Teh Storm- Update 2…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
At 1730, now steady state winds 34kts, gusting 52 kts.  Very little rain.  Decided to relocate smoking area to internal hallway…  Pizza is in the oven, power is fluctuating, so this ‘may’ be the last update this evening.

It looks like Sandy took a 90 left and looks like we might have some significant weather coming in the next couple of hours.

In truly SAD news, the HMS Bounty replica has been lost off the Graveyard of Ships.  Kudos to the Coasties who went out and got 14 of 16 back… Those folks clank when they walk!

Minuteman has details up HERE.

Please keep those folks up North in your thoughts and prayers, they are getting 80+kts of wind up in NY/NJ now.

 

Teh STORM- Update…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
As of now, winds 25, gusting 35, light rain…

Birds are still flying, people are still walking their dogs, and it looks like Philly ‘wins’ the big hit with the eye of the storm…

Battened down, waiting to see what else is going to hit, but right now, we’re looking okay.  However, those up North of Philly are gonna get REAL wet…

You folks up there take care!  We’ll just continue to sit here, BSing, eating and killing time…

And my daughter reminded me…


Yes, the Old Guard is on the job…
 

"Weird" Dreams…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Okay, I know people have some strange dreams, but THIS one woke me up and I cannot get back to sleep…

Getting everything prepped for the impending weather last night, I got to bed a tad late, since I wanted to take one more check of the weather forecast.

The dream was that all my guns (ALL) my guns were laying on the table, disassembled… And I’m wearing a pair of shorts…

And there is an announcer! Who says something to the effect that I have five, count em FIVE minutes to assemble a gun before the door gets kicked open!

And the banging starts at the front door…

As I start trying to figure out what I’ve got, the announcer says only ONE gun actually has all the parts there!

And the lights go out…

So I’m holding a flashlight in my mouf, frantically pawing through parts, when I realize I DO have four 1911s, so maybe I can get ‘one’ good one!

Then the announcer says I also have to RELOAD ammo for that gun (in the five minute window).  As the banging increases!!!

The announcer says four minutes.

As I’m pawing through, I realize one 1911 frame is only missing a grip, so I grab a grip and quickly screw it on, deciding I’m going to do a 1911 one way or the other.  The matching slide is missing the sights, and the barrel.  I look and find a slide with sights, but from a different gun, and a barrel and recoil spring and guide rod.  I quickly clear the slide and confirm the firing pin is there, and put the springs and other pieces back in.  I throw the rest of the stuff into the slide, as the announcer says THREE minutes.

I look for the matching frame, only to realize it’s completely stripped to bare metal…

I sit them down and look at the reloading table, and it’s set up for .45!  Yea!!! I walk over there, and crank out 8 rounds.

The announcer says two minutes.

I take the rounds back to the table, and look for a magazine, only to realize THEY are in pieces too… so I assemble one mag, and load it with 1 extra round.

The announcer says one minute. And in a rather snarky tone, reminds me only ONE gun can be completely assembled…

And the banging gets LOUDER.

So, I’ve got a slide from one gun, a frame from another, and a magazine from a third.  But what the hell, it’s 1911 parts…

Slam the slide on the frame, throw the slide stop in, lock down the barrel bushing and slam the mag home, rack the pistol, drop the mag, add the extra round and the announcer says I cheated, so I turn around and shoot the frikkin announcer…

At that point I woke up…  And it’s 0445…

And now I can’t get back to sleep…

sigh… Morning world!!!  (COFFEEEEEE)…

Benghazi- Response=Invasion???

Posted on by March 6, 2013
A group of us old farts have been chatting back and forth on email about this for a couple of days…

Since we’re not ‘current’ on things, lot of this is speculation, but we have all been there, launched our asses before. 

—–Original Message—–
From: Wxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2012 X:XX AM
To: Xxxxxxxxxxx

Subject: Re- Contingencies and Response

Snake, your points are valid, but remember they don’t have the same capability in theater we did. Only 1-2 birds in Sig. And we’ve all stood watch in similar circumstances.  5th and 6th Flt, and both carriers would have been pulling binders as soon as the flash came in.

Tripoli DID launch a bird, they got in no problems other than transport from the airport.

Real question is who was watching the feeds, where they got dumped,  and who was sitting in the Pentagon battle cab.

It’s 430 nm g/t from Sig to Benghazi, so 1+30 transit at 330kts, if they pushed it up, less.  Same roughly for the Spectre.  

Spectre goes with RRF, figure 1+30 to round up everybody, arm up.  They get onsta 3+00 in.

So figure  2 hour alert, load two SLAMS another hour.  Now we’re at 3 hours. Transit and they’re onsta 4+30 in.

It’s 1800nm from 5th Flt to Benghazi, so tanker avail would be the issue, but if they limited load to two LGBs or JSOW and external drops, they could have been there in 3 hours.  That’s 8 18’s with two all up rounds, and second flight could have diverted to Sig to refuel while the first flight went direct.

SLAM/JSOW could have fired on either GPS or Laser, LGBs would have had to have Laser. And that was available until compound fell. 

And we all know that would have been at min State call, and probably OO call. Question is what was Defense/CJCS doing? Panetta was lying about the fog of war bullshit, and Dempsey has drunk the koolaid based on his earlier positions. question is who actually told them to stand down and where/how was that communicated. Somebody somewhere has that info, maybe on the high side, but it has to be there. No watch officer I ever served with would have stopped preps/alert without specific record traffic to do so.
 
Based on what we’ve been going back and forth on, I think the bottom line is they didn’t put assets in because of the perception in ME/muslim that it would have been an INVASION of Libya

Wxxxxx

I have to agree with the last line at this point. I’m pretty much convinced the reason no response was allowed was the administration (DOS and President) didn’t want to ‘appear’ to be invading Libya…  I think this is a pretty sad excuse, since almost 100 TLAMS were fired during the uprising to ‘support’ the uprising. 

There is NO question in our minds a military response was possible, and could have gotten there in time.  And Peter does a great job of dispelling the ‘conspiracy’ theory HERE about Gen Ham and the CSG RADM relief.  That is just flat ‘noise’, and an attempt to pawn the blame off on the military.

I truly hate to think that a political decision over-rode saving American lives, but at this point I don’t know what else to think.

Comments??? Are we full of it???

0300 Phone Call…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Chris Muir over at Day by Day hit a home run with this one…

Benghazi WAS the 0300 phone call, and it didn’t get answered…

 

Teh STORM…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Fact- We will probably get hit Monday with the left side of the ‘Frankenstorm’.

The weatherguessers are still ‘reviewing’ tracks, but there is consensus that the Bermuda High is going to push it into the Eastern US.

Here’s the ‘best’ prediction- 


Now the radio commentators on the other hand…

(Ahem- Best radio announcer voice)

The STORM is coming, but there is no cause for panic…

But buy generators, because the power is going to go out for DAYS…

But there is no cause for panic…

Buy toilet paper, buy bread, buy water, buy food that doesn’t need to be heated, fill your tubs, fill your trashcans, fill your…

But there is no cause for panic…

There’s going to be FLOODING, O.M.G. Elevensies…  Move to higher ground!  Move to the second floor!!!

But there is no cause for panic…


(cue breathless reporter, sounds of traffic in background)

Yes Mike, there are a LOT of folks out today, and they all seem to be intent on (sound of squealing brakes and crash in background) getting to the stores quickly.  Ahh… ummm. back to you in the studio.


And now for the latest on the STORM…


But there is no cause for panic…

Sigh…  And yes the stores WERE that stupid, along with the traffic…

Line a half a block long to get into the grocery store, hardware store parking lot was full, and so were most gas stations.

I was actually on an ammo hunt, and needed to replace my Nemesis holster for my BUG, so I bypassed all that stuff and went to the gun store. IT was packed too!!! 

And ammo prices are just STUPID HIGH!!!  One guy was complaining that he’d bought the same ammo 6 months ago for $16/box and it was now $24/box; the counter guy said their wholesale prices were up $7-8 box average, so they had no choice!

Thankfully, I’ve got enough to tide me over for a month or two…

So y’all take care, and stay dry…

Turning the Tables…

Posted on by March 6, 2013

Funny, but even funnier if this actually got published… Supposedly from a little old Brit lady to her bank…

Dear  Sir:

I am writing to thank you for bouncing my cheque with which I endeavoured to pay my plumber last month.

By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting the cheque and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honour it.

I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my entire pension, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years.

You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account £30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank.

My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways. I notice that whereas  I personally answer your telephone calls and letters,  when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, pre-recorded, faceless entity which your bank has become.

From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood  person.

My mortgage and loan repayments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank, by cheque, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate.

Be aware that it is an OFFENCE under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope.

Please find attached an Application Contract which I require your chosen employee to complete.

I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no  alternative.

Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public figure, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof.

In due course, at MY convenience, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me.

I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have  modelled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service.

As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Let me level the playing field even further.

When you call me, press buttons as follows:

IMMEDIATELY AFTER DIALLING, PRESS THE  STAR (*) BUTTON FOR ENGLISH
#1. To make an appointment to see me

#2. To query a missing payment.

#3. To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.

#4 To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping.

#5. To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.

#6. To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home.

#7. To leave a message on my computer, a password to access my computer is required.

Password will be communicated to you at a later date to that Authorized Contact mentioned earlier.

#8. To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 to 9 

#9. To make a general complaint or enquiry.

The contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service. While this may, on occasion,  involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call. Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an  establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement.

May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous New Year?

Your Humble Client

Remember:
  
Don’t make old people mad. We don’t like being old in the first place, so it doesn’t take much to piss us  off. 

Don’t forget:  “Press 1 for English, 2 for Spanish’ 3 for Swahili, 4 for Urdu. 5 for Arabic, 6 for Zulu, 7 for !Xhosa, 8 for Punjabi, 9 for Hindi”

h/t JP

My $.02…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
I said from the get-go that Benghazi was a cover up. 

That there were assets ‘available’.

That ‘games’ were being played.

That our folks died for political gain.

And I got laughed at, I was ‘paranoid’.

And sonofabitch if every damn bit of it is true…

All you have to do is search the net, it’s all getting out there…

Do you REALLY want to let that asshole have another four years to continue KILLING OUR PEOPLE to forward his own agenda?

I sure as hell don’t and I voted absentee yesterday. I’m done, hopefully my vote will count (I am one of those bitter clingers)…
 

 

Another ‘Sea Story’…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
So there we were, loafing along at 10,000 feet, nothing between us and… oops, wrong story…

Ahem…

Back in the mid-late 80s it was always a guessing game as to how many Russian subs were actually IN the Mediterranean at any one time…

So we happened to be chasing a Victor III class boat, designated as a Schuka; but we called them “Walkers” because of all the s**t John Walker gave them. Link HERE.


Note- I NEVER saw ‘this’ particular view of one…

Anyhoo… We’re tasked on this guy and had a pretty good idea where he was going to be, so we got out ahead of him and got a pattern in the water and lo and behold there he was. So we’re figuring a quiet 6 hours onstation…

Yeah, right…

Well, we called it in; and the next thing I hear is a pair of VS guys flying S-3s asking if they can get in on the tracking…

So being the nice guys we were, we said SURE, come on over…

Stacked em above us, and once they had a handle, we went high and let the first one have his turn.  About a half hour later, his wingman went low and took his turn…

So now we’re the meat in the sandwich between two S-3s and about that time here comes a plummy British voice on the net, to the effect of “Hey mate, you got something and can we come play?”


Sigh… Sure, Nimrod you’re highboy, take your turn and right now you’re number FOUR in the stack!

They come back with something like, “FOUR, Blimey who ELSE is out here?” So I list everybody off, and then we drop back down to take our turn again.

Get the Nimrod integrated into the chase, and cycle off for the first S-3 to jump back in; and ANOTHER damn voice comes on the net…

HHHey,  WWWWeee HHHeear YYyou GGGot CCCONTACT, CCCan weeee PPPLlllayyy?

Oh joy, NOW we get a helo that wants in…


Sure Helo, you’re number FIVE in the stack, take highboy, and you’ll get a turn in a bit.

SSSSay WWWHHHAAATTT?

You’re highboy, climb like hell!  List who’s there and his altitude assignment and of course the helo guys start bitching…

Get them integrated, the first S-3 cycles off, and it’s the second S-3s turn…

At this point vertically it’s S-3, Nimrod, Helo, P-3 and S-3….

And the helo bubbas are paranoid… They are NOT used to being in the middle of a sandwich with multiple airplanes, much less having jets running around below AND above them…

The second S-3 cycles off, the Nimrod takes over, and the S-3s decide they are low fuel so it’s time to go back to the bird farm…

The Nimrod decides he’s had enough fun, so he cycles off and departs, so the helo FINALLY gets his turn (and calms down)! 

He tracks for a bit, then HE decides he’s gotta go back to the small boy, so he departs.

Finally, some peace and quiet… sigh…

We finish out our onstation and turn over to our relief and WE RTB.

Now this is where it gets funny… 

See, everybody went to a different location…  Birdfarm, small boy, Brit base, US base…

And everybody reported submarine contact… At different times, from different locations…

So there for a while, there was PSH in higher headquarters as to HOWINTHEHELL did FOUR submarines get in the Med, and nobody knew…  And then ‘somebody’ finally looked at the positions and times; Oh, just ONE sub…

And WE later got our butts chewed for letting the others play…

So much for being a nice guy!