Wednesday, December 30, 2009
We now have an international police force authorized to act within the United States that is no longer subject to 4th Amendment Search and Seizure.
On December 17, 2009, President Barack Hussein Obama placed the sovereignty of the United States of America subordinate to the authority of the international police organization known as INTERPOL, granting the organization full immunity to operate within the United States. They and their offices cannot be searched. Their files cannot be subpoenaed.
Here's the deal, prior to how it was supposed to work before 17 December: All law enforcement agencies operating within the United States were, in some way, subordinate to the Attorney General of the United States, and the Department of Justice. By signing this executive order, the Administration has allowed an organization to enforce international laws on American citizens. They do not need a warrant from a US court to search or seize property or persons, they do not need to ensure that your civil rights are inviolate, they do not need the permission of the United States to extradite. In effect, this executive order has stripped you of the government's protection from foreign powers. (So much for providing for the common defense.)
Yes, I am sure that INTERPOL is staffed with nothing but well-meaning altruists who would never, ever overstep their authority (which is now greater than any other law enforcement agency in the United States) and they would never act in their own interests, and they would never, ever, have someone in their organization who would abuse their new-found authority.
Right?
Foreigners can now execute their laws in our country without any oversight. Little things like Due Process, the 6th Amendment, warrants, and stuff like that do not apply to them. They cannot be searched. They cannot be taxed. They do not answer to the Attorney General, the President, Congress, or the Supreme Court. The International Criminal Court, which President Bush decided could NOT try American citizens, because it would place their decision outside and above US Courts and sovereignty, runs Interpol. They now have the right to operate their police force freely within our borders.
Yes, I know, the ICC would never do anything like issue an arrest warrant for a US citizen and extradite him for trial. One of the most basic principles of international law is that a state cannot be bound by a treaty to which it is not a party. Further, long-standing international legal norms hold that a state cannot be bound to legal assertions that it has specifically rejected. The ICC, however, directly contravenes these norms and precedents of international law; it claims jurisdiction to prosecute and imprison citizens of countries that are not party to the Rome Statute and, more shockingly, over those who have specifically rejected the court's jurisdiction.
Both the Clinton administration and the Bush administration concluded that the ICC is a seriously flawed institution that the United States should not join. However, because of the ICC's unprecedented claims of jurisdiction, the United States has had to take unusual steps to protect its citizens and military personnel, including negotiating a network of nonsurrender agreements (or Article 98 agreements, after the section of the Rome Statute that permits such arrangements) with as many countries as possible. Countries that sign such agreements with the United States promise, in effect, not to surrender U.S. nationals to the ICC without the consent of the U.S. government.
America pursued Article 98 agreements out of concern that the ICC could be used as a tool by those opposed to its foreign policy to make political statements through ICC prosecutions. Supporters of the ICC claim there are protections in the ICC treaty to prevent abuse of the court -- after all, the court can only intervene in cases committed within the territory or involving a citizen of an ICC party, and then only if that country proves unwilling or unable, in the judgment of the court, to investigate and prosecute alleged crimes.
Unscrupulous individuals and groups will seek to misuse the ICC for politically motivated attacks, as demonstrated by those urging the court to indict Bush administration officials for alleged crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the first two years of the ICC, more than 100 charges against U.S. citizens were submitted to the court. While the ICC chief prosecutor declined to pursue these cases, there is no assurance that future cases will be similarly resolved.
Because of its lack of checks to prevent it from being misused, the ICC represents a dangerous temptation for those with political axes to grind. This is a lesson currently being learned by Israel. Despite the fact that Israel is not a party to the Rome Statute, (and therefore, supposedly NOT under ICC Jurisdiction) the ICC prosecutor is exploring ways to prosecute Israeli commanders for alleged war crimes committed during the recent actions in Gaza.
Palestinian lawyers argue that Palestine can request ICC jurisdiction as the de facto sovereign even though it is not an internationally recognized state. This is a political twofer for the Palestinians: Pressure is applied to Israel over alleged war crimes while excluding Hamas's incitement of the military action (as well as its war crimes against Israeli civilians) and, at the same time, momentum is increased for Palestinian statehood without the need to make compromises with Israel.
The Administration authorized a foreign-controlled police force (we are not members of the ICC) to operate within the United States, has given them the same protections under our laws as we do diplomats, and given them the authority to act without regard to our laws, customs, or oversight.
On December 17, 2009, President Barack Hussein Obama placed the sovereignty of the United States of America subordinate to the authority of the international police organization known as INTERPOL, granting the organization full immunity to operate within the United States. They and their offices cannot be searched. Their files cannot be subpoenaed.
Here's the deal, prior to how it was supposed to work before 17 December: All law enforcement agencies operating within the United States were, in some way, subordinate to the Attorney General of the United States, and the Department of Justice. By signing this executive order, the Administration has allowed an organization to enforce international laws on American citizens. They do not need a warrant from a US court to search or seize property or persons, they do not need to ensure that your civil rights are inviolate, they do not need the permission of the United States to extradite. In effect, this executive order has stripped you of the government's protection from foreign powers. (So much for providing for the common defense.)
Yes, I am sure that INTERPOL is staffed with nothing but well-meaning altruists who would never, ever overstep their authority (which is now greater than any other law enforcement agency in the United States) and they would never act in their own interests, and they would never, ever, have someone in their organization who would abuse their new-found authority.
Right?
Foreigners can now execute their laws in our country without any oversight. Little things like Due Process, the 6th Amendment, warrants, and stuff like that do not apply to them. They cannot be searched. They cannot be taxed. They do not answer to the Attorney General, the President, Congress, or the Supreme Court. The International Criminal Court, which President Bush decided could NOT try American citizens, because it would place their decision outside and above US Courts and sovereignty, runs Interpol. They now have the right to operate their police force freely within our borders.
Yes, I know, the ICC would never do anything like issue an arrest warrant for a US citizen and extradite him for trial. One of the most basic principles of international law is that a state cannot be bound by a treaty to which it is not a party. Further, long-standing international legal norms hold that a state cannot be bound to legal assertions that it has specifically rejected. The ICC, however, directly contravenes these norms and precedents of international law; it claims jurisdiction to prosecute and imprison citizens of countries that are not party to the Rome Statute and, more shockingly, over those who have specifically rejected the court's jurisdiction.
Both the Clinton administration and the Bush administration concluded that the ICC is a seriously flawed institution that the United States should not join. However, because of the ICC's unprecedented claims of jurisdiction, the United States has had to take unusual steps to protect its citizens and military personnel, including negotiating a network of nonsurrender agreements (or Article 98 agreements, after the section of the Rome Statute that permits such arrangements) with as many countries as possible. Countries that sign such agreements with the United States promise, in effect, not to surrender U.S. nationals to the ICC without the consent of the U.S. government.
America pursued Article 98 agreements out of concern that the ICC could be used as a tool by those opposed to its foreign policy to make political statements through ICC prosecutions. Supporters of the ICC claim there are protections in the ICC treaty to prevent abuse of the court -- after all, the court can only intervene in cases committed within the territory or involving a citizen of an ICC party, and then only if that country proves unwilling or unable, in the judgment of the court, to investigate and prosecute alleged crimes.
Unscrupulous individuals and groups will seek to misuse the ICC for politically motivated attacks, as demonstrated by those urging the court to indict Bush administration officials for alleged crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the first two years of the ICC, more than 100 charges against U.S. citizens were submitted to the court. While the ICC chief prosecutor declined to pursue these cases, there is no assurance that future cases will be similarly resolved.
Because of its lack of checks to prevent it from being misused, the ICC represents a dangerous temptation for those with political axes to grind. This is a lesson currently being learned by Israel. Despite the fact that Israel is not a party to the Rome Statute, (and therefore, supposedly NOT under ICC Jurisdiction) the ICC prosecutor is exploring ways to prosecute Israeli commanders for alleged war crimes committed during the recent actions in Gaza.
Palestinian lawyers argue that Palestine can request ICC jurisdiction as the de facto sovereign even though it is not an internationally recognized state. This is a political twofer for the Palestinians: Pressure is applied to Israel over alleged war crimes while excluding Hamas's incitement of the military action (as well as its war crimes against Israeli civilians) and, at the same time, momentum is increased for Palestinian statehood without the need to make compromises with Israel.
The Administration authorized a foreign-controlled police force (we are not members of the ICC) to operate within the United States, has given them the same protections under our laws as we do diplomats, and given them the authority to act without regard to our laws, customs, or oversight.
From Threatswatch: "Ultimately, a detailed verbal explanation is due the American public from the President of the United States detailing why an international law enforcement arm assisting a court we are not a signatory to has been elevated above our Constitution upon our soil."--Chuck
Friday, December 25, 2009
Eddie Izzard's 12 Days of Christmas
I recommend watching them in order as "2 giraffes 1 tiger" makes more sense once you've seen "1 jazz chicken."
Chestnuts roasting on the television
One year when I was a kid I think my parents actually bought one of those cardboard fireplaces. They folded it up into its full faux-fireplace likeness and propped it up in the living room. Santa would have wound up with cardboard-style paper cuts all over himself if he'd fallen for the hoax. Good thing he was smarter than that.
Later we got cable and I remember retreating to the basement to watch this when the "festivities" were over.
HT - Ace
Later we got cable and I remember retreating to the basement to watch this when the "festivities" were over.
HT - Ace
I'll bet Bing didn't have shovel his car out after singing this
Christmas will be kinda dull around here at the Monkey House Apartment this year due to a cat with a drug dependency, budget restrictions, and that damn thing I call my day job so I'm just going to bore everyone who shows up with videos.
This one's for Chuck:
This one's for Chuck:
Chuck's Healthcare Bill
1. Rights.
You have a right to have access to health care. This means you cannot be denied emergency, or otherwise lifesaving measures, at any hospital, based on your ability to pay. It does not mean you don't have to pay your bills. It also means that if you don't have the means to pay, a hospital is not responsible for anything beyond emergency or lifesaving measures. Expect to be back on the street as soon as the ER doctor is reasonably sure you won't bleed to death while waiting for the bus.
2. You have the right to enter into a contract with a health insurance company. You have the right to review said contract before you enter into it, and if you later find yourself NOT covered by the contract, because you failed to read or understand the contract, too damn bad.
3. If your doctor says your condition is not pre-existing, then it isn't. If your doctor says it is, then it is. If an insurance company says otherwise, that's swell, but they still have to pay for your health care, if covered. If you are covered at the time of illness or injury, they cannot drop your coverage until you are either healthy, or dead. Remission doesn't count as "healthy."
4. If you don't have health insurance, and can't pay for medical care, your life is going to be rather shorter, or at the very least, suck in your old age. Other than emergency lifesaving medical care, you're screwed.
5. Much of this policy is predicated on the fable of the grasshopper and the ant. The grasshopper died, if you'll recall. If the ant helped the grasshopper, he would die too. Society is not responsible to you to provide for you in your old age, illness, or injury. You are responsible for you and yours. If private charitable organizations set out to help you in any way, thank them, but don't expect them to care for you, and the government is no charity, either.
6. You have the right to make your way in life as best as possible. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Some will survive, so0me will live in comfort, some will barely get by, and some won't. Don't expect (or demand!) that others care for you, at the expense of their own safety, security, or survival, as you've done nothing to provide for them.
7. Final option: The government will, if you choose, take care of all of your medical and health needs for you, for the rest of your life. However, by agreeing to such, you will eat when and what you are given. You will participate only in activities which are approved as safe. All real property and other items of value will be surrendered to the government to provide for payment of your health management. You will not participate in any activity which could lead to illness or injury. You will maintain a lifestyle approved by your government provided physician, which includes exercise, weight management, health management, and health education. Diet, clothing, recreation, travel and transportation, leisure and work activities will be strictly controlled. 95% of all your earnings will be surrendered to the government to cover the costs of keeping you alive. The other 5% of your income is yours to dispose of as you choose, provided you do not violate other measures of this contract. Upon your demise, any remaining property or possessions will be sold and the proceeds used to balance your health care account, and any remainder will be paid into the general welfare fund. Your body will be harvested for organs, and the rest used to feed hogs.
8. If you attempt to circumvent billing procedures by hospitals by failing to provide identification, trying to leave without paying or establishing a means to pay, you are stealing and driving up the costs for people who DO pay for their health care, and thereby limiting their ability to care for themselves. You are causing them injury-by-proxy, and as such will be arrested and charged with committing assault with intent to kill (3rd degree), grand larceny, and general asshattedness (1st Degree.) The third charge is punishable by amputation of two limbs (your choice) and irreversible sterilization. You will be billed for both procedures.
9. Nothing in this bill shall apply to health care for illegal non-citizens, as they are invisible to the laws, customs, and society of the United States. They shall not be permitted access to any hospital for any care, emergency or otherwise. If they do receive health care, the hospital is responsible for costs, and is also responsible for reporting the illegal alien to DHS for immediate deportation.
10. Tort Reform. Anyone may sue for malpractice, however, if their suit is determined to be unfounded, or frivolous (by a jury or judge) then the plaintiffs (and their lawyer) are responsible to pay the defendant the total amount they were seeking for redress. If a lawyer loses more than five such malpractice cases, they will lose their license forever. If a doctor is found guilty of negligence, misconduct resulting in injury, or malpractice, they shall lose their license to practice medicine (except in a prison). In any award of malpractice, the total amount awarded will not exceed 50% of the net worth of the victim plus 20 years' current salary, except in the case of a minor, where award limits are set at $10 million plus free comprehensive healthcare for life, paid by the doctor and/or facility responsible.
11. Members of Congress shall have no government-provided health care other than what is offered to any government employee. If a member of congress works in the government for 20 or more years, they are offered the same retirement health care benefits of any other retired government employee. In any case, they are limited to the same requirements as any other citizen.
--Chuck
You have a right to have access to health care. This means you cannot be denied emergency, or otherwise lifesaving measures, at any hospital, based on your ability to pay. It does not mean you don't have to pay your bills. It also means that if you don't have the means to pay, a hospital is not responsible for anything beyond emergency or lifesaving measures. Expect to be back on the street as soon as the ER doctor is reasonably sure you won't bleed to death while waiting for the bus.
2. You have the right to enter into a contract with a health insurance company. You have the right to review said contract before you enter into it, and if you later find yourself NOT covered by the contract, because you failed to read or understand the contract, too damn bad.
3. If your doctor says your condition is not pre-existing, then it isn't. If your doctor says it is, then it is. If an insurance company says otherwise, that's swell, but they still have to pay for your health care, if covered. If you are covered at the time of illness or injury, they cannot drop your coverage until you are either healthy, or dead. Remission doesn't count as "healthy."
4. If you don't have health insurance, and can't pay for medical care, your life is going to be rather shorter, or at the very least, suck in your old age. Other than emergency lifesaving medical care, you're screwed.
5. Much of this policy is predicated on the fable of the grasshopper and the ant. The grasshopper died, if you'll recall. If the ant helped the grasshopper, he would die too. Society is not responsible to you to provide for you in your old age, illness, or injury. You are responsible for you and yours. If private charitable organizations set out to help you in any way, thank them, but don't expect them to care for you, and the government is no charity, either.
6. You have the right to make your way in life as best as possible. There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Some will survive, so0me will live in comfort, some will barely get by, and some won't. Don't expect (or demand!) that others care for you, at the expense of their own safety, security, or survival, as you've done nothing to provide for them.
7. Final option: The government will, if you choose, take care of all of your medical and health needs for you, for the rest of your life. However, by agreeing to such, you will eat when and what you are given. You will participate only in activities which are approved as safe. All real property and other items of value will be surrendered to the government to provide for payment of your health management. You will not participate in any activity which could lead to illness or injury. You will maintain a lifestyle approved by your government provided physician, which includes exercise, weight management, health management, and health education. Diet, clothing, recreation, travel and transportation, leisure and work activities will be strictly controlled. 95% of all your earnings will be surrendered to the government to cover the costs of keeping you alive. The other 5% of your income is yours to dispose of as you choose, provided you do not violate other measures of this contract. Upon your demise, any remaining property or possessions will be sold and the proceeds used to balance your health care account, and any remainder will be paid into the general welfare fund. Your body will be harvested for organs, and the rest used to feed hogs.
8. If you attempt to circumvent billing procedures by hospitals by failing to provide identification, trying to leave without paying or establishing a means to pay, you are stealing and driving up the costs for people who DO pay for their health care, and thereby limiting their ability to care for themselves. You are causing them injury-by-proxy, and as such will be arrested and charged with committing assault with intent to kill (3rd degree), grand larceny, and general asshattedness (1st Degree.) The third charge is punishable by amputation of two limbs (your choice) and irreversible sterilization. You will be billed for both procedures.
9. Nothing in this bill shall apply to health care for illegal non-citizens, as they are invisible to the laws, customs, and society of the United States. They shall not be permitted access to any hospital for any care, emergency or otherwise. If they do receive health care, the hospital is responsible for costs, and is also responsible for reporting the illegal alien to DHS for immediate deportation.
10. Tort Reform. Anyone may sue for malpractice, however, if their suit is determined to be unfounded, or frivolous (by a jury or judge) then the plaintiffs (and their lawyer) are responsible to pay the defendant the total amount they were seeking for redress. If a lawyer loses more than five such malpractice cases, they will lose their license forever. If a doctor is found guilty of negligence, misconduct resulting in injury, or malpractice, they shall lose their license to practice medicine (except in a prison). In any award of malpractice, the total amount awarded will not exceed 50% of the net worth of the victim plus 20 years' current salary, except in the case of a minor, where award limits are set at $10 million plus free comprehensive healthcare for life, paid by the doctor and/or facility responsible.
11. Members of Congress shall have no government-provided health care other than what is offered to any government employee. If a member of congress works in the government for 20 or more years, they are offered the same retirement health care benefits of any other retired government employee. In any case, they are limited to the same requirements as any other citizen.
--Chuck
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
MOSCOW: Good news for vodka lovers as you can consume your favourite drink just like any other solid food, without the hassle of carrying heavy glass bottles.
Russian professor Evgeny Moskalev of Saint Petersburg Technological University has evolved a technique that allows turning alcohol into powder and packing it in pills. The new technique can solidify any kind of alcohol, including whisky, cognac, wine and beer.
“Dry” vodka can be wrapped in paper and carried around in a pocket or a bag. Vodka in form of a pill would come handy at parties when “consumers” would be able to calculate their exact required dosage.
And Code Monkey thinks prayers aren't answered...
Russian professor Evgeny Moskalev of Saint Petersburg Technological University has evolved a technique that allows turning alcohol into powder and packing it in pills. The new technique can solidify any kind of alcohol, including whisky, cognac, wine and beer.
“Dry” vodka can be wrapped in paper and carried around in a pocket or a bag. Vodka in form of a pill would come handy at parties when “consumers” would be able to calculate their exact required dosage.
And Code Monkey thinks prayers aren't answered...
Monday, December 21, 2009
Because we have editors and fact checkers!
A few months ago, the CGSC held a "get to know the media" panel. It was one that was, blatantly, absent of any representatives of social media.
I stood up and asked this esteemed panel what they thought of bloggers as citizen journalists. The answer from the AP rep was along the lines of "One of the things that separates us is that we have editors and fact checkers, so our stories are almost always correct." This, apparently, is why they so very seldom issue apologies or retractions when they are wrong; because the news cycle continues on, and no one would be interested to read their retractions and corrections.
Apparently, it doesn't take a journalism degree to know that Cavalry is a military term descriptive of a highly mobile military unit whose primary missions are exploitation, pursuit, and reconnaissance, and Calvary is the place where the Romans nailed that guy to the big plus sign. When the esteemed editors of the AP get the simplest things wrong, how can they be trusted to accurately report specifics of things which require a depth or breadth of knowledge?
I figure the editors sucked at things like science to begin with, which is why they A) are journalists and B) buy in to the whole AGW nonsense.
Here's some science for you, since they can't understand it enough to write about it:
Natural gas consists mostly of methane. Burning hydrocarbons like methane is called combustion. In a combustion reaction, carbon dioxide and water are formed as products. Here is the balanced chemical equation for the combustion of methane:
CH4(g) + 2 O2(g) -----> CO2(g) + 2 H2O(l)
Every 1 molecule of methane (CH4) requires 2 molecules of O2 to combust or "burn" - this produces 1 molecule of carbon dioxide gas and 2 molecules of liquid water (H2O)
So...
BURNING NATURAL GAS PRODUCES CO2.
But wait, apparently the AP's "Energy Writer" Mark Williams, and his editors, suck at math, too:
"a 90-year supply is under our feet."
"it's becoming the fuel of choice when building new power plants."
"The only question is whether enough gas can be delivered at affordable enough prices for these trends to accelerate."
If we have a 90-year supply at current consumption rates (as stated in the article) and we expect to see very large increases in consumption for the next several years, just how does that 90-year supply manage to last 90-years? If the rate of consumption doubles every 20 years (a wildly conservative estimate), then it works like this:
2010: 90yrs supply
2030: 70yrs supply @ 2010 rates, 35yrs supply@ 2030 rates
2050: 40yrs supply@ 2010 rates, 15yrs supply@ 2030 rates, 7.5yrs supply@ 2050 rates
2070: 20yrs supply@ 2010 rates, -5yrs supply@ 2030 rates, -12.5yrs supply@ 2050 rates
If Al Gore's AGW is supposed to be caused by CO2, just how in the hell does burning methane and making CO2 help in "the glowball warmening" fight?
Here's the (since corrected) link to the article: http://tinyurl.com/y9pftut
And the article (with well-fact-checked and researched title) below:
Asshats.
Of course, if all the electricity use of the USA was distributed evenly among its population, and all of it came from nuclear power, then the amount of nuclear waste each person would generate per year would be 39.5 grams. That's the weight of 7 U. S. quarters of waste, per year. A detailed description of this result can be found here. If we got all our electricity from coal and natural gas, expect to have over 10,000 kilograms of CO2/yr attributed to each person, not to mention other poisonous emissions directly to the biosphere (based on EIA emissions data).
--Chuck
I stood up and asked this esteemed panel what they thought of bloggers as citizen journalists. The answer from the AP rep was along the lines of "One of the things that separates us is that we have editors and fact checkers, so our stories are almost always correct." This, apparently, is why they so very seldom issue apologies or retractions when they are wrong; because the news cycle continues on, and no one would be interested to read their retractions and corrections.
Apparently, it doesn't take a journalism degree to know that Cavalry is a military term descriptive of a highly mobile military unit whose primary missions are exploitation, pursuit, and reconnaissance, and Calvary is the place where the Romans nailed that guy to the big plus sign. When the esteemed editors of the AP get the simplest things wrong, how can they be trusted to accurately report specifics of things which require a depth or breadth of knowledge?
I figure the editors sucked at things like science to begin with, which is why they A) are journalists and B) buy in to the whole AGW nonsense.
Here's some science for you, since they can't understand it enough to write about it:
Natural gas consists mostly of methane. Burning hydrocarbons like methane is called combustion. In a combustion reaction, carbon dioxide and water are formed as products. Here is the balanced chemical equation for the combustion of methane:
CH4(g) + 2 O2(g) -----> CO2(g) + 2 H2O(l)
Every 1 molecule of methane (CH4) requires 2 molecules of O2 to combust or "burn" - this produces 1 molecule of carbon dioxide gas and 2 molecules of liquid water (H2O)
So...
BURNING NATURAL GAS PRODUCES CO2.
But wait, apparently the AP's "Energy Writer" Mark Williams, and his editors, suck at math, too:
"a 90-year supply is under our feet."
"it's becoming the fuel of choice when building new power plants."
"The only question is whether enough gas can be delivered at affordable enough prices for these trends to accelerate."
If we have a 90-year supply at current consumption rates (as stated in the article) and we expect to see very large increases in consumption for the next several years, just how does that 90-year supply manage to last 90-years? If the rate of consumption doubles every 20 years (a wildly conservative estimate), then it works like this:
2010: 90yrs supply
2030: 70yrs supply @ 2010 rates, 35yrs supply@ 2030 rates
2050: 40yrs supply@ 2010 rates, 15yrs supply@ 2030 rates, 7.5yrs supply@ 2050 rates
2070: 20yrs supply@ 2010 rates, -5yrs supply@ 2030 rates, -12.5yrs supply@ 2050 rates
If Al Gore's AGW is supposed to be caused by CO2, just how in the hell does burning methane and making CO2 help in "the glowball warmening" fight?
Here's the (since corrected) link to the article: http://tinyurl.com/y9pftut
And the article (with well-fact-checked and researched title) below:
Of course, if all the electricity use of the USA was distributed evenly among its population, and all of it came from nuclear power, then the amount of nuclear waste each person would generate per year would be 39.5 grams. That's the weight of 7 U. S. quarters of waste, per year. A detailed description of this result can be found here. If we got all our electricity from coal and natural gas, expect to have over 10,000 kilograms of CO2/yr attributed to each person, not to mention other poisonous emissions directly to the biosphere (based on EIA emissions data).
--Chuck
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Happy Birthday Chuck!!!1!
Chuck,
I know, I used icanhascheezeburger last year too. It was either this or try to Rick Roll everyone. I know, that's so old...
I hope it's a great day. And I hope that 2010 is much more drama-free than this year.
Happy Birthday,
~~Code Monkey
PS I'll work on the new comment thingie. I promise.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Radio Silence
DATE: 15 DECEMBER 2009
MILBLOGS GO SILENT FOR FELLOW BLOGGER
Milblogs Go Silent
On Wednesday 16 December 2009, many milblogs -- including This Ain't Hell, From My Position, Blackfive, Miss Ladybug, Boston Maggie, Grim's Hall, Bouhammer, and those participating in the Wednesday Hero program -- are going silent for the day. Some are choosing to go silent for a longer period of time.
The reason for this is two-fold. First, milblogs are facing an increasingly hostile environment from within the military. While senior leadership has embraced blogging and social media, many field grade officers and senior NCOs do not embrace the concept. From general apathy in not wanting to deal with the issue to outright hostility to it, many commands are not only failing to support such activities, but are aggressively acting against active duty milbloggers, milspouses, and others. The number of such incidents appears to be growing, with milbloggers receiving reprimands, verbal and written, not only for their activities but those of spouses and supporters.
The catalyst has been the treatment of milblogger C.J. Grisham of A Soldier's Perspective (http://www.
An excellent story on the situation with C.J. can be found at Military Times:
http://www.armytimes.com/
While there have been new developments, the core problem remains, and C.J. is having to raise funds to cover legal expenses to protect both his good name and his career.
One need only look at the number of blogs by active duty military in combat zones and compare it to just a few years ago to see the chilling effect that is taking place.
Milblogs have been a vital link in getting accurate news and information about the military, and military operations, to the public. They have provided vital context and analysis on issues critical to operations and to the informed electorate critical to the Republic.
On Wednesday 16 December, readers will have the chance to imagine a world without milblogs, and to do something about it. Those participating are urging their readers to contact their elected representatives in Congress, and to let their opinions be known to them and to other leaders in Washington.
Some milblogs will remain silent for several days; some just for the day. All have agreed to keep the post about the silence and C.J. at the top of their blogs until Friday 18 December.
The issues go beyond C.J., and deserve careful consideration and discussion. We hope that you will cover this event, and explore the issues that lie at the heart of the matter. Contact the milbloggers in your area or that you know, and hear the story that lies within.
Participating blogs:
A Soldier's Perspective
You Served
Bouhammer
The American Legion
Laughing Wolf
Hugh Hewitt
This Ain't Hell
Castle Argghhh
Boston Maggie
Blackfive
Miss Ladybug
Hooah Wife
Kiss My Gumbo
Some Soldiers Mom
Assoluta Tranquillita
Knee Deep in the Hooah
Soldiers' Angel New York
Drunken Wisdom
Grim's Hall
From my position
CDR Salamander
Confederate Yankee
Chromed Curses
Homefront Six
Pvt Murphey's Law
Delta Bravo Sierra
The Sniper
Another Voice
Support your Local Gunfighter
Knottie' s Niche
Great Reader JihadGene
America's North Shore Journal
Righty in a Lefty State
Thunder Run
Gazing at the Flag
Neptunus Lex
Soldiers Angels Germany
Bring the heat, bring the stupid
Little Drops..... Into the pool of life.
The Gun Line
Thirdwavedave
In Iraq Now (at 56)
Milblogging.com
Army Houesehold6
From Cow Pastures to Kosovo
Susan Katz Keating
Kitchen Dispatch
Right Wing Right Minded
The Foxhole
The SandGram
My Own Political Party
Registered Evil
OPFOR
Texas Fred
Keep My Soldier Safe
Journalism Hope
FlashPoint
Asymmetric Military
Army of Dude
Foreign and Domestic
Conservative Libertarian Outpost
The Lemon Stand
White Rose Adventures
South Park Diva
DSH.NET
What The F*&#!?!?
On Voilence
Haze Gray and Underway
The Empty Mind
LTC John - Miserable Donuts
The Mudville Gazette
Get Lost With Easy-Writer
JammieWearingFool
Yankee Mom
Steeljaw Scribe
What You Wish For
Watchman's Soap Box
Russ. Just Russ
It's OK ....
Eppler-Effect
TriProf
Lionheart Group
Trying my best to support our troops
The Watch Cat
Around O-Town Orlando ...
Potpourri
Arizona Shooter
EMBRACE THE SUCK
Covering the story:
Army Times
Air Force Times
Marine Times
Navy Times
Military Times
Michelle Malkin
Instapundit
National Review's The Corner
Ace of Spades
Jawa Report
Winds of Change
Bookworm Room
The AtlanticWire
No Runny Eggs
Muncie Free Press
Flopping Aces
Small Dead Animals
Navy Experience
The Pink Flamingo
World Net Daily
CNN IReport
Cao's Blog
Free Republic
United Conservatives of Virginia
Miss Beth's Victory Dance
Wake up America
Dr. Melissa Clouthier
Villainous Company
The Washington Independent
In the Crosshairs
Around The Sphere
Sparks from the Anvil
Pirates Cove
Politics in the Zero
Los Angeles Times Pressmens 20 Year Club
Wizbang!
memeorandum
Blog Critics
Chicago Ray Report
Scoop Deck
Marooned In Marin
Genie's Dream
Conservatives United!
MilBlogs = Free speech from those who help make it possible ~ Greyhawk
You can donate to CJ's Legal Fund by logging into PayPal, go to the send money page, and put in his email: dj_chcknhawk (AT) yahoo (DOT) com; or, you can send donations directly to:
Grisham Legal Fund
c/o Redstone Federal Credit Union
220 Wynn Drive
Huntsville, AL 35893
Please write "Grisham Legal Fund" in the memo line if you use this option.
Milblogs have been a vital link in getting accurate news and information about the military, and military operations, to you. Today, many milblogs are gone and others are under attack from within and without. Today, you have the chance to imagine a world without milblogs, and to do something about it. Make your voice heard by writing your congressional representatives and others, and by making donations as you see fit.
The battle for freedom of speech and the marketplace of ideas is fought on many fronts and in many ways. Without your help, the battle may well be lost.
--Chuck
Soldier's Angels Backpacks
My name is SFC G and I am currently serving in Afghanistan.This past Friday I was MEDEVACed to the Hospital. While in transport my uniform was cut off me to allow the Doctors and everyone to do what they do best. Once I woke up in my hospital bed a Nurse handed me a bag from your Organization. At first I just thought that this was just the normal toothbrush, shampoo, and other personal hygiene items. I have never been so happy to be wrong in my life. I cannot tell you how happy I was to open a bag and find clothes that I could put on and feel human again. The weirdest thing was not getting the clothes, but rather the feeling of being at home again. Over here everything smells “Army.” You can ask any veteran and they will tell you that the military has a certain smell that comes with it. This bag for a few minutes helped me forget about the pain and everything else going on over here and made me feel like I was back home with my wife and kids. I had never heard of your group before this and I am in the process of informing my entire family about what you all do. Words cannot express my thanks to all the wonderful people you have working and volunteering to help all of us over here. It is because of all the people like everyone in your organization that allows us to do what we do. Once again thank you for your support and Merry Christmas to all of you!To find out more how you can help, please visit www.soldiersangels.org
With the utmost thanks and gratitude!
SFC G
Something all men (especially philanderers) should remember
Rudyard Kipling
The Female of the Species
When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride,
He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside.
But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
When Nag the basking cobra hears the careless foot of man,
He will sometimes wriggle sideways and avoid it if he can.
But his mate makes no such motion where she camps beside the trail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
When the early Jesuit fathers preached to Hurons and Choctaws,
They prayed to be delivered from the vengeance of the squaws.
'Twas the women, not the warriors, turned those stark enthusiasts pale.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Man's timid heart is bursting with the things he must not say,
For the Woman that God gave him isn't his to give away;
But when hunter meets with husbands, each confirms the other's tale—
The female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Man, a bear in most relations—worm and savage otherwise,—
Man propounds negotiations, Man accepts the compromise.
Very rarely will he squarely push the logic of a fact
To its ultimate conclusion in unmitigated act.
Fear, or foolishness, impels him, ere he lay the wicked low,
To concede some form of trial even to his fiercest foe.
Mirth obscene diverts his anger—Doubt and Pity oft perplex
Him in dealing with an issue—to the scandal of The Sex!
But the Woman that God gave him, every fibre of her frame
Proves her launched for one sole issue, armed and engined for the same;
And to serve that single issue, lest the generations fail,
The female of the species must be deadlier than the male.
She who faces Death by torture for each life beneath her breast
May not deal in doubt or pity—must not swerve for fact or jest.
These be purely male diversions—not in these her honour dwells—
She the Other Law we live by, is that Law and nothing else.
She can bring no more to living than the powers that make her great
As the Mother of the Infant and the Mistress of the Mate.
And when Babe and Man are lacking and she strides unclaimed to claim
Her right as femme (and baron), her equipment is the same.
She is wedded to convictions—in default of grosser ties;
Her contentions are her children, Heaven help him who denies!—
He will meet no suave discussion, but the instant, white-hot, wild,
Wakened female of the species warring as for spouse and child.
Unprovoked and awful charges—even so the she-bear fights,
Speech that drips, corrodes, and poisons—even so the cobra bites,
Scientific vivisection of one nerve till it is raw
And the victim writhes in anguish—like the Jesuit with the squaw!
So it comes that Man, the coward, when he gathers to confer
With his fellow-braves in council, dare not leave a place for her
Where, at war with Life and Conscience, he uplifts his erring hands
To some God of Abstract Justice—which no woman understands.
And Man knows it! Knows, moreover, that the Woman that God gave him
Must command but may not govern—shall enthral but not enslave him.
And She knows, because She warns him, and Her instincts never fail,
That the Female of Her Species is more deadly than the Male.
When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride,
He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside.
But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
When Nag the basking cobra hears the careless foot of man,
He will sometimes wriggle sideways and avoid it if he can.
But his mate makes no such motion where she camps beside the trail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
When the early Jesuit fathers preached to Hurons and Choctaws,
They prayed to be delivered from the vengeance of the squaws.
'Twas the women, not the warriors, turned those stark enthusiasts pale.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Man's timid heart is bursting with the things he must not say,
For the Woman that God gave him isn't his to give away;
But when hunter meets with husbands, each confirms the other's tale—
The female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Man, a bear in most relations—worm and savage otherwise,—
Man propounds negotiations, Man accepts the compromise.
Very rarely will he squarely push the logic of a fact
To its ultimate conclusion in unmitigated act.
Fear, or foolishness, impels him, ere he lay the wicked low,
To concede some form of trial even to his fiercest foe.
Mirth obscene diverts his anger—Doubt and Pity oft perplex
Him in dealing with an issue—to the scandal of The Sex!
But the Woman that God gave him, every fibre of her frame
Proves her launched for one sole issue, armed and engined for the same;
And to serve that single issue, lest the generations fail,
The female of the species must be deadlier than the male.
She who faces Death by torture for each life beneath her breast
May not deal in doubt or pity—must not swerve for fact or jest.
These be purely male diversions—not in these her honour dwells—
She the Other Law we live by, is that Law and nothing else.
She can bring no more to living than the powers that make her great
As the Mother of the Infant and the Mistress of the Mate.
And when Babe and Man are lacking and she strides unclaimed to claim
Her right as femme (and baron), her equipment is the same.
She is wedded to convictions—in default of grosser ties;
Her contentions are her children, Heaven help him who denies!—
He will meet no suave discussion, but the instant, white-hot, wild,
Wakened female of the species warring as for spouse and child.
Unprovoked and awful charges—even so the she-bear fights,
Speech that drips, corrodes, and poisons—even so the cobra bites,
Scientific vivisection of one nerve till it is raw
And the victim writhes in anguish—like the Jesuit with the squaw!
So it comes that Man, the coward, when he gathers to confer
With his fellow-braves in council, dare not leave a place for her
Where, at war with Life and Conscience, he uplifts his erring hands
To some God of Abstract Justice—which no woman understands.
And Man knows it! Knows, moreover, that the Woman that God gave him
Must command but may not govern—shall enthral but not enslave him.
And She knows, because She warns him, and Her instincts never fail,
That the Female of Her Species is more deadly than the Male.
The Female of the Species
When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride,
He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside.
But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
When Nag the basking cobra hears the careless foot of man,
He will sometimes wriggle sideways and avoid it if he can.
But his mate makes no such motion where she camps beside the trail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
When the early Jesuit fathers preached to Hurons and Choctaws,
They prayed to be delivered from the vengeance of the squaws.
'Twas the women, not the warriors, turned those stark enthusiasts pale.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Man's timid heart is bursting with the things he must not say,
For the Woman that God gave him isn't his to give away;
But when hunter meets with husbands, each confirms the other's tale—
The female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Man, a bear in most relations—worm and savage otherwise,—
Man propounds negotiations, Man accepts the compromise.
Very rarely will he squarely push the logic of a fact
To its ultimate conclusion in unmitigated act.
Fear, or foolishness, impels him, ere he lay the wicked low,
To concede some form of trial even to his fiercest foe.
Mirth obscene diverts his anger—Doubt and Pity oft perplex
Him in dealing with an issue—to the scandal of The Sex!
But the Woman that God gave him, every fibre of her frame
Proves her launched for one sole issue, armed and engined for the same;
And to serve that single issue, lest the generations fail,
The female of the species must be deadlier than the male.
She who faces Death by torture for each life beneath her breast
May not deal in doubt or pity—must not swerve for fact or jest.
These be purely male diversions—not in these her honour dwells—
She the Other Law we live by, is that Law and nothing else.
She can bring no more to living than the powers that make her great
As the Mother of the Infant and the Mistress of the Mate.
And when Babe and Man are lacking and she strides unclaimed to claim
Her right as femme (and baron), her equipment is the same.
She is wedded to convictions—in default of grosser ties;
Her contentions are her children, Heaven help him who denies!—
He will meet no suave discussion, but the instant, white-hot, wild,
Wakened female of the species warring as for spouse and child.
Unprovoked and awful charges—even so the she-bear fights,
Speech that drips, corrodes, and poisons—even so the cobra bites,
Scientific vivisection of one nerve till it is raw
And the victim writhes in anguish—like the Jesuit with the squaw!
So it comes that Man, the coward, when he gathers to confer
With his fellow-braves in council, dare not leave a place for her
Where, at war with Life and Conscience, he uplifts his erring hands
To some God of Abstract Justice—which no woman understands.
And Man knows it! Knows, moreover, that the Woman that God gave him
Must command but may not govern—shall enthral but not enslave him.
And She knows, because She warns him, and Her instincts never fail,
That the Female of Her Species is more deadly than the Male.
When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride,
He shouts to scare the monster, who will often turn aside.
But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
When Nag the basking cobra hears the careless foot of man,
He will sometimes wriggle sideways and avoid it if he can.
But his mate makes no such motion where she camps beside the trail.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
When the early Jesuit fathers preached to Hurons and Choctaws,
They prayed to be delivered from the vengeance of the squaws.
'Twas the women, not the warriors, turned those stark enthusiasts pale.
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Man's timid heart is bursting with the things he must not say,
For the Woman that God gave him isn't his to give away;
But when hunter meets with husbands, each confirms the other's tale—
The female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Man, a bear in most relations—worm and savage otherwise,—
Man propounds negotiations, Man accepts the compromise.
Very rarely will he squarely push the logic of a fact
To its ultimate conclusion in unmitigated act.
Fear, or foolishness, impels him, ere he lay the wicked low,
To concede some form of trial even to his fiercest foe.
Mirth obscene diverts his anger—Doubt and Pity oft perplex
Him in dealing with an issue—to the scandal of The Sex!
But the Woman that God gave him, every fibre of her frame
Proves her launched for one sole issue, armed and engined for the same;
And to serve that single issue, lest the generations fail,
The female of the species must be deadlier than the male.
She who faces Death by torture for each life beneath her breast
May not deal in doubt or pity—must not swerve for fact or jest.
These be purely male diversions—not in these her honour dwells—
She the Other Law we live by, is that Law and nothing else.
She can bring no more to living than the powers that make her great
As the Mother of the Infant and the Mistress of the Mate.
And when Babe and Man are lacking and she strides unclaimed to claim
Her right as femme (and baron), her equipment is the same.
She is wedded to convictions—in default of grosser ties;
Her contentions are her children, Heaven help him who denies!—
He will meet no suave discussion, but the instant, white-hot, wild,
Wakened female of the species warring as for spouse and child.
Unprovoked and awful charges—even so the she-bear fights,
Speech that drips, corrodes, and poisons—even so the cobra bites,
Scientific vivisection of one nerve till it is raw
And the victim writhes in anguish—like the Jesuit with the squaw!
So it comes that Man, the coward, when he gathers to confer
With his fellow-braves in council, dare not leave a place for her
Where, at war with Life and Conscience, he uplifts his erring hands
To some God of Abstract Justice—which no woman understands.
And Man knows it! Knows, moreover, that the Woman that God gave him
Must command but may not govern—shall enthral but not enslave him.
And She knows, because She warns him, and Her instincts never fail,
That the Female of Her Species is more deadly than the Male.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Penne Arrabiata
This is how my mind works:
I was looking for good deals at the local grocery stores for food for the weekend.
I'm checking out the Fresh and Easy ad.
They have Penne Arrabiata on sale.
I immediately forget about dinner and must watch this:
(Caution: there are a few f-bombs)
Legos and Eddie Izzard. What more could you need?
Oh yeah, I guess I need food too.
~~Code Monkey
I was looking for good deals at the local grocery stores for food for the weekend.
I'm checking out the Fresh and Easy ad.
They have Penne Arrabiata on sale.
I immediately forget about dinner and must watch this:
(Caution: there are a few f-bombs)
Legos and Eddie Izzard. What more could you need?
Oh yeah, I guess I need food too.
~~Code Monkey
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Not seeing the humor
This is off the usual blog topic but it's bugging me.
Why is it ok to laugh about a guy getting beat by his wife but the same people would get nuclear if the roles were reversed?
If a husband found out his wife was cheating and hit her, people would be rabid, but they laugh out loud at the Tiger Woods skits on SNL.
Why is it ok to say "He asked for it" but not "She asked for it."
Why do we expect men who are being assaulted by their wives to stand there and take it? Wouldn't there be outrage if they defended themselves?
So why is it funny if a woman beats her husband when we expect the husband to stand there like a defenseless victim and take it?
Isn't the defenseless victim concept the same reason we get mad when a man beats a woman?
~~Code Monkey
Why is it ok to laugh about a guy getting beat by his wife but the same people would get nuclear if the roles were reversed?
If a husband found out his wife was cheating and hit her, people would be rabid, but they laugh out loud at the Tiger Woods skits on SNL.
Why is it ok to say "He asked for it" but not "She asked for it."
Why do we expect men who are being assaulted by their wives to stand there and take it? Wouldn't there be outrage if they defended themselves?
So why is it funny if a woman beats her husband when we expect the husband to stand there like a defenseless victim and take it?
Isn't the defenseless victim concept the same reason we get mad when a man beats a woman?
~~Code Monkey
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Watch list, here I come!
You'd think an organization with the mission to protect the Nation’s transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.would be smarter than to do this.
But then, you'd be wrong. If I didn't know better, (which I don't, so I suspect) I'd say that the same folks doing IT work for the TSA used to be employed securing personally identifiable information for the VA.
--Chuck
But then, you'd be wrong. If I didn't know better, (which I don't, so I suspect) I'd say that the same folks doing IT work for the TSA used to be employed securing personally identifiable information for the VA.
--Chuck
Monday, December 07, 2009
Exclusively Christian Christmas
I won't go on at length about this, except to say that I am going in the opposite direction as the White House when it comes to celebrating Christmas.
This holiday (from the root, Holy Day) is when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. (Yes, I know all about it not being the actual date of Christ's birth, and how the early Christians usurped the Roman festival, etc.)
Doesn't matter. Christmas is a Christian celebration. Hanukkah is Jewish, and a minor Jewish holiday at that. It's only a big deal because of the marketing folks need to include everyone in their "Sale-A-Brations."
This isn't about religious tolerance, diversity, or acceptance of other (lesser) religions. The fact that we aren't putting other religions to the sword for being infidels is proof to the world that we are accepting and diverse. Trying to accommodate every other screwy belief during our celebration of Christs' birth actually diminishes our celebration of Christ.
So, no Kickin' Kwanzaa, Beautiful Bodhi, Wonderful Winter Solstice, Dynamite Diwali, Sadeh, Yalda, winterval, christmukkah, karachun, decemberween, Kwansolhaneidmas, or life day (sorry, Chewbacca.)
During this Christmas season, remembering and in keeping with the reason for the season, if anyone offers you a greeting other than "Merry Christmas," (whether religious or nondenominational) the correct, appropriate and acceptable response is "Screw you, I'm a Christian. Merry Christmas." Any other greeting is their tacit acknowledgment that they are purposely NOT wishing you a merry Christmas, because any other greeting is as inane as saying "Happy Cold Day in Winter"
And if you are one of those non-religious folks, just enjoy the booze at the Christmas parties and toe the line. If a Christian says "Merry Christmas" to you, say "Thank you, Merry Christmas to you, too." If you're at one of those other religions' holiday parties, be sure to skin a cat or eat monkey brains or drink llama blood or join in however they celebrate their weird superstitions. Atheists are a fun bunch, mostly when they try to answer "Well then, what's the point of trying?" (Considering that I am very good, very close friends with an avowed atheist, one who has access to most of my on-line accounts, I will stop picking on the atheists now.)
Simple facts remain:
It's Christmas.
Christ is the reason for the season.
Christ was Jewish, which is why I am cool with Jews, but Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday, and was Americanized to compete with the jealousy kids have over their peers getting presents. To try to incorporate it into a major holiday along Christian lines, to me seems like comparing religious penises.
Give us our holidays, we gladly give you yours. (Except Kwanzaa. That one's more hokey and made-up than Festivus.)
Merry Christmas everyone!
--Chuck
This holiday (from the root, Holy Day) is when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. (Yes, I know all about it not being the actual date of Christ's birth, and how the early Christians usurped the Roman festival, etc.)
Doesn't matter. Christmas is a Christian celebration. Hanukkah is Jewish, and a minor Jewish holiday at that. It's only a big deal because of the marketing folks need to include everyone in their "Sale-A-Brations."
This isn't about religious tolerance, diversity, or acceptance of other (lesser) religions. The fact that we aren't putting other religions to the sword for being infidels is proof to the world that we are accepting and diverse. Trying to accommodate every other screwy belief during our celebration of Christs' birth actually diminishes our celebration of Christ.
So, no Kickin' Kwanzaa, Beautiful Bodhi, Wonderful Winter Solstice, Dynamite Diwali, Sadeh, Yalda, winterval, christmukkah, karachun, decemberween, Kwansolhaneidmas, or life day (sorry, Chewbacca.)
During this Christmas season, remembering and in keeping with the reason for the season, if anyone offers you a greeting other than "Merry Christmas," (whether religious or nondenominational) the correct, appropriate and acceptable response is "Screw you, I'm a Christian. Merry Christmas." Any other greeting is their tacit acknowledgment that they are purposely NOT wishing you a merry Christmas, because any other greeting is as inane as saying "Happy Cold Day in Winter"
And if you are one of those non-religious folks, just enjoy the booze at the Christmas parties and toe the line. If a Christian says "Merry Christmas" to you, say "Thank you, Merry Christmas to you, too." If you're at one of those other religions' holiday parties, be sure to skin a cat or eat monkey brains or drink llama blood or join in however they celebrate their weird superstitions. Atheists are a fun bunch, mostly when they try to answer "Well then, what's the point of trying?" (Considering that I am very good, very close friends with an avowed atheist, one who has access to most of my on-line accounts, I will stop picking on the atheists now.)
Simple facts remain:
It's Christmas.
Christ is the reason for the season.
Christ was Jewish, which is why I am cool with Jews, but Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday, and was Americanized to compete with the jealousy kids have over their peers getting presents. To try to incorporate it into a major holiday along Christian lines, to me seems like comparing religious penises.
Give us our holidays, we gladly give you yours. (Except Kwanzaa. That one's more hokey and made-up than Festivus.)
Merry Christmas everyone!
--Chuck
Parallels
Today in 1941, we were attacked (before a formal declaration of war) by the Empire of Japan. Valid military targets were destroyed, and we responded by entering a two-front world war that cost millions of US and Allied lives. It was the war that defined Brokaw's "Greatest Generation."
I do not seek to disparage those who (like my grandparents) fought and lived through that war, and definitely do not seek to disparage those who fought, and died, in that war. The amount of sacrifice they faced, and made, to support that war are unfathomable in today's society. Food, gasoline, metal, paper, rubber, and all manner of consumer goods were in short supply. Stuff was rationed. Can you imagine our society if they had to suffer a week or month of simple food or gasoline rationing? There would be riots in the street.
We went to war believing, as a nation, that we were right. Same as in 2001, we were certain who had attacked us, and why. Still, we chose to make war on two other countries, Italy and Germany, as well as Japan. We knew the axis was mutually supporting, and to go to war with one was to go to war with all. Same thing when we went to war in Iraq. Th megalomaniac there was a worse tyrant than Hitler, and would gladly (and did, gladly) support those who attacked us. Strategically, it was a wise move to invade Iraq, splitting the Taliban and al-queda onto multiple fronts. We had a war of two operational theaters, but we are much better at the logistics game than our enemies. Getting the supplies we need into Afghanistan is HARD, Iraq is much easier. So we drew our enemy into the ground of our choosing to fight. Ans as of 2006, we had totally crushed them in Iraq, they were (and are) no longer able to conduct large scale operations in Iraq. Tens of thousands of al-queda died in Iraq, insurgents and terrorists who'd come from Afghanistan, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi, Iran, and Bosnia. (Among others.)
We needed to finish, to win, the war in Japan. We had crushed European Fascism with the help of our allies, but the majority of the Pacific was our fight. We dropped two nukes on the Empire of the Sun, and that was enough. The Japanese surrendered, their emperor was forced to admit to his people that he was not a God.
In both cases, any insurgency was extremely short-lived. We made loans, helped rebuild, and made lasting treaties with those nations who were our enemies.
Where I think we screwed up this war is with the people, but not due to the "popular" reasons of today's deep thinkers on policy. I think the reason we won, and had a final victory, were these: We completely destroyed the sufficiency of our enemies' governments. They were completely unable to function in any capacity as leaders of their people. We destroyed any manufacturing and trade capability our enemies possessed, we destroyed their economies, and (here's the critical part) we fought the entire nation, military and civilian alike. We made the hard choice to firebomb (and eventually nuke) civilian populations.
We destroyed the will of the people to resist. The people, by the time their governments surrendered, we defeated. The people no longer had the will to resist. They had tired of war.
In the current battle mindset, we limit ourselves to short wars of overwhelming force, we use precision munitions to destroy only "valid military targets." We can, in a matter of days or weeks, completely destroy a foreign Armed forces of any nation. Imagine if the same happened to us: if we were attacked and our Military destroyed in a matter of weeks, would we not grab our guns and defend to the last (those of us who have guns?) Would we fight to our dying breath to keep the hordes at bay? Or would we capitulate, knowing that as of last Thursday, we were free, but not any more?
Now extend that into years or even months. The military fights some winning battles, but is unable to succeed operationally. The enemy systematically destroys our cities, our manufacturing, our ports and trade. We don't have enough food, clean water, or shelter, clothes for our kids. And we've lived that way for YEARS. Those lucky enough to survive have lost their will to fight, the mentality has shifted to simply surviving. When the foreign Army comes in, they provide food, medical care, clothes, shelter, and treat us decently. Would we glady stand in soup lines to feed our kids?
You bet your ass we would.
A military is only an extension of politics, or the political will, of a government. It is not the will of the people. If you wish to succeed in war, you must A) destroy the enemy's military, B) Destroy the will of the people to resist, C) Destroy the government's ability to act unilaterally in military or trade and then D) Help the people rebuild, re-clothe, and go beyond survival into growth.
You can't go from A to D without doing B and C, or else you get what we have today, an enemy without a government, supported by the populace, who disappears into the population when they are weak and fight when they are strong, who retains the tactical initiative, who is supported by the population, either through intimidation or philosophical similarity.
So the parallels between the "second war to end all wars" and the "global war on terror" are many, and it seems the places they diverge are quite embarrassing: that we, as a nation, no longer possess the popular or political will to execute total war, even at the risk of losing our lives and sacred honor. It saddens me that we no longer seem to be the nation that sailed off into that sunset, that gave so much. for so many. I am ashamed at the national sense of entitlement, at the way our "Great Society" has placed its mouth firmly on the teat of government welfare, and refuses to wean. If those men and women who fought so valiantly could see what our nation has become, for all their sacrifice, would they be as willing to sacrifice?
Because of who they were, I am sure they would sacrifice. We still have a chance, though, to earn back what they have given us. We still have a chance to win, not just end wars. We as a nation can still sacrifice for the greater good. I feel that we are standing on the precipice of a dangerous fall, and refuse to look back for a hand-hold, but instead lean forward in the hope that we won't fall.
The only way to make the changes in our society that we need to rebuild this nation is to educate our young, to make them aware of what they have been given, make them thankful for it, and teach them how to preserve it.
So their sacrifice will never be forgotten, and never be for naught.
--Chuck
I do not seek to disparage those who (like my grandparents) fought and lived through that war, and definitely do not seek to disparage those who fought, and died, in that war. The amount of sacrifice they faced, and made, to support that war are unfathomable in today's society. Food, gasoline, metal, paper, rubber, and all manner of consumer goods were in short supply. Stuff was rationed. Can you imagine our society if they had to suffer a week or month of simple food or gasoline rationing? There would be riots in the street.
We went to war believing, as a nation, that we were right. Same as in 2001, we were certain who had attacked us, and why. Still, we chose to make war on two other countries, Italy and Germany, as well as Japan. We knew the axis was mutually supporting, and to go to war with one was to go to war with all. Same thing when we went to war in Iraq. Th megalomaniac there was a worse tyrant than Hitler, and would gladly (and did, gladly) support those who attacked us. Strategically, it was a wise move to invade Iraq, splitting the Taliban and al-queda onto multiple fronts. We had a war of two operational theaters, but we are much better at the logistics game than our enemies. Getting the supplies we need into Afghanistan is HARD, Iraq is much easier. So we drew our enemy into the ground of our choosing to fight. Ans as of 2006, we had totally crushed them in Iraq, they were (and are) no longer able to conduct large scale operations in Iraq. Tens of thousands of al-queda died in Iraq, insurgents and terrorists who'd come from Afghanistan, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi, Iran, and Bosnia. (Among others.)
We needed to finish, to win, the war in Japan. We had crushed European Fascism with the help of our allies, but the majority of the Pacific was our fight. We dropped two nukes on the Empire of the Sun, and that was enough. The Japanese surrendered, their emperor was forced to admit to his people that he was not a God.
In both cases, any insurgency was extremely short-lived. We made loans, helped rebuild, and made lasting treaties with those nations who were our enemies.
Where I think we screwed up this war is with the people, but not due to the "popular" reasons of today's deep thinkers on policy. I think the reason we won, and had a final victory, were these: We completely destroyed the sufficiency of our enemies' governments. They were completely unable to function in any capacity as leaders of their people. We destroyed any manufacturing and trade capability our enemies possessed, we destroyed their economies, and (here's the critical part) we fought the entire nation, military and civilian alike. We made the hard choice to firebomb (and eventually nuke) civilian populations.
We destroyed the will of the people to resist. The people, by the time their governments surrendered, we defeated. The people no longer had the will to resist. They had tired of war.
In the current battle mindset, we limit ourselves to short wars of overwhelming force, we use precision munitions to destroy only "valid military targets." We can, in a matter of days or weeks, completely destroy a foreign Armed forces of any nation. Imagine if the same happened to us: if we were attacked and our Military destroyed in a matter of weeks, would we not grab our guns and defend to the last (those of us who have guns?) Would we fight to our dying breath to keep the hordes at bay? Or would we capitulate, knowing that as of last Thursday, we were free, but not any more?
Now extend that into years or even months. The military fights some winning battles, but is unable to succeed operationally. The enemy systematically destroys our cities, our manufacturing, our ports and trade. We don't have enough food, clean water, or shelter, clothes for our kids. And we've lived that way for YEARS. Those lucky enough to survive have lost their will to fight, the mentality has shifted to simply surviving. When the foreign Army comes in, they provide food, medical care, clothes, shelter, and treat us decently. Would we glady stand in soup lines to feed our kids?
You bet your ass we would.
A military is only an extension of politics, or the political will, of a government. It is not the will of the people. If you wish to succeed in war, you must A) destroy the enemy's military, B) Destroy the will of the people to resist, C) Destroy the government's ability to act unilaterally in military or trade and then D) Help the people rebuild, re-clothe, and go beyond survival into growth.
You can't go from A to D without doing B and C, or else you get what we have today, an enemy without a government, supported by the populace, who disappears into the population when they are weak and fight when they are strong, who retains the tactical initiative, who is supported by the population, either through intimidation or philosophical similarity.
So the parallels between the "second war to end all wars" and the "global war on terror" are many, and it seems the places they diverge are quite embarrassing: that we, as a nation, no longer possess the popular or political will to execute total war, even at the risk of losing our lives and sacred honor. It saddens me that we no longer seem to be the nation that sailed off into that sunset, that gave so much. for so many. I am ashamed at the national sense of entitlement, at the way our "Great Society" has placed its mouth firmly on the teat of government welfare, and refuses to wean. If those men and women who fought so valiantly could see what our nation has become, for all their sacrifice, would they be as willing to sacrifice?
Because of who they were, I am sure they would sacrifice. We still have a chance, though, to earn back what they have given us. We still have a chance to win, not just end wars. We as a nation can still sacrifice for the greater good. I feel that we are standing on the precipice of a dangerous fall, and refuse to look back for a hand-hold, but instead lean forward in the hope that we won't fall.
The only way to make the changes in our society that we need to rebuild this nation is to educate our young, to make them aware of what they have been given, make them thankful for it, and teach them how to preserve it.
So their sacrifice will never be forgotten, and never be for naught.
--Chuck
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Soldier Defense Fund
I watched "It's a Wonderful Life" this weekend. It's become one of my favorite movies. Most people don't get a chance in life to see the impact they've had laid out before them.
There's a guy I know who is going through a rough time. To the best of my knowledge, he has not jumped into a river to save an angel's life (yet), but either way, he's in a spot where he had to reluctantly ask for help:
I don't know if I've ever told CJ the impact he's had on my life. I didn't know jack about the military before a friend of mine deployed in 2005. When I went out looking for information about sending care packages, I found milblogs. I remember when CJ was still on blogspot. I remember Parking Lot Pennies and The Jerky Wars. Between him, Blackfive, The Mudville Gazette, Chuck and Sarah, I got a clue. I now had images of people who were living the life and writing about it. I learned a lot about integrity, not backing down from a fight, and how real friends have your back when you need it. Eventually, I actually met all of them in person. If I look at the people I call my friends now, a lot more of them wear or have worn a uniform, whether that's military or police.
I know it's Christmas time. I know it's hard times with the economy and all. Look around, maybe you have a coin jar that needs emptying. Or maybe you file this away as something you think about next month. It sounds like it will be a long battle. If you can't hit the Paypal link, get the word out if you can. Send it to the civilian bloggers you know. Send emails to people who may not read blogs.
And most of all, if anything that CJ's done in the past has affected your life, consider a few words of support in the comments at that post. When times are tough, it's nice to know who has your back.
~~Code Monkey
UPDATE: If you haven't yet, read this: Decorated soldier’s blog attracts loyal following, but he says his bosses are muzzling him. There is a lot more of the story in that article. Also, the PayPal link at ASP is AWOL, but it is in the link in this update or you can go to PayPal, select “Send Money” and use the email address dj_chcknhawk-AT-yahoo-DOT-com, of course using real @'s and .'s or use the snail mail address above, if you are so inclined.
There's a guy I know who is going through a rough time. To the best of my knowledge, he has not jumped into a river to save an angel's life (yet), but either way, he's in a spot where he had to reluctantly ask for help:
In September, my kids brought home a note from their school stating that the school would transition to uniforms beginning in January — midway through the school year. Naturally, this concerned me as the cost for each kid (I have two who would be affected) would be at least $400. A note home to parents assured us that the principal would entertain concerns during the upcoming “uniform fashion show.” However, the principal ended that meeting without answering a question, even though numerous hands were up. After that meeting, I organized parents with concerns and began a letter-writing and phone-calling campaign to members of the school board and media. We succeeded in getting the uniform issue tabled until next year. But parents still weren’t given a voice about whether we even wanted uniforms.CJ has always been there to send Girl Scout cookies to deployed or wounded troops. He's helped raise funds for Fisher House and Soldiers Angels’ Valour-IT. He's remembered the fallen at They Have Names. As long as I've been reading wherever he's been writing, I don't recall him ever asking for anything for himself.
Instead of deal with me and other parents who disagreed with her new policy, the school’s principal began contacting the Army with fictitious complaints that I had threatened her. She pointed to posts on my personal blog about her behavior at the meeting as proof. However, after being referred to military investigators, they concluded that I had never issued any threats through email, blog or otherwise. I collected letters from other parents attesting to my behavior at the meeting.
Unfortunately, the Army took what the principal was saying at face value and formally counseled me. Suddenly, I was a trouble maker after 15 years of honorable service. The Army practically forced me to shut down my blog, though the decision was mine alone and no orders were given to do it.
At a PTA meeting a few weeks later, I again tried to present a motion to discuss the school uniform issue with the members of the association. It was shot down by the principal and the PTA president. I was harassed the entire evening by school security officials. Thankfully, I decided it would be prudent to record that meeting. When school officials again began contacting the Army about my supposedly threatening and disrespectful behavior at the meeting, I published the video on my blog to clear my name. This didn’t sit well with school officials and only emboldened them to step up their claims and use the military to force me to take down the videos — the only piece of evidence I had to prove my innocence.
The principal even used my PTSD to try and bolster her claims that I was a dangerous menace to her and her goals.
Because of these actions, I am pursuing a lawsuit to clear my name and force the school system to admit they overstepped their bounds by denying my right to participate in my children’s education and attempt to ruin my career. Unfortunately, I can’t afford to tackle this sort of lawsuit on my own. Because of this situation, my wife and I felt the need to relocate our kids after being singled out on more than one occasion by teachers and school staff. We took our kids to live with their grandparents until my orders allowed me to relocate in December. That trip cost us over $1,400, plus another $1,500 in maintenance on our elderly van, which completely wiped out our savings.
So, I’m asking if you’ll help me. I need to raise $7,000 just to pay for the retainer and initial filing of the lawsuit.
I am reaching out through various avenues to help raise the money. I’ve enlisted the help of local media, talk shows and blogs to help me raise the money. Fellow milbloggers are reaching into their pockets and tapping their readers as well. My neighbors and local Huntsville citizens are donating to a local fund at a bank where I’m stationed.
In one week, I move to Fort Hood for the next stage of my military service. I need to at least have the retainer and initial fees raised before I leave. Anything you can do is much appreciated no matter how small.
There are a few ways you can help. On my blog, there is a Paypal link that can used to send money instantly through a debit or credit card. All money sent through that link will go into this fund. You can also mail checks or money orders to:
Grisham Legal Fund
c/o Redstone Federal Credit Union
220 Wynn Drive
Huntsville, AL 35893
Please write “Grisham Legal Fund” in the memo line if you use this option.
I don't know if I've ever told CJ the impact he's had on my life. I didn't know jack about the military before a friend of mine deployed in 2005. When I went out looking for information about sending care packages, I found milblogs. I remember when CJ was still on blogspot. I remember Parking Lot Pennies and The Jerky Wars. Between him, Blackfive, The Mudville Gazette, Chuck and Sarah, I got a clue. I now had images of people who were living the life and writing about it. I learned a lot about integrity, not backing down from a fight, and how real friends have your back when you need it. Eventually, I actually met all of them in person. If I look at the people I call my friends now, a lot more of them wear or have worn a uniform, whether that's military or police.
I know it's Christmas time. I know it's hard times with the economy and all. Look around, maybe you have a coin jar that needs emptying. Or maybe you file this away as something you think about next month. It sounds like it will be a long battle. If you can't hit the Paypal link, get the word out if you can. Send it to the civilian bloggers you know. Send emails to people who may not read blogs.
And most of all, if anything that CJ's done in the past has affected your life, consider a few words of support in the comments at that post. When times are tough, it's nice to know who has your back.
~~Code Monkey
UPDATE: If you haven't yet, read this: Decorated soldier’s blog attracts loyal following, but he says his bosses are muzzling him. There is a lot more of the story in that article. Also, the PayPal link at ASP is AWOL, but it is in the link in this update or you can go to PayPal, select “Send Money” and use the email address dj_chcknhawk-AT-yahoo-DOT-com, of course using real @'s and .'s or use the snail mail address above, if you are so inclined.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
*Snort!*
"He’s decided to send an additional 30,000 troops for 30 months. That’s not a strategic decision. That’s a new-car warranty."From Sarah, linking to Vodkapundit
When I was just a lad of 18, I was in Basic Training/OSUT at Fort Knox when George Bush (the elder) authorized US troops to invade Iraq. Throughout the barracks, cheers when up and we collectively went nuts. As Cavalry Scouts, our chosen profession has a life-span measured in seconds in combat. And yet, when the clouds of war were ominous on the horizon, we cheered.
Maybe it was because we were so young we didn't consider our own mortality. Maybe it was because we really needed an outlet for our stress. maybe it was just groupthink, because at some level we all knew just how much danger we were in.
19 years later, our President is again announcing that he has (finally) decided to place an additional 30 something thousand troops in harms way. The venue he's chosen to announce this (formally) is the United States Military Academy. Given that by now, this is old news, his administration could have announced this from the White House briefing room, but instead the PR folks chose The United States Community College to make the announcement.
Now why do you suppose they chose this venue?
I imagine the cheers of support, from many who have never seen the elephant, but are eager to prove themselves, and realize that many of them may end up with the opportunity to do just that, will be deafening.
I admire their willingness to jump into the fray, to lean into the tasks set before them. In another, I know that those who do go off to war will return--some in a box, some in a bed, some in a airliner--but they will all come back changed. And it is the change that they face that worries me the most.
--Chuck
Maybe it was because we were so young we didn't consider our own mortality. Maybe it was because we really needed an outlet for our stress. maybe it was just groupthink, because at some level we all knew just how much danger we were in.
19 years later, our President is again announcing that he has (finally) decided to place an additional 30 something thousand troops in harms way. The venue he's chosen to announce this (formally) is the United States Military Academy. Given that by now, this is old news, his administration could have announced this from the White House briefing room, but instead the PR folks chose The United States Community College to make the announcement.
Now why do you suppose they chose this venue?
I imagine the cheers of support, from many who have never seen the elephant, but are eager to prove themselves, and realize that many of them may end up with the opportunity to do just that, will be deafening.
I admire their willingness to jump into the fray, to lean into the tasks set before them. In another, I know that those who do go off to war will return--some in a box, some in a bed, some in a airliner--but they will all come back changed. And it is the change that they face that worries me the most.
--Chuck
Which is more important?
Why is it that it only costs $10 a month to feed a hungry child, but $19 a month to keep a dog or cat alive?
Is there a way to feed the dogs and cats to the children, or vice-versa?
Seems like a win-win to me. Saving the children is actually cheaper, in the long run.
--Chuck
Is there a way to feed the dogs and cats to the children, or vice-versa?
Seems like a win-win to me. Saving the children is actually cheaper, in the long run.
--Chuck
blog advertising is good for you
Looking for ammo?
Register to Vote
The following links go to information supplied by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission
National Mail Voter Registration Form
State-by-state registration deadlines, contact information and Web site and mailing addresses.
Support the Troops
YOU SEARCH OR SHOP ...
WE GIVE!
WE GIVE!
Veterans: Press 1
Show Chuck Some Love
Or, email me if you wanna send something not listed, and I'll shoot you the address
Legal Notice To Spammers
Unsolicited advertising. If you place, or cause an agent to place, any unsolicited ads via any means, not limited to so-called 'comment spam' or 'trackback spam' you are assumed to agree to pay at the rate of $500USD per unsolicited URL. Contact the site owner for remittance instructions. Attempts will be made to collect this tariff, and a failure to make payment will result in formal actions against the advertising site.Days since Carren said "I do."
Days I've spent in pain:
5 For Hope
A Major's Perspective
A Soldier's Perspective
Ace of Spades HQ
Afghan Quest
Afghan & Military Blog
Air Pogue - The Next Deployment
America's North Shore Journal
Argghhh! The Home Of Two Of Jonah's Military Guys..
ArmyWifeToddlerMom
baldilocks
Belmont Club
Big Al's Army Life
BLACKFIVE
Blogs For Victory
blonde sagacity
Bobo Blogger
Boing Boing
Cap'n Bob & the Damsel
Charlie Foxtrot
Chromed Curses
Clublife
Consul-At-Arms II
Cool, Calm and Collected...
Day by Day Cartoon by Chris Muir
Delta Bravo Sierra
Dissecting Leftism
Drunken Wisdom
Eject Eject Eject
The Farm at Castle Argghhh!!!
The Florida Masochist
The Freeholder
Grouchy Old Cripple
Gun Blogger Rendezvous
Hell In A Basket
Hooah Wife and friends
Hope n' Change
IMAO
Insane Diego
Instapundit
IRAQ THE MODEL
JACK ARMY
The Jawa Report
Keep My Soldier Safe
Keystone Soldiers
Kiss My Gumbo
Knowledge is Power
La Shawn Barber's Corner
Laughing Wolf
LT Nixon Rants
Ma Deuce Gunner
Maiden Magnetic
Major K.
Michelle Malkin
Milblogging.com
MilBlogs
Miss Ladybug
More Than Loans
Most Certainly Not
Mr. Completely
Mudville Gazette
My Life As A Military Spouse
Not Exactly Rocket Science
Op For
Parrothead Jeff & Friends
Pass The Ammo
The Political Jungle
Power Line
Randomosity
Return of the Conservatives
Righty in a Lefty State
Samizdata.net
The SandGram
ScrappleFace
Seize Adventure
Semper Gratus!
Seven Inches of Sense
Slashdot
The Sniper
Soldiers Angels New York
Soldiers' Angels Germany
Some Iraq Veteran
SOME SOLDIER'S MOM
Something... and Half of Something
The Spoons Experience
SpouseBUZZ
The Stupid Shall Be Punished
Support Your Local Gunfighter
Theo Spark
This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here
The Thunder Run
Toby Nunn's Briefing Room
Trying to Grok
Two Babes and a Brain
Typical White Person
Veritably Bare
Villainous Company
The Volokh Conspiracy
Watcher of Weasels
Who's your Baghdaddy?
yankeemom.com
YIKES!
The Yllescas Family
A Major's Perspective
A Soldier's Perspective
Ace of Spades HQ
Afghan Quest
Afghan & Military Blog
Air Pogue - The Next Deployment
America's North Shore Journal
Argghhh! The Home Of Two Of Jonah's Military Guys..
ArmyWifeToddlerMom
baldilocks
Belmont Club
Big Al's Army Life
BLACKFIVE
Blogs For Victory
blonde sagacity
Bobo Blogger
Boing Boing
Cap'n Bob & the Damsel
Charlie Foxtrot
Chromed Curses
Clublife
Consul-At-Arms II
Cool, Calm and Collected...
Day by Day Cartoon by Chris Muir
Delta Bravo Sierra
Dissecting Leftism
Drunken Wisdom
Eject Eject Eject
The Farm at Castle Argghhh!!!
The Florida Masochist
The Freeholder
Grouchy Old Cripple
Gun Blogger Rendezvous
Hell In A Basket
Hooah Wife and friends
Hope n' Change
IMAO
Insane Diego
Instapundit
IRAQ THE MODEL
JACK ARMY
The Jawa Report
Keep My Soldier Safe
Keystone Soldiers
Kiss My Gumbo
Knowledge is Power
La Shawn Barber's Corner
Laughing Wolf
LT Nixon Rants
Ma Deuce Gunner
Maiden Magnetic
Major K.
Michelle Malkin
Milblogging.com
MilBlogs
Miss Ladybug
More Than Loans
Most Certainly Not
Mr. Completely
Mudville Gazette
My Life As A Military Spouse
Not Exactly Rocket Science
Op For
Parrothead Jeff & Friends
Pass The Ammo
The Political Jungle
Power Line
Randomosity
Return of the Conservatives
Righty in a Lefty State
Samizdata.net
The SandGram
ScrappleFace
Seize Adventure
Semper Gratus!
Seven Inches of Sense
Slashdot
The Sniper
Soldiers Angels New York
Soldiers' Angels Germany
Some Iraq Veteran
SOME SOLDIER'S MOM
Something... and Half of Something
The Spoons Experience
SpouseBUZZ
The Stupid Shall Be Punished
Support Your Local Gunfighter
Theo Spark
This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here
The Thunder Run
Toby Nunn's Briefing Room
Trying to Grok
Two Babes and a Brain
Typical White Person
Veritably Bare
Villainous Company
The Volokh Conspiracy
Watcher of Weasels
Who's your Baghdaddy?
yankeemom.com
YIKES!
The Yllescas Family
Tuff-Writer Upgrades Operator Tactical Pen Series
So I've been on my ass about blogging...
Time to restock the warehouse
SOPA and PIPA
With Allies like these...
Backpfeifengesicht
2012 Gun Blogger Rendezvous
"A Message From Our President..."
Airplane of the Damned VIII, About Damned time
Airplane of the Damned VII, this is Damned ridicul...
So I've been on my ass about blogging...
Time to restock the warehouse
SOPA and PIPA
With Allies like these...
Backpfeifengesicht
2012 Gun Blogger Rendezvous
"A Message From Our President..."
Airplane of the Damned VIII, About Damned time
Airplane of the Damned VII, this is Damned ridicul...
Afghanistan
Asshats and Douchebags
Awards
Chuck for Prez
Conspiracy
Daily Funny
Damn
Family
fraud waste and abuse
Fun
ILE
In the news
Individual rights
Interesting
Liveblogging
Paul Christian
Project Valour-IT
Rope. Tree. Politicians.
SITREP
Soldier’s Angels
Spew Alert
stupid is as stupid does
Support the troops and their mission
Surgery
Tech Notes
tryin' to reason with hurricane season
Walter Reed
What's next
Wounded troops
Asshats and Douchebags
Awards
Chuck for Prez
Conspiracy
Daily Funny
Damn
Family
fraud waste and abuse
Fun
ILE
In the news
Individual rights
Interesting
Liveblogging
Paul Christian
Project Valour-IT
Rope. Tree. Politicians.
SITREP
Soldier’s Angels
Spew Alert
stupid is as stupid does
Support the troops and their mission
Surgery
Tech Notes
tryin' to reason with hurricane season
Walter Reed
What's next
Wounded troops
Soldier's Angels
Chux Tech Support
The Template is generated via PsycHo and is Licensed.
Decorating help from:
Numbers
42
2013-1-20 12:00:00 GMT-05:00
--DISCLAIMER--
Public Notice: This is a free speech website devoted to the expression of controversial ideas. The rhetoric and concepts represented herein may be inappropriate for ignorant persons or immature individuals, so discretion may be warranted ... hence this precaution. The reader entering this website, and encountering the contents of these web pages, is wholly responsible for his well being, and by such ingress, agrees to hold the author and publisher harmless. Any acquired insight or accrued perceptivity is the sole responsibility of the nescient explorer who ventures forth into this conventicle, as are any objections or frustrations, confusions or misinterpretations realized herein.
Further warning: Caveat Lector: Vulgar, profane, and obscene dysphemisms, which have been used for every part of speech and rhetorical form, have not been Bowdlerized nor expurgated from this site, to the undoubted dismay of purists and the evident enrichment of our mother-tongue; so immature or hypersensitive persons should refrain from perusing this indubitably eclectic and contingently egregious compendium. Swearing is usually either juvenile or crass, but military personnel admire talent and respect skill, so the ability to create imaginative expletives and to craft uncommon scurrility is often appreciated. This site may, from time to time, publish the works or words of others that contain, or use such language.
Unless otherwise noted, all material published herein reserves copyright to the author, and may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced, for any reason, without permission.
The AUTHOR is currently under the care of mental health and other medical professionals, currently takes prescribed pain-management and psychotropic medications, and is under treatment for both Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress. So take anything written as either the medicated ramblings of a mad man, or as the official policy and position of the United States Army. You will be wrong in both cases.
These are my own poorly arranged thoughts. They usually come to me during periods of when I can’t sleep and when under great stress. They do not reflect the official or unofficial policies of any government agency. I refuse to acknowledge them as my own. This site has quite possibly been hacked, and therefore I am unable to be held responsible for anything that may (or may not) appear here. So There. I'm going back to putting on my aluminum foil helmet to block the mind control beams.
Public Notice: This is a free speech website devoted to the expression of controversial ideas. The rhetoric and concepts represented herein may be inappropriate for ignorant persons or immature individuals, so discretion may be warranted ... hence this precaution. The reader entering this website, and encountering the contents of these web pages, is wholly responsible for his well being, and by such ingress, agrees to hold the author and publisher harmless. Any acquired insight or accrued perceptivity is the sole responsibility of the nescient explorer who ventures forth into this conventicle, as are any objections or frustrations, confusions or misinterpretations realized herein.
Further warning: Caveat Lector: Vulgar, profane, and obscene dysphemisms, which have been used for every part of speech and rhetorical form, have not been Bowdlerized nor expurgated from this site, to the undoubted dismay of purists and the evident enrichment of our mother-tongue; so immature or hypersensitive persons should refrain from perusing this indubitably eclectic and contingently egregious compendium. Swearing is usually either juvenile or crass, but military personnel admire talent and respect skill, so the ability to create imaginative expletives and to craft uncommon scurrility is often appreciated. This site may, from time to time, publish the works or words of others that contain, or use such language.
Unless otherwise noted, all material published herein reserves copyright to the author, and may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced, for any reason, without permission.
The AUTHOR is currently under the care of mental health and other medical professionals, currently takes prescribed pain-management and psychotropic medications, and is under treatment for both Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress. So take anything written as either the medicated ramblings of a mad man, or as the official policy and position of the United States Army. You will be wrong in both cases.
These are my own poorly arranged thoughts. They usually come to me during periods of when I can’t sleep and when under great stress. They do not reflect the official or unofficial policies of any government agency. I refuse to acknowledge them as my own. This site has quite possibly been hacked, and therefore I am unable to be held responsible for anything that may (or may not) appear here. So There. I'm going back to putting on my aluminum foil helmet to block the mind control beams.
