Tuesday, July 31, 2007

I Have a Question.......

....for YukonJohn.

Do you know more about me than my Dad?

Are you getting any work done?

Ok, back to the hearing.....Carl Levin....ARRGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!

There Is A Stabbing Pain In My Head!!!!!

I'm listening to Mike's hearing and Sen. Webb is talking.

The pain! That pain!

I'm A Republican, but..........

What the hell took them so long to figure out this guy probably had some underhanded dealings?

Federal agents raid Alaska home of Senator Stevens

Could the whole "bridge to nowhere" been more of a clue? How about the fit he threw over it?

Hearings Begin at 0930

0930 - Armed Services Hearing: The Senate Armed Services Committee meets to consider the following nominations:- ADM Michael Mullen, for reappointment to the grade of Admiral and to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - Gen James Cartwright, for reappointment to the grade of General and to be Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
You can watch on the Pentagon Channel or CSpan

Monday, July 30, 2007

Stirring the Pot

Because I am a bad girl................

There are many post here about the Navy. I am a military supporter, but I favor the Navy. And in the Navy I favor *Shoes*, or ship drivers. As they say at my favorite super secret website, "Real men wear black shoes!" I am enjoying the current run of successes that the shoes are having. Admiral Roughead is a Shoe. There have been comments made. A little crowing from fellow Shoes - totally understandable. A little whining from the airedales and bubbleheads - sour grapes. Now if I were gracious in victory, I would overlook this. I am not gracious. I am a redheaded, despotic, evil Princess to quote Sgt.B. So, I will stir the pot.

First CDR Salamander writes this
Not official - but I'm feeling BostonMaggie's vibe.
And yes, Shoes do rule the Navy.

Gotta admit, that did tickle me.

Anyway, then there was this in the comments
And as for the last line concerning shoes, from a former MS and current ISC USNR your damn straight Sir!! I would like to hear the responses on that from CAPT Lex and CDR Pinch.
Richard Cook

So being the troublemaker I am, I shot this off to CDR Pinch.
You Just........
......got called out, boyo! Get over to Salamander's place and stick up for your brown shoe compatriots.
Maggie


So Pinch heads over there and comments and then posts at his place.
"Cdr Salamander has this, as well, and in the process makes the common mistake of saying that “Shoes rule the Navy”, “shoes” of course being the naval vernacular for the “surface” navy officers, or those doughnut-filled-but-absolutely-ok-for-the-most-part-otherwise officers who chose to drive ships for a living rather than slip the surly bonds of earth and zorch around the sky in manly-beasts of aeronautical prowess."

I laughingly read this to my favorite Shoe, who asked for a link to this discussion.

Here you go, baby! Wanna a donut with that?

The Rules of the Rotation

I'm having that crazy problem with Blogger comments again so I'll just throw my answer up here.

YukonJohn has questions. This comment is from the post with his name on it.

and your point would be.....How many rules are on the list?

One Chicago IAP rule: When she smiles at you and her eyes are not RUN AWAY

This would happen when you look at the barmaid for longer than 8 seconds after ordering drinks.

First off, the Rotation, as I have explained previously - Men in my orbit who vie for my attention with varying degrees of success.

Rule #1 - It's all about Maggie!

Rule #2 - You have to pay lots and lots of attention to me, but you can't put up with my shit. It's a fine line and not many can successfully achieve the right balance.

Rule #3 - If I am seeing you...............you are not the only one I am seeing.

Rule #4 - Competition is strongly encouraged.

Rule #5 - When Maggie is unhappy......she is seldom unhappy alone.

Shhhh! Don't Tell Grace!

Dengue on Rise in Asia
Monday July 30, 2007 5:16 PM
By MARGIE MASON
AP Medical Writer


HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - Dengue fever is raging across Asia, prompting the World Health Organization to warn that the region could face the worst outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus in nearly a decade.

The disease, commonly called the 'bone breaker' illness because of the excruciating joint pain it causes, has flared everywhere from ultramodern Singapore to poor Vietnam. There are four different types of dengue, but none have a cure or vaccine.

Cambodia is now one of the most worrisome spots, where the disease has attacked about 25,000 people and killed nearly 300 children this year. That's about three times more than the number of cases for all of 2005, according to WHO.

Sick children have overwhelmed ill-equipped hospitals there, forcing babies burning with fever to wait for beds outside with IV drips attached to their arms.

The last major outbreak to hit Southeast Asia was in 1998, when about 350,000 cases were reported in the region, including nearly 1,500 deaths. Indonesia and Thailand were not included in that tally.

John Ehrenberg, WHO's regional adviser on vector-borne diseases, said it could potentially reach that level this year.

Read the rest here.

Rained Out

The walking tour in this post is postponed due to rain. Bummer.

SJS Is Right!

SJS commented in this post:
"I agree -- given the decided Army (digital) green tint to the blog-sphere, one can never have too much of the sea ervices (to which I would add our CG and merchant buds as well)...sail on!"

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Newt

Saying what needs to be said on Fox News Sunday.

This is a portion of the transcript from RealClear Politics.

WALLACE: Finally, and we have about a minute left, on Iraq, Senator Feingold is already calling and already voting to start pulling troops out starting in 120 days, with most forces out by next April.
Why do you think that some Democrats want to start pulling out troops even before General Petraeus gets a chance to issue his progress report in September?


GINGRICH: The left wing of the Democratic Party is deeply opposed to American victory and deeply committed to American defeat.
In 1975, when there were no Americans left in Vietnam, the left wing of the Democratic Party killed the government of South Vietnam, cut off all of its funding, cut off all of its ammunition, and sent a signal to the world that the United States had abandoned its allies.
What I would say to any Democrat who wants America to leave is quite simple. Millions of Iraqis have sided with the United States. They are known in their neighborhoods. They are known in their cities. If we abandon them, they are going to be massacred.
How can you, in good conscience, walk away from these decent people and leave them behind to a fate which we've seen, for example, in Afghanistan, where the Taliban recently was machine-gunning girls as they walked to school because the Taliban is determined to stop women from getting educated?
We are faced with evil opponents. Those opponents need to be defeated. And if General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker come back in September and say, "We actually can win this thing," I want to understand the rationale that says, "No, we don't want to let America win. Let's legislate defeat for the United States
."

No Reservations

Jen and I are off to the movies. We are going to see "No Reservations". Isn't she fabulously beautiful? I loved her with Sean Connery...............who am I kidding, I hated her! I wanted to kiss him, lol.

OK, I'm back. The movie was good, really cute actually. Although Aaron Eckhart does less than nothing for me. There was only minimal fallout from my bad movie karma and most of it didn't impact me. It wasn't too crowded and there was just 2 minutes when the "Turn Your cell phone off please" message seemed to stick. Jen and I giggled hopelessly thinking this was a reprise of the technical difficulties experienced here. But then it moved along. The only other problem was the people behind us. Again, Jen picked the seats, so I can't be blamed! There were 4 people sitting behind and to Jen's left, I was on the right (which is silly since I should always be on the left of anyone I'm trying to hear, lol). Anyway, I guess they laughed loudly and were "goony" according to Jen. Thanks to the otosclerosis - not my problemo!

Barack Obama - Copacabana!

Rich, my commenter (who has a profile that I can't access, humph!)in the post below sent a link to this quick little vid. Good laugh, especially the dig at Biden's gaffe earlier this year.

Good job, Rich!

The YouTube Debate

Last night after I left work (and a quick pitstop at Walmart and Jen's house) I went home to do mountains of laundry (smelly, messy boys!). I put on a rebroadcast of the YouTube Debate on CNN. I had the volume up pretty high because I was walking back an forth in the house. Putting the shopping away, moving the laundry along, putting away the dishes. Of course, the whole time I am "participating" in the debate, lol. I am shouting derisive remarks at Obama. Asking Gravel when he has to be back to the home, telling Hilary to tone down that fake cackle. Calling them liars and idiots. And, God help me, agreeing with Joe Biden. Everytime one of those idiots said something singularly stupid and Biden called him on it......I had to agree with him. It nearly kills me. Dodd, for example, a tremendously stupid man who was spanked by Biden and later by Obama

QUESTION: Dear Presidential Candidates, see those three flags over my shoulder? They covered the coffins of my grandfather, my father, and my oldest son.
Someday, mine will join them.
I do not want to see my youngest sons join them.
I have two questions. By what date after January 21st, 2009, will all U.S. troops be out of Iraq? And how many family members do you have serving in uniform
?

COOPER: Senator Dodd.

DODD: I have advocated, again, that we have our troops out by April of next year. I believe that the timeframe is appropriate to do that. I would urge simultaneously that we do the things we’ve talked about here, and that is pursue the diplomatic efforts in the region to at least provide Iraq the opportunity to get on its feet. But I believe our military ought to be out before that.

If I’m president in January, I’d be advocating a responsible withdrawal that’s safe for our troops who are there, to provide the resources for them to do it.

As I mentioned earlier, I served with the National Guard and Reserves. My brother served in the military as well. So, in my family, there have been at least two that I’m aware of. I have first cousins of mine that were submarine commanders. My uncle was a commander in World War II in the Navy. So there have been a number of people in my family.

COOPER: So you’re saying that by January 21st, 2009, all U.S. troops would be out...

DODD: Well, no, I’ve argued that it actually happen before then. I’ve been pushing...

COOPER: Right.

DODD: There were 11 of us back when the supplemental bill came up a few weeks ago that voted to cut off that funding here. There’s no other way I know to bring this to a head than through that mechanism. So come January, I hope that would be completed.

(APPLAUSE)

But, if not, then I’d advocate a time frame that would be done responsibly.

Then they went to Richardson, a man who is even more irrelevent than Dodd. at least Dodd has some good scandals to fall back on from his drinking days with Kennedy when they used to molest waitresses in DC.

Then Biden weighed in, and heaven help us, it was common sense. You can be against the war, just acknowledge that cut-n-run won't work. Acknowledge that retreat will lead to chaos and destruction of biblical proportion.

COOPER: Senator Biden?

BIDEN: Number one, there is not a single military man in this audience who will tell this senator he can get those troops out in six months if the order goes today.

Let’s start telling the truth. Number one, you take all the troops out. You better have
helicopters ready to take those 3,000 civilians inside the Green Zone where I have been seven times and shot at. You better make sure you have protection for them, or let them die, number one.

So we can’t leave them there. And it’s going to take a minimum 5,000 troops to 10,000 just to protect our civilians. So while you’re taking them out, Governor, take everybody out. That may be necessary.

Number three, the idea that we all voted -- except for me -- for that appropriation. That man’s son is dead. For all I know, it was an IED. Seventy percent of all the deaths occurred have been those roadside bombs. We have money in that bill to begin to build and send immediately mine-resistant vehicles that increase by 80 percent the likelihood none of your cadets will die, General. And they all voted against it.

How in good conscience can you vote not to send those vehicles over there as long as there’s one single, solitary troop there?


Have I mentioned how much I hate it when Biden is the most reasonable voice in the room?

Anyway, I don't know how I survived the night. Anyone passing the house must have considered calling the police to break up the brawl if they thought there was someone there with me.........or men in white coats if they realized I was alone.

But I got a few nasty little giggles too. Like this one when Obama spanked Dodd.

QUESTION: Hi. I’m Cecilla Smith.

QUESTION: And I’m Asanti Wilkins.

QUESTION: And we’re from Pennsylvania, and my question is to all the candidates, and it’s regarding the national minimum wage.
Congress seems to never have a problem when it comes time to give themselves a raise. But when it came time to increase the minimum wage, they had a problem.
My question to the candidates: If you’re elected to serve, would you be willing to do this service for the next four years and be paid the national minimum wage?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(APPLAUSE)

COOPER: So, it’s pretty simple, yes or no. Minimum wage, by the way, goes up tomorrow to $6.55. In 2009, it will be $7.25.

It's a silly, stupid question and pretty much everyone says yes....duh. The we come to Dodd (D- under a waitress at La Brassiere)

COOPER: Senator Dodd, would you work for the minimum wage?

DODD: I have two young daughters who I’m trying to educate them.

(Umm, English speaking, Dodd, have you try?)

I don’t think I could live on the minimum wage, but I’m a strong advocate to seeing to it that we increase it at least to $9 or $10 to give people a chance out there to be able to provide for their families.

Then Cooper tried to move on to that vacuous, preening example of southern breeding, Edwards and Dodd interrupts.

DODD: That’s leadership in the country.

I'm sure.

Anyway, down the line Obama call the question for the nonsense that it is and spanks Dodd.

OBAMA: Well, we can afford to work for the minimum wage because most folks on this stage have a lot of money. It’s the folks...

(APPLAUSE)

.... on that screen who deserve -- you’re doing all right, Chris, compared to, I promise you, the folks who are on that screen.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

DODD: Not that well, I’ll tell you, Barack. (For the record Dodd' net worth is between $260,000-$682,000 according to the Washington Post.)

OBAMA: I mean, we don’t have -- we don’t have Mitt Romney money, but...

(LAUGHTER)

But we could afford to do it for a few years. Most folks can’t.
And that’s why we’ve got to fight and advocate for...


COOPER: Governor -- Governor Richardson, yes?

RICHARDSON: Yes, I would.

COOPER: OK.

Senator Biden?

BIDEN: I don’t have Barack Obama money either.

(LAUGHTER) - Again, I laughed too, it kills me.

My net worth is $70,000 to $150,000. That’s what happens you get elected at 29. I couldn’t afford to stay in the Congress for the minimum wage. But if I get a second job, I’d do it.

(LAUGHTER)

Biden actually does have a second job. His only reported income in 2006, in addition to his $165,000 Senate salary, interests and dividends, was $28,700 for teaching at Widener University in Pennsylvania.

So even though I scream and yell, it was interesting.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

YukonJohn

*****Apologies, my commenter is "YukonJohn", not "YukonJack"*****

Something is up with my computer and Blogger's comment page. I can't post comments on anyone's Blogger account, including my own.

John commented in the post two below this one.
yukonjohn said...
Maggie,
You can never have too much NAVY and MARINE. You can always tie them into every comment. eg. Just think of Edwards coming down the stairs of MARINE 1 trying to keep his $1200 haircut in place!

I answered:
That is a horrible thought!
I am very upset with you YukonJohn! Do not EVER make me picture Edwards as POTUS. Ever. Ever. Again.

John came back:
Maggie,
Typical, I think I'm being very witty and your upset. You'll never have to worry about Edwards. My nightmare is Miss Clinton coming down those stairs with old Billy in tow. If that happens we can start the meter.
Boy, I bet that made you feel better

Since I can't comment on my own damn blog......I'll just post it!
So here's my answer
"John,
As long as you understand the importance of making it up to me when you upset me........we'll get along just fine........."

Back to the Navy Stuff

SJS points me toward this article in the Navy Times (where they did finally publish something today about Gary).

Two nominated for top Navy jobs in Europe
By Zachary M. Peterson - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jul 27, 2007 16:46:40 EDT
President Bush nominated Vice Adm. Mark Fitzgerald and Rear Adm. James Winnefeld on Friday to take the top two Navy leadership positions in Europe, according to a Pentagon announcement.
If approved by the Senate,
Fitzgerald will earn a fourth star and become commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Allied Joint Forces Command in Naples, Italy. Fitzgerald is currently director of Navy staff at the Pentagon. He will replace Adm. Harry Ulrich in command in Naples. Ulrich’s future plans have yet to be announced.
Vice Adm. John Stufflebeem was nominated to replace Fitzgerald earlier this month. Pending congressional approval, Winnefeld will earn his third star and take Stufflebeem’s current job as commander of 6th Fleet and deputy commander of Naval Forces Europe.
Fitzgerald is a naval aviator, who commanded Carrier Group 8 during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and 2002. Earlier in his career, the admiral led the first Navy strike on Baghdad during Operation Desert Storm.
Right now, Winnefeld serves as director of joint innovation and experimentation at U.S. Joint Forces Command. He is also an aviator who has served with VF-24 “Fighting Renegades,” the Navy Fighter Weapons School, and the VF-1 “Wolfpack.”
Defense Secretary Robert Gates also announced July 26 that
Rear Adm. Philip Greene will take over for Rear Adm. James Hart in command of the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. Greene is currently director of policy, resources and strategy at Naval Forces Europe. Hart’s tour is slated to end in February, according to Lt. Cindy Moore, a Navy spokeswoman.

Time to watch the ripples, boys and girls.

Were you paying attention to this paragraph?
If approved by the Senate, Fitzgerald will earn a fourth star and become commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Allied Joint Forces Command in Naples, Italy. Fitzgerald is currently director of Navy staff at the Pentagon. He will replace Adm. Harry Ulrich in command in Naples. Ulrich’s future plans have yet to be announced.

There Have Been Complaints!!!!

That's right, some are saying there is too much Navy here. How can that be? How can you have too much Navy? I have never subscribed to the theory "Too much of a good thing......". No, Princess Crabby believes that if some is good more is better!

But ok...........we'll take a break. Instead I will take a swipe at my favorite punching bag.......that asshat, John Edwards.

They are out to get him you know. They want to silence him. He is like Charlton Heston in "Soylent Green".............."You've gotta tell them! Soylent Green is people! We've gotta stop them somehow!"

You see, John Edwards is trying to tell you the truth. He is trying to tell you about healthcare and Iraq (which he pronounces in the most irritating way - *ir-rock*). But you can't hear him because multi-billionaires are conspiring to flood the airwaves with trivial stories about his $400 haircuts.

"Pay no attention to the hairstylist behind that curtain! I am the great and powerful John Edwards! I will fix everything if you just focus on me....me...me!"

H/T to Ben Smith at Politico, Drudge and The Corner on Line (I couldn't get away from this video today!)

This Looks Like Fun

*****UPDATED*****This post was edited to remove the email address and phone number of the tour guide at his request*****
City Record Walking Tour July 30th at 6 P.M.
I am pleased to announce a City Record walking tour, which will be held Monday, July 30th, at 6:00 P.M. The tour will cover portions of Beacon Hill from its earliest history to current development and will last about an hour and a half. The cost of the tour is $10. We will meet in front of the State House and I look forward to meeting you all!

I wonder if I can talk Jen into this? We are both working all weekend, but I think we can fit this in. I have to find out what Tom is doing too.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Is This Guy Kidding Or What?


Springbored (of Springbored's Springboard) updated his Gates/Roughead post to acknowledge me (thank you). But then he threw down a challenge.

UPDATE: Hello, Roughead fan BOSTON MAGGIE...Hey, if you're not afraid of Dot, take a weekend day and grab some fried clams from Sullivan's at Castle Island. Extra credit if you find the Admiral Farragut statue without looking it up on the web...

Are you kidding me? Afraid of Dot???????????????????????????????

My reply?

Afraid of Dorchester! Surely you jest! I am from Charlestown....
WE.
FEAR.
NO.
ONE!
But for the record Castle Island, Dorchester Heights and the Farragut statue are in Southie, not Dorchester.

Some people's kids, sheesh!

Happy Birthday FbL!

Pop over here and wish the favorite Castle kitten Happy Birthday. The top post teases about some big news for Valor-IT. If you didn't know, Valor-IT is a very worthy cause. You could celebrate Fuzzy's birthday by making a donation.

If You Are In This Neighborhood......

....you might want to check this out.

The National Maritime Historical Society is hosting author Brad Peniston at the Hendrick Hudson Free Library in Montrose, New York, tomorrow at 10:30 or noon depending on which website you read. Anyway, if I could I would go. This sounds really interesting to me. I thought I was going to a more local appearance, but no.......
Also, I still want to hear Brad speak even though he was "gaslighting" me.

If you do go, please tell Brad that Maggie says "Hi".

Who Isn't Covering This Story?

As of 0900 my time (Boston time is all that matters), these guys do not have a story up about Gates rocommending Admiral Roughead for CNO. This tickles me for some reason.


These guys don't have a story up about it either. But they did have this pic.

No! No! No!

I am getting premature congratulations here and in email.

THERE IS NO "V" YET!!!!!

Yes, the SecDef has recommended Admiral Roughead as the next CNO. And rightly so, he is the right man for this very important job. But he must be officially nominated by the CINC and receive confirmation in the Senate. While I have every faith in Gary that he will sail through this process, we must not jump the gun.

I am not saying that I am not impatient with the process as well......patience is a virtue.....do I seem virtuous to you? However, despite all my whining and moaning here and elsewhere, it is what it is.

There will be no "V" until then.

Now, I'm going back to knocking on wood and crossing my fingers and indulging my Druid heritage.

Thanks For The Link, Galrahn!

.............and the compliment too!

Galrahn wrote
For the record, while I never got involved in the competition, I vote Maggie as winner for making the otherwise mundane announcement interesting.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Tagged by ConcreteBob

Bob sends this after he gets tagged by Flora.

8 Things or habits about myself?

So you actually imagine that there are even two things about me that I haven't spilled here already.............YGTBFKM!

Gates to recommend Roughead for CNO post

From "Stars and Stripes" (h/t to Springbored's Springboard via an anonymous commenter in the post below).

Gates to recommend Roughead for CNO post
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and StripesStars and Stripes online edition,
Thursday, July 26, 2007
ARLINGTON, Va. — Defense Secretary Robert Gates has decided to recommend Adm. Gary Roughead, head of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, as the next Chief of Naval Operations, Defense officials said Thursday.

Gates told senior combatant commanders about his decision Thursday during a conference at the Pentagon, officials said.

If nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Roughead would replace Adm. Michael Mullen.

Mullen has been nominated to become the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
A spokesman for Adm. Roughead declined to comment on Thursday evening because no formal announcement had been made.

Roughead has been head of Fleet Forces Command since May 17. His prior commands include commandant of the U.S. Naval Academy and executive assistant to the commander-in-chief of U.S. Pacific Command.

His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal.

Congratulations, baby! We're almost there!

More articles about this are found in The Virginia Pilot, DefenseNews, and The Honolulu Advertiser. As a matter of fact............do you want to guess where there isn't an article?

I Have Been Hostily Taken Over!!

LOL
Who dares to be hostile with Princes Crabby, the Empress of La Moata, she who has no equal, Princesa Malhumorada, Maggie?????

This guy.

There is an online game called blogshares. I went there a couple of times. I bought myself, Lex, a little of the Castle, OpFor. But over time, not keeping up with the game, I have lost my shares in almost everything. On the other hand, my initital trades turned in $12M in funny money.

So the other day I get an email.
You were forced to sell 800 out of the 4000 shares you own in Bostonmaggie for B$18.09 ea. (3x the current market price) because SmadaNek restructured the blog using a Tea Party (artefact).Your account has been credited a total of B$14,469.49 for this transaction which brings it to B$12,199,311.23.

I jokingly sent back an email asking where he got the nerve. He replied that if I wanted to go and "claim" the blog, he would return my shares (like homesteading"?). I told him that I was just teasing, that I wasn't really playing the game anymore. I asked why he picked me.

I'm not sure I liked the answer....."I bought your blog because it was valuable but cheap -- market price was at $12 per share, I paid $36 for them. They are now at $523, so it's a nice little gain of almost $2 million for me." Cheap? Humph!

Well, I have to forgive him...........he is SWO! We discussed blogging and Valor-IT, read a little of each other's blogs and I invited him to vote in the CNO Pool. He grudgingly agreed that it would be Roughead. I explained that it needed to be Roughead or my life was over.

His reply to that?
"And your ass is definitely grass if he doesn't get it. The amount of smack you've been talking just on your own blog guarantees that. Lord knows what you've been saying in other peoples' comments."

LOL, that's so true! Please Gary, you have to win. If you win you will have my undying love and gratitude.
Also, to the SECDEF: What's taking so long? I'm on pins-and-needles here!!!! (plus I'm sure Gary would like an answer too).

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Sherri Wants To Remind Massachusetts Military

....about the bonus that's being offered.

Veterans Encouraged To Apply For 9-11 Bonus

One-Time Payment For Service Members Called To Active Duty
Only 12,000 of 28,000 candidates eligible for a special veterans bonus have applied for the money, prompting Treasurer Timothy Cahill to issue a reminder to service members and their families.
The "Welcome Home" bonus provides a one-time payment to military service members in Massachusetts who have been called to active duty since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Those who served in Afghanistan or Iraq are eligible for $1,000, while those who served domestically or in other foreign countries for six months or more are eligible for $500.
The bonuses were part of a package signed into law Nov. 11, 2005, Veterans Day, to benefit veterans and their families.
Service members or their families must submit an application and other paperwork to Cahill's office

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

To A Lax Methodist

LOL, reminds me of my favorite poem, "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" by Marlowe. But anyway, LM is insistent that he can only get to Level 2 of Dante's Inferno Test. But I say he can get much further.

What could be more evil than causing me to lose sleep? Normally, I sleep like the dead. But the other night, I woke and couldn't go back to sleep because of certain things the LM told me. This has caused me to take a long, hard, serious look at my over-leveraged life. It wasn't fun.

I haven't balanced my checkbook in forever.........

Thanks, LM! You're a real pal!

July 24, 1944...........

Following 43 days of naval gunfire and air bombardment, Naval Task Force lands Marines on Tinian. 300 U.S. dead, 6,000 Japanese killed. We gained 6 runways, 10 lanes wide, and 2 miles long. They were built for the B-29s that would bomb Japan and deliver the A-bomb.



There's a place in Southie called Tinian Beach. I always thought it was some memorial or something. But when I Google it....nothing. I wonder if it's like the insider nicknames places have in Charlestown. You won't find Dewey Beach or Montego Bay on a map. One day I tried to give directions to someone using the words "Oilies" and "Neck". So......do you suppose there is someone who comes by this blog who would know the answer? Perhaps someone who would read this post and think "Hey, the CNO at the time was Admiral Ernest King and I've read his biography!". I think that person might know my Tinian Beach answer. If he stops by, LOL


**********UPDATE********

SB and my Dad both explained to me that it was Tenean Beach and not Tinian. My Dad said it was in Southie, SB said it was in Dorchester. SB was right, but Tommy, you don't get points for proving my Dad wrong. Fortunately, he gained a ton of them the other day, but I'll post about that later. But the best reply was SJS who not only correctd spelled and located the beach, he sent a pic.


Sunday, July 22, 2007

Sins/Virtues

Ok, this came up in the Gaslighting comments and a few emails. You've all heard of the Seven Deadly Sins............there's even a movie. But there are Seven Virtues as well, to help you balance out your spirituality. The nuns always held out some hope.

The Seven Deadly Sins
Pride is excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity.
Envy is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation.
Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires.
Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body.
Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath.
Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness.
Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work.

The Seven Holy Virtues:
Chastity (Latin, castitas) (purity, opposes lust, Latin luxuria) —Courage and boldness. Embracing of moral wholesomeness and achieving purity of thought through education and betterment.
Abstinence (Latin, frenum) (self-control, opposes gluttony, Latin gula) —Constant mindfulness of others and one's surroundings; practicing self-control, abstention, and moderation.
Liberality (Latin, liberalitas) (will, generosity, opposes greed, Latin avaritia) —Generosity. Willingness to give. A nobility of thought or actions.
Diligence (Latin, industria) (ethics, opposes sloth, Latin acedia) —A zealous and careful nature in one's actions and work. Decisive work ethic. Budgeting one's time; monitoring one's own activities to guard against laziness.
Patience (Latin, patientia) (peace, opposes wrath, Latin ira) —Forbearance and endurance through moderation. Resolving conflicts peacefully, as opposed to resorting to violence. The ability to forgive; to show mercy to sinners.
Kindness (Latin, humanitas) (satisfaction, opposes envy, Latin invidia) —Charity, compassion, friendship, and sympathy without prejudice and for its own sake.
Humility (Latin, humilitas) (modesty, opposes pride, Latin superbia) —Modest behavior, selflessness, and the giving of respect. Giving credit where credit is due; not unfairly glorifying one's own self.

How do I do? Well Sloth is a big problem and so is Gluttony, and, well.....Anger, and ummm, well, Lust, lust would be a huge problem, lol. There is only one person on earth I am Envious of.
As far as balancing..............once in a while I have Patience and even more rarely, Kindness..............so I'm screwed.............which is fine 'cause then we're back to lust. I explained all this before when I wrote about the Dante's Inferno Test.....................I was banished to the 8th Ring, The Malebolge (male what? Oh I'm in trouble again).

Certain lax Methodists should take the Dante's Inferno Test (and be completely honest).

Preparedness Day Bombing

On this day in 1916, a bomb hidden in a suitcase exploded during a Preparedness Day parade on San Francisco's Market Street, killing 10 people and wounding 40. The parade was in support of the United States' entrance into World War I.

Interesting..........

Friday, July 20, 2007

No CNO Announcement Yet

Bummer! I thought it would be today. I don't know why, I just did. I am assuming that someone who has Secret Squirrel access will let me know before the common people read about it on Google.

The round-up of all CNO discussion is two posts below this one.
No link.
Scroll down.
Don't be lazy!

**07/26/07********CNO UPDATE HERE************

Just Cause I think It's Funny

***Yes, yes, I know it's made the rounds and many of you have seen it before, but this MY place and I felt like posting it. Thanks Sherri (DomestikDiva, who should blog but doesn't) for sending it to me****
Alert Levels
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved."
Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross."
Londoners have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out.
Terrorists themselves have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance."
The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was during the great fire of 1666.

Also, the French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Surrender" and "Collaborate." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country's military capability.
It's not only the English and French that are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans also increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbour" and "Lose."

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Welcome SailorBob Readers

*****CNO UPDATE HERE*****
Of all Navy men.........black shoes are my faaaav'rit, lol.

CNO related posts.

Navy Leads the Way - Just for the record I called Roughead right out of the box, 8 JUN.

The CNO Pool - Go vote!!!!

Questions About the CNO Selection Process

White Smoke Soon?

Skip everything else here.......it's nonsense.

Thoughts from CDR Salamander............and BullNav at OpFor.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

I Am My Father's Favorite Daughter.....

......today, lol.
Sunday at dinner my father announced that he had heard about a problem for the source of water used by the Jack Daniels distillery. Without the water at Cave Spring, Jack Daniels would not be Jack Daniel's. So all future presents for all occasions were to be Jack Daniel's....period. I jokingly asked if he would be turning my old bedroom into a "Jack Daniels cellar"......I got the eyebrow. I stopped making jokes.
So I started poking around on the Internet for the scoop. There was nothing in anyone's "news" catagory.... Yahoo..... Google..... MSN. Hmmmm, curious. Then I checked some blogs and found this one, Dowd's Spirits Notebook. He had a post about it in June. I commented and asked if he had any updates. Mr. Dowd was nice enough to email me and direct me to a new post today.
I went to the cottage, my parents and Grace and the girls are down.......I had Tazo tea for Jen.....black licorice for Grace......Canada Mints for my Mum.........and Mr. Dowd's post for my Dad. I read it aloud. He said "Very good." I asked if I was the favorite daughter. He said "Tonight."
Jen & Grace laughed...............but a "V" is a "V".

My Bad Boyfriend Is Back.....

......and I am weakening. I heard him on the radio...........it's over at Salamander's place......they're writing about it in the Globe......it's over at the Swamp. Damnit! It's all flooding back. I was a McCain girl for so long. I know it's wrong. But I am remembering the good times, like when he railed against naming the ISG as CINC. Why? Why? I know he will just break my heart again.

White Smoke Soon?

***BUMPED AND UPDATED - New posts below********
From Navy Times.....

New CNO pick could come any time, sources say

The Navy’s search for a new chief of naval operations is underway, with an announcement of a nominee expected to come as early as this week, sources tell Navy Times.

You better get down and vote. Or waffle and change your vote, like some people.

***********UPDATE***************
Here's part of an email from a secret source....(OK, secret source says I can credit him, it's Steeljaw Scribe)...........
Now here's some interesting news -- Willard was recalled to CONUS on Monday (via a late sunday night call), so of course speculation is rampant that he might be the pick over Roughhead... Starts lining up with some of the backwah I've heard of late, especially from a community-representation standpoint.
My reaction? NO NO NO!

Puppies

I don't have one. I don't want one. I am not an animal person. I don't hate them, I am just animal neutral. I don't think they are cute.

Last night I was trying to get ready for bed. Putting things away. Walking in and out of my room in the dark. Talking on the phone. I took off my glasses, kicked off my sandals, and....
Yes, that's right, stepped right into a pile of puppy poop. I couldn't actually register what was happening at first. Probably since I don't have a puppy. Then I put hand down to my foot and it dawned on my that my foot had as my grandmother used to say "dog mess" on it. Then I realized I was stuck. Balancing on one sandal. Not wanting to put the other one down. Cradling the phone on my shoulder. "What is this?" I wondered aloud. The person on the other end of the line "I don't know, I'm not there." Funny. I called out to Frankie and Tom. "Get me a towel, I'm stuck!" I had to call several times to be heard over the video game. Then came the stupid questions "What do you mean stuck?" I repeated my request until they came with a towel. Tom, the bastid, looked amused. Must be the name. Frank gave me the towel, and leaned over to smell my hand. "What is this, CSI?" Then Frankie got mad. He had apparently told a friend who was visiting not to bring the puppy in the house and this is why. He goes off to make an angry phone call.

I am left with the cleanup.

I fail to see the upside of puppies.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

911 Phone Call


I don't know how I got on this email list, but it's a newsletter called "Bore Me". He has some funny stuff and this really tickled me.

Disgusting

Just when I think that I can not possibly think less of John Edwards, he comes up with something else.

I was in bed this morning pretending that I had won the lottery and I could spend another hour listening to NPR's Morning Edition before heading off to the spa in Foxwoods, when a story came on about RFK's poverty tour. They interviewed a man who had been there when RFK was in Kentucky, Dee Davis. Mr. Davis also he met Senator Paul Wellstone when he was touring Kentucky, talking to coal miners. Wellstone and RFK were men of substance who tried to help others. You may not have always agreed with them or their methods.........but you didn't doubt their sincerity.

Edwards is recreating RFKs poverty tour. The least substantial and most venial man in politics today. I am disgusted, horrified, sickened.

What's next Mr. Edwards? Blackface and a march to Selma?

You defile RFKs memory. You are not a fraction of the man he was. His campaign actually seeks to compare him to RFK.

The campaign of presidential hopeful John Edwards has a ready answer for all the criticism about his expensive haircuts and expansive home. He believes a man can be wealthy and care about the poor, too. He points to a Democratic hero - Robert F. Kennedy.

Can you imagine? He thinks the fact the Kennedy inherited money means they are alike? Can anyone give me a single example where Kennedy indulged in the flaunting of that wealth? Not even on a fraction of the scale of Edwards? Of course not. (Disclaimer: I would spend money like a drunken sailor if I had it. But I wouldn't go around Kentucky, "feeling their pain" to get their votes)

The utter gall.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Gaslighting

This is a phrase my grandmother used to use when someone would move something and not tell you. You'd go looking for something and think you were crazy when you couldn't find it. Just when you were totally frustrated someone or another would say "Oh, I moved that ......" Your retort? "What are you gaslighting me?" As time passes and fewer and fewer people have seen the movie "Gaslight", the reference has become obscure. Today, it was exactly the word that sprang to mind.

As I posted (two down), I almost when to Battleship Cove for a book signing on the wrong day. How off was I? Oh.........a year! It is my fault for not reading the website clearly. When I emailed to ask if I could be on the list for their newsletter, I mentioned the mixup. The author, Brad Peniston emailed me. He said he was glad I hadn't gone and found no one there.

So today, I'm telling the girls in work and I bring up the website to show how I missed it. I wanted them to see that it listed dates, but no year, with future events at the top and previous ones below. But now the website shows the year. It clearly says July 15, 2006. Now the girls are laughing, "Sure, sure Maggie......."

I email Brad and ask if he is trying to make me look crazy. His answer? "Heh. Sorry. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Brad". Vindication! I show the girls. Then a few minutes later "I wonder if changing a web site is the new form of gaslighting. :) Brad"

Funny guy..............here's one who owes me a drink!

July 16, 1969

The American flag heralded the launch of Apollo 11, the first Lunar landing mission, on July 16, 1969. The massive Saturn V rocket lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center with astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin at 9:32 a.m. EDT. Four days later, on July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the Moon's surface while Collins orbited overhead in the Command Module. Armstrong and Aldrin gathered samples of lunar material and deployed scientific experiments that transmitted data about the lunar environment.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

No Higher Honor

******UPDATE #2******Well this great! The book signing at Battleship Cove was last July 15th!!!!!!!!!! Of course it was. thank goodness I called with that question.
*****UPDATE***** Too Funny! Story of my life! I called to ask if Battleship Cove was selling copies of the book. It's important that you buy the book from shops that sponsor lectures rather than show up with your bargain book from Amazon. That way there are more lectures, lol. But I want to be sure because I don't want to have nothing for the author to sign if they aren't selling them. So a very nice young lady answers the phone..............and knows nothing about the event! She's making phone calls and I have to check back in.............I'll keep you posted!
Tonight is a book signing for "No Higher Honor" at Battleship Cove. I am looking forward to this.........but I have to be honest, where am I going to fit another book!
by Bradley Peniston
Like its World War II namesake of Leyte Gulf fame, USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) was a small combatant built for escort duty. But its skipper imbued his brand-new crew with a fighting spirit to match their forebears, and in 1988 when the guided missile frigate was thrust into the Persian Gulf at the height of the Iran-Iraq War, there was no better ship for the job. Forbidden to fire unless fired upon, Captain Paul Rinn and his crew sailed amid the chaos in the Gulf for two months, relying on wit and nerve to face down fighter jets and warships bent on the destruction of civilian vessels. Their sternest test came when an Iranian mine ripped open the ship’s engine room, ignited fires on four decks, and plunged the ship into darkness. The crew’s bravery and cool competence was credited with keeping the ship afloat, and its actions have become part of Navy lore and a staple of naval leadership courses ever since.
This is the first book to record the Roberts’ extraordinary tale. After years of research and interviews with crewmembers, journalist Bradley Peniston chronicles the crew’s heroic efforts to save the ship as they fought flames and flooding well into the night. The author also describes the frigate’s origins, its operational history, and the crew’s training. Peniston’s personal approach to the subject not only breathes life into the historical narrative but gives readers an opportunity to get to know the individuals involved and understand the U.S. retaliation to the mining and the battle that evolved, setting the stage for conflicts to come. Foreword by Adm. William J. Crowe, USN (Ret.)

Pinch Saves The Day!

Pinch of Instapinch fame rescued me from a terrible fate! I printed out the pic from this post (which I stole from Military Motivators) for my Dad. I took it to a family party yesterday and gave it to him. He read the caption and laughed. "That's the truth!" he announced. Then he asked about the ships. "What carrier group is that?"

Ummmmmmmm..............what will I do? I didn't know. SB is unavailable.

So after I leave the party we head over to my sister's and I jump on her computer. I send out an email to my online gang: SOS!

Before I made it home, the answer was waiting for me in my inbox! Thanks Pinch, I owe ya! I won't forget. Now tomorrow (ummlater today) when I see my Dad, I can look smart.

So, thanks again, I'm off to bed...........what? You want to know the answer too? Oh. OK.

An Air Force B-2 bomber along with other aircrafts from the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps fly over the Kitty Hawk, Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike groups during the photo portion of Exercise Valiant Shield 2006 over the Philippine Sea, June 18, 2006. Valiant Shield focuses on integrated joint training among US military forces, enabling real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces and in detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, on land and cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas.

There you go.......but now you owe Pinch a drink too!

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Hi Mark

Several weeks ago I went to my nephew's graduation party.....fun time. Gracie throws a good party. We don't see my father's relatives as often as we see my mother's and there are far fewer of them. But this party was the begininning of a good run! My father's sister, and her family were there. The surprise guest star was my cousin Jessica in from Vegas with her fiance. As I have mentioned before, we are all going to Vegas next March for the wedding. Although the venue has changed from the Ritz to the Marriott. Anyway, we all got a sneak preview of Mark, the fiance. There was a scheduled meet-n-greet for July (which was today), but circumstances allowed for an extra trip. Good for us. So we met Mark, saw my father's side and had a good time.

Then I had Frankie's graduation and we got to see most everyone again. Mark & Jessica were back in Vegas and missed that one. Now, today was a cookout to officially meet Mark.

I think he was a little taken aback by the banter between my Dad and his sister. They are just like my sisters, my brother and I.......sniping back and forth. But it was all in good fun. Mark will soon realize that if my father (or any of us) are picking on you, we like you. If we didn't, we just wouldn't talk to you.

Teresa, my father's sister asked what he remembered about his childhood. If you hear the stories, it wasn't so hot. Not much money, my grandfather left them. But, of course, to them it was all about presents they remembered and dinner's in Chinatown when there was a little extra money. Blueberry picking and trips to lakes. My father said a very happy memory for him was when his father dug an outhouse (I must assume he means when they were away for the summer) and he played with his toy cars in the sand. Everyone looked at him startled. I chimed in, explaining that he played in the sand that his father threw to the side to make a hole, lol. Mark, for one was very relieved to get the clarification.

I printed the graphic below to show my Dad. I can't email it to him, my mother won't let the Internet in the house. It's full of psychos and perverts (like her daughter). So he reads it and laughs, then he asks about the actual ships........great, I have to find that out now. What was I thinking?

Now, I am at Grace's...........what the heck, we were in her neck of the woods anyway........so what if she has to unpack and do mounds of laundry after a two week vacation.......Jen and I will hang and watch!

OK, Here's The Deal.....

...............I should just go to Military Motivators every morning and steal their stuff! Chris just channels what I'm thinking anyway. It's always clear, to the point and on target. Chris, you must go to the next MilBlogger Conference and let me buy you many drinks.

USS Long Beach (CGN-9)


The USS Long Beach was the Navy's first nuclear powered surface combatant. It was launched from the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy shipyard on July 14, 1959. Mrs. Craig Hosmer christened the ship as it's sponsor. USS Long Beach was actually commissioned in the Charlestown Navy Yard a few months after I was born (less than a half mile from where I lived). She served in the Mediterranean initially, but then off the coast of Vietnam during the 60's and 70's. Long Beach "struck hard" in battle, shooting down MIGs in Vietnam and sanitizing returning US air strikes. But she also received humanitarian service medals after saving Vietnamese boat people. The ship was decommissioned May 1, 1995.

With its deep and sheltered harbor, Quincy was an ideal site for shipbuilding. Men had been building and launching boats there since the English first settled in the area in 1640. But the industry really boomed in the late nineteenth century when inventor Thomas Watson started a company to make engines for boats. For the next 100 years, life in Quincy revolved around the shipyards, which reached their peak during World War II when employment topped 32,000, including 1,200 women. Although the yard closed in 1986, Quincy's shipbuilding heritage is kept alive by the U.S. Naval and Shipbuilding Museum on the Fore River Site.

Friday, July 13, 2007

HI!!!!!

MISSED YOU!!!!

Kisses..........love, Maggie

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Questions About the CNO Selection Process

******UPDATE 07/13/07******Nice! Listen you little bastids! What's the deal with reading and not answering? I see you navy.nil visitors. Someone emailed this post to a bunch of you. I can see that. I also see you are not answering my question!!! Hello! Do you know who I am? I demand you answer!
******
There has been discussion here and in other forums about Admiral Natham being a possible candidate. Some people have questioned whether or not he actually retired when he handed over Fleet Forces to Admiral Roughead(my horse in this race).

This article in the Navy Times indicates quite clearly that he is retired.

Invoking Willie Nelson for his ride into the sunset, Adm. John “Black” Nathman departed command of Fleet Forces and the Navy, handing the reins to Adm. Gary Roughead in a ceremony Thursday morning aboard the aircraft carrier Enterprise

So the question now is........does that rule him out as a candidate for CNO?

07/12/07 @ 1000****UPDATE****** LOL! Well this is really clear! So far I've gotten two answers.
Anthony, in the comments said yes, there is precedent. In answer to my question "Does this rule him out as a candidate for CNO?", Anthony says "Not necessarily, note that Rumsfeld recalled GEN Peter Schoomaker from retirement to replace GEN Eric Shinseki as Army CoS. It's really about what Gates, Mullen, and SECNAV Winter want from a CNO."

Last night, on the phone I asked The Ogre!!! (a recently retired Navy captain who is now active in shipbuilding) and his answer to the question "What are the chances of Nathman being brought out of retirement?" was a simple, definitve "Zero."

Well, I'm glad that got cleared up! Anybody else wanna take a shot?

Happy Birthday

Today is an important day. It is the birthday of the Princess' Grand Vizier........... So raise a glass and salute my friend, Sgt. B of the GunlineHappy Birthday, baby!Guess what's inside? I'm waiting for you here.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Focus

****07/11/07 ConcreteBob and I were discussing politics this morning and he says "Your boy is doing a good job". I said "I beg your pardon?" Bob has met my older son, but I have no idea what he's talking about. "Your boy. Your boy, Lynch." LOL!!! He is talking about Major General Rick Lynch. Hilarious.

So Chuck over at America's North Shore Journal (always a good read), has been tracking an important trend in our military.

Beauty Queens.

Yes, that's right. Beauty Queens. He's up to three.

I emailed and being a smartass said, "LOL Chuck, I am starting to wonder about you. All these beauty queens, hmmmmmmmmm. Where is your mind focused!"

His answer? "Not on General Lynch, I can tell you."

I almost fell off of my chair, shrieking in laughter. I sputtered back something about his being a brat, but.......................that was a direct hit!!!!

Oh well, might as well.................post some Rick Lynch stuff!

Analysis: Lynch's case for surge -- Part 1
By PAMELA HESS
UPI Pentagon Correspondent
WASHINGTON, July 9 (UPI) -- A top U.S. general in Iraq predicted disaster Friday if surge forces are brought home too quickly.
"It would be a mess," said Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, which is conducting operations just south of Baghdad in known insurgent sanctuaries.
"Those surge forces are giving us the capability we have now to take the fight to the enemy, and the enemy only responds to force, and we now have that force," he said. "If those surge forces go away, that capability goes away, and the Iraqi security forces aren't ready yet to do that.
"If you did that ... you'd find the enemy regaining ground, re-establishing a sanctuary, building more (improvised explosive devices), carrying those IEDs in Baghdad, and the violence would escalate."

Analysis: Lynch's case for surge -- Part 2
By PAMELA HESS
UPI Senior News Analyst
WASHINGTON, July 10 (UPI) -- A senior U.S. general in Iraq has warned that Iraqi security forces will not be capable of operating independently for the foreseeable future.
Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, who commands the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division conducting operations south of Baghdad, Friday laid out the problem in leaving Iraq clearly for Pentagon reporters. And he acknowledged that U.S, ground forces operating in that country have never had the sufficient number of troops on the ground that they needed to fulfill all their security commitments there.
"What you've heard before from all of the commanders here in Iraq is we never have enough forces, and we could use even more forces. It doesn't have to be coalition forces, but for sure Iraqi security forces to reach out," he said.

This is the guy to be listening to, not Harry Reid.

Uncle Jimbo 'Splains It All - The Surge Against The Surge

How much do we love Uncle Jimbo? He is the king of cutting to the chase. He says what I think. How does he do that?

Go over to Blackfive and read his post and watch the vid.

Jimbo, I'm right with you, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. I was a total Rumsfeld supporter. I see what went wrong, I know I publicly backed him past when I should have been speaking out. I was wrong.........but I agree we can't let it interfere with future success.

"It does not take a majority to prevail...but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." —Samuel Adams

Monday, July 09, 2007

Profile Pic

For the longest time I didn't have one. I noticed a lot of bloggers used something from behind. Anthony has the sweetest pic of himself at the beach with his daughter. So I put up a pic taken at the MilBlog Conference. It shows the back of my head. So yesterday morning at breakfast, my son said I should change it. He said it reminds him of cousin Itt!!!! So I changed it.

Howie Carr News

Hat tip to Hub Politics.

Howie Carr jumps to rival WTKK

In a bombshell development, WRKO-AM radio host Howie Carr is jumping ship to rival station WTKK-FM, where he’ll take over the prized morning-drive slot.

Tonight, WRKO said not so fast.
The AM station announced they expect to keep Carr in his seat "for many years to come."
Carr, whose contract with WRKO-AM (680) expires in September, is set to host WTKK’s morning drive show solo and replaces shamed syndicated talk jock Don Imus, who lost his national show after the “nappy-headed hos” scandal.
Carr inked a five-year deal with WTKK (96.9), according to his lawyer, Bret Cohen of the law firm Mintz Levin. Carr could not be reached for comment and is vacationing in Florida.
This evening WRKO announced they are not backing down.
"Howie Carr is under contract to Entercom. He is a tremendous asset to
WRKO and Entercom has every intention of retaining his services for many
years to come. Any report suggesting a change is incredibly premature," said WRKO spokesman George Regan.
Carr’s move to Greater Media’s WTKK pits him against disgraced, ex-House Speaker Tom Finneran, Carr’s longtime nemesis. Finneran’s morning-drive show on the Entercom-owned WRKO has bombed since he got behind the mike earlier this year. WRKO was banking on the former speaker to boost the station’s dismal morning ratings.
Carr hopes to debut on WTKK Oct. 1, his lawyer said. His show will run from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and will be a similar format to what he’s done in the past, said Cohen, who would not divulge Carr’s new salary.
“Money was not the driver here. He’s leaving to pursue what he generally believes is a better opportunity for him. Among other things, the opportunity to be on FM,” Cohen said.
With his move to FM, Carr escapes WRKO-AM’s weaker signal. Carr informed WRKO of his decision to leave today.
A Boston Herald columnist, Carr is WRKO’s marquee talent and is its highest-rated radio host by far. He has been with the AM station for 20 years and has had his afternoon-drive show since 1994.
After Imus was canned in April, former Boston Globe columnist Mike Barnicle replaced him on WTKK but failed to strike a morning show deal with the station.
Carr’s plans to continue to host his afternoon-drive show on WRKO until his contract ends September 19, his lawyer said
.

I love Howie! I will follow him wherever, no problem. He's on vacation and today the fill-in was Col. Hunt, who I love (not as much as Jen), but Col. Hunt can't carry the whole time. I am happy about this change because 'RKO's Red Sox pre-game stuff was always cutting into Howie time. But 0530? I'll be missing lots of beginnings!

Saturday, July 07, 2007

Saturday Geek Check

So the Tall Ships were down in Newport last weekend and one of the local radio stations, WADK had some great coverage. They had one of the stations regular guys, Bobb Angell with a Coastie doing commentary from Fort Adams and they had a Brit and a Navy guy doing color from the Officer's Club at the Naval Station. There was lots of interesting commentary. For instance, the Coastie noted that the Friendship is the only mobile national park in the national park system. A little later when Bobb & the Coastie, Eric Shaw hand off to the two down at the Officer's Club, the Brit tosses in this casual remark.........

"The Friendship's predecessor was taken as a prize of war by the Royal Navy on return voyage from Russia back in 1812. You guys didn't mention that. I wonder why? Anyway...." and he launches into talk about various other ships. But the other guy doing color with him is Navy. The Navy guy says "You did have to bring up the prize issue, didn't you? Well.....how did that work out for you in the long run, though?"

I burst out laughing. What can I say? Go Navy!
I tell the girls in work....blank look.......
I tell Jennifer, she laughs.......
I tell my sons, Tommy laughs immediately, Frank hesitates and says "Is that funny because.....?", I say yes, then he laughs.

Speaking of geek checks, 20 years ago today Ollie North began testifying before Congress on the Iran-Contra matter.....I watched every minute. I loved Brendan Sullivan “What am I, a potted plant? I'm here as a lawyer. That's my job.”

Friday, July 06, 2007

The CNO Pool

10/01/07******WE HAVE A WINNAH!*******
07/26/07*******CNO UPDATE HERE******SecDef Gates Recomends Roughead***
07/11/07*****Well this is getting to be the biggest post ever....lol! Some comments here and elsewhere have questioned Admiral Nathman's candidacy and status. I found this and it definitely says *retired*. But then, others would know better than me if *retired* rules you out as CNO. Would they bring him back? Is there precedent?

07/08/07****Welcome CDR Salamandar visitors.....there are a lot of you, but you are not voting, humph! I told Jen about this avalanche. She asked who the Phibian was voting for. I told her anyone but Ulrich. She asked who SB was voting for, I said right now (since he waffles, you never know), Ulrich. Jen made a face and said "nevermind his link, who needs him, he's out. Salamandar-whatevermander." Yikes! Is she a loyal SBer or what? You can't even have a different opinion!"

07/06/07 Bumped and Updated ***** NEW STUFF BELOW *****

News on Stufflebeam
Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced today that the President has made the following nominations:
Navy Rear Adm. (Selectee) Adam M. Robinson Jr. has been nominated for appointment to the grade of vice admiral and assignment as chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and Surgeon General, Washington, D.C. Robinson is currently serving as commander, Navy Medicine Capital Area/commander, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md.
Navy Vice Adm. John D. Stufflebeem has been nominated for reappointment to the grade of vice admiral and assignment as director, Navy Staff, N09B, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Stufflebeem is currently serving as commander, Sixth Fleet/commander, Striking and Support Forces NATO/commander, Joint Headquarters Lisbon, Portugal
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Princess Crabby & The Ogre!!!! - Admiral Roughead (can someone send me a pronunciation? Ruffhead? Rowhead? Rawhead?) Question answered. SJS informs me that it is *ruffhead*. Remember, for the record I had Roughead on Friday, June 8th.

SB - Admiral Keating ******* 06/12/07 - The waffling has begun!! SB is now saying that it has been brought to his attention that Keating is a 3 Star (can't keep track of your own Flags, sir?) and now he favors Admiral Henry G. "Harry" Ulrich, III.

Citizen Deux - Admiral Giambistani

Skippy-San - Wants Vice Admiral John Stufflebeem, likes Keating, but bottom line - anybody but Willard (not an uncommon refrain).

Steeljaw Scribe - Thinks it will be Roughead, would like Keating and gives us a dark horse for those who are looking to hit big.........Admiral James Stavridis

BullNav - "Maggie - sorry, off the computer for a couple of days... Anyway, I think I would like to see ADM Keating as CNO, but I don't think that will happen (see SJS' comment above). ADM Roughead is a well-known name, but I can't help but wonder if Nathman has a chance..." (Bull, is of course, responding to my badgering. He was forgiven, sailors are my weakness.)

Anthony (The Army guy who thinks he will have to come in and mop up when Navy fails to save the world.......hold your breath, baby!) - Takes Roughead.

Bobby, my favorite IS1, has "no clue" in his words..........ummmm.......you might have to drop the "I", hunnybunny.

SmadaNek - Agrees, grudgingly, that it will be Roughead.

06/21/07 - There is guy in the comments who is being non-compliant with the wishes of the Princess. I discussed this with SB (at the crack of fucking dawn!!) while he was shaving. I told him of the commenter and my answers. "Yeah, yeah," he says "It's only important to win, right Maggie? Nevermind things like qualifications." Bastid! He knows down right well that I read up on Roughead before I picked him! Who is SB to even insinuate that I would not be looking to pick the best CNO? Especially before I allow my tiny atrophied heart to be tucked away in a seabag and carted of to the Persian Gulf! HUMPH! Oh, and by the way, you misspelled Roughead in the comments.........smartass!