Comments for H&I Fires* 18 DEC 2007

H&I Fires* 18 DEC 2007

2007-12-19T05:24:14Z

Open post for those with something to share, updated through the day. New, complete posts come in below this one. Note: If trackbacking, please acknowledge this post in your post. That's only polite.

You're advertising here, we should get an ad at your place...

Time to add a new caveat, because from email it's not clear to some folks (mind you, if you don't read this it won't matter...) Being an open post, people (collectively, the Denizens) other than I post in the H&I. They sign their work (most of the time) - keep that in mind when you want to flame someone in email please - if it doesn't say "The Armorer" or "John" then I didn't write it! And honestly - if you don't like something said or posted... leave a comment, and hash it out (within the context of The Rulez which are clearly posted on the comment form, I would add).

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So, I'm taking a shower this morning, and I hear SWWBO shriek. It would seem that Gunner has brought her a possum head. Sans body. Ripe-ish. Unknown at this time if its name was Alfredo Garcia or not.

Sigh. She's all... squiggly about it.

I just observed that now that we've moved the Castle to the country, we live on a small island of civilization, surrounded by a sea of primeval savagery. The flotsam and jetsam of same is bound to wash up on the beach now and again. And has. Does. And will.

Get used to it! -the Armorer

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]]> *A term of art from the artillery. Harassment and Interdiction Fires.

Back in the day, when you could just kill people and break things without a note from a lawyer, they were pre-planned, but to the enemy, random, fires at known gathering points, road junctions, Main Supply Routes, assembly areas, etc - to keep the bad guy nervous that the world around him might start exploding at any minute.

*Not really relevant to today's operating environment, right? But, it *is*

The UAVs (oops, can't call 'em UAVs anymore - they're now Unmanned Aerial Systems... some Colonel got his Legion of Merit for that change...), er, um UAS's we fly over Afghanistan and Pakistan looking for targets of opportunity are a form of H&I fires, if you really want to parse it finely. We just have better sensors and fire control now.

I call the post that because it's random things posted by me and people I've given posting privileges to. It's also an open trackback, so if someone has a post they're proud of, but it really isn't either Castle kind of stuff, or topical to a particular post, I've basically given blanket permission to use that post for that purpose. Another term of art that might be appropriate is "Free Fire Zone."

Comment from AFSister on 2007-12-18

2007-12-19T05:16:30Z

LOL... my cats are getting pretty good at catching moles- much to my complete happiness!

Comment from emdfl on 2007-12-18

2007-12-19T03:26:23Z

One of our cats used to bring the wife(females are always the head of the pride) an occasional mouse or rat head.

Comment from HomefrontSix on 2007-12-18

2007-12-19T03:26:09Z

hee hee Mission accomplished. I can hear your accent from here! Now the trick is getting John to stand still while you try to complete the dare...heh.

Comment from jim b on 2007-12-18

2007-12-19T02:50:56Z

Newer carbines outperform M4 in dust test By Matthew Cox - Staff writer Posted : Tuesday Dec 18, 2007 17:41:35 EST The M4 carbine, the weapon soldiers depend on in combat, finished last in a recent “extreme dust test” to demonstrate the M4’s reliability compared to three newer carbines. They go on to say: the results of the test were “a wake-up call,” but Army officials continue to stand by the current carbine, said Brig. Gen. Mark Brown, commander of Program Executive Office Soldier, the command that is responsible for equipping soldiers. “We take the results of this test with a great deal of interest and seriousness,” Brown said, expressing his determination to outfit soldiers with the best equipment possible. The test results did not sway the Army’s faith in the M4, he said. “Everybody in the Army has high confidence in this weapon,” Brown said. Lighter and more compact than the M16 rifle, the M4 is more effective for the close confines of urban combat. The Army began fielding the M4 in the mid-1990s. Brig Gen Mark Brown is a moron. I hope Senator Coburn has his stars for breakfast. I hope this maggot is looking for a job by tomorrow. I have never seen more criminal behavour than to knowingly send US Soldiers out with an inferior weapon. I need to stop now before I blow out the rest of the rules.

Comment from jim b on 2007-12-18

2007-12-19T02:41:12Z

An open letter from Sergeant Andrew Robinson USMC to Nancy's Boyda and Pelosi ... as seen in the Topeka Crapitol-Urinal

Comment from Princess Crabby on 2007-12-18

2007-12-19T01:32:06Z

HF6 - YGTBFKM!!!!! Did you just *dare* me to do something? Do you think there is something I *wouldn't* do???????? I guess I could understand *some* people doubting that mine roll and clank......but you have *met* me. You have been out *drinking* with me! You have actually seen that I have no morals or scruples or boundries or whatever those pesky things are that keep you people inside the pale. I, Princess Crabby, the Empress of La Moata, she who has no equal, Princesa Malhumorada, Maggie would most assuredly *touch* whatever required *touching* of that you can rest assured.

Comment from Justthisguy on 2007-12-18

2007-12-19T00:32:59Z

Now comes Cricket, and complicates things with Reality. Or, why we say grace before meals.

Comment from Justthisguy on 2007-12-18

2007-12-19T00:25:51Z

Maggie, it was a picture of a possum's head, still attached to a very live possum, thankyouverymuch, which I found on the back porch, or lanai as wrongly called here, one night, terrorising my kitteh. I have not yet given up hope of transmitting the image, of the visage, of that possum across and along the intartubez for the delectation and disputation of all.

Comment from Cricket on 2007-12-18

2007-12-19T00:12:18Z

Awww...did you praise the critter for paying the rent? *pats the nice exterior guardian and gives extra lovey skritches* It's okay Beth. I got grossed out by a freshly dead guinea pig. It had died in a Child's arms, and said child put it on my sewing table. He reasoned that if Wendy could sew Peter Pan's shadow to him, I could do the same for the piggie. *shudders even now* Fortunately, Fort Lewis has a Pet Cemetary.

Comment from jim b on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T23:50:57Z

Sounds like opossom head soup time. I would come by for some but I am trying to cut down.

Comment from HomefrontSix on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T23:36:39Z

So TOTALLY not fair PC!!! And in completely wrong context as well...kind of. Actually, not so much. I've not dealt with smiling possum heads but I have battled cockroaches the size of B52s. Phooey. I still say you couldn't do it. Maybe we should see if John will let us test out my theory...

Comment from Maggie on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T23:35:55Z

What about me? hehehehehe

Comment from Justthisguy on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T22:32:02Z

I'm gonna send y'all a pic from my cell phone. Please don't give Captain Heinrichs the number. Or Captain Nowak.

Comment from Princess Crabby on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T22:19:44Z

I could so touch it. To quote a drinkin' buddy of mine......

Maybe it's the red hair. Or the stubborn streak. Or both. But I've never been one to admit defeat or give up. So I sucked it up, got back on my feet, and kept moving forward. And every time I did, it added to the feeling that I *could* do this. I might not like it but I could do it.

Comment from J.M. Heinrichs on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T22:04:01Z

GIRLS!!!! Cheers

Comment from HomefrontSix on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T20:33:27Z

Yeah but, PC, you'd have to TOUCH it to get it there. I don't see that happening. Though I do think I'd rather be decapitated than go with your plan. Cass...what do you think?

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T19:34:34Z

Hee! Struck a nerve, methinks!~ Oh, and... Are too!!!

Comment from Princess Crabby on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T18:41:05Z

Armorer - You should (for many reasons) thank your lucky stars that you are married to SWWBO and *not* the Empress of La Moata...........because that "grinning head" would have ended up somewhere that would have been very painful for you. Perhaps something along the lines of that whole "a wound more severe than decapitation but less serious than death".

Comment from bad cat robot on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T18:24:40Z

Sheesh. Gunner saved you the best part, and this is your thanks? It could be worse. A friend's cat once brought in a copperhead snake. A *live* copperhead. And proceeded to dump it in the bathtub to "play" with it some more. Dead possum heads (hey, what a cool punk rock band name!) don't even rate.

Comment from Beth Donovan on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T18:22:52Z

Barb, I open the back door, I see a grinning head of some sort looking up at me. I was startled, and it is John's job to be manly and dispose of such things. I may have squealed, but it's not because I'm squiggly!!

Comment from Barb on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T18:14:52Z

So, Beth - are you all squiggly? heh.

Comment from Beth Donovan on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T18:07:03Z

am not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment from Beth Donovan on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T17:50:12Z

Am not.

Comment from Beth Donovan on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T17:48:05Z

Am not.

Comment from Beth Donovan on 2007-12-18

2007-12-18T17:47:04Z

Am not.