Things we take for granted

We are day two into a boiler order. Apparently the city cut into a water main and we have to boil all our water until they can test the quality. I suppose you never really realize how important clean water is, it's something all living organisms must have, and we certainly take it for granted that the water that comes out of a tap is clean and drinkable.

The boiler order has given me a greater appreciation for the plight of people in the Third World that do no have access to clean water. We've got kids complaining that they don't have a Play Station 3 here, but in Africa they don't even have clean water! Just washing your hands or brushing your teeth has become problematic. You also get a little paranoid, is the water coming out of my tap really bad?

Clean water is essential, and I can't wait until I can once again drink it from the tap or take a clean shower.

Battlestar Galactica: A New Crew In Town music video

This is frakking brilliant! Well done! Bravo!

Microsoft 1978

The Ideal Woman

How to Write a Novel

http://secretgeek.net/nonwriter.asp

Thank you SecretGeek.Net for posting that one!

Army PR campaign

Looks like the US Army is in the midst of a media campaign, sharing videos on YouTube, and photos on Flickr. For the full story click here.

Army desertions spike

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/23/news/army.php

It would appear that the US Army gave the wrong figures when it released how many soldiers deserted its ranks last year. Apparently the Army failed to report that 853 soldiers had not reported for duty, that's almost a whole battalion! The Army tried to downplay that desertion was not always due to wartime factors, but could be for a number of reasons like "personal, family or financial problems." Very interesting indeed.

You tired few...

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2007/d20070321ngr.pdf

That's the list of Reserve and National Guard units that were recently called upon to provide augmentation to active duty units. When you think that each one of those soldiers, sailors, and airmen have families back home it really hits you. These part time soldiers will now be full-time warriors, lives will be disrupted, children's birth dates will be missed, some will have to go into debt due to pay cuts because active duty doesn't pay as much as their civilian jobs. Still, these guys and gals are serving their country, which is more than what some politicians of ours are doing.

Apple's new iRack

Swedish Army desert camouflage

The Swedish Army's unique zig-zag camouflage pattern is also available in a desert camouflage variety. I personally think it looks pretty cool, though I am partial to digital disruptive patterns myself.

This is Sparta!

Okay my testosterone level just jumped like 100% after watching this trailer. Now I've got to go see the movie. Of course it's not historically accurate, but who really cares?

Americans in debt

I heard on the news today that 41% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, and few people are putting money away for savings. Even 19% of households making $100,000 dollars a year are doing the same. $100,000 dollars seems like a fortune to me, but what do I know?

Lack of budgeting and planning is one of the main reasons why people are feeling the pinch, especially when it comes to the little expenses like eating out or buying that cup of coffee in the morning. People are eating out more and more, and that Big Mac meal will set you back about $5 bucks a day, the same with the coffee, and some snacks. You can eat much cheaper if you just plan a little, but few of us do, myself included. I'm going to try to cut back on eating out so much to see if I'll save a few pennies. I'll let you know what happens.

General Pace calls gays "immoral"

Marine Corps General Peter Pace is in trouble because he uttered these words: "I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts."

Now gay and lesbian advocacy groups are up in arms wanting the general to apologize for his remarks. I guess my trouble with this is, why? Why should he apologize? Is anybody surprised that a Marine general finds homosexuals an affront? Honestly people, you could see this coming a mile away. And since when should freedom of speech be curtailed and censored? The general was obviously stating a personal opinion, hence the "I believe." For those saying this is hate speech I don't believe it meets that threshold. If he had said "let's kill all the gays," that would have been another matter, but he didn't. Homosexuals don't agree with a lot of things, and they have their opinions, but how come if we don't agree with them we are always the hate mongers? They accuse us of being biased and insensitive, yet at times they are the ones who cannot take an opinion or belief other than their own.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate gays, I couldn't care less where you stick it, it's none of my business. I do however think it's sad that they are going after this Marine general, because even if he does apologize, do you honestly believe that it is a sincere apology? And if this catches enough momentum no doubt he'll apologize for his "insensitive remarks," maybe attend a gay group gala and take a diversity class, but his underlying beliefs will probably not be changed.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/13/pace.gays.ap/index.html

For the families of Marines... Semper Fi

Japanese tourists

For their seeming lack of multiculturalism and diversity in Japan, Japanese tourists are everywhere, and Japanese people love to travel and meet new people. I don't think I've been to a single country where I did not see at least one Japanese tourist meandering down the street. What I love about meeting Japanese are their impeccable manners and the respect they pay to their hosts. They never complain and they always like everything you give them to eat: so you could give them Swedish surströmming and they would nod their heads in agreement, that indeed this is the best thing since sliced sushi.

People don't think anymore

I've long since given up on people. People are just plain stupid, myself and cyber peeps not included of course, at least we think before we disagree with each other. The following story illustrates the stupidity of people. Apparently the ACLU of New Jersey is suing "the Newark public school district, saying a school's decision to hold its graduation ceremonies in a Baptist church violated a Muslim student's religious freedom." Now I'm all for the separation of church and state, the freedom of religion, the freedom of the press, etc. What really gets my blood boiling is the fact that none of the members of the public school district thought that this might be a bad idea. You can imagine the uproar if the graduation had been held in a mosque or a synagogue? And why not have the graduation in a school auditorium or a civic center? But no, let's see if we can't offend a few more people, especially since we had been warned a year before that it was inappropriate.

"The ACLU-NJ said it first complained about a West Side High School graduation at New Hope Baptist Church in 2005, but agreed not to sue when the district's legal director made assurances that the school district would avoid holding a graduation at a religious location again.

But in 2006, graduation was again held at New Hope. And the principal at the time even told graduating students that they would get two additional tickets for family and friends to go to the graduation, provided they also attended a separate religious baccalaureate ceremony for the class at a Roman Catholic church, according to the civil liberties group."

Perhaps what gets me the most is the fact that the public school district will now have to spend thousands of dollars defending itself in court, the lawyer fees will take money away from buying school books or childrens' education, etc. I guess I'm a bit upset at the NJ ACLU for suing as well, but they did tell the school district that they would sue if they held another graduation at a church, so I'll let it slide this time.

Is it too much to ask for people to have some wisdom of the common sense?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/03/08/church.graduation.suit.ap/index.html

Navy in Review 2006

My apologies for not posting this link sooner after the New Year, I've just been too busy. I do love a good Navy fix however.

http://www.navy.mil/media/OtherMedia/YearInReview2006/

Saucy astronaut emails

Thanks to the Houston Chronicle for digging up the emails!

http://images.chron.com/content/news/photos/07/03/06/astromail.pdf

The Hamdog

For those of you who live in Central Illinois no doubt you are familiar with the culinary delight called The Horseshoe sandwich, an open-faced sandwich made up of thick-sliced, toasted sourdough bread, with a couple of hamburger patties or ham added, which is then topped with french fries and smothered with a “secret” cheese sauce.

Though it was invented in Springfield, Illinois, there are a few restaurants in Decatur, Illinois that serves this heart attack widow maker. Of course Decatur, Georgia, not to be outdone by northerners, have created their own weapon of mass consumption, bringing us to a culinary mutually assured food coma. A big thanks to The Bullshit Observer for bringing the Hamdog to my attention. You take "a hot dog wrapped in a beef patty that is deep fried, covered with bacon, chili, cheese and onions, and served with fries on a hoagie bun topped with a fried egg." God bless America!

Gonzales to Congress, I'm too busy to bother myself with you...

From Robert Novak in the Union Leader, the article at: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Robert+D.+Novak%3A+Another+Hillary+defector&articleId=65463a14-f0a4-4663-9f46-1d5189c56100

PROBING GONZALES

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has indicated he is too busy to answer letters from Democratic congressional leaders about his firing seven U.S. attorneys involved in probes of public corruption, though a lower-level Justice Department official rejected their proposals.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel, House Democratic Caucus chairman, had written Gonzales two letters suggesting that he name Carol Lam, fired as U.S. attorney in San Diego, as an outside counsel to continue her pursuit of the Duke Cunningham case. Asked by Melissa Charbonneau of the Christian Broadcasting Network about this column’s report that Gonzales did not respond, Gonzales said: “I think that the American people lose if I spend all my time worrying about congressional requests for information, if I spend all my time responding to subpoenas.”

Richard A. Hertling, the acting Justice Department lobbyist, responded Wednesday, 22 days after Emanuel’s letter. He contended “the Justice Department would not ever seek the resignation of a U.S. attorney if doing so would jeopardize a public corruption case” and rejected naming Lam as a special prosecutor.

Sugar Rush is frakking brilliant!

Sandi Thom

A fresh face, a new talent...