About Murdoc Online
I don't fancy myself an armchair general, though I often act like an armchair 2nd lieutenant.
I live in the Grand Rapids area of western Michigan, USA. I've previously lived in Minnesota and Colorado.
I'm not going to tell you a whole lot about who I am, but I will tell you about who I am not.
- I am not in the military
- I have never been in the military
- I do not work for the government
- I do not work for any defense contractors or weapons manufacturers.
More things that I am not:
- I am not a full-time writer
- I am not paid to write this blog, though I have been paid as a freelancer a few times at other sites and in other mediums
- Other than being a registered Republican, I am not affiliated with any political party in any way
Last but not least:
- I am not, repeat 'NOT', Dwight Shultz the actor who played Capt. H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock on the television series "The A-Team". "Murdoc" is a nickname. Really.
Murdoc Online, or "MO", is my quasi-journalistic weblog with military news commanding the greater part of my attention. Politics and space exploration also get a bit of coverage, as will nearly anything else that catches my eye.
This is a "here's my take on the news" website. I do sometimes just throw news out there, but a little site like this doesn't have the resources or the exposure to break stories or get any scoops.
News and opinions definitely mix, and a lot of folks make their living by opinionating about news. The weblog format lends itself to "up-to-the-minute" opinionating, which is more or less what I aspire to. Obviously, my goals aren't all that lofty.
I definitely lean Rightward pretty strongly, though I'd hesitate to call myself a "right-winger". I'm far too moderate for most right-wingers, and far too Rightie for most Lefties. I'm in no-man's land, and often a target of snipers on both sides.
I DO note some news, as a cursory glance at MO will reveal. It's usually stuff that isn't getting the attention that I feel it deserves, or that is being reported in a way that I feel is biased unfairly. Although I usually don't write extensively, I am probably more of a 'thinker' than a 'linker' most of the time.
I am a contributing writer and columnist for Shooting Sports Retailer magazine.
Murdoc Online's biggest posts (in terms of outside attention) have probably been these:
- XM8 Assault Rifle - January 2004
- I'd RATHER be watching FoxNews - September 2004
- Stryker Pics from the Windy City - February 2005
- "Dear Pack 3311" - April 2005
- "It's Called Courage" - August 2005
- Navy Ships and Hurricane Katrina - September 2005
- Pictures from the air of Gulfport and Biloxi areas - September 2005
- Remember, this was virtually impossible - October 2005
- "This is not a drill!" - December 2005
- Submarine Aircraft Carriers - December 2005
- Without them, man is nothing - December 2005
- Iran 2006: Be afraid...Be very afraid - January 2006
- This is sure to help Murdoc's Page Rank - January 2006
- "We all wear the same uniform" - February 2006
- Iraqis at war with Iraqis = civil war - March 2006
- Military Deaths (all causes) 1980-2004 - March 2006
- Whatever happened to the "urban combat skateboard"? - April 2006
- Outside the funeral for Sgt. Rick Herrema of Hudsonville, MI - May 2006
- Pics of the Oriskany sinking - May 2006
- First F-35 Lightning II flight - December 2006
- Paid our respects to President Ford - January 2007
I also write at Defense Tech and at Winds of Change from time to time. I've previously written at Watchblog as an associate editor.
ADVERTISERS: You can purchase ad space on MO through Blogads: The premium 'Top Slot' or the standard strip. MO is listed on the Premium hive, the Military hive, and the Conservative hive at Blogads.
