Movie Review: Lone Survivor

The story of Marcus Luttrell, former US Navy Seal, and his surviving an encounter w/ Taliban insurgents in 2005. 

I have to say I enjoyed this movie even though I still can't see Mark Wahlberg as anything but Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch to this day. I got to hear Luttrell at the NRA meeting back in '08 so knew alot of the story involved and he has several cameo's throughout the movie. It didn't delve much into character development and focused primarily on action but those scenes were done well enough for you to get attached to several of the individuals involved. The 'falling' scenes made my back and legs hurt. My biggest gripe were the AK's used by the Afghani's were WAY to clean.

This likely won't be a purchase or regular view but it is definitely worth seeing.

4.5/5 stars.

The Natl Guard Anti-2nd Amend Kerfluffle

Much hay is being made about the scenario for a recent NG training exercise that had the bad guy being a white supremacist janitor that loved his guns and hates kids.  

Here's my take on it. 

Blame the dumb@ss who wrote it and the higher ups who approved it, not the rank and file NG guys.  Having done numerous exercises in three separate branches, most of the enlisted guys likely didn't know nor cared much about the background of the scenario.  If my experience is any indicator, it was maybe rattled off to them in a formation and then they focused on the meat of what they had to do for actual training before they went home for the night/weekend.

I know I heard it many times.  Some umpty-scrunch rebel group/bad guys has some-such beef w/ the US.  What are they wearing?  What are they armed with?  Where do we go to take them out?  When's chow and were are we sleeping tonight? 

But some nitwit thought he was being funny and wanted to push an agenda.  Some officer either didn't read it or didn't care and approved it for distribution.  Then the news got out. 

So that's how I feel about it. Others can agree or continue the upset. 

Sucking Sounds From the Sun Times

Really, how obsequious can you get?

We see two problems here. The first is that Dart’s office is the source of most of the objections filed statewide, which suggests that other sheriffs and municipal police departments — who were provided no extra funding to pay for criminal background checks — are failing to dig as deeply as Dart into the background of people applying for concealed carry permits.

"Oh Sheriff Dart.... You're so wooonnnndderrrrfulllll!!!"

Right, the problem isn't Cook Cnty Sheriff Dart who wanted to object to EVERY license application, but all the hundreds of other departments in Illinois. 

It's got nothing to do w/ the catch and release 'justice' system in place for decades, it's the CCW law itself.

They wanted a system to object to the licenses. They got one.  Now they b!tch about having to do it and try to claim the 99%+ of 'clean' applicants should be punished as well.

And they wonder why their readership is dying.

Slow

Weather, work, kids, and some seasonal news slump have me a bit frazzled for content so posting is probably going to be light unless something really strikes me.

About the only thing right now is a really stupid full registration bill in IL that has 0 chance of moving.  Good to know our legislators waste time w/ bullcrap like this while the state slaloms into bankruptcy.

That Iranian 'Fleet'

"Iran's military fleet is approaching the United States' maritime borders, and this move has a message," the agency(Fars) quoted Admiral Afshin Rezayee Haddad as saying.

Well Fars and Reuters are behind the curve on this as numerous other agencies have been reporting on this for the last few days w/ details as to which ships are involved.

Iranian officials said last month that the fleet consisted of the destroyer Sabalan and the logistic helicopter carrier Khark, which will be on a three-month mission.

Ah, clumsy Iranian propaganda, like when they photoshopped missile launches awhile back. 

The 'Destroyer' is the Sabalan, a 40 yr old British built Vosper Mk V class (Alvand Class) Frigate.


And what does one picture when you think of a 'Helicopter Carrier'?  Something like this maybe?
 

Yeah, not so much.  The Khark(g) is a 30 yr old Ol class helicopter 'carrying' logistics ship.



So congratulations to the Iranian Navy for getting a (semi-modern) ship to the other side of the world.  Welcome to the 20th century.

AMMOMAN .308 Ammo Sale!!!!

The sale will start at 12 p.m. (Noon, Eastern Time) on Thursday, February 6. At that time, visitors to the site will find the loose-pack deal on this page: 

http://www.ammoman.com/308-762x51

The deal itself is 150 rounds of mixed-brand brass .308 in a Plano ammo can for $57 delivered. There are no tracers in the mix. Quantities are extremely limited, we have 48 ammo cans to offer folks. Because of this limited opportunity, we are limiting customers to one ammo can per order.

As quickly as this sold out last time, we urge shooters to plan to go through check out process quickly. Generally, you can check out fastest with a created account. If you wish to create an account, please head here:

https://www.ammoman.com/customer/account/create

4thpower A v 3rdpower: Rnd 3 (Ceasefire Collapse)

Decided to try the boy out on a GEV scenario, a nice simple game of 'Ceasefire Collapse'.  A straight slugfest between two equal forces. In this case, just a small game w/ 10 armor units and 10pts of infantry to give him the idea.  I spent about a half hour explaining the more advance rules such as terrain and stacking.  We left out the more difficult options like overrun and spillover fire for a future game. 

Using the classic 'G1' map, pieces were picked and placed w/ the box between us, blocking the view.  This is how it turned out (Him black, me burgundy):

My forces consisted of 2 GEV-PC's (carrying 3 inf), 2 Lt GEV's, 2 GEV's, 2 Hvy Tanks, 2 Lt Tanks, a Msl Tank, and a MHwz.  Traditional setup w/ fast movers on the flanks and hvy armor in the center.

His forces were very well placed for a defensive fight w/ a Hwz, 2 Super Hvy's, 1 Hvy Tank, a Lt Tank, 2 Lt GEV's, GEV-PC and a GEV.

First moves, he separated his forces and moved them out of the protection of the Howitzer umbrella allowing me to piecemeal them.  A rush by my right wing fast movers got crushed as they crossed the river though:

After ganging up my armor on his 2nd SuperHvy, I managed to rush down the road and eliminate his Howitzer.. By that point, he'ld taken out most of my GEV's and Infantry. 

Throughout most of the game, he used his infantry in forests and towns giving them a defense bonus. We finished the game and then I explained to him how to improve for next time. We'll likely do a Mk 5 OGRE game or a CC w/ more pieces.


Rnd 1
Rnd 2

And they Teach Our Children

Anti-gun activists demand schools be 'gun free' and that signs are clearly posted showing that.

Anti-gun school officials complain about the signs because people are derp and guns are scary.

I'm not kidding:

Nolan said she is not opposed to posting it, she’s just worried that not enough people are aware of what it means and could misinterpret the new signage.

Really?  If someone doesn't know/can't figure out what a red slash through an image means, they shouldn't be allowed outside unsupervised or hold sharp objects.

But that's not all the stupid:

High School Principal Theresa Nolan said. “It is bothersome to have to post a sticker of a gun that says, ‘Hey, folks, leave your guns at home.’ ”

Nolan, and others, take issue with the sticker’s design.

“I would have appreciated something more subtle, yet still recognizable — a logo, perhaps, not a gun,” she said.

“You can’t look at this (sticker) and not think about Sandy Hook,” she said,

 Maybe because SH was a 'gun free zone' as well?  But nevermind that.  Principle Nolan... You are a dumb@ss and should not be involved in education.  I feel sorry for the poor children you have 'educated' if this is the kind of critical thinking you've instilled in them.


h/t to reader "joethefatman"

IL HB 3762: FOID to 18yrs

From Illinois Carry:

Your first witness slip for Feb. 2014!  HB3762 would reduce the FOID eligibility without parental signature from 21 years of age to 18 yrs. of age.  This becomes a real issue when the parent, who must also have a FOID card - if their card is revoked, so is the card of the individual who is under 21.
HB3762 - FOID 18 Years, Reduces FOID eligibility to  18.  Adds a photo exemption for religious reasons.  Scheduled for House Judiciary 2/5/2014
Link to HB3762 witness slip

Instructions for filling out witness slips can be found here.
Also, call/email the House Judiciary Committee and urge them to pass HB3762 out of committee.

Shannon Watts/Ladd Everitt Lie to Attack Women

I don't watch 'The View' but the latest kerfluffle over having a pro-gun person, Dana Loesch, has sent the anti-gun fanatics into a tizzy.  Their latest tactic is to claim she was partially responsible for Sandy Hook because she's a spokesperson for MagPul. But she's not:

Take a look at some of the 'progressive' comments over on the CSGV pages.  Don't bother posting a comment, you'll just get deleted and banned unless you insult and attack firearm owners. Censorship and echo chambers are the only way gun control can survive.  Look at the View comments page for examples. Paid 'Likes' don't equal actual support.

'Encourage' = Strongarm

Chicago Alderthing wants to 'encourage' businesses to post 'Gun Free Zone' signs. 

"I encourage all business owners to make your business establishments gun-free," Smith wrote. "Our neighborhood and businesses will best prosper when everyone — business owners, customers, and residents alike — feels they can walk the streets and shops of the 43rd Ward safely."...

Earlier this month, the alderman issued a memorandum to businesses in her ward about the new law.
In it, she notes that in addition to it being illegal to carry guns into schools, government buildings and public transportation, it is also illegal to carry guns into any business in which alcohol constitutes at least half of all sales.

This is Chicago so we all know what that 'memorandum' really means.  Don't post the sign?  Don't bother trying to get any permits for your business.  Garbage pickup/snow plowing might be 'delayed'.  Inspectors are going to be paying extra special visits regularly.

It's the Chicago way and the only real point of gov't.