Trailrider #896

When they crossbred with European wild boar as happened in parts of Tennessee and Alabama, you get a really nasty critter. Got a pair of the heads on my wall from a trip to Central Tennessee back in '63! Great eating, if you marinate them. No bacon on them, however, especially the more pure "Roosians"! Took one with a .30-06 at about 5 yards in heavy brush! The other one with a .33 WCF at abut 25 yards. Happy New Year, Pards!

One each, 7-1/2" OMV and 5-1/2" OMV, both with convertible cylinders .44-40 and .44 Extra-Long Russian (aka .44 Mangle-em). Haven't been shooting for a couple of years, but hope to get back into it when the weather gets a bit warmer (but not too warm!). Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year, Pards! Your obedient servant, Trailrider

Before (in China) and in the early part of WWII, the Zero had the advantage over most allied fighters. It had a powerful engine, was very light and maneuverable. The light weight came at the expense of no self-sealing gas tanks and no armor protection for the pilot. In addition, the skill level of the pilots was very high. Only the best Japanese graduated from pilot training, particularly the Navy pilots. The Zero or Zeke as it was later called, could out-climb and out-turn our fighters. To dogfight with a Zero was inviting death! Fortunately, we learned quickly to utilize the best features of our fighters to counter the Zero's advantages. You didn't dogfight, if you could avoid it. You picked a target, got above it if possible, made one diving pass and got the hell out of there! As thing progressed, and the F4U Corsair and F6F Bearcat came out, and the Japanese Navy lost a lot of their best pilots, even some of the improved Zeros were no match for the Marine and U.S. Navy planes and pilots. After the Mariannas Turkey Shoot, the major threat posed by the Japanese air forces were in the form of kamikaze attacks on our ships. Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year, Pards!

The West was said to be "Hell on horses and women!"

How about model railroads? All sorts of gender neutral things to do there! Put together model rolling stock, buildings. scenes with figures. (Get into it seriously and you won't have money for drugs! The hobby can be as addictive, however. I've been a model railroader for over 70 years, off and on, and haven't found a way to quit yet!

Did everyone eat the same things? Could be samonella or something similar. Also check for COVID, etc. Sorry to hear of it. Definitely need to seek medical help! Wishing you a Happier and Healthier New Year!

Was he not also a yo-yo champion? RIP Tommy Smothers.

Shane! Shane! Come back, Shane! Merry Christmas, Pards!

When I went to the range, there were three things I never saw: An M-16 (they were all pipelined to 'Nam, and our site security guards had M-2 Carbines with one 15-round magazine...and ten rounds of ball ammo!!!); any women; and a reliable .38 Spl. revolver (the ones we had were all Navy reject S&W' that were shaving jacket material, I cleared mine, went to the range NCO, rescheduled, went downtown and bought a Model 19 that I shot the ball ammo to qualify!) A veteran is someone who, when our country asked, "Who shall we send to defend us from our enemies?" raised our hand and said, "Here I am. Send me!" Happy Veterans Day, Comrades-in-Arms!