This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Author: Hondo

  • Vo Nguyen Giap, 1911-2013

    General Vo Nguyen Giap, commander of North Vietnam’s armed forces during the French and US Indochinese Wars, has died.  He was 102.

    For decades, Giap was our enemy.  Regardless, give the man his due:  though he was an enemy, he was nonetheless an extremely effective commander – and was perhaps the most capable military strategist the US has ever faced.

    Unfortunately, none of the various Saigon regimes we supported had a leader of Giap’s stature and ability.  If one had, it’s possible things might have turned out differently.

  • 2012 FBI Data Says: More BS from the Brady Bunch

    In a previous article, I published an analysis of the apparent linkage between a state’s Brady Score on that state’s overall and firearms murder rates.   Essentially, that analysis showed that BS is indeed an apt abbreviation for the Brady Score – at least regarding the thesis that a higher Brady Score leads to lower murder rates.

    The modern-day “Brady Bunch” (AKA the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence) has released a new version of it’s Brady Score metric (2011).  The FBI has released 2012 crime data.  So it seems to me that it’s time for a re-look.

    Obligatory warning:  the article’s a bit longish.  And yeah, there’s math involved.  (smile)

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  • EPA “Secret Squirrel” Fraudster Pleads Guilty – and THEN Invokes the Fifth!

    Jonn wrote about the EPA’s Secret Squirrel fraudster, John-boy Beale, the other day.  He’s the guy who defrauded the EPA out of around $886k in unearned salary alone – plus over  $500k in “retention bonuses” – over a period of 13 years by claiming to work on “special projects” for the CIA.  He even managed to get a “special project” approved requiring extensive travel – then used that project to fund personal vacations.  The lying bastard “wonderful individual” even used government $$$ to travel first class due vice to nonexistent “back injuries”.  One ticket to London reputedly cost $14k (coach class for the same flight was about $1k).

    Beale’s lies included stolen valor.  He claimed nonexistent service in Vietnam (he only served stateside) and to have contracted malaria while serving there (he didn’t have malaria) – using the latter bogus claim to obtain a handicapped space at his EPA job.  (But remember – stolen valor is a “victimless crime”, right?  Yeah, right.)

    Beale pleaded guilty to fraud recently.  His plea deal stipulates that he pay Uncle Sam back just short of $1.4M and will spend between 30 and 37 months in prison.

    Beale was recently called to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.  The Committee wanted to ensure that his methods of defrauding Uncle Sam were well understood and weren’t being used by others.

    Beale invoked the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer questions.  His lawyer claimed it was because Beale’s “plea agreement did not require him to cooperate with lawmakers“.

    There’s really only two reasons I can see that anyone who’s already pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing for a Federal felony would piss off a Congressional Committee that bluntly.  One is that they’re simultaneously both monumentally arrogant and incredibly stupid.  The other is that they have something else to hide.

    Seems to me it might be a good idea for Federal LE to take a closer look at Beale’s friends/relatives/associates in the DC area (where he worked) – and in both SoCal and Mass, where he had relatives (SoCal) and a vacation home (Mass).  Sounds to me like there just might possibly be something else yet to be uncovered besides $1.4M of fraud.

    And while that’s ongoing, maybe the Committee’s lawyers should review Beale’s plea deal in detail.  I’m guessing it requires cooperation with Federal investigations – and Congressional Committee hearings would seem to qualify.  If so, then maybe the Committee should pursue a complaint on charges of Contempt of Congress against Beale.  An a new charge that could get him an additional 12 months behind bars might get his attention.

  • Thompson Trial Starts

    Longtime TAH readers will remember “Bobby Thompson”, whose real name is John Donald Cody and who was on the FBI watchlist under his actual name (Cody) for more than 25 years.  He’s the former head of the US Navy Veterans Association who went on the lam and committed identity theft, was finally caught and arrested in Portland, OR, and refused to identify himself for a protracted period of time.

    Thompson was arrested for fraud – to the tune of over $100M across 40+ states.  His so-called “charity” appears to have been little more than a fundraising scam.

    His trial started yesterday in Cleveland, OH.  He still seems to be wearing that incredibly stupid-looking combination pompadour-mullet haircut.  And he’s still hinting at a “secret squirrel” connection.

    Yeah, right.  Hopefully his cellmates Bubba and Thor are vets.

  • Yer Friday Afternoon Funny

    It seems as if some local officials in western Pennsylvania weren’t very observant when they approved the final design for a highway safety project.  Either that, or they had a “wicked bad” sense of humor.

    Scott Township recently had some traffic barriers installed.  They’re reinforced concrete posts, called bollards.  They’re designed to serve as safety barriers.

    Let’s just say the design of the bollards is, um, somewhat “open to interpretation.” And not everybody is pleased by the design chosen.

    Photo below the break.  (Probably safe for work, but use care around children and youths – especially if you laugh easily – to avoid answering potentially embarrassing questions.)

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  • For Vets Using VA Medical Care – Something to Consider

    This article is directed at any veterans out there who (1) are using the VA for medical care, (2) are rated at <50% disability, and (3) have a reasonable level of income.  It’s particularly applicable for those who also have Tricare eligibility.

    Be careful concerning prescriptions from the VA and where you opt to get them filled.  Letting the VA fill all your prescriptions may not be in your best economic interests.

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  • Sandman Exits

    Most of you probably know that a gentleman named Mariano Rivera is retiring from MLB at the end of this season.  If you’re even a causal baseball fan – or even read the newspapers or otherwise follow the news – it would have been virtually impossible to avoid knowing.

    Most of you also probably know that the NY Yankees won’t be in the hunt for a World Series title this year.  That means that for Mr. Rivera, his season ends Sunday.

    This man is considered to be one of the all-time greats.  That’s true whether you’re talking athletic performance and class – or simply as a human being.

    I’m not going to sing his praises here.  I’m only going to say two things:

    It’s not often you get to see an all time great end his career.  It’s even rarer when that all-time great is also an all-time great human being.

    Vaya con Dios, Señor Rivera.  IMO, the world needs more like you.

    And baseball isn’t why.

     

  • Selected Headlines from Our Crazy World

    Talk about distracted driving!  Couple Spotted Apparently Having Sex While Driving On Ike (For the record, the “Ike” is I-290 in Chicago.)

    C’mon – the Whizzinator is so . . . 2005. ( Ask Onterrio Smith about it.)  Italian Long Distance Runner Accused of Using Fake Penis to Beat Doping Test

    It’s not the rest of us that are “weird”, Miley.  Miley Cyrus topless and tongue out for Rolling Stone, talks about America’s ‘weird’ morals

    What will those damn college kids try next during Rush Week?  College student accused of trying to recreate ‘Grand Theft Auto’

    53%?  Yeah, 53%.  Apropos, actually, considering the last election.  Barack Obama is political king of the fake Twitter followers, with more than 19.5 MILLION online fans who don’t really exist

    Must be that “new math” – from about Mar 2010 to Sep 2013 is apparently now considered “more than six years”.  Obama claims he hasn’t had a cigarette in 6 years — or has he?

    Sometimes you really do need to see a doctor – or even call 911, pronto.  Especially if you’re experiencing chest pains, tightness in the chest, and are sweating.  Cops: Man Found Dead In Car Had Just Googled His Symptoms

    Car died?  Well, give it a funeral!  Man gives his Porsche Cayenne a funeral at its last resting place

    I thought it was the Arkansas Razorbacks.  Wild Hogs Roam Streets, Scare People Near Atlanta

    I don’t even want to think about how it might taste or smell.  ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ author to release novel-themed wine

    What’s next – cat-hair encrusted baguettes?  Parisian cat cafe offers “purr therapy” to animal-lovers

    Gee, who would have guessed?  Amanda Bynes reportedly unfit to stand trial

     

    Hat tip to Fox News and the Drudge Report for the above links.