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January 31st, 2005 Sweet Irony - Has anyone noticed that blue finger paint used in Iraq to indicate the person has voted is the color of the Democrat party, yet that party opposed the invasion, which led to the elections? Yeah, some have purple, but I don't care about the color, just the fact that they are voting. The last number I heard over the weekend was 72% turnout and 36 dead. In a country of approximately 25 million (CIA World Factbook) that's about 10 million of the eligible voters. Yet the left is trying to find anything that would justify the claim that this election is a fraud and/or failure. All I hear and see is the joy evident in Iraqis faces. I'm surprised no one has thought of a blue ribbon. Or better yet, blue painter's tape around the right index finger.
Yeah, that could catch on. If you run, you die tired - Today's rifle is the M24, the US Army 7.62 NATO sniper rifle.
It shoots the match-grade 7.62 NATO cartridge, a consistency-enhanced (i.e. more accurate from shot to shot) version of the same cartridge for the M14. That is a shorter (by 12 mm) version of the .30-06, shot from January 17th's gun, the M1903. If you think it looks a lot like a regular hunting rifle, you are correct. It is derived from the Winchester and Remington bolt-action rifles because those are such good weapons. It has a heavy barrel (to dampen vibration) and fiberglass stock (to absorb vibration), as well as an adjustable back end. The barrel floats above the stock, while the receiver sits on a bed of glass in the stock. The scope on top is a fixed ten power magnifier with a fully adjustable crosshair. If that breaks, the sniper can use the iron sights. Left handed models are not available. Grrr. Civilian equivalents can cost north of $2,000, scope not included (an extra $500 - $1,000). This is about as accurate a weapon as you can get in the US Military Small Arms Inventory. Although rare, it can score hits at ranges of approximately ten football fields. It has been used extensively in Iraq, giving protective umbrellas over squads and platoons as they assault streets and buildings in places like Fallujah. Most targets die at around 600-800 yards, but it is effective at any range from point-blank out to almost a kilometer. Although snipers are trained to sneak up on their target and put an extra hole in his ear from 800 yards, most of the target engagements in Iraq are from prepared positions. The Money Pit - This weekend was extremely gratifying - we set up a bookshelf, planted a tree in the backyard, and hung a two-by-four in the garage to store our hand tools. Next weekend we put up the bikes on hooks, add a pegboard (maybe), and start painting. If you're wondering why all this is going on in January & February instead of November & December, when we moved in, I have two words for you: holiday bills. I could put everything on a credit card, but where's the responsibility in that? Besides, doing it piecemeal is more gratifying, and easier on the wallet. Not to say it doesn't cost a lot of money. I am convinced that a house should not be referred to as a Money Pit. Home Depot is the proper recipient of that title. They have grape and rose bushes for sale now, only $5 apiece. Ooh, gardening. The itch has been demanding a scratch for some time now. |
Toys |
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This site is copyright 2001-2005 by Matthew Maynard. All rights reserved. All your trademarks, copyrights, insignia, and other distinguishing characteristics are belong to you. Sharks in suits make for good joke material. Don't leave a mess on your way out. Links to external websites are valid at the time of article authoring and may decay as time goes by. But we'll always have Paris. The opinions on this site are those of their author and do not represent anyone else's views. That is, unless and until you agree with them, at which point they become yours as well. Opinions expressed in the comments belong to the comment poster and may be edited for content. Play nice with others, since you want them to play nice with you. |
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