Why is this unlikely to happen in the U.S.?
Because our Socialist government has seen the guns and ammunition numbers.
NEVER forget that.
16 June 2009
Whose Ox? The Other Guy's!
I said, "The government has changed the bankruptcy laws and has stolen property from individuals".
He said, "Don't you agree it's better to save those companies and save all those jobs?"
I said, "So you think stealing those folk's property is okay?"
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" was his response.
My head almost exploded.
How many patriots have died trying to prevent this from happening to our country?
He said, "Don't you agree it's better to save those companies and save all those jobs?"
I said, "So you think stealing those folk's property is okay?"
"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" was his response.
My head almost exploded.
How many patriots have died trying to prevent this from happening to our country?
15 June 2009
Camping
My family started camping when I was barely a teen. My Dad had jerked the seats out of a Corvair "Greenbriar" Van and built a camper to sleep two. Like today's campers, the bed could be raised and used as a dining room table. On the roof, a folding tent was secured for two more to sleep in. At the back door he had ingeniously built a cabinet that the door, when removed, could be used as a cooking platform. Mom could just pump up and fire up the Coleman stove and we'd soon have hot, delicious victuals. I wish I had good pictures of that camper now... my Dad was a genius.
Back then, when you talked "camping", most folks immediately thought of sleeping in a tent, on the ground, with a campfire burning nearby. It wasn't too long before I started hearing the phrase, "The closest I want to get to camping is the 'Holiday Inn'"
Right now I'm sitting in a pavilion in a campground. The Wifi signal is "Very Good". Within a few yards there is a volleyball court, a basketball goal, a heated indoor pool, a hot tub/jacuzzi, an outside pool, and a nice "jungle Jim" set for little ones. Attached to the pavilion is the club house with restaurant and game room, complete with big-screen TV and pool table, ping-pong table, foosball game and more.
I'm surrounded by RV's. It makes me laugh now to think how we, in our little Greenbriar camper, used to feel sorry for those folks waking up in tents on rainy mornings. The Holiday Inn cannot hold a candle against these RV's, some of them costing half-a-million dollars, and there are TONS of them in this campground and campgrounds all across America. America has certainly found "camping", but that word itself is getting harder and harder to define.
It's sad...
There are no campfires here, so campers no longer sit around and visit after dark.
It's sorta like staying at the Holiday Inn.
Back then, when you talked "camping", most folks immediately thought of sleeping in a tent, on the ground, with a campfire burning nearby. It wasn't too long before I started hearing the phrase, "The closest I want to get to camping is the 'Holiday Inn'"
Right now I'm sitting in a pavilion in a campground. The Wifi signal is "Very Good". Within a few yards there is a volleyball court, a basketball goal, a heated indoor pool, a hot tub/jacuzzi, an outside pool, and a nice "jungle Jim" set for little ones. Attached to the pavilion is the club house with restaurant and game room, complete with big-screen TV and pool table, ping-pong table, foosball game and more.
I'm surrounded by RV's. It makes me laugh now to think how we, in our little Greenbriar camper, used to feel sorry for those folks waking up in tents on rainy mornings. The Holiday Inn cannot hold a candle against these RV's, some of them costing half-a-million dollars, and there are TONS of them in this campground and campgrounds all across America. America has certainly found "camping", but that word itself is getting harder and harder to define.
It's sad...
There are no campfires here, so campers no longer sit around and visit after dark.
It's sorta like staying at the Holiday Inn.
11 June 2009
Schadenfreude
They were gracious hosts. When they heard we were going to stay in a hotel they opened their beautiful home to us. The hostess and I were to attend the same meeting, so it made arrangements much more simple... we could discuss the meeting beforehand and share transportation the morning of the meeting.
All went well until we started talking about current events and the subject turned to politics. When they discerned my political leanings they confided, "We're not big fans of George Bush."
That was understatement. It quickly became obvious both host and hostess were full-blown BDS sufferers. Conversation for the rest of the stay was civil, but tense.
At weekend's end we hugged and thanked them for their hospitality, and as we turned to get into our car the host shouted "I'm not rich enough to be a Republican!", and quickly closed the door before I could respond.
Irritating and cowardly...
These folks have beautiful homes in Michigan and Florida...
How "rich" do you have to be to be a Republican?
He's long retired from GM.
Now, frightened to tears about what Bozama is doing to our auto industry, they're being forced to consider their vote in the last election. They're also having to consider selling their home in Florida, in what may be the worst real estate market in decades.
I think soon they'll be poor enough to be Republicans.
All went well until we started talking about current events and the subject turned to politics. When they discerned my political leanings they confided, "We're not big fans of George Bush."
That was understatement. It quickly became obvious both host and hostess were full-blown BDS sufferers. Conversation for the rest of the stay was civil, but tense.
At weekend's end we hugged and thanked them for their hospitality, and as we turned to get into our car the host shouted "I'm not rich enough to be a Republican!", and quickly closed the door before I could respond.
Irritating and cowardly...
These folks have beautiful homes in Michigan and Florida...
How "rich" do you have to be to be a Republican?
He's long retired from GM.
Now, frightened to tears about what Bozama is doing to our auto industry, they're being forced to consider their vote in the last election. They're also having to consider selling their home in Florida, in what may be the worst real estate market in decades.
I think soon they'll be poor enough to be Republicans.
09 June 2009
Things That Make You Go "Hmmmm".
(You'll need to click and enlarge the pic to see what I want ya to see.)The central gauge in that picture is the fuel quantity gauge for the BK117. I love flying this helicopter almost as much as I loved flying the Huey, and oddly, they share a common fault...
Like many helicopters, they're too "short-legged", meaning they have little endurance. The Huey burned roughly 100 gallons of JP-4 or JetA per hour and carried 209 gallons of the stuff.
Do the math-
Taking off with full tanks and considering the required reserve, you knew you'd be stopping to fill 'er up again in less than two hours. The BK's two LTS-101 engines combine to burn almost 80 gallons per hour if you consider starting and hovering for takeoff. From the above gauge you may be able to see there are about 165 gallons in the main tanks, and an additional twenty gallons in the two supply tanks for a total of 185 gallons. Figuring conservatively, I plan for about 2 hours and 15 minutes before it wheezes and gets quiet.
I took the picture to illustrate one of the things that is frequently wrong with aircraft and the regulations that concern them...
Above the fuel gauge you can see a placard that reads, "Max Usable Fuel 1230lb." Usable fuel is the fuel the pumps can actually suck up and provide to the engine for burning. A certain amount of fuel in the tank(s) of most aircraft cannot be utilized, and is therefore "unusable fuel".
The placard, required by the FAA, complicates matters...
The gauge reads gallons of fuel. How many gallons in 1230 pounds?
Jet A weighs 6.84 pounds per gallon. I just grabbed my calculator and did the math-
My "Max Usable Fuel" is 179.82456 gallons, so 5-and-a-sip gallons in the tanks are unusable.
Wouldn't it be nice if the required placard said,
"Max Usable Fuel 179 Gallons"?
There's an old joke among pilots that goes,
"Hi. I'm from the FAA and I'm here to help!"
It always gets a chuckle.
08 June 2009
"You Scare Me."
Well written and to the point, penned by a successful businessman and author, the New York Times wouldn't print this letter.
Gee, I wonder why?
Tip 'O hat to Instapundit
Gee, I wonder why?
Tip 'O hat to Instapundit
They WANT To Believe!
She came through the door flush with excitement...
"You've gotta see this!"
She'd been "selected" to be a member!
And what a club to belong to... at the top of her list was the name of an NFL Quarterback, the owner of a hoity-toity restaurant, and a very popular local TV personality. These folks certainly lend credence to the venture, right?
She needed to "invest" $1,000...
Write a $500 check and send it to the name at the top of her list, and another $500 to the person that recruited her. Then all she had to do was add her name to the bottom of the list, then go and recruit two new "investors". Recruiting the two new folks would repay her initial investment. Then when her name reached the top of the list, she'd receive $128,000... like the NFL Quarterback whose name was now there.
I asked, "What's being produced here? This is nothing but a pyramid scheme... a money shuffle. Eventually the population of 'greater fools' will dry up and this thing will fall of it's own dead weight"
But she wanted that $128,000 and wrote two $500 checks.
The State Attorney General started his investigation the very next day, and within a month the whole scheme had collapsed, and she received a thousand dollars worth of quick education.
I've looked for links to share with you but it turns out it was a regional thing, and doing so would reveal my location. So would giving you the name of the scam, but be aware... the name was every bit as misleading as is the term "Employee Free Choice Act".
She WANTED to believe. Greed is such a strong drive...
We know the names of Charles Ponzi, Michael Milliken, and Bernie Madoff only because there are large numbers of seemingly intelligent people who ignore the old saw "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is".
So now President(?) Obama tells us his stimulus plan will lead us out of the desert. He tells us hundreds of thousands of jobs will be "saved" under his extraordinary direction.
But... WHAT'S BEING PRODUCED?
So far as I can see, the only thing being produced is bigger government and a larger drag on taxpayers. There's no added value of goods and services here. But there are still lots of folks who WANT TO BELIEVE Obama can do what he claims, so we've not reached the point of collapse quite yet.
Later we'll be able to add a name to our list:
Ponzi, Milliken, Madoff...
Obama.
"You've gotta see this!"
She'd been "selected" to be a member!
And what a club to belong to... at the top of her list was the name of an NFL Quarterback, the owner of a hoity-toity restaurant, and a very popular local TV personality. These folks certainly lend credence to the venture, right?
She needed to "invest" $1,000...
Write a $500 check and send it to the name at the top of her list, and another $500 to the person that recruited her. Then all she had to do was add her name to the bottom of the list, then go and recruit two new "investors". Recruiting the two new folks would repay her initial investment. Then when her name reached the top of the list, she'd receive $128,000... like the NFL Quarterback whose name was now there.
I asked, "What's being produced here? This is nothing but a pyramid scheme... a money shuffle. Eventually the population of 'greater fools' will dry up and this thing will fall of it's own dead weight"
But she wanted that $128,000 and wrote two $500 checks.
The State Attorney General started his investigation the very next day, and within a month the whole scheme had collapsed, and she received a thousand dollars worth of quick education.
I've looked for links to share with you but it turns out it was a regional thing, and doing so would reveal my location. So would giving you the name of the scam, but be aware... the name was every bit as misleading as is the term "Employee Free Choice Act".
She WANTED to believe. Greed is such a strong drive...
We know the names of Charles Ponzi, Michael Milliken, and Bernie Madoff only because there are large numbers of seemingly intelligent people who ignore the old saw "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is".
So now President(?) Obama tells us his stimulus plan will lead us out of the desert. He tells us hundreds of thousands of jobs will be "saved" under his extraordinary direction.
But... WHAT'S BEING PRODUCED?
So far as I can see, the only thing being produced is bigger government and a larger drag on taxpayers. There's no added value of goods and services here. But there are still lots of folks who WANT TO BELIEVE Obama can do what he claims, so we've not reached the point of collapse quite yet.
Later we'll be able to add a name to our list:
Ponzi, Milliken, Madoff...
Obama.
07 June 2009
Greybeard's Economic Indicators
"If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."Man, that's true in my household! She thought she needed her hair trimmed, and the only gal she trusts to do it is 25 miles away. The only way I feel reasonably comfortable driving that far for a "trim" is to insure we accomplish several errands on this one drive.
(I know folks living in large cities must do a spit-take reading that sentence but you have to realize... driving completely across our little town takes all of five minutes at 30 miles per hour! So for us, this is a relatively LONG drive.)
Knowing we'd be making this drive, I started my list-
I gave our only corkscrew to our invalid neighbor who asked me to pick up a bottle of wine for her last week. She wanted Liebfraumilich. It only comes in bottles with a cork. She had no corkscrew so I gave her ours, and we needed a replacement.
When I'm upstairs I have to play "plug swap" to plug my laptop into an outlet. Another power strip would solve the problem. (What'd we ever do without them?)
I need a new toothbrush.
I need "no more tears" Baby shampoo... (I use it to scrub Lucy's head during her once-a-week bath.)
I drop Sara Jean off at the mall and drive across the street where I can get everything on my list cheap- BIG LOTS! As I park my car I notice another car jockeying for a parking spot...
A Cadillac Escalade. An attractive, well-dressed gal follows my path into the store.
I love Big Lots. I can easily wander around in these stores for an hour, now and then finding stuff I simply cannot do without for the price!
And that's exactly what happens...
I find a nice pair of behind-the-head Sony earphones that I can use while riding my bike wearing my helmet for $4.99... into the cart they went! Others are doing the same thing...
The store is full of browsers looking for bargains.
I check out and go back across the road to check on SJ. My drive takes me past the "Saturn" car dealership, now closed and empty.
There are few people in the stores. There are lots of kids, walking the mall, seeing and being seen. But few are carrying bags of goods they've bought.
I realize my observations are not scientific. I realize they're simply a snapshot of a certain locale at a certain time of day. But the overall impression is that everyone is being cautious with their wallet.
Big Lots, Walmart, and Costco still seem to be doing well...
Even with the Cadillac Escalade crowd.
05 June 2009
Operating In Our World
Man, it's as nearly perfect as it can be outside-
Cobalt blue sky and a light breeze, 78 degrees with low humidity.
I weeded what the deer have left of my garden, then started tinkering with the old pickup I just bought. (More on that later.)
This weather makes you want to stay out of doors!
When the weather is NOT like today I think about how work gets done. I'm always surprised when I go to visit Big Bubba in Phoenix to see work crews out in temperatures of 110 degrees, but then think, "If they didn't work in these temperatures, no work would ever get done!"
The other night we were watching another episode of "Ice Road Truckers"... they're operating on the "Dalton Highway" in Alaska on this segment. They showed how they prepare trucks to operate in temperatures of -40 degrees and less.
We don't like working in temperature extremes. Our machines don't much like it either. I've done no research on the reasons why, so maybe one of you can educate me, but it seems the reason why is we are limited to using resources formed in our environment, particularly our fuels, lubricants, and cooling fluids. Through our use of chemistry we have learned to operate in more extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. I think we've extended our abilities further into the cold extremes than the hot... witness the two rovers we landed on Mars. Both survive and operate in extreme cold conditions.
Neither we, nor our machines do real well in extended temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and almost nothing works for long above a temp. of 130 or so.
Considering these limitations, how will we ever get up close and personal with the extremes we'll encounter on Mercury, or the toxic environment of Venus? Will we continue to make small technological steps until we can build machines that will work there? Or will we have a "Eureka" moment when someone thinks outside the box and solves the problem with a brilliant idea?
I'm sure it'll be a little of both.
And that journey itself will be fun to watch.
Cobalt blue sky and a light breeze, 78 degrees with low humidity.
I weeded what the deer have left of my garden, then started tinkering with the old pickup I just bought. (More on that later.)
This weather makes you want to stay out of doors!
When the weather is NOT like today I think about how work gets done. I'm always surprised when I go to visit Big Bubba in Phoenix to see work crews out in temperatures of 110 degrees, but then think, "If they didn't work in these temperatures, no work would ever get done!"
The other night we were watching another episode of "Ice Road Truckers"... they're operating on the "Dalton Highway" in Alaska on this segment. They showed how they prepare trucks to operate in temperatures of -40 degrees and less.
We don't like working in temperature extremes. Our machines don't much like it either. I've done no research on the reasons why, so maybe one of you can educate me, but it seems the reason why is we are limited to using resources formed in our environment, particularly our fuels, lubricants, and cooling fluids. Through our use of chemistry we have learned to operate in more extreme temperatures, both hot and cold. I think we've extended our abilities further into the cold extremes than the hot... witness the two rovers we landed on Mars. Both survive and operate in extreme cold conditions.
Neither we, nor our machines do real well in extended temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and almost nothing works for long above a temp. of 130 or so.
Considering these limitations, how will we ever get up close and personal with the extremes we'll encounter on Mercury, or the toxic environment of Venus? Will we continue to make small technological steps until we can build machines that will work there? Or will we have a "Eureka" moment when someone thinks outside the box and solves the problem with a brilliant idea?
I'm sure it'll be a little of both.
And that journey itself will be fun to watch.
04 June 2009
Obama's Misery, June, 2009 Update
Again, I have to admit surprise- This fiasco is unfolding more slowly than I expected.
But Chrysler and GM are both closing dealerships, so those sales and service facilities will begin to feel the impact. Close behind will be layoffs in trucking and other auto-related industries like tires. Interestingly, auto parts and independent service facilities may experience increased business due to folks hanging onto their cars longer.
California and Illinois are bankrupt and both States are facing massive service cutbacks due to employee layoffs.
Last month's index was 8.12%. This month it barely changed and came in at 8.16%
There is no way the unemployment and inflation numbers will go down over the next months. The only question is, how high and how fast will they go up?
We'll see.
Update:
New figures, made available just after I published this post, show unemployment jumped to 9.4 percent, making the revised "Misery Index" 8.66%.
Hang on, we're just gettin' warmed up!
But Chrysler and GM are both closing dealerships, so those sales and service facilities will begin to feel the impact. Close behind will be layoffs in trucking and other auto-related industries like tires. Interestingly, auto parts and independent service facilities may experience increased business due to folks hanging onto their cars longer.
California and Illinois are bankrupt and both States are facing massive service cutbacks due to employee layoffs.
Last month's index was 8.12%. This month it barely changed and came in at 8.16%
There is no way the unemployment and inflation numbers will go down over the next months. The only question is, how high and how fast will they go up?
We'll see.
Update:
New figures, made available just after I published this post, show unemployment jumped to 9.4 percent, making the revised "Misery Index" 8.66%.
Hang on, we're just gettin' warmed up!
03 June 2009
R.I.P., U.S.A.?
I'll paraphrase the question posed at the post here:What circumstance would move you to violent action against our government?
I was surprised and dismayed to see several comments similar to this one-
Grimshaw says:
June 1, 2009 at 20:27
How big would a moral outrage have to be before you turned to violence? Big. A clear threat to the core freedoms of my family, with no viable alternative options (like leaving the country). Life isn’t exactly miserable in the US, despite all the crap.What prevents you from acting violently up to that point?High personal cost, the ability to live a good, relatively free life now, and the availability of other viable options (like leaving the country or going ‘underground’).
Leave the country?
Yes, he said one of his options was to leave the country!
What in Hell has happened to us? The bastion of freedom... the country millions are willing to risk their lives and break the law by crossing a desert border illegally is indeed being "changed" by our present leadership. I continue to be heartened by the number of patriots willing to raise their right hand and swear "to support and defend the Constititution" in our military. But I also have a growing sense of resignation about the decline of our country that I can only compare to the last two years of the Carter administration.
God help us.
After signing the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin reportedly said to other signers-
"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."
Funny stuff, but deadly serious too. He and all those who signed that document knew his statement was true. And it's true today too... we need to be forming associations with like-minded people and making plans.
Most all of our "Founding Fathers" were well-to-do and could easily have fled the country, but flee to where? Where could they have gone to exercise the freedoms they were seeking? How would things have changed for the better if they hadn't taken a stand?
That is the condition I find myself in today. I HATE what is happening to my country, but tucking my tail between my legs and running is out of the question...
Where would I go that is better?
So I'll also stand. No buggin' out for me.
I certainly hope I don't have to fight...
Been there. Done that. Didn't like it much.
But it's an interesting question... "What would it take...?"
You can read my answer in the comments at the link to the post above. I'd like to hear your thoughts.
02 June 2009
Fifty Feet of Hose
That's an exaggeration. I think. After being drugged with the Demetrol and Versed, they may have dressed me like Corporal Klinger in drag and taken photos to embarrass me later... I can't really say.
But I called yesterday to schedule colonoscopies for me and Sara Jean. I cannot remember when I had my last... was it three years ago? Longer? This will be the first for SJ. It doesn't matter that I've had one before, the Doc still wants to consult with us to check medical histories and to explain what to expect. I asked about two things:
1. During the last procedure the Doc was dismayed to find I had felt considerable discomfort while the last measure of the scope/camera was inserted. He indicated I needed more drugs. Apparently now they knock ya completely out, so we won't remember a thing this time.
2. I asked about the VERY INAPPROPRIATELY NAMED "Golightly". It was BY FAR the most uncomfortable part of my first procedure. (And reading that post indicates it's been longer than I thought... almost five years!)
Through the grapevine I have heard there is now a pill to take that cleans you out without the nasty, salty, boring gallon of Golightly.
They don't use the pill here. We're still gonna have to force down a gallon of weak saline solution.
(Sara Jean is already saying she'll cheat.)
The consult is scheduled for 16 June. Our procedures will be scheduled then, probably sometime in mid-July.
If you're over 50, why not go schedule yours today so we can compare notes?
Farrah Fawcett will be proud of you.
But I called yesterday to schedule colonoscopies for me and Sara Jean. I cannot remember when I had my last... was it three years ago? Longer? This will be the first for SJ. It doesn't matter that I've had one before, the Doc still wants to consult with us to check medical histories and to explain what to expect. I asked about two things:
1. During the last procedure the Doc was dismayed to find I had felt considerable discomfort while the last measure of the scope/camera was inserted. He indicated I needed more drugs. Apparently now they knock ya completely out, so we won't remember a thing this time.
2. I asked about the VERY INAPPROPRIATELY NAMED "Golightly". It was BY FAR the most uncomfortable part of my first procedure. (And reading that post indicates it's been longer than I thought... almost five years!)
Through the grapevine I have heard there is now a pill to take that cleans you out without the nasty, salty, boring gallon of Golightly.
They don't use the pill here. We're still gonna have to force down a gallon of weak saline solution.
(Sara Jean is already saying she'll cheat.)
The consult is scheduled for 16 June. Our procedures will be scheduled then, probably sometime in mid-July.
If you're over 50, why not go schedule yours today so we can compare notes?
Farrah Fawcett will be proud of you.
01 June 2009
Just Seven Months Ago-
Rodolfo, remember him? Seven months ago he said,
"This socialism diatribe is a stunt. You need to understand what *future* I'm talking about. I'm not talking about any specific policy. I'm talking about the new generation of voters that's sick and tired of the partisan divide that has dominated the political discourse by you, GB, and your equivalence on the far-left."
Flightfire, remember him? Six months ago he said,
"You need to stop all this ACORN registering to vote crap. Every single report that I've read says the allegations are way overblown."
Seen the news lately boys?
Tell us again... who did you vote for?
And how much debt do you now find yourself responsible for?
"This socialism diatribe is a stunt. You need to understand what *future* I'm talking about. I'm not talking about any specific policy. I'm talking about the new generation of voters that's sick and tired of the partisan divide that has dominated the political discourse by you, GB, and your equivalence on the far-left."
Flightfire, remember him? Six months ago he said,
"You need to stop all this ACORN registering to vote crap. Every single report that I've read says the allegations are way overblown."
Seen the news lately boys?
Tell us again... who did you vote for?
And how much debt do you now find yourself responsible for?
Witcheeta
As previously noted, our aircraft was approaching a major maintenance event and we had to switch into another BK. That meant moving all the stuff necessary to do the job from one helicopter to another... medical and aviation. Quite a task.
We got a flight almost immediately after the switch, and on the way to pick up our patient my crew was still putting things into their proper places.
Over the intercom my Flight Nurse says, "Was this aircraft in Kansas?"
"No, I think it was in Wisconsin" I respond.
"Well, there's a card here with the pre-programmed frequencies for Topeka, Manhattan, and Witcheeta" he says.
Witcheeta?
It took a second to resolve...
"Wichita?" I ask.
Paramedic and I begin to laugh heartily.
This Nurse is a good guy and a good Nurse.
But he needed a good nickname.
Now he has one.
We got a flight almost immediately after the switch, and on the way to pick up our patient my crew was still putting things into their proper places.
Over the intercom my Flight Nurse says, "Was this aircraft in Kansas?"
"No, I think it was in Wisconsin" I respond.
"Well, there's a card here with the pre-programmed frequencies for Topeka, Manhattan, and Witcheeta" he says.
Witcheeta?
It took a second to resolve...
"Wichita?" I ask.
Paramedic and I begin to laugh heartily.
This Nurse is a good guy and a good Nurse.
But he needed a good nickname.
Now he has one.
31 May 2009
The Ultimate In Computing!
I took a flight VERY late in my shift yesterday, the last day of six days in a row. (Murphy's law prevails... GOD has a very strange sense of humor!) I had earlier traded our fleet's number two aircraft for our number four aircraft and there were discrepancies in the aircraft total time that needed to be worked out. The late flight precluded me from correcting the log. So late last night, exhausted upon my return and badly needing to get home to rest, I dumped the whole problem in the oncoming pilot's lap and walked out the door. This morning I wanted to call my lead pilot to see if there was anything I needed to do to help tie up loose ends. His cell number is one of those I call regularly so it's stored on my cell, but my cell phone was downstairs and I'm upstairs, too lazy to fetch it. I picked up the bedroom cordless phone and started to dial his number from memory, but then stalled...
Is his prefix 524, 534 or 539? I couldn't remember.
So I put the phone down, picked up the laptop, and started reading my email. In the middle of reading a note from GH in Hawaii the correct prefix sprang to mind like someone held up a placard in front of me... 534!
I think this happens to all of us to one degree or another, but I'm still amazed by it. I seemingly quit worrying about remembering the number, but while I was reading my email another part of my brain was still searching through old files somewhere and found the information.
The human brain...
Still the ultimate computer!
30 May 2009
Thoughts On Sonia-
We want "Supreme" choices for our Supreme Court, right? When our Federal Government is stealing our property, we want straight-thinking folks to point out our Constitution forbids that sort of behavior.
Is this the woman for that job? There are figures being published showing her judgments have been overturned 60% of the time on appeal.
Pretty shaky judging, I'd say.
There'll be no "adult supervision" to overturn her if she's a Supreme Court Justice... her opinion will be "Supreme".
I think I'd like someone with a better batting average in that position.
29 May 2009
I'm Confused. (So what's new?)
I'm not sure I've got the scenario straight, so correct me where I'm wrong please-
President(?) Obama has changed the law, and contracts as they are written about bankruptcy mean nothing anymore. Private property of preferred stock and bondholders of Chrysler and GM is being stolen with his approval. That property is being given to those that supported his election, primarily the U.A.W..
But here's where I'm really confused...
Past dealings between the U.A.W. and the management of both Chrysler and G.M. have resulted in health care and retirement costs burgeoning to the point where those companies can no longer be competitive with foreign automakers.
The U.A.W. will have to deal with the new owners/managers of those companies to bring those costs down dramatically. So now the U.A.W. will have to negotiate with the U.A.W. to cut costs to the bone?
If Bozama gets his way, this unfolding tragedy will certainly be interesting to watch!
President(?) Obama has changed the law, and contracts as they are written about bankruptcy mean nothing anymore. Private property of preferred stock and bondholders of Chrysler and GM is being stolen with his approval. That property is being given to those that supported his election, primarily the U.A.W..
But here's where I'm really confused...
Past dealings between the U.A.W. and the management of both Chrysler and G.M. have resulted in health care and retirement costs burgeoning to the point where those companies can no longer be competitive with foreign automakers.
The U.A.W. will have to deal with the new owners/managers of those companies to bring those costs down dramatically. So now the U.A.W. will have to negotiate with the U.A.W. to cut costs to the bone?
If Bozama gets his way, this unfolding tragedy will certainly be interesting to watch!
28 May 2009
in-TOXIC-ation
Words and their construction...
It took me a while to figure out why the word "toxic" is in the middle of the word "intoxication". The fact that alcohol is toxic hit me square between the eyes one Sunday morning in Dallas, Texas.
It was during the time I was in Primary Flight School at Ft. Wolters, TX.
I thought we had a date, but when I showed up at her apartment she informed me she was goin' out with another guy and she'd be home late.
I was angry with her, because I thought she was playing games with me. I was angry because I was facing a Saturday night alone, in an unfamiliar town.
I was just plain angry.
Sometimes twenty-one year old brains make really stupid decisions in spite of having a higher-than-average intelligence quotient...
Down the street, within walking distance, was a liquor store. Facing an evening alone with the TV I decided I'd experiment...
Could I drink an entire fifth of spirits in one night? And if so, how would I behave? Would I remember anything I watched on TV? Would I even remain conscious?
What would be the vehicle for this experiment? In the store I studied the possiblities-
Gin? Bitter and not my favorite.
Vodka? I liked screwdrivers but didn't want to drink that much orange juice.
Bourbon? Jim Beam was a close friend, but wait...
Here's Mr. Bacardi, and he's sporting a number I have never seen...
"151 proof", and he's on sale!
Well after all, this IS an experiment, right?! I walked back to the apartment with a twelve-pack of Coca-Cola and Mr. Bacardi in a brown paper bag.
After forcing down two strong ones, the later cocktails could have been sulphuric acid and I would not have known the difference. I started taking pulls directly from the bottle.
The TV wasn't cutting it so, at probably 11 P.M., bottle in hand, I decided to go for a stroll around the parking lot. I had heard a jingle for "Clearasil" acne treatment on the radio on the drive to Dallas and couldn't get it out of my head, so I sang while stumbling around:
"Nobody loves a spotted-faced kid!"
Describing it now brings images of stereotypical drunks portrayed in movies. If a patrol car had passed through the complex at that time I'd surely have been arrested for public drunkenness and any chance of making it through ARMY flight school would have ended right there.
I finished the bottle.
Suddenly sleepy, I went to bed. I was not conscious when Mr. Bacardi decided to depart my body, but I'm glad he did. Though I woke with the most powerful headache known to man, the fact that I WOKE UP is the important thing here...
After all, toxic means poison. Poison can be bad.
So was the mess she left for me to clean up, headache and all.
It took me a while to figure out why the word "toxic" is in the middle of the word "intoxication". The fact that alcohol is toxic hit me square between the eyes one Sunday morning in Dallas, Texas.
It was during the time I was in Primary Flight School at Ft. Wolters, TX.
I thought we had a date, but when I showed up at her apartment she informed me she was goin' out with another guy and she'd be home late.
I was angry with her, because I thought she was playing games with me. I was angry because I was facing a Saturday night alone, in an unfamiliar town.
I was just plain angry.
Sometimes twenty-one year old brains make really stupid decisions in spite of having a higher-than-average intelligence quotient...
Down the street, within walking distance, was a liquor store. Facing an evening alone with the TV I decided I'd experiment...
Could I drink an entire fifth of spirits in one night? And if so, how would I behave? Would I remember anything I watched on TV? Would I even remain conscious?
What would be the vehicle for this experiment? In the store I studied the possiblities-
Gin? Bitter and not my favorite.
Vodka? I liked screwdrivers but didn't want to drink that much orange juice.
Bourbon? Jim Beam was a close friend, but wait...
Here's Mr. Bacardi, and he's sporting a number I have never seen...
"151 proof", and he's on sale!
Well after all, this IS an experiment, right?! I walked back to the apartment with a twelve-pack of Coca-Cola and Mr. Bacardi in a brown paper bag.
After forcing down two strong ones, the later cocktails could have been sulphuric acid and I would not have known the difference. I started taking pulls directly from the bottle.
The TV wasn't cutting it so, at probably 11 P.M., bottle in hand, I decided to go for a stroll around the parking lot. I had heard a jingle for "Clearasil" acne treatment on the radio on the drive to Dallas and couldn't get it out of my head, so I sang while stumbling around:
"Nobody loves a spotted-faced kid!"
Describing it now brings images of stereotypical drunks portrayed in movies. If a patrol car had passed through the complex at that time I'd surely have been arrested for public drunkenness and any chance of making it through ARMY flight school would have ended right there.
I finished the bottle.
Suddenly sleepy, I went to bed. I was not conscious when Mr. Bacardi decided to depart my body, but I'm glad he did. Though I woke with the most powerful headache known to man, the fact that I WOKE UP is the important thing here...
After all, toxic means poison. Poison can be bad.
So was the mess she left for me to clean up, headache and all.
27 May 2009
Melts In Your Mouth
Okay, we're off into new territory for "Pitchpull"...
cooking!
We invited old friends to visit in Destin. One couple came to spend the week, while another couple spent time with us on two different evenings. The first of those nights we went down the street to our favorite haunt... "Kenny D's". Kenny's is a wonderful little cajun bar, and we absolutely love Ms. Gracie's New Orleans style cookin' there. But we wanted the chance to sit and talk without the pressure to vacate the premises on the second night, so we decided to cook/eat in. It was Sara Jean's idea to make Italian Beef sandwiches.
Other than knowing that fat content is what makes for tender meat, I know almost nothing about selecting a cut of beef. We asked the butcher for advice and he guided us to a chuck roast, finely marbled with fat. Into the cart it went.
I've read Jinks comments about the benefits of slow cookin', so the night before our guests were to arrive we pulled out the crock pot and started heating that chunk o' meat. We cooked it ten hours, then paused to shred the meat and add the pepperoncinis. It then went back into the pot another two hours before we spread it on hoagy buns and served the sandwiches. They were tasty, tender, and excellent overall, but still not as good as some commercially bought sandwiches we've eaten.
So here's the 64-cent question-
I'm now turned on by the idea of using the crock pot to deliver the tender and tasty. Do you have any ideas on how we could have improved the sandwiches? And if not, do you have a favorite "fail-safe" crock pot recipe you'd like to share?
I'm all ears/mouth!
UPDATE, 0748 HOURS:
I just checked my links and wandered around Kenny D's site a little.
Found this page and thought it might amuse you.
cooking!
We invited old friends to visit in Destin. One couple came to spend the week, while another couple spent time with us on two different evenings. The first of those nights we went down the street to our favorite haunt... "Kenny D's". Kenny's is a wonderful little cajun bar, and we absolutely love Ms. Gracie's New Orleans style cookin' there. But we wanted the chance to sit and talk without the pressure to vacate the premises on the second night, so we decided to cook/eat in. It was Sara Jean's idea to make Italian Beef sandwiches.
Other than knowing that fat content is what makes for tender meat, I know almost nothing about selecting a cut of beef. We asked the butcher for advice and he guided us to a chuck roast, finely marbled with fat. Into the cart it went.
I've read Jinks comments about the benefits of slow cookin', so the night before our guests were to arrive we pulled out the crock pot and started heating that chunk o' meat. We cooked it ten hours, then paused to shred the meat and add the pepperoncinis. It then went back into the pot another two hours before we spread it on hoagy buns and served the sandwiches. They were tasty, tender, and excellent overall, but still not as good as some commercially bought sandwiches we've eaten.
So here's the 64-cent question-
I'm now turned on by the idea of using the crock pot to deliver the tender and tasty. Do you have any ideas on how we could have improved the sandwiches? And if not, do you have a favorite "fail-safe" crock pot recipe you'd like to share?
I'm all ears/mouth!
UPDATE, 0748 HOURS:
I just checked my links and wandered around Kenny D's site a little.
Found this page and thought it might amuse you.
26 May 2009
Streaming Radio
You know I love talk-radio.
My only problem with it is sometimes I'm away from my favorite AM stations and cannot receive a desired signal. My computer has now mostly resolved that problem and I want to share with you.
I found a site called Radio Time, where I can listen to most of my favorite talking-heads during most hours of the day, either live or on tape. Check there and you can see that most of us can find something to satisfy...
Conservative, technology, religious, sports, business, entertainment...
Everything but "Liberal"! (Sorry lefties, you'll have to be satisfied with "progressive".)
As I type this post I'm listening to one of my favorites... Dennis Miller.
Got a high-speed internet connection?
Check it out.
My only problem with it is sometimes I'm away from my favorite AM stations and cannot receive a desired signal. My computer has now mostly resolved that problem and I want to share with you.
I found a site called Radio Time, where I can listen to most of my favorite talking-heads during most hours of the day, either live or on tape. Check there and you can see that most of us can find something to satisfy...
Conservative, technology, religious, sports, business, entertainment...
Everything but "Liberal"! (Sorry lefties, you'll have to be satisfied with "progressive".)
As I type this post I'm listening to one of my favorites... Dennis Miller.
Got a high-speed internet connection?
Check it out.
25 May 2009
Road Trip! And The Enlarged Prostate
What... the title didn't dissuade you from reading?
We decided to stay another day and get a few extra tasks done. It rained most of the day and there was no temptation to hit the beach, so we got everything we wanted to do done. We're happy with that. But staying an extra day meant pounding the highway so I could be back at work this morning. The way we do it, it's a twelve hour drive home. And by "the way we do it" I mean we stop for any reason whatsoever...
Eat,
Drink,
Refuel,
Potty,
See the world's largest accumulation of ear wax.
But the stops are forced mostly to keep me from wetting my pants.
We start the drive with a cooler full of bottled water in the back seat, a thermos full of black coffee on the right rear floorboard, and a 16 oz. insulated mug of iced tea between my legs. Yesterday we also stopped at a "Krystal" store to buy 20 of my favorite hamburgers, and we bought a large diet Coke to accompany them. At the end of the drive the diet Coke had been shared, my iced tea was history, and the quart thermos of coffee had found its way through my kidneys and bladder. There was a time long ago when I could make note of the pressure beginning to build against my bladder and continue to drive for half an hour or so before having to stop...
No longer. My slightly enlarged prostate serves notice that when I begin to be uncomfortable I had better make plans for a stop pretty quickly, and I don't mean "We'll wait for the next rest area".
I've got about ten minutes, then things can get embarrassing.
Yeah, I know...
"Doctor it hurts when I do this."
"Don't do that!"
Obviously, one thing I could do is lay off the fluids. But old habits are hard to break. And the coffee is an absolute necessity during the last few hours of the drive. For a guy it's not so bad...
We simply pull off the road and discretely take care of business. There are plenty of places to do that on this drive.
If we start taking more trips across the desert where there is less cover I'll have to reconsider the fluid intake or carry a "Porta- John"...
Or buy a box of Depends.
We decided to stay another day and get a few extra tasks done. It rained most of the day and there was no temptation to hit the beach, so we got everything we wanted to do done. We're happy with that. But staying an extra day meant pounding the highway so I could be back at work this morning. The way we do it, it's a twelve hour drive home. And by "the way we do it" I mean we stop for any reason whatsoever...
Eat,
Drink,
Refuel,
Potty,
See the world's largest accumulation of ear wax.
But the stops are forced mostly to keep me from wetting my pants.
We start the drive with a cooler full of bottled water in the back seat, a thermos full of black coffee on the right rear floorboard, and a 16 oz. insulated mug of iced tea between my legs. Yesterday we also stopped at a "Krystal" store to buy 20 of my favorite hamburgers, and we bought a large diet Coke to accompany them. At the end of the drive the diet Coke had been shared, my iced tea was history, and the quart thermos of coffee had found its way through my kidneys and bladder. There was a time long ago when I could make note of the pressure beginning to build against my bladder and continue to drive for half an hour or so before having to stop...
No longer. My slightly enlarged prostate serves notice that when I begin to be uncomfortable I had better make plans for a stop pretty quickly, and I don't mean "We'll wait for the next rest area".
I've got about ten minutes, then things can get embarrassing.
Yeah, I know...
"Doctor it hurts when I do this."
"Don't do that!"
Obviously, one thing I could do is lay off the fluids. But old habits are hard to break. And the coffee is an absolute necessity during the last few hours of the drive. For a guy it's not so bad...
We simply pull off the road and discretely take care of business. There are plenty of places to do that on this drive.
If we start taking more trips across the desert where there is less cover I'll have to reconsider the fluid intake or carry a "Porta- John"...
Or buy a box of Depends.
22 May 2009
Strange Addictions
You'd laugh if you saw me now, trying to satisfy my internet addiction...
I'm sitting in front of a beachfront condo owned by an acquaintance. I'm here for a couple odd reasons...
The neighbor that used to have wifi has moved, so I can no longer mooch his signal.
Another neighbor that still has wifi is five condos away and I cannot receive his signal from our unit. He doesn't mind me using his system, and in fact provided the "WEP code" to use it, but his wife resents others using their signal so he's asked me to use it surreptitiously. So here I am, in front of another friends condo two doors away from the wifi transmitter, sneaking, trying to avoid his wife seeing me on the computer. What fun!
We're having a great time. We've had a little rain, but most days have been sunny at least half the day. Sara Jean has been on the beach every day and is brown as a dark caramel. I spent 90 minutes with her three days ago and did such a lousy job applying my sunscreen that I got sunburned in interesting patterns on interesting parts of my body. It's not enough to be miserable, just enough to remind me to be more careful next time.
We've eaten too much. And as always, adult beverages disappear more quickly here than elsewhere... (I still think elves are involved in that somehow).
Mom spent four days with us and enjoyed her "pelician observation post". I took her home Wednesday and then since I had not been there in 30 years, stopped by NAS Pensacola to visit the Naval Aviation Museum. A friend and I joined a tour guided by a retired Naval Aviator, and in a little over two hours we saw maybe a tenth of the museum. Fascinating. I now realize the next time I come South I'll need to devote one FULL day to touring the Museum. If you like flying things, make the Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola a "MUST SEE".
I have to be at work Monday morning at O-Dark-Thirty, so we've decided to leave tomorrow in order to have Sunday to get home "honey-do's" under control. I imagine my grass will be knee high, so I'll get that under control while Sara Jean unpacks and gets the indoor chaos under control. Sitting here listening to the surf roar against the beach, it's a little sad to think about returning home and resuming the normal chores.
But the reason for coming was to recharge. The word "recreation" is an odd one that I've studied from time to time. When your schedule is so full that life ceases being fun, you finally realize that your body does in fact "recreate" something at your core when you relax and enjoy yourself as we have these days overlooking the Emerald water and sugar-white sand. I'm ready to go back to work.
Retirement used to seem like a dream...
Now it's a comforting "within reach" reality.
To all who have commented... THANK YOU!
I'm sitting in front of a beachfront condo owned by an acquaintance. I'm here for a couple odd reasons...
The neighbor that used to have wifi has moved, so I can no longer mooch his signal.
Another neighbor that still has wifi is five condos away and I cannot receive his signal from our unit. He doesn't mind me using his system, and in fact provided the "WEP code" to use it, but his wife resents others using their signal so he's asked me to use it surreptitiously. So here I am, in front of another friends condo two doors away from the wifi transmitter, sneaking, trying to avoid his wife seeing me on the computer. What fun!
We're having a great time. We've had a little rain, but most days have been sunny at least half the day. Sara Jean has been on the beach every day and is brown as a dark caramel. I spent 90 minutes with her three days ago and did such a lousy job applying my sunscreen that I got sunburned in interesting patterns on interesting parts of my body. It's not enough to be miserable, just enough to remind me to be more careful next time.
We've eaten too much. And as always, adult beverages disappear more quickly here than elsewhere... (I still think elves are involved in that somehow).
Mom spent four days with us and enjoyed her "pelician observation post". I took her home Wednesday and then since I had not been there in 30 years, stopped by NAS Pensacola to visit the Naval Aviation Museum. A friend and I joined a tour guided by a retired Naval Aviator, and in a little over two hours we saw maybe a tenth of the museum. Fascinating. I now realize the next time I come South I'll need to devote one FULL day to touring the Museum. If you like flying things, make the Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola a "MUST SEE".
I have to be at work Monday morning at O-Dark-Thirty, so we've decided to leave tomorrow in order to have Sunday to get home "honey-do's" under control. I imagine my grass will be knee high, so I'll get that under control while Sara Jean unpacks and gets the indoor chaos under control. Sitting here listening to the surf roar against the beach, it's a little sad to think about returning home and resuming the normal chores.
But the reason for coming was to recharge. The word "recreation" is an odd one that I've studied from time to time. When your schedule is so full that life ceases being fun, you finally realize that your body does in fact "recreate" something at your core when you relax and enjoy yourself as we have these days overlooking the Emerald water and sugar-white sand. I'm ready to go back to work.
Retirement used to seem like a dream...
Now it's a comforting "within reach" reality.
To all who have commented... THANK YOU!
15 May 2009
Nine Days In Paradise
I'm past ready. We've not been to Destin since October, and I started working 56 hours a week mid-November. My head feels like a jumble of electrical wiring that needs untangling. I intend to go slow and enjoy the untangling process, and I can think of no better place than Destin for that process.We'll first head to Pensacola and pick up my Mom, who'll be up beyond her bedtime waiting for our arrival. Destin is another 90 or so minutes East. It's gonna be a long day in the car, but OH, is it worth it!
Sugar-white sand, sea air, pelicans, gulls, cormorants, and (due to our proximity to Eglin Air Force Base), a near-continuous military airshow. And of course, we can't forget the frozen Margaritas for Sara Jean and the icy cold beer for yours truly.
If you're in the neighborhood stop by. We promise to help untangle your wiring too!
14 May 2009
Toast
President Nixon learned-It's not the act, it's the cover-up.
Madame Speaker is about to learn, if you tell lies, and those lies indict the CIA, you'll get badly burned.
Now the Bozama administration has started its own cover-up... refusing to release ALL the documents Cheney has requested that would expose more lies, and our free press has finally realized they have a duty other than lead cheers.
(By the way press folks, where's that birth certificate?)
Pop the popcorn...
The show has just begun.
Bwahahahaha!
Take A Stand
Are you sick to death of corrupt, lying politicians taking away your rights?
So what are you doing about it?
Here's your chance to take a little step and express your dissatisfaction with politicians and their inexorable move to Socialism...
Jinks brought my attention to a new promotion being offered by the National Rifle Association. The NRA is now offering a free one-year trial membership.
I've been a life member for over 30 years. I joined because the NRA is one of the strongest voices in Washington, D.C., protecting the rights of all citizens. If you've ever thought about joining the NRA, here's your chance to do it and add your voice to those shouting "I'm mad as Hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore!"
Click the link and sign up. And remember...
Our founding fathers intended our government to be mindful of the citizenry.
Do you own a gun?
So what are you doing about it?
Here's your chance to take a little step and express your dissatisfaction with politicians and their inexorable move to Socialism...
Jinks brought my attention to a new promotion being offered by the National Rifle Association. The NRA is now offering a free one-year trial membership.
I've been a life member for over 30 years. I joined because the NRA is one of the strongest voices in Washington, D.C., protecting the rights of all citizens. If you've ever thought about joining the NRA, here's your chance to do it and add your voice to those shouting "I'm mad as Hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore!"
Click the link and sign up. And remember...
Our founding fathers intended our government to be mindful of the citizenry.
Do you own a gun?
13 May 2009
A Leaf In The Wind
I seldom hope the telephone rings, but today is an exception. Yesterday I completed working 14 of 15 days at my EMS job. Today I have two students scheduled for flight instruction. The forecast is for wind to gust from 15 to 25 with peak gusts of 35 knots in rain and thundershowers. My drive to the airport takes almost two hours, so I wouldn't be crushed if my students both call and ask, "Are you sure you want to do this?"
So I know I'm not mentally at 100%, but who is these days?
And there's more to consider here-
Both these students are rated helicopter pilots building time for their commercial rating. They're less likely to try to kill me while I teach them. Demonstrating how to fly in less-than-normal conditions will be good training for both.
The little guy on one of my shoulders is saying, "Call them and cancel. You've got lots to do here at home!" (We leave for 9 days vacation in Destin on Friday.)
On the other shoulder the little guy calmly says, "There's time to do everything you need to do. These guys will benefit from this training. And they've already been waiting more than two weeks to fly with you."
It's rained a lot here, so my lawn is out of control. Knowing the rain was coming today I mowed in the dark for an hour last night. I've still got to mow the back forty or we'll have lions and tigers and bears lurking there when we get home from vacation.
But I suspect the phone won't ring and I'll drive the two hour drive, then be subjected to being battered around in a tiny helicopter by strong, gusty winds. And my students will learn they too can handle such conditions if they know which situations to avoid.
Truth is, it's the first step that's the hardest. Once I'm on my way my head clears, I relax, and everything seems to make more sense. And I know my students need to know how to deal with difficult weather conditions, and when to put their foot down and say "Nope... not gonna do it."
It looks to be the kind of day we'll make those decisions.
So I know I'm not mentally at 100%, but who is these days?
And there's more to consider here-
Both these students are rated helicopter pilots building time for their commercial rating. They're less likely to try to kill me while I teach them. Demonstrating how to fly in less-than-normal conditions will be good training for both.
The little guy on one of my shoulders is saying, "Call them and cancel. You've got lots to do here at home!" (We leave for 9 days vacation in Destin on Friday.)
On the other shoulder the little guy calmly says, "There's time to do everything you need to do. These guys will benefit from this training. And they've already been waiting more than two weeks to fly with you."
It's rained a lot here, so my lawn is out of control. Knowing the rain was coming today I mowed in the dark for an hour last night. I've still got to mow the back forty or we'll have lions and tigers and bears lurking there when we get home from vacation.
But I suspect the phone won't ring and I'll drive the two hour drive, then be subjected to being battered around in a tiny helicopter by strong, gusty winds. And my students will learn they too can handle such conditions if they know which situations to avoid.
Truth is, it's the first step that's the hardest. Once I'm on my way my head clears, I relax, and everything seems to make more sense. And I know my students need to know how to deal with difficult weather conditions, and when to put their foot down and say "Nope... not gonna do it."
It looks to be the kind of day we'll make those decisions.
12 May 2009
Gen. McKiernan, You're Fired!
In Afghanistan, General David McKiernan is out...
LTG Stanley McChrystal is in. I've written before how the chain of command in the military is similar to most any large corporation-
If you're not good at politics, you'll not rise above a certain level.
So my first thought here was, "How did General McKiernan step on his poncho?" All sorts of things could be happening here.
Then this morning I read this post over at QandO and felt better about the change. General McChrystal is a Special Ops guy and that, in my opinion, is exactly where our focus in Afghanistan needs to be...
Special Operations.
Knowing General Petraeus is a McChrystal supporter was icing on the cake.
We gotta give credit where credit is due-
There is much about President(?) Obama that I don't like. But his almost instant change of mind about the war in Iraq infuriates the appeasers who elected him. Ya gotta delight in that. Now this change of command in Afghanistan surprises me by showing he may be listening more closely to his military advisors than I imagined he would.
Granted he's still destroying the country economically, but I have to ask...
Regarding our actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, do you think McCain would be doing any better?
I'm not so sure.
LTG Stanley McChrystal is in. I've written before how the chain of command in the military is similar to most any large corporation-
If you're not good at politics, you'll not rise above a certain level.
So my first thought here was, "How did General McKiernan step on his poncho?" All sorts of things could be happening here.
Then this morning I read this post over at QandO and felt better about the change. General McChrystal is a Special Ops guy and that, in my opinion, is exactly where our focus in Afghanistan needs to be...
Special Operations.
Knowing General Petraeus is a McChrystal supporter was icing on the cake.
We gotta give credit where credit is due-
There is much about President(?) Obama that I don't like. But his almost instant change of mind about the war in Iraq infuriates the appeasers who elected him. Ya gotta delight in that. Now this change of command in Afghanistan surprises me by showing he may be listening more closely to his military advisors than I imagined he would.
Granted he's still destroying the country economically, but I have to ask...
Regarding our actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, do you think McCain would be doing any better?
I'm not so sure.
11 May 2009
A Quick Note To Republican Leaders
Big Lose-
Bush (twice), McCain, Specter.
Big Win-
Reagan, Gingrich
Do your homework folks.
2010 is just around the corner.
Bush (twice), McCain, Specter.
Big Win-
Reagan, Gingrich
Do your homework folks.
2010 is just around the corner.
10 May 2009
Nellie
Who influenced you most?
I have no trouble answering that question at all.
It was Nellie. Nellie Mae, as a matter of fact.
Of course my Dad was also an influence. But my Dad was absent during much of my formative years. His influence on me was mostly by example...
He and Mom had difficulties, yet they handled them together.
He worked hard, both at home and away, and our family was never hungry or cold.
He was never physically abusive. Inclinations toward mental abuse were so trivial as to be unworthy of examination.
He didn't find another woman and leave my Mom to raise Sis and me.
So through his example I learned much about how to be a man.
But my Mom taught me how to be a human-
She taught me about honor.
She taught me about honesty.
She taught me to treat others as I wanted to be treated.
She taught me that reading was not only important, it could be fun.
She taught me to be curious.
And she taught me the importance of doing a job well.
I am Harlie and Nellie's son, but mostly I am a product of Nellie's gentle coaxing.
She raised two kids who have turned out to be productive, caring citizens, and she did it mostly by herself.
Happy Mother's Day Mom...
I'm proud to point you out and say "That's my Mother".
I have no trouble answering that question at all.
It was Nellie. Nellie Mae, as a matter of fact.
Of course my Dad was also an influence. But my Dad was absent during much of my formative years. His influence on me was mostly by example...
He and Mom had difficulties, yet they handled them together.
He worked hard, both at home and away, and our family was never hungry or cold.
He was never physically abusive. Inclinations toward mental abuse were so trivial as to be unworthy of examination.
He didn't find another woman and leave my Mom to raise Sis and me.
So through his example I learned much about how to be a man.
But my Mom taught me how to be a human-
She taught me about honor.
She taught me about honesty.
She taught me to treat others as I wanted to be treated.
She taught me that reading was not only important, it could be fun.
She taught me to be curious.
And she taught me the importance of doing a job well.
I am Harlie and Nellie's son, but mostly I am a product of Nellie's gentle coaxing.
She raised two kids who have turned out to be productive, caring citizens, and she did it mostly by herself.
Happy Mother's Day Mom...
I'm proud to point you out and say "That's my Mother".
09 May 2009
Life Ain't Fair
"Your patient is a 44 year old woman who fell from the standing position. She has fractures to both Tib/Fibs and to her left forearm."
What?
Fractures like this from a fall from the standing position?
How ? !
As usual, we arrive and my crew departs while I complete my shutdown procedure. Then on many occasions I actually get a better picture of what has happened to our patient when I walk in and chit-chat with family members or police outside the trauma room who were actually on scene with our patient.
But not this time...
There's no one outside her room.
When my crew wheels her out she's talking a mile-a-minute...
"I've NEVER ridden in a helicopter before!"
It's obvious she's trying to be brave but is scared to death.
"I've ridden in an airplane but never a helicopter!"
And she continues to talk about whatever comes to mind while we load her.
I start the engines and we get underway to the Trauma Center. Only then, over the intercom, do I get more of the story...
She's mentally disabled and fell at a facility that provides work for her and others like her. She is able to live alone with the money she makes at work and the funds provided by SSI. Her parents are elderly and poor and they have no car, so they cannot make the trip to meet her where we are taking her.
She'll be with strangers for quite a while when we drop her off.
Later, my crew finished with the transfer, the news gets worse...
She has bone cancer, which is the reason her bones broke. She's going to lose her left arm because it is shattered and won't heal. It's possible the same will be true of the injuries to her legs.
Damn.
I feel sorry for myself sometimes.
Today I'm ashamed of myself for forgetting how blessed I am.
What?
Fractures like this from a fall from the standing position?
How ? !
As usual, we arrive and my crew departs while I complete my shutdown procedure. Then on many occasions I actually get a better picture of what has happened to our patient when I walk in and chit-chat with family members or police outside the trauma room who were actually on scene with our patient.
But not this time...
There's no one outside her room.
When my crew wheels her out she's talking a mile-a-minute...
"I've NEVER ridden in a helicopter before!"
It's obvious she's trying to be brave but is scared to death.
"I've ridden in an airplane but never a helicopter!"
And she continues to talk about whatever comes to mind while we load her.
I start the engines and we get underway to the Trauma Center. Only then, over the intercom, do I get more of the story...
She's mentally disabled and fell at a facility that provides work for her and others like her. She is able to live alone with the money she makes at work and the funds provided by SSI. Her parents are elderly and poor and they have no car, so they cannot make the trip to meet her where we are taking her.
She'll be with strangers for quite a while when we drop her off.
Later, my crew finished with the transfer, the news gets worse...
She has bone cancer, which is the reason her bones broke. She's going to lose her left arm because it is shattered and won't heal. It's possible the same will be true of the injuries to her legs.
Damn.
I feel sorry for myself sometimes.
Today I'm ashamed of myself for forgetting how blessed I am.
08 May 2009
Denial?
I'll never forget it... the first time I saw a photo of Farrah Fawcett.
I was knocked out.
I think the pic was in "Soldier's" magazine, which had a "cheesecake" photo just inside the last page of every issue. (Wonder if that's still the case?)
She's a week younger than me, and now she's apparently at death's door due to rectal cancer.
How sad.
Too often these days we hear of someone discovering a problem and then waiting to see how it progresses before seeing a Doctor... waiting, while time is of the essence.
Too often the problem is something virulent that might have been fixed had the victim seen a Doctor immediately. Our family lost a 44 year old friend three years ago because she waited until her nipple inverted and began to release a discharge before consulting a physician. Right now we are watching a 40-ish family member fight stage four cancer with a problem she ignored too long... now she's hoping experimental drugs that have been used on very few humans will be her salvation.
I rant a lot on this blog, and I don't think ranting is much fun.
But if I touch just one of you and motivate you to do what you oughta be doin' anyway, then my ranting is worthwhile...
Don't wait.
Find something "odd about your bod" that spooks you a little?
What's it gonna hurt to have an expert check it out?
And now I'll heed my own admonishments...
Sara Jean has never had a colonoscopy. I haven't had one in ten years.
I'm scheduling them today. If you're over 50, why not do the same?
Don't wait 'til it's too late.
Let's live and laugh and blog for years to come!
Help A Confused Old Aviator-
What's FAIR about "The Fairness Doctrine"?
What's FREE about "The Employee Free Choice Act"?
Is this change I can believe in?
What's FREE about "The Employee Free Choice Act"?
Is this change I can believe in?
Obama's Misery, May 2009 Update-
How fortuitous!
The new unemployment figures of 8.9% came out after this month's misery index was posted.
So Bozama dodges a bullet this month...
Last month's index- 8.34 %.
This month's (misleading) index- 8.12%.
I'm on the edge of my seat waiting on figures post-Chrysler and GM layoffs in June.
The new unemployment figures of 8.9% came out after this month's misery index was posted.
So Bozama dodges a bullet this month...
Last month's index- 8.34 %.
This month's (misleading) index- 8.12%.
I'm on the edge of my seat waiting on figures post-Chrysler and GM layoffs in June.
06 May 2009
Cabela's- Now It's A Comedy
Via email this A.M.-
Cabela's Inc.
World's Foremost Outfitter
One Cabela Drive, Sidney, NE 69160
Dear Customer,
Unfortunately, your backordered merchandise listed below has yet to arrive from our supplier. 21-6948 REMINGTON 30 CARBINE 110GR MC AMMO W/DRY BOX 30CARB 110GR MC1000BBackorder-Tentative arrival to Cabelas 05/10/09 If you wish to keep the item(s) on backorder or if you want to cancel or change the item(s), please call our toll-free order desk at 1-800-237-4444.
If a reply is not received within 10 days, the order will be automatically cancelled. Please note that backorders are processed immediately upon receipt of stock from our suppliers and therefore it is possible that the item(s) in question may ship prior to receiving your reply.
If your original order was paid for with a credit card, no charges will be made for the cancelled item(s). If your order was paid for with a check or money order, a refund check will be issued. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Cabela's Inc. - Customer Relations
So now the goods they promised me two months ago will not be forthcoming unless I tell them once again I REALLY REALLY want to receive what I ordered?
I'm certainly glad they "sincerely apologized". An insincere apology would have been intolerable at this point!
UPDATE, 1335 hours-
I just got off the phone with Cabela's. Had a very nice conversation with Michael there. He told me ammunition sales jumped through the roof starting about September of '08. (Lemme think- What was on the horizon at that time?)
He also said representatives from Remington and Winchester have told him if they QUIT taking orders for ammunition at this time, their factories would still work 24/7 until late in 2011 just to fill orders on books now.
That explains a lot.
AN AFTERTHOUGHT,
(And note to Cabela's and other retail folks)-
1. I realize you are between a rock and a hard place here.
But indicating to me that you think you'll have my ammunition in hand on a date certain automatically elicits a "Let's see... if they get it on Tuesday, maybe I'll have it on Saturday?" response from me.
I think it would be better for you to intermittently update me with something like "We haven't forgotten you. We'll send it soon as we get it."
2. Threatening me with an order cancellation if I don't respond to you does not give me warm and fuzzies about Cabela's. I'm sure you'd like me to order from you in the future, right?
It's not good form. Don't do that.
Cabela's Inc.
World's Foremost Outfitter
One Cabela Drive, Sidney, NE 69160
Dear Customer,
Unfortunately, your backordered merchandise listed below has yet to arrive from our supplier. 21-6948 REMINGTON 30 CARBINE 110GR MC AMMO W/DRY BOX 30CARB 110GR MC1000BBackorder-Tentative arrival to Cabelas 05/10/09 If you wish to keep the item(s) on backorder or if you want to cancel or change the item(s), please call our toll-free order desk at 1-800-237-4444.
If a reply is not received within 10 days, the order will be automatically cancelled. Please note that backorders are processed immediately upon receipt of stock from our suppliers and therefore it is possible that the item(s) in question may ship prior to receiving your reply.
If your original order was paid for with a credit card, no charges will be made for the cancelled item(s). If your order was paid for with a check or money order, a refund check will be issued. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Cabela's Inc. - Customer Relations
So now the goods they promised me two months ago will not be forthcoming unless I tell them once again I REALLY REALLY want to receive what I ordered?
I'm certainly glad they "sincerely apologized". An insincere apology would have been intolerable at this point!
UPDATE, 1335 hours-
I just got off the phone with Cabela's. Had a very nice conversation with Michael there. He told me ammunition sales jumped through the roof starting about September of '08. (Lemme think- What was on the horizon at that time?)
He also said representatives from Remington and Winchester have told him if they QUIT taking orders for ammunition at this time, their factories would still work 24/7 until late in 2011 just to fill orders on books now.
That explains a lot.
AN AFTERTHOUGHT,
(And note to Cabela's and other retail folks)-
1. I realize you are between a rock and a hard place here.
But indicating to me that you think you'll have my ammunition in hand on a date certain automatically elicits a "Let's see... if they get it on Tuesday, maybe I'll have it on Saturday?" response from me.
I think it would be better for you to intermittently update me with something like "We haven't forgotten you. We'll send it soon as we get it."
2. Threatening me with an order cancellation if I don't respond to you does not give me warm and fuzzies about Cabela's. I'm sure you'd like me to order from you in the future, right?
It's not good form. Don't do that.
04 May 2009
"The Bob"
" All dog stories, though, have one thing in common.
From Where The Red Fern Grows to Ole Yeller to Marley And Me to Rescuing Sprite, in the end, all dog stories are sad.
This is a dog story."
Hat tip-Vodkapunit.
From Where The Red Fern Grows to Ole Yeller to Marley And Me to Rescuing Sprite, in the end, all dog stories are sad.
This is a dog story."
Hat tip-Vodkapunit.
(Get your tissues Mom.)
Jon Stewart Is Ignorant... Or Why This Nation May Cease To Exist.
Ronald Reagan said it, and more and more I'm seeing how true it is...
"It isn't that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so much that isn't true."
There's another statement we'll all agree is true, attributed in various forms to several authors...
"Those that don't know history are doomed to repeat it."
Our problem today is, most under 30 years of age don't know history. One intelligent commenter here informed me some time back that Jimmy Carter established the Federal Reserve Bank, for God's sake! It's important for those of us that actually do know a little history to remember that these kids, (and I mean no disrespect calling them kids because I'm certainly NOT a kid!), weren't born until 1979, so the only Presidents they truly have any memory of are Clinton and Bush.
The other difficulty is, they get most of their news from boneheads like Jon Stewart and Keith Olbermann.
In a recent interview on his show, Jon Stewart referred to Harry Truman as a war criminal. His reasoning? Because dropping the bomb on the Japanese was unnecessary.
(Like today's bonehead Liberals, he doesn't know the face of true evil. He thinks all Truman had to do was reason with the poor Japanese, and all those lives would have been spared.)
Stewart has since apologized and recanted his statement. I guess even today's pseudo-intelligentsia are subject to public outcry.
There's another statement we ignore at our peril...
History belongs to those writing the history books. Given the time and the right circumstances, history books would show that Hillary truly did land at Kosovo under enemy fire, and that FDR did in fact give his fireside chats over national TV!
This B.S. has gotta stop. And the only way it will stop is for those of us who know history to reveal how stupid Stewart and Olbermann really are.
I need about fifteen minutes of your life.
After these fifteen minutes you'll know why those of us that had WWII Veterans sitting across from us at the dinner table have an advantage over today's 30-somethings. These fifteen minutes will make you at once proud, and will set off the alarm in the back of your head as to how much trouble this nation truly faces. Go here and watch Bill Whittle EVISCERATE Jon Stewart, then send a link to the video to all those you love. Send it to anyone you think still has reasoning power.
Send it to those that voted for Bozama but are now having second thoughts. And if you are moved by the video, consider scrolling down to the "New Members" tab at the bottom of the page and registering...
It's free, and increasing registered members will empower those making such videos to do more.
I'm hopeful it's not too late to turn our troubled country around.
God be with us.
"It isn't that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so much that isn't true."
There's another statement we'll all agree is true, attributed in various forms to several authors...
"Those that don't know history are doomed to repeat it."
Our problem today is, most under 30 years of age don't know history. One intelligent commenter here informed me some time back that Jimmy Carter established the Federal Reserve Bank, for God's sake! It's important for those of us that actually do know a little history to remember that these kids, (and I mean no disrespect calling them kids because I'm certainly NOT a kid!), weren't born until 1979, so the only Presidents they truly have any memory of are Clinton and Bush.
The other difficulty is, they get most of their news from boneheads like Jon Stewart and Keith Olbermann.
In a recent interview on his show, Jon Stewart referred to Harry Truman as a war criminal. His reasoning? Because dropping the bomb on the Japanese was unnecessary.
(Like today's bonehead Liberals, he doesn't know the face of true evil. He thinks all Truman had to do was reason with the poor Japanese, and all those lives would have been spared.)
Stewart has since apologized and recanted his statement. I guess even today's pseudo-intelligentsia are subject to public outcry.
There's another statement we ignore at our peril...
History belongs to those writing the history books. Given the time and the right circumstances, history books would show that Hillary truly did land at Kosovo under enemy fire, and that FDR did in fact give his fireside chats over national TV!
This B.S. has gotta stop. And the only way it will stop is for those of us who know history to reveal how stupid Stewart and Olbermann really are.
I need about fifteen minutes of your life.
After these fifteen minutes you'll know why those of us that had WWII Veterans sitting across from us at the dinner table have an advantage over today's 30-somethings. These fifteen minutes will make you at once proud, and will set off the alarm in the back of your head as to how much trouble this nation truly faces. Go here and watch Bill Whittle EVISCERATE Jon Stewart, then send a link to the video to all those you love. Send it to anyone you think still has reasoning power.
Send it to those that voted for Bozama but are now having second thoughts. And if you are moved by the video, consider scrolling down to the "New Members" tab at the bottom of the page and registering...
It's free, and increasing registered members will empower those making such videos to do more.
I'm hopeful it's not too late to turn our troubled country around.
God be with us.
02 May 2009
Mystery Man
"...The man is a mystery. Nobody can make public his actual birth certificate, or even the particular hospital he was born in, or his college grades, or how he got into Harvard, or how he made editor of the Harvard Law Review and never wrote a single article for it. It goes on and on. He really is a Zero. I think all of you guys should find all of this out and make it known."
(How's it feel, being made fool of by "Cheese-eating surrender monkeys"? )
How far do we have to fall before we splat?
Interesting stuff.
And Andrea brings you more truth, (can you handle the truth?), via Dr. Jack Wheeler over at The Radio Patriot, complete with enlightening linkiness.
(How's it feel, being made fool of by "Cheese-eating surrender monkeys"? )
How far do we have to fall before we splat?
Interesting stuff.
And Andrea brings you more truth, (can you handle the truth?), via Dr. Jack Wheeler over at The Radio Patriot, complete with enlightening linkiness.
01 May 2009
Cabela's Update, 1 May
Still waiting.
Up to this point I've been aware of Cabela's problems and as I have shared with you here, they've been excellent about keeping me notified of progress toward getting me my ammunition.
A review:
I ordered 1,000 cartridges of .30 Caliber carbine ammo on 9 March. The first notice that delivery would be delayed came via email about 3 weeks later. The second email "delay" notice I got from them indicated they expected the hardware in their doors on 24 April.
So now a week later my ears are perked, expecting to hear the approach of the brown truck...
Nuttin'.
This afternoon I called their customer service 800 number and chatted with Lori, who answered the phone personally after one ring. You can write the rest of this yourself... "still delayed, expecting delivery now by mid-month. Would I like to cancel the order?"
And start this process all over? Ha!
I'll keep you posted.
Up to this point I've been aware of Cabela's problems and as I have shared with you here, they've been excellent about keeping me notified of progress toward getting me my ammunition.
A review:
I ordered 1,000 cartridges of .30 Caliber carbine ammo on 9 March. The first notice that delivery would be delayed came via email about 3 weeks later. The second email "delay" notice I got from them indicated they expected the hardware in their doors on 24 April.
So now a week later my ears are perked, expecting to hear the approach of the brown truck...
Nuttin'.
This afternoon I called their customer service 800 number and chatted with Lori, who answered the phone personally after one ring. You can write the rest of this yourself... "still delayed, expecting delivery now by mid-month. Would I like to cancel the order?"
And start this process all over? Ha!
I'll keep you posted.
A Puzzle-
Referring to Joe Biden on his show today , Dennis Miller is asking:
"Can you tear someone, who is one, a new one?"
I think you can, but why waste your time?
Gotta love Dennis.
"Can you tear someone, who is one, a new one?"
I think you can, but why waste your time?
Gotta love Dennis.
30 April 2009
Money Down A Rat-hole
Take $500 out of your wallet and set it on fire.
That's basically what our government just did for every man, woman, and child in the U.S. of A.
Instead of forcing Chrysler into bankruptcy months ago, we taxpayers lent them $1.5 Billion to help them over a "rough financial patch". That money was gonna be paid back with interest when Chrysler got healthy.
Ha!
We may as well have put that money into one-armed-bandits in Las Vegas.
General Motors is next.
Update:
Greybeard and Neil Cavuto are on the same wavelength.
That's basically what our government just did for every man, woman, and child in the U.S. of A.
Instead of forcing Chrysler into bankruptcy months ago, we taxpayers lent them $1.5 Billion to help them over a "rough financial patch". That money was gonna be paid back with interest when Chrysler got healthy.
Ha!
We may as well have put that money into one-armed-bandits in Las Vegas.
General Motors is next.
Update:
Greybeard and Neil Cavuto are on the same wavelength.
29 April 2009
WHAT'S GOIN' ON?
"LOOK AT HIM!
WHAT'S WRONG WITH HIM?"
I was upstairs getting ready for work, listening to the TV downstairs. She was watching what I was hearing. I ran to the balcony and looked down to see what she was talking about...
"See how he looks? He looks frightened. His cockiness is gone."
My wife has a sixth sense. She's almost never wrong in her character judgments. And I could see she was right. So I said, "Well, you gotta remember, he gets a Top Secret briefing every morning about the status of the world around him. His briefers may have scared the crap out of him today."
But on the way to work tonight I thought of something else-
Two weeks ago in Mexico he was escorted on a tour by a man who is now dead. That man's death has been attributed to various causes, including heart trouble and SWINE FLU.
Is our President(?) beginning to feel a little feverish?
Or is he just beginning to realize how much danger he has exposed himself and the Nation to with some of his poor decision making?
So, what's goin on?
All we can do is wait and watch.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH HIM?"
I was upstairs getting ready for work, listening to the TV downstairs. She was watching what I was hearing. I ran to the balcony and looked down to see what she was talking about...
"See how he looks? He looks frightened. His cockiness is gone."
My wife has a sixth sense. She's almost never wrong in her character judgments. And I could see she was right. So I said, "Well, you gotta remember, he gets a Top Secret briefing every morning about the status of the world around him. His briefers may have scared the crap out of him today."
But on the way to work tonight I thought of something else-
Two weeks ago in Mexico he was escorted on a tour by a man who is now dead. That man's death has been attributed to various causes, including heart trouble and SWINE FLU.
Is our President(?) beginning to feel a little feverish?
Or is he just beginning to realize how much danger he has exposed himself and the Nation to with some of his poor decision making?
So, what's goin on?
All we can do is wait and watch.
Vanity
There's a mirror like that one on both the passenger and driver's side of our car, complete with adjustable-intensity lights on either side of the thing. So when I climb into the driver's seat, why do I have to adjust the rearview mirror so I'm not looking at my own ugly mug?
28 April 2009
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
I'm working nights this shift, six nights in a row. I get home in the morning and find my wife and our dog sitting on the sofa, cuppa Joe in Sara Jean's hand, catching up on what's goin' on in the world...
Wife and dog both well rested from a good night's sleep.
Sara Jean will then prepare for work while I sit in bed with laptop, Lucy alongside, napping, as I read email and scan my favorite blogs.
When I'm finished surfing and turn over to close my eyes, she'll crawl under the covers and take her normal position behind the crook of my knees. And there she'll stay until I wake, six or seven hours later.
Lucy obviously enjoys this hot bunking system. She sleeps soundly for eight hours with Sara Jean, then sleeps another seven or so hours with me. I've always known dogs (and obviously cats) sleep a lot, but I've become so much more aware of Lucy's sleeping habits now that she's getting out of bed with Sara Jean and right back into bed with me.
Do dogs not get a headache from too much sleep?
26 April 2009
Four Year Blogiversary
Four years ago I sat at the dining room table in Destin Florida and typed out my first two blog posts.
Four years older...
Four years wiser?
I had hope then.
Now? I'm a nervous Boy Scout, preparing.
Four years older...
Four years wiser?
I had hope then.
Now? I'm a nervous Boy Scout, preparing.
25 April 2009
The President = Hitler
How you react to that comparison depends on your political leanings:
CNN-
In the Bozama tank.
CNN-
In the Bozama tank.
23 April 2009
Ammunition Shortage, April Update
Here's the latest skinny, and it turns out we pretty much had our facts straight from the beginning.
The other issue that I find interesting is the nationwide interest not only in CCW, but open carry.
"And the times- they are a changin'."
(I still haven't received my 1,000 rounds of .30 Carbine ammo from Cabela's.)
The other issue that I find interesting is the nationwide interest not only in CCW, but open carry.
"And the times- they are a changin'."
(I still haven't received my 1,000 rounds of .30 Carbine ammo from Cabela's.)
I'm An Oddball... Like You?
I admit it, I'm different. I take some pride in that actually.
I don't need you or anyone else to tell me how I should think or feel. I'm pretty good at figuring that out on my own.
I have never been comfortable in large "activist" crowds... the "mob mentality" bothers me.
And for you and me that's a problem.
Because we're not alone. There are lots of folks like us.
We've been called "The Silent Majority". We're the ones that toddle along in life causing few problems, making no waves. We work efficiently and do "a day's work for a day's pay."
And in so doing we pay the taxes that are used to benefit all.
But since we seldom speak out, we are easily ignored. Sometimes others take advantage of us because they know we're uncomfortable with the idea of drawing attention to ourselves...
Unless things get really out of hand we shrug our shoulders and think to ourselves "This too will pass", and it does. But we generally end up paying for our silence in one way or another.
That's why last week's "Tea Parties" are exciting to me. Had I not been working (and therefore paying taxes), I'd have attended one close to me. In the middle of the week, in the middle of the day, (a WORKDAY by the way), over 200,000 (some estimates I have read suggest over 500,000) people assembled peacefully to protest the government's recent huge and wasteful outlays of our tax dollars. Most major media ignored these gatherings. CNN, who I have jokingly called "The Communist News Network" in the past, proved my joke might be true by trying to portray attendees as outliers...
Rednecks, Racists, and "Bible clinging gun crazos".
So we're being marginalized.
Maybe five hundred thousand people attended... how many would have attended if it hadn't been a workday? How many would they be trying to marginalize if these protests had been held on a Saturday?
I think our government and its fawning media are frightened and confused, and I think they're playing with gasoline and matches.
Here's my hope...
I hope you're watching this situation as closely as me.
I hope you are irritated that your complaints are being ignored because you are "stupid".
I hope you are motivated to act.
These Tea Parties are the first step. We now know that there are other "silent majority" types out there who are angry and frustrated with the unsustainable course our government is taking.
We know we can form in numbers that cannot be ignored. We know that "next time" we can increase those numbers.
Next time!
The Tea Parties are the first step. "Change" was such a buzzword in the last election, but we knew for us it wouldn't be change for the better. If we want change that will set this government on a sane, sustainable path, we have to take the next step...
How 'bout the 4th of July, "Independence Day"?
Wouldn't it be nice for those of us that truly are independent to make some noise on the 4th?
(Talk amongst yourselves and then express an independent opinion in comments here.
Then talk to others... We know there are MANY like us. We must be "silent" no more!)
I don't need you or anyone else to tell me how I should think or feel. I'm pretty good at figuring that out on my own.
I have never been comfortable in large "activist" crowds... the "mob mentality" bothers me.
And for you and me that's a problem.
Because we're not alone. There are lots of folks like us.
We've been called "The Silent Majority". We're the ones that toddle along in life causing few problems, making no waves. We work efficiently and do "a day's work for a day's pay."
And in so doing we pay the taxes that are used to benefit all.
But since we seldom speak out, we are easily ignored. Sometimes others take advantage of us because they know we're uncomfortable with the idea of drawing attention to ourselves...
Unless things get really out of hand we shrug our shoulders and think to ourselves "This too will pass", and it does. But we generally end up paying for our silence in one way or another.
That's why last week's "Tea Parties" are exciting to me. Had I not been working (and therefore paying taxes), I'd have attended one close to me. In the middle of the week, in the middle of the day, (a WORKDAY by the way), over 200,000 (some estimates I have read suggest over 500,000) people assembled peacefully to protest the government's recent huge and wasteful outlays of our tax dollars. Most major media ignored these gatherings. CNN, who I have jokingly called "The Communist News Network" in the past, proved my joke might be true by trying to portray attendees as outliers...
Rednecks, Racists, and "Bible clinging gun crazos".
So we're being marginalized.
Maybe five hundred thousand people attended... how many would have attended if it hadn't been a workday? How many would they be trying to marginalize if these protests had been held on a Saturday?
I think our government and its fawning media are frightened and confused, and I think they're playing with gasoline and matches.
Here's my hope...
I hope you're watching this situation as closely as me.
I hope you are irritated that your complaints are being ignored because you are "stupid".
I hope you are motivated to act.
These Tea Parties are the first step. We now know that there are other "silent majority" types out there who are angry and frustrated with the unsustainable course our government is taking.
We know we can form in numbers that cannot be ignored. We know that "next time" we can increase those numbers.
Next time!
The Tea Parties are the first step. "Change" was such a buzzword in the last election, but we knew for us it wouldn't be change for the better. If we want change that will set this government on a sane, sustainable path, we have to take the next step...
How 'bout the 4th of July, "Independence Day"?
Wouldn't it be nice for those of us that truly are independent to make some noise on the 4th?
(Talk amongst yourselves and then express an independent opinion in comments here.
Then talk to others... We know there are MANY like us. We must be "silent" no more!)
22 April 2009
21 April 2009
Progressive-Think
An attorney trying to form a defense team for the surviving Somali pirate made this statement:
"I think there's a grave question as to whether America was in violation of principles of truce in warfare on the high seas," said Kuby. "This man seemed to come on to the Bainbridge under a flag of truce to negotiate. He was then captured. There is a question whether he is lawfully in American custody and serious questions as to whether he can be prosecuted because of his age."
My head almost exploded.
These guys throw a grappling hook over the gunwale of the Maersk-Alabama, and while being doused with the only means the crew has to resist them... a firehose, hoist their AK-47 laden bodies up the rope and onto the deck. In what parallel universe can anyone consider these pirates were wanting to "negotiate under a flag of truce"?
This is a nightmare.
Someone wake me please.
"I think there's a grave question as to whether America was in violation of principles of truce in warfare on the high seas," said Kuby. "This man seemed to come on to the Bainbridge under a flag of truce to negotiate. He was then captured. There is a question whether he is lawfully in American custody and serious questions as to whether he can be prosecuted because of his age."
My head almost exploded.
These guys throw a grappling hook over the gunwale of the Maersk-Alabama, and while being doused with the only means the crew has to resist them... a firehose, hoist their AK-47 laden bodies up the rope and onto the deck. In what parallel universe can anyone consider these pirates were wanting to "negotiate under a flag of truce"?
This is a nightmare.
Someone wake me please.
20 April 2009
Greybeard Beats Dead Horse-
He's a twenty three year old male, unrestrained driver, likely fell asleep on his way to college.
He left the roadway and slid down an embankment, impacting a tree. The airbag deployed, but since he was not wearing his restraining system he rode over the bag and his face created a hole in the windshield. Making the hole probably didn't do near the damage to his face as coming BACK through the hole. The extrication process was relatively minor.
He's a bloody mess. His left eye is lacerated and unsalvageable. His nose is severed and hanging by a thin thread of tissue. The orbit for his left eye and his left cheekbone is badly crushed and will require very technical reconstruction.
All this because his drive to school was short, and for whatever reason he didn't feel his seat belt and shoulder harness were necessary.
Soap box time...
TELL THOSE YOU LOVE TO BUCKLE THEIR "&@*%>+^" BELTS!
He left the roadway and slid down an embankment, impacting a tree. The airbag deployed, but since he was not wearing his restraining system he rode over the bag and his face created a hole in the windshield. Making the hole probably didn't do near the damage to his face as coming BACK through the hole. The extrication process was relatively minor.
He's a bloody mess. His left eye is lacerated and unsalvageable. His nose is severed and hanging by a thin thread of tissue. The orbit for his left eye and his left cheekbone is badly crushed and will require very technical reconstruction.
All this because his drive to school was short, and for whatever reason he didn't feel his seat belt and shoulder harness were necessary.
Soap box time...
TELL THOSE YOU LOVE TO BUCKLE THEIR "&@*%>+^" BELTS!
18 April 2009
Change You Can Believe In
AP Photo
So let's see where we stand...
Returning Veterans are "potential domestic terrorists."
Same with members of the American Legion.
But this guy Chavez, who shut down newspapers and Radio and TV stations that opposed him?
Like the Castro brothers, he's MUY SIMPATICO!
Idiots.
Keep Your Cards Close To Your Vest
Although I don't play poker, I've heard about the importance of a "Poker Face".
Folks who win at Poker keep their opponents guessing about whether or not they are bluffing.
Apparently, no one in the Bozama administration understands the importance of a Poker Face.
Idiots.
17 April 2009
For The First Time In My Adult Life...
I'm not sure I'm happy to be an American.
What in God's name is going on?
What in God's name is going on?
Peacefully Dealing With Pirates?
I'm still puzzled by this problem of pirates boarding big cargo vessels near Somalia...
Sure seems to me it would be easy to ward them off with a small security force on each ship, but maybe I'm unaware of the big picture?
The pirates are approaching in small boats, then they throw a grappling hook into the cargo ship while the crew of that ship sprays them with a fire hose to try to prevent them from boarding.
Here's my suggestion:
The pirates approach and sidle up to the cargo ship. The crew on the cargo ship looks over the side and drops a gallon hefty bag filled with gasoline into the pirate boat, then brandishes a flare gun and asks, "Would you like to see the second part of our new welcoming celebration?"
I think most pirates would decline.
Sure seems to me it would be easy to ward them off with a small security force on each ship, but maybe I'm unaware of the big picture?
The pirates are approaching in small boats, then they throw a grappling hook into the cargo ship while the crew of that ship sprays them with a fire hose to try to prevent them from boarding.
Here's my suggestion:
The pirates approach and sidle up to the cargo ship. The crew on the cargo ship looks over the side and drops a gallon hefty bag filled with gasoline into the pirate boat, then brandishes a flare gun and asks, "Would you like to see the second part of our new welcoming celebration?"
I think most pirates would decline.
14 April 2009
LURPS
Big ol' ugly thing... (But I love it!)That one looks a lot like the machines I flew in Viet Nam.
Hang miniguns on the sides instead of the flex M-60's and it's almost an exact match. Notice too the crew chief and gunner hanging out the sides of the aircraft with their
M-60's. This was not a view you sought if you were Viet Cong or a North Vietnamese regular.
My unit, the Aeroscout Company, had the primary mission of doing reconnaissance for the Americal Division. (If you click on the "1969 Yearbook" and "photo album" tabs at that link, you'll find several pictures of yours truly.) As part of that mission, we frequently transported L.R.R.P.'s (Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrols, pronounced LURP'S) out into bad guy country and dropped them off. Once inserted, their job was to avoid contact with the enemy and observe his movement.
Theirs was risky work, as was inserting them into position.
It was just about this time of year 40 years ago that we took off in the afternoon to do a LRRP insertion. We frequently would do one or two "fake" insertions... landing at other LZ's without disembarking the LRRP's, to confuse anyone watching and provide a little more security for these brave guys. Still fairly new "in country", I was the wingman in the formation, Aircraft Commander of a Gunship like the one pictured, accompanying an AH-1G Cobra and the UH-1H troop carrier (Slick).
We did one fake dropoff, then successfully inserted the team and started back home. The gunships I flew were underpowered and overloaded. So overloaded in fact, on hot days they would not hover. We kept them at absolutely minimum fuel for each mission in order to give us the best power-to-weight ratio possible. But that meant our endurance on each mission was limited.
About 10 minutes after inserting the LRRP's, over the FM radio, we heard this call...
(Whispering)... "Warlord Lead, this is Blue Potato, over."
Our team leader answered, "Blue Potato this is Warlord Lead, over."
"Can you come back and pick us up? There is an enemy unit of approximately battalion size coming toward us from an adjacent hill."
These guys were in big trouble. If we called someone to come get them immediately the response time would be over half an hour. They didn't have that time. Problem was, I was fuel critical, and my team leader knew it.
"Two, what's your fuel status?"
A quick calculation and my pucker factor went to ten on a scale of ten...
"We're gonna be mighty close, but we have no choice."
"Roger that." And with that we turned 180 degrees.
A battalion of bad guys, and they know our scouts are there. When they hear us coming back, they'll be prepared for us.
The slick spotted the LZ and started his approach. Hoping to draw some of the fire away from him I slotted in on the approach with him, loose echelon-right.
From the air, an AK-47 being fired at you sounds like popcorn being popped... a muffled Pop-Pop-Pop-poppity-Pop!
Ten seconds from landing it began...
Poppity-Poppity-Pop-Poppity-Poppity...
Lots of firing, but so far no rounds had made contact with my aircraft. As the slick slowed to land I flew past him, and noticed he lowered his nose to accelerate...
Going too fast, he missed his LZ. We'd have to turn and do it again, and now they'd know exactly where he needed to land.
Go around...
Big circle...
Start the approach again.
This time to change things a little I'm in echelon-left.
...Much more AK fire this time...
Poppity Poppity Poppity Poppity Pop Poppity!
Time almost stopped. The slick dropped into the LZ and I made my break to the left. The Cobra rolled in behind us and provided cover while the troops got aboard. When the slick lifted I turned inbound again, once again hoping to divide Charlie's attention.
As the troop carrier climbed out Lead called, "Slick, you okay?"
"Roger that!"
And with five happy LRRP's aboard, we once again turned for home.
"Two, how's your fuel?"
"I'm indicating 300 pounds. It's gonna be close."
Almost immediately my 20 minute fuel-low warning light came on.
"I've got a 20 minute light."
"Roger that. Keep me advised."
We've all been low on fuel, watching the fuel gauge drop while anxiously peering ahead, hoping for a glimpse of the refueling station. But it's different when you're flying over unfriendly ground, listening for the sudden sound of silence that would mean you had to accomplish an emergency landing in a helicopter that was too heavy to hover when you took off.
Stress?
You bet!
We hovered into our revetment twenty minutes after the 20 minute warning light came on. Everyone flying this mission wondered how much fuel was left in my bird, so we all stood and watched as my tanks were topped off...
...Four gallons left... less than three minutes of fuel.
(Then they drained a bunch of that fuel out for the next day's mission.)
Later that night there was a knock on the door of our hootch and I heard a loud, slurred question...
"WHERE'S GREYBEARD?"
"Here. Who's asking?"
"The guys whose lives you saved today."
All five of 'em standing there, team leader in front.
In one hand he had a bottle of Crown Royal. In the other, a bottle of Chivas Regal.
I think we had a good time...
I don't remember much more about that evening.
13 April 2009
12 April 2009
Pirates
I'm interested in what is happening off the coast of Somalia because I think we're seeing an indication of how many of our enemies will deal with the U.S. in the future...
Unable to compete with our technology, they'll resort to 17th century tactics where our wonderful toys have less power.
Still, I think we could put our gadgets to good use-
I'm sure there are all sorts of tools available to our "negotiators" there, to include a few Seals that are chomping at the bit to get involved. Why not let them?
Send a few over to that powerless lifeboat and attach a line somewhere beneath waterline. Then begin towing that sucker out to deeper water, comforting the pirates all the while that we have no intention whatever of feeding their corpses to swine after we execute them.
Then let's see how brave they are.
Unable to compete with our technology, they'll resort to 17th century tactics where our wonderful toys have less power.
Still, I think we could put our gadgets to good use-
I'm sure there are all sorts of tools available to our "negotiators" there, to include a few Seals that are chomping at the bit to get involved. Why not let them?
Send a few over to that powerless lifeboat and attach a line somewhere beneath waterline. Then begin towing that sucker out to deeper water, comforting the pirates all the while that we have no intention whatever of feeding their corpses to swine after we execute them.
Then let's see how brave they are.
11 April 2009
UH-1 63-08808
From a comment to the post below...
This old Huey's crew is finally coming home.
Thanks for the lead, Jack.
This old Huey's crew is finally coming home.
Thanks for the lead, Jack.
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