Monday's Missives

Remember Cowboys Of Moo Mesa? Epic cartoon.

• The fellas just a little thirsty- give him a break world. I give him an A for effort regardless.





• I told Zachary I loved him the other day. He said politely, "Thank you, daddy."





• Where did he learn to be so noncommital?




• How to characterize the power of an IED? I was over a mile away when 3 of our soldiers were killed by one that struck their HUMMWV and it rattled my teeth and shook the ground around me.




• Balloon boy is OK. Why are we so wrapped up in things such as that? Millions of people must have followed that drama.




• On this day in history (October 16):456 – Magister militum Ricimer defeated Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and became master of the Western Roman Empire.




• Good for him- I knew he could do it.

Friday's Dispatch

• "Just because we have (since Bush time) fiddled with the unemployment stats so that it doesn't look as bad as it is, doesn't make the reality go away. The U6 alone puts us up about double the unemployment rate. They say 9, reality says 22. Also, the only thing keeping our dollar afloat is China's inability to crawl out from under it. Also, the reason we are so mad at Iran has nothing to do with nukes (they did tell us about Qum) but with the oil exchange based on euros instead of dollars they want. The same as Iraq. We are so screwed. "




• From the comments of HULU user review section. I can't understand a thing that guy's saying but, think he might be on to something if he worked on mastering writing the English language.


• Greatest band you've never heard- The Perishers performing Sway. I can't help it if I like mushy music sometimes. Honestly- as in, it doesn't happen very often.




• Why does it seem like in movies all visualizations of our future involve everyone dressing like flamboyantly gay people of today?




• Parodies of old patriotic posters can be great- even if I don't agree with them they can be very telling of our past and present political thought environment.




• When my oldest son was in the hospital was the sickest time I've faced mentally in a long time. I didn't sleep, I didn't eat- I uncharacteristically for me in difficult situations- worried.




• Although I did pray a lot.




• I still encourage Zac to sit up with me and watch TV or read or whatever until he and then I go to to sleep in the recliner. Agony after a couple of hours but, worth it and the opportunities to do so won't last forever.




• Or, I guess they could last for years longer- it would just look ridiculous for me to have someone in my lap bigger than myself.

My Dad

Now, you know where I get my devilish good looks.

Monday's Missives

Americas future in healthcare?



• Today, I can't get the funeral dirge from the web ad for the Halo ODST troopers funeral out of my mind.




• I sneeze like a crazy man- one of the few really over the top, negative, attention getting things I do in my life. I mean really, it's not cute- it's loud and obnoxious and I probably sound mental when I do it but, I can't help it- it hurts to stifle them.




• New favorite shows that are really coming around: Parks And Recreation and Community. Yes, they are goofy- that would be why you'll find them under comedy.




• When I work nights it's great to wake up several hours before I have to go back that night and simply lie around and eat or whatever and then nap a little but, if I sleep all day I nearly always feel terrible that night.




• Fans of President Obama hate Sarah Palin for all the same reasons they adore him.




• Odd.

Thoughts In The Key Of V

• Was the original V series politically/socially driven?




• There's been some debate whether the remake of the V series of the 80s is a veiled reference to the President Obama presidency- I watched the pilot the other night. The references are unavoidably pertaining to his administration's policies and his star appeal popularity. As a matter of fact, you simply cannot argue it and I think it odd some people deny that it's driven by current events. However, it never got to the point so, I don't know where they're going with it in relation to the series.




• The pilot stars Alan Tudyk an El Paso Texas native who played Hoban Washburne on Firefly- the best sci fi evar. So it has promise anyway. Don't recognize the name? Maybe this will jog your memory- only the most epic line in the history of, mm- epicity! "We will rule over all this land! And we will call it... this land!" Well, it's greater when he does it.




• Amiright?

Confucious Say

Even the greatest of whales is helpless in middle of desert.

Wednesday's Digressions

• I'm responsible for some gold on another blog which always gets favorable comments- well mostly but, I can't bring myself to own up to any of them so I post anonymously.




• Now, if I did put my ID with them I would get accused of plagiarizing.




• I can never seem to win- for losing.



• People who lived near the major who committed the murders on Fort Hood are saying he was mistreated for his faith. After duty hours he would change into clothes associated with Afghan men and attend prayer at his Mosque. I find this a bit odd since he was born in the US and his ancestry is Palestinian. His appearance reportedly led to verbal taunting and vandalizing of his property. Another thought: what would happen to me if I wore a clown suit in some backwater neighborhood in Lebanon? or, short, tight cut off jeans and a string tank top? His actions while working in DC have been properly referred to as, "making himself a lightning rod for trouble."



• Would you buy a one ounce gold coin for 50.00 dollars? Would you accept it if someone gave it to you?



• 2012 looks sadly- sucky. I'll assuredly catch it on DVD though.



• The pond at the end of the road looks spooky at night and the wetlands in the bottom behind it even worse. I'm going to take my oldest son down there and dare him to walk through the wetlands with me some night.



• Yes, I dare my child to do things.

Don't Forget Where You Heard About This When You Accept The Position!

Help wanted: a government dog-sledder

The federal government has an opening for a one-of-a-kind job running kennels and mushing into the wilderness in Denali National Park in Alaska.

Anchorage - In the world of dog mushing, there aren't many jobs with a steady paycheck. Professional mushers live off the bounty of their race earnings, dog-breeding skills and marketing savvy. Within a federal government that employs 19.7 million people, there is one -- exactly one -- dog-mushing job. And it's open.The National Park Service is looking for a new kennels manager at Denali National Park and Preserve, a job that in addition to running Denali's 31-animal dog kennel includes mushing into one of America's great swaths of wilderness. The pay range -- between $33,477 and $66,542 a year, plus a generous cost-of-living adjustment -- is more than many mushers earn in a race season. As part of the federal bureaucracy, though, there's more to it than mushing and caring for dogs."Our candidate must be a strong leader with supervisory skills and will be relied upon to provide all manner of services as a park ranger -- from rescuing visitors and patrolling the park wilderness to presenting educational programs and community outreach," Philip Hooge, Denali's deputy superintendent, said in a news release.

Karen Fortier, a Connecticut native who held the post for nearly 10 years, calls it "a great job." It changes markedly depending on the season. As much as 70% of the winter is spent mushing thousands of miles in the Denali backcountry -- ferrying supplies, taking researchers to various parts of the park, hauling firewood and patrolling. Those trips can last weeks. "There's really nothing that quite compares to being out on the trail in the middle of winter," Fortier said. "It's beautiful, it's completely silent, and by March you have the long daylight too. "But it's physically demanding. We're breaking our own trail, and we end up doing a lot of snowshoeing in front of the team at times."

Summer is tourist season, which means three daily hourlong interpretive programs for hundreds of visitors a day. This summer, more than 50,000 tourists stopped by. But in every season, the kennel must be managed. Dogs must be fed, bred and trained; poop must be scooped; vaccinations must be administered."And just like with any federal or government job, there's that whole level of paperwork," Fortier said. "You think it's going to be this glory job, but so much is managing the operation behind the scenes."Fortier had a second daughter a year ago, and the time away from her family became too great. Despite the sacrifices, the successful applicant to replace her can rest assured that nobody else in the country has the same job. "It's a lot more than a mushing job, for sure," Fortier said. "A real mixed bag."

Don't forget me- I'll be your snow bunny!

Nightmare Team

Zombie Wilt Chamberlain leads the Nightmare Team to victory! Ha, get it? See he's dead and instead of the Dream Team it's the Nightmare Team because he's a zombie. Oh, forget it- I don't even know why I try.

Monday's Missives

Not a real aircraft- prop for the terrible movie Stealth- it should however enter mass production due to its coolness alone.

• Two of my idols in an old newsreel. Really bums me I never got to see either Fred Gwynn (Herman Munster) or Al Lewis (grandpa) live in any context and especially to have a chance to meet them.






• I met one child legend and hero though and actually had a bit of a conversation with him- a great catcher and general human being Jim Sundberg. He is still with the Rangers as a senior executive vice president of public relations and personally visits wounded warriors on Texas bases.






• A giant of a man although he isn't as tall as his baseball cards say in his personal stats.






• Some great old photos of an area ranch here.





• The world is a small place. I remind myself of this often and in my area and profession I get outside reminders frequently. While chatting with a nurse from another agency with whom I share common friends and associates she brought out the name of someone so random I know I had give myself away when I nearly choked on my tongue at the memory she caused to surface but, since she did only give the first name when she asked if I knew her I had plausible deniability,"Hmmm not sure- I've probably met her somewhere along the line..."

Sunday's Sundry Missives

• Check this painting out by rolling your cursor across the image. Not a great work of art by any means but, kind of interesting- although don't get too torqued up if you're not a religious person and miss the point. Found the little gem here.



• Story about the above 2 million dollar Bugatti turned Jon boat here. Too disturbing for a weak kneed sissy such as myself but, try to work your way through it if you dare. Oh, wow! PS- Look here for video of the Bugatti going into the drink.



• Too sad for words.


• Regardless of where I'm at or what's going on if I'm in the shower- the door to the house will locked.


• The first thing I said when I saw a picture of the Fort Hood murderer was,"He doesn't look too sharp." "What do you mean?" I was asked. "He doesn't look very bright- he looks like a dimwit." That exchange was the first thing I thought of when it came out he was a very mediocre student in medical school.


• Snap judgments: another one of my superpowers that must be used for good and not evil.


• My insurance agent is smokin' hot and I don't mean she was tragically set on fire by some moron burning their trash or she huffs Marlboro 100 cigarettes like there's no tomorrow for her lunch break.

Saturday's Summary

• I have a funny feeling if you've seen the trailer for Men Who Stare At Goats you've seen all there is worth watching.





• "Don't bother me- I'm busy!" The last thing Zac said to me.




• Watched part of a speech by President Obama and in it he referred to the Medal Of Honor as the Congressional Medal Of Honor- no biggy I guess, just would have thought if he didn't know any better a proofreader, fact checker or somebody would have caught that goof.




• Everybody is being so quick to dismiss the role Major Hasan's religion played in the murders he committed on Fort Hood. OK- I get it but, they would not have occurred were it not for his religion.



• So...




• When Zac is sick it's all Barney all the time. God forgive me but, I do not like Barney.




• I dig Bob The Builder though and could watch it anytime.




• I've got a bad feeling I'm going to buy a motorcycle.



• HBO's new series The Pacific looks great! It's from the creators of Band Of Brothers.

Friday's Dispatch

• Windy days get on my nerves and in fact I sometimes have to turn off ceiling fans.



• Zac was asked,"What did you do today?" when he was picked up from day care- "I went to school" "Oh, yeah- what did you learn, baby?" "That I don't listen" "Why?" "Because I hit Albert"



• This morning it was,"I'm hungry. I want a sandwich."



• Did I mention he's two?



• President Obama rendered a very good salute when he was present for the arrival of troop caskets at Dover.



• People sometimes assume a general would always want more troops- no matter what. This is not true- more bodies equal more supplies and maintenance issues, more troops to cause political trouble if not kept busy and monitored with good leadership and all the problems associated with excess troops in a theater is exponential- twice the troops are more than twice the headache to maintain. Also, excess troops drain reserves for contingency plans involving other theaters.



• I've never heard anyone mention the number one reason why Afghanistan would be unwinnable (if it is)- it's because they haven't been beaten by an outside, modern army. You are not dealing with sophisticated pragmatists who understand things will be better with time and effort. These people are primitive, tribalistic and stuck literally in a medieval mindset and way of life. A misplaced sense of pride has and always will keep them from moving forward even though they had a brutal, oppressive regime removed and a chance at a real future handed to them on a silver platter. Even though in this situation it isn't even necessay to have to mark something in the win/loss column (the Taliban were targeted not the people or even a legitimate government) most Afghan men do not want to be associated with being the first generation to lose.

Post Veterans Day Disgrace To The Human Race

Ommmmm, Gods gonna get you for this one- you Jack O Lantern. Our country shamefully screws up a lot of stuff- I know but, one thing the feds take very seriously when it comes to their attention is military service fakery. Story of this gooberhead here at TSG. This is sickening and with the support enjoyed by our troops of the American public I'll bet way more prevalent than we would ever guess.

Thursday's Thoughts

• War can be a beautiful thing.



• The fact swine flu vax doses have been allocated for prisoners in Guantanamo Bay has some in the public and congress in an uproar. My thoughts: The vaccine will be voluntary for the approximately 200 detainees and I predict no more than 25% of them will accept. No more than a third of Americas 300 million people take the normal influenza vaccine anyway- will this one be that much different? Like it or not, they are prisoners- therefore in a very high risk group for communicable diseases.



• You don't hear much in the press without some digging about the antics of the low risk profile detainees released from Guantanamo- wonder why?



• Can't get that Ozzy Osborne song Perry Mason out of my mind after hearing just a line or two of it earlier.



• Lots of headlines recently about docs travelling to China and other places to study nontraditional and eastern medicinal remedies such as acupuncture- ridiculous. For one reason everyone in the medical field (I thought anyway) knows that stuff specifically acupuncture doesn't work- there has been literally millions of dollars spent on studies demonstrating that- so why the interest? The American public is so silly they're clamoring for the stuff and there's not only money to be made- they are already losing tons of it to non physicians or physicians from Asia. It's all reasonably low risk and insurance will be paying for it more and more as gullible Americans with nothing better to do than fret over something, then believe they were made better by having some goober push hat pins into their bodies or wave magic crystals over their body energy aura or whatever.



• This is turning into a rant.



• I don't like to be a ranter.



• I'll quit.



• For now.

I Rant I Rave- You Read: The Wednesday Edition

• I have watched a lot of horror movies in my life and if I've learned nothing else- when a monster such as the proposed health care reform bill is created someone, somewhere down the line will have to step and kill it- or it will devour everyone in sight.



• "Save money"? Are you kidding? When I heard The President say that- all respect for him on this issue vanished- he didn't misspeak nor was he misinformed, he had to know that was a lie.



• "No matter what they're talking about when a politician speaks he's talking about spending money." "No matter what they're talking about when a politician speaks he's lying." These are very good, always pertinent truisms but, he took both to a new level in that speech.



• What does a politician mean when he says save money anyway? Is it the same as when you and I say it? No absolutely not, ever- they always mean spending less than originally planned (if that even). If health care costs are expected to rise 5% per year, the bureaucrat wanting to make his administration look good will find a way to shave 2% off of spending, subtract the difference then say in press conference,"To all the naysayers-we've saved the American taxpayer 20 teen gajillion dollars this year alone in health care costs since the health care reform act passed. Blah, blah blah..." All the while spending continues to grow until it's some big monster no one knows what to do with- then what?



• They'll figure out a way to blame those who were opposed in the first place.



• What happens when they spend less? Automatically increased rationing of health care- which not really all that bad of a concept in it's purest form (it's necessarily necessary- already part of the reason we actually have docs) but, everyone involved has been adamant it won't happen. It happens and has ever since the first x ray machine was manufactured, there were room for only so many patients, it was far enough away for a doc to have to decide whether it was necessary and docs stopped accepting chickens for their services and demanded cash. The only change? It will and it has to only get worse.



• All the major players pushing for this have used terms like "obscene profits" when talking about the profit margins of the insurance industry. Now that it's clear their margins really aren't all that great compared to other industries, will the message of the activistic politicians change?



• My insurance company (both health and dental) will have to carry us for a quite a few more years before they break even and we're quite healthy people.



• Doctors will get out of the field and will be replaced by lesser qualified individuals- it has to happen since we know it already does- primarily over government reimbursement issues, astronomical costs and narrow margins.



• Healthcare Reform Explained As A Summer Picnic from the youchoobs.



• A very interesting counterpoint of successful plans which specifically talks about Germany's plan- a public option that (supposedly) is not tax funded.



• Regardless of plan- one big, huge, insurmountable problem if you're enamored of the English, the Germans or France's system. We are not Brits, Germans or French.



• John Stossel's take on the issue. Sick In America.



• A lot of the reason politicians push for things like this is to buy votes, another- guilt over their own wealth- both should bother us to no end but, we don't really care.



• 70-80% of Americans are reportedly happy (I bet it's really more) with their current insurance status. Where else would that level of satisfaction be risked to upend a system?



• 800 billion dollars a year is wasted on unnecessary medical procedures in the US, driven primarily by fear of lawsuits. If you could rid the system of this and fraud for government reimbursement plans already in place ( you can do neither) more sweeping reform would be affordable and welcome in my book.



• Just a few short generations from now people will look back in amazement while face palming and head wagging over a health care system in shambles and a country drowning in debt and say,"They weren't smart enough to see this coming?"


• Anyway, let me finish with this, which should solve this issue, help settle all our differences and bring us together as one- united as a race of sentient, compassionate humans not rich, poor or black or white just- people helping people as I always say.

Sad Picture

As I recall the symbolism behind this picture is this young mans only desire was to come home and have his daughter on his chest. The first day I was home my daughter stayed on my chest essentially from noon until two am the next morning.

I thank God for that day.

Warm And Center Of Attention=Cats Dream

We had a Siamese cat when I was growing up named Dean, he lived to be 19 years old. He would sleep on the TV to stay warm- he was kind of the grumpy old codger of catdom. I do not know how many times someone would stop by the TV and say,"Oh look at this cat, it looks so real." and touch him causing him to bolt up hissing and spitting and swatting at the hapless stranger as he slid off the back of the TV while his victim would retreat clutching their chest sure they were about to die of a heart attack.


Not actual cat.

Monday's Missives

My new set of wheels to replace Turdbomb.

• Greatest headline I've seen in a while- Police: Homeless man hid stolen ferret in pants. Suspect faces theft, battery charges for dangerously wielding animal. AP



• "A former “Jerry Springer Show” producer, Bobby Goldstein, told In Touch magazine that he had a pilot, “Jon - Kate = Jon + Octomom” in the works and that Gosselin was onboard. According to a press release In Touch obtained, Goldstein’s show would follow Gosselin as “he contemplates what hooking up with Octomom could really be like.” msnbc the scoop



• NOOOOOOOOooooooo!



• I'm literally clawing my eyes out for reading that and hitting myself in the head with a coffee cup in hope of inducing a memory erasing traumatic brain injury.



• We are doomed.



• Finally took the tent down- want to figure out something semi permanent we can sleep in whenever the mood strikes.



• A heavy duty tipi maybe?



• The neighbors love me- that might challenge their patience though.



• Six cinnamon rolls and about eleven cups of coffee- it's what's for breakfast.



• Zac is starting gymnastics tonight, it's the type that requires parental involvement.



• Groan.

Fort Hood Murders My Thoughts

SGT Anthony Sills of Texas National Guard' 36 Infantry Division consoling his wife after the Ft. Hood murders.

• Although I was not there and can't really know what happened during the major who committed the murders at Ft. Hoods career (family claims he was harassed over being Muslim) I have been in the guard, regular army,peacetime,wartime, overseas in peace, a non combat job skill and combat job skill, been in several formal military schools, taught at a military academy as a guest instructor, served in several US states etc. etc. and one thing that always stood out- and I've considered it way before this event- teasing guys about their religion if not off limits is rare and self limiting if it happens.


• Another thought: I would be more than surprised I would be shocked if in the hyper sensitive environment of the Army under its equal opportunity mandated environment and the Army wide fear of reprisals over harassment if there was a lot of harassment over that guys religion.
• Specifically since his religion happens to be Islam.
• Also, reports have come from a cousin to the killer that he was harassed over his race by being called a "camel jockey"- being harassed over ones race in the Army? Uh,uh- sorry didn't happen- to an extent it would trigger some kind of mental break anyway. Even the allegation of same will end with everyone in the chain being sentenced to interminable cultural sensitivity training, poor reflection in evaluation reports and proven abuses? Everyone associated will be punished by article 15 and if they're not lucky a discharge from service. Would a lawyer make a joke about a bomb under a judges car? A doctor joke in any thing approaching a public manner about poisoning his difficult patients? Don't think these are appropriate analogies? You don't understand modern military thought environment then- harassment especially harassment over race and religion is not tolerated.


• If there's anything to his families claim- we'll hear about it from others he served with- that's the way it always is they don't have to break ranks there is always someone interested in doing the right thing and if nothing else a disgruntled troop who heard or witnessed something.


• Many people will be more than happy to accept the assertion that he was "mortified" over his impending deployment to Afghanistan as the reason for these murders- come on, he is a psychiatrist what did he have to fear either in a personal safety aspect or in regards to some kind of shock to his religious sensibilities? The air conditioner in his office wouldn't blow cold enough or someone, somewhere might find out there's a Muslim serving as a doctor on the base where he is deployed?


• The first talking head I saw discussing these murders began prattling on about PTSD in the first sentence he uttered. Ridiculous.


• DFW local news as events unfolded.


• The Soldiers Dome where the shootings happened is directly across the street from my old 1 Cavalry Division unit and when first built was a place for guys to drink and eat while watching sports, it was later converted to an SRC- Soldiers Readiness Center.


• Howze Theater another location mentioned often in the newscasts about the murders was the first place I saw Platoon.


• That guy wasn't wrapped too tight to begin with and the Army would have been the best hope he had to prevent a break (very good counselling, structured environment with good pay etc.).


• Anyway, he didn't need an excuse with his mental problems and twisted worldview.


• It's my opinion that if in the medical field mentally ill people will be more drawn to psychiatry, psychology and associated mental health disciplines. It kind of just makes sense but, is also demonstrable I bet- if you dug through news archives.


• People are asking,"How did he kill so many people, why didn't someone shoot him- it's a military base." On a military base not everyone is armed at all times and even if you have a weapon for a class, a range or mobilising for deployment the troops will not have rounds for their weapons until they're needed and issued.


• Sources reported a gunfight between another shooter and a SWAT team at a separate location simultaneous to the SRC murders- how does that happen, even in the fog of these developing situations?


• "He said: "Ford Hood is perceived as being even safer than normal because of its size and scale." excerpted from an interview of a British major who had been stationed at Hood- his analysis is wrong though. Look at Fort Hood the same as any other city of 100,000 people except, a younger on average population, higher density of males per capita, sense of anonymity, a whole lot of people bringing all kinds of bad habits with them from their backgrounds, a lot of alcohol and drug abuse etc. The sense of safety on the post is deceptive.


• I wonder what his case will do to the death penalty debate? Will opponents keep silent because they know the public desire for vengeance and how it will galvanize attitudes? You'll hear less from opponents than you might think at first glance I think.


• I assure you- he will have his dance with the ole Grim Reaper at the sharp end of a needle.

Thursday's Thoughts

Your armored Hey Now for the day- beautiful huh? M2/M3 Bradley Fighting vehicles. The one in number 2 picture is firing a TOW missile.

• I'm so tired my skin hurts. My patient expired as I was getting ready to walk out the door. A sad case- too young, not supported well by family, died with issues, I spent a lot of time with him and we did guy stuff like watching football. Man, he would hate to see me leave.
• I'm delirious with tirednicity.
• Thinking about the much maligned Bradley Fighting Vehicle the US uses for infantry support and armored recon duties. Most people probably don't care but, there's a lot of misinformation about it, even a movie Pentagon Wars starring Kelsey Grammer that rags on the early models and development thereof. Not really sure what drives the people so adamantly opposed to it but, they'll make it look like a too costly death trap that doesn't have the capability to perform its mission. This is odd, very odd- it's the best vehicle of its type in the world and it's good for the money for that matter- although yes, FMC doesn't give them away. It's very reliable and provides very good protection and fighting ability to its crew. Not sure what's going on there- politics?
• Here's a video of my beloved Bradley in action in Iraq.
• Bonus footage of insurgents being engaged.
• I'm going to embed myself after I soak in a hot shower.
• Good night.

Well, It IS A Long Way From His Heart As They Say

My favorite nephews arm- pre whip stitch. Chicks dig scars though don't they? Let's hope that's true anyway.

Wednesday's Digressions

One of the combat patches I'm authorized to wear on my uniform. Cool huh? It's in my top 5 of cool unit patches- with 1 Cavalry Division probably my fave. Click to be enawesome-ated. Simply can't wait until I'm about 90 and I get herded out to the Memorial Day activities swallowed in my baggy desert camouflage uniform that my biceps and chest used to be literally busting out of- and there I sit in my wheelchair looking around sweetly confused at the little kids waving 4X6 inch US flags...

• I hardly ever have dreams about warfare or sex but, when I do they are invariably doozees. Last night I dreamed of prison sex- not sex right after getting out of prison or conjugal visits etc. but, I was in prison and could somehow sneak a woman in every night. It was the same woman every time and I think she was supposed to represent someone famous who was quite pretty. Sometimes she delivered pizza to the prison others she was dressed as a guard or a journalist to get inside. The rub except for the imprisoned part? I was married and the wifey would visit my cell and find the girl every time- then the whole charade would start over.



• Care to psychoanalyse? I'm sure Freud would have a field day.



• I can spell psychoanalyse correctly the first time but, never guard.




• There are 400 known planets outside our solar system.




• NASA is still forging ahead with plans to invade Mars. An independent group has recommended they forgo a return to our moon and concentrate on Mars, asteroids and a few other moons. In a way this is very cool- in a way it demonstrates everything that's wrong with our ability to prioritize. This is actually the definitive picture of that when you think about it really- two very expensive wars, an imploded economy, people falling over dead from diseases that should have been cured years ago, astronomical food and energy prices (when if our heads hadn't been so far up our butts for so long the first would be dirt cheap- the second nearly free.) but, instead they're being told to forgo a trip to the moon and instead go to Mars???




• Oh, they'll only need 3 billion more dollars annually to do it though.




• Grrrrr.




• One thing you may not have thought of though: the trip to Mars with present/envisioned tech will take two years. Because of this and exorbitant costs associated with resupply missions and amount of fuel that could be carried I can assure you if they are thinking straight- no one who goes can ever come back. Resupply missions will be one way with the craft being repurposed by the Martians.


• Barry, the Blogfather sez," I absolutely hate watching news footage of kids getting a vaccine." Interestingly- it warms my heart every time I see a child getting one or I give one myself. It never fails that I don't think something like because of that simple act, that child may live to ripe old age and not die of some miserable, preventable sickness before they even have a chance at life.

I Hope He Passed

because I would not want to live in a world where someone who did something this cool failed.

Tackily Cute

Halloween Missives

• This morning Zac and sister were fighting over a doll she was playing with first when he tried to draw me into their tangled web and officiate the struggle in his favor- of course. Instead I instead told him to,"Leave your sister alone and go play with your monkey." (his favorite toy monkey is what I meant).
• I asked him whether the same monkey was a boy or girl- he replied,"Both".
• A lot of adults are trick or treating these days- not just dressing up in the spirit of things and accompanying their children- They're going door to door and chanting,"Trick or treat smell of my feet..."
• Ridiculous.
• Contains: Milk, Wheat, Soybeans and Peanuts
• Who would have guessed Twix bars are so healthy?
• I heard on the radio before we left that pedestrian strikes by cars go up 25% on Halloween night. As I left work without time to change out of my black scrubs.
• When I was little there used to be a lawyer who lived in a big, fancy house in Decatur TX who would hand out full size candy bars.
• A true American hero.
• God bless that man.
• That house is kind of dump now.
• There was also a little old lady who made those popcorn and caramel balls for everyone. She would still hand stuff out into her 90s.
• Giver her a double helping of blessing God.
• When I was young all the black people lived on the other side of the tracks. Every year my dad would take us over there trick or treating and I don't know why.
• Also, when I was little I made my own costume out of a sheet by draping a sheet over my head and pulling a sweatband down over my head and around my neck to make myself a toilet paper ghost like you make in class. My sister in law failed to see the humor and made me pull it up around my head so the sheet would still stay on but, I wouldn't strangle myself which she was sure would happen somehow. When running from some house we had just pranked it slid down my face and I couldn't see and ran right into a telephone pole.
• It was the first time I was ever knocked smooth out and still remember the gold colored stars (which looked more like lightning) swirling around my head afterwards.
• Spellcheck offers "pranged" as an alternative to pranked.
• I misspelled spellcheck- speelcheeck on the first try.
• One year my oldest and my nephew did Halloween together. That night without securing their bags I told them they'd had enough and went to bed. In the morning I figured out they had eaten after bedtime the equivalent of I'm sure easily 2 pounds of candy. It was something of a self limiting thing though- you would have had to put them at gunpoint to get them to touch any candy after that.
• For a couple of days anyway.