Are we next???

Posted on by March 6, 2013

Looping around through Drudge and some other websites, I ran across this one…

http://www.breitbart.tv/html/2042.html

It is a radio interview with Sen Inhofe from Oklahoma where he says he overheard Billary and Boxer complaining about talk radion and wanting to “fix” the problem legislatively. If this really happens, how far behind will the legislation of the blogsphere be???

If you’ve taken your blood pressure medicine, go get Dick Morris’ book Outrage- The book names names, points out financial “issues” and a number of other interesting points. I really think we should figure out a way to get term limits on the ballot in all 50 states- I was generally grousing about that the other day, but after reading the book, I’ve even MORE in favor of it….

Oh yeah, did anyone else catch how the congresscritters “fixed” the energy crisis? Ye olde unfunded mandate- New CAFE requirements for 2020 of 35 mpg. Of course all of them will be long gone by then, so they really don’t care what happens, but they can “wave the flag” for next year that they actually are “working hard” to solve the energy crisis…. sigh….

An update on the RCT 6 email thread- they’re reporting receiving over 3000 emails since this started- Please go back a few posts, pull the email and send them a quick email for their service. Their goal is to get 6000 emails for the troops.

An interesting blog I ran across is My Side of the Puddle Another tell it like it is female!!!!

Well tomorrow is gonna be real fun… we get a new computer email system at work, with new computers et al… problem is some of the folks that were migrated Monday and Tuesday are STILL not up; and I leave Sunday to go run a test out in the Pacific…

Hmmm, if I were a bettin man, I’d say I’m not going to be connected to the office again until I get back off the road trip…

I’m tired of being lied to…

Posted on by March 6, 2013

The war is lost, the immigrents “deserve” to stay, we’re going to clean up Congress, we need an new AWB… Where does it end… sigh…

The war is lost ONLY if you cut and run… The troops on the ground ARE winning the battles and skirmishes, not as fast as everyone wants, but they are winning over the Iraqis. We are losing people, no question; but everyone I know in the military would rather that and fight them there, than fight them here at home. Sometimes I’d just like to stick a sock in a few democrap’s mouths, starting with Reid, Pelosi, Murtha and Kennedy/Kerry.

I copied this from LAW DOG-

BlackFive did an interview with the CO of USMC Regimental Combat Team Six. In short, Colonel Simcock would like his Marines to know that — despite what the TeeVees in the chow hall, in quarters and everywhere else say — that Americans really do support them.

BlackFive is asking folks to send supportive e-mails to those Marines.

Done, and done. I am more than proud to do so.

The e-mail for those boys is: [email protected]

RCT-6 has their own blog at: http://fightin6thmarines.vox.com/

Please take a minute or two to send these folks an email and say thanks- It will mean the world to them. I know- I was there during Nam and remember how important EVERY letter was…

The “immigrants” are ILLEGAL ALIENS… what do you not understand about the truth???? We don’t need more laws, we need to ENFORCE the laws currently on the books. Eisenhower shipped a bunch home, why can’t this interation of government? Because they are afraid of upsetting potential voters because folks might actually have to pay a real price for services… Take all the money you’re spending on the arguments and hearings for the “new” laws that you won’t enforce and build more fence!!!!

Another thing that could be done is take away the impetus for all the illegal aliens to come here- the ability to send $$ home. Make it illegal to electronically transfer money to South/Central America- That stops $2 Billion a year leaving the country.
Second, make it illegal for the banks to electronically transfer money to South/Central American banks for check payment. Third, make it illegal to provide credit/loans without PROOF of American citizenship and a green card that is not made on a copy machine. Fourth, stop giving American citizenship by right of birth to illegal alien children; ONLY allow it if BOTH parents are here legally.

Two words for Congresscritters- TERM LIMITS… A max of two terms total- any combinations, House/House, House/Senate, etc… The only waiver would be to run for President, which is already term limitied.
Stop earmarks/Presidential line item veto- These two items in concert would stop frivilous spending just to ensure re-election.

Re-institute seniority provisions- e.g. If you are the senior member, you get your choice of jobs/committees, etc. then go down the list.

Put teeth in the Ethics and campaign violations- 1 violation= dismissal and criminal prosecution.

Ban PAC’s, lobbyists, and all the other hangers on.

Require Congress to tie their pay raises to raises in the minimum wage- Even better, make it a voting issue yes/no every 4 years with the presidental election- majority rules…

Reinforce the Second Amendment standing- we don’t need any more gun laws, we need the existing laws ENFORCED!!!!!

We now have national carry for LEO’s and retired LEO’s, we have not had the predicted bloodbaths in the streets. Gee I wonder why…

Let’s license guns like we do driver’s licenses…

You’re over 21, pass the tests, background checks, demonstrate safe gun handling; you get a license to carry, ALL the other states MUST allow receprocity just like we now do with driver’s licenses.

The other thing to do is standardize a realistic list of when/where you cannot carry- e.g. Federal buildings, bars generating more than 50% of revenue from liquor sales, common sense places.

Make Castle Doctrine a nationwide standard.

I feel better now… sigh… now back to your regularly scheduled blogging….

A Good Day at the Range

Posted on by March 6, 2013

Well, the title kinda says it all…
Took a few toys to the range at the request of a friend. He was bringing his kids and wanted them to have a chance to try different things… His kids were 18 (F), 17 (M), 12 (F). As it turns out, his Dad also came along, so I got to see three generations of the same family all having fun at the range. We shot about 2000 rounds total through these and a Ruger Mk II .22 and an old Colt Trooper .357 (his Dads).

All of us had a ball!!! Us old farts teaching the kids (with three adults it was one on one), the kids all trying the different pistols and later the rifle, and seeing their pride when they improved and were getting all the shots on target and some bulls at 10 yards.

One thing that was funny… the 17 yr old boy thought he was a good shot since he played the video games a lot, so we had a little steel plate challenge. The range had a 5 plate set up that you reset with a rope, so I challenged him to see who could knock the five plates down in the quickest time, with only 6 rounds. After he lost about 8 in a row, he finally admitted real life was a little harder than video games (and he never did get all five plates down).

Well, today was Father’s Day, so I hope y’all all had a good one. My Father has been gone a number of years, so I don’t do much, but it was nice to get calls from my daughters today… Amazingly enough, they didn’t even ask for money!!!!

One last thing, a bit of a point to ponder as it were…

A mother asked President Bush,

“Why did my son have to die in Iraq ?”

Another mother asked President Kennedy,

Why did my son have to die in Viet Nam ?”

Another mother asked President Truman,

“Why did my son have to die in Korea ?

Another mother asked President F. D. Roosevelt,

“Why did my son have to die at Iwo Jima ?”

Another mother asked President W. Wilson,

“Why did my son have to die on the battlefield of France ?”

Yet another mother asked President Lincoln,

“Why did my son have to die at Gettysburg ?”

And yet another mother asked President G. Washington,

“Why did my son have to die near Valley Forge ?”

Then long, long ago, a mother asked…

“Heavenly Father, why did my Son have to die

on a cross outside of Jerusalem ?”

The answers to all these are similar —

“So that others may have life and dwell in peace,

happiness and freedom.”

Origin of the word Aviator

Posted on by March 6, 2013

This explains it all.
As aviators, we come from a long line of a secret society, formed around one thousand years ago. We are warriors, and here is the proof! Ground pounders can read it and weep!

A little known fact is the origin of the word, “Aviator.” In the immortal words of Johnny Carson: “I didn’t know that.”

Phu Khen (pronounced Foo Ken) 1169-? is considered by some to be the most under-recognized military officer in history. Many have never heard of his contributions to modern military warfare. The mission of this secret society is to bring honor to the name of Phu Khen.

A ‘Khen’ was a subordinate to a ‘Khan’ (pronounced ‘konn’) in the military structure of the Mongol hordes. Khan is Turkish for leader. Most know of the great Genghis Khan, but little has been written of his chain of command.

Khen is also of Turkish origin. Although there is not a word in English that adequately conveys the meaning. Roughly translated, it means, “One who will do the impossible, while appearing unprepared and complaining constantly.

Phu Khen was one of ten Khens that headed the divisions, or groups of hordes, as they were known, of the Mongol Army serving under Genghis Khan. His abilities came to light during the Mongols’ raids on the Turkistan city of Bohicaroo. Bohicans were fierce warriors and the city was well fortified. The entire city was protected by huge walls and the hordes were at a standoff with the Bohicans. Bohicaroo was well-stocked
and it would be difficult to wait them out. Genghis Khan assembled his Khens and ordered each of them to develop a plan for penetrating the defenses of Bohicaroo.

Operation Achieve Victory (AV) was born. All 10 divisions of Khens submitted their plan. After reviewing AV plans 1 thru 7 and finding them all unworkable or ridiculous, Genghis Khan was understandably upset. It was with much perspiration that Phu Khen submitted his idea, which came to be known as AV 8. Upon seeing AV 8, Genghis was convinced this was the perfect plan and gave his immediate approval. The plan was
beautifully simple. Phu Khen would arm his hordes to the teeth, load them into catapults, and hurl them over the wall. The losses were expected to be high, but hey, hordes were cheap! Those that survived the flight would engage the enemy in combat. Those that did not? Well, surely their flailing bodies would cause some damage.

The plan worked and the Bohicans were defeated. From that day on, whenever the Mongol Army encountered an insurmountable enemy, Genghis Khan would give the order, “Send some of Phu Khen’s AV 8-ers.” This is believed, though not by anyone outside our secret society, to be the true origin of the word Aviator (AV 8-er).

Phu Khen’s AV 8-ers were understandably an unruly mob, not likely to be socially acceptable. Many were heavy drinkers and insomniacs. But when nothing else would do, you could always count on an AV 8-er. A Phu Khen Aviator. Denied, perhaps rightfully so, his place in history, Phu Khen has been, nonetheless, immortalized in prose.

As the great poet Norman Lear never once said: “There once was a man named Phu Khen, Whose breakfast was whiskey and gin. When e’er he’d fly, He’d give a mighty war cry: “Bend over, here it comes again.”

Consider it an honor to be a Phu Khen Aviator. Wear the mantle proudly, but speak of it cautiously. It is not always popular to be one of us. You hear mystical references, often hushed whispers, to ‘those Phu Khen Aviators.’ Do not let these things bother you. As with any secret society, we go largely misunderstood, prohibited by our apathy
from explaining ourselves.

You are expected to always live down to the reputation of the Phu Khen Aviator…a reputation cultivated for centuries, undaunted by scorn or ridicule, unhindered by progress. So drink up, be crude, sleep late, urinate in public, and get the job done.

When others are offended, you can revel in the knowledge that YOU are a PHU KHEN AVIATOR.

Author Unknown, but has a round of drinks coming…

Random Thoughts

Posted on by March 6, 2013

It’s raining, so here I sit, rather that doing something productive…

Anyhoo…. Random looks at the news, the net and TV are interesting-

Fred Thompson is gaining on Guiliani in the straw polls, about the only coverage is online- nothing in the newspapers I saw today, nothing on mainstream media, nothing on cable- The only place I’ve seen it is on the net! I think Fred Thompson needs to get all the skeletons out, like his illness, prior to announcing. That way, the media is cut off at the knees, but I’m sure the manufactured stuff will still come out. Hopefully he won’t lose his temper too badly when the crap hits…

Looks like there will be a shooting war in Gaza in the next day or so- Again not much on mainstream media, some mention on talk radio, a little on the net. If this happens, I predict we will see bombings increase in Iraq, because they will drop off the front page, and the groups over there can’t stand that.

Oh joy… just heard the congresscritters are going to “fix” energy… Guess this will be about as good as them fixing the illegal immigrant problem.

Lemme see, oil companies make an average of $.08/gal profit; they aren’t going to authorize anymore drilling off any US coast; they aren’t going to allow anymore Nuclear power; they aren’t going to allow the old companies to build anymore refineries… Yep, they’re gonna fix it good….

Dale Earnhart, Jr. is about to make a decision about the new team he will sign with next year- No wonder the fans are called rednecks… talk about invective… It is sad that a family dynasty is being broken up, but in reality Junior is a big boy and can and will make his own decisions. Theresa Earnhart is obviously taking care of her daughter with Dale, and does not want to let Junior take over.

Regardless of where he goes, I think he will continue to get fan support (and sponsorship), which will touch off even more jawing back and forth on some of these NASCAR sites. I guess I had never really realized how caught up in NASCAR some people are. I enjoy the racing (used to go to Daytona regularly in the 70’s and 80’s), the strategy and the byplay; but I don’t live or die by what somebody does or doesn’t do…

Under the learn something new category- I found out there is actually an association of meeting planners! They really do have meetings to plan meetings… AND get paid for it!!!!

Oh well, it quit raining, time to do something productive. Y’all have a good evening.

JAFM…

Posted on by March 6, 2013

Just Another Fr#$*% Monday…

Ya know, one of those days when nothing goes right- First you fall outta bed, then realize you got up an hour too early, so what do you do? Go ahead an start the day…

Drop the car off for service at the dealer for a oil change, just slightly overdue.

Get in to work an hour early, only to find the boss STILL beat you in, and he’s his usual crabby Monday morning self… Okay, I can fix this… MORE COFFEE… run downstairs and grab a cup of mud, go to pay; oh hell, I “knew” I forgot something this morning.

Put the coffee down, run to the bank, grab $20 and go pay for the coffee; go back and get the coffee, back up to the cube farm.

Hmmm, the old computer is still trying to get through the boot sequence and all the security programs; time for a quick perusal of the Washington Compost- Nothing of interest, except the boss catching me reading the paper instead of working… Oh well.

Ahh, computer finally booted, brain more or less booted by coffee, now to work.

Oh lovely, first email is NOT what I want to deal with this early, ANOTHER change to something that was supposedly final last week. Now the question is, how to pull everything back together and get it back on track in a week;

subquestion, who to piss off the worst?

MORE COFFEE!!

Another non-answer email, sent late Friday afternoon to a question asked last Thurs AM… Kinda hard to plan things when you can’t even get an answer of when/where equipment be and it’s state of readiness, but the boss needs answers by COB today to allocate $$… oh joy…

The car dealer calls, need rear brake pads- Okay fine, just fix it… I jokingly say keep it under $500…

More coffee, I’m almost coherent now.

Meet with a couple of PHD’s on some science issues, scratch the coherent thoughts…

quick lunch at the local choke and puke…

More meetings to determine when and where the next set of meetings are going to take place and who has to attend…

More coffee… Can I have an IV please????

Hmmm, maybe a fix to the problem at the start of the day, send email back to offending entity- basically saying you changed it, you’re in charge of making the communications work. Okaaayyyy… One down, 432 to go, now serving number 2…

Reading catch up time, multiple program documents to read and commen…zzzzzzzz

Whome??? No, I was NOT asleep… nope… not me snoring…

MORE COFFEE…

Another 50-60 emails now that the Left Coast and Hawaii are heard from… get through them and now it’s time to go play in traffic.. oh joy…oh joy…

Oh wait a minute, I need a ride to get my car- Okay got that, get to the dealer, bill is $459!!!!! This for a oil change and new brake pads????
Yes Sir, and the turning of the rotors, they were pretty bad, that meant they had to be taken off the car, and… and… and… you said it was okay up to $500 so we didn’t call you (Okay, now you can say I was STOOPID!!!!).

Smile nicely, pay the lady, and get out the door.

Ahhh, home finally, get out of the monkey suit, down to shorts and tee shirt, and burn something on the grill for dinner,

Now I just hope to Hell Tuesday is not as bad as usual….

Media "Circus"

Posted on by March 6, 2013

I wonder about our media today… Above the fold stories and news leads about Paris Hilton-
Inside page or roller hits on the changing of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-

Which is really more important? Little miss rich bitch or the change at the top of the Military pyramid, which is directly entrusted to protect the USA and fight the current GWOT?…. sigh….

Maybe I’m an old fart, but I think major changes at the top of the military are MUCH more important to us, after all, these are the folks putting our sons and daughters in harms way to protect us. General Peter Pace is being relieved after only two years due to political pressure, and because the answered reporters questions truthfully about Gays/Lesbians in the military. He has also been involved for 6 years in the conduct of GWOT, so his confirmation hearings would have been pretty vicious…

Admiral Mike Mullin is a problem solver and a detail man, I think an excellent fit for CJCS, and one who can lead ALL the services forward. He is not a flashy showboat, more of a plodder, but he gets the job done without excessive fanfare. Of course this also will pose a problem for the Navy, in that they now have to reach down to get a new CNO. Here’s hoping they reach down to ADM Gary Roughead, the current Commander, Pacific Fleet. He is articulate, knowledgable, people oriented and honest in his approach to Naval Operations.

Now about the “other” front page story… I only have this to say- Do the crime, co the time… If that were any of us, we’d be in the slammer period, end of subject.

Lastly, an observation on Fred Thompson- For a non-candidate, he’s doing pretty well! He took third place in at least one straw pole, and I believe he will draw support from McCain, Romney and Guliani as he is more of a centerist conservative than any of the other candidates…

He also must be gaining the attention of the democraps, as the negative media has started, including the editoral cartoonists. I honestly wonder how anyone can run for office in today’s media environment, when your life, your family and everything you hold dear is held up for public ridicule and everyone is looking for that skeleton they just “know” is in your closet.

ONE of those days?

Posted on by March 6, 2013

Travel is “such” fun… sigh…
Everybody thinks travel for work is just like getting vacations all the time on the Government Dollar. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but travel for work is a pain in the butt (literally). First you waste a weekend day when you could be doing something productive (like playing golf) to drive to the airport, wait for the airplane, wait for 1 1/2 hour while they repair the airplane- Note: MUCH better than NOT repairing the airplane. Fly 4.5 hours to LAX, miss the connection to Hawaii, sit for 4 more hours waiting for the next flight, sit for another 4.5 hours to get to Hawaii, since you’ve missed your earlier flight they gave away your rental car; they finally get you a rental car, and onward to the hotel.

So you’ve finally gotten to the hotel and checked in to your lovely room with a view of the next hotel over… it’s 9 pm Hawaii time, so it’s really 2 am to your body and you’ve now been awake about 21 hours- Congratulations! Now try to go to sleep… and try… and try…

420 am, the cell phone goes off with someone wanting to know why you didn’t respond to the email they sent at 0730 (East Coast), and yes they realize you are on travel, but they need an answer now… ARGGHHHHH!!!!

Are we having fun yet???? So I give them an answer (more or less politely), and try to go back to sleep… no joy, the body is now awake (still on East Coast time ya know…)

Do the 3 S’s, its now 5am… Hmmm food… Breakfast is HOW Much? I’m not paying $27 for buffet, no way… Ah ha, a greasy spoon in the distance, cheap food 🙂 $6 breakfast, and hoof it back to the room, it’s now 7am. Get ready for work.

Time to gather up the cats, IF I can get in the car (must..lose…weight…) 39 back and fills later I get out of the parking spot… two hotels later we now have everyone, off to the meetings!

Five meetings later at two different bases, two pieces of chicken for lunch and finally get back to the hotel… only 10 back and fills to get INTO the $%^& parking space… back to the room and now it’s raining… Just lovely….

Raincoat? Nope… Umbrella? Nope… Hmmm now what… Hello Room Service?

And tomorrow more meetings then back to the airport and back home. Sure this is just a GREAT life… Oh yeah, I did get to see the beach, as I drove by it.

Yes the glass is half full, I’m just not sure of what 🙂

Run Fred Run….

Posted on by March 6, 2013

Well it looks like it is “semi”- official that Fred Thompson will run in ’08. I for one am glad to hear it…

Fred Thompson is plain spoken, is a friend of the “little people” like us, and is a conservative who I believe will work to bring the two sides together. I also believe Fred Thompson is a principled individual who will do all in his power to do what is right for the Nation as a whole, not just the good ol boys and the beauracrats. He has seen the glitter and the glamour, both of DC and Hollyweird and I don’t think he is impressed with either one.

We have had enough divisiveness, lies and finger pointing… These last six years are the worst I can remember in my 55 years on this ol‘ rock. It is time to bring the USA back to one Nation under God, with ALL of the Amendments fully fuctional, not just the ones the liberals, ACLU and media want.

Maybe folks need a little refresher… Here are the first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence for your reading pleasure.

I would ask each of you that read this, regardless of who your candidate is… VOTE!

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. –That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. —Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain [George III] is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

Memorial Day

Posted on by March 6, 2013

Tomorrow we will “celebrate” Memorial Day. For many, it’s just another holiday away from work, and oh yeah, that thing with the flags at the Cemetary… sigh…

It should be a day of rememberance for those who gave their lives that we might live free and unafraid here in the US. Here is a link on the history of Memorial Day.

http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

I am lucky, if you want to call it that, to live and work in Northern Virginia. I have the ability to get to the Memorials and go to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Today the Rolling Thunder motorcycle parade is taking place starting from the North Parking at the Pentagon and ending at the Vietnam Memorial. For many of the riders, this has become their day and their way to honor the fallen comrades, and those left behind. I was at a local restaurant last night and overheard four riders talking, they had ridden from Washington State, 8 days on the road to be here and were leaving to go back on Monday afternoon. To them, it was an honor to be here, not a “thing” they had to do. I talked to them for a few minutes, and thanked them for their service and the trip they made.

Tomorrow, I will go to Arlington early in the morning to remember those who have gone before us; then I will go to the Tomb and stay until after the services there. If you can’t go to any local services, take a moment and say a prayer for our folks that are defending us today, throughout the world. I think they will appreciate it.