Sunday, June 30, 2013

GOLF

Golf is originally an ancient warrior tradition: the clubs are actually tiny little war hammers and the little white balls represent the skulls of our enemies. When we try to knock the skulls of our enemies into holes in the ground, this represents cutting off their heads and burying them separate from their bodies, so their souls can't get to Paradise, and so they can't come back and haunt us as ghosts. Not many people know that.


For many people Golf is an extremely frustrating activity. I don't let it get to me. For me, golf is a zen-like experience. Focus, but get out of Mind. If you get emotionally involved, you'll blow your game for that day.

A professional golfer just offered to let me caddy for him, via Facebook, on one of the courses around here. I'm seriously considering taking him up on it. I'd do it just for the love of the game, and to see if I could possibly learn something.

Old Took's great-grand-uncle Bullroarer . . . was so huge (for a hobbit) that he could ride a horse. He charged the ranks of the goblins of Mount Gram in the Battle of The Green Fields, and knocked their king Golfimbul's head clean off with a wooden club. . .



. . . It sailed a hundred yards through the air and went down a rabbit hole, and in this way the battle was won and the game of Golf invented at the same moment. - The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien.

I used to live right next to Pinehurst, North Carolina and as a resident I could play 18 holes on about 49 different golf courses for $35. The year before I retired from the military and the year after I played golf almost once a week. Then the career started picking up; I moved up north and haven't played a game since 2009. I should've stayed down there & got a job driving the beer truck . . .

Golf the STORMBRINGER way.

I shoulda stayed there. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it. What do I get? A one-way ticket to Palookaville!

- STORMBRINGER SENDS


Saturday, June 29, 2013

THIS IS EXTRAORDINARY


An average of 1100 hits a day, then it peaks out at 8,919? What did I post on Thursday to make it go viral like this?

Right now I'm writing the book of course. Later, I'm completing a shooting bench then it's plinking time with that sniperized 10/22.

I can't share what I'm working on, of course, without giving away the plot, but it involves poignant memories and reunion with a long-lost lover. And of course exotic locales, action, adventure; in other words, fiction crafted from the events of my own life.

Today I've included the haunting melody of Lana Del Ray's 'Young And Beautiful' because it evokes the feelings I'm dealing with as I craft this story.




Yes, I confess I am an emotional basketcase when it comes to memories & reminiscing.

The rest of the time I'm a machine.

STORMBRINGER SENDS

Friday, June 28, 2013

NEVER MESS WITH THIS GIRLS PURSE

Here's a demonstration of the different caliber handguns available today - S.L.



This training film has just earned the STORMBRINGER Seal of Approval! Show it to your wives, daughters and/or girlfriends & mistresses.

- STORMBRINGER SENDS

IDENTIFY THAT RIFLE

Gentlemen: if the first thing you noticed was the rifle and you correctly identified it as a Barrett .50 caliber sniper system, then I have some bad news for you...



STORMBRINGER SENDS

INDIA PAKISTAN BORDER CROSSING

Daily Closing of India and Pakistan Border Crossing . . . both fascinating and hysterical. This Is how the border between India and Pakistan is closed every evening! This is not a Monty Python comedy skit, but it does resemble one . . . S.L.





Keep in mind that both these countries have nuclear weapons!

STORMBRINGER SENDS

Thursday, June 27, 2013

THE ARCHITECT

Maureen Scott is an ardent American patriot who was born in Pittsburgh, PA, and retired to Richmond, VA, in 2000. Free from the nine-to-five grind of writing for employers and clients, she began writing political commentary to please herself and express her convictions, as do I. Our Pledge of Allegiance, a military band playing the National Anthem, and the wisdom of our Founding Fathers, inspire her passion and views. Her life is guided by a firm belief that truth is the most important virtue, and that God knows what He is doing with her. She is my guest writer today, for I could have never said it better. Please take the time to read and listen to this good American woman. I believe you will be glad you did. I give you Maureen Scott.


The Architect of Destruction


By Maureen Scott

Barack Obama appears to be a tormented man filled with resentment, anger, and disdain for anyone of an opinion or view other than his. He acts in the most hateful, spiteful, malevolent, vindictive ways in order to manipulate and maintain power and control over others. Perhaps, because, as a child, he grew up harboring an abiding bitterness toward the U.S. that was instilled in him by his family and mentors…it seems to have never left him.

It is not the color of his skin that is a problem in America .

Rather it is the blackness that fills his soul and the hollowness in his heart where there should be abiding pride and love for this country.

Think: Have we ever heard Obama speak lovingly of the U.S. or its people, with deep appreciation and genuine respect for our history, our customs, our sufferings and our blessings? Has he ever revealed that, like most patriotic Americans, he gets "goose bumps" when a band plays "The Star Spangled Banner," or sheds a tear when he hears a beautiful rendition of " America the Beautiful?" Does his heart burst with pride when millions of American flags wave on a National holiday - or someone plays "taps" on a trumpet? Has he ever shared the admiration of the military, as we as lovers of those who keep us free, feel when soldiers march by? It is doubtful because Obama did not grow up sharing our experiences or our values. He did not sit at the knee of a Grandfather or Uncle who showed us his medals and told us about the bravery of his fellow troops as they tramped through foreign lands to keep us free. He didn't have grandparents who told stories of suffering and then coming to America, penniless, and the opportunities they had for building a business and life for their children.


Away from this country as a young child, Obama didn't delight in being part of America and its greatness. He wasn't singing our patriotic songs in kindergarten, or standing on the roadside for a holiday parade and eating a hot dog, or lighting sparklers around a campfire on July 4th as fireworks exploded over head, or placing flags on the grave sites of fallen and beloved American heroes.

Rather he was separated from all of these experiences and doesn't really understand us and what it means to be an American. He is void of the basic emotions that most feel regarding this country and insensitive to the instinctive pride we have in our national heritage. His opinions were formed by those who either envied us or wanted him to devalue the United States and the traditions and patriotism that unites us.

He has never given a speech that is filled with calm, reassuring, complimentary, heartfelt statements about all the people in the U.S. Or one that inspires us to be better and grateful and proud that in a short time our country became a leader, and a protector of many. Quite the contrary, his speeches always degenerate into mocking, ridiculing tirades as he faults our achievements as well as any critics or opposition for the sake of a laugh, or to bolster his ego. He uses his Office to threaten and create fear while demeaning and degrading any American who opposes his policies and actions. A secure leader, who has noble self-esteem and not false confidence, refrains from showing such dread of critics and displaying a cocky, haughty attitude.


Mostly, his time seems to be spent causing dissension, unrest, and anxiety among the people of America, rather than uniting us (even though he was presented to us as the "Great Uniter"). He creates chaos for the sake of keeping people separated, envious, aggrieved and ready to argue. Under his leadership Americans have been kept on edge, rather than in a state of comfort and security. He incites people to be aggressive toward, and disrespectful of, those of differing opinions. And through such behavior, Obama has lowered the standards for self-control and mature restraint to the level of street-fighting gangs, when he should be raising the bar for people to strive toward becoming more considerate, tolerant, self-disciplined, self-sustaining, and self-assured.

Not a day goes by that he is not attempting to defy our laws, remove our rights, over-ride established procedures, install controversial appointees, enact divisive mandates, and assert a dictatorial form of power.


· Never has there been a leader of this great land who used such tactics to harm and hurt the people and this country.

· Never have we had a President who spoke with a caustic, evil tongue against the citizenry rather than present himself as a soothing, calming and trustworthy force.

· Never, in this country, have we experienced how much stress one man can cause a nation of people - on a daily basis!


Obama has promoted the degeneration of peace, civility, and quality of cooperation between us. He thrives on tearing us down, rather than building us up. He is the Architect of the decline of America , and the epitome of a Demagogue.

© Maureen Scott


This about sums it up . . . not much more I can add to that . . .

STORMBRINGER


EASY SQUEEZY

My good friend Paul D'Ambrosio is having a book signing tomorrow - June 27 at 7 pm - at Booktowne, Main Street, Manasquan New Jersey.



Five questions for “Easy Squeezy” author Paul D’Ambrosio

Q: A gazillion books come out every month. Why should people read your new techno-thriller, “Easy Squeezy”?

A: Two reasons: It’s an action-packed adventure with a lot of smart psychological tension that keeps readers guessing where the next plot twists will be and who is the real villain. Oh, it also solves the global economic crisis.

Q: You fix the worldwide economy? Isn’t that just a little bit too…

A: Whoa, let me stop you there. I’m pretty much just the transcriber. The heroes figure out exactly what is happening, what they have to do to stop an economic meltdown, and keep the whole United States of America from disintegrating on what may be the last presidential election – all the while fighting off killer air drones and nameless assassins. It’s a pretty busy two days for them.

Q: When you say you are the “transcriber,” that sounds like this book is based on real events. Have any of the events actually happened?

A: (Pause) I’m not allowed, for security reasons, to say what is real and what has been altered. I think the disclaimer in the front of the book speaks to the issue: “National security officials maintain that the integrity of the U.S. money supply remains secure from all threats, foreign and domestic. The following events are based on a classified and highly credible threat...”

Obviously, no real names are used and locations have been changed.
But let me say this ... In my extensive research for this book, I found the U.S. Federal Reserve banking system, and the integrity of the trillions of dollars in transactions that are held inside supposedly secure computers, are vulnerable to sophisticated attacks.

We hear almost every day about cyber-attacks against military and economic targets from foreign powers. Those are pretty much dry runs for the Big One. Nuclear weapons are passé for nations. The next World War will be an all-out crippling of our immense cyber infrastructure. Think about this: how would you do your job if no computer or telephone worked? How would you get money out of a bank if its computer system was shut down?

What I show in the book is that the biggest threats sometime are right under our noses. The characters see the threat, learn about the vulnerability in the economy and, well, fix it in a very surprising and unique way.

Q: You have worked as a real-life investigative journalist for more than 20 years, winning almost every top national award – some three times. You were even a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal in Public Service, essentially the Pulitzer of Pulitzers. How did your background prepare you for this story?

A: One thing I learned as a journalist is that anything, no matter how incredible, is possible. There are some stories that I have covered that if you pitched them to Hollywood, a producer would say, “no one would believe THAT happened!” I covered a lot of scandals in New Jersey and I’m always impressed by the creativity of the bad guys.

I made sure that all the technology presented in the book is accurate. I asked a former desert special ops NCO to read the battle scenes and point out errors. Experts in German, Russian and other languages kept my translations accurate. The reader will come away with a good, and frightening, understanding of what is out there, and in the skies, these days.

Q: Where did you get the title, “Easy Squeezy”?

A: I have to admit to stealing a technique from Elmore Leonard here, which saves the title’s surprise meaning until the end. As the book cover suggests, the title was devised by a little boy because one “e” is backward. Much of this book is about unbridled greed, revenge, and justice. The reader needs to keep in mind that the quest for justice never ends, even after 40 years.



Easy Squeezy Author: Paul D'Ambrosio


Publisher: Down The Shore Publishing


Binding and Price: paper; $16.95




Paul and I go way back. I first met Paul in 6th grade, my first year at the International School Bangkok. More recently, through the miracle of modern-day social media and my work in corporate security, Paul and I reconnected. Guess who is the "former desert special ops NCO" he consulted for his novel? Hint: I'm mentioned in the credits.

Paul is a terrific writer and his latest novel is compelling. All fans of heroic action/adventure genre should buy his book.


- STORMBRINGER SENDS


Wednesday, June 26, 2013

TOKAY GECKOs & CHEECHUK LIZARDS

Last night Daughter #1 asked me to do my impressions of the Tokay Gecko and the CheeChuk lizard. Sounds crazy but I think I impressed her boyfriend - S.L.

Growing up in Southeast Asia, these tiny dinosaurs were in every room in every house and we took them for granted.

On a recent trip to Belize, I was inspecting a property with the client and a CheeChuk fell out of the rataan blinds over the window. The client - a Creole aristocrat - took it in her stride. I didn't bat an eyelid either; but I'd almost forgotten these ubiquitous reptiles we shared out living space with.

Everything in the Orient is tied to good luck and karma. Here's the deal: when the CheeChuk or the Tokay starts growl - the preamble to it's bark - everybody goes silent, to count the barks; odd number good / even number bad.

To this day I remember one time in Latin II with Mrs Gatti - the hardest teacher at the International School and to this day my hands down favorite - and the Tokay started with its introductory growl: "G-r-r-r-G-r-r-r..." EVERYBODY SHUT UP - even Mrs Gatti. We were counting the barks: five - GOOD.

The common name of this little fella is Cheechuk Lizard but in Thailand they are called "Chinchuk."

Another time in Mrs Gatti's class a CheeChuk fell on my head. THIS IS THE BEST OF CHOK-DEE - "Good Luck" - I have had good luck and good fortune in my life ever since.

"That's my story and I'm sticking to it!"

- STORMBRINGER SENDS


Tuesday, June 25, 2013

EVERYDAY I WRITE THE BOOK

Good Morning Team - time to get up, put water on my face, drink coffee, and write the book just like Elvis Costello sings - S.L.



Don't tell me you don't know
what love is
When you're old enough to know
better
When you find strange hands in
your sweater
When your dreamboat
turns out to be a footnote
I'm a man with a mission
in two or three editions

And I'm giving you a longing look
Everyday, everyday,
everyday I write the book

Chapter One we didn't really get along
Chapter Two I think I fell in love with you
You said you'd stand by me
in the middle of Chapter Three
But you were up to your old tricks
in Chapters Four, Five and Six

And I'm giving you a longing look
Everyday, everyday, everyday I write the book

The way you walk
The way you talk,
and try to kiss me, and laugh
In four or five paragraphs
All your compliments
and your cutting remarks
Are captured here in my quotation marks

And I'm giving you a longing look
Everyday, everyday,
everyday I write the book

Don't tell me you don't know the difference
Between a lover and a fighter
With my pen and my electric typewriter
Even in a perfect world
where everyone was equal
I'd still own the film rights
and be working on the sequel

And I'm giving you a longing look
Everyday, everyday,
everyday I write the book


Cheers,

STORMBRINGER SENDS

Monday, June 24, 2013

ADMIN NOTE


The much-vaunted novel that I've often talked about is entering a critical stage; I've got nineteen chapters knocked out - ten to fifteen pages per - although the plotline just vectored off ninety degrees so I'm dealing with that.

At the same time I just picked up a contract that will involve 12-hour days out to the end of August, 10-hour days from then till the end of November. Something's got to give. A good friend in the writing business told me that the Era of Blogging is over, that we are now in the Era of Twitter. That may be, and so I invite you to join me on my Twitterfeed: @sean_linnane

In the meantime here are some nice photos & accompanying thoughts to occupy your time - S.L.

Some Recent Acquisitions:

My part of the Great American Gun Grab of 2013.

Ruger Mini-14 and Para GI LTC

I went with the Mini-14 over an AR because of cost, and at the end of the day you get the same thing; a very business-like 5.56mm carbine that doesn't have the sinister vibe of the Little Black Devil Rifle.

My latest 1911 is the Para GI LTC, a compact version of the Para GI Expert. It came with two 8-round magazines so now I'm up to toting sixteen rounds of .45 ACP versus the twelve I used to carry for the Colt compact model. My buddy Doubletapper says he always carries two 32-round magazines for his Glock 17. I told him if I need more than sixteen rounds, I'm in the wrong movie. Doubletapper said his motto is: "It's better to run out of Tangos than to run out of ammo."

When I thought that over, it became obvious I need to beef up my concealed carry system.

Ruger 10/22, sniperized with 25 round magazine. All it takes is a coke bottle, some rubber as a bushing and a hoseclamp = Silent Death.

Para GI LTC: M1911 variant, caliber .45 ACP, alloy frame, beavertail grip safety, competition trigger, fiber optic front sight, high visibility 2-dot rear sight is drift adjustable, premium stainless steel barrel & full metal bushing, skeletonized hammer spur, black slide & frame.


The Jungle Room:

That ... THING ... in the middle of the photo is Yogi, my pet Wookie. Over to the right is Puppy Dog, border collie with human-like emotions. Tiny the Jack Russell Terrorist is burrowed deep down beneath the poncho liner.

This is where I do my contemplative thinking, and where a great deal of STORMBRINGER is written, surrounded by the souvenirs of a lifetime in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. This is where I am completing the aforementioned novel; there are nineteen chapters already written - I just need to tweak it a bit.


The purpose of the Warrior Gym is to transform our bodies into Living Weapons Systems:


Always keep your training areas neat & clean; this is the most important room in your house, and this is a sign of professionalism.


- STORMBRINGER SENDS

Sunday, June 23, 2013

RELIGION & POLITICS . . .

. . . are the two things we are never to discuss in the corporate environment, or in the Masonic Lodge. This morning I somehow managed to piss off a Buddhist - how is that even possible? - S.L.

Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn in Bangkok, Thailand

A reader in Finland pinged me on Twitter, asked what I meant when I discuss having Viking blood? I explained that my Viking blood comes from the Norsemen who occupied Ireland and France. I have dark brown hair, almost black, dark brown piercing eyes, and olive skin; as close to a true Celt as what exists these days, but there are many fair redheads in my family; the Viking genes are in my family.

To me, Vikingism is a part of my personal religion; a blend of Vikingism, Buddhism & Christianity: they are complete opposites but to me, that's the way it is. I respect the old gods Thor & Odin and I honestly believe there is Valhalla for fallen warriors.

I am 6'2", 220 lbs, broad across the shoulders like a footballer. I pump iron, practice martial arts and weapons training. Viking.

I am a Viking in that I am a professional soldier always looking for a good deal; a laissez-faire capitalist who believes the rules are made to be broken, that if you ain't cheating you ain't trying and if you get caught, you ain't trying hard enough.

I was raised in Southeast Asia and learned to respect Buddha. I believe in reincarnation even though it is incongruent with Christianity. I'll let Jesus judge me on that on the Judgement Day. As a Buddhist, I believe in reincarnation; although I don't believe that we can have any direct memories of our previous lives. The Hindus and the Buddhists say that before we are reborn, our souls are dipped in the Sea of Forgetfulness.

Nonetheless, there are occasions where Buddhist priests and mystics have visions of people's previous lives. When I was in Jerusalem, I felt a vividly strong sensation as I walked through some of the ancient sites; I had been there before. I also can easily imagine myself in a Viking longship, sailing toward the Irish coast.


Five Greatest Viking Accomplishments

I was raised by my parents to respect all religions, although I struggle with where Islam has taken itself to now. It is a fact that I owe my life to a Muslim. I cannot be against my fellow man because of his religion, but I can say that the Muslim religion has been hijacked by a pack of psychotic homicidal maniacs.


The old, mystic Sufi-ism no longer exists; they sold out when they embraced Osama Bin Laden and the insanity of Al Qaeda. We are told that not every Muslim wants to become a terrorist but I still believe that they make the choice for themselves. Child brides and honor-killing of women are crimes against Humanity.

We Christians have a lot to answer for. Christianity did some craziness back during the Crusades - study what happened in the 13th century. Let us remember Jesus' words: "Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone."

The Christian sentiment of turn-the-other-cheek, and Buddhist philosophy of nonviolence notwithstanding, this does not preclude killing in defense of one's family or nation. We must resist the Muslim encroachment for their stated goal is to kill or enslave every single one of us. We must resist Sharia with every fiber in our beings, because they wish to kill or enslave EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, possibly letting some of our females survive to use as breeders.

That, my Viking brothers & sisters is our quest, our mission: to actively resist and fight Sharia wherever and whenever this insanity presents itself, with every inch of our souls, as long as there is blood in our veins and air in our lungs.

- STORMBRINGER SENDS

Saturday, June 22, 2013

THIS IS HOW SHIT HAPPENS

In the Beginning was The Plan . . .



And then came the Assumptions.

And the Assumptions were without form.

And The Plan was without substance.

And Darkness was upon the Face of The Team.




And they spoke among themselves saying,

"It's a Crock of Shit and it Stinks."

And so the Captain and the Warrant Officer went unto the B-Team and they said,

"It is a Pail of Dung and None may Abide the Odor Thereof."

And the B-Team went unto Battalion S-3 and they said,

"It is a Container of excrement and It is Very Strong, such that None may Abide by It."

And S-3 went unto the Battalion Commander and said,

"It is a Vessel of Fertilizer, and None may Abide Its Strength."

And the Battalion Commander and the Command Sergeant Major spoke among themselves, saying to one another,

"It Contains That Which Aids Plant Growth, and It is Very Strong."

And so the Commander and the Command Sergeant Major went unto the J-3 of the Joint Task Force, saying unto them,

"It Promotes Growth, and is Very Powerful."

And the J-3 went unto the Joint Task Force Commander, saying unto him,

"The new Plan will Promote the Growth and Vigor within the Joint Special Operations Area, with Powerful Effects."

And the Joint Task Force Commander looked upon the Plan and saw that it was Good.

And the Plan became the Mission, and Orders were published and delivered unto the Team, to Execute.




This is how Shit Happens.

- STORMBRINGER SENDS




Friday, June 21, 2013

RELIGION OF PEACE, PSYCHOTIC MASS-MURDER & HYPOCRISY

Muslim Hate Preacher Wants His Party Pics off the Internet

On Monday The Sun (UK) published pictures of the radical Muslim preacher Anjem Choudary partying while in college at Southhampton University, and now he wants these pictures removed from the Internet.


Now busy founding extremist groups, calling for Sharia in America and refusing to condemn terrorist attacks, old Choudaray used to spend his days parting it up, and here is the proof:

Joker: Anjem Choudary in college drinking game. (Solent News and Photo Agency)


Laughing student Anjem Choudary as pal looks at soft-porn magazine. (Solent News and Photo Agency)


Boozer: fanatic Anjem Choudary downing a pint (Solent News and Photo Agency)

One former pal added: “Before he grew his beard and turned to fundamentalism we knew him as Andy and he was famed for his party piece which was downing a pint of cider in seconds.”

Hate preacher Anjem Choudary now.


Oh YEAH??? Sorry, Hadji; folks don’t much care what radical preachers want and anyway it don't work that way - once on the Internet, FOREVER on the Internet! It's easier to squeeze the milk back into the cow than trying to erase something off the Internet.

BWAA-HA!-HA!-HA!-HA!-HA!-HA!-HA!-HA!-HA!-HA!-HA!

- STORMBRINGER SENDS



SEND OUT STAT - MASS DISTRIBUTION

A WORTHY CAUSE

Junior's Bullet Pens - proceeds go to families of fallen military & wounded disabled veterans.



Junior’s Bullet Pen Company is dedicated to one of our fallen heroes, Staff Sergeant Chris Falkel, KIA, of the 3d Special Forces Group.

I met Chris's Dad this week at Fort Bragg, and he told me the story of his son, and the Bullet Pens.

SSG Chris "Junior" Falkel was weapons sergeant Operational Detachment "Alpha" 316. Between 7–9 August, 2005, Chris and his Special Forces team were involved in a 54 hour battle “that will live in the annals of Special Forces history. On the evening of 8 August 2005, Chris paid the ultimate price and died saving the lives of his team and 16 members of the Afghan National Army attached to ODA 316. SSG Chris Falkel was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery and heroism.

In early 2005, Chris attended Special Operations Target Interdiction Course – SOTIC - the Special Forces sniper school. After he graduated, Chris shared with his Dad the concept of making pens out of 7.62 NATO shell casings - the round used in US sniper rifles. Unfortunately, he never got the chance to make a bullet pen because shortly thereafter Chris deployed to Afghanistan for his fateful Rendezvous With Destiny.

Chris's Dad thought about Chris’ dream of making a “bullet pen” for a couple of years, and ultimately Junior’s Bullet Pen Company was created. These pens are dedicated to his son.

Most of the brass used to make Junior’s Bullet Pens is once-fired military brass.

Junior’s Bullet Pen Company is Veteran owned. Foundations supported by Junior's Bullet Pens include:

Special Operations Warrior Foundation

Task Force Dagger Foundation

Fallen Heroes Project

Operation Shower

Green Beret Foundation

AmericanSnipers.org

Remembering The Brave

Worldwide Rangers Inc.


When you buy a Bullet Pen, you help support a U.S. veteran and/or his or her family. If you are a veteran, you have just supported yourself.

- STORMBRINGER SENDS



Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

ROAD TRIP

This is my annual pilgrimage to my adopted home town; Southern Pines, NC - S.L.


Southern Pines is an idyllic little place, almost an oasis in time & space. I first tooled through this town as a young paratrooper in the 82d Airborne Division; I thought I'd gone back in time to an English village, circa 1944. I've written about this place HERE.

This week I am attending the Soldier Equipment & Technology Expo at nearby Fort Bragg; representing my own company. It's a little side operation that I've been puttering around with since I retired from active duty; I help develop business for security equipment manufacturers, then turn around and bid on Department of Defense contracts, and get a little chunk of change for my troubles.


Times are hard and I've had my share of ups and downs in this economy. Still, people can and do make fortunes in hard times. My trouble is I'm always so busy on my adventures I've never dedicated the time and energy required to really get this thing cranking. Well five years is long enough to incubate something. Some interested parties have stepped forward and said, "Sean, it's time to sh*t or get off the pot, and we're here to help."

This time around a lot of good people are banking on ol' Stormy to make this thing work - I guess it's time to stop playing Viking Adventurer and get down to the serious business of taking care of business.

- STORMBRINGER SENDS




Sunday, June 16, 2013

NSA WARRANTLESS SURVEILLANCE

I am one of the relatively few people on this planet who has actually stepped inside this building - S.L.

Quite honestly, I'm still trying to figure the scandal here. The NSA is collecting info on all electronic communications in America? How is this news? I assumed they were doing this all along. I don't like the idea of anybody listening to my phone communications, but everybody knows anytime you go over an electronic medium, that is the risk one takes. Everybody knows that an email is about as secure as a postcard - anyone can read it. For this reason I always shy away from discussing topics that include tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) - Hell, I feel edgy just discussing my gun purchases.

OK, OK - I'm with y'all; this overreach of government power portends is scary as all get out. This, coupled with the IRS abuse of power, is absolutely Orwellian. What's even more unnerving is now that the whole thing is known and out in the open, there is no indication that any of this snooping on US citizens will come to an end. In other words, for all we know, the NSA is still doing what it does. For that matter, so is the IRS.

What I want to know is, with all this monitoring and data mining of our electronic communcations; how the Hell did the Boston Bombers not get apprehended? The Chechen brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev and their evil mother were transmitting jihad on all frequencies between here and Durka-Durkastan; an international intelligence agency no less formidible than the FIS - modern day incarnation of the KGB - informed our people TWICE that these dirtbags were radioactive and STILL THE GOVERNMENT DID NOTHING???

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

This begs the question, of course; if such a robust surveillance program isn't shutting down dirtbags like the Tsarnaev brothers, then what the hell IS it being used for?

During the course of a busy week, this information emerged: Obama, like all Democratic presidents, would love to have power after he leaves office, to be a kingmaker. In the Era of Electronic Information, a database can do that. The capability is out there, programs exist, that when people make or receive phone calls, phone numbers can be looked up instantly. Information such as like individuals' names, addresses, the value of their homes, marital status, approximate income, approximate assets, cards they have registered to the address they live at, whether they're in foreclosure, Facebook profiles, LinkedIn profiles, Twitter profiles associated with that number. The advent of mobile phones has created a situation where a phone number equals a person, so the phone number's a much better index for getting everything you know about a person than something that's less easy and less public like a Social Security number. And so my company sells that information to companies so that they can know who is calling and route that call better and offer appropriate products or not.


DARK SCENARIO:

All this kerfuffle about data and surveillance, the IRS, Benghazi, any of the improper actions of DC, it ultimately doesn’t mean a thing. It is just dancing, waving the cape to distract the bull. We are very likely undergoing the process of a coup d'etat. It will not be a bloody coup - I've seen my share of those up close and personal - but there is also a phenomenon known as a bloodless coup. In a society as complex as the United States, this coup will be conducted not by soldiers and tanks rolling through the streets of the capital city, but rather by a series of policies, laws and regulations designed to constrain our freedom. Our behavior is coerced by the tax code, gun control measures, environmental policies that tell us what we can and cannot do with our own property, and ultimately Obamacare, which tells us what we can and cannot do with our own bodies.

When they want to implement the coup, first we’ll lose satellites - the Global Positioning Satellite constellation has the capability to be encrypted at the touch of a button. Only the government and military will have commo. Second we will lose electricity. Easy enough to do; the national grid is computer/satellite controlled. The masses will be in the dark literally and figuratively. Riots will ensue and effective resistance to Government control measures will be mitigated. The Powers That Be, all they have to do is sit back and wait, the populace will take itself down; after a period of time the Department of Homeland Security - think TSA, think ATF; think New Orleans after Katrina, think Waco - can walk into areas, restore order, eliminate any rebel opposition and turn the lights back on.

They can also accomplish most of this by collapsing the dollar.

Am I missing something?


Special thanks to Chas, Master of Disaster for contributing to this post

-STORMBRINGER SENDS



Thursday, June 13, 2013

WEAPONS SAFETY

4-year-old boy accidentally shoots, kills Iraq War veteran dad in Arizona

This undated photo shows Justin Thomas who was accidentally shot and killed by his 4-year-old son. (MyFoxPhoenix.com)

Authorities in northern Arizona say a 4-year-old boy accidentally shot and killed his father at a Prescott Valley home. Prescott Valley police say the shooting occurred just after noon Friday.

The 35-year-old man, identified as Justin Stanfield Thomas, and his young son were visiting from Phoenix and were at a friend's house.

Police say the boy somehow found a gun in the home's living room and accidentally fired it and a bullet hit his father, who was rushed to a hospital where he died.

Thomas was an Iraq War veteran with US Army Special Forces and leaves behind two children.

Read the rest of it HERE


Comment:

This was not an accident; this was 100% preventable. This was weapons negligence, a good man is down because of it, and the owner of that firearm should be prosecuted.

I have guns in several rooms in my house. None of them are loaded, but they are always treated as if they are loaded. The gun I carry in my car is kept unloaded, on the premise why do I need to tote around a loaded weapon, when I am already behind the wheel of a weapon that has killed more people than the atom bomb? If
EVER I need to dismount and engage a threat, there will be plenty of time to slap a mag into the weapon.

When I carry concealed - which is all the time - I follow the Israeli carry; empty chamber. If I perceive that the threat level has gone up a notch, I will jack a round in the chamber. Downtown Philadelphia, for example. This is the civilian equivalent of crossing the Line of Departure, when soldiers chamber a round into their weapons.

I keep the weapons in my house handy but the ammunition is under lock and key - with the exception of loaded magazines, which are kept hidden in high up locations where children cannot get to them.

Think, people.

- STORMBRINGER SENDS

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

HOPE YOU'RE FEELING BETTER

For a Special Friend . . . out of the Long Ago . . . - S.L.



Monday, June 10, 2013

SITREP: JERSEY SHORE

The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy's destruction, nine months later.

Just rolled in from the Jersey Shore - totally exhausted - the mission was supporting Wife TigerLily's showing at the Jersey Shore Fine Arts Festival in Ship Bottom, NJ, which is on Long Beach Island; one of the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy last October. A prevalent theme expressed on bumper stickers, banners on buildings and placards in business shop windows is: "Thank You - Jersey Shore is Back!"

For the most part this is true; Long Beach Island is open for business, although business was slow at the show due to a tropical storm that moved through the region Friday night and Saturday morning and kept the crowds away. In the end it was a good show, even though all we did was break even on expenses; most of the exhibitors didn't, some didn't even make a sale. TigerLily and I made enough $$$ to pay for the gas mileage down there and back, a nice BIG hotel room for two nights in the Holiday Inn - FUN LIKE ROCKSTARS - we ate lobster & scallops for three nights in a row and we linked up with friends in the region.

A boarded up business, still undergoing repairs. I saw several like this, although surprisingly most businesses seemed open and doing a bustling trade.


This heavy gauge steel sign was bent by the force of water and marked by impact from some kind of debris.


Wiped from the Face of the Earth.


Almost all of the houses are being rebuilt from the inside out. Exteriors okay, interiors totally gutted.



Bottom floor totally gutted.



(Above and below) These houses are on the large barrier dune, first pressure ridge from the shore.




These guys lost not only their entire bottom floors, garages etc, but also their driveways! The paving stones were simply lifted up and washed away.


A business that was totally destroyed, several blocks back from the beach.


All that remains of this house are the foundations.


Totally gutted, rebuilding from the inside out.


The large sand pile next to this dwelling is an annomaly; for the most part, sand removal has been accomplished and the barrier dune restored.


The contractors are everywhere, rebuilding the Jersey Shore piece by piece. They are the latest heroes of the Saga of Super Storm Sandy.


"Mother Nature is The Boss . . ."

- STORMBRINGER SENDS