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

Category: Who knows

  • Hank Williams, Jr. “That Ain’t Good” but it’s free

    Need some free Hank Williams, Jr. music to go with your Jim Beam? The folks at Bocephus Records sent us this offer.

    Bocephus Records/Blaster Entertainment along with Hank Williams Jr. is giving away free copies of Williams’ new single, “That Ain’t Good,” through the “Free Music for a Free America” program.
    Radio stations across America have been offered a specially designed Hank Williams Jr. widget for their station website allowing fans to click though, receive a free download of Hank’s debut song and learn more about his July 10 release, Old School, New Rules. The “Free Music for a Free America” promotion ends Friday, July 13.
    Hank’s discontent with the state of U.S. affairs is quite apparent in his lyrics – ‘don’t tread on me….political correctness has run its course’, ‘Barack, pack your bags, head to Chicago…take your teleprompter with you.’ ‘I got a list of taxes I thought were a joke…inheritance, death…say, any quarters in that coffin?’ To promote the free song download, an array of Hank’s feisty interview clips as well as audio snippets from Old School, New Rules are included here for use on your station website and Facebook pages.
    About Old School, New Rules:
    The 12-song package, available for pre-sale now at www.hankjr.com, includes a duet with Brad Paisley on “I’m Gonna Get Drunk And Play Hank Williams” as well as a new duet with the legendary Merle Haggard on his classic “I Think I’ll Just Sit Here and Drink.” Williams’ first single in several years, “That Ain’t Good”, has been shipped to radio stations with a companion video that recently debuted at #1 on CMT.com.
    About Hank Williams Jr.:
    With more than 70 albums to his credit, sales of 55 million records, countless awards including 5-time Entertainer of the Year awards (ACM & CMA), BMI Icon Award, a Grammy, and most recently in 2009 the Academy of Country Music “Pioneer Award,” Williams is a living legend. His discography chronicles a bold profile of growth from adored offspring of a legendary father, to titan of the modern country rock movement in his own right. For two decades, America came to its collective feet each fall Monday night when this larger than life superman of a musician looked into the camera and unleashed the national anthem for viewers of Monday Night Football – ‘Are You Ready for Some Football?’ Those simple words have won Williams an entirely new generation of fans and given him the distinction of being the first country performer to ever win an Emmy.

    Track Listing:
    1. Takin’ Back The Country
    2. I’m Gonna Get Drunk And Play Hank Williams (with Brad Paisley)
    3. Three Day Trip
    4. Old School
    5. We Don’t Apologize for America
    6. You Win Again
    7. Cow Turd Blues
    8. Who’s Takin’ Care of Number One
    9. That Ain’t Good
    10. Keep The Change
    11. Stock Market Blues
    12. I Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink (with Merle Haggard)

    There’s a widget in the far right sidebar which doesn’t have the free offer, but there’s also one on our Facebook Fan Page that does. Me, I like me some Hank.

  • Why We Must Tolerate Trolls

    I’m new to TAH, as both a contributor and a commenter. I must admit to a bit of surprise to discover that a website dedicated to presenting veterans’ and warrior’s views to an essentially veterans’ and warrior’s community has a few liberal trolls lurking ‘neath the bridge of communication that exists here.
    Trolls are so truly like teenagers in that they are sure that they and only they know the truth about everything. Actually, I expect that many of the trolls who cruise through IAH are probably, in fact, teenagers or young college students, as their posts would seem to indicate. So stridently sure of themselves, they are quick to dismiss the collective, hard-earned through hard experience wisdom of the regular members and readers of this site. Never having been in combat, they feel comfortable telling those of us who have, how wrong we are.

    I say that trolls are like teenagers, but that truth actually extends to the entire liberal world from which they venture out to pester and aggravate adherents to sites such as IAH. They are childlike in everything they post, constantly seeking to prove that those of us here with so much more actual world and life experience are just a bunch of clueless simpletons. Ah, does that remind you of the know-it-all teenagers in your own families?

    Notice something else about the trolls who post here? They always do so with much passion, the fiery, know-it-all passion of youth. I can’t remember the comedian who made the trenchant observation that we should turn over the operations of all government to teenagers: “While they still know it all.” What a great line and an obvious consideration we must keep in mind when these drive-by adolescents cruise through IAH and shout their expletives out the partially opened windows of their closed minds. If you note the shouting of such a troll as Insipid, (who on earth would ever take such an idiotic username unless he really didn’t understand the meaning of the word) you can quickly discern that this boy really doesn’t have much life experience. Is he bright? Well, perhaps but in such a way that his intellect has been subjugated to his ideology, an unfortunate outcome for him.

    I must confess that I am not immune to rising to the bait on occasion. When I should just sit back and smile at the ignorance being offered up by the likes of Insipid, I sometimes simply can’t resist the bugle call to action to defend either my own posting or the opinion of some other IAH regular. I suppose you could liken me to some old slavering dog layin’ on the porch who just can’t resist the temptation of chasing that coon that wanders into the yard. OK, Insipid, make something racist out of that.

    I know, I know, it’s foolish in the extreme to respond to a teenager, but sometimes I just can’t help myself, as when Insipid calls me a racist. I would wager that I have far more interracial life experiences, both good and bad, than young Insipid ever imagined having. Therefore when he calls me a racist I want to sit down with him and explain to him the realities of racial co-existence in modern America. I don’t believe Insipid has a clue. His cluelessness makes me wonder if he’s not some little rich kid who’s never worked a day in his life. The real truth is, I’d like to sit down across from him and maybe slap a little sense into him.
    Ah, that’s just wishful thinking…

    Whatever, here’s a heads-up to Insipid and the other trolls at this site: I’m an old poor boy who worked his way up in the United States Army and life to my present position where spotting phonies isn’t too difficult.

    Know what I would welcome her? An old, been there, done that type troll who in spite of living a life of believing in liberal foolishness still drinks the Kool-Aid and would like to contest the rest of us at TAH. Swatting young fools like Intrepid doesn’t really provide any intellectual challenge. Perhaps an old liberal fool might afford a more worthy opponent.
    Nah, a liberal fool is a liberal fool and the grey ponytail is a giveaway.

  • Fox: Soldier sells AAM on Ebay


    There’s a story on Fox News about a soldier who is selling his Army Achievement Medal (says the citation) on eBay because he can’t find a job.

    Bill Shephard, 43, of Woodbury, N.J, returned home in 2009, but could not even find an entry level job in information technology, despite going back to school for a network management certificate. With his options running out, Shephard made the painful decision to put his medal up for sale.

    “I did it out of desperation and frustration,” Shephard told FoxNews.com. “It was a last resort.”

    Shephard’s 12-year-old daughter, Kahlan, was disappointed when she found out her dad was selling his Army Achievement Medal. But her father says he needs the money more than the hardware.

    Shephard and his family of five did get help with rent from GOVETS, a veterans’ organization. But he still needs a job and knows there are others in the same desperate straits.

    I don’t know what the guy is pulling, but that’s not an Army Achievement Medal, it’s a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. The bidding is up to $3000 according to the Fox article, (I can’t find the actual auction on eBay) and I hope it goes higher, just because I want to see the veteran get through those dire straits, and I’m pretty sure folks are bidding to help him out and don’t really care about the medal, but still….

    Thanks to Daniel for the link.

  • More Secret Service Issues Surface

    It looks like another report of bad behavior by the Secret Service has surfaced. And this time, it’s a bit more troublesome than the last one.

    This new report involves the POTUS protective detail operating on Martha’s Vineyard – including the Counter Assault and Counter Sniper teams.  And it includes a clear allegation that the Secret Service ignored or “lost” at least one report of agent misbehavior, as well as indications that local law enforcement may have helped keep things “quiet”.

    The “bad” behaviors alleged run the gamut from letting local children see/touch Secret Service weapons (oh, the horror!) to hard off-duty partying to loss of credentials to disclosing sensitive operational details. The first two? Meh. The last two? Uh, different story.

    The article is relatively long, and includes quotations from named witnesses. It seems credible.

    A few scattered incidents here and there are what you’d expect in any 4400-person organization. But you wouldn’t expect to find the Secret Service playing fast and loose with info regarding operations. And we’ve now seen reports of more than a few scattered incidents here and there.

    It’s beginning to look like there might well be a leadership problem at the Secret Service. A serious leadership problem.

  • Father’s Day Surprise

    From Yahoo Sports comes the story of a returning Marine being the “surprisee” instead of the “surpriser”

    We’ve seen a lot of soldiers surprising their loved ones at ballparks the last few years. And whether it’s a girlfriend, a wife or a family being shocked, each one is special in its own way.  One of the features that unites them all, however, is that it has always been the returning veteran catching the other people off guard. That’s why what happened at Dodger Stadium on Sunday was particularly noteworthy. Instead of U.S. Marine Corporal Christopher Farias surprising his father Lawrence after a ceremonial first pitch, it was the other way around.

    Farias was the Dodgers Veteran of the Day and was invited to throw out the first pitch….what he didn’t know was that the Dodgers had his father as the catcher on home plate.

     

    According to Lawrence, it was the first time in eight years that Christopher’s military responsibilities didn’t get in the way of them being together on Father’s Day. That’s definitely way too long but a sunny afternoon at Chavez Ravine is a heck of a way to get back on track.

    Check out the link for the video, my web-fu is not strong and I’m not going to try and embed the video lest I mess up Jonn’s blog and stir his wrath!

     

    UPDATE:   As commentor Jeff put it “that’s one decorated Marine”  He was awarded the Navy Cross last month… Go check out the story!  I’m not sure how he got out of the dugout with the massive stones he has…

  • Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam . . . . .

    You’ve heard Jonn talk about the spam he gets here.  One of the things about being allowed to post here is that you can see it.

    Jonn’s busy enough running TAH, so I try to pitch in from time to time and help “take out the garbage”.  But I thought TAH’s readers might be interested in seeing a representative sample.  And some of it is, well, kinda funny.

    Here’s a sample, with my comments concerning them.  This is maybe 5% of what I waxed this morning.  Jonn deals with several times this much daily.

    Engrish/WTF?

    I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again as exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.

    Yeah, well, Jonn says thanks.  I think.

     Thank you for your whole effort on this blog. My niece delights in working on investigations and it’s really easy to understand why. A number of us hear all relating to the compelling method you give sensible tips by means of your blog and as well improve participation from some others on the concept so our favorite simple princess is without question being taught so much. Take advantage of the rest of the year. Your carrying out a dazzling job.

    Uh, yeah.  Whatever.  And I’m sure Jonn appreciates what I think was a compliment at the end.

     I must express thanks to this writer just for rescuing me from this particular dilemma. After exploring throughout the the net and obtaining thoughts which are not productive, I figured my entire life was over. Existing devoid of the answers to the issues you have resolved by way of this short post is a crucial case, as well as the kind that might have badly damaged my entire career if I hadn’t noticed your website. Your primary talents and kindness in maneuvering the whole thing was vital. I’m not sure what I would have done if I had not encountered such a solution like this. I’m able to at this moment look ahead to my future. Thanks so much for your expert and results-oriented guide. I will not be reluctant to refer your web page to any individual who should have guide on this issue.

    Glad TAH could help.  Please poke around a bit – and click a few ads.

    Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the web the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people consider worries that they just don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

    I ran this through Babelfish.  Even Babelfish came back with a “WTF?” too, so I don’t feel too bad about missing the point.  If there was one.
    (more…)

  • One Memorial Day flag’s story

    Old Trooper sends this five-minute story of one flag’s story on Memorial Day at a Travel Centers of America in Denton, TX;

    Since the last part of the video, the flag has been replaced and T/A has apologized according to All American Blogger.

    To everyone who commented on the TA Denton site taking the flag, we wanted to let you know that on May 23, all of our location managers were sent a reminder to fly the American flag on Memorial Day. As a company, we also distributed over 75,000 American flag window decals to customers at our locations in recognition of our active and veteran service men and women. Obviously, our franchisee-operated site in Denton, TX, failed to comply with that policy. For that, we sincerely apologize.

    Despite the dangers associated with a customer climbing a pole, we applaud the actions of the driver inasmuch as he reminded all of us that issuing a policy is no substitute for action. It was a poignant reminder of the efforts and sacrifices made by service men and women; we will redouble our efforts to ensure this failure will not occur again.

    Since the video was released, the Denton site operator has taken down the broken flag pole to have it repaired. It is scheduled to go back up soon, and they will have a flag flying.

    Thank you all very much for showing this passionate support of all of our veterans!

  • About Heroes and Heroism . . .

    A recent short discussion here got me to thinking.

    Yeah, I know – that’s dangerous. But I sometimes take that risk. And yeah, it often gets me in trouble. (smile)

    What follows is my perspective, my opinion. I don’t claim to be a world-class expert on the subject.

    But I have spent my entire life associated, in one form or another, with the US military. So perhaps I’m not completely out to lunch here. And I apologize in advance for the length. Consider yourself forewarned. (smile)

    Obligatory disclaimer: although I’ve used male gender pronouns and the term “soldier” in what I’ve written below, my intent is neither to be service-specific nor gender-exclusive. In what I say below I’m referring to military personnel of both genders and to members of all services – Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. I simply find repeatedly writing “his or her”, “himself/herself”, “soldier/sailor/airman/marine”, and similar wordy expressions cumbersome as hell.

    Terms of Use – and Abuse

    The terms duty, courage, and heroism often are used carelessly in discussions of military conduct. They seem sometimes to be used nearly interchangeably.

    To use them interchangeably is not correct. These terms refer to three different concepts. They are interrelated, but they are distinct.

    One of these terms – heroism – is far more commonly abused than are the other two. IMO it’s now so abused as to now obscure its meaning.

    But understanding the other two concepts is essential to understanding the third. So I’ll discuss all three.

    Duty

    Duty is not strictly a military concept. It’s actually fairly universal. But it’s the most fundamental of the three concepts.

    Religions talk about moral duties. Politicians and polysci professors talk about the duties of citizens. Occupations and professions impose duties. Parents and children have duties. The law can impose duties –sometimes even making it your duty to pay a duty. (smile)

    The concept of duty is very simple to understand. Essentially, performing your duty means “fulfilling your obligations.” Plain and simple.
    (more…)