https://rogue-nation.com/mybb/ Wed, 15 Apr 2026 01:16:29 +0000 MyBB https://rogue-nation.com/mybb/showthread.php?tid=2941 Sun, 20 Jul 2025 14:30:52 +0000 gortex]]> https://rogue-nation.com/mybb/showthread.php?tid=2941
Following this victory Usyk remains undefeated in his 24 fight professional career , 15 wins by knockout / 5 by decision.
Commiserations to Daniel Dubois but like his Country the Ukrainian is unstoppable.

Post fight interview.
]]>
Following this victory Usyk remains undefeated in his 24 fight professional career , 15 wins by knockout / 5 by decision.
Commiserations to Daniel Dubois but like his Country the Ukrainian is unstoppable.

Post fight interview.
]]> https://rogue-nation.com/mybb/showthread.php?tid=2937 Sat, 19 Jul 2025 17:57:11 +0000 FCD]]> https://rogue-nation.com/mybb/showthread.php?tid=2937
The first story begins with a fishing contest me and my buddy, Todd, used to enter on an annual basis.  We both consistently placed in this contest, and even won a few championships between us.  We were both very competitive (with each other).  This particular contest was sponsored by a big fishing tackle and commercial fishing supply place, and they generally had some pretty nice prizes (i.e. expensive tackle, cash prizes and high-end gear).  They generally had multiple categories you could enter, and I generally always entered the saltwater contest in three fish categories, Snook, Redfish, and Grouper.  I was a pretty good Snook fisherman at the time, so I could usually plan on catching at least one good sized Snook.  The rules were (3) fish, and you could have any combination of fish in the (3) categories.  Each category was judged by size and weight in that category (or class), and then you also entered a total combined weight across all (3) classes...but only (3) fish max.  The contest ran for 7 days and you could bring an entry on any of the days, BUT once you entered a fish you couldn't 'un-enter' it and substitute a bigger/different fish.  Again, (3) fish total.

Days 1 -3:  Normally, I always caught fish, but then the question became should I enter that fish or try for a bigger one?  On the first three days I got totally skunked!  Aside from junk fish, or species outside the classes, I had 'zippo' at the end of day #3 (this was really rare for me).  

Day 4:  Changed some tactics (and tackle) and caught several fish before Noon.  Most were small Snook which I had to cut loose.  (18" min. legal size).  Then I boated a Redfish and a Snook which were both keepers, but nothing special.  I knew, at very best, neither of these fish would probably place (based on past experience...the competition was pretty intense, as you were up against local guides and everyone else).  After a few minutes of deliberation I decided to toss both in the fish locker and keep them, to fillet out the Redfish and eat it, and I'd take a chance on entering the Snook.

Day 5:  Nothin!  Wow!  A couple small ones, no keepers and a complete zippo for the day!  Checked in with my buddy (and a couple others I knew); everyone was struggling.  At least I didn't feel so bad.

Day 6:  Nothing in the morning.  Then I caught a good sized Grouper when I decided to hit a man made reef offshore for a while to break up the pace.  Grouper, being quite a bit bigger, was still good sized.  12 lbs as I recall.  He was going in the locker for sure and would be entered.  This was really unusual for me, because normally I'd have all (3) fish as Snook and they'd be turned in already (and this had been my goal up to this point).  Well, I wasn't having any results at all with Snook (or Redfish, which I didn't fish a lot anyway), so thought I should focus on Grouper.  That was it for day #6.  Turned in the Grouper and found out someone had turned in one bigger than my fish already (dammit!).  

Day 7:  Final day.  Time to put up, or shut up; the heat was on.  My buddy Todd had entered the freshwater category, so the whole time I was out on the boat, he was onshore fishing for Bass (and two other fish, which I forget).  Fished up until about 2pm.  I was fried to a crisp, as I'd been out all (7) days.  I was really about ready to call it a day.  5pm was the deadline.  I was done, and wasn't going to even place.  Decided to try this one last spot I knew of in the Marco River Channel.  There was a hole in this channel and if there were fish (at all) they were generally big, and often Grouper.  All of a sudden I snagged both lines big-time.  I was hung up bad.  This tackle was kind of expensive, so I didn't want to lose it.  I'd finish my day trying to get un-snagged.  That was UNTIL...my "snag" started to move!  No way could this be a fish.  I figured maybe I'd hooked a manatee or something, but it was pretty deep for a manatee (about 30').  It was definitely moving.  Holy crap!  Long story short...it was indeed a fish.

Got the fish up to the boat, and it was a Goliath Grouper, and it was WAY too big to get in the boat myself!  Now what??  Running out of time.  I didn't know exactly how big this fish really was, but he was a monster!  I managed to get a rope through his mouth and out his gills on one side and tied him off to the stern cleat.  Time was running out.  I would have to go very slow if I was going to pull this off, but I managed to get him to the Marco River Marina which was the closest place I had any hope of getting this fish out of the water.

Once out of the water and hanging from the scale, he weighed in a 397 lbs!!  No lie either!  Had to call the contest place and tell them I had this fish.  By this time the Miami Herald had showed up along with a pretty big crowd.  Some quick checks and I was 75 lbs short of a Florida State Record fish (bummer), but he was still a bomber!  Unless someone had caught another one like him, the contest would be in the bag.  

The contest folks sent someone to the marina to verify the catch.  Won the contest, hand's down, got my picture in the Miami Herald and even sold the fish to a local restaurant who had shown up.  Didn't take the State Record, but still, biggest fish I ever caught in Florida...by far!  Won a bunch of cool stuff in the contest (which was nice), and best of all...blew my buddy, Todd, out of the water!!

True story too, folks!

My 2nd story isn't about a big fish, nor an even particularly notable fish; it's just the story of catching it (sort of).  ...

(to be continued in Part II (next))  
(Note - It will be interesting to see if my next post "merges" with this one as a single post, or if it shows up separately).]]>
The first story begins with a fishing contest me and my buddy, Todd, used to enter on an annual basis.  We both consistently placed in this contest, and even won a few championships between us.  We were both very competitive (with each other).  This particular contest was sponsored by a big fishing tackle and commercial fishing supply place, and they generally had some pretty nice prizes (i.e. expensive tackle, cash prizes and high-end gear).  They generally had multiple categories you could enter, and I generally always entered the saltwater contest in three fish categories, Snook, Redfish, and Grouper.  I was a pretty good Snook fisherman at the time, so I could usually plan on catching at least one good sized Snook.  The rules were (3) fish, and you could have any combination of fish in the (3) categories.  Each category was judged by size and weight in that category (or class), and then you also entered a total combined weight across all (3) classes...but only (3) fish max.  The contest ran for 7 days and you could bring an entry on any of the days, BUT once you entered a fish you couldn't 'un-enter' it and substitute a bigger/different fish.  Again, (3) fish total.

Days 1 -3:  Normally, I always caught fish, but then the question became should I enter that fish or try for a bigger one?  On the first three days I got totally skunked!  Aside from junk fish, or species outside the classes, I had 'zippo' at the end of day #3 (this was really rare for me).  

Day 4:  Changed some tactics (and tackle) and caught several fish before Noon.  Most were small Snook which I had to cut loose.  (18" min. legal size).  Then I boated a Redfish and a Snook which were both keepers, but nothing special.  I knew, at very best, neither of these fish would probably place (based on past experience...the competition was pretty intense, as you were up against local guides and everyone else).  After a few minutes of deliberation I decided to toss both in the fish locker and keep them, to fillet out the Redfish and eat it, and I'd take a chance on entering the Snook.

Day 5:  Nothin!  Wow!  A couple small ones, no keepers and a complete zippo for the day!  Checked in with my buddy (and a couple others I knew); everyone was struggling.  At least I didn't feel so bad.

Day 6:  Nothing in the morning.  Then I caught a good sized Grouper when I decided to hit a man made reef offshore for a while to break up the pace.  Grouper, being quite a bit bigger, was still good sized.  12 lbs as I recall.  He was going in the locker for sure and would be entered.  This was really unusual for me, because normally I'd have all (3) fish as Snook and they'd be turned in already (and this had been my goal up to this point).  Well, I wasn't having any results at all with Snook (or Redfish, which I didn't fish a lot anyway), so thought I should focus on Grouper.  That was it for day #6.  Turned in the Grouper and found out someone had turned in one bigger than my fish already (dammit!).  

Day 7:  Final day.  Time to put up, or shut up; the heat was on.  My buddy Todd had entered the freshwater category, so the whole time I was out on the boat, he was onshore fishing for Bass (and two other fish, which I forget).  Fished up until about 2pm.  I was fried to a crisp, as I'd been out all (7) days.  I was really about ready to call it a day.  5pm was the deadline.  I was done, and wasn't going to even place.  Decided to try this one last spot I knew of in the Marco River Channel.  There was a hole in this channel and if there were fish (at all) they were generally big, and often Grouper.  All of a sudden I snagged both lines big-time.  I was hung up bad.  This tackle was kind of expensive, so I didn't want to lose it.  I'd finish my day trying to get un-snagged.  That was UNTIL...my "snag" started to move!  No way could this be a fish.  I figured maybe I'd hooked a manatee or something, but it was pretty deep for a manatee (about 30').  It was definitely moving.  Holy crap!  Long story short...it was indeed a fish.

Got the fish up to the boat, and it was a Goliath Grouper, and it was WAY too big to get in the boat myself!  Now what??  Running out of time.  I didn't know exactly how big this fish really was, but he was a monster!  I managed to get a rope through his mouth and out his gills on one side and tied him off to the stern cleat.  Time was running out.  I would have to go very slow if I was going to pull this off, but I managed to get him to the Marco River Marina which was the closest place I had any hope of getting this fish out of the water.

Once out of the water and hanging from the scale, he weighed in a 397 lbs!!  No lie either!  Had to call the contest place and tell them I had this fish.  By this time the Miami Herald had showed up along with a pretty big crowd.  Some quick checks and I was 75 lbs short of a Florida State Record fish (bummer), but he was still a bomber!  Unless someone had caught another one like him, the contest would be in the bag.  

The contest folks sent someone to the marina to verify the catch.  Won the contest, hand's down, got my picture in the Miami Herald and even sold the fish to a local restaurant who had shown up.  Didn't take the State Record, but still, biggest fish I ever caught in Florida...by far!  Won a bunch of cool stuff in the contest (which was nice), and best of all...blew my buddy, Todd, out of the water!!

True story too, folks!

My 2nd story isn't about a big fish, nor an even particularly notable fish; it's just the story of catching it (sort of).  ...

(to be continued in Part II (next))  
(Note - It will be interesting to see if my next post "merges" with this one as a single post, or if it shows up separately).]]> https://rogue-nation.com/mybb/showthread.php?tid=2768 Fri, 16 May 2025 22:45:39 +0000 HaarFager]]> https://rogue-nation.com/mybb/showthread.php?tid=2768


Pretty Sea Shells In A Totally Random Pattern par HaarFager, on ipernity

Since this was about my travels, I hope I've placed it in the appropriate forum.]]>


Pretty Sea Shells In A Totally Random Pattern par HaarFager, on ipernity

Since this was about my travels, I hope I've placed it in the appropriate forum.]]> https://rogue-nation.com/mybb/showthread.php?tid=2735 Thu, 01 May 2025 08:28:24 +0000 727Sky]]> https://rogue-nation.com/mybb/showthread.php?tid=2735 ]]> ]]> https://rogue-nation.com/mybb/showthread.php?tid=851 Sat, 24 Jun 2023 02:34:08 +0000 Schmoe]]> https://rogue-nation.com/mybb/showthread.php?tid=851
I learned about DMT when I was in college, and sort of tucked that info away for later.  I didn't feel like I was ready for it.  I've heard it explained that if shrooms and acid are a long-lasting, pretty fireworks show, DMT is a short-lived, in-your-face hydrogen bomb.

They were right.  I had done shrooms a handful of times in college amongst friends.  I was absolutely amazed by how everyone, about 7 of us, were on the same wavelength.  We laughed hysterically at the same things, wanted to listen to the same music, do the same things.  It lasted about 6 hours if I'm remembering right.  This was about 20 years ago.  

I've also experienced the other side of shrooms.  I did them again maybe a year later, and the first hour or two were great.  Then there was a feeling of impending doom that came out of nowhere.  I excused myself, went into my room, curled up into a ball in my bed, and was tortured by every bad memory in my head.  That sucked.

I did them a few more times after that, and even grew my own at one point.  I had zero interest in selling them, but some friends wanted them, and I never had another bad experience.  

Fast forward to about 6 months ago.  I hadn't done shrooms in over a decade, and I had completely forgotten about DMT.  I'd been hearing Rogan talk about it again, and I was reminded.  I wanted to meet these entities many people seem to encounter.  Some call them machine elves, they seem mechanical to some, made of fractals to others, are friendly and joke around with some, and some claim they're mischievous and evil.  There are other entities people encounter, such as God-like beings the size of mountains, strange jesters, and comforting mother-like figures.

You can see why my interest was piqued 

I don't have any of those same friends anymore, life went on, we had families, a few moved away.  So I didn't have anyone who might know somebody with DMT.  I found out DMT occurs naturally in many animals and plants, all you had to do was extract it from a certain type of root bark, mimosa hostilis.

I found a guide to do it, and I was shocked at how easy it was.  Much easier and much faster than growing shrooms.

So I made it, and I was finally sitting there alone, late at night.  I had done a TON of research to try and get an understanding of what to expect, how to do it, what to do after I did it, etc., and I thought I was pretty well prepared.

I was wrong.  I used a bong-like device that vaporizes the powder, took a giant hit, held it in, put the bong down, layed back, and closed my eyes.

There was the field of black you see when you close your eyes, but far in the distance was a spiral made of fractals that was slowly getting closer and closer to me.  I noticed all my senses were gone.  No smell, no hearing, except for a strange but pleasant ringing in my right ear that was slowly increasing in volume. 

As soon as I started to appreciate the beauty of the spiral made of fractals, my field of vision with my eyes closed accelerated right into the spiral, like I was launched.  I felt like I was traveling through space at light speed, zooming through darkness with points of light streaking by.  I forgot what breathing was, and this freaked me out a little bit and I started to panic.

Right as I REALLY started to panic I came out of that wormhole (only way I can describe it) and emerged in a place I'll feebly attempt to describe.

It was a giant area, no ground or anything, sort of like I was floating in a nebula.  The color of it was BEAUTIFUL, like a sky at sunset.  There was orange, red, purple, blue.  There was a wall of symbols I didn't recognize, and towering above it was a being.  I couldn't quite make out the being, but I felt it there and could sort of see it.

There was a thrumming vibration, rhythmic, going through my entire consciousness.  I say that because I was no longer in my body.  The launch I described felt like my consciousness was torn from my body and launched to a different dimension.  That part was scary, but short, only a few seconds.

When I got to this place I was in, along with the rhythmic vibration, I felt a love I have only felt towards my children.  I laughed at my stupidity of being afraid, and felt like I was home.  I STRONGLY felt like I had been here before, and that one day I would return.

The place I was in began to fade, and I knew the trip was ending, and I felt sad at having to leave so soon.  These trips only last about 5-10 minutes.

I came back to my body, and just like that I was stone sober.  There was a euphoric feeling that lasted a good while, and things had a very slight glow to them, a sort of aura.

I laughed very hard and almost cried at the beauty of where I went, and how I could be so stupid to have forgotten it.

I haven't done it again since then, but I want to soon.  I wanted adequate time to understand what happened, and take it in.

I truly believe everybody should do it at least once.  It was the closest I've gotten to a spiritual experience.]]>
I learned about DMT when I was in college, and sort of tucked that info away for later.  I didn't feel like I was ready for it.  I've heard it explained that if shrooms and acid are a long-lasting, pretty fireworks show, DMT is a short-lived, in-your-face hydrogen bomb.

They were right.  I had done shrooms a handful of times in college amongst friends.  I was absolutely amazed by how everyone, about 7 of us, were on the same wavelength.  We laughed hysterically at the same things, wanted to listen to the same music, do the same things.  It lasted about 6 hours if I'm remembering right.  This was about 20 years ago.  

I've also experienced the other side of shrooms.  I did them again maybe a year later, and the first hour or two were great.  Then there was a feeling of impending doom that came out of nowhere.  I excused myself, went into my room, curled up into a ball in my bed, and was tortured by every bad memory in my head.  That sucked.

I did them a few more times after that, and even grew my own at one point.  I had zero interest in selling them, but some friends wanted them, and I never had another bad experience.  

Fast forward to about 6 months ago.  I hadn't done shrooms in over a decade, and I had completely forgotten about DMT.  I'd been hearing Rogan talk about it again, and I was reminded.  I wanted to meet these entities many people seem to encounter.  Some call them machine elves, they seem mechanical to some, made of fractals to others, are friendly and joke around with some, and some claim they're mischievous and evil.  There are other entities people encounter, such as God-like beings the size of mountains, strange jesters, and comforting mother-like figures.

You can see why my interest was piqued 

I don't have any of those same friends anymore, life went on, we had families, a few moved away.  So I didn't have anyone who might know somebody with DMT.  I found out DMT occurs naturally in many animals and plants, all you had to do was extract it from a certain type of root bark, mimosa hostilis.

I found a guide to do it, and I was shocked at how easy it was.  Much easier and much faster than growing shrooms.

So I made it, and I was finally sitting there alone, late at night.  I had done a TON of research to try and get an understanding of what to expect, how to do it, what to do after I did it, etc., and I thought I was pretty well prepared.

I was wrong.  I used a bong-like device that vaporizes the powder, took a giant hit, held it in, put the bong down, layed back, and closed my eyes.

There was the field of black you see when you close your eyes, but far in the distance was a spiral made of fractals that was slowly getting closer and closer to me.  I noticed all my senses were gone.  No smell, no hearing, except for a strange but pleasant ringing in my right ear that was slowly increasing in volume. 

As soon as I started to appreciate the beauty of the spiral made of fractals, my field of vision with my eyes closed accelerated right into the spiral, like I was launched.  I felt like I was traveling through space at light speed, zooming through darkness with points of light streaking by.  I forgot what breathing was, and this freaked me out a little bit and I started to panic.

Right as I REALLY started to panic I came out of that wormhole (only way I can describe it) and emerged in a place I'll feebly attempt to describe.

It was a giant area, no ground or anything, sort of like I was floating in a nebula.  The color of it was BEAUTIFUL, like a sky at sunset.  There was orange, red, purple, blue.  There was a wall of symbols I didn't recognize, and towering above it was a being.  I couldn't quite make out the being, but I felt it there and could sort of see it.

There was a thrumming vibration, rhythmic, going through my entire consciousness.  I say that because I was no longer in my body.  The launch I described felt like my consciousness was torn from my body and launched to a different dimension.  That part was scary, but short, only a few seconds.

When I got to this place I was in, along with the rhythmic vibration, I felt a love I have only felt towards my children.  I laughed at my stupidity of being afraid, and felt like I was home.  I STRONGLY felt like I had been here before, and that one day I would return.

The place I was in began to fade, and I knew the trip was ending, and I felt sad at having to leave so soon.  These trips only last about 5-10 minutes.

I came back to my body, and just like that I was stone sober.  There was a euphoric feeling that lasted a good while, and things had a very slight glow to them, a sort of aura.

I laughed very hard and almost cried at the beauty of where I went, and how I could be so stupid to have forgotten it.

I haven't done it again since then, but I want to soon.  I wanted adequate time to understand what happened, and take it in.

I truly believe everybody should do it at least once.  It was the closest I've gotten to a spiritual experience.]]>