Argghhh! The Home Of Two Of Jonah's Military Guys..: February 27, 2005

March 5, 2005

Argghhh!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I say to you, Mark Wilson, someone you should have known.

The citizen, 50 year old Mark Wilson, was one of the two people murdered. As CNN reported, �Everyone here agrees, Wilson saved lives.� Fox News' website quoted the sheriff as saying "if it hadn't been for Mr. Wilson, [Arroyo's son] would be dead."

The whole story is here.

Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �

I wonder if CNN's belated acknowledgement of Mr. Wilson may be a case of "once bit..." since John Lott's article noting that less than 26% of stories at the time he wrote even mentioned the man - even if Lott was using it as a sort of compliment by saying he would have expected even less notice.

posted by John Anderson on March 6, 2005 12:27 AM

Well, there, you see? this was the first time that I had heard that side of the story. I assumed that Mr. Wilson was a plainclothes cop or something.

Bets that Wilson was carrying a 9mm or something even lighter?

posted by Lucius Severus Pertinax on March 6, 2005 1:01 AM

This is the first time I've heard this side of the story, and it is humbling. Thanks for posting it, John.

posted by AFSister on March 6, 2005 2:46 AM

Slap me silly. First time that I heard about Mr. Wilson; though it doesn't surprise me.

Do you all remember the shooting at the Law School in Grundy VA, about 3 years ago? A similar thing happened. Once the fiend went postal, many of the students there rushed to the trunks of their cars and promptly availed themselves of their deer hunting rifles (this happening in the middle of deer hunting season). It was this posse of citizens charging at him, that subdued him without further bloodshed.

Thanx John

posted by Boquisucio on March 6, 2005 9:21 AM

Sorry, Lucius, you'd lose that one. If you google it you can find a few articles that mention he carried a .45. Unfortunately, the idiot with the AK had on armor.

Still, the cops credit him with keeping the body count and the number of wounded down.

posted by Barb on March 6, 2005 9:27 AM

a .45? that must have been SOME body armor.
I dont want to come across as denigrating what was, in fact, a noble effort.

I just wish Mr. Wilson, for his own sake, had equipped himself with something with rather more authority.

posted by Lucius Severus Pertinax on March 6, 2005 10:23 AM

Lucius,

Your garden variety Level IIA Vest will stop a .45 230gr. FMJ. For all its Smacking Power, the .45 is comes up short in penetrating a hardened target.

posted by Boquisucio on March 6, 2005 10:43 AM

Of course, none of the stuff I found had details about how many times Mr. Wilson hit his target. Hard to speculate on what he was trying to get. As you say, it was a noble effort, and a shame he didn't drop the guy before being cut down.

Can you imagine the way the papers would have run with it if he HAD made a quick kill shot to the head or similar, though??

posted by Barb on March 6, 2005 10:47 AM

A few years ago in Texas, a woman left her gun in her car because the restaurant she was taking her parents into had a no guns allowed requirement. When a guy started shooting her parents she was unable to save them.

posted by Walter E. Wallis on March 6, 2005 4:53 PM

The gun nuts among the bloggers have been all over this from the get-go. See www.geekwitha45.blogspot.com. It has pictures of the memorial service, showing that Mr. Arroyo not only angrily murdered a bunch of folks, but parked next to a fire hydrant to do so. (gun laws, traffic laws, murder laws, who cares if yer crazy mean)

If you scroll down a bit and read some of the comments, I betcha you'll learn a lot. One of the commenters is someone who knew Mr. Wilson.

Kevin at smallestminority.blogspot.com also has some posts on that.

The woman at the cafeteria was Susanne Gratia Hupp, who *knew* she coulda got the bastard when he stopped to change mags, facing away, when *whoops* "Oh no, left gun in car to obey law!"

posted by Justthisguy on March 6, 2005 6:45 PM

Lott's numbers are bogus. Details here.

posted by Tim Lambert on March 7, 2005 4:24 AM

Tim, thanks for pointing that out, though it doesn't undermine my basic premise... driven by my former cop and retired soldier self prejudices - people who move *to* the sound of the guns in an effort to do right, even if they are not fully successful, should be honored for taking an active interest and involving themselves.

Of course - the former cop in me also wants them to stop when I go *finally* get there, if only because in an urban, non-military gunfight, it can be hard to identify who the truly bad guys are.

Just curious - are you a regular visitor, or were you just surfing by to spread your "Lott is a sloppy researcher too driven my his agenda" message? Don't take that as critical - it's not - both sides are so driven by their agenda that sorting out bias from data is a challenge.

posted by John of Arghhh! on March 7, 2005 7:00 AM

This Is A Test. If This Were Someone Who Knew What He Was Doing...

Kevin, at The Smallest Minority has been debating Mr. Lambert for what seems like *years* on the gun rights issue.

Does that link work?

posted by Justthisguy on March 7, 2005 11:57 PM

Yay! It worked, JTG. Yes, Mr. Lambert seems to spend his time fighting the gun owners and grabbers... but from what I've read of his stuff, he comes down on the left side of the issue, in the end - stark, rigid controls and limited choices are what he would allow. By the way - if you add the 'bold' tags to the highlighted text, the links stand out more!

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 8, 2005 7:21 AM

John, I agree that Wilson should be honoured and I don't think there was anything in my post that suggested otherwise.

After I wrote my post criticizing Lott's piece I used Technorati to find other posts linking to it. Lott isn't just sloppy, he's dishonest -- I think that is one of the few things Kevin Baker agrees with me about.

posted by Tim Lambert on March 9, 2005 12:49 AM

� Dismissed, Soldier!

by John on Mar 05, 2005 | Gun Rights

Since I'm busy with computer issues today...

I'll leave you with this video. Watch closely. The Armorer thinks there is a problem with this particular approach, that is visible in the video. Lemme know what you think I'm talking about - or just your comments altogether!

Castle Denizens - this weapon will be available to play with at the party tonight.

Click here to view the video. If you are coming in dial-up, you probably want to right click and save as.

Hat tip to SangerM for the video!

Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �

So, uh...How much for the new weapon? Can I get one this week?
Nice piece. What were the differences in loads? Are there examples of the target?
Thanks for your good work.

Dan Patterson
Arrogant Infidel
Winston-Salem, NC

posted by Dan Patterson on March 5, 2005 10:34 AM

Two things: a quicker loading system for the magazines would be nice. And, the problem that you are probably referring to: shooting from the hip looks cute on film, but you don't hit anything that you're aiming at when you do it... Have fun with it though.

posted by Dr_Funk on March 5, 2005 11:04 AM

I take it the drum magazine is legal?

posted by Instapilot on March 5, 2005 11:41 AM

Except for the hip shooting thing, I'm good with it. And I want one!

posted by Nate on March 5, 2005 11:42 AM

That'd play he*l in the dove field! :-o

It's a shotgun so shooting from the hip is no problem. From the length of the barrel the choke is at least a modified so it will hold pattern out past fifty. If it's intended to shoot buck then it's probably a full and will hold range for a considerable distance past fifty.

Other than the fact that it is a shotgun I can't see where your scruples come in John. Spray and pray? With that much firepower in close combat there wouldn't be time for much prayin'! ;-)

posted by JarheadDad on March 5, 2005 2:30 PM

I see the prob- no bayonet lug! Good eye, John ;) Looks like a good room-clearer. A bit clumsy on the mag change, but it's not a weapon designed for sustained firing (beyond that drum)

posted by Neffi on March 5, 2005 2:54 PM

Like, WOW- that is sooo KEWL! Sanger found a video of someone using one of those "round bullet thingies". OMIGOD!

Actually, it is pretty darn cool... Can I play with it later?

posted by AFSister on March 5, 2005 3:43 PM

Yes, of course you can, ZoomieSib.

Does anyone besides me not feel a little uncomfortable with the amount of flash *inside* the receiver?

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 5, 2005 4:53 PM

Auto loading shotguns have that problem- its a matter of the physics being different from that of a regular rifle or pistol cartridge pushing a solid projectile. A shotgun load doesn't produce the gas-seal you need for an efficient gas operated action... this is why the slide-action shotgun is still in use as a combat weapon- when every other military firearm in the world is auto or semi-auto- it's reliable in function. Auto-loading shotguns are fine for doves but when the chips are down serious shotguns still rely on manual reloading actions... (with a few exceptions).
And while the demo flick was impressive in a showy way, any serious guy in that line of business will tell you that the proper tool for the job is a 3rd generation SMG (MP5 for example). Compared to a 12 gauge shotgun, the operator can carry three times the ammo load and maintain accurate burst-fire, with much greater penetration than any shotshell load to boot.
The combat shotgun has it's place but the one in the video is in a sense a 'toy'- flashy and fun on the range... that's my humble opinion and with $3 it'll getcha a Starbucks ;)

posted by Neffi on March 5, 2005 7:43 PM

Load 'er up with slugs and it's just the ticket for clearing those annoying Bambis from the tonier gah-dens up in Princeton.

"Oh, Reggie, they're at the gardenias again..."
"Don't fret, Cissy, the RonCo� Deer-O-Matic� is readily to hand."

[*ties red pseudo-regimental tie around head, slaps a drum into the sanger-banger, kicks open the ornate front door and leaps outside*]

"A-DREE-ENNNNNNNN!! I'M COMIN' FOR YOUUUU!!!"

posted by cw4billt on March 7, 2005 7:28 AM

cw4billt,

It has been a spell since I've had good venison. Mind if I can have some? I don't mind spitting a couple of OO's here and there. Besides the impart a good source of iron and zinc, and tenderizes the meat to boot. What's not to like.

posted by Boquisucio on March 7, 2005 6:19 PM

Dr. Funk,
with that thing loaded with #4 buckshot, you don't have to aim.....

posted by Keith Khan on March 11, 2005 7:07 AM

� Dismissed, Soldier!

by John on Mar 05, 2005 | Gun Pics

March 4, 2005

Some people don't want cell phones to be 100% reliable...

...Like EOD technicians in Iraq and elsewhere. From a source (thanks, man!) in the EOD community-

Guys, One of the fellows who just came back from Iraq gave me the attached photo. He told me that the tech placed a charge for a blow in place. When he went back to conduct a post blast and discovered the cell phone. It is a genuine photo and demonstrates majority of what the tech's are encountering.

What's he talking about? Missed calls. Like this: click here.

Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �

Isn't this an opportunity? Why doesn't someone just cause every cell phone in Iraq to ring every so often. It would be irritating but might make this method of IED construction less popular. And if the cost of IED's is raised (either in cost or the skill level of the bomb technician) won't there be fewer of them?

Or, alternatively, it should be possible to ring every cell phone in a given cell.

posted by Dave Schuler on March 4, 2005 8:39 AM

Good points, Dave. I hadn't thought about that. Anybody got ideas why it *wouldn't* be a good idea?

Triticale - don't you work in the industry?

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 4, 2005 8:50 AM

In this case, I'd say that the detonation mechanism wasn't working. Loose lead or something miswired. The missed call meant the phone got the call, it just wasn't answered.

If I understand these detonators right, the speaker is wired to the detonator. When the speaker voltage (or the vibratory ringer) hits a given level, the detonator circuit gets a given voltage rise that trips that 4n35 powersupply transistor and you get your voltage for the detonator circuit via the transistor and the battery on the phone. The coil there is probably to get the voltage on the ring circuit the right level for what's running on the transistor's control circuit.

I'd bet that Red and black are from the battery and the white and black are from the speaker/vibrator motor.

It could have not gone off for the simple fact that it was left on ring vs vibrate.

posted by Montieth on March 4, 2005 10:49 AM

well it could be done, but it would be a whole lot of work to write the script. It might even be best to add a dedicated server to the MSC to do all the lookups and translations and requests. Nobody I could ask in the switch right now. I work in RF - my job is making sure the call gets from the cell to the mobile.

The photo is about to start circulating thruout the industry.

posted by triticale on March 4, 2005 12:40 PM

By the way, check the call log and return the missed call...

posted by triticale on March 4, 2005 12:42 PM

Much more interesting than the pix of the cellphone derringers that've been making security folks all over Europe very twitchy...

posted by cw4billt on March 4, 2005 12:46 PM

Unless the technologies changed since I was part of the cellular world it should even be easier than checking the call log

When a phone connects to a tower the tower sends the ESN to the switch from the BTS. The switch then ID's wether the account is a grey black or white account. Grey being an account temporarily discon'd (non bill payment etc), white a good account (your call goes thru) and black being a totally shut down account.

Then you are charged based on the usage the BTS collects.

By this you could identify how many other accounts the "user" (a given that its a false account) and you could then system ring all the users associated with that account (if they have multiple lines)

You can also "field test" the Nokia phones (if thats the primary overseas, They and Samsung are the foreign phone of choice but by no means the only phone.

But they had to test those phones at one point, so the switch can check to see where the phones, if they have been used, is the largest area of traffic by BTS ID.

Dunno if that info helps at all.

posted by BloodSpite on March 4, 2005 1:30 PM

I was referring to the phone's own call log - it would have the number the missed call came from. Sounds like you came from the business end; it didn't cross my mind to look at those records because billing isn't handled at this location.

Come to think of it, there must be an easy way to broadcast to every phone on a network. I recently got a smartcard update on all the phones I use.

posted by triticale on March 4, 2005 2:04 PM

Actually I came from the installation and coverage side. i worked with the RF Engineering to help set up coverage, and then actually helped get the Teams in the field to build towers etc.

Been a while tho LOL

Your right tho there should be a way to send a system broadcast, but the only way I know is a "feild test"

Theres a better term for that but I don't know it, basically we send a broadcast message to users in the network to test a BTS after bringing it online.

The phone doesn't actually ring but we can get "replies" from each phone in the coverage area and their status etc.

posted by BloodSpite on March 4, 2005 2:09 PM

Forgive the question from a point of ignorance, but if you wanted to make cell phones ring, does it need to be "rung" from the tower.

IOW, can a portable piece of gear spoof being the tower in order to cause cell phones to ring in a much smaller area than that covered by a tower.

posted by Christopher Horner on March 4, 2005 7:48 PM

Christopher - There are mini-cells. We call ours e-cells for some reason. Typically have an omni antenna rather than directional, and we install them in our retail locations if there isn't enough coverage there. You would need a bit of computer power attached to emulate the MSC, but the whole rig could be stuck in a corner of a Hummvee.

BloodSpite - Sounds like you were closer to the management side than I am. I deal with coverage and similar issues as an optimization tech; the realworld computerised equivalent of the "can you here me now" character. For one more week.

posted by triticale on March 4, 2005 10:47 PM

Yes, a system field test is what I had in mind. And, thanks, triticale, for mentioning mini-cells. Basically what I'm suggesting is two distinct things:

Periodic system field tests to discourage the use of cell phones as detonation control devices.

Mini-cells in Humvees to prove roads.

Additionally, aren't there damping devices?

IIRC Den Beste is a telephone guy. I think I'll pick his brain.

posted by Dave Schuler on March 5, 2005 9:19 AM

� Dismissed, Soldier!

by John on Mar 04, 2005 | Global War on Terror (GWOT) | Observations on things Military | This is no Sh*t!

March 3, 2005

It opens tomorrow...

...starring the Redlegs of my regiment, the 3rd Field Artillery, assigned to a division I'm an alumnus of, the 1st Armored. The fact that it is about Redlegs, well, hey, y'know.

Gunner Palace.

Watch them prove the old adage:

Artillery lends dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl.

It's not about the war - it's about the warriors. Around here, that's what's important.

If you missed the sneak peeks (like I did) - the trailers can be seen here and here.

SWWBO and I will be there. You should too. Support movies like this - that are about the troops, and not as much about the politics, of either side.

Photos except the tank and print are provided by -Palm Pictures/Nomados Film and are used with permission, heck, encouragement!

And no, I'm not getting paid for this. I'm a voluntary shill.

Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �

I got to see one of the previews (yeah!!). It was excellent--caused laughter, tears, and serious thought... The documentarian did a GREAT job just following the Soldiers around and allowing them to speak for themselves.

They're a great bunch of kids, and good Soldiers, too (to my inexperienced eye). As Blackfive has mentioned on his blog, watch for SPC Wilf. He's a riot!! :)

posted by Fuzzybear Lioness on March 3, 2005 3:26 PM

America IS the mystery Babylon that will be destroyed in a single hour. If the Bible is correct. Check it out at: http://aoresort.com/whyiraqcantbebaby1on.html.

In Jesus' Glorious and Holy name,
Dean Berry -- REAL American?

[Ed. Note: The Armorer strongly endorses this post by a refugee from other blogs, where he is variously known as "Nunya." Nunya did the Armorer a service by pointing out to him that he was a coward because he, a. hadn't been to Iraq or Afghanistan (other combat experience of the Armorer not counting) - and, because he hadn't been wounded the Armorer had no basis upon which to not think that much of John Kerry and his excuse for leaving Vietnam early. Anyway, go visit the site Nunya recommends and follow the advice contained therein. Note - don't copy and paste - click the link! Feel free to email Nunya and thank him.]

posted by Dean Berry -- REAL American? on March 3, 2005 4:11 PM

Um, Dean - this comment is relevant to the post it
resides on in what real way? Yes, the post is about a
movie about US soldiers in Iraq - but the whole thing
focuses on the soldiers, not Iraq-as-Babylon. It doesn't even specifically mention Iraq, much less Babylon.

This looks more like an advertisement for your book -
I generally prefer to be asked to be used as a
billboard than have people just drop in and put up
posters.

A little help here?

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 3, 2005 4:34 PM

I am glad I was able to see an advance screening because it is opening here in Tampa, at least not according to the website for Gunner Palace.
Go see it if you can!

posted by SFC SKI on March 3, 2005 4:56 PM

Huh. Ask Dean the question in email that I ask in teh comment - and I get back nothing more than "I know what I'm doing, Coward."

Heh. You're an Army of One at this point, Nunya.

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 3, 2005 6:23 PM

Let's see... me thinks that we have some tin foil to spare 'ere somewhere. Can we all pull together an make a pretty little hat for Dean?

Oh, and don't let me forget. Do we have some Ray-o-vacs to spare. I'm sure that we can render some lithium out of them.

posted by Boquisucio on March 3, 2005 6:41 PM

I missed the advanced screening here in Seattle, but I plan to see it as soon as I can!

posted by Barb on March 3, 2005 10:11 PM

I've seen Mr. Berry's comments at Chrenkoff's site as well.

Damn, movie isn't opening in Texas. Anywhere. Hope it reaches Houston.

posted by Patrick Chester on March 3, 2005 10:47 PM

Isn't Babylon in--Iraq? And isn't the only mystery connected with it concerned with where they found all those hanging planters before there was a Wal-Mart in the area?

Wait a minute. I may be thinking about Babylon 5...

posted by cw4billt on March 3, 2005 10:59 PM

Babylon is in that region. Babylon-5, is on the L-5 point between Epsilon 3 and one of it's moons. IIRC, the planet and moon are called "Tigris" and "Euphrates". (Why yes, I'm a Sci-Fi geek, how did you guess?) ;)

posted by Patrick Chester on March 3, 2005 11:42 PM

� Dismissed, Soldier!

by John on Mar 03, 2005 | Observations on things Military
� She Who Will Be Obeyed! links with: Must go out to dinner tonight!!
� The Gantry Launchpad links with: Go here. Read this. Then go watch the movie

Speaking of phosphor bronze...

JustThisGuy - ya mean, kinda like this?

Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �

by John on Mar 03, 2005 | Sub-machine Guns

March 2, 2005

Getting back to my roots.

In light of comments in the post below, it is obviously time to drag this thing back up into the light for all you not-long-time readers. This is just a periodic post for relative newbies to the site who don't realize the real reason I set this thing up was to share my collection with the world - and point out you don't know what the guy next door has in his basement... but that doesn't mean he's a nut. As the blog has morphed over time, now and again I've gotten a little too wrapped up in the politics and the war - and, well, yes, work, too - and I've strayed a bit from my roots. Well that and the great parties the Denizens throw in the comment sections now and again... Please don't stop, Denizens! It makes it fun when sometimes it's real work to maintain (fought off 1,780 spams today, for example... but 132 got through and had to be slain inside the Keep!).

With great hubris I too have made the mistake that many celebrities make - that my opinions on things political somehow matter more than others. Well, not really. This is more the equivalent of standing on a soapbox at "Speakers Corner".

Anyway - for you guys who are here because you heard that John of Argghhh! actually sometimes talked about guns and militaria - here's the navigation map to The Story So Far. They link to the appropriate archives by topic. I'm working a new post on the evolution of the Vickers Machine gun - but these things take time! In fact, here's proof - I have the collecting jones so bad that I actually tracked down this - an actual Australian Army inventory sheet - so that I could fill this (procured buck-nekkid empty three years ago) so that it looked like this.

Hi-res click here.

Anyway - here's some linkages to the discussions - where it says "The Arsenal" is a link to the photo-archive. (always available on the sidebar)

Rifles
Pistols
Sub-machine Guns
Machine Guns
Gun P0rn: A Naughty Expose' of the fiddly-bits.a>
Artillery
Grenades
Helmets
Ammunition
General Militaria
Guns by Nation

And, of course, there is always the direct link to the Imperial Arsenal itself!

Visitors should also note the following caveats:

Periodic Goblin Warning (SM)

As a service to Goblins who are considering Seizing The Arsenal (this excludes LE types: y'all come with a warrant, knock [no no-knocks, please, the front door is expensive], take what the warrant specifies and we'll talk about it in court - just please take care of 'em, you know, periodic cleaning, oiling, etc. They're used to being spoiled like that) here is a periodic warning on Why Trying To Steal My Collection Isn't A Good Idea.

Note to thieves trying to figure out where I live: Once you do that, you've got to get past the living interior and exterior guard, the security system (hint, cutting the phone and cable WON'T help), and finally, if I'm home - me. WonderWife (TM) v3.x is also right handy with the Winchester M97 trench gun. I like that one because it's handy, will blow you into large chunks, but not pass through the walls of the house to annoy my neighbors. Hardwood floors, so clean-up is easy. I'm a reasonable fellow, if you surrender meekly or run away, that will be fine. Not interested in killing or maiming anyone unless you are dumb enough to attack me or my family. The furry members count as family, BTW. Do that, then I will clean the gene pool. Plus guys, impressive as it looks, it's not as valuable as you might think - and it would be very hard to move, since you would be flooding the market. Not to mention the fact that every dealer within a (classified) radius would have a list of serial numbers and descriptions within 24 hours (ain't the internet great?). Oh, yeah - did I mention that robbing licensees is a federal offense? The feds don't go overboard after little stuff, but whacking this collection would likely garner their interest - so choose your accomodations! Plus 'bangers won't like these - the ones that look like they can shoot a lot - can't, and many of them won't work properly if you hold them sideways like they do in the movies.

So, go find an easier target, eh? No - better yet - get a real job that has better fringes.

Periodic Disclaimer for anti-gunners and law enforcement surfers (I don't mind you LE types) Heck, I don't mind the anti-gun types until they start trying to send LE types to take 'em away... here we go with the Periodic Disclaimer (TM):

Everything you ever see in photos here that I own is fully legal to own, federal, state, and local - WHERE I LIVE! Your mileage may vary, such as living in the Borg Collectives of California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, etc. Though ya might be surprised to find out what's legal where you live. I am a licensed collector (which isn't a license to collect, just to receive via the mails), and that only applies to curio and relic firearms. Fortunately, that's about all I want to own. On these pages I will from time to time share my toys, much like Kim du Toit does.

Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �

You know you are a long time reader of Castle Argghhhh! when: You can nearly recite word for word the Periodic Disclaimer for anti-gunner and law enforcement surfers. *grin*
posted by Boudicca on March 2, 2005 3:16 PM

And we appreciate our long-suffering Denizens! Even if you did skip the party yesterday!
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 2, 2005 4:33 PM

hmmm I see a transmission link for the '48 Studebaker coupe in one of those boxes, and a left-handed Veeblefetzer adjusting tool. And an inverted Tesla conjoining rod...
posted by Neffi on March 2, 2005 5:59 PM

So *thats* what those are. I wondered.
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 2, 2005 6:37 PM

You have dam good stuff, John- the Arsenal is muy impressivo those of us with 'a collection on a budget' are only jealous hehehe
posted by Neffi on March 2, 2005 6:49 PM

John - I like the Disclaimer, particularly the part about the furry members of the house being family! And on the soapbox thing - you are better than most any other 'moderated' forum (such as a radio talk show) for encouraging conversation and discussion on a wide variety of topics.
I hope the folks who come here mostly for gun pr0n don't feel that the occasional comment party gets too out of hand ;-)

posted by Barb on March 2, 2005 7:11 PM

Barb - as I told the one grumpy emailer... unlike radio and tv, he can just scroll past it!
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 2, 2005 7:13 PM

Well I haven't seen it before (and skimmed most of it anyway as I'm not planning a break-in or lawsuit anytime soon and have better things to do with my time than to turn you in to the feebs) so I don't mind.
posted by Cassandra on March 2, 2005 7:18 PM

I believe in the RKBA. Many many years ago when I was a young teenager (19), I was visiting some friends in CA. It was a hot midsummer night (well, in the south bay a heat wave was 80 degrees but I digress)and I was awake past midnight.
I heard some scraping and footsteps, and I barely turned my head to the window. What I saw froze my blood and I could not scream. I was paralyzed with fear. A man was at my screen window, with a knife, poised to cut his way in. Just then, my friends' dog
came around the corner, growling with deep anger and chased the intruder off. As soon as he was distracted, I rolled off the bed, low crawled to their bedroom and they were WAY ahead of me.
He had a .357 magnum and she had a .22 pistol.

He didn't want to tangle with the dog, but he just leaped the fence and was gone.

This perp came back twice more and the third time they fired warning shots into the ceiling. He took off and was never heard from again.

But that first night was my intro to personal safety. The next day, L taught me how to take apart a .45, and how to load and clean both a revolver and a semiautomatic pistol. He taught me to dry fire using a pencil until I got my glitch worked out and could hit the bull's eye.

N, his wife, is an excellent shot and well, even though I believe in the second amendment, I never worried about it until now.

That was for other people. Not anymore. I don't want my kids to have to worry about their personal safety, but I also don't want to them to be targets.

I don't have an arsenal, but I have some weapons and I know John would howl with laughter if he heard what they were. However, they mean responsibility to me and I take the 2nd seriously.

So, if any of the castle ladies pack some heat, share with this little old bug what you learned and why.

posted by Cricket on March 2, 2005 7:20 PM

And I concur with Barb - it's your blog - talk about what you want.

If folks come back, you know you're doing something right, neh???

posted by Cassandra on March 2, 2005 7:21 PM

I don't own a gun and have never felt the need to buy one, but if I lived somewhere where I needed one, I would like to think I could go out and buy one.

And I have no objection to others owning one.

I grew up with guns in the home (hunting rifles) and have fired one before. I'm not afraid of them - I just never thought of having one. I almost bought one once when the Unit was overseas, but the kids were too young to teach about safety and I was afraid they'd get into it and there would be an accident. At that point in my life I was in my early 20's and wasn't that careful 24/7 - my youngest boy wandered into a neighbors' bedroom once and picked up their pistol (which didn't have the safety on, by the way) and was loaded. I never forget that day. So it wasn't worth it, to me, after seeing my toddler with a loaded pistol in his hand. One second of carelessness is all it takes and I wasn't sure I had what it took to ensure their safety - my boys were curious and climbed like little monkeys.

But I know it's possible to be safe with guns in the home. I just didn't want the responsibility.

posted by Cassandra on March 2, 2005 7:28 PM

C'mon, Cassie... you know we try to gauge the crowd. We *need* our claques! But yeah, aside from a weak self-image that's pretty much how things run 'round here.
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 2, 2005 7:30 PM

...of course we're talking about a woman whose youngest boy unlocked her tool chest and drilled three little holes over his bed with her favorite push drill before neatly locking it back up again...

sigh...
posted by Cassandra on March 2, 2005 7:31 PM

Cricket - I never laugh at people's choices. I may not concur with them, but ya gotta work with what you can handle and what you can afford.

And treat 'em all as dangerous.
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 2, 2005 7:31 PM

Well, having seen the Arsenal and a portion of the disclaimer elsewhere, I decided to read it and go to the links.

Blogs are free speech. Iffen I don't like it, I scroll past. Here, though, the only things that make my eyes go out of focus is when the jet jockeys and chopper jocks start talking about lift and physics in relation to enemy identification and I think to myself: That is why they are paid the big bucks.
posted by Cricket on March 2, 2005 7:31 PM

Cassie - your experience with the pistol and the kid are important considerations. Congratulations on making the prudent choice for the situation.

Many people don't.

And I don't keep loaded weapons. That's my compromise.
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 2, 2005 7:38 PM

I think that's what played into it for me.

The only point for me in having a weapon was for protection. And if it was going to be any good, it kind of needed to be loaded - I wasn't going to have time to stop and load it if someone broke in.

But with small children around, I didn't want to keep a loaded weapon in my home. So it was rather a catch-22, since I was afraid I wouldn't be vigilant enough (others might, but I was afraid I wouldn't, given the inquisitiveness of my boys). And though I'm extremely conscientious about big things, I'm the kind of person who often leaves caps off things, so I just didn't think I ought to take that kind chance.

But if we ever move to the country where there are no police, I'll get a big dog and a gun in a heartbeat. It's the difference between feeling relatively safe and knowing you need to rely on yourself.
posted by Cassandra on March 2, 2005 7:53 PM

My pieces are loaded, always. I keep one in my bedstand, one in the bookcase near the front door, one in a hidden compartment in the Jeep, and I carry a Sig in a paddle holster (legally). But my kid is grown and gone away... my daughter (at UTSA in Texas) is a crack shot with a revolver and practices regularly. She is also thoroughly familiar with the TX laws regarding use of deadly force, and mature enough to pack the heat (years of training and exposure, courtesy her Old Man).
Obviously, this situation isn't for everyone... and might be unnecessary. But then- a convicted child molester just recently went on a rampage down the road in Denver, raping five women and children (known)in three days before being caught. I believe in being ready...
posted by Neffi on March 2, 2005 7:59 PM

What is it Bob Heinein said..."an armed society is a polite society"?

That always made me laugh.
posted by Cassandra on March 2, 2005 8:03 PM

HEINLEIN...

argghhh
posted by Cassandra on March 2, 2005 8:05 PM

Residing here at The People's Republic of Suburban Maryland, you hafta be coy about poking 158gr. of LRN's; even in the defense of your own home. Couple of months ago, a home owner in the same county, got prosecuted when a fiend broke into his own home. Thank God the jury saw the light and did not convict. No one should go through so much headaches, sleepless nights and legal fees trying to justify the defence of your own family.

At least I'm not 3 miles down the road in DC, where even peashooters are verboten.

John, thanks for reinviting me into your Armoury. 'Tis many moons since I poked my head into the nether cubbies of your collection. Thanx
posted by Boquisucio on March 2, 2005 8:29 PM

Sir, and Ma'am:
I do wish y'all would put a stouter door, and a better lock, on the likker locker. When the Maenads and Scruples get going, I just want to hide in a corner, having first grabbed a shiny pretty weapon to take apart and reassemble to distract myself from their shrieking and howling.

posted by Justthisguy on March 2, 2005 8:56 PM

JTG - noted, but it doesn't work. Bad Cat Robot gave the little weasels handheld Dimension Doors. Bill's working on a fix, but he used the wrong screws and the gizmos fell apart from the vibration due to the dancing.

Boqs - you pretty much just confirmed why I should post a variation on this post more often!
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 2, 2005 9:00 PM

Understood, Sir.

We have, I betcha, all of us, been wrongly screwed (morally, if not physically) at one time or another.

posted by Justthisguy on March 2, 2005 9:10 PM

Cricket - Both Hubby and I have handguns, not for any particular protection event, just 'cause. His 'n' hers handguns for protection, several rifles for hunting (which are going on the sale block soon, doubtful we'll hunt anytime soon with 'em), and shotguns for trap shooting.
Don't pack yet, in the sense of carrying concealed - because I want to take a class before I do. It's on the to-do list, though :-)
posted by Barb on March 2, 2005 10:31 PM

I have never been wrongly or badly screwed physically, as even bad is good.

Morally, I've been raped. No-lube, prison nightmare raped.

But I got over it. Though the perpetrator survived and prospered. The Multi-verse is a cruel mistress without conscience or care.
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 3, 2005 6:30 AM

� Dismissed, Soldier!

by John on Mar 02, 2005 | Gun Pics | Gun Pr0n - A Naughty Expose' of the fiddly bits | Gun Rights

Gun Pr0n

I'm busy, got something working I may get to later, depending on how work goes!

In the meantime, to tide you over. Gun Pr0n. The STEN Mark II, product of Messrs Smith and Turpin, at ENfield. Cheap, easy to make, simple, and remarkably reliable sub-machingun the Brits and Commonwealth forces used during WWII and beyond. I've fired both a STEN and all the major versions of Thompson guns - while I prefer the .45 cartridge to the 9mm, I vastly prefer the STEN as a weapon for ease of carry and use. So - given my predjudices on caliber, it's not surprising that I am such a fan of the US M3 Grease Gun.

Click the picture for hi-res. This shows the weapon with bolt forward.

Cocked.

Safe.

Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �

Interesting. The STEN and the PPSh were about the only two weapons I didn't see anybody carrying as a "personal protection device" in the Land of the Great Practical Exercise. The large expanse of sand trap might have had something to do with it, although I've seen pictures of Legionnaires (ca 1953-1954) carrying them through the elephant grass.
posted by cw4billt on March 2, 2005 8:10 AM

Far as I know, the STEN was pretty reliable in all conditions. The PPSh *has* been seen in the Sandbox this time around.

In the hands of Marines.
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 2, 2005 8:46 AM

Though it is in all probability a Chinese Type 50 - though the Chinese usually used the box magazine, so...
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 2, 2005 8:50 AM

I bow to those who successfully collect "live" weapon systems...
As a "Living Historian", I place a great deal of emphasis on protecting the public form itself. When I display weapons with my military vehicles, I use plastic replicas (should they be stolen, I sleep well knowing that nobody is going to do much damage with a little blue plastic BB, as opposed to a 5.56 NATO FMJ round...)
Towards that aim, I am always interested in finding the de-milled and replica versions of what John displays.
I heard, at one point, that there were de-milled STENs out there at pretty good prices. Any word on this?
Thanks for the continual education, PapaBlog!
posted by Sgt. B. on March 2, 2005 11:27 AM

I saw what was adverted as a STEN de-mil at a gun shop in south Jersey about five years back; turned out to be a replica (and a bad one, at that).
posted by cw4billt on March 2, 2005 1:21 PM

I live in Kansas - all of my stuff *is* demilled or dummy or DEWAT.

That's a dummy STEN, built to a very specific, ATF-approved design that allows a moving bolt (clever eyes will note there is no extractor) because it cannot be disassembled without cutting it up, and the bolt is incomplete so it won't strip a round (though you can't tell from this angle) and the barrel is fusion welded shut at the breech and welded to the trunnion so that it can't be swapped out. It was built exactly for re-enactors to carry around, without having to be concerned about safe storage and liability issues.

I don't own a shootable NFA weapon. If I lived 1.5 miles east, in Missouri, where I could own them... I would have a *much* smaller collection.

A dummy Vickers goes for about $1500. I don't know if there are any registered DEWAT Vickers. One of the 12 or so registered shooters goes for $25K or better. Even a semi-auto Vickers goes for $4-5K.

But it's obviously time to post a Periodic Disclaimer and cause people to go "Aw, I thought that sh*t was real, what a loser!" *and* for the ATF guys to go, "Damn, I thought we had an easy score there!" I'll opt for disappointing the ATF guys over making purists happy... as bass-ackwards as that may seem on first read.
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 2, 2005 1:25 PM

No worries here, your reputation is intact, for it is the knowlege of the firearms that is important.
I am harvesting resources for DEWAT and de-milled guns pertaining to WW2 to present...
The list of LIVE "pieces" are limited to an M-1 Garand, an M-14, an AR-15A2, and something in the small frame .45cal semiauto...
.50 cals will happen when I win the lotto, and, should that happen, I'll pay for all denizens to gather at the "Turkey Knob" shoot for a weekend of cap-busting!
posted by Sgt. B. on March 2, 2005 1:38 PM

Woo-woo! I'm down wit dat!
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 2, 2005 2:31 PM

In the meantime, if ye could keep a weather eye out for said DEWATs and de-mills, I'd sure like to hear about 'em...
posted by Sgt. B. on March 2, 2005 2:55 PM

I don't collect firearms, of either description, because it's not legal for me to do so without much bowing and scraping to assorted national, provincial, and local authorities. I used to know folks who could get me whatever I wanted on short notice (for cash only) but I haven't been hanging with that bunch for a long time now. I'm sure they, or their analogues, still exist, even up here in the gun-free world of Soviet Canuckistan.
posted by Nicholas on March 2, 2005 4:34 PM

What's interesting is - the deacts you can own in Canada have greater functionality than the ones we can own down here... but, in the right places, we can own fully functional ones.

You can't own an arguably historically significant Luger, because it has less than a 4" barrel... but I can - unless I live in NYC...

(cue Twilight Zone Music)

posted by John of Argghhh! on March 2, 2005 5:38 PM

And then there is the Sterling, lovely piece of kit. And you weren't expected to qualify on the "Fling at Target" relay.

Cheers
JMH
posted by J.M. Heinrichs on March 2, 2005 10:11 PM

Sterling? Ha! Just another wire-spring wonder! What I wanna know, is how much will I have to pay for a working Lanchester? Phosphor Bronze and Forged Steel! Fit for Sea Service! (or living in a closet in Southern Florida)

posted by Justthisguy on March 2, 2005 11:27 PM

I *do* like the Sterling, as well. Fun to shoot, though I *did* pinch myself folding the stock once.

The Owen is also an interestingly ugly spud of a subgun.
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 3, 2005 6:27 AM

Had a guy who wanted to sell me a "tanker" Garand (shorty) for what would have been a good price. It was a badly-cut-down plain vanilla M-1, and it looked like he'd hacksawed into the gas cylinder, too. Idiot.
posted by cw4billt on March 3, 2005 6:55 AM

There's a special place in Hell for blokes who try to pass off "garage hack-jobs" for the mil-spec modifications, and an even hotter place when they try to convince you that they are historically accurate...
posted by Sgt. B. on March 3, 2005 1:27 PM

� Dismissed, Soldier!

by John on Mar 02, 2005 | Gun Pr0n - A Naughty Expose' of the fiddly bits | Sub-machine Guns

March 1, 2005

*sigh*...

Just caught this on Countercolumn.

My response:

Oh, good lord.

Another guy with a hard-on for the fighter community. He would have sniped at the bomber guys if he thought they were getting all the money.

Look...I'm an attack pilot. I'll never be an ace--don't get any credit for ground kills, even though the return on investment is fairly high (kill 'em by the dozens, scores or hundreds vice one or two at a time). But I've never begrudged the fighter guys for wanting a better jet. The Raptor is, literally, an order of magnitude above anything in the air. Given the country's inability to take casualties that measure in the tens of thousands (theoretically at least--I'm so sure that's true, but let's say it is for argument's sake), being able to pursue an unfair fight is a good thing. The problem with the Raptor is Lockheed-Martin giving the American taxpayer the finger--it's more expensive than it has to be, as Eisenhower so presciently predicted.

The Army wants more lift. Fair enough. The airlifters want more lift. Fair enough.

Yeah, we have a paucity of strat and tac lift but compared to everybody else, we've got airlift coming out of our ears. Of course, that's a statistical slight of hand (if everybody else has zero, your one looks pretty good). I agree we need more lift but I'm not about to say it's the be-all/end-all project for the 21st century. Air is fast, but it's not good at carrying anywhere near what ships can carry. The statistics can be argued and there are good reasons for getting more...lots of good reasons. But to can the entire F/A-22 buy is sour grapes...and the way your reader puts it smacks of professional jealousy, if not downright unprofessional whining.

The guy's obviously had a beef since he found out the last g-suit he was gonna wear was during his last UPT T-38 ride (if, in fact he got one...I dunno if they even fly it anymore in the dual-track program). Let's be rational here. Is there anything out there that can touch the Raptor? No. But, um, I think that's the point. Would I have a heart attack if they bought even fewer F/A-22s and more C-17s? No. And, BTW, the Air Force is already looking at the follow-on lifter--AMX.

Besides, those F-15s that are going to escort his ass into less-than-totally-benign territory are getting old...real old. So, we can increase our capability in both arenas with balanced force recapitalization or we can chuck a whole future combat system that will save BOTH communities' crew lives.

John Jumper, CSAF, is no fool. He knows the value of lift. He knows the value of air refueling. He knows the value of TACPs, for that matter--rare in a four-star. But there are some things he's had to endure that he shouldn't have...like the tanker debacle. Does he think about lift...to paraphrase Team America, "F**k yeah!" Is he doing it to the degree the writer thinks he should? Apparently not. But I doubt it something JJ's going to lose sleep over.

I know Jumper personally. The man checked out in the Raptor because he could. He's the frickn' Chief of Staff--again, I refuse to begrudge anyone a good deal and, since his first duty day in the Pentagon after leaving Langley was 9/11/01 (yes, THAT 9/11), shoot--give him 10 rides in the damn thing.

Dude, you ain't flying fighters. Neither am I. Get over it.

Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �

Dude - never mind the email...!
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 1, 2005 6:34 PM

Dusty...

With apologies to Neptunus Lex, I'm inclined to gape with awe at the fighter jocks, but, as a grunt, my favor rests with the attack pilots...

Give me a sec and we'll work some CAS TOT time hacks and multi-line REPs...

Cheers!
posted by Sgt. B. on March 1, 2005 6:39 PM

Note to JTG (and others) CSAF is not the fantasy Confederate States Air Force... it's Chief of Staff, Air Force.

Just sayin'
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 1, 2005 7:05 PM

...if you can't achieve and maintain air superiority in the AO - via fighter interceptors- then all the lift in the world does you no good. The current inventory of F-14s, 15s, and 16s can do this job admirably- now. The question is, of course, what does the future hold? The geo-political equation in the world today seems kinda confusing... but I don't see anyone challenging American air superiority in the forseeable future. And that's probably the attitude of the Raptor nay-sayers- we can do it now, and probably for the next generation- so spend the money elsewhere. Short sighted? Probably- and that attitude has bit the US in the butt before... the Raptor program has great promise but the purse-strings are being tugged at by people with other priorities. I'm following the story...
posted by Neffi on March 1, 2005 7:21 PM

That was a fine rant wrapped in very articulate truth! Good job and thanks!

And BTW, in the late '70s I was an Armor guy in FRG, using Vietnam era everything--duck tape and commo wire holding it all together--and we just KNEW if the Russian ever attacked, we were just dead meat; and then one day at Graf, range 79 and adjacent ranges were put on cease-fire-freeze, 'cause some new planes were gonna come in and shoot after the cobras fired some TOWs, and we're all standing on the ammo dock or on 5-tons waiting, and the cobras were hovering downrange; and we start to hear this whoosh, and then all of a sudden these two cool-ass looking ugly airplanes flew overhead from just above the trees, really low, and then up into the air, then they turned over, then there was the most cool, most soul- satisfying sound I have ever heard, a long, low growl; and then the ground way down range ERUPTED! It was just the most awesome thing....

And we all just cheered and yelled, and jumped up and down.... See, we knew, then--right THEN--that we had been given some small chance! The A-10s were our planes, designed to kill tanks, and we all knew the Russians has LOTS and LOTS of tanks, and here was the most amazing thing!

I've never forgot that, or how good it felt to know that we just might have a chance... And of course, everyone knew all the stats for A-10s, 2100 or 4200 rnds a minute, twin turbofan engines, external landing gear to handle emergency landings, titanium bucket and etc... Me? Heck with fighters and lifters, just bring me more tank killers and AC-130s!!

-SangerM

posted by SangerM on March 1, 2005 7:40 PM

I've been out of the hauling community for awhile. Last time I was on a C-5 was 1996. At that time, the C-5 needed to be re-engined. They were not flying to capacity because they were under powered. The C-17 fixed a lot of problems. Flying the 141's was like being in a flight simulator...you knew something was going to go wrong on each hop, you just didn't know what it was going to be.

The fighter community is aging the same way. Raptor technology is already 10 years old. Sure, they're making improvements and continuing to tweak, but by the time you start mass producing aircraft, the design is already a decade old. So basically we're flying our fighter community with technology from the 70s. Yup, they re-engine those suckers any chance they can, money provided, but you can only do so much and your fleet is just flat out old.

You have to look at long term supportability of a fleet. You have to rejuvenate and keep up.

One community is not better than the other. You need Cargo like you need Fighter/Attack in a military. To eliminate the Raptor would be an error. Is it too much money? Perhaps, but right now we are flying everything we have and to expect that it will last forever is a fallacy.

posted by Boudicca on March 1, 2005 8:01 PM

Fighter pilots win dogfights, attack/bomber pilots win wars (or help to, anyways)...
On the other hand, not having a replacement in the pipeline when your equipment reaches rustout stage means you have no recourse to reducing your capability to act in your nation's interest. Next thing you know, you're Canada!
And no one wants that.
posted by Dr_Funk on March 1, 2005 8:02 PM

Sanger- what outfit in FRG? I was 3/7 Cav at Ledward Kasern, Schweinfurt from '78 to '80
posted by Neffi on March 1, 2005 8:15 PM

Neffi - I hit Nueremberg in 80... Dr. Funk - Fighter pilots win the airspace for the other guys.

Even back in the day.

The US tried bombers w/o fighters... just cost too much.
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 1, 2005 9:10 PM

Was at BMTA winter 79/80 when the Maveric missile IR seeker test was conducted. (B CO, 1-70 Ar) Home station WAB. being a hard termal target was intresting. I resolved from thar moment on that life sucks if you are the tank when the A10, or A7 or F4 rolled in to deliver that air mail package.
posted by mudpuppy1975 on March 1, 2005 9:39 PM

Neffi, I was in Erlangen, 1AD, 2/81 Armor '79-'80. Went back in '82 to Katterbach to 1AD, 501st MI then 501st ABC. Spent a LOT of time between Bayreuth and HOF on the Czech border, though I did get up to Coburg once. Funny, I was in the 1/7 Cav at Hood '74-75. Garryowen, eh?!

posted by SangerM on March 1, 2005 10:30 PM

A majority of our casualties now are doing grocery runs. We need to reappraise our procurement system. Front line weaponry should never be more than ten years old.

posted by Walter E. Wallis on March 2, 2005 7:54 AM

Walter E. Wallis - I can name you three Vietman-era weapons systems that would go a l-o-n-g way toward providing convoy security and reducing the incidences of ambush/IED, especially with upgraded optics...

1. OH-6A: Small, overpowered, sturdy, agile and--with an armed observer--hostile. Excellent all-around visibility and dirt cheap--comparatively speaking, of course.

2. UH-1M INFANT System: With ANVIS-6 or better, that's four pair of eyes scanning the route at night, and in the daytime, skip the NVGs. Side-scan's the best way to acquire objects worth investigating--or killing--and having two guys in back watching the sides (or straight down, which the pilots can't do) is very effective.

3. AH-1S/F: Re-built and upgraded from the basic AH-1G. The Cobra's an intimidating aircraft. It will also, in the words of an Apache driver I went 1-v-1 with, "rip your lips off" in a fight. Only disadvantage to using it daytime in the desert is that the ECU (air-conditioner) is temperature limited, so you can't use it when it gets really hot outside (yeah, I know).
posted by cw4billt on March 2, 2005 8:40 AM

It looks like we are doomed to repeat history again. Just because we are currently engaged in a low intensity ( big picture ) counter insurgency type of warfare now doesn't mean that is the only threat we face. We did the same thing before Korea and Vietnam in reverse, figuring we would only have big nuclear wars and we let our conventional forces atrophy. Armored humvees might be important in a large conventional war, but I am pretty sure not having air superiority means the humvee is a vulnerable target from the air. Not having air support means it is vulnerable from ground attack. No heavy lift means the humvee never gets into the fight. We still have China and Russia as potential enemies. Iran still has a large conventional force, as well as North Korea. We still have Cuba to our south, and what happens if old Fidel gets demetia and thinks he can whup us? Russia and China are producing better and better fighters, bombers, missles, tanks, and even nuclear submarines. Much of Europe is selling China the technology they need to stand toe-to-toe with us. Not likely China, and less so Russia, would intentionally start something with us. But they are selling stuff to nut jobs all over the world. I just hope that the powers that be are keeping all this in mind when writing up requests.
posted by Chris Van Dis on March 2, 2005 11:19 AM

Sanger, Garry Owen indeed... Coburg was our field site; I was on the Border Operations team manning HQ whilst the patrols were out. How times change....
posted by Neffi on March 2, 2005 6:10 PM

Just a comment from a first time poster...

Strategic airlift: Right now, the DoD (read, Secretary Rumsfeld) is reconsidering their proposed cuts to the C-130J program, partly based on positive feedback from the pilots, but also partly (I think) based on the fact that the original cut-decision was made off of outdated performance studies.

The C-5 is also soon be given a full avionics and re-engineering makeover, via the AMP and RERP programs (check the Lockheed-Martin website for this information, it's all out there, including the acronyms). Once RERP is done, the C-5M Super Galaxy will have at 22% thrust increase over the -5A and -5B models, with all the advantages that implies.

Fighters: The F-22 program still seems to be in limbo. The DoD isn't proposing a full cancellation, of course, just a 50% (if I'm remembering the numbers correctly) or so cut in the total number of fighters ordered. Of course, we have a few congresscritters who are actually trying to make themselves useful, so we'll know the final disposition of the Raptor come August.

Dunno if any of the above is any way shape or form pertinent to the discussion at hand, but posting it seemed like a good idea at the time :).
posted by Wes on March 2, 2005 8:30 PM

Hey, I saw that! Hey, I knew that, too! [pauses, cues up "The Glory of the Yankee Navy"] Ah, that's better!

Look at Bubblehead's post about the new Navy working (gray) uniform! I think he asked if were "hideous, or Ugly!"

The CS Navy bitched from beginning to end about having to wear stupid gray uniforms when every Navy in the World had worn BLUE uniforms since uniforms were invented.
posted by Justthisguy on March 2, 2005 9:58 PM

Neffi,

I was a radar guy back then, 17K, which is why we were on the border so much. Later I did voice intercept, different job, same places. Figgers.

The one time I was at Coburg, we stayed in the German Kasserne where the BGS9 guys did some training--at least I was told it was them. That was the week some nutcase tried to assassinate the German Federal DA. We were out on site the night that happened, and suffice to say, with all the Grenze-guys and Polizei and others running around all over the place, and road blocks every 5 klicks, the night was preeeety long. I actually ended up threatening to shoot a bunch of Germans at one roadblock after they told me and my team to get out of the jeep so they could inspect it for the second time that night! But that's a long story I can tell elsewhen if you want...

As for the Cav, I have to admit I liked being in the 7th Cav. Small, meaningless point of pride, I suppose. Sort of like being happy to be an artilleryman, huh?

-SangerM
posted by SangerM on March 2, 2005 10:10 PM

Nothing wrong with Regimental pride, Sanger. One of the things about the US Army is that it is so comparatively big, and you move around so much, we tend to identify by Branch, as opposed to Regiment... but the Cav guys have always been small enough that Regiment works well.

Welcome aboard, Wes! Always glad to welcome a new voice - especially an informed one.
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 3, 2005 5:59 AM

� Dismissed, Soldier!

by Dusty on Mar 01, 2005 | Observations on things Military

Some Updates.

First off, I've updated the plane pr0n with Dusty's response.

The 16th Edition of the Red Ensign Standard (good link-fest!) is up, host by fellow Brigadier and frequent commenter Phantom Observer!

CAPTION CONTEST! All Denizens report!

Next - remember the UMASS student, Mr. Thomas Naughton, he who expiates his guilt by ripping yellow ribbons from people's cars? Y'know, *principled* protest?

Many of us replied to his rant, and our responses were not posted. I opined that it might well be the editorial policy to only allow student responses (which I don't mind - except they also allow the students to hang their opinions out there... )

Anyway - there have been several responses to Mr. Naughton's tirade. From students. And *not* supportive. If someone wants to wade through the Daily Collegian and see if there was any support - send along the links, what the heck, we can be *balanced* around here... if we aren't too much into the tequila, anyway. That said, via JarHeadDad:

Broadside #1.
Broadside #2
Broadside #3

Frequent contributor Mike D. sends this link to another milblogger I'd missed, In Iraq for 365. As the Questing Cat, this troop is back from Iraq, and is also dealing with being back from Iraq. The readjustment isn't easy for some of us. There is even some research that suggests some susceptibility to PTSD is a result of genetic factors.

Update - it just seems that now is the time for some warriors back from the 'box to reflect.

I remember when Dad came back from Vietnam. We all tried to pick up where we'd left off 15 months before... which of course, isn't possible, but hey... Anyway, there was Dad, asleep on the couch, Mom sent me to get him for dinner. Bear in mind - this is a man who lived and fought through Tet 68... I touched his shoulder like I did everytime before. Next thing I know, I'm slumped at the base of the wall, Dad crouching by me, being the He-Man Warrior he is, and trying not to cry at the same time... I don't think Dad or I couuld tell you how I came to be there... but I do know that after that I always just wiggled his toe to wake him up!

Finally - WillyShake, at Unconsidered Trifles, invites you to both read an academic definition of jody calls (which while stodgy, is pretty accurate) and then to offer up your own favorite jody calls. He also has a little music trivia associated with jodys... What's a jody call? Musical poetry called out by a caller and repeated by the troops when running in formation. Keeps your mind off the pain, builds esprit (done properly), keeps people in step, and, because you have to yell it out, improves aerobic conditioning, however slightly. A way to keep a check on your people who are having PT problems was to run around your formation keeping an eye on those who were so shagged out they couldn't do the jodys.

Here's a *clean* one for you:

Two old ladies, lyin' in bed.
One rolled over to the other and said.

I wanna be an Airborne Ranger!

I wanna live a life of danger.

I wanna kill old Charlie Cong!

Airborne!

Ranger!

There are two hiding down below... but it only gets sung when you're running back by the ranges... WARRIOR STUFF WARNING - NOT SAFE FOR WORK OR SENSITIVE EYES

Flash Traffic (extended entry) Follows... �

Up jumped the monkey from the coconut grove
he was a mean mother f*cker, you could tell by his clothes.
He wore a two button ditty, and a three button stitch
he was a loud mouth-mother f*ckin, son of a b1tch!
He lined a hundred women, up against the wall
and bet anyone, he could f*ck them all.
He f*cked 98 till his balls turned blue,
Then he backed off, jacked off, and f*cked the other two!!!

Now you might understand why, in mixed units, this one doesn't go over very well anymore...

Or this.

Load another magazine,
in my trusty M16.
Cuz all I ever wanna see!
Is bodies, bleeding bodies.

Throw another hand grenade!
Should have seen the mess I made.
Cuz all I ever wanna see,
Is bodies, broken bodies.

Stab em with the bayonet!
If he squirms you're not done yet!
Cuz all I ever wanna see,
Is bodies, cut-up bodies.

This one is fun to do around visiting dignitaries and reporters.

� Secure this line!

Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �

Heh. When I got back, I'd gone from six feet and 200 pounds of football player to six feet and 135 pounds of dehydrated helicopter pilot. Dad brought me into the living room for the family-reunion thang and my brother Dave (who's got me by an inch and--then--seventy pounds) decided to welcome Big Brother back with a bear-hug-from behind.

There were seven witnesses present and nobody--least of all, me--remembered seeing the mechanics of how Dave wound up against the base of the wall.

Upside down.

Odd thing is, Dad did the same thing when he got back from the Pacific in '45. Must be a family trait...
posted by cw4billt on March 1, 2005 11:14 AM

PTSD:

A tough, tough issue to deal with, and like many things I think your genetic makeup, family situation and personality all combine to exacerbate (or make it easier to deal with) the situation.

I saw Marines deal with this firsthand last year, once with truly tragic results and it's a heartbreaker. I don't think I'll ever get over some of what I experienced, watching good people try to cope with it. Sometimes succeeding. And sometimes failing.

And what I learned was simple: if you need help, you need to get help. There isn't, AND SHOULD NOT BE, any stigma associated with asking for help. YOUR CAREER -- YOUR LIFE -- IS NOT WORTH THE PRICE OF FAILING TO ASK FOR HELP.

PTSD is the body's natural response to dealing with a threat situation - it's your body's way of dealing with fight-or-flight. Except your body is still interpreting things as threats when you're out of the threat situation. Sometimes our minds and bodies get out of whack, or our bodies over-adjust to compensate for a challenging situation.

These are survival skills that, if we were in the natural world, would help us to adapt and overcome threats. But we don't have to run from tigers or rifle-bearing enemies in suburbia, so these responses have no natural outlet when men come home from war. And the body's threat response runs amok.

This problem isn't as bad as the media makes out, but for those who DO suffer from it, it's bad enough and it shouldn't be swept under the rug. People shouldn't be afraid to get help if they need it. We owe them that much, for all they have given us.
posted by Cassandra on March 1, 2005 11:57 AM

The Armorer endorses what Cassandra said. Denial is *not* manliness nor a good warrior trait. Seek help.
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 1, 2005 12:02 PM

Thank you John.

I can't tell you how strongly I mean that.

I wish people could see that PTSD is a fighting response - you just need to find a way to channel it, and I think in today's touchy-feely world where everyone wants men to be 'sensitive' and open up their feelings it's harder than ever to deal with. We're making it darned hard for warriors (and cops, of which my son is one) to cope - we don't seem to want to let men be men anymore.

I don't understand it.
posted by Cassandra on March 1, 2005 12:09 PM

...speaking of feelings, sorry. I'll shut up now.

But this is dear to my heart. Didn't mean to gush all over your comments section.
posted by Cassandra on March 1, 2005 12:10 PM

"Time heals all wounds"--except for this one. Just makes the hole in your soul deeper--and the edges get really, really sore...
posted by cw4billt on March 1, 2005 12:13 PM

Cassie - anyone who *loves* the warriors is welcome here, you know that. So quit that crap, 'k?

Not that redemption is required, but should you wish to atone, join the fest down one level!
posted by John of Argghhh! on March 1, 2005 12:14 PM

Dad was just a flightline sergeant in Nam, but he came back with some serious issues, like rolling off the bed in the middle of the night and pulling the mattress on top of himself, Mom included. I guess that was the quick drill for rocket attacks on the base. I don't know how long his nightmares lasted...he didn't talk about it very much. Makes me glad I didn't experience anything that traumatic in my career. There was the exploding JP-4 tank next to my building, but the only nightmares I get involve inprocessing into my old unit, even though I KNOW I'm retired.

posted by cowboy blob on March 1, 2005 12:48 PM

In Basic Training, we thought our TI was spoil-sport because he didn't teach us any jodies. Our sister flight (male) had a female head TI, and while marching us one day, taught us one:

If all of the ladies were doughnuts on a shelf,
If I were a baker, I'd eat them all myself.
[chorus I can't remember]
If all of the ladies were brick upon a wall
If I were a mason, I'd want to lay them all.
[more I can't remember]
We thought she was pretty cool...but we had to wonder....

posted by cowboy blob on March 1, 2005 12:57 PM

cowboy blob - Ref the matress-roll--very perceptive. Also the immediate action for mortars, if you weren't near a bunker...
posted by cw4billt on March 1, 2005 1:01 PM

Don't have much to add to the PTDS stuff- Cassie said it all for me. I've been reading "In Iraq for 365" and reading about his dream was disturbing yet encouraging in many ways. Thanks for the link.

Oh- and the cadences are awesome! I was in marching band in high school and we were always coming up with our own- much less *colorful* than military ones, but fun nonetheless!
posted by AFSister on March 1, 2005 1:39 PM

Well, my personal favorite jody is a clean one:

Hard tack and GI gravy,
Gee I wish I'd joined the Navy,
'Cuz the Navy swims and the Air Force flies,
But the Army will run you til the day you die.

Then there's this one, which i don't try here at co-ed Ft Jackson:

Susie's mom said not to go downtown,
Too many Rangers hangin' around.
Susie got the ass and she went anyway,
Stayed out all night and came back the next day.

Three months later, all was well.
Six months later she started to swell.
Nine months later, out it came,
It was a bald headed Ranger swingin' a chain.

Now, in one of my old units, 1-6 Infantry, 'Ranger' was changed to 'Regular', that being the name of the regiment. I've also heard artillerymen change it to 'Redleg.'
posted by Heartless Libertarian on March 1, 2005 1:48 PM

Running through the jungle where it's cold and it's wet,
But we can't stop running 'cause we ain't there yet.
Look up ahead, and what do I see,
But a big black gorilla just a grinnin' at me...
With a mighty growl he comes swingin' down, saying:
"Hey there Recon, got to get by me!"
The point man stopped, and he drew his knife, sayin'
"Hey there, gorilla, you gotta be tired of life..."

Had to wake Dad up with a broomstick for a few years after SW asia...
Had to wake ME up by sending the dog in for a few years after Panama...

I concur: In the case of PTSD, denial is dangerous... Talk it our, wash the pain from your soul. There is no dishonor in losing your bearing as you deal with the demons...

Been there, done that...

posted by Sgt. B. on March 1, 2005 2:40 PM

When I was a kid, we lived in a project. My former marine raider step-father kept a loaded Savage 303 next to the bed. I was warned to NEVER touch or get beath to within an inch, etc.

As with John, I went to wake him--this was '65-ish but I already knew he was skittish, so I decided to just pull his big toe, sticking out from under the blanket. Wrong move. I ended up laying on the floor looking up at the HUMONGOUS barrel of a cocked and locked rifle. I never did cry, but it did scare the crap out of me. My dad got upset, and finally put the gun elswehere.

Suffice to say, I avoided waking him except at a distance, with a soft voice. . .
posted by SangerM on March 1, 2005 3:02 PM

Flying over Baghdad in the middle of the night,
Flive miles high above the city lights,
Was an old master chief on a recon trip,
Loved to kill Iraqis, didn't ever wanna quit.

Jumped off the ramp and he HALO'd to the ground,
Landed in the desert and he scurried into town,
Crept into the palace and was sneaking down the hall,
Heard Saddam talking s**t and he listened to it all.

Kicked down the door and he jumped into the room,
The last thing Saddam saw before he met his doom,
Was a CAR-15 and a couple of frags,
Ran that country out of body bags.

Singing Ooooh Raaaah Hey,
Just another Navy day.
posted by Big Squid on March 1, 2005 3:49 PM

C-130 rollin down the strip,
Airborne Rangers gonna take a little trip.
Stand, hook up, shuffle to the door,
Step right out and count to four.

If my main don't open wide,
Gotta nuther chute strapped to my side.
If that one don't open either,
Got me a date with ol' St Peter.

If I die on the old drop zone,
Put me in a bag and send me home.
Pin my wings upon my chest-
And bury me in the leaning rest.

... and those who don't know what 'front leaning rest' means, be glad you don't!
posted by Neffi on March 1, 2005 5:08 PM

NSFW:

A pretty bird
with a yellow bill
Was perched upon
my window sill
I coaxed him in
with crumbs of bread
And Theeeeeeeeeen I
crushed his F**KING head!!

Gimme your left
right, left........

posted by SangerM on March 1, 2005 6:42 PM

C-130 rollin down the strip,
Marine Corps Recon gonna take a little trip.

Mission unspoken, destination unknown,
I don't know if I'm coming home...

Stand, hook up, shuffle to the door,
Step right out and count to four.

If my chute don't open wide,
I've got another one by my side.

If that chute don't open too,
Look out, below, 'cause I'm comin' through!

Up from a sub, sixty feet below,
Hit the surface and I'm ready to go.

Grease gun, Kabar by my side,
These are the tools that I kill by.

Singin' lo-rightie lef-right...
posted by Sgt. B. on March 1, 2005 6:45 PM

See the lady dressed in red
See the lady dressed in red
She makes her livin in a bed.
She makes her livin in a bed.
See the lady dressed in black
See the lady dressed in black
She makes her livin on her back
She makes her livin on her back.
See the lady dressed in green
See the lady dressed in green
She can do the sex machine
She can do the sex machine.

Yo, oooooohhhhh, oo-oh
Yo, oooh-oooh, oh-oh-oooooooooo

And etc...
posted by SangerM on March 1, 2005 6:46 PM

Stupid poster software removes spaces! The two above are spaced differently, every other line shoudl be indented. Anyway:

One fine day, in the middle of the night
...One fine day, in the middle of the night
Two dead boys got up to fight
...Two dead boys got up to fight
Back to back, they faced each other
...Back to back, brother faced each brother
They pulled out knives and shot at each other
...They pulled out knives and shot at each other
If you don't believe it's true
...If you don't believe it's true
Ask the blind man, he saw it too.
...Ask the blind man, he saw it too.

Not great, but there it is....

posted by SangerM on March 1, 2005 6:57 PM

Gonna take a three day pass,
Gonna kick ol' Jodie's ***
posted by Bill Faith on March 5, 2005 8:21 PM

� Dismissed, Soldier!

by John on Mar 01, 2005 | Global War on Terror (GWOT)
� Angry in the Great White North links with: Liberal double standards -- An update

February 28, 2005

Heh. Well, we know what *I'm* not...

..a fighter pilot. Boy, was I wrong. So is Bill. Sanger and Dusty however...

Update: Here's our resident ATTACK pilot's reponse

The pict looks like a Viper about to go beak to beak with an F-15. Both guys would have shot each other about 30 minutes previous to this position...if both were armed with AAMRAMs. The Eagle would have had the range on him though (radar range, that is...which is what counts in a Fox 1 shot). At normal closure rates (180-degree aspect, i.e., nose-to-nose), both would have the energy to get the missile to target but the Eagle would probably have seen him first, driven into optimum range, shot and then gone for the notch (hard 90 left/right to dick up the opponent's fire control/radar Doppler shift calculations and befuddle his missile just enough to preclude a lock and counter launch). That said, once the AAMRAM shifts to internal guidance, I understand it's pretty hard to beat.

Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �

Dusty sent me his view... I'll wait and give you guys some more time before I slap it in here.
posted by John of Argghhh! on February 28, 2005 11:09 AM

Ya know, I would love one of these on the I-15
posted by Lucius Severus Pertinax on February 28, 2005 11:12 AM

Looks like a Mig-17 with two drops, headed away
posted by Neffi on February 28, 2005 12:36 PM

F16 by the color and shape to me. But I'm not used to looking at F16's from the assend.
posted by Montieth on February 28, 2005 2:21 PM

BTW, if I was lucky enough to actually see this in time to focus and interpret the situation in my cranium, I'd probably roll 90 left, put both feet on the instrument panel and pull like hell...look at this picture closely...
posted by Instapilot on February 28, 2005 3:48 PM

I haven't a clue what the model is, but it looks to me like it is coming at us, not going away. Look at the shadows on the fuselage.
posted by Barb on February 28, 2005 4:10 PM

Looks like single engine intake. I can't make it out... but I didn't think it looked like an F-16. Bah! I don't know.
posted by Boudicca on February 28, 2005 9:44 PM

Oh, I also thought it was coming at me... not going away. I'm probably wrong on that one too.
posted by Boudicca on February 28, 2005 9:45 PM

>>hzzzzzzz. squids in f-18. gunner name scout, launch breadcrumb for calamari.
posted by name muffy on March 1, 2005 9:57 AM

� Dismissed, Soldier!

by John on Feb 28, 2005 | Plane Pr0n

February 27, 2005

Look boss! Da plene! Da plene!

Looking back over the last coupla week's posts, I see we've been neglecting a segment of our audience. We've had tanks, firearms, submarines, Marines... but I don't see any airplanes. Well we did have that English-Electric munchkin.

Soooo... let's have a multi-national moment of Aero-Zen.

Two RAF Phantoms flying by a Castle in, I assume, Germany. I at first glance thought it was Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria. ... except for being the wrong shape, color, and not in the mountains...

Anybody know which castle that is?

Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �

Kinda looks like the Slosch(spl) Von Castelle.
posted by Rod Thorsen on February 27, 2005 12:11 PM

Schloss is castle and schussel is key. Go figger.
A language only the Germans could have invented.

I can't do an umlaut on my keyboard. Sorry.

I am looking and thanks for the links to Neuschwanstein. We oughta have a Castle get together. Tour the awesome castles of Europe.
I could stay in London for a year. The Tower and
Windsor as well as other places like Museums.
posted by Cricket on February 27, 2005 1:30 PM

Cricket - that is an awesome idea. I have told my husband that one of my dream trips would be to visit "Crazy Ludwig's" castles. I'm sure there are others worth seeing, but my brother's pictures of these castles always intrigued me. He was based in Stuttgart in the early 70's (Army), and came home with tons of slides!

It would be much fun to have the military historian types along to 'splain it all :-)
posted by Barb on February 27, 2005 2:38 PM

Oooh. Castles. My friends in Europe know how to tempt me to visit. All they have to say is "castles nearby." Name-link goes to some pictures of some pretty cool ones. I like the "working" castles more than the touristy ones, although Courdes-sur-ciel manages to do a good job with both. I was quite put out that they all refuse to let me practice mangonel assaults, though. And they are out of boiling oil for the duration.
posted by Bad Cat Robot on February 27, 2005 3:02 PM

Looks like Hollenzollern Castle to me

http://stronghold.heavengames.com/history/cw/cw41

http://www.uni-tuebingen.de/allcach2002?sflag=soc

http://www.preussen.de/de/heute/burg_hohenzollern.html

posted by Rich Willis on February 27, 2005 3:43 PM

The Middle Ages were kewl. And re enacting them even more so. splain a 'working castle.' I have really only been to a couple, as we were poor enlisted.

Most of us here are retired, right? Heh. I wonder what AFRC could come up with on a MAC tour. heheh..

I have been to Adlerhof. That TRULY is breathtaking.
Dunster Castle in the UK, in Somerset County, and the
Hohenfest (the fortress on top of the hill overlooking Salzburg)were wonderful, and then the scruples' favorite hangout, the Kriminal Museum.

I would like to go back and really look around
at villas, castles, palaces, manors. I think Anne Bolyne's childhood home is just lovely.

And even though I have bashed Jacque ChIraq, I wouldn't mind going through the Loire Valley.
And Holyrood, where Mary Stuart lived...and Rizzio died.
posted by Cricket on February 27, 2005 3:56 PM

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posted by MikeTheLibrarian on February 27, 2005 4:50 PM

Mike, the ever practical librarian...!

Cricket - gimme a real email addy, womyn!

Rich - Yer da winnah! That's got to be one of the few southern german castle's I missed in 14 years over there. Of course, the first two don't count since they were Years 1 & 2 of the Armorer's existence...

Cricket - intriguing idea... old farts do Castles...
posted by John of Argghhh! on February 27, 2005 5:58 PM

..and especially, ARTY guys do castles- castles are why artillery was developed in da foist place, eh?
posted by Neffi on February 27, 2005 6:35 PM

http://www.intuitive.com/coolweb/entities.html

Will let give you all the info on umlauts, and other neat characters like, ™ ¢ £ ¢ © etc.

posted by Zendo Deb on February 27, 2005 6:48 PM

I don't think it is Hollenzollern Castle. That sits just across the valley from Neuschwanstein and its Yellow in cast. My son was posted with the 1st AD just north of Frankfurt for the last three years. The first year we went to see him and Germany. The next year we went to see Germany and him! Then there was that little matter of 15 months in Baghdad. That messed up my German vacation. Thank God, he came home though. So, I have no clue what castle that is!
posted by Mark Brooks on February 27, 2005 6:51 PM

Mark - did you follow the links Rich provided?

Zendo - thanks!

Neffi - the technical term is "slighted"...
posted by John of Argghhh! on February 27, 2005 6:57 PM

Oh - and Mark, you might be confusing Hohenschwangau (which *is* the Castle across from Neuschwanstein) with Hollenzollern?
posted by John of Argghhh! on February 27, 2005 6:59 PM

Working Castles:
-do not have parking lots. They are hard to get to, on purpose.
-have clear lines of fire, several lines of defense, and neat tricks to annoy any bad guys who manage to get past the first curtain wall.
-usually ugly as sin
-somebody, at some time, tried to batter down the gates with Intent to do Grievious Bodily Harm

Neuschwanstein is pretty, but it never was used defensively.

posted by Bad Cat Robot on February 27, 2005 7:41 PM

One of my favorite "working" castles (by BCR def, above) is Meersburg, on Lake Constance, just a ferry ride away from Mirnau Island (itself a wonderful place to visit in the right season). Fun to walk up to, great castle, and I think oldest standing in Germany. . . The dungeon was at the bottom of the main tower, prisoners were lowered through a hole in the floor, a long way down. Links, in german, here, also to main site which has lots more "architektur" links:

www.engr.psu.edu/deutschlandsarchitektur/meersburg/sonstiges/burgm.html

www.engr.psu.edu/deutschlandsarchitektur/

Also, a 1929 pic of both Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein in view.

www.jlittlewood.com/pictures/deutschland/018.jpg

And if you really like Germany and environs, this is a a great link to a site that has scores of OLD B&W photos of lots of places in Germany. A very good site:

www.jlittlewood.com/pictures/deutschland/pix.htm
posted by SangerM on February 27, 2005 7:57 PM

Bosnia's got more castles than you could shake two sticks at--all of 'em working and all of 'em worked over...
posted by cw4billt on February 27, 2005 8:30 PM

I would love a castle tour! Only we have to walk slowly up stairs and drink a fair amount.
posted by Beth Donovan on February 27, 2005 8:31 PM

err um I try not to slight the cannon-cockers John but if that's the tech term then the Helk with em! Bunch of boozin', skirt chasing goldbrickers...
posted by Neffi on February 27, 2005 8:32 PM

Bad Cat is correct - Neuschwanstein is a slightly mad mans fantasy.

Much like anything the Armorer would build, should he ever remember to buy a lottery ticket.

As for you, Neffi - is the MTO is "Bravo, 5 rounds DPICM" - you'd better duck.
posted by John of Argghhh! on February 27, 2005 8:50 PM

Forget the castles... I'm loving those airplanes!!!

Heh. Thanks. I don't feel so neglected... not that I really did.. :)
posted by Boudicca on February 27, 2005 9:26 PM

Oh, FINE!
Plan a vacation without me. Hmpf. I've never been to Europe, nor have I seen a real castle. I sure would like to though. oh well... maybe in my next lifetime....

The only castles in my future involve a princess named Cinderella and some wacko named John....
posted by AFSister on February 27, 2005 10:54 PM

AFSis - I'll send you a shot of Srebrenik castle to spark your dreams. Cinderella would need chain barding if she lived there, 'cuz she wouldn't be able to turn the corners (or even get into the garderobe) in full plate.
posted by cw4billt on February 28, 2005 8:06 AM

I am not sure those are German jets; does the castle have to be in Germany???
posted by Stu Clark on February 28, 2005 8:59 AM

Stu - I identify the aircraft as RAF (Royal Air Force, Brit) F4's.

I'm still with Rich for it being Hohenzollern.
posted by John of Argghhh! on February 28, 2005 9:35 AM

H�,

W�th m�, n�fty l�ttle Spik� k�ybo�rd, � c�n d� d�ghn�ts ar��nd ya'll.

Th� �nl� th�ng th�t's a P��n, is th� @ S�gn. G��ss th�t w� �piks, d�n't E-M��l e�ch �ther t�� m�ch.

posted by Boquisucio on February 28, 2005 9:41 AM

Well, that is where all the pretty castles are, although England went for stodgy and easily defended.
I do remember moats and things, but not having studied them from a warrior's perspective, I never really paid much attention beyond the names for the parts.

I also saw the 'Splendors of Dresden' exhibit when it came through the US either with the Tut Exhibit or right after. It was housed at the Veteran's Memorial Hall in San Francisco at Golden Gate Park.
It took my parents and me TWO HOURS at a very fast walk to see everything. But the Hall of Armor was
just fabulous. Inlay on weapons. Weapons and armor sized for princelings. Horses with armor and the caparisons, hand spun, sewn, embroidered, dyed with plant stuff and still stunning. Crude pistols and long rifles, and the evolution in firearm technology could be traced from 1500 onward.

Took your breath away, it did.
posted by Cricket on February 28, 2005 9:50 AM

If memory serves right, this is the castle south of Ulm/Stuttgart where the bodys of Fredrich the Great and one of the other kaisers were kept after the Second World War. There was a US Army captain and one of the royal family decendents who were the frontline of this endevour. The bodys were removed from their burial places just after the war to prevent the diehard Nazis from using them as a rallying symbol. When I was there in the late sixties/early seventies the coffins were in the small chapel just behind the wing of the plane nearest to the viewer. Quite a pull up the mountain from the valley below, helluva view when you got there.
posted by Rich Walden on February 28, 2005 11:47 AM

John,

Yer right; did a little fact checking, and found the following on Tail N� XV465:

Serial: XV465
Code: S
Type: Phantom FGR2
CN: 3261
Unit: Leeming
Status: i/a
First: mar94
Last: mar01
Comment Decoy Leeming

You can check it out at:
http://www.scramble.nl/milbase.htm
posted by Boquisucio on February 28, 2005 11:58 AM

It is Hohenzollern. Found a picture taken from below in a coffetable book "Castles and Fortresses"
posted by Nosmo on February 28, 2005 8:48 PM

Click on my name to view this lovely castle. The site is in English, easy to navigate and best of all, there is a webcam. The first of the Castle Tours!
posted by Cricket on March 1, 2005 9:55 AM

� Dismissed, Soldier!

by John on Feb 27, 2005 | Plane Pr0n
� TFS Magnum links with: Great photo over at Argghhh!!!

Sunday fare.

AFSister sends:

An Irish woman of advanced age visited her physician to ask his help in reviving her husband's libido. What about trying Viagra? asks the doctor.
"Not a chance", she said. "He won't even take an aspirin".

"Not a problem", replied the doctor. "Give him an Irish Viagra. Drop it into his coffee. He won't even taste it. Give it a try and call me in a week to let me know how things went".

It wasn't a week later that she called the doctor, who directly inquired as to progress. The poor dear exclaimed, "Oh, faith, bejaysus and begorrah! T'was horrid. Just terrible, doctor!".

"Really? What happened" asked the doctor?

"Well, I did as you advised and slipped it in his coffee and the effect was almost immediate. He jumped hisself straight up, with a twinkle in his eye, and with his pants a-bulging fiercely! With one swoop of his arm, he sent the cups and tablecloth flying, ripped me clothes to tatters and took me then and there, making wild, mad, passionate love to me on the tabletop! It was a nightmare, I tell you, an absolute nightmare!"

"Why so terrible?" asked the doctor, "Do you mean the sex your husband provided wasn't good"?

"Oh, no, no, no, doctor, the sex was fine indeed!

'Twas the best sex I've had in 25 years! But sure as I'm sittin' here, I'll never be able to show me face in Starbucks again".

Then there's this, continuing the Iwo Jima theme this week. Looking at it from relative safety - Mt. Suribachi doesn't look like all that much, does it? But there are still hundreds, if not thousands, of Japanese soldiers and sailors entombed in that rock, sealed in their caves and bunkers by the Marines 60 years ago.

030312-N-0401E-001
Iwo Jima, Japan -- Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs) line the beach below Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima in a static display for the 58th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima Commemoration, March 12. Mt. Suribachi is the historic site where four Marines and one Sailor raised the American Flag during the WWII battle. The AAVs are embarked aboard ships of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, consisting of USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), and USS Juneau (LPD 10). Iwo Jima was the largest sustained aerial offensive of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. The U.S. sent over 110,000 Marines in 880 ships in what also became the largest invasion force of the Pacific Campaign. It took 36 days of fighting and more than 25,000 U.S. casualties to break through and bring the island under American control. Today's forward deployed Sailors from the Essex ARG and embarked Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Special Operations Capable, continue to sail throughout the Pacific to help promote peace and stability in the region. Official U.S. Navy photograph by Journalist 2nd Class Wes Eplen. (RELEASED)

Entry in the "You have to trust the designers, builders, maintainers and operators division..." Pilots have to. Submariners have to - so do Marines. Like these guys in an Amphibious Assault Vehicle entering the water out of a LSD, Landing Ship Dock.

Hi-res? Click here.

Wonder what the heck I'm talking about? Start here. Then Here. Then here. And here.

Then there's this comment from Laney (who was commenting on our proto-Zoomie and his dancing)

Now here is a guy with the right stuff! Loved both the videos however the second captured my heart!
Nothing like a man loving life and having the ability to laugh at
himself! Stuff dreams are made of! Good on ya mate! Life is tough enough as
it is and so you find your moments! Thanks for posting these. They made
me laugh so much and for all the right reasons! You guys are awesome!

If they ever have a talent show for dancing he would be the next
"American Dancing Idol"! Every time I hear that song in the future I will
think of this video. And if I ever look out the window of a plane and see
the baggage handlers or traffic controllers blow a ball bearing I will
die laughing!

Thanks for sharing!

P.S. Forget flowers and chocolates fellas just bust a move! It just
makes us melt :)

Emphasis mine.

The Armorer is steadfast in his refusal to dance. There are good reasons.

The is the Armorer Dancing.

Did you laugh? Hell, are you up off the floor yet? The Armorer indulges in self-mockery all the time. He's even tolerant of mocking from others - ya can't dish it out if you can't take it, right?

But the Armorer doesn't *do* stand up - yet on those few times he has reluctantly taken the floor, you'd have thought it was a Friars Club Roast...

Reader (and frequent content-supplier) Mike D, points us the the Brothers Judd, who in turn point us to this article in the Stars and Stripes. Things like that aren't worth MSM attention, I guess. Or, maybe, 1SG Jurgerson didn't think that keeping his promises was something that the MSM should cover... seeing as how, for him, it's probably just something you do, eh? Hoo-ah, Top!

Let's close with this, also sent along from AFSister, who is up very early this morning apparently with nothing to do... she sends along this joke, from her buddy who is in the ~~Air Force~~ Army and deployed - he's probably also the source of our opening bit...

Murphy showed up at Mass one Sunday, and the priest almost fell down when he saw him. Murphy had never been seen in church in his life.
After Mass, the priest caught Murphy and said, "Murphy, I am so glad you decided to come to Mass; what made you come?"

Murphy said, "I got to be honest with you Father; a while back, I misplaced me hat, and I really, really love that hat. I knew that McGlynn had a hat just like me hat, and I knew that McGlynn come to church every Sunday. I also knew that McGlynn had to take off his hat during Mass, and I figured he would leave it in the back of church. So, I was going to leave after Communion and steal McGlynn's hat."

The priest said, "Well, Murphy, I notice that you didn't steal McGlynn's hat. What changed your mind?"

Murphy said, "Well, after I heard your sermon on the 10 Commandments, I decided that I didn't need to steal McGlynn's hat."

The priest gave Murphy a big smile and said, "After I talked about 'Thou Shalt Not Steal' you decided you would rather do without your hat than burn in Hell, right?"

Murphy shook his head and said, "No, Father, after you talked about 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery' I remembered where I left me hat

I like the ~~Zoomie's~~ Dogface's tagline he has as a closer to his emails, a part of his signature - the Armorer can relate:

Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me, I want people to know "why" I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved."

I was wrong - I gotta add one more thing. I understand prudence - and I understand expedience - and I understand due process... but the President of Colorado University seems to me to be flirting with just plain old moral cowardice. Scroll down to "University President..." If Churchill walks away from this with a 7-figure settlement, the world is upside-down.

Reporting As Ordered, Sir! �

AFSis - Ref Starbucks joke: Remind me to tell you why I'm flagged from McDonald's...
posted by cw4billt on February 27, 2005 6:29 AM

Sounds like an interesting story, Chief. Remind me not to go to McDonalds with you.

Churchill is one level down from pond scum. He deserves the back of our hands, not a huge payout.

My first reaction to the story on 1SG Jurgerson was "Amazing". But it shouldn't be amazing to hear these stories - there are examples everywhere of this kind of loyalty and leadership, and love. Maybe the MSM are just unable to see how much that appeals to most of us. It's one of the reasons I spend most of my time hanging around the Castle and other millblogs - the stories are better.

posted by Barb on February 27, 2005 10:30 AM

One more institution of higher learning that I can cross off my list if they do so.
posted by Cricket on February 27, 2005 3:59 PM

Cricket... hmmm. I'm not sure that CU ever really *was* on anyone's list of institutions of higher learning... and I have family and friends that are alumnae!
posted by John of Argghhh! on February 27, 2005 5:59 PM

The overhead pic of the just-barely-awash amphibious vehicle reminds me of something Fred Reed, who used to drive them for a living, wrote in one of the columns on his Web site. (www.fredoneverything.net)

It seems he was assigned to familiarize the slightly-more-junior with the sensations of being in one of those things, and said loudly to his juniors, and passengers, "It's too rough up here; take'er down!"

Everyone present being Marines, I'm sure there was no panic or nuthin', but I betcha a bit more vomiting and thoughts of "I'll get you for this!"
posted by Justthisguy on February 27, 2005 6:12 PM

My favorite Fred line about LAVs: "One of 'em had a Mexican crew; we called it the Sancho Panzer..."
posted by cw4billt on February 27, 2005 8:36 PM

Bill, you (and Fred, now that I think about it) need to show cause why you should not suffer immediate summary execution by impalement, or breaking on the wheel, or something like that there.

ow ow ow ow OW ow ow!

That's a 7-owchy, right up there with kidney stones and labor pains.

Multiplied by your reminding me of it.

Bad Bill, Wicked Bill!

posted by Justthisguy on February 27, 2005 9:24 PM

John, you only think Suribachi doesn't look like much because you're a redleg. As an infantryman, that thing looks like the cast-iron bitch to assault that it was.

It's steep as hell, an it's surrounded by nothing but flat, totally dominates all the rest of the island. As a bonus for the defenders (who were so well dug in that many of them are still dug in there), I'm sure that guns on other parts of the island could fire on the assaulting Marines trying to move up the slope, hitting them from behind.

Assaulting it in modern times, I'd go for vertical envelopment-cover the top liberally with napalm and FAE (so as not to leave duds laying around), following as close as possible with assault troops in helicopters.
posted by Heartless Libertarian on February 28, 2005 8:05 AM

John,

Minor correction to the original posting:

But there are still hundreds, if not thousands, of Japanese soldiers and sailors entombed in that rock, sealed in their caves and bunkers by the Marines 60 years ago.
There are still Marines and other US personnel who have not been recovered from Iwo Jima because it was too dangerous to recover their bodies - they were killed in caves full of Japanese munitions. Among those who were not recovered was the soldier responsible for filming the Iwo Jima flag raising.

posted by lawhawk on February 28, 2005 8:46 AM

Lawhawk - I think I would characterize your comment as an addition, not a correction... just sayin'

Dave - you are, of course, correct. Having had to hump two PRC-77's up the north wall of the Central Corridor in order to overlook Alpha and Bravo passes to O/C a live fire w/live assault on the bunker complex... I can empathize with *anyone* who had to climb a pulverized volcanic stone while being shot at.
posted by John of Argghhh! on February 28, 2005 9:39 AM

In the '70s I was in the 1/35 Infantry in Hawaii. Every year we'd go to the Big Island to Pohakuloa Training Area for a month in pup tents, etc. As a radar guy, our platoon had the job of playing aggressor for the infantry platoon ARTEPs. We dragged our stuff to the top of a small hill (a dormant volcano vent actually), and built defensive positions (foxholes, bunkers, tanglefoot, flares, whistlers, grenade and artillery sims, etc). We had two nights to get ready, then for 9 nights one platoon a night would attack the hill! We repulsed them all fairly well, but of course they had to run the course, so they made the top, secured the position, etc. By the last night, we had really done a great job of prepping the defense, and the grunts were really, truly pissed off. So much so that their PSG gave very loud angry orders to butt-stroke any one of us a$$-holes who moved, breathed, etc. On hearing that, my team sergeant and I both went from playing wounded (per plan) to playing dead. Suffice to say, it was not pleasant, they really were pissed. We found out later, than my PSG had popped a star cluster into the chest of some dimbulb who emptied a magzine of blanks near his ear... This was the guy later left the Army to go be a merc in Africa. He was NOT a nice man.

What I remember most about that place was the lava rock and cinder dust. It was awful,it shreeded clothes, ruined boots, etc. A month in that crap, and for us it was just a day's work. I only imagine the hell it was for people on Iwo, Tarawa, etc. It makes me shudder to think.

-SangerM
posted by SangerM on February 28, 2005 2:06 PM

(Purple Hippos, or is that the Supreme Scruple..?)

John, ya worry me...

Not gonna comment on anything else right now...
posted by Sgt. B. on February 28, 2005 2:28 PM

� Dismissed, Soldier!

by John on Feb 27, 2005 | Observations on things Military

Wahabism Delenda Est!

If cease fires in the name of peace actually produced peace the Middle East would be the most peaceful place on earth by now.
.
Mebbe it's just Clobbering Time.
.
Just sayin'
.
"The Iraqis don't want Saddam back - they want the stability. But they want the stability without being fed into industrial chippers."
. -The Armorer, on Hugh Hewitt, 27 December 2006.

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