minnow's New Writeups

Federal Cartridge Company (person)

2008-06-23T02:48:24Z

In the greater history of ammunition manufacturing in the United States, there have been many players. The two oldest still existing- Winchester (1866) and Remington (1816), were both founded in the 19th century. In reality, they both were firearms companies to begin with, only later getting into the business of making their own ammunition, whether it be for pistol, rifle or shotgun. Both would purchase ammunition companies already existing, such as when Remington purchased Union Metallic Cartridge Company (rifle and pistol) and Peters Cartridge Company (shotgun shells). By the time the 1900's were rolling around on the calendar, these companies were very well established and could make such investments and acquisitions to maintain any lead necessary to keep competitors in check.

It is unusual, then, that there was a ammunition company that came into existence after the great Industrial Revolution, the leap from black powder to…

M40A1 sniper rifle (thing)

2008-06-20T02:22:52Z

The M40A1 sniper rifle was used by the United States Marine Corps and was the first notable large scale production of any sniper rifle platform by any branch of the US armed forces. The rifle began to take shape in late 1965 with a purchase order to Remington Arms Company for some sniper rifles. These original rifles were based on the best target bolt action rifle available from Remington at that time — the 40X. The 40X was available (and still is) through the Remington custom shop as it was a special order rifle manufactured to the highest match grade standards. Each of these rifles became known as an "M40" and roughly 1,000 were made.

As with all things mechanical, the rifles began to wear out. Instead of asking Remington to make up some new rifles, the armorers at the Marine Corps Marksmanship Training Unit (MTU) at Quantico, Virginia decided to make their own version of a sniper rifle. The M40A1 was created out of a desire to make sure that Marines had the most accurate…

Clam Chowder (recipe)

2008-06-16T21:07:08Z

No one really knows what part the Portuguese and/or Italians played in the creation of Manhattan style clam chowder, save for the fact that one or both of them brought tomatoes to the overall recipe of a potato thickened soup with clams. Unlike its northern New England style cousin, which derives a great deal of its flavor from the heavy cream infused broth, Manhattan style chowder derives its flavor from the compliment of both clam and vegetables, with the clams singing soprano in concert with the vegetables and tomato broth. It is clam chowder, after all. New England style chowders are usually silky and velvety affairs, sometimes trussed up in all white, which are by nature rich and obviously excellent for a first course. By contrast, many Manhattan style chowders tend to look more like a tomato-vegetable soup with an afterthought of clams. Like any other soup, the quality of Manhattan style clam chowder…

Frylock (person)

2008-06-16T02:01:45Z

Pack a bag — we're going to Memphis.
Frylock, Episode 3, Bus Of The Undead.

The most level headed of the cast from the hit series Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Frylock acts as the father to the rest of the Aqua Teens. He is responsible and kind hearted. Contrary to the repeated statements of Master Shake, Frylock would be the most likely candidate for leader. Intellectually, he has no equal on the show.

Frylock's appearance is that of a floating box of french fries. The fries themselves act as his arms. He has a goatee. On his back, he seems to have some sort of crystal, the purpose of which has not been explained but is most likely his power source. He has braces, which can be seen in the opening of the show and during the episode Balloonenstein. He cocks his eyebrows when he doesn't believe what someone is saying. He does this towards Master Shake quite frequently. Additionally, Frylock…

Meatwad (person)

2008-06-15T22:09:18Z

Man, everybody knows meat don't sleep.
Episode 1, Rabbot.

One of the four main characters from the hit cartoon, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Meatwad is, well, a sentient ball of ground chuck. His composition notwithstanding, it is immediately apparent that he does not fit in with the motif of the other characters Master Shake and Frylock, a milkshake and box of fries, respectively. If his name was Meatball instead, then perhaps it would fit; however, the typical fast food meal is a drink (a milkshake will fit) a box of fries and a hamburger. At the very least, he is a meat product.

Meatwad is apparently the youngest of the Aqua Teens. I mention this because he is the most intellectually childlike; his actual age may be older than any of the characters on the show. His intellectual capacity is also probably the result of the fact that he has a toy brain, which apparently squeaks when squeezed, much like a dog…

Wildcat (thing)

2008-06-13T04:04:21Z

"Wildcat" is a term used by amateur ammunition reloaders to signify some sort of either experimental nature or enhancement that is the result of any number of ammunition manufacturing processes. Typically, wildcatting is only done with brass cartridges and this means it is done with pistol and rifle ammunition and not shotshells. That said, typically a wildcat cartridge is for a rifle and not a pistol. This is not to say that wildcat pistol rounds do not exist as they certainly do. One such example is the .38 Super, which was based on the .38 ACP.

Wildcatting of cartridges is done for any number of reasons. Some people, perhaps defective in character, like to have their name attached to a specific cartridge that is "faster, whiter and brighter"; some people wildcat a cartridge because they believe they can make a better ballistic device and some people like to tinker for its own sake. Whatever the reason, just such a cartridge…