Street Art

With our initial move over (into an apartment, until we can secure a house), it was time to take a break yesterday, and get out on the bike. Two hundred yards from our apartment, and we're on a two-lane black top with curves, hills, beautiful old home, decrepit old homes, farms, and historic downtowns in every directions.

The images above were taken in Mooresville, NC. There's been a resurgence of appreciation for old advertising in the local area, with some individuals repainting old damaged advertising ( as in barely visible, but still present on the building) to bring it back to as it would look when it was new. Pretty neat to see, since it can't really be restored, and would otherwise completely fade away or appear shoddy.

Practical Creativity

Reading this simply reinforces the pride in my tribe. Hooah Iowa Guard!

Neat, and No Thanks

If I could find a way to lug this back to my reloading room.....Reminds of the 7.62x54R; I'd love to put a wooden dummy round in it.



Tomorrow, Soylent Green Soup made from the leftovers.

Down Time

Working hours here aren't much like those in the states. There's no labor law awarding overtime or comp time when the work week exceeds 40 hours, and if someone in the military is working only 40 hours a week here.........they're not really working. Regardless, there is down or free time here and there, which people take advantage of in different ways. Gym rats head to the workout tent, gamers to their consoles, caffeine addicts find a Green Bean or gather around a coffee pot to try their latest variation received from home, and the cigar afficianados gather in dark and secretive lairs to avoid the glares of the health nuts. Or, some people shop at the two "bazaars" on post:

But for a lack of money and an excess of regulations..........

Catching Up

It's been a while since posting anything about being in Afghanistan, so a little catching up is in order. What does Godzilla have to do with that? Absolutely nothing; I just like the picture, and I'm still fighting jet lag.

Recently seen above the post, something I wouldn't have thought I would see outside a museum:


First noticed this guy when I heard the relatively soft and sedate sound of the engines and propellers, when what we usually have is jets going by all day. Looking up, I noticed an aircraft that looked like it was hardly moving. Looking a little closer at the wings, and then noticing it actually had a tail wheel, I started thinking that it looked familiar, almost like something I'd seen recently.....



It looked a lot like this one I photographed at the National World War Two Museum in New Orleans while on a four-day pass.

Per Wikipedia, the DC-3 was engineered by a team led by chief engineer Arthur E. Raymond and first flew on December 17, 1935. Total production of the DC-3 was 16,079, with more than 400 remained in commercial service in 1998. 10,655 DC-3s were built at Santa Monica, California, Long Beach, California, and Oklahoma City in both civil DC-3 (607) and military C-47 (10,048) versions, with an additional 4,937 built under license in Russia as the Lisunov Li-2. American production stopped in 1945.

A total of 4,937 Li-2 versions between 1940 and 1954, seeing extensive use in Eastern Europe until the 1960s, the last survivors in use in China and Vietnam during the 1980s.

Apparently there's only one Li-2 restored to airworthy condition, so it would seems this would probably be an old American one that's still delivering something into Kabul.

A Day At The Range

Recently went to another post in the area to check zeros on the rifles. Of all the ranges I've been on, this one probably has the most impressive berm:

Somewher around 1600 feet of vertical rise from the range, I was told. But then it was time to get to business, which meant getting down in the talcum-like dirt that coated everything in short order.
After verifying zeros, we headed back out towards the gate. On the way, we passed by an armor graveyard from the Soviet-Afghan war:


Including this interesting piece, which is a T-34/85 if I remember my Soviet armor correctly.
Oh, to have the chance to haul that back home....

Odd, But Not Ugly

I was watching some of the younger troops playing a video game last night, and noticed the main character running around with something like the image above. It reminds me of the older FN-FALs when they first came out. There's something about walnut that adds elegance to any firearm, no matter how utilitarian it started out. This particular set of furniture runs about $240, which is low enough to start me considering upgrading my rifle at home.

Range Support

Ninety-Pound Partner and I have been assigned range support for the Mk 19 Grenade Launcher this afternoon (that would be her at the far left, demonstrating why she has the nickname). Range support is good duty for medics; make sure everyone is hydrated, watch for signs and symptoms of heat injury, and be ready for anything else that can happen on a weapons range. While most people might think weapons-related accidents are a priority, it's actually heat injuries that are most common. At this moment, the range has an ambient temperature of 90 degrees, there's minimal shade even off the line, and firers must wear full armor. Not a good combination, even for younger troops. That's why the Army has provided with all sorts of wonderful handouts, such as the one I recently found in the latrine:


The Army loves handouts, and apparently so do soldiers.

And now, NPP and I will wait to see if it's true about some soldiers not showing up, which will result in much happiness and explosions downrange for the medics.

Talent

Wish I had a portion of what this guy has.

On a personal note, I don't believe there's a pursuit model more graceful in appearance than the P-40 Tomahawk.

Response Time

This recent video (note: pawn shop ad precedes video) from a home owner's surveillance system demonstrates why no police department, no matter how efficient, can be counted on as a first line of personal defense. Unless your home is a military-grade bunker, retreating and calling 911 wouldn't have kept these intruders out. Given the speed of this assault, I doubt the owner would have had time to even make the call. There is no substitute for having a personal defense weapon readily accessible in the home. You can't guarantee surviving an exchange of gunfire, but your odds are better with an exchange versus simply receiving. Few criminals are willing to press home an attack when their own lives are suddenly at risk.

H/T to Survival Blog.

Hookicrafts

Probably the most useful function this waste of oxygen has ever performed.

H/T to The Lone Voice.

Good Friends...

will move from one end of the Sinai Peninsula to the other to cover your duties, leaving most of their belongings behind, so that you may go on leave for two weeks.

Good friends appreciate the offer of your room, so they can have a TV, fridge, and internet access while they're away from home.

Really good friends leave you an unopened bottle of Crown Royal on your shelf to say "welcome home" when you're back.

And really good friends who have a twisted sense of humor will leave you a short love letter under the bottle, just to see if they can creep you out for the hell of it.

It's hard to find friends like that out in the civilian world.

Reciprocity

Welcome, amigo. "Blogroll of Doom"; it doesn't get much better than that.

Call Me Buck...

Buck Sergeant, that is.

I know where you all were going with that title. Perverts.

Anybody need a baggie full of Velc.....er, hook-and-pile backed Specialist rank?

For a Good Cause

God knows, I'm death on pink guns, but it's for a hell of a cause.

I'll I Wanted Was A Patch....

but he pretty much gave me the shirt off his back. Actually out of his closet, but close enough. Thought the patch in the first image would be a nice addition to stuff on the vest for cycle rides, so asked our Fijian dentist if he thought their supply sergeant would swap me for something of mine. He thought it would be easier just to give me the whole jacket.

Gotta rummage through the extra gear and see what I have. He doesn't want anything, but I don't want him thinking Americans are ungrateful mooches.

A Tip Of The Hat...

To Xavier, for noting my unfortunate obsession with mutilated, abused, and just plain ugly firearms. You, sir, have a large number of readers. And a fine appreciation of the practical work of art that is the Smith & Wesson revolver.

Latest Addition To The Armory

A Hungarian Axe, manufactured by Arms & Armor of Minneapolis. These craftsmen specialize in replications of existing relics in museums to turn out historically accurate but affordable (and fun) hand weapons. I've purchased both my pieces at the Renaissance Fair in Minnesota, and haven't regretted either purchase. I love old military bolt rifles, but sometimes the old up close and personal weapons really draw me in. I'm looking forward to buying more of their excellent edged weapons in the future.

Piss Off A Hippy

By wearing this.

I Want This Shirt

Close up here.