Friday, May 30, 2008

From my Colonel ............................................

The following story is told by a foreign diplomat who, as he explains, had
occasion to visit the United States Embassy in the capital of his country.
'I arrived at a quarter to six, after official office hours, and was met
by the Marine on guard at the entrance of the Chancery.

He asked if I would mind waiting while he lowered the two American flags
at the Embassy. What I witnessed over the next ten minutes so impressed me
that I am now led to make this occurrence a part of my ongoing record of
this distressing era.

The Marine was dressed in a uniform which was spotless and neat; he
walked with a measured tread from the entrance of the Chancery to the
stainless steel flagpole before the Embassy and, almost reverently, lowered
the flag to the level of his reach where he began to fold it in military
fashion. He then released the flag from the clasps attaching it to the rope,
stepped back from the pole, made an about-face, and carried the flag between
his hands--one above, one below--and placed it securely on a stand before
the Chancery.

He then marched over to a second flagpole and repeated the same lonesome
ceremony.... After completing his task, he apologized for the delay--out of
pure courtesy, as nothing less than incapacity would have prevented him from
fulfilling his goal--and said to me, "Thank you for waiting, Sir. I had to
pay honor to my country."

I have had to tell this story because there was something impressive
about a lone Marine carrying out a ceremonial task which obviously meant
very much to him and which, in its simplicity, made the might, the power and
the glory of the United States of America stand forth in a way that a mighty
wave of military aircraft, or the passage of a supercarrier, or a parade of
10,000 men could never have made manifest.

One day it is my hope to visit one of our embassies in a faraway place
and to see a soldier fold our flag and turn to a stranger and say, "I am
sorry for the delay, Sir. I had to honor my country."

Friday, May 23, 2008

OK, I thoroughly understand their frustration .......................................

'I HAVE BEEN WAITING SO LONG'
Florida Muslims sue feds over citizenship delays
Muslims are sworn in after legal action to speed process

Babita Persaud

Sentinel Staff Writer

May 23, 2008

For three years and three months, Ali Hussain has waited to become a U.S. citizen.

On Thursday, his wait was over -- but not before he sued the federal government.

In February, Hussain and 24 other Muslims joined a statewide lawsuit against Citizenship and Immigration Services and the FBI for what they called unusually lengthy delays in processing their citizenship applications. Some waited as long as five years.

"The lawsuit helped my application. I have been waiting so long," said Hussain, an Orlando machinist who hails from Iraq.

In a post-9-11 era of fingerprinting and thorough background checks, legal action is also becoming part of the naturalization process, some area attorneys say.

"These lawsuits bring attention to the government that [processing delays] is a big problem," said Shahzad Ahmed, an Orlando attorney who represents several Muslim clients.

Of the seven Central Florida plaintiffs in the statewide lawsuit, five have since become U.S. citizens.

Four plaintiffs were sworn in as citizens Thursday at the Orange County Convention Center, including Hussain and his brother, Aso Hussain, a graphic-art student at Valencia Community College.

"We are so happy for this day," said Aso Hussain, 25, waving his citizenship certificate and an American flag.

Full article here - BUT, somebody PLEASE explain to me WHY AMERICAN CITIZENS {whether by birth or opportunity} aren't gathering en masse to file class-action lawsuits against "OUR" government for allowing the continuous flow of people coming/staying here ILLEGALLY?????



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From my Colonel ........................... ;-)

When You Get What You Want, Don't Complain
By Arnold Ahlert (bio)

If you're a liberal Democrat, you should have absolutely no complaint about the rising cost of gasoline. None. Zero. Zip. Nada.

Only liberal Democrats believe the law of supply and demand is non-existent. Less available oil equals higher prices? Blasphemy. It's a "conspiracy" courtesy of Big Oil, who should be "punished" with additional taxes for their "evil profiteering."
I say go right ahead. Punish Big Oil–and while you're at it, continue make sure that no more refineries are built and America remains off-limits to energy exploration. Make sure our country remains economically hostage to some of the worst thugs and fanatics on the planet, and that cash-strapped Americans keep sending trillions of dollars overseas to pay your self-righteousness.

But when all is said and done, don't even think about complaining. That would be tantamount to a person who murders his parents complaining about being an orphan. You want a "pristine" environment, no matter what it costs, and when gas reaches the kind of heights guaranteed to wreck our economy, no doubt you'll want to whine about "injustice," like you invariably do.

This is one American who's having none of it. The only injustice being perpetrated here is self-inflicted ignorance–coupled with overt pandering to peoples' anger and fear. Sooner or later, the public will catch on. Perhaps it will take five or ten bucks a gallon for the more obtuse among us, but I'm beginning to think that Democratic liberalism must be allowed to "flower" again.

Some of us are old enough to remember the last such "flowering," aka the Carter years. For those that don't, it's all been written down. The stagflation, the outrageous interest rates–and the gas lines. As Yogi Berra once said, "you could look it up."

But don't complain. Liberal Democrats have always worshipped "fairness," and it's a pretty safe bet to say that just about everyone is being "equally screwed" by runaway fuel costs. You've also worshipped "good intentions"–even if the results are disastrous.

You've gotten everything you wanted. You ought to be happy. Happy people have no business complaining.

So shut up.

http://constitutionparty.com/

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He just sent me this one:


Dumb-ass quote of 2008!!
'My friends, we live in the greatest country in the history of the world.

I hope you'll join with me as we try to change it.'
Barack Obama




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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

;-) ;-) ;-)





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Sunday, May 18, 2008

Ummm-kay, working on a project .........................................

I'm wiring LEDs in parallel, and have 555 & 4017 chips, along with NPN switching transistors for the circuit board control - I NEED to find some soft {nylon or other soft plastic/foam as the area that's used by the consumer}, SMALL {pref. no more than .30" x .75"} 3-position slide switches - I want an on-off-different on capability, so it'd be 3-pole .............................. I'm looking on the 'Net, but the dimensions, if provided, are less than illuminating ........................... I'd happily go with a 3-position rocker switch, if the dimensions would work ........................ any assistance will be much appreciated - if I get it all down to a science, when I've got the patent folks working, my blog assistants will receive a prototype .......................... ;-)

Also, it has to handle 9V-22V ....................... ;-)

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Saturday, May 17, 2008

Friends of ours, VERY involved in Little League sports ..............................

team name is the "Lug Nuts" ..................... Mom wanted "Way to Go, Lug Nuts" on the cake for the banquet tonight......................... she went to pick up the cake that she'd ordered from WalMart - and arrived to a BLANK cake - when she questioned there being no sentiment on the cake, she was told that WalMart doesn't decorate cakes with references to "male genitalia" ......................... when she picked her jaw up off the floor, she demanded to see the bakery manager - who ALSO referred to "male genitalia" ................... OK, she's steaming now - she demanded to speak with the store manager ...................... who tried to placate her, offering to have whatever she wanted on the cake lettered ....................... now, you'd have to know this lady - she suffers fools & condescension about as well as I do ...................... she informed the store manager, in NO uncertain terms, that if he hired people who's first language is ENGLISH, issues such as this wouldn't repeatedly occur {she made reference to a cake made last year, that was supposed to be cupcakes, made to look like a cowboy boot - it looked like a bunch of cupcakes, in a weird configuration} ........................... ahhhh, the joys of living here .......................... ;-)

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

From a {retired} MSgt friend ................................... ;-)

Marines As Seen By:

Himself: A handsome, buff, highly trained professional killer and female idol who carries a finely honed K-Bar, wears a crisp 8-point cammie cover and is always on time due to the absolute reliability of his Seiko digital watch.

His Wife: A stinking, gross, foul mouthed lovable bum who arrives back at home every few months with a seabag full of dirty utilities, a huge Seiko watch, an oversized knife, a filthy hat and hornier then hell.

Headquarters Marine Corps: A drunken, brawling, HMMWV-stealing, woman-corrupting "cumshaw artist" who wears a Seiko watch, an unauthorized K-Bar and a squared-away cover.

His Commanding Officer: A fine specimen of a drunken, brawling, HMMWV-stealing, woman-corrupting bullshitter with an incredibly accurate Seiko watch, a finely honed razor sharp K-Bar and a salty cammie cover.

What others have said:

Congress: Marines are overpaid, overrated tax burdens who are indispensable since they volunteer to go anywhere at any time and kill whoever they're told to kill, as long as they can drink, brawl, steal HMMWVs, corrupt women and sing dirty songs while wearing cammies, oversized knives, Seiko watches and really screwed-up 8-point covers that don't look like the Army's.

Ronald Reagan, former President of the United States: "Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they've ever made a difference in the world. Marines don't have that problem."

General Douglas MacArthur, US Army: " . . . these Marines have the swagger, confidence and hardness that must have been in Stonewall Jackson's Army of the Shenandoah. They remind me of the Coldstream Guards at Dunkirk."

Admiral Chester Nimitz, US Navy, on the Marine Corps' battle for Iwo Jima: "Uncommon valor was a common virtue"

General Douglas MacArthur, US Army: "I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front. There is not a finer fighting organization in the world!"

LtCol T R Fehrenbach, USA, in "This Kind of War": "The man who will go where his colors go without asking, who will fight a phantom foe in a jungle or a mountain range, and who will suffer and die in the midst of incredible hardship, without complaint, is still what he has always been, from Imperial Rome to sceptered Britain to democratic America. He is the stuff of which legends are made. His pride is his colors and his regiment, his training hard and thorough and coldly realistic, to fit him for what he must face, and his obedience is to his orders. As a legionnaire, he held the gates of civilization for the classical world . today he is called United States Marine."

An Anonymous Canadian Citizen: "Marines are about the most peculiar breed of human beings I have ever witnessed. They treat their service as if it was some kind of cult, plastering their emblem on almost everything they own, making themselves up to look like insane fanatics with haircuts so short as to be ungentlemanly, worshipping their Commandant as if he was a god, and making weird animal noises like a band of savages. They'll fight like rabid dogs at the drop of a hat just for the sake of a little action and are the cockiest SOBs I've ever known. Most have the foulest mouths and drink well beyond man's normal limits, but their high spirits and sense of brotherhood set them apart and, generally speaking, of the United States Marines with whom I've come in contact, are the most professional warriors and the finest men I've had the pleasure to meet. "

General John J "Black Jack" Pershing, US Army: "The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle! "

General Mark Clark, US Army: "The more Marines I have around the better I like it! "

General Johnson, US Army: "I can never again see a United States Marine without experiencing a feeling of reverence. "

Richard Harding Davis, war correspondent (1885): "The Marines have landed, and the situation is well in hand."

A Marine Drill Instructor at Parris Island: "Did you come here just to spoil my beloved Corps, maggot?"

A boot camp weapons coach: "To a Marine, happiness is a belt-fed weapon."

LtCol Oliver North, USMC (ret): "The only people I like beside my wife and kids are Marines."

MajGen J N Mattis, CG, 1st MarDiv - Iraq, March 2003: "You are part of the world's most feared and trusted fighting force. Engage your brain before you engage your weapon. Share your courage with each other as we enter the uncertain terrain north of our Line of Departure. Keep faith in your comrades on your left and right and Marine Air overhead. Fight with a happy heart and a strong spirit. For the mission's sake, our country's sake and the sake of the men who carried the Division's colors in past battles -- who fought for life and never lost their nerve -- carry out your mission and keep your honor clean. Demonstrate to the world there is 'No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy' than a United States Marine."

Eleanor Roosevelt - 1945: "The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps."

An Anonymous US Marine: "I recently attended a Kansas City Chiefs football game at Arrowhead Stadium. It was their annual Veteran's Day tribute so members of all the services were asked to participate in the festivities.A color guard for the National Anthem was provided by the Buffalo Soldiers Association. They looked very sharp in their 1800s-era US Army Cavalry uniforms. Following that, the Navy parachute team put on an impressive display that brought cheers from the 78,000 football fans in attendance. Shortly thereafter, we were treated to the truly awesome sight of an Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber flyover as well as a few other aircraft. All of these sights -- but especially the B-2 -- were truly appreciated by the crowd who let it be known by their cheers. I expected that was all we would see of the US Military that day. I thought we would see a high school or college marching band during half-time. Few watch those shows anyway because they have to go to the head or grab another beer during the intermission.Shortly before half-time, however, I looked down on the sidelines near the end zone and saw the Marine Corps' Silent Drill Team forming up. As the half-time show started, the players left the field and the announcer came on the public address system to advise us of the Drill Team's performance. Many of us Marines have seen these performances in the past and they're always awe-inspiring. I didn't expect that the large civilian crowd of football fans would be as appreciative of the Drill Team as they had been of the high-tech B-2 or the daring of the Navy parachute team. However, I was on the edge of my seat. As the Drill Team marched onto the field, the crowd grew noticeably quieter. Soon, the team was fully into their demonstration. The stadium was absolutely silent.From high in the stands' upper reaches where my seats were, I was able to hear the "snap" and "pop" of hands striking rifles. Both big screen "Jumbotron" scoreboards displayed close ups of the Marines as they went through their routine. As they completed their demonstration and lined up for the inspection, the crowd began cheering as the Marines twirled their rifles in impossible fashion. Then came the inspection. Again, the crowd fell silent and watched intently as rifles were thrown, caught, twirled, inspected and thrown some more. Each well-practiced feat brought a "wow" or "did you see that?" from those sitting around me.I sat there in silent pride as I watched my brother Marines exit the field. A young girl behind me asked her mother a question about how the Marines learn to do the things they just did. The mother replied, "They practice long and hard and they're Marines; they're the best."

Via Crusader Rabbit .......................................

St. Cloud Times - A St. Cloud State University student in a teacher-training program at Technical High School left the school in late April because he says he feared for the safety of his service dog. The school district calls it a misunderstanding, and officials there say they hoped Tyler Hurd, a 23-year-old junior from Mahtomedi who aspires to teach special education, would continue his training in the district. Hurd said a student threatened to kill his service dog named Emmitt. The black lab is trained to protect Hurd when he has seizures. [snip] The threat came from a Somali student who is Muslim, according to Hurd, St. Cloud State and school district officials.

The Muslim faith, which is the dominant faith of Somali immigrants, forbids the touching of dogs. [snip] Things didn't go as well at Tech, Hurd said. Students there taunted his dog, and he finally felt he had to leave after he was told a student made a threat. Hurd met with Lockhart but said he did not feel comfortable continuing. Julia Espe, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment for St. Cloud school district, said the school needed to do a better job communicating. [snip] Steffens said it is important to respect different cultures and the rights of disabled students. “I think this is part of the growth process when we become more diverse," Steffens said.


I saw this article yesterday - blame my rather ..................... warped .................... sense of humor, but I wonder, WHAT would be the reaction to Capuchin monkeys used as service animals - since THEY'RE known to 'fling their feces' {yes, before I'm 'dinged', I'm sure part of their training is NOT to fling} - but sometimes training just doesn't take ....................... ;-)

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Just doing the raping, molesting & impregnating of children

that AMERICANS aren't doing ................ this happened in Idaho ......................

Local 10-Year-Old Gives Birth to Baby Girl
YouNewsTV™

Story Published: May 6, 2008 at 6:00 PM MDT

Story Updated: May 7, 2008 at 9:29 AM MDT
By Nate Eaton
Video
It's an unbelievable story that has an entire community in shock.

Several sources confirm a 10-year-old girl from St. Anthony gave birth to a little girl on Saturday at Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg.

The girl was allegedly raped by 37-year-old Guadalupe Gutierrez-Juarez. Gutierrez-Juaraz is an illegal immigrant who is in the Fremont County Jail on rape charges.



Full story here.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

I am TIRED ..................................

and NOT done yet - a very special young lady is celebrating her birthday tomorrow, and I made oysters Rockefeller & a cheesecake with sliced apples & pears that I caramelized with butter, sugar & cardamom - the oysters are ready for the broiler, and the cheesecake is "setting" in the fridge as I type - I STILL have to make a banner to go over the 'throne' that will say "Come One, Come All -- to Princess C---'s Royal Birthday Ball" - C. is turning 4 on Wednesday ....................... ;-) The Spousal Unit & I are going as Shrek & Fiona - when I told him he was gonna be Shrek, of course I got an argument - "I wanna be Donkey" - "No, Dear, you're NOT going to go around on all fours" - "OK, I wanna be Puss in Boots" - "Honey, I LOVE you to death, but there is NO WAY you can do the Antonio Banderas accent, and while when we first met, you could've given A.B. a run for his money in the body department ......... not so much anymore." ;-)

Gecko, I DID want to say thank you for your kind comments - next time KG gets down in the dumps, just eMail me & we'll cheer him up!

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Thursday, May 1, 2008