Self-Licking Ice Cream Cone…

Posted on by March 6, 2013


So…


I’m wasting a couple of weeks attending ‘certification’ classes in stuff I’ve been doing for 20 + years, just so I can get a check in the box, since it’s now been mandated…


So, Monday morning I go into the ‘administration’ office and ask what are the requirements to have the classes waived?  Previous qualifications, experience, recommendations???


I get the usual ‘form’ letter…


So I go back and dig out my original certification from the Navy, my last 8 years worth of job descriptions, etc.


There is a block for ‘professional associations’, ‘continuing education’, e.g. the usual BS…  


So today I go in to talk to them on a break, and guess what; I cannot be ‘grandfathered’ because I don’t meet their ‘minimum’ requirements!!!


So naturally I ask what minimum requirements?


Well, no CE credits in the last 8 years, my certification is too ‘old’, and my job descriptions are not in the ‘proper format’ and don’t list my duties by primary and secondary requirements.


Say WHAT???  


So I’m told with a straight face- Well, if I’d been a member of the ‘organization’ for the past 10 years and taken the CE credits, I’d be fine; as they would have accepted my previous designation. And if I had followed their ‘recommended’ format for job descriptions, it would all be fine.


Soooo… If I had VOLUNTARILY joined your ‘organization’ (e.g. paid you membership money for 10 years) AND paid your ‘organization’ (more money) for CE training it would be all good?


And managed to convince the people that I work for that my job descriptions HAD to be formatted in a specific way (that I had never seen and didn’t know existed),  that would be okay?


So if I want to protest the lack of grandfathering?


Well, our ‘organization’ makes those determinations…


Soooo… Since I didn’t VOLUNTARILY join an ‘organization’ that was not required, and use a format that was not required, and the ‘organization’ has determined that my previous qualification is too old, and there is no protest allowed, and you have managed to weasel your way into this being a mandatory qualification…


I have NO OPTION but to now attend your classes (so you get paid BIG$$)…


Yep, you’ve created the perfect self-licking ice cream cone…


And she wondered why I walked out of there a tad pissed.


And I’ve gotta take ANOTHER @#&* class next week!


The inmates and bean counters have TRULY taken over the asylum… 


Howinthehellhavewecometothis? What happened to actually being ‘qualified’ based on your initial training, ability to do the job, and follow the procedures you were required to use?


If you weren’t doing the job, the result was your ass was fired!


Sigh… I’m getting WAY too old for this BS…

Unfrikkinbelievable part whatever!!!

Posted on by March 6, 2013

One of however many I feel like driving my BP up with tonight…

Text:

Obama’s Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack: “Well, obviously, it’s putting people to work. Which is why we’re going to have some interesting things in the course of the forum this morning. Later this morning, we’re going have a press conference with Secretary Mavis and Secretary Chu to announce something that’s never happened in this country — something that we think is exciting in terms of job growth. I should point out, when you talk about the SNAP program or the food stamp program, you have to recognize that it’s also an economic stimulus. Every dollar of SNAP benefits generates $1.84 in the economy in terms of economic activity. If people are able to buy a little more in the grocery store, someone has to stock it, package it, shelve it, process it, ship it. All of those are jobs. It’s the most direct stimulus you can get in the economy during these tough times.”


Video HERE 

Well, I guess he has the answer:  Put more people out of work so they can go on Food Stamp and we’ll have a remarkable economic recovery.  I’m in utter awe of his intellect!!!  NOT…


And by now everybody has heard of the $1M bus for the Prez…


Except that one is none, so you know damn well they bought TWO (oh wait a minute, there are actually TWO buses in the caravan), make that FOUR buses!!!  


And Marine One plus back-up are within a specific ‘range’ of the Prez at all times, and Air Force One plus at least one C-17 is sitting somewhere close, plus the advanced parties for each location (each team is 10 plus personnel), and, and, etc…


In other words, this little “poor man’s bus tour” is probably costing we the people about $10M…   Bus video HERE


AND the Prez basically said the Republicans are ‘treasonous’ today, because they are ‘holding the US hostage, by playing politics’…


Say WHAT???  Aren’t the Democrats doing EXACTLY the same thing???


Sigh…


And now one to piss y’all off 🙂  Link HERE


I don’t understand, ‘5 years of supervised release’ for Mexican nationals (illegals)

Will it be here?… live on US teat for another 5 years for probation after release?…. or Mexico after deportation? (yea, that’s gonna work)
Luis Angel Cruz–Jimenez, 25, a Mexican national, was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Cruz–Jimenez will also be required to serve three years of supervised release. He pled guilty on May 3.

Sentenced on July 8 on related drug charges were Mexican nationals

Julio Jimenez–Morales, 30, to 108 months in prison, and Jose Penaloza–Paramo, 30, to 240 months in prison. Both men will be required to serve five years of supervised release following their prison term. Jimenez–Morales was ordered to forfeit $10,000; Penaloza-Paramo, $39,000.

Collado–Rojas was sentenced on July 18 to 151 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.

Vega–Corona will be required to serve three years of supervised release after his prison term.




And now that your BP is up about at level of mine, a great little three minute film that gives us hope…


HERE

Remember, tomorrow is hump day, so stay away from male dogs… 🙂 

Simple Home Remedies…

Posted on by March 6, 2013


1. AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP.

2. AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT BY USING THE SINK.

3. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER.

4. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON.

5. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES. THEN YOU’LL BE AFRAID TO COUGH.

6. YOU NEED ONLY TWO TOOLS IN LIFE – WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN’T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN’T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.

7. IF YOU CAN’T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU’VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.

By Popular Request…

Posted on by March 6, 2013

First ya need a gun…



Oops, gun in too big to fit in any current airplane… Need new airplane…


Hello, Fairchild-Republic?  Yep, remember the P-47 Thunderbolt? Yeah, yeah, can you update that a bit?  Couple of jet engines would be good; yep, tanks and stuff like that…  Uh huh, A10 Thunderbolt works for us, kthxbi. 

NOW we’re making progress just design the damn airplane AROUND the gun…

Make it Old School, butt ugly, powerful and with a Titanium Tub for the pilot, just in case…  After all it IS going to be low, slow and shooting at things that CAN shoot back…

And just in case the bad guys get lucky, make everything at least doubly redundant (Old School- Belt AND Suspenders)… and triply redundant on flight control systems two hydraulic and one manual…


Capt. Kim Campbell sustained this damage over Baghdad and flew for another hour before returning to base. Story HERE.  And here’s one by Michael Yon.

Get the biggest damn bullet you can, 30mm 6500 grains depleted uranium penetrator and push it real fast… 


Just to put it in perspective, the .223 Rem (M16 rifle round) is fast. It shoots a 55 or so grain bullet at about 3300 feet/sec, give or take. It’s the fastest of all those rounds shown (except one). When you move up to the .30 caliber rounds, the bullets jump up in weight to 160-200 grains. Speeds run from about 2600 to 3000 fps or so. 

The .338 Lapua is the king of the sniper rifles these days and shoots a 350 grain bullet at 2800 fps or so. They kill bad guys at over a mile with that one.

The .50 BMG is really big. Ask AEpilot Jim…

Everyone who picks one up thinks it’s some sort of fake, unless they know big ammo. It’s really huge with a bullet that weighs 750 grains and goes as fast the Lapua.

The bullet for the 30×173 Avenger has an aluminum jacket around a spent uranium core and weighs 6560 grains (yes, over 100 times as heavy as the M16 bullet, and flies through the air at 3500 fps (which is faster than the M16 as well).

The gun shoots at a rate of 4200 rounds per minute. Yes, four thousand. Pilots typically shoot either one- or two-second burst which set loose 70 to 150 rounds. The system is optimized for shooting at 4,000 feet. 


I personally have seen Hog destroy a Soviet T-72 tank with ONE 2 second burst...

How big IS the gun?  Well, here is a PR photo done with an old VW Beetle…



Seven barrels, 112 inches long, total gun length? 19 1/2 feet long… 


Oh yeah, stick a few hard points on the wings too will ya, we ‘might’ want to carry ‘other’ things…

And the Air Force Generals hated it, because it was ugly, and the gear wasn’t fully retractable, and they kept trying to kill it…  


But the pilots loved it, the maintainers loved it, and they flew the hell out of them, and killed MANY things with them… And the pilots came home almost every time…


And they are STILL being used in combat, and are the ONLY true CAS asset the Air Force has…


h/t WSF

What’s Wrong with this Picture???

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Anybody see a ‘slight’ problem with this Logo from the new Dept of Innovation?

If this isn’t a classic for the Administration, I don’t know what is…

And a little ‘humor’ for your Friday afternoon…

I OWE MY MOTHER…. 


1.  My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE
     “If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”

2.  My mother taught me RELIGION 
     “You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”

3.  My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL
     “If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”

4.  My mother taught me LOGIC
     “Because I said so, that’s why.”

5.  My mother taught me MORE LOGIC 
     “If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”

6.  My mother taught me FORESIGHT
     “Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”

7.  My mother taught me IRONY 
     “Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.”

8.  My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS
     “Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”

9.  My mother taught me about CONTORTION-ISM
     “Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA
      “You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”

11. My mother taught me about  WEATHER
      “This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.”

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY
      “If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!”

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE
      “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION
      “Stop acting like your father!”

15. My mother taught me about ENVY
      “There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents like you do.”

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION
      “Just wait until we get home.”

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING
     “You are going to get it when you get home!”

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE
      “If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way.”

19. My mother taught me ESP
      “Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?”

20.  My mother taught me HUMOR
       “When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT
      “If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.”

22. My mother taught me GENETICS 
      “You’re just like your father.”

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS
     “Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?”

24. My mother taught me WISDOM 
      “When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”

And my favorite:
25.  My mother taught me about JUSTICE
     “One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!”

But, there is one missing from this list ~~ My personal all time favorite! 

My mother taught me about CHOICE. 
“Do you want me to stop this car?”


I only said yes ONCE…

And couldn’t sit down for two days… Sigh…


And lastly, a truly GOOD story concerning guns and Marines-  HERE

More Random Stuff…

Posted on by March 6, 2013


Okay- This is NOT going to be a PC one, so if you were expecting that, just leave now…


Massholes ARE the worst damn drivers I’ve ever seen, turn signal? Whatthehellisthat?  Somebody actually USING one? Damn, speed up and block him! Somebody being polite and letting somebody out (that was from Virginia and USING a turn signal)? Honk, shoot the bird and shake your fist!  What a bunch of dick(and dickless)heads. And for the BITCH in the Mercedes SL65, tough s**t that you ended up in the gravel, you picked the wrong person to try to intimidate… 🙂


And a ‘good’ definition of Obama Care…


Let me get this straight, we’re going to be “gifted” with a health care plan we are forced to purchase and fined if we don’t,  Which purportedly covers at least ten million more people, without adding a single new doctor, but provides for 16,000 new IRS agents,  written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn’t understand it,  passed by a Congress that didn’t read it but exempted themselves from it,  and signed by a President who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn’t pay his taxes,  for which we’ll be taxed for four years before any benefits take effect,  by a government which has  already bankrupted Social Security and Medicare,  all to be overseen by a surgeon general  who is obese,  and financed by a country that’s broke!!!


What the hell else could possibly go wrong???



And in the beyond the pale corner…


The Obamallama picture at Dover, AFTER THE FAMILIES SPECIFICALLY ASKED THAT NO PICTURES BE RELEASED!!!  DOD abides by that, but apparently the White House doesn’t have to, and slipped a presidential photog into the area.  The ‘excuse’, “Well, we didn’t show any bodies or caskets.” Assholes…


And another one that is just over the top… And this needs to be a movie EVERYONE boycotts if it actually gets made…


Rep. Pete King knocked President Obama over reports he green-lighted unprecedented access of the Navy SEALs crew who killed Osama bin Laden to Hollywood filmmakers
.

Director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal, who made 2008’s Iraq war drama “The Hurt Locker,” are behind the planned picture of the risky May raid.
The movie is scheduled for release on Oct. 12, 2012, less than a month before next year’s general election – an October surprise blown this week by the New York Times.

Reports are reports that Boal was on hand for a closed-door intel agency ceremony honoring the Bin Laden team, raising eyebrows in the room.


As usual the administration could care less about security, and if this goes down, you can get names, etc. will get out and these folks WILL be targets… You can read the whole article HERE


And lastly, go HERE and watch the video- Felonious Monk hits the nail SQUARE on the head!!!


In other news, I-20 will be closed tomorrow across North Texas. They are hauling a 200 ton lump of coal so that Obama can be added to Mt. Rushmore…


Is it FRIDAY YET???

And a stupid Salmon fisherman for ya…

Random Stuff…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
Another upside of this trip is I finally got to meet Everett from Island Voice in real space. We’ve been emailing and going back and forth for about 4 years.  He’s another old retired Navy guy, from Block Island, RI.


Have you ever had a mental picture of someone, and had it be dead on???  Everett (in my mind) was going to be a typical retired Chief; Crusty, curmudgeon, and a character…


AND HE WAS, to a damn T!!! 🙂


We grabbed lunch and compared notes over our careers, finding we were in the same places (but at different times), and both of us had ‘unusual’ careers.  Turns out he is also one hellva historian about Block Island, and and shooter too!


Ev doesn’t post a lot, or email a lot, because of carpal tunnel but he doesn’t sugar coat anything in either of the comms 🙂


Sadly they don’t have any ranges on Block Island because of all the “@#@#&^” tourists (you can fill in that blank), so if they want to shoot, it’s a full day trip to go to a range on the mainland.  It was a fun interlude before having to get back to business.


In other news, Double Trouble’s cannon was a bit smokey, but I didn’t think it was THAT smokey, however photos DO affirm… See the red circle below 🙂

And this is probably a once in a lifetime shot… NASA 911 and 905 in “formation” as much as two 747’s can fly formation… These two airplanes are what transported the shuttles back and forth over the years.

I’m trying the timed post thing again, so I’ll see if I’ve got it figured out… This thing is supposed to post at 1430 tomorrow… I’m off to bed.

How in the Hell…

Posted on by March 6, 2013


Do you lose ONE SOCK in the middle of a trip???


Sigh…


It’s not on my foot, not in the dirty clothes bag, not in the suitcase, and it wasn’t left in the room…


Damn Sock Fairy got me again…


/Grumble Now I have to go wash socks in the sink, which means they will STILL be wet tomorrow, and I’ll be squishing around all day…


On a brighter note, this is the sole picture I took the entire weekend at the NE Blog Shoot; I have to agree with Weer’d, shooting and talking (okay BSing) are more fun than taking pictures…



Jay, trying the SCAR, too bad I didn’t get his expression AFTER he shot it 🙂


And you have to go to Ed’s Blog HERE and watch the video… We need to force EVERY asshole in DC to sit and watch this till they get it.


In other news, I had a bit of extra time this afternoon, so was going to run by and get the stitches out; only to find out they wanted $90 to do it. Screw that…  Nail clippers and tweezers and they’re gone…



Now if I can just get the sumbitch to bend it will all be good…

Good Times…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
The NE Blog Shoot is history…


Good Folks, Good Guns, Good Times; can’t ask for anything more than that.  Jay, thanks for the invite, DT and Mrs. DT, thanks for the hosting!


To the old friends, great to see all of y’all again; to the new friends, great to finally put faces/voices to the names/blogs.  


Yes I was shooting, no I shouldn’t have been, my thumb hurts; so I’m calling it a night!

A Truly Sad Day…

Posted on by March 6, 2013


37 Military deaths this morning in Afghanistan included Twenty-Two SEALS, three USAF FACs, one Handler and dog, four Crewmen from 160th SOAR, and seven Afghan Commandos. 


They apparently caught the “golden BB” and went in prior to the strike.  Please take a moment to say a prayer for those losses and the losses their families back here in the States and those Afghan families are suffering through tonight.


RIP Gentlemen, you have gone to your reward, and you WILL NOT be forgotten by those that care.


Hand Salute!


Ready, Two!