Eyes are still fighting. Post later… maybe Wednesday or Thursday.
Sorry…
\Posted from my iPhone.
For the short posts and lack of commenting on other folks posts.
I had my other cataract surgery last Friday, and my eyes are still not ‘cooperating’ well enough for me to do anything on the computer, which includes reading blogs, commenting, and any writing.
Go read the folks on the sidebar, they write better than I do anyway!
Posted from my iPhone.
Rescue is ‘available’ if you can pay for it…
Remember when George W. Bush talked about the “soft bigotry of low expectations”? We have reached a stage in American history in which the words “low expectations” have become synonymous with the federal government. I suspect at some point, the Biden administration will form the Department of Low Expectations. Karin Jean-Pierre will likely head it up after she leaves her current post.
In keeping with the theme of the new department, the government has announced that it will evacuate U.S. citizens stranded in Israel. For a price. The State Department announced on Thursday that it will arrange for charter flights for “U.S. citizens and their immediate family members who have been unable to book commercial transit and seek a safe means of departing Israel.” But in order for the government to get them out of the country, those citizens will have to pay. No word if this includes seats in first or business class, or if everyone will have to fly coach. It’s probably best not to try for an upgrade. And believe it or not, it is legal. In fact, you can find it in 22 U.S. Code § 2671.
Full article, HERE.
This…is just unbelievable! And backchannel is saying that there ‘might’ be an attempt to ‘deal’ with the US citizens who were ‘taken’ by Hamas. The word kidnapping is apparently not being used!!!
26th MEU is ‘somewhere’ in route from 5th Fleet, and they would be the primary to go get our folks being held hostage, but the administration is categorically saying “NO boots on the ground”.
This tells me that the administration is NOT going to go get our folks, and will probably try ‘negotiating’ for their release. I wonder how many billions they are going to offer Iran this time? This is even stupider than the Afghan withdrawal and tells the terrorists that the US will not rescue its people when they are in trouble…
I’m going to go take my BP meds and do my deep breathing before I blow my top.
Especially in the military…
Rome, II Calends, April CCCLX
SUBJECT: Recommendation for Senate Medal of Honor
TO: Department of War, Republic of Rome
- Recommend Caius Horatius, Captain of Foot, CMCMXIV, for the Senate Medal of Honor.
- Captain Horatius has served XVI years, all honorable.
III. On the II day of March, during the attack on the city by Lars Porsena of Clausium and his Tuscan Army of CMX men, Captain Horatius, with Sergeant Sporius Laritus and Corporal Julius Herminius, held the entire Tuscan army at the far end of the bridge, until the structure could be destroyed, thereby saving the city.
- Captain Horatius did valiantly fight and kill one Major Picus of Clausium in individual combat.
- The exemplary courage and the outstanding leadership of Captain Horatius are in the highest tradition of the Roman Army.
JULIUS ANTINOUS,
Commander, II Foot Legion
Ist, Ind, AG IV Calends, April CCCLX
TO: G-III
For comment.
G.C.
IInd Ind, G-III IX Calends, May CCC
TO: G-II
- For comment and forwarding.
- Change end of paragraph III from “saving the city” to “lessened the effectiveness of the enemy attack.” The Roman Army was well dispersed tactically; the reserve has not been committed. The phrase as written might be construed to cast aspersions on our fine army.
III. Change paragraph V from “outstanding leadership” to read “commendable initiative.” Captain Horatius’s command was II men, only I/IV of a squad.
J.D.
IIId Ind, G-II II Ides, June CCCLX
TO: G-I
- Omit strength of Tuscan forces in paragraph III. This information is classified.
- A report evaluated as B-II states that the officer was a Captain Picus of Tifernum. Recommend change to “an officer of the enemy forces.”
J.H.
IVth Ind, G-I IX Ides, January CCCLXI
TO: JAG
- Full name is Caius Claudius Horatius.
- Change service from XVI to XV years. One year in Romulus Chapter BPOE, has been given credit for military service in error.
E.J.
Vth Ind, JAG II, February CCCLXI
TO: AG
- The Porsena raid was not during wartime; the temple of Janus was closed.
- The action against the Porsena raid, ipso facto, was a police action.
III. The Senate Medal of Honor cannot be awarded in peacetime (AB/CVIII-XXV, paragraph XII, C).
- Suggest consideration for Soldier’s Medal.
P.B.
VIth Ind, AF IV Calends, April CCCLXI
TO: G-I
Concur in paragraph IV, Vth Ind.
L.J.
VIIth Ind, G-I I May CCCLXI
TO: AG
Soldier’s medal is given for saving lives; suggest star of bronze as appropriate.
E.J.
VIIIth Ind, JAG II Calends, June CCCLXI
TO: JAG
>For opinion.
G.C.
IXth Ind, JAG II Calends, September CCCLXI
- XVIII months have elapsed since event described in basic letter. Star of bronze cannot be awarded after XV months have elapsed.
- Officer is eligible for Papyrus Scroll with Metal Pendant.
P.B.
X Ind, AG I Calends, October CCCLXI
TO: G-I
For draft of citation for Papyrus Scroll with Metal Pendant.
P.B.
XI Ind, G-I III Calends, October CCCLXI
TO: G-II
- Do not concur.
- Our currently fine relations with Tuscany would suffer and current delicate negotiations might be jeopardized if publicity were given to Captain Horatius’ actions at this time.
T.J.
XII Ind, G-II VI November CCCLXI
TO: G-I
A report rated D-IV, partially verified, states that Lars Porsena is very sensitive about the Horatius affair.
E.T.
XIIIth Ind, G-I X November CCCLXI
TO: AG
- In view of information contained in preceding XI and XIII the endorsements, you will prepare immediate orders of Captain C. C. Horatius to one of our overseas stations (remote).
- His attention will be directed to paragraph XII, POM, which prohibits interviews or conversations with newsmen prior to arrival at final destination.
L.T.
Rome II Calends, I April CCCLXII
SUBJECT: Survey, Report of, Department of War
TO: Captain Caius Caius Horatius, III Legion, V Phalanx, APO XIX, C/O Postmaster, Rome.
- Your statements concerning the loss of your shield and sword in the Tiber River of III March CCCLX have been carefully considered.
- It is admitted that you were briefly in action against certain unfriendly elements on that day. However, Sergeant Lartius and Corporal Herminius were in the same action and did not lose any government property.
III. The Finance Officer has been directed to reduce your next pay by II-I/IV talents (I-III/IV talents cost on each sword, officers; III/IV talent cost of one each shield, M-II).
- You are enjoined and admonished to pay strict attention to conservation of government funds and property. The budget must be balanced next year.
- MARCUS AURELIUS
Lieutenant of Horse
Survey Officer
Got my second ‘bionic’ eye yesterday…
Now with all new lenses, so we’ll see how much I have to spend to upgrade the glasses, readers, shooting glasses, etc. in 5 weeks.
Thanks to those who’ve commented, emailed, and made ‘other’ recommendations on the cataract surgery.
Posted from my iPhone.
First up, our own Dorothy Grant with another interesting novel- Dust of the Ocean
As always, click the cover for the Amazon link!
The blurb-
In the ruins of an ancient alien city, a half-alien slave’s act of mercy will change the course of a cold war.
When Mika saves Arkady, a wounded enemy soldier, he offers her a path to freedom. All it will take is finding a hidden artifact that may alter the course of an interstellar conflict…
But the path there will plunge their team into the depths of inhuman nightmares, battling ancient bioweapons and outwitting her former owners. It’s going to take everything they have just to survive, much less escape with their prize!
Next is another anthology from Raconteur Press- All Will Burn
It is ironic that this one is live now, considering what is happening in Israel and the stories we are hearing from there…
The blurb-
There’s a question every parent faces and dreads; what would they do to protect their children? What lengths would they go to in order to make sure their children survive? And how would they avenge them if they couldn’t?
Or All Will Burn contains stories that explore these questions through space, time, and species. Join these 11 authors as they dive into the depths a parent will go to for their children.
And last but not least, a bit of a different story from Peter Nealen, writing with Jason Anspach and Nick Cole in the Order of the Centurion series- Always Legion
The blurb-
Military contractor Dav Toron left the Legion to avoid the incompetency of its growing number of points. There’s no avoiding the chaos of his next mission.
Running protection for a House of Reason Special Aide turns into a kinetic nightmare as a corrupt local government, intergalactic rebels, and violent pirates converge to plunge a backwater edge planet into utter violence and chaos.
With his team cut off from all support, Dav falls back on his Legion training to keep those around him alive. But when he forges an alliance with a stranded Legion squad and planetary natives looking to stand up to those seeking to topple their government, an opportunity to save the small planet presents itself…if Dav and his ragged team of outnumbered and outgunned warriors can survive long enough to take it.
Best-selling author and veteran Peter Nealen teams up with Anspach and Cole and draws from his own experiences as a paramilitary contractor to deliver this thrilling tale of sacrifice, determination, and combat.
Always Legion is a stand-alone novel set in the period between Legionnaire and Galactic Outlaws.
I’ve read all three and highly recommend them!
It appears the liberals on SCOTUS are ‘open’ to circumstantial evidence being used…
The Supreme Court raised concerns during oral arguments Wednesday that a civil rights group had no direct evidence that racial discrimination occurred in South Carolina’s recent redistricting process, signaling the court could overturn a lower court’s decision that had favored the group.
The skepticism from the justices came as they listened to arguments in Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP over whether the state legislature acted illegally when it moved 30,000 black voters from Charleston out of the state’s First Congressional District.
Full article, HERE from thew Washington Examiner.
If this actually happens, things are going to get REALLY interesting at SCOTUS going forward.
It took this long…
The daughter of Scott Smith who was 15 at the time she was sexually assaulted by a boy in the girl’s bathroom has filed a lawsuit against the school system for $30 million.
A teenage girl who was sexually assaulted in a Virginia high school bathroom has sued Loudoun County Public Schools, alleging that school officials failed to heed warning signs about her attacker and responded to her May 2021 assault by trying to cover it up.
The teenager, who filed the lawsuit under the pseudonym “Jane Doe” along with her parents, was 15 years old when a younger, male student in a skirt assaulted her in a girls’ bathroom at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn on May 28, 2021.
The incident garnered national attention. Conservatives protested a policy in Loudoun County schools — put in place after the assault — that allowed transgender students to use bathrooms matching their gender identity. Meanwhile, outraged parents in Loudoun County questioned why the perpetrator was moved to a different school, where he assaulted a second female student months later.
Full article, HERE.
The dominoes are starting to fall in Loudoun County VA! First, the former superintendent Scott Ziegler was fired, then sued over retaliatory actions (and convicted last week or so), and now this.
The ‘irony’ if you will is that Loudoun and Fairfax school systems are continuing to ignore the parent’s inputs and are going hard left/DEI/EIEIO and refusing to obey state law on what can and can’t be done in schools since the republican governor took over.
The hubris and ‘we elites know better’ attitude is just stunning!
I can only hope it costs them the $30 million and a lot more before this is all over, because the boy raped another girl a couple of months later at another school in the county!
And WAY behind on the writing… sigh… But I have to say a weekend with NO TV, interwebz, and just spending time with good friends was well worth it (for the 14th year)!
Of course, there couldn’t POSSIBLY be a reason…
The good idea fairy and my muse are getting drunk together… again…
Got another 500 or so words on the next Bell Chronicles, also working on formatting the next benefit antho for the library (Oilfield Stories), and working on finishing the last story those two cooked up…
Sigh…
Must come to an end…
Another year has passed, andwhile the gathering was smaller this year, it was still a lot of fun to join our friends and spend a couple of days together, laughing talking and eating. Always remember to enjoy the time with friends, and remember to smile! 🙂
The Friday cat kind of says it all… 🙂 Obviously, the last cat on a Friday afternoon, the toner was running out, there wasn’t enough for a full length tail, but the production said we need one more cat!
