The Place To Be

New blog

2008-12-10T09:10:00.000-08:00

If you are into musical instruments, check out a new blog I just started. Go Here: www.guitargearhead.blogspot.com.

Recording Session 11/22

2008-11-25T05:14:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday my band went into the studio to record a demo cd. I love recording. It's such a different dimension of music. We've played these songs hundreds of times, but when you record them for the first time, you hear things you've never heard before. For those of you who don't know how the recording process works, I'll briefly explain it. First you record what is called a scratch track. A scratch track is when everyone plays live together and you get the song roughly recorded. None of this recording is used in the final product, so it doesn't have to be perfect. It only has to be on time. Once the scratch track is recorded, the drummer goes back and records his actual drum line by himself. The scratch track is used so he can play along with something. He wears headphones to hear it, while everyone on the outside can only hear the drum line by itself. This process is repeated with each instrument. It allows the recording engineer to be able to edit each instrument independently of the rest of the song. The point I was trying to make, is it's amazing everything you realize you have never heard when you listen to the drummer or the bass player isolated. I constantly was doing double takes thinking, "What did he just play? Does he always do that?" Below are some pictures I shot.

Jonathan Burkett... what a stud

Dan Telvock and Dan Fong ready to rock.

Fong in the engineering room.

The studio mascot. Myrtle the turtle.

This is our recording engineer, George Jr. He's like 16, but he's freaking awesome. He's been doing this stuff since he was 11.

Sometimes Fong acts like he is 11.

Sometimes I do too.

You wouldn't know it from looking at the pictures of the sound and audio rooms, but this is actually a home studio. The family room off to the side made for a comfortable lounging area between tracks. The guy on the left is George Sr. He's kind of like the PR guy, and his son is the recording guy.

In this picture he kind of looks like Don Vito from Viva La Bam

Dan getting ready to lay down the bass track.

The studio wasn't huge, but it did the job. You really don't need millions of dollars of equipment to make a good recording. It's all in the personal touch.

Recording is a strange feeling actually. When you are playing a show, or at practice you don't pay so much attention to perfection. Plus, there is a lot of emotion that goes into performing, which adds to the song. When you sit down to record your part, you are all stiff and up tight. You want to get it right the first time. You are paying attention to everything except the emotion that goes into the song. The finished product really has to speak for itself.

This is the amp I used. It's a Gibson G105 2x12 solid state amp. It's like 30 years old. I got it for free! It still sounds great. Who says you need expensive equipment. I heard a saying one time that I really love, "What does a really crappy guitar player who plays really good equipment sound like? He sounds like a really crappy guitar player who plays really good equipment." That's how I make myself feel better anyway.

Fong setting up.

Jonathan and Dan chillin'

Band logo poll

2008-11-21T09:21:00.000-08:00

I realize that my band isn't quite to the selling merchandise stage yet, but I figure it's always good to look ahead. If you notice off to the right hand side of your screen there is a poll you can take. I would appreciate your input. These are all first drafts. The end product may not look anything like these ones. If you have any additional comments, please let me know.

In related news, we are beginning work on a demo cd tomorrow. Be sure to look for that soon. And as always you can keep track of us on myspace.

2008-11-18T07:08:00.001-08:00

My Saturday night

2008-11-18T07:00:00.001-08:00

I stayed home last Saturday night and ordered the UFC ppv fights. Chandler and Layla weren't particularly interested in the fights. As you can see here, they sacked out pretty early.

Chandler eventually waited out Layla for prime position on my lap.

It's almost here

2008-11-18T06:06:00.001-08:00

Something very exciting is going to happen this Sunday night at 8pm eastern standard time. It is something very important in my life. It is something I am looking forward to very much. It is the two hour season premier of 24, Redemption. If you forget when it's on don't worry, I have you covered. Just come to my page and check out my clock to the right. I'm here for you.

The Great Debate

2008-11-13T05:14:00.001-08:00

For those of you who don't know, I am in a band called The Great Debate. If you'd like to keep track of us, visit our myspace page at: www.myspace.com/thegreatdebateband. Please try not to judge us too harshly on the videos posted right now. That was a while ago, and we are much better now. Plus we've added another guitarist. We'll be going into the studio soon to record a demo cd, so stay tuned for that.

This is from our Halloween show at a pool hall downtown. Yeah, I admit it. We played at a pool hall. It's all about the Benjamins!

Here we are at the Loft. One of Fredericksburg premier venues for local music.

With Mr Dan Fong on guitar. We just call him Fong.

Dan Telvock on bass.

Jonathan Burkett keepin' time

And yours truly behind the mic and guitar.

Mountain Biking 11/10 & 11/11

2008-11-12T07:03:00.000-08:00

I had Monday and Tuesday off work for veterans day. What did I do? I rode some trails of course. Monday I went out to a network of trails here in town for the first time at Lodi Farm, and Tuesday I explored a new part of the Rappahannock river trail. Before I get into those pictures, here are a few pictures of trails that are on my "trail wish list" at www.singletracks.com. Begin drooling now:

Maah Daah Hey, North Dakota

Rim Trail, New Mexico

North Umpqua, Oregon

Copper Triangle, Colorado

The entry to the trails at Lodi Farm

Lodi Farm is open to the public, but it's private property. It costs $5 a day, or you can get a yearly pass. They were really fun trails to ride, but for $5 I think I think I'll find some free land in the future. Besides, they have all of this legal stuff.

Plenty of cool things to keep you alert.

Especially when there is a 5 foot drop-off.

Obviously in November pretty much all of the leaves have fallen. This made traction hard to keep. What was worse than that though, I had an even harder time keeping track of the trail. At this spot I literally had to get off my bike and survey the area to figure out where the path went.

In my element.

Only one way across!

One particular trail ran through what seemed to be a dumping area with a bunch of scrap metal and this gutted Dodge van.

...Redneck bike ramp. I'm not saying I have never made something like this, but c'mon I was 8!

The trail eventually loops around to where you started. It was a beautiful day.

These next pictures are from the trails on Tuesday. This "bridge" is not sagging. It was built on a horizontal slope. This picture does not do it justice, but it was quite intimidating. I did not ride over it. I wouldn't even know how.

Remember the picture of the tunnel I posted a few weeks ago? The one I was too freaked out to go through. I finally faced my fear and rode through it. You will all be happy to know there are no bums living in there waiting to murder unsuspecting victims. However, if you're not careful, you'll find yourself a little wet at the end. This is a picture on the other side as you come out.

This is what you see as you come out.

It was nice they put this inconspicuous warning sign at the very end of the tunnel. Someone might want to think about moving it to the beginning... before you are going too fast to stop.

Here is another shot looking back through it. It's a lot more difficult than you might think to ride in a straight line in the dark. You just have to try to keep that light in the middle of your path. If you really do see a light at the end of the tunnel when you die, I'm now fully prepared to tackle that challenge.

I'll never understand how trees this size get uprooted.

It's as if the finger of God came down and knocked it over. We go cow tipping, God goes tree tipping.

To all my fellow conservative friends...

2008-11-06T04:46:00.000-08:00

For God's sake, pull yourselves together!! You're acting like this is the first democratic president this country has ever had. It's not. You will be fine. We will be fine. America will be fine. Stop crying and acting like it is the end of the free world. Your melo-drama is really annoying. Do you remember when Bush won his second term and Alec Baldwin said he was going to move to England? You are acting just as crazy. Our country is not a dictatorship. Our country is a democracy. Barack Obama does not have supreme authority to do as he pleases. He is not a terrorist. He is not trying to run the country into the ground. Stop listening to Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh and think rationally for yourselves. Quit your whining and get over it. Let's move on. There is something you can do. You can make a difference in your country. For starters you can stop building these divisive walls, and start working with people as opposed to alienating them.

I don't care who the president is, even if I didn't vote for him. My hope does not lie in him. My hope lies in God first, then the American people. We will be fine.

Our tax system explained in terms of a beer tab

2008-11-05T07:38:00.000-08:00

I got this e-mail today and thought it was an interesting perspective on how our tax system works:

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten
comes to $100.

If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something
like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every
day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the
owner threw them a curve. 'Since you are all such good customers,' he
said, 'I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. 'Drinks
for the ten now cost just $80.The group still wanted to pay their bill
the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They
would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the
paying customers?

How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his
'fair share?' They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if
they subtracted that from every body's share, then the fifth man and the
sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar
owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by
roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each
should pay.

And so the fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing
(100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 ( 22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued
to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to
compare their savings.

"I only got a dollar out of the $20," declared the sixth man.
He pointed to the tenth man, "but he got $10!"

"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man.

"I only saved a dollar, too.. It's unfair that he got ten times
more than I"!

"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10
back when I got only two?"

"The wealthy get all the breaks!"

"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't
get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"

"The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next
night the tenth man (the richest) didn't show up for drinks, so the nine
sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the
bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money
between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is
how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the
most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for
being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they
might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat
friendlier.

David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.Professor of Economics University of Georgia

For those who understand, no explanation is needed.

For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

The Best Day at Work

2008-10-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

You know how when people have an awesome day at work and they are trying to make an analogy to explain it to someone else and they say, "Imagine if the President of the United States came and visited you at work." Well, my day was kind of like that... actually it was exactly like that. President Bush has been traveling a lot to say goodbye to people on his way out of office. Today he came to my squadron to thank us for eight years of successful take-offs and landings in his helicopter.

I have a really cool job, I can't lie. I have been very blessed to be able to do the things I do, and experience things I have experienced. Most of the cool things I have done, I am not at liberty to tell people. So it's really awesome when I do things I can share.

It was pretty surreal. I have been attached to this unit for about 2 1/2 years. I've been "working for" this man all of this time, but before today I have only seen him twice from a distance. When we travel to a trip site, we are usually there days more than the President is. And for the short time he is on deck, we are usually tucked away in the corner of a hanger out of sight while he is conducting his business. It was nice to be his business for once. We were like star struck idiots straining for a handshake, stretching for a picture or, if you were lucky, pushing for a photo with him. I wasn't able to get a picture with him, but I did get a hand shake. My thoughts? - Soft hands. Below are some pictures I got.

Our commanding officer, Col L'Heureux, introducing our Commander in Chief.

(L-R) XO of HMX-1 LtCol Braman, President Bush, CO of HMX-1 Col L'Heureux and Sgt Major of HMX-1 SgtMaj Nowak

We presented him with a few gifts. In addition to that hat, we gave him this picture. The frame was made out of the actual window from HMX-1.

If you didn't know, President Bush is also a big mountain biker. We also gave him this bike helmet which is modeled after Marine One. It was custom designed and painted by the Marine to his left.

These are my friends Cpl Bebeau and Cpl Polk... lucky devil dogs.

Something we all can respect

2008-10-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

The world needs to hear more stories of people like this. Stories like this should not be pushed off until the last 3 minutes of a broadcast as a "special segment". Stories like this inspire people to make a difference. This is what should be flooding our news medias.

Not worth my time

2008-10-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

There is a lot going on right now in our world. There is a lot in the news today that I have on my mind. However, I'm not going to talk about it here. Why? Because everything going on is making me angry. What the worst part is, these things are insignificant in the grant scheme of my life. Life if too short to dwell on meaningless things that make you angry. Instead I want to talk about things that make me feel good. I realize that you cannot avoid tough subjects your whole life. But when I can avoid them, I like to. I hate arguing. I hate debating. I hate building meaningless barriers between my fellow man. I know it sounds cliche, but can't we all just get along? Stay tuned for blog posts that don't raise your blood pressure.

TV Landmarks in New York

2008-10-22T09:36:00.000-07:00

Earlier this summer my wife and I took a weekend get-away to New York City. It was the first time we had ever been in the city. It was quite overwhelming. It was also quite surreal. So much of American pop culture comes from here. I would venture a guess to say that over 50% of TV shows and movies are based here. I have a better perspective when I watch shows like Law and Order or Seinfeld now. I know how confusing the subway is when you are trying to figure out if you want the E train "uptown" or "downtown". I know the general geography of the area like how Manhattan has the Bronx to the north, Queens to the east and Brooklyn to the south. I know how valuable a parking space is in midtown. I even have a better understanding for New Jersey jokes. It was like I was in a fictional place. It was even more weird when I visited actual TV landmarks. Here are a few pictures I snapped:

Recognize this landmark? It is the shot the producers of Friends used for the apartment building of Monica, Rachel, Joey and Chandler. There isn't a coffee shop on the ground floor as depicted in the show. There is, however, a fancy restaurant. We were going to eat there, but it looks a little too pricey for our budget. We did however eat at this little Mexican restaurant around the corner. Another reality discrepancy is the apartment building is not located next to Central Park. It's quite aways away from it in lower Manhattan.

This is also from Friends. It is the building across the street from the gang's apartment building. This is the shot used for Ross's apartment when he moved in to "ugly naked guy's" place.

If you know me at all, you know I am a Seinfeld fanatic. This was probably my favorite part of the trip. This is obviously the actual coffee shop shot used in the show.

This is the inside of the place. It doesn't look anything like the show. It's tiny. There is a lot of Seinfeld memorabilia on the walls. The prices and food are nothing special. The place was packed though. If you go here, remember it's cash only.

It just wouldn't be right if we visited Monks... uh.. I mean Tom's Restaurant and not have a cup of coffee.

Mountain Biking 10/21

2008-10-22T07:45:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I rode some more trails here on base after work. It was a great time. The weather is starting to get cold though. That means I have limited time left this year to get in more runs. I'll have to switch to snowboarding. The thing with snowboarding though, is that it gets expensive.

Heartbreak Ridge huh? We'll see...

About 20 minutes into my ride, my chain slipped completely off of the gears. It's not a big deal. It was a quick fix, but it was quite annoying. I'm getting that fixed soon. This is a picture of what your front gear is NOT suppose to look like.

And this is what your derailleur is NOT suppose to look like.

These trails really keep in interesting. It's not just a flat path in the woods. You really have to stay alert.

This obstruction popped up around a corner as I was still smoking from a hill.

Moguls for a mountain biker.

I love being out in the woods. It's so peaceful, especially when I'm riding alone.

This was a FUN trail. Long, windy, and downhill. I like downhill.

Sometimes I forgot I was in Northern Virginia.

If you ride these trails and happen upon this overhanging branch, and think you can duck down and squeeze under it... you'll be wrong. Unfortunately I now know from experience. Maybe that's what the red marker on the tree means.

Wow. Perspective is everything sometimes.

Joe Biden Scares Me

2008-10-21T12:46:00.000-07:00

...He does. Everytime he talks he just seems so angry. He reminds me of a old grumpy old man who sits on his porch and yells at little kids who run by.

Mountain biking 10/14 and 10/18

2008-10-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

I've recently found a new passion in mountain biking. There were always plenty of wooded trails to ride in the area I grew up in. I would occasionally go out and tear up some dirt. But now I want to do some serious mountain biking. Living in Virginia is a great place to start. Fredericksburg has some great trails only minutes from my house. I work at Quantico and there are miles and miles of trails here on base I can ride during my lunch hour. And if I want to make a day of it I can drive only a few hours and ride in Shenandoah National Park. I thought I would keep a photo journal of some of my adventures. Hope you enjoy.

This is my trusty steed. Believe it or not, I got it for free. It's a great bike. It just needs a little updating. I've already been into the bike store getting prices.

This is what the trail sees when I'm tearing it up!

I had Columbus day off last week. I took advantage and hit the dirt. Here is a battle wound from the ride.

This is one of my regular spots to ride. You park at the trail head, then you take various dirt and gravel roads for about 2 miles. You come to this second parking area at this little lagoon. You can't see it in this shot, but off to the right are two paths you can take. One is an intermediate trail, and another one is a pretty advanced trail. Over Columbus day I rode the Intermediate trails. This particular day I felt pretty confident to step it up and take the advanced trail. I didn't feel too confident 5 minutes into the ride.

Take note of the top of this cliff. You see something poking up above the trees? I'll come back to that later.

The advanced trail runs up the cliff and around the lagoon. This is a shot about half way up, looking down. Yes, that was taken on the trail. Not a whole lot of room for error on one side.

It's a very pretty ride up to the top.

Remember those rocks too. It will put the ride in perspective. This was shot half way up across the lagoon.

I love these trails.

When you get to the top, the trail opens up to a clearing. This is a shot looking back at where I came from.

This is the view at the top of the cliff. You can see I95 off in the distance.

Those people have no idea they are being featured on some strangers blog right now!

Man I love the zoom on this camera!

The view of I95 is off to your left as you come to the clearing. This is the view to your right. I should have got a picture of me next to it to give you an idea of how big it is. But take my word for it... It's a big sign. Remember that thing poking up above the trees at the bottom of the trail?

This is a shot from the top of the cliff looking down at the lagoon.

This is a shot back at the second parking area where I started.

Remember those rocks? This is the same shot about a hundred feet up.

I guess people scuba dive a lot in the lagoon. I assumed it was like a class.

Continuing down the trail, you go back in the woods on some even more technical singletracks. Part of the trail runs right by I95. That picture was taken on the trail as well. I didn't have to hike to get this close to the highway.

For a second I thought I made it all the way to North Carolina... I don't know why they put a Virginia Welcome center up here in Fredericksburg.

I think that was the only log on the trail that was cut.

Every man needs a break sometime...

...And water.

This part of the trail is really cool. The dirt path turns into a drainage trough...

...And at the end of the trough is this tunnel that runs UNDER I95! That is pretty sweet! I didn't ride through it, however. I was by myself and, quite honestly, I was a little freaked out by going in there. In Fredericksburg, you never know who is living in there.

I had my first head-over-heels wipe out. It was pretty awesome actually. I wish someone was there with a video camera. This is the first view I saw after I landed.

...And this is the second.

I wish it would have been this tree stump I tried to hop over and got my back tire caught on. It would have made a lot more impressive wipe out story...

...But it wasn't. It was this wimpy little branch.

This is what I looked like when I landed.

The trail eventually looped around almost back to where I started. If you notice, you can see the back of the billboard where I was early in the pictures.

Here's a closer shot... just to show off the zoom again. Did I mention it has an awesome zoom?

-And that was my Saturday morning.

January 20th 1961

2008-10-08T08:07:00.000-07:00

In talking with my wife about the current status of our economy, government, presidential candidates and their solutions; she reminded me of a famous quote by John F. Kennedy. We've all heard the quote: "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." But how many have heard the entire inauguration speech? I know I hadn't until I looked it up 10 minutes ago. It's a shame, because it's a good one. I fear these words are all but dead to our generation:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, reverend clergy, fellow citizens, we observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom - symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning - signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago. The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe - the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God. We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans - born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage - and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge - and more. To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do - for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder. To those new States whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom - and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside. To those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required - not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge - to convert our good words into good deeds - in a new alliance for progress - to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbours know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house. To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support - to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective - to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak - and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run. Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction. We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed. But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course - both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war. So let us begin anew - remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belabouring those problems which divide us. Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms - and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations. Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce. Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah - to "undo the heavy burdens -. and to let the oppressed go free." And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavour, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved. All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin. In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe. Now the trumpet summons us again - not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are - but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation" - a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself. Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort? In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shank from this responsibility - I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavour will light our country and all who serve it -- and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.

I hate politics

2008-10-03T05:40:00.000-07:00

Anyone watch the VP debate last night? I started watching it... then I fell asleep. If you missed it, don't worry. They didn't say anything new. It was all the same rhetoric they've been saying on the campaign trail and in TV adds. I hate politics. Politicians are fake. You cannot judge a candidate by what they say in a speech, or what they say in a debate, or what they say at a rally. They say what sounds good to draw in that one voter who connects with it. Yet, they seem to be willing to abandoned the truth in the process. Examples:

1. Obama says we need to bring back the policies of the Clinton years because he left the country with a surplus:

This is not true. He never had a surplus. His last budget proposal generated a $133.29 billion deficit. People forget to give Clinton credit for this because it technically came out after Bush had taken office. The economic cycle works on a fiscal year, not a calender year. Bush's first budget proposal didn't come out until the following September. So why do people think Clinton left Bush with a surplus? Well, the budget is made up of two parts: public debt and intergovernmental holdings. What Clinton did was lower the public debt, every year in fact. Great right? Not quite. To do that, he had to increase the intergovernmental debt... every year in fact. As a result, the overall deficit grew. - Myth busted

See: http://www.letxa.com/articles/16

2. Senator McCain has repeatedly tried to make a point that Obama doesn't care about American troops because he voted against funding them.

This is absolutely true. However, he voted against that particular funding bill because it didn't include a time-table for a pull-out in Iraq, not because he hates troops. Oh yeah, I think it's worth mentioning that Obama voted in favor of funding troops at least ten time previously. Here is the kicker, McCain voted against funding troops as well. What was his reason? Because the bill DID include a time table for a pull out. - Try again

See: http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/the_truth_on_troop_support.html

3. Last night Joe Biden referenced John McCain saying he was in favor of deregulating health care.

It's true, he did say this. However, if you look at this original statement in context, McCain was talking specifically about allowing the sale and purchase of health insurance plans across state lines. - Aaaaawwww, so close

See: http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/out_of_context_on_health_care.html

4. Also last night Governor Palin brought up a recurring claim that Senator Obama, as late as last year, voted to increase taxes on families making as little as $42,000 a year.

What Senator Obama actually voted for was a budget resolution that called for returning the 25 percent tax bracket to its pre-Bush tax cut level of 28 percent. This would affect an individual who does not have any kids and makes $42,000 a year. In most parts of the country, if you are a single person with no kids and you're making $42,000 a year you should have no problem living within your means. Especially in Alaska none the less. This would also affect a couple making $83,000 and a family of four making $90,000 a year. Again, they have no room to complain. - Close is only good enough in... horse shoes, hand grenades... and I guess politics.

See: http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/factchecking_biden-palin_debate.html

Now, if you are a democrat or a republican reading this and about to write me a comment disputing any of these points, thank you. You have just proven my point, which is this thing is one big he said/she said battle. It literally is a popularity contest. Do most of the candidates "facts" hold any truth? Mostly. There is at least 1% of truth in pretty much anything anyone says. That is a terribly low standard though, especially when you are trying to desecrate someone's character and credibility. Is it too much to shoot for 100%? Once again, if you are thinking of writing a comment to argue points, thanks but no thanks. I don't care. There are always infitiy sides to the coin when you're talking politics. Unfortunately, what it comes down to, is who can sound like they know what their talking about.

I leave you with this comical video:

A "shocking" video

2008-09-24T05:04:00.000-07:00

The actions and views expressed in this video do not represent the values of the blog author. It is intended solely for comic relief.

911 or 411?

2008-09-24T04:42:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of my sister. Enjoy!

Grauman's Chinese Theater

2008-09-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I spent a week on business out in LA. I know what you're thinking, I'm not a real Marine. While everyone else is getting shipped off to Iraq, I'm soaking in the sun in SoCal on the taxpayer's dime. Maybe you're right, but I really was just following orders... really. And I had to sit through absolutely boring meetings all day while there were killer waves to be surfed. Anyway, on one of my free evenings I headed over to Grauman's Chinese Theater. You know, the one where the movie stars put their hands in the wet cement. I snapped a few shots to share of some of my favorite actors.

"Sid - There are not enough words", John Wayne: Jan 25, 1950. (Sid Grauman is the Owner)

Will Smith, "Change the World": 12-10-07.

"Thank you Sid", Jimmy Stewart: Fri, 13 1948. (Jimmy is a family favorite)

Nicholas Cage: Aug, 11 2001. (Me and Nick seem to have the same shoe size)

Harrison Ford: 6-3-92. (The scoundrel himself)

Tom Hanks: 7/23/98. (I didn't notice it until just now, but Adam Sandler's block is right above his)

Obama or Palin?

2008-09-17T06:04:00.000-07:00

Never before have I seen so much attention been directed toward a Vice Presidential candidate. Most of the time it seems people don't even know who the vice presidential nominee is. To most people they are just the name below the Presidential nominee's name on those campaign signs. I'm sure there were some people who saw those "Bush-Cheney '04" signs and just thought Bush was remarried to someone named Cheney. "Who are you voting for? I'm voting for George W. Bush-Cheney!" It's a good thing Obama didn't pick Hillary for his running mate. Think of the confusion that would have been: "Obama-Rodam-Clinton '08". You know someone would ask, "what is the third person running for?"

I know I said I didn't like political jokes, but did anyone see the Saturday Night Live sketch last week with Tina Fay and Amy Poehler? That was funny, I don't care who you are.

The Epitome of "No Common Sense"

2008-09-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

Last May Destiny Phaneuf (13) and Rachel Brown (14) of Lebanon, Maine decided to skip school in lieu of a sunny day. They decided to spend the day sunbathing with headphones on and proceeded to fall asleep. The place they decided to catch some rays, however, was a railroad trestle. I can't make this stuff up. You can read the full story here: http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2008/05/28/police_chief_2_girls_struck_by_train_in_lebanon_maine/

As I was scratching my head trying to wrap my brain around how anyone could even think this could be a good idea, the reality hit me, "wait an minute... did that say there were on a.... " Yes indeed, they were on a train trestle. Not just train tracks... a train trestle. As if laying their life in harms way wasn't careless enough, they decided to funnel it right to their location with no chance for escape.

My favorite part of the article was what the non-profit safety organization had to say, "the tragedy underscores the inherent danger of trespassing on private railroad property." Really? That is what this tragedy underscores? Darn, if they'd only been sunbathing on a public railroad trestle maybe they would have all of their appendages.

The Henry Half Way House

2008-09-09T12:47:00.001-07:00

My wife and I love animals. We have pets instead of kids. And we have always had a soft spot in our hearts for animals who needs homes. Many times we have taken in dogs and cats, fostered them, and found homes for them. We often joke we are a half way house for pets. Our current project include two kittens who were abandoned in a dumpster.

Playing in the dog's food bowls

Got Milk?

at around 2 weeks old they could fit in the palm of your hand

This is a permanent member of our family. Her name is Brigitta who is a German Shepherd. We didn't tell the kitty he wasn't going to get any milk from her. He soon found out for himself.

Brigitta has a sister who belongs to a friend of ours, but often comes to visit us. I sometimes can't tell them a part, and certainly not in this picture.

There were actually 4 abandoned kittens, but we only took 2. Another friend took the other 2.

Too darn cute

The dog on the right is Layla. She is our first adopted. The black dog in the lower left is pepper... another one of our guests. As you can see, we weren't the only ones who took an interest in the kittens.

This is Ian. He is our English Setter.... he's homely.

The kittens were found in an empty motor oil box. Their names all came from something on that box. This little guy's name is Bar Code.

And her name is Dex

Finally, we have Chandler. She actually was taken by a friend of ours who found her abandoned as well. We ended up being the permanent recipients of her. I was never a cat person until I met her.

Luckily, we have already found a home for the kittens. They are actually going there today. I can't say I'm sorry to see them go. Our house is a little crazy right now with 6 animals.... as if 4 isn't.

Oh the animosity

2008-09-08T05:43:00.000-07:00

Who are the biggest rivals of all time? Is it the Bears and the Lions? The Cardinals and Cubs? Army and Navy? As passionate of contenders as they are, I don't think anyone can top the Republicans and Democrats. People hold this rivalry on a completely different level. There is certainly nothing wrong with that. It is the way it should be. The political dealing of your government effect everyone, and everyone should pay attention and be involved. However, is there really a need for this extreme hatred that everyone seems to have?
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People plaster the back of their cars with bumper stickers with the most derogatory statements against President Bush. Anne Coulter writes books with titles like, "If Democrats had any brains they'd be Republicans". The Democratic party feels it's necessary to humiliate a teen age girl for her illegitimate child in hopes to push Obama ahead a few percentiles in the polls. And Rudy Guliani gives speeches like he did at the RNC that start out with, "look at the cute little black man thinking he can be president", and turn to, "this dude is an incompetent idiot who can't make up his own mind." Anytime someone gets a microphone, whether it be on the radio, television or most recently at the VMAs, someone has something to say about politics. More often than not, sadly, they use their time to spout hateful derogatory comments that only further divide this country.
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I understand people have different political views. I know I have my opinions on people and issues. There is nothing more important to democracy than to have everyone contribute to their opinions. Is it necessary and productive though, to speak your opinions in a manner that can only be described as hateful? Why does everyone view the other side as ignorant people who do not have any care for patriotism and is going to run the country into the ground?
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I have been purposefully trying to keep my political affiliation confidential thus far. For those of you who know me, I might not have been able to fool you. Hopefully for those of you who do not know me, for reasons of an un-biased opinion, still haven't figured out what I am. Well, I'm going to tell you anyway. I am an American. That's all you need to know. I will not blindly vote for a democrat or republican just because he is a democrat or a republican. I will vote for a democrat or a republican because I believe he/she is the best person for the job. I believe every party truly wants the best for America. It's just all in how you look at it. Republicans think American citizens should take care of themselves, Democrats think the government should take care of American citizens and the Libertarians don't care how citizens take care of themselves just so long as no one is killing each other.
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I have never contributed to Clinton or Bush jokes. And I will not contribute to McCain and Obama jokes. If you ever do catch me speaking unacceptably against anyone (because I am not perfect), please gently make it aware to me. There are people I disagree with, but that does not make it acceptable to demean them.

Here is an idea, how about we all support our President? Notice I did not say "agree with and love". If you disagree with whoever is president, how about you have a little faith that he will listen to the desires of the people. I am 100% in favor of you voicing your opinion in a constructive way. However when you voice it in a non-constructive way, all it does is make the other side mad at you. It does not invoke their desire to work with you. And is that not the goal of our government to have multiples sides of the spectrum working with, not against, each other to act as a checks and balance system?

One person I would like to say that I have been very impressed with is Vice President nominee Joe Biden. Though he's only been in the spotlight a few weeks, he has displayed a very respectful campaign. He openly declared his disappointment in the Democrat's attack on Governor Palin's daughter, and graciously took her speech at the RNC in stride. Instead of retaliating with defensive justifications and offensive attacks, he commended her on a good speech and declared her a worthy opponent. If Senator Biden becomes Vice President Biden, I hope he can influence people in Washington in a positive way.

Big Foot: Big Hoax

2008-08-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

Last week a story of fantasy and myth became national news. Apparently a man paid an "undisclosed amount" of money to two men for what he believed was the body of the infamous big foot monster encased in a block of ice. We have since learned it is not big foot... shocker. The alleged body turned out to not be a body at all, but a rubber gorilla suit. Now the proud owner of a Halloween costume worth an "undisclosed amount" of money is seeking legal action against the scam artists. I really wish I could be in the court room when that defense attorney presents his opening statement. I have twenty bucks that says he can't do it with a straight face.

Why some people should not be parents

2008-07-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

Today I again found myself perusing the world wide web out of sheer boredom. I happened across this article from April 1 of 2008 on the New York Sun's website. I thought I would share it with you and give you yet another day off of searching the web for empty entertainment. The article is title: Why I Let My 9 Year-old Ride the Subway Alone. It reads as follows:

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"I left my 9-year-old at Bloomingdale's (the original one) a couple weeks ago. Last seen, he was in first floor handbags as I sashayed out the door.
Bye-bye! Have fun!
And he did. He came home on the subway and bus by himself.
Was I worried? Yes, a tinge. But it didn't strike me as that daring, either. Isn't New York as safe now as it was in 1963? It's not like we're living in downtown Baghdad.
Anyway, for weeks my boy had been begging for me to please leave him somewhere, anywhere, and let him try to figure out how to get home on his own. So on that sunny Sunday I gave him a subway map, a MetroCard, a $20 bill, and several quarters, just in case he had to make a call.
No, I did not give him a cell phone. Didn't want to lose it. And no, I didn't trail him, like a mommy private eye. I trusted him to figure out that he should take the Lexington Avenue subway down, and the 34th Street crosstown bus home. If he couldn't do that, I trusted him to ask a stranger. And then I even trusted that stranger not to think, "Gee, I was about to catch my train home, but now I think I'll abduct this adorable child instead."
Long story short: My son got home, ecstatic with independence.
Long story longer, and analyzed, to boot: Half the people I've told this episode to now want to turn me in for child abuse. As if keeping kids under lock and key and helmet and cell phone and nanny and surveillance is the right way to rear kids. It's not. It's debilitating — for us and for them.
And yet —
"How would you have felt if he didn't come home?" a New Jersey mom of four, Vicki Garfinkle, asked.
Guess what, Ms. Garfinkle: I'd have been devastated. But would that just prove that no mom should ever let her child ride the subway alone?
No. It would just be one more awful but extremely rare example of random violence, the kind that hyper parents cite as proof that every day in every way our children are more and more vulnerable.
"Carlie Brucia — I don't know if you're familiar with that case or not, but she was in Florida and she did a cut-through about a mile from her house … and midday, at 11 in the morning, she was abducted by a guy who violated her several times, killed her, and left her behind a church."
That's the story that the head of safetynet4kids.com, Katharine Francis, immediately told me when I asked her what she thought of my son getting around on his own. She runs a company that makes wallet-sized copies of a child's photo and fingerprints, just in case.
Well of course I know the story of Carlie Brucia. That's the problem. We all know that story — and the one about the Mormon girl in Utah and the one about the little girl in Spain — and because we do, we all run those tapes in our heads when we think of leaving our kids on their own. We even run a tape of how we'd look on Larry King.
"I do not want to be the one on TV explaining my daughter's disappearance," a father, Garth Chouteau, said when we were talking about the subway issue.
These days, when a kid dies, the world — i.e., cable TV — blames the parents. It's simple as that. And yet, Trevor Butterworth, a spokesman for the research center STATS.org, said, "The statistics show that this is an incredibly rare event, and you can't protect people from very rare events. It would be like trying to create a shield against being struck by lightning."
Justice Department data actually show the number of children abducted by strangers has been going down over the years. So why not let your kids get home from school by themselves?
"Parents are in the grip of anxiety and when you're anxious, you're totally warped," the author of "A Nation of Wimps," Hara Estroff Marano, said. We become so bent out of shape over something as simple as letting your children out of sight on the playground that it starts seeming on par with letting them play on the railroad tracks at night. In the rain. In dark non-reflective coats.
The problem with this everything-is-dangerous outlook is that over-protectiveness is a danger in and of itself. A child who thinks he can't do anything on his own eventually can't.
Meantime, my son wants his next trip to be from Queens. In my day, I doubt that would have struck anyone as particularly brave. Now it seems like hitchhiking through Yemen.
Here's your MetroCard, kid. Go.
lskenazy@yahoo.com"

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........wow

Could someone hand me a roll of duck tape please? Because, in the words of Glenn Beck, I think my head is about to explode. But before I lay into this article, I would like to preface my response by saying that I do not doubt that this mother loves her son. I'm sure she loves him like any mother love their son. I just think she is terribly ignorant and naive.

I don't have a whole lot to say, just some general comments. I don't think I need to say too much. The article speaks for itself.

"I left my 9-year-old at Bloomingdale's (the original one) a couple weeks ago. Last seen, he was in first floor handbags as I sashayed out the door." - I'm not going to harp on this point BUT first of all, why is a 9 year old boy looking at handbags?

"Isn't New York as safe now as it was in 1963?" -No. And even if the numbers are the same, they are still astronomical. I don't think it would have been very wise to let your 9 year-old ride the subway in 1963.

"So on that sunny Sunday I gave him a subway map, a MetroCard, a $20 bill, and several quarters, just in case he had to make a call.No, I did not give him a cell phone. Didn't want to lose it." - Are you kidding me Mrs. Skenazy? You don't want to lose your phone, but you will send your 9 year old child out into the heart of the Big Apple? If you didn't trust him enough to bring your cell phone back, how did you trust him to bring himself back!?!?

"'How would you have felt if he didn't come home?' a New Jersey mom of four, Vicki Garfinkle, asked.Guess what, Ms. Garfinkle: I'd have been devastated. But would that just prove that no mom should ever let her child ride the subway alone? No. It would just be one more awful but extremely rare example of random violence, the kind that hyper parents cite as proof that every day in every way our children are more and more vulnerable." - Guess what, random violence is reduced by responsible citizens. If I walk in front of a tractor trailer doing 80 mph and get killed, that is not random. That is stupid.

"These days, when a kid dies, the world — i.e., cable TV — blames the parents. It's simple as that. And yet, Trevor Butterworth, a spokesman for the research center STATS.org, said, 'The statistics show that this is an incredibly rare event, and you can't protect people from very rare events. It would be like trying to create a shield against being struck by lightning.'" - I agree with Mr Butterworth... kind of. You can't protect your kids from everything. But you can try. Not every tragedy comes at you with the unstoppable force of a bolt of lighting. There is a line between being paranoid and being protective. There is nothing wrong with taking reasonable precautions in your parenting. Furthermore, I am not saying that parents are responsible for tragedies such as school shootings, or bus accidents. However, there are measures that parents should take to watch out for their children. And you want to know the sad fact, sometimes parents are to blame. Sometimes people don't think. Sometimes there is someone to blame.

I am not a parent, but I could think of one way that would have been a safer way to build this child's confidence in himself. How about do everything you did, but ride along with him. Hang out with him while he navigates. Have him call the shots. It would also be a great way for you to spend some time with your child. Is this really a lesson he has to learn by himself? Isn't there another way to go about doing this without putting his life in danger? Or did that just make a more interesting article for you to write Mrs. Skenazy?

People will make mistakes. Until the end of time this is a truth we have to live with. Parents will drop the ball. Does this necessarily mean they are bad parents? No. But the defining attribute of a parent is how he or she takes responsibility for their actions, and prevents future mistakes. There are more than enough cases of violence in our world today that we can learn from. As long as their are people out there who do not think they are in control of their environment, there are other people out there who will try to run it.

p.s.
It just so happens I will be in New York City for the first time this weekend. Needless to say, even I am a little nervous about challenging the infamous New York Subway. Maybe I could get this 9 year-old to be my tour guide.

Read the story for yourself here: http://www.nysun.com/editorials/why-i-let-my-9-year-old-ride-subway-alone

The Demolition of an American Icon: Yankee Stadium

2008-07-14T04:57:00.000-07:00

Baseball is commonly referred to as America's pastime. When I was a kid I was like-minded with the great ball player Roger Hornsby when he said, "People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." Often times I wish I grew up in a different era. I wish I lived in an era where a hard working mentality was not a rarity, where the only thing that ran deeper than patriotism was family ties, and where every Saturday at any given baseball park in America the stands were filled with fathers and sons alike. Baseball has always been apart of my family. Growing up as St. Louis Cardinals fans, there were two main principles my dad constantly taught my sister and I: 1) Love God 2) Hate the cubs.

This season will mark the end of an American icon. For over 80 years Yankee Stadium has been home to the boys of summer in blue pinstripes. Often referred to as "America's Team", the New York Yankees have fielded some of baseball's greatest legends such as: Billy Martin, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Micky Mantle, Yogi Berra, Roger Maris, Don Mattingly and even the first African American in major league baseball Jackie Robinson. Babe Ruth said, "I'd give a year of my life if I can hit a home run in the first game in this new park." Indeed the Great Bambino did just that on April 13, 1923 in the third inning. The stadium that has been known as "The House that Ruth Built" will be demolished, and the yanks will be relocated just north of their current location. For now though, they continue to play among ghosts of baseball's past. Tomorrow night, July 15, the 2008 All Star Game will take place there. If you have the opportunity to attend a game this season, take it. If you have an extra ticket you don't want, give it to me! I'm actually being serious. All tickets are sold out. After September 21, 2008 there will never be another opportunity to experience history in that place.

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Quotes on Baseball:

Baseball is the only field of endeavor where a man can succeed three times out of ten and be considered a good performer. ~Ted Williams

I'm convinced that every boy, in his heart, would rather steal second base than an automobile. ~Tom Clark

A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz. ~Humphrey Bogart

I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us. ~Walt Whitman

I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby

Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton

Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off. ~Bill Veeck

You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the goddamn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all. ~Earl Weaver

Sandy's fastball was so fast, some batters would start to swing as he was on his way to the mound. ~Jim Murray, on Sandy Koufax

I was such a dangerous hitter I even got intentional walks in batting practice. ~Casey Stengel

There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare. ~Tallulah Bankhead

Putting lights in Wrigley Field is like putting aluminum siding on the Sistine Chapel. ~Roger Simon, 1988

Pitchers, like poets, are born not made. ~Cy Young

Baseball statistics are like a girl in a bikini. They show a lot, but not everything. ~Toby Harrah

Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher's mound. Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together. Of course, in case of rain, you gotta call the game and start all over again. ~Jimmy Piersal, on how to diaper a baby

What does a mama bear on the pill have in common with the World Series? No cubs. ~Harry Caray

Missing the point

2008-07-11T09:42:00.000-07:00

A photo of a nuclear weapons test by Iran, originating from a web site of Sepah News which is the media arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, made front pages of newspapers all over the world recently. Displayed below is that picture:

Yesterday the associated press claimed that Iran's state media altered the photo to cover up a fluke nuke. They claim that this is what the photo originally looked like:

Is it just me, or are they totally missing the point. THERE ARE STILL THREE NUCLEAR MISSILES IN THE PICTURE!!! Are they really hoping to ease every one's mind by saying, "one of those nukes never launched!" WHEW! You really had my heart racing there for a second Iran! I was afraid you were going to destroy four US states! I'm glad it's only three now!

Dear Associated Press,

Let me know when you find evidence that they photo-shopped ALL of the missiles in there.

Very Respectfully,

A person who doesn't want to be killed by a nuke

And another thing I don't understand, is why the US and Russia have so many nuclear weapons. No one, except the powers that be obviously, knows an exact number but we're all pretty sure it is higher than 3, which is more than we'll ever use. Everyone seems to think it's a nice round number in the 10,000 range! It's always good to have a few extra just in case... you know... every country in the world wages war on us and we have to incinerate earth 27 times over! It has to say something when we have nearly as many nuclear weapons as we do bullets. Can we say: "Insecure"?

Creatures of habit

2008-07-10T09:15:00.000-07:00

There are people in this world who's sanity depends on the stability of their every day actions. These people are zombies. They are machines programmed for regularity. Any glitch in their everyday system of operations can be the determining factor in whether they have a good day or a bad day. I know this because I observe them every day on my commute to work. I ride the train, and I love to observe people. I am not a stalker, I am just a wanna-be Robert Goren.

The Tie
Every morning there is a gentleman, who appears to have reached the mid point of his life, who arrives to the strain station with a look on his face that leads me to believe the morning did not bring a fresh start to his day. Like most people who ride the commuter train, he talks to no one. His attire is composed of a button up shirt, dark colored dockers and tennis shoes. But the quirky characteristic that always sticks out in my mind about this gentlemen is that he always has an untied neck tie around his neck as if to say, "I had time to do everything necessary to get myself to the train station... except fix my neck tie."
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Mi train es su train
There are four main seating sections of the rail car that I ride. There are two small seating areas at the front and back of the car, and there are two large main seating areas in the belly of the car; one upstairs and one downstairs. The two seating areas at the front and back of the car offer more room. There are six bench seats available. Each bench seat accommodates two people. However, instead of the seats being stacked all facing one direction, every other one is facing each other. And every morning when I get on the car of the train that is located third from the rear (yes, it is always third from the rear) I always find the same gentleman sitting asleep in the same seat in the over sized seating area. If I were to end here you would wonder where the unusual repetition is, but I am not finished. He is not sitting with two feet on the floor and maintaining his socially acceptable bubble. He is sitting with his feet up on the adjacent seat... with his Campbell's Soup shaped lunch bag between his feet... with his shoes off. Not only does this man feel the need to occupy two seats, but he must drive the other patrons to the next seating area with the stench coming from his feet. I do not care what other people's quirks are. I'm not saying I don't have my own fleet of crazy habits. However, if someone else's crazy habits cross my path, I get annoyed.

JUST STOP MOVING!
There is a young lady who does not ride the train on a regular basis, but when she does she indeed finds herself on my list. Every time she rides the train she gets to the station far in advance of the scheduled arrival of the train. To pass the time she walks from one end of the platform to the next, up the stairs to the parking lot and back again. Her stride is not that of a mall walker seeking exercise, but more of a gang member asserting their authority over their territory. To just notice this woman one time you would pay her no mind. However, the third fourth and fifth pass by, you might think to yourself, "didn't she just walk past me?"

The Regular
The final person I want to describe to you is a woman who crosses my path every day as I am waiting for the train at the end of the day. She is an obvious "old timer". She knows the station workers, she knows the other train riders, she even know the conductors. Everyday, right before the train arrives, she makes her way to the end of the platform closest to the direction it is coming. She stands with her purse over her left shoulder and her additional day bag on the ground to her right. Her right foot is slightly in front of her left foot with her hand on her hip. And if anyone would ever take me up on the bet, I would be a rich man when she, like clock work, waives to the conductor.

Fellow Hoosiers

2008-07-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

Do you every find yourself so bored out of your mind that you end up surfing the internet looking at random website after random website hoping to find something interesting? Well, take a break. Today I've done all of the searching so you can cut to the chase.

Though I currently reside in Virginia, I call Indiana home. Like anyone from time to time, I am guilty of complaining about the region where I grew up. Truth be told, Indiana is not a bad place at all to grow up. So I set out on a journey of the world wide web to see who else hails from the Hoosier State. Thanks to wikipedia here are some of the names that perticularly stood out to me:

James Dean-actor (Fairmount)
Steve McQueen-actor (Beech Grove)
Red Skelton-comedian (Vincennes)
David Letterman-comedian (Indianapolis)
Jim Gaffigan-comedian (Chesterton)
Bill Gaither-singer (Alexandria)
John Mellencamp-singer, songwriter, musician (Seymour)
Michael Jackson, singer (Gary)
David Lee Roth-Van Halen singer (Bloomington)
Florence Henderson- actress (Dale)
Jane Pauley-news anchor (Indianapolis)
John Andretti-racer (Indianapolis)
Larry Bird-basketball player (French Lick)
Axl Rose-lead singer of Guns 'N Roses (Lafayette)
Damarcus Beasley-soccer player (Fort Wayne)
Jeff Gordon-racer (Pittsboro)
Jenna Fischer-Actress [Pam on the Office] (Fort Wayne)
Shawn Kemp-basketball player (Elkhart)
Kenny Lofton-baseball player (East Chicago)
Don Mattingly-baseball player (Evansville)
Orville Redenbacher-businessman (Brazil, Indiana)
Stephen King-author (Fort Wayne)
Kurt Vonnegut-author (Indianapolis)
Amelia Earhart-pioneer woman aviator (West Lafayette)
Gus Grissom-astronaut (Mitchell)
Wilbur Wright-Inventor (Millville)
John Dillinger-bank robber (Indianapolis)
Jimmy Hoffa-labor-union leader (Brazil)
Jon Fitch-UFC fighter (Fort Wayne)
Chris Lytle-UFC Fighter (Indianapolis)

Unfortunately, the only icon I found on this list who was from my hometown (Warsaw) was Bubba the Love Sponge. However, I like to call Fort Wayne my home away from home and they have quite a few hits.

So with all of this extra time that I have given you, you should go do something productive... like read a book. Or you could view the whole list for yourself here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Indiana

A bird's eye view of DC

2008-07-09T05:47:00.000-07:00

The following pictures were taken on a unique experience I just had. A couple of my officers hooked me up with a flight around DC. Some were taken a while ago. A few of the photos were taken last night when I was able to hop on a training flight. My OIC just qualified to be a Marine One command pilot, and he was doing practice landings on the South Lawn. We also had a film crew from the National Geographic Channel on board. There is a documentary being made about HMX-1 which will air in January on the National Geographic Channel during inauguration week. No, I won't be on TV, but when you see the footage on the south lawn you can know that I am right behind the camera man!

A wide angle looking West toward the Washington Monument

Washington Monument at Dusk. You can see the white house in the background.

Another Washington Monument shot.

Another Washington Monument shot. As you can see we were flying so low we had to look up at the top of it.

This is a night shot from sitting on the South Lawn of the White House looking out.

Same shot during the day

Another day shot. That is the nose of the helicopter to the right.

East side of the capital

West side of the capital

We landed on the South Lawn. This is a night shot from the spot where the President gets on and off when we lift him from the White House.

RFK Stadium

South Lawn shot during the day.

The new Nationals stadium

The National Mall

Another shot of the mall

This was a shot out the window of a CH46E looking back on the city as we flew back south.

A shot of the Lincoln Memorial at 200 feet

Lincoln Memorial and reflecting pool at dusk

And another

Hanging out on the South Lawn

The flag above the White House

On final approach to the South Lawn

DC skyline looking east

Another shot looking east

Taken out the back ramp of the 46 as we left

More skyline

Looking out stairs of Marine One one the south lawn

Arlington National Cemetery

The new Air Force Memorial next to the Pentagon