An 88mm is the perfect choice for home defense.



Plus, it adds that little touch of historical kitsch.

Now I just pull it out for cameos.

The average 88mm is a nice historic gun, but I don't think it's appropriate for home defense. They are calibrated to strike at target too far away, and a bit on the slow side to aim since you've got to employ a bit of trig before firing. If a kamikaze pilot is heading straight for the homestead, they're great, but not as useful if a couple of tanks and an armoured personnel carrier are coming your way.

For serious home defense, I'd recommend a 90mm hand held rifle . Two or three people are all you need to operate (one in a pinch), and you can aim by sight. You can always keep the 88mm around in case you have anti-aircraft needs (though they're a bit slow for that and you probably want a battery instead of just one), but for basic anti-personnel and anti-armor use, I think it's hard to beat the 90mm. And, it has historic charm, too.

Testosterone-fueled cowboy foolishness. A four-acre yard with a well-planned claymore perimeter may not be as sexy, but it's all you really need.

Bilmore and the Loons
 

Goddam. No wonder you're always in trouble with the animal control people.

If you'll lend me the 25 million bucks, I'll start working on that big yard in SF.


eta: SF Chronicle reports today that housing prices up ANOTHER 20% in the past year. Yowza.

Oof da. Nice if you're already in, I suppose, but quite the barrier to entry.

is there a BotD for politics?
 

Much like the claymores.

The Rumsfeld doctrine lives.

Dude, the bad guys have armour.

Surely you can get something better than these. Like, a missile defense system for your personal aircraft. Trust me, you need this.

Italian hostage pleads for life in Iraq...
 

Wants troops pulled out to save her...

Link

Despite the obvious tragedy of the situation, the fact that she works for an Italian Communist newspaper that has been rabidly against the troop presence there tells me she shouldn't hold her breath waiting for that to happen.

No, he needs an army of robots.

"Military planners say robot soldiers will think, see and react increasingly like humans. In the beginning, they will be remote-controlled, looking and acting like lethal toy trucks. As the technology develops, they may take many shapes. And as their intelligence grows, so will their autonomy. "

Surely this is just PR so that we'll amend the Constitution to allow Arnold to become President.

Often, but not always is a fair characterization... if there was such a thing as a rabidly moderate Republican I would be it.

Extreme centrist?

Do you really think W. will step down in 2009 given the crisis we face? I think most Americans believe it better if we just stay the course until all the problems are solved.