It was the wee hours of the morning when I finally guided the most heroic old man I’ve ever known to meet his fate. An old man who, in his youth, single handedly took down the most skilled military unit in the country that went rogue after being taken over by a man with delusions of grandeur. A man who proved a single person can destroy a next-generation, nuclear weapon equipped, all-terrain, bi-pedal tank time and time again. He was no ordinary old man.

I knew his father and his mother, in fact I can honestly say I had a hand in their first encounter. She was a beautiful woman who could handle any situation thrown at her with an iron fist. His father was a strong leader, and an even stronger soldier with big ideas to create a world free of government oppression and control. A haven of sorts, for people to live out their lives with out fear. A place that could not be influenced or changed by the likes of evil men and their twisted ideas.

I guided him and witnessed the countless horrors and betrayals which he endured through out his life. This old man has traversed countless battlefields, witnessing first hand the depravity of man. His brother in arms and commander betrayed him for his own twisted purpose. His former unit turned against him in order to achieve a greater power. His two brothers plotted his demise and ruthlessly carried out their plans without remorse. No, this man had no life…he was dead from the beginning. His existence was merely to serve a purpose, to serve the very government who empowered the evil men he would later be sent to destroy.

To kill your commander, to kill the members of your unit, to kill both your brothers, to waste your youth on the endless battlefield, this is an impossible burden which no one man should be able to endure; yet this old man has lived through it all and is willing to keep fighting until he encounters his destiny, and finally earns some rest.

It was the wee hours of the morning when I finally guided this heroic old man to meet his fate. There he sat, alone in a graveyard, with a single bullet in the chamber. A gun, pointed directly into his mouth. This old man is tired, and has served his thankless purpose to the world…he is no longer needed, he is an obsolete relic of wars past. “War has changed,” his body is giving out, and an ungrateful nation survives yet another tragedy. A single gunshot is heard in the distance…this unheard of hero’s flame is extinguished. He has earned his rest.

Technorati Tags: Kojima, Metal Gear, MGS4, Old Snake, Solid Snake

I’m fortunate enough to live in a country that allows the ownership of firearms, and lucky enough to live in a state that allows a person to carry a “concealed handgun”, after proper certification of course.

This past Saturday, my day began way too early! 5:30 am is not exactly my preferred time to wake up on Saturday. In fact, I believe waking up that early on a Saturday should be a crime, but I digress.

A fellow martial artist, my father and I all agreed to take a “concealed handgun” course in order to earn our own certification to carry concealed handguns. The initial course is about 10 hours total, 8 or so being a typical lecture/classroom environment, while the other 2 was actual training and certification on a live firing range. At the end of the 10 hours course, a test was administered serving as the main means of “feedback” to ensure that we comprehended the material. Needless to say, everyone of us passed with flying colors both the written and the practical portions!

The basic class breakdown was like this:

1. the basic rules of any firearm, something most people this day and age should be familiar with.
2. rules of the firing range and how to handle our weapons while on the range.
3. (The best part in my opinion!) Using a handgun, we were tested at our firing proficiency at what I recall being 3, 9, and 12 yards.
4. Another couple hours of legal discussion. The two instructors made sure to cover the laws regarding concealed handguns, including but not limited to:

• places we can & can’t carry
• properly identifying yourself as a “Concealed Handgun License” (CHL) holder to a police officer.
• Rules regarding the use of “Deadly Force”; when & when we can/can’t use it legally.
• Legal ramifications for breaking any laws
• Suspense, Revocation, Expiration & Renewal of a CHL.

The instructor also explained to us exactly what to expect after having had to use “Deadly Force” on someone. Its not pretty, but if its your life or the life of a loved one on the line, then its totally worth protecting by any means!

Although some my disagree with carrying a concealed handgun, and I may rarely ever carry one, I still believe this 10 hour course and the certification was extremely valuable. Now all thats left is having to submit the paperwork to the proper authorities, and of course purchasing myself a new gun. (My old 1902 Colt .38 ACP is far too valuable to carry around and fire in this day and age.)

Technorati Tags: Concealed Handguns, Handgunes, Texas CHL

Thats the second longest blog post title I’ve ever seen!

I have to be honest, when I first heard about a Get Smart movie, I wasn’t quite sure what to think. I had been let down before by the short lived Get Smart Again! series, ‘fool me once shame on you! Fool me twice’…well you get the idea.

Fast forward almost two years, and now this movie is poised to release in the coming weeks. The more previews I see for this movie, the more excited I become! The thought of having one of my favorite classic TV shows revisited and updated to fit into our current society excites me!

I was vaguely familiar with Steve Carrell’s work by association, some of my friends love his work. So in preparation for this release I’ve been watching some of Steve Carrell’s movies from the past few years. He seems like a very capable comedian, and I’ve grown to like his style. In fact, if I had to pick any current actor to portray Maxwell Smart, Steve Carrell would be the guy! Which of his works brought me to this conclusion? Dan in Real Life, and The 40-Year Old Virgin.

The ‘Cone of Silence’ gag has already been revealed in many of the movies trailers, but to this day I have yet to see a scene where Max is using his famous shoe-phone. The shoe-phone is a staple of the Maxwell Smart character, and it just wouldn’t be a proper remake without it .

A quick Google Image search reveals one screen capture of Steve Carrell using the phone. Don Adams, the original Maxwell Smart used his trusty shoe-phone to call CONTROL headquarters and update the chief on the current situation. The shoe-phone’s shoddy design required Max to insert a dime before making any outgoing calls, and the obnoxiously loud ring would constantly draw the attention of civilians and enemies alike to Max’s shoes. “Excuse me, your shoe is ringing.”

Its impossible to please everyone, and although I love the shoe-phone, I will be a little disappointed if the new “modern” shoe-phone isn’t something more. There is no justification for our beloved “Agent 86″, Maxwell Smart, to still be carrying around a rotary dialed shoe-phone in an age where cellphones, laptops, and wireless internet are all common place. Perhaps an “enhanced” shoe-phone with added functionality would be more appropriate. A mini super-computer shoe-phone or something of the sort would appease me, as long as it isn’t over done.

Technorati Tags: Don Adams, Get Smart, Shoe Phone, Steve Carrell