Learning to Shoot

When presented with evidence contrary to a previously held notion, a reasonable person accepts the facts as they are and moves on from there. One of the weakest excuses to avoid accepting these facts is "well, I'm just old school." Someone thusly claiming to be "old school" is essentially saying, "you're right, but I'm going to continue to be of the opinion that this isn't fact yet, despite this evidence."

There was a spirited online debate about iron sights vs optics for fundamental marksmanship training. 

Old School -
The optimum scenario would be a 25 yard zero of the iron sights(AR) then sighting in your optics AFTER zero. Optics are a crutch. They run out of batteries and can be broken very easily. Proficiency with iron sights is the basis of BRM
(Editor's note: BRM is Basic Rifle Marksmanship - from the US Army)

The Rifleman -
I'm torn. I've competed with irons at 600.  Held my own. 
However, we also have the technology.  Why not use it? Even the USMC now allows the ACOG for quals. One either has the fundamentals or not.
Optics help you see better, not shoot better.

Old School -
Optics break, fail and batteries die. Then, if your have no buis, you’re carrying a club. If you ONLY use an optic, you are then a 1 trick pony. Proficiency with Iron sights FIRST, then you can use optics.
I have optics on my ARs, but I also have irons. I zero the irons, then I zero the optic. I see folks TOTALLY relying on their optics, without any BUIS. That’s a very good way to become combat ineffective if the optic fails for any reason. Think about you falling on patrol and rolling down a hill, ass over tea kettle. Your weapon flying around, hitting rocks, trees, etc. The ACOG gets broken to the point it is useless. You can take it off, chuck it, and drive on if you have Irons. If you don’t, now your primary weapon is useless and you have to go to your secondary weapon.?You have just cut your effectiveness to about 25% and cost your unit in a firefight. This is just my observation.

2nd Rifleman -
I don’t believe Optics are a crutch I think of them as just another tool.
I do believe in irons and will practice with either. Optics can malfunction break etc but optics have come very far these days and what I’ve learned recently is if you spend good money on a good optic and I mean a good optic you won’t be disappointed.
battery life of some are 5 years or more, and some are even able to be knocked around fairly hard and even take damage from other projectiles and still function and hold zero. With that said Even back up irons and flip ups can fail  and break off. You're right, Sh*t happens.

3rd Rifleman -
When I first shot an AR it was with irons. It was not a good shoot day. I felt incapable with an AR at that point. Then I shot one with an optic and it was a world of difference. Then I started taking classes from The Rifleman and listened to him and learned from him all while using an optic. Now, my confidence level with my AR  is high and I plan on going back through all the training classes and using my irons. Optics are only a crutch if you allow them to be. Their a great tool to have same as irons. I am one to say if needed learn with optic get comfortable with your gun and your confidence up then move to irons.

Old School -
Rifleman 3, whoever taught you to shoot with irons was obviously not teaching you correctly. Give me an hour and I could have you zeroed and good to 300 yards.
If you can shoot with an optic, you can shoot with irons, the basics are the basics.

The Rifleman -
My point, exactly. 

Old School -
I wasn't try to be better than anyone, just saying that my skill set is rooted in shooting, especially combat shooting. If I hurt anyone's feelings or stepped on toes then PM me and we can talk about it. If y'all are happy with practicing the wrong way then continue what you are doing and pay no attention to my posts. If you truly want to learn the correct way, then I will be glad to help.


Folks,
You can't change a gamma, no matter what.
And you can't change the mind of someone who refuses to accept facts.  Take liberals, for example. 

But, as evidence of teaching someone on optics, then on irons, let's take Mrs. Rifleman, for example.  In April,  2016, she earned her Expert Rifleman rating from Patriot Training.

Later, she was taken to a range and shot the scale 300 m targets from twice as far away - meaning they were, in effect, 600 m scaled:

Then, she shot for the first time ever with a red dot:

And then, she shot for the first time ever using irons:

Just for good measure, we took her out to over 600 yards some time later:

Maybe the Army and Marines are right - maybe a person can learn to shoot using optics, and then pick up irons later.

Dealing With Traitors

In response to this, I was told this:

This is what I find disturbing. You keep agitating for violence and war, but you are talking about our countrymen, our neighbors, our friends and our families, here. This is our home. No. Stop shitting where you eat. You don't get to wage war on American soil against American citizens. You don't get to say stupid shit like that with impunity. The ends does NOT justify the means- that makes you just as bad as the people you are condemning. Wake the fuck up and smell the koolaid you are drinking. I support and defend the constitution. Not some manifesto- you know who writes manifestos? Terrorists and whack-jobs. Get educated and get right with God, because what you're pushing here is not motherfucking cool.

There are several good things to learn here.

First and foremost - this is why women do not belong in charge of strategic operations or war. The complete inability to identify an enemy, and the complete lack of desire to combat the enemy are fatal flaws.

Second - having to make shit up that isn't there.
Her:  You keep agitating for violence and war
Me: Make no mistake: I do not fear violence.  I do not fear death. Indeed, I've spent most of my adult life preparing for these eventualities.  But no true warrior desires war - for they know the horrors thereof.  
It's like she didn't even read it. Well, when you start your argument with a false premise, the whole argument is rendered invalid. #LogicFail

Third - the use of the term "manifesto."
Of course this was used strictly for shock value, or to try to provoke an emotional response. Not gonna work. Yes, there was a list of observable facts, however, it is clearly no manifesto...
Manifesto: noun
a public declaration of policy and aims, especially one issued before an election by a political party or candidate.

synonyms:policy statement, mission statement, platform, (little) red book, program, declaration, proclamation, pronouncement, announcement

"a party manifesto that would change the course of world politics"

Fact: noun
a thing that is indisputably the case.
"the most commonly known fact about hedgehogs is that they have fleas"

synonyms:reality, actuality, certainty; More

a piece of information used as evidence or as part of a report or news article.


It is my estimation that this woman has many friends and/or family members who are Left leaning. She, herself, may be Left leaning. She fears what I wrote:
And the violence that would occur would not be particularly kind to those on the Left. They are not prepared for it in any way.  So, although they face overwhelming defeat, it is not my desire that this should be the outcome.  


Without a doubt, it can be hard to work up one's courage to confront a traitor. But again, that's why women mustn't be in charge of military or similar operations - they lack the discernment to spot traitors, and they lack the conviction to do with traitors what must be done.

The Last Jedi Review

Some thoughts on the movie, Star Wars: The Last Jedi. There will be spoilers, so if you're a pussy about those, leave now.  And don't ever come back. 

Spoiler free review, borrowed from this review (yes, I know that review is of Rogue One, but it also suffices for Last Jedi):
The film grammar, the pacing, the tone are all straight out of Chinese film epics. It is a long damn movie, one with an oppressive sense of fate and tragedy through out.  You know these characters aren't getting out of this alive because you never see or hear of them in the first trilogy.  They start off as goners.

The People of the Han eat that shit right up.

First - it is important to understand why I see movies: to be entertained.  Typically, I want to see something that I just don't see every day.  Last Jedi certainly entertained.  Perhaps some of the fight scenes were rehashed. Perhaps the writing was horrendous. Perhaps it was geared toward a new segment of six-year-old children. But in the end, I saw things I don't see every day. 

And yes, it is an almost complete echo of The Empire Strikes Back, with the story line lifted directly from Battlestar Gallactica.

So these are the points of the movie I have issue with,  and about which, I had a conversation with my children -

I think Star Wars (Disney specifically) is trying to make straight white men the enemy.  Kylo Ren. They must kill off the strong white male leaders ("Patriarchy") such as Han and Luke. The others must be reduced - Poe Dameron getting demoted. 

They tried to disguise this as "out with the old and in with the new," but it's a tired game and easy to see through. 

Females and minorities were not be portrayed in a negative light.  The sole exception - Captain Phasma - wears a helmet and armor so she more resembles a robot than a woman.  Plus, she's following the orders of white male General Hux - who is the Star Wars equivalent of Hitler.  The underlying message here is that women who "follow the lead of white men on the Right" (liberal concept) are nothing more than robots who deserve to be destroyed. 

Also shunned is the gaining of skill via training.  Some are "just born" at a high level. 

Not surprisingly, there were stiff jabs at wealth. It's as if the wealthy must have done something bad to become wealthy and therefore they are all bad people.

"I fundamentally disagree with virtually everything you've decided about my character (Luke Skywalker)." 
- Mark Hamill
Yes, Luke Skywalker was not in this film. Oh, there was someone with that name, played by actor Mark Hamill, but it was not Luke.

I saw one person's opinion online that Vice Admiral Holdo was a "bad ass." In fact, she was a total blunder.  Her only saving grace was that she self-sacrificed (see note above about selling this in the Chinese market) after making error after error in leadership - which was portrayed as making the only caring choice after the only caring choice.  But, she and Leia were supposed to be the elder statesmen of "Strong, Independent Women."

There's even a part that bashes the eating of meat: Chewbacca was going to eat a porg, and was guilted by other porgs.

Yes, the film had plenty to bash.  Yes, Disney's Star Wars ought to be renamed SJW Wars. No, I'm not immediately boycotting these movies. Why?

Because of my children.  They know it's all make-believe.  All of it.  From lightsabers to blasters to hyperspace travel to the different species... right down to the demagoguery of the white male.  And SJW Wars offers me a unique chance to lump SJWism in with all of those other imaginary ideas. 

One may ignore reality. But one may not ignore the consequences of ignoring reality. 
Ayn Rand

So, a few questions came to mind:
Why make Epidode 7 all about finding the "great" Luke Skywalker, the legendary Jedi master fans waited 34 years to see again, only to treat him like a pathetic, disposable after-thought?
Why introduce Snoke, a powerful and mysterious figure cloaked in the force, only to have him so easily dispersed?
Why did Luke's lightsaber once call to Rey, only to suddenly be ignored/dismissed as mere coincidence?

So much wasted potential and conflict because of lazy writing, horrible character development, and awkward comedy.

Surviving Attacks

Sometimes, when you are successful at something, it is because of hard work and dedication. Sometimes, you're "a natural." Many times "the natural" may not even fully understand why they are successful. Many times, "the natural" may not be the best instructor of a topic because they lack the awareness of what makes things work within their specialty. 

Resiliency is something that I've been told I have by a great many people.  But ideally never understood why. I have a goal, I keep moving toward that goal, regardless of obstacles.  That's easy to say, but many people simply don't understand how I do that.  And really, I don't, either.  It's just a mindset.  I will myself to success.

Recently, I was listening to a podcast on YouTube by "RooshV." And he explained it in a section about being resilient and "anti-fragile." Roosh lists the steps:
1. Get attacked.
2. Survive the attack.
3. Measure how much you were harmed.
4. Make adjustments/improvements to sustain less harm next time. 

Also and alternately - pattern yourself after a strong person.

Boy, oh boy, did he hit the nail on the head. I've never been afraid of conflict. I've been attacked countless times.  I don't go around fearing attack. Many smaller attacks I simply ignore. With the heavier attacks, I instinctively put these four steps into action. 

And there you have it.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas.

Now, get off your phone or computer and go spend quality time with your loved ones.

Middle Age BETA

Posted by a total BETA via Bookface:

I reached a new middle-aged milestone tonight. I didn't change out of my old man slippers to drive the car. I don't even care. Next it will pajama pants in public.

Nope. What you did was reach a new milestone in BETAhood. A real man puts on clothes to go out. Or goes to the car completely naked.

Senate 2018

On Tuesday, December 12, Democrat Doug Jones defeated Republican Roy Moore for the open Senate seat in Alabama.  Given that Trump won Alabama with 62% of the vote, this is considered a political upset. 

Several facts to consider:

The Left ramped up its entire nationwide political machine to get people out to vote.  It's likely that many ineligible votes were cast. Still, Jones did not receive as many votes as did Hillary only a year prior.

Moore was hit with numerous baseless allegations. Instead of fighting back hard like Trump, he disappeared.  To be fair, he didn't resign like some #cuckservatives would have, but he threw in the towel - exactly like McCain and Romney did against Obama. 

The Republican establishment sided with the Democrats and the #FakeNews media.  Hard. They basically sabotaged Moore's whole campaign.  This would not have been a problem had Moore fought back hard like Trump does. 

What will be interesting are the races in 2018. There are enough Senate races up for grabs that the Left machine will have its already sparse resources spread even thinner. A little research will show you that the following Democrat seats in states where Trump won will be up for grabs:

Bill Nelson, FL
Joe Donnelly, IN
Debbie Stabbenow, MI
Claire McCaskill, MO
Jon Tester, MT
Heidi Heitkamp, ND
Sherrod Brown, OH
Bob Casey, PA
Tammy Baldwin, WI
Joe Manchin, WV

Additionally, Jeff Flake (AZ) and Bob Corker  (TN)  who have proven to be rogue agents, will not be running for re-election. Both are in states that typically vote Republican.

Note: there are several other Senate seats up for grabs, but at this time, they look somewhat safe for the incumbent.  The ones mentioned above could be the swing seats.  With a little luck, and some good hard Right candidates, a 60 Republican Senate is not out of reach. 

Realistically, it will be 55 at best, because Republican establishment types prefer to run #cuckservatives and people don't vote #cuckservatives into office much any more. 

Use LOGIC

This post generated some lively debate in a prepper forum. At the heart of it, was the nature of patrolling itself. Naturally, there are many types of patrols. However, for small teams, is hard to imagine a frequent use for a patrol of a type other than what was listed.

Some military veterans weighed in, extolling the virtues of each type of Patrol. This is to be expected, particularly if they performed those other types of Patrols. The problem is that small team tactics do not dictate every type of Patrol.

For example, there are very few circumstances under which your typical Homeland Patriot and team will need to do a screening Patrol, or an economy of force Patrol. They simply don't have the numbers, equipment, or need to do these types of Patrols.

The bigger picture here is this, military folks, just like anybody else, see things through their own lenses. An individual may or may not be able to determine which elements of training are more applicable to a specific group. Because military folks have often had things drilled into their heads, they frequently do not accept any other methodologies as being correct.

The military way may be a right way of doing "X." But there may also be other right ways of doing it. In other words, the military method may not be the only correct method.

It does not take military experience to evaluate the logic of a course of action. Furthermore it does not take military experience to be able to educate others on a military topic. All it takes is experience with that topic, and the ability to teach.

As an example, this blog author has taught many Fundamental Marksmanship classes. Many attendees have been current or former military.  Each of these veterans has mentioned how the methodologies used in this author's Fundamental Marksmanship class is superior to what he received and instruction in the military. This is true for vets from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and USMC. This is also true of every person who has taken Fundamental Marksmanship and who has also done an Appleseed event. 

Logic needs to be the universal 5 letter word at the top of every instructional handout.

Catching Wild Pigs

A friend shares a story on how freedom is lost:


You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come every day to eat the free corn.

When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence.

They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side.

The pigs, which are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat that free corn again. You then slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd.

Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught.

Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity."

That is exactly what is happening in America. The government keeps pushing us toward Communism and Socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, welfare, free housing, free food, free childcare free phones and free housing while we continually lose our freedoms, just one fence at a time.

When the gun control pundits want to ban magazine capacity, AR and AK style rifles, semi-auto handguns etc.; they are doing nothing more than building a side on their pig corral.

And you my friend “is tha pig”.

10 Date Questions

Y'all gotta see this. "10 things every feminist should ask on a first date." Now, The Rifleman has been out of the dating scene for nearly a quarter-century, but in the interest of humor, let's see the Rifleman's responses.

1. Do you believe that black lives matter?
Nope. Black people absolutely do not care about one another, that's why they kill each other so much. Unless and until they care about themselves, why should I care about them?

2. What are your thoughts on gender and sexual orientation?
There are only two genders, and every Gay-BLT person I've ever met was that way because it got them attention.

3.  How do you work to dismantle sexism and misogyny in your life?
You should rename this "dismantling sexism and misandry." And the answer is - I live a toxically masculine life everyday.

4. What are your thoughts on sex work?
Bitches are hos.

5. Are you a supporter of the BDS movement?
Business Development specialist? I fully support them, they are in sales like I am.
Now, if you mean, "Boycott, Divest, Sanctions," then I must say no. Let Israel and Palestine fight it out, I say.

6. What is your understanding of settler colonialism and indigenous rights?
LOL. White men kicked Injun ass. Guns are cool. 

7. Do you think capitalism is exploitative?
Yes. But not nearly as much so as socialism.

8. Can any human be illegal?
If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

9. Do you support Muslim Americans and non-Muslim people from Islamic countries?
Mohammed was a pedophile and Allah is Satan.

10. Does your allyship include disabled folks?
Not really. Democrats have never done anything for me, except take my money.

Left Losing Locally

In Wilson County, TN (and several adjoining counties), there is a special election on December 19 for the State Senate seat that was vacated by Mae Beavers in her quest to become governor.  Early voting ended yesterday. 

The candidates are Republican Mark Pody and Democrat Mary Alice Carfi. Pody is currently a member of the State House of Representatives. Carfi is an attorney.  Pody was one of the few with principles enough to vote against the Gas Tax increase. 

The former Vice Chair of the Wilson County made this public statement about this election:
Mark Pody is author of our own bathroom bill, and as you may know, North Carolinas economy has been crippled from its [passagrle]. Pody has voted against transit for middle TN, has voted AGAINST Equal Pay for Women, voted AGAINST a minimum wage (we currently don't have one), has supported efforts for voucher our education system and has taken a stand that Medicaid expansion isnt important. (280,000 working poor, including 30k veterans do not have access to healthcare!)

VOTE FOR Elect Mary Alice! Born and raised here in District 17, she will focus on solutions to the problems we face in TN! Our children need strong education, our people need access  to affordable healthcare! We don't need someone who is caving to special interests!!


So much inconsistency in a single statement that it is laughable.  Let's break it down:

Mark Pody is author of our own bathroom bill, and as you may know, North Carolinas economy has been crippled from its [passagrle].
It must be presumed the author meant to write "passage." Of course, there is no proof that the economy in NC has been "crippled" by this bill... only #FakeNews wailing.

Pody has voted against transit for middle TN, has voted AGAINST Equal Pay for Women, voted AGAINST a minimum wage (we currently don't have one), has supported efforts for voucher our education system and has taken a stand that Medicaid expansion isnt important. (280,000 working poor, including 30k veterans do not have access to healthcare!)
The $5 Billion transit bill was a complete joke.
The US already has equal pay for women, the bill referenced here was but political posturing and, had it been passed, would have made things terrible for men and women in the job market.
Tennessee does not have a minimum wage. The Federal minimum wage is more than enough, thank you.
Medicaid expansion in Tennessee is completely  unnecessary. We have TennCare.


VOTE FOR Elect Mary Alice! Born and raised here in District 17, she will focus on solutions to the problems we face in TN!
Pody has been doing just that.  In fact, for having been born in the area, it's surprising that Mary Alice is so out of touch with the majority of what would be her constituents.

Our children need strong education,
They already have it.

our people need access  to affordable healthcare!
We already have it. 

We don't need someone who is caving to special interests!!
Exactly why a vote for Pody is needed.  Mary Alice's views do not match those of 60%+ of District 17. 


This is why the Left is losing.  They are so bound to their talking points, they just don't know what is going on. 

The Fight

Roy Moore's apparent loss in Alabama has me thinking.  Several things went wrong... and the two most notable things were:
1. Democrats, assisted by the GOPe, focused their efforts and those of the fake news into a single attack - possibly assisted by a multitude of fraudulent votes.
2. Roy Moore did not fight back like Trump would have. 

Make no mistake, fellow Folks on the Right:
Next election, every Republican and their brother will have a sexual assault claim laid against them.

The Left has been in an all out war against Western Civilization for years.  Obama's victories were symptomatic. Of course, he greatly helped the cause of the Left.

For years, the Right, fueled by #cuckservatives and #churchians has compromised and yielded when the accusations got nasty.  They kept "taking the high road" right into loss after loss.  The GOPe has helped - particularly with the compromising.  The Right tries to be nice when the Left gets nasty. 

Enter 2016, Trump, and the #AltRight. Now the Right was determined to win, and thus adopted some of the tactics of the Left.  Memes, vile language, direct attacks, rhetoric vs. rhetoric debates, etc. The Left could not fight back effectively.  The win was #Glorious.

You disapprove? Well, too bad! We're in this war for the species, boys and girls.
Carl - Starship Troopers (the movie - 1997)

The Left now wishes to "compromise" as they simply have "differences of opinion." And they insist their differences of opinion must be respected. Read: bow to my wishes!!! We must fight back, and with force.

Naked force has resolved more conflicts throughout history than any other factor. The contrary opinion, that violence doesn't solve anything, is wishful thinking at its worst. People who forget that always die.
Jean Rasczak - Starship Troopers (the movie - 1997)

One may ignore reality. But one may not ignore the consequences of ignoring reality.
Ayn Rand

The difference between the real Right and the Left is that the Right chooses not to ignore reality.  The reason I fight for the preservation and advancement of Western Civilization is that I've read history.  I know what happens when socialism tales root.  The end result is violence and death. 

Make no mistake: I do not fear violence.  I do not fear death. Indeed, I've spent most of my adult life preparing for these eventualities.  But no true warrior desires war - for they know the horrors thereof. 

And the violence that would occur would not be particularly kind to those on the Left. They are not prepared for it in any way.  So, although they face overwhelming defeat, it is not my desire that this should be the outcome. 

That's compassion. 

Now, there's a part of me that is Black Pill. Occasionally,  I will ask myself if fighting the #AltRight fight is worth it.  Indeed, most on the Left are reluctant to change, to say the least.  They are not likely to be turned. 

The reason I come back is for my children.

If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.
Thomas Paine

Generation Z - my children's generation - is overwhelmingly Right leaning. They aren't "conservative" - they are Right.  Conservatism has failed to conserve anything. Conservatism is dead. Generation Z is not conservative, they are Right leaning. 

So, as the Left wars against Christmas, white people, Western Civilization, the Family, and Christianity, understand the following observable facts:
1. The Left is not looking to compromise,  they want you to compromise. 
2. The Left wants to destroy all that you hold dear.
3. Compromising one bit is accepting defeat, as this is war.
4. This is not a difference of opinion, this is a culture war.
5. War is not won by compromise.  It's won with violence. 
6. Compassion for the enemy in war is a weakness that will be used against you. 
7. War is won by defeating the enemy, not agreeing with them.
8. Opposing opinion = the enemy. 
9. #cuckservatives and #churchians wish to compromise.  This makes them sympathizers of the enemy.  This makes them the enemy. 
10. The Right is for the Natural Order, God's Law, Western Civilization, and the Family. These are things worth fighting for. 


Therefore,  be relentless on social media. 
Therefore, do not befriend the enemy.
Therefore,  once the enemy has been identified, treat them as the enemy.
Therefore, be ruthless in cutting ties when the time comes. 
Therefore, be a protector of your God, family, Civilization,  and of reality and the Natural way of things. 

Patrolling

Patrolling is defined as a military tactic. Small groups or individual units are deployed from a larger formation to achieve a specific objective and then return.

In the military, there are many types of patrols. Each has its purpose and inherent value. For the Homeland Defender, not all of the different patrol types are necessary.  Working with the presumptions that the Minuteman will have a small group and no major ground or air combat vehicles, not all patrols will be necessary.  Also under consideration is that the Minuteman will have limited amounts of supplies and personnel.

So what patrols should the Patriot train?

Recon Patrol
A patrol to gather information. Recon patrols tend to avoid contact (fighting), but not always. 

Ambush
Sometimes it is necessary to ambush an enemy patrol.  This might be a hasty ambush, or a planned and executed ambush. 

Raid
Whereas an ambush attacks an enemy patrol away from their domicile, a raid is an attack upon a building, encampment, or other sort of domicile or secured area.

Security patrol
A security patrol, or presence patrol, is performed to scout potential enemy movement against the base or stronghold.

Clearing patrol
After a successful raid of an area or building, a clearing patrol is performed to ensure all enemy forces have been captured, eliminated, or driven from the area. This patrol is similar to a security patrol.

Patrol formations
There are many potential formations that a patrol might use.  The Patriot and his team need to be very familiar with Ranger File, staggered column, and the wedge formations. 

Duties
A person on patrol might have specific duties within the fire team, squad, or platoon. Some examples might include: heavy gunner, designated marksman, medic, team lead, communications, etc.

Furthermore, each person will have areas of responsibility, determined largely by their position within the patrol: point, rear security, or in the middle.


Contact
In addition to the patrol mission, the Minuteman needs to be prepared for contact - fighting with the enemy. This may take the form of your patrol being ambushed. Contact may also be initiated by your patrol via a hasty ambush of the enemy. You and your team need to practice taking contact, getting on line, then responding appropriately. 

According the US Army Ranger Handbook, an ambush should only be performed if your numbers are twice or more compared to the enemy's numbers. It must be assumed that if you've walked into an ambush, they have superior numbers. In this case, you need to be able to peel back and get out of dodge.

If a target of opportunity presents itself, you may wish to initiate a hasty ambush. These can be successful even if your team does not have an advantage in numbers, particularly if your team has force multipliers - automatic weapons and/or designated marksmen.


Conclusion
This has been just the tip of the iceberg - an overview of several main patrolling considerations. You and your team need to learn and train. Dig deeper. 

Impeachment FAIL

The US House voted 364-58 against a procedural measure that would have led to impeachment articles against President Trump. 

4 Democrats voted "present." They must fear for their political safety in upcoming elections.

We've heard so much from the Left over the past year about impeaching Trump. Why, you ask? Because impeachment is how you remove a President. 

Nevermind whether that President was duly elected.
Nevermind whether that President actually violated the law.
Nevermind whether that President actually violated his oath of office.

#Libtards just want him out. The only legal way to do that right now is impeachment.  That's why they throw the term around so much.  #Libtards are in a haze of rage, and want Trump out, NOW!

Chris Kyle Lawsuit Settlement

The lawsuit between the estate of late Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and Jesse “The Body” Ventura (real name James George Janos) has been settled.

This blog has articles about this exact case  in the past.

The amount of the settlement is being kept confidential. Also, per the article, "It was not disclosed whether the cash came from publisher Harper Collins or its insurance company."

Also important to know: "Settlement money that Mr. Ventura received did not come from widow Taya Kyle or the deceased veteran’s estate, Fox News reported Tuesday."

A quick recap:
- Chris Kyle wrote a chapter about "punching out Scruff Face."
- Later, Kyle suggested that "Scruff Face" was Ventura. Later still, Kyle outright stated it was Ventura.
- Ventura sued Kyle. Kyle was unfortunately murdered in an unrelated event. The lawsuit shifted to Kyle's estate, by necessity of the American Legal System.
- In the suit, it was determined that Ventura wasn't even there when the alleged incident happened. Ventura had evidence to that effect. Kyle's estate relied on the testimony of witnesses. The testimony conflicted, to say the least.
- An appeals court ruled that there were procedural issues in the questioning that led to the decision.
- The two sides were preparing for a new trial, when the settlement was reached. 

It is this author's opinion that the facts don't change, and both sides knew how this trial would play out... hence the settlement.  Ventura was awarded $1.8 million, and it is unlikely he settled for a significantly lower amount.  furthermore, as the estate's legal counsel was being provided by the publisher and insurance company, it is highly unlikely they would have offered a low settlement amount, as this is where the money was for the high powered attorneys.

Salty

Lefty asks:
Table salt is made up of sodium and chlorine. Yet we always refer to it as “sodium.” How come we never refer to salt content as “high chlorine” or “low chlorine?”

Background:
Sodium is an alkali metal. The alkali metals react with the nonmetals in Group VIIA (Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine, and Astatine) to form ionic compounds or salts. Side note - because they form salts with so many metals, the elements in Group VIIA are known as halogens.

Example: Chlorine reacts with sodium metal to produce sodium chloride, table salt.

So, back to the question at hand:
Since there are many types of salts, we refer to sodium chloride salt as simply "sodium." This to differentiate from, say, Potassium chloride salt. Both sodium and potassium salts provide the human body with essential electrolytes.

On Whom to Brag

Two instructors. One tries to make the students of the other doubt the instruction they've received.  He posts a passive-aggressive statement on Bookface, listing his numerous and well-earned credentials. 

The other man posts in reply:
I brag on my students, not my accomplishments.  I let them determine if they like the knowledge that was shared with them.

The first deletes his post. 

EBT Cards

A friend the other day said she knows what the "EBT" stands for in the food stamp cards:

Everyone else Bought This.

Dealing With Gossips

Gossips are some of the most disgusting creatures. 

Gossip: "John Doe over there is a bad person."

Other: "Oh? How so?"

Gossip: "He has done bad things."

Other: "What sort of things?"

Gossip: "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;  Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.  And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.  Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.  Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.  For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 3:1‭-‬13 KJV"

Other: "There are many infractions in that passage. To which do you refer?"

Gossip: "Pretty much all of them."

Other: "Do you have evidence?"

Gossip: "Somebody told me, I can't say who."

Other: "That's hearsay."

Gossip: "Well, John Doe is just a bad man."

Other: "Accusations, but no proof."


Like an elementary school child, when a gossip makes a claim, but has no proof, then the claim is most often false.  This is also like how the #FakeNews operates. It's best to avoid these sorts. And certainly do not pay heed to them.

Watching The NFL

Yesterday, I attended an NFL football game in behalf of my employer.  I played host to several clients who had won tickets to the game between the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans.

So far, this NFL season, I've made it a point to avoid watching games, due to the "take a knee" "protests."

At this game, I made it a point to make a few observations.  First, the stadium was roughly half full.  Perhaps a bit more, but certainly not 2/3 full.

The second observation was that no player from either team took a knee during the National Anthem.

The third observation was that the Titans are 8-4 at this point. Not a bad record. 

Fast Thoughts

Quick hitters from social media:

Modern day feminism is a disease.

Not everyone accused of a sex offense is guilty. Not every accuser is telling the truth.

People saying a child can choose their sex are trying to push society closer to saying a child can choose sex.

Social Justice Warriors are not working class heroes. They are bourgeois arts graduates with no aptitude for science or business, who feel bitter at the large disparity between their high self-evaluation and their low prospects.

Whites are done with ethnomasochism and our racial debasement. White Guilt is over and there is nothing anyone can do about it. #ItsOKtoBeWhite

Fire Currie.

"Polls" currently have Moore leading the Alabama Senate race by 5 - 7%. It's gonna be 58% - 35%. +/- 3% on either.

Washington Post national security reporter admits evidence of Russian collusion "maybe doesn't exist at all," calls story a "f**king crap shoot.

Everyone who has opposed Trump has gone down in flames.  Trump's Law - those who are the most vocally anti-Trump also have the biggest skeletons in their closets. 

Merry Christmas, ESPN!

In an expected move, ESPN lays off over 100 employees. Just goes to show what happens when you oppose the God-Emperor.

On a similar note - why is it that companies so frequently do layoffs during the Holidays? 

Making Corrections

Posted by a friend on Bookface:

If I am wrong and you are my brother or sister in Christ, please, by all means, correct me. If you do choose to correct me, please be sure to do so by showing me my error in the Scripture. In the event that you cannot produce the proper scripture, or your argument is, at best, shaky, I regret to inform you that you are not correcting me, but you are simply stating your opinion. If you attempt to "correct" me, not by stating solid Scripture but by twisting and deforming Scripture in an attempt to persuade me to accept your view, I regret to inform you that you are, in fact, a wolf, and a liar. If you wish to point your finger at me in judgement for refusing to accept your opinion as the Word of God itself, I regret to inform you that you are little more than a Pharisee. I'm more than open to discussing Scripture, and I'm open to looking at Scripture through another's perspective and hearing wise counsel, but if all you're offering is a shaky opinion and you choose to judge me for rejecting it, you're little more than a pretender and we no longer have anything to discuss. Under no circumstances should one play an apostle's part while holding within themselves a Pharisee's heart.

Verbal Ripostes and Resets

In combat and the martial arts, timing is very important. The great Miyamoto Musashi pointed out in The Book of Five Rings that, with regard to attacking, timing was second only to the skills of the combatants. Donald Trump mentions timing many times in The Art of the Deal. Suffice it to say that when it comes to interpersonal dynamics, timing is of immense importance.

In interpersonal dealings, and in combat, one needs to know what to do, and when. Since attack is necessary to overcome one's opponent, three major courses of action become necessary:
Attack - going on the offensive.
Riposte - a quick counterattack.
Reset - defending the opponent's attack, and moving back to an equal position.

There are many types of attacks. There are many types of ripostes. Resetting, however, is a simple, yet underutilized tactic. In fact, when someone is skilled at resetting, they are often perceived as a master tactician. The reset gives you:
- The opportunity to measure your opponent's strength.
- The opportunity to tire your opponent.
- Key information on how your opponent attacks and defends.
- Information on your opponent's timing.
- Information on your opponent's skill level.
- And much more!

This entry will be dedicated to the verbal reset.

Once, a person took issue with something written in this blog. They decided to confront the author in a church. It was clear that this person wanted confrontation... possibly even a physical confrontation! While the author had every confidence in emerging victorious in either a verbal or physical confrontation, this was also neither the time nor the place. Nothing would be lost with a reset. And so, a verbal reset was employed:  "OK."

On a different occasion, an acquaintance of the author gives another example. This acquaintance frequently spoke with the author about "we need to do this," or "we should put together that." But never were concrete plans discussed. One Friday, this person contacted the author with a request for concrete plans... in 36 hours. When it was pointed out that the author had already made plans during that time frame, the response was "we discussed this last week." In truth, this had been discussed the week prior, but with no concrete date and time... just "some day." And so, a verbal reset was employed: "OK."

The key to the verbal reset is acknowledgement.
Please note... acknowledgement is not agreement.

Acknowledge the other party's statement. Do not agree to it outright. Do not disagree with it outright.  Acknowledge it. "OK" works in most cases. "Acknowledged" can work. "Understood" can also work. "I hear you" can work. Be careful of "yes" answers. Similarly, be mindful of how you use "ok." If in doubt of whether to use "ok," then use "understood."

Do NOT add additional words. "I hear you" and "I hear what you're saying, but..." are two different phrases. The first is a reset, and the second is a riposte. Be careful with your words. Additional words can often come across as passive-aggressive or argumentative. Because they are.

The best part of using "OK" or "Acknowledged" is that the verbal bully will think he has gained your cooperation. If it becomes necessary to contradict him later, all avenues of approach are at your disposal. Of course he will cry "but you agreed with me!" And once you advise him that you simply acknowledged without agreement, he will be betrayed by his own lack of understanding of how things work. The "battle" will be on the field of your choosing instead of the field of his choosing.

Using "Acknowledged" in an email also works wonders in the exact same way.

Giving Thanks

This meme has been shared to this blog before. I've shared it on Bookface before. This meme attacks the symptom. However, I came across a tweet that gets to the root of the problem:

When you see how people behaved badly on #BlackFriday, understand this... these people are under mass psychosis as a result of mainstream media brainwashing that puts a value on material things above decency and a respect for self and others. #SmallBusinessSaturday
- @ThePatriot143
https://t.co/laek2I0Enl 

Emergency Medical Care

Bayou Renaissance Man has written an article about IFAKs.
Read it.
Read all of it.
Read all of the links.

In the article, Bayou Renaissance Man has asked his friend, Ambulance Driver to write an article  about same.
Read it.
Read all of it.
Read all of the links.

The group I train with lists the following contents for an IFAK:

1 Ifak pouch (marked)
1 Cat tourniquet
1 pressure bandages or equivalent
1 rolled / compressed  gause
1 roll medical tape
1 triangular bandage.
1 Nasal tube

Recommended minimum
1 Ifak pouch(marked)
2 cat tourniquets
1-2 Hemostatic  sponge 
3-4 pressure bandages or equivalent
2 rolled / compressed gause
2-3 triangular bandages
1 Nasal tube
1-2  chest seals
1 Emt shears

Location recommendations.
* Keep your tourniquet very accessible.  You may only have seconds to apply.
* Have your ifak where you can reach it on your gear (not in your pack)
* Remember you can always have other medical supplies in your  bag on another pouch.  Your ifak is NOT a general first aid kit. It should only be opened for gunshot or some other form of trauma.



And, just in case you are not convinced of the need for emergency medical training, do not take this blog's word for it. Take His Holiness' word for it:

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Church and State

What it is, what it is not...

What it is:
"Separation of church and state" is paraphrased from Thomas Jefferson and used by others in expressing an understanding of the intent and function of the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States which reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." 

What it is not:
The separation of church and state is not banning churches or other organizations from endorsing a political candidate. It is not forcing a post office to remove a Nativity scene.  It is not forbidding congress to open in prayer. 

And lastly it is not an excuse to chase religious people back inside the walls of their churches and remove their influence and their views from public life. 

If you don't think that last one is the goal of godless liberals, you haven't been paying attention.

The Ideal Minuteman Rifle

The Minuteman Rifle. This author gets many gun questions every day. The most common, by far, is what type of AR15 to get and what modifications.  This post shall serve as the definitive answer to that question. 


RIFLE
There are many good brands.  A good 16" gun with collapsing stock will make a good base model for you. Get mags, get ammo, get training.  The rifle should have backup "iron" sights. Your rifle needs a sling.


OPTIC
The perfect setup for the Homeland Defender is a variable power 1-4x or 1-6x or similar.  There are many good brands.  Do not pay less than  $200.

If you really want a red dot, that's perfectly fine.  Again, do not expect to pay less than $200.

If you want a fixed low power scope, that is also perfectly fine.  Again, do not expect to pay less than $200.

Your rifle needs backup "iron" sights. 


MODIFICATIONS
1. Free float rail.
2. Trigger upgrade.
These two are a must.  All others can wait.

Alabama Senate

Recently, Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore was accused of sexual assault by several parties through an article in the Washinton Post. All of the charges are of alleged actions that would have taken place over 30 years ago. Democrats are calling for Moore's removal, and so are the Establishment Republicans.

#FakeNews polls have come out saying Moore now trails in Alabama to the Democrat opponent. Of course, these are the same polls that said Hillary had a 92% chance of winning. Trump won Alabama with over 60% of the vote, and this author predicts Moore will garner at least 55%, provided he doesn't quit the race, and provided he doesn't apologize.

This author does not believe any of the allegations. Having a successful career in a role that requires being able to distinguish immediately between honesty and fabrication, he saw several flaws in the allegations. And sure enough, one after another, the witnesses credibilities have been demonstrated to be highly suspect. What little "evidence" there was is now regarded as a fraud. The story is unraveling.

Some thoughts posted online -

A #cuckservative female "journalist" (really an associate professor of journalism):
The timing of the women's stories of sexual abuse by Roy Moore - brought to light because the women were sought out not bec they went to the media - has nothing to do with the validity of their stories. A pervert is a pervert no matter if it's five years ago or five weeks before an election.
And, if anyone cares about my journalistic opinion, the WaPo story on the accusations that began all this was well written, well sourced, and will hold up in court. Roy Moore can threaten to sue all he wants - let's see him do it.

Lefty, via Twitter:
If Roy Moore is forced out of his senate race, political power will forever shift from the voters to a small cadre of unscrupulous women willing to make false charges of sexual misconduct to scuttle whatever GOP candidates they don’t like.

 Don’t think for a second that your average liberal feels genuine outrage over sexual maltreatment of women. The left is made up of miscreants who embrace all manner of perversion, debauchery, and sexual deviancy. The only thing they find immoral is morality itself.

Dr. Carole Swain, PhD:
 I’m tired of hearing I believe the woman. Why? Women can be self-willed and calculating. Let’s look at some women in the Bible. Vashti earned her rightful place as the first feminist. She stood up for herself. No judgment here. I might have done the same. We have Delilah as the first manipulating deceiver and Potiphar’s wife as the first to send an innocence man to prison over a false rape allegation. I’m a skeptic. I think the child sex and attempted rape allegations against Judge Moore are lies. I don’t believe the “me at 14” campaign was spontaneous. Let’s not forget the media hysterical and hype around the Duke Lacrosse players and the UBA fraternity where fabricated stories almost destroyed lives. Remember Twana Brawley? The people who hate Roy Moore hate everything he represents. In an ends justify the means society, it is Moore’s conservative Christianity that’s on trial and the threat it poses to the liberal agenda of Democrats and establishment Republicans.

Divorce Spreads Like A Disease

Some time back, one of my wife's friends filed for divorce. As soon as this happened, I immediately instructed my wife to distance herself from that friend. Some of the details of the situation provide some good learning tools, so here they are.

First, good friend of mine implicated that this particular woman was filing for divorce, in part, due to abuse. Now, I love my friend dearly, but he is not well versed in social interaction, intuitiveness, and reading between lines. He tends to take people at face value - which can be a good or bad thing, depending on the face. Anyone with a basic knowledge of This Woman's situation knew that it would be impossible for her husband to have been abusive. I said as much. My friend and I agreed to disagree. However, it came out later that the abuse charge was totally false.

Second, you will notice that I instructed my wife to stay away from this woman. I did not ask my wife to stay away from her. I did not suggest that my wife stay away from her. I did not hint that my wife might want to stay away from her. I instructed my wife to stay away. Being the Biblically ordained head of the household means understanding when to lay down the law, and when to yield - otherwise known as knowing which hill to die on.

Third, this woman who was getting a divorce slightly shifted her Social Circles. Interestingly enough, but not at all unexpected, her two closest friends are now in the process of filing for divorce. Each of these three women has at least three children. Most of these children had social issues prior to the divorce - we can only imagine how this is going to turn out.

Fourth, all of these husbands had a dominant wage position in the household. Whether these women know it or not, they are signing up for a life of poverty. There are many statistics out there that indicate this.

There are many more things to learn from this situation, but these stuck out to me the most.

Divorce Porn Defined

One of the most destructive influences on modern society is divorce. The combination of no-fault divorce, antiquated alimony and child support laws, and over-reaching family courts has turned divorce into a multibillion-dollar industry. This industry destroys everything in its path, and only benefits divorce attorneys and judges.

Depending on your source, anywhere between 65% and 94% of all US marriages will ultimately  end in divorce. Also, depending on your sources, women initiate between 70% and 90% of all divorces. According to the statistics at the link above, and most other online sources, women fare very poorly in a divorce from a financial standpoint. This despite the fact that women are often awarded half or more of the man's income and assets.

So why do women initiate divorce? Although many women claim abuse, the actual figures are that less than 10% of divorces end because of abuse wherein the man was convicted of an assault related crime. Although many women claim cheating, again less than 10% of divorces and because the man was unfaithful. Depending on your sources, these two categories rarely combine to be much more than 12% to 15%. Although there are many good indicators of a woman who is more likely to divorce, an up-and-coming factor is divorce porn.

Divorce porn - the pedestalizing of divorce.

Divorce porn is the modern pushing of acceptance of divorce as not only normal and healthy, but desirable in many cases. Divorce porn directly sells women on the idea of "upgrading" their husbands. It is a term which refers to how our society glorifies divorce.

Women, who tend to hen peck happy peers, often encourage one another to get divorced in an attempt to ruin the other woman's happiness. Social media has provided so many more platforms for this to happen. So what happens as one woman expresses her negative emotions about a single action by her husband, and the female peers pounce. They throw the man under the bus (as if Society doesn't do that enough, already). And the process repeats. Eventually, after so much negative interaction about the man, it begins to look good to divorce him.

And in this way, and other similar ways, this cancer spreads from Woman to Woman. Just as many men may view regular pornography as a means to get a fix, these women get a fix from throwing their husband under the bus. If something is repeated often enough, one tends to believe it - regardless of the veracity. Soon, divorce seems a better option, then living with a man perceived to be evil.

Agreed Advice

In advance of the predictable backlash, please see this statement first:

Marriage as defined by the US Legal System does not at all resemble marriage as discussed in the Bible.

The two are separate entities entirely. One bears no semblance of the other.  It is unfortunate they share the same name.  For this article, the term "marriage" shall refer to the definition used by the legal system, unless otherwise noted.

There is  no reason for men in the US to marry.
What exactly does marriage offer men today? “Men know there’s a good chance they’ll lose their friends, their respect, their space, their sex life, their money and — if it all goes wrong — their family,” says Helen Smith, Ph.D., author of "Men on Strike." “They don’t want to enter into a legal contract with someone who could effectively take half their savings, pension and property when the honeymoon period is over.Men aren’t wimping out by staying unmarried or being commitment phobes. They’re being smart.”

But, if a man does decide to marry, he needs to set forth some  minimum requirements for the potential spouse. 
1. She must be between 18-25 years old.
2. She must have less than three prior sexual partners, though I prefer a virgin.
3. Her physical attractiveness should hover around the 7 range.
4. Her skin tone should be within two shades of myself.
5. She must be feminine.
6. She must want to be a traditional stay-at-home mother.
7. She must believe in a god.

This funny clip goes into more of the age detail.
Specifically, if a man does marry, the wife should be half his age, plus seven. If we superimpose the ages of 18-25 into that equation, then the man should be between 22 and 36. Since a man really ought never marry before age 30, we should adjust this just a bit:
Men who wish to marry ought to be aged 30-45.
The woman he wishes to marry should be 18-25.

Also, I would add that her God needs to match his. 

Was It Worth It?

On Sunday, my son attended a year end party for his football team.  There was pizza, bowling, awards, and such.  It was a fun time. 

The facility where the party was held had televisions playing all over.  Many of the sets were tuned to NFL football games.  Of note,  I saw one in particular - it was playing the Falcons vs. the Cowboys. The stadium was near vacant. 

I made it a point to look at the seats. So many were empty. I'd estimate that 3/4 Of the seats or more were vacant during game time. The sound being played in the background was as if it was a full stadium cheering raucously... it was laughable.

Twitter account, @emptyseatspics has many pictures of empty stadiums.  Of course, #FakeNews sources will say these pictures are taken at pregame or during halftime. That's simply not what I saw.  The Falcons stadium had fewer people in attendance than many local high school teams.

Was it worth it, NFL?

So Much Fake News

They are trying so hard to get Trump.
Actual news is irrelevant to them.

#fakenews

The Trumpening

Today marks the first anniversary of the #Trumpening .

The stock market is growing at a record Pace. The economy is booming. Things are getting done. The swamp is being drained. Leftists are losing their minds (wait, did they ever have them?). And #FakeNews is more fake than ever.

In short, there is much to celebrate.

Remember 365 short days ago? The #FakeNews was telling us that there was a 92% chance that Hillary would win. Well, here are screenshots, time and date stamped, from your humble blogger's Bookface account, detailing the correct prediction.

Never question my sources. I am the source.

Actually, if you follow this blog, you already know my sources. And you know them to be very trustworthy. Way better than #FakeNews .

Brick By Brick

Shopping Rage

From Twitter:

Do you ever get Road Rage walking behind people at the grocery store?🤔
- @Conservative_VW

All. The. Time.
- @LeftyRightViews

I don't know anyone who hasn't.  As a Sigma, it's not rage, it's more of a "Road Annoyance." So, some time back, I analyzed some observed behaviors, and actions to counter them. The three greatest annoyances observed were:

1. Pulling out into an aisle without looking.

2. Going super slow right in the middle of the pathway.

3. Generally being right in the way. 

Of course, there are plenty of fat ladies in motorized chairs, but Pops has the in on that market. 

Today's post shall detail my actions against what I perceive is the most annoying trait - pulling out into aisles without looking.  Usually it's women barging through.  Men tend to look first. 

For clarity, there are main aisles and side aisles. Common courtesy dictates that if you plan to leave one aisle for another, one ought look first to make sure the coast is clear. Many people fail to do this. 

Some time back, I took measure of the possible solutions, and decided on one.  I shall continue to walk straight - not stopping for these rude women who barge out. If their shopping cart hits me, then so be it.  If it is a solid hit, I possess the reaction time to actually jump in the floor - much like taking a "bump" in wrestling.

So far, I've been hit 18 times. These all occurred within 5 shopping visits - yes, if I got hit once, I was likely to get hit again! Most within Wal Mart locations throughout the state.  I've hit the deck three times. 

Each time I hit the deck, I got an " I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there!" response.

My reply has been the same: "it does help if you actually look first before barging through!"

Of the times I did not go crashing to the floor, my response was either "Pardon you!" Or "watch it!" About the same number of mortified looks as dirty looks, regardless of my reply. 

One individual did tray to make it seem like my fault.  A quick "Hey, you hit me with your cart! Now, we can go see the manager right now and get the video so I can sue you," put that FBAP back on track with some semblance of sanity. 

All in all, it's quite humorous. I never get much more than a bruise, if that.  And the looks are gold. If anybody would like to tag along, you're welcome to be my guest.  I'd suggest you stand 15 feet back and film it. 

Recon Chest Rig

A question from a reader - Is the Condor Recon Chest Rig a good choice for a loadout?

The Condor Recon Chest Rig has 6 built in M4 mag pouches, 4 pistol mag pouches, and two utility pouches.  The M4 mag pouches are topped with bungee cords. The pistol pouches and utility pouches are topped with a velcro strap down. 

There are several rows of molle on both sides of the mag pouches.  Good for an IFAK, radio pouch, more mag pouches, utility pouches, or whatever you will need. 

The rig comes in several colors and patterns. The straps can be replaced by a hydration pack. An optional bib can be attached to the front for more molle space, as well. 

Overall, it's a good choice for someone who wishes to have an effective, yet inexpensive chest rig.   This author has personal experience with it.

Disclaimer - neither this blog, nor it's authors, have received any compensation from Condor or any known dealer.

Focus In Martial Arts

Recently, The Jiu-Jitsu Times online publication had an article entitled "Are People Getting Their Black Belts Too Early?" The article detailed one BJJ black belt's opinion that the rise in popularity of MMA has led to many people getting their BJJ black belt too early.

Our comment of the week comes from the Facebook comment to the article:
Why would you think so? There are no global criterias for any belts - so when an instructor promotes, it's just the right time. Not all black belts are equal, but they are black belts for a reason - and it's not our job to eveluate them. It's their instructors job.

While I cannot speak for BJJ, as I have never received any rank in BJJ, this statement is still true of most martial arts. And this comment also rang true:
People are more worried about belts than they are about putting in time at the gym.

Chili Judge

I had seen several iterations of this joke in internet past, but the last time was prior to this blog. A friend shared via Bookface, so here it is:


I know this post is very long, but the joke is hilarious, and I thought it might lighten the dire mood most of us are experiencing. 

New Mexico Chili Cook-off

If you can read this whole story without laughing, then there's no hope for you. I was crying by the end. This is an actual account as relayed to paramedics at a chili cook-off in New Mexico.

For those of you who have lived in New Mexico, you know how true this is. They actually have a Chili Cook-off about the time Halloween comes around. It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the Santa Fe Plaza. Judge #3 was an inexperienced Chili taster named Frank, who was visiting from Gering, Nebraska.

Frank: "Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off.  The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table, asking for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (Native New Mexicans) that the chili wouldn't be all that spicy; and besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted and became Judge #3."


Here are the scorecard notes from the event:

CHILI # 1 - MIKE'S MANIAC MONSTER CHILI

Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick. 
Judge # 2 -- Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild. 
Judge # 3 (Frank) -- Holy crap, what the hell is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the flames out.  I hope that's the worst one. These New Mexicans are crazy.

CHILI # 2 - EL RANCHO'S AFTERBURNER CHILI

Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang. 
Judge # 2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.
Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face.

CHILI # 3 - ALFREDO'S FAMOUS BURN DOWN THE BARN CHILI

Judge # 1 -- Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick. 
Judge # 2 -- A bit salty, good use of peppers. 
Judge # 3 -- Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I'm getting sh*t-faced from all of the beer.

CHILI # 4 - BUBBA'S BLACK MAGIC

Judge # 1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing. 
Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili.
Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the beer maid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. This 300 lb. woman is starting to look HOT ...  just like this nuclear waste I'm eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?

CHILI # 5 - LISA'S LEGAL LIP REMOVER

Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Jalapeno peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very impressive. 
Judge # 2 -- Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the jalapeno peppers make a strong statement. 
Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted, and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really ticks me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming.  Screw them.

CHILI # 6 - VARGA'S VERY VEGETARIAN VARIETY

Judge # 1 -- Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers. 
Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, garlic.  Superb. 
Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous, sulfuric flames. I crapped on myself when I farted, and I'm worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except that Sally. Can't feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my butt with a snow cone.

CHILI # 7 - SUSAN'S SCREAMING SENSATION CHILI

Judge # 1 -- A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers. 
Judge # 2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. **I should take note that I am worried about Judge #3.  He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably.
Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my shirt.  At least during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've decided to stop breathing. It's too painful. Screw it; I'm not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach.

CHILI # 8 - BIG TOM'S TOENAIL CURLING CHILI

Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold but spicy enough to declare its existence. 
Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor hot.  Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted, passed out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure if he's going to make it. Poor fella, wonder how he'd have reacted to really hot chili?
Judge # 3 -- No report

New Family Member

So this followed me home the other day. I shitzu not.

No Pizza For You!

Your humble blog author got a lesson in socialism early in life. This would all but guarantee that I would not become a socialist.

I was in elementary school at the time. Pizza Hut had just introduced its Personal Pan Pizza. That would make it about 1983. My mom bought Personal Pan Pizzas for me and my brother, and brought them to us for lunch, while they were still hot.

Other children saw this, and quickly a line formed. There must have been 30 children in line. Every child wanted a piece of pizza.

Now, the Pizza Hut Personal Pan Pizza has four slices. Had I given a single child a single slice, it would have been no big deal. However, if I had given everyone a slice who wanted one, there would have been none left for me. Not only that, there would have been no pizza for the vast majority of the children in line.

And that's the problem with socialism, you eventually run out of other people's money.

Funny Story

A little humor for your day. 

Globalist Scum

A few days ago, former President Bush had some words against current President Trump.

Naturally, it was just sour grapes as Trump beat George's brother pretty badly in the election in 2016. The irony is Bush said nothing during the eight years Obama turned America upside down.

So here is the #MaulRight take on it:

And then we have this:

As for Mr. Trump,

He's too busy actually fixing shit and standing up for America.