The Orion Foundation

2012-01-23T22:35:00.003-06:00

Texas Gun Shows - 2012

Just updated the gun show list on orionwoodsbrigade.com with all of the Texas gun shows in 2012.

Find a show near you and arm-up . . . :)

2012-01-18T14:15:00.001-06:00

SAY NO TO INTERNET CENSORSHIP!!!

Huzzah to Wikipedia for blacking out their site to raise awareness about SOPA. Google has also blacked out their homepage image. I am sure there are more . . . The SOPA legislation would allow websites to be blocked in the name of copyright infringement.

But what does this mean?

What if you talk about a movie on your personal blog? Link to a YouTube video of an 80s song you love? Maybe ...put up a movie quote or two? Are you infringing a copyright - can a movie studio or record company protest your "unfair" review or "use" of their content?

Could your website be blocked?

What if you were spreading a message that The Man didn't like and you happened to include some of the above content? What a convenient way to silence your voice!

The problem with vague legislation is that it has a way of morphing into something far worse.

This is called unintended consequences . . .

The internet is the last bastion of freedom on our fair planet - where you can search for and find information about what's going on around you and draw your own conclusions - without the bias of corporate news that is always pushing some agenda.

The internet allows you to talk to people that share your interests and beliefs, and let's you be strengthened knowing that you are not the only one out there that feels the way you do.

Do what you can to keep the internet free - please sign the petition to block SOPA.

Once the shackles go on . . . it will become much harder to remove them.

2012-01-16T21:47:00.000-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - January 21, 2012

We are playing this Saturday, January 21st at the Orion Valley. The weather will be sunny with a high of 78. Plan on being ready to go by 10am. Looks like there will be a great turnout this weekend, so come out and play!

Primary scenario: THE HUNT

It's TEOTWAWKI and you are on patrol to bring back some fresh meat to your retreat. Unfortunately, some of the post-apocalyptic denizens have other things in mind. Your goal is to bring back 1, 2, or 3 days worth of food and not lose your top knot in the process. If you are a vegetarian, you can pretend you are scouting for a giant soy deer, hog, or a hidden cache of Boca Burgers.

Special requirements: Camouflage is good for this scenario. Also if you have a paintball pistol, it may be good to keep handy while you are processing the game . . .

If you plan on being or bringing out someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.).

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Our next game will be on 2/4/2012 - back at the Ranch.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2012-01-02T21:43:00.001-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - January 7, 2012

Welcome to 2012! We will be playing our first paintball game of the new year, this Saturday, January 7th at the Orion Valley. Plan on being ready to rock by 10am. It will be sunny with a high of 68. If there is more perfect weather to play paintball in, it would probably have to be some crazy Charles Fort-type weather where it was raining little paintballs - but only on your adversaries.

Primary scenario: INFILTRATOR!!!

That's right - the third exclamation point means it's extra good. Since the lease is coming up on the Valley, we'll be trying our best to use the heck out of the field.

Special requirements: Lots of paint and paintball gun.

If you plan on being or bringing out someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. I'll probably have three guest set-ups available for this weekend, so let me know if this applies to you.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.).

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Our next game will be January 21st at The Ranch. For more on Charles Fort, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_fort

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2011-12-12T10:26:00.003-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - December 17, 2011

We will be playing our last paintball game of the year, this Saturday, December 17th at the Orion Valley. For those who haven't heard, the Kestrel place is going on the market soon, so come on out and be a part of one of the last games at this field.

It will be rainy with a high of 58, so if you have camped with us before, you know this is our typical weather.

Primary scenario: INFILTRATOR

We'll end the year with everyone's favorite way to get shot up close.

Special requirements: Since this is the last game of the season and it will be wet outside, bring out all of your paint and shoot it up!

If you plan on being or bringing out someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. A lot of the loaner gear needs to be re-swizzled, so please know ASAP if you need to borrow a marker.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.).

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Don't forget we are going shooting on Sunday afternoon, so make sure to get your hall pass for that event as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2011-11-14T21:53:00.001-06:00

Paintball this weekend - The Ranch - November 19, 2011

We will be playing some paintball this Saturday, November 19th at The Ranch. It will be partly cloudy with a high of 80, so the winter is not yet upon us (I guess since it's not yet January?). If you haven't been to The Ranch, this is a different location than Orion Valley, so make sure you know where you're heading!

Primary scenario: THE HUNT

It's TEOTWAWKI and you are on patrol to bring back some fresh meat to your retreat. Unfortunately, some of the post-apocalyptic denizens have other things in mind. Your goal is to bring back 1-3 days worth of food and not lose your top knot in the process. If you are a vegetarian, you can pretend you are scouting for a giant soy deer, hog, or rabbit.

Special requirements: Camouflage is good for this scenario. Also if you have a paintball pistol, it may be good to keep handy while you are processing the game . . .

If you plan on being or bringing out someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. At this time we have 2 guests signed up, so let me know ASAP if you need loaner gear.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.).

There will also be a games discussion for this weekend in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. If you need directions, please let me know off-line.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2011-11-02T15:39:00.001-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - November 5, 2011

We will be playing some paintball this Saturday, November 5th at the Orion Valley. It will be sunny with a high of 76, so perfect weather to get out and shoot your fellows. Don't forget we are heading out to Wurstfest in the evening, so make sure to bring your lederhosen, if you are coming in from out of town and staying for the evening festivities.

Primary scenario: THE GUNPOWDER PLOT!

Remember, remember, the 5th of November . . In honor of Guy Fawkes Day, we are doing the gunpowder plot paintball style at Orion Valley. We'll be transporting loads of gunpowder (not real) to the House of Lords Fort and giving old King James the what-for - all the while attempting to avoid the fire of the King's guards and their matchlock markers.

Special requirements: If you have a powdered wig you've been itching to bring out to a game, unfortunately this scenario is a little too early, but maybe you can bring it out for the French Revolution scenario next summer . . .

If you plan on being or bringing out someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. We have at least 2 guests signed up, so let me know ASAP if you need loaner gear.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.).

Our next game will be on Nov. 19th - back at The Ranch. More details on this game will be posted to the forums as we get closer to that event.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2011-10-10T23:18:00.003-05:00

Going to Your First Rendezvous

Kind of an odd post for Orion, but this is an email I threw together explaining what kind of kit you really need when going to your first WFT (Western Fur Trade) event.

Just some basic info, piggybacking off of my articles on buckskinning.org, but a good summary of how to not overdo it at your first Voo.

Rendezvous are more or less reenacting events where people come out and portray the American Fur Trade, generally about 1800-1840. It's the time of Jim Bridger, Mariano Modena, Liver Eatin' Johnson, and a host of other characters who opened up the west and lived on their own in the trackless wilderness of the pre-old west.

But, . . . I don't have a full set of buckskins!

You're damn right ya don't, ya flatlander, but don't let that stop you from coming out. Though period dress is required for these events (and you can go wild with options), you don't really need a whole lot to blend in. And honestly, after doing this hobby for ten years (sheesh) there is not a lot of my original gear that I still use . . . so you don't want to run out and buy a bunch of crap, only to have to sell it to some sucker later, but I digress.

Here are some simple things I recommend to "blend in" to your first event:

Period shirt - this is one of the easiest things to acquire and the good news is if you don't like it later, you can always wear it under your other clothes. I have a few spare shirts, but picking a good one up shouldn't be a big deal. What you are looking for is a work shirt-style cut that is in a simple pattern (they were hand painted back then, so no one would sit around and paisley up some linen). Here are some examples on eBay - http://www.ebay.com/sch/Costumes-Reenactment-Attire-/163147/i.html?_nkw=mountain+man+shirt, but Crazy Crow and Panther Primitives also have some that are inexpensive and perfect for rendezvous. RenFest-style shirts are usually ok, too - provided that they are not too shiny.

Pants/trousers - for your lower half, the best thing to wear is modern pants (the untucked shirt will hang over the top of the pants, covering up the modern stuff like pockets, belt loops, etc), as long as they are not cargo pants. Jean material is ok - as long as it is not blue jeans (not invented until 1849), and tan, brown or even white jeans (remember the 80s?) are great. Tan, brown, or white chinos are good, too (just don't have the pleats in the front). No OD green.

Footwear - Academy sells some cheap, moccasin-style house shoes that are perfect rendezvous starter shoes. They are usually around $5. Just make sure you get the ones without rubber soles. For the more ambitious, Tandy Leather sells a moccasin kit that is inexpensive and easy to assemble.

Staying warm - the best, simplest and most period way to stay warm is with a wool blanket. You don't need to run out and get a Hudson's Bay or anything like that, but a regular surplus military one will be great (just not OD green). Sportsman's Guide always has a ton of these. The wool-blend "red cross" blankets are generally crappy, but one's like this are great - http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=772917 (100% wool and only $15!). Buy two of these and you'll be set for years. When you upgrade to a better blanket, you can cut these up to make leggings, a shooting pouch, or a rain poncho. For the true woodsman, there is no better multi-use material than wool!

Eating materials - this is the most important category, since you can't drink out of an aluminum can or beer bottle at a period event, you must have a tin cup. If you have one and it's legit, you are great (ask me if you need to), if not, this is probably your most important piece of kit. You can drink from it, eat out of it and most importantly - it holds your beer. The quart size is better than the pint (you can fit more in it), but either is fine. You can buy these at most events, or order one here:
http://jas-townsend.com/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=138

You will also need a spoon (or a fork, if you are gentrified), but a regular wood spoon is all you really need.
http://jas-townsend.com/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=136

Sleeping - if you are camping out, you can sleep in one of my lodges or a friend's lodge, so your sleeping bag is ok, as long as it's out of sight. Better yet, wrap yourself up in a wool blanket or two and sleep period style!

Other stuff - if you wanna shoot, we'll have spare guns. Same for knives, tomahawks, firestarting kits, bows and arrows and all the rest of it. Don't go out an buy a black powder gun until you have an event or two under your belt, or we have spent any time in the field with them. A leather belt is great, you can tie your tin cup to it, etc. Just make sure it has a simple buckle (brass preferred). There are generally one or two traders at an event, so you can pick-up some plunder there, too.

What do I eat? - most of the time when you are new, you "camp dog," which basically means eating off of other people's viddles. We do use coolers, but they are covered up and out of sight to keep the scene working. Jerky is great, but you can really bring whatever, provided the packaging is put away until ready for use (stored in your lodge or whatever). If you are coming out, just bring whatever you are comfortable eating and/or throwing on the fire. I'll have plenty of pots, pans and related devices. Don't worry about picking one up for your first event . . .

For more details, check out my website where I discuss a lot of these topics in even more detail:
http://www.buckskinning.org/

See you down the trail!

2011-10-10T22:30:00.001-05:00

Paintball this weekend - The Ranch - October 15, 2011

We will be playing our first game at The Ranch this Saturday, October 15th. Since this is our first time at this new place, we should plan on meeting up around 9am at the old HEB (across from Bill Brown Elementary School - actually Bulverde Crossing and Highway 46) and then caravaning over to the ranch location. Looks like it will be sunny with a high of 84, so great weather to track your friends through the woods . . .

Primary scenario: Search and Destroy

Since we'll be on "big land" we''ll have plenty of space for the old search and destroy scenario. Plus we'll do some ambush/counter-ambush and generally brush fighting.

Special requirements: We will start in one location, but likely move out and move around, so plan on carrying plenty of extra pods.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, snacks, camelback, etc.).

If you plan on being or bringing out someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. At this time all of our guest gear is cleaned up and ready to go, so we have 3-4 open slots.

Call me directly if you have any questions about this event, or if you are on your way out, but are going to miss the caravan.

2011-10-05T16:04:00.003-05:00

The Human Path shout-out on WOAI

For those who played last weekend at the THP Quarry game . . . Sam Coffman, who runs The Human Path survival school, got a mention this morning on WOAI radio, as well as their website:

"Mad Max" World On The Way? Helotes Man Teaches Survival Skills
Local survivalist course even teaches how to forage for food

From corrency collapse to revolution there is more and more talk of civilization unraveling, and a Dystopian "Mad Max' world taking it's place. And a Helotes man can help.

Well, now you can take a survivalist course that will pit you against the elements. It's run by a former military medic Sam Coffman. Called The Human Path, you can learn all about how to survive in the wild.

"Learning how to work with pretty much nothing in the woods; so learning fire from friction, shelter, water purification and hunting and snares, tracking and things like that," says Coffman of what he teaches in his core course.

"The course can connect us on a level that is quite a bit more deeply 'connected' and less urbanized. Our maxim is: to be the best possible person under the worst possible circumstances. "

You can read the full story here (complete with Mad Max and dog image!).

For more details on The Human Path, check out their websit e.

2011-09-26T23:25:00.001-05:00

Paintball this weekend - The Human Path Quarry - October 1, 2011

We will be playing this Saturday, October 1st at the The Human Path Quarry. The Human Path is a survival school located just north of San Antonio at an old quarry off of Cibolo Creek. I played a game with this group last summer and it is a very cool location with some great terrain and features. The weather will be great with a cool morning and a high of only 90, so bring your jackets! :)

Primary scenario: OPFOR

For these games, we will be playing against the THP home team in multiple OPFOR scenarios. Plan for ambush, counter-ambush, and a lot of wilderness movement.

Special requirements: Make sure your primary is in great condition and consider a secondary as well. If you are loathe to move with your LBE and ruck, you will need it for this scenario, so make sure your kit is in order. We will start in one location, but likely move out and set-up ambush positions away from this point - and may even stage at remote locations, depending on the specific scenario.

Special note: This will be a restricted game for folks who have played with us before. If you are a guest player with less than two OF games under your belt, please contact me in advance about this game. We do have loaner gear for two guests, so please let me know ASAP if this applies to you.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, snacks, camelback, etc.).

Plan to meet at my place between 9-9:30am that morning. We will have a briefing for the scenario and then truck over to the location around 10-10:30am.

More details on the THP location are here:
http://www.thehumanpath.com/location.htm

Call me directly if you have any questions about this event. Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2011-09-12T22:49:00.003-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - September 17, 2011

We will be playing our first game of the season this Saturday, September 17th at the Orion Valley. The high will be a chilly 94 degrees, so for those who have been outside much this summer, make sure to bring a light jacket or sweater, so you can replicate the weather you are used to enjoying. Also, since we haven't played since May, we'll also be taking it easy, getting use to our markers, which end makes with the "bang," etc.

Primary scenario: THE PATRIOT

In honor of Constitution Day (I looked it up, it has a website), we will be playing a scenario based on that bad ass scene in The Patriot. You know what I am talking about if you've ever seen the movie. This will be a hand-load game, but the tomahawk will be optional, depending on how excited everyone gets. (No Michael, you can't use a real tomahawk!)

Special requirements: Pumps are fine for this one, so if you have one bring it on out.

If you plan on being or bringing out someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. At this time all of our guest gear is cleaned up and ready to go. We have at least 2 guests signed up, so let me know ASAP if you need loaner gear.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.). Bring your bathing suit so you can jump into the pool after we play.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2011-05-23T18:44:00.001-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - May 28, 2011

We will be playing our final game of the season this Saturday, May 28th at Orion Valley. Afterward, we'll be jumping in the pool and maybe grilling out some lunch, depending on everyone's mood and availability. It will be hot - hydrate accordingly.

Primary scenario: INFILTRATOR

We'll end the year with everyone's favorite way to get shot up close.

Special requirements: Since this is the last game of the season (we'll start up again in September), it's highly recommended to bring out all of your paint and shoot it up!

If you plan on being or bringing out someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. At this time all of our guest gear is cleaned up and ready to go.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.).

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2011-05-02T21:24:00.001-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - May 7, 2011

We will be playing this Saturday, May 7th. It will be a cool morning and then it'll be hot. The hot is here, so let's get started at 9am.

Primary scenario: SNIPER/COUNTER SNIPER

Slow moving through the brush for sniper discovery and elimination.

Special requirements: I would hazard to guess it's too hot for a ghillie suit, but if you are the Yeti-type then it just may work for you.

If you plan on being or bringing out someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. We have four guest set-ups and everything is still ready to go from last time, so it's a good time to get a guest into the action.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.).

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2011-05-02T10:56:00.001-05:00

Whoop!

U.S. Blackhawk helicopters ferried about two dozen troops from Navy SEAL Team Six, a top military counter-terrorism unit, into the compound identified by the CIA as bin Laden's hideout — and back out again in less than 40 minutes. Bin Laden was shot in the head, officials said, after he and his bodyguards resisted the assault.

More.

2011-04-04T22:04:00.001-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - April 9, 2011

We will be playing this Saturday, April 9th in the Valley. It will be sunny and hot - our first game in the 90s - so come prepared!

Primary scenario: INFILTRATOR

You know you want it - full 360 degree Infiltrator!

Special requirements: This is a great game for grenades. Available at Dicks or Academy for a mere $5, but certainly not required.

If you plan on being or bringing out someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. At this time all of our guest gear is cleaned up and the weather should be nice, so it's a good time to get a guest into the action.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.).

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2011-03-14T22:25:00.000-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - March 19, 2011

We will be playing this Saturday, March 19th in the Valley.

The weather should be great. Nice and warm and ready for some fire!

Gun fire that is . . . paintball fire . . . er . . .air . . . that is.

Primary scenario: THE FIELDS

Sniper/counter-sniper across the flats until one team can defend the lone cedar against the various brush piles.

Special requirements: N/A

If you plan on being or bringing out someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. At this time all of our guest gear is cleaned up and the weather should be nice, so it's a good time to get a guest into the action.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.).

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2011-02-28T20:52:00.000-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - March 5, 2011

We will be playing this Saturday, March 5th in the Valley.

The weather will be high of 74 and sunny - unlike back in 1836, when it was cold, rainy and . . .

Primary scenario: THE ALAMO

It's Texicans against the Mexicans in the battle royale of your 7th grade history class. One group will be forting up in the old Spanish church while assailed by an unstoppable force of undying and conscripted peasants. The closest you can get to a zombie scenario and still call it "history."

Of course this will be a hand-load game.

Special requirements: Costumes and/or muskets are not required, but always encouraged.

If you plan on being or bringing out someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. At this time all of our guest gear is cleaned up and the weather should be nice, so it's a good time to get a guest into the action.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.).

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2011-02-14T21:06:00.001-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - February 19, 2011

We will be playing this Saturday, February 19th in the Valley.

The weather will be mostly cloudy with a high of 70 - these are truly the golden days. Hurry and come play before it's 100 degrees outside (next month).

Primary scenario: HOSTAGE RESCUE

You know you can storm the fort when you're spraying and praying - but what if you need to rescue a team mate? Special guest for this game will be Harry Hostage. What was he doing in the fort in the first place?

Special requirements: This scenario assumes body armor (multiple shots/out), so feel free to bring out some padding.

If you plan on being or bringing out someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. At this time all of our guest gear is cleaned up and the weather should be nice, so it's a good time to get a guest into the action.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.).

A few notes on 2011:

Upcoming pump and paint game - Petty Paintball in Lockhart (http://www.pettypb.com/) is hosting a pump-only big game on February 26th. I am planning on heading up Saturday morning (games start at 11am), and then having some great BBQ in Lockhart (http://www.kreuzmarket.com/) before heading back. If you like to play with a pump marker, this game will be awesome. If you would like to play with a pump and/or check this out, please let me know as I have 3 spare pump guns I will lend out for this event. Field paint is required (air is included), but the event only costs $10.

CO2 fills now available - Thanks to everyone who paid dues in the Fall, we now have a CO2 tank at Orion Valley. That's right - starting this weekend, you can get your fills at the field instead of trying your luck with the blokes at Wal-mart, Academy, or wherever else you've been getting them. If you are a dues-paying member, your fills are free! If you haven't paid dues, fills are going to cost you $2 - which is still half of what you'd pay at the store. Which brings me to . . .

Pay Yer Dues - In the timeless words of Mr. "Knuckles" Wiski, our tenderhearted enforcer, "Those forts don't build themselves!" Dues are $25 for the season or $40 for the year. Since fills at a store-like place are now close to $4/ea, plus travel, plus dealing with Ye Olde Paintball Shoppe-keep.

Please consider paying these via paypal, so I don't have to have Wiski chasing you around the field with a lead pipe (unless that's your thing).

Let me know if you need a copy of the new schedule . . .

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2011-02-01T23:06:00.001-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - February 5, 2011

The time you have been waiting for his here . . . . this weekend is our BIG SCENARIO. We'll be starting off at Orion Valley with a pre-game briefing and then heading over to the secret location for the action. We have our eight players lined up for this game, so the roster is now closed. If you are getting this email and haven't confirmed with me for the game, please contact me back ASAP with your intentions!

The weather will be sunny with a high of 63 - probably pretty cool in the morning, but should heat-up as the action gets going.

Primary scenario: SEARCH AND DESTROY

All pertinent details about the game will be given on Saturday at the pre-game briefing. I will give everyone a call tomorrow with specific details on timing and where you need to be. It is imperative that you be on time for this scenario, as it involves coordinating multiple groups with different start times.

Special requirements: Due to the nature of this scenario, you will need to cart your full combat load with you for the duration of the game. This means you will need to have a way to carry multiple pods, spare tank, water source, your marker, a spare marker (as you see fit), and whatever else you need to effectively wage war and still move around. I would highly recommend the use of an LBE/LBV with a supplemental backpack that you can ditch in a firefight. Some of this will be covered in the pre-game briefing. We will have a few loaner LBEs and you need to get with me ASAP if you have any questions about your kit, or if you feel like you need to borrow some extra gear to properly kit-up for this scenario.

A few notes on 2011:

Upcoming pump and paint game - Petty Paintball in Lockhart (http://www.pettypb.com/) is hosting a pump-only big game on February 26th. I am planning on heading up Sautrday morning (games start at 11am), and then having some great BBQ in Lockhart (http://www.kreuzmarket.com/) before heading back. If you like to play with a pump marker, this game will be awesome. If you would like to play with a pump and/or check this out, please let me know as I have 3 spare pump guns I will lend out for this event. Field paint is required (air is included), but the event only costs $10.

Pay Yer Dues - If you haven't paid dues, please get these to me as soon as possible. Consider paying these via paypal, so I don't have to have Wiski chasing you around the field with a 2x4 (with a nail sticking out of it).

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2011-01-10T23:08:00.001-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - January 15, 2011

We will be playing this Saturday, January 15th in the Valley.

Looks like a high of 62 and a good chance of rain. What better weather to test your mettle against nature and your fellow player?

Primary scenario: HOSTAGE RESCUE

You know you can storm the fort when you're spraying and praying - but what if you need to rescue a team mate?

Special requirements: This scenario assumes body armor (multiple shots/out), so feel free to bring out some padding.

If you plan on being or bringing out someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.).

A few notes on 2011:

BIG SCENARIO on 2/5 - Our first game of February will feature an intense search and destroy scenario on a new piece of land. 25 acres located about 10 minutes from Orion Valley. We'll gear up at the Valley and then head over to the scenario. Due to the nature of this game, we'll have to limit it to 8 players, to please let me know ASAP if you can make it out. This isn't one to miss!

Upcoming pump and paint game - Petty Paintball in Lockhart is hosting a pump-only big game on February 26th. I am planning on heading up Sautrday morning (games start at 11am), and then having some great BBQ in Lockhart (http://www.kreuzmarket.com/) before heading back. If you like to play with a pump marker, this game will be awesome. If you would like to play with a pump and/or check this out, please let me know as I have 3 spare pump guns I will lend out for this event. Field paint is required (air is included), but the event only costs $10.

CO2 fills now available - Thanks to everyone who paid dues in the Fall, we now have a CO2 tank at Orion Valley. That's right - starting this weekend, you can get your fills at the field instead of trying your luck with the blokes at Wal-mart, Academy, or wherever else you've been getting them. If you are a dues-paying member, your fills are free! If you haven't paid dues, fills are going to cost you $2 - which is still half of what you'd pay at the store. Which brings me to . . .

Pay Yer Dues - In the timeless words of Mr. "Knuckles" Wiski, our tenderhearted enforcer, "Those forts don't build themselves!" Dues are $25 for the season or $40 for the year. Since fills at a store-like place are now close to $4/ea, plus travel, plus dealing with Ye Olde Paintball Shoppe-keep.

Please consider paying these via Paypal, so I don't have to have Wiski chasing you around the field with a lead pipe (unless that's your thing).

2011 Orion Raiders Paintball Schedule - is now available. Print out a copy, tack it to the refrigerator, add it to the Family Calendar, etc. These dates are not 100% set it stone, but at least it gives us something to work against, and also helps to time when you want Cousin Dinkleberry to come into town for his bi-annual visit. Nothing says family time quite like a paintball to the neck . . . Please let me know if you are planning on attending a game as a guest or would like to bring out a guest to play.

Directions
Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2010-11-15T21:06:00.002-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - November 20, 2010

We will be playing this Saturday, November 20th in the Valley.

No rain this weekend. Sunny, not too hot, not too cold. What a great weekend to track your friends through the woods and shoot some paint!

Primary scenario: COUNTER SNIPER

The grass is high and the fort is rebuilt. There are numerous places for a sniper to hide. Do you and your team have the goods to take him out?

Special requirements: One of the few times you can really get use of your advanced camo gear. Or do a great Sasquatch impression with your ghillie suit.

If you plan on being or bringing out someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.).

Pay Yer Dues

My goal for this season is to get us a remote set-up for Orion Valley and/or take with us when we play out at Dripping Springs or wherever. Once we are set-up we can have free fills for all dues-paying members of the Foundation. Non-members, guests or the disgruntled can buy fills at the field for $2 (vs. $4 at Ye Olde Paintball Shoppe).

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2010-11-01T21:31:00.002-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - November 6, 2010

We will be playing this Saturday, November 6th in the Valley.

Looks like it's going to be great weather this weekend - sunny with a high of 68 degrees! But, please don't let that prevent you from coming out. I am sure if enough of us make it out we can get some rain . . .

Primary scenario: INFILTRATOR

You know you want it - full 360 degree Infiltrator!

Special requirements: This is a great game for grenades. Available at Dicks or Academy for a mere $5, but certainly not required.

We are pretty full on guests this weekend, so please get back to me ASAP if you need loaner gear!

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.). Later in the evening a group of us will be heading to Wurstfest in New Braunfels, so keep that in mind for some evening fare . . .

DUES Note!!! It's a new season that means dues. Our collections man, Rocco (aptly portrayed by our own Mr. Wiski) is advising me that I need to give a reminder about team dues. Please bring out $25 for the season or $40 for the year. We are going for on-field air this year and need your dirty lucre to make it happen.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2010-09-27T10:07:00.002-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - October 2, 2010

We will be playing this Saturday, October 2nd in the Valley.

For those who have wandered outside of cubicleland this week, you will notice something strange about the ambient temperature outside - FALL is here! The weather is supposed to be sunny this weekend with a high of 83/low of 62 - that's right . . . Texas Jacket Weather! So come outside and enjoy the day by shooting some paintballs at each other!

Primary scenario: INFILTRATOR

You know you want it - full 360 degree Infiltrator!

Special requirements: This is a great game for grenades. Available at Dicks or Academy for a mere $5 (which is becoming more and more devalued by the day).

If you plan on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.)

DUES Note!!! It's a new season that means dues. Our collections man, Rocco (aptly portrayed by our own Mr. Wiski) is advising me that I need to give a reminder about team dues. Please bring out $25 for the season or $40 for the year. I'd like to expand the field with a 2nd tower and get some sniper hides up by the cedar open field.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Please RSVP for this weekend's game via the forums, or by accepting the event via the Facebook event page.

See you there!

2010-07-04T00:01:00.002-05:00

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

2010-06-21T21:56:00.001-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - June 26, 2010 - Final Game this Season!

Our final game of the season is this Saturday, June 26th in the Valley. This will also be our end-of-year shindig, so we'll play for a couple of hours and then hit the pool.

It is going to be HOT, so be ready to go at 9am. The high is supposed to be in the mid-90s, so come prepared to burn.

Primary scenario: INFILTRATOR

By popular demand, we'll be rolling full 360 degree Infiltrator! If you've played with us for a while (a long while), this is the game you have missed.

Special requirements: Bring all of the paint you don't want getting warped in your 120 degree garage over the summer. Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.)

As a reminder, we have a few events this summer before getting started with the Fall season:
Marker Work/Mod Day - July 31, 2010
Equipment Work/Mod Day - August 14, 2010

Our first game of the Fall season will be September 4, 2010.

If you plan on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2010-06-01T15:51:00.000-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - June 5, 2010

We will be playing this Saturday, June 5th in the Valley. It is going to be HOT, so plan on getting started around 9am, with guest briefing at 8:45am, so be ready to go early. It will be a high of 96, so we'll probably want to get started early to avoid the worst of it. Come prepared with plenty of water!

Primary scenario: INFILTRATOR

You know you want it - full 360 degree Infiltrator! If you've played with us for a while (a long while), this is the game you have missed.

Special requirements: This is a great game for grenades. So if you are feeling like throwing $5 at your pals, then have at it.

If you plan on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.)

DUES Note!!! Our collections man is advising me that I need to give a reminder about team dues. If you haven't thrown in, please bring out $25 for the season or $40 for the year. We've burned through our war chest getting the field set-up with the new bunkers and need some donations for Phase 2.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2010-05-31T12:00:00.000-05:00

War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.

- John Stuart Mill, English economist & philosopher (1806 - 1873)

2010-05-10T21:12:00.003-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - May 15, 2010

We will be playing this Saturday, May 15thst in the Valley. We'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am, so make sure you are ready to go at that time. So far, it looks like it will be around 80 and potentially rainy - so it shouldn't be that hot. If you haven't played with us before, yes - we do play in the rain. So come prepared!

Primary scenario: SEARCH AND DESTROY

We'll start off with some light field work and then move into some search and destroy scenarios - moving from the eastern field and valley into the playing area. We got started on this last time and it seemed to work out pretty well.

Special requirements: If you have radios (FRS), this is a great scenario to use them. We'll have our team radios out there as well.

If you plan on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.)

DUES Note!!! Our collections man is advising me that I need to give a reminder about team dues. If you haven't thrown in, please bring out $25 for the season or $40 for the year. We've burned through our war chest getting the field set-up with the new bunkers and need some donations for Phase 2.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2010-04-27T23:13:00.002-05:00

Hunter-Killers to the Texas Border?

From Drudge this evening:

SEND IN THE DRONES: PREDATORS TO FLY ABOVE TEX-MEX BORDER

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told a Senate hearing Tuesday that unmanned aerial drones will soon fly through Texas skies!

"Big Sis" declared that over the past 15 months, federal law enforcement initiatives have made the border more secure than in any other time in history, the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS reports in Wednesday editions.

The new "predator bees" have the capability to fly at altitudes used by commercial aircraft, and are designed to enhance intelligence capabilities of federal, state and local law enforcement.

But a recent analysis of the use of unmanned aerial vehicles found that they were twice as likely to crash as manned aircraft, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Source.

Look to the skies!

2010-04-26T09:41:00.001-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - May 1, 2010

We will be playing this Saturday, May 1st in the Valley. We'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am, so make sure you are ready to go at that time. By some devilry, it will be May and yet not 120 degrees, so come on our and play before the cedar trees start doing their best burning bush impression.

Primary scenario: SNIPER/COUNTER SNIPER

We'll play some of usual games and some infiltrator, but our scenario will be focusing on some small-team house clearing and sniper eradication. You will be using your 3-man team to take out an opposing team of snipers who will be preventing you from reaching your extraction point.

Special requirements: If you have a ghillie suit (and come on now, who doesn't?) this is a good time to whip it out. If not, your burlap sacks, camo netting, or that ill-conceived bigfoot costume you used once for Halloween would all be appropriate.

If you plan on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing (water, camelback, etc.).

DUES Note!!! Our collections man is advising me that I need to give a reminder about team dues. If you haven't thrown in, please bring out $25 for the season or $40 for the year. We've burned through our war chest getting the field set-up with the new bunkers and need some donations for Phase 2 - outdoor speakers, badminton fields and live entertainment stage). =)

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2010-03-29T21:08:00.001-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - April 3, 2010

We will be playing this Saturday, April 3rd in the Valley. We'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am, so make sure you are ready to go at that time. The weather is supposed to be sunny and mild. Looks like that stinkin' cold is behind us and we can get back to some respectable paintball weather. =)

Primary scenario: INFILTRATOR!!

You know you want it - full 360 degree Infiltrator!

If you've played with us for awhile (a long while), this is the game you have missed. If you haven't - this will blow the Dam Game out of the water.

We'll also be doing an Infiltrator egress scenario - from the fort across the field - avoiding the snipers

Special requirements: This is a great game for grenades. In fact I was just at the new Dicks Sporting Goods in New Braunfels and they carry some pretty mean looking BT Tactical Grenades. So if you are feeling grenade-ish and also like throwing $7 at your paintball friends (I dunno - Tax Refund?), maybe that's the way to go . . .

If you plan on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2010-03-15T22:13:00.001-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - March 20, 2010

We will be playing this Saturday, March 20th in the Valley. We'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am, so make sure you are ready to go at that time. The weather is supposed to be sunny and mild. Looks like that stinkin' cold is behind us and we can get back to some respectable paintball weather. =)

Primary scenario: Sniper/Counter-Sniper!

Ok - boys (and girl) - it's time to break out the ghillie suits. We are transported back to the magical late 70s/early 80s in good ole Northern Ireland for the time of the Troubles. This isn't a short story by Liam O'Flaherty - it's the real deal action (or as close as we can get to it with paintball guns).

And nothing like Northern Ireland. =)

“Well, there is a literal connection.”

Special requirements: Well, ghillie suits obviously. What else? Camo netting, radios, and your paintball sniper rifles (LOL)

If you plan on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2010-02-28T20:00:00.000-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - March 6, 2010

We will be playing this Saturday, February 20th in the Valley. We'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am, so make sure you are ready to go at that time. The weather is supposed to be cool and dry - but don't let that discourage you. =)

Primary scenario: INFILTRATOR!!

You know you want it - full 360 degree Infiltrator!

If you've played with us for awhile (a long while), this is the game you have missed. If you haven't - this will blow the Dam Game out of the water.

We'll also be doing an Infiltrator egress scenario - from the fort across the field - avoiding the snipers

Special requirements: This is a great game for grenades, also - bring your Talkabouts/Sport 7s if you have them

If you plan on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2010-02-19T21:41:00.002-06:00

Texas Gun Shows List - Updated for 2010

So after much delay (it ain't March, yet!), I finally updated the Texas Gun Shows page for 2010.

It's available here.

2010-02-15T21:30:00.001-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - February 20, 2010

We will be playing this Saturday, February 20th in the Valley. We'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am, so make sure you are ready to go at that time. The weather is supposed to be cool and dry - but don't let that discourage you. =)

Primary scenario: Hunter

You have successfully bugged out of the city, but due to the chaos, you have lost your primary weapon. However, you do have some gear, including your back-up pistol, a knife, some rope, and water. Tired from your rapid egress, and bordering on hunger, you follow a small heard of deer into a dark valley. You take a shot a deer, but once you get close to enough to harvest the game, you realize you aren't alone . . . .

Special requirements: Paintball pistol, or pump rifle. If you have neither, you will be hand-loading your primary for this scenario.

If you plan on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2010-02-03T21:02:00.000-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - February 6, 2010

Sorry for the late notice on this weekend's game. Our modem went down this week, so we got to reminisce on what life was like back in 1991 . . .

We will be playing this Saturday, February 6th in the Valley. We'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am, so make sure you are ready to go at that time. The weather looks like it will be great - sunny and cool, but it should still be pretty muddy from the rains.

Primary scenario: INFILTRATOR!!

The fort is built and it's time to test it out.

For the first time at Orion Valley, we're going back to the OG - that's right (not the Olive Garden, Wiski!) - full 360 degree Infiltrator!

If you've played with us for awhile (a long while), this is the game you have missed. If you haven't - this will blow the Dam Game out of the water.

Special requirements: None (but the attacking team will be allow radios, so bring your Talkabouts/Sport 7s if you have them).

If you plan on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing. Also bring out some leather gloves and whatever implements of destruction you need to affect changes upon the field.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

2010-01-11T09:57:00.007-06:00

The First A-Team Trailer

The moment you all have been waiting for is here.

The first trailer for the new A-Team movie got released today and in a word - it looks AWESOME.

A few happies:

1) Liam Neeson looks to be a great Hannibal (cigar and all)

2) Sharlto Copley from District 9 as Murdock

3) Rampage keep the BA Baracus hair-do

3) The A-Team van!

If this is half as good as the trailer looks, then this will more than make up for GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

2010-01-05T21:30:00.000-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - January 9, 2010

We will be playing this Saturday, January 9th in the Valley. We'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am, so make sure you are ready to go at that time. It should be pretty cold, so come prepared to deal with the weather. We will be doing a little bit of work on the fields and then getting into the games.

Primary scenario: Hunter

You have successfully bugged out of the city, but due to the chaos, you have lost your primary weapon. However, you do have some gear, including your back-up pistol, a knife, some rope, and water. Tired from your rapid egress, and bordering on hunger, you follow a small heard of deer into a dark valley. You take a shot a deer, but once you get close to enough to harvest the game, you realize you aren't alone . . . .

Special requirements: Paintball pistol, or pump rifle. If you have neither, you will be hand-loading your primary for this scenario.

If you plan on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing. Also bring out some leather gloves and whatever implements of destruction you need to affect changes upon the field.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2009-12-01T22:27:00.001-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - December 5, 2009

We will be playing this Saturday, December 5th in the Valley. We'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am, so make sure you are ready to go at that time. So far it looks like it will be cold, but the rain from the previous evening should be dissipated, so that's a plus. =)

If you plan on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2009-11-02T17:22:00.000-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - November 7, 2009

We will be playing this Saturday, November 7th in the Valley. We'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am, so make sure you are ready to go at that time.

If you plan on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

I am thinking about heading over to NB for WURSTFEST after we play.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2009-10-12T11:19:00.000-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - October 17, 2009

We will be playing this Saturday, October 17th in the Valley. We'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am, so make sure you are ready to go at that time.

If you plan on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2009-09-26T15:55:00.001-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Dripping Springs - October 3, 2009

We will be playing this Saturday, October 3rd at Dripping Springs. Be there and ready to go by 10am. We'll have our guest briefing at 9:45am.

If you are meeting up at the Dairy Queen - plan on being there by 9:15am. If you are caravaning up from my place - we'll be leaving there at 8:15am.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing. We'll play until around 1pm and then I'll be heading over for some BBQ at the Salt Lick - so make sure to plan time for that if you can make it out.

We'll probably stage initially at the cars, play a few open-field games, and then move to some longer scenarios.

Right now it looks like sunny weather with a high in the low 80s, with a chance of rain, so it shouldn't be too hot. Just keep an eye on the weather and we'll go from there.

If you are playing as a guest or plan on bringing a guest along, let me know ASAP, and we'll throw some kit together for you.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2009-09-14T22:40:00.003-05:00

Via con dios, Jed

Patrick Swayze
1952-2009

2009-09-11T10:48:00.003-05:00

Honoring 9-11

I read the below on Breitbart's Big Hollywood blog and thought it was worth re-posting here. A good portion of our crew are current and/or former military, with 3 of them having server in the GWOT and one on his way.

Honoring September 11th: They Wants Us to Forget
by Mark Tapson

“The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” – William Faulkner

“We will write our own future, and the future will be what we want it to be.” – Barack Obama

In a quiet and seemingly innocuous gesture, President Obama has designated 9/11 as “The National Day of Service and Remembrance.” Personally, I liked the ring of “Patriot Day,” and what does “service and remembrance” mean, precisely ? The idea is to get Americans to “engage in meaningful service to create change…in four key areas”: education, health, energy/environment and community renewal. None of these seems to have anything to do with honoring 9/11, but that seems to be the point: in the Huffington Post, Muslim-American playwright Wajahat Ali wrote, “In the US, we are trying to move away from focusing on 9/11 as a day of horror, and instead make it a day to recommit ourselves to national service.” An excellent Spectator article provides a blunter translation: “Nihilistic liberals are planning to drain 9/11 of all meaning.” Why? ”They think it needs to be taken back from the right.”

In other words, they resent the surge of patriotism and righteous outrage stirred up by the attacks, sentiments that empower the political Right. In order to advance the leftist agenda of dismantling American exceptionalism and recasting ourselves as the villain in our history books, they need Americans to put 9/11 behind us, forget the victims, forget that our enemy danced in the streets in celebration, forget that Islamic terror plots on our very shores continue to be disrupted, and forget that our rights and freedoms are under assault by a subversive civilizational jihad.

It seems impossible to believe that that morning could be forgotten – just as it was once impossible to believe that our government could erase “jihad” and “Islamic” and “terrorism” from our national lexicon, preventing us from even naming the enemy, or that an American President could proclaim us no longer a Christian nation, but rather one of the world’s largest Muslim countries. There was a time when screenwriter Cyrus Nowrasteh’s extraordinary 2006 ABC miniseries The Path to 9/11 was going to be shown in schools across this country and be aired every 9/11 anniversary – until the Clinton administration, wanting you to forget their flaccid response to the growing threat of Islamic extremism, and fearing the show would tarnish their political legacy, pulled out all the stops to suppress it; it very nearly wasn’t aired, and today you can’t even obtain it on DVD. (This whole story has been related fascinatingly in John Ziegler’s must-see documentary Blocking the Path to 9/11). It’s impossible to forget that morning only if we fight to keep its memory alive.

Americans can commit themselves to public service any or every other day of the year; 9/11 should be reserved for solemn remembrance and renewed commitment to preserving American security, values and sovereignty. A day of greening your neighborhood? I’m all for planting trees, but what does “green” have to do with 9/11? Only that it’s the color of Islam. But if the President insists, allow me to suggest some service appropriate to the day:

Education? How about this: educate yourself and your children about 9/11 and about the continuing Islamist threat – not only of overt acts of terrorism, but the insidious dangers of “stealth jihad” and “creeping sharia.”

Environment and community renewal? Okay, beautify your block by flying the Stars and Stripes. It sends a simple but unmistakable message to the enemy and their useful idiots that, unlike our post-American President and his fawning media, you are proud to be American; you believe in American exceptionalism; you believe that making this day about installing fluorescent light bulbs trivializes the memory of 9/11’s victims; and you will never let their deaths be in vain or erased from history.

Eight years ago, nineteen fanatical Muslims turned hijacked aircraft carrying hundreds of terrified passengers into missiles targeting symbols of American might. Nearly 3000 innocents died horribly that day, including hundreds of courageous, selfless first responders making a superhuman effort to rescue their fellow citizens. The hijackers are regarded by their fellow Islamists as heroes and martyrs in the cosmic war against the Great Satan America. That war is by no means over, and thus, in the Faulknerian sense, neither is 9/11. We owe it to the victims to keep this day alive in our hearts and national consciousness - and not allow the Left to bury it.

Make no mistake, no matter how the current administration tries to downplay the threat of radical Islam or change the lexicon of the GWOT to make its language more palatable to the PC-minded, what we face is a culture war - the progressive, free-minded, free-markets vs. the last bastions of anachronistic monarchy, oppression, and closed-mindedness.

If you doubt, ask any woman who grew up under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan or Christian expartriates who live and work in the Saudi kingdom.

There is no timetable for a pull-out.

There will be no Paris Accords or effective mutual withdrawal.

We will be fighting this war until the end of time.

2009-09-08T11:10:00.000-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - September 12, 2009

We will be playing this Saturday, September 12th in the Valley. Since this is the first game of the season, this will be a no guest's game. I'd like to get started earlier, due to the heat, so let's try to be ready to go by 9am.

Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing. We'll play until around 12pm and then take a quick dip in the pool, so make sure to bring your bathing trousers, where applicable.

Right now it looks like a high in the low 90s, with a chance of rain, but we'll play rain or shine. Just keep an eye on the weather and we'll go from there.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2009-06-26T08:39:00.005-05:00

Thriller.

I remember growing up that MJ's Thriller was always number 1 whenever MTV had their Top 100 Greatest Videos of all time.

A short while after the Neverland incident they had another broadcast of the Top 100, but - I am assuming because of the controversy- Thriller was no longer number 1.

I always felt like this was a political move on MTV's part and for me, another mistep in their move away from music television pioneers to pop-culture-overlords. Regardless of the spectacle of his life and how bizarre he got towards the end - I will always remember Michael Jackson for the musical phenomenon that he was.

No one can watch those early videos and doubt his talent. He was a musical prodigy and truly was and is the King of Pop. Whether or not the later craziness shaded your perception of him, his influence is indelible on 1980s pop and American culture.

And if he does come back as a Zombie - I for one will lay aside my rifle and give him a pass. =)

2009-06-16T09:49:00.003-05:00

Potential Update on the A-Team Movie

Daytime just sent me over this info on the ever-in-discussion A-Team movie:

The "A-Team" is certainly gearing up for what one would call an A-list cast (though I'm quite fond of George Peppard, Dirk Benedict and Mr. T). According to Variety, it was confirmed that "Hangover" star Bradley Cooper is in negotiation to play Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck. And now, Variety is stating that none other than Liam Neeson (who just starred in the ridiculously entertaining "Taken") is in negotiations to play John "Hannibal" Smith. Joe Carnahan is set to direct, with Ridley Scott producing. OK, great. But where's Mr. T in all of this?

The source is here.

I would have never thought of Liam Neeson as a good Hannibal (of course Faceman would need to be played by a pretty boy, so no surprises there), but after seeing him in Taken, I would certainly like to see his interpretation of the role.

Now of course the big question for me (aside from the concern of Hollywood destroying all of my childhood icons in the name of making a buck, i.e. Transformers, GI Joe, etc.) - is where in time will they set the story?

The A-Team is fundamentally a 1980's post-Vietnam story, but I am not relying on Hollywood to keep the story in context.

I am sure that the A-Team will have been accused of a "crime they did not commit" - some kind of robbery of a big bank in Iraq or Afghanistan. But to make the story politically correct for modern times (and Hollywood), it'll turn out that the bank is being run by an evil military contractor - who was really defrauding the government for its own nefarious purposes.

I wonder if they will push the envelope and make the team mercenaries during the conflict - certainly believable in our contractor-base d neo-warfare model - or if they will be a real US Army A-Team (Special Forces) that is assigned the infamous task? If they are US troops, then of course Mr. Neeson would have to do something about that accent . . .

Or . . . they could go all UN-style like Streetfighter.

Just kidding . . . seriously. Don't do it, Hollywood!

Ok - so the Transformers movie wasn't that bad . . .

2009-05-19T11:37:00.001-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - May 23, 2009

We will be playing this Saturday, May 23rd in the Valley. This is going to be our last game for the season. We are going to do a get-together what-have-you at some point (likely later in June), but this weekend will just be a regular game. We'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am, so make sure you are ready to go at that time.

If you had planned on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please make sure they are there by 9:45am. And also please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing. Like last time, we will pack down into the Valley and not come out until the day is over.

After we are playing, we'll probably jump in the pool for awhile, so make sure to bring your bathing trousers, where applicable.

Right now it looks like a high of 90, so it'll be pretty mild as far as summer games go. =)

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2009-05-07T21:26:00.000-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - May 9, 2009

Sorry for the late notice on this one, but we will be playing this Saturday, May 9th in the Valley. This is going to be our second to last game for the season. Our last game will be on 5/23 and will likely be our end of year party, etc. For this weekend, we'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am, so make sure you are ready to go at that time.

If you had planned on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please make sure they are there by 9:45am. And also please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing. Like last time, we will pack down into the Valley and not come out until the day is over.

No chance of rain this weekend, but it will be effin hot.

2009-04-30T21:35:00.003-05:00

Swine Flu - Some Perspective

This article was written by Dr. Larry Miller (former head of Emergency Medicine at the Baptist Health System in San Antonio and Medical Director for several EMS Systems). I think it provides some great perspective on the current situation and gives an alternative viewpoint to all of the media hype.

Swine Flu - The Journalistic Scaredemic
April 28, 2009

Swine Flu is a new strain of influenza that has yet to cause a death in the USA. That being the case, why are Americans in a state of panic over the Swine flu?

The answer is that the media (CNN, ABC, NBC, USA Today, along with other publications) have stirred the public into a virtual frenzy. They are bombarding us with hysteria. They love it. Nothing turns them on more than to sensationalize mountains out of molehills. In the case of the Swine Flu, the media is guilty of causing an epidemic of panic. They are guilty because they relentlessly hype this dubious threat into a certain deadly pandemic.

Let's look at the facts:
Seasonal influenza causes thousands of deaths every week during flu season in the USA. The CDC estimates that seasonal flu causes over 36,000 deaths per year (200,000 hospital admissions) and over 500,000 deaths per year in the world. Does the media discuss these statistics? No. Why? Because these are boring facts - not sensational news that bolsters their ratings and increases their revenue.

How is Swine Flu different than regular seasonal flu?
It has become the "boogie man", used by the media to terrorize the public. And they are getting away with it. Yes, the Swine Flu will eventually kill people in the US, but the chance of it becoming more dangerous than seasonal flu is unlikely. Unfortunately, the media is even scaring medical and public officials into irrational behavior. Why are they closing schools for Swine flu (that has yet to kill anyone) but not for seasonal flu (that kills thousands every week)?

What other biological threats do we encounter every day?
Tuberculosis, Streptococcus (flesh eating bacteria), AIDS, Hepatitis, Pneumonia, Influenza, Staphylococcus, E Coli, Salmonella, Shegella, and the list goes on and on. Thousands die every week from these infections; some are incurable and untreatable. I would much rather be infected with Swine Flu which is susceptible to several antiviral agents, than to have MRSA that often cannot be cured.

As EMS leaders what should we do?
We already have protocols that address exposure to dangerous biological threats. As long as we practice our usual and customary universal precautions we will not contract Swine Flu or any of the far more dangerous biologics we encounter every day. We do not have to change any policy, protocol or procedure. We do have to use common sense and notify supervisors or medical control if we are concerned about a particular incident.

We live in an environment of danger from infectious diseases. Swine Flu is only one of them. How do we stay healthy? Most folks have a strong immune system that protects them. In medicine we work in the midst of such infections, but rarely contract them because we use universal precautions (gloves, masks, and gowns) to keep us safe.

What we in the medical field need to do, more than anything else is to remain calm and reassure our patients that the sky is not falling in. Be understanding and prepared, but do not get caught up in the hype and hysteria. We need to be a voice of sanity in an insane world.

During the last great war, Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." That has not changed.

As a rational scientific community, we should reprimand the media for their irresponsible behavior. Force them to develop a balanced approach to a potential problem. As it stands today, they have inadvertently become the problem. They are the Epidemic (Scaredemic).

Larry J Miller MD
miller 'at' gvtc.com

2009-04-21T09:29:00.001-05:00

April 21, 1836 - The Battle of San Jacinto

The battle of San Jacinto was the concluding military event of the Texas Revolution. On March 13, 1836, the revolutionary army at Gonzales began to retreat eastward. It crossed the Colorado River on March 17 and camped near present Columbia on March 20, recruiting and reinforcements having increased its size to 1,200 men. Sam Houston's scouts reported Mexican troops west of the Colorado to number 1,325. On March 25 the Texans learned of James W. Fannin's defeat at Goliad, and many of the men left the army to join their families on the Runaway Scrape. Sam Houston led his troops to San Felipe de Austin by March 28 and by March 30 to the Jared E. Groce plantation on the Brazos River, where they camped and drilled for a fortnight. Ad interim President David G. Burnet ordered Houston to stop his retreat; Secretary of War Thomas J. Rusk urged him to take a more decisive course. Antonio López de Santa Anna decided to take possession of the Texas coast and seaports. With that object in view he crossed the Brazos River at present Richmond on April 11 and on April 15, with some 700 men, arrived at Harrisburg. He burned Harrisburg and started in pursuit of the Texas government at New Washington or Morgan's Point, where he arrived on April 19 to find that the government had fled to Galveston. The Mexican general then set out for Anahuac by way of Lynchburg. Meanwhile, the Texans, on April 11, received the Twin Sisters and with the cannon as extra fortification crossed the Brazos River on the Yellow Stone and on April 16 reached Spring Creek in present Harris County. On April 17, to the gratification of his men, Houston took the road to Harrisburg instead of the road to Louisiana and on April 18 reached White Oak Bayou at a site within the present city limits of Houston. There he learned that Santa Anna had gone down the west side of the bayou and the San Jacinto River, crossing by a bridge over Vince's Bayou. The Mexicans would have to cross the same bridge to return.

Viewing this strategic situation on the morning of April 19, Houston told his troops that it looked as if they would soon get action and admonished them to remember the massacres at San Antonio and at Goliad. On the evening of April 19 his forces crossed Buffalo Bayou to the west side 2½ miles below Harrisburg. Some 248 men, mostly sick and ineffective, were left with the baggage at the camp opposite Harrisburg. The march was continued until midnight. At dawn on April 20 the Texans resumed their trek down the bayou and at Lynch's Ferry captured a boat laden with supplies for Santa Anna. They then drew back about a mile on the Harrisburg road and encamped in a skirt of timber protected by a rising ground. That afternoon Sidney Sherman with a small detachment of cavalry engaged the enemy infantry, almost bringing on a general action. In the clash Olwyns J. Trask was mortally wounded, one other Texan was wounded, and several horses were killed. Mirabeau B. Lamar, a private, so distinguished himself that on the next day he was placed in command of the cavalry. Santa Anna made camp under the high ground overlooking a marsh about three-fourths of a mile from the Texas camp and threw up breastworks of trunks, baggage, packsaddles, and other equipment. Both sides prepared for the conflict. On Thursday morning, April 21, the Texans were eager to attack. About nine o'clock they learned that Martín Perfecto de Cos had crossed Vince's bridge with about 540 troops and had swelled the enemy forces to about 1,200. Houston ordered Erastus (Deaf) Smith to destroy the bridge and prevent further enemy reinforcements. The move would prevent the retreat of either the Texans or the Mexicans towards Harrisburg.

Shortly before noon, Houston held a council of war with Edward Burleson, Sidney Sherman Henry W. Millard, Alexander Somervell, Joseph L. Bennett, and Lysander Wells. Two of the officers suggested attacking the enemy in his position; the others favored waiting Santa Anna's attack. Houston withheld his own views at the council but later, after having formed his plan of battle had it approved by Rusk. Houston disposed his forces in battle order about 3:30 in the afternoon while all was quiet on the Mexican side during the afternoon siesta. The Texans' movements were screened by trees and the rising ground, and evidently Santa Anna had no lookouts posted. The battle line was formed with Edward Burleson's regiment in the center, Sherman's on the left wing, the artillery under George W. Hockley on Burleson's right, the infantry under Henry Millard on the right of the artillery, and the cavalry under Lamar on the extreme right. The Twin Sisters were wheeled into position, and the whole line, led by Sherman's men, sprang forward on the run with the cry, "Remember the Alamo!" "Remember Goliad!" The battle lasted but eighteen minutes. According to Houston's official report, the casualties were 630 Mexicans killed and 730 taken prisoner. Against this, only nine of the 910 Texans were killed or mortally wounded and thirty were wounded less seriously. Houston's ankle was shattered by a rifle ball. The Texans captured a large supply of muskets, pistols, sabers, mules, horses, provisions, clothing, tents, and $12,000 in silver. Santa Anna disappeared during the battle and search parties were sent out on the morning of the 22. The party consisted of James A. Sylvester, Washington H. Secrest, Sion R. Bostick, and a Mr. Cole discovered Santa Anna hiding in the grass. He was dirty and wet and was dressed as a common soldier. The search party did not recognize him until he was addressed as "el presidente" by other Mexican prisoners. One of the eight inscriptions on the exterior base of the San Jacinto Monument reads: "Measured by its results, San Jacinto was one of the decisive battles of the world. The freedom of Texas from Mexico won here led to annexation and to the Mexican War, resulting in the acquisition by the United States of the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Almost one-third of the present area of the American nation, nearly a million square miles of territory, changed sovereignty."

From The Handbook of Texas Online

2009-04-20T13:53:00.000-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - April 25, 2009

We will be playing this Saturday, April 25th in the Valley. We'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am, so make sure you are ready to go at that time.

If you had planned on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please make sure they are there by 9:45am. And also please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing. Like last time, we will pack down into the Valley and not come out until the day is over. As of right now, it looks like there is a chance of rain this weekend, so make sure to bring kit for that.

We had a great time last session with the "Hunter" scenario and depending on interest and numbers, we may want to roll with that for part of the time as well.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

2009-03-23T14:59:00.000-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - March 28, 2009

We will be playing this Saturday, March 28th in the Valley. We'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am, so make sure you are ready to go at that time.

If you had planned on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, please make sure they are there by 9:45am. And also please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing. Like last time, we will pack down into the Valley and not come out until the day is over.

Note: we will be having a "Pistols and Pumps" scenario in the very near future, so let's discuss that - should it be during a regular game session or during a different time, etc.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

2009-03-23T14:41:00.000-05:00

Sportsman's Warehouse is going out of business

Just a quick head's up that the two Sportsman's Warehouses near us (Round Rock, San Antonio) are going out of business. Right now most of the stuff is marked down 10-30% (paintball stuff is 10%), but it will keep going down at the weeks go by. They are going to stay open until May, or until they sell out all of their goods.

Here's a highlight from the SA store:

Tippmann 98 Custom - $99
Spider eMarker - $99
Spider marker (standard) - $39

If you have been thinking about picking up a new marker or a second marker for back-up, it's a good time to pick one up.

2009-03-19T22:55:00.003-05:00

Now that's bananas!

Just when you thought the deadliest thing in a Whole Foods Market was some yuppie's ability to self-aggrandize:

World's deadliest spider found in Tulsa store

TULSA, Okla. – One of the most deadly spiders in the world has been found in the produce section of a Tulsa grocery store. An employee of Whole Foods Market found the Brazilian Wandering Spider Sunday in bananas from Honduras and managed to catch it in a container.

The spider was given to University of Tulsa Animal Facilities director Terry Childs who said this type of spider kills more people than any other.

Childs said a bite will kill a person in about 25 minutes and while there is an antidote he doesn't know of any in the Tulsa area.

Spiders often are found in imported produce, and a manager at Whole Foods says the store regularly checks its goods and that's how the spider was found.

More.

Could be worse, I suppose.

There could have been a rogue orangutan hiding out in those bananas!

2009-03-18T21:37:00.000-05:00

Some perspective

2009-03-02T10:05:00.001-06:00

Texas Independence Day - March 2, 1836

One of the most important documents in Texas history is the Declaration of Independence, adopted in general convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos, March 2, 1836.

Declaration of Independence of the Republic of Texas

UNANIMOUS
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,
BY THE
DELEGATES OF THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS,
IN GENERAL CONVENTION,
AT THE TOWN OF WASHINGTON,
ON THE SECOND DAY OF MARCH, 1836

When a government has ceased to protect the lives, liberty and property of the people from whom its legitimate powers are derived, and for the advancement of whose happiness it was instituted; and so far from being a guarantee for the enjoyment of those inestimable and inalienable rights, becomes an instrument in the hands of evil rulers for their oppression; when the Federal Republican Constitution of their country, which they have sworn to support, no longer has a substantial existence, and the whole nature of their government has been forcibly changed without their consent, from a restricted federative republic, composed of sovereign states, to a consolidated central military despotism, in which every interest is disregarded but that of the army and the priesthood – both the eternal enemies of civil liberty, and the ever-ready minions of power, and the usual instruments of tyrants; When long after the spirit of the Constitution has departed, moderation is at length, so far lost, by those in power that even the semblance of freedom is removed, and the forms, themselves, of the constitution discontinued; and so far from their petitions and remonstrances being regarded, the agents who bear them are thrown into dungeons; and mercenary armies sent forth to force a new government upon them at the point of the bayonet. When in consequence of such acts of malfeasance and abdication, on the part of the government, anarchy prevails, and civil society is dissolved into its original elements: In such a crisis, the first law of nature, the right of self-preservation – the inherent and inalienable right of the people to appeal to first principles and take their political affairs into their own hands in extreme cases – enjoins it as a right towards themselves and a sacred obligation to their posterity, to abolish such government and create another in its stead, calculated to rescue them from impending dangers, and to secure their future welfare and happiness. Nations, as well as individuals, are amenable for their acts to the public opinion of mankind. A statement of a part of our grievances is, therefore, submitted to an impartial world, in justification of the hazardous but unavoidable step now taken of severing our political connection with the Mexican people, and assuming an independent attitude among the nations of the earth.

Full text.

TEXAS DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE . . . . The Texas edict, like the United States Declaration of Independence, contains a statement on the nature of government, a list of grievances, and a final declaration of independence. The separation from Mexico was justified by a brief philosophical argument and by a list of grievances submitted to an impartial world. The declaration charged that the government of Mexico had ceased to protect the lives, liberty, and property of the people; that it had been changed from a restricted federal republic to a consolidated, central, military despotism; that the people of Texas had remonstrated against the misdeeds of the government only to have their agents thrown into dungeons and armies sent forth to enforce the decrees of the new government at the point of the bayonet; that the welfare of Texas had been sacrificed to that of Coahuila; that the government had failed to provide a system of public education, trial by jury, freedom of religion, and other essentials of good government; and that the Indians had been incited to massacre the settlers. According to the declaration, the Mexican government had invaded Texas to lay waste territory and had a large mercenary army advancing to carry on a war of extermination. The final grievance listed in justification of revolution charged that the Mexican government had been "the contemptible sport and victim of successive military revolutions and hath continually exhibited every characteristic of a weak, corrupt, and tyrannical government." After the signing of the original declaration by fifty-nine delegates, five copies of the document were dispatched to the designated Texas towns of Bexar, Goliad, Nacogdoches, Brazoria, and San Felipe. The printer at San Felipe was also instructed to make 1,000 copies in handbill form.

More.

2009-02-24T17:03:00.000-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - February 28, 2009

We will be playing this Saturday, February 28th in the Valley. If you would like to be a part of the drills/briefing segment, please plan on being out there by 9am. If not, we'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am.

If you had planned on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, just remember that they should be there no earlier than 9:45am. And also please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing. Like last time, we will pack down into the Valley and not come out until the day is over.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2009-02-10T09:35:00.001-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - February 14, 2009

We will be playing this Saturday, February 14th in the Valley. Yep, that's right - Valentine's Day. So expect lots of snuggles and special scenarios.

If you would like to be a part of the drills/briefing segment, please plan on being out there by 9am. If not, we'll get started with playing at 10am, with guest briefing at 9:45am.

If you had planned on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, just remember that they should be there no earlier than 9:45am. And also please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing. Like last time, we will pack down into the Valley and not come out until the day is over.

Please note, if you need directions they are posted in the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section. There will also be a games discussion for this weekend listed there as well.

2009-01-29T11:19:00.006-06:00

Just great . . . I move away from Austin and then they have a Zombie Attack

Ok, not really. But just in case, we know the signs work in the event of an undead apocalypse.

Apparently, some local folks hacked a construction sign to warn passersby of zombies in the area.

Construction signs warn of zombies Hackers change public safety message

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin drivers making their morning commute were in for a surprise when two road signs on a busy stretch of road were taken over by hackers. The signs near the intersection of Lamar and Martin Luther King boulevards usually warn drivers about upcoming construction, but Monday morning they warned of "zombies ahead."

KXAN Austin News cameras caught many drivers slowing down to read the signs as they approached. Some read, "Zombies ahead! Run for your lives!"

Of course the city didn't think it was too funny. But then again, sending out a false warning of impending zombie doom is never funny. It's just like the old tale of the "boy who cried werewolf." Pretty soon, the angry townsfolk will stop running towards you aid with pitchforks and torches.

More.

I wonder if they changed the password from 1-2-3-4 over to 4-3-2-1? :)

2009-01-20T15:08:00.002-06:00

The iPod - a crucial part of your . . . . arsenal?

It looks like iPods have finally come to their own with the tactically-minded set - and I don't mean the ability to bring up "Welcome to the Jungle" every time you find yourself in the middle of a fray.

A company has designed an application for the ubiquitous device that would take the place of a ballistics computer or the standard sniper dope note card taped to the cheek side of your rifle stock.

And you can even download it from iTunes!

Sniper rifle software launched for iPod touch
New BulletFlight program could be a 'killer' app for Apple

A new application has been launched for the iPod touch to help gun users line up a clean shot at their target.

The BulletFlight app, which costs £6.99 to download from the iTunes store, has been developed by Runaway App to turn the iPod touch into a ballistics computer which the company says can provide “quick solutions in the field”.

Users can mount their iPod touch to their rifle, and then use the iPod’s touch-screen to tap in details about the wind conditions, ammunition type, distance to the intended target and even the wind speed.

It even includes data for several different weapons and calibers.

The application features built-in profiles for three weapons – the M110 semi-automatic precision rifle, the KAC PDW, and the 14.5in SR16 rifle – although users can add more weapons into the app.

“Environmental calculations are based on the Sierra Bullet model,” says the BulletFlight iTunes entry. “Up to five ballistic co-efficients with corresponding velocity thresholds may be used for each profile.”

More.

Just when you thought iTunes was only a place to download one-hit wonders and audio books.

2009-01-20T12:00:00.000-06:00

He Is Risen!

All Hail the Chief.

2009-01-09T22:21:00.003-06:00

2009 Texas Gunshow List - Now Updated!

The Texas Gunshow List on Orion Woods Brigade has just been updated for 2009.

Go check it out. And then go check them out.

2008-12-29T22:13:00.001-06:00

Texas' Original Sin

December 29, 1845

U.S. Congress approves annexation of Texas

On this day in 1845, the United States Congress voted to annex Texas. Statehood was first proposed in 1837, but was rejected by President Martin Van Buren. Constitutional scruples and fear of war with Mexico were the reasons given for the rejection, but antislavery sentiment in the United States undoubtedly influenced Van Buren and continued to be the chief obstacle to annexation. Under President James Polk the United States Congress passed the Annexation Resolution in February 1845. Texas president Anson Jones called the Texas Congress into session on June 16, 1845, and a convention of elected delegates met on the Fourth of July. Both the Texas Congress and the convention voted for annexation, and a constitution was drawn up. The document was ratified by popular vote in October 1845 and accepted by the United States Congress on December 29, 1845. On February 19, 1846, President Jones of the Republic of Texas handed over control of the new state government to Governor James Pinckney Henderson.

http://www.tshaonline.org/

2008-12-08T10:54:00.003-06:00

Hunter-Killer Watch - Drone lands in ND

Ok - yes, economic woes aside, we are still heading towards The Singularity and all of the interesting changes and shifts that includes.

A predator drone has been moved from Arizona to North Dakota to patrol the northern border between the U.S. and Canada.

Here are some details:

After two failed tries, an unmanned aircraft expected to be the first to patrol the northern U.S. border completed a flight from Arizona to North Dakota.
U.S Customs and Border Protection officials said the Predator B drone touched down Saturday at the Grand Forks Air Force Base after a six-hour flight from Libby Army Airfield in Sierra Vista, Ariz.

Is it me, but isn't a little unnerving to think about unmanned aircraft flying across our skies? I wonder how many of these flights that we don't know about.

More details on the Predator:

The Predator weighs 5 tons, has a 66-foot wingspan and can fly undetected as high as 50,000 feet. It can fly for 28 hours at a time and will be equipped with sensors and radar.

They can also be equipped with Hellfire missiles and other nasties for offensive work.

Yikes!

2008-12-08T10:23:00.002-06:00

Sha-bam . . sucka!

Well, what goes around comes around, doesn't it?

"But wait . . . gloves . . . didn't fit. I thought that . . . er . . . "

The best things do come to those who wait.

2008-12-06T21:27:00.003-06:00

$1000 is the new $500

I went to the SAXET gunshow this morning with some of the crew and was pretty put-off by the amount of price gouging going on with some of the more shady dealers. I expected a little bit of shenanigans due to the recent election, but a quick browse through Shotgun News will show that recent reports of the end of gun ownership in America are a bit premature.

I saw a $700 Golani going for $1100. An Armalite AR-180 selling for $2,599 (not a typo). Wall-to-wall crowds of sorry looking hopefuls trying to find their last chance to get a (gasp!) assault rifle before the laws get passed (no new laws have been suggested).

But the belle of the ball was a Mak-90 (yes - that Mak-90) selling for $1600. The best part was the "faux operator" behind the table (thigh rig, cropped hair cut, 80's aviator glasses) assuring all of the unwashes masses that these were the absolute last ones they could ever hope to get and the The Man was going to come to the show personally by the end of the weekend and collect up anything that hasn't sold.

Sort of a reverse Santa, I suppose.

For shame.

2008-12-05T13:09:00.001-06:00

Happy Day of the Ninja!

From the website:

Prepare for the Annual Day of the Ninja. Forget 'Talk Like a Pirate' Day. This will truly be our chance to show the world what ninja are made of.

Every year, December 5th is the Day of the Ninja. Plague your co-workers with ninja-ness and wear a ninja mask to work! Got the day off? Run wild in the streets, or dress like a ninja at the mall! Just show the world that YOU ARE NINJA!

More details here.

2008-12-02T20:51:00.001-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - December 6, 2008

We will be playing this Saturday, December 6th in the Valley.

If you had planned on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, just remember that they should be there no earlier than 9:45am. And also please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them. Bring a ruck and what you need to sustain while playing. The weather looks like it will be perfect. We also have a game scheduled on 12/20, but I know that is getting really close to the Big Day (stockings, Grinches, woo-hoo!), so let's talk this weekend about whether or not we should cancel. I'd also like to do an Orion Camp in January, so please bring your thoughts on dates that would work for that event.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2008-11-30T20:39:00.003-06:00

Banning Assault Weapons Because of . . . Mexico?

I've been struggling over the past few weeks, trying to figure out how exactly the Libs are going to take their next step in the war on firearms rights in America. You know it's big on their wish lists and with all four branches of the government now being Democrat (the House, the Senate, the President, and the Media), it seems high time for them to come in together for the Big Win.

Unfortunately, it's not exactly a great time to try to introduce gun control legislation. There's that whole economy thing that us working stiffs want the government is fix. Gun ownership is also on the rise. Crime isn't out of control. And because of the realities of the post-911 world and the really choice way the government handled Katrina and Rita, a lot of people who would have never considered gun ownership in the past have stocked up on arms and ammunition.

Despite getting the Big O elected into office, things were looking pretty good for gun rights in America, especially with the recent DC vs. Heller decision, so you can imagine one might be inclined to let his guard down.

In fact, just last week I was talking to one of my friends at a local gunshow about how Obama never really introduced any new gun control legislation, and since he told Field and Stream he was really interested in any new gun laws, I was feeling pretty good about how we'd do over the next four years.

Then . . . wham! I saw it in this morning's Express News.

Gunrunners' land of plenty

A giant, front page headline. Even more relevant than the recent terrorist attacks in India, more alarming than our nation's financial crisis. All other stories bested by the news that over 1000 guns that were sourced in Texas have been used in crimes in Mexico.

I can see it now . . . since the primary "reason" assault rifles were banned in the 90s - the super crime wave hyped by the media that never came to fruition - is no longer a viable excuse, we are supposed to give up our gun rights because there are criminals doing horrible things in other countries.

Wow. I am just glad Texas doesn't export machetes to Africa!

Wait, I have an idea. Maybe since there are so many problems in central and south America due to America's drug habits, we should ban drugs here. Yes - more laws! That should stop the problem. Criminals will suddenly stop being criminals when they realize there are more laws against their crimes.

Oh wait. That didn't work so well, either.

Here's the crux of the article:

Last year, Texas sellers were the source of 1,131 guns found discarded at shootings in Mexico or confiscated from the cartel gangsters, according to the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. That’s more than twice the number of runner-up California and more than the combined total of 13 top other states.

I am not sure that's altogether too amazing considering the fact that you can't really buy guns in California and there are MILLIONS of gun owners in Texas.

It goes on to describe the nature of the weapons that these thugs in Mexico are so eager to get their hands on:

[Assault Rifles] are so prevalent these days that Mexico authorities have seized 13,000 of them in the last two years, along with thousands of other guns and 3 million rounds of smuggled ammunition, much of it also bought from U.S. retailers.

But wait a minute, I thought they said this was all coming through Texas and the US? I added up all of the numbers on their pretty chart and it totals 4,180 weapons for all of the United States (and BTW - remember that California - land of some of the strictest gun laws in Amercia was in 2nd place with 1006) - this means that the other 8,820 weapons are coming from somewhere other than the US.

In fact, the article also mentions:

Some of the hardware is military grade — rocket launchers and grenades coming into Mexico through Guatemala.

So maybe we need to have Guatemala get on board and get some of these gun laws going there, too?

Here's the deal, folks.

1) Despite what Hollyweird would have you believe (and I am not going to even bother listing all of the movies where this has happened), you can't just wander into a gun store or army-navy store and pick up machine guns and grenades and related military-grade ordinance.

2) Mexico is a corrupt, corrupt country where the almight peso (dollar) can make any of your dreams come true - regardless of what the laws say.

The problems that Mexico is having with gun smuggling isn't because gun laws are so lax in US, but because we have a completely porous border between us and Mexico. I know it isn't popular or hip to say that, but its a choice we're going to have to make as a society - open border (crime, illegal imigration, gun and human smuggling, TB, polio, etc) or closed border (social/political quagmire).

The article even states:

Someone would only have had to drive the guns over the international bridge and then 12 hours to Aguascalientes.

No mention or a search, scan or any type of countermeasures. Just driving over a bridge.

Guns that criminals use are almost always either stolen or purchased for the criminal by a family member. Or bought from some cash-strapped brothel owner at a shooting range. Seriously? That sounds like a judgement call to me and laws don't really do a lot of good to make folks have better judgement.

I think one of the respondents to the article said it best:

We had the assault weapons ban for 10 years. It didn't result in any reductions in crime. I have been in LE for over 30 years. Most of the guns we find in criminal situations are stolen! NOT BOUGHT ACROSS THE COUNTER OR AT GUN SHOWS! Criminals don't usually spend much money on their guns. They prefer buying stolen ones from druggies who need to support their drug habits. A Glock sells across the counter for $500 or more most places. The last one I came across was sold for $50 on the street. It was stolen from an apartment here in SA.

Lastly until Mexico decides it wants to be more then a Third World country they have to deal with their own problems. The article even points out that military armament is coming from Guatemala. I guess we're going to stop that too? With the money being generated from the sale of illegal drugs I would bet that they can buy any guns they want, any time they want. Who's going to stop them? Also please note that they aren't mentioning the AK47 that is coming from China and all parts of the far East by the hundreds of thousands. And sells for pennies compared to the American made AR15s. But then again we wouldn't expect the truth from the media. Just look at the last election for evidence of that.

Here. (San Antonio Express news - 11/30)

And here. (Houston Chronicle - 11/29)

Rest assured this is only the beginning of the "anti-gun" sentiments in the media and the first salvo in the latest war against our gun rights.

2008-11-14T12:22:00.003-06:00

Obama's Question #59

A few stories have covered the ridiculously invasive list of questions posted by the New York Times as the official questionnaire being used to qualify folks for a top-level position in the Obama Administration.

After wading through question after question involving potential conflicts of interest, involvement with AIG and Freddie May/Fanny Mac, illegal immigrant nannies and/or servants, potentially damaging past associations, online habits, and controversial and/or candid diary entries, one would think that this would not only disqualify most folks currently living and/or working in Washington DC, but also most everyone living in America over the age of 10. I know we are all looking for the Big Change, but these questions could even disqualify The Man himself.

Of particular interest to our demographic, was one asking specifically about gun ownership of the would-be applicant:

(59) Do you or any members of your immediate family own a gun? If so, provide complete ownership and registration information. Has the registration ever lapsed? Please also describe how and by whom it is used and whether it has been the cause of any personal injuries or property damage.

Some interesting conjecture can arise from this question, most notably the inclusion of gun registration (which differs significantly in meaning and severity depending on geographic locale) and use of firearms in accidents that caused injury to people and/or property. Asking how it is used can also be used to differentiate from "approved" firearms usage - i.e. sporting clays, antique collections, etc. - from "unapproved" uses - like to protect one's family from violent criminals and misguided civilian national security forces gone wild.

Don't be surprised if this is a potential foreshadowing of the aforementioned change to our national gun registration policies, as well as opening up firearms manufacturers to more of the ridiculous litigation that Obama and his ilk are so fond of.

Here's the full list of questions.

2008-11-11T21:00:00.000-06:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley - November 15, 2008

We will be playing this Saturday, November 15th in the Valley.

Bring plenty of water/gatorade, etc. The weather looks like it is going to be great, but there should be some rain this week, which can make it nice and muddy, so that should be fun.

If you had planned on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, just remember that they should be there no earlier than 9:45am. And also please let me know in advance, so that we can have some gear put aside for them.

RSVP via email or Facebook . . .

See everyone there!

2008-11-11T20:28:00.004-06:00

More Obama Gun Fun

No sooner had I pulled the trigger on my last post then I realized that there was a veritable full magazine of online articles discussing everyone's fears about gun rights under an Obama presidency.

Gun sales surge after Obama's election

"I have been in business for 12 years, and I was here for Y2K, September 11, Katrina," Conatser said, as a steady stream of customers browsed what remained of his stock. "And all of those were big events, and we did notice a spike in business, but nothing on the order of what we are seeing right now."

Weapons dealers in much of the United States are reporting sharply higher sales since Barack Obama won the presidency a week ago.

Buyers and sellers attribute the surge to worries that Obama and a Democratic-controlled Congress will move to restrict firearm ownership, despite the insistence of campaign aides that the president-elect supports gun rights and considers the issue a low priority.

"I believe the Second Amendment means something. I do think it speaks to an individual right," Obama said in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in February.

With the U.S. economy in a tailspin, however, the president-elect's advisers say gun legislation is not a high priority.

The October '08 issue of Field and Stream had extensive interviews with both Obama and McCain detailing their opinions on hunting and fishing, gun rights, and conservation. The message from Obama was pretty clear,

"I'm more interested in enforcing the laws that we do have - for example tracing guns that are used in crimes back to people who have been using them. I don't anticipate that there's going to be a whole slew of efforts at the federal level when it comes to gun control. "

However this still hasn't dissuaded anyone from considering him an anti-gun politician, and his record of past votes lies in stark contrast to his election promises.

Apparently, no one is convinced that "common-sense measures" aren't a thinly-disguised metaphor for yet another round of new legislation on "ugly guns."

The good news is that none of this legislation ever happens quickly - and the national economy is a far more pressing issue at this time - but one thing that is apparent is shooters generally aren't getting the warm and fuzzy from Obama on gun rights - despite everything he has said to the contrary.

I understand the reason why everyone is running out and arming up - there are more cool innovations in modern weapons technology available now then ever before:

Civilian legal FN P90s
Mad amounts of AR upgrades (Go LaRue!)
USCM-inspired HK G36-clones
37mm flare launchers - oh, my!

But it is important to also realize that the focus must remain on preserving our rights - not just so we can go to gun shows and exercise the right our Constitution guarantees, but to fight to preserve these rights so that those who haven't yet gone to gunshows or been to a shooting range - will get the same opportunities that we did.

Get involved!
Gun Owners of America
Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership
The National Rifle Association

2008-11-07T21:11:00.005-06:00

Couldn't see this one coming . . .

Ok - so I am trying to not get a whole mess (literally) of politics into this blog, but this one is notable for the gun show culture. We've all been taking about the inevitability of Obama and what that has to do with 2nd Amendment rights - and apparently this is a sentiment shared fairly generally with gun enthusiasts.

Run on Guns After Obama Wins

Full article.

And another from before the election.

2008-10-31T15:18:00.003-05:00

McGyver's Tactical Knife?

I saw a new Swiss Army Knife (SAK) in the pages of the most recent Field and Stream that looked like a pretty significant departure from their usual offerings.
It's called the One Hand Sentinel and it looks almost more like a Spyderco-style knife than a SAK. It is an upgrade to their standard Sentinel knife.

I still have my original Recruit from when I was a kid and am excited they came out with a new offering that maintains the original concept, while more in the style of a tactical folder.

Looks like they are going for around $20-25 on eBay - not bad at all for a cool knife and tweezers!

Here are the specs.

2008-10-29T10:32:00.000-05:00

Update on Paintball this Weekend

Quick update here. Based on the response I have received from everyone about playing this weekend, we are going to go ahead and cancel the game.

Everyone have a fine Halloween and make sure to use your markers as nature intended - to defend your farms and homesteads from the hordes of semi-undead teenagers assailing your home and hearth with bags of flaming poo.

"Happy Halloween, ladies"
The Kurgan, Highlander

2008-10-20T11:58:00.004-05:00

In honor of the upcoming election . . .

Check out Part 2 here.

2008-10-20T10:47:00.002-05:00

Ban Guns and the Loonies Will Find Something Else

I saw this little tidbit on Drudge today and it again drives home the proven fact that banning guns doesn't make people safer, it makes law-abiding citizens less able to defend themselves:

Six dead in South Korea fish knife frenzy

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- A financially strapped South Korean man went on an arson and stabbing rampage in Seoul on Monday, leaving six people dead and seven others wounded, police said.

The 31-year-old suspect, identified only by his surname, Jeong, first set fire to his room in a low-cost lodging facility in southern Seoul and then stabbed other residents with a sashimi knife while fleeing the fire, police said.

Five people were stabbed to death and another died after jumping out of a window to escape the blaze, police said.

Seven others were wounded, including four seriously, and the death toll could rise, according to police.

The suspect, arrested at the scene, told police he did not want to live because "everybody looks down on me," Kim Kap-shik, chief detective at Seoul's Gangnam Police Station, told reporters.

Yonhap news agency and other media reported that Jeong has been convicted of crimes eight times in the past. Police were not immediately available to confirm Jeong's criminal record.

More.

Once again a career criminal with a history of mental illness goes off and engages in violence against the citizenry. That is so bizarre. And unpredictable.

If they'd had a way to defend themselves, then someone wouldn't have had to jump out of a window to get away from the attacker. On second thought, anyone who jumps out of a multiple-story window to avoid a knife attack may not be the most tactically minded person in an emergency situation.

Britain has a law now banning "assault knives" as the number of people using knives and swords in crimes has exploded. Taking away guns didn't make England safer (ask the Home Guard veterans about this, if anyone over there is still alive that remembers) , but instead forced criminals to find a new way to conduct their nefarious deeds. The citizens - now unarmed - are left to their own devices and must rely on random chance to not become the victims of crime.

Banning guns does nothing to reduce crime. Reduction in crime comes from taking a long look at what causes the problem (unemployment, ridiculous drug laws, disenfranchisement with society, a lack of opportunity or hugs/love from parents) - versus trying to stop it by taking away people's rights.

We have enough laws, statutes, provisions, and acts to restrict us in every aspect of our lives from now until The Judgment. What we need is to punish the hell out of folks who use guns in a crime - mandatory sentences - and get these violent ne'er-do-wells off of the streets and away from giving gun haters the ammunition they need for their ultimate goal of banning private firearms ownership.

2008-10-15T11:00:00.001-05:00

Paintball this weekend - Orion Valley

We will be playing this Saturday, October 18th in the Valley. Thanks to all that came out last weekend and helped get the land into shape. We have a good primary bunker and plenty of barricades to hide behind for at least a few scenarios.

Bring plenty of water/gatorade, etc. The weather has been nice and cool in the mornings, but we'll be going up and down a lot of hills. We'll also be having lunch at the Texas 46 after the game, so we can extend our discussions, etc.

If you had planned on bringing on someone as a guest this weekend, just remember that they should be there no earlier than 9:45am

Please note, this is a new location and directions will be posted to the forums, under the "Orion Raiders Paintball" section.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2008-10-09T14:31:00.004-05:00

Enough on politics . . .

Here is a picture of Ranch Style Beans - the official food staple of all Orion Woods Brigade events.

More on everyone's favorite "Husband Pleasin'" bean.

2008-10-09T13:35:00.003-05:00

You Don't Agree With Me - You Must Be A Racist!

Ah, the good old days.

I remember back in my college days when I would get involved in debates/yelling matches on the West Mall at UT. It was the standard post-high school goodness - you remember these times - you had just left mommy and daddy's house and you claimed you knew everything.

Years later - 10 years into my career and knee deep in families, mortgages and 'real life' action - now I claim I know nothing. :)

Anyway, back in those days, being a young, semi-conservative Christian at a very liberal school, I was assured by my erudite college mates, homeless folks, and other questionable adults who for some reason had the ability to spend all day arguing with kids (still trying to figure out what job that was) - that all of the beliefs that I held dearly were wrong.

The Bible was wrong. Gun ownership was wrong. The right to self-defense was wrong. The Civil War was all about slavery and had nothing to do with the long-running battle over states rights vs. federal rights. For God sakes, even being a "real man" was wrong. Everything I stood for. Challenged, crapped on, spat on - because my rules for living came from a 2000 year-old-book* - not from whatever the latest word was from Hollywood celebs and the MTV-culture set.

The arguments were pointless. It was two perspectives with such a wide delta between them that there was no way we would reach common ground. My basis for belief was scorned (even though most of these folks would also claim to support 1st amendment rights - but not for all beliefs, apparently), but because I wouldn't accept their perspective as dogma, I was stupid.

Here is how a typical "debate" went down:

Angry Man #1: "There is no Jesus."

Me: "Yes, there is"

Angry Man #1: "How can you believe such mythology?"

Me: "Because of faith, and the Bible"

Angry Man #1: "The Bible is wrong. And bad."

Me: "I don't agree with that."

Angry Man #1: "Then you are STUPID!"

That was it - I was stupid. College scores, SAT scores, IQ tests - useless in the face of my inability to turn my back on my beliefs and my God.

But at least back then, I was only called "stupid."

Now, I would be considered racist for not agreeing with the liberal intelligentsia.

Because surely, if I don't agree with the supposition, that in this time - certainly the greatest moral, political, ideological and economic crisis this country has ever faced - if I don't buy their hype and support their ridiculous policies, then it is not because their candidate is unqualified, it is not because I happen to not agree with his politics or his charisma, it is because I am racist.

Calling me racist is an unacceptable lie that denies the legitimacy of my right to take part in the political process - and makes them look like fools in the process.

Please go back to just calling me stupid for not thinking the way you do.

* BTW - Christianity is based on the concept of freewill - the only major religion to do so. Freewill also happens to be the entire basis of Western Culture and democracy.

2008-10-09T12:50:00.004-05:00

And just like that . . . the commies won!

As an ardent supporter of a free market economy, I - like many other Americans (98% of emails to the White House over the past week or so - according to some sources) - have been appalled by the lack of perspective in some of the government bailout nightmares that have been taking place in the last few weeks.

Some of the recent policies are so socialist in their application that they are making FDR look like an ardent conservative.

Here's the latest piece of hogwash to cross the radars:

US government may take part ownership in banks

WASHINGTON (AP) - News that the Bush administration is considering taking part ownership in a number of U.S. banks helped restore a relative calm over global financial markets Thursday.

The aim of such a move would be to thaw the lending freeze that threatens to push the world's economy into recession. It comes after rampant fear about the global economy sent investors scurrying on Tuesday for safety in U.S. government securities despite an orchestrated round of rate cuts by the world's central banks.

Investors also were hoping that selling, which gave the Dow its ninth straight day of losses, was overdone. Wall Street began the day higher, but then slid after declines in some blue chip names like General Motors Corp. weighed on the markets.

An administration official, who spoke late Tuesday on condition of anonymity because no decision has been made, said the $700 billion rescue package passed by Congress last week allows the Treasury Department to inject fresh capital into financial institutions and get ownership shares in return.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson told reporters that Treasury was moving quickly to implement the $700 billion rescue effort and he specifically mentioned reviewing ways to bolster the capital of banks.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D93N27U01

Not to be conspiratorial here, but what the hell is going on?

I don't know where we lost our way (but I think it may have happened sometime in the 1960s), but we are not the country we were when we set-off to defeat fascist nationalism in Europe during the 1940s.

Let's take a look and see where we are in the process:

10 Planks of the Communist Manifesto

(My emphasis in bold)

1. Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.

2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.

3. Abolition of all right of inheritance

4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels

5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the State, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly.

6. Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State.

7. Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State; the bringing into cultivation of waste-lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.

8. Equal liability of all to labour. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.

9. Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country, by a more equable distribution of the population over the country.

10. Free education for all children in public schools. Abolition of children's factory labour in its present form. Combination of education with industrial production, &c., &c.

From wikipedia.

I am not smart enough to know exactly what the hell items 7, 8, and 9 mean, but I can tell there is a general movement in this country to change the culture of America - from the cradle of the industrial revolution and the envy of the world, to the a shadow of its past greatness - where the political focus has moved from being a beacon of light for the rest of the world - to being a giant hand-out machine to everyone who thinks they need to have a suck at the big government tit.

What a world we live in where the Russians are the capitalists and the Americans are becoming the communists!

Some of my more left-leaning friends would have you believe that communism is the most equitable system of government . . . it just has never worked in modern, non-nomadic societies because it hasn't been hasn't been their whiny, disenfranchised version of it.

2008-09-25T21:32:00.002-05:00

Ron Paul's Perspective on the Economy

Dear Friends:

The financial meltdown the economists of the Austrian School predicted has arrived.

We are in this crisis because of an excess of artificially created credit at the hands of the Federal Reserve System. The solution being proposed? More artificial credit by the Federal Reserve. No liquidation of bad debt and malinvestment is to be allowed. By doing more of the same, we will only continue and intensify the distortions in our economy - all the capital misallocation, all the malinvestment - and prevent the market's attempt to re-establish rational pricing of houses and other assets.

Last night the president addressed the nation about the financial crisis. There is no point in going through his remarks line by line, since I'd only be repeating what I've been saying over and over - not just for the past several days, but for years and even decades.

Still, at least a few observations are necessary.

The president assures us that his administration "is working with Congress to address the root cause behind much of the instability in our markets." Care to take a guess at whether the Federal Reserve and its money creation spree were even mentioned?

We are told that "low interest rates" led to excessive borrowing, but we are not told how these low interest rates came about. They were a deliberate policy of the Federal Reserve. As always, artificially low interest rates distort the market. Entrepreneurs engage in malinvestments - investments that do not make sense in light of current resource availability, that occur in more temporally remote stages of the capital structure than the pattern of consumer demand can support, and that would not have been made at all if the interest rate had been permitted to tell the truth instead of being toyed with by the Fed.

Not a word about any of that, of course, because Americans might then discover how the great wise men in Washington caused this great debacle. Better to keep scapegoating the mortgage industry or "wildcat capitalism" (as if we actually have a pure free market!).

Speaking about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the president said: "Because these companies were chartered by Congress, many believed they were guaranteed by the federal government. This allowed them to borrow enormous sums of money, fuel the market for questionable investments, and put our financial system at risk."

Doesn't that prove the foolishness of chartering Fannie and Freddie in the first place? Doesn't that suggest that maybe, just maybe, government may have contributed to this mess? And of course, by bailing out Fannie and Freddie, hasn't the federal government shown that the "many" who "believed they were guaranteed by the federal government" were in fact correct?

Then come the scare tactics. If we don't give dictatorial powers to the Treasury Secretary "the stock market would drop even more, which would reduce the value of your retirement account. The value of your home could plummet." Left unsaid, naturally, is that with the bailout and all the money and credit that must be produced out of thin air to fund it, the value of your retirement account will drop anyway, because the value of the dollar will suffer a precipitous decline. As for home prices, they are obviously much too high, and supply and demand cannot equilibrate if government insists on propping them up.

It's the same destructive strategy that government tried during the Great Depression: prop up prices at all costs. The Depression went on for over a decade. On the other hand, when liquidation was allowed to occur in the equally devastating downturn of 1921, the economy recovered within less than a year.

The president also tells us that Senators McCain and Obama will join him at the White House today in order to figure out how to get the bipartisan bailout passed. The two senators would do their country much more good if they stayed on the campaign trail debating who the bigger celebrity is, or whatever it is that occupies their attention these days.

F.A. Hayek won the Nobel Prize for showing how central banks' manipulation of interest rates creates the boom-bust cycle with which we are sadly familiar. In 1932, in the depths of the Great Depression, he described the foolish policies being pursued in his day - and which are being proposed, just as destructively, in our own:

Instead of furthering the inevitable liquidation of the maladjustments brought about by the boom during the last three years, all conceivable means have been used to prevent that readjustment from taking place; and one of these means, which has been repeatedly tried though without success, from the earliest to the most recent stages of depression, has been this deliberate policy of credit expansion.

To combat the depression by a forced credit expansion is to attempt to cure the evil by the very means which brought it about; because we are suffering from a misdirection of production, we want to create further misdirection - a procedure that can only lead to a much more severe crisis as soon as the credit expansion comes to an end... It is probably to this experiment, together with the attempts to prevent liquidation once the crisis had come, that we owe the exceptional severity and duration of the depression.

The only thing we learn from history, I am afraid, is that we do not learn from history.

The very people who have spent the past several years assuring us that the economy is fundamentally sound, and who themselves foolishly cheered the extension of all these novel kinds of mortgages, are the ones who now claim to be the experts who will restore prosperity! Just how spectacularly wrong, how utterly without a clue, does someone have to be before his expert status is called into question?

Oh, and did you notice that the bailout is now being called a "rescue plan"? I guess "bailout" wasn't sitting too well with the American people.

The very people who with somber faces tell us of their deep concern for the spread of democracy around the world are the ones most insistent on forcing a bill through Congress that the American people overwhelmingly oppose. The very fact that some of you seem to think you're supposed to have a voice in all this actually seems to annoy them.

I continue to urge you to contact your representatives and give them a piece of your mind. I myself am doing everything I can to promote the correct point of view on the crisis. Be sure also to educate yourselves on these subjects - the Campaign for Liberty blog is an excellent place to start. Read the posts, ask questions in the comment section, and learn.

H.G. Wells once said that civilization was in a race between education and catastrophe. Let us learn the truth and spread it as far and wide as our circumstances allow. For the truth is the greatest weapon we have.

In liberty,

Ron Paul

Check out - http://www.campaignforliberty.com/

2008-09-24T21:14:00.004-05:00

Congrats to Chief Petty Officer Baker!

The Foundation has to give a shout-out to one of our own who is one step closer to becoming Master Chief. :)

After all of his hard work and toil (and time overseas in some real action), Mike has just been promoted to Chief Petty Officer

Here is a shot of the man himself all adorned with his new rank:

And another one out in the field:

Mike gets extra credit for being one of the few of us with a name on his BDUs that is actually his real name.

Way to go, Mike! You're a real hero!

2008-09-14T21:58:00.005-05:00

Jack Bauer Bag Bonding

Coming out of one of our favorite little breakfast joints in San Antonio, an older man walked over to compliment us on our baby. I immediately noticed he was carrying the Jack Bauer "24" bag and mentioned to him that I have the same one.

I started getting the words out of my mouth , but we both spoke in unison:

"It's the Jack Bauer bag."
Immediately we started laughing and shook hands.

It was a true "gear nerd" moment.

Get your own "Jack Bauer" bag for sub-$20.

2008-09-11T15:54:00.001-05:00

September 11, 2008

2008-09-11T15:46:00.002-05:00

The World's Most Tactical Jacket?

I got this message from sc0rpi0n earlier today:

Not sure if you ever watch Mythbusters on Discovery Channel or not, but one of the guys on that show (Adam Savage) sometimes wears a jacket that looks really cool. I was inclined to visit the interweb and try to identify just what it was. I tracked down the jacket and manufacturer and, if it wasn’t $600, would have ordered one by now given what I found J Thought you might like this….

http://web.mac.com/kitanica/iWeb/Kitanica%20V.3/Green.html

Holy crap, that is bad arse. But, $600? That's like militarymorons.com kinda money (that dude buys everything).

Check out TAD Gear - easier on the wallet - but not much - http://www.tadgear.com/

I almost bought a Man-Vs-Wild jacket (SAS smock-type action) on eBay, but then I remembered I live in the desert.

Awesome!

2008-09-07T23:30:00.002-05:00

Nice . . . speech

Check it out. :)

2008-08-27T14:10:00.002-05:00

And now . . . the moment we've all been waiting for . . .

Russia threatens military response to US missiles

MOSCOW (AP) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is warning his country may respond to a U.S. missile shield in Europe through military means.

Medvedev says that the deployment of an anti-missile system close to Russian borders "will of course create additional tensions."

"We will have to react somehow, to react, of course, in a military way," Medvedev was quoted as saying Tuesday by the RIA-Novosti news agency.

Russian officials have already warned of a military response to the U.S. plans, but the statement by the Russian leader was likely to further aggravate already tense relations with the West. The comments come after Medvedev recognized two Georgian regions as independent nations, prompting criticism from the U.S. and Europe.

Ok, kiddies. Just make sure you have your eye on your favorite gas station/sporting goods store when its time to head for the hills...

The Chair Is Against The Wall.

2008-08-18T16:38:00.002-05:00

Alas, Forums

The new forums are now online.

Less-crappy look and feel coming soon.

2008-08-17T22:31:00.003-05:00

BMF Knuckle Guard

Fun with nylon 550 cord.

Still can't figure out what to do with the two loose ends.

Here's the instructions.

2008-08-15T16:02:00.004-05:00

Tom Clancy Reality

Ok - I am not a big gamer, but I appreciate the ability to walk around and blast 3rd-world uglies and space aliens with little regard for decorum or civility.

And truly the closest I'll probably ever come to a real flamethrower is in a WWII-themed "Call of Duty"-esqe game.

However, as a reformed news hound as well, I thought this was pretty interesting . . .

Georgia-Russia conflict predicted in 2001 video game
Life imitates Tom Clancy

Recent news coverage of the worrying ground war between Russia and Georgia could well leave gamers with a sense of deja vu.

The South Ossetia war, which began on August 7, bears a close resemblance to events portrayed in the 2001 Xbox and Playstation 2 game "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon," the first level of which takes place against the backdrop of a struggle between Georgian rebel forces and the legitimate Georgian government in the South Ossetian region.

Ghost Recon's plot follows these skirmishes with a full-scale Russian invasion of the region, a subsequent evacuation of US forces, and ultimately the fall of the Georgian government. Ghost Recon almost got the timescale right, too: the game's imaginary events begin in April 2008, just a few months before the real war kicked off.

If Ghost Recon's uncanny trend continues, we can expect the South Ossetia conflict to culminate in a dramatic assault on Red Square and the Kremlin by NATO troops -- spearheaded by an elite US special forces team under the control of a pimply fourteen-year-old with a joypad. Considering that the most recent game in the Ghost Recon series climaxes with an oh-so-narrowly-averted terrorist nuclear strike on the US, we hope the predictive power of the game runs out. Soon.

Too bad life can't imitate a game like Tomb Raider . . .

Oh wait . . . maybe it has. :)

2008-08-13T16:04:00.004-05:00

Tropic Thunder – Now with More Retards

Tropic Thunder will open this week to a hail of criticism from various members of the press and polite society. Much to my surprise, it had little to do with Robert Downey, Jr.'s black-face performance of a tough Vietnam-era sergeant, but rather dealt with the copious use of the epithet “retard” oft-used by the characters to describe themselves.

Their indignation caused a bit of a row at the opening of the film, attended by advocate, and openly retarded actor, Tom Cruise. The “beautiful people” were met on the red carpet by a group of protesters coming from across the street.

Dozens of people from organizations such as the Special Olympics and the American Association of People with Disabilities protested the movie-industry spoof across the street from the film's Los Angeles premiere at Mann's Bruin Theatre on Monday. The protesters held up signs with slogans such as "Call me by my name, not by my label" and chanted phrases like "Ban the movie, ban the word." More.

One of the film''s writers recently spoke to the controversy, saying:

"Some people have taken this as making fun of handicapped people, but we're really trying to make fun of the actors who use this material as fodder for acclaim," co-writer Etan Cohen told MTV. "The last thing you want is for people to think you're making fun of the victims in this who are having their lives turned into fodder for people to win Oscar."

Whether we like it or not, I think there are certain offensive words that have crept into our national lexicon – and retard is one of them. It’s become a way to describe things or people, and in the absence of mentally handicapped friends or family, it’s probably something folks say a lot without the hesitation that comes from personal involvement with affected individuals.

Honestly, I didn’t really think much about it until I saw a post on my Facebook page from a high-school friend who is a regional leader of the Special Olympics and has a sister with Down syndrome.

Coming from a family where we have a middle school teacher on staff, our language tends to degrade the deeper we are into the school year. Whereas we would once describe things as being "unfortunate," as time goes on they become “retarded” or “gay”. There is a certain primal element that goes into the use of some of these words and a sense of empowerment that comes with using a mean word becomes a tribal designation to separate “us” from “them”.

We are this, they are “gay” – or whatever the nom du jour happens to be.

That’s not spoken as a disparagement of gay folks, but I think the language also becomes a short-cut to create a funny reaction in folks and the shock-factor of a lot of jokes is more often based on language that creates offense by stereotyping one group or another and putting them into the awkward position where we can point at them and laugh.

It all comes back to asking why things make us laugh, and I think we either laugh at things because they are really are funny or sometimes we laugh at things because they make us uncomfortable – and somewhere up in the cerebrum similar chemicals are being mixed around and it elicits the same “laugh” response.

And speaking of gay and funny, I remember watching Ellen DeGeneres’ bit a few years back at a relatives' house (we still don’t have cable). It was really funny, really clever, and above all – really clean.

We were all amazed later on when recounting the show that it was funny without having the normal potty talk or “seven words” to make us laugh.

It’s a rare comedian that can elicit such riotous laughter without working blue.

But I think there is something more to the protests that the disabilities advocates have hit on.

“I just think Ben Stiller and the people involved in this movie just didn't think it was going to be offensive."

Andrew J. Imparato, president of the American Association of People with Disabilities

I think he’s right. I don’t think Hollywood thinks a lot about what they put together.

Movies are a business – a big business – and Hollywood writers and producers have put together a John Grisham-novel-esqe algorithm for making money on their product.

There is no motivation to try to challenge perceptions of comedy and what makes us laugh because it’s just too risky. If it’s too high-brow no one will get it, or even another group will come out of the woodwork and be offended by the material because it’s considered snobby.

So we’re back to where we started – watching the latest stars push the envelope of what’s socially acceptable and maybe even highlight the hidden biases within ourselves.

At least now we have explosions and cool special effects.

2008-08-07T21:55:00.004-05:00

Woo-hoo, the Olympics!

Fun for everyone . . . . except Christians, those who speak out loud, parents, Zhang Zhixin, press folk, fringe religions, Tibetans, rural villagers, minorities, any religions and free thinkers.

Go USA Badminton!

2008-08-06T21:21:00.005-05:00

She Gets My Vote

Finally someone with an energy policy that makes sense.

Now that is some serious awesome. Thanks, Interweb!

2008-08-06T16:03:00.002-05:00

Officers fear Mexican military encounters will turn violent

Since 1996, there have been more than 200 confirmed incursions by the Mexican military into the United States.

Particularly galling is the fact that the Mexican military often pulls these stunts in Humvees donated to them by the American taxpayers.

More.

2008-08-06T10:02:00.003-05:00

New Punisher Movie Posters

Some new Punisher: War Zone movie posters were released into the InterWeb.

They look pretty cool - kinda in the "Welcome Back, Fr ank" style that Steve Dillon/Garth Ennis used to revitalize the series. I really liked that series, as it did away with a lot of the silliness that had become the hallmark of the character - Microchip, The Battle Van, using a mini-gun in downtown New York and not activating the National Guard in the process . . .

It also gives a closer look at the "action collar" thing that has been bugging me from the trailer.

I supposed that its some kinda armour, but I think if you were going that route, you'd probably wear some kind of DEA-mask or helmet as well? Or maybe the slicked back hair has been rated to Level 2, so it's not a concern?

The director is some German chick, so maybe its a goth/industrial thing?

The film is being described as a reboot of the first series, which is great, since that movie was so bad and didn't at all set itself up for a good sequel (SARCASM ALERT).

There's a credit for Microchip in the cast list, so let's just hope this one doesn't leave us longing for Dol ph Lundgren.

More info on the train wreck that led to this movie here.

2008-08-01T10:16:00.002-05:00

Quotes

“I’m trying to save the planet; I’m trying to save the planet.”
- Nancy Pelosi

"The urge to save humanity is almost always only a false-face for the urge to rule it."
- H L Mencken

2008-07-29T21:10:00.003-05:00

Space Nazis!

Holy crap - Clive Cussler was right all along!

Here's the site.

"The following tale of alien encounters is true . . . . and by true I mean false. It's all lies but they're entertaining lies and in the end isn't that the real truth. The answer is no."
- Leonard Nimoy