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July 31, 2005
No Buttheads in Cars...in NJ? Oh, you said butts, not buttheads!
Well, the hat tip for this topic goes to MajorMom. Guess she probably thinks it about as silly as I do.
Okay...she picked up the story here at Ms. NBC.com Take a minute to read it through and then c'mon back and see what I might have to say about it. Like most things, I do happen to have an opinion about it.
You have to love the grief that Tucker Carlson gives this guy, don't you? He takes Mr. McKeon to the woodshed, drops his pants and gives him a good old-fashioned spanking in front of God and everyone.
Tucker points out the myriad of problems with the law that just looks at one minor inconvenience and distraction while driving. Let's see how ridiculous this can get...
1. Obviously cell phones cause a great deal of harm. I believe that all automobiles/trucks/motorcycles should have automatic engine cutoffs if they detect cell phones on in the vehicle. Turn on your cell phone...and you lose power in 30 seconds. This will allow the average driver to get over and turn the phone off before continuing on the trip.I have to agree with Tucker. In today's world, don't we have bigger fish to fry than worrying about people smoking in cars? Why can't we simply ask people (and enforce that they comply) to drive their one ton missiles down the road in a responsible fashion?2. Radios, CD players, cassette tape players, 8 track players (yes, I'm dating myself here), DVD players, Gameboys, etc must be removed NLT 31 December 2005. These damned things have caused more accidents than anyone is willing to admit.
3. No drinking or eating in a moving automobile. How many times have you spilled hot coffee or dripped some jam from a jelly donut into your lap while tooling down the road at 65 MPH? How irresponsible of you!!! This also means that we'll be taking the drive through windows out of thousands of fast food restaurants as well. "Jack" it's your fault!!!!
4. I think we also need to ban talking in traffic. That includes to those inside your car, as well as those you communicate with using sophisticated "sign language." I think we need to have one way glass (seeing out only) so that you can't see that guy/girl/little old lady flipping you off...causing you to lose control of your anger. Passengers can be pretty distracting too! Let's get rid of them altogether. Screw those 2 or more seater vehicles...I think we need to go to ONE SEATERS. (No talking to yourself either! If you do that, you probably shouldn't be driving anyway.)
5. Kids. Need I say more?
Stealing from the British comedian, Eddie Izzard, commenting on smoking or the lack thereof in California bars...
"You'd better be careful California. Pretty soon there'll be no drinking and no talking. Pretty soon we'll be saying 'Let's all go on down to the library and have a wild time."
See you on the high ground...
MajorDad1984
Posted by MajorDad1984 at 10:14 AM | Comments (0)
Raising the Age Bar for Military Recruiting
I found this "poll question" in the online version of my local paper this morning...take a minute to read it.
The Pentagon has sent a request to Congress to raise the maximum recruiting age for enlisted personnel to 42 to match a recent change for the commissioned ranks. The move covers all the services but is aimed at helping the Army with its recruiting woes. This means a person who signs up at 42 could retire at 62 if healthy and fit enough to remain that long. Should the military simply match the Social Security retirement ages for a 20-year career and allow qualified people to join until their 47th birthday?
Have we given up trying to instill a sense of service and commitment with today's American youth? On the Selective Service System website we find the following:
That being the case, the Agency will maintain its readiness as required by law, and to register young men between the ages of 18 and 25.
This leads me to believe that the target audience for most serving in our armed forces to be our young adults, not those that have past the age of optimal service. This doesn't mean that there aren't 30 and 40+ men and women that can serve honorably until they're senior citizens, but when it comes to "closing with and destroying the enemy" through fire and maneuver I'd rather have some young "firebreathers" backing me up rather than some paunchy, middle-aged folks.
I turn 43 in just a few weeks and I'm man enough to admit that the days of me carrying a 60 lb rucksack are probably well and truly over. Could I serve on a staff? Serve as an instructor at any number of military training bases? Of course, but my years of "taking the hill" are probably over...and why shouldn't they be?
The next issue I have with the poll question is that we're trying to tie military service age to the social security retirement age. Serving in any branch of the armed forces is not the same as selling kids shoes at Payless. We enjoyed a fairly long period where the deterrent value of our armed forces guaranteed 30 years of relative peace between the end of the Vietnam War and the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism (or the more recent nom de guerre: Struggle Against Violent Extremism). In that intervening time period, there were a great number of soldiers, noncommissioned officers and officers that served their 20 years without incident or deployment.
Just "showing up" was enough to keep those that would do us harm in their holes. Just because we did have that interlude of relative peace doesn't mean that this will be or should ever be the norm. Until we can get our arms around the issues that have created this shadowy enemy, we need to be ready to meet the threats head on. We're not going to be able to do this 40 and 50 year olds at the tip of our spear...age discrimination has a place in the armed forces!
The graphic at the top of this post comes from the movie poster for Hollywood's rendition of Robert Heinlein's "Starship Troopers." In that 1959 science fiction classic, one of the main "carrots" for serving your nation/planet dealt with the concept of citizenship. Citizenship and the full rights to those benefits accorded to citizens was NOT automatic. In order to be a recognized citizen, one had to serve his fellow men and women in one way or another. I guess this forces me to advocate some type of universal federal service for all of today's youth...if they want to be eligible for the myriad of benefits this great nation has established.
This concept of "service to your fellow man" doesn't necessarily mean that you must take up arms and deploy to exotic foreign lands on a military mission. There are many ways that today's youth could make a difference and contribute. Here are just a few jobs that came off the top of my head.
- - Serving as a lifeguard at the local city pool.
- - Assisting at the local hospital or senior retirement center.
- - Answering phones at the fire/police/emergency services center.
- - Clerking in the halls of Congress and other federal agencies.
- - Teaching in inner city schools or those that haven't been able to make the grade.
- - Working as teachers for adults who can't read or write.
- - Tutoring children that are having a tougher time than most in school.
These are just a few places where young and old people could help make a difference and EARN the benefits this country has to offer.
Rather than not talking about "the elephant in the room," isn't it time to stop the "something for nothing" mentality? Yes, we have welfare, we have educational benefits, we have handouts for oh so many types of people. Isn't it time to ask for something in return?
See you on the high ground folks!
MajorDad1984
Posted by MajorDad1984 at 06:29 AM | Comments (6)
July 30, 2005
Homespun Blogger Symposium XXX
This week's question to ponder reads like this...
Today, President Bush is expected to sign the Central American Free Trade Agreement. How do you feel about it and why?Today on the Rush Limbaugh Show, Dr. Walter Williams entertained a number of callers that were dead set against it...how about you?
I'm a big believer that wherever possible, we should make consumer goods as affordable as possible for all Americans. This might be snobbish of me, but I want to think that we'd like to get away from labor intensive industries and work towards a more modern manufacturing base. While the mills and factories employing less-skilled labor have been a sustaining factor in many depressed areas, we can't continue to try to employ the men that used to drive the ice wagons up and down our dirt streets. Progress is moving forward...and so should the American work ethic.
Rather than continue the generation to generation "rut" of going to school, getting married and getting that "really good job at the mill/factory" shouldn't we be aspiring to something better than that?
Let's also keep in mind that we've seen industries migrate within our own borders...as Dr. Williams reminded us, the textile industry once thrived in the northeast. Now it seems to have moved into the south/deep south. With CAFTA, the migration will just continue to move further south.
I look at these kinds of treaties as something that's good for America, but we have to make a decision to better ourselves...dreaming of working jobs where we don't blister our hands but rather exercise our minds to the fullest.
Don't only stay in school...excel in school!
See you on the high ground.
MajorDad1984
Posted by MajorDad1984 at 09:09 AM | Comments (2)
July 17, 2005
MajorBaby and OPERATION GLAMOUR SHOT
Well folks, the MajorBaby is knocking on the door for her "Terrible Two's." As one of the gifts, the MajorFamily made a pilgrimage to the mall to have some photos taken at our local Glamour Shots. It was a very informative trip to say the very least. However, let me elaborate...
Earlier this week:
MajorMom called our local Glamour Shots to set up an appointment for the MajorBaby's first "photo shoot." At the end of the call, the salesperson on the other end of the line asked for a credit card number to hold the appointment. As MajorMom's not a believer in credit cards, she doesn't have any...we figured I'd provide one later. Bottom line, MajorBaby was scheduled for 2:20 pm yesterday.
1030 HRS. Yesterday morning (day of the 'shoot')
After all my procrastination, around 10:30 a.m. I finally get on the horn with Glamour Shots with my trusty MasterCard in hand. Apparently our 2:20 p.m. appointment's been taken by someone that had a credit card ready to go...we now have a 3:00 p.m. appointment. Okey dokey, no worries. We'll see you at 3:00 p.m.In my typical manner...I planned the day in my head (without checking with anyone else...bad move on my part) and I figured we'd pull out of the driveway at about 2:30 p.m., get to the mall around 2:45 p.m. and waltz through the glitzy door of Glamour Shots at about 2:55 p.m.. Alas, it was not to be. MajorMom and MajorTeen informed me that we needed to leave at about 2:00 p.m. so we could go buy MajorBaby a new top to go with a skirt. (My heavens...what was I thinking? My baby had enough clothing? Puh-leeze, Dad...) Well, this forced me into the shower about 30 minutes earlier and laid waste to that well orchestrated schedule I'd written in my head. After my obligatory 4 minute shower, 2 minutes with the Sonic Care toothbrush, and tossing on some of my trademark Big Dog clothing...off we went to 'the mall.'
1415 - 1455 HRS - At the Mall
As we walked through the doors at JC Penney’s I got the eerie feeling I used to get while walking dismounted patrols in the middle of the night in places like Fort Benning, GA and Fort Hunter-Liggett, CA. The enemy was here...I just couldn't see them yet. There was an ambush laid in our path, we just didn't know where.
After about 15 minutes of pawing through baby clothes at JC Penney’s, MajorDad decided to recommend we try the Old Navy store at the other end of the mall. They always seemed to have something that separated me from some money...so it did indeed seem to be the logical choice.
We made the trek down the mall, dodging dipsh*ts and ne'er-do-wells hanging out in the cool, air-conditioned environment and entered Old Navy. Much better selection here. This should be easy.
Well, it wasn't long before MajorDad started to feel like one of the Fab Five of Queer Eye fame when he's asked "how about this one?" Wouldn't you think that by now MajorMom and MajorTeen would realize that if it were up to me, MajorBaby would have a very bland wardrobe just like mine if it were up to me to pick out clothes? In any case, the change of venue to JC Penney’s seemed to have been a good choice, we got out of there for just under $7 with a great little shirt for MajorBaby's big photo shoot.
1455 - 1630 HRS - Glamour Shots (Abandon all hope ye who enter here.)
To add insult to injury, the mall was running a "sidewalk" sale. What this means is that the shops set up tables in front of their stores on the "simulated sidewalk" and load them up with the crap they can't seem to sell INSIDE their stores. Let's also remember the purpose of sidewalks...they're supposed to be for PEDESTRIANS!!!! After weaving through the tables of un-sellable crap, the dipshits and ne'er do wells hanging out stealing oxygen, we made it to Glamour Shots.We're greeted by someone who is obviously a salesperson with a clipboard (at least Glamour Shots doesn't have a table full of crap out front) who asks us if we're interested in their service. As a typical guy, I do have to respond of course we're interested. Why else would I be here? I add to this...that we've got an appointment at 3:00 p.m.
"Oh, okay. Well just come inside and make yourselves comfortable.” Uh huh. And where do you propose that I do this "missy?" We've already got one family with a baby in the waiting area and another reviewing their photos in the dimly lit "sales area." I'm looking at my watch like I'm expecting the preparatory bombardments on the Normandy beaches in June of 1944. Okay, so they're a little backed up. We wait about 15 minutes before asking about when the 3:00 p.m. appointment will start. We're told that they've had some "walk-ins" they needed to take care of...so we'll just have to wait a little longer. "Maybe just 5 more minutes." Yeah, that's what you told me 20 minutes ago when we got here...
In any case, between me, MajorMom, and MajorTeen...we were able to entertain MajorBaby to the point she stayed in a pretty good mood until we were ushered into the studio room for the 'shoot.'
"The Shoot" Part I
We followed the photographer and what we figured to be an assistant into a room lit about as well as one of Dante's circles of hell. Just the photo lights...kinda scary for a little one I thought...and apparently so did MajorBaby. Her "pucker factor" was pretty high. This once happy, smiling baby turned into a sour puss in seconds.The room was set up with a toy box...stuffed animals, children’s books, and all sorts of things that MajorBaby would have normally been all over like white on rice...but the atmosphere just wasn't tripping her trigger.
After pulling out all our stops on trying to get a smile...or at least stop the tears after the Glamour Shot staff stuffed her INTO the toy box...we decided to go to "outfit #2." We got hustled out of the studio room...and MajorTeen and MajorMom took on the job of changing MajorBaby into her new Old Navy togs...in something just this side of a broom closet. I began praying to the saints and all things holy that this would be over soon...
"The Shoot" Part II
Well, it didn't quite go right back to shooting...apparently when you go to change costumes/outfits, the rooms are reconfigured and the next clients enter. What this meant was that we had a nearly two year old...without a nap on our hands...waiting for the room to open up again. Perhaps it was bad planning on our part not to have a well rested toddler, but it was REALLY bad service on the part of Glamour Shots. They do this every day. They should know better!
Well, round two included MajorBaby posing with a big, fluffy teddy bear bigger than her. Nope, still posing in the dank, dark room. The big teddy bear did nothing more than add to the scene. This time we were in a cave! More cajoling, baby talk, tickling and what not did squeeze a decent pose or two out of her.
After about 10 minutes we all decided to throw in the towel. It had gotten as good as it was going to get.
1615-1630 HRS "The Sales Pitch"
Now guys, this is where you have to make the call. Either you want to be involved in this part of the Glamour Shots operation...or you want to be several zip codes away.After another 15 minutes or so, we were ushered into the "preview" area where the Glamour Shots "closer" showed us about a half dozen decent pictures of the MajorBaby posing in the Cave of the Clan Bear. The preview was really pretty classy, shown on a large plasma screen with the sounds of “The Lion King” playing in the background. Nice presentation, probably endorsed by psychologists to lull the buyer into a deep, hypnotic state.
Actually, I have to take my hat off..., as there were at least two shots that I really liked. However, I don't think that's the way the sales script is written at Glamour Shots. Two pictures certainly can't be enough...
After watching the "closer" manipulate the images (pay special attention to the size of the print she had created) I had to ask her what this collage was going to cost. After playing her calculator like a concert piano she responded that a 16” x 20” print would cost something on the order of $360. But of course, that came completely matted and framed.
Maybe it’s important to mention that Glamour Shots is running a special for $19.95 that includes the photo shoot and one 8” x 10” and eight wallet sized prints. MajorDad being the bargain shopper that he is was certainly looking for something that would deduct just two digits from the bank, not three or four.
After shaking the feeling that I was sitting in an insurance pitch or timeshare presentation, I asked the “closer” what would it cost for the special and perhaps just one more set of prints of a second pose.
Bottom line, we were able to get out of there with two 8” x 10”s, two 5” x 7”s, and 16 wallet sized prints for just under $60. Once we’d gotten to that point, the closer asked if we wanted to “pearlize” the prints. When we asked what that was, she showed us a before and after picture of a 40-something woman with bad skin. Yes, for her pearlizing was a MUST! My comment for the closer (I hope that wasn’t a picture of her) was, “MajorBaby’s skin is less than two years old. I think we can do without “pearlizing it.”
AFTER ACTION REPORT – OPERATION GLAMOUR SHOT
Operation successful. Will receive two packages of MajorBaby photos in 3-14 days. Very beautiful shots. Nearly worth the effort. Recommendations for continuing operations.1. Know what you’re getting into.
2. Make it clear that you expect your appointment to start on time.
3. Ensure baby is well rested.
4. Be firm with “closer.” They’ll sell you the Brooklyn Bridge if you let them.
5. Consider checking with local “little guy” photographers for baby pictures. Glamour Shots is for bigger kids and adults. Our first photographer wasn’t much interested in taking baby pictures.
Posted by MajorDad1984 at 09:57 AM | Comments (8)
July 14, 2005
We Are Not Afraid...
Tonight I fell "out of character" as I wanted to take a look at the local news to see what happened with that "suspicious package" that caused so much trouble here at Fort Hood today...and I was pretty shocked at what I saw.
Apparently there is an innovative young Brit who put up a website within hours of the London bombings last week...to make a clear statement to the terrorists bringing the war to the British Isles.
We Are Not Afraid! Go check it out...I'll wait!
Actually it's very nicely done...as a sort of "photo blog" but very moving. I'd say that it's probably one of the best "counters" we have to those "evil-doers" that crawl from their holes to kill the innocents.
Based on the number of galleries that are posted so far, I'd say that we (the good) have certainly shown them (the evil ones) that we will NOT give up the fight. We will not give them what they seek. We really will not be afraid.
I don't think we need to be. There's alot more of us than there are of them anyway. If they want a war of attrition, we'll give them one!
See you on the high ground!
MajorDad1984
Posted by MajorDad1984 at 08:46 PM | Comments (0)
Homespun Blogger Symposium XXVIII
Last Friday, I asked the following question on the HomeSpun Blogger network for we independent bloggers to ponder...
This week saw terrorism raise it's ugly head in London killing more than 50 people, wounding over 700.Based on this recent attack...do you feel that we're winning, losing, or holding our own in fighting the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT)? (Hint: The answer may be none of the above.)
To invoke the logic of our former president, I'll say that it depends upon what the definition of winning, losing, holding our own might be.
I know that we could crush the insurgency and wave of terrorism that currently exists in Iraq with the blink of an eye. I believe that we can compare the current situations in Iraq and Afghanistan to what we faced 30+ years ago in Vietnam. (I was reminded yesterday NOT to forget what's going on in Afghanistan. I sat in on a debrief of a team that recently returned to the United States from both Iraq and Afghanistan and it certainly sounds like Afghanistan is just as "hot" as Iraq in terms of action. Keep the brave men and women serving there in your thoughts and prayers as well.)
We are indeed the biggest dog on the block and can take the enemy "to school" every day...but as Americans we value human life far too much to do so as expediently as some would like to do. When you have termites in your home, you don't go about killing them with a wrecking ball. The same holds true in our pursuit of the vermin that have over-run Iraq in the name of jihad.
This is going to take awhile, but I honestly believe that once we're able to hand the missions over to the newly trained Iraqi Army we'll leave as soon as possible. While I'm sure we'll leave an advisory and support element in place for some time, the Iraqis will stand up for themselves with our assistance.
So, you're probably looking for my bottom line answer...
We are winning the war on global terror, but we're not making the kind of progress an impatient American and global public would like. If they're unhappy with the progress, I would urge them to visit their local recruiting station and talk to some folks in the Army and Marine Corps. They would gladly help them into a position where they could directly influence the outcome. Otherwise, let's leave this to the warfighters...and diplomats to solve.
See you on the high ground!
MajorDad1984
Posted by MajorDad1984 at 08:33 AM | Comments (6)
July 09, 2005
Need For Something Special for that Person with EVERYTHING???
MajorDad's taking a weekend sabattical, so here's a repeat broadcast from the original MajorDad1984 blog...
At the risk of sounding like I'm turning this into a commercial site...I wanted to recommend my barber to you.No, not to cut your hair...unless of course you're reading this in Coryell or Bell County in Texas.
She and her husband are hardworking entrepreneurs that have a really slick wholesale neon and novelty business on the side...and I for one have missed out in the past by not paying attention to it. I've just rectified that by purchasing this...
Just a hair over $50 bucks shipped to my door! Brooks and Dunn anyone? Hey, it's made of glass...it has neon gas....it's fragile. Insurance costs money!
If you've ever shopped for neon things, and the past I have, you'll know that this is a very good deal. If you're interested...no arm twisting going on here at all, please follow this link to:
Neon By Udo Sculptures Starting at $34.88 Or Paula's Piddlin's for some VERY Unique Novelties Starting at Much, Much Less Paula's been cutting my hair for years...and like I think I said before, it takes quite a bit to make MajorDad look good. She's the person that keeps the flattop flat and intimidating.
I'm sure you'll find something that you'll like. Go give them a visit and shop around.
See y'all on the high ground!
MajorDad1984
Posted by MajorDad1984 at 08:15 PM | Comments (0)
July 06, 2005
London - 2012 Olympics....Rigged?
More from my new favorite liberal chew toy, The Huffington Post. This time, pretty boy, non-athlete sports commentator Jim Lampley opines on the "shocker" of London edging out Paris as the first three time host of the Modern Olympic Games. Read Jim's account here.
Having spent something under 24 hours in the City of Light 15 years ago, I would tend to avoid the place like the plague. If you're looking for rude and arrogant people, subways that smell like urinals, and criminals in uniforms (got cheated out of 30 francs for not being able to speak the lingo on the train back to Germany) Paris/France is your place.
Just to make sure I don't lose my comment posted on the "H-Post" you can read it below...
NOTE: The Huffington Post does appear to "accept" most comments, but for some reason, they're not all visible all the time. It appears you do have to hunt around for your comment here and there. Go figure.
Paris, bah hah.
Did rudeness and urinating in subway stations make it onto the slate of the Olympic Games? They'd have those events locked up!
Kind of surprised nobody has accused Halliburton of rigging the election so that they could cash in on some of the big support contracts sure to be in the offing.
This place cracks me up!
See you on the high ground!
MajorDad1984
Posted by MajorDad1984 at 04:56 PM | Comments (4)
July 05, 2005
More on the H-Post
I think I've found a new "chew toy" with the Huffington Post. Again, I wasn't disappointed when I surfed there today. Check this "stuff" out!
Apprently Mr. Sirota is very concerned about the 2006 Senate seats on the line. If ever there was an election season to fret about...this one would be it if you are a liberal or a Democrat.
There's more...just in case the Huffington Post decides NOT to publish my comment to Mr. Sirota. So far I'm batting .500 with this crew. I'll fix it...I'll just post my comment below!
UPDATE: Okay, batting average at "The H-Post" is .666.
See you on the high ground!
MajorDad1984
Wow, there's some objective journalism for you!
What about Ted "Can't Drive Across a Bridge" Kennedy or John "Well, I thought I was in Cambodia" Kerry?
Katherine Harris disgusting? Rick Santorum "wild eyed?"
So much for finding a reasoned debate here at the "H-Post."
See you on the high ground.
MajorDad1984
Posted by MajorDad1984 at 05:51 PM | Comments (1)
July 04, 2005
The Huffington Post - Kind of like a Blog
Well, I figure that sooner or later this was going to come up. Guess I'd come to the "end of the Internet" and in my starting over I came across the "Huffington Post."
I believe that this is a blog for "moonbats" as I think one my readers calls them. (Hat tip to DagneyT!)
In my boredom today...in between getting things done around the house and entertaining MajorBaby, I wandered into this "scary place." I read pieces from Representative "Baghdad" Jim McDermott (D-WA), Richard Belzer (remember that skinny, ugly guy that used to be a stand-up comic), and a host of other strange thinking folks posing as journalists and pundits.
What really has me going is that while the "Huffington Post" seems to have a "blog like" flavor, it is anything but that. After replying to Baghdad Jim's post, as well as Mr. Belzer's, I realized that my comments might be posted...as the "Huffington Post" seems to think that they have to monitor "everything" posted within.
If you want to be a blog, then be a blog. To me, that means you gladly accept anything that someone decides to hammer out on the keyboard. (Granted, I do reserve the right...as should most responsible people to put the brakes on out and out hate speech, libel and slander at any time. That also goes for comment spam enticing you to go spend your money at online casinos too!)
I'll let y'all know what happens to the comments I posted. I'm betting that since they don't fall right in lock step with the moonbat way of thinking, they'll be on the way to electronic Disneyland before I wake up in the morning.
See you all on the high ground folks!
MajorDad1984
Posted by MajorDad1984 at 09:38 PM | Comments (0)
Invasion USA
In a previous post, the discussion of an invasion of the USA came up. The argument raised basically spoke to the fact that our nation was NOT in danger of being invaded by large armies and our coastlines not under siege by huge naval forces.
While this is true, I think it's key to discuss the problems with our borders with Mexico, Canada, as well as our vast coastlines. If you still don't think that this is a concern, I'll direct your attention to this report from FoxNews.com here.
And not just to pick on the southern border, here's a story from the Washington Times urging us to watch our neighbors to the north as well. Washington Times.
We have thousands of miles of borders and coastlines to patrol and protect, yet we as a nation seem to find ourselves up against the wall being accused of being xenophobes and isolationists. If unchecked immigration was the order of the day, we wouldn't bother with the Border Patrol and the numerous customs checkpoints along both borders. This simply is not the case with civilized nations. While we certainly haven't closed the country off, we are not doing what needs to be done in order to boost our ability to secure the nation.
The report cited above discusses the fact that there are a number of human smugglers more than willing to move "Other Than Mexicans" across our southern border...and our neighbors to the north, while somewhat more vigilant, cannot seal the border with Canada to only valid foreigners. My concern lies with the fact that we've seen that while we're probably doing a much better job of those trying to infiltrate our nation through "legal" channels, we're losing the battle with those that are willing to sneak across the lines on foot or land on our beaches. We saw the result of less than 2 dozen motivated terrorists on 9/11, can we afford to allow others to try and make it inside our borders with something along the line of a nuclear weapon? Chemical weapon? God forbid, biological?
It's way past the time where we need to "get tough" with these ILLEGAL ALIENS. Maybe I've been ready too much Tom Clancy, but I'm terrified about what might happen if we continue to be as lax about securing our borders against such threats. I undertstand the value of allowing a certain number of aliens into our country, but we can no longer afford to allow those willing to brave the harsh deserts or cold, snowy northern border free access.
This nation has worked far too hard and sacrificed so much to allow itself to be open to another 9/11 style attack.
See you on the high ground!
MajorDad1984
Posted by MajorDad1984 at 10:28 AM | Comments (3)
July 03, 2005
MSM Arithmetic
Wow...someone needs to hire a mathematician over at FoxNews!
New Math?
With this kind of thinking...I'm ten years older than I am! I was a plebe at West Point when the hostages were released.
See you on the high ground. I'll be the one with the slide rule and pocket calculator.
MajorDad1984
Posted by MajorDad1984 at 01:21 PM | Comments (1)
July 02, 2005
Military and Civilian Contractors Clash in Iraq: But They're Both from the US
You might have recently heard about some problems with the way the US military and American civilian contractors have been "getting along" lately in Iraq.
Here's a link to a story from FoxNews.
I'm sure that it's really not that much different that any time you get military and contractors into the same zip code...most of the time, the military members are jealous of the contractors making "big bucks." As far as the contractors go, they just try to get the job done.
I think that a very large part of this problem is that we're asking civilians (both Department of Defense and contractors) to do the jobs traditionally left to the uniformed services. If there are 20,000 security contractors in Iraq, it seems that we could buy a "division" that could take care of that role, BUT we're having trouble just with the status quo of recruiting. If we're going to fall short of the 80,000 this year...things are only going to get worse next year.
I'd like to hear from some of the older bloggers out there that might remember WWII and ask them how many American and British civilians they served with in North Africa, Italy, Sicily, France and the like. I'm sure that there were some, but certainly not in the numbers we're seeing today.
Why is it that you rarely here about Draft Dodgers during WWII...but the minute you even mention resurrecting the draft and putting the Selective Service into action you can't hear yourself above the din? I want to know...did America really have to rely on the draft to fill the ranks during the ramp up and execution of WWII campaigning or did Americans pretty much answer the call to service?
As far as the military and contractors getting along...seems to me if the military was up to the task of providing security...we could send the contractors home. If the military's not large enough to perform the assigned and implied tasks, then it needs to expand. While politically incorrect I'm sure...if our senior military leaders were brutally honest with themselves they'd increase the size of the standing Army/Marine Corps during this time of increased tension and quite possibly get a few more boots on the ground over there.
If the military doesn't like serving alongside contractors because they're perceived as mercenary hires, then send them home and start calling up more reservists, calling for a draft, and calling for an expanded armed force to deal with the Global War on Terror.
See you on the high ground.
MajorDad1984
UPDATE 7/4/2005: The invasion continues...Hezbollah coming into the country through Tijuana? FoxNews tells the story here.
Posted by MajorDad1984 at 09:55 AM | Comments (3)
July 01, 2005
Homespun Blogger Symposium XXVII
This week's questions asks:By now, you've probably heard about the Texas Ranger's pitcher, Kenny Rogers (no, not crooning kind), pitched another fit in Arlington, Texas. Read about it in this FoxNews story here.
Okay...now for the symposium's question of the week:
Is the penalty imposed by Major League Baseball Commissioner, Bud Selig, appropriate for the infraction? If you didn't go the story, Kenny Rogers has been suspended for 20 games and fined $50,000.
Please address the problem with professional athletes seemingly to think that they are above the law and untouchable when it comes to their on and off field conduct.
I think that the punishment probably does fit the crime. If this is the first incident (although we know this guy's got problems with anger management as he's not playing due to a broken pinky finger he injured during a previous tirade) maybe he will learn from losing his salary, paying his fine, and seeing his picture in the paper.
The underlying problem as I see it is that these guys have lost sight of the fact that they're making tremendous livings...for playing a game. While I'm too lazy to research what the current league minimum is...I'd give my eye teeth to have played in the major leagues for just what I make now as a humble federal civil servant.
The cameramen that Kenny Rogers layed into were simply doing their jobs...documenting his work as a major league baseball player. I don't care if Kenny didn't want his picture taken...he's a very public figure and is handsomely compensated. If he doesn't want anyone watching him...I suggest he find another line of work.
Fans hold all the power in this arena. If they don't buy tickets, go to games, purchase licensed goods...pro sports go under. Also, advertisers paying for all the signs in the outfield, along the fences, etc can stand to lose from this as well.
Time to shape up professional athletes. Might be time for the same thing to happen to the MLB and NBA...that happened to the NHL this season.
See you on the high ground...and make sure you behave yourselves!
MajorDad1984
Posted by MajorDad1984 at 05:22 PM | Comments (0)
