We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:49:27 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification ...but I don't always find one actually firing. Especially one manned by... pirates. On land. Nicely maintained Brooke Rifle, made by the Naval Ordnance Works, Selma, Alabama, in January of 1865. 5lbs of black powder. Overlooking the Chattahoochee at Port Columbus, Georgia. And the reason this is all there's going to be from me today? Due to the astonishngly optimistically labeled "high-speed internet" at this place of accomodation, it took one full hour to get this posted. Near as I can tell, they got DSL, set up 4 wireless routers, and told 70 rooms full of computer geeks to hook... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html Sun, 21 Oct 2007 07:46:13 -0600 Um, I shoulda wrote "parapet." I distinctly remember striding along the parapet, as if unafraid (not hard, I was not afraid) while making artillery geek love to that piece. They also have a Blakely there. I think I got right rude and forward with it, as well. Relax, folks; nothing really indecent happened, between me and those guns! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65818 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65818 Wed, 24 Oct 2007 01:43:37 -0600 John, You might check out the phone you have - many of them will do data these days, even if they don't tell you about it up front. You may be hit with a small extra charge (I think I pay $5). Check with your provider. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65800 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65800 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:18:56 -0600 Well, with SWWBO now being unemployed, I'm not being as extravagant as I might once have been on things like that, Steve. Whyncha just FedEx that puppy down here and I'll use it... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65780 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65780 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 17:40:42 -0600 And now you know why I take along my cable and data-ready cellphone when I travel (and why I pay a bit extra to have it data-ready). If I don't like a hotel's connection for whatever reason I just use my own. It runs at around DSL speeds too, just to rub it in a bit. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65776 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65776 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:02:08 -0600 I now have some information in my wrinkled grey matter not previously hidden there: The Brooke rifle and it's inventor. Now I have to refresh myself on the Hook/Slant rifling method. Quite a character and quite a piece of artillery. Thanks for the posting and lesson. Dan Patterson Arrogant Infidel http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65775 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65775 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:40:58 -0600 http://www.csnavy.org/weapons/cannons.htm]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65771 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65771 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:06:39 -0600 Now you know how I feel on dial up :) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65767 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65767 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 09:19:14 -0600 Oh, man, the Naval Ordnance Works, Selma, Alabama. They had a lathe used for cannon boring which remained in industrial use until the 1980s because new machine tools that big cost so much. When it was finally retired, it was hauled to a city park for children to climb on. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65763 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65763 Mon, 22 Oct 2007 03:44:08 -0600 JTG, you give the best "geek" when it comes to auld artillery... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65760 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65760 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 21:55:42 -0600 Oh, Man, a Brooke! Buttress Thread rifling! There may exist a photograph of my own self fondling a Brooke rifle, on the ramparts of Fort Pulaski, taken in 1988, or thenabouts. I prolly shoulda oughta chased wimmin instead of cannons, but wth, I seem to have no STDs to speak of. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65759 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65759 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:28:48 -0600 You feel it a *lot* Jeff!~ Twice as much as most people! 8^ ) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65758 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65758 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:01:53 -0600 John, Great post and I love the pic! I truly feel your pain - I'm still on dialup for a lengthly list of reasons. Keep up the good work! Jeff http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65757 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65757 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:51:57 -0600 John, Great post and I love the pic! I truly feel your pain - I'm still on dialup for a lengthly list of reasons. Keep up the good work! Jeff http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65756 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/10/well_i_can_usua.html#comment-65756 Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:51:21 -0600