Military Advice
"Combat for Dummies" - (advice and instructions from actual military sources)
"Aim towards the enemy." --Instruction printed on U.S. Rocket Launcher
"When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend." --U.S. Marine Corps
"Cluster bombing from B-52s is very, very accurate. The bombs are guaranteed to always hit the ground." --USAF Ammo Troop
"If the enemy is in range, so are you." --Infantry Journal
"A slipping gear could let your m203 grenade launcher fire when you least expect it. That would make you quite unpopular in what's left of your unit." --Army's magazine of prevention maintenance
"It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed." --U.S. Air Force manual
"Try to look unimportant; the enemy may be low on ammo." --Infantry Journal
"Tracers work both ways." --U.S. Army Ordnance
"Five-second fuses only last three seconds." --Infantry Journal
"Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid." --David Hackworth
"If your attack is going too well, you're walking into an ambush." --Infantry Journal
"No combat-ready unit has ever passed inspection." --Joe Gay
"Any ship can be a minesweeper....once." --Anonymous
"Never tell the platoon sergeant you have nothing to do." --Unknown Marine Recruit
"Don't draw fire; it irritates the people around you." --Infantry Journal
"If you see a bomb technician running, try to keep up with him." --USAF Ammo Troop

I enjoyed this post....

i've thought up and written about 5 different blog entries over the past 2 weeks. the only problem is that i wrote them in my head rather than typing them. do you ever do that? write a letter or have a conversation in your head and then find that you never really get around to doing it in the world that exists outside of your head... i'm embarrassed to admit that i do it way too often. .....

You're not alone.

This is good news...
Burl Finkelstein, a hobby rocketry enthusiast from Shenandoah, Georgia has been working with representatives of the ATF in Washinton, DC in an attempt to define and identify alternative working arrangements for rocketry clubs to allow non-licensed members to fly high power rockets.
Finkelstein developed an outline of how a club could posture itself to take the burden off the member. That became a working document between himself and the ATF representatives in Washington, forming the foundation for clubs nationally to benefit from the information, if they chose to do so. This document has been reviewed by ATF in Washington, and they did not find any errors in the final version. This information is hoped to eventually result in an official notice from ATF that would be sent to all of their enforcement agents nationally.
..read the rest.

On Monday, the Missus snookered me into going to Sears to look at dish washers. Ours has been slowly going out. The one that she wanted was about $200 more expensive than she thought but I got it anyway. I got it home and installed it and when the Missus got home from work...she didn't like the color. So I'm going back to Sears today... unless I get crushed underneath a bisque colored dishwasher.

Well, my brother and his gang are gone. Dropped Mom off at the airport about an hour ago. sigh... I'm already missing them and it may take me a while to get used to a big house with just me and the missus.
It was great having them here and thank God for holidays. Otherwise we might not get together as much, little as it is now.
God be with them.

Meanwhile, time to get going on my projects, like replacing the dishwasher. Put a new one in yesterday. The missus didn't like the color so, I have to go back today.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”- Colossians 3:16

Mom just called and said that she had just boarded the plane. Only a few more hours.

Well, another Thanksgiving come and gone. I had my brother over, his girlfriend, his daughter and his girlfriend's daughter. I also had over 2 gentlemen from church. Instead of the tradional turkey, we opted for Thanksgiving steak with maple salmon. It was very delicious. For desert we had apple pie with whipped cream and marble cake.

It was nice to host Thanksgiving in our home.

Last night we played rummy for a couple of hours and watched Dodgeball.

Mom should be flying in and will be at home when I get at home. Yes I'm working today. It will be great to see her. Haven't seen Mom since the family reunion this past June.

I'm going to miss them all when they leave.

This is funny. Do it yourself disasters.

“Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.”- Psalm 95:1-2

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”- Psalm 1:1-2

By now you've probably heard of that shooting in Finland. Very sad. I was only 5 miles from that small town in September while I was there visiting my wife's family in a small town called Porninien.

Pray for the victims, and yes the shooter too.

Well, the rocket launch at VAST was canceled for this weekend. Couple that with the cancellation from Battle Field Park and I'm a pretty depressed rocket dude. The cancelations, due to a fire ban will give me a chance to continue working on repairing my rockets without breaking more.

Here is the current status of my repairs.

Miss Sweden, suffered a nose dive into the ground because stupid me forgot the ejection charge. The rocket is painted, but I may have to resand it in certain parts because I didn't like how it turned out. I will have to run to Hobby Town to pick up some more mylar tape for the striping. I still need to add a shock cord. I think I will finish this by next week's launch.



Norad Pro Max. Suffered a separation at apogee and a cracked fin. She's been painted and the shock card has been reattached. I want to add a little more epoxy to the shock cord and she will then be flight ready.

Black Flag. A new rocket that was supposed to be ready for the last launch, but she was all set to fly when I noticed structural issues that would have been fatal for the rocket. A new electronics bay is being fitted into the payload section. I will then will have to attach the start switch onto the bay, drill and fit removable rivets. She has been painted but because of all the rework, there will have to be a lot of touching up. This rocket is priority and I will have her ready to go by the next launch.

Jalapeno. A nose weight came loose during the last flight. I have reattached the nose weight using liquid foam and it appears to be real solid. She is now flight ready.

“[Instructions on Worship] I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”- 1 Timothy 2:1-2

“And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.”- Ephesians 1:9-10

Makes my heart go pitty-patter.
Middle school girl wins science competion with her rockets.
Very positive story. Makes my day.

Not very comforting: (From Ralph Peters)

The Chinese are developing the capability to attack our satellite network; the Russians already have it - and terrorists would love to get it.

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”- 1 Peter 5:8-9

LaShawn has a blog post on tomorrow's 490th anniversary of Martin Luther posting his theses to the castle doors.
“I cannot submit my faith either to the Pope or to the Councils, because it is clear as day that they have frequently erred and contradicted each other. Unless therefore, I am convinced by the testimony of Scripture…I cannot and will not retract…Here I stand, I can do no other. So help me God, Amen.” - Martin Luther

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”- Ephesians 2:8-9

My friend sent me a page with some of her awesome photographs on it.
Enjoy!