Guard Dog

I will now ask a very difficult question that you right wing nuts will struggle with (apparently), but here goes: why does he break into your house and steal your stuff? Remove the incentive and he won't. Amazing, isn't it? The truth is mkreku, there are some people who simply do not or will not conform to civilized society. Stealing is easier than working with higher reward and if there is risk to it then that olnly adds to the appeal. Like it or not there are really some evil people out there. I don't think we should be killing them but I do believe it is reasonable to warehouse them in prisions somewhere they can not harm innocent people. On another note I heard somone suggest that judges who parole prisioners should be imprisioned with them if they re-offend. Not going to happen obviously but it is a nice thought.

Let's see, State Controlled News/Media: Check History of mistreating non-slavic/minority ethnicities: Check Planned Economy: Check History of Human rights abuses: Check Anti-Semetic leadership: Check Majority of land owned by the state: Check Yep, sounds like your kind of place LoF In all seriousness, if the voters in Belarus want Lukashenko, they can have him. The US does, unfortunately, have a history of denouncing (and even overturning or meddling in) elections that do not turn out the way the administration of the day likes. Vietnam & Chilie come to mind right off the top. James Monroe was a wise man, if only we'd listened. On topic I vaugely remember talk on the BBC radio news of unifiying Belarus & Russia back when Putin was in charge (heh, as if he still isn't). I wonder whatever happened with that.

Well, I do like Christmas. Amazon has taken care of the gift giving for me. I mean how cool is it to buy everything on one site and have it sent directly to the recipient gift wrapped with a card? I don't have much in the way of family these days. My ex-wife and I have not spoken in years, both of my parents have passed away over the past year. My brother and his family are on the other side of the country and while we speak three or four times a month, I don't forsee any visits anytime soon. I don't keep close friends, just the occasional girlfriend and the old drunks down at the VFW. But that dosen't bother me much. I have a bunch of elderly dogs living with me and I like making treats and stuff for them for christmas. I'll probably spend tomorrow morning drinking coffee on the porch reading a book and watching the dogs do their thing. It's raining now and it's supposed to snow tomorrow, I hope it does. I'm totally at peace with where I am in life now. I wish some things had turned out differently but I've done well with what I had. I'm going to the Toys for Tots party tonight. That is the only military thing I'm still involved in (unless you count American Legion & VFW) If you give at the silver level (more than $5k per year) you get an invite. The lady I'm taking has never been to one before so it should be fun.

I am obliged to be consistent here. As much as I respect the value of life, I believe everyone should be free to live it with the maximum amount of liberty and autonomy. That includes ending it in a manner of their choosing. So no it should not be illegal. Krez is right about the socialisim bit though. Socialisim takes choice away from people, the socialist response to euthenasia would be to either ban it all together or do it even aginst someone's will. As for suicide being illegal, how the heck does one prosecute that particular crime? Assuming it was unassisted and succesful. Speaking of which, how must it feel if you try and fail? Not only do you have all of your original problems, you've just discovered something else you suck at.

GD, the new Commandant is a pilot so there is hope for women to some day lead the Marine Corps. Also, I'm a bit saddened that the Marines were the branch most opposed to the repeal. Yup, sure enough. Gen James Amos was a winger (slang for Marine Air Wing) his whole career. I did not know that. Apparently he is the first. I guess they have done away with the infantry service prerequisite at some point. Most of my time was under "Big" Al Gray. He was a grunt at heart, but one of the most popular commandants. I was a winger myself for my whole tour and I hated having to do the "grunt bull s**t" as we called it. But it was necassary. We had a saying back then: Every Marine Is A Rifleman First. I guess we can have a female commandant. I know there are at least two or three female general officers. As for his resistance to removing DADT, there is going to be some of that, but over time it will fade away. Five or ten years from now no one will remember that there was once a ban on gays.

One intersting story though. The women often posted higher aggregate rifle range scores than the men did in Boot Camp. I always wondered why until a former shooting instructor from the MCRD in San Diego explained it to me. Most men by the time they joined (between ages 17-21 typically) had had some exposure to shooting firearms. The M-16A2 (no longer in use but that was what we had at the time) does not shoot like "your daddys huntin' rifle) as my Drill Instrctor used to say. So the male recruits had to unlearn some bad habits to become proficient with the M-16. The women by and large had never fired a rifle before so they learned how to do it right the first time with no bad habits to break. The guy who got the highest range score in my boot camp platoon had lived in Boston his whole life and had never shot a rifle before enlisting. Interesting stuff.

I would never agree to allowing women to serve in the infantry or armor. Physically they just cannot do it. Yes some can, 98% can not. I had a discussion with a femal Marine i served with about that. She was insistent that a woman could fight as well as a man. I told her I'd agree if just one time she could finish a run. In the Marines the whole unit does PT together 4 days a week. Usually it's the daily dozen exercises (push ups, mountain climbers, bend & thrust, etc) followed by a 3-4 mile run in formation. Behind the formation there is a safety vehicle (pick up truck, hummer, whatever) with a corpsman and some other stuff in it. Well, there were eight women in my unit and not one of them, not a single one, ever finished a run in the formation. Every one, every time, they fell out and finished the run riding in the back of the truck. In the marines, every man had to pass the combat PFT every year, that included a six mile run in full uniform & 782 gear (pack, flack jacket, web gear, rifle, & magazines) rope climb in full uniform, and 100 yrd firemans carry in full gear with the "wounded man" in full gear. This is along with the rgular PFT everyone takes (Women are exempt from the Combat PFT). I have never met a female Marine who COULD do that. Now don't get me wrong, they can serve and excell in every other capacity including tactical command and fighter pilots, but not as infantry. That is one glass ceiling that should not be shattered. And yes, I know that means there will never be a female Commandant of the Marine Corps since infantry service is prerequisite.

Yep, and Yep.

It's snowing!

I'm sure there were lots of people who had similar arguments about letting blacks into the military. The organization will adapt and be no worse off for it. ^ He shoots, he scores. Precisely. Yes that was EXACTLY the argument that was used, and at the time it was correct. During WWI all American military units were segregated but the valor dispayed by the 10th Cavlary & 92nd & 93rd Infantry Divisions of the 1st AEF broke down a lot of the barriers and led to full integration during an following WW2. It was an idea whose time had come and for the most part it was accepted easily. Now, what do you think would have happened had Lincoln tried that during the Civil War? Or McKinley during the war with Spain? Change comes on it's own and usually it comes without complaint and leaves people wondering why it hadn't happened earlier. But if you try to force it before everyone is ready, it is messy. Gay soldiers are not going to have an easy time of it at first. Just as black soldiers didn't. But not far down the road, no one will think a thing about it. However, had this been rammed down everyones throats 20 years ago, it would have been much more difficult.

For Christmas this year I'm grilling a red snapper fillet with a Florida lobster tail, roasted ear of corn, and a balsamic tomato salad. Plus I'm going to cut and smoke some country style spare ribs to make jerky treats for the dogs because, after all, they love christmas too! Then I'm going to load up the Ipod with Bob Marley & Jimmy Buffet songs, drink a lot of beer and yell at the coyotes when they come knock my grill over later.

I used to have a problem with this. When i was in the military anyone who was openly gay (or even thought to be) could expect to be ostricised and probably get their ass kicked on a regular basis. Look, I know what you are thinking but I have no problem with somones sexual preference, that is just how it was.... 20 years ago. The military is not a social experiment, sometimes rules that seem wrong to freedom loving people have to be made to ensure good order and discipline. And yes, I know there are endless historical examples to prove that homosexuals make just as good a soldier as the next guy... i get it. I don't disagree, that is just how it was... 20 years ago. Now, a lot has changed in the last 20 years. Nobody who was in when I was is there now, and attitudes about homosexuality have certainly changed for the better in society as a whole. Now it is no big deal (which it should not be) and this new policy reflects that.

Yes, legalize, regulate and tax it. It's a win all around. Of course, if certain jobs require clean drug tests to get and keep them, thats ok too.

Truely sad news. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. And for those who have responded to this news with disdain or sarcasam, shame on you.

Thank you. The general goal is ~50 pages and my first draft is about 65% done. It's on the smallish side as its meant to be a guide book a tourist bring with them as they explore Salem. I am hoping to finish the last leg of the first draft within a weeks time. Why do you ask? Just curious. I would not go to an editor until you have a completed draft, however rough. One other thought, have you considered self publishing? A lot of 50 softcovers will only run you a few hundred dollars and you can try to pitch them to the local tourist shops, or ghost walk tours, ebay, etc. Publishing a book is not all that expensive, the copyright will cost around a hundred bucks if you do the paperwork yourself.

I think they have a better than fair shot of winning over Detroit & Seattle, Detroit has little to play for and the Seahawks can't get out of their own way. Both games at home is a big plus. Winning at NO will be a stretch unless the Saints playoff seeding is already decided and they have reason to rest their starters. Looking at how the Wildcards are shaping up I'd say there is a fair shot of that happening.

A long way from California huh?

I hope Kelverin is ok. I know he was having a bad time with health issues. As for the ending of the Bucs-Skins game, you guys probably heard me shouting for joy all the way up north. To paraphrase Bucs tackle Kevin Rudd, winning ugly is still winning. I doubt playoffs are in the picture for the pewter pirates but it has been a great team to watch this season. I take back all the things I ranted about Coach Morris. The Pats are just that kind of team. They are like the Packers from the 60s, the Stellers of the 70s, 49ers of the 80s and Cowboys of the 90s. As for the AFC, the only team that matches up well against them is the Jaguars but they are a one trick pony, strong ground game, mediocre everywhere else. But what they can do is control the clock which is the only way the Pats can lose. I don't think anyone will outplay them. As for the NFC, it looks like the Falcons have the inside track. Imagine a Pats Falcons superbowl. What to you think the over on THAT one would be? BTW did you guys see Sal Alosi, a Jets coach trip a dolphins player while running in kick coverage? What an @$$hole. And how about the video of the Metrodome roof collapsing. Wild stuff.

Cursing out the Boston Red Sox on another forum right now. Damn them!

Indeed. I think this is a good thing. What I'm far more annoyed about is the stupidly large increase in university fees for UK students. University should be free or heavily subsidised. Find other spending cuts to make you bastards, like this ship! Of course it should. Because universites don't cost anything do they? I mean, all those professors and lab intructors and campus staff, they work for free right? Capus facilities and equioment like research labs and the money to fund them, that just grows up from the ground right? The day college is free is the day a degree becomes worthless. I've seen you critisise others for having an uninformed outsiders opinion on the U.S - let me tell you your comment shows me you know nothing about our university system. Not a thing. I did not mean to imply otherwise. I was just annoyed by Krezack whining about how other people should be paying his way.

Oh ok I'm the anarchist again huh? You don't actually read my posts do you? I don't think I've ever chanted "DOWN WITH GOVERNMENT". Unless of course you are unable to distiguish that from the notion that a government should live within it's framework. Maybe you are, nuance can be difficult for some to grasp. Oh, now I'm the putocrat again, you jump around like a flea on a hot rock. No I don't think that at all. I graduated from a major university with a Bachelor Degree and I'm not rich. And I paid for it myself, every last fu***ng cent. The difference between you and me is, if I want something, I go out and do what is required to get it. I don't waste time lamenting how no one will pay for it for me. It is YOUR responsibility to see to it you get an education (beyond the basic one you are entitled to from the state). It is not the responsibility of your fellow citizens to pay for it in your stead. Anyone in America can go to college if they want to. ANYONE. There are literally thousands of opportunities but they require work and sacrifice. Dirty words to a liberal, I know.

Can you eat Coyotes? I'm neck deep in them on nights I cook on the grill. I used to fire a round in the air with my shotgun to run them off, that doesn't even phase them anymore. Anyway, speaking of the grill I'm smoking a whole pork loin tonight.

Here is great case against the DP. There is a girl in Orlando who murdered her daughter, put here in a plastic bag and sank her into a pond. She did it so she would be free to go out and do drugs with her friends. The State is seeking the DP and the evidence in the case makes a guilty verdict all but a lock. But because it is a DP case is has been bogged down for years in pretrial hearings and haggling. If the DP was off the table she would have been tried, convicted, and locked away, probably for life w/o parole by now. Because it IS a dp trial the state has to pay part of the cost of her defense even though she has private counsel, to say nothing of the costs incurred in proving a DP case. Just take the whole damned thing off the table and lock these people up for life and be done with it. I really think the US should adopt Truth-in-Sentencing laws. In other words no parole for violent offenders, if you get a five year sentence you WILL do all five, and if you get a life sentence then you will only leave that prison in a body bag.

Say you have airborne herpes. At Christmas. It's like malaria. It comes back now and again. I'm becoming a rreal scrooge I guess but I just wish I could skip christmas this year.

I was invited to spend Christmas with this lady I'm dating and her son. I really don't want to but I haven't come up with an excuse yet. I'll think of one though, just give me some time...