On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, of November 1918. The Great War came to an end. A defeated Germany signed the Armistice. Ending the war to end all wars.

Never again would the whole world fight in a life or death war such as that. No way to top The Great War. One year later, President Woodrow Wilson commemorated that date as Armistice
Day. The world was tired of fighting. World Peace was here.

Armistice Day soon became Veterans Day- to honor those who had died in The Great War. Later on, it became a day to honor anyone who had served in the Military, and Memorial Day was established to honor and reflect on the Hero's who didn't come home.

Why all the changes?

With 20/20 hindsight it's easy enough to see. 
             
             1.Some guy got shot.
             2.They wanted to fight our friends and us.
             3.They wanted to control our friends and us.
             4. We beat them into a bloody pile of mush 
                 and rubble.
             5. They do not surrender. 
             6. They sign a Armistice agreement.
             7. We accept, and walk away from the whole 
                 mess. They started it- let them pick up the
                 piece's.   
             8. Hitler
             9. Japan
             10. The Great War now becomes WW1
             11. WW2 
             12. The United States again beats down it's enemies
                  to a bloody pile of mush and rubble.
             13. We stay and rebuild this time though.
            

How did that work out? Well, Germany is now a strutting peacock on the world stage. Secure in their belief's, with nary a hint of military aggression. Though they despise us with envy, they love us for being their bodyguard. Our Military might directly protects them to this day. There are American "boots on the ground" in Germany decades later. By any modern day liberal definition- a quagmire. By history's standards- an amazing, awesome, almost unparalleled example of the fruits of complete victory.

Why "almost unparalleled"? Because of that other complete victory we had. Japan attacked us, and we attacked Germany and....

What? Speak up without so much screeching so that I can understand you. OK, got ya.

Sorry folks, but a moonbat is also reading and wants to know why in Mother Gaia's Green World we would attack Germany after Japan attacked us. So I have to revert to the list to keep things simple:

              1. Japan wanted to defeat us. 
              2. Germany wanted to defeat us.
              3. Russia (soon to be known as the Soviet Union)
                  wanted us to save them- so that they too could 
                  defeat us.  
      
Sounds like we were not winning alot of hearts and minds back in those days, despite having a Democratic President. Fortunately for us, President Roosevelt was not a member of the "New World Order of Moonbats".

A tribe of people who would have never been allowed to form up and grow into the self-defeating mass they are today.... without the blood and toll of our Veterans. And the won't blink first, and will punch back hard leadership we had.

We are still in the first stages of World War 4. We would not be at this point without the "New World Order of Moonbats". Thanks to their give peace a chance feelings and support around the world- we can not beat our enemies into submission, nor hurt their feelings. We can't even insult people who have dreams of our destruction. Sweet dreams of our destruction. 

Will we live as a nation? I'm placing my money on "yes", because The United States of America produces the finest fighting forces decade in and decade out. Our brave Military personnel are fighting today with one arm tied behind their back, blindfolded, and not allowed to kick. Yet they still manage to kill an amazingly large amount of savages that want to kill you.

Bottom line:

              1. IslamicFascist want to kill us all.
              2. What else need's to be said?
   
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So with that in mind, please say a prayer tonight for our troops that are serving now.

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Since November 11th falls on a Saturday. Veterans Day will be observed today. Friday November 10th. So now that I've ranted an raved enough to get me through at least two days, this blog is now devoted to "Veterans" until Sunday.

I will be giving the stories, both long and short, of Veterans that I know; or have known, or wish I could know. If you have someone you would like to be honored here- send me an email (lifeasiknowit@msn.com), or mention them in the comments. They will get their own post.

Thank you to all Veterans. If you served in war or peace, You served. Again, I thank you.

I mentioned in an earlier post- "The Final Frontier. A Ranger Tales Post".- that I've had many jobs, but that my most favorite one was actually an assignment. That job has now been bumped down to #2. I'm the Keeper of the Flag now.

Since I'm mentioning other post, "Rest in Peace Gunney" tells of the way too early death of my neighbor. The Gunney. I also mentioned his American flag and Marine flag always flying high.

Those flag's have brought me much comfort. Just by seeing them in this time of War. 

I smoke, and have been banned from doing so except in the den. The worst part is I live alone and can smoke anywhere I please! I blame the BushFascist state for my self control and lack of wanting to smoke inside the main part of my house. Now that the Democrats have taken control, I will be able.........

Sorry, I almost went off on a rant. Back to the point:

When I do go to smoke, I can see Gunney's flags through the patio doors. Always flying high. I did notice this morning, after a recent rain and wind period, that the ropes had loosened. The flags were tangling around the pole and each other.

As I've mentioned earlier, due to my just moving here in January- and his time on the road, I didn't know everything about him. But I knew him. I knew what he and his family stood for, and what kind of people they were.

Because of my view and work schedule, I was the first to notice the flag's situation. I mentioned it to Mrs. Gunney when she was in her driveway and about to head out to somewhere. 

As they say in the Navy.... All Stop!

Wherever she was going, that took a backseat to the flags. But no worries. AmeriDan to the rescue! I said I'd take care of it and would be honored to do so. I now have permission to help maintain the flags whenever I see they need adjustments or
replacement, etc.

I won't have to do it often, Gunney's family will do the real work of keeping his flags flying high and proud. I'll just jump in when Gunney's flags need me. Like this morning. 

                                  -AmeriDan  (11/09/06  1:35pm)

    

So about those earlier election predictions I made:

                                  Nevermind.

The leadership of the House of Representatives is now in the hand's of "children". At least that's the way the (presumed to be) newly elected Speaker of the House see's it. For once, I agree with her.

The good news is that the dims are so poll driven that they will hesitate to bring about their true agenda. That agenda being to be like France. How's that working out for the French?

High unemployment, violent "youths" that just happen to worship Allah, and different violent "youths" who worship the nanny/welfare state that is now failing- and don't forget that great medical care!

The bad news is that with the MSN, the nanny state works very well here. Dispite the fact that:

Hundreds died in New Orleans because they refused to leave their homes, knowing the biggest hurricane ever to hit that coast was coming. In most of even the worst cases they had places to go. Like the Super Dome. It was a storm shelter, and SAVED ten's of thousands of lives. But it wasn't a five star hotel, and the conditions went from bad to worse. The whole world worried and obsessed on those poor people. The media reported the murders and rapes and random murders that never happened. All lies.

Can we all agree that being in a storm shelter with thousands of people under hard conditions is a bad thing? Even if a Democrat was President?

The first TV picture of the Katrina aftermath that I saw was a man standing on his roof and waving his tee-shirt. The helicopter cameraman zeroed in on him. He was pointing to a house that was on fire. From his movements, you could tell that he was very disapointed the news helicopter did not swoop down and rescue him, and then race over and put out the fire down the street. That is the mindset of the nanny state. Take care of me- and them.

That sounds good on paper, but let's look at the perfect nanny state..... France. Thousand's of elderly people died during a heatwave. A HEATWAVE!!!! Who was responsible for keeping these people happy and safe and cool. The goverment. What did they do?
Nothing much. What did the average French citizen do? Even less. It's the goverments job to take care of that. BTW, where was the outrage?

The current Democratic Party offers nothing but cheap slogans that may very well bring this Country to it's knee's.

I have faith that we will survive the loss of the House, but to be honest...Kerry, Dean, Murtha and Maddam Speaker scare me. Not as much as IslamicFasict who want to kill me, but it seem's like they have the same playbook.

The United States of America will survive. But the price of having the present day Democratic Party in charge of anything will be painful, considering that we're in a life or death War. 

                              -AmeriDan  (11/08/06  1:55am)

 

As I've noted before, I am the illegitimate blogchild of the bestest BlogDaddy in the world. Preston, from Six Meat Buffet.

He will be live blogging the election results tonight, so that's where I'll be. Six Meat Buffet. See my blogroll for the link.

Tomorrow, I'll be back to comment on- not only the Republican win- but the massive meltdown from the dims. Everyone else will too, but I can't think of a better time to pile on. They have asked for it. Not only from "the country that they live in". Said Country being the United States of America.

They are also asking for it from millions of "people" who wish to kill them. Not later, but FIRST. Why would anyone vote for someone who belong's to a party that would show their back to such people?

Just to gain power and bring down President Bush? Thankfully, our Country is dominated by people who want to live. Also known as people that are stoopid. I can live with that. I'm stoopid and alive and living in the United States of America. Good deal.
                         
                     -----------------------------------

Sorry that I went off on a rant. But that's what I do sometimes. 

                      -----------------------------------

My point is- check out the BlogDaddy for all your election coverage needs.

                          -AmeriDan   (11/07/06  12:35pm)

                
                 T'was the night before elections,
                 and all through the land. 
                 All the moonbat's were howling,
                 due to victory at hand.

                 The Lawyers where ready,
                 with their motion's and clout.
                 In case of the unthinkable-
                 A slim margin, not a rout.

                 The media was giddy,
                 though they never drew blood. 
                 Their last minute surprises: 
                 Were all a big dud.

                 And I in my chair,
                 settled down with a beer.
                 To watch the moonbat's,
                 and be of good cheer.

                 Karl Rove had assured me,
                 that if truth be told.
                 The election's in the bag, 
                 thanks to DIEBOLD.

                 So have a good eve,
                 but still take note.
                 Moonbat ideals die,
                 every time that you vote.

                                      AmeriDan (11/06/06  11:11am)
                     

I've had many jobs since I turned sixteen (a "few" years ago). It's been an amazing journey with lot's of variety. I started out flipping burgers at Wendy's. Then I went on to become a Boiler Technician, and after that- I became a Boiler Operator. Now I am a Boiler Plant Operator. How's that for variety!

My most favorite job was more of an assignment. Special Assistant to Major Motion Picture Star/Director Leonard Nimoy. RangerSAtMMPSDLNDan... that was my job title for a week or so back in the eighties. For some reason, no one called me that though. They gave me the endearing nickname of "gofer" instead.

The movie Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, had several scene's from the USS Ranger. They used their Hollywood magic to turn it into the USS Enterprise- by changing the banner draped across the gang way. Or whatever that stairway leading onto the ship is called. Hey, it's been awhile, and I've lost a few brain cells since then. At any rate, they wanted the Enterprise. Make's no sense to me, seeing as how the Ranger was the finest ship afloat. I believe it had something to do with a story line from the Star Trek TV show.

Long movie story made short:

The crew of the Enterprise must go back in time to save a whale, in order to save themselves. They're also short on nuclear fuel. What to do? Why just sneak aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprize and zap some into your handheld electronic device. It's all good! Except for the fact that the United States Military doesn't show off their nuclear reactors for just anyone. Not even Hollywood.

Nuclear Reactors and Boilers do the same thing. They generate steam. So if you can't film inside of a Reactor Room.. go for the Boiler Room. They did.

I was ordered to pick one person who would assist and stand watch while they were filming. Hummm, tough question. After seconds of thought I picked the best person. Me.

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Lt. Uhura and Mr. Chekov had the job of collecting nuclear material (from the core of a reactor) aboard the Aircraft Carrier. The scene is three minutes long in the movie, but it took a week to set up. They filmed for three days after that. All for a few minutes in a two hour film.

The first person I met was my new boss, Leonard Nimoy. AKA Mr. Spock. He was there to look at the Machinery Room and get a feel for the upcoming scene. In the movie, Mr. Spock is off in another part of California looking for a whale (and learning cuss words). In the scenes from the Ranger- Mr. Nimoy was directing the movie, so I didn't get to see his Vulcan ears.

My first inpression was- he's one of the nicest guys you'd ever hope to meet. Smart, funny, hard working, and just an all around great guy. He signed alot of autographs for me. Be it for the AmeriSister or my fellow Shipmates... Just give him some paper and a name and he would sign it. I had at least three different camera's on me at all times. He would always "strike a pose". He knew I was taking pictures for myself, AmeriSister, and my fellow Crew Members. He was happy to do it.

Next up: I met Michelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura) and Walter Koenig (Mr Chekov). They were just as nice and down to earth as Leonard Nimoy. I think Michelle had the hots for me, but that's just my opinion. I report, you decide.

I had two "huh?" moments though.

I was giving them a tour that finished in the Control Room. We were looking at a large console that contained gauges. knobs, switches, etc. Mrs. Nichols said that she was sorry Scottie wasn't there to see it, and how much he would enjoy it. Huh? He's an actor. He's James Doohan, an actor- what would he care or even know about Propulsion Engineering? I just smiled and nodded agreement.

In researching for this post (yes I do some research- if only to get the correct spelling of "Uhura") I found that he was a very dedicated Actor. He would have studied his role very hard. So yes, he would have been interested. I now stand corrected. I was also reminded that he stormed Juno Beach on D Day June 6th, 1944. He was shot six times and lived to tell about it, and later become Scottie.

The second "huh?" was the Assistant Director. He had a chip on his shoulder and didn't like me at all. How you could not like AmeriDan (then known as RangerDan) is beyond me, but there it was. Whenever I was standing close to a garbage can- which were all over the place- he would walk up and look me in the eye.... and make a big production of throwing his lit cigarette in the trash can. What a guy! Make the uneducated sailor (according to jon carrey) throw some water in the can, so that you can prove to him that you da man. Somehow, he never convinced me.

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The best times where when a Captain (not the Captain of the Ship, he was the Chief Engineer) said to me... "what do you need?".
I mentioned that in the last Star Trek movie, Spock had been promoted to Captain; so why not give him the proper insignia? A Captain's Eagle for his collar. So for what surely was the first time in Naval history- a Captain in the United States Navy (a man very close to getting command of his own ship) almost flew up the ladder to go get one, all on the advice of a 3td Class Petty Officer. He was back within minutes and said....you give it to him. It was even in a small box with felt lining.

In front of several high ranking Officers, Hollywood Actors and that lowly assisant director, I told Mr. Nimoy that we were glad to have him aboard. BUT- he was out of uniform (he was wearing an Hawaiian shirt) because no one knew his rank. I then gave him the "bird". A shiny eagle. He was inpressed, and thanked me and everyone else. He then disappeared, but I saw were he went to. That was my Machinery Room and you can't hide from me in my "space". He went behind a Boiler and pinned his "bird" to his collar. He wore it the rest of his time aboard the Ranger and I bet he still has it.

I also saved the day when a fake gauge panel that was placed outside of the reactor (which in real life was the before mentioned Control Room) was deemed to not have enough gauge's. RangerDan to the rescue! I whipped out two pressure gauge's that cost about a hundred bucks apiece. Captain/Director Nimoy said that they looked good, but were showing zero pressure. No problem. I removed the face plates and pulled the pointers off and put then in a position to show pressure. That was another first, because you do not screw around with gauges or thermometers on a ship. Period. Unless there's a movie being filmed and the gauge is not connected to anything.

So if you're ever at the video store and need something to watch. I highly recommend Star Trek IV: The Journey Home. I'm not into Sci-Fi much anymore, but this movie has them on earth during the eighties. A delightful fish out of water movie. Plus they have some awesome and very believable gauge manipulation. Folk's, whoever was the Petty Officer in Charge of gauge calibration for that Machinery Room was some kind of genius/wizard.

If you watch the movie, when Uhura and Chekov use their handy dandy handheld device to transfer nuclear fuel from the reactor, the bottom two round gauges where mine. Or at least my responsibility since I was the Petty Officer in Charge of gauge calibration. I forget who, but someone once described me as a genius/wizard at it.

Also in that scene, notice the door to the left of the panel and the window above it. They used lights to make an orange glow in the window, so there's some serious nuclear reaction going on in there obviously. There's also a door that you can walk right on into the core of the reactor!

Do Lt. Uhura and Mr. Chekov get caught and then escape against impossible odds? Does Captain Kirk meet up with a good looking Lady? Does the Crew of the Enterprise complete their life or death mission sucessfully? 

I'll not spoil the ending in case you haven't seen it yet. Just know that in the scene from the "Reactor Room".
Good ole Ameri/RangerDan is right off to the side of the camera. With my boss Leonard Nimoy, and my cup of water to put out any trash fires.
 
Also, the Marine's that may or may not capture Uhura and Chekov where real Marine's.

NOTE: I never got my gauge's back. I wonder what the bean counter's thought when they saw my inventory that year. 

Lost or damaged equipment: Two high pressure gauges
  
Reason: Star Trek  

                                         -AmeriDan  (11/05/06   10:40)

A thought struck me yesterday that if our Military is the tip of the spear in the War on Terror- Rightwing bloggers are the razor sharp edge. Don't know if I read that analogy years ago and forgot it until now. Or an actual original thought stumbled out of my grey matter. There's a first time for everything.

What brought on this profound wisdom? Well I was reading my latest email from Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs fame, and he.... What? Why are you laughing? And don't even think about asking me to pay for a new keyboard, to replace the one you've just spewed your mouthful of cheap liqour over during your little laughfest. He really did write.

It was to thank me for a donation I made to the site. That's right, twenty bucks will get you an email from the Man himself. He also took the time to thank me for the "kind words" I had emailed to him.

They were kind words but they were also the cold hard facts. I have no doubt that without Bloggers, this Country would have john kerry as President, and that our new Islamic Overlords would be pulling into our national driveway about now. Driving a large moving truck overflowing with Sharia law and ready to make themselves at home. There would be plenty of Mexican Infidels to unload the truck.

I'm talking about the big time Bloggers of course, not amateur's like myself. I spout and spew whatever comes to mind. People like Charles Johnson and Michelle Malkin and many many more are on a mission. Their mission? To save this Country from being invaded.

To keep us from being overrun by islamicfascist and our neighbors to the south. They also expose the hipocrisy and traitorous activities of our present day democratic party. A party that has laid out the welcome mat, and for some reason eagerly awaits their arrival. Sounds like a death wish to me.

In the case of islamicfascist- liberals will be the first to have their heads cut off, or be stoned to death, or gang raped "leb style". Except for appeasement, everything that the today's democratic party stands for sends islamicfascist into a murderous rage. I would pay good money to see a debate between a hard core liberal and a hardcore islamist. With Rush moderating. Right up uptil the bloodshed anyway. I'm not into deathporn, so on second thought... that's not a good ideal.

As far as our good friends to the south- liberals will again lay out the welcome mat. Come one and come all. There are no illegals, just people who will vote for dimocrats. They'll even let them stay in the strong stone fortress known as Social Security. Until the dims regain control of power and that fortress reverts back into a house of cards. No worries though. Nothing that can't be cured through taxation.

We are fighting a three front war. islam, illeagal imigrents and dimocrats. They all want their version of America to rule the day.

Defeat from either side will set off a chain reaction that only the U.S.A. could ever recover from, but at great cost to life and liberty.

Do you feel lucky? I do. Thanks to people like Charles.

Sleep well tonight. Our educated, and highly trained Military stands watch on the front lines. Rightwing blogs have our backside covered also; despite the fact that they only sit around the house in their pajamas and are never fact checked- they somehow always deliver the facts.

Fact's that would never see the light of day without them. Also, the commenters to these blogs are the editors, and researchers to the cause. You cannot be a big time blogger without exposing yourself to some of the most clever people this Country has to offer. They, both bloggers and readers, are ruthless in their attention to detail.

Note: I did not write this to smooze up to Mr. Johnson so I can make his blogroll. I'm already there. As far as a link- I know that ain't gonna happen. He has more important things to do. He's busy watching our back and that's a full time job.

                                    -AmeriDan   (11/01/06   10:45pm) 

Beside's from being such a complete and total idiot/jerk during the last election, I never expected john kerry to do something I would be thankful for. But as many have noted- he's the gift that keeps on giving.

I think we can all agree that he is a traitor for giving aid and comfort to our enimies during a war, for political gain. Normally I'd say ship him off to Gitmo, but President Bush's Fascist State is all hat and no cattle. A dismal failure. He's so intent on sending our uneducated "youths" out to kill the brown "youths"- who live in poverty and dispare brought on by the Jews- that he hasn't managed to jail even one of the dixie chicks. 

So thank you john kerry, for bringing us around full circle. It's all about the WOT but we were stalled in Foleygate. Now we're back to life and death issues. So in his own way.... john kerry really is good for this country. Thanks for your service johnny!

                                  
                        AmeriDan    (11/01/02    10:20pm)
                             
    

My neighbor AmeriMike has died from a heart attack. I didn't know him well, but I knew everything about him. When I was first looking at the house that I now live in, I noticed the neighbors flag pole.

An American flag with the flag of the United State's Marine Corps below it. That's all I needed to know about my future neighbor.

He had retired from the Military and was a long haul Trucker.
I didn't see him often but when I did; he'd let me sit in the driver's seat of his rig, or tractor, or whatever it's called while he was getting it ready for the next run. Did we talk politics? Oh yeah we did.

We'd solve all the world's problems in the span of fifteen or so minutes. Then I would leave him to his wife and sons. His name was Mike, but he once mentioned that some people still called him Gunney. As in Gunnery Sergeant. From that day forward, he was Gunney to me.

Rest in peace Gunney.

                               AmeriDan    (10/31/06   1:10am)

  

In January, 2003, I had a question for NASA and western society in general. I already knew the answer, but wanted to wait until Columbia was back on the ground before having it confirmed. After the loss it didn't seem important anymore. But nearly four years on, and with the appalling rate of submission going on in the world today... I feel it's time to ask it:

    "Why did the STS-107 mission not include at least a quick
     stop by  the 'International' Space Station?"

I mean really, it's rude to be in the neighborhood and not drop by to say hello. Also, there's that whole thing about bringing
supplies and taking out the trash; or rather bringing the trash back to earth. The aftermath of the lose of Columbia, in and of itself, proved how valuable Shuttle supply was for the ISS.

The shuttle did and does do the heavy lifting, which is always needed when you're maintaining a hugh object in space. 

If there has ever been a Shuttle mission- since the International Space Station was opened for business- that did not include a ISS stop I would love to know about it. I don't mind being proven wrong.

The official answer to the question is... well, like I said, it's never been asked as far as I know. So why answer?

If anyone can. I thank you in advance. Yes, I do know they were testing the SPACEHAB RESEACH MODULE that filled up the payload bay. I can't see NASA not letting them give a courstey call though, if for nothing else- the photo ops. As far as I see it, there is only one reason why Columbia didn't meet up with the ISS:

            Astronaut Lan Ramone- Payload Specialist 1 

Also known as Lan Ramone of the Israeli Air Force. No, I'm not blaming the Jew. I'll leave that to our Muslim friends. I blame our international "partners" in the ISS. Can you imagine the reaction from the French during the early mission planning stage. I'm sure it went something like this:

       NASA: By the way, we'll be bringing along the first Jewish
                  Astronaut, oh, and Kalpana Chawla from India.
       France: Are you out of your frigging cowboy mind!  
       NASA: But think of the publicity. First Astronauts from  
                 Israel and India. In Manned Space Flight, a "first" 
                 always grabs the worlds attention.
       France: Yes it does, but think of Europe being burned to
                 to the ground! We've finally come to a place where
                 youths are merely a nuisance. Like prostitution. It fact,
                 last week only 75 cars were set on fire. Way below
                 the average. We find that appeasement works quite
                 well, you should try it.
         NASA: OK, why not. We've done the heavy lifting and paid
                  for almost everything, but we do need to keep
                  everybody happy.   
         France: See how easy that was? By the way, I really like that
                  John Kerry. Between you and he and me... I endorse
                  him to be your next President. Viva la France!  

Being a Bush voter- my pfrench is a little rusty, but you get the ideal. My next question is:

    "How will we ever get back to the Moon and then to Mars,
      if we have to pass the global test?"

If that's the case, we won't. President George W. Bush has committed us to that goal and NASA can and will do it. But will we? Only if we peel the leaches off. We made it to the moon in '69 by taking the best of the world with us. If we have to worry about offending a culture that not only promotes a return to the stone age, but will also use our own technology against us to achieve that goal. We'll never get off the ground, and on the ground is just where they want us.

The United States of America will land Astronauts on Mars one day, and bring them home. We will keep moving forward despite the best attemps of our enemies (both foreign and domestic) who want to pull us back (or come along for the free ride). But this just shows the sad, sorry state of political correctness. Astronauts, and Cosmonauts, looking down in awe upon our planet. They see a planet with no borders; and many, if not all have noted that. 

My next question is:

What about the "No Jews Allowed" sign on the front door of the ISS? Doesn't sound very one worldish to to me. Again, I could have missed a Jew being at the Space Station.... please note in comments if I'm wrong. I would be relieved to know that I'm wrong.
_______________________________________________________________________

This post has taken several days to complete, and now- right on cue:

NASA annouce's a Shuttle mission in '08 to prolong the life of the Hubble Telescope, with nary a mention of an ISS stop. That Karl Rove is truly an EVIL MASTERMIND. His illegal surveillance of my draft folder, and manipulation of launch schedules brings to mind the silencing of the Dixie Chicks' dissent. Whatever happened to them anyway? 

I understand the different orbits for different missions, but I also understand the Space Program's love of doing things that are a FIRST. Why was a Jew placed on one of the only (if not only) flight without a Space Station stop.

And yes, I already know the reason.

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The STS-107 Mission Crew where:

             Rick D. Husband                  Commander
             William C. McCool                Pilot
             Michael P. Anderson            Payload Commander
             David M. Brown                   Mission Specialist 1
             Kalpana Chawla                    Mission Specialist 2
             Lauren Blair Salton Clark      Mission Specialist 3
             Lan Ramon                           Payload Specialist 1

             Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.


                         AmeriDan    (11/1/06    10:11 am)     

I'm 42 and plan to live alot longer, 80 years is my penciled in death date. That birthday party will be so kicking that there's no way I'll survive it.
There's no way I'll ever see a major troop withdraw from Iraq either. Note I use the term "major". There will be troop withdraws, but only by handfuls. Large troop transport ships need not apply.

The perception by a surprising amount of people who should know better, seems to be that one day we will toss the keys to the Iraqi people. Maybe warn them about that shimmy during hard left turns, and just walk away. The only debate is when to pencil in the date,
which we can no more do then I can schedule the date of my death.

We will maintain a large force in Iraq for at least two more generations. The real question is will it be by pressure or friendly agreement? There is simply no way we can let Iraq have a big enough military to repulse an invasion from say... let me just pull a name out of thin air- Iran. I reached the two generation guesstimate because the Middle East is a mighty big swamp that will take a long time to drain.

The disease of IslamicFascism will not be cured until we kill the host, plus the host children. Whom they have already infected with hatred and dreams of our death. One day, and not anytime soon, the non-peaceful part of the Religion of Peace will be reduced to impotence. I fear anyone reading this will have long before past on, by mean's of old age, accidents, and yes terrorist attacks. If the War on Terror were a boxing match, we would be in the first round of a fifteen round heavyweight championship match.

There is a long hard road ahead, and I'd like to give a personal example of what we face. In the year 2001, I lived in downtown Memphis. Right outside the lobby of my building was a convenience store run by people from the Middle East. You could not ask for a more friendly, courteous, efficient staff. Their english was far better then mine. I had no ideal where they came from or who they worshipped and could have cared less. They earned me as a customer the old fashioned way. Great service.

A few weeks after September 11, 2001; I was there buying beer, er.. I mean soda pop and a baglady/bum/etc. was checking out. The owner was behind the register. This "person" was telling the owner how he shouldn't be in her country after what his people did, and that this was her country. She also said he needed to leave. This women was middle aged and had no outward signs of a disability, yet it was clear that she was a street person... by choice or addiction. When I walked up she looked at me and said something like  "tell him ain't I right".

I ripped into her real good. Asked her how she can suck off the public teat and talk down to a man that provides services and pays taxes. After I gave her a five minute sermon on civic responsibility she replied with "you're not a real American". Ya gotta love those classic liberal comebacks. I climbed down to her level and said "Oh yeah, well you ain't neither!".

The owner then shook my hand and said thank you, and that he needed to hear someone say that. She hadn't been the first to verbally attack him.

When the first bombs started dropping on Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom, I was in the store again. A TV was on and he (the owner) was furious. He thought he was speaking to the choir, so to speak. He did a long rant about how Saddan was bad, but it was even worse that we should try and take him out. He did not deserve that, the U.S. has no right to do that, etc. I just kept saying that I support President Bush and the overthrow of Saddam. I was a broken record all through his rant. I support President Bush and the overthrow of Saddam. Repeat.

Then he pulled out the soon to be named "moral authority" card. You see, he had every right to protest the ouster of Saddam because he was from:

                                                Kuwait

I picked up my purchases from the counter, and my jaw off of the floor, and walked out.

This is the mindset that we are dealing with.                                                 

It's like debating with a baglady, or John Kerry. Logic doesn't count anymore, and come to think of it; when has it ever when it comes to our enemies- both foreign and domestic?

                                         -AmeriDan   (10/29/06    11:42am)
 

This is a recurring theme post that I'll submit when I have nothing else to talk about. This first one, I'm afraid, is a sad one. It is a story that must be told before any others though:

Life on an Aircraft Carrier at sea is all work and no play. Stand watch/work, eat, shower, sleep. Repeat cycle once more during that day. Carriers stay at sea for long periods of time; because they are so expensive yet vital that you can't ever have enough Carriers. Even when there's no hot war going on, there's always a cold war. A need for a show of force, and when a Carrier Battle Group show's up off of your coast- it's seriously time to rethink whatever you did that made them come there.

I worked in the pit, or the hole, but it's official name was #2 Main Machinery Room. It held two massive Boilers and all it's auxiliary equipment plus an electical generator. Not to mention #2 Main engine, a huge steam turbine that turned the shaft that turned the screw (propeller). Propellers that are two stories tall. It was a big but crowded place. When in operation there were no less then twelve people on duty, and at sea we were alway's in operation.

One day, most members of our watch team were still up in our berthing compartment (coop). We should have been asleep but we were young back then. We had music going and couldn't hear the ship's intercom system. Another member who had been asleep came by and said he heard the annoucment that there was a "major fuel oil leak in 4 Main". Another main machinery room just like our's. The music stopped, and four tired and yet still goofing off young men had the same thought.... I hope he dreamed that. Fuel oil leaks equal fire, and major fuel oil leaks equal major fire. I even had a friend, that I went through bootcamp with, working there. So my second thought was "Where's Paul?".

"GENERAL QUARTERS... GENERAL QUARTERS... ALL HANDS MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS!!!!".

Uh oh, that's not good. Maybe it's just a precaution, and we lose our time off hanging in our machinery room until they clean up the spill in 4 Main. It's happened before. We'll just go to our station and wait it out. Maybe even find a corner to doze in since we're not on watch. Then I'll rag on Paul first chance I get. "Hey what kinda operation are you guys running down there?"

The lights go out.... and then the worst feeling of all, was no feeling at all. The ship stopped moving. You feel the vibration of those huge screws pushing you though the water until you don't notice it anymore. Until it's gone

All stop. Dead in the water.

The Navy has a procedure for everything, and a back-up procedure to that, plus an all heck is breaking loose procedure. We made our way to the deck where we would head to our station by preplaned route.  We met thick black smoke, heat, and chaos. Time for the all heck is breaking loose procedure. We made our way to the hangerbay. It's packed with planes, and now people. It's a controlled chaos here, because training is kicking in. There where many lines forming to go down and fight the fire. Long lines, because everyone wanted to. As I was waiting, I noticed that our escort ships had pulled away from us. A long way away from us..... a smart move in that they could do nothing in this instance, but it still unnerved me. They were our protectors but they couldn't stop this. Our line wasn't moving yet and I was in a daze, focusing on the rest of the battle group moving away.

It was very noisey, but I don't remember hearing anything. Until I heard "PAUL WAKE UP..CAN YOU HERE ME..WAKE UP". Not fifteen feet away from me my friend was dying a hero's death. He had sucumed to smoke inhalation while fleeing the fire. He might have made it, but he did what any hero would do. He secured his watch station and used an excape hatch to leave. The thing with escape tunnels is that you have to close and latch them behind you, or else you'll make a chimmey effect for the next person. If not, the fire will race right up and keep on spreading, if someone opens the entrance hatch while the exit hatch is open.
 
Paul R. Chappell, Jr. 

Paul was carried to the hangerbay after being found past out beside the properly closed and secured escape hatch he had just used. He secured the hatch. He gave his life so that maybe, just maybe, someone else could use that hatch. He died in the hangerbay in front of me and many more of his friends.

This post is dedicated to the memory of all who lost their lives that day.

                                 MM1 Roy T. Johnston            
                                 MM3 Larry W. Stomer
                                 BT3 Rick A. Teichert
                                 MM3 Michael W. Williams
                                 FN Gregory W. Cochran 
.                                FN Paul R. Chappel, Jr.


                                                  -AmeriDan   (10/27/06    12:20pm)

"You can say that again" is a recurring post where I rant and rave for a bit, then let a pro sum it all up in one quote. Today's pro is not a writer, he's even more. A Cop, detective from the Massachusetts State Police in fact, so please give him a big round of applause when he steps up to the keyboard.

Ted Kennedy is a KILLER. Plain and simple. No if, and's, or but's about it. I bring him up now because I mentioned him last post, and failed to label him as a murderer. Hanging the KILLER sign around Ted Kennedy's drunken neck is official policy here at "Life as I Know It". I failed to do that last post and I apologize to you, Dear Reader. I hope to make up for it in this post.

Though I was too young to remember when Robert Kennedy was assassinated, I can still feel the loss that our nation felt. A man destined to be President, shot down in his prime, and before his time. A crime that, if today's MSN were covering it, was done by a "youth". He was a Muslim, but I'll leave that for another post. Today's featured KILLER is Teddy.

Edward Kennedy was next in line. His time was coming. The little brother taking over for his two big brothers. Both shot down in cold blood. But we still had Teddy to carry on their noble ideals. I'm not saying they were always right, but I feel they believed in their convictions.

Only one thing stood in his way. A future DUI conviction, and charges of adultery. What to do? Let a woman, Mary Jo Kopechne, die or think up a..... wait a minute. Got that wrong. Mary Jo was never the problem for Teddy. In his mind, the car in the lake was the problem. How to explain how it got there? That was the problem in Teddy's mind that night. There is evidence that Mary Jo lived for several hours... underwater in the submerged car. An air pocket giving her a life preserver for a little while. Breathing her own exhaust until there was no oxygen left.

Where was Teddy? Glad you asked. He was setting a plan to blame it all on Mary Jo Kopechne! WHILE SHE WAS DYING.

Please see Y Ted K for the details. It's linked at my blogroll. 

Why did this "man" not spend at least fifteen years in prison? Why is he considered a "leader" of the Democratic party today? Ted Kennedy's best friends wouldn't back him up when he planned to blame Mary Jo for her own murder. That tell's me a lot about his friends, it also tell's me everything I need to know about Ted Kennedy...... and the Democratic Party.

Now it's time for our guest Pro:

Ladies and Gentleman, please welcome Lt. George Killen of the Massachusetts State Police.

              Senator Kennedy "killed that girl the same as if 
              he put a gun to her head and pulled the trigger"   

                        
                         AmeriDan    (10/25/06    6:30am)

I now know the presidential ticket for the 2008 election. Democrat style.

Hillary and Osama. We all know about them both. They are Democratic all-stars. The best of the best. Hillary for pres, Osama for vice pres. Of course, he likes to refer to himself as "Obama". But if calling Obama Barack- Osama is good enough for Sen. Ted Kennedy, it's good enough for me.

Since the dims have the upcoming election won (in their world anyway), they're now laying the foundation for 08. Hillary is "thinking" of making a run. Osama has let it be known that there is a "possibility" that he may run, despite earlier claims that he would not run. But now, he feels that talking in "absolutist terms", has "been a mistake". I hear ya Osama.
Don't let those pesky earlier statements get in your way.

Keep away from the yes or no answers. Nuance is a dim's best friend, never leave home without a big heaping helping of it.

So in the spirit of three of my favorite political writers (Steyn, Lilieks, and Mac Johnson), I'll bravely offer up predictions for the next thirty years or so:

November, 2006-
The Democratic Party fails to win either chamber of Congress. The moonbats take to the street to proclaim that KKKarlRoveBushHitlerDiebold rigged the election..... AGAIN!!!!! Will they revolt and take back "their" country? Of course not. They are the party of intentions, not the party of action. Besides, they know who's got the guns and it ain't them. They'll make signs and giant puppets and parade in the streets.
 
The War against Islamic Fascist will go on. It will still seem like it's a..... ah, let me get the right word here, it will seem like it's a..... WAR. Imagine that. Millions of "people" want us dead, and Americans are dying. There may be some nuance in there, but I can't find it.

November, 2007-
Hillary, Osama, Gore and Kerry; plus other assorted nuts swim in the mainstream while giving a wink to the base. Hillary and Osama will rise to
the top. The cream of the crop. According to the mainstream media, Osama (OB) is "articulate" and therefore would make a great President, but he's no match for Hillary. He has to wait his turn. He has to know his place. To use a Hillary quote to an African American audience-comparing Congress to slavery .."and you know what I'm talkin about!"

Black, white, light or dark; Hillary will roll over anybody that gets in her way. It will not be a pretty sight, but I think OB will get the VP offer early. He's the new John Edwards, an empty suit with a pretty smile. Hillary is the new John Kerry. For the war before she was against it, etc.
John Kerry once shot a man (child?) in the back. Hillary has a large walk-in closet full of dead bodies and skeletons. The right side of the internet will open that closet door, no matter how much the MSN tries to hold them back.

November 2008-
We're back to square one. The media assures us that the whole Country, and the World in general, wants Clinton/Barack '08. Somehow, 65 plus million people are duped into voting for the Republicans. How can that many people be so stoopid? Americans are still dying, dispite the fact that millions of people want to kill us. I thank God that America has more stoopid people then smart and nuanced people.

November 2009-
Millions of people still want to kill us, and our brave Military fights on.

November 2012-
Hundreds of thousands of people want us dead, down from millions a few years ago. It seems that killing people who want you dead is a good stategy.   
 
November 2032-
"AmeriGrandpa, why do the Frence want to kill us in the name of Allah?"

"Because that's what they do Sweetheart."

"But why?"

"Because they were invaded and never fought back"

"What about us?"

"We fought back.

"Why didn't we help them?"

"You can only save someone so many times, then it's sink or swim."

"Is that why they hate us?"

"Yes, plus alot of other things.... like our freedom."

"They don't like freedom?"

"Dear child, they have no ideal what freedom is."

"That's sad...... can we go get some ice cream?"

"I don't see why not, it's a free Country after all."


                                      -AmeriDan   (10/23/06    4:55am)


     

By "we" I mean Republican voters. The people that turned those election night maps the media use into a sea of wonderful red in '04. There were some blue stains on both of the coast, and a few dots in the middle. But it was clear for all to see that President Bush won the heart land. The heart and soul of America, as John Kerry would say when decribing millionaire celebrities. Of course, John Kerry and his kind have no clue as to what the heart and soul of America is.

Since then we've been redstaters and proud of it, even those who live in a blue state and voted for President Bush consider themselves a "redstater". I bring this up because I'm wearing one of my most favorite tee-shirts. Heck yeah, I'm a redstater, so I not only wear tee-shirts... I have my favorites. My top two are: the gray one that reads "American Infidel" with an American flag, and the white one that proclaims "Bush Country  My America" with that wonderful red colored map of the U.S. in between.  Tonight I'm in the Bush Country shirt. 

It made me think of something I read many years ago. An article of how the MSN had agreed that Bill Clinton was the greatest President ever, and that Hillery would be even better. They also agreed to use the colors blue and red to represent which states voted for a certain party . 

In the interest of fairness, they decided to swap colors every four years when a President was elected. We know that the MSN is all about fairness!  

I wonder if they will rotate when a Republican is elected President in 08.
Will I have to update my tee-shirt with our country painted in a sea of blue? I think they need to leave it the way it is. Nothing against the color blue, but I like being called a redstater. While you're at it, call me a redneck, or even break out the dull knife the Euros like to use..... COWBOY.

Sheeple, dumb, uninformed, out of the mainstream, a member of the unwashed masses. Whatever insults the bluestaters hurl at us, I take it as the highest compliment.

See Ya at the polls November 7, 2007.

                                      AmeriDan   (10/22/06    6:57pm)