Archive for April, 2008
Bruce has come out in favor of Barack Obama, saying this:
“I’ve been writing about America for 30 years. I’ve tried to write about who we are, what we stand for, what we fight for. I believe that these essential ideals of American identity are what’s at stake on Nov. 2….I believe that John Kerry honors these ideals. He has lived our history over the past 60 years, and he has formed an adult view of America and its people. ”
Whoa. My bad. That was from Madison in 2004.
This is what he said about Obama:
I have now seen and heard enough to know where I stand. Senator Obama, in my view, is head and shoulders above the rest.
He has the depth, the reflectiveness, and the resilience to be our next President. He speaks to the America I’ve envisioned in my music for the past 35 years
Forgive me if I got confused and couldn’t tell the difference.
For the record, I like the Boss’ latest album, Magic. If he wants to put his political opinions into music, that’s fine by Murdoc. I would expect no less. But after 2004, I’m expecting him to pull the same sort of infantile campaigning he did during Kerry’s run for the big office.
In a comments thread over at Dean’s World, responding to a commenter who wrote that women should simply yell “Masher!” and hit the offender across the face if pressed against or fondled by a stranger:
That’s called vigilantism…So if you wish the people not to descend into tribalism and lawlessness, you would have to stop advocating ‘take care of it yourself’ for an official government law enforcement policy.
Oh for pity’s sake. Is it ‘vigilantism’ when a kid punches a bully in the nose?
Yes, of course.
In my school we seek to ensure that he does not have to do so.
I’m not making this up. There are people who really think this way.
(Cross-posted from GunPundit.)
It’s like the whole world became the Lifetime channel!
I have said for some time that I am tired of the way men are depicted in ad campaigns — clearly, I am not alone. While any single commercial with goofy guys or clueless dads may get a laugh or two, there is a long-term cost at the subconscious level.
Oddly, as someone who usually has opinions and stuff about just about everything, I don’t often get all offended by television commercials (or sitcoms) that bash men and fathers or make them look like dolts. Sometimes I do comment about how it would be received if they made the same commercial with a mom or woman looking like an idiot, and (unsurprisingly) those around me think it’s a stupid question.
Sort of like “so simple even a therapist could use it,” I guess. It just doesn’t make any sense to them, with the implication being that men’s simpleness is understood by all.
But I guess I don’t worry too much about the unfairness. Maybe I should, because the reactions I get when I point out the unfairness illustrates how ingrained the unfair concept has become. But they’re television commercials. They’re supposed to be retarded. Anyone actually influenced by a television commercial is suspect.
Unfortunately, that appears to be way too many people these days.
Tough times for today’s recruiters
The military services face the toughest recruiting environment in a generation, as the most recent data shows interest in military service at its lowest level in more than 25 years.
Internal Defense Department surveys tracking the opinions of potential recruits — mostly young men ages 16 to 21 — show the inclination toward military service has fallen dramatically since the end of the Cold War, with an exceptionally rapid nosedive since 2004.
The services continue to meet their recruiting goals, even with expanded numbers due to an increase in the size of the Army and Marine Corps, but it’s not easy. Low unemployment always means that potential recruits have a greater number of choices, and the ongoing war will, obviously, make many young people think twice about joining up.
Retention of existing personnel continues to exceed expectations, but I’ve long feared that a major drawdown in Iraq, or even an extended lull in the action, may lead to a large exodus from the military as those staying in to see the mission through or to support their buddies see an opening to get out.
Been real busy this weekend, but I did take the time to check out In the Shadow of the Moon. This is a great documentary based mostly on interviews with many of the Apollo astronauts and filled with tons of great footage, much of which I had not seen before.
I had mentioned the film in Linkzookery last September, but if it made it to this area during its limited theatrical run, I missed it. It was just released on DVD and I gotta say that its a good one.
One thing I must recommend is that you watch the bonus interviews in the special features of the disc. There is nearly an hour of additional material in there that’s definitely worth seeing and hearing. A couple of the sequences are “extended cuts” of sequences that were in the film, but most of them were cut entirely.
Michael Collins is probably the star of the show, but all of the astronauts were great. This is a very well made documentary and, though I’ve done a lot of reading and watching shows about the space program, it covered a lot of stuff that I was unfamiliar with or had not known much about.
Hard to believe we could do all of that in 1969. Let’s see what we do in 2009.
Official site here.
Boeing: AF Had Worries About EADS Boom
Air Force worries about the risk associated with EADS’ boom performance, however, weren’t included in the final assessment of scoring for the team.
Helicopter retires after service in Vietnam, Iraq
MH-53 Pave Low helped lead attempt to rescue approximately 50 American prisoners of war from the Son Tay prison camp in North Vietnam in 1970.
‘Dungeons & Dragons’ faces future online
Though this is an inevitable (and sorta cool) move, nothing beats paper, dice and face to face gaming.
[Royal] Marine threw himself onto grenade
I had seen this headline about Lance Corporal Matt Croucher being nominated for the Victoria Cross, but I hadn’t realized THAT THE GUY LIVED. We don’t often see the highest honors awarded other than posthumously lately, it seems. This is great.
James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights by Richard Labunski
Listening to this on audiobook right now. Pretty good.
Obama supporter Oprah takes a big dive
82 percent of respondents claimed Oprah’s endorsement would make no difference in their vote, while 8 percent said it would make them more likely to vote for Obama and 10 percent indicated it would make them less likely to do so.
Back From The Dead
Torpedoes at Strategy Page.
College student motors around town in homemade tank
“Panzer parking. Violators will be totaled.”
B-1B readiness drops 4 years in a row
Even before the B-1B Lancer caught fire Friday after landing in the Middle East, statistics were showing that the heavy bomber of choice for missions in Iraq and Afghanistan has experienced a steady decline in mission-capable and availability rates since 2003.
Tank builder finds himself focus of fame
There was frost in the ground when the tigers broke free.
Media Reaction to New Housework Study Minimizes Men’s Work, Sacrifice for Their Families
But it’s expected.
Cosmetic surgery business sags as purse strings tighten [NOT SATIRE]
The sub-prime loan crisis, the housing slump and the general decline of the economy have claimed another covey of victims. Anthony is in the real estate business, and under current conditions, the cosmetic treatments — at $1,800 or more a pop — can no longer be squeezed into her budget.
NYC Cabbie Who Runs Anti-American Islamic Web Site Mocks GI Deaths, Calls for Shia Law In U.S.
It takes a village.
The Star Destroyer Project
Stand by, Ion Control…
In yesterday’s post about the proposed three-engine interceptor version of the A-5 Vigilante, I included the story of a recon Vigilante pilot shot down over Vietnam. I’ll repeat it here:
Only 9 of the 36 of the aircrew shot down were rescued, with others either killed or taken prisoner. In one case, the rescue was a grim adventure like something out of an action movie. Lieutenant JG Francis Prendergast was the back-seat RAN on an RA-5C that was shot down over North Vietnam on 9 March 1967. According to one version of the story (there are other versions that differ slightly in details), he was captured near the seashore by North Vietnamese militiamen, with two of them assigned to guard him. One was armed with a rifle, the other with Prendergast’s own 0.38-caliber revolver, standard equipment for aircrew and carried externally in a shoulder holster.
Prendergast carried the revolver with the first two chambers unloaded as a safety measure, and as a backup also had a small 0.22 caliber automatic pistol hidden inside his flight suit. When a rescue helicopter and support aircraft showed up, strafing drove off all the North Vietnamese except the guards, who felt safer staying with Prendergast than running for cover.
This proved a fatal mistake. While the two North Vietnamese were distracted by the noise and confusion, Prendergast pulled out the little automatic, cocked it, and shot the militiaman with the rifle in the head. The other militiaman tried to shoot Prendergast with the revolver, only to find that the hammer fell on an empty cylinder, and was shot himself an instant later. Prendergast swam out to the rescue helicopter and was retrieved.
I received this comment on the post:
If that’s an accurate description, it makes Prendergast a war criminal. He had surrendered, but then used violence from a non-combatant status.
First of all, this version of the account doesn’t say he “surrendered,” only that he was “captured.” If he was forcibly compelled to submit or taken while unconscious, for instance, does that affect his status as a prisoner?
In any event, does anyone have any other feedback on this? Should Pendergrast have been charged with war crimes?
Democrats on the Economy in 1996:
–Our economy is the healthiest it has been in three decades.” (President Bill Clinton, State of the Union Address, January 23, 1996)Democrats on the Economy in 2008:
–The bottom line is that this administration is the owner of the worst jobs record since Herbert Hoover.” (Senator Charles Schumer, Press Release, March 7, 2008)
“Healthiest economy in three decades” Unemployment Rate: 5.5%
“Worst jobs record since Herbert Hoover” Unemployment Rate: 5.1%
And it’s not just the flat rates that are backwards, either. Go look.
Was talking a bit about the A-5 Vigilante earlier and googled across this tidbit:
North American proposed advanced versions of the Vigilante to the US Air Force an interceptors. One, known as the “Retaliator”, added a liquid-fuel rocket engine to the two J79s, but the Air Force didn’t pursue the concept.
Later, in 1972, in response to an Air Force requirement for an advanced interceptor, North American proposed adding a third J79 in the center bay and arming the “NR-349″, as the new aircraft was designated, with six AIM-54 Phoenix air-to-air missiles. The Air Force didn’t follow up on that concept, either.
Can you say “Colonial Viper”?
UPDATE: Also meant to include this anecdote:
18 RA-5Cs were lost in combat during the war, giving it the highest loss rate of any Navy aircraft in the conflict. 13 Vigilantes were shot down by flak, two were shot down by SAMs, one was shot down by a MiG-21, and the other two were lost to unknown causes over enemy territory.
The loss rate was high because the missions were unusually hazardous. Vigilantes were used for both pre-strike and post-strike reconnaissance. Pre-strike missions were relatively safe, but the North Vietnamese quickly realized after a target was bombed a reconnaissance aircraft would soon arrive to evaluate the damage, and so post-strike missions were generally conducted in the face of an enemy that was thoroughly alert and waiting. Vigilantes flying post-strike reconnaissance missions tried to follow the strike elements in just after the last bombs fell to reduce the risk.
Only 9 of the 36 of the aircrew shot down were rescued, with others either killed or taken prisoner. In one case, the rescue was a grim adventure like something out of an action movie. Lieutenant JG Francis Prendergast was the back-seat RAN on an RA-5C that was shot down over North Vietnam on 9 March 1967. According to one version of the story (there are other versions that differ slightly in details), he was captured near the seashore by North Vietnamese militiamen, with two of them assigned to guard him. One was armed with a rifle, the other with Prendergast’s own 0.38-caliber revolver, standard equipment for aircrew and carried externally in a shoulder holster.
Prendergast carried the revolver with the first two chambers unloaded as a safety measure, and as a backup also had a small 0.22 caliber automatic pistol hidden inside his flight suit. When a rescue helicopter and support aircraft showed up, strafing drove off all the North Vietnamese except the guards, who felt safer staying with Prendergast than running for cover.
This proved a fatal mistake. While the two North Vietnamese were distracted by the noise and confusion, Prendergast pulled out the little automatic, cocked it, and shot the militiaman with the rifle in the head. The other militiaman tried to shoot Prendergast with the revolver, only to find that the hammer fell on an empty cylinder, and was shot himself an instant later. Prendergast swam out to the rescue helicopter and was retrieved.
Melanie Bowers, the 13-year-old student who claimed she was beaten up and threatened with rape and death over an anti illegal immigration poster was lying lying lying:
After Melanie’s accusations, administrators reviewed school survellience videotape of the incident – which, instead of showing students beating or attacking her, showed Bowers scratching herself on her arms, face, and neck, and walking through the halls of the school calmly long after she claimed the incident happened.
After Melanie’s parents were presented with that information and the video, the school confronted Melanie, and she admitted that she made the story up.
Good idea. Make up stories. Get on the news. That will only be with your for…oh, I don’t know…the REST OF YOUR LIFE.
From now on, whenever anyone googles Melanie Bowers (like prospective employers and boyfriends), they will find out she’s that stupid girl who is a liar.
Nice.
UPDATE: Forgot the link.
