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

Author: Zero Ponsdorf

  • Men and Women are Different – Who Knew?

    Spotlight on Better Uniforms for Female GIs

    WASHINGTON — Imagine U.S. combat troops and aviators wearing body armor that fits so poorly that it’s tough to position a weapon to shoot, combat uniforms with knee pads that hit around mid-shin and flight suits that make it nearly impossible to urinate while in flight.

    For many female troops, it’s just another day on the battlefield as they wear clothing and protective gear designed primarily for men. Each of these issues is now getting some attention from the military.

    Why is this still an issue? Did someone in the Pentagon just now discover the difference?

    I know about bureaucratic inertia, but this is just silly.

  • Chuck Norris Weighs in.

    Holy Week, holy Shariah? Part 1

    There’s no mystery that radical Islamists intend to use the freedoms in our Constitution to expand the influence of Shariah law. But, still, too many Americans don’t know or understand how it threatens the very fabrics of our republic. So I’ve decided to do a series on how Shariah is seeping into American society.

    First, let me categorically state that I’m not an Islamaphobe. I welcome the plurality of religions in America and am a firm believer in the First Amendment. But just as our religious freedom is secured in the Bill of Rights, so is our freedom of speech to share even our religious concerns.

    You folks can read the link, but MY day just got more entertaining.

  • The Price?

    Don has a question we all should be asking? Has terrorism won?

    So what is the state doing spending millions on security? No one has every attacked the building, but efforts are on-going tio keep the people out of their own building.

    The TSA, Homeland Security, The Patriot Act… The question easily expands to include our country as a whole.

    I offer no answers, I’m just a bit personally surprised I hadn’t already acknowledged the question seriously.

    All the billions spent, all the rights abridged… is a negative somehow a positive?

  • Incentive!

    Akin to something out of Heinlein’s “Starship Troopers” some branches of our military are providing a path to citizenship for those who serve.

    Army, Navy add citizenship option to boot camp

    FORT JACKSON, S.C. – Military service has long been one route to U.S. citizenship. Now the Army and Navy, in need of specialists and language skills in wartime, are speeding things up by allowing recruits to wrap up the process while they’re still in basic training.

    It means a change in a no-visitors policy during boot camp, to allow federal immigration officers access to the recruits. But military officials say it’s a well-deserved break for volunteers who otherwise would have to slog through the bureaucratic ordeal during deployments around the world, often far from U.S. embassies.

    The military route is not a short-cut for foreigners abroad to get into the U.S. Only legal immigrants can apply, officials stress, and they must complete five years of honorable service or chance having their citizenship revoked.

    I think I have mixed feelings about this policy myself, but it seems a fine idea on the face of it. There’s a hint of PC multiculturalism in there as well that troubles me some.

    There’s a long and storied history of immigrants serving with distinction and honor, and our military has long used incentives to retain or recruit folks in certain specialties… but is THIS policy a step too far?

  • So it WAS for oil?

    Couldn’t pass this up, via Drudge.

    The Brits did it!

    Plans to exploit Iraq’s oil reserves were discussed by government ministers and the world’s largest oil companies the year before Britain took a leading role in invading Iraq, government documents show.

    The article tries to put everyone in the same boat, but NOW we know who started it.

  • When the Axe Falls, Not IF!

    There’s little doubt that the country’s financial situation will precipitate cuts at the DOD. The infighting will be fierce. The Pentagon turf wars have begun, and the politicians are already pushing their agendas.

    Obama Calls for Sweeping Review of U.S. Military Strategy

    President Obama finally acknowledged what critics have been saying for months: Defense budget cuts cannot be treated as a “math problem” and must be accompanied by sweeping changes in U.S. military strategy and long-term objectives.

    Now common sense dictates that changes DO need to be made, and arguably some of those changes will be painful.

    We absolutely require a strong defense – we have external enemies that must be faced, but what form should that defense take? If we wind up with another post-Vietnam style draw down (with essentially across the board cuts) we may well be unable to deal with any threat.

    At least SOME folks are asking the needed questions, but for some time there has been an apparent lack of of strategic goals.

    There’s one thing certain. Continuing with seemingly haphazard ‘kinetic military actions’ and lengthy ‘after the bombing’ nation building will continue to sap our military. And we WILL need them!

  • I Dunno Quite what to Make of This?

    Two confessions: I don’t remember where I first saw this so I can’t properly attribute that source, and a cursory search suggests this is real but YMMV.

    Myself, I can’t figure out if this a parody, satire, or the ravings of a lunatic? Still, as a paranoid, I have little doubt that this idea is high on the wish lists of many of our fine citizens.

    Repeal the Right to Keep and Bear Arms

    Over the months since the Tucson massacre, not much has happened in Washington to address the problem, which is Too many guns, Too easy access.  Inaction is understandable.  They’re all afraid of the big bad NRA and the gun netherworld behind it.  There is another reason:  following Justice Scalia’s Supreme Court opinion in the Heller case, extended to all other jurisdictions under the McDonald opinion, all gun control is now in doubt.  There is only one way to solve this problem and that is to take it head on:  Repeal the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

    Mr. Barkley  ESQ, says he is running for Congress in California. There’s link to his campaign(?) website in the above article.

    Here we have a detailed plan to legally undo part of The Constitution. No more scatter-shot efforts here and there, but a head down charge.

    On the plus side; it IS an open and public agenda. A clear target, if I may?

    Regardless, I decided to put this ‘out there’ as a tentative heads up.  Maybe one of the TAH readers can figure out if this is legitimate, or if I simply missed the punch line? Wouldn’t be the first time!

    UPDATE: Mike Barkley (or someone claiming to be him) has confirmed this to be NO JOKE in the comments below.

  • Debbie asks a Favor

    If you don’t know who Debbie Lee is, She’s one of The Good Guys.

    In this case just read this bit and vote.

    I think I’ve met her, but that is trivial, and then some.

    She could use YOUR vote.

    Thanks Ms Ladybug: Go to the link and look at the bottom of the right column. I just clicked on the text and got to vote.

    Update:  She’s losing folks.