Updated throughout the day, maybe. In between paragraphs of crystalline 24-carat academic perfection. With footnotes.
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Our man Buck was the first to notice that it’s now official:
I don’t believe that I “know” anyone from Liberty Corner, New Jersey. No referring URL though, so it looks like a direct hit. Hmph.
Huzzah! And everything. Now everyone back to work.
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TV: I’m rooting for “Terminator – The Sarah Connor Chronicles” to grab me, but so far I have to admit that it hasn’t. Oh, I’m still TiVo’d in because Summer Glau is easy on the eyes in a familiar, spooky “River Tam” sort of way, only this time as cybernetic organism atop a hyper-metal alloy chassis rather than as a brain-scarred victim of the Alliance. I think. And the film does spend an appropriate amount of time dwelling on the striking features of Lena Headey, although I wonder how many male TV viewers see her in this role and find themselves reflecting instead upon that one scene in the movie “300.”
The fellas know what I’m talking about.
Even though the main character is Sarah Connor, we’re supposed to care at least a bit about her son John, whose messianic vision it was to send squads of his best troopers back in time to stop SkyNet from nuking human civilization. And, although I’m sure Thomas Dekker is a wonderful young man IRL, I’ve so had it up to here with the sulking teenager thing. Maybe it’s just me.
Other male characters drop in and out as window dressing, victims of Sarah Connor’s feminine wiles or silenced 9mm pistol. Sometimes both. I’ve known some femmes toxique in my time, but she bears the bell away. And – present company excepted – I wonder how large the market segment really is for watching a 35-year old mother of a 17-year old son field strip an M-4 carbine, leaving fans of the original films to look at Kyle Reese in a new and somewhat unseemly light.
The realization too that in order for the show to go on for multiple seasons the Connors are going to have to go around icing nerdy computer whizzes who haven’t actually done anything wrong yet is a little morally troubling. The plot lines don’t seem to go anywhere really – I can shut the TV down and five minutes later ask myself, what actually happened there? And the small-screen version lacks both Arnold’s physical intensity and compelling backdrops: It’s either set in a not-quite dystopian suburbia, or in underground bunkers and wastelands – seen all that.
Maybe they’ll surprise me, but I’m just not feeling it yet.
But hey, Jericho is back and BSG is coming soon. So, it’s not like it’s a total loss.
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Here’s your sporting update, because at least two of you may 1) care, and 2) understand:
Australia booked their place in the CB Series final after beating Sri Lanka by 24 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-curtailed encounter.
Hussey and Clarke, who was almost run out for a duck, restored some respectability to the scoreline and finally took the run rate over three in the 38th over.
The in-form Clarke was caught and bowled just after reaching 50 by off-spinner Muralitharan, who also had James Hopes stumped, while Brad Hogg was well caught at point off Lasith Malinga.
I hate when that happens. But, all’s well that ends well, yah?
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Ace points out that we narrowly missed biting a bullet in Afghanistan yesterday. Whew!
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CNO the Chairman took questions from service folks in Hawaii yesterday, and apparently he got an earful:
A Hawai’i Marine with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment asked why some deployed Marines are stuck with older M-16 rifles, while officers are issued new M-4 carbines.
“Marines are stuck with what’s left over,” the Marine said.
Riddle me this sojers and Marines: The M-4 is basically a derivative of the M-16 with the same receiver, shooting the same round but with a shorter sight radius. Apart from the lower profile of the carbine and novelty – and those cool picatinny rails – what’s the advantage of the M-4 to a rifleman?
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Back to work, scribble-scribble.
Captain, my Captain!
With all the concerns over plagiarizing at the highest levels of the political food chain don’t you think starting out a post with the phrase “crystalline perfection” is sailing a bit too close to the wind? Just askin for your own good sir… (Think of this as a McCain staffer moment, trying to prevent even the appearance of impropriety).
Just consider imitation as the highest form of flattery
Regarding M4 vs. A2: I’d be more interested in what his Plt Sgt thinks about it. Of course the officers require the M4 so the barrel doesn’t crap up the plastic chairs as much when seated in the briefing rooms…(-*
How does someone only spend “0 seconds” here?
I haven’t seen the Terminator series yet, but I may have to check it out now that you mention that scene in 300. Of course that other scene was good too. Everyone should be lucky enough to have an oracle like that…
M4 is lighter weight, shorter (and thus less likely to get caught on things) and has an adjustable length buttstock, which is nice, you know, for that ideal cheek to buttstock weld the Drill Sgt’s tried to beat into our peanut-sized brains.
Also, I don’t know that I’ve seen that cute little scope on an A2, but it’s been on a heck of a lot of M4s I’ve seen (but not on the one I personally carried).
And it’s newer, so it’s automatically better, right?
Oh… it’s been long enough since I carried it, I’ve forgotten – does the M4 have 3 round burst, or full auto capability?
MacGyver says that the bigger question is why the officers don’t have 9mm?
With regard to the M4/A2 issue, maneuverability and weight are the big issues as is adaptability (those “picanniny rails” you speak of) from what he tells me.
He says that those left with the A2 are probably stuck behind a desk…
Isn’t the M-4 lighter in overall weight? And reportedly the M-4 has a louder report due to the shorter barrel. I’m not sure that’d be a good thing. But hey…
Congrats, Sailor.
One can only wonder if HFS said that with a straight face or a protruberance in her cheek….
Heh. No, I don’t think I’ll edit that.
I like the M4, at least the clone I have of it (made the regular manufacturer, so it’s a *good* clone) but I don’t have to fight with it.
As for the RLO’s not carrying 9mm’s, I’ll attribute that to good judgement.
M4 vs A2: increased maneuverability when dismounting and re-mounting the battle taxi. ya can keep it in closer to your body and not get it hung up on dangly gear and such.
A “0 second” visitor is one that logs on, sees that a new post is not up yet and then quickly goes over to see John at the Castle or Fbl before the boss sees what is on the monitor. Oh yea, and a visitor that has no idea if RSS means that you don’t have to check the site to see if a new post is up.
The “officers” getting the M4 and the
“Marines are stuck with what’s left over,” is not the Corps dissing the grunts. It is a decision to replace the inadequate M9 pistol and give SNCOs, officers (LtCol and lower) and Corpsmen a better weapon. The Marine Corps Times article covering the decision can be found here:
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/06/marine_m4_carbine_070625/
For those so inclined the MCTimes republished the MARADMIN 378/07 order here:
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/06/marine_maradmin37807_070625/
I can’t speak to the differences between the two as I have never fired any of the M4 variants. The differences associated with the size have been covered by others. The “older” M16A2 rifles the Marine was bitching about being stuck with are being replaced with the M16A4.
BZ in the 1st M….looking forward to the decreased time to make it to 2x same.
Well, if the Lex Babes can have Shia LeBeouf, we Lex Lugs can have Summer Glau. And this last episode suggested she may not be properly reprogrammed, so I may stick around a while longer.
And nothing against Lena Hedley, but I find Lauren Graham to be much more personable. And not because of that scene, either.
First, Lex, congratulations. Your yarns are excellent and your non-fiction even excellenter.
Funny you mention The Sara Connor Chronicles. I’m laying in the sick bed downloading episode three from iTunes. I saw 1 and 2, but the jury is still out for me too. Anyway, I’m in my bunk, waiting patiently for Summer to arrive.
As for Duckworth-Lewis, I’ve only watched two matches. One was on my honeymoon in Bermuda. We were exploring (outside) and came upon a pitch in the middle of the “locals” area. As we were decidedly not locals, there were a few sidelong glances, but we soon enough made friends and a few Red Stripes later we motored off smarter and with new friends. The other one I watched was in the sauna of the Hyatt-Regency Dubai. Felt very worldly, I did.
I personally think it’s stupid any service would only train their officers on the M9. If they’re a fobbit who is never going to use their weapon, issue them an M9 if it’ll make you feel better, but I don’t understand why (my service anyway) trains all enlisted personnel on the M16/M4 but only gives all officers training on the M9.
Good gouge from all prior re: M4 vs. M16. A few more points…the newer M16A4 models still have three round burst but are fitted with the MIL STD 1913 rail on the upper as well as a railed handguard allowing all sorts of tacticool vertical grips, flashlights, lasers, etc. to be attached. The M4 has three round burst while the M4A1 (intended for spec ops use) is fully automatic.
Ah… shouldn’t that be “Picatinny”? As in these guys? http://www.pica.army.mil/PicatinnyPublic/index.asp
That’s just not cricket! Whilst a visiting Brisbane courtesy of the good ship CVN 76, I convinced the lads to take in a match featuring the local Queensland Bulls. Spent the first hour making up our own rules based on observation. Spent the next coupla hours having the adjoining rows of spectators correct our version. Just like baseball: a lazy sport punctuated by short bursts of action made entirely palatable by…cup after cup of “full strength” VB (or similar)! What’s not to love!?!
Lex – congrats on the one million! 0 minutes seems a bit like a crime – even if a new post isn’t up, goodness knows there’ll be ample reading material in the comments…
Or Sean Connery…or Harrison Ford. You bet!
Our guys like the M-4 over the M-16a2 or A4 because it is easier to get into and out of whichever mount they have to drive around in. That and a reduction in weight. Their qual scores are lower because of the inherent shorter barrel, stock type etc. on the range but most direct fire scraps that routinely happen have been under 100m. More like 150 feet for the average joe.
The M4, M16A2 and M16A4 are 3 round burst,
The M4A1, M16A1 and M16A3 are full auto.
The M4 is lighter, weighing about the same as the original M16. The real attraction to the guys at the pointy end it the collapsing stock. All of the M16′s after the A1 have a stock about 3/4 of an inch longer which is great if your shooting at the range, but when you have body armor on and have your stance oriented to position your SAPI plate to the threat (not blading off to your target) that stock is way too long. Even the big guys will collapse the M4 stock at least one notch. The shorter sight radius didn’t seem to make much difference in practical accuracy, and while the M16 barrel seems a lot a mile longer, I never found it to be a problem in MOUT training, at least. I never noticed any difference in the volume between the M16 or the M4. The M4 is also considered sexier, so it’s subject to to being reallocated to the RHIP crowd. When we got to Kuwait nearly all the M4′s were pulled to supply the detachment who went to provide security to Qatar. (I think every non essential O-4 and above on the planet went to Qatar to have their ticket punched, and they wanted the SECFOR people to look pretty.) For most of my time over there I either carried a SAW or an M203, so the lack of M4′s wasn’t a big concern to me…
Scuttlebut here at the day job (at 230129z) is swirling about a B-2 loss out of Anderson…Two ejections seen…
Bad week for the USAF
And condolences to the 33rd TFW
*drools on keyboard*
mmm…Sean Connery or Harrison Ford…I would pay large sums of money to be faced with that choice…
*must go take cold shower*
Every Marine I know would rather have a M-14.
John ~ straight face or protruberance…? Heh. Those who know me, know.
H3ll Unkawill… I’d go with my Garand if the Army would supply the ammo in bandoleers and en bloc clips. I’m not a big fan of the mouse gun, but it’s what they give us. Works well enough with a head shot….
Bombers beat the Doggies at the dome, Aussies beat Sri Lanka at the ‘G and I’m stuck watching musical satire with my mum.
Bugger.
I am suprised the game was rained out though, when we drove past the ground on the way to the theatre it was quite a nice evening.
Pogue, you nailed Lex’s question. I’m 6’3″, and I thought it funny that I shortened the M4 stock, now I know why.
As for staff weenies, the AF Lt Col (I like the roller coaster they make of their rank abbreviations) I worked with for a while, from CENTCOM, never stopped bitching about carrying his “long rifle,” and bitching that SOCCENT (my command) stole all CENTCOM’s M4s. I reminded him that, unlike CENTCOM that set up a new HQ in Qatar and parked there, SOCCENT actually went into Iraq. It got to the point where I finally knelt on one knee in front of him and offered him my M4, like a knight would his sword, if he would just shut up about it. It worked–he was so embarassed he finally shut up about it.
It apparently falls on me to play the pedant… So be it.
The fine young lady goes by the name Headey, not Hedley. IMDB is your friend, laddies, and but a few mouseclicks and keystrokes away.
Thank you, Harvey Korman!
Thanks, saffer. I had the IMDB page open when I penned that post. Must have been overcome by her heady visage.
Here’s the thing I’d carry, if it came to it and they’d let me. .308 – when you care enough to send the very best.
This guy agrees, and goes through the cost of setting an M-14 up in the Sage EBR configuration. Which brings us to this lovely video of what you could do with one with optics and a silencer.
Thanks Lex,
I have a little tax refund that is burning a hole in my pocket. I have been thinking about what kind of toy I want to buy with it. The local Yamaha shop had a 05 speed triple, a 05 919, and a 05 z1000, I could not decide, so maybe a rifle! There is no such thing as too many rifles is there?
Congrats, Lex on your millionth. You run a first rate blog, and I’ve been enjoying your wit, wisdom, and expertise for some time. Keep up the great blogging, Cap’n!
The M-4 is the modern version with a collapsing stock to allow for a correct sight picture while wearing body armor. The rails can be used for lights, red dot quick acquisition sights, forward handles, long range scopes, etc. The shorter barrel isn’t an accuracy issue inside 300 yards and most of what they are being called on to do is a lot closer.
The M4 is preferred for close quarters combat, playing peekaboo in buildings, for example. Situations where a quarter or half a second make the life/death difference. It may not be the best possible weapon, but it’s the best choice we have right now. If there are forward units that need them, they should get them first.
ASM, the collapsing stock is to allow people whose length of pull is small, such as little girls, to shoot them.
See this and this
Ok, I’ll try again, as my last attempted comment disappeared.
ASM, the collapsing stock is for use by little girls, with their short length of pull. See here: Miss Williamson, I believe.
Lex, you do make it hard to put links in comments. I wish I could click and drag, instead of having to type them in.
Oh, see this, too.
Dang, that last one didn’t work. Y’all are just going to have to type this in:http://olegvolk.net/gallery/d/2781-4morrigan_michaela0677.jpg
Thanx for fixing the links, Lex, but when I look at # 35 again, I think, “Hmm, good cheek-weld, but her eyeball does not seem to be lined up with that ther red-dot sight. Mebbe she needs some kind of padding, or spacer, or cheek-shim, or something, there?
Maybe I should mention this to Oleg. Whatever.
I dunno if she’s deadly with the rifle (seems more likely than not) but she’s sure deadly cute.