Unanswerable questions???

Better known as why ask why…

-Why doesn’t glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
-Why is it considered necessary to nail down the lid of a coffin?
-What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
-Can fat people go skinny dipping?
-Why does the sun lighten our hair, but darken our skin?
-Why does a cowboy wear two spurs? If one side of the horse goes, so does the other.
-Can you be a closet claustrophobic?
-Why can’t women put on mascara with their mouth closed?
-How come you never hear about gruntled employees?
-What are Preparation A through Preparation G?
-Why is the word “abbreviation” so long?
-Why don’t you ever see the headline “Psychic Wins Lottery”?
-After eating, do amphibians have to wait one hour before getting out of the water?
-Is it possible to be totally partial?
-Why is a boxing ring square?
-In a country of free speech, why are there phone bills?
-What’s another word for thesaurus?
-Why is it called lipstick if you can still move your lips?
-What is a “free” gift? Aren’t all gifts free?
-Did Washington flash a quarter when asked for ID?
-If a book about failures doesn’t sell is it a success?
-Why is it that rain drops but snow falls?
-How come there aren’t B batteries?
-If a funeral procession is at night, do folks drive with their lights off?
-What’s another word for synonym?
-Why is it that when you’re driving and looking for an address, you turn down the volume on the radio?
-If the post office has machines that can sort snail mail by the thousands per minute, then why do they give it to a little old man on a bike to deliver?
-When companies ship Styrofoam, what do they pack it in?
-Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavour, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?
-How do “Do not walk on the grass” signs get there?
-If you are cross-eyed and have dyslexia, can you read all right?
-Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
-Why do black olives come in cans and green olives come in jars?
-Why do we play in recitals and recite in plays?
-If a stealth bomber crashes in a forest is there a sound?
-Is a metaphor like a simile?
-Why is the third hand on the watch called second hand?
-Before drawing boards were imvented, what did they go back to?
-If a parsley farmer is sued, do they garnish his wages?
-How do I set my laser printer on stun?
-Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
-How is it possible to have a civil war?
-When it rains, why don’t sheep shrink?
-When sign makers go on strike, what is written on their picket signs?
-If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?
-Why is the word dictionary in the dictionary?
-If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
-Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?
-Why isn’t there a special name for the tops of your feet?
-If the #2 pencil is so popular, why is it still #2?
-Do cemetery workers prefer the graveyard shift?
-Why do you need a driver’s license to buy liquor when you can’t drink and drive?
-If you ate pasta and antipasto, would you still be hungry?
-What do you do when an endangered animal eats endangered plants?
-If quitters never win, and winners never quit, what fool came up with “Quit while you’re ahead”?
-Do witches run spell checkers?
-Why is the alphabet in that order?  Is it because of that song?
-Do hungry crows have ravenous appetites?
-If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?
-If I melt dry ice, can I take a bath without getting wet?
-If a mute swears, does his mother wash his hands?
-Do Lipton employees take coffee breaks?
-Crime doesn’t pay… does that mean that my job is a crime?
-Why do noses run and feet smell?
-If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?
-If you work in a hospital, can you call in sick?
-Did Noah keep his bees in archives?
-Is there another word for synonym?
-How can there be self-help “groups?”
-How do a fool and his money GET together?
-How do they get the deer to cross at that yellow road sign?
-Isn’t it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do “practice”?
-If an orange is orange, why isn’t a lime called a green or a lemon called a yellow?
-How do you know when it’s time to tune your bagpipes?
-How do you know that honesty is the best policy until you have tried some of the others?
-When sign makers go on strike, is anything written on their signs?
-Why do they call it a “TV set” when you only get one?
-How do you throw away a garbage can?
-When you open a bag of cotton balls, is the top one meant to be thrown away?
-Why are all the home economics teachers divorced?
-How does a thermos know if the drink should be hot or cold?
-Where do forest rangers go to “get away from it all”?
-Why isn’t phonetic spelled the way it sounds?
-Why do they call it a “bust” when it stops right before the part of the body you’d think it would have been named after?
-How does the guy who drives the snowplough get to work in the mornings?
-Why isn’t there mouse-flavoured cat food?
-Why do they call them “buildings” when they’re already done building them?
-Do you realise how many holes there could be if people would just take the time to take the dirt out of them?
-Would a fly without wings be called a walk?
-How is it that a building burns up as it burns down?
-If a word in the dictionary were misspelled, how would we know?
-Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?
-If nothing ever sticks to Teflon, how do they make Teflon stick to the pan?
-If Superman is so smart, then why does he wear his underpants on the outside of his trousers?
-If a turtle does not have a shell, is he homeless or naked?
-If the pen is mightier than the sword, and a picture is worth a thousand words, how dangerous is a fax?
-If knees were backwards, what would chairs look like?
-If you’re in a vehicle going the speed of light, what happens when you turn on the headlights?
-Why do they sterilise the needles for lethal injections?
-If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?
-Why didn’t Noah swat those two mosquitoes?
-Why do kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
-If you throw a cat out the car window, does it become kitty litter?
-Why do we kill people for killing people to show that killing people is wrong?
-Is it true cannibals don’t eat clowns because they taste funny?
-What hair colour do they put on the driver’s licenses of bald men?
-Why is it that bullets ricochet off of Superman’s chest, but he ducks when the gun is thrown at him?
-If you shoot a mime, should you use a silencer?
-Why do banks charge you an “insufficient funds” fee on money they already know you don’t have?
-What if the Hokey Pokey IS what it’s all about?
-What is the speed of dark?
-How come we never hear about gruntled employees?
-Why do they sell cigarettes at the gas station if you can’t smoke there?
-What happened to the first 6 “ups?”

Integrity Matters…

By The Book

Phillip Jennings is an investment banker and entrepreneur, former Marine Corps Captain who flew missions  in Vietnam and, after leaving the Marine Corps, flew for Air America in Laos. He won the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society short fiction award in 1998. He has a degree in business administration and is the CEO of Mayfair Capital Partners.  He is the author of two novels and one non-fiction book.

He authored the following article which appeared in the May 26, 2016 edition of USA Today.  It is short and should be required reading for everyone.

Secretary without honor

When I hear people say Clinton emails don’t matter, I remember a young Marine captain who owned up to his career-ruining mistake.

Apologists for Hillary Clinton’s alleged criminal mishandling of classified documents say that it doesn’t matter, that she really did nothing wrong, or nothing significant. But the real question is not so much what she did as how she has responded to being found out.

Once during the mid-1960s when I was on active duty in the Marine Corps, I was the air liaison officer for a battalion of Marines aboard 11 ships in the Mediterranean. As the air officer and a senior captain, I had a rotating responsibility for the nuclear code book, kept in the safe in the operations room of the lead amphibious squadron command ship. I shared that duty with another captain, a squared away young man, liked by all he commanded and the son of a very high-ranking Marine.

On the day our ships were leaving the Mediterranean, we met the new amphibious squadron near Gibraltar and made preparations to transfer security codes and other sensitive material to the incoming Marine battalion. The young captain was on duty and went to the operations office to pick up the code book. He was alone in the office. He removed the code book and placed it on the desk while closing the safe. In a rushed moment, he stepped across the passageway to retrieve something he needed from his quarters. Seconds later, he stepped back into the operations office and found the operations sergeant having just entered, looking down at the code book.

Against all regulations, the code book had been out of the safe and unattended. It mattered not that it was unattended for only seconds, that the ship was 5 miles at sea, or that it was certain no one unauthorized had seen the code. The captain could have explained this to the operations sergeant. He could have told the sergeant that he “would take care of it.” He could have hinted that his high-ranking dad could smooth it over.

But the Marine Corps’ values are honor, courage and commitment. Honor is the bedrock of our character. The young captain could not ask the sergeant to betray his duty to report the infraction, no matter how small. Instead, the captain simply said, “Let’s go see the colonel.”

That captain had wanted to be a Marine officer all of his life. It was the only career he ever wanted. When he reported the incident to the colonel, he knew he was jeopardizing his life’s dream. But he did it.

The results went by the book. The amphibious squadron stood down. Military couriers flew in from NATO. The codes were changed all over Europe. The battalion was a day late in leaving the Mediterranean. The captain, Leonard F. Chapman III, received a letter of reprimand, damaging his career. He stayed in the corps and died in a tragic accident aboard another ship.

I saw some heroic acts in combat in Vietnam, things that made me proud to be an American and a Marine. But that young captain stood for what makes our corps and our country great.

Clinton is the antithesis of that young captain, someone with no honor, little courage and commitment only to her endless ambition. This has nothing to do with gender, party affiliation, ideology or policy. It is a question of character — not just hers, but ours. Electing Clinton would mean abandoning holding people accountable for grievous errors of integrity and responsibility. What we already know about her security infractions should disqualify her for any government position that deals in information critical to mission success, domestic or foreign. But beyond that, her responses to being found out — dismissing its importance, claiming ignorance, blaming others — indict her beyond anything the investigation can reveal. Those elements reveal her character. And the saddest thing is that so many in America seem not to care.

And I cannot understand why people are letting this slide… NONE of the veterans I know are, that’s for sure…

h/t JP

TBT…

If only…

F8F 1976

F-8 on the pedestal at NAS Barber’s Point, July 1976 painted by volunteers of all races from the various squadrons. And yes, it was taken with Kodacolor and yes, it’s changed colors over the last forty years.

We still had the pride in America we had then…

Americans of ALL races, creeds and colors pulled together. We were AMERICANS…

Not like what we are seeing today…

War against the police, the apologists who say this was ‘inevitable’ because of the militarization of the police, yada, yada, yada…

Everyone seems to forget the drug pushers started the gang war against the police by uparming with automatic weapons, and all the police did was try to keep up, so they could go home at night.

War, and I don’t have a better word for it, against Trump, frothing at the mouth hatred, from supposedly ‘conservative’ people… Never Trump plays right into Hildabeast’s hands. I guess that is what they really want, 8 more years of the crap we’ve just lived through.

A coming race war…  Jackson/Sharpton/et al have been agitating for this for years, and made lots of money off those they were ‘supposedly’ helping. It’s already occurring in Chicago between the blacks and Hispanics for control of the drug trade up there, and the same thing is happening in SoCal, and probably starting in Atlanta, NYC, Baltimore and Philly.

Add in the muslim extremist issues (and ISIS/ISIL adherents), the illegal aliens (and their gangs), and America has become a powder keg waiting for a match…

ALL lives matter! White, black, Hispanic, Asian, pink, purple, polka dotted, I don’t care. We need to get the politicians and agitators out of it, and get PEOPLE talking to people.

At this point, I think this year will be a turning point in the history of the US, either better or worse. Ignore the strident bloggers/facebookers/commentators and do your OWN research, then make your decisions.

Posted in TBT

Word games…

It’s us against them…

I had an interesting chat with Alan Korwin at the NRA AM, and had forgotten about it until I was listening to the Pub’s convention tonight, and it reminded me of our conversation…

Words have meaning. Use your words wisely, especially when countering the antis…

They say:

Guns kill

We say:

Guns save lives

Guns cause crime Guns stop crime
Guns are bad Guns are why America is still free
Assault weapons are bad Assault is a type of behavior
Guns are so dangerous Guns are supposed to be dangerous
Guns are too dangerous to own You should take a safety class
People shouldn’t have guns Maybe you shouldn’t have one
Guns should be totally outlawed Let’s try that with drugs first
The purpose of a gun is to kill The purpose of a gun is to protect
People don’t need guns Only good people need guns
Guns should go away Then you should personally sign up
to never have a gun in your life, as
you would ask of me
They should take away all the guns Bad guys first
They should take away all the guns
because they’re so dangerous
Who exactly is “they” you would give
all these dangerous guns to?
Gun owners should be registered Bad guys first
Gun owners should be registered
to help stop crime
So, how would writing my name on
a government list help stop crime?
We need more gun laws Criminal activity is already banned
Why would anyone
want to own a gun?
You’re kidding, right? You mean you
really don’t know? Well, why do you
think we give guns to the police?
I’m not against people having guns What sort of guns do you think
people should have, and why
Do you really have a gun? Of course, don’t you?

Courtesy of Alan Korwin at GunLaws.com

Teetering on the tipping point???

The shooting of at least six more LEOs in Baton Rouge yesterday (three dead) has pushed us yet closer to a tipping point I don’t think the left really understands IS inevitable if they continue pushing the multiculturalism (where everyone is supposedly equal), as they support BLM, and continue pushing Muslims are peaceful people mantra, while pushing gun control and disarming legal gun owners.

IMHO, anybody with two brain cells to rub together can see through these ’emotional’ pleas and understand this is all about pushing an agenda where the government gets more and more control through freebies, entitlements, and other handouts that will ensure people will willingly give up freedoms and vote democrat until they die, while conservatives are left to wither and die on the vine as they support the 47% of moochers.

If one actually does the minimal research into the crime stats in Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, Philly, Atlanta, Memphis, LA, San Francisco and other democrat run cities, the crime stats have spiked over the last couple of years. As LEOs, frustrated with the push from BO’s administration, the local dems, et al, to stop prosecuting drug offences, stop ‘profiling’ blacks, even when they were caught in the act, etc. Many agencies have backed off on enforcement and patrols (or doubled up cars, reducing the number of cars on the street by 50% per shift) and the perps know it.

The Treyvon Martin lawsuit failed, the whole Ferguson mess (hands up, don’t shoot) was disproved, the Freddie Gray thing in Baltimore has led to no convictions and three acquittals, and the current ‘crop’ of cop shootings are falling apart under investigations. The DOJ has been politicized, are now one of the more divisive agencies out there, as they too push the administration’s agenda, including the ‘selective’ prosecutions where criminals caught with guns were, in some cases, back on the streets in 72 hours.

The real problem is it takes time for the truth to actually get put out there, in the meantime, the lies, slanders, race baiters (Jackson/Sharpton/et al) are out there stirring it up as hard as they can. And as usual, BO is blaming the cops, pushing gun control, basically ANYTHING other than actually addressing the problems.

As an aside, how many of the black on black shootings in Chiraq have made the main stream media??? 2200 to date shot, and 362 killed JUST IN CHICAGO!

Oh yeah, and the ‘mantra’ that blacks were unfairly targeted- Check the research HERE. Note where that research came from…

Bottom line, this week could (and I hope to hell it doesn’t), spark multiple riots in Cleveland if somebody snipes the police, or does something else stupid. LEOs are a hair’s breadth from being cut loose (my opinion), and John Q Public is getting tired of the road blocks, face offs, and stepped up violence as the usual suspects take advantage of the LEOs backing off/changing patrol profiles.

If it comes down to it, I believe John and Jane Q Public WILL take up arms, to defend themselves and their families, and what the left doesn’t understand is the number of veterans that will drag those ARs out of the closet and WILLINGLY use them. Make no mistake, the veterans can and will use the weapons and won’t hesitate to pull the trigger. They have done it before, and will do it again.

I can also see them backing up LEOs, and stepping into the line with them if required. At that point, words and hand wringing on the left will be too little, too late.

Edit- It appears the Baton Rouge shooter was actually a black from Missouri, tied to an anti-cop, anti-government group… So the administration will blame the gun, as usual…

Sigh…

Time to go back to the .45 as the carry piece of choice, and spare mags…

Aviation Art…

24

I have actually seen this one more than once, and it is IMPRESSIVE! This image is the 25 foot high by 75 foot wide mural in the World War II Gallery of the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.

The B-17G, 42-38050, “Thunder Bird” of the 303rd Bomb Group, based at Molesworth, England, is seen at 11:45 AM, 15 August 1944, over Trier, Germany, on its return to base from a mission to Weisbaden. B-17Gs “Bonnie B”, “Special Delivery”, and “Marie”, are seen below as a Messerschmitt 109G and Focke Wulf FW 190 attack “Thunder Bird’s” element. Jeff Ethell’s research for the mural revealed the names and aircraft identities of all U.S. and many German participants in this battle in which the 303rd lost nine Fortresses in this attack by Luftwaffe fighters.

Achievement unlocked…

While other areas were dealing with “Day of Rage”, Wichita Falls was doing a first responder appreciation today.

flag flying

Thanks to the Elk’s Club and about 50 volunteers, a variety of first responders- LEO’s, Fire, EMS, from Wichita Falls and some of the surrounding small towns, along with DPS, Rangers, Possum Cops and others got a lunch and dinner for free as a thank you.

Quite a few brought along family members, and between lunch, dinner and the take outs for the jailers, dispatch, and those manning firestations and other critical infrastructure, a little over 1100 meals were served between lunch and dinner.

I was basically a gofer… go fer this, take out that, set up those tables and chairs, etc… But it felt good to see those first responders come through the door and hear their thanks.

A couple of the volunteers were also Patriot Guard riders, who had been in Dallas Wednesday supporting those officers funerals, and they said the procession was over five miles long. Not only that, the other side of the freeway stopped in salute as the procession was moving through.

I’ll probably STILL be soaking my feet when you read this, but I’m glad I got a chance to give a little bit back to those who DO lay their lives on the line every day.

Another hit…

France, Nice this time, was ground zero for another attack last night. This time it was a truck mowing people down along the beach promenade. 70+ dead and over 50 injured as of the time I went to bed.

No assignment of ‘blame’ yet, as the French police shot the driver dead. BUT there were apparently grenades and guns found in the vehicle. I’m wondering how long it will be before the dancing in the blood begins, along with the calls (again) for a gun ban…

What about a truck ban??? Of course not…

Today is supposed to be the ‘Day of Rage’ marches all over the US. I can’t help but wonder if one of them is going to turn into anarchy when John Q Public has finally had enough, or has a medical emergency and either can’t get an ambulance, or said ambulance or transport is stuck in traffic caused by the protesters…

Or, God forbid, there is another sniper sitting out there deciding to kill Whitey, and just ‘happens’ to be in the vicinity…

If I had the choice, I’d be sitting at home and not pushing my luck today. I ‘hope’ things stay peaceful, but I’m guess maybe 50-50 chance, which truly sucks.

Stay safe folks.

TBT…

Traditions…

This post won’t make a lot of sense to most people, but go with me here…

It’s a ‘tradition’, origin lost in time, that the last flight to the boneyard is always at max power…

This is a P-3 panel (steam gauges) on a bird going to the boneyard at Tucson. 1010 is the max allowable TIT in non-emergency situations, and this crew did it in style. 390 TAS with a 10Kt headwind at FL280, so they took the old girl out in style!

1010 TIT

Photo courtesy of TC Sherman

The birds are old and tired, most are over 50 years old (this one is ONLY 46 years old), as you can tell from the flaking paint, but they all have stories to tell. Thousands of flight hours, hundreds of crewmen, pilots, navigators and maintainers sweated over these birds on the ‘hot’ deployments, and froze their asses off on the ‘cold’ deployments all over the world.

And they pretty much brought us home every time… Thankfully…