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

Author: thebesig

  • Monday Musings Open Thread

    Chicago CBS Local-Olimpia Warsaw has Diabetes and Parkinson’s.

    Since this is the beginning of the work week for many, here’s a musing regarding a porter’s abandoning a disabled woman… When his shift ended.

    A disabled 67-year-old woman was left at the Chicago O’Hare overnight this past weekend. One of her family brought her up to the gate. He checked that the flight was going to go as scheduled, and that his mother would be helped.

    Then, the flight was canceled. They sent her to where alternative arrangements could be made for her. The plan was to put her up in a hotel. But, nobody wanted to take her to her assigned hotel.

    Additionally, the porter that was assigned to assist her stopped helping her when his shift ended. He “didn’t know how”, so, he called it quits for the night. Ask for help from airline/airport employees maybe?

    From CBS Chicago:

    They said in addition to losing her bags on the way in, the airline had lost track of her on the way out.

    Eventually, security helped family find her hours after. Images shortly after she was discovered show her still in a wheelchair, dressed for her ex-husband’s funeral.

    Claude Coltea said his mother was let down by both the airline and the porter.

    “All we wanted was someone to pause and say ‘you know what, can we just make sure this human being is safe and then we can all go home,” Coltea said. “Not one person did that.”

    For those who know someone in the family with similar ailments as the abandoned woman, this would be a jaw dropper. It’d raise emotions, not good ones either.

    Normally, individuals in this situation stand a good chance of being eligible for home therapy to include nurse visits, would require independent living supports, etc.

    In my area, there’s the equivalent to the Child Protective Services for adults in her situation… Adult Protective Services.

    This woman was left “stranded”; until her family’s efforts to locate her paid off.

    You can read more here.

  • Army Officer Insults Air Force Officer-Gets Banned From Twitter-Guest Post by JAGC

    Guest post by JAGC follows.

    F&$cknuckles. That “word” is the source for the latest controversy in military-oriented social media circles. Apparently, a company commander at Fort Benning got into a Twitter tiff with an Air Force officer. One thing led to another and “f$&knuckles” happened. The Army captain ultimately got banned from Twitter. Online mourning ensued.

    Now, I’m not a social media guy. But I recently completed two books and a literary agent advised me to start using Twitter. Soon, I was introduced to a world of anonymous military members–mostly staff officers–who apparently post on Twitter All. The. Time. It’s amazing anything gets done.

    To be fair, their snark is well placed. It’s a good mix of male and female Soldiers with a wide array of experience and knowledge. There’s everything from military historians to PAOs. And of course the Fort Benning company commander of f$&knuckles fame. Their pointed (and numerous) observations of military life is mostly spot on. I’ve even learned some things about military history. They’re also kind of funny.

    Which brings me back to CPT f$&knuckles. I believe the online argument started over another officer’s vaguely controversial critique of an unnamed NCO. Soon, the venerable Army WTF! Moments picked up on things. And since this is Twitter and the military, you know there’s a barracks lawyer somewhere in this story. Well, the barracks lawyer shows up and issues a strongly worded (and super wrong) assessment about a UCMJ violation. That only escalated the online tension, such as it was.

    With digital blood pressure boiling, the Air Force guy ranted about something. The Army Captain retorted in kind. The Air Force guy got even angrier. So the Army Captain called the Air Force guy “f$&knuckles.” Air Force guy reported him to the Twitter police. Bam! Banned from Twitter. An anonymous LTC even broke the news.

    Why should any of us care about this? We shouldn’t. It’s stupid.

    But on Twitter, this is thing. The mildly-offended military Twitter masses argue that Twitter is being extremely hypocritical and wrong. Indeed, Nazis and all sorts of shady creatures’ inflammatory remarks are allowed to troll around on Twitter. There’s even apparently several guys with variations of the “f$&knuckle” moniker. Yet CPT f$&knuckles got banned. In that sense, their complaints have merit.

    But in the grander scheme, CPT f$&knuckles will probably just do what others do and start a new account. But is there a military bias with the people running Twitter? After all, the Captain got suspended for calling a guy “f$&knuckles” while there are stories abound of others purportedly wanting to “kill the Jews” getting to keep their accounts. Or perhaps the real question is, why do people keep using Twitter? Like quicksand, it looks innocuous enough. But once you step right into it, you’re stuck. And it makes people really angry. Why keep going back?

  • Phony Lawyer Attempts LinkedIn Connection With Real Lawyer – Guest Post by JAGC

    Guest post by JAGC follows.

    Earlier this year, I received a seemingly innocuous LinkedIn connection request. A quick scan revealed that the requestor fit perfectly into my professional network. He had more than 500 connections, including numerous accomplished professionals in the military, legal, and national security fields that I personally know.

    Like me, his bio listed credentials as a civilian lawyer, Judge Advocate, and combat veteran. Sure, the guy’s bio referenced a stint as a “YouTube star,” but hey, good for him for having an interesting hobby. YouTube stardom aside, on the surface, this was a natural fit.

    However, just as I was about to mindlessly accept the connection request, another peculiarity caught my eye.

    The LinkedIn profile claimed that he earned a “Purple Heart w/2 oak leaf clusters” and membership in the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Call me skeptical, but three separate combat injuries raised my BS antenna. I decided to review the profile a bit more carefully. After that, the guy’s entire profile collapsed into a world of the absurd with barely a hint of additional scrutiny.

     

     

    For example:

    1) His YouTube photos appeared to match his LinkedIn photo. His LinkedIn bio describing his YouTube activity and subscribership also appeared to match. However, the YouTube persona listed his DOB as June 28, 1989, but his LinkedIn birth year was listed as 1974. The YouTube birthdate obviously makes him too young to have served in the Marine Corps for 24 years as his profile stated.

     

     

    2) He claimed that he completed Naval Justice School (training for new JAGs) in 2017. He also claimed that he rocketed up to Senior Defense Counsel for two months in 2018 and then became a Navy/Marine judge for two months earlier this year. In my experience, there is no way anyone would be considered a senior defense counsel and certainly would not be named as a judge while still fresh out of Naval Justice School. A Marine judge can become a judge as an 0-4; other branches its 0-6. Either way, he doesn’t show up in the global.

     

     

    3) He claimed that he is a part time Assistant US Attorney in California. A reliable check of the DOJ global revealed this individual is not listed as an employee of DOJ.

    4) He claimed he is a member of the California Bar. Nope, according to the California Bar attorney directory. Without a law license, he could not have served as a JAG.

    5) He claimed to have served three months as a Navy Procurement Attorney. Again, no law license in California (not even inactive).

     

     

    6) He also claimed IDF sniper and Marine sniper basic course experience, and also claimed to have been a Marine aviator. Sure, why not?

    7) The guy stated that he was “wrongfully” discharged TWICE per some dubious claims. His story makes no sense and the likelihood of getting hired by DOJ, big firms, or receiving a law license is circumspect at best. Speaking of…

    8) He claimed to work at a very large law firm called DLA Piper as a partner. Large firms always list all of their attorneys. According to DLA Piper’s website at the time, the individual was not employed by DLA Piper. Regardless, his credentials (or lack thereof) even if legitimate would not get him a partner position. I do not have experience as a YouTube star to determine whether that qualifies as a credential that large law firms are looking for, but I digress.

    9) He claimed he is active in his state bar but the only online info linking him to the Bar was his own LinkedIn page. Same for military service.

    Clearly, this LinkedIn profile was bogus. One could reasonably laugh at the phony-bologna fake lawyer claims or otherwise get angry at the blatant stolen valor. Instead, my national security-focused mind focused on the worst-case scenario.

    Why was this obviously fake account connecting with hundreds of people in the military and national security field? What was the goal of creating a profile that was part elaborate and part ridiculous?

    Indeed, the user of the account was active, “liking” comments from other users on a near-daily basis. At one point, he commented “Semper Fi” to a Marine officer’s post. This type of constant activity, along with the effort in garnering more than 500 connections (“500+” is the maximum amount of connections LinkedIn lists), demonstrated to me that the user had some sort of plan or use for the account.

    Which, of course, leads to more questions. Was he trolling someone? Was he using the seeming legitimacy of an active, well-connected account to ingratiate himself with individuals in the military and national security world? Or was this merely a goofy nutjob living in a basement somewhere doing what goofy nutjobs in basements do?

    In the end, the LinkedIn account appears to have disappeared.

    It remains unknown whether the profile was created by the “YouTube star” or by some other nefarious actor (hence why I cropped out the name and professional photo). As such, we are just left to speculate on the guy’s intent. LinkedIn distinguishes itself from Facebook and Instagram by touting itself as a site to “manage your professional identity” and to “build and engage with your professional network.”

    If nothing else, this encounter should be a lesson that just because LinkedIn espouses a more professional quality, the site is just as susceptible to Internet shenanigans as anything else.

  • Jesse Ventura Claims Easy Victory if He Runs Against Trump in 2020

    ChipNASA sends us an article where Jesse Ventura ponders pushing the luck he thinks he still has. This time, he dabbles in talk about a hypothetical presidential run against President Trump in 2020. Two of the things that he would push for are legalizing cannabis and green energy. Specific emphasis on energy from the sun.

    From Fox News:

    “I haven’t made a decision yet because it’s a long time off, but if I do do it, rest assured … If I do do it, Trump will not have a chance,” Ventura, 67, told TMZ on Tuesday. “Because for one, Trump knows wrestling — he’s participated in two WrestleManias. He knows he can never out-talk a wrestler, and I am the greatest talker wrestling’s ever had. So if I go for it, he’s history and he knows it.

    Yes, talking big in wrestling “leads” to “prevailing” in a wrestling match over someone that does not talk as big. By extension, out-talking the opposition in a presidential election year “leads” to “winning” that election.

    Hoping that this guy goes for it and wins the Democratic nomination.

    With the way the Democratic Party is going, the fact that he sued a grieving widow and took her through the legal brouhaha that he took her through may not phase many on the left. Neither would the fact that he was involved with a series on television involving conspiracy theories.

    Could you imagine if he were to win the Democratic nomination? He could potentially pull a John Kerry, showcasing a specific experience… Wrestling. He was governor for Minnesota, so he has government executive experience. However, President Trump has experienced being president and with delivering results.

    Jesse Ventura showcases his ability to “talk big” as a wrestler, and that he is best at it. Your choice if this happens. The “best” big talker in wrestling or someone that has a proven track record of delivering on his promises.

    You can read more here:

  • Antifa Activist Charged With Assault Against Reservists

    AnotherPat sends us an update to the Antifa attack on Marines. One of the Antifa activists that attacked Marine Corps reservists has been arrested. Tom Keenan turned himself in to face the music. There are others involved in the attacks, the investigation is still ongoing.

    Philadelphia News provides details on their attack:

    Investigators say that a group of men and women maced, punched, kicked, and robbed the reservists near Front and Chestnut streets on Saturday, November 17th, around 3:20 p.m., just down the street from the controversial “We the People” rally. The group allegedly called the reservists “Nazis” and “white supremacists.”

    These so called “anti-fascists” are on a misguided mission to fight against fascism, using tactics that fascists have actually used in the past to intimidate… Or even silence opposing views. This apparently isn’t Tom Keenan’s first time expressing his views via tantrum:

    In 2007, Keenan was arrested as one of the so-called “Love Park 4” after an incident involving a purported Ku Klux Klan rally in the well-known park near City Hall. He was charged with criminal conspiracy, institutional vandalism, resisting arrest, and criminal mischief, among other offenses, and eventually made a plea deal, pleading guilty to one summary offense of disorderly conduct, while all other charges were withdrawn.

    You can read more here.

  • Midweek Open Thread

    Happy Hump Day TAH! We’re already in the middle of the first workweek after Thanksgiving, and November is almost over. Here is a sample of what some on the left are thinking:

    Go ahead and say it, Nancy Pelosi is the “best thing” since sliced bread:

    Originally posted by Bucky

    I’m just appalled that over a dozen members of the House are vowing not to support Nancy Pelosi for speaker this January. She’s had a number of against the odds legislative successes as opposition leader, and when she was speaker before she ran a fair House.

    President Trump’s goose is cooked:

    Originally posted by allgood33

    This is why Trump is looking like a sick puppy these days. He will not always be President and jail time is looking more and more possible for him and his corrupt family or at least they will go bankrupt in defending themselves.

    Jim Crow is still kicking, President Trump is “proof”. Oh yeah, the Republican Party “rigged” the election and “stole” a bunch of votes this year. We simply “don’t get it”. No mention of how Democrats enabled Jim Crow laws and kept them kicking…

    Originally posted by Cyrano

    If you don’t know what Jim Crow is, Google it. Learn about your country.

    I wish everyone understood how we got here and why an ignorant, mentally deficient bigot/buffoon is occupying the White House. But too many people don’t/won’t “get it.” Or don’t want to. Or never will.

    Sigh, we never learn. The steamrolling of election 2018 should have forced us to realize that people want change:

    Originally posted by leftyladyfrommo

    They just got steamrolled in the election. It is painfully obvious that most Americans hate what is going on and are demanding changes.

    But the Repubs just keep on with the same old schtick. They haven’t changed at all. And Trump just keeps making the same mistakes over and over and over.

    I would think they would have gotten the big picture after such a bruising. Guess not.

    In response to that, someone posted as if they read the pages of the Liberal Zombie Manifesto:

    originally posted by RKP5637:

    IMO they are basically ignorant, bullies and love hatred. The GOP is a disgusting lot. I really can’t imagine people wanting to be part of the GOP unless they are ignorant, racists and hateful people and/or religious wackos.

  • Blast From the Past-Kevin Holian; phony Vietnam vet, POW

    “Congratulations” to Kevin Holian, today’s Blast From the Past star.

    As I was going through the hate posts that never got airtime, I noticed that one IP seemed to provide the bulk of the hate mail directed at Jonn. This individual, using multiple usernames, attempted to post comments on three threads from this one IP:

    • RIP, SFC Jonn Lilyea
    • SFC Jonn V. Lilyea U.S. Army — Funeral at Arlington National Cemetery
    • Kevin Holian; phony Vietnam vet, POW

    This started to look easy. I looked at the language on the Kevin Holian article, and noticed that Jonn called Kevin, “Junior” in one of the attachments. In these hate posts, this individual consistently called Jonn “Junior”.

    This is a part of what he tried to say with regards to how we should conduct ourselves:

    The federal and states laws about Stolen Valor address posing for monetary gain versus a person saying or wearing anything. Stolen Valor Act and laws address the fraud perpetrated to gain veteran benefits or other monetary benefits. The Stolen Valor Act has zero to do with words, dress appearance and freedom of speech statements by anyone.

    Jonn and TAH are sadly and will remain misguided. They TAH should address stolen valor correctly or simply continue to be a Hate Group, much similar to the KKK or any other vile Hate Group.

    His attempt to “sneak in”:

    As a CTT2 in the Navy I was in awe at the courage of SFC Lilyea. He was my idol and role model. He showed me how to be the greatest man I could be. My wife dated him before she met me. She always loved him, even now. Navy guys could never be as good as a Army grunt like Lilyea.

    He also attempted to sneak in by stealing the username of a regular participant on this site.

    He utilized multiple usernames to attempt to get in. Fortunately for us, and unfortunately for this individual, he didn’t gain any traction. He appeared to have control and anger issues. These apparent issues appeared to get in the way of his sense of common decency, if he had one. So much that he entered the site and trashed one of the founders who had just passed away.

    However, for the efforts of this individual, posting from one IP while using multiple usernames, we could reward Kevin Holian, aka “Junior” by reinforcing his Google fame.

    As for who this individual is, it could be a sock puppet, or it could be someone that attempted to go “Wickre” on us. Either way, he needs to know that what he intended to do with those attempts did nothing but backfire.

    On a side note, Claw gave us a lead that has been moved up on the list, will be featured next. Kevin Holian got rushed to the front on the account of what this one individual said… Most not yet suitable for posting.

    Here’s what Jonn said last time:

    Someone sent us their work on this fellow, Kevin Holian who claimed in one of his Facebook Groups that he was a Vietnam veteran and a POW of that war;

    Yeah, but no. He did serve towards the end of the Vietnam War as a Vietnamese linguist – he ended his training four months after combat troops left Vietnam. The closest he got to Vietnam was Korea. Then he finished his commitment in the Reserves.

    To complete the evidence, the alphabetical list of Vietnam POWs from the US Army who have been accounted for;

    It’s not his fault that war ended before he could get to it – it is his fault that he had to make shit up to feel better about himself. And a POW, ffs.

    From Kev on our Facebook page;

  • How Christine Blasey Ford Used Fundraising Money

    You guys are familiar with how Christine Blasey Ford fabricated a story in an attempt to derail then Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings. However, neither the committee, Congress, nor the levelheaded segment of the population agreed with her.

    The other side of the argument, not known for its willingness to embrace fact, reason, and logic, believed her. With some arguing that we should simply believe the “she” in the “he said she said” in this specific argument, a GoFundMe account was set up for her.

    From her GoFundMe:

    We used your generous contributions to pay for a security service, which began on September 19 and has recently begun to taper off; a home security system; housing and security costs incurred in Washington DC, and local housing for part of the time we have been displaced. Part of the time we have been able to stay with our security team in a residence generously loaned to us.

    Christine Blasey Ford said that she is going to donate, the donated funds that she does not use, to trauma survivor support organizations. As of this post, she hasn’t named which organizations will receive that money.

    You can read more, from her GoFundMe, here.