June 30th, Wednesday: 2004: 1900hrs: There is a Border?  What with all the people crossing willy-nilly wherever and whenever they want, WTF are they talking about borders for?   There is so much northbound traffic down there, to say there is even a border there is an exercise in combining wishful thinking with humor.  There are reports of Mexican Military patrols crossing at will, shooting at the US Border Patrol agents, vehicles, and helicopters.  Our response is only to give the USBP guys a couple Predator UAVs… evidently so we can get better video of them crossing the border unmolested.  I mean, come on here… they have already sued the US Government successfully because we don’t have water fountains and hand railed pathways for these illegals.  And there is this whole mess here… The whole situation is ludicrous and a waste of money.  If Mexico wants us to “open the borders” then I have some things I want to see Mexico do first.  1.  End the top to bottom corruption throughout your government… every official at every level.  Once you can pass a clean background check there… 2.  The little industry of kidnapping and extortion, you actually need stop that.  Immediately.  3.  Allow foreign investors to own assets in Mexico such as land, mineral and water rights, and businesses.  What you guys did the oil industry down there was complete bullshit that needs to be remedied.  You guys do these three things, and we will talk about opening up (I can’t stop laughing) the border.    Man, you guys are really lucky I’m not the guy in charge… cause I’d put Hellfires and Mavericks on the Predator drones and give Javelins to the Border Patrol.   Any vehicle crossing the border gets blown up.  Simple as that.  You drive a vehicle across the boarder without going through an established check point – you get toasted.  Marine and Army Sniper Training will include a tour of duty down there too.  It might not stop all the crossings… but it will make them think twice about trying it.   Cause this bullshit the way it’s going now has got to end.  The border is either open, or it’s closed.    

One of the vehicle nominations had me scratching my brow.  So I looked it up on A9 and serendipitied to this article I’ll link to in just a second.  You want evidence that a car magazine doesn’t know what the fuck it’s talking about?  I got the evidence right here.  The article is titled “5 Best Trucks” and yet we have a van, a Subaru and a farking Cadillac.  Those are this mag’s picks of five best trucks.    My hell.  What did they do when they looked at the new extended bed Jeep Wrangler?  Curl up into a fetal position and cried out “Make the hurting stop”?  WTF? A mini van is now a truck to these guys at Car and Driver?  These guys need to stick to reviewing Ford Focus hatchbacks and Chrysler PT Cruisers.  Anyways.  Okay, let me be honest here, the reason I was scratching my furrowed brow was because someone said “VW Touareg” and I said “WTF is that?” I’ve never seen one of these things before in my life, and I don’t think I’ve even seen a commercial for them… never heard of it.  (Yeah, I know I gotta get out of this godforsaken oubliette of a town in the middle of nowhere here on the Planet Arrakis”) So evidently this is big Audi station wagon with a VW logo on the front.  I can dig it.  2 flavors, a 220BHP V-6 and a 310BHP V-8… You don’t need a magic 8-ball to guess which one I would prefer here… but what looses steam with me is the fact it doesn’t have a clutch peddle.  Is it just me or is it kinda sweet that station wagons are not only cool again, but they piss off the Green Party at the same time?  Keep the nominations coming in!

I’ll post the results tomorrow after I get back from my day in traffic court.  If I don’t get thrown into a slam for popping a gasket in front of the judge.

Noonish:  Horde Commander Kupari is now on his way to the Qatar to work as a civilian contractor.  We wish him the best.  Here is a thread about it at THR.  

Kim du Toit fires both barrels at Alabama.   Amen.  The Alabama State PoPo seems to be pulling a San Francisco routine. Speaking out their asses about gun and illustrating that they know very little about the matter.

I think some people are starting to take fishing a little too seriously.  .50 caliber machineguns used to deter fishing poachers.  That’s nothing.  You should see what they use to protect their deer.  

Acidman added me to his list of links.  Very cool.  Thank you, Sir.

Here is something I wish I had created:  It says everything that needs to be said.

Nominations required:  Email your nominations, only the ones you like, not all classes required.

2004 OG HORDE & ASSOCIATES AUTOMOTIVE BEST IN CLASS AWARDS

TRUCKS:

Full Sized:

Compact:

SUVS:

Huge:

Big:

Small:

CARS:

Flagship:

Midsized:

Small:

Sport:

Motorcycles:

Sport:

Touring:

Cruiser:

Dual Sport:

Dirt:

June 29th, Tuesday, 2004: 1630hrs: Email from Horde Tech Support: “Regarding the aljazeera.net,  it is a large site and I think it would be safe to assume that thier site is hosted by multiple companies.  Just as Microsoft uses Akamai for providing the content of their windows update, aljazeera probably does the same thing.  When I did a ping and traceroute I received slightly different information.  One address tracked back to the UK.  Another traced back to FranceTelecom, with AT&T as the owners of the IPs.   Another thing that may be overlooked is that though the IP's may be registered to AT&T, they can be subleases to other companies.  This may be the case for aljazeera.  Their "ISP" is probably leasing a Class C from AT&T. – Steve”   My question is who is hosting the websites of the terrorists… the ones that they use to put out the videos and the threats.  Those servers should be taken down and out.

Generous Offer: “Hi, I am Dan Masterson the publisher of StrategyPage.com.  We noticed that you linked to one of articles and would like to reward you by giving you a complimentary subscription to our daily newsletter.  Just let us know what email address you would like it sent to.  Again thanks for taking notice of us. Dan Masterson, StrategyPage.com”  Thanks, Dan.  Very cool.  Great website you have there, I visit it often.

Guys, check this out… Japan’s version of the Stryker AFV there on the bottom.  I wonder how well one would fit into a C-130.  Best photo on the whole Strategy Page website.   

Heartless with a question for me: “Your, um, dislike of the AR-15 platform and the 5.56mm/.223" round are well documented.  And I'll wholeheartedly agree that it's a far from ideal combat rifle.  It is a wonderful traget rifle for NRA Highpower and 3-gun.  What would you think of it for another use:  in a pistol caliber, as a home defense carbine?  Olympic Arms makes uppers, full carbines, and magazines in 9mm, 10mm, and .45ACP.  I think in this limited role it has definite possibilities.  Unless you get one of those gas-piston uppers, you'll never lose the "shits where it eats" problem, but in this role it would only be in the house or at the range, so you reduce actual dirt problems to near zero.  And as long as you avoid the 9mm, you don't have the 5.56's problems with lack of stopping power, at least at HD engagement ranges.  I'm not planning on buying one anytime soon (unless the sky falls in on 2 Nov) since I've got a perfect serviceable Remington 870 for the role.  Just wanted to hear your opinion.  Dave the Heartless Libertarian”

Yeah, I used the AR myself for 3 Gun.  It’s fine and dandy for games involving putting holes in paper.  But I wouldn’t take it into another fight.  I did before, but that was when I didn’t know any better.  I used a tricked CAR-15 and admittedly it was just fine, and the weakness of the cartridge wasn’t an issue because of the CAR’s ability to rock on full auto and mine to keep all such shots minute of thorax.  The Colt SMGs all have a great track record in reliability… especially in 9MM and .45.  I played with a very small class 3 example by a joint called La France.  As froggy as the name is, the weapon was downright aggressive.  10 inch barrel, full auto, and pure evil.  It was a .45ACP affair and it gave me a joygasm.  If I had the chance to get something like that again – I’d be all over it.    The pistol versions are a different animal than the normal rifle configuration.  They are a lot better in most ways and they keep the AR’s ergo and feel which are very good and I wont argue that point.  I’ve not tried or even seen the Oly versions… But Oly is pretty good… but I like DPMS better.  I wonder of DPMS makes a .45 upper.  That would be tits.  But when it comes to pistol caliber carbines, there are perhaps better options… purpose built machines that don’t use jury rigged mag wells.  Perchance one day I might do a run down on the pistol caliber carbines out there.  But not right at the moment. 

Hey guys… what gun reviews would you like to see me do for Concealed Carry Magazine?  There are so many good CCW options out there.  I have a suggest of a CZ for the next review after the Baby Eagle Compact… that’s a good one but a broad one.  CZ has a lot of good CCW guns. (just about all of them save the 97)  I’m going to do a revolver too… so don’t worry about that.  I’m thinking the Ruger SP101.

"We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good"  Oh really?   I’ve a small list of things I’d like to see taken away… let’s start with the Congressional health care package and replace it was just Medicaid.  Let’s take the Congressional Retirement Package and replace it with a common 401K plan based on the National Average.  Let’s take the Congressional Salaries and base that on the National Average too.  VIP Protection for Congressmen? Fine, we can do that too… forget the US Secrete Service… you cheesecakes can have a Remington 870 12 Gauge and a box of shells for home defense, and a CCW card for personal defense… if you pass the back ground checks and I know some of you jackasses can’t… and that’s your tough luck.  Call Pinkerton if you are desperate, and I hope you can afford it on your reduced national average salary base.  Come on Hillary, this is for the common good. And this is just a start too if I was Commander and Chief.   BIG TIME cuts.  All kinds of big time cuts.  Burt Rutan would get ½ NASA’s current budget and NASA would be cut down to a fraction and that would only be in government loans… Privatization my little space bitches… Privatization! We are spending how many millions on Wilderness Study Areas here in Utah alone?  People, PLEASE!  It’s a fucking DESERT!  It’s SAND and ROCKS!  It’s not Wilderness.  We need thousands of acres of sand to study?  That is CUT.  The Caribou in Alaska can give up some freaking land for the common good, I can tell you that right now my little E.L.F bitches.  You guys have never even been up there, so how do you know the Caribou are even there?  Maybe they hate it there?  Maybe they want to move south east but just keep procrastinating moving day. Common Good.  National Foundation for the Arts?  Fuck it.  PBS?  If they can’t make it on donations, they can sell commercial airtime like everyone else.   Common Good.  There are a lot of things we can give up for the Common Good and let grandpa still see his Doctor, as still send ammunition to our boys fighting for us.  Common Freaking Good.  

No, you don't.  You had your chance... more than most Americans and you blew it like the dumbass that you are.  You deserve nothing.  Sorry.  Why don't you hook up with a lecture circuit and talk to schools about the need for better education and efforts by the students to work harder in schools so they don't become huge dumbasses like you!

They wouldn't call me up, I'm just a gimped up grunt. But if they did, I would go and serve my country again. I probably wouldn't survive... but I'd rather die with honor than to duck out and dodge like a freaking coward.  I would hate it, but I would be proud to serve.

0930hrs:  Quick update this morning.  I got a lot of stuff to do today and not enough time to do it.  First thing off… the things that make me mad:

Email from Skylance with some disturbing information:  “I had a nice long talk with a friend tonight.  We discussed things from Michael Moore's propaganda film, to politics, to global politics.  As he is blind, and pretty new to the internet, I read some things off to him now and again.  I read off a bit from the main site tonight, when I mentioned the Marine that's being threatened, I went to Fox News site to give him more information on that story.  We got into a discussion on Al Jazeera, since they seem to revel in sharing the terrorists tapes, and are sympathetic to them and their cause.  I was asked "Why doesn't someone hack Al Jazeera's site?  Why doesn't the government take them down?"  The arguments of their bias against us, their use as a platform for the terrorists, etc.  I'm sure there are reasons, and possibly one of them is because that's wehre the terrorists send their tapes of their latest speeches or actions (though I'm convinced that CNN would be glad to do that job....)  Anyways, I found something interesting regarding Al Jazeera.

english.aljazeera.net resolves to 12.120.9.19, if you switch 'english" to "www" it changes it to 12.120.9.23. When you plug those ip addresses into ARIN (www.arin.net)

that number is hosted by AT&T Woldnet Services.   I find it particularly

disturbing that AT&T is taking their dirty money, to allow them a vehicle to distribute their message against us.

OrgName:    AT&T WorldNet Services

OrgID:      ATTW

Address:    400 Interpace Parkway

City:       Parsippany

StateProv:  NJ

PostalCode: 07054

Country:    US

NetRange:   12.0.0.0 - 12.255.255.255

CIDR:       12.0.0.0/8

NetName:    ATT

NetHandle:  NET-12-0-0-0-1

Parent:

NetType:    Direct Allocation

NameServer: DBRU.BR.NS.ELS-GMS.ATT.NET

NameServer: DMTU.MT.NS.ELS-GMS.ATT.NET

NameServer: CBRU.BR.NS.ELS-GMS.ATT.NET

NameServer: CMTU.MT.NS.ELS-GMS.ATT.NET

Comment:    For abuse issues contact abuse@att.net

RegDate:    1983-08-23

Updated:    2002-08-23

TechHandle: DK71-ARIN

TechName:   Kostick, Deirdre

TechPhone:  +1-919-319-8249

TechEmail:  help@ip.att.net

OrgAbuseHandle: ATTAB-ARIN

OrgAbuseName:   ATT Abuse

OrgAbusePhone:  +1-919-319-8130

OrgAbuseEmail:  abuse@att.net

OrgTechHandle: ICC-ARIN

OrgTechName:   IP Customer Care

OrgTechPhone:  +1-888-613-6330

OrgTechEmail:  qhoang@att.com

OrgTechHandle: IPSWI-ARIN

OrgTechName:   IP SWIP

OrgTechPhone:  +1-888-613-6330

OrgTechEmail:  help@ip.att.net”

Well, that’s just freaking spiffy.   The terrorists are being serviced right here in the US.  And as if that wasn’t enough to get your blood boiling… How about this:

Rob sends us this little item that I’ve not seen before.  CNN is calling our own US Marines murderers.  Isn’t that just dandy.  Notice however that they don’t show what the “victim” was doing just before he got shot… or ever mention why this fucking terrorist was engaged in the first place… The website Rob sends us is a special one.  Here’s the email… I can’t think on this for another moment or I might just go critical mass: 

“This site pissed me the fuck off. Read the whole thing if you want, it goes into detail about a soldier from the Burma campaign, Vietnam, and the Gulf. If you read the whole thing you get a context, that fuckwad only posts the parts that are meant to be inflammatory to people who do not understand that those Marines just saved their own lives, and are happy it wasn't them. I don't pretend to know what they were thinking, and I won't judge them. They do a job far harder than I hope I will ever, EVER face. Yeah, to say the least, that little prickslit pissed me off. –Robert”

Just outrageous.    The CNN video is one thing, but the website is another thing all together.  If any of The Horde comes across this guy… Give him the Larry Moe & Curly treatement… poke him in the eyes, slap him with a 2X4, but his head in a vice and rub his head with a wood plane.  The US Marines are some of our nations finest men and they deserve our respect.  Even if they are ½ Navy… they are still Grunts and that makes them solid gold in my book.

Okay, on a lighter note… The Heartless Libertarian fills the gap: “Ogre - Read your weapons list for your personal army's infantry units this morning.  I think you left something out.  There's kind of a capability gap in between your dismount system (RPG-7VR) and mounted system (Hellfire).  You've left your dismounted without AT firepower beyond a few hundred meters.

You need the Javelin.  It's mad portable, but on the heavy side, so it'd probably go in the weapons squad, but the system is well worth it.  Planning range of 2500 meters.  Will defeat any current threat armor vehicle.  I wish I still had that slideshow of a combat loaded T-72 that they shot with a Javelin for a test.  The turret was the only easily recognizable part left, and it was about 50m from where the tank had been sitting.  Low launch signature to help keep the gunner hidden.  And the best part-it's fire-and-forget.  Lock on target, fire, and move before you fire again.  Targeting is imaging infrared, and the Command Launch Unit (CLU-pronounced "clue"-basically, the sight) can be used without the missile to watch for infiltrating goblins on moonless, cloudy nights when even your PVS-14s can't see shit.

Main drawbacks-it's not all that useful in a tight urban fight-arming distance is 65m, and I wouldn't want to be even that close to the target when it hits.  But that's what the RPG is for.  And rounds are EXPENSIVE.  Then again, having your troops get over run by enemy armor is more expensive.

Probably the best testament to the effectiveness of the thing, at least in open terrain-at NTC, if the OPFOR recon locates BLUFOR units with Javelins, they draw a 2500m circle around them and stay out of it.  - Heartless Libertarian”

He is absolutely correct. An excellent suggestion.  I’ve played with the Tow’s and the Dragons, and the LAW’s and AT-4’s… I’ve even played with an RPG once… I’ve never handled a Javelin.  Looks to be a pretty good system. 

June 28th, Monday, 2004: 2200hrs:  Got an email from my Momma part of the message here:  “One of *******, son's went into the Navy, and he just got there on Wednesday, and he has already called home to say that "They yell at me!! I do everything they tell me to do, and they yell at me!!”!  Thought that was kinda funny.  Hasn't he ever seen Stipes?”  I weep for the future of our Armed Forces.  My gosh… thank heavens he didn’t go Army or Marines.

Email about Concealed Carry Magazine:  “Ogre, Okay.  I subscribed to Concealed Carry Magazine and received the May/June issue within days.  Good service.  I had read a sneak preview of the Detonics Combat Master review via your blog, and further enjoyed your full-blown treatment and history of the weapon in the article.  I think you should restore yours.

The rest of this issue is no disappointment, either.  I thoroughly enjoyed Jeffrey Snyder's essay from *Nation of Cowards*.  This quote, in particular, rings true:  "... a government that does not trust its honest, law-abiding, taxpaying citizens with the means of self-defense is not itself worthy of trust.  Laws disarming honest citizens proclaim that the government is the master, not the servant, of the people."  Mr. Snyder goes on to say a federal law should be passed to override contradictory state laws and acknowledge our right to carry.  Amen.  He cites Florida statute as the bellwether in this regard.  It's a great law, but Florida voters have a penchant for ridiculous constitutional amendments, including one that gives county governments the means to impose 3-5 day waiting periods for long guns as well, despite the statute.  They needed this to foil the "Evil Loophole Gun Show™", as Kim calls it.  We also have a constitutional amendment that protects pigs.

I live in Florida and received my CCW just last week.  Gotta love a state where the guy in charge of licensing is named Charles Bronson.

The occasion was celebrated with the purchase of a Smith & Wesson 442 (and a Marlin 336 30-30, for good measure)... without the obligatory 3 day wait, excluding weekends and holidays, of course.  (What?  I can't "cool down" Saturday and Sunday?)

Anyway, thanks for being the Ogre.  Thanks for the inspiration.  Who knows ... maybe the lunch box will be next.  –Ken”

Thanks for the email Ken, and it’s my pleasure.  The Nation of Cowards essay is required reading… fantastic essay.  I wish I could write like that.  My Detonics, I’ve already had some work done on it in the way of that link.  A new link and pin has really made a huge difference in how the gun locks up.  It feels much more solid now.  One of these days I’m going to make a set of grips for it.  Green Wood.  Hey, I’m an Ogre, what do you expect?  A S&W 442?  Good choice for a J Frame .38… an Airweight hammerless snub, if I remember right.    Correct me if I’m wrong. (You guys always do!)    As for your rifle choice… Outstanding.  About the little trooper…  All the horde will be happy to hear that he has ZERO nerve damage now… it’s all regenerated and healed up.  He has full motion in the eyebrow again.  Still has a nasty scar but thanks to a skilled plastic surgeon, it’s not that bad and in a year or two that can even be remedied. 

I really feel for the family and the Marine that has been captured and is due for a beheading I think tomorrow.  I don’t expect him to be released.  Iraq is back in the hands of Iraq officially, and the release of any prisoners has nothing to do with the US now.  If these murderers had any pretense of honor, they would release him.  But the don’t, so look for another beheading shortly.   I don’t know this guy, but I know people who do.  He’s from Utah and tonight all of Utah is praying for him.  I will do.  I just pray that he wont suffer a lot of pain, and that his family will have some degree of peace for it.  This guy is a true American and his family living the American dream.  He is paying a costly price for his family’s freedom.  The Tree of Liberty is being watered.    

1430hrs:  Infantry Weapons for the Horde:  Rifles:

The Grunt’s Rifle: The Squad Scout.  This is pretty much a handier and somewhat refined version of the M-14.  Our boys are going into battle, they need to have a damned battle rifle, firing a battle rifle cartridge.  Optics are optional.  

The Sniper’s Rifle: The M25.  At least one person per squad will be armed with one of these.  Same ammunition and magazines of the Grunt’s rifle… that makes sense.  Optional rifle depending upon mission, terrain, and time, will be a .50 caliber of course.  

Machineguns:

Dismounted: The South African Vektor SS77.   The reason for this one is that I wanted an MG that fired the same round as the rifles.  At the same time I wanted a weapon that was lighter, yet one that gave up nothing that a good machinegun should be.      

Mounted:  The Mighty Ma Duce.  When it comes to a .50 caliber machine, no other weapon has proven more versatile, more effective, or more combat proven.  We’ve used them on land, sea, and air and I see no reason to change.

PDWs:

SMG: The Bizon.  With a slight modification:  Change the caliber and magazines to feed 9X23MM.  It’s not a fancy weapon.  But it gets the job the done and packs a huge ammunition supply.

Pistol: The 1911, of course.  I go back and forth between other handguns… but I can’t think of another pistol that has been so proven.  However I would also make a slight modification.  I’d roll with the 9X23MM cartridge here too.  I’ll make an argument for this later, so stay tuned.  Officers can of course select the Commander or Officer’s depending upon personal preference or mission profile.  If you don’t like this pistol, bring whatever the hell you want, but you buy it and the ammo out of your own pocket money… and don’t cry if you run out.

Shotgun: Shotguns have a lot of uses, and I think they have a place.  I like the Mossberg 590 a lot.  It holds a good load of ammo ready to fire, and it’s solid and rugged.  When it comes to a fighting shotgun, I don’t thing there is a better one. 

Anti Armor: 

Mounted: The Hellfire.  Grunts could borrow Hellfires from the Air Cav so ammunition costs would be reduced.  The Hellfires pack more bang and range and speed than all other anti tank missiles that I am aware of.  Yes, this is a heavy missile, but like I said, it’s for the mounted use and not for packing around on your backs.  I’m not the only one that likes this idea.     Oh, BTW, at that link, take a look at that M551 Sheridan.  Say hello to the Horde’s light tank… There are no Strykers in the Horde.  

Dismounted: The PG-7VR.  This is the freaking RPG that penetrated the M1 Abrams.    Enough said about that.  If it can pop an Abrams, it can pop anything else.  I think our armed forces have learned just how effective the old RPG platform is.

Okay, here are my next handgun reviews I’ve got lined up:  Kel-Tec’s P3AT, and then the Magnum Research (For CCW, WTF?) Baby Eagle poly compact. (oh.) I’ve got the factories lined up to send me press samples for review.  Fun!

Regarding the rats: “Ogre - The animal rights activists would lynch me for this, but here is how to stop a rodent infestation.  Green and Brown glass (wine and beer bottles) finely ground into powder between two bricks.  Mix the glass with molasses into a runny mixture.  Set out this mixture in prominent rodent locations.  The rodent packs this into his cheeck pouches, and if he does not bleed to death on the way back to the burrow, the rest of the rodents in the burrow swallow this mess, and they all die.  I have used this on mice in the grain bins on our farm.  Works great.  Mart”  Eeeeww… yup… that would work nicely.    

1100hrs:  Name the top five nuttiest cities in North America.  I bet everyone will have San Francisco on the list somewhere… probably near the top.  Personally, I think it’s THE nut basket in the USA.  Here is my evidence. Specifically this line right here: “’I have a very strong prejudice against gun manufacturers. There is strong evidence in a lot of cases that gun manufacturers are not limiting their sales to the Police Department,’ Renne said.” Louise Renne is the city’s Police Commission president.  This lunatic is actually the chief guy in charge of law enforcement in SF.  Thank heavens in the US the County Sheriff is actually the higher authority… or at least it has been in the past, but people conveniently forget that.  This Renne fellow is completely up in the night.  (that means he has lost his mind… up with the moon… Watching Luna… where we get the word “Lunatic” from) There is not one gunmaker in the US that could exist as a business without selling to citizens.  Colt tried it, but damn near evaporated so they started opening back up to citizens.  The only gun company I know that could would be H&K… but they are an international company with global weapons contracts, but that’s not the point.  Even they sell to American Citizens.  The fact that this cat from SF is a total wacko wanker isn’t surprising and isn’t unexpected.  SF is the Liberal Nirvana.  What is surprising is that the LEO’s there have guns at all.  One would think they would only carried multifunction Billy Clubs with two triggers to spray either pepper spray or Astro Glide.  Whatever.  No… what really bothers me is that a gun maker – any gun maker would enter into a contract with a totally fucking asshole like this guy.  Read this line: “The City Attorney was "looking at the legal issues" involving Beretta as the manufacturer, Parra said, but didn't elaborate.”  Nice.  I hope for SIG’s sake there isn’t a single problem with any of those pistols.  Looks like Beretta is going to learn a lesson about dealing with Liberals pretty soon.  I don’t even know why SIG is actually doing this.  They have to buy all the city’s Beretta’s back from them for 350,000 dollars.  How many SIGs would the city have to buy to make this profitable for SIG?  How many pistols does SF need there?  Sheesh.  I don’t see how SIG agreed to that deal.  And I especially don’t see how they agreed to it after hearing this statement about Beretta.   The upside to all this is that there will probably be a flood of Beretta 96’s on the market coming up in the future along with a shitload of 96 Mags.   That would make a perfect package deal with a nice .40 Caliber CX4 Storm.  I don’t know what the deal is with them talking about the round keyholing.  Berettas are rock solid and accurate… at least as accurate as any .40 caliber handgun can be.  I doubt anything is wrong with the handguns… Just take some time to find some ammo the guns like.  I really don’t see the SIGs as an upgrade.  I consider them to be equals.  Discount prices on used .40 Berettas.  Oh, you bet SIG is going to dump these on the distributors… You don’t take in 350 friggen grand worth of hardware and not try to liquidate it.  I bet you could buy one of these for only about 300 bucks.   The line forms to the Right.

A nice take on NASA.   

Shave your head.  It’s fun, refreshing, and can save you money.  But don’t do it because I do it.  I know he’s joking, but Mrs. Ogre was disturbed by it.  He had his own reasons for doing it.  I hope. 

So we have turned over Iraq to Iraq.  That’s some awesome news.  Couple days early.  This has got to be some world record.  My suggestion now is that we get our troops the hell out pronto and go kick Saudi Arabia’s ass just on principle. 

How do they know he did it?

Time to get some terriers.

Like there is any mystery there.  All of this is pretty much out in the open obvious.  The new bitch is worth a billion and the old bitch wasn’t.   

Just don’t bring this to the US, please.  We have enough problems with the damn things already while people are trying to drive.  

Okay, enough people have asked, and even Kim duToit has given us his take… fine:  Next post will have my Infantry weapon selections for The Horde.  I think these will be weapons we can all agree on.

Early AM: Email from Commander Chase:  “Hey Ogre, I was up in BR the other day using their range. Afterward, in the cleaning room, discussion turned to the Cx4 Storm. A rep had come by to let the BR swat types play with one for a few days. It should be said that I have not fired one yet, but this info comes from guys who are pretty damn good at what they do and have fired it (I believe it was a Cx4 92 Carbine).

The weapon is reported to be outstanding in most regards. They really seemed enthusiastic about it. It sights well and familiarity with the 92 series cuts down on the learning curve drastically. Ambidexterity was another big perk. It's over the counter availability is a great plus. One of the instructors out there even told me it he found it to be more accurate than his MP-5, but did mention that the Cx4's barrel is more than 2x the length of the MP-5's. They also said the Cx4 has some "appreciable felt recoil" due to its light weight of 5.75 lbs.

On the negative side, it was related to me that the Cx4 must be broken down for cleaning in the cocked position. This can be, and apparently was, easily overlooked. Not breaking the Storm down in the cocked position will cause the plastic guide rod to break, rendering the Storm inoperable. I guess they know why that particular part is plastic, but I can't see a good reason for it. Then again, I'm not designing firearms for Beretta either... The guys called Beretta and as soon as they said they had broken it the voice on the other end knew exactly what had happened. I'm guessing there have been a few.  A way big thumbs up goes to Beretta's Customer Service as they had a repair part in BR the next day and a half or so.

I've also heard a nasty little rumor that Glock is working up something similar. We talked about the Storm for about an hour and the impression I got was very favorable. I think several of the guys will be getting some personal Storms soon.

I did own a USC .45 for a little while. It shot great, and had little recoil. Its blowback operation did flood the chamber with carbon. It got into every little groove in there and was a friggin nightmare to clean. A 10 rnd mag was all you could ever get for the thing (UMP mags and dbl stacked while USC mags are singles). It found a new home fairly quickly.

Speaking of polluted chambers, I talk with lots of folks at my dept. about the M-16/M4. Our swat team currently uses M4's. The argument I get the best results with is "There is a reason car manufacturers do not duct the engines exhaust back into the engines intakes". For some silly ass reason most folks get a better grip on that than really big words like Direct Gas Impingement. Go figure. Cheers, Chase”

The engine exhaust is an excellent way of putting it.  At least it’s more eloquent than “It shits where it eats.”  Now about the fabled Glock Carbine.  I first heard that rumor as many as 8 years ago… maybe a little longer.  I’ve still not seen any prototypes or even a sketch.  I hope Glock does one, I really do.  Because then all makers will be cranking the out and I think that would be bully.  I like the pistol caliber carbine concept, especially if it takes the same mags are your duty handgun.  It’s just something that makes sense.  I like the Storm a lot.  With the rails on it, you have something that rivals the MP5, and the M4 Carbine.  I’m still waiting on one in .45ACP… because I like .45ACP a lot.  Call it a fetish.

Bronco vs Pathfinder feedback:

“No way Ogre.  If you trade the Bronco for the Pathfinder, you may have to re-Photoshop some flowers and bunnies over the explosion on the front page of your site.  Oh yeah, a nice lime green polo shirt too. Remember, there is no replacement for displacement.  Before you make your final decision, take your Bronco out onto the open road and listen to it roar.  Not purr, roar.   If it doesn't roar, consider straight headers (just kidding, sorta....)  Keep up the good work on the site. - Mike ...surviving a politically incorrect existence in Southern California” 

“Don't sell your American made truck for a Jap Job.  Unimog is the ONLY import I'd even consider. - Martin”

I really doubt I’ll trade it.  Yeah the Bronco roars.  You bet it does.  But man… double the fuel economy would be most helpful.  I was looking at the big green beast, and I have to say… I love it.  The big bold wide stance… the big V-8… Aggressive, brutal, and blunt… If a vehicle designer was to spend a month with me, here on my own turf, and then design a vehicle that expresses who and what I am – we would design a 1984 full sized Ford Bronco.  As much as I love it, it’s not quite perfect yet.  I need some bigger tires (BFG AT’s), a 4 inch lift, and a brush guard and wench on the front, and a swing out spare tire carrier on the rear, and some off road lights on top with a moveable spot on the driver side corner.  These things will come in time.  That’s what I want to do with it eventually.  A bit at a time.    A Pathfinder is just not inspiring to me.  Okay, I don’t even know why I entertained the thought of trading it.  Wait a second… did I mention she had pretty blue eyes and perky… well… anyways… Just trying to be nice to her.  You know.  I don’t even think I’d trade it for a Mog.  This Pathfinder would have to be just sick for me to actually consider it… V-6, Stick, Cherry, 4X4, Jacked, Meats, and Booming.   And I doubt that it is… because if it was, she wouldn’t be offering it up.    

June 27th, Sunday, 2004: 1330hrs:  Today has been a weird day so far.  I take Ranger out on our Sunday Morning hunt for his breakfast.  He bags one bunny and seems sated.  But then he takes out after another one, and dives in on it and next thing you now he’s crying and whimpering and comes crawling back to me.  I was thinking. “Oh great, my big bad wolf just got his ass kicked by a bunny”.   But that wasn’t the case.  When I got up to him I noticed he had a face and nose full of cactus spines.  Poor thing.  I had the same thing happen to me once, except it was my ass and upper thighs no thanks to a golldurn horse that was lucky I didn’t shoot it.  So here I am out in the middle of “Dune” sitting on the only patch for ground for miles that didn’t have either deer shit or ants on it… with a wolf in my lap that yelped every time I pulled out a big 3 inch long needle.  Poor thing… but he was a good dog and he let me take care of him.   When I was done I told him to be more careful.  Unlike my sons, Ranger was more careful and no further mishaps occurred. 

Coming back from the desert, I was seriously parched and wanted a drink and a newspaper.  So I stopped at a joint I never stopped at before.  Well, as I was pulling in this girl was out there smiling at me.  Cute blonde with pretty blue eyes and perky… Well… she explains that my Bronco used to be her Bronco.  She misses it and explained a lot of things as to why my rig is the way it was when I got it.      

Evidently she wants it back.   I told her I couldn’t take a dollar less than 2500 for it because I had more into it… and she offered up her Nissan Pathfinder as a trade.   I said I’d consider it, but I liked the Bronco and Ranger (who was sitting in the driver’s seat like he owned it) liked it too.    I don’t know.  I could use the extended fuel economy of Pathfinder and I am familiar with them to a point, so I know them to be pretty solid.  I forgot the year she said it was, but undoubtedly it’s an earlier one.   89?  I think that’s what she said.   

She did say she can get from here all the way up to Idaho Falls on one tank.  That’s not bad at all.  Cause we have family up there in Blackfoot and a family cabin up in Island Park, which is way the hell up there near West Yellowstone.    That sorta range is attractive to me.  Better than my Cherokee that is for dang sure.  This fall I’ll be driving a lot more miles going back and forth to Roosevelt every day, so that would save us a lot of money.   

But I don’t know.  I’ll have to look at this chick’s Nissan and see what’s up.  I drove a Nissan “Hardbody” pickup truck back when I was selling cars when I first met my wife.  I used to drive the hell out of that little truck.  It was rock solid and I really liked it.  The only thing about it that I didn’t like, was that the cab was too short and I had the steering wheel in my throat.  I couldn’t move the seat back far enough to be comfortable in it.  If it could, I would have picked it up.  The Pathfinders of that generation and I’m guessing that this one is of that gen too… were built on that same platform.  

If this was some dumbass cowboy dude that said “hey man, that used to be mine.”  I would have said, “well it’s mine now so stay the fuck away from it.”  But no… it had to be this cute little thang that I have a kneejerk response to be nice to.  Damn it.  And I like Nissans too… Damn it.  It’s not likely that I’ll trade off my Bronco.  I’ve put too much effort into making it and keeping it running as well as it does now.  There is little chance I’d actually be interested in giving up my truck.  Cause fuel economy isn’t a concern like that and wasn’t when I got it.  I wanted a bigass, badass 4X4  and that’s what I got.  This rig can get all snarly and doesn’t so much scramble up the mountains as it more like shreds the mountains and rips them down to it.  A Pathy doesn’t do that… it prances delicately and lightly up the mountains with a total lack of brutality.  Where’s the fun in that?  It would be like having another Cherokee…. Not a bad thing… I love Cherokees. 

Oh, Koda, our little kittie that thinks he is a Cougar... yeah... he left us a little present this morning in the middle of our living room. The severed head of a mouse, along with all it’s entrails.  Totally laid out like a biology test.  Great… so now my fucking cat is either a scientist or one of the Islamic Jihad.  Let’s see… my wife screamed, my boys screamed and about puked.  Nice.  So that’s how I woke up this morning… been weird all day so far like that.    

Well, I’m going to take a shower and kick back with my newspaper and try not to blow a gasket about what some dumbass says in there.

VRWC

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