Dayum, it’s getting EXPENSIVE out there…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Had to finally break down and buy some more dress shirts yesterday, and it’s getting more and more expensive! Even at the exchange decent shirts ran $65 on sale.  And just looking around at prices, I think things are at least 10-15% higher than last year.  I really don’t remember seeing $100 shirts EVER in a military exchange, or $220 North Face stuff.  And online isn’t much better, something tells me this is going to be a ‘cheap’ Christmas…

Especially since most of us have no idea what is going to happen in January.  Taxes going up, medical costs going up, lots of potential job losses on the horizon…

I know my co-pays went up by 50% last month on medicine, and I truly wonder what the elderly are going to do.  And I heard today that military etc. will get a whole 1.7% raise in 2013.  Somehow I don’t think that is going to make up for the losses…

I’m beginning to think it’s just time to hunker down and hold on to what I’ve got…  

Or do like this…


I just don’t know to where… Sigh…

Another Raffle for Tam…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Heath over at 18 wheels and a 1911 is putting up a sweet 20ga/.22 combo HERE.  I’ve seen Heath’s guns and they are better cared for that mine, which is saying something!!!

The gun he is offering is a Savage 24 DL, .22 mag /20 GA. “The gun is flawless. It’s lived in a safe for as long as I’ve owned it, and as far as I can tell the previous owner never shot it. I’ve taken it out once, just because I don’t believe in owning guns I can’t shoot ( barring family wallhangers ).”

Tickets are $25, same formula as the rest, just go put it in Tam’s tip jar, and send him the receipt.  

A Joke and NOT a Joke…

Posted on by March 6, 2013

Our minds are truly strange and wonderful things…

The top pieces are sort of a joke, but the bottom three are not.

7H15 M3554G3 53RV35 7O PR0V3 H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5! 1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5! 1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG 17 WA5 H4RD BU7 N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3 Y0UR M1ND 1S R34D1NG 17 4U70M471C4LLY W17H 0U7 3V3N 7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17, B3 PROUD! 0NLY C3R741N P30PL3 C4N R3AD 7H15. PL3453 F0RW4RD 1F U C4N R34D 7H15.
  
If you can raed this, you have a sgtrane mnid, too.

Can you raed this? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is that the frsit and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it whotuit a pboerlm. This is bcuseaethe huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! If you can raed this forwrad it 

Even if you are not old, you will find this interesting…

Short Neurological Test

1- Find the C below.. Please do not use any cursor help.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

2- If you already found the C, now find the 6 below.

9999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999 
9999999999999999999969999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999999999

3 – Now find the N below.. It’s a little more difficult.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MNMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

This is NOT a joke. If you were able to pass these 3 tests, you can cancel your annual visit to your neurologist. Your brain is great and you’re far from having a close relationship with Alzheimers…

h/t Ev

Meh… THAT was a waste of time…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Went to the ‘Nations Gun Show’ yesterday, took forever to find parking (ended up two blocks away), got there at noon and there was STILL a line!

Finally got in, looked around for anybody else at the meet up location, didn’t see anybody.  Chatted with an old Marine (Korea/Vietnam vet), walked around for a bit checking prices…

There is one guy, he’s just DETERMINED to get stupid $$ for questionable (to my mind) rifles; 03-A3 ‘claimed’ to be WWI Sniper rig, no star barrel, and wood looks a bit too good.  Started at $3k a couple of years ago, now up to $12k…  Second one is ‘claimed’ to be a complete as it was used M-1D, but doesn’t have papers, that one started at $5k, now up to $15k…

Pass and pass…

Stopped and saw a couple of folks I knew, they were grumbling about LOTS of lookers, no buyers. Which echos what I’ve heard from folks that were at Tulsa. And they agreed the prices are just stupid high…  Ammo was selling (saw one guy with a hand truck leaving as we were in line).  Interestingly, lots of women either by themselves or in pairs/threesomes being VERY careful and detailed with some of the dealers.  And one just flat put one ‘good ol’ boy’ in his place 🙂 

Anyhoo, back to the Marine…

We discussed the current situation (It sucks) and I asked him where he served, he said Korea then called back to AD from the reserves for Vietnam.  He said he was an Amtrac driver at Inchon with 1st BN, and made the initial landings on Green Beach carrying troops from the 3rd of the 5th.  He said it was a ‘bit’ exciting…

He did relate a funny story, apparently one of the Amtracs got stranded on a sand bar, and in the middle of the battle, the Col came over and told he and some Army types to go ‘get’ the Amtrac. He said they went around and collected timbers, then went back out and dumped the timbers under the front of the Amtrac until it was able to climb up on them and get off the sandbar. He said he and his brother (who was USAF) kept missing each other by a day for almost 2 years… They were both in theater, but NEVER got to see each other until 1953.  He said he found out later that his brother was leaving ‘care’ packages for him (booze), but he never got a single one, and his brother wanted $80 to be paid back for all the booze he never got…  He casually mentioned three purple hearts, and was apparently in the fighting all the way to the 38th parallel.  He also said MacArthur ‘disliked’ the Marines to the point that he refused to present ANY Marines for medals during the entire time until he was relieved by Pres. Truman. 

We chatted about the Veteran’s Oral History project, and he’d never heard of it, so I wrote the website down for him, and he said he’s going to do it, and has a couple of buddies that he’ll talk to also…

For those that know veterans, here’s the link  http://www.loc.gov/vets/   

Raffle for Tam…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Okay, these are the sub-packages that are being done through THIS raffle as NFO (A-H).

“To participate in this fundraiser, simply make a donation to Tam’s tipjar. Forward the e-mail receipt you get to Jennifer at jennifer (at) injennifershead dot com with the code or codes of the packages you want in the subject line.  IF YOU HAVE ALREADY DONATED AND ARE PARTICIPATING, YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESUBMIT YOUR INFORMATION.”

e.g. for THIS set of packages you would put NFO in the subject line.


And I managed to forget to put Kathy’s books in, so here the covers are- She’s donated three of each…


And these are the packages…  You can go HERE to see the pictures.

A: Diamondback (mine) and custom holster (Michael), Kathy Jackson Book

B: ISSC .22 Trainer (Glock style) (Carteach) , Kathy Jackson Book

C: Ruger P94 (John S) mags, shoulder holster, Kathy Jackson Book

D: Ye olde Handgonne or knife winner’s choice, plus engraving, Kathy Jackson Book
Your choices- Knife (and engraving) or Hand gonne (and engraving) (Joe S/John)

E: $200 Brownells gift cert (Stingray), Kathy Jackson Book

F: $100 Midway gift cert (Pat), Sightmark Tactical Red Dot, Kathy Jackson Book

G: Stabby package- Gerber Applegate Fairbairn Combat Folder (Brigid), Emerson CQC-7 Mini, Remington collector R1 Upland pocket knife.

H: Guns and Roses handcrafted necklace (Phlegmmy), $100 Amazon gift cert

Jay G is the pimpmaster for all the raffles, so please hit his site for updates to all the raffles ongoing.

Our intent is to hold the drawings for these packages on Thanksgiving, and I will post a list of the names drawn the next day. We will then contact the names in order of their draw to have them select the package they wish to receive.

What’s happening here and the other raffles shows just how special she is to us, and what CAN be done in our little corner of the Intarwebz…

A little Navy Humor…

Posted on by March 6, 2013

“THE FIVE MOST DANGEROUS THINGS IN THE US NAVY”
A Seaman saying, “I learned this in Boot Camp…”
A Petty Officer saying, “Trust me, sir…”
A Lieutenant JG saying, “Based on my experience…”
A Lieutenant saying, “I was just thinking…”
A Chief chuckling, “Watch this shit…”

Now they tell me…

During a commercial airline flight a Navy Chief was seated next to a young mother with a baby in arms. When her baby began crying during the descent for landing, the mother began nursing her infant as discreetly as possible. The Chief pretended not to notice and, upon debarking, he gallantly offered his assistance to help with the various baby-related articles. When the young mother expressed her gratitude, he responded, “Gosh, that’s a good looking baby…and he sure was hungry!” Somewhat embarrassed, the mother explained that her pediatrician said breast feeding would help alleviate the pressure in the baby’s ears. The Chief sadly shook his head, and in true US Navy fashion exclaimed…….. And all these years I’ve been chewing gum.

NAVAL OFFICERS and NAVY CHIEFS
3 Real Life Stories
The First …
Eleven people were dangling below a helicopter on a rope. There were ten Naval Officers and one Chief. Since the rope was not strong enough to hold all the eleven, they decided that one of them had to let go to save all the others. They could not decide who should be the volunteer. Finally the Chief said he would let go of the rope since Chiefs are used to doing everything for the Navy. They forsake their family, don’t claim all of their expenses and do a lot of overtime without getting anything in return. When he finished his moving speech all the Naval Officers began to clap…
Moral:
Never underestimate the powers of a Chief.

The second …
A group of Chiefs and a group of Naval Officers take a train to a conference. Each Naval Officer holds a ticket. But the entire group of Chiefs has bought only one ticket for a single passenger. The Naval Officers are just shaking their heads and are secretly pleased that the arrogant Chiefs will finally get what they deserve. Suddenly one of the Chiefs calls out: “The conductor is coming!”. At once, all the Chiefs jump up and squeeze into one of the toilets. The conductor checks the tickets of the Naval Officers. When he notices that the toilet is occupied he knocks on the door and says: “Ticket, please!” One of the Chiefs slides the single ticket under the doors and the conductor continues merrily on his round. For the return trip the Naval Officers decide to use the same trick. They buy only one ticket for the entire group but they are baffled as they realize that the Chiefs didn’t buy any tickets at all. After a while one of the Chiefs announces again: “The conductor is coming!” Immediately all the Naval Officers race to a toilet and lock themselves in. All the Chiefs leisurely walk to the other toilet. Before the last Chief enters the toilet, he knocks on the toilet occupied by the Naval Officers and says: “Ticket, please!”
And the moral of the story?
Naval Officers like to use the methods of the Chiefs, but they don’t really understand them.

The third …
Master Chief + 3 Lieutenants
One day, a Master Chief went to the Officer’s Club with his Captain to eat lunch. When they entered the main dining room, they found the place was crowded. They did notice three Lieutenants sitting at a table with two empty chairs, so the Captain asked them if they could join them. They promptly invited them to join them. They ordered lunch and joined them in conversation as they ate. At one point, the Master Chief mentioned he had observed characteristics about many officers from which he could determine the sources of their commissioning. The Lieutenants were eager to hear about this and asked if he could tell how each of them had been commissioned.

The Master Chief turned to the Lieutenant on his left and said he went through ROTC. The Lieutenant confirmed that was correct and asked how he had noted this. The Master Chief replied that the Lieutenant, through his conversation, seemed to have a strong academic background but limited military experience.
The Master Chief then told the Lt on his right that he had gone through OCS with previous enlisted service. The Lieutenant confirmed this was correct and also asked how he had determined this. The Master Chief said, again through his conversation, that the Lieutenant seemed to have a firm military background and a lot of common sense.

The Lieutenant across the table from the Master Chief asked if he had determined his source of commission. The Master Chief replied that the Lieutenant had graduated from the United States Naval Academy . The Lieutenant stated that was correct and asked if he had noticed his high level of intelligence, precise military bearing, or other superior qualities acquired at the United States Naval Academy . The Master Chief replied that it was none of these that led to his determination. He had simply observed the Lieutenant’s class ring while he was picking his nose.

Route to becoming a Admiral
Three men are sitting stiffly side by side on a long commercial flight. After they’re airborne and the plane has leveled off, the man in the window seat abruptly says, distinctly and confidently, in a low voice, ” Admiral ,United States Navy, retired. Married, two sons, both surgeons.”
After a few minutes the man in the aisle seat states through a tightlipped smile, ” Admiral , United States Navy, retired. Married, two sons, both judges.”
After some thought, the fellow in the center seat decides to introduce himself. With a twinkle in his eye he proclaims: ” Master Chief Petty Officer , United States Navy, retired. Never married, two sons, both Admirals.”

Seamanship Test
One time during the underway watch the OOD decided to test a Chief Petty Officer’s seamanship.
“Chief, what would you do if the forward watch fell off the side of the ship?” “Easy, sir, I’d call ‘Man Overboard’ and follow the Man Overboard procedures.”
“What would you do if an officer fell overboard?” “Hmmm,” The Chief said, “Which one, sir?”

Old Salt
A crusty old battleship admiral died and found himself standing before Saint Peter at the pearly gates. Peter welcomed him warmly, “Come right in, Admiral! You’ve served your country well and you may enter Heaven!”
The admiral looked thru the gates and stepped up to Saint Peter, “Just one thing, sonny. I hope there’s no Chiefs here. They are the rudest, most obnoxious variety of human ever, and if there are any of them here, I’m not going in; I’d rather go to the other place.”
“Don’t worry, admiral,” said Saint Peter.
“No Chief has ever made it into Heaven.
You’ll find none of ’em here.”
So, the admiral goes on into Heaven. Moments later, he comes upon an amazing sight. It is a swaggering figure in a khakis, garrison cap cocked slightly on his head, a mostly empty bottle of Jack Daniels in one hand, and a beautiful woman on either arm.
Incensed, the admiral rushes back to Saint Peter and gets in his face. “Hey! You said there were no Chiefs here!
So what the hell is THAT?!?”
“Don’t worry, admiral,” says Saint Peter gently. “That’s God. He just THINKS he’s a Chief.”

A wise old Master Chief once said…
A young Ensign approaches the crusty old Master Chief and asked about the origin of the commissioned officer insignias.
“Well,” replied the Master Chief, ” the insignias for the Navy are steeped in history and tradition.
First, we give you a gold bar representing that you are very valuable but also malleable.
The silver bar also represents significant value, but is less malleable.
Now, when you make Lieutenant, your value doubles, hence the two silver bars.
As a Captain, you soar over the military masses, hence the eagle.
As an Admiral, you are, obviously, a star.
Does that answer your question?”
“Yes Master Chief” replied the young Ensign. “But what about Lieutenant Commander and Commander?”
“That, sir, goes waaaay back in history – back to the Garden of Eden. You see we’ve always covered our pr*cks with leaves.”

“The Chief and the Gunny”
An old Chief and an old Gunny were sitting at the VFW arguing about who’d had the tougher career. “I did 30 years in the Corps,” the Gunny declared proudly, “and fought in three of my country’s wars. Fresh out of boot camp I hit the beach at Okinawa , clawed my way up the blood soaked sand, and eventually took out an entire enemy machine gun nest with a single grenade. “As a sergeant, I fought in Korea alongside General Mac Arthur. We pushed back the enemy inch by bloody inch all the way up to the Chinese border, always under a barrage of artillery and small arms fire. “Finally, as a gunny sergeant, I did three consecutive combat tours in Vietnam . We humped through the mud and razor grass for 14 hours a day, plagued by rain and mosquitoes, ducking under sniper fire all day and mortar fire all night. In a fire fight, we’d fire until our arms ached and our guns were empty, then we’d charge the enemy with bayonets!”

“Ah,” said the Chief with a dismissive wave of his hand, “all shore duty, huh?”


Remember-the two most dangerous things in the navy are a bos’n mate with a pencil and an ensign with an idea.

DIY… TWINKIES!!!

Posted on by March 6, 2013
For those of y’all who are going into Twinkie withdrawls…

A “recipe cloner” Todd Wilber reverse-engineers specific foods ingredient by ingredient, until he creates a recipe that recreates the original.  Here’s his recipe for the Twinkie filling.  Link HERE

Ingredients

Marshmallow filling


1/4 Teaspoon salt
1 Cup (one 7-ounce jar) marshmallow creme
1/4 Teaspoon salt
1/2 Cup shortening
1/3 Cup powdered sugar
1/2 Teaspoon vanilla


Preparation

Step 1:


Combine salt with hot water in a small bowl and stir until salt is dissolved. Let cool.


Step 2:


Combine the marshmallow creme, shortening, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a medium bowl and beat until fluffy, using an electric mixer on high speed.


Step 3:


Add salt water and beat to combine.


Step 4:


When the cakes are cool, use a skewer or a chopstick to make three holes along the bottom, moving the stick around slightly to create space inside the cake. Fit a pastry bag with a small tip and fill it with the marshmallow creme mixture (or scoop it into a resealable bag and snip off a tiny bit of one corner; pipe filling into each cake, using the three holes.



the Cake by pastry chef Ashton Warren  Link HERE

Featured


3 eggs
2 1/2 Cup sugar
1 1/2 Cup milk

1 1/2 Cup vegetable oil
1/2 Teaspoon baking powder
1/2 Teaspoon baking soda
1/2 Teaspoon salt

2 1/2 Cup flour
1/2 Teaspoon instant coffee
1 Teaspoon almond extract

Her option for Cream filling

2 Cup cold heavy cream
1/2 Cup powdered sugar
1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon extract


Preparation

Cake Step 1:


Wisk the eggs, sugar, milk, oil and vanilla together. In a separate bowl combine all the dry ingredients. A little at a time add the dry to the wet until smooth.


Cake Step 2:


Bake in the mold of your choice at 350 degrees until golden brown and is done in the middle when tested.


Cake Step 3:


When the cakes come out of the oven sprinkle a little sugar on the raw or sugar on top and for a little crunch.


Cake Variations


For fun variations to take this Twinkie to the next level try adding lemon or orange zest to the cake batter before baking or almond extract and some chopped nuts.



Cream Step 1:


Combine in a bowl and wisk until stiff.


Cream Step 2:
Inject into the cake using a baster.

Okay, panic time over… Now back to your regularly scheduled BS…

Oh yeah, I went by the store yesterday, and the ONLY thing left on the 6 foot tall Hostess display was TWO bags of powdered donuts…

Theoreticians vs. Engineers…

Posted on by March 6, 2013

There was this male theoretical PHD, on a cruise ship in the Caribbean for the first time. It was wonderful, the experience of his life. He was being waited on hand an foot. But, it did not last. A Hurricane came up unexpectedly. The ship went down almost instantly. 

The man found himself, he knew not how, swept up on the shore of an island. There was nothing else anywhere to be seen. No person, no supplies, nothing. The man looked around. There were some bananas and coconuts, but that was it. He was desperate, and forlorn, but decided to make the best of it. So for the next four months he ate bananas, drank coconut juice and mostly looked to the sea mightily for a ship to come to his rescue. 

One day, as he was lying on the beech stroking his beard and looking for a ship, he spotted movement out of the corner of his eye. Could it be true, was it a ship? No, from around the corner of the island came this rowboat. In it was the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen, or at least seen in 4 months. She was tall, 
tanned, and her blond hair flowing in the sea breeze gave her an almost ethereal quality. She spotted him also as he was waving and yelling and screaming to get her attention. She rowed her boat towards him. 

In disbelief, he asked, “Where did you come from? How did you get here”?  She said, “I rowed from the other side of the island. I landed on this island when my cruise ship sank”. “Amazing”, he said, “I didn’t know anyone else had survived. How many of you are there? Where, did you get the rowboat? You must have been really lucky to have a rowboat wash-up with you?” “It is only me”, she said, “and the rowboat didn’t wash up, nothing else did.”  “Well then”, said the man, “how did you get the rowboat?” 

I made the rowboat out of raw material that I found on the island, replied the woman. The oars were whittled from Gum tree branches, I wove the bottom from Palm branches, and the sides and stern came from a Eucalyptus tree”. “But, but, asked the man, what about tools and hardware, how did you do that?” 
“
Oh, no problem, replied the woman, on the south side of the island there is a very unusual strata of alluvial rock exposed. I found that If I fired it to a certain temperature in my kiln, it melted into forgeable ductile iron. I used that for tools, and used the tools to make the hardware. But, enough of that, she said. Where do you live?” 

 At last the man was forced to confess that he had been sleeping on the beach. “Well, let’s row over to my place, she said.” So they both got into the rowboat and left for her side of island. The woman easily rowed them around to a wharf that led to the approach to her place. She tied up the rowboat with a beautifully woven hemp rope. They walked up a stone walk and around a Palm tree, there stood an exquisite bungalow painted in blue and white. “It’s not much, she said, but I call it home. Sit down please, would you like to have a drink?” 

“No, said the man, one more coconut juice and I will puke.” “It won’t be coconut juice, the woman replied, I have a still, how about a Pina Colada? Trying to hide his continued amazement, the man accepted, and they sat down on her couch to talk. After a while, and they had exchanged their stories, the woman asked, “Tell me, have you always had a beard?” 

“No”, the man replied, “I was clean shaven all of my life, and even on the cruise ship”.  “Well if you would like to shave, there is a man’s razor upstairs in the cabinet in the bathroom.” So, the man, no longer questioning anything, went upstairs to the bath room. There in the cabinet was a razor made from a bone handle, two shells honed to a hollow ground edge were fastened on to its end inside of a swivel mechanism. The man shaved, showered and went back down stairs.. 

“You look great, said the woman, I think I will go up and slip into something more comfortable.” So she did. And, the man continued to sip his Pina Colada. After a short time, the woman returned wearing fig leafs strategically positioned and smelling faintly of gardenia. “Tell me, she asked, we have both been out here for a very long time with no companionship. You know what I mean. Have you been lonely, is there anything that you really miss? Something that all men and woman need. Something that it would be really nice to have right now.” 

“Yes there is, the man replied, as he moved closer to the woman while fixing a winsome gaze upon her, “Tell me … Do you happen to have an Internet connection?” 

"Some" Things NEVER Change…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
This one came over the transom from the mil-email net…

Funny, but truer than most want to admit. If you’ve ever tried to get someone decorated… Well, lets just say you’ll recognize parts of this…


The True Story
(By Colonel W C Hall, printed in the British Army Journal January 1953.)

Rome, II Calends, April CCCLX
SUBJECT: Recommendation for Senate Medal of Honor 
TO: Department of War, Republic of Rome 
I. Recommend Caius Horatius, Captain of Foot, CMCMXIV, for the Senate Medal of Honor. 
II. Captain Horatius has served XVI years, all honorable. 
III. On the II day of March, during the attack on the city by Lars Porsena of Clausium and his Tuscan Army of CMX men, Captain Horatius, with Sergeant Sporius Laritus and Corporal Julius Herminius, held the entire Tuscan army at the far end of the bridge, until the structure could be destroyed, thereby saving the city. 
IV. Captain Horatius did valiantly fight and kill one Major Picus of Clausium in individual combat. 
V. The exemplary courage and the outstanding leadership of Captain Horatius are in the highest tradition of the Roman Army. 
________________________________________
JULIUS ANTINOUS, 
Commander, II Foot Legion 
Ist, Ind, AG IV Calends, April CCCLX 
TO: G-III 
For comment. 
________________________________________
G.C.
IInd Ind, G-III IX Calends, May CCC 
TO: G-II 
I. For comment and forwarding. 
II. Change end of paragraph III from “saving the city” to “lessened the effectiveness of the enemy attack.” The Roman Army was well dispersed tactically; the reserve has not been committed. The phrase as written might be construed to cast aspersions on our fine army. 
III. Change paragraph V from “outstanding leadership” to read “commendable initiative.” Captain Horatius’s command was II men, only I/IV of a squad. 
________________________________________
J.D.
IIId Ind, G-II II Ides, June CCCLX 
TO: G-I 
I. Omit strength of Tuscan forces in paragraph III. This information is classified. 
II. A report evaluated as B-II states that the officer was a Captain Picus of Tifernum. Recommend change to “an officer of the enemy forces.” 
________________________________________
J.H.
IVth Ind, G-I IX Ides, January CCCLXI 
TO: JAG 
I. Full name is Caius Claudius Horatius. 
II. Change service from XVI to XV years. One year in Romulus Chapter BPOE, has been given credit for military service in error. 
________________________________________
E.J.
Vth Ind, JAG II, February CCCLXI 
TO: AG 
I. The Porsena raid was not during wartime; the temple of Janus was closed. 
II. The action against the Porsena raid, ipso facto, was a police action. 
III. The Senate Medal of Honor cannot be awarded in peacetime (AB/CVIII-XXV, paragraph XII, C). 
IV. Suggest consideration for Soldier’s Medal. 
________________________________________
P.B.
VIth Ind, AF IV Calends, April CCCLXI 
TO: G-I 
Concur in paragraph IV, Vth Ind. 
________________________________________
L.J.
VIIth Ind, G-I I May CCCLXI 
TO: AG 
Soldier’s medal is given for saving lives; suggest star of bronze as appropriate. 
________________________________________
E.J.
VIIIth Ind, JAG II Calends, June CCCLXI 
TO: JAG 
>For opinion. 
________________________________________
G.C.
IXth Ind, JAG II Calends, September CCCLXI 
I. XVIII months have elapsed since event described in basic letter. Star of bronze cannot be awarded after XV months have elapsed. 
II. Officer is eligible for Papyrus Scroll with Metal Pendant. 
________________________________________
P.B.
X Ind, AG I Calends, October CCCLXI 
TO: G-I 
For draft of citation for Papyrus Scroll with Metal Pendant. 
________________________________________
P.B.
XI Ind, G-I III Calends, October CCCLXI 
TO: G-II 
I. Do not concur. 
II. Our currently fine relations with Tuscany would suffer and current delicate negotiations might be jeopardized if publicity were given to Captain Horatius’ actions at this time. 
________________________________________
T.J.
XII Ind, G-II VI November CCCLXI 
TO: G-I 
A report rated D-IV, partially verified, states that Lars Porsena is very sensitive about the Horatius affair. 
________________________________________
E.T.
XIIIth Ind, G-I X November CCCLXI 
TO: AG 
I. In view of information contained in preceding XI and XIII the endorsements, you will prepare immediate orders of Captain C. C. Horatius to one of our overseas stations (remote). 
II. His attention will be directed to paragraph XII, POM, which prohibits interviews or conversations with newsmen prior to arrival at final destination. 
L.T. 
________________________________________

Rome II Calends, I April CCCLXII
SUBJECT: Survey, Report of, Department of War 
TO: Captain Caius Caius Horatius, III Legion, V Phalanx, APO XIX, C/O Postmaster, Rome. 
I. Your statements concerning the loss of your shield and sword in the Tiber River of III March CCCLX have been carefully considered. 
II. It is admitted that you were briefly in action against certain unfriendly elements on that day. However, Sergeant Lartius and Corporal Herminius were in the same action and did not lose any government property. 
III. The Finance Officer has been directed to reduce your next pay by II-I/IV talents (I-III/IV talents cost on each sword, officers; III/IV talent cost of one each shield, M-II). 
IV. You are enjoined and admonished to pay strict attention to conservation of government funds and property. The budget must be balanced next year. 
H. MARCUS AURELIUS 
Lieutenant of Horse 
Survey Officer 


Fun, Food, Friends…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
I FINALLY got a few days off, and got the hell outta Dodge for a couple of days…

Got a chance to kinda sorta decompress, and strangely got asked if I was bored!  Trust me, I’ll TAKE boredom anyday…

Met up with LawDog, Phlegmmy, Michael and Jennifer, AEPilot Jim, and Johnny and Holly for some range time and FOOD!!! Oh man was there food…

Blew the hell outta the diet…

As you may have read, had a less than pleasant experience with Academy, but that was really the only bad part of the downtime.

We did get to the range, and there was quite the selection of .22s to play with!


Three Ruger 22/45s and a S&W Model 617. All four hold 10 shots,and the 617 is ‘almost’ cheating… There is NO recoil due to the weight. And yes, the 22/45 on the right has a flash hider on it 🙂


This was just one of the targets, and no we’re not really that bad a shot.  We didn’t want to change targets so we started picking other points after we wore the center out; head, bottom, and then the ‘little’ target in the upper left.   Not too bad for well over 100 rounds… at 10 yards…

And Jim had his Garand there and we were dinging steel at 325 yards, although none of us knocked the water bottle off the top of the frame (not for lack of trying).  20+ kts of wind and open sights DO make it a bit of a challenge…

And there was FOOD… Brisket, Calamari, beans, Mac and Cheese, munchies, etc…