spaces.  Last one I had to cheat and put it into 1.5 space just to try to sneak the extra lines onto the page.  That it is so short is what makes it so hard.

Whoa:  “Ogre, you’re in Utah, right?  Received my new CDNN Investments catalog and saw that they have Police Trade In Beretta Cougar 8040’s marked “Utah State Police” for $269.00.  You can’t beat that price.   I’m sure you are familiar with CDNN, but if not see and down load the latest catalog. – John”  

Thanks for the heads up on that, I’ve not looked at their latest yet. That’s a screaming good deal for a fine handgun.  Those Beretta Cougars are flat out some of the best automatics you could get, but most people just never even heard of them.  I still have people asking me “What’s that thing?” when I pull out my Mini 8045.  Beretta just dropped the ball when it came to marketing the Cougar.  Movies and TV gave the 92 series of guns all the advertising they could ever want… and it seems that Beretta was banking on that for the Cougar.  That didn’t happen. The Cougar isn’t nearly as photogenic as its more famous sister… much like Mia Tyler being compared to her Elvish sister Liv.  Not that the Mia or the Cougar are unattractive, it’s just that Liv and the 92 have stolen all the attention.  Okay, that’s the strangest analogy I’ve ever made about a gun, but I think it fits perfectly.  The Cougar is a little heavier looking, a little chunkier, but still quite charming and very seductive and comfortable.  Okay, I’ll stop.  Now that these police trades ins are available along with the original capacity magazines that the police used with them… these Cougars are killer deal if you are looking for a .40 cal weapon.  Never mind that no one knows what they are… they rock.  Very accurate, very reliable, and very smooth.  Unlike all the new 92’s out now, the Cougars are all still made in Italy and the only plastic parts in them are the grips.  Beretta USA sells some very handsome wood grips for the full sized Cougar, but unfortunately not for the Mini, like mine.  For 269, you could get the gun, have it professionally refinished, put on some nice woodies… and really have one hell of an automatic.  LTT does level one trigger work on the Cougars, something that is very worthwhile to consider.  Not that the Cougar triggers are bad, but that the LTT trigger work is just that good.  I’m considering having it done to my Mini after I’m done with school.

Israel is looking at the Stryker.  They were going to order 200 of them but after seeing them perform in Iraq, they held off.  (Huh?  What?  I thought the Stryker’s were walking on water over there!) Instead they only picked up 3 of them for testing.  They are very interested in the wheeled fighting vehicle concept and have already put in an initial order of 30 Ze'ev (Wolf) armored vehicles. The Ze'ev is based on a Ford F550 4 x 4 commercial truck chassis and will be protected with an Israeli-manufactured armor and weapons.  Oh, wait a second… no… they ordered 150 of them. Total or in addition to the 30, I don’t know.  They must be pretty damn good if they ordered that many of them so fast.  Israelis know armored warfare… better than we do.  Israel’s tank, the Merkava, is an incredible machine.  I like it better than our own M1 Abrams.  So I am very interested in this Ze’ev armored vehicle but I’m not able to find any good information on it… not even a photo. Damn it. 

Thank you to all those who emailed me about Ranger not being a dog.  I know.  But in polite company I call him a dog. Ranger is what he is and his secret-true identity is safe with me. When we go out I always make sure he is wearing his glasses so he is not recognized.  I have him trained to proper “Dog riding in the truck” etiquette, to come when called, and to play ball.  That’s about the extent of his training.  He is ruthlessly intelligent, but being who and what he is, he is as rebellious as I am.  He doesn’t fault me for it, and I don’t fault him.  I wouldn’t take anyone else hunting rabbits.   Today is Saturday, and I want to go play… but I have much studying to do.  I think I am going to take Ranger for a jaunt and then hit the books.