I purchased this movie this weekend and watched it with several pauses for wiping away tears. I cannot remember a movie that affected me more than this one has. The acting is top notch, the fact it was made honestly was a shock (great job HBO!). The portrayal of our Marines was reflective of how I know them to be. The portrayal of the people that extended a warm greeting to Kevin Bacon's char actor are exactly how Americans behave, it was refreshing to see considering what Hollywood typically shows.
We live in a world of Micheal Moore documentaries where the truth is in how you edit it, not what really happens. We live in a country where the "open minded and tolerant" are actually only open minded and tolerant if you agree with them. Should you disagree then their anger knows no bounds and if the Miss America pageant is any indication of how a woman gets treated for having an opinion we need to start letting Hollywood know exactly how we feel by not watching their shows/movies.
This movie reminds us all about commitment, bravery, loss, country, community, family and patriotism (a dirty word for some) and should be a must watch in every American school.
1. In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a Congress. -- John Adams
2. If you don't read the newspaper, you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper, you are misinformed. -- Mark Twain
3. Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself. -- Mark Twain
4. I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. -- Winston Churchill
5. A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. -- George Bernard Shaw
6. A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money. -- G. Gordon Liddy
7. Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. -- James Bovard
8. Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries. -- Douglas Casey
9. Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. -- P.J. O'Rourke
10. Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. -- Frederic Bastiat
11. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. -- Ronald Reagan
12. I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts. -- Will Rogers
13. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free. -- P.J. O'Rourke
14. In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other. -- Voltaire
15. Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you. -- Pericles (430 B.C.)
16. No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session. -- Mark Twain
17. Talk is cheap... except when Congress does it. -- Anonymous
18. The government is like a baby's digestive system, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other. -- Ronald Reagan
19. The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery. -- Winston Churchill
20. The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin. -- Mark Twain
21. The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools. -- Herbert Spencer
22. There is no distinctly native American criminal class... save Congress. -- Mark Twain
23. A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. -- Gerald Ford
This was sent to me by a friend of my wife, thanks Debbie.
The average age of the military man is 19 years.. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy.. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's, but he has never collected unemployment either.
He's a recent High School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer.
He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.
He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop, or stop until he is told to march. He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.
He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low. He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.
He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job. He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed. He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away ' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking.
In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful. Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.
He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding. Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood. And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.
As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot. A short lull, a little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets.
'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us and Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.. Amen.'
I remember September 11th 2001 like it was yesterday, sadly many in this country have forgotten the lesson learned that day. Fortunately many have not! My prayers go out to the families of those killed that day and God Bless the USA!
So, while at Dayton this year I saw a demonstration of this new German Ham radio. The quality was obviously German, through the roof one hell of a well made radio. Cost, between $12,000 and $16,000 so clearly out of my league, for now.
"Message from Hans Hilberling I regret to announce today that Hilberling GmbH has cancelled the production of the PT-8000 series of transceivers.I am really sorry that this will cause disappointment on your side. Let me explainbrieflywhat had led to this decision:
Hilberling had to counteract continuously obstacles to meet EU wide requirements. This has forced us multiple times to change the design of this high-end transceiver which often has been in conflict to our design goals. We finally could meet all our design numbers within a few prototypes but we and the numerous suppliers were not able to guarantee these numbers for the line production. Measures that would have to be taken to guarantee the specifications are in no way cost effective.
All this has led to the a.m. decision to put everything on hold. Hilberling apologises for any inconvenience you had. We deeply appreciated the confidenceyou demonstrated for the PT-8000 series of HF/VHF-Transceivers.
Hans Hilberling July 24, 2008"
While there I picked up a brochure and felt maybe someday down the road it would be nice to see about these radios. Sadly they won't be made. I wonder whats going to happen to the ones I saw? Maybe Hans will use them and now I have a brochure for something that will never be.
Ok, pondering if I should buy a new Icom IC-7700 or not. Is this something a lowly Tech like myself can really use? I bought the Icom 746Pro prior to getting my Tech since using it fully required at minimum a Tech license. Here is a snapshot of the awesome 7700.
I figure my goal of being an Extra class licensee by the end of this year is reason enough to upgrade to this radio and use the 746Pro for 2m and for general RX on the bands since the 7700 lacks dual receive. Why not go 7800 or Yaesu 9000? I like the big Yaesu's, don't get me wrong but they are as expensive as the 7700 and 7800. The 7800 is almost twice as much as the 7700 and I already have the 746Pro so can't see spending another 5k for dual receive, ok, there is other things about the 7800 as well but come on, $11,000 to buy one?? WOW!!!
So, the question remains, to buy or not to buy... gut says yes, the Supercharged Mustang GT costing me big money in the garage says no way. The XYL says, sell the Mustang and buy any radio you want, but we both know you can't do both, not at this cost level. She is right, dammit they always are!! So, do I sell the Mustang, that I love and have waited for but costs much more to run that any Ham radio, even an expensive Ham radio?
I'll be honest, this is the place for that right? I love my Mustang, really, that car is something special. However I cannot afford to do to that car to take it to the next level and I won't be happy with it unless I take it to the next level, status quo ain't for me. I think I may just sell the 505hp fast as all hell Mustang GT to up the ante in Ham Radio. I enjoy the technical aspect of radio, it makes me think and frankly makes me feel pretty smart at times. :)
Driving the 505hp Mustang makes one feel powerful, fast and free, when I drive that car it feels like an extension of me. More so than any car I have ever owned BUT I know I can't have both, well, truth be told I could, if I take myself further into debt I could do both but who needs more debt, just not smart right, nope, sure isn't.
So, know anybody who wants a mint condition 2006 505hp Mustang GT? Contact me, we'll discuss price. I'm going to have a drink now, that car has been good to me.
Fortunately and unfortunately all at the same time 20m was open tonight. Fortunate because I could hear many good QSO's. Unfortunate because I could hear Karol Madera VE7KFM as well, but a quick QSY and that was solved.
The weather was the best it's been in some time, 79f and mostly sunny. A perfect day for drag racing!
73's all, time for some zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz's.
Originally posted 05/17/07 on my web site. Haven't heard of this story, of course not, they aren't part of the agenda.
- How does the mainstream media not cover the Channon Christian and Chris Newsom hate crime? They were gang raped, sodomized, peed on, spit on,tortured, mutilated and then shot/murdered?!?!? How does a press vilify the Duke Lacrosse players for a rape they didn’t commit every week in the printed and viewable press all but ignore an obvious hate crime such as this???
It seems to me that the press will indulge themselves on rumors and even use blogs for actual news when it fits their agenda yet won't cover a story about two people who were the obvious victim of a hate crime. Anybody who knows me knows that I consider any form of physical violence a hate crime but these days we define and seperate everything and I guess these two were just not worthy of the American press.
For more details about this disgusting hate crime check out this link - Wikipedia Link To quote Charlie Daniels "Is reporting the latest lewd episode of Paris Hilton's privileged life or playing Alex Baldwin¹s raging diatribe for the thousandth time really more important than letting the public know about a cruel and demented crime like this? Shame on the American media for letting such a violent crime as this slip through the cracks. I wonder what else they're not reporting." Well said Mr. Daniels, well said.
Unfortunately this tragedy seems to have brought out the worst in many people. Look at most blog sites that allow comments about this story and you'll see a mix of people actually proud of the crime, or threatening those that are making racist comments, generally because they’re simply to ignorant and stupid to know better. You'll see racists of different ethnic backgrounds (white is assumed of course) making the usual racist comments about the couple who were white and the 4 perpetrators who were black. None of whom seem to know they are as bad as the racists they are either cheering on or threatening, ironic isn't it. A racist is a racist, I don't care what color you are or how ok you think your reasons are or what was done to you, one bad apple does not a whole race make, don't understand this concept?
You need help then. I digress...
Had this been a crime against a black couple Jesse and Al would be screaming (imagine the energy they spent on Imus, this would be wildfire in the press by now) for all to hear but they were off someplace else not to be bothered with such things leaving one to believe it is about color, these two were simply not part of the "agenda". We as a people want everybody equal, we all want color to be neutral, maybe the status quo IS the agenda, how pathetic that would be if it were true, I must be wrong no? I don’t think so, I doubt either even know the names of these two victims. They were there for the alleged victim at Duke and no proof needed to be given, perhaps a word or two for these two, maybe, no?
Think about it and think about how it must have felt for him to watch his girlfriend, black or white get raped and urinated on, then think about how it must have been for her to watch her boyfriend get raped and his genitals sliced off and then think, should color matter when reporting this? No? Then why did it.
Yes, I'll be just as angry if this were a white on black crime, a white on Asian crime or a white on white crime, but that really isn’t the point.
