New link on the sidebar.
Under "Reference Sources", please see the "U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU)"
Thursday, September 04, 2008
USPSA Nationals - via Bane's Down range Blog
Follow The USPSA Handgun Nationals Online
USPSA has teamed up with Down Range TV to bring the USPSA Handgun National Championships to a computer near you. The Down Range Blog will feature daily - and hopefully hourly - updates from the both the Smith & Wesson Limited, Production and Revolver USPSA Championships and the USPSA Open and Limited-10 Championships.
On the blog you'll find previews of the matches, interviews with shooters, daily scoring updates and lots and lots of photos. We'll even try to bring you a podcast or two. The Down Range Blog will be the place to get an inside look at the Championships and the shooters. And with over 600 shooters competing there's plenty to follow.
Join us online and track the match and your favorite shooters.
--- an email directly from USPSA.ORG
"Learning how to fight the Jews and kill Jewish children"
Terrorists thankful: More room to prep to kill Jews
Yesterday I read this article, which purports to describe how Palestinians are using the land (Gaza) ceded by the Israelis to the Palestinians as a training ground ... to teach 'recruits' to "Kill Jews".
It's a sad, pitiable story, not least because it features Palestinian children being trained to kill Israeli children.
Everywhere else in the world, the United Nations deplores the terrorist practice of inducting children into military training. In "Palestinian" areas, the terrorists get a Free Pass.
In this case, though, it may not be as bad as it is presented to be.
Look at the picture (embedded in the story) which seems to depict a very young Palestinian boy shooting a carbine sniper "rifle".
Never mind that the absurdly short, double-magazine laden, long-scopedrifle carbine doesn't seem to serve any military purpose --- it's all propaganda.
(Where did they get that AR-style carbine? I bet is was part of what WE donated "to arm the Palestinian Police".)
Look at the enthusiastic expression on the boy's face. (Well, shooting is fun, but not when your purpose is to "kill Jewish Children". More on that later.)
Look at the lense of the scope, almost touching his eyebrow.
Look at the position of the butt-stock, resting on top of his skinny boyish arm... not butted firmly against his shoulder.
What do you think would happen if this child actually fired that "rifle", holding it that way?
That's right. He might not break his shoulder (heck, the recoil will not be absorbed at all by the shoulder), but he will certainly put a big ol' Magnum Eyebrow on his sweet face. And for darn sure, he won't hit whatever he's aiming at.
From the article:
Heck, that child is no threat. The Israeli's could parade their children in front of a thousand Palestinian children this well trained. The Pally kids would shoot once and reel back, holding their painfully bleeding eyebrows as they ran away from their dropped rifles. Even the French train their troops better. The Egyptians are more 'professional'.
This picture, and the accompanying quoted rhetoric, are pure propaganda.
I'm not saying that the Palestinians aren't indoctrinating their children to hate Jews. Nor am I saying that these children won't grow up to hate Jews as they have been so well trained.
All I'm saying is, the Palestinians rely heavily on propaganda to intimidate their preferred foes. We need to be aware that much of what they say and do is as much intended to encourage their own members as to strike fear in the hearts of their chosen enemy.
That would be you and me. Because, you know, one of the things we like about the Israeli's is that they don't pull this kind of bullshit.
Still -- I deplore that the Palestinians are ruining the future of their children by rote-teaching them to hate other children.
Is this what you teach your kids?
I don't think so.
Yesterday I read this article, which purports to describe how Palestinians are using the land (Gaza) ceded by the Israelis to the Palestinians as a training ground ... to teach 'recruits' to "Kill Jews".
It's a sad, pitiable story, not least because it features Palestinian children being trained to kill Israeli children.
Everywhere else in the world, the United Nations deplores the terrorist practice of inducting children into military training. In "Palestinian" areas, the terrorists get a Free Pass.
In this case, though, it may not be as bad as it is presented to be.
Look at the picture (embedded in the story) which seems to depict a very young Palestinian boy shooting a carbine sniper "rifle".
Never mind that the absurdly short, double-magazine laden, long-scoped
(Where did they get that AR-style carbine? I bet is was part of what WE donated "to arm the Palestinian Police".)
Look at the enthusiastic expression on the boy's face. (Well, shooting is fun, but not when your purpose is to "kill Jewish Children". More on that later.)
Look at the lense of the scope, almost touching his eyebrow.
Look at the position of the butt-stock, resting on top of his skinny boyish arm... not butted firmly against his shoulder.
What do you think would happen if this child actually fired that "rifle", holding it that way?
That's right. He might not break his shoulder (heck, the recoil will not be absorbed at all by the shoulder), but he will certainly put a big ol' Magnum Eyebrow on his sweet face. And for darn sure, he won't hit whatever he's aiming at.
From the article:
Also this weekend, the Popular Resistance Committees terrorist organization showcased its own training in the evacuated Gaza Jewish town of Kfar Darom, which previously housed tree-lined Jewish streets replete with synagogues and Jewish seminaries.
Notable about the Committees training was that it included dozens of boys between the ages of nine and twelve, according to Committees leaders.
The Ynetnews Israeli website featured an interview with one young Committees recruit, an 11-year-old boy named Muhammad pictured holding an assault rifle. [sic]
"I am learning how to fight the Jews and kill Jewish children," Muhammad told Ynetnews. "I would rather die fighting the occupation than die at home from a missile, which is what happened to hundreds of Palestinian children." [emphasis added]
Committees terror group spokesman Muhammad Abdel-Al, also known as Abu Abir, told WND yesterday his group was not brainwashing children.
"We are not educating them on hatred. This is our strategy -- to turn all the Palestinian people into weapons of resistance," Abdel-Al said when questioned about his group's use of boys.
[bullshit alert]
Heck, that child is no threat. The Israeli's could parade their children in front of a thousand Palestinian children this well trained. The Pally kids would shoot once and reel back, holding their painfully bleeding eyebrows as they ran away from their dropped rifles. Even the French train their troops better. The Egyptians are more 'professional'.
This picture, and the accompanying quoted rhetoric, are pure propaganda.
I'm not saying that the Palestinians aren't indoctrinating their children to hate Jews. Nor am I saying that these children won't grow up to hate Jews as they have been so well trained.
All I'm saying is, the Palestinians rely heavily on propaganda to intimidate their preferred foes. We need to be aware that much of what they say and do is as much intended to encourage their own members as to strike fear in the hearts of their chosen enemy.
That would be you and me. Because, you know, one of the things we like about the Israeli's is that they don't pull this kind of bullshit.
Still -- I deplore that the Palestinians are ruining the future of their children by rote-teaching them to hate other children.
Is this what you teach your kids?
I don't think so.
McCain = H.W.?
I'm listening to John McCain's Thursday Night speech at the Republican National Convention.
Is it just me? Or does his whiny voice sound just like George Herbert Walker Bush? (Bush 41).
I still don't have much affection for Johnny Mac. I'm still stewing about his stand on Migration Amnesty, and the egregious Campaign Finance Reform which stifles our First Amendment rights.
But I really, really like his Veep.
Is it just me? Or does his whiny voice sound just like George Herbert Walker Bush? (Bush 41).
I still don't have much affection for Johnny Mac. I'm still stewing about his stand on Migration Amnesty, and the egregious Campaign Finance Reform which stifles our First Amendment rights.
But I really, really like his Veep.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Stiletto Spring
Stiletto Sprint (Spiegel)
"Some 265 contestants get in position at the starting line at the inaugural Stiletto Sprint race by the shores of Sydney Harbour Tuesday. The group set a new world record for the most women to run the 80 meter dash wearing 75mm high heels."
Picture 265 athletic women in heels, running for all they're worth. Doesn't this conjure up the opening title sequence of "M*A*S*H"?
Okay, so it's just me.
It looks hard enough to walk in stiletto heels, let alone run in them.
REUTERS has the video:
"More than 260 inappropriately shod runners showed up this time ..."
Okay, it IS just me.
"Some 265 contestants get in position at the starting line at the inaugural Stiletto Sprint race by the shores of Sydney Harbour Tuesday. The group set a new world record for the most women to run the 80 meter dash wearing 75mm high heels."
Picture 265 athletic women in heels, running for all they're worth. Doesn't this conjure up the opening title sequence of "M*A*S*H"?
Okay, so it's just me.
It looks hard enough to walk in stiletto heels, let alone run in them.
REUTERS has the video:
"More than 260 inappropriately shod runners showed up this time ..."
Okay, it IS just me.
Gun-rights advocate arrested at rally
Gun-rights advocate arrested at rally
Oh ... My ... Goodness!
This must be the Only Man In America ... who hasn't seen "Taxi Driver".
To recap:
This guy carries a gun to a Presidential Political Rally, and is outraged that he was stopped by Security and held for questioning.
What the HELL was he thinking?
Did he expect that the Secret Service would pat his back and say "Way to go, brother!"?
What a doofus. He makes every responsible gun owner Look Bad.
No, I don't care about his "Second Amendment Rights". This is a Presidential Political event. There are plenty of Secret Service people there to handle the odd crazy in a Gun Free Zone.
It's not his job to protect himself, his fellow citizens, or the Presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee in this venue; and if he doesn't understand the situation he's just another Travis Bickle.
Personally, I think it's all a publicity stunt, engineered by a wacky individual who just wants his Fifteen Minutes of Fame.
Gun-rights advocate arrested at rally
Sunday, August 31, 2008
By Milan Simonich, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A Beaver County man who regularly wears a pistol on his hip says police violated his rights by arresting him before a rally featuring Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama.
"I am a threat to no one. Mr. Obama doesn't trump my constitutional rights. The president of the United States doesn't trump my constitutional rights," said John Noble, who was handcuffed, questioned for about two hours and then told by state police that he would receive two citations by mail for disorderly conduct.
Mr. Noble, 50, of Industry, said he wore his Glock 19 in a holster when he entered Irvine Park in Beaver more than an hour before Mr. Obama arrived for a campaign appearance Friday night.
Oh ... My ... Goodness!
This must be the Only Man In America ... who hasn't seen "Taxi Driver".
To recap:
This guy carries a gun to a Presidential Political Rally, and is outraged that he was stopped by Security and held for questioning.
What the HELL was he thinking?
Did he expect that the Secret Service would pat his back and say "Way to go, brother!"?
What a doofus. He makes every responsible gun owner Look Bad.
No, I don't care about his "Second Amendment Rights". This is a Presidential Political event. There are plenty of Secret Service people there to handle the odd crazy in a Gun Free Zone.
It's not his job to protect himself, his fellow citizens, or the Presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee in this venue; and if he doesn't understand the situation he's just another Travis Bickle.
Personally, I think it's all a publicity stunt, engineered by a wacky individual who just wants his Fifteen Minutes of Fame.
De Yout of Amerika
It's not a good idea to RiseAmong The Masses.
As has been widely reported, if you're too good to play Little League, your adult advisers may vote you out of the game.
On the other hand, if you're "Not A Boy", you may be declared "too girly" to play football.
As often as I castigate "The Brits" for their arbitrary and unreasonable civic ordnances, there are times when we are forced to admit that our Municipal leadership is just as clueless, just as arbitrary, just as dumb.
(As always, click on the images to see them in full size.)
As has been widely reported, if you're too good to play Little League, your adult advisers may vote you out of the game.
On the other hand, if you're "Not A Boy", you may be declared "too girly" to play football.
As often as I castigate "The Brits" for their arbitrary and unreasonable civic ordnances, there are times when we are forced to admit that our Municipal leadership is just as clueless, just as arbitrary, just as dumb.
(As always, click on the images to see them in full size.)
Robbing Ain't FUn
Odd are, if you are 'this' stupid, you will be shot to death because you're packing a toy gun ...
or you may otherwise find yourself in Deep Shit!
or you may otherwise find yourself in Deep Shit!
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Can't see the movie!
I use Firefox for my primary browser. I use Internet Explorer Version 7 (IE7) as my backup, but I really prefer Firefox.
Unfortunately, many applications and websites are designed using IE7 as their standard. The consequence is that sometimes I can do things I can do in IE7 that I can't do in Firefox. Although Firefox tries hard to keep up, sometimes it needs a little help.
When I tried to view videos on Firefox tonite, they wouldn't play. I'm talking about the YouTube videos that I loaded into a blog article which I wrote last night (very early this morning); they played just fine 20 hours ago, but now they will load, but not play.
As a test, I opened the same article and attempted to view the same videos using IE7. Yep, they loaded and ran as they should. Obviously, the problem was not with the blog article or the YouTube videos, but with my own Firefox browser settings.
Using the Microsoft Control Panel (I'm running MS XP Home operating system), the only update I found was a minor update in Firefox, which was auto-loaded this evening when I started my browser.
Looking at the PROGRAM FILES, I see that one small file was loaded at 7pm tonight.
I have experienced this problem before, and that time (two weeks ago) I found updates in my Flash Player up to version 114. I had researched the problem and de-installed versions back to version 46. That was clearly not the problem tonight.
On a hunch, I used a piece of 'fix' software called RegCure, which was created to detect and fix registry problems. My thinking was that the relatively minor problem with Firefox might be due to incompatibility in Registry updates which have accumulated over the past two weeks.
When I ran RegCure, it found 293 problems in the Registry. (Click on image to view.) I allowed it to fix the problems, which took less than a minute.
Then I re-opened the Firefox browser and attempted to view the same videos; nothing happened. The problem still existed.
I needed to restart my computer for the Registry changes to be loaded.
After restarting the computer, I was able to view the videos just as I had last night.
___________________________________________________________
I suppose you could consider this a testimonial for RegCure. I certainly wouldn't have been able to find and fix the problems unaided, but I'm just barely Geekish enough that I realize there are tools available to do the things I couldn't do unaided. (This is, in part, the reason why automobile repair shops have exotic electronic machinery in every repair bay, to fix the things that Mechanics cannot do unaided without extensive training.)
RegCure may not be the right solution for everyone, and in fact there is some question whether the most of the available Registry Cleaner software packages are actually as good as they say there are.
I did some more research, and found this comparison of the available software, from Pro Soft Labs.
I don't know if the review was entirely unbiased, butRegCure did have the highest rating among those tested. And what I do know is, it worked for me.
It was worth the $29.95 price of purchase, if it only served to prevent me from tearing out what few hairs I have left on my head.
Unfortunately, many applications and websites are designed using IE7 as their standard. The consequence is that sometimes I can do things I can do in IE7 that I can't do in Firefox. Although Firefox tries hard to keep up, sometimes it needs a little help.
When I tried to view videos on Firefox tonite, they wouldn't play. I'm talking about the YouTube videos that I loaded into a blog article which I wrote last night (very early this morning); they played just fine 20 hours ago, but now they will load, but not play.
As a test, I opened the same article and attempted to view the same videos using IE7. Yep, they loaded and ran as they should. Obviously, the problem was not with the blog article or the YouTube videos, but with my own Firefox browser settings.
Using the Microsoft Control Panel (I'm running MS XP Home operating system), the only update I found was a minor update in Firefox, which was auto-loaded this evening when I started my browser.
Looking at the PROGRAM FILES, I see that one small file was loaded at 7pm tonight.
I have experienced this problem before, and that time (two weeks ago) I found updates in my Flash Player up to version 114. I had researched the problem and de-installed versions back to version 46. That was clearly not the problem tonight.
On a hunch, I used a piece of 'fix' software called RegCure, which was created to detect and fix registry problems. My thinking was that the relatively minor problem with Firefox might be due to incompatibility in Registry updates which have accumulated over the past two weeks.
When I ran RegCure, it found 293 problems in the Registry. (Click on image to view.) I allowed it to fix the problems, which took less than a minute.
Then I re-opened the Firefox browser and attempted to view the same videos; nothing happened. The problem still existed.
I needed to restart my computer for the Registry changes to be loaded.
After restarting the computer, I was able to view the videos just as I had last night.
___________________________________________________________
I suppose you could consider this a testimonial for RegCure. I certainly wouldn't have been able to find and fix the problems unaided, but I'm just barely Geekish enough that I realize there are tools available to do the things I couldn't do unaided. (This is, in part, the reason why automobile repair shops have exotic electronic machinery in every repair bay, to fix the things that Mechanics cannot do unaided without extensive training.)
RegCure may not be the right solution for everyone, and in fact there is some question whether the most of the available Registry Cleaner software packages are actually as good as they say there are.
I did some more research, and found this comparison of the available software, from Pro Soft Labs.
I don't know if the review was entirely unbiased, butRegCure did have the highest rating among those tested. And what I do know is, it worked for me.
It was worth the $29.95 price of purchase, if it only served to prevent me from tearing out what few hairs I have left on my head.
2008 Croc Match: Stage 6 - Paradise Island
This is perhaps the most 'video' of all stages in this match, because you can see what the competitor is trying to do, even though (due to a plethora of solid vision barriers) you can't see the targets.
The stage design requires the competitor to start sitting in a lawn chair, feet on the footstool and hands interlaced behind his/her head. The unloaded pistol is on the side table.
There are a lot of hidden targets (steel and cardboard both) as well as some moving targets which are initiated by hitting the steel targets.
Stage Bay: 5
Title/Link: Paradise Island [105 kb]
Designer: Paul Meier
Round-count: 59/295 points
Targets: 25 IPSC, 7 USP, 2 Pepper Poppers
We've got video of three shooters (maybe more, later) demonstrating varying degrees of success on this stage.
First up it the Match Director, and the man who designed the stage ... Paul.
The thing about being the Match Director AND a Competitor is that your day is so busy that sometimes you not only do not have time to perform well as a competitor (because you're frequently called away from your squad, but often you don't have time to do the minimal amount of preparation needed to shoot a stage successfully.
Here, Paul discovers that he has not checked his magazines: his 3rd magazine is .... empty. No bullets. This is a true WTF moment. As soon as you realize that you don't have enough ammunition to shoot at all of the targets with the minimum number of rounds, the best you can do is to shoot at each cardboard target (2 rounds) with at least one round.
This dire situation is exacerbated in a "High Round Count" stage, which is typical in this match:
______________________________________________________
The next shooter is Ron, who experiences the Agony of Deplete when, part-way throught the stage, discovers that one of his magazines has been accidentally dropped back at the starting position. He has insufficient ammunition to complete the stage! (Look for the little black dot under his chair as he starts the stage: that's his dropped magazine.) The Assistant Range Officer (Caryn) shouts "The magazine is under the chair!". The Range Officer asks "What do you want to do?"
Ron answers ... "Back up?"
And so Ron demonstrates a good way to run backwards while keeping the gun-muzzle pointed in a safe direction. He dumps the short-loaded magazine remaining, reloads with a full magazine, and pumps 23 rounds into the remaining targets from atop The Platform.
The crowd goes wild and rewards him with a standing ovation and the verbal rewards of "Nice Run, Ron!"
And ... "I love this game!"
Ron declines the opportunity to actually Take A Bow.
The third shooter is Ernie, who is reshooting the stage. (The first attempt was nullified by a Range Equipment Failure ... one steel target, which activated a moving cardboard target, was not correctly reset.)
Ernie did everything right, quickly, and accurately. Perhaps more important, he retained sufficient ammunition on his person to complete the stage without wasted time.
Yet to come (watch this space): CHAT!
The things people say after they watch someone else shoot a stage.
The stage design requires the competitor to start sitting in a lawn chair, feet on the footstool and hands interlaced behind his/her head. The unloaded pistol is on the side table.
There are a lot of hidden targets (steel and cardboard both) as well as some moving targets which are initiated by hitting the steel targets.
Stage Bay: 5
Title/Link: Paradise Island [105 kb]
Designer: Paul Meier
Round-count: 59/295 points
Targets: 25 IPSC, 7 USP, 2 Pepper Poppers
We've got video of three shooters (maybe more, later) demonstrating varying degrees of success on this stage.
First up it the Match Director, and the man who designed the stage ... Paul.
The thing about being the Match Director AND a Competitor is that your day is so busy that sometimes you not only do not have time to perform well as a competitor (because you're frequently called away from your squad, but often you don't have time to do the minimal amount of preparation needed to shoot a stage successfully.
Here, Paul discovers that he has not checked his magazines: his 3rd magazine is .... empty. No bullets. This is a true WTF moment. As soon as you realize that you don't have enough ammunition to shoot at all of the targets with the minimum number of rounds, the best you can do is to shoot at each cardboard target (2 rounds) with at least one round.
This dire situation is exacerbated in a "High Round Count" stage, which is typical in this match:
______________________________________________________
The next shooter is Ron, who experiences the Agony of Deplete when, part-way throught the stage, discovers that one of his magazines has been accidentally dropped back at the starting position. He has insufficient ammunition to complete the stage! (Look for the little black dot under his chair as he starts the stage: that's his dropped magazine.) The Assistant Range Officer (Caryn) shouts "The magazine is under the chair!". The Range Officer asks "What do you want to do?"
Ron answers ... "Back up?"
And so Ron demonstrates a good way to run backwards while keeping the gun-muzzle pointed in a safe direction. He dumps the short-loaded magazine remaining, reloads with a full magazine, and pumps 23 rounds into the remaining targets from atop The Platform.
The crowd goes wild and rewards him with a standing ovation and the verbal rewards of "Nice Run, Ron!"
And ... "I love this game!"
Ron declines the opportunity to actually Take A Bow.
The third shooter is Ernie, who is reshooting the stage. (The first attempt was nullified by a Range Equipment Failure ... one steel target, which activated a moving cardboard target, was not correctly reset.)
Ernie did everything right, quickly, and accurately. Perhaps more important, he retained sufficient ammunition on his person to complete the stage without wasted time.
Yet to come (watch this space): CHAT!
The things people say after they watch someone else shoot a stage.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Croc Match Jungle Run: Why I Published Early
My weekend just finished (it's 9:40pm Monday Night, and I just got home and unpacked), and I understand that there were complaints about my Saturday Night publication of a video showing The Jungle Run ... a.k.a. "Paradise Valley".
This was a surprise stage, where none of the competitors knew anything more about the stage except the round count and the number and type of targets. The targets are often partially concealed by thick foliage (bushes, ferns) and it's very easy to overlook one or more targets while moving as quickly as safety considerations permit along a twisting jungle path.
Acknowledging that the 'surprise' nature of this stage was compromised by my posting a video before all competitors had completed it, I must admit that I simply didn't consider that it would be used to gain a competitive advantage. I was nonplussed when I learned that some protests had been filed, criticizing my presumption.
Was I wrong? Maybe. I should have known better. True, I had checked in at the Stats Shack before the match as a 'visitor', where Stats Queen Lori provided me with the match book and copies of all the published stages (with the exception of the Jungle Run, which was specifically designated "a surprise stage".
All of the Match Administrators were aware that I was filming stages, including Paul the Match Director, Mac the Range Master, and the "lowly stage designer", Evil Bill.
Nobody ever suggested that I should with-hold posting videos until after the match was over. Still, I've been competing in Croc Matches for a dozen years. The case can be made that I should have "known better".
I accept that I am solely responsible for the content of this blog, and in retrospect I should have sought permission of the Match Director before publishing the video 'early'. If my impetuosity caused the stage results to be skewed in favor of those few who had NOT shot the stage on Saturday, and who did see the video before the beginning of competition on Sunday, then I should have been responsible for the stage having been thrown out of the match and the results not being considered in determining the match winner.
In fact, The Hobo Brasser noted at 9:30am on Sunday (the times slugged on the Haloscan Comments may not be West Coast Time) that he declined to view the video, just to avoid compromising his run. And eight hours earlier, Evil Bill noted that it should not be published before the end of the match.
Yet the 'compromise' was apparently not reported, because I see by the match scores that the stage was not disqualified from the match order-of-finish placement.
I would have felt terrible if I had been held responsible for having the funnest stage of the match being thrown out. Certainly, if anyone had asked me to keep the video private until after the end of the match, I would have conformed to this requirement. (Once more, I should have known better.)
However, since The Hobo Brasser was a Squad Leader, and Evil Bill is a member of the host club, it was ultimately their duty to bring this contretemps to the attention of the Match Administers (Paul and Mac), which I assume they did. Since Paul and Mac obviously decided to include these stage scores, it would appear that they did not feel that the match was compromised.
I'm glad that I didn't ruin the match for anybody, and that the host club decided to include the scores.
And in truth, I sincerely doubt that the match standings were so significantly skewed by this early publication of a match video.
______________________________________________
While I was filming on this stage, I saw at least one other person filming a friend. I assume that the videographer had already shot the stage, so there was no obvious advantage for either of the two competitors.
But it brings up the question of what that videographer did with the film. Did he show it to other competitors who had not yet shot the stage?
There's no way of knowing that, nor is there any way of knowing whether his jiggly video provided enough detail for a shooter to learn the stage sufficiently to improve his scores.
_______________________________
During the 2007 Croc Match, there was an undercurrent of discontent among some local competitors --- people who have shot this match before --- to the effect that a "Surprise Stage" had no place being included among the final match standings. It's true that in a non-surprise stage, there may occur some even which would require the Range Officer to stop the shooter, and require a re-shoot.
This NEVER occurs during a Jungle Run. The Range Officer (Lorin) scores and tapes most of the targets, which allows him opportunity to check each steel target (if included ... not this year). The presumption of the Host Club seems to be that a reshoot will never occur, and if it does, they don't care.
Although the match is run under the general auspices of USPSA rules, it is not a USPSA match. Hence, the host club is free to interpret the rules any way it wants to. For example, USPSA rules frown on 50-round stages, and they require a five minute walkthrough. The Croc Match does not conform to these rules, and they make no bones about it.
(See UPDATE, below.)
Here's the operative phrase: If you don't like the rules, you don't have to shoot the match.
______________________
Let's cut to the video.
At the end of Pete Ray's fun, I asked him one question. I think his answer is important to the discussion.
What do you think? Was it fun?
Way to go, they owe you money for that one, pal.
That was a wonderful testimonial to one of the true Fun Matches in America today.
From time to time I receive some criticism about my coverage of USPSA matches. It doesn't matter if it's a Major Match or a Club Match. It doesn't even matter if it's recognized by USPSA.
Sometimes the criticism is deserved, as it is here.
Sometimes it is a matter of ruffled feathers.
Still, this is the ONLY place in the world where you can find the true depiction of what it is like to compete in Practical shooting. The goal is not only to show the World Champions, the Masters and Grand Masters at their best; sometimes you just watch the Average Shooter doing his best on a truly difficult stage. It may not show the individual shooter as being competitive against a Grand Master, but it will show him or her doing the best possible under the circumstance.
In the coming days, you'll see difficult stages beating the best shooters. You'll see average shooters ... the folks just showing up and paying their money to shoot because they enjoy the experience no matter how well they do. And sometimes you'll see the average shooter making mistakes that they know better than to do, but they struggle on regardless because they will not quit.
The thing I like about the Croc Match is that it provides plenty of opportunities for guns not to run, for competitors to err, and for Range Officers to be less than perfect.
Ultimately, most of us shoot because we enjoy it. Sometimes we shoot a Major Match to measure ourselves against the Best In The Business. Sometimes, they aren't really The Best.
Here, we will show you what happens. It's not an attempt to denigrate the competitors.
The goal is to give you a perspective on a sport which is extreme, but still available to any legal gun owner as long as the basic safety rules are observed.
Nobody is exempt from being shown the fool. Not even Jerry the Geek, as this film from a 2006 Club Match at Dundee will demonstrate.
______________________________________________
UPDATE: 02-SEP-2008
The following erroneous statement is graciously corrected by Area 1 Director and USPSA Board Member Bruce Gary in COMMENTS:
Although the match is run under the general auspices of USPSA rules, it is not a USPSA match. Hence, the host club is free to interpret the rules any way it wants to. For example, USPSA rules frown on 50-round stages, and they require a five minute walkthrough. The Croc Match does not conform to these rules, and they make no bones about it.
This was a surprise stage, where none of the competitors knew anything more about the stage except the round count and the number and type of targets. The targets are often partially concealed by thick foliage (bushes, ferns) and it's very easy to overlook one or more targets while moving as quickly as safety considerations permit along a twisting jungle path.
Acknowledging that the 'surprise' nature of this stage was compromised by my posting a video before all competitors had completed it, I must admit that I simply didn't consider that it would be used to gain a competitive advantage. I was nonplussed when I learned that some protests had been filed, criticizing my presumption.
Was I wrong? Maybe. I should have known better. True, I had checked in at the Stats Shack before the match as a 'visitor', where Stats Queen Lori provided me with the match book and copies of all the published stages (with the exception of the Jungle Run, which was specifically designated "a surprise stage".
All of the Match Administrators were aware that I was filming stages, including Paul the Match Director, Mac the Range Master, and the "lowly stage designer", Evil Bill.
Nobody ever suggested that I should with-hold posting videos until after the match was over. Still, I've been competing in Croc Matches for a dozen years. The case can be made that I should have "known better".
I accept that I am solely responsible for the content of this blog, and in retrospect I should have sought permission of the Match Director before publishing the video 'early'. If my impetuosity caused the stage results to be skewed in favor of those few who had NOT shot the stage on Saturday, and who did see the video before the beginning of competition on Sunday, then I should have been responsible for the stage having been thrown out of the match and the results not being considered in determining the match winner.
In fact, The Hobo Brasser noted at 9:30am on Sunday (the times slugged on the Haloscan Comments may not be West Coast Time) that he declined to view the video, just to avoid compromising his run. And eight hours earlier, Evil Bill noted that it should not be published before the end of the match.
Yet the 'compromise' was apparently not reported, because I see by the match scores that the stage was not disqualified from the match order-of-finish placement.
I would have felt terrible if I had been held responsible for having the funnest stage of the match being thrown out. Certainly, if anyone had asked me to keep the video private until after the end of the match, I would have conformed to this requirement. (Once more, I should have known better.)
However, since The Hobo Brasser was a Squad Leader, and Evil Bill is a member of the host club, it was ultimately their duty to bring this contretemps to the attention of the Match Administers (Paul and Mac), which I assume they did. Since Paul and Mac obviously decided to include these stage scores, it would appear that they did not feel that the match was compromised.
I'm glad that I didn't ruin the match for anybody, and that the host club decided to include the scores.
And in truth, I sincerely doubt that the match standings were so significantly skewed by this early publication of a match video.
______________________________________________
While I was filming on this stage, I saw at least one other person filming a friend. I assume that the videographer had already shot the stage, so there was no obvious advantage for either of the two competitors.
But it brings up the question of what that videographer did with the film. Did he show it to other competitors who had not yet shot the stage?
There's no way of knowing that, nor is there any way of knowing whether his jiggly video provided enough detail for a shooter to learn the stage sufficiently to improve his scores.
_______________________________
During the 2007 Croc Match, there was an undercurrent of discontent among some local competitors --- people who have shot this match before --- to the effect that a "Surprise Stage" had no place being included among the final match standings. It's true that in a non-surprise stage, there may occur some even which would require the Range Officer to stop the shooter, and require a re-shoot.
This NEVER occurs during a Jungle Run. The Range Officer (Lorin) scores and tapes most of the targets, which allows him opportunity to check each steel target (if included ... not this year). The presumption of the Host Club seems to be that a reshoot will never occur, and if it does, they don't care.
(See UPDATE, below.)
Here's the operative phrase: If you don't like the rules, you don't have to shoot the match.
______________________
Let's cut to the video.
At the end of Pete Ray's fun, I asked him one question. I think his answer is important to the discussion.
What do you think? Was it fun?
"Oh, hell yes! It's always fun! Yeah"
"If this was the only stage they had, I'd still drive [from California, to compete], and I'd still pay [the match fees]. This is great!
Way to go, they owe you money for that one, pal.
That was a wonderful testimonial to one of the true Fun Matches in America today.
From time to time I receive some criticism about my coverage of USPSA matches. It doesn't matter if it's a Major Match or a Club Match. It doesn't even matter if it's recognized by USPSA.
Sometimes the criticism is deserved, as it is here.
Sometimes it is a matter of ruffled feathers.
Still, this is the ONLY place in the world where you can find the true depiction of what it is like to compete in Practical shooting. The goal is not only to show the World Champions, the Masters and Grand Masters at their best; sometimes you just watch the Average Shooter doing his best on a truly difficult stage. It may not show the individual shooter as being competitive against a Grand Master, but it will show him or her doing the best possible under the circumstance.
In the coming days, you'll see difficult stages beating the best shooters. You'll see average shooters ... the folks just showing up and paying their money to shoot because they enjoy the experience no matter how well they do. And sometimes you'll see the average shooter making mistakes that they know better than to do, but they struggle on regardless because they will not quit.
The thing I like about the Croc Match is that it provides plenty of opportunities for guns not to run, for competitors to err, and for Range Officers to be less than perfect.
Ultimately, most of us shoot because we enjoy it. Sometimes we shoot a Major Match to measure ourselves against the Best In The Business. Sometimes, they aren't really The Best.
Here, we will show you what happens. It's not an attempt to denigrate the competitors.
The goal is to give you a perspective on a sport which is extreme, but still available to any legal gun owner as long as the basic safety rules are observed.
Nobody is exempt from being shown the fool. Not even Jerry the Geek, as this film from a 2006 Club Match at Dundee will demonstrate.
______________________________________________
UPDATE: 02-SEP-2008
The following erroneous statement is graciously corrected by Area 1 Director and USPSA Board Member Bruce Gary in COMMENTS:
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Crazy Croc 08: Jungle Run and G.R.
I showed up for the first day of the Crazy Croc match today, and I had a wonderful time. Lots of folks were there and stopped by to say howdy, and ask after SWMBO. (Sorry: her name is Sandie.)
I talked to a lot of people, took a bunch of pictures (more video!) and generally had almost as much fun as if I had actually been competing .. except I had no stories about how I would have ended up with a much better score if only... [insert your own alibi here. Extra points will be given for creativity.]
Eventually I ran out of camera batteries and storage space on the video storage devices (SD). That was okay, because I ran out of energy at about 2:30 pm, when everyone who was competing still had another stage to go before their day was ended.
As I said to Mac: "In this context,I'm self-employed. My word day is over when I say it is over, not when the Schedule says I am done."
Shortly before the end of my working day, and late enough that the light was not 'right' for filming on most stages, I found my self on the Jungle Run stage.
Actually I had clambered down the hill immediately after shoot- through competitorGary Pete Ray to ask CRO Loren if I could film some of his clients in the Jungle Run stage, "Paradise Valley".
He said "Okay By Me, Pal" in the most gracious way, and suggested that Sherrie would appreciate seeing the Jungle Run Stage in action.
Loren and Sherrie work on this stage all year long just to get it ready for this match.
I'm working from a laptop, and under some significant time constraints, so I won't go into the reasons why I think it's important to post this video 'tonite'. I only want to recognize the support that Sherrie and Loren have provided for SWMBO, and for me.
Well, I also want to emphasize the bald-face fact that many competitors at The Croc Match have found themselves saying: "I would travel here for this Jungle Run Stage only, even if the rest of the match wasn't so fun."
Let's go to the video:
I talked to a lot of people, took a bunch of pictures (more video!) and generally had almost as much fun as if I had actually been competing .. except I had no stories about how I would have ended up with a much better score if only... [insert your own alibi here. Extra points will be given for creativity.]
Eventually I ran out of camera batteries and storage space on the video storage devices (SD). That was okay, because I ran out of energy at about 2:30 pm, when everyone who was competing still had another stage to go before their day was ended.
As I said to Mac: "In this context,I'm self-employed. My word day is over when I say it is over, not when the Schedule says I am done."
Shortly before the end of my working day, and late enough that the light was not 'right' for filming on most stages, I found my self on the Jungle Run stage.
Actually I had clambered down the hill immediately after shoot- through competitor
He said "Okay By Me, Pal" in the most gracious way, and suggested that Sherrie would appreciate seeing the Jungle Run Stage in action.
Loren and Sherrie work on this stage all year long just to get it ready for this match.
I'm working from a laptop, and under some significant time constraints, so I won't go into the reasons why I think it's important to post this video 'tonite'. I only want to recognize the support that Sherrie and Loren have provided for SWMBO, and for me.
Well, I also want to emphasize the bald-face fact that many competitors at The Croc Match have found themselves saying: "I would travel here for this Jungle Run Stage only, even if the rest of the match wasn't so fun."
Let's go to the video:
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Tim Holm - Part II
Last month we told you about an Oregon L.E.O. who was severely injured in an accident. The Columbia Cascade Section of USPSA invited all members to send a card or letter to Tim in the hospital, expressing their wishes for a speedy recovery.
The section also established a series of Tim Holm Benefit Matches, all proceeds to be donated to Tim's famil for their maintenance while he is laid up.
This week the Section Secretary published the results of those efforts:
It's significant that not only did the participants in these matches participated in record numbers, but they gave up the "extra" match fees which are intended to pay auxiliaries to tear down the stages at the end of the match. They still paid the fees, but they did their own stage tear-down.
Activities such as this are the hallmark of strong volunteer organizations who are interested in more than simply spending a nice day at the range.
The host clubs also contributed their normal fees, including the cost of material.
EVERY cent of income from these matches went to the cause of supporting a wounded brother.
Accolades to the good people at the Albany Rifle and Pistol Club (ARPC), and the Tri-County Gun Club (TCGC).
The section also established a series of Tim Holm Benefit Matches, all proceeds to be donated to Tim's famil for their maintenance while he is laid up.
This week the Section Secretary published the results of those efforts:
Thanks to all who participated in the Tim Holm Benefit matches. We made approx $4000.00 for Tim with the matches. Tim still has a long road ahead of him with Rehab.
It's significant that not only did the participants in these matches participated in record numbers, but they gave up the "extra" match fees which are intended to pay auxiliaries to tear down the stages at the end of the match. They still paid the fees, but they did their own stage tear-down.
Activities such as this are the hallmark of strong volunteer organizations who are interested in more than simply spending a nice day at the range.
The host clubs also contributed their normal fees, including the cost of material.
EVERY cent of income from these matches went to the cause of supporting a wounded brother.
Accolades to the good people at the Albany Rifle and Pistol Club (ARPC), and the Tri-County Gun Club (TCGC).
"Do you eat a special breakfast?"
The Executioner's Song
The Middle East Media Resource Institute [MEMRI.ORG] translates a Saudi Television interview with the Official Executioner of Saudi Arabia.
Quotes taken from the (abridged) transcript:
and ....
MEMRI TV is an independent organization which translates Middle-Eastern television shows to English, and then posts the result to the internet.
I selected this video for presentation here, because I wanted to depict the great cultural differences between America and our very strong allies, Saudi Arabia.
No executions are depicted on this video, and it should be considered SFW (Safe For Work).
However, it is often more revealing at levels beyond the obvious.
For example, one of the reporters is a beautiful woman. As she asks The Executioner about his work (which he describes as his "mission"), she smiles.
... she continues to speak, and smile. But when The Executioner begins to speak, she shuts up immediately and turns into a poker face.
She recognizes this person as a killer, and becomes a very still, small mouse in the corner.
In America, we hear much from Feminists who shrill that America is Chauvinist and repressive.
They have no idea. THIS ... is the face of repression.
Saudi Government-Appointed Executioner for Mecca, Abdallah Al-Bishi, Discusses His Calling and Demonstrates His Weapons and Methods
The Middle East Media Resource Institute [MEMRI.ORG] translates a Saudi Television interview with the Official Executioner of Saudi Arabia.
Quotes taken from the (abridged) transcript:
Reporter: Abu Bader's swords have cut off a hundred heads and more. His eldest son, Badr, is training in the same profession. He inherited this profession from his father, Sa'id Al-Bishi. He remembers how, when still a small boy, he accompanied him to the beheading of a criminal in Mecca. That sight, Abu Badr says, was the turning point in his life.
Abdallah Al-Bishi: I was at school, and an execution was set for my father in Mecca. It was to take place in front of the King Abd Al-'Aziz Gate. Before all that happened at the Al-Haram Mosque, the executions were held there. We showed up. I was a little boy. The first thing that came to my mind when people talked about executions was the digestive system. I wanted to see it. At that time, we had an exam at school on the digestive system, and we had to explain about the digestive system and whatever... So I came along, and the moment my father executed the man, I ran to see the digestive system, but all I could see was the man's head flying, and where the neck used to be, there was a kind of well. It went down. That's it. I couldn't take it anymore. I woke up in the car on the way home. At night, I tried to go to sleep, but couldn't. I had nightmares, but only once. Then I got used to it, Allah be praised.
and ....
First TV host: Abu Badr, what time do you get up? Do you eat a special breakfast? All these details are very important to us.
Abdallah Al-Bishi: I cannot elaborate on the work itself. On the personal level, I am very normal. I get up in the morning, pray the Al-Fajr prayer. My breakfast is prepared, and I eat it. Allah be praised. I wait for the police car to pick me up, and I go to work. It's all very normal. I finish the job, and go home. It's all very normal.
MEMRI TV is an independent organization which translates Middle-Eastern television shows to English, and then posts the result to the internet.
I selected this video for presentation here, because I wanted to depict the great cultural differences between America and our very strong allies, Saudi Arabia.
No executions are depicted on this video, and it should be considered SFW (Safe For Work).
However, it is often more revealing at levels beyond the obvious.
For example, one of the reporters is a beautiful woman. As she asks The Executioner about his work (which he describes as his "mission"), she smiles.
Second TV host: Abdallah, what was your most difficult beheading? Have you ever beheaded someone you knew?
Abdallah Al-Bishi: Yes, I have beheaded many people who were my friends, but whoever commits an offense brings it on himself.
... she continues to speak, and smile. But when The Executioner begins to speak, she shuts up immediately and turns into a poker face.
She recognizes this person as a killer, and becomes a very still, small mouse in the corner.
In America, we hear much from Feminists who shrill that America is Chauvinist and repressive.
They have no idea. THIS ... is the face of repression.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
2008 Croc Match Stages
Thanks to Evil Bill ("I am but a lowly stage designer, trying my best to provide some sort of shooting challenge"), we have the stage designs for the 2008 Labor Day Weekend "Another Day in Paradise " High Round-Count match at Dundee, Oregon.
This match is scheduled for Auguste 30-31, 2008. That's Saturday and Sunday. If you haven't already signed up, be sure to get to the match early. You can find sign-up information here.
You can download the stage designs and procedures at the marked links. File sizes are marked on each stage. Although I don't plan to compete in this match (don't have ammo loaded, etc.), after a look at the stages I may show up just to take pictures. Maybe even some video. (See Below #1)
Stage Bay: 1
Title/Link: The Long and Short of It [59 kb]
Designer: Keith Tyler
Round-count: 54/270 points
Targets: 24 IPSC, 6 plates
Description: Comstock Field Course
Comments: Box activates 2 swingers, shoot from the box. Lots of vision barriers.
Stage Bay: 2
Title/Link: Shooting Paradise [391 kb]
Designer: Eric Falkner
Round-count: 55 /275 Points
Targets: 24 IPSC, 2 PP, 5 Plates
Description: Comstock Field Course
Comments: The "5 plates" are on a Texas Star/ Narrow bay, trees are probably hard-cover, shooting through ports and around vision barriers ... including especially the Texas Star. Four shooting positions, plus a bottle-neck 'free fire zone' in the middle; watch your 180 there!
Stage Bay: 3
Title/Link: Over the TipTop [71 kb]
Designer: Mike McCarter
Round-count: 48/240 points
Targets: 18 IPSC, 12 USP
Description: Comstock Field Course
Comments: The USP (U.S. Poppers) are in 4 groups of 3, stacked in front of each other. A Lateral COF, with 3 ports between vision barriers plus shooting around the ends of the vision barriers ... all shooting from "Box A Only". Use of the term "Field Course" here is incorrect, of course, because of the "shoot from the box only" restriction. As is typical of a Croc Match, this stage defies being categorized. Just ... do what you have to do. Note that the IPSC targets are arranged in six arrays, glued on top of each other with limited access to 2/3 of the targets. This will be an Accuracy-intense stage. Good news? This is decidedly NOT Revolver-Friendly. (Okay, I was kidding about the "Good News" thingie.)
Stage Bay: 4
Title/Link: Darn Popper [151 kb]
Designer: Trevor Ott
Round-count: 51/255 Points
Targets: 25 IPSC, 1 PP
Description: Comstock Field Course, although all rounds must be fired "from within fault lines and Box A", and an irregular hexagon fully enclosed by 'fault lines' as of this writing. Again, defies categorization in this respect.
Comments: The single Steel Target (a Pepper Popper which appears to be partially hidden behind a (low?) vision barrier on the far end of the bay must be engaged from within the starting Box A. Note that "Still will flip up T11 and T12, which are also behind the "low(?) vision barrier". As a further complication, there appears to be a vision barrier within the fault-lines, running from uprange to downrange; it seems to be intended to force the shooter not to engage all targets from a single point. It may not survive Stage Construction. The stage design features many barrels between shooting position and targets. The stage procedure does not specify whether the barrels constitute hard-cover or soft-cover, but Croc Matches typically define them as soft-cover. This is because time available does not allow for complex Range Officer decisions about whether a shot is a legal hit or not because there is a hole in the barrel.
Stage Bay: 5
Title/Link: Paradise Island [105 kb]
Designer: Paul Meier
Round-count: 59/295 points
Targets: 25 IPSC, 7 USP, 2 Pepper Poppers
Description: Comstock, shooting from with fully-enclosed fault-lines and from atop a platform.
Comments: Start sitting in a chair, unloaded pistol on a table, ammo on person. At least two moving targets (swingers?) activated apparently by shooting either USP or Pepper Poppers. This is probably presented in the "Punch Bowl" bay; very close shooting, a lot of walking up and down the hill to score, tape and reset the targets. Again, another slow stage. Bay is in the hot sun, you'll get tired of walking up and down the hill for a minute's rest in the shade of the Rifle Bench-rest area. Bring lots of water and sun block. (See Below #2.)
Stage Bay: 6
Title/Link: Just Another Set of Standards [69 kb]
Designer: Brad Sitton
Round-count: 48/240 Points
Targets: 6 IPSC
Description: Fixed Time
Comments: Six strings, 6 seconds per string. From different distances, with different stances and grips (kneeling, freestyle, strong hand, weak hand, mandatory reload). This will be a very time-consuming stage. Prediction: it will slow up the match, their will be penalties for following the wrong procedures from at least one distance/shooting position/array; this will be the most hated stage in the match.
Stage Bay: Croc Bay
Title/Link: Freestyle Paradise [438 kb]
Designer: "Evil" Bill Marrs
Round-count: 66/330 points
Targets: 25 IPSC, 4 Pepper Popper, 2 USP, 10 Plates
Description: Comstock, legal shooting area defined by fault lines. Starting position is of interest: "Any body position, any hand position, any safe "gun ready" condition and position that complies with the rules. You can not start a stage touching the gun or ammo! (rule 8.2.3)"
Comments: "All props are soft cover -- except the barrels." Note that this stage features the "Evil Oregon Star". Note that this stage features at least 4 IPSC targets which seem to be activated by hitting steel plates. There have been issues with this arrangement ... what if you hit the plate and it doesn't bring up the IPSC target? What if the 'head' of the IPSC target is bent to the point of inaccessibility by the repeated action of being rapidly moved from a prone to a vertical position? Look for this stage design to be changed before the start of the match; there are some potential administrative problems associated with the stage design as I have interpreted it, so don't take this as fact. This is the biggest stage of the match (in terms of number of targets and points available.) Still, it looks like the most fun stage of all. I want to shoot this stage!
* See Below #1:
I may show up for the match, and I hope to take pictures and films some videos.
Heck, I would love to shoot the match. But, as I have frequently mentioned here, considering the dramatically increased cost of components, I don't feel that I can afford to shoot a "Lost Brass Match".
This match is not publicized as a "Lost Brass Match". However, there are so many rounds fired on each stage, the shooting positions are so far apart, and the pace of the match is so fast, there is no time to do much brassing. Even after a stage is completed, you just want to get off the stage and on to the next one.
Folks, this is not intended as a criticism of the match. On the contrary, this is the most exciting and downright FUN match in the country today. I'm describing a personal decision here, and it probably doesn't apply to you. Don't assume that I'm trying to talk you out of shooting this match, because I wouldn't want anyone to miss it because of something I have said.
* See Below #2
Friends, if you're not accustomed to shooting matches in Oregon, there's some things you should know.
First: During the month of August, the weather is hot hot HOT! Bring lots of water, sun-block (pf 25 should be a minimum, and refresh it every 2 hours), wear light clothing.
Second: After Labor Day, the weather changes dramatically. We get rain, and sometimes it turns into a real drizzle. Prepare for it by bringing Rain Gear, hats, towels, and anything else which you expect to need to continue to compete during a downpour.
Third: Sometimes, the Weather doesn't understand the calendar so well. Expect to encounter the First conditions. Prepare yourself so that if the Second conditions prevail, you will not be uncomfortable in the rain.Here's the weather report. Doesn't look like rain to me. (Click to see full size.)
_______________________________________
Oh, yeah.
You want to know what a Croc Match stage looks like, when it's Done Right?
Once again, here's Stage Winner Yong Lee on Stage 5: The Doors.
This is the 2005 Croc Match.
Here's the weather report. Doesn't look like rain to me. (Click to see full size.)Phishing for Gullible Geeks
Four days ago I wrote an article called "Comcast Hell".
It was as long, and as difficult to read, as a Melville novel.
Moby Dick:
This was a long, convoluted story of my attempts to resolve a billing problem with my Internet Provider, Comcast. (Note: no, it has not yet been resolved to my satisfaction. I estimate it will take 45 to 60 days to get all of the billing issues resolved. Perhaps as much as 90 days, if the Comcast Service Representative didn't actually do all the things s/he said s/he did.)
After I published the article I read it. I thought "That's a lot of whining for one post, even for a Geek! I ought to just delete it. But it's late, I'll sleep on it first. " (Not the first time I've had that thought, and from time to time I have acted on it. You may not have noticed. That suggests that it's usually a good decision.)
However, I didn't. Call it Sloth. Call me Ishmael.
__________________________________________
The Phisher:
A couple of days later at 6:13 am, someone who represented himself as a Comcast employee posted a comment offering to help.
All I had to do, he said, was to email him my phone number, and my Mother's phone number.
The return email address he provided was "cable.comcast.com". (Which, according to Whois.com, is not a properly formatted domain name. But email routers often have extensions like this.)
The guy must not know me for the cynical, suspicious Geek that I am. The idea that I would send personal information to a stranger from a strange land is just something that I cannot Grok.
How did this purportedly concerned Comcast employee know that I had a problem with Comcast? Comcast knows me by my Primary User Name, which is certainly not public knowledge ... certainly not something which is available to someone who knows me by Blog. Of course, he didn't know that for sure. But with a phone number, and an email address, it may be possible to access a commercial account and (if you're a fast talker) convince the CSR to allow you access by, among other things, resetting the password.
Given the Primary User Name, and a password, the amount of damage is literally incalculable. It depends upon their skill as a Hacker.
So I didn't send him any phone numbers. Instead, I replied to the email address and told him that if he was Legit, he could look up the company records and contact me by a more secure method.
This was, of course, an attempt to get HIM to reveal more about himself.
In the meantime, I contacted Comcast and described the situation. I contacted the Help Desk, and also the Vice President in charge of Operations. I asked them to vet this person, if they could; I also asked them to tell me if they had ANY idea who that person was.
I've received a reply from Comcast (not with the same "cable.comcast.com" email format, by the way) stating that they had nobody like that anywhere in their organization. They advised me to reject any requests from that source.
That was easy to do. All I had to do was to accept that he was Phishing for information which would allow him to steal from me, and not respond as he had requested.
_________________________________________
The White Whale
The reason I'm boring you with all this is to impart a message:
If you use the Internet, someday somebody may come up to you and say: "Just give me your personal contact information, and I will solve all of your problems. If I am lying, may the Jack of Diamonds jump up onto your shoulder and piss in your ear."
Friends, resist the natural inclination to believe in this person. As sure as you do, you will end up with wet ears.
If you find yourself with yellow ear-wax, what can you do?
Consider the scene in "True Grit", where Rooster Cogburn discovers that he is sharing his domicile and his dinner with a large, gray Rat. First he tried Legal recourse:
When that doesn't work, he shoots the rat.
That's the best way to deal with a Phisher, too.
Tell them that you heard it here, first.
It was as long, and as difficult to read, as a Melville novel.
Moby Dick:
This was a long, convoluted story of my attempts to resolve a billing problem with my Internet Provider, Comcast. (Note: no, it has not yet been resolved to my satisfaction. I estimate it will take 45 to 60 days to get all of the billing issues resolved. Perhaps as much as 90 days, if the Comcast Service Representative didn't actually do all the things s/he said s/he did.)
After I published the article I read it. I thought "That's a lot of whining for one post, even for a Geek! I ought to just delete it. But it's late, I'll sleep on it first. " (Not the first time I've had that thought, and from time to time I have acted on it. You may not have noticed. That suggests that it's usually a good decision.)
However, I didn't. Call it Sloth. Call me Ishmael.
__________________________________________
The Phisher:
A couple of days later at 6:13 am, someone who represented himself as a Comcast employee posted a comment offering to help.
All I had to do, he said, was to email him my phone number, and my Mother's phone number.
The return email address he provided was "cable.comcast.com". (Which, according to Whois.com, is not a properly formatted domain name. But email routers often have extensions like this.)
The guy must not know me for the cynical, suspicious Geek that I am. The idea that I would send personal information to a stranger from a strange land is just something that I cannot Grok.
How did this purportedly concerned Comcast employee know that I had a problem with Comcast? Comcast knows me by my Primary User Name, which is certainly not public knowledge ... certainly not something which is available to someone who knows me by Blog. Of course, he didn't know that for sure. But with a phone number, and an email address, it may be possible to access a commercial account and (if you're a fast talker) convince the CSR to allow you access by, among other things, resetting the password.
Given the Primary User Name, and a password, the amount of damage is literally incalculable. It depends upon their skill as a Hacker.
So I didn't send him any phone numbers. Instead, I replied to the email address and told him that if he was Legit, he could look up the company records and contact me by a more secure method.
This was, of course, an attempt to get HIM to reveal more about himself.
In the meantime, I contacted Comcast and described the situation. I contacted the Help Desk, and also the Vice President in charge of Operations. I asked them to vet this person, if they could; I also asked them to tell me if they had ANY idea who that person was.
I've received a reply from Comcast (not with the same "cable.comcast.com" email format, by the way) stating that they had nobody like that anywhere in their organization. They advised me to reject any requests from that source.
That was easy to do. All I had to do was to accept that he was Phishing for information which would allow him to steal from me, and not respond as he had requested.
_________________________________________
The White Whale
The reason I'm boring you with all this is to impart a message:
If you use the Internet, someday somebody may come up to you and say: "Just give me your personal contact information, and I will solve all of your problems. If I am lying, may the Jack of Diamonds jump up onto your shoulder and piss in your ear."
Friends, resist the natural inclination to believe in this person. As sure as you do, you will end up with wet ears.
If you find yourself with yellow ear-wax, what can you do?
Consider the scene in "True Grit", where Rooster Cogburn discovers that he is sharing his domicile and his dinner with a large, gray Rat. First he tried Legal recourse:
"Mr. Rat, I have a writ here says you're to stop eating Chin Lee's cornmeal forthwith. Now it's a rat writ, writ for a rat, and this is lawful service of the same. See, doesn't pay any attention to me."
When that doesn't work, he shoots the rat.
That's the best way to deal with a Phisher, too.
Tell them that you heard it here, first.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
2008 Croc Match
The Croc Match (*) is alive and well, thriving with eight (8) stages and requires 400+ rounds MINIMUM to complete the match.
I knew you would like that last part.
The link to all information for the match is here, and even though the URL suggests that this is information for the 2007 match ... trust me, it's everything you need to know for the 2008 match.
This is
The match runs for two days ... August 30/31, 2008 ... which fits nicely into the LONG Labor Day Weekend. (They planned it that way.)
Paul will probably be the MD, and Evil Bill will probably be the RM. Look for the most evil ... sorry, I mean EVIL stage designs, targets and props you would never imagine.
There WILL be Revolver Shooters at the match. If you've never watched anyone making 9 or 10 reloads to complete a single stage, this is your chance.
Shooting Production, Single-Stack or Limited-10 Division? No problem. I've shot this match more than once with a 1911 Single Stack, using a mix of 10-round and 8-round Chip McCormack magazines. Yes, the other members of my squad did actually say 'We only found Jerry at the end of the stage by following his trail of expended magazines". (If they didn't say that, exactly ... they meant to. And they should have.)
What they actually said, when they saw me shooting 50+ round stages with 8-round magazines, was: "I felt so sorry for Jerry".
Never mind. I hear that a lot even when I'm shooting a 'regular' match with a hi-cap Open Gun.
We're talking Trail of Tears, folks, and if you ever decided that you had 500 rounds of loaded ammunition that you wanted to shoot up, and leave it on the stage because you were too tired to pick up your own brass, this is the match for YOU!
Registration is limited to the first 120 entries, but chances are good that it's not too late to register.
This match isn't for just anybody. Come on out, shoot your aspirations out, and prove to yourself and to your friends that you are Man Enough to take on the Iron Man Match From Heck.
(No, I'm not man-enough this year. Also, I don't have enough ammo loaded. But don't let that stop you.
Stoke 'Em Up, Brother! You'll need every magazine you own, and you'll laugh more than you cry.
Probably.
2008 Area 1 Multi Gun Championship
2008 Area 1 Multi Gun Championship
... I missed it.
I was sick that weekend, didn't go to watch (and report on) the match even though it was only 20 minutes away from my sick bed.
Didn't talk to anybody. Didn't get any photographs or videos. .
I couldn't even find a link to the match results, year.
Watch this space. As soon as I learn anything, I'll pass it along.
(With luck, someone who was there will be able to provide a link to the match results in the COMMENTS section, and I can update this article with the link URL.)
Sorry, folks. Not saying I'll do better next time, but at least I recognize my own failings.
... I missed it.
I was sick that weekend, didn't go to watch (and report on) the match even though it was only 20 minutes away from my sick bed.
Didn't talk to anybody. Didn't get any photographs or videos. .
I couldn't even find a link to the match results, year.
Watch this space. As soon as I learn anything, I'll pass it along.
(With luck, someone who was there will be able to provide a link to the match results in the COMMENTS section, and I can update this article with the link URL.)
Sorry, folks. Not saying I'll do better next time, but at least I recognize my own failings.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Olympic Sport: Sheep Sheering?
Australia targets Olympic sheep shearing
Bloody Hell!
Peter Artridge, of Sports Shear Australia, one of the industry's governing bodies, said: "We think shearing has as much right to be called a sport as any Commonwealth or national games event.Sheep Shearing? And the IOC doesn't think that Practical Pistol is a worthy addition to the Olympic Games?
"Shearers should be up there with other Australian sporting champions.
"Some of these guys train for months to be at their physical best. They're going to the gym and doing yoga and following special diets. They're outstanding athletes.
"If people could see the skill that is involved, they'd be interested."
Bloody Hell!
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