Retro
Canned Posca?
Yes, I’ve heard that it’s coming back.
The antique drink Posca is based on red wine vinegar and honey and it was popular throughout antiquity. Not just in the Roman Empire.
The effects of its isotonic properties were known to the ancient world and thus Posca was cherished by both working civilians, the elite, and the Roman army alike.
Gerolamo Cardano (ital. Doctor, 16th century CE) thought that one of the main contributing factors to the Roman legion’s invincibility was the regular consumption of Posca.
Bullet Points:
** Federal agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service and the Environmental Protection Agency have spent nearly $4 billion in taxpayer funds on guns, ammunition, and other “military-style equipment,” a watchdog group found. They obviously have an agenda. If you were to ask them, they’d assure you that they have your best interests at heart.
** (NY Post) Over 73,000 migrants crossed the southern border in the last 10 days according to the US Border Patrol — who admitted a further 17,000 illegal “got aways” avoided detection and entered the country as things reach a fever pitch ahead of the end of Title 42 on May 11.
** Notes on the Minimum Wage – After Walmart and Target announced higher minimum wages, layoffs occurred, and cashiers got replaced with self-checkout counters. Restaurants added surcharges to help cover the costs of higher wages, a “tax” on consumers, and chains like McDonald’s and Panera Bread replaced cashiers with apps and ordering kiosks.
Such should not be surprising as labor costs are the highest expense to any business. It’s not just the actual wages but also payroll taxes, benefits, paid vacation, healthcare, etc. Employees are not cheap; that cost must be covered by the goods or services sold. Therefore, if the consumer refuses to pay more, the costs must become offset elsewhere.
More importantly, just as we found out with sending stimulus payments to households, the service cost will increase once businesses realize more money is available. As noted by the Heritage Foundation, the impact of a $15 Federal minimum wage would increase childcare costs by $2000 to $6000 depending on the state.
** Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said he’s ‘begging’ men who are struggling with mental health issues to seek help after his own stint at Walter Reed Medical Center made him ‘better.’ So he’s better now? Yeah. I wonder what checking into a private room with a staff of shrinks costs the US Taxpayers to “heal” him?
** Heidi, the beloved character from the classic Swiss book, has recently become controversial on social media because of the upcoming Netflix release where she is portrayed as an African. While some people have praised the inclusion and diversity in the representation of the characters, others have criticized it as cultural appropriation.
I have no problem with so long as white people will be portraying Mohammed Ali, Barack Obama (who is 50-50), and Dr. Martin Luther King. It should be cut both ways. Maybe an all-white cast in the remake of Roots?
** Duffleblog explores military t-shirts: Size Matters – Tell the world that you are not just well-versed in knowledge about firearms but also profoundly preoccupied with your perceived masculinity. Never indicate to anyone where you personally fall in this measuring of “calibers.”
** Kamala Harris – send in the clowns.
Identify the Aircraft
Meme-of-the-Day
From the Days of Fighting Sail
Ship Pendants
Besides the paying-off pendant, there were also two other special pendants. One was the Chruch pendant and then the Gin pendant. They are spelled Pendant in the Royal Navy, this word is always pronounced Pennant.
Gin Pendant A green/white/green pendant indicating an officer is entertaining the Ward Room usually for a birthday, promotion, birth of a baby, etc. May also be shown by Ship indicating hospitality for their brother officers in the squadron/flotilla.
Church Pendant The Church Pendant – a white pendant with a red St. George’s cross and a red, white, and blue fly – is flown in Ships during the time that Divine Service is being held on board. The pendant first came to be used about 1653, at the time of the first Dutch war and is said to have its origin in the flag of St. George (for England) and the flag of Holland combined; the two protestant nations would call a truce on Sunday, this special pendant being flown to signify that the truce was in force.
Dead cats don’t meow
This saying is attributed to Don Pedro Gilbert (1800-1835), who was a former privateer in the service of the Colombian government. In early 1832, Gilbert began to raid American merchant ships off the east coast of Florida with his schooner, the Panda, since privateering was not paying him anything and he was now trying to do it illegally.
On 21 September 1832, off the coast of what is now Stuart, Florida, Gilbert chased then boarded the Mexican, an American brig bound from Salem to Rio de Janeiro carrying $20,000 in silver. Following the crew’s surrender, a crew member asked Gilbert what was to be done with their captives, to which the pirate captain reportedly remarked, “Dead cats don’t mew. You know what to do.”
Locking the crew inside the forecastle, Gilbert’s crew ransacked the ship, looting the Mexican ship’s stores. Slashing the rigging and sails, the pirates filled the ship’s galley with combustibles and set the ship afire with the crew trapped inside. However, the crew managed to break out after an hour and eventually doused the fire, although they continued to let enough smoke billow until the pirates were out of sight. After six weeks at sea, the crew finally made it back to Salem, where they were able to report the incident.
Gilbert was eventually captured in West Africa two years later when his ship was sunk in a naval engagement with the British brig-sloop HMS Curlew, commanded by Henry Dundas Trotter. Extradited to the United States, he was tried with three of his crew members in Boston, Massachusetts, and executed on 11 June 1835.
Even 17 year old me wouldn’t want to carry that much stuff. I had a habit of leaving sleeping bags, three piece inflatable mattresses (no one took those that I knew in Australian Army) and a lot of stuff like that home. A heavy duty space blanket in olive green went with me for about 10 years as my sleep system.
I remember humping 105 lbs. Sometimes it’s a function of where you are and how long you’ll be out.
I agree about loads.
When I fell one night and landed on my knee which ended up being the finish of army career I had 50 kg (110 pounds) plus FAL rifle.
Currently in Australia it is supposed to be only 40 kg (90#) without weapon and ammo for infantry. Talking to some just separated men on ANZAC Day still occasions where they had over 70 kg (150#) in Afghanistan.
150 lbs is a realistic load-out in Afghanistan because of the water you need to carry. Once you separate from wheels/tracks/rotors, the weather can make a resupply chancy.
The problem is that it is not evenly distributed. Most modern carrier systems are designed to even out the load at the time they are designed, and as soon as troops can be seen to easily wear the harness and equipment, more is added and added and added until the carrier system has to be redesigned.
Unless you have an exoskeleton, the load can’t approach or exceed the weight of the wearer.
“Light infantry”? That’s a lot of gear to be humping around…one needs tree trunks for legs and decent boots. Thru-hiker packs now weigh between (ultralight) 12#’s to (typical after a resupply) 35#’s…no more of this 55#-65# pack and gear. Then again a trail hike is not war…but, geez.
It’s difficult to keep a military load out under 100 lbs.
Mission creep.
Yes, somewhat. You load for the mission and smart people strip the MREs, but you don’t want to short yourself water, ammo, coms, and plates.
When I was in Bosnia and attached to an infantry company I had to cobble together a load out and was 125# at least and being an MP, I didn’t load out like that and wasn’t use to it. Why we drove jeeps and Hummers… I suffered for the first two weeks until I acclimated. I surely didn’t want to be the last guy.
I once carried a 100+# load on my Alpenlite frame pack (backcountry NOLS course…thought I wanted to be an instructor until I realized I wasn’t a Liberal and didn’t want to live out of my car)…added a few extra items to help a gal who was struggling. Had to lean it against a tree, put it on, then stand up. I was 19 and could do it. Today? Not on your life…I’m smarter now and have lighter gear. (Maybe that’s why I have some left leg nerve damage from cinching the weight belt too tight.)
But the womyn will do it.
Unlike what we see pushed as normal these days she was a sweet gal, intelligent, and pulled her own weight (no ego). 3 weeks into the trek (basically a mtn pass a day in the Wind Rivers) as a decent person I saw she was struggling (happens to the best of us) so offered to help out…and she expressed gratitude (gee, what a concept…hold a door open for a young gal these days and they don’t even acknowledge your presence).
Yes, some woman can handle combat, but as a standard? As Israel discovered it’s not wise, or in this argument (gear carried) not possible unless you reduce the standard payload by half. It’s simple biology and physics.
Sidebar: Got just this from my brother: (Denzel short – How I motivate My Son)
https://youtube.com/shorts/u9fMAl3Nzmw?feature=share
Brothers comment (with exception given to myself and those who ‘get it’):
“I WANT to say this to EVERYONE I know, right now, EVERYONE.
Entitlement is real…Narcissism is real…Laziness is real….Weakness is real…Coddling is real…
Being a “Wallet” is real…Being a – universally expected – problem solver is real…Being THE ONLY planner is real….Being THE ONLY strategist is real…
And for that…you get called mean, angry, and were taught by “unicorns”….not normal parents…”
We live in a juvenile America…at least half anyway…who prefer getting and being “liked”. Being liked is stupid and symbolic and changes with the winds of the day.
*Just got* — lack of coffee dyslexia.
In high school; hiking back down off a mountain in Colorado with a group that included two gals (and a grandma hiking guide). The high school gals started slowing down and I started to take on some of the stuff they were carrying. Yes, they were thankful. Then halfway down some of the guys started slowing down as well (city folk). Dunno what I looked like when we reached the bottom. Today I’d have trouble with anything more than my sleeping bag.
Frank, chivalry is not dead, even if we don’t get acknowledged for a gentlemanly act.
Ed: yeah, a 120 lbs woman can be combat effective humping 120 lbs of stuff. I’m waiting to see that. Not lifting it, campaigning with it.
Ok, 120# woman carrying her body weight? I call Bravo Sierra, or AT BEST maybe a mile before everything gives out. I never disagree with you LL but can’t let this one go…humping a 60# rucksack for 20 miles is hard enough, but 120# load on a lightweight gal…no way.
I once met Arnold at a Gold’s Gym opening (tagging along was Rachel Mclish…yeah, that one). I was surprised because he WAS SHORTER than me (but also very nice). Everything get conflated.
Ahh, mea culpa (punishment room for me)…TOTALLY misread that…thought you meant they could. But still, 100# loads are ridiculous, I don’t care how much mass the soldier has under him.
LL, ‘Load out’ as demanded by those who wear two masks and a face shield, fearing a cold virus. Need to rethink this amount of gear…a struggling mover is a target, and the likes they will be recruiting with The Tranny would blow over in a stiff breeze while whining the entire time about getting their nails dirty, giving away their position.
I remember watching Band of Brothers and Easy Company went into Bastogne, tossing gas masks, et al.
The tranny would fall and get their throat cut on a rock as soon as they were out of sight of HQ. One thing you can’t have in your tribe is a weak link that will give you away by speaking, stumbling, impacting brush, or not keeping up. Better to end them at the beginning and booby-trap the carcass than have them end you all. If MikeW was here on the blog now, I know that he’d agree. Or create a squad of trannies who will go out and draw fire so that you can pin the enemy on the X. I can see purpose in that plan. Get some 550 cord and tie a stringer of empty cans to their legs just in case the enemy is as useless as they are.
Let then go on point.
It’s Light Infantry, because at least they don’t have to carry the Bradley, like the Mech guys.
I would say the chronic back pain is “Free with Purchase”.
-Kle.
Heh…I’d be modifying my pack with auto-adjust all-terrain wheels on the sides, like outriggers or one of those game haulers hunters use.
Identify the Aircraft:
Republic RC-3 Seabee
The original intent was to market the airplane for $3,500 but when the price estimates reached $12,000, the aircraft was redesigned.
The aircraft became a four-place airplane for better utility. The rear seat in the RC-1 had been restricted to one passenger because the partially retracted main wheels were located in wells that protruded into both sides of the rear seat area. To provide space to seat two back seat passengers comfortably, the wheel retraction wells were eliminated and the main landing gear rotated up parallel to the hull. The design increased drag on the aircraft slightly but reduced manufacturing costs and provided a fourth seat.
The re-designated RC-3 Seabee was now a model of simplistic lightweight construction in labor and tooling costs. The rivet count, for example, was reduced from 9,650 to 3,440. The fabrication and assembly time was reduced from 2,500 man-hours to a phenomenally low 400.
The Seabee is a very cool airplane.
Did the Navy actually use them for something, or is that just a fun paint scheme ?
-Kle.
Fun paint. I thought that I could give the AI pause – no joy.
Of course the VA says that jumping all that stuff plus humping it around didn’t contribute to back problems later in life
Of course. There is severe attrition because of back issues that must be due to an ‘undiagnosed problem’ before you took the king’s shilling.
Because Heidi and her friends were known for their scowls.
Why this need to constantly rewrite all that is good a decent to fit some asinine multicultural agenda? Mike_C writes well about his take on the Asian demographic, but as a white guy (not that I care, truth is truth) we’re disallowed from saying anything when some moron misappropriates classics to push their personal angst-driven idiocy.
Ed, Heidi, and her clan are upset because the white man is still keeping them down.
Well, actually, he was. :)
Thanks, Paul. I have takes on other demographics too, but figured it was more politically correct to focus on Asians, seeing as I are one (at least genetically or so im told). Reminds me of an incident a while back. I made some comment. The person I was speaking to looked surprised, then flinched and looked around to see who might be in earshot. (Or more to the point, who saw him with the heretic Hate Thinker. 😀) Person said sotto voce, “I’m not saying I disagree, but you could get in trouble for that. Don’t you have a filter?” The Pretty Korean Girl was present. She sighed and heroically tried to suppress an eyeroll, “That IS the filtered version.”
Hahaha. The only thing worse than a woman who doesn’t understand you is one who does. On the other hand, her putting up with my crap makes her a pearl beyond price.
Our gals do know us…more than we’d like to admit. Then again, us males are pretty simple machines by comparison.
BTW, “heretic” away…we need more of that, not less…look what the opposite has gotten us.
Posca can be quite tasty. So can the Persian version, sekanjabin, which also tends to add any citrus juice available.
They both cut the dust, coat the throat and provide a safe drink relatively free of parasites and contaminates.
57 lbs not counting ammo and water… sigh
And rounds for the .50 or Carl Gustav or claymores, etc. A .50 Barrett weighs on the order of 37 lbs loaded.
Hollywood and Hate Casting:
Ooh! Ooh! Can I play? Three words: Mel Gibson. Attic.
This is a long post but full of value.
Swiss Negro Heidi was especially powerful as was the “what you carry in your bergan” infographic.
Am I wrong in thinking our boys are being asked/commanded to carry heavier and heavier burdens? How well will they fight with 80 lb rucks and shot knees? OK, they ditch the load and move on, but still…
Wasn’t in the military as I failed my draft physical with a BP of 190/110 as a 21 year old. I did some back packing with 50# and one time I hauled about 125# front quarter of a moose as I was dumb enough to quarter it like a standard front quarter of a beaf cow. Only had to go 1/4 mile to the boat. I broke the rest down to smaller loads.