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

Category: Geezer Alert!

  • Times are a-changin’

    J. D. (another Army guy) has a post up at his place and I stole his title.

    President Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Bob Dylan. He also gave one to Delores Heurta, a Hugo Chavez toady and Chair of the Democratic Socialists of America. Ms. Huerta is on tape proclaiming that Republicans hate Latinos.

    Sorry Jonn, I think you didn’t get the latter message?

    The REAL teaser, and the reason I’m bringing his post to your attention:

    Just imagine the President and Dylan on stage together. Both with flattop guitars and harmonicas in neck holders. See the haze from the pot smoke? The President speaks about the unfairness of having to pay back ones student loans and declares that he will cut enough out of the defense budget to forgive all of them – keeping just enough for the drone fleet.

    There’s more…

    Slight disclaimer: J .D., Russ (poetrooper), myself, and many others, were contributors at Old War Dogs.

  • Oh well… Someone Has To Raise the Issue.

     

     

     

     

     

    Why Hatfields & McCoys broke ratings records: 4 theories,

    Our pal Greyhawk proposed a hypothesis to explain the phenomenon on FB.

    “Hypothesis: The History Channel’s “Hatfields and McCoys” was a hit because deep down inside, Americans secretly wish they could go all Hatfield and McCoy on each other. (You know I’m right – and this is wrong X4…”

    I responded that his premise is biased, and with ” I haven’t watched the thing. Born and raised in WV The Feud is/was part of our mythos here. Toss in “The Battle of Blair Mountain” and couple of other events and then explain why we should bother?”

    ETA: The pix is courtesy of Greyhawk and is NOT myself or Jonn.

  • Questions That Don’t Get Asked Enough?

    Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has been talking about re-tasking our Navy towards the Pacific by 2020 AND he’s taking active steps in that direction.

    In Singapore and in Vietnam.

    Although he couches his words carefully China appears to be the focus.  Offshore petroleum  (which doesn’t apparently interest many in DC) and freedom of the seas are mentioned.

    I have little problem with the notion in general, but would like to understand where these assets will come from?

    Will the Navy be downsized as a “peace dividend”? Do we have warships somewhere currently they aren’t needed?

    And while I’m certainly no expert in geopolitics it seems that China could painfully swat the US economy without firing a shot if needs be?

    So the question seems to be – Why now, and why there?

  • How to Gag a Maggot…

     

     

     

     

     

    Kriste put this up on FB. Dunno where it came from, etc.

    That profile, in that context paints a picture that stirs the juices.

    Sorry Jonn, but it needed to be referred to.

    ETA:  Kriste elaborates in the comments.

  • Says Rather a Lot…

    Kinda viral, but in case you missed it.

  • I Have a Purple Heart!

    I was an Army brat the first few years of my life. I have vague memories (or memories of memories?) of several Army posts; in Georgia, in Arizona, and another place or two. Then my dad was deployed to some place called Korea in 1950.

    Three additional memories are a bit more vivid – the day we were notified he was Missing in Action and, sometime later, that his remains had been recovered, and finally, his funeral. I wasn’t allowed to go.

    I have a Purple Heart.

    He is buried in our home town, and there’s a small memorial in the city park there with his name inscribed. I visit both as often as I can. Even though I was only five or six at the time and will be 66 in about a month I still miss him. I have pictures and memories, and…

    I have a Purple Heart.

    For many others, like myself, Memorial Day has a face.

    As we near the 50 year anniversary of Vietnam there is a wall FULL of my brothers and sisters who earned a Purple Heart

    So don’t wish me a happy Memorial Day because…

    I have a Purple Heart!

  • Welcome Home!

    A truly TALL thing is gonna be happening:

    There were no parades celebrating the bravery and perseverance of the 2.7 million young men and women who donned a uniform and served in some of the most difficult and dangerous conditions on earth. Until the Vietnam Veterans Memorial — known as the “Vietnam Wall” — was dedicated in 1982, public accolades were sparse, and ceremonies outside the confines of a military base, an American Legion hall or a Veterans of Foreign Wars post were practically nonexistent.

    I won’t be there for this. I no longer drive much.  I, and some friends did put together GoE, and other similar events which, hopefully spared you that?

    You young folks might acknowledge our effort, or not?  I DO hope that you encountered some odd geezer that said “Welcome Home”?

    Been there, done that has some merit in this case, I think.

    Got spit at, and I don’t think you young folks have had to experience that?

  • The Milblog thing.

    Been to several, but not this one.

    And I’ll refer you to this.

    As a remote: Been trying to get folks to give Jonn a hug from me.

    The Friday event included a visit from: Col McGhee from the original Tuskegee Airmen!

    Aside: Jonn called me… so much noise I couldn’t hear him.