Some of the Raffle winners…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Still waiting on a couple of responses, but thus far we have the following winners who have responded and claimed a prize of their choice.

A: Diamondback and custom holster by Michael, Kathy Jackson Book—Heath


B: ISSC .22 Trainer (Glock style), Kathy Jackson Book—Former Flyer

D: Ye olde Handgonne or knife winner’s choice, plus engraving, Kathy Jackson Book—Matt G

G: Stabby package- Gerber Applegate Fairbairn Combat Folder, Emerson CQC-7 Mini, Remington collector R1 Upland—Wilson

As the other folks respond, I’ll get the rest of the names up. Again MANY, MANY thanks to those who’ve donated/participated. You’ve shown that our little corner of the Intarwebz truly does step up and help our friends in need.

Winners have been drawn…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Folks, not trying to keep you in suspense, winners have been drawn, and emails are being sent. Once we get answers back from the winners on their choices, I’ll post the list.

Again sorry for the delay. And THANK YOU to all who’ve pitched in to help Tam. I was reminded by one of our international donors that we are doing the right thing for the right reasons…

He also sent this Bible verse, and while we cannot do this in total anonymity, he said we are following the ‘spirit’ of the verses… And I agree… The ONLY reason I’m out there on this is that I got elected chief cat-herder. Y’all that know me, KNOW this is not my normal mode of operation.

Matthew Ch-6 1-4 NIV

1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.


Again, thank you!!!

Geography…

Posted on by March 6, 2013

THE GEOGRAPHY OF A WOMAN

Between 18 and 22, a woman is like Africa. Half discovered, half wild, fertile and naturally Beautiful!

Between 23 and 30, a woman is like Europe. Well developed and open to trade, especially for someone of real value.

Between 31 and 35, a woman is like Spain, very hot, relaxed and convinced of her own beauty.

Between 36 and 40, a woman is like Greece, gently aging but still a warm and desirable place to visit.

Between 41 and 50, a woman is like Great Britain,with a glorious and all conquering past.

Between 51 and 60, a woman is like Israel,has been through war, doesn’t make the same mistakes twice, takes care of business.

Between 61 and 70, a woman is like Canada, self-preserving, but open to meeting new people.

After 70, she becomes Tibet. Wildly beautiful, with a mysterious past and the wisdom of the ages. An adventurous spirit and a thirst for spiritual knowledge.

THE GEOGRAPHY OF A MAN

Between 1 and 80, a man is like Iran, ruled by the nuts.

THE END.


 

Happy Turkey Day!!!

Posted on by March 6, 2013
May you enjoy the day with family or friends as you can, eat plenty of turkey and then nap in front of the football game… 🙂

But take a moment to remember our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines that are serving throughout the world.

Signs you ‘might’ be overdoing Thanksgiving…


* Paramedics bring in the Jaws of Life to pry you out of the EZ-Boy!

* The “Gravy Boat” your wife set out was a real 12′ boat!

* You receive a Sumo Wrestler application in your e-mail

* Friday you set off 3 earthquake seismographs on your morning jog. 

* Pricking your finger for cholesterol screening only yielded gravy.

* A guest quotes a Biblical passage from “The Feeding of the 5000.”

* That rash on your stomach turns out to be steering wheel burn.

* Representatives from the Butterball Hall of Fame called twice.

* You consider gluttony your patriotic duty.

Y’all have a good one!

Surviving Thanksgiving, with a twist…

Posted on by March 6, 2013

How to survive Thanksgiving at your liberal relatives…

by Joel B. Pollak 

As a public service to our readers, and as a gesture towards civility in our national discourse, we offer the following how-to-guide for surviving Thanksgiving dinner at the home of your triumphant liberal relatives:

Arrival. “Your home looks lovely. Almost like it’s worth what you paid for it. Obama didn’t help with that yet, did he? Oh, well, maybe next term. May I use your bathroom?” 

In the unlikely event that your host’s home has appreciated in value, use this introduction instead: “Love what you’ve done with it. Better dump it before the new year, though, or you might face that new Obamacare tax.” (Wait until after dinner to make a lowball offer.) 

Greetings. “Oh, grandma, I’m so sorry about what Obama did to your Medicare. I tried to stop him.” 

“Little Johnny, all grown up. Still looking for a job? Oh. There’s always grad school, you know. I hear Obama will pay your student loans.” 

“Jane, you look amazing! I bet you’re the reason Obama promised free contraception.” 

“Hey, kids, let’s watch some football. Whatever team Obama picked, that’s the one that’s going to lose. Ask Detroit.”

Grace. “I’m thankful that the war on women is finally over, and you accepted a racist like me back into your midst.” 

“I’m thankful for Elizabeth Warren. Now that we have a Native American in the Senate, we can celebrate without feeling guilty anymore.” 

“I’d like to take a moment to remember those four brave Americans who lost their lives because of an anti-Islamic video.” 

“Blessed be Obama, from whom we enjoy this bountiful harvest.”

Meal. “No turkey for me, thanks. The poultry industry is a major contributor to global warming, and I can’t eat meat without thinking about how I caused Hurricane Sandy.” 

“I’m not having cranberry sauce, either. So many of our cranberries today are imported from Poland, and they supported Mitt Romney, you know.” 

“Have some more pumpkin pie, please. I promise not to tell Michelle Obama.” 

“What, no more Twinkies this year?” 

Departure. “I can’t believe it’s time to go already. Four hours and $600 million in national debt just flew by.” 

“Gan en jie kuai le! That’s Happy Thanksgiving in Chinese. Might as well start learning.” 

“Why don’t you come to our place next year. Seeing as how your taxes are going up in a few weeks, it’s only fair.” 

“Sorry I parked you in. Oh, darn, I drove the Chevy Volt today. You wouldn’t have an extension cord, would you?” 

Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who have to suffer through the holiday with liberal relatives ~ May I suggest a little Wild Turkey for the occasion?

Pretty good ones as far as I’m concerned… use as necessary! 🙂

One more Raffle Update…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Talked to Heath this morning, he is in fact putting his Combo into the mega raffle here…

Heath over at 18 wheels and a 1911 is added a sweet 20ga/.22 combo HERE.  I’ve seen Heath’s guns and they are better cared for that mine, which is saying something!!!

The gun he is offering is a Savage 24 DL, .22 mag /20 GA. “The gun is flawless. It’s lived in a safe for as long as I’ve owned it, and as far as I can tell the previous owner never shot it. I’ve taken it out once, just because I don’t believe in owning guns I can’t shoot ( barring family wallhangers ).”

Tickets are $25, same formula as the rest, just go put it in Tam’s tip jar, and send Jennifer the receipt. It will now be item I.

Dang, now I’m tempted to get in on my OWN raffle… 🙂

The Kid has gone to the Colors…

Posted on by March 6, 2013

Thankfully we have a generation that is continuing the ‘tradition’…

The kid has gone to the Colors

And we don’t know what to say;

The kid we have loved and cuddled

Stepped out for the flag to-day.
We thought him a child, a baby
With never a care at all,
But his country called him man-size
And the kid heard the call.
He paused to watch the recruiting,
Where, fired by fife and drum,
He bowed his head to Old Glory
And thought that it whispered:”Come!”
The kid, not being a slacker,
Stood forth with patriot-joy
To add his name to the roster,
And God, we’re proud of the boy!
The kid has gone to the Colors
It seems but a little while
Since he drilled a school-boy army
In a truly martial style.
But now he’s a man, a Sailor,
And we lend him a listening ear,
For his heart is a heart all loyal,
Unscourged by the curse of fear.
His dad, when he told him, shuddered,
His mother-God bless her!-cried;
Yet, blest with a mother-nature,
She wept with a mother-pride.
But he whose old shoulders straightened
Was Grandad-for memory ran
To years when he, too, a youngster,
Was changed by the Flag to a man!

by W. M. Herschell


h/t JP

Finally over… sigh…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Well, the REST of the day didn’t go any better… sigh…

For those who’re familiar with Moore’s Law, there is a corollary law called Augustine’s law about acquisition and procurement.


Augustine’s Checklist for an Acquisition Adventure
or “A Formula for Failure”


0 Settle for Less Than the Best People -Reduce Payroll Cost
0 Build an AdversarialRelationship Between Buyer and Seller
0 Change Management Frequently -Provide Opportunities
0 Avoid Evolutionary Growth to New Capabilities -Take Grand Leaps
0 Continually Revise Schedule and Funding -Generate Excitement
0 Include All Features Anyone Wants -Make Everybody Happy
0 Allow No Margins in Funding,Schedule or Technical Approach – Nothing Will Go Wrong
0 Divide Management Responsibility Among Several Individuals-Two Heads are Better Than One
0 Whenever Difficult Problems are Encountered,Start All Over with a New Approach Having No (Known) Problems
0 Promote Continued Debate over Goals Throughout Life of Project – Variety is The Spice of Life
0 Give Reliability Low Priority-Especially Avoid Redundancy
0 Develop Underlying Technology and End-Product Concurrently
0 Do Not Plan Intermediate Test Milestones -Just One Glorious
Display
0 Create as Many Interfaces as Possible -Help People Get to Know
Each Other
0 Focus on the Big Picture -The Details Will Take Care of Themselves
0 Disregard Seller’s Track Record -The Law of Averages Will Work
Out
0 Cut Costs by Reducing Testing -Especially Environmental and
Full-System Testing
0 Ignore the Users-They Don’t Understand High-Tech
0 Choose Among Sellers Based on What They Promise -No One
Likes a Pessimist
0 Eliminate Independent Checks and Balances-They Just Create
Friction
0 Don’t Compete Potential Suppliers at Outset-Pick a Friend
0 Once Underway Continue to Compete Selected Supplier with
Outsiders-Change as Often as Possible to Assure “Freshness”
0 Minimize Managers’ Latitude for Judgment -Rely on Regulations
0 Deal Harshly with Anyone Surfacing Problems-One Can’t Afford
Troublemakers
0 Never Delegate -Hold Authority at the Top Where People Really
Know What’s Going On
0 Maximize Individual Incentives-Teamwork is Just the Sum of the
Parts 
0 Make Up for Schedule Slips by Overlapping Design and Build – Especially When Test Results are Disappointing
D Include at Least as Many Auditors on the Project as Workers – Reviews Give Everyone a Chance to Participate
0 Do All Possible to Minimize Profits of Participating Contractors- Save the Money
0 Don’t Waste Time Communicating (Especially Face-To-Face)-It
Takes Time;and Time is Money
0 Eschew Strong Systems Engineering -It Just Complicates
Decision-Making
0 Delay Establishing Configuration Control Until the Last Minute­- Reduce Cost of Management
0 Always Pick the Low Bidder-They Must Know Something Special and are Often Courageous
0 Don’t Worry About the Form of Contract-Just Enforce It
0 Get Head-Start on Work Prior to Finalizing Goals,Schedule,and Cost
-This is Especially True for Software – Which is Easy to Change
0 Share Authority for Project Direction with Staff Advisors

0
1-5
6-10
11-20
21-36

0          Success Unavoidable
1-5       Success Sometimes Unavoidable
6-10     Agonizing Success Possible
11-20   Good Chance of Disaster
21-36   Disaster Not Left to Chance 


Taking a ‘charitable’ approach this afternoon, I’d grade the afternoon as 29-31… sigh…

BUT, I’m now sipping on this…


All better now! 🙂

Lousy day, sigh…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
This is one of those days it just didn’t pay to fall outta bed…

Late to work because an idjit too busy texting to watch the road rear ended a car sitting on the shoulder, after cops/rescue finally got there I was 1/2 hour late…

Got in to a butt chewing for NOT being in the 0800 meeting, “I should have planned better.” WTF??? HOW, not stop and ignore the wreck, not wait for the cops/rescue even though I was a witness and called it in???

Go to the next meeting, and I’m up to my alligator in assholes… and nothing but arguments throughout the meeting. STILL haven’t been to my desk to even get the first email, and I ‘know’ I’ve got stuff that needs to be answered today…

Just got to my desk, took a bite of my sandwich and realized it’s NOT what I ordered…

Why do I do this for a living??? Sigh…

Think I’m going to just go sit in the corner and sulk for while…

Go read the folks on the sidebar!

 

Dayum, it’s getting EXPENSIVE out there…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Had to finally break down and buy some more dress shirts yesterday, and it’s getting more and more expensive! Even at the exchange decent shirts ran $65 on sale.  And just looking around at prices, I think things are at least 10-15% higher than last year.  I really don’t remember seeing $100 shirts EVER in a military exchange, or $220 North Face stuff.  And online isn’t much better, something tells me this is going to be a ‘cheap’ Christmas…

Especially since most of us have no idea what is going to happen in January.  Taxes going up, medical costs going up, lots of potential job losses on the horizon…

I know my co-pays went up by 50% last month on medicine, and I truly wonder what the elderly are going to do.  And I heard today that military etc. will get a whole 1.7% raise in 2013.  Somehow I don’t think that is going to make up for the losses…

I’m beginning to think it’s just time to hunker down and hold on to what I’ve got…  

Or do like this…


I just don’t know to where… Sigh…