One thing will be different this time howver. My brother won't be there to make them look good. (Hey Anonymous. This is what a real live Sergeant First Class in the United States ARMY looks like)
10/19/2007
Here we go again.
81st Brigade put on alert for Iraq/Afghan deployment.
One thing will be different this time howver. My brother won't be there to make them look good. (Hey Anonymous. This is what a real live Sergeant First Class in the United States ARMY looks like)
One thing will be different this time howver. My brother won't be there to make them look good. (Hey Anonymous. This is what a real live Sergeant First Class in the United States ARMY looks like)
Holidays? Sea-Tac
I just read this story. I remember the big flap last year.
I only have one question. What holidays are the port of Seattle intending to honor with this display of birch trees? Kwanza? Channuka? Christmas? Winter Solstice? As far as I know none of those holidays use icey birch trees as a symbol of their holiday.
I only have one question. What holidays are the port of Seattle intending to honor with this display of birch trees? Kwanza? Channuka? Christmas? Winter Solstice? As far as I know none of those holidays use icey birch trees as a symbol of their holiday.
10/18/2007
Who's Kid's are they?
This story makes me sick.
Why is it that parents must give specific permission before their child is able to receive OTC cold, or pain medication? Why is it not necessary to receive specific parental permission before giving a minor child birth control medicine, some of which contains powerful hormones? How is it possible that this would be medically prudent?
This is simply a trampling of parental rights. It's all politics and not at all medical.
Those who favored the plan said it isn't about encouraging premature sex, but protecting kids who don't have strong support from their parents.
"Unfortunately, not every child is getting the kind of parental involvement that is going to help keep them safe," said Richard Verrier.
What a load of sophistry.
Why is it that parents must give specific permission before their child is able to receive OTC cold, or pain medication? Why is it not necessary to receive specific parental permission before giving a minor child birth control medicine, some of which contains powerful hormones? How is it possible that this would be medically prudent?
This is simply a trampling of parental rights. It's all politics and not at all medical.
Those who favored the plan said it isn't about encouraging premature sex, but protecting kids who don't have strong support from their parents.
"Unfortunately, not every child is getting the kind of parental involvement that is going to help keep them safe," said Richard Verrier.
What a load of sophistry.
Sea Story II
Time for another Sea Story,
I was a fire controlman in the Navy. What a fire control technician does is pretty cool. We maintain and operate the digital fire control system. In other words, we do all the repair and maintenance on the system that is used to track contacts from all the different sensors (sonar, radar, periscope). And we operated the fire control system by determining the range, course, and speed of different targets after evaluating the bearing data over time. Then we would figure out how to shoot those targets with torpedos, (or tomahawk missles).
Our watchstanding involved maintaining current solutions on all contacts in order to provide the Captain with an overall picture of the tactical situation.
Whenever we went to periscope depth we had to do specific things to ensure that we were certain of the "solutions" on all contacts. The Captain would come up to the control room and the OOD would inform the captain of where he believed all the contacts were. The Captain would then give the OOD permision to come to periscope depth. After several years onboard I had developed a reputation of being very good at this part of my job, (getting solutions). The Captain would receive the report from the OOD and we would begin our ascent to persicope depth. The OOD would be riding the scope and the Captain would lean down and quietly ask me, "allright, what are these guys really doing?" It was nice to have the Captain have that much trust and respect for my abilities.
Now, whenever we were at periscope depth at night time, the control room would be "rigged for black", meaning all the lights would be out. This made it hard to see. The seat I was in was within arms length of the persiscope. Now, usually when the scope was out there would be a crowd of 5 or so people standing around the periscope station waiting to "take a turn". I always found this to be annoying because they would be bumping in to me. It was usually the J.O.'s who were there to get experience (or say they were they for official reasons when they really just wanted to see outside). So I started to play a game. Remember it was dark?? Well, I would reach over in to the group and pinch one of them on the butt. Usually the guy on the scope. I did this for a couple of years (about three or four patrols) without ever getting caught. I got J.O.'s, the CO, the XO, the NAV... whoever. Then on my last patrol, we were at periscope depth, rigged for black. The Captain was on the scope. I was reaching my hand over and was just about to pinch... and the Captain says in a low voice, "fire control, if you touch me... you'll be down in my stateroom later accross a green table from me" (meaning I would go to Captains Mast [non-judicial punishment]). "Aye Aye Captain" I say.
After we came down from periscope depth the Captain came over to me with a grin on his face and basically told me that he had known all along that it had been me doing it and that I should never assume that the Captain doesn't know what's going on. But, the gig was up and I should find something else to do now.
I was a fire controlman in the Navy. What a fire control technician does is pretty cool. We maintain and operate the digital fire control system. In other words, we do all the repair and maintenance on the system that is used to track contacts from all the different sensors (sonar, radar, periscope). And we operated the fire control system by determining the range, course, and speed of different targets after evaluating the bearing data over time. Then we would figure out how to shoot those targets with torpedos, (or tomahawk missles).
Our watchstanding involved maintaining current solutions on all contacts in order to provide the Captain with an overall picture of the tactical situation.
Whenever we went to periscope depth we had to do specific things to ensure that we were certain of the "solutions" on all contacts. The Captain would come up to the control room and the OOD would inform the captain of where he believed all the contacts were. The Captain would then give the OOD permision to come to periscope depth. After several years onboard I had developed a reputation of being very good at this part of my job, (getting solutions). The Captain would receive the report from the OOD and we would begin our ascent to persicope depth. The OOD would be riding the scope and the Captain would lean down and quietly ask me, "allright, what are these guys really doing?" It was nice to have the Captain have that much trust and respect for my abilities.
Now, whenever we were at periscope depth at night time, the control room would be "rigged for black", meaning all the lights would be out. This made it hard to see. The seat I was in was within arms length of the persiscope. Now, usually when the scope was out there would be a crowd of 5 or so people standing around the periscope station waiting to "take a turn". I always found this to be annoying because they would be bumping in to me. It was usually the J.O.'s who were there to get experience (or say they were they for official reasons when they really just wanted to see outside). So I started to play a game. Remember it was dark?? Well, I would reach over in to the group and pinch one of them on the butt. Usually the guy on the scope. I did this for a couple of years (about three or four patrols) without ever getting caught. I got J.O.'s, the CO, the XO, the NAV... whoever. Then on my last patrol, we were at periscope depth, rigged for black. The Captain was on the scope. I was reaching my hand over and was just about to pinch... and the Captain says in a low voice, "fire control, if you touch me... you'll be down in my stateroom later accross a green table from me" (meaning I would go to Captains Mast [non-judicial punishment]). "Aye Aye Captain" I say.
After we came down from periscope depth the Captain came over to me with a grin on his face and basically told me that he had known all along that it had been me doing it and that I should never assume that the Captain doesn't know what's going on. But, the gig was up and I should find something else to do now.
10/17/2007
The Last March of the Ents
Read this story and tell me if it gives you the creeps also.
I just think that we may be starting something that we will lose control of.
10/16/2007
Sea Story
My First Haircut
Life on a submarine for a new sailor (Non-qual, dink, scumbag, puke, nub) is very interesting and full of excitement. Even the most mundane of activities has an exciting air for a non-qual. I remember my first day underway. This is after I had awaken from a long sleep following finishing up my tour as a Crank (a guy on K.P. duty AKA cooks slave). I had quals to work on. So... being the smart non-qual that I was , I headed back to Machinery Two. As fortune would have it, there was a crowd of about 7 A-Gangers in AMR third level. I walked in and announced that I was ready for a checkout on some system (can't remember which one). Well, the COB (Chief of the Boat, [command Master Chief for you skimmers]) happened to be in the room shooting the breeze with the guys. He said I could have a checkout under one condition. I had to sit in the stool and everytime I got a wrong answer they would; spin me in circles, stop my spinning by grabbing my hair, cut off a handful of hair with the COB's pocketknife. Sounded good to me...
I didn't know as much about the system as I thought I knew. Wow!! there's a lot of little specific information to know for even the simplest equipment on a submarine. Like, "How many times did I have to retap the thread on the third bolt securing that pump to the deck?" I sure had a great haircut though. I looked like a Chernoble survivor! I walk up to the computer room which is just past the XO's and CO's staterooms. The XO notices me and gasps.
XO- "Sailor!? What happened to your hair?
ME- "I got it cut XO." (ask a dumb question...)
XO- "What the hell was used to cut your hair?"
ME- "It was a knife."
XO- "Did you do it yourself?"
ME- "No sir, it was done by some other people."
XO- "Who did this to you?"
ME- "You know sir, I'm so new that I can't really remember who they were."
XO- "You're not that new... Who was it!!?"
ME- "Sorry sir, I'm just not sure."
XO- "OK, where did it happen?"
ME- "Again sir, I'm so new that I don't really know my way around well enough. I'm not sure where I was."
XO- "Bullshit! You're dismissed!"
I took off and went and hid in DPER (pronounced deeper [the computer room]). Within 20 seconds you here over the 1MC, "Chief of the Boat, report to the XO's stateroom!" Well you could hear the XO explaining to the COB that he had better get to the bottom of the story regarding my haircut.
About 30 minutes later the messenger of the watch finds me and tells me to report to the Goat Locker (Chiefs Quarters). I walk in and find the COB and about 6 other chiefs sitting around in their lounge area. There is a stool, a towel, and some haircutting clippers. The COB sits me down and begins to cut my hair. He and the other chiefs visit with me, asking me questions about my childhood and my plans for the future. In the end the COB tells me, "You need to get out there and familiarize yourself with the boat and the rest of the crew now." Then he grabbed my qual card and signed it off for the system that my original "pocketknife checkout" had been for.
That COB saved my butt about a year in the future when I did something dumb on base. He had the reputation as being a mean old hardass. But, he took care of "his boys". Since the day I didn't rat him out, I became one of "his boys". That XO never did like me. But that's OK.
Life on a submarine for a new sailor (Non-qual, dink, scumbag, puke, nub) is very interesting and full of excitement. Even the most mundane of activities has an exciting air for a non-qual. I remember my first day underway. This is after I had awaken from a long sleep following finishing up my tour as a Crank (a guy on K.P. duty AKA cooks slave). I had quals to work on. So... being the smart non-qual that I was , I headed back to Machinery Two. As fortune would have it, there was a crowd of about 7 A-Gangers in AMR third level. I walked in and announced that I was ready for a checkout on some system (can't remember which one). Well, the COB (Chief of the Boat, [command Master Chief for you skimmers]) happened to be in the room shooting the breeze with the guys. He said I could have a checkout under one condition. I had to sit in the stool and everytime I got a wrong answer they would; spin me in circles, stop my spinning by grabbing my hair, cut off a handful of hair with the COB's pocketknife. Sounded good to me...
I didn't know as much about the system as I thought I knew. Wow!! there's a lot of little specific information to know for even the simplest equipment on a submarine. Like, "How many times did I have to retap the thread on the third bolt securing that pump to the deck?" I sure had a great haircut though. I looked like a Chernoble survivor! I walk up to the computer room which is just past the XO's and CO's staterooms. The XO notices me and gasps.
XO- "Sailor!? What happened to your hair?
ME- "I got it cut XO." (ask a dumb question...)
XO- "What the hell was used to cut your hair?"
ME- "It was a knife."
XO- "Did you do it yourself?"
ME- "No sir, it was done by some other people."
XO- "Who did this to you?"
ME- "You know sir, I'm so new that I can't really remember who they were."
XO- "You're not that new... Who was it!!?"
ME- "Sorry sir, I'm just not sure."
XO- "OK, where did it happen?"
ME- "Again sir, I'm so new that I don't really know my way around well enough. I'm not sure where I was."
XO- "Bullshit! You're dismissed!"
I took off and went and hid in DPER (pronounced deeper [the computer room]). Within 20 seconds you here over the 1MC, "Chief of the Boat, report to the XO's stateroom!" Well you could hear the XO explaining to the COB that he had better get to the bottom of the story regarding my haircut.
About 30 minutes later the messenger of the watch finds me and tells me to report to the Goat Locker (Chiefs Quarters). I walk in and find the COB and about 6 other chiefs sitting around in their lounge area. There is a stool, a towel, and some haircutting clippers. The COB sits me down and begins to cut my hair. He and the other chiefs visit with me, asking me questions about my childhood and my plans for the future. In the end the COB tells me, "You need to get out there and familiarize yourself with the boat and the rest of the crew now." Then he grabbed my qual card and signed it off for the system that my original "pocketknife checkout" had been for.
That COB saved my butt about a year in the future when I did something dumb on base. He had the reputation as being a mean old hardass. But, he took care of "his boys". Since the day I didn't rat him out, I became one of "his boys". That XO never did like me. But that's OK.
10/15/2007
This Is Stupid
So I'm watching the news out of PRS, (The People's Republic of Seattle), and they ran this big story about a family cat that had been shot. It was very serious and reporters were out on location to bring us the latest on this very important news event. The News reported that the cat had been shot and that the ".22 caliber bullet was still lodged in the abdomen" (of the cat). Now, most everybody is appalled that someone in the PRS was using a .22 to shoot cats. That is a dangerous thing since a .22 projectile travels with such high velocity.
NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY... It's not what the news said that's important here, it's what they didn't say, or chose to leave ambiguous so as to encourage us to believe something that wasn't true. Watch closely the video at the news link, at 40 secs into the video they show an x-ray of the "bullet" lodged in the cat. It's a .22 cal PELLET, shot from an AIR POWERED PELLET GUN. Now technically any projectile is a bullet, whether it's shot from a sling-shot, a hunting rifle, or a pellet gun. But here I think they wanted us to believe that something happened that didn't; That some crazed lunatic is out shooting a .22 caliber rifle in the PRS.
What's the agenda??? probably another brick getting set in the wall that is being erected to usurp our constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
The lady probably didn't follow the laws for controling your animals in the PRS anyway (leash laws). The person with the pellet gun was probably tired of having cat crap from her "Daisy Mae" in their flower bed. After never receiving a good response from the owner or the animal control folks they enacted a little "frontier justice".
Sorry if I sound cold but... I grew up on a farm, if you don't keep your animals on your own property, they're fair game. What happens if you don't is your fault.
NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY... It's not what the news said that's important here, it's what they didn't say, or chose to leave ambiguous so as to encourage us to believe something that wasn't true. Watch closely the video at the news link, at 40 secs into the video they show an x-ray of the "bullet" lodged in the cat. It's a .22 cal PELLET, shot from an AIR POWERED PELLET GUN. Now technically any projectile is a bullet, whether it's shot from a sling-shot, a hunting rifle, or a pellet gun. But here I think they wanted us to believe that something happened that didn't; That some crazed lunatic is out shooting a .22 caliber rifle in the PRS.
What's the agenda??? probably another brick getting set in the wall that is being erected to usurp our constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
The lady probably didn't follow the laws for controling your animals in the PRS anyway (leash laws). The person with the pellet gun was probably tired of having cat crap from her "Daisy Mae" in their flower bed. After never receiving a good response from the owner or the animal control folks they enacted a little "frontier justice".
Sorry if I sound cold but... I grew up on a farm, if you don't keep your animals on your own property, they're fair game. What happens if you don't is your fault.
10/14/2007
Applause for "The Vatican"
This story has so much possibility for discussion. I will focus on on one thing however.
Referring to homosexual activity as something that is "against Vatican teaching" shows a lack of understanding of what the Catholic Church is, and what the Vatican is in regards to the Church.
There aren't several different Catholic teachings regarding homosexuality. There is only one teaching, click here to see what that is. Any "Catholic teaching" that is presented or offered regarding homosexuality that differs from the one at the link, is simply a personal opinion that is in error.
Jesus Christ established a Church. A visible Church with an official organization and leader. The Catholic Church recognizes itself as that Church and teaches that the fullness of God's revelation subsists within the Catholic Church.
The Bishop of Rome is the successor of the Apostle Peter as the Earthly head of Christ's Church. The Bishop of Rome maintains his "government" at a place named Vatican City. The Bishop of Rome (the Pope) maintains sovereign leadership over the Church. The Holy Spirit protects the Church from the Pope teaching in error with regards to matters of faith and morals (Papal invalibility).
I have found that when the media reports that "The Vatican" has made some "declaration", "announcement", or "determination" it is insinuating that it is only the Vatican that is saying something, and that the rest of the Church or other teachers in the Church, have seperate yet equal opinions or positions. They prop up "The Vatican" or "The Pope" or "The Roman Curia" as being simply some type of ignorant tryanical government that doesn't really speak for the people.
As Jesus told the Apostles, "He who rejects you, rejects Me."
The Church is Apostolic, has been since before the Catholic Bishops canonized scripture in the 400's. The Apostolic Church has but one voice, the Pope and the Bishops in communion with the Pope.
Referring to homosexual activity as something that is "against Vatican teaching" shows a lack of understanding of what the Catholic Church is, and what the Vatican is in regards to the Church.
There aren't several different Catholic teachings regarding homosexuality. There is only one teaching, click here to see what that is. Any "Catholic teaching" that is presented or offered regarding homosexuality that differs from the one at the link, is simply a personal opinion that is in error.
Jesus Christ established a Church. A visible Church with an official organization and leader. The Catholic Church recognizes itself as that Church and teaches that the fullness of God's revelation subsists within the Catholic Church.
The Bishop of Rome is the successor of the Apostle Peter as the Earthly head of Christ's Church. The Bishop of Rome maintains his "government" at a place named Vatican City. The Bishop of Rome (the Pope) maintains sovereign leadership over the Church. The Holy Spirit protects the Church from the Pope teaching in error with regards to matters of faith and morals (Papal invalibility).
I have found that when the media reports that "The Vatican" has made some "declaration", "announcement", or "determination" it is insinuating that it is only the Vatican that is saying something, and that the rest of the Church or other teachers in the Church, have seperate yet equal opinions or positions. They prop up "The Vatican" or "The Pope" or "The Roman Curia" as being simply some type of ignorant tryanical government that doesn't really speak for the people.
As Jesus told the Apostles, "He who rejects you, rejects Me."
The Church is Apostolic, has been since before the Catholic Bishops canonized scripture in the 400's. The Apostolic Church has but one voice, the Pope and the Bishops in communion with the Pope.
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