New Friend

I have found a sick and demented soul with clear political views. Go to Flaming Asshattery and read; he will crack you up as well as make you think.

Good stuff...

Thinking about a change

So I was talking to Lee, a buddy of mine, on my way to the gym this morning, and we discussed Texas.

He lives in a coastal city not far from Houston. He was able to make the funeral of our mutual friend, Flick, who died in April. Anyway, he is thinking of moving to Waco, as a friend of his is going to start a company there. I have relatives in Waco, and moving there is very tempting. My daughter's best friend's family just moved there (Texas), and the cost of living is much lower than here in Sociaist California (People's Repoublic of).

However, there are a lot of reasons I can't move just yet. I have to stay here for my kids to be eligible for tuition-free college, which I should not throw away. Also, I am the one my parents rely on for stuff when they need it. So, I don't know.... My parents are pretty set where they are, and they should be.

I just have to figure it out.

What is "Charge of Quarters"

My son Bailey was reading over my shoulder, and he asked me what Charge of Quarters is. So I explained to him that Charge of Quarters, or CQ, is an enlisted man who handles his unit's administrative matters after hours. It is normally handled by an NCO (NonCommisioned officer - CPL or above in the Army), and you have to stay up all night to answer phone calls and make sure the troops don't make asses of themsleves and burn the barracks down.

Normally one has it after working all day, and having to stay up all night is not a welcome thought.

If the CQ has an assiatant, he gets to sleep; ortherwise they read or play Playstation or XBox...

But it still sucks...

Now you know.

I have a complex

that my dog has given me.

Bella, my 82 lb. German Shepherd wimp with a ferocious bark, loves to give me kisses. She will lay down all day, and when I get home, she will come to me happy and lavish me with her tongue. But when she is done, she will start to clean herself.

Do I smell that bad???

She makes me wonder...

Watching Senator "Scrtached! I get a Purple Heart" Kerry

On The O'Reilly Factor, and I am still convinced that Senator Kerry is a twit. For the people of the United States to trust him or his ilk the National Security of this nation would seriously jeopardize this country to the point that we would be attacked within 6 months.

I guarantee it.

I cannot wait for him to wither up and become irrelevant, or at least not hear his voice ever again.

What a twit.

"You can Change the World"

I am in an 80s mood lately, as I have said before, and I recall a great song by, again, Depeche Mode, called New Dress. If you read the lyrics, I'm not sure what he means by change the facts, but I think I know what he means...

Sex jibe husband murders wife
Bomb blast victim fights for life
Girl Thirteen attacked with knife

Princess Di is wearing a new dress

Jet airliner shot from sky
Famine horror, millions die
Earthquake terror figures rise

Princess Di is wearing a new dress

You can't change the world
But you can change the facts
And when you change the facts
You change points of view
If you change points of view
You may change a vote
And when you change a vote
You may change the world

In black townships fires blaze
Prospects better premier says
Within sight are golden days

Princess Di is wearing a new dress

You can't change the world
But you can change the facts
And when you change the facts
You change points of view
If you change points of view
You may change a vote
And when you change a vote
You may change the world

Princess Di is wearing a new dress

Words to ponder this fine June....

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

To to let everyone out there know, if I ever meet anyone who either discloses classified information or reports on it after learning about it, I will spit in your face and kick you in the crotch.

To me there is no lower form of human who would sell out their country. I admire Islamists more; at least they have an ideal that they are fighting for (screwed up though it may be, and they do not F their buddies for a by-line).

I took an oath, twice. The first was to support and defend the Constitution against ALL enemies, foreign AND domestic. To me, someone who srites about ongoing classified anti-terror operations is an enemy. You cannot hide behind the 1st Amendment; go read the new Ann Coulter article.

The second oath was in the forma of a Non-Disclosure Agreement. It basically said that in exchange for the privilege of working with classified information, I would not tell anybody. Pretty straghtforward, if you ask me. So someone who breaks that promise in a time of war should be shot, after a trial by a jury of his/her peers. It should also be televised (I would even pay for it, on Pay-Per-View and record the fucker getting shot). There should be no leniency. I am amazed that Congress is not doing anything about it. But it is an election year...

If they are now able to blow up the Transamerica Building in San Francisco because of diverted funds that could have been traced using the SWIFT program, we should punish those directly or indirectly responsible. That includes the staff writers and their editor and the editor in chief. String them all up.

Mrdejte Vas, vsechne (if any of my Czech-speking friends knows how to properly spell this, let me know and I will change it; if you are reading it anyway.

Joy Division

One of the most influential bands of the post punk era is Joy Division. Though they only made 2 records before their lead singer, Ian Curtis, committed sucide on the eve of their first American tour, they did pave a way for other groups, like The Smiths (later Morrisey), Souxie and the Banshees, Eho & the Bunnymen, and even Depeche Mode. After Curtis' death, the rest of the band then went to form New Order, one of the biggest bands ofthe 80s.

Go here for their most famous song, "Love Will Tear Us Apart."

F0r a really cool mix of the same song, go here.

Their lyrics began a step away from the anti-social to the depressed and dark side...

Kick-ass stuff. Shame that Curtis' genius was not around longer.

Hadji Girl Update!

It looks like he jas bee exonerated!!

Michelle Malkin has the full hot order here.

Good news that the First Amendment is alive and well!!

The last line of his statement is priceless:

"If you don't want to listen to my music, I'm sure your volume knob works as well as mine."

Amen to that!

UPDATE: Link fixed, at leat (Thanks, Anonymous...)

Another update on the Country That Takes No Shit

Looks like the Palestinians are showing their asses again, and need to be put in their place, so the IDF has no problems fulfilling that request. The Palestinians kidnapped a soldier, and Israel wants him back. Not an unreasonable request, in my not so humble opinion.

I just wish the US would d0 what it had to do in these situations, and tell the UN and whoever else doesn't like it to stick it where the sun don't shine. Someone grabs a soldier, we go in and start acting like Atilla the Hun, or what ever and go medieval on the perpetrators. Long Life Through Superior Firepower, is a favorite motto of mine.

Like the countries that rely on us (oh, EVERYBODY ELSE in the WORLD) will stop trading or whatever with us because we are dealing with people who want us dead.

The UN? Screw. Them. France? Ditto. Germany? Grow a pair.

Just my thought.

Kudos the Israel, and take some out for me.

Somebody - Depeche Mode

These are the lyrics of a song from one of my favorite bads (and you thgought I didn't like 80's synth pop...)

I want somebody to share
Share the rest of my life
Share my innermost thoughts
Know my intimate details
Someone who'll stand by my side
And give me support
And in return
She'll get my support
She will listen to me
When I want to speak
About the world we live in
And life in general
Though my views may be wrong
They may even be perverted
She will hear me out
And won't easily be converted
To my way of thinking
In fact she'll often disagree
But at the end of it all
She will understand me

I want somebody who cares
For me passionately
With every thought and with every breath
Someone who'll help me see things
In a different light
All the things I detest
I will almost like
I don't want to be tied
To anyone's strings
I'm carefully trying to steer clear
Of those things
But when I'm asleep
I want somebody
Who will put their arms around me
And kiss me tenderly
Though things like this
Make me sick
In a case like this
I'll get away with it

Brings me back to my youth...

"Everyone Deserves a Chance"

Snagged from Army.mil

Lifelong wish comes true for Soldier-at-heart

By Allison Choike

June 22, 2006

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Army News Service, June 22, 2006) – A roar of cheers echoed off the tree line that surrounded the bayonet course June 15, and they were encouraging words to help a fellow Soldier as he finished the last steps of the course. Over and over, more than 200 Soldiers chanted, “Bradley, Bradley, Bradley,” in support of their one-day comrade.

His dream had come true; Bradley Lewis was a real Soldier, and the Soldiers from Training Support Battalion at Fort Leonard Wood helped him make that dream a reality.

Lewis, who has Down syndrome, works at one of the post’s dining facilities, and has always wanted to be a Soldier. After submitting his dream to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, he was denied because of his age.

Staff Sgt. Charles Berry, TSB, who volunteers within the community had heard about Lewis’ story.

“I actually heard about it from some people while I was shopping at Wal-Mart, and they approached me to see what to do. I went to my first sergeant and explained the situation, and he told me to make it happen, and anyone who knows me knows I don’t fail a mission,” Berry said.

With support from TSB, funds were raised to make sure Lewis had an experience that he would never forget, including a full uniform with name-tags and badges, all to keep.

“To be a Soldier, you have to look like a Soldier,” Berry said.

A full day was planned for Lewis to ensure it was an experience he’d never forget, and when he arrived at TSB headquarters at 8 a.m., he was sworn into the Army.

First Lt. Zachary Humbles swore him in and was honored to make Lewis a Soldier.

“I have the great privilege and honor of administering an oath to a Soldier who, in heart and spirit, totally exemplifies what we should all hope to possess,” Humbles said.

Lewis was then given the opportunity to pick the rank he would wear for the day and soon became Sgt. Maj. Lewis.

Lewis viewed training at various sites, and also participated at the grenade range, the new weapons engaged systems training (EST 2000), M16 qualification and finished the day at the bayonet course, Berry said.

“Everything was fun. It was cool. I am going to remember everything and shooting a weapon, but it was easy,” Lewis said.

Each of the Soldiers gave Lewis a warm and great welcome at every training area and range he visited, Berry said.

As the day closed and Lewis finished his last obstacle, Soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion 48th Infantry Regiment, gathered around to say how proud they were to meet Lewis. They all broke out in a chant of, “We are number one.”

When asked why Berry wanted to help Lewis become a Soldier for a day he said, “Everyone deserves a chance." (emphasis mine - ed.)

Lewis was honorably discharged from the Army at 4:30 p.m., with his wish to serve his country granted.

“I just wanted to serve God and country. I wanted to make President Bush proud,” Lewis said.

(Editor’s note: Allison Choike writes for the Guidon at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.)

What a great story...

Private Military Companies (PMCs)- Why Not?

I watched a program last night on the History International Channel entitels, "Soldiers For Hire." It was about modern PMCs and their effects and needs during times of crisis.

My question is this: If government troops cannot handle the current situation (as was the case in Africa during the last, oh, 40 years or so), and there is a service - in this case specially trained personnell in crisis and risk management, and oh, counter-insurgency, intelligence and guerilla warfare, then why cannot that government hire that company to solve its crisis?

If I had that kind of training you can bet your sweet ass that I would be using that training for the betterment of mankind. Executive Outcomes did an amazing job in two months in Sierra Leone and other African countries before the UN (spit) basically forced them to stop. And once they stopped, the problems started all over again.

So I ask you, why not? KBR, Dyncorps, and other PMCs are doing good things in Iraq and Afghanistan right now, and people are bitching. Leave them alone and let them help out.

And Screw The UN - they can kiss my white Welsh/Dutch/Iroquois ass. They are more a deterrent to civility than anything else on the planet. Some day I might write a tome on them, and it will not be pretty.....

Ben Stein Speaks!

Go and read, it is worth it.

Great article about what it means to be Republican.

The Korea Option

Whenever I received a briefing on Korea, the main word was "When", not "if." Korea has the ability to pound Seoul, the capital of South Korea, with something like 10,000 artillery shells a minute. A. Minute. For an indefinite period of time. So basically, within a day or so, the capital of South Korea could be totally destroyed within a day or so.

So the threat is real.

So is the ICBM missile on the launch pad they are getting ready to throw across the Pacific.

David Warren, a writer for the Ottowa Citizen, realizes the grave consequences of this and says in plain terms that this is an Act of War.

Another Washington Post article suggests that we drop a missile on their missile in this article.

While listening to Hugh Hewitt the other day (Jed Babbin was the guest host), it was recommneded that we blow it out of the sky with the interceptor missiles that are in Alaska and California. I tend to agree.

We should not let them get away with their sabre rattling. It is time for us to show the world that the time for harsh words and rhetoric is over. Drop some cruise missiles in Iran (wherever, just to make a pont) and North Korea (at the ICBM lauch facility) and say that yes, we have troops hard at work in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans, and other places, but that doesn't mean that we cannot still whip some ass when the can is opened.

Right now there is a major joint exercise in the Guam area. 3 Carrier Battle Groups, and at least 1 Stealth Bomber. Why not divert some of the group a little close to Korea, and arm the Spirit Bomber with a cruise missile and tell them that we are ready to dance...

I am tired of this country having to make statements and issue warnings. THey have done squat in the past, and unless some muscle is shown, we will continue to look the fool, while assholes like Ahmadinejad and Kim Jong-il (or whateverthehell his name is) laugh and proceed with their nuclear plans (what other use is the Taepodong-2 missile for - a fireworks show).

We need a show of strength.

Article that should give Conservatives hope

With all the rhetoric from the Left about taking over the House and Senate this year, Victor Davis Hanson gives us this article, which realistically paints a pretty picture come election time.

Go and read.

And they say we should come home?

After reading this, I wonder if the people who say that we should cut and run really know what the hell they are talking about.

When the lawyer for the dictator gets whacked, I thin kthat should send a signal that maybe he (the dictator) wasn't really elected with 99% of the vote... And maybe that the regime change was A Good Thing...

Just my opinion; your mileage may vary.

Oh, and the last I heard, Zarqawi is still dead, may he rot in Hell.

Update

After spending the weekend on the North Coast of this People's Republik of Kaliforniastan, I came home to my son's final party with his baseball team. After a great game in the semifinal round, we came up a run short against the Athletics in what was the best minor little league baseball game I have honestly seen. All the boys played well and should be proud of themselves.

My son won the sportsmanship award, which is awarded by the teammates themselves; the coaches had no input whatsoever. So I think that this award shows that I am at least doing something right...

Congrats Yogi and the Yankees, you did well this year.

Thanks for Electing Me! Now I Need Help!

Apparently Mayor Ray Nagin cannot keep his city in relative safety, so he calls for help.

Whatta loser...

This is what happens when you have a corrupt police department (for the most part; to those faithful officers in the Department, this obviously doesn't apply to you) and city government.

Will he do this every time there are shootings in the city? What about when/if a tropical storm, ort God forbid, another hurricane comes? Will he call in 1 Cav from Ft. Hood?

You all need to read this guy

For news and commentary about whater, I just like his style...

His opinion on World Cup Soccer says it all.

That and I finally was able to get my own copy of the "Hadji Girl" video from his site, so it would not be lost forever.

This has been a Public Service Announcement...

BTW, if you want a copy of the video, email me (until I figure out how to get it up here...).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UNITED STATES ARMY!

A friend of mine whom I served with had to remind me that today marks the 231st Birthday of the United States Army.

Go here for celebratory information, and hoist one tonight for your unit, friends loved, and those lost...

Remember that we are at war, "and we won't come back 'till it's over, over there..."

Happy Birthday, Guys. God Bless You.

Hadji Girl Update

I posted this a few months ago. As I said, it is probably not PC, and now with the crap allegations (which are jus that - allegations) about Haditha, CAIR is a little upset about it.

I am going to say this probabaly more than once, so get used to it:

Marines are a strange folk, there is no doubt about it. But people, get a grip! It is a song. That is it. If you actually think that He is singing about an actual experience, then I have some nice Raspberry Kool-Aid for you. Get in line.

However, as the Marines say, "No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy." The guy wrote the song to let off steam, and I applaud him for it (It is pretty funny, and I wish I could play the guitar).

Let it go. This song has absolutely nothing to do with anything, other than raising morale. CAIR can KISS my white American prdel (look it up if you do not know what it means, but hopefully you get the picture).

My Heroine Michelle Malkin has already written on this as well.

God's Country

I took the family again to Yosemite again this year, if only to see this again: The above view is Half Dome as seem from Glacier Point. You can see the entire Yosemite Valley at this place, and it is without a doubt one of the most awesome viewI have ever seen, including the Swiis Alps from the air when I flew in helicopters in Germany.

Here are some more:


























Bridalveil Falls


















Half Dome (in the background), and Bridalveil Falls in the center. This view on the way to Glacier Point.























Nevada Falls (in the back), then Vernal Falls (in the foreground)





















Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls.

Simply amazing... I plan ongetting in shape next year to hike to Upper Yosemite Falls....

But even if I don't go there, we will enjoy the beauty of this place for years to come...

Warning Order is in Effect...

I will post pics of the trip to Yosemite tonoght, if I can get the time; Gunner BK's Yankees team won last night, and is in the Championship game!!

Practice tonight, but I should get at least some of the pictures up tonight.... You might even see me in there!!

For the Caffeine Addicts out there...

Starbucks' Banana Caramel Coconut Frappucino is Gluttony (one of the 7 Deadly Sins) in a plastic cup.

I could live off these... Maybe even sell State secrets for them. Well not that, but anything else!!!

Holy crap these are good...

From the Oh My G*d Files.....

My brother is a great guy. Older than me, he has been my mentor through most of my life when it comes to the most important things: he taught me how to hit (though left handed, I bat right handed and blame him), music (though I still listen to the stuf we listened to together, I have progressed to other genres), movies (pretty much still the same), and the finer food establishments in the Northern California area. As I got older, I began to veer away politically from his views, but we never discussed that stuff when growing up (though we came from a military family). I am hard Right, and his views are to the left of me.

I have been married for 17 years, 326 days. I have 2 fantastic kids. However, he has not been as successful as me in that area, and I do feel bad for him. The last time he brought a girlfriend to my parents' home, Everybody but my Aunt D. and Uncle J. were there, and only because they couldn't get a flight out from Texas in time. It must have been totally overwhelming for her to have about 25 people to meet when meeting her boyfriend's parents.

So color me surprised when I read this.

We talked just the other day, and he didn't mention anything about seeing someone. Granted, he is not obligated to tell me about squat in his life, but I would think that he would tell me and ask me to keep it on the Codeword level) for you civvies, that means keep your piehole shut on the matter).

I wish him success in this (and everything in life), and hope that when he feels he can, he will tell me more.

F*CK YEAH!!!!!

Zarqawi is DEAD!!!!!!

One more Islamist A@@hole meets with St. Peter to atone.... by way of Air Force F-16s and 500 lb. ordnance!

Great job to all involved; to include the Government of Jordan, Iraqi forces and US Spec Ops forces. Not to mention the people of Iraq that tipped them off.

I fear the future...

So I was talking to a couple of college students this morning while working, and one of them asked the other if he had gone to see the new "Omen" that opened yesterday. I said to them basically to see the original first.

They looked at me and said, "There is an original?"

I just looked at them and shook my head.

What are we teaching these kids these days?

And for the record, The Omen is the single scariest movie I have ever, or will ever, see...

Remember

That day 62 years ago when American, British, Canadian, and even French men ran into sheer walls of concrete and gunfire. Others valiantly scaled walls. President Reagan spoke 22 years ago at that hallowed ground.

Remember for what this day holds, not as a publicity stunt for a movie or a city (Hell, Michigan); too many men died that day for you do that. Instead, rent "Saving Private Ryan," "Band of Brothers," or my favorite (though all three titles are in my all-time fave war films) "The Longest Day."

Their memory cannot die; if it does, then what did they fight and die for?

UPDATE: If you have an interest in the 2nd Ranger Battalion action on that day, go here and read about it. It is pretty interesting...

A Late Round of Congratulations Are in Order

I need to congratulate my best friend and wife on her graduation from college late last month. She finally earned her Bacherlor's of Arts in Child Development.

Good Job, Honey!! I am so proud of you, and I love you immensely!!

Bring Your Running Shoes.

When I was at DLI, studying the Cesky (pronounced CHesky - there should be a hacek over the C), we had to look on the bulletin boards on the walls outside of the classrooms at our schoolhouse. My particular schoolhouse once belonged to the Colored troops in the late 1800's. They are National Landmarks, and cannot be torn down. It was pretty cool to know that.

I digress.

Posted on the bulletin board were what they called "Action Notices." The notices were just basically notes of information that soldiers needed to know. If they needed to see their Platoon Sergeant or the First Sergeant, or what type of training was going on later, it was all posted on the Action Notices.

One time I remember that we had Soldier Skills training later in the day. As most of the students there are straight from Basica Training, we had to continue our skills on becoming more rounded soldiers. The Action Reports read basically as follows:

"There is Common Skills Training this afternoon, 1500 at the Parade Grounds. One of the Tasks will be React to A Nuclear Blast.

Running Shoes are recommended."