Alger Café

An Introduction to Off-Road Driving

2011-12-20T21:30:00.003+02:00

For most 4 wheel drive vehicles on the road today spend their entire lives…on the road. For the average driver, a 4×4 option is only a way to retain resale value in their vehicle and possibly be able to still get groceries when the snow starts falling. It is time to get that off road machine of yours off the beaten trail. Men, let’s get a little mud on the tires.

Off road driving can take several forms. From the weekend trail rider to the die hard rock crawler, off roaders the world over know that there are few better ways to get your jollies than taking total control of your vehicle as you take it places most people never knew they could go. Let’s take a brief look at some of the places you might find yourself when you decide to leave the pavement behind, keeping in mind that this is just an introduction and is by no means all you need to know when hitting the trail. Remember, the most important elements of a successful off road adventure are safety and preparation.

A Brief Lesson in Off Road Vocabulary

4×4 High: All-purpose four wheel drive mode used in most cases. As opposed to 2 wheel drive, all four wheels are engaged and powered by the powertrain. “High” refers to the gear ratio, meaning that the gear ratio is unchanged from the ratio used in 2 wheel drive.

4×4 Low: Four wheel drive mode where a lower gear ratio is engaged, thus delivering higher torque to the wheels and lowering maximum speed. Useful in slower off road situations, rock crawling, and for getting unstuck when things go south.

Locking Differential: Also known as “diff lock,” this refers to the speed at which the wheels turn. In most standard 4×4 modes, the wheels spin at different speeds to compensate for loose or uneven terrain. When the differential is locked, wheels all move at the same speed. A tool used in advanced off-roading and for getting unstuck.

Approach Angle: The maximum incline angle that a vehicle can climb or descend without any part of the body or suspension making contact with the driving surface.

Wheelbase: Distance from the center of a truck’s front wheel to the center of the rear wheel on the same side of the vehicle.

Wheel Travel: The maximum distance a wheel can move up and down. The greater the travel, the more capable the suspension system and the better on and off road traction.

Rock Massage: What you get when you attempt rock crawling without taking the necessary precautions and being properly qualified.

Essentials for Any Off Road Adventure

Full gas tank
Tow rope (be sure it is rated heavy enough for your vehicle)
Spare tire and everything needed to make a change in the field
Portable air compressor
Navigational aids
First aid kit
Mobile phone

Recommended Extras

High lift jack
Vehicle mounted winch
Shovel
Spare tanks of water (for radiator) and fuel
Two way radios for communication between you and your off road buddies
Fire extinguishers

Tips and Tricks

On the Trail

(tested by our team)

Terrain Type: Gravel, Dry Dirt, Grasslands

Equipment Needed: 4 Wheel Drive vehicle

Difficulty Level: Beginner

Trail driving is the simplest and safest of your off-roading options and is a good choice for the beginner just looking to get their bearings in the off-roading world. Many state and federal parks have off road trails available specifically for vehicle travel, so do your research and see what is available in your area. If you are new to off-roading, make sure you are comfortable with the level of difficulty. Don’t attempt any steep climbs or descents or water crossings of any type, particularly if your off road machine also serves as your daily driver.

On The Dunes

Terrain Type: Sand

Equipment Needed: 4 Wheel Drive vehicle, air compressor and tire gauge

Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Before you set out on the dunes, make sure what you are about to do is legal. Most beaches will be clearly marked designating whether the area is 4×4 accessible or not. Since traction is not easily acquired on sand, most drivers will need to deflate the air pressure in their tires down to between 15 and 20psi, allowing the tire tread to spread more and grip more surface (remember to immediately air back up to recommended levels before driving on pavement). Momentum is key when traveling on loose terrain such as sand, so be sure that if you are driving through soft sand you do not slow down unless absolutely necessary. If you feel the vehicle digging in or getting stuck while moving, turn the wheel left and right repetitively to allow the tires to grip fresh terrain and gain better traction.

In the Mud

(tested by our team)

Terrain Type: Mud, Shallow Water (6 inches or less)

Equipment Needed: 4 Wheel Drive vehicle, All Terrain or Mud Terrain tires

Difficulty Level: Intermediate

The tendency with driving in the mud is to floor it, spin the tires, maybe slide the vehicle around a bit. While this is certainly fun, it is also risky business. Once your vehicle starts sliding, it won’t stop until it wants to, and you have forfeited all control. Sure, it will impress your buddies to see you pull off that 360 degree spin you’ve been dreaming about, but they’ll forget how impressed they are when your finishing move involves the oak tree on the edge of the mud hole. It is much better to be the guy who maintains control of his vehicle, maybe even the guy who is towing all the showboats out of the mud, than to be the showboat yourself.

Many of the same principles apply to mud driving as sand driving. Maintain momentum if possible. If you feel you are getting stuck, quickly and repetitively turn the wheel left and right. Most importantly, if you do get stuck, the last thing you want to do is dig yourself in deeper, so avoid the tendency to floor it and spin the tires. First, get out and look at what you have gotten yourself into. Depending on how bad it is, you may be able to drive it out, you may not. Try rocking the vehicle back and forth by shifting from reverse to drive, at very low RPMs if you think it is escapable. If not, you may be hitting your buddies up for a tow.

More advanced off road environments, such as river runs and rock crawling, are best left to those with a great deal of experience, and no written how-to will ever be as valuable as the knowledge acquired through hands on experience.

Important All Purpose Tips

In off road driving as well as life in general, nothing beats knowledge. Prepare for every circumstance, and know what you are getting yourself into. Familiarize yourself not only with the environment you are entering, but with the vehicle itself. Sure, you know how to switch on the air conditioning, but do you know the location of your air intake or on board computer in case you get into some deeper water and risk submerging them? Familiarize yourself with your vehicle’s manual and you will be best equipped for the unexpected. Most importantly, never, ever go alone. Have another driver in another vehicle with a tow rope and be sure you have cell phone reception in case of an emergency.

A few more tips:

1. If you’re traveling in a group, let the least off-road capable vehicle lead. That way, if it get’s stuck it doesn’t get left behind and you can plan a different route.

2. If you’re going slow enough through the right type of terrain, you can use chains for that little extra traction.

3. Take big puddles slowly, you never know if there is a huge drop or a massive boulder that could cause serious damage.

4. Make sure you know where you will be attaching your tow strap for if (when) you get stuck. Prepare ahead and have whatever hooks or loops needed.

5. And brake less — keep your wheels spinning for traction.

And a pro's advice:

As someone who has been off-roading for several decades, I would like to say NEVER go alone (with one truck) if at all possible. There is a reason Camel Trophy, Dakar, etc. drivers have support teams. A winch doesn’t count. Winches break, hurt people (even kill) and people get injured. You don’t want to roll your truck, injure your passengers, and have your truck on it’s roof wondering if anyone is going to notice (done that).

Sergeant Harold Marshall - Canadian Sniper

2011-10-30T23:00:00.000+02:00

Harold A. Marshall was a Canadian scout and sniper sergeant who served in the Second World War with the Calgary Highlanders' Scout and Sniper Platoon.

On 30 January 1942 the Hamilton Spectator mentioned him in an article about ongoing training simulations the Highlanders were engaged in at an undisclosed location in England.

He was wounded on 15 December 1944.

The well-known photograph shown here was taken by Army photographer Ken Bell of the Canadian Army Film and Photo Unitnear Fort Brasschaat in Belgium in September 1944. He is carrying a Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk 1 (T) and wears a modified version of the Denison smock. Other equipment includes a No. 36M grenade and a camouflage face veil worn as a head covering. The handle of a Kukri can be seen above his belt at his left side.

In 1973, he was profiled again for Bell's commemorative book Not in Vain, which showed him as a curling enthusiast back in Calgary.

Lieutenant-Colonel D.G. MacLauchlan speaks with scouts Corporal S. Kormendy and Sergeant H.A. Marshall, Kapellen, Belgium, 6 October 1944.

Corporal Steven Kormendy and Sergeant Harold Marshall pose for photographer Ken Bell in Belgium on

6 October 1944. Kormendy had been wounded on 26 August 1944;

Marshall would be hit on December 15th.

Lê Đức Thọ

2011-09-27T21:38:00.002+02:00

Lê Đức Thọ (October 14, 1911 – October 13, 1990) was a Vietnamese revolutionary, general, diplomat, and politician, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in 1973.

The United States actively joined the Vietnam War during the early 1960s. Several rounds of Paris Peace Talks (some public, some secret) were held between 1969 and 1973. While Xuan Thuy led the official negotiating team representing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam at the talks in Paris, Thọ and U.S. National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger since February 1970 engaged in secret talks that eventually led to a cease-fire in the Paris Peace Accords of January 23, 1973. The basic history of the Accords included: release of POWs within 80 days; ceasefire to be monitored by the International Commission of Control and Supervision (ICC); free and democratic elections to be held in South Vietnam; U.S. aid to South Vietnam would continue; DRV troops could remain in South Vietnam.

While January 23 is generally recognized as the enactment date of the Peace Accords, the talks continued out of necessity. Sporadic fighting continued in some regions. While U.S. ground forces were removed by March 29, bombing continued in North Vietnam. Due to continued allegations of ceasefire violations by all sides, Kissinger and Lê Đức Thọ met in Paris in May and June 1973 for the purpose of getting the implementation of the peace agreement back on track. On June 13, 1973, the United States and the DRV signed a joint communique pledging mutual support for full implementation of the Paris Accords.

Lê Đức Thọ and Henry Kissinger were jointly awarded the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts in negotiating the Paris Peace Accords.When Henry Kissinger was announced to be awarded the Peace Prize two of the Norwegian Nobel Committee members resigned in protest. However, Thọ declined to accept the award and the prize money, stating:

"There was never a peace deal with the U.S. We won the war".

François al-Hajj Commander of Maghaweer

2011-09-15T16:07:00.000+02:00

General François al-Hajj was born in the southern Lebanese town of Rmaich. He was assassinated by a car bomb on December 12, 2007. The killing reverberated far beyond Lebanon. Condemnations poured in from the United States, Iran, Syria, France and Germany. Factions from across the Lebanese spectrum deplored the assassination, including Hezbollah, which called it a “great national loss.”

July 28, 1953 – December 12, 2007 (aged 54)

Place of birth: Rmaich – Qadaa of Bint Jbeil
Place of death – Baabda
Resting place – Rmaich
Allegiance – Lebanon
Service/branch – Lebanese Armed Forces
Years of service – 1972 - 2007
Rank – Major General
Commands held

Commando Regiment (1996 - 2002)
Third Intervention Regiment (1992 - 1996)

Battles/wars

Operation Nahr el-Bared
Operation Dinnieh
Liberation War
Israeli occupation in South Lebanon

He entered the military academy in 1972, graduating in 1975. He fought against the Israeli occupation in South Lebanon and was then transferred to head positions north of the Litani during the 1980s. In 1988-89 he fought against Syrian forces assaulting the “free zones” of West Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War, he also battled the Lebanese Forces militia. In addition, General Hajj, led the Lebanese Army operation in Dinnieh during 2000. He gained recognition as a brilliant commander during the 15-week operation against Fatah al-Islam in Nahr al-Bared camp northern Lebanon during Summer 2007. He was a supporter of General Michel Aoun, a Catholic Maronite, that in 2006 allied with Hezbollah to push for a strategy of "war against corruption".

General Francois Hajj received the following honors and medals:

Medal of War

Order of the Wounded

Lebanese Order of Merit (3rd degree)

Order of National Unity

Order of the Dawn of the South

Lebanese Order of Merit (1st class)

National Cedar Medal

Medal of Loyalty

Cedar Medal of National Honor

Commended by the Army Commander over 24 times

Wine Label Design

2011-09-12T09:27:00.000+02:00

Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read. Francis Bacon

Inovatio Luctor - the Daredevils of Logging

2011-06-26T13:02:00.006+02:00

Coolest of bosses, hardest of workers, strongest among men!

"Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities . . . because it is the quality that guarentees all others." - Winston Churchill

Check out their new website: Inovatio Luctor

Longest recorded sniper kills

2011-05-24T20:39:00.004+02:00

1. Corporal of Horse (CoH) Craig Harrison (UK) - 2,475 m

In November 2009 CoH Craig Harrison struck two Taliban machine gunners south of Musa Qala in Helmand Province in Afghanistan at a range of 2,475 m (2,707 yd) using a L115A3 Long Range Rifle. In the reports CoH Craig Harrison mentions the environmental conditions were perfect for long range shooting: no wind, mild weather, clear visibility.

2. Corporal Rob Furlong (Canada) - 2,430 m

In March 2002, Furlong participated in Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan's Shah-i-Kot Valley as a member of the 3rd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). A group of three al-Qaeda fighters were moving into a mountainside position when Furlong took aim with his Long Range Sniper Weapon (LRSW), a .50-caliber McMillan Brothers Tac-50 rifle and ammunition loaded with 750 gr Hornady A-MAX very-low-drag bullets. He began firing at a fighter carrying an RPK machine gun. His first shot missed and his second shot hit the knapsack on the target's back. The third struck the target's torso, killing him. The distance was measured as 2,430 metres (2,657 yd / 1.509 miles). With a muzzle speed of 823 m/s (2,700 ft/s), each shot reached the target almost four seconds after Furlong fired.

3. Master Corporal Arron Perry (Canada) - 2,310 m

Former Master Corporal in the Canadian Forces who in March 2002 briefly held the record for the longest recorded sniper kill in combat at a range of 2,310 m (2,526 yd).

Blood brotherhood

2011-05-21T19:43:00.002+02:00

Blood brother can refer to one of two things: two males related by birth, or two or more men not related by birth who have sworn loyalty to each other. This is usually done in a ceremony, known as a blood oath, where the blood of each man is mingled together. The process usually provides a participant with a heightened symbolic sense of attachment with another participant.

An oath is either a statement of fact or a promise calling upon something or someone that the oath maker considers sacred, usually God, as a witness to the binding nature of the promise or the truth of the statement of fact. To swear is to take an oath, to make a solemn vow.
The essence of a divine oath is an invocation of divine agency to be a guarantor of the oath taker's own honesty and integrity in the matter under question. By implication, this invokes divine displeasure if the oath taker fails in their sworn duties. It therefore implies greater care than usual in the act of the performance of one's duty, such as in testimony to the facts of the matter in a court of law.
A person taking an oath indicates this in a number of ways. The most usual is the explicit "I swear," but any statement or promise that includes "with * as my witness" or "so help me *," with '*' being something or someone the oath-taker holds sacred, is an oath. Many people take an oath by holding in their hand or placing over their head a book of scripture or a sacred object, thus indicating the sacred witness through their action: such an oath is called corporal. However, the chief purpose of such an act is for ceremony or solemnity, and the act does not of itself make an oath.

Tea Makers and Coffee Machines

2011-05-02T10:40:00.006+02:00

In 1822, the first espresso machine was made in France. In 1933, Dr. Ernest Illy invented the first automatic espresso machine. However, the modern-day espresso machine was created by Italian Achilles Gaggia in 1946. Gaggia invented a high pressure espresso machine by using a spring powered lever system. The first pump driven espresso machine was produced in 1960 by the Faema company.

Traditionally the tea is served three times, and the amount of time the tea has been steeping gives each of the three glasses of tea a unique flavor, described in this famous proverb:

Le premier verre est aussi amer que la vie,
le deuxième est aussi fort que l'amour,
le troisième est aussi doux que la mort.

The first glass is as bitter as life,
the second glass is as strong as love,
the third glass is as gentle as death.

The cultivation and brewing of tea in India has a long history of applications in traditional systems of medicine and for consumption. The consumption of tea in India was first clearly documented in the Ramayana (750-500 BC). For the next 1000 years, documentation of tea in India was lost in history. Records re-emerge during the 1st century AD, with stories of the Buddhist monks Bodhidharma and Gan Lu, and their involvement with tea. Research shows that tea is indigenous to eastern and northern India, and was cultivated and consumed there for thousands of years. Commercial production of tea in India did not begin until the arrival of the British East India Company, at which point large tracts of land were converted for mass tea production.

Moroccan mint tea is a green tea with mint leaves.
Moroccan-style mint tea is now commonly served all through the West Arab World (North Africa). It is served not only at mealtimes but all through the day, and it is especially a drink of hospitality, commonly served whenever there are guests. Unlike Moroccan food, cooked by women, this tea is traditionally a man's affair: prepared by the head of the family. It is served to guests, and it is impolite to refuse it.

The first great coffeemaker 1927

In 1927 the first large coffee machine from WMF heralded a technical revolution. It worked with vapour pressure and was the machine where the parts directly getting into contact with coffee were made of Cromargan. The strong points of the machine were its fastness and its ease of operation. This machine already applied two brewing processes: the pressureless brewing process and the “express” process working with pressure and being distinctly faster.

Snipers of the Soviet Union during WWII

2011-04-14T20:11:00.008+02:00

Snipers of the Soviet Union during WWII short documentary with interviews.

Snipers of the Soviet Union played an important role mainly on the Eastern Front of World War II, apart from other preceding and subsequent conflicts. In World War II, Soviet snipers used the 7.62x54R rifle cartridge with light, heavy, armour-piercing (B-30), armour-piercing-and-incendiary (B-32), zeroing-and-incendiary (P3), and tracer bullets. Most Soviet WWII snipers carried a combat load of 120 rifle cartridges in the field. Unlike the militaries of other nations, these snipers could be men or women. In 1943, there were over 2,000 women functioning in this role.

Major Ivan Mikhaylovich Sidorenko (September 12, 1919 – 1987), with over five hundred confirmed kills.

Sergeant Fyodor Matveyevich Okhlopkov (March 2, 1908 - May 28, 1968), credited with as many as 429 kills.

Major Lyudmila Mykhailivna Pavlichenko (July 12, 1916 – October 10, 1974), credited with 309 kills, and is regarded as the most successful female sniper in history.

Captain Vasily Grigorevich Zaytsev (March 23, 1915 – December 15, 1991), between October 1942 and January 1943, Zaytsev made 242 verified kills.

Knights of the Desert

2011-04-13T00:30:00.005+02:00

They call themselves variously Kel Tamasheq or Kel Tamajaq - Speakers of Tamasheq, Imuhagh, Imazaghan or Imashaghen - the Free people, or Kel Tagelmust - People of the Veil. The name Tuareg was applied to them by early explorers and historians, since Leo Africanus (c. 1494 – c. 1554?).

Ahmad Shah Massoud - The Lion of Panjshir

2011-04-13T00:01:00.006+02:00

Nickname:
"Lion of Panjshir"
Place of birth:
Bazarak, Panjshir, Afghanistan
Place of death:
Takhar Province, Afghanistan
Years of service:
1978-2001
Rank:
Commander, Minister of Defense
Commands held:
Prominent Mujahideen commander during the Soviet war in Afghanistan,
Defense Minister of Afghanistan and commander of the anti-Taliban United Islamic Front
Battles/wars:
Soviet war in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan

Awards:
National Hero of Afghanistan and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee

Wikipedia about Ahmad Shah Massoud

Ahmad Shah Massoud (احمد شاه مسعود- Aḥmad Šāh Mas'ūd; September 2, 1953 – September 9, 2001) was a Kabul University engineering student turned military leader who played a leading role in driving the Soviet army out of Afghanistan, earning him the name Lion of Panjshir. His followers called him Āmir Sāhib-e Shahīd (Our Beloved Martyred Commander). His followers not only saw him as a military commander but also as a spiritual leader."Lion of Panjshir", is a rhyme and play on words in Persian, which alludes to the strength of his resistance against the Soviet Union, the mythological exaltation of the lion in Persian literature, and finally, the place name of the Panjshir Valley, where Massoud was born. The place name of "Panjshir" Valley in Persian means (Valley of the) Five Lions. Thus, the phrase "Lion of Panjshir", which in Persian is "Shir-e-Panjshir," شیر پنجشیر is a rhyming play on words, with the connotation "Lion of the Five Lions".

Widely seen as a guerrilla genius - his country's Che Guevara, with charisma and beard to match - Massoud successfully played David to the Soviets' Goliath in the 1980s. - Sebastian Junger Under Fire by Ted Chamberlain, National Geographic

Massoud's personal mysticism led him to fight without hatred, bitterness, or spirit of revenge, regarding armed conflict only as an imposed and necessary evil in order to defend his people's freedom, certainly not as an end in itself to be enjoyed as bloodlust or intoxication with power. He always provided protection for humanitarian relief in the most difficult and dangerous circumstances, looked for reconciliation with defeated enemies, and invariably treated his war prisoners with humanity and dignity. To this I was witness ... Such moral integrity in the midst of warfare ranks Massoud as one of the very few « philosopher kings » in history, that is, men who have been forced to wage war so as to protect their nation and people, but who detested war in itself and sought no personal political gain. - Thoughts on Commander Massoud by Princeton University Prof. Michael Barry

Massoud was named "The Afghan who won the cold war" by the Wall Street Journal. He defeated the Soviet Red Army in the Panjshir. The Soviet Union's defeat was not only a defeat in Afghanistan, but led to the collapse of the Soviet system and was followed by the liberation of the Central Asian and Eastern European countries from Moscow's control. His struggle against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan earned him the name "Lion of Panjshir".

Massoud's tomb in Bazarak in the Panjshir Valley.

The mausoleum of Massoud is now a national visiting site located in the Panjshir Valley, north of the capital Kabul.

"For me, north, south, Persian, Pashto is absolutely meaningless. In our home we can talk in every language." - Ahmad Shah Massoud

Simo Häyhä - outstanding warrior

2011-04-11T18:05:00.007+02:00

Nickname:
White Death
Place of birth:
Rautjärvi, Finland
Place of death:
Hamina, Finland
Allegiance:
Finland
Years of service:
1925 – 1940
Rank:
Corporal during the war, promoted to Second Lieutenant afterwards
Unit:
Infantry Regiment 34
Battles/wars:
Winter War (1939–1940, between Finland and the Soviet Union)

Awards:
I. Cross of Liberty, 3rd class and 4th class;
II. Medal of Liberty, 1st class and 2nd class;
III. Cross of Kollaa Battle

Simo Häyhä (www.wikipedia.org)(Finnish pronunciation: [ˈsimɔ ˈhæy̯hæ]) (December 17, 1905 – April 1, 2002), nicknamed "White Death" (Russian: Белая смерть, Belaya Smert; Finnish: valkoinen kuolema; Swedish: den vita döden; German: der weiße Tod) by the Red Army, was a Finnish sniper. Using a modified Mosin-Nagant in the Winter War, he has the highest recorded number (505) of confirmed sniper kills in any major war.

On March 6, 1940, Häyhä was shot in the lower left jaw by a Russian soldier during combat. The bullet tumbled upon impact and exited his head. He was picked up by fellow soldiers who said "half his head was missing".

The bullet had crushed his jaw and blown off his left cheek. Nonetheless, he made a full recovery and became a successful moose hunter and dog breeder after World War II, and hunted with Finnish president Urho Kekkonen.

When asked in 1998 how he had become such a good shooter, he answered, "practice." When asked if he regretted killing so many people, he said "I did what I was told to as well as I could." Simo Häyhä spent his last years in Ruokolahti, a small village located in southeastern Finland, near the Russian border.

Legends in Black and White

2011-04-09T02:33:00.005+02:00

They do not need names,they do not need stories, they will remain unknown. But their gaze reveal the structure of the soul and unveil the sorrow and joy of life.

the Falconer

a Kamikaze pilot

Bedouin Sheikh

Love and Courage

Military caravan...

May be a little color...

inside Alger Cafe

Arabesque

Dakar Rally - now and then

2011-01-29T18:33:00.007+02:00

Mac Motorcycles

2011-01-21T23:50:00.002+02:00

Mac Motorcycles are the latest motorcycle design range consisting 4 bikes crafted by two British design studio Ellis Pitt and Xenephya Design. This development is an outcome of over 9 months of diligent effort of the design team. All the models comprise the same engine and feature 500 cubes of working volume. These concept designs are described by Ellis Pitt as an outcome of confusion between Italian motorcycle Chopper and some others. These concept models have been named as Spud, Peashooter, Ruby and Poarer and several hundreds of these are waiting to be launched as per the developers and further developments will take place on demand.

Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon

2011-01-15T18:00:00.003+02:00

Mercedes recently unveiled the G-Wagon LAPV 6.X Concept at the Eurosatory defense exposition in France. The LAPV 6.X Concept is an armored military version of the legendary sport-utility vehicle. Mercedes-Benz equipped this G-Wagon LAPV 6.X land monster with a diesel engine that is protected tighter then Fort Knox and encased in armor plating and enough power to carry 2,866 lbs of cargo while hitting a top speed of 150 kilometers per hour (93 mph). Beneath the armor is an adjustable suspension with 18 inches of ground clearance ensuring that it will not be obstructed.

Sniper - a story old as time

2011-01-06T21:46:00.017+02:00

(See Harold Marshall - Canadian Sniper post)

German sniper

Russian sniper, Battle of Stalingrad, October 1942

The legend of the turkish female sniper at Gallipoli,
between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916

Pvt. Leo R. Hahn, sniper, Intelligence Section,
127th Inf., 32nd Division, in trench at Benholz, Alsace, 1 July 1918

Queen's University WWI Collection 3692, Box 4, File 37

Canadian Sniper

WWI sniper

Waffen SS Sniper in Cammo 1941

Vassili Grigorievich Zaitsev

Vassili Zaitsev leads 2 sniper students - winter of 1942 Stalingrad

The Soviet sniper Maxim Passar. 1942

Algerian Café in time and oil

2011-01-05T20:38:00.007+02:00

Outdoor café, Algeria - 1979

Moorish coffee house, Algiers, Algeria, ca. 1899
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

Arabs at a café, Algiers, Algeria, 1899

Frederick Arthur Bridgman
Café at Biskra, Algeria,1884
Smithsonian American Art Museum

Almehs Playing Chess in a Café
Jean-Léon Gérôme

Sabre Dance in a Café, 1875
Jean Léone Gérôme
oil on canvas/huile sur toile
from 2007 at Herbert F. Johnson Museum, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

Hanebrink - an electric all terrain vehicle

2011-01-02T22:11:00.004+02:00