This is an simple but excellent idea- the Grip Pod, a foregrip that incorporates a button-release bipod.
The system is apparently fast gaining favour with Special Forces units in the US and is going to be available as an accessory with the FN SCAR rifle.
Make sure to check out the video page to see the Grip Pod in action.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Praise for Democrats
I rarely have anything good to say about the Democrats but this is an exception- Tom Lantos of California has criticised Google, Microsoft, Yahoo! and Cisco for aiding "China's efforts to restrict the flow of information and to punish people who have the courage and determination" to fight for democracy and freedom.
"They caved in to Beijing's demands for the sake of profits," Lantos said. "These massively successful high tech companies...should be ashamed."
I couldn't agree more.
Another Democrat, Ohio's Tim Ryan added, "American citizens have every right to demand that companies use this technology to advance freedom rather than support oppression."
All of the companies mentioned are due to attend a Congressional hearing on the matter on February 15th.
"They caved in to Beijing's demands for the sake of profits," Lantos said. "These massively successful high tech companies...should be ashamed."
I couldn't agree more.
Another Democrat, Ohio's Tim Ryan added, "American citizens have every right to demand that companies use this technology to advance freedom rather than support oppression."
All of the companies mentioned are due to attend a Congressional hearing on the matter on February 15th.
Anti-Gun Propaganda
This is a new argument to me- and it seems that the anti-gun lobby must be getting desperate if this is what they are reduced to. I guess they have to find some way to respond to the fact that more people legally carrying guns results in less violent crime.
A study carried out by the Harvard School of Public Health has discovered- from a sample of 2,400 drivers- that motorists who carry guns are more likely to indulge in road rage than those whom are not armed-
"Some 23 per cent of gun-toting drivers admitted making rude signs, compared with 16 per cent of those who did not carry guns"
Of course the conclusion reached by this desperate state of affairs is-
"Our findings indicate that the people driving around with guns in their cars are not among the most responsible and best-behaved people on the road," says Vriniotis. "In the interests of injury and violence prevention, it probably makes more sense to tighten rather than relax restrictions on gun carrying in motor vehicles."
So a 7% difference between armed and unarmed in "road rage" (definition- self-admittedly driving aggressively and making rude gestures but not attacking other drivers, or shooting them). I guess guns must be causing this wide gap in behaviour- but what on earth makes those 16% of unarmed people act like asses when they are behind the wheels of their cars?
I like the way the researcher extrapolates from being an aggressive driver and making rude gestures to "injury and violence prevention". Gee, he couldn't have any bias against a free and armed citizenry could he?
What makes this even more irritating is that it was the top story of the New Scientist newletter. Surely they couldn't have an agenda too?
Update here.
A study carried out by the Harvard School of Public Health has discovered- from a sample of 2,400 drivers- that motorists who carry guns are more likely to indulge in road rage than those whom are not armed-
"Some 23 per cent of gun-toting drivers admitted making rude signs, compared with 16 per cent of those who did not carry guns"
Of course the conclusion reached by this desperate state of affairs is-
"Our findings indicate that the people driving around with guns in their cars are not among the most responsible and best-behaved people on the road," says Vriniotis. "In the interests of injury and violence prevention, it probably makes more sense to tighten rather than relax restrictions on gun carrying in motor vehicles."
So a 7% difference between armed and unarmed in "road rage" (definition- self-admittedly driving aggressively and making rude gestures but not attacking other drivers, or shooting them). I guess guns must be causing this wide gap in behaviour- but what on earth makes those 16% of unarmed people act like asses when they are behind the wheels of their cars?
I like the way the researcher extrapolates from being an aggressive driver and making rude gestures to "injury and violence prevention". Gee, he couldn't have any bias against a free and armed citizenry could he?
What makes this even more irritating is that it was the top story of the New Scientist newletter. Surely they couldn't have an agenda too?
Update here.
IRA Still Up To No Good
Some time ago we were informed that the IRA has disposed of "all" of their weapons. It was supposed to be a giant leap forward in the so-called peace process here in Northern Ireland.
Of course the fact that the IRA is still actively gathering intelligence, is involved in organised crime and has held onto to some of its weapons comes as no surprise to some of us.
The Independent Monitoring Commission, which reported on the IRA intelligence operation, still believes that the IRA are "moving in the right direction".
They said that the IRA were attempting to penetrate public and other instituitions with the intent of "illegally obtaining and handling sensitive information". They also said that arms had been retained by the IRA. That's moving in the right direction?
The Minister for Northern Ireland called the report "positive"and said that there was enough evidence of progress that talks should be resumed. Obviously terrorists lying about destroying their weapons is evidence of their goodwill towards the democratic process?
Tony "tough on terror" Blair's response was that the report was evidence that the IRA leadership had "made a strategic decision to give up the armed struggle."
Of course they have! Why else would they need to keep their firearms and operate a spying operation?
Of course the fact that the IRA is still actively gathering intelligence, is involved in organised crime and has held onto to some of its weapons comes as no surprise to some of us.
The Independent Monitoring Commission, which reported on the IRA intelligence operation, still believes that the IRA are "moving in the right direction".
They said that the IRA were attempting to penetrate public and other instituitions with the intent of "illegally obtaining and handling sensitive information". They also said that arms had been retained by the IRA. That's moving in the right direction?
The Minister for Northern Ireland called the report "positive"and said that there was enough evidence of progress that talks should be resumed. Obviously terrorists lying about destroying their weapons is evidence of their goodwill towards the democratic process?
Tony "tough on terror" Blair's response was that the report was evidence that the IRA leadership had "made a strategic decision to give up the armed struggle."
Of course they have! Why else would they need to keep their firearms and operate a spying operation?
Free Speech in France
A French newspaper published the Danish Mohammed cartoons, along with several other European papers (none in Britain that I know of yet)- along with another cartoon of their own devising-
"showing Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy figures sitting on a cloud, with the caption "Don't worry Muhammad, we've all been caricatured here"."
However, unlike the Danish newspaper, the editor of the France Soir paper has been sacked- by the paper's Egyptian owner "as a powerful sign of respect for the intimate beliefs and convictions of every individual".
Journalists at the paper published a picture and editorial on the front page in protest, defending their right to free speech and French MP Herve Marition said the sacking was "in total contradiction to the tradition of press freedom."
I wonder if UK papers will have the nerve to follow through in support of this attack on freedom of the press?
"showing Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy figures sitting on a cloud, with the caption "Don't worry Muhammad, we've all been caricatured here"."
However, unlike the Danish newspaper, the editor of the France Soir paper has been sacked- by the paper's Egyptian owner "as a powerful sign of respect for the intimate beliefs and convictions of every individual".
Journalists at the paper published a picture and editorial on the front page in protest, defending their right to free speech and French MP Herve Marition said the sacking was "in total contradiction to the tradition of press freedom."
I wonder if UK papers will have the nerve to follow through in support of this attack on freedom of the press?
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Heartwarming Story
Now this is the sort of news I like to hear about-
Two guys picked the wrong 15-year-old girl to try to rob Monday night.
The teenager was walking on a Dartmouth street when the men tried to yank her knapsack off her back -- and police said that's when it all went wrong for the suspects.
The girl is skilled in martial arts. Police said she knocked one of her attackers to the ground with a hard punch to the face, and then kicked the other in the groin and punched him.
Police said the men fled.
The girl told police she may have dislocated the second man's shoulder or elbow.
Two guys picked the wrong 15-year-old girl to try to rob Monday night.
The teenager was walking on a Dartmouth street when the men tried to yank her knapsack off her back -- and police said that's when it all went wrong for the suspects.
The girl is skilled in martial arts. Police said she knocked one of her attackers to the ground with a hard punch to the face, and then kicked the other in the groin and punched him.
Police said the men fled.
The girl told police she may have dislocated the second man's shoulder or elbow.
Monday, January 30, 2006
The Hamas Charter
The Times has very handily provided extracts from Hamas' founding charter. It makes for interesting reading, particularly for those who think that winning the recent elections will make Hamas suddenly become "moderate":
"Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it"
"Our struggle against the Jews is very great and very serious. It needs all sincere efforts. It is a step that inevitably should be followed by other steps. The Movement is but one squadron that should be supported by more and more squadrons from this vast Arab and Islamic world, until the enemy is vanquished and Allah's victory is realised."
"Allah is its target, the Prophet is its model, the Koran its constitution: Jihad is its path and death for the sake of Allah is the loftiest of its wishes."
"Initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences, are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement."
"It is necessary to instill in the minds of the Muslim generations that the Palestinian problem is a religious problem, and should be dealt with on this basis."
"Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it"
"Our struggle against the Jews is very great and very serious. It needs all sincere efforts. It is a step that inevitably should be followed by other steps. The Movement is but one squadron that should be supported by more and more squadrons from this vast Arab and Islamic world, until the enemy is vanquished and Allah's victory is realised."
"Allah is its target, the Prophet is its model, the Koran its constitution: Jihad is its path and death for the sake of Allah is the loftiest of its wishes."
"Initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences, are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement."
"It is necessary to instill in the minds of the Muslim generations that the Palestinian problem is a religious problem, and should be dealt with on this basis."
No More Aid For PA
Condoleeza Rice is ruling out funding for Hamas-
"The United States is not prepared to fund an organization that advocates the destruction of Israel, that advocates violence and that refuses its obligations."
The US will continue to provide US taxpayer's money to Abbas' current government- it will also continue to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinian people "many of whom are poor and unemployed" on a case-by-case basis. Perhaps that poverty would be aleviated if the Palestinians stopped the violence and created a stable environment where businesses would actually want to invest?
The PA's current annual budget is $1.6 billion. $1 billion of that comes from overseas donors, with Europe providing more than half that figure. The rest of the billion dollars comes from international donor agencies, Arab and Asian governments and the USA- which gave "$70 million in direct aid to the PA last year". The United States also spent $225 million of it's citizen's money on humanitarian projects through USAID last year- with a further $88 million on refugee assistance.
Just how long have those refugees been there? And how long does it take them to get back on their own feet and stop relying on foreign aid for their survival?
Update - It looks like the EU is going to give Hamas some time to think things over-
"European Union foreign ministers ruled out an immediate cutoff of financial aid to a Hamas-led Palestinian government, saying the movement deserves a chance to give up its armed struggle and embrace peace with Israel."
"The United States is not prepared to fund an organization that advocates the destruction of Israel, that advocates violence and that refuses its obligations."
The US will continue to provide US taxpayer's money to Abbas' current government- it will also continue to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinian people "many of whom are poor and unemployed" on a case-by-case basis. Perhaps that poverty would be aleviated if the Palestinians stopped the violence and created a stable environment where businesses would actually want to invest?
The PA's current annual budget is $1.6 billion. $1 billion of that comes from overseas donors, with Europe providing more than half that figure. The rest of the billion dollars comes from international donor agencies, Arab and Asian governments and the USA- which gave "$70 million in direct aid to the PA last year". The United States also spent $225 million of it's citizen's money on humanitarian projects through USAID last year- with a further $88 million on refugee assistance.
Just how long have those refugees been there? And how long does it take them to get back on their own feet and stop relying on foreign aid for their survival?
Update - It looks like the EU is going to give Hamas some time to think things over-
"European Union foreign ministers ruled out an immediate cutoff of financial aid to a Hamas-led Palestinian government, saying the movement deserves a chance to give up its armed struggle and embrace peace with Israel."
Take the "Great" out of Great Britain
I had to check to make sure that I hadn't slept in today and it wasn't April 1st when I read this story- a school in London has banned pupils from raising their hands to answer questions in class. That's bad enough - the principle says "children often wave their arms in the air, but when teachers try to involve less adventurous pupils by choosing them instead, it leads to feelings of victimization" - but it gets worse.
Can it get worse than that, you say? Absolutely-
"To spare embarrassment of the students who do not know the answer, the school has incorporated a "phone a friend" system, allowing one child to nominate another to take the question instead."
Can it get worse than that, you say? Absolutely-
"To spare embarrassment of the students who do not know the answer, the school has incorporated a "phone a friend" system, allowing one child to nominate another to take the question instead."
Sunday, January 29, 2006
WMDs
I first became aware of the Iraqi WMD story after reading about it on Michelle Malkin's and Clayton Cramer's blogs. If you haven't heard about this- presumably- important story (there was the small matter of a war started over such weapons wasn't there?) I wouldn't be at all surprised. Out of curiosity today I did a search on the BBC news website for "WMDs" and also for the General at the heart of the story "Georges Sada". Neither turned up a result for the story in question.
Not a single mention of the story that a senior Iraqi military figure claims that the WMDs were shipped out of Iraq in civilian airliners to Syria before the war began.
Now perhaps this man's story- he was second-in-command of the Iraqi airforce- will turn out to not be true. Perhaps. But it seems incredible to me that the vast majority of people will not even hear about this story at all because it's being completely ignored by the MSM here in Britain.
As Clayton Cramer notes, 20 tons of chemical weapons agents were brought from Syria to Jordan for an attempted terrorist attack. And the Jerusalem Post also points out that Israel warned that Iraq was smuggling it's WMDs to Syria at the time too.
Could it be that this is being ignored because it might prove that Bush was *gasp* right afterall?
Not a single mention of the story that a senior Iraqi military figure claims that the WMDs were shipped out of Iraq in civilian airliners to Syria before the war began.
Now perhaps this man's story- he was second-in-command of the Iraqi airforce- will turn out to not be true. Perhaps. But it seems incredible to me that the vast majority of people will not even hear about this story at all because it's being completely ignored by the MSM here in Britain.
As Clayton Cramer notes, 20 tons of chemical weapons agents were brought from Syria to Jordan for an attempted terrorist attack. And the Jerusalem Post also points out that Israel warned that Iraq was smuggling it's WMDs to Syria at the time too.
Could it be that this is being ignored because it might prove that Bush was *gasp* right afterall?
Buy Danish
It seems as if an international boycott is being promoted over the Danish newspaper cartoons of Muhammad
"Artistic representations of the human form are forbidden in Islam, and pictures of Muhammad are especially taboo."
Arla Foods is at the centre of the boycott-
"One Saudi Arabian chain of supermarkets has already removed Arla products from its shelves and called for an official apology."
If you'd like to support the company at this time you can find a list of their products here-
UK
USA
"Artistic representations of the human form are forbidden in Islam, and pictures of Muhammad are especially taboo."
Arla Foods is at the centre of the boycott-
"One Saudi Arabian chain of supermarkets has already removed Arla products from its shelves and called for an official apology."
If you'd like to support the company at this time you can find a list of their products here-
UK
USA
I haven't chimed in yet on Google's policy of standing up to the US government's request for information but submitted to Communist China's demands that searches be censored. Murdoc points out today that Google's "principles" have now changed from-
Google does not censor results for any search term. The order and content of our results are completely automated; we do not manipulate our search results by hand. We believe strongly in allowing the democracy of the web to determine the inclusion and ranking of sites in our search results.
To-
It is Google's policy not to censor search results. However, in response to local laws, regulations, or policies, we may do so. When we remove search results for these reasons, we display a notice on our search results pages. Please note: For some older removals (before March 2005), we may not show a notice at this time.
It looks like their quest for more money trumps their motto of "Don't be evil". And Google already does censor the internet- in France and Germany Nazi sites are banned.
BTW, I had a quick trawl through some of the lefty blogs and couldn't find a single one that commented on the Google/China scandal. Now, I admittedly didn't take a very large sampling but it seems odd that the Left-wing lovers of free speech have so little to say about censorship on such a massive scale. I guess they're all too busy wishing for an Alito-filibuster.
There's an open letter to Google here. Spread the word.
Google does not censor results for any search term. The order and content of our results are completely automated; we do not manipulate our search results by hand. We believe strongly in allowing the democracy of the web to determine the inclusion and ranking of sites in our search results.
To-
It is Google's policy not to censor search results. However, in response to local laws, regulations, or policies, we may do so. When we remove search results for these reasons, we display a notice on our search results pages. Please note: For some older removals (before March 2005), we may not show a notice at this time.
It looks like their quest for more money trumps their motto of "Don't be evil". And Google already does censor the internet- in France and Germany Nazi sites are banned.
BTW, I had a quick trawl through some of the lefty blogs and couldn't find a single one that commented on the Google/China scandal. Now, I admittedly didn't take a very large sampling but it seems odd that the Left-wing lovers of free speech have so little to say about censorship on such a massive scale. I guess they're all too busy wishing for an Alito-filibuster.
There's an open letter to Google here. Spread the word.
The Future of the PA?
Clayton Cramer comments on possible events in the ME now that the terrorist group Hamas is in power-
1. Hamas continues its unofficial attacks on Israel.
2. Israel eventually says, "Wait a minute! You guys are the government now! This means war!"
3. Israel invades the Palestine National Authority's areas.
4. Iran tells Israel to withdraw, or get nuked.
5. Israel makes a lot of radioactive glass in Iran.
It'll be interesting to see if the US and the rest of the Western world pulls its funding to the PA too if these attacks on Israel continues. I can see no reason why they would not- the PA no longer has the excuse of saying that Hamas is nothing to do with them.
I wonder how long it will be before the next attack on Israel?
Update: Hugh Fitzgerald of Jihad Watch also has his opinions on such aid.
1. Hamas continues its unofficial attacks on Israel.
2. Israel eventually says, "Wait a minute! You guys are the government now! This means war!"
3. Israel invades the Palestine National Authority's areas.
4. Iran tells Israel to withdraw, or get nuked.
5. Israel makes a lot of radioactive glass in Iran.
It'll be interesting to see if the US and the rest of the Western world pulls its funding to the PA too if these attacks on Israel continues. I can see no reason why they would not- the PA no longer has the excuse of saying that Hamas is nothing to do with them.
I wonder how long it will be before the next attack on Israel?
Update: Hugh Fitzgerald of Jihad Watch also has his opinions on such aid.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
This is Modern Britain
A small hamlet is to have its mail-to-the-door delivery ended after a visit by a Royal Mail health and safety inspector. The mail has been delivered there for as long as living memory- but not any more.
The inspector's report "identifies three potential ways a postman would be killed if he tried to bring a sack of letters up the slope. The grassy pastures hide 23 hazards capable of inflicting major injury, six that could cause serious injury and two risking minor injury."
There are no details in the report of the number of postmen killed, maimed or otherwise injured delivering to what must surely be one of the most hazardous areas in the United Kingdom. Funnily enough though, the hamlet lies on the Brecon Beacons National Park path and as such entices thousands of ramblers to stroll along its route every year. Again, the health and safety report makes no mention of what percentage of these adrenalin-addicted, thrill-seeking hikers are horribly wounded negotiating the route.
The Royal Mail defended its decision by saying "What looks like a quite pleasant country walk could be a lethal stroll for a postman on a dark winter morning."
Quite.
The inspector's report "identifies three potential ways a postman would be killed if he tried to bring a sack of letters up the slope. The grassy pastures hide 23 hazards capable of inflicting major injury, six that could cause serious injury and two risking minor injury."
There are no details in the report of the number of postmen killed, maimed or otherwise injured delivering to what must surely be one of the most hazardous areas in the United Kingdom. Funnily enough though, the hamlet lies on the Brecon Beacons National Park path and as such entices thousands of ramblers to stroll along its route every year. Again, the health and safety report makes no mention of what percentage of these adrenalin-addicted, thrill-seeking hikers are horribly wounded negotiating the route.
The Royal Mail defended its decision by saying "What looks like a quite pleasant country walk could be a lethal stroll for a postman on a dark winter morning."
Quite.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Biased BBC
I was just in the car and I happened to hear a little bit of the Radio 1 news. They were talking about the Palestinian Prime minister offering his resignation due to the success of Hamas in the elections. Of that group they said, "They have carried out some suicide bombings but they do build schools and hospitals."
I guess that makes up for the indiscriminate mass slaughter of innocent people then?
I guess that makes up for the indiscriminate mass slaughter of innocent people then?
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Winchester Update
It looks like the Winchester brand will live on- but only their modern rifle lines are to be continued, and they will no longer be made on American soil. The New Haven factory looks like it will be closed- though it is up for sale it seems unlikely that the Winchester name will be sold along with it. The traditional Winchester lever action will no longer be made.
I know that Marlin make exceptional lever action rifles, along with many other companies, but it seems to me that this is the death of a real American icon.
What's the point of Winchester without their lever action line up?
Hat tip to Survival Blog.
I know that Marlin make exceptional lever action rifles, along with many other companies, but it seems to me that this is the death of a real American icon.
What's the point of Winchester without their lever action line up?
Hat tip to Survival Blog.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Flight of Fancy
Been a while since I posted any images so here's one for you- a Shanna sketch by Adam Hughes. The rifle is incredibly malformed- not at all like AH!'s usual work- but it's a small criticism.
Today's Must Read
I can't possibly top what the superlative Michelle Malkin has written on the case of Haleigh Poutre so I won't even try. It's an important story and I strongly urge you all to read the article. Here's hoping that Haleigh, whose life thus far seems to have been one filled with far too much suffering, makes progress.
"A day after the state's highest court ruled that the Department of Social Services could withdraw life support from a brain-damaged girl, the agency said yesterday that Haleigh Poutre might be emerging from her vegetative state."
"A day after the state's highest court ruled that the Department of Social Services could withdraw life support from a brain-damaged girl, the agency said yesterday that Haleigh Poutre might be emerging from her vegetative state."
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