Its snowing out right now, and it has occured to me that this will most likely be the last snow I see for a year. Snow is not exactly a common phenomenon in the part of Iraq I will be in, so now of course I am feeling nostalgic about snow. Go figure-I usually hate the stuff.
Anyhoo, I will be blogging from Iraq (nothing too sensitive-OPSEC and all). I think I'll actually start a new blog and just keep an online journal. I'll have to be careful about what I say and such, but it should be fine. More on that later.
I've got plenty of movies and video games to take with me, but more importantly, I've got some good books.
These are the books I got for Christmas:
The Things They Carried-by Tim O'Brien
Flyboys-by James Bradley
The World's Most dangerous Places-by Robert Young Pelton (5th edition)
Dr Seuss Goes to War- The World War II Editorial Cartoons of Theodore Suess Geisel-by Richard H. Minear
I'm looking forward to reading them all, and if I remain shut off from the world of news media like I have been for the past 3 months, don't be surprised if you read a book review or two.
Anyway, I'm kind of out of the loop right now on so much that I think I need some help.
You tell me what topic I should address, and I'll do a little research and post my opinion here.
Pick something interesting for crying out loud...
Picture of the Week
Really, America?...
26 December 2007
21 December 2007
Holiday23A
I'm kind of an asshole. I'm cranky with most folks that I know. I say rude things to make people go away. Sometimes I even humiliate people so they will think before they speak in my presence. Sometimes I come across like an angry little man with a mental disorder.
I'm comfortable being me, though, so it all evens out.
Anyway, around the end of November every year, the local battered women shelter asks me to be Santa Claus for their Christmas party. They ask me because I am the greatest Santa ever. (they gave me a certificate that says so)
I don't know all the stories behind these women and kids that end up at the shelter, but I know that they have all had rough lives. One kid in particular this year got my attention. He had that hollow-eyed ghost gaze that people get when they probably don't need anymore stress. He was doing his best to have a good time with his mom, and she was doing her best to be a good parent, but you could tell that they were both in new territory.
So anyway, I'm sitting on my Santa chair, doing Santa stuff, when this kid I'm talking about gets a turn to sit in my lap. I did the usual "Ho Ho Ho" thing and asked his name, and asked if he was good, and then I asked what he wanted for Christmas. He looked me dead in the eye, and with all hope and honesty he said, "I just want to have a good Christmas."
I had to struggle for almost a minute not to lose my composure.
Sometimes I lose my way, just like anyone. This blog started as something very real to me, and then for awhile it became an extension of my ego. I had become an entertainer, and my serious ideas weren't as fun as the asshole stuff.
Then this sweet little kid comes along and ruins it for me.
I'm kind of funny, and I will probably continue to be, but that stuff really isn't what this blog is about. The point here is that we need to work toward a better life-for ourselves and our children and our communities and our country and our neighbors, etc., etc.
If you're into resolutions, try this one: I am going to do my best to improve the world in some small way over the next year.
While you are going through your daily life and pissing and moaning about your daily stresses, maybe you could take the time to write a letter to Congress suggesting that they secure the border, or open more US oil wells, or put strict conditions on monetary aid to Mexico (or anywhere else).
Lots of families will spend the next year missing Daddy while he goes off to Iraq to fight the fight and represent our country. The very least that we can do in return is give a shit about the state of our nation.
I'm comfortable being me, though, so it all evens out.
Anyway, around the end of November every year, the local battered women shelter asks me to be Santa Claus for their Christmas party. They ask me because I am the greatest Santa ever. (they gave me a certificate that says so)
I don't know all the stories behind these women and kids that end up at the shelter, but I know that they have all had rough lives. One kid in particular this year got my attention. He had that hollow-eyed ghost gaze that people get when they probably don't need anymore stress. He was doing his best to have a good time with his mom, and she was doing her best to be a good parent, but you could tell that they were both in new territory.
So anyway, I'm sitting on my Santa chair, doing Santa stuff, when this kid I'm talking about gets a turn to sit in my lap. I did the usual "Ho Ho Ho" thing and asked his name, and asked if he was good, and then I asked what he wanted for Christmas. He looked me dead in the eye, and with all hope and honesty he said, "I just want to have a good Christmas."
I had to struggle for almost a minute not to lose my composure.
Sometimes I lose my way, just like anyone. This blog started as something very real to me, and then for awhile it became an extension of my ego. I had become an entertainer, and my serious ideas weren't as fun as the asshole stuff.
Then this sweet little kid comes along and ruins it for me.
I'm kind of funny, and I will probably continue to be, but that stuff really isn't what this blog is about. The point here is that we need to work toward a better life-for ourselves and our children and our communities and our country and our neighbors, etc., etc.
If you're into resolutions, try this one: I am going to do my best to improve the world in some small way over the next year.
While you are going through your daily life and pissing and moaning about your daily stresses, maybe you could take the time to write a letter to Congress suggesting that they secure the border, or open more US oil wells, or put strict conditions on monetary aid to Mexico (or anywhere else).
Lots of families will spend the next year missing Daddy while he goes off to Iraq to fight the fight and represent our country. The very least that we can do in return is give a shit about the state of our nation.
18 December 2007
New Army Divisions
So here's the plan: When I'm King, we are invading Mexico!
After 12 years in the service, I have decided that we shouldn't have any more wars outside of driving distance. We will have to modify Army policy a bit, because right now the Army says that 50 miles is normal commuting distance. We'll have to expand that. Think about it! We can invade Mexico and eventually Honduras (we'll think of a reason later), and husbands and fathers can still be home on the weekends! It will be great for morale!
Once we set up a good, working occupation, we will move the Presidential vacation house from Camp David to Cozumel. All Mexican citizens will become US Citizens, and the world will be a wonderful place.
As for the War in Iraq, our troops there now will be replaced by Mexican draftees. Our new Special Forces Group, consisting of imprisoned pedophiles and other sex offenders will immediately begin to infiltrate Iran via Air Drop! All "White Collar" criminals will hold positions as officers in the Mexican and SO (Sex Offender) Divisions. All dealings in the Middle East will be done through these two special units.
After 5 years on the front lines, these Mexican and Honduran troops will be sent to Venezuela to look for work. All SOs will be forgiven and granted an honerable discharge as soon as they are killed in action.
What do you think America?
After 12 years in the service, I have decided that we shouldn't have any more wars outside of driving distance. We will have to modify Army policy a bit, because right now the Army says that 50 miles is normal commuting distance. We'll have to expand that. Think about it! We can invade Mexico and eventually Honduras (we'll think of a reason later), and husbands and fathers can still be home on the weekends! It will be great for morale!
Once we set up a good, working occupation, we will move the Presidential vacation house from Camp David to Cozumel. All Mexican citizens will become US Citizens, and the world will be a wonderful place.
As for the War in Iraq, our troops there now will be replaced by Mexican draftees. Our new Special Forces Group, consisting of imprisoned pedophiles and other sex offenders will immediately begin to infiltrate Iran via Air Drop! All "White Collar" criminals will hold positions as officers in the Mexican and SO (Sex Offender) Divisions. All dealings in the Middle East will be done through these two special units.
After 5 years on the front lines, these Mexican and Honduran troops will be sent to Venezuela to look for work. All SOs will be forgiven and granted an honerable discharge as soon as they are killed in action.
What do you think America?
17 December 2007
Goodbye GDX, Felize Navidad
I've been busy. Moving on...
GDX Automotive Sealing Division, formerly of Batesville, Arkansas, has moved on. It turns out that the foreign investors who bought the place in 1999 weren't turning much of a profit anymore (only $13million first quarter), so they didn't bid on any new contracts and defaulted on a few old jobs. They almost stiffed the local school district, but after a month of intense negotiations, they setled their local tax debt for $455 thousand.
Now 745 local factory workers are going back to school. For two years. If they can't find a job with comperable benefits.
Batesville has a population of about 10,000. The surrounding area houses roughly 24,000 more. This means that a little over 2% of our local workforce just went looking for a job.
No big deal, right?
Of course, 16% of the local pop was already unemployed, but we'll get to that.
There are two more factories in town of any size: ConAgra Foods (Banquet), and Townsend's.
Interestingly enough, both have had their average wage decrease by about $3 per hour over the past 3 years. ConAgra pays about $10/hr, and Townsend's pays around $8/hr. ConAgra employs roughly 600 personnel. Townsends has about 400 employees. Both have recently initiated a policy that requires all supervisors to speak Spanish.
WalMart is the next largest employer in town, providing around 125 to 130 jobs.
Home Depot employs roughly 80 people.
Bad Boy Mowers is the next best thing, but I think they only have about 40 employees.
Everything else is Burger King, Blockbuster, or Construction.
Interestingly enough, about three years ago we began to see a growth in the non-English speaking population around here. Crime is up, Employment is down. The drugs are cheap and easy to get. STDs are up (a lot). Real Estate sales are down, reposessions and foreclosures are up.
Is this picture too bleak for the holidays?
I'm sorry.
This Holiday Season, I want you to thank an American factory worker (if you can find one). They stand for long hours and endure extreme temps, and put up with a lot of crap. They live with the constant threat of losing their jobs to Mexico, and now they don't even have to pack up the plant to do so.
Foreign involvement in our economy has taken a serious toll on our way of life. Illegal Immigration has added to the damage.
A lack of action on the part of every American is the root of the problem.
So next time you think that Hometown America is still doing fine, you come on up and see us.
...and Have a Merry Christmas
GDX Automotive Sealing Division, formerly of Batesville, Arkansas, has moved on. It turns out that the foreign investors who bought the place in 1999 weren't turning much of a profit anymore (only $13million first quarter), so they didn't bid on any new contracts and defaulted on a few old jobs. They almost stiffed the local school district, but after a month of intense negotiations, they setled their local tax debt for $455 thousand.
Now 745 local factory workers are going back to school. For two years. If they can't find a job with comperable benefits.
Batesville has a population of about 10,000. The surrounding area houses roughly 24,000 more. This means that a little over 2% of our local workforce just went looking for a job.
No big deal, right?
Of course, 16% of the local pop was already unemployed, but we'll get to that.
There are two more factories in town of any size: ConAgra Foods (Banquet), and Townsend's.
Interestingly enough, both have had their average wage decrease by about $3 per hour over the past 3 years. ConAgra pays about $10/hr, and Townsend's pays around $8/hr. ConAgra employs roughly 600 personnel. Townsends has about 400 employees. Both have recently initiated a policy that requires all supervisors to speak Spanish.
WalMart is the next largest employer in town, providing around 125 to 130 jobs.
Home Depot employs roughly 80 people.
Bad Boy Mowers is the next best thing, but I think they only have about 40 employees.
Everything else is Burger King, Blockbuster, or Construction.
Interestingly enough, about three years ago we began to see a growth in the non-English speaking population around here. Crime is up, Employment is down. The drugs are cheap and easy to get. STDs are up (a lot). Real Estate sales are down, reposessions and foreclosures are up.
Is this picture too bleak for the holidays?
I'm sorry.
This Holiday Season, I want you to thank an American factory worker (if you can find one). They stand for long hours and endure extreme temps, and put up with a lot of crap. They live with the constant threat of losing their jobs to Mexico, and now they don't even have to pack up the plant to do so.
Foreign involvement in our economy has taken a serious toll on our way of life. Illegal Immigration has added to the damage.
A lack of action on the part of every American is the root of the problem.
So next time you think that Hometown America is still doing fine, you come on up and see us.
...and Have a Merry Christmas
13 December 2007
The King Cometh...
I have returned from fair Fortress Chaffee, and with me I bring rants, both great and small.
Or in Army terms, I gotta case o' ass and I'm gettin' ready to tell you all about it.
Saturday. I'm completely exhausted right now, and tomorrow is the Christmas party.
Or in Army terms, I gotta case o' ass and I'm gettin' ready to tell you all about it.
Saturday. I'm completely exhausted right now, and tomorrow is the Christmas party.
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