Archive for July, 2010

Here’s a random tech tip from Murdoc Online.

If you want to use a Samsung ML-1210 (or probably any 1200 series) laser jet printer with Windows 7, go HERE and follow the instructions.

We’ve got one of these things and want to use up the toner cartridge, but were having trouble getting it to work with Win7.

An SH-60F Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Chargers of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 14 flies by the Republic of Korea Dokdo-class amphibious assault ship Dokdo as it cruises through the East Sea. The Republic of Korea and the United States are conducting the combined alliance maritime and air readiness exercise 'Invincible Spirit' in the seas east of the Korean peninsula from July 25-28, 2010. This is the first in a series of joint military exercises that will occur over the coming months in the East and West Seas. Photo by Seaman Charles Oki

Though it’s 653 feet long compared to 844 feet for our Wasp-class ships, the Dokdo displaces less than half the tonnage and carries less than half the number of marines than the Wasps. But not bad for a country like the Republic of Korea.

A couple more shots below:
Read the rest of this entry »

Linkzookery has been MIA for a while. But it’s back.

Final MC-12 deployed to USCENTCOM AOR
All 30 planes from the MC-12W Liberty program deployed in only 13 months. More on the MC-12W here and here.

Guns of the Enemy
AKs, Dragunovs, PPSh-41s, and Khyber Pass Copies.

Mystery deepens over why sailors left base
This whole story is just odd.

Support for Mexican Border Fence Up to 68%
What I can’t figure out is what the other 32% are thinking. No immigration policy of any kind will have any real effect if the border is wide open. Fix the border, then look at fixing policy.

500 guardsmen on border by end of September
It’s a start.

U.S. Contractor Use in Iraq Expected To Rise
The State Department, especially, will be using contractors for more and more.

Crayola Rockets
Pretty cool. But looks like a kids version of a Katyusha rocket launcher. Hezbollah will be using them soon, parking them in playgrounds and orphanages.

Corps takes a new look at green bullet
Marines will try out the new M855A1 round in addition to the open-tipped SOST ammo that they’re switching to right now.

‘Criminals & Terrorists Welcome!’
Billboard I photographed outside of Fenway in Boston earlier this year.

Brownells’ AR-15 .22 LR Conversion Kit
Say Uncle reviews it for ShootingIllustrated.com.

Chrysler helps build the arsenal of democracy: M3, Sherman, and Pershing tanks
Great read. They kept exceeding production goals and then refunded the money they saved through economy of scale. Just like today’s builders.

Kirovs Back in Service?
We should raise a stink about it just to goad them into going through with the plan.

Gates Shares Common Experiences, Vision With Scouts
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates shared his personal experiences and passion for Boy Scouting with tens of thousands of Scouts and their families gathered for the 100th anniversary celebration of the Boy Scouts of America.

A Gathering of Eagles
Murdoc’s son is getting close to his Eagle.

The U.S. Military Wants a Battlefield-Ready Flying Car
Flying Humvee.

WhereToShoot.org
Find a nearby shooting range.

Inside (and outside) the Superdome: What went right
Remember all the stories about how the National Guard set up HQ in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina and flew over 10,000 helicopter sorties out of the parking lots? Yeah. Me neither.

Smart Virtual Minefield Offers Tactical Coverage Without the Ugly Unexploded Ordnance
Metal Storm covering an area monitored by sensors. Seems to have some advantages for some situations, but certainly wouldn’t replace landmines for most uses.

Marine aircraft wing gets new commander
It doesn’t specify which aircraft. Or if it’s the left wing or the right wing. [Sorry. -ed.]

An M1A1 Abrams tank is driven on a tank course by Iraqi soldiers with the 9th Iraqi Army Division instructed by U.S. Soldiers with Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment, 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division in Joint Security Station Al Rashid, Iraq, July 15. U.S. Soldiers with Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armored regiment instructed Iraqi tankers on the M1A1 Abrams tank system in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

More photos here.

Defense Tech: Mattis Still Supports Light COIN Plane Air Force Wants Dead

This should have happened years ago. But it didn’t and any optimism I ever had has pretty much evaporated.

Hopefully, UAVs can do the job. Because F-35s won’t.

Aldrin with assembled seismic experiment

From the Project Apollo Archive.

Ramen noodles were four for a dollar at the store across the street. I usually stocked up when they were on sale for six or seven for a dollar, but they’ve been five for a dollar for a long time now.

Then this four for a dollar nonsense. That’s twenty-five cents each. Crazy.

Was browsing the bird’s eye view of Bremerton Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility and noticed this monster:

Subs in Bremerton (click for larger view)

Is that the USS Triton?

It appears that scrapping wasn’t completed until last November, which surprised me. She was decommissioned in 1969.