31 May 2011

Pak Open Air Home Made Arms

What is one of the major problems with the war in Afghanistan?  Just your friendly, neighborhood home made arms, and the open air market that sells them.



The famed Khyber Pass is home to some of the most entrepreneurial and passionate people on the face of the planet.  From the video, these people believe in "many sons, and many guns."  In a normal world, I'd say that is a good thing to have; in this region, it often means dead US soldiers.  To me, that means just one more reason as to why we are fighting a war on a front which is not winnable but only manageable.  The video itself is dated 2006 with an edit and tack on from 2009.  The situation hasn't changed all that much removed from either of those dates.

If you scroll down the article, it does take a pot shot at the NRA for it's devout opposition to the UN and it's international arms trade "regulation" schemes.  My question is in that region where for thousands of years, conquerors have failed to master the terrain and the people, how does even the UN think it will be able to regulate what is a pure black market?  Simple answer is, that it can't, and it won't.

This post did not start out as one about our 2A rights, but it certainly is a nail in the coffin of the bureaucrat that believe they can control us, even from their "high perch" in New York.  If anyone for any minute can watch this video and believe the UN is sincere in stopping "small arms trade of illicit and illegal guns" throughout the world, then you are either a libtard, a Utopian, an idiot, or just plan naive.

Hellfire vs. Sniper; Which One is Your Bet On?

What happens when a hellfire missile from an Apache meets up with a sniper hanging out in his hide?  Only this

I can only imagine that he felt no pain, which was far to good for him.  However, one less Jihadist in the world is one less Jihadist in the world.  Now, if we could just convince our political leaders (and our allies in the International Security Assistance Force) that we don't need to be spending 100k a hellfire to take out insurgents, then we might actually win over there. 

QOTD: Three to One is Bettin' Odds!

Other evidence also suggests that Hoven did “the right thing.” The National Crime Victimization Survey shows that defending oneself with a gun is by far the safest course of action when one is confronted by a robber. For example, people who protect themselves with a gun are injured in robberies about 8 percent of the time, but those who behave passively are injured by the criminals 24 percent of the time, a three times higher rate.
From John Lott's latest on Big Government, we find that if you prefer to be a pascifist when it comes to being a vicitim of crime, you are three times more likely to be injured!  I'll use a gun please!  Then I'll bet on the poor suckers who chose not to heed the following...

30 May 2011

More Memorial Day Tribute

H/t to Defense Tech & Military.com

P-51 Mustang Recon Machine

When compared to the high-tech, Skunkworks projects of the U2, "Ox cart", or SR-71, a modified P51 Mustang fighter is considered low tech, low budget, and low altitude to get ASAP info of what was happening on the battlefield.

RetroMechanix.com takes a look back at the construction and testing of the recon bird that was able to give the US Army and its allies critical info it needed to help win Europe in WWII.

Who Said the Black Knights Can't Fly?

Military.com takes a ride along (or is it a fly and jump along?) with the US Army's Black Knights.  I still think there is no good thing about jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, but these guys do it over and over again.

Someone please tell my wife these guys are pros, and she should leave the sky diving to the pros.  Either way, mad props to these guys for their stones and dedication.

QOTD: Operation Proper Exit Challenge

What lies behind us and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
Ralph Waldo Emerson's poetic quote is certainly appropriate on Memorial day, especially when remembering the soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.  Their efforts certainly are efforts from within that respond to a much higher level of service for fellow man and the defense of liberty.  A soldier's combat death, no matter within what conflict is not something to be taken lightly, and today it is completely absent of a political prism.  Sacrifice for the good of the many is something that none of us can even begin to comprehend in this life.  Perhaps we will understand it when we see our heroes again in the next one.

While I am about to post this video here for your viewing, I emphatically encourage you to click through to watch it on YouTube in a quest to push it to 1 million views before the end of the year (as of this writting on Friday afternoon, it sits around 940 views).  Hell, there are plenty of viral videos that hit that number in less than a week, so let's make this one happen in the next month!

The reason for my grotesque level of goading?  Simple.  Local radio personality Mark Zinno is a member in the Maryland National Guard who is currently in theater and wanted the help of listeners to hit 1 million views.  If that happens, he has pledge to put up $1,000 of his own hard earned combat pay to the Wounded Warrior Project.  He plans to be back by the year's end but as said above, let's not wait that long.

While I can't manage to match that generous gift personally, I can pledge a few bucks to a worthy cause as we go into this Memorial Day if it helps entice you to share the word with your friends and family.  So, please, watch the video, click through to YouTube, and let's help Major Zinno and all of our vets as we remember those who have give us their lives in defense of freedom. 





I hope you can all do a little bit while partying and enjoy burgers and beer this weekend to help out our military and their injured.  Most importantly, let us all be a bit somber at a few points this weekend to remember the fallen, those who laid down their lives in defense of freedom.

29 May 2011

SHTF List & a Thought for Twister Victims

We should ALL be better preppers!  (Full disclosure, I am guilty of not being as prepared as some people out there, but certainly not in the bottom 50%).

In light of all the twisters lately, I'm sharing this list that I happened across eons ago.  The top 100 items to disappear first in a national emergency.  Needless to say, I've got some catch up to do.

 Today has been a busy day between blogging, reading the news, actually being productive at work, and day dreaming about the weekend.  It was very easy to get caught up in listening to talk radio (and then some Jawaiian Music) and just kinda bypass our fellow citizens afflicted by some huge natural disasters.  My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected by the tornado outbreaks of the last few weeks.  I cannot imagine the pain and suffering some of you are going through.  I hope you find solace and comfort in the support of your friends and family, and the generosity of the American people. 

QOTD: Marine Whoop Ass Style!






One thing is for certain, that Marine deserves a beer (or two)!  I hope to see him run for office one day, and slap some silly liberal/hippies around like this (because of the the Trumpified language)!  Look, average Joe six pack (meaning me, and people like me) appreciate this kind of speak.  It's raw, it's real, and it certainly takes balls, and yes, even patriotism to speak it.  That's America in a nutshell, someone with the sense, the guts, and the passion to lay the wood.  HooooRaahh!  Well put! 



H/t to Trevor Loudon.

28 May 2011

QOTD Double Bonus: Freebie Love!

Yeah!  It's happy brown truck of joy day!  Your mount goes out today!  I'll send you a tracking number when I get it out.
Freebies are awesome!  Especially when it comes out of a semi-bet with an upstart company.  More on the back story after the introduction.

That company is RS Regulate; a new accessory manufacture for AK variant firearms (and what ever else comes from the upstart).  So, shipping out to me today is the RS AKM, side rail mount that accepts 30mm optical red dots while also allowing for the optic to be centered over the bore, AND provide a lower 1/3 co-witness of the factory irons!  How bad assness is that?!

I've followed this product's development for approximately 5 months now, and when designer / company owner made me a bet that he'd have this mount on the market for my February birthday, or my first was on him, he certainly pulled through.  When a company believes in its product so much before the end user ever gets to put their hands on it, it says a lot!  I can wait to get this thing in my hands, and mounted up!

So, mad props go out to RS Regulate!  You can find their products shipping from AIM Surplus or Brownells.  If you want the development stuff, check out this thread on ARFCOM.

Author's Note:  As I mentioned here I've been slacking and I have actually received my mount.  I'm hoping to get it installed this weekend and get it sighted in and shoot some with it.  Hopefully I'll even get some pictures and an initial review.  I must apologize to RS Regulate's owner for being a bit back logged.  He has been nothing but "all world" when we first started conversing.  Had he not been true to his word, I would have been shelling out the cash for this product myself as it seems true to the AK design; simple, effective, and rugged.  I'll keep you readers posted with initial impressions and round counts.  

QOTD: Constitutional Senility

It is wrong to use some constitutional provisions as spring-boards for major social change while treating others like senile relatives to be cooped up in a nursing home until they quit annoying us. As guardians of the Constitution, we must be consistent in interpreting its provisions.
Judge Kozinski had that to say from his dissenting opinion rendered from the 9th Circus' decision in the Nordyke case.

My question is, why can't all judges write opinions like this?  We libertarians and conservatives feel this way, how hard is it for judges to express their thoughts in "normal" commoner language?  It certainly would make decisions easier (and more fun) to read, but the best part is that this is the kind of language that sets jurisprudence for years to come.  Can anyone imagine Scalia writing something like this into a majority opinion to screw with the libtards for decades to come?  Two words...last laugh.

BATFE Multi-Rifle Reporting Comment Period

Comment period for the BATFE's multiple rifle sale reporting requirement ends on Tuesday May 31st.  If you have not done so (or even if you have), click here to oppose this illegal executive action.

If the BATFE can't track guns THEY let slip into Mexico, why should we trust them with information regarding our citizens?

Naval & Coastie Impact of Climate Change (Read, rUn FoR tEh H1LLs!)

I'm assuming you haven't heard that there is a recession (or great correction), two active wars, and now a third conflict, all the while our fearless leader actually did something militarily productive (get OBL), but you should run for the hills now while there is still a chance.  Oh, and when you arrive upon the hill, contact your Congressman and Senators and demand funding for a Navy installation or a Coast Guard facility. 

The lunacy of global warming (errr, climate change) is now becoming a concern about its impact (or realistic non-impact) on strategic national defense.  This according to the National Research Council and projected in the Military Times from 3/10/11 (yeah, I know it is way over a month old).  Heaven forbid that the Goreacle can't save us from the rising sea levels by 2030 and great floods ruin bases like Norfolk, San Diego, or Kodiak!  It would be TEOTWAWKI!  RUN!  SAVE OUR NAVY!  SAVE OUR COAST GUARD!

Or, do what I did a couple weekends ago and grab a fishing pole, a good boat, go fishing, and wave at the friendly Coasties as they patrol our territorial waters and perform safety checks, Homeland Security, and (hopefully not on me) rescue operations.  I mean, I'd much prefer for the sea to come to me (and the non-existent maritime base in my backyard) than for me to go to the sea.  After all, that's just how the earth has turned for billions of years ya know!  Why change now?

27 May 2011

The People vs. Goldman Sachs: The Tabbi Effect

If you aren't familiar with Matt Tabbi, let me just put him into the category of one of the best journalists on the face of the planet.  While I may not agree with his political views, he certainly does a good job of writing articles based on facts, and reporting ONLY those facts.  He even drops an F-bomb here or there.  What's not to like? 

His latest full length article was released a few weeks ago in the May edition of the Rolling Stone magazine.  Entitled The People vs. Goldman Sachs, Tabbi details all of the egregious illegalities perpetrated by the investment bank (and its brethren).  If you have 10 pages of printer paper, I suggest that you read this article.  You will find it quite shocking. 

Bank Reforms too Complicated to Work

Do any of these reforms seem complicated to you?  Yeah, me too.  Fortunately for us (for now), they are proposed for our British friends across the pond, but to me there is clearly a simpler solution; one the central bankers meddlers would absolutely hate.  A gold standard. 

It's so easy and simple, it's almost painful!  It's also endorsed by our Constitution...imagine that?  The Constitution promoting not meddling?  Que Guinness Guys!

Discrediting the Fed

Mark Steyn (self proclaimed undocumented anchor man as a fill for Limbaugh, and author of America Alone) had an excellent editorial on the Fed, the beltway mantra, and the policy impact upon an accelerating collapse of the US economy.  Also, he throws in a simple man's essay of explaining the debt ceiling debate.

What spurns Steyn's article?  It seems as though some of the beltway baboons (no offense to baboons) take great offense to the members of congress whom refuse to do the bidding of the Turbo Tax Timmy and the Bernake's ologarch orders.  Those reps in congress are "financial terrorists," according to some hack from the Bush 1 admin:
The people who are threatening not to pass the debt ceiling,” he said, “are our version of al-Qaeda terrorists. Really."
I guess that makes over 70% of the American people financial terrorists since they don't support a debt ceiling increase?  AWESOME!  I've always wanted to be on a government list! 

This Author is a Slacker!

Yes dear reader, I've been a major slacker.  I was in a writing mood a few weeks ago, and then blogger decided to go Tango Uniform and eat posts...(DAMN YOU GOOGLE SKYNETS!).

So, that said, I spent some time last night getting some posts in order and they'll be going up in small releases...some stuff is dated, some stuff is new and recent.  Don't like that I'm late on discussing stuff?  Well...entertain yourself here. (Joking of course).

No dear reader, I hope you understand, I am mostly a one man show.  Sometimes, burnout happens.  I envy those other bloggers I read and follow that are able to put in effort day in a day out.  So thanks for sticking with me here and there, and for your patience. 

QOTD: Pay Discrepency

The point is, the dollar is going down. Over the short term, I don’t know…but certainly over the long term. As it is, a tollbooth operator in the state of Massachusetts earns more than a person with a master’s degree in computer science in Beijing. And the fellow in Beijing works 12 hours a day…and gets almost no benefits.
Discrepancy in pay certainly is a major problem of the current economic crisis.  We can say the same about our CEOs of major corporations in this country that their salaries are very disproportional to the earnings of the company, the amount input that they have (or chose to put in), and their employees'.

While no man should ever be limited by laws (or more precisely, taxes) on the amount of wages one can earn, we must realize that the market does set the fair wage, inclusive of the inherent risk in the currency with which the wage is paid.  The problem with pay discrepancy is that it will always find equilibrium; which means that through inflationary burn, debt enslavement, the burden of government, and high unemployment, the wages of average workers in the United States will not have upward pressure.

All the more reason to reform Washington, end the Federal Reserve, and prevent the meddlers from meddling with our currency.

12 May 2011

QOTD: Turtle Harness Racing

So we are watching two horses round the clubhouse turn, gotta keep watching them to see if one pulls ahead of the other.  Actually, it's more like harness racing, but with turtles.
As various Maryland Shooters members watch the threads pertaining to the challenges before our legal system with regards to public RKBA, member SkunkWerx had that to say about the quickness (or lack thereof) of the process. 

I'd say he is spot on!

11 May 2011

QOTD: Get up, Stand Up!

I don't stand for the black man's side, I don' t stand for the white man's side.I stand for God's side.
Often times, the Google Trends gadget I have on my home page makes me shake my head in disgust at the ignorance of my fellow humans.  Fortunately, Skynets (aka Google) isn't doing that today, and it made me see that one of the best musicians of all time had an anniversary today (that of his untimely death).
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!
The singer I am referencing is of course Bob Marley (as today marks 30 years since his death).  Certainly, Marley is not an individual that I would agree with in every facet of life, but he did understand nobility, integrity, freedom, and rights.  Those are personal characteristics I have to admire!

Rest Peacefully Bob, and know well that your music is still delivering the goods to this day.

ETA:  WaPo Blog Post here (and you should know how I hate the WaPo) has a nice write up on the Jamaican National Hero.  



10 May 2011

Zero Tolerance = Zero Brains

What happens when you mix liberalism and political correctness with education, and add in a pinch of zero tolerance for good measure?  You have quality, student athletes getting suspended for lacrosse stick repair tools, more commonly known as pen knives, multi-tools, and lighters.

I wish I could say that this story was an isolated incident to our wonderful leftist state, but unfortunately, that is not the case as it follows a national trend of zero tolerance policies lunacy.  Darwin would NOT be proud! 

The short version summary (full version read above on the initial link) is that two students were suspended after a search of their lacrosse bags failed to yield alcohol (as was suspected), but did net one pen knife (apparently a concealed deadly weapon warranting a 17 year old's arrest) and one lighter (apparently an "explosive" device).  Would someone please beam me up to the starship Enterprise, because this shit is not out of left field, it's pure moonbattery! 

What happened to common sense?  Are humans incapable of adjudicating rules, intentions, and mistakes in conduct that run afoul of prescribed ethics or actions?  So much so that two young men face the potential black mark against their educational careers that could alter their lives, permanently.  And for what reason?  Simply because they are victims of playing a sport that requires using tools that ordinary, common citizens use every day of their lives!?  I mean, holy-hell, a concealed deadly weapon as a minor in school could land the one player in jail for three years (and thus disbar him of his 2nd amendment civil rights)!  Anyways, not the point I'm trying to make here (at least, not about firearms and civil rights).

The lack of educators to reason and critically think through consequences for a student's misguided (or misinformed) actions, is reprehensible on its face, but it is rooted in a poor policy of rights suspension.  Once those kids step foot onto school grounds, they are bound to forfeit their rights prohibiting unreasonable search and seizure.  All it takes is for one high school advisory with a vindictive nature to "accuse" a student of carrying contraband in their personal belongings and initiate an investigation, thus subverting their civil rights  and potentially landing them into this kind of a mess.  We try to teach high schoolers civics (well, they claim to "attempt" to teach it), yet school policies themselves are totalitarian in nature and reinforce "police state" to the minds of our impressionable citizens. 

Not only is this asinine, it is archaic and tyrannical.  If minor children are required to behave like citizens outside the classroom, then they should be treated as such from within the classroom, including access to their civil rights and a comprehensive "student justice system" that can properly adjudicate the injustices and inequalities that come with human behavior.  Ignorance is no excuse, but neither is a failure in compassion or morals.  Perhaps we just need to have some teachers with better sense and more balls to stick up for the rights and actions of quality human beings!

I can personally speak from a situation where I understand what has happened to these two young men.  At current, I am aged 29, and this short story is probably 20 years removed from my memory, but it is a lesson that I am able to recall to this day quite clearly.  Growing up in a rural area, it was nothing for youth to hunt with their fathers (in this case it was dove season, so say between Labor Day and mid to late September).  After spending an afternoon hunting with my father on a Saturday, I attended school the next week and wore the same camo jacket.  Obviously, as September weather changes quickly in Maryland, the jacket was that of convenience on a chilly morning, and I did not even notice the 20 gauge shotgun shells (loaded) that remained in its pockets, until I was already at school and the day was 1/3 or better gone. 

Now, mind you, as a 3rd grader, you run into a very difficult situation.  You know you have broken a school rule, and you have two choices.  Either cop to the fact that you made a mistake, purely out of accident and you have no means (gun) to fire the shells, nor the intention to do it anyways, or tell no one, keep the shells in your pocket, hope you don't get caught and correct the mistake by telling your parents (or no one) once you get home.

Having been raised to be honest, I chose to cop to the mistake in school, to my 3rd grade teacher.  Her punishment?  Nothing.  Absolutely zip, zero, zilch, nada, nothing!  That's right, she told me to keep the shells in my pocket, tell no one, take them home and make sure they never came back; and that was exactly what I did.

So, I can't image things have changed that much in the last 20 some odd years, that the same reasoned thinking by our teacher level educators (and the administrators as well) couldn't come up with a better solution to the initial story.  Though, for that to be the case, that would mean that teachers and administrators might have to think outside their lib-progressive box, and admit their policies are wrong. 

First rule of politics (and everything socialism) never admit failure or defeat. 

New Posts Are Coming...

Dear readers, I'm assuming you've noticed the pattern.  I have energy to post, and blitz you into education submission, and then fall off the face of the earth for a bit. 

Frankly, lately, all the news has been so horrid, I have not had the motivation to write.  So, this week, you will see some new posts, with new material, along with old dated news items.  Throw the Maryland Monday and Finance Friday topic days out the window, while I try to publish things I've wanted to write.  We'll get back to a "format" once the back log is done. 

A personal note...I missed out on the NRACon and wish I had been there.  Hopefully the next time it comes back east (or into a State that I'd like to travel to), I'll block out my schedule to make it. 

So, hello and welcome back! 

02 May 2011

Bin Laden: USA After Action Report

The following is purely opinion, but one that I find needs to be written.

1 May 2011, 22:45
FLASH TRAFFIC:
BIN LADEN, DOA.
REPEAT, BIN LADEN, DOA

That was the news last night around 10:30 EDT, and man was it some good news!  I admit, I partook in staying up until the early hours of Monday, gaining a sense of the speculation by the MSM (mostly wrong as they fondled themselves to talk up Obama and to beat their competitors to the punch) and the reaction to the speculation by the people in the streets (and to a lesser extent, the country).  Now that the reaction has died down, and the details have emerged, I find it prudent to express a few more sentiments to support my Tweets from last night (read them via the panel on the home page).

As the day has progressed, I've listened to the talking heads, I've read the retail news outlets, and the blogosphere, and even listened to talk-radio callers fornicate over this great success.  Unfortunately, that opinion will not be seen here.  Yes, undoubtedly justice has been served, and that is great news (without any discount).  Great credit should be given to the nameless and tireless work done by the grunts, the SpecOps, the Spooks and the intel-guys (and gals) who have spent countless man-years (not man-hours), attempting to piece together the mouse crumbs left by, perhaps, the most illusive man on the (then) face of the planet.  The preceding sentence should be interrupted as a resounding and major Kudos to those who have given their lives or put their lives in harms way to make the past 36~48 hours (and several prep months before) a resounding success.  The .mil and .spook folk "done good" and get a major "atta boy!" 

So shall I now begin my qualification of the whole thing; I am not celebrating, and I refuse to celebrate.  While this is America, and I would be a bit of a hypocrite to prevent anyone from freely expressing their emotions, ideas, and expressions, I would call these people fools for acting out the celebration one witnessed last night.  My reasoning?  Simple.  Celebrating the death of one individual (a spiritual figurehead of an Islamic militant movement) does not win the War on Terror.  There are many whom still wish our citizens and soldiers dead, and further wish our way of life to die a death with which will banish it for perhaps a thousand years (historical reference to be written tomorrow).  Further, celebrating the death of humans is not something even great soldiers wish for (namesake of this blog included).

The celebrations I witnessed last night on TV make us as civilized (or barbaric) as our foe.  I don't condemn them, but it certainly speaks to how bin Laden's legacy has truly affected our country.  As I write what follows this sentence, please realize that I absolutely HATE this analogy, but it must be made.  We, as a country, did not celebrate the death of one despotic dictator (Hitler) until the War was officially over, and our troops were brought home to march in armistice parades.  Today, that is not happening.  Today, the WOT continues, and today, the war against an idea continues. 

Ideas supersede martyrs, and wars supersede soldiers (and generals).  While I will leave our military actions and interventions to another day's debate, let me continue by saying again, history has been made and this is great news.  The families affected by 9/11 have some closure, and closure is certainly welcome for human benefit.  Yet let us as a united people not look towards our political leaders for this success, and let us not look at our foe for the status that will surly be lauded upon him.  Freedom resides within the hearts and minds of man and I encourage the intelligent readers to remember exactly this and discuss it with their family and friends.

I would hope that as our country moves forward, we take this "battle" win, and learn from it.  Perhaps this small, tireless effort to bring justice will be the next step in the War on Terror, and thus shape the battle field away from the protracted natures we have found ourselves in.  I pen this as a wish of mine, for the people o the front lines, as well as our country whom tires here at home of extended engagements.  Though, the last thought in all of this is that we, the American People, know how to fight.  We are not weak, and we will always be resolute for justice and that freedom based upon that justice within our society.  Of course, we encourage the entire world to join us in this endeavor, but it is up to the citizens of other countries to make this happen. 

To sign off...ObL, you have lost the battle, you have lost the war.  Regardless of the political leadership's imperial policies, the people realize what freedom means, and we realize what justice means.  We have served justice, and unfortunately for you, it was not vengeful (for the most part) but righteous.