Ken Hackathorn On The M1 Carbine Reputation vs Reality

 This is an informative discussion on why people either love the Carbine or hate it. A lot of interesting history, especially since there seems to be a resurgence in interest considering the number of reproductions being made these days. 

I'm also throwing in the Daily Situation report from Forward Observer whether you guys like it or not!

The Daily Situation Report for August 30, 2022 

https://forwardobserver.com/dailysa-iraqi-unrest-sparks-curfew-suspension-of-government-cabinet

By Troy Watson

IRAQI UNREST SPARKS CURFEW, SUSPENSION OF GOVERNMENT CABINET: Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi instituted a curfew and suspended cabinet meetings following the storming of government buildings and the outbreak of widespread civil unrest led by the supporters of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.  Sadr, possibly under pressure from Iran-backed political factions, unexpectedly announced his retirement from politics, triggering the response from his supporters. Sadr is opposed to a coalition of Iran-linked Shiite parties and called for the dissolution of the Iraqi Parliament and early elections following a political stalemate over the formation of a new government. In response to the widespread violence, the U.S. State Department evacuated personnel from its embassy in Baghdad.

LUKASHENKO: BELARUS IS NUCLEAR CAPABLE: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced that the Belarusian fighter-bombers had been modified and modernized by Russia to be able to carry nuclear weapons. The leader stated that Minsk would react immediately to threats from The West. This announcement follows earlier remarks from Lukashenko that Belarus would host Russian nuclear weapons in response to any potential deployment of NATO nuclear weapons to eastern Europe and reports from Ukrainian defense intelligence officials outlining the deployment of advanced Russian air defense systems and Iskander missile batteries to Belarus.

FRANCE CALLS FOR ENERGY SOBRIETY PLANS: French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has called on companies to draw up energy sobriety plans as Europe’s looming energy crisis raises concerns of power shortages and blackouts. Borne announced that French government ministries would also be instituting energy sobriety plans, reducing power consumption by 10% as an example to the nation. Companies are expected to submit their plans to the government for review in October. 

CHINA BEGINS NEW ROUND OF COVID LOCKDOWNS IN HEBEI AND SHENZHEN: Despite only small numbers of mild COVID cases Chinese government officials began a new round of zero-COVID restrictions in the province surrounding Beijing and in the major commercial hub of Shenzhen. Officials are scrambling to bring the minor flare-up of the virus under control and also began additional rounds of testing in China’s major port cities of Dalian of Tianjin.

CHINA INDUSTRIAL HUB HIT BY FLOODING AND POWER SHORTAGES: China’s industrial hub in southwest Chongqing and Sichuan are on alert for flooding after experiencing weeks without rain and scorching temperatures that dried up rivers and shutdown hydroelectric plants. The resulting power outages and shortages decreased manufacturing output for a number of global companies. The extreme heat along the Yangtze River basin also threatens agricultural output at a time when global food security is a growing concern.

Sunday With Blackthorn - Today We Compare The Beretta CX4 Storm 9MM Carbine To The Ruger PC9 Carbine

 I've been shooting both of these 9mm carbines as rentals at various target ranges for years. Mostly the Ruger because it's more common. Yesterday I grabbed my son and we trekked out of state to our favorite range and they had the Beretta available. 

It's been a few years since I shot one last and I have to say, I'd forgotten how good this little carbine was. The balance, handling and weight of the Beretta really does put the Ruger to shame. The gun is just a natural pointer with iron sights, but yesterday the one I rented had a red dot sight which was a gift to my aging eyes. 

Now as much as I like the Ruger, it comes in second place in my personal opinion. Of course living in NYC,  the Ruger, due to it's physical design is legal. However the Beretta due to the pistol grip stock is not. 

Such is life. The following three videos will give you both a good insight into the Beretta in general, and also a side by side Comparison of the two PCC's.

A Mixed Bag For This Thursday *** First Up; The Daily S.A. Report from Forward Observer *** Second; An Interesting Take on Physical Conditioning From Mark Hatmaker *** And Finally A 1hr Video on The Fate That Could Await Most Major American Cities

Several of the Info dumps in today's S.A. Report are direct results relating to the Current Russian Invasion of The Ukraine. Brief, but to the point, it goes to show the effectiveness of the weaponization of 'Energy Warfare' in the 21st century.

https://forwardobserver.com/dailysa-safety-systems-tripped-at-ukrainian-nuclear-plant/

 

Good morning. Here’s your Daily Situational Awareness for Thursday, 25 August 2022.

SAFETY SYSTEMS TRIPPED AT UKRAINIAN NUCLEAR PLANT: Safety systems were turned on at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine currently held by Russian forces. Russian state media reported loss of electricity in the region, including to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

PUTIN SIGNS DECREE TO INCREASE RUSSIAN FORCES: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a decision to increase the size of Russia’s standing military to just over 2 million troops. The 137,000 increase equates to about 10 Division-sized units. The decision goes into effect on 01 January 2023.

GERMANY SWITCHES TO RAIL FOR ENERGY TRANSPORT: German parliament has released a 6-month decree forcing railway operators to prioritize the transportation of energy commodities and related equipment as water levels on the Rhine continue to fall. The decree grants priority over passenger and freight traffic to a variety of commodities, including mineral oils, coal, liquid natural gas, transformers, and equipment for power generation and transmission. Officials note that the decree is necessary to prevent economic disruptions over the winter as Eurozone officials warn of a dark, cold winter.

IN TODAY’S EARLY WARNING: Mike gives his weekly update on the economy and expectations for Fed activity’s effects on inflation. Get access to the full intel briefing here: https://forwardobserver.com/subscribe 

— END REPORT

 

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Next, we have a  very 'Old School' take on Physical Conditioning from Mark Hatmaker. I have a few of his videos from what he calls his "Unleaded Conditioning" series. Definitely won't interest the younger, hard charging crowd at all. However considering the average age of most of the people who read this blog, there are some realistic aspects to what he's promoting. 

Oh, and yes, by the end of the article he makes a pitch for his DVD materials, but he doesn't try to hard sell you, and most of his instructional stuff is pretty inexpensive. And since most of you guys know how chea.... er, ahhh,, frugal (yeah frugal, that's the word) I am, you know I ain't kidding!

 

Three Old School Principles You MUST Have to Un-Stick Your PT 

by Mark Hatmaker

August 25, 2022

Old School Warrior Wisdom, be it striking, grappling, or training for warriorship has more than a few nuggets that can, and to my way of thinking, should be used today.

 These old nuggets can take the form of the specific application [the tactical] as in “Fire this elbow this way” or “Pull-ups? Nah, not like that, like this.”

 Or the nuggets can take the form of an overall schema or approach [the strategic] as in, “A southpaw fighter will drift opposite what your mirrorwork tells you, skip the mirror when fighting one is on the schedule” or “Sequencing is King” training, say arms before back will kybosh gains in both realms and does not make full use of Hebb’s Rule.

 Today’s sojourn deals with the tactical in the physical training realm. We will touch on three principles of overall PT Program construction without going into a specific PT Program itself. I and many of the Black Box Brotherhood use The Unleaded Conditioning protocol which is a synergistic mix of low weight and somatotrophics [increasingly escalating calisthenics] to render the desired effects in less time than you ever thought possible, with far less wear and tear on ever-aging bodies. [Entropy is a fact of being a living organism.]

 [BTW-Don’t let “low-weight” fool one into assuming high-reps. We’ll get to that.]

 Two Things before we get to the three principles.

 One-These will work with any PT program, Unleaded or otherwise, Unleaded is simply constructed inside-out top-to-bottom with these old school thoughts in mind. A little imagination though will allow you to adjust whatever your own flavor of mayhem is to take advantage of this wisdom.

Two-I address ONLY natural athletes. My bias is 100% old school, pre-steroid era, hell, even pre-creatine consumption.

Supplementation is designed to alter how the body can adapt to physical stressors.

Old School training had no recourse or desire to “hedge” training.

What you see is what you get.

What you do is what you wrought.

Many of us are pursuing training templates created in the shadow of pharmaceutical help, hamster-wheeling training schemas that allow the “helped” athlete to respond—not the pure OD natural warrior.

So, if one digs pharmaceuticals, you can skip this lesson, I speak to the Old School Warrior.

What I am offering is akin to saying “Hey, here’s some financial advice, first get a rich dad to bankroll you, bankrupt several times but have high-powered attorneys on hand to allow you default on recompense putting others at jeopardy while you reap rewards.”

One can indeed get rich that way, but most of us do not have that option or desire the ethical trade-off to enjoy that option.

I speak to true old schoolers, true boot-strappers.

 

To Read The rest of the Article please click on the link:

 

 http://indigenousability.blogspot.com/2022/08/three-old-school-principles-you-must.html

 

 

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Finally we have a news Documentary out of Seattle. This was done in 2019 before the rioting by ANTIFA and BLM had gotten completely out of hand. It deals primarily with city's homelessness, drugs, the abrogation of virtually the entire city government to do their jobs, and the attendant hamstringing of Law Enforcement (both of the police and the courts) to prevent them from doing their jobs.

This is a cautionary tale as well as an idea of what we can expect in America over the coming years. This news documentary is well done, and well presented. After finding this I did a little more searching and found similar video News Documentaries on the same subject about other American cities in the same situation. I will be presenting these over time as part of series of the shitstorm that is facing America in the immediate future.

Seattle Is Dying

 

 

Sunday With Blackthorn - Today We Discuss The NORCO Bank Robbery Shootout of 1980

 Everyone remembers the 1997 North Hollywood Bank Robbery and massive shootout between the heavily armed robbers and the police which followed. That incident initiated a change in LEO Agency policies around the country in regards to having Shotguns replaced in Patrol vehicles with Rifles. Essentially the same as what happened after the 1986 FBI Miami Shootout that resulted in the move away from Revolvers to Semi-Auto handguns for Law Enforcement.

However the NORCO Bank Robbery seems to have been forgotten these days by most people. The NORCO Incident should have been a wake-up call to most LEO agencies, but somehow it just never happened.  I hope the linked article and Youtube video below will give you all an idea of just how brutal and bloody the NORCO Incident  actually was.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norco_shootout

 

 

Paul Harrell On Why If You Want A Rifle, Buy A Rifle. Or If You Want A Shotgun, Buy A Shotgun. Don't Buy A Hybrid. - And, Today We Have the Daily Situation Awareness Report From Forward Observer

 A few years back , Rossi/Taurus came out with the Circuit Judge Carbine. Essentially a revolver action that goes back to the days of the 19th century. Originally designed as handgun caliber carbine, it was relegated to the dustbin of history once the more efficient Lever Actions were designed and produced.

As you would, Paul Harrell gives a an efficient, no-nonsense review, punctuated with his usual wry wit, and dry humor. 

 

 

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The Daily S.A. From The Forward Observer

Next up, we have the return of The Daily Situation Report from the Forward Observer Website. Several of you guys are aware that I used to link to it at the forum, as it was originally posted online at their website. However a few weeks back they decided to make it by subscription only. Since the format cannot be linked to, I will be posting it here in regular text format every day, Mon to Fri. 

This will allow those of you who don't look in regularly at the forum these days to check it out. The news in the Daily S.A. tends to be the sort of things that somehow don't make it to any other news sites regardless of their political leanings.

Good morning. Here’s your Daily Situational Awareness for Friday, 19 August 2022.

ARGENTINA HIT BY STREET PROTESTS OVER DETERIORATING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS: Argentinians took to the streets today by the thousands to protest poor economic conditions that are gutting its working class. Inflation rose 7.4% in the last month to a high of 70%, and 40% of the population lives below the poverty level without steady employment. Protest leaders from local unions and political opposition groups called for government action to control prices on food, fuel, and essential consumer items as skyrocketing inflation are weakening the peso currency. Prices at grocery stores are increasing daily, and many working-class Argentinians are losing confidence in President Albert Fernandez’s government to improve economic conditions. – M.M.

RUSSIA REJECTS UNITED NATIONS CARETAKER FORCE AT UKRAINIAN NUCLEAR PLANT: Russian foreign ministry officials rejected a proposal by the United Nations to demilitarize the area around the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine today. Moscow accused Kyiv of daily artillery and rocket attacks on the plant in an effort to introduce foreign military forces under the pretext of a demilitarized exclusion zone. Russian officials said they are following all safety protocols to keep the plant operating but may need to shut down plant numbers 5 and 6 power units due to the Ukrainian shelling. – M.M.

NEPAL NEXT TO EXPERIENCE FOOD SHORTAGES: According to agricultural officials, only 75% of Nepal’s rice paddy areas were planted this year. Lack of monsoon rains this year and extreme fertilizer shortages will further decrease yields. While India provided an emergency shipment of fertilizer, the country still faces a food shortage. – M.S.

BARRASSO ACCUSES BIDEN ADMIN OF SUBVERTING FEDERAL LAW: Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) accused the Biden administration of subverting the law on oil and gas lease sales. “Federal law is clear as day: the Secretary of the Interior is required to hold quarterly lease sales in states with federal oil and gas resources,” Barrasso said in a statement, adding that the Biden administration’s policy on curbing lease sales ‘subverts federal law.’ – M.S.

And In The Ukraine, Things For The Russians Are going From 'Vlad' To Worse

Nothing says you're winning quite like one of your military units engaging in a mutiny by way of a Video going Viral!

https://www.the-sun.com/news/6025935/putin-pulls-back-jets-helicopters-crimea/

What Does A Realistic Knife Fight Look Like?

 

Certainly nothing like any of the stage managed, pressure tested, BS you see all over Youtube or at some training website with cool music being played in the background. From October 2021 in NYC, not a lot of moving in close to clinch and grapple, or take someone to the ground.

Although the use of a backpack as a shield was certainly and obviously effective for the user, and detrimental to the other guy.

While I would have liked to see how this was all set off, I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that there was some sort of escalatory verbal exchange involved rather than a surprise attack. I would also doubt that either of these guys have ever taken a knife fighting class.

In any event, check out the video for yourselves.

https://rumble.com/vo87l4-just-your-everyday-nyc-knife-fight-caught-on-camera.html

Sunday With Blackthorn - Today We Discuss The Difference Between Theory And Reality When Fighting With A Knife

 The Video below is from the Youtube channel of a guy I'm not a big fan of. Some of his stuff isn't bad, but as the old saying goes, "sometimes even a blind monkey can find a banana after it falls out the tree".

This however was not one of those times.

 In this particular video he brings on a 'Subject Matter Expert' that most of you guys who are regulars here will know. You will see the much vaunted, sometimes useful, but quite often over-hyped "Pressure Testing Drill" used to prove (ahem!) that knives are useless for self defense against multiple attackers.

Yes, proven by watching how a guy wearing padding, a helmet, gloves , etc., while being repeatedly stabbed and/or slashed by a rubber/plastic training knife will be able to continue attacking you, grappling with you, controlling you, and finally taking you to the ground so that his buddies can safely join in and strike, kick and stomp you.

I find it particularly interesting that these are the same guys who for decades constantly told everybody that grappling, especially on the ground, will work for you.  They tell and "demonstrate" this in the video in spite of the fact that they have for years derided Combatives guys and anyone else for telling you to avoid going to the ground if it's at all possible  because you will get stomped and kicked by your attackers buddies.

Amazing how that bit of hypocrisy works huh?

Anyway, after watching the video I will put up an old article from Carl Cestari. For those of you who  might not catch the point being made, I will make it easy for you. The word "Snake" in the article is a Metaphor for the word "knife".

 

 

“Training, Reality & Snakes"
by Carl Cestari

Before we "discuss" what will or will NOT work on the street and what is "practiced" in the training environment let's think about this analogy:
I place in front of you a King snake; let's say an average of four feet long. Non-venomous and
nasty looking to be sure, but in NO way really "life threatening".

I show you how to catch it barehanded.

You MAY get bitten, but since this snake is NON venomous, well............a little scratch never hurt anyone. After a couple of practice runs you feel fairly confident, and after
all, the snake is NON-venomous, so even if you do GET BITTEN, well, it's really NO big deal.
That IS the training environment. Rubber knives, training blades of various materials, even LIVE blades. All NON-venomous! No matter how "real" you think you're making it, NO ONE is really going to be maimed for life or killed. NON-venomous!

OK? Now I place in front of you a King Cobra. I tell you to capture IT barehanded.
Little different NOW, huh?

HIGHLY VENOMOUS!
One single mistake, one miss-step, even a GRAZE from one of those fangs and you are in DEEP SHIT!

AND......YOU KNOW THAT!

I bet you approach the WHOLE affair now with a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT attitude, mind-set and gut level feeling. Your sphincter will be slammed tighter than a virgin's thighs on prom night! ONE false move and YOU ARE IN BIG TROUBLE! HIGHLY VENOMOUS! That IS the STREET! HIGHLY VENOMOUS!

You CAN afford to make a mistake or try something "fancy" against the King snake. NON-venomous. You'll live.

Against the COBRA, well that's a whole different "ballgame". One "slip-up" might very well be your last. HIGHLY VENOMOUS.

And the above is analogous to JUST the fundamental difference between "training" and reality. Add ALL the other human elements (both yours and your assailant's) and the stew gets pretty thick and dicey.

If You Follow This Blog, I Know You'll Appreciate This One

 

'Judo' Gene LeBell Dies At 89

 

Another Martial Arts legend gone. 

R.I.P. Gene LeBell

https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/08/12/gene-lebell-iconic-martial-arts-pioneer-dies-at-the-age-of-89/

 

 Oh yeah, and here's a link to a story about Gene LeBell and Steven Seagal that's always worth reading about.

https://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/gene-lebell-talks-steven-seagal-s-ing-himself

Criminals Using Very Improvised Weapons In NYC - And A news Story About the FBI That Doesn't Appear To Have Gotten Any Coverage On Broadcast or Cable News`

Seriously, Frying Pans??  🤯 

www.fox5ny.com/news/nypd-hunting-for-5-suspects-in-bizarre-manhattan-frying-pan-attack

 

An FBI Whistleblower leaked these to Project Veritas.  Aside from some online pieces, no major TV coverage.

  https://www.projectveritas.com/news/fbi-whistleblower-leaks-bureaus-domestic-terrorism-symbols-guide-on-militia/

 

And a few days later, Senator Ted Cruz actually questions FBI Director Christopher Wray about the document.

And here's a transcript of a portion of the interaction;

TED CRUZ, U.S. SENATOR (R-TX): Director Wray, I am deeply concerned that the FBI and the Department of Justice have become thoroughly politicized. I think this is a problem that began during the Obama administration. I think it metastasized with career officials during the Trump administration, and I think it continues and is even worse today under the Biden administration. I don’t believe you personally reflect that politicization, but I think you have been unwilling to root it out and unwilling to hold people accountable for the politicization. I hear regularly from FBI agents and from professionals at the Department of Justice who are dismayed that our law enforcement has been weaponized and politicized, rather than remaining apolitical, as it has been for the history of our country. Yesterday, it was reported that Project Veritas had obtained a copy of an FBI training material, which listed various symbols and themes, which in the FBI’s estimation, were indicative of, quote, ‘Militia Violent Extremism.’ Now, these symbols weren’t things like the Ku Klux Klan or the Nazi Party, which naturally would be symbols of that, but instead they include rather astonishingly, patriotic symbols of our nation and our history. Included on this list is the Betsy Ross flag. Now, that is fairly remarkable that the Betsy Ross flag, in the FBI’s indication, is indicative of Militia Violent Extremism because, among other people who have been publicly alongside the Betsy Ross flag, we have President Barack Obama, who was sworn in directly underneath the Betsy Ross flags. But, it’s not just President Obama, we also have President Biden, who was sworn-in under Betsy Ross flags. It’s not just the Betsy Ross flag. Also on this list is the Gadsden flag as a symbol of violent extremism. Now, the State of Virginia has a license plate for the Gadsden flag, as do many other states. I think people would be astonished to find that having that license plate, the FBI indicates that you’re a violent extremist. Also included on this is a text that I was particularly struck, is the Gonzales Battle flag, “Come and Take It,” as indicative of being a violent extremist militia. Well, I will self-report right now, that every day in the Senate I wear my boots that have the Gonzales Battle flag on the back of them.  Director Wray, what are y’all doing? This makes no sense. Do you agree with this FBI guidance that the Betsy Ross flag, and the Gadsden flag, and the Gonzales Battle flag are signs of Militia Violent Extremism?

CHRISTOPHER WRAY, FBI DIRECTOR: Well Senator, I’m not familiar with the particular document that you have behind you and I’m not in the practice of trying to comment on documents I haven’t recognized, but I will tell you that when we put out intelligence products, including ones that reference symbols, which we do across a wide variety of contexts, we usually make great pains- take great pains to put caveats and warnings in the document that make clear that a symbol alone is not considered evidence of violent extremism and-

TED CRUZ, U.S. SENATOR (R-TX): Well, Director Wray, you don’t include things like Antifa.  You don’t include things like Black Lives Matter. Instead, you identify patriotic Americans as suspect, and I would note there’s a pattern of this.

I Love It When Bill Maher Goes After 'Woke' Culture....

 

 ....he's so good at it! 😉

 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11087129/Bill-Maher-says-fat-acceptance-NATIONAL-SECURITY-ISSUE.html

Sunday With Blackthorn - Today We Discuss How China Uses The Mexican Cartels

 China has been using the Mexican Cartels for the last few years now to facilitate the smuggling of Fentanyl into the U.S.  There have been articles and reports from several news sources about the subject, but they have been overshadowed in terms of coverage by the ongoing Illegal Immigration issue.

The article linked below is from 2020, whereas the Youtube video is from last month. It's only recently that the Fentanyl smuggling has made any sort of substantial inroads with the larger media outlets. 

Welcome to the 21st Century....

https://www.foxnews.com/world/chinese-cartels-mexico-us-drug-crisis