As my brain melts and becomes one with reality, the affair of this journey of life becomes familiar with you and me.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Flicker, Part III
This where I am thinking about deleting the whole thing again. Remember, box of rocks. Not shiny.
How I Was Infected
Wacky Meme of the Month, Part II
"This has probably been done before, but that is not stopping me, oh no.Here's what I would like to do. I want to create a story that branches out in a variety of different, unexpected ways. I don't know how realistic it is, but that's what I'm aiming for. Hopefully, at least one thread of the story can make a decent number of hops before it dies out.If you are one of the carriers of this story virus (i.e. you have been tagged and choose to contribute to it), you will have one responsibility, in addition to contributing your own piece of the story: you will have to tag at least one person that continues your story thread. So, say you tag five people. If four people decide to not participate, it's okay, as long as the fifth one does. And if all five participate, well that's five interesting threads the story spins off into.Not a requirement, but something your readers would appreciate: to help people trace your own particular thread of the narrative, it will be helpful if you include links to the chapters preceding yours."
Being the good sport that I am, I felt I couldn't let the readers down. So just as the world turns so does this:
I woke up hungry. I pulled my bedroom curtain to the side and looked out on a hazy morning. I dragged myself into the kitchen, in search of something to eat. I reached for a jar of applesauce sitting next to the sink, and found it very cold to the touch. I opened the jar and realized it was frozen. (Splotchy)
I was used to the house being quite cold in the mornings, as the night log usually burns out around one AM when I am dreaming cozily under my covers, not
normally waking to put a new one on until morning. I was surprised because on the rare occasions that it actually had reached sub-freezing temperatures in the house, I had awakened in the night to restart the fire. I would have been worried about the pipes before P-Day, but there hadn’t been running water in two years and that was one of the few advantages to being dependent on rainwater, no pipes. (Freida Bee)
I rummaged around in the kitchen and found one of the few things that hadn't frozen overnight to eat- an expired granola bar. "Better than nothing", I muttered to myself as I tore off the wrapper and took a bite, trying to not chip a tooth in the process.I thought I should go out to the shed and bring in more wood. The mind-numbing cold snap that had set in over the last few days seemed to be in no hurry to leave. Pulling on my heavy coat and wool hat, I considered for a moment what lay ahead for the day. Normally I would spend much of the day making any needed repairs to the house, cleaning, reading various newsletters, cooking, and just trying to keep busy in general. With no job to fill my time anymore I have found my new found "freedom" to be both a blessing and a curse. Ever since P-day, the only job most of us have is to sit in our homes and find something, anything, to pass the time.Well, that- and to stay alive. (Whiskeymarie)
I reached the woodshed I’d built from the remains of our fence, and heard a rustling. Fearing one of the wild dogs that now roamed the neighborhood, I crept back to the house for the gun my husband left with me before he volunteered to join the fighting. My hand was shaking so badly, I didn’t think I could pull a trigger, so I also grabbed an old broomstick to use as a club. My son tried to follow me, and I ordered him back inside; he obeyed, frightened by the harshness of my tone. He seemed not to sense how terrified I was and I was glad. Inching toward the shed, glancing backward every few steps to be sure the children were staying inside, I heard the rustle again, accompanied by a very human cough.“Who is it?” I shouted, in as angry and menacing a voice as I could muster.No response.“Damn it, I know you’re in there! I have a gun! Come out with your hands up, or I’ll just start shooting!”“Don’t shoot!” said the voice, and(CDP).
~
I woke up hungry. The room was white, small and seemed to not have any doors. That is when I realized I was naked. I had a thin sheet of plastic over me and some machine making beeping noises to my left.
I started to rise up that is when I noticed the cuffs holding me to the bed. I started to scream.
A large booming voice came over a loud speaker, " Calm down, calm down Mrs. Peabody."
I bellowed out, "Who are you?! Why am I chained down?! Where are my children?! "
The voice replied, " There has been an accident, everything will be fine. There will be someone to assist and answer your questions shortly."
Then there was silence. I yelled some more but nothing. No response. Then suddenly, I a creaking sound. To the right there was a door opening, it was......
(Wyldth1ng)
Gotta love cliff hangars. I doubt I will find anyone who will continue this one, but I will tag some more people and see if it goes anywhere or just stops at this.
Splotchy
FranIAm
Mathman6293
PrincessMindy
and the last one will be you the person that has always wanted to be tagged but hasn't. This is your chance to make this story a masterpiece.
History of Women Marines
How did my mother serve in the Marine Corps during WWII?
"In 1918, the Secretary of Navy allowed women to enroll for clerical duty in the Marine Corps. Officially, Opha Mae Johnson is credited as the first woman Marine. Johnson enrolled for service on August 13, 1918; during that year some 300 women first entered the Marine Corps to take over stateside clerical duties from battle-ready Marines who were needed overseas. The Marine Corps Women's Reserve was established in February 1943. June 12th, 1948, Congress passed the Women's Armed Services Integration Act and made women a permanent part of the regular Marine Corps. "Sunday, December 09, 2007
Thinking About Presidental History
We remember the ones during war and the ones that were assassinated or both. Really, think about it for moment.
Why is that? Why do we as Americans forget the Presidents in between our wars or the ones that lived beyond their presidency?
I always enjoy asking people if they know their four generals that became Presidents and which ones are on our legal tender. You would be surprised to find out that most people I ask can not come up with the answer. The responses are usually two of the generals and can think of only one who is on our money.
Here is a couple of questions and an answers for everyone:
1) President Truman signed an important piece of legislation for women in 1948, what was it?
2) Who was the first President to fly in a helicopter?
3) Which President was the only one to earn a PhD?
4) Which President delivered the shortest inaugural address?
5) The "Baby Ruth" candy bar was named for which President's daughter?
6) Which President slept in pajamas with five stars sewn on to the shoulder?
7) Which President from the 20th century is on Mount Rushmore?
8) Which Presidents signed the Declaration of Independence?
9)Who was the only Rhodes Scholar amongst the Presidents?
10) Which President was the first to have been a POW(Prisoner of War)?
1a) Women's Armed Services Integration Act, which authorized women to serve in the organized services(military).
2a) President Eisenhower
3a)President Woodrow Wilson (John Hopkins 1886)
4a) President George Washington, 135 words
5a) President Grover Cleveland, Ruth Cleveland
6a) President Dwight D. Eisenhower
7a) President Theodore Roosevelt
8a) Thomas Jefferson and John Adams
9a) President William Clinton
10a) Andrew Jackson, Revolutionary War
Thank You My Heroes
I have received this letter and many similar like it and I feel that I do not deserve the niceties these people and others have shared with me and my Marines. The majority of the boxes contents, expect for a book and a couple of Starburst, will be going to my Marines and several other Marines that are deployed farther out from me.
I can't help but feel choked up when I read a letter like this one from Eve. I have never thought of myself as a hero and probably never will. I have always thought that everyday people with their acts of kindness are the heroes.
Thank you.
All of us, thank you for taking the time and effort to send a piece of your home to our "home" here.
Heathen
I am divorced. (3 times)
I have lied in the past. (A white lie and 2 fibs)
I have had sex out of wedlock.
I have been gluttonous.(I weigh about ten pounds over my healthy weight.)
I drink beer. ("In heaven there is no beer, That is why we drink it here.")
I have purposely tried and succeeded to hurt people. (They were all bad.)
I have used the lord's name in vain. (for both pain and pleasure)
I have taken items that were not mine. (When I was five I took a Tootsie Pop from the store without paying.)
I do not attend church services regularly.
I do not give ten percent to any church. (I instead invest ten percent for retirement.)
I have worshiped other gods. ( I have dabbled in many other beliefs.)
I have had envy for other people. (American society helps that sin to the nth degree.)
I have never truly confessed my sins to God, but I have to one woman who scorned me.
I am an extremist when it comes to my belief in the Corps.
I do not ask for forgiveness, I do not ask for grief, I do not ask for justification.
This is who I am.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Belly Growth, Part II
Knocker
My last wife received a knocker for Christmas one of the years we were married. I write it like that because when the marriage dissolved she took the knocker. Luckily, I received one just like it the following year. I would love to put on my front door. I seem to be missing a front door, at the moment. I bring this up for a few reasons, one for it being Christmas time and this was a gift. And of course, it looks just like the photo above.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Wacky Meme of the Month
Here's what I would like to do. I want to create a story that branches out in a variety of different, unexpected ways. I don't know how realistic it is, but that's what I'm aiming for. Hopefully, at least one thread of the story can make a decent number of hops before it dies out.
Whomever I tag at the end of this, if they chose to accept the mission, will most likely be in another circle altogether. I probably should not be the one linking the two but we shall see.
I woke up hungry. I pulled my bedroom curtain to the side and looked out on a hazy morning. I dragged myself into the kitchen, in search of something to eat. I reached for a jar of applesauce sitting next to the sink, and found it very cold to the touch. I opened the jar and realized it was frozen. (Splotchy)
"That's strange," I said out loud to no one in particular. My fingers slowly reached towards the jar again. My body experienced a wave of apprehension as weighted blanket covering me as I did so. The jar was completely frozen.
I picked it up and stared at it, my fingers stung with little knives of chill. "What the..." again I spoke aloud. Then I realized what had happened with a shock. Suddenly the jar flew from my hand. It shattered creating a collage-like mixture of frozen applesauce and glass shards on my kitchen floor, the lid lazily rolling to a stop across the room.(FranIam)
I stood for a moment considering what all this meant. Oh, I knew what it meant, I didn’t need to waste time thinking about it. He was back. And he was mad.
I ran down the hallway and flung open the door at the end. I was immediately hit with a blast of cold. I took a step back as I tried to catch my breath. I bent over, hands on my knees panting. He always had this remarkable effect on me. After so much time, it no longer scared me, but it was a shock nonetheless……
“You know,” I panted, “There’s no need to break things to get my
attention.” (DCup)I woke up hungry. I rolled out of bed smacking my alarm clock that was singing Carly Simon and thinking to myself I have to stop eating pizza right before bed and then sleeping till noon. I must remember to change that station to something that will actually wake me.
Stubbing my toe on my boots on my way to the kitchen, I glanced sideways down the hall and caught the dead body out of the corner of my eye. (Wyldth1ng)
I hope I pick at least one person out of five that will continue the story. So without further hesitation:
Will Blog For Food
The Village Carpeter
More Cows Than People
LadyBurg
Jan
Daemon Wagon
For the next twelve days or so you can interact with my results here:http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/?588009
But did you expect anything else?
RevGals Friday Five: Preparation
Here then is this weeks Friday 5:
1. You have a busy week, pushing out all time for preparing worship/ Sunday School lessons/ being ready for an important meeting ( or whatever equivalent your profession demands)- how do you cope?
As a Marine, I accomplish the mission, then ensure troop welfare.
2. You have unexpected visitors, and need to provide them with a meal- what do you do?Three discussion topics:
a) Open up a box of menu A of MREs
b) Open up a box of menu B of MREs
c) Find an Any Marine package and share
3. Thinking along the lines of this weeks advent theme; repentance is an important but often neglected aspect of advent preparations.....
I really don't understand what I am supposed to do for this question/statement.
4. Some of the best experiences in life occur when you simply go with the flow.....
Take charge and secure the hill.
5. Details are everything, attention to the small things enables a plan to roll forward smoothly...
That is why you called the Marines.
Bonus if you dare- how well prepared are you for Christmas this year?
Better prepared than a Swiss Army knife.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Day of Infamy
I Q
The gamble was loser pays for dinner meals for a month and will always be considered not as smart(dumb as a box of rocks) amongst the players. The verification was a test proctored by a member of Mensa also a good friend of ours (at the cost of two hundred fifty dollars each). We were serious about this. The night prior we went drink for drink. This where the challenge came into play and you could say that was not smart. We were both late to the test. Since we were the only ones taking the test(at a local college) they waited. I will give props to my friend who finished this test two minutes before me. I scored one point higher than him.
I did not qualify for Mensa. But who cares, I got free meals for a month and he will always be as dumb as a box of rocks.
I want to leave the show...
I feel I may be losing the audience here, you can call it whining if you want to. Regardless of how much I may bitch, I am still doing the job to the best of my ability.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Cluster Headaches
The real reason I post this so if it seems my chipper self is not in the last few posts or it doesn't seem like I have visited your blog lately, I am sorry. Being alive just hurts.
Snow Globe
Flicker, Part II
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
News Junkie, Part II
I like the way he writes and expresses his opinions. I don't expect anyone to be swayed just because I like to read him. I am just letting you all know, that I like reading the colonel.
The End is Over
The rules:
1. Put your music player on Shuffle
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER WHAT(this is in capital letters, so it is very serious.) (It is so serious someone wrote that it is, serious.)
MY ANSWERS:
1. IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY?
Centerfold
by J. Geils Band
2. WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Zombie
by The Cranberries
3. WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Tennessee Flat Top Box
by Johnny Cash
4. HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
The Zoo
by Scorpions
5. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Play the Game
by Queen
6. WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Jeopardy
by Greg Kihn Band
7. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Best of You
by Foo Fighters
8. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
Stuck with Me
by Green Day
9. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Time Warp
The Original Rocky Horror Picture Show Soundtrack
10. WHAT IS 2+2?
Cath
by The Bluebells
11. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Island in the Sun
by Weezer
12. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Everyday is a Winding Road
by Sheryl Crow
13. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Man in Black
by Johnny Cash
14. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
The Kids Aren't All Right
by Offspring
15. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Lithium
by Evanescence
16. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
On the Road Again
by Canned Heat
17. WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Right Here, Right Now
by Jesus Jones
18. WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Body Crumbles
by Dry Cell
19. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thing
by Heaven 17
20. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Waiting
by Green Day
21. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Feudin' Banjos
by Don Reno
22. WHAT SHOULD YOU POST THIS AS?
The End is Over
by Powerman 5000
After further review, on the play list, maybe not all my music choices are good to listen to while out here. Then again, how can anyone go through the day without the banjo song from Deliverance.
Some Clarifications
On the post "http://wyldth1ng.blogspot.com/2007/12/quagmire.html" is where the above statements and corresponding post was supposed to clarify. (I have been trying to not be as a clear as mud.)
As far as the stick figures go, we shall see if I do something more with that.
Monday, December 03, 2007
What I Can and May Say.
So, if you ask for me to answer questions pertaining the "war" or a particular politician, I will most likely ignore it and not answer it.
I like my rank. I would like to keep it. Maybe even pick up a rank, that sounds good. Pick up a rank and have a beer. Better yet, pick up a rank, have a beer, and have friends with me to enjoy it.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Flicker
Maybe I am smarter than a limestone but not marble. You get my meaning. I ready to to say fuck it. I mean hell, I have a whole website with hundreds of photos with all sorts of great commentary over the past decade(this where you say, man you are old).
Why can't I get this stupid thing to work? My "home" at Flickr is just pissing me off. I am fixn' to delete the whole thing.
I want to be cool, you know, not get picked last. I am sure it is one piece of code that just sort of disappeared and is eluding me at the moment (half the night).
Quagmire
My Life
God, Part 2b
My belief is man (of course enter the appropriate noun for your cranium because it would hurt my fucking feelings that I didn't abide by your fucking stupid word choice that has no bearing on what I am really trying to fucking say here) has four kinds of souls; 2 basic types of souls with two sub categories for each. There is the saved and the damned.
In the saved category you have those that preach the word of their* God and those who by default are saved just because they have lived a good natural life whether they believe or not.
In the damned category you have warriors of God and warriors of evil. If feel there is no point in explained what evil is and who or what God is for the purpose of this discussion so I will continue from here. The warriors of which ever "side" has and does take on the offense to do some deed that will keep this soul from being saved.
Now that I have solved the mysteries of life right here for everyone, let's all pause and have a beer.
Note: If you do not believe in any of the bologna that I just posted that is okay you don't have to. That is the beauty of "free will."
Saturday, December 01, 2007
The Many Home Returns
I was married for one return, but it was the ending of that marriage, so it may not count. There is by my count three types of returns that Marines have. One, you are in a pine box. Depressing as that may be, that Marine will now be guarding the street of Heaven. Two, you are married or have a significant other and is greeted with cheers, hugs, kisses. All things are forgiven for that day for that couple and everyone is "happy." Three, the single man or very soon to be single man(insert the female nouns/pronouns where applicable) comes home to virtually nothing. No hugs, kisses. There might a hug or kiss from a by-stander but it temporary. Once that Marine finally grounds his gear in where ever he may stay(live) then what. The what is the happening. I have found over the years it is best to find a bar and have a few drinks. Usually only a few is good enough and a cab will be the next thing you see. The worst thing, in my opinion, is to stay in the barracks that day or the next few days, because that is where depression will really kick in. It is best to find someone to be with for at least the next 3 or 4 days. Even if you hate that person it is better than being alone.
So in short, the actual day of return just fucking sucks. All I ever wanted to do is get away of the merry wishers and married people because it all seemed so fake. Great, someone is happy I am "home" but are you going to hold me like lovers do when I drift off to sleep? No, you are not. You don't even know my first name. You may smile and you may hug me when I step off from that plane, helicopter, or bus but you will not be with me for that tender loving care that I really need six hours after.
You are reading this and thinking one of two things. First one, you are thinking,"that is too fucking bad, oh well." Second, is "I am going to do something about it. " The truth is you can't do anything. The truth is you can't give what is needed or wanted. The truth is even after this deployment or the next there will be thousands of men and women that you can't do anything for. And that is where one of the sacrifices that we volunteers of the armed forces have agreed upon. To me, that is okay, I have hardened my life and built that wall around me so my emotions are not a factor. Don't give me that fake smile and tell me you are glad to see me, instead wrap you arm around me and let's sit down and have a beer. We can talk about the good times and the good times to come.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Letters - The Answer Expanded, Part II
Well, the people I have an address for that sent a letter or care package, will receive a card from me. So not to be left out(my current audience) my year in review is right here. This blog. Even though I have been careful about OpSec (Operation Security) everyone should be able to get the idea what has happened to me and the Marines of MALS-29 REIN.
A Word About Mail, Maybe Two
If you (the person reading this) has my address here in the Area of Operation (AO) please do not send anything else past December 15th.
If you do it reminds me about a letter I was recieved from my Mom 3 years and 7 months late. It was sent to an address similar to the one I have now and did not reach its destination until after I had left and went back to my garrison command. Well, that letter "floated" through the system until it ultimately found me in Arizona. (Which I am not stationed there anymore either.) I still have the envelope it has stamps form seventeen different military posts and international post offices. While it is nice to know the mail system still works even after you leave an AO, it is just better to not test out the system.
RevGals Friday Five: The Grinch Edition
Please tell us(RevGals) your least favorite/most annoying seasonal....
1) dessert/cookie/family food
I do not know what it is called it is white, round has nuts in it, some sort of powdery substance an the outside, it is only seen during this time of the year, whatever it may be called I hate it. Always have. Seems like "old" like to have them in in abundance and when you visit it is in you rbest interest to eat several or you will be beat by a cane. (Or something like that.)
2) beverage (seasonal beer, eggnog w/ way too much egg and not enough nog, etc...)
Eggnog by itself makes me want to hurl, but if you add enough brandy anything can be tolerable.
3) tradition (church, family, other)
I don't have any "Christmas" traditions anymore so maybe that is my complaint.
4) decoration
It is not anyone decoration but the one who is competing with Clark Griswald, those people should be *****. ( I can't really express my feelings on a blog about this one.)
5) gift (received or given)
The one where you receive and everyone in the room knows it is crappy gift but you smile and tell the person who gave it to you, that it is something you always wanted and then give it away at the next year's Christmas party.
BONUS: SONG/CD that makes you want to tell the elves where to stick it.
Bing Crosby's White Christmas - I can't stand it ever since being stuck in a snow drift two stories tall , while in a '79 Ford Bronco which the heater didn't work well, and not very much "cold weather" clothing for the "short" trip to Grandma's house in some Christmas during the eighties and the only song playing "it seems" was that, on the radio.
Honorable Even if Not Entirely True
Here is an excerpt from that article appearing in the World Net Daily:
Made in the USA: Spoiled brats
Posted: November 20, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern
The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The same magazine that employs Michael (Qurans in the toilets at Gitmo) Isikoff. Here I promised myself this week I would be nice and I start off in this way. Oh what a mean man I am.
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.
So being the knuckle dragger I am, I starting thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
If you would like to read the full article go to: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53028
Thursday, November 29, 2007
The Many Uses...
Today is a mix of Dr. Pepper and 800mg Motrin.
A Busy Thursday(ish), Part II
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
A Busy Thursday(ish)
So tomorrow(today) should be a fun busy day.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Five of My Favorite Gifts of All Time
One) A fire truck. Not just any type of fire truck but a fire truck I could drive(pedal). I would have to say I was five maybe four, hard to say. Yeah, that one was awesome.
Two) A Green Bay Packer cribbage board. Two things I enjoy in one present, what is not to like.
Three) Green Bay Packer Stadium Blanket. The darn thing comes in handy in all sorts of places. (In my adult years I have gotten pretty easy to shop for.)
Four) Leatherman Kick. Two years ago, in Japan, at the avionics Christmas Party. I use it everyday.
Five) A kiss. Christmas 2004.
I will tag everyone I didn't give a gift to in the last thirty years. (That should cover the blog sphere.)
The Valders Journal
Simple. Now the tough questions are answered.
I receive the Journal about two to three weeks after the printing. Oh wait, I didn't tell you the obvious answer, this is where I am from. So this paper, that I receive about half a month late, is always filled with something interesting. I like to look at this as the local news with pizazz and small town humor. The writing is superb and I know they have won awards so don't take this too lightly.
There are many times in which I really, really want to write an editorial. But I suppose it may be my better judgement that stops me. If you haven't figured it out, I have a lot of opinions.
There is always a part of the second page that talks about "today's" history, which I think is important, even though sometimes the facts are one sided sometimes. Of course, I get to keep up on the high school sports and see the progress through the seasons. "News of Record" tells of tragedy and heartache. The Outdoor Report gets a laugh on occasion with his Olga and Swen jokes.(If you don't know, just nod and grin.) The part that I seem to always enjoy is this opinion article by Gregg Novacheck titled "What the Parrot Saw." His writing style to me seems similar to mine. Very funny stuff and to me is the paper seller.
The Learning Curve
That is why the senior man rule comes in. Who ever the senior man is, that is the guy or gal that gets his ass handed to them if something is amiss. It is a great system unless you are that senior man.
The "work" is currently off doing the thing that I put in motion. Tomorrow will be the test of time. If I don't get my ass handed to me, then I made the right decision. If I do, that is what we call "a learning experience."
Monday, November 26, 2007
Word Verification
I know what it is for, but does anyone really have a problem with this? This = "robots" leaving unwanted messages of his or her blog. I don't know anyone with this problem.
I did have this problem with a guestbook I had for my website, but I was using php and I have now corrected that problem.
Here is the next point, where are the words? I can't remember a time where there was a word. It was just a jumbled mess of letters and sometimes numbers. Why even call it a word verification if there are no words?
The last point or statement or question is: Let's all get rid of this waste of time. Say "No" to word verification.
That is my story and I sticking with it.
Happened Upon
People Before Prophets
We're making too much of politicians' religious faith.
Friday, November 23, 2007 12:01 a.m. EST
I was talking with an old friend, a longtime Democrat, and she asked if I knew what religion a certain presidential candidate was. I replied that I didn't know and hoped I'd never find out. We started to laugh, and she nodded.
I didn't mean it and yet I meant it, for we have come to an odd pass regarding candidates and their faith. It's not as if faith is unimportant, it's always important. But we are asking our political figures--mere flawed politicians--to put forward and talk about their faith to a degree that has become odd. We push them against the wall and do a kind of theological frisk on them. We didn't use to.
Forty years ago, a firm-jawed, silver-haired Michigan governor made a serious bid for the presidency. He was well-funded, well-credentialed, and was done in by one of those campaign gaffes in which a throwaway line becomes a death knell. He had changed his position on Vietnam, and in explaining his previous support said he'd been "brainwashed" on the issue. Americans don't like their presidents to be people who'd allow their brains to be sent to the dry cleaners. Republicans in particular were not amused. So he was over.
His name was George Romney. He was Mitt's father. And no one back in those narrow-minded, benighted days seems to have cared that much that he was a Mormon.
Now it's an issue. Now we debate the candidate's faith.
This is change. Is it progress?
It doesn't feel like it.
In 1968 we were, as now, a religious country. But when we walked to the polls, we thought we were about to hire a president, not a Bible study teacher.
No one cared, really, that Richard Nixon was a Quaker. They may have been confused by it, but they weren't upset. His vice president, Spiro Agnew, was not Greek Orthodox but Episcopalian. Nobody much noticed. Nelson Rockefeller of New York was not an Episcopalian but a Baptist. Do you know what Lyndon Johnson's religion was? He was a member of the Disciples of Christ, but in what appeared to be the same way he was a member of the American Legion: You're in politics, you join things. Hubert Humphrey was born Lutheran, attended Methodist churches, and was rumored to be a Congregationalist. This didn't quite reach the level of mystery because nobody quite cared.
Question Twenty Three
I think it is best we examine the question in parts.
The first section, What is, I believe is self explanatory but I added a hyper link any way. The second part, Captain, Captain Morgan, the preferred is the Spiced Rum, but others in their wacky tastes might go with some other not as good flavor. The next part is coke, truly Coca Cola is the best but may be substituted with other varieties. This falls into the category of why fuck up a good thing. The last part, in a tub, is a carry over from a couple of generations ago, it is the use of a large usually wide glass with no stem. The idea is to get rid of the stupid shit so one can enjoy the drink. This can be especially helpful if you have a large nose.
This is an obvious addition that there should be no junk in the drink. Junk refers to fruit and vegetables. Some people not really interested in the drink believe having junk in their drink enhances it, but in truth they really look naive and probably should be beaten with a wet noodle, something to match the brain power.
This post is not meant to offend anyone, but if it did there are people that can help you and you will win a jacket that will be your last jacket you will ever wear.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Vacations, Part II
Somewhere that serves chilled beer.
A place where I can talk to a woman and maybe get lucky.
A venue with good music.
A place I can not worry.
Somewhere that knows what a "Captain and coke in a tub" means.
A place with conversation.
Somewhere not close.
Somewhere not far away.
A locale with a massage parlor nearby.
An area with fresh air.
A place that everyone is not carrying a weapon.
An area that has real beds.
Somewhere PDOA is okay.
I think I need a vacation.
Group Photo
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Spelling Bee
The chaplain here caught me misspelling the word today and corrected me. I think I have been messing this up for my entire career. No one has even mentioned it before. Boggles the mind, it does. I would like to think I am a decent speller and I use the correct spellings, except for this glitch.
Wacky.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Reason Four Hundred Twenty Two
What do you do on your holidays? I don't really know anymore. This is not about me anymore it is really about the young Marines in their first few years of the Corps. Making sure they are as happy as possible.
I really do not know what makes me happy. I know what makes me sad. I know what makes me angry. All the "bad" emotions, I know, what causes them, so I try to avoid it. (Don't call the Chaplin, I like me.) I have just been thinking and now I am writing it down. Think it as a reflection.
If this is fate, so be it. If it is God's will, fine. I can live with it.
300th Comment of the Month
Iris of Growing Where I'm Planted has posted my 300th comment of the month!
Your prize is my collection of imaginary elf horns.
Congratulations!
RevGals Friday Five: Post Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is the American holiday when the greatest number of people travel somewhere else to celebrate. I am posting this from my son’s home in Minnesota where we are recovering from the food shopping and the preparations and the meal and the clean up. It is difficult to think of anything requiring much energy today, and I am enjoying my sweet baby granddaughter, so I will keep it simple. For those of you not in the USA, I apologize for the nationalistic tone of this Friday Five!
1. Did you go elsewhere for the day, or did you have visitors at your place instead? How was it?
I spent the day in Iraq, I didn't have any visitors so that was good.
2. Main course: If it was the turkey, the whole turkey, and nothing but the turkey, was it prepared in an unusual way? Or did you throw tradition to the winds and do something different?
I actually had a type of steak couldn't tell what kind or from what animal but it tasted okay.
3. Other than the meal, do you have any Thanksgiving customs that you observe every year?
When I am not deployed (and sometimes when I am) I try to enjoy it with someones family.
4. The day after Thanksgiving is considered a major Christmas shopping day by most US retailers. Do you go out bargain hunting and shop ‘till you drop, or do you stay indoors with the blinds closed? Or something in between?
I wrote about this below, no I do not shop. Not a crowd person. If football is on, I will watch that.
5. Let the HOLIDAY SEASON commence! When will your Christmas decorations go up?
There are up. Didn't I post that already? I added stockings on my desk that a nice woman from Washington and a nice woman from Florida sent.
Black Friday
Holiday shopping = whichever holiday you shop for
I think it was originally Christmas shopping, then America added Santa Claus. Then we added political correctness. Then we added (forgive me Mel) California. Then we added, “we are too damn sensitive and on drugs to understand what the reason is to give materialistic items to our children." Then we added GWOT.
Black Friday has its own website, I am not endorsing it, I am just showing the level at which this has come.
I am not trying to end it. I am not trying to bash Californians (really). I am not trying to do anything.
While I am here, abroad, I wonder what kind of chaos ensures the American public. What kind of fever runs the veins of those who could really care less of the purpose of their time off work or school?
I just don't understand anymore.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Rights - A Look
This is what the government says:
Copyright protects “original works of authorship” that are fixed in a tangible form of expression. The fixation need not be directly perceptible so long as it may be communicated with the aid of a machine or device. Copyrightable works include the following categories:
1) literary works;
2) musical works, including any accompanying words
3) dramatic works, including any accompanying music
4) pantomimes and choreographic works
5) pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
6) motion pictures and other audiovisual works
7) sound recordings
8) architectural works
These categories should be viewed broadly. For example, computer programs and most “compilations” may be registered as “literary works”; maps and architectural plans may be registered as “pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works.”
And this is the cool part:
The use of a copyright notice is no longer required under U.S. law, although it is often beneficial. Because prior law did contain such a requirement, however, the use of notice is still relevant to the copyright status of older works.
This is the part that lets me live forever:
A work that was created (fixed in tangible form for the first time) on or after January 1, 1978, is automatically protected from the moment of its creation and is ordinarily given a term enduring for the author’s life plus an additional 70 years after the author’s death. In the case of “a joint work prepared by two or more authors who did not work for hire,” the term lasts for 70 years after the last surviving author’s death. For works made for hire, and for anonymous and pseudonymous works (unless the author’s identity is revealed in Copyright Office records), the duration of copyright will be 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.
So I am not going to worry too much today, or tomorrow either.