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

Author: Zero Ponsdorf

  • Not New, or News, But Free Stuff is Not Bad.

    I feel oddly conflicted about this Veteran’s Day. A Nam Vet pal (Marine) passed away earlier this week, and is being buried today. And our country just entered territory that some feel has all the earmarks of a mine field.

    However, there are some others who still remember and acknowledge a debt.

    More than 24,000 businesses will offer discounts for vets and service members on and around this Veteran’s Day, according to the Military and Veterans Discount Center.  Here are some of the national chains where the brave men and women who have served and still serve our country can get treated to some free food.

    There are other businesses, as well as state and local governments that  offer discounts, etc.

    It is something to keep in mind.

  • Postcard From the Ridge…

    As Jonn noted below our part of WV got slammed with over 2 feet of snow. Power has been out for over a week thus far, and we just got our internet back last evening. Being one of them ‘prepper’ types we haven’t missed a beat. Many trees down and roads impassable for a day or two.

    Did I mention that we had no internet for a WEEK?  The Wife and I had to actually talk to each other. etc.

    Friends and neighbors had the road passable before the state could get here.

    None of this fits here at TAH save this bit. Went to vote and passed a couple of NG guys in uniform coming out.  Said hey and asked if they were having fun yet. Also got a chuckle when I commented that their HUMVEE would been more impressive with MA-Deuce in the turret.

    These guys are out there and it makes me proud to know that.

  • You Are All Racists

    Been having an exchange on FaceBook with Joe Galloway.

    Should add for you younger folks: We Were Soldiers.

    Based on this: Colin Powell’s former chief of staff: ‘My party is full of racists’

    Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, Colin Powell’s chief of staff during his time as secretary of state, decried John Sununu’s comment that Powell only endorsed Barack Obama because they are both black. “To say that Colin Powell would endorse President Obama because of his skin color is like saying Mother Teresa worked for profit,” Wilkerson told Ed Schultz.

    When I brought up Allen West Joe suggested he is just a token black.

    I am sorry, I have no/zero/nil idea how to to deal with this. I am annoyed enough to dump it here. Joe is one of my heroes, but I don’t understand.

    Gonna post this. Sorry Jonn. There is some sort of divide that has me grasping.

  • Old men forget

    Just words I guess, powerful to some and silly to others…

    We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
    For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
    Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
    This day shall gentle his condition:
    And gentlemen in England now a-bed
    Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
    And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
    That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

    Ol’ Willie nailed it and today is the Feast Day.  That thread that binds most of us here together is not yet broken.

    ETA: I’ve been told my posts tend to be terse and/or obscure. With this one I acknowledge that criticism and embrace it as well.

    If you need Google-fu to get it that ain’t a bad thing. I’ve always loathed to be talked down to myself. Thanks Folks.

  • In The Navy – Redux

    NB: This is satire! It does fit well with my earlier post though. Thanks John A.

    SECNAV Reintroduces Grog to the Navy

    In a surprise announcement yesterday, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus reversed a key portion of the initiative known as “The 21st Century Sailor.”  After the fleet-wide failure of his “breathalyzer on every quarterdeck” policy, Mabus announced that the Navy would not only do away with the newly installed devices, but bring back the tradition of alcohol rations.  The announcement was all the more stunning as it came after a period of 24 hours in which no one could seem to find the Secretary.

    “Today’s Sailors understand leadership and motivation,” Mabus said to reporters at the U.S. Naval Academy, who filed into Mahan Hall Auditorium for a hastily assembled press conference.  “After spending the evening with the combat-leaders-in-training on the Academy’s Varsity Cheerleading Squad, exchanging ideas at various establishments around Annapolis, I became convinced we need a course change in our policy. We need spirit back in the U.S. Navy!”

    Like bringing back the USS Constitution to full combat service this is one of those things that almost makes sense.

    Although not ‘grog’ there were spirits  carried on ships when I was in during the ’60s.  During an UNREP (underway replenishment for the Army guys) a guy got tangled up in a cargo net and briefly dunked in the ocean. His was given a shot of something in a glass. This led to  a discussion of just what it would take to warrant  shots all around. Don’t remember the consensus reached.

  • In The Navy

    In honor of TSO and his particular fixation…

    There might be pirates.

    Navy To Deploy USS Constitution To Strait Of Hormuz

    With the US Navy increasingly stretched trying to meet its commitments in both the Pacific and the Middle East, the Department of the Navy announced today that it will be re-activating its entire mothball fleet for upcoming Middle East deployments, including the USS Constitution.

    According to Navy officials, the Constitution, currently celebrating the 200th anniversary of her victory over the British warship HMS Guerriere, will relieve the destroyer USS Porter, which was damaged last month in a collision in the Strait of Hormuz while playing chicken with a lighthouse.

    The Duffel Blog and Boston Maggie ruined a perfect afternoon of pain pills and Busch.

    Thin ice defined.

  • An Unofficial Hasan Beard Update

    Far out of my lane so presented with little comment.

    Stay of Proceedings Issued in Accused Fort Hood Shooter Case

    The Army’s highest court, the Unites States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (CAAF) has granted a stay of proceedings in the case against accused Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan.

    Hopefully Jonn will dump this and do a proper post, but last I heard he was stuck in traffic and this pisses me off enough to risk his wrath.

  • A Single Question?

    Two weeks from tomorrow an election will be held.  While every Presidential election is certainly important I (and many others) think this one rises to being particularly portentous.

    Jonn plans to LiveBlog tonight’s debate and that prompted  this post.

    –

    If you could pose s single question to either candidate what might that question be?

    Unlike the actual debate we won’t be assiduously following any rules save one: The subject is foreign policy.

    Oh what the hell – this is TAH after all.

    Try to keep it down to a single question per comment anyway so others can respond more easily.

    Mine: President Obama, Sir. Can you point to any specific example where our foreign aid to an Middle Eastern Islamic government has made them more friendly to the US   and our foreign policy goals? (Edited with a nod to TSO and his  recent ‘boots on the ground’ experience).