I'm not a veteran. But I admire the dedication service takes.
I thought about signing up after High School. I got good scores on the ASFAB test.
But I was pretty sure that they wouldn't take me anyway. I'm too tall for submarine service, for example -- that was the program that contacted me.
Also, flat feet, overweight, poor eyesight...
And heck, I can support my country without wearing a uniform.
My Father was a volunteer cop back during WWII. I have his ancient Miranda card in a box somewhere. The plastic is falling apart !
"a separate issue (Cambodia) he's a liar"
I don't think this has been established. The SWIFT boats were assigned to patrol up and down rivers in that region.
It's been suggested that before GPS only the boat's navigator would have even known where they were...
Easy to slip across the border in the dark. And not surprising. There's stories about illegal sorties into Cambodia.
And honestly, in a firefight with bullets whizzing around, I'd have GUTshot the guy if I had to !
What HAS been established is that most of the vets saying these things are lying. On closer examination, they didn't serve with Kerry, some weren't even there that day, and one guy said he was repeating what his friends TOLD him.
When I get up in the morning, I duck under the lintel of the doorway into our living room.
It's Six Feet Seven Inches High. Measured it myself.
Now, true, after a day working on concrete, I'm down to 6'6".
I'm going to give you a thought problem.
Suppose you were to carry a backpack with an extra 80 pounds in it. All day.
Until you got really used to it. Until you could climb hills, stairs, lift and carry an EXTRA hundred pounds.
Climb up the hill, down the hill, up the hill, and you're finally only breathing deeply, not panting.
Wouldn't that build muscle?
Load-bearing muscle, but nonetheless...
You've heard the phrase "throwing your weight around"?
And it's funny how many people think fights are like Kung-Fu movies.
In fact, they're NOT. In boxing, for example, they call some heavyweights "tanks".
It really doesn't take much more than patience. I'm not gonna chase you. Just soak up anything you can do until you make a mistake. Which you will.
Dance around, wear yourself out.
Now, if you're secretly Hulk Hogan, then I'd have a problem.
Or Tyson, of course. Freaky ear-biter !
But on average, I don't need to look for trouble or worry about it much.
The last guy who got in my face was a prankster at work. I told him three times to cut it out.
He liked to put gook under the handles of the handcart I used. The first time it was, annoying. The third time I told him to stop. He didn't.
Until we had a deeper 'discussion'.
I filled my hand with the gook and smeared it down his shirt. He threw one punch which basically bounced off. I returned the favor.
He ran off screaming "that guy's a lunatic".
The previous one to that was in high school and they dragged him away by his heels. Another short punk who thought it was fun to throw wads of wet toilet paper at the big guy with glasses.
And then denied it. I later thought I should have checked to see if his hands were wet.
This stuff got old fast.
Finally he tried something right under my nose and I nailed him.
A teacher was standing right there, and just smiled and looked away.
"Why bother talking about a militia, if the entire point of the amendment is to guarantee the people the right to bear arms?"
I think the FF just overlooked the fact that language changes over time.
For example, it was obvious to them what "Militia" means.
A "Militia" is a volunteer soldier group. We don't have those anymore.
Back in 1776, the prevailing attitude toward "professional soldiers" was profound distrust.
The ideal was that a Free Nation should be able to defend itself by calling up volunteers.
In a "Militia", you show up, you bring YOUR OWN gun, your own boots, your own stuff. You get chow, if you happen to like beans. And bullets, generally. That's it.
In an Army, even the Reserves, you just show up. You get issued a gun, boots, haircut, bullets, everybody the same.
(G.I.== General Issue)
So, when the Founding Fathers said "Militia" they meant that in need, people with guns should sign up for a year and fight.
Then, they go home. NO draft. NO stop-loss !
In fact, I just watched a documentary about the Revolutionary War. Turns out George Washington had to persuade his troops to re-up. He couldn't force them to extend their term.
When I was in college, an otherwise learned professor tried to teach the 2nd Amendment HIS way.
I informed him he was wrong. Militia does NOT mean ARMY.
He wouldn't bend. Because he is a fanatic anti-gun NUT.
And Anti-Gun Nuts despise the 2nd Amendment.
Despite the fact that the records of the Federalist Papers show the FF soberly expected the American goverment could get out of hand eventually, and guns would be required to restore Democracy.
Now, I'm a Democrat. And I own a Shotgun. And I like it that way.
I have a fanatical faith in the Consistution, and personal experience that dumb, reckless fools exist in the lower strata of our society who are barely held in check by fear of the police.
I think I have the right to defend my family from these idiots. And if there ARE idiots out there that think I don't, I think they should vote Green.
"Dole told CNN's "Late Edition" in relation to Kerry: "I respect his record. But three Purple Hearts and never bled that I know of. I mean, they're all superficial wounds. Three Purple Hearts and you're out."
Crewmate Sandusky said Monday, "I was there when he got wounded. I saw the blood. I don't care what Dole said.""
I saw that interview... and I wanted to ask:
Why would anyone believe Mr. Dole's opinion is an informed one?
Was Mr. Dole in that Swift Boat?
And the old trick "I respect his record" followed by the direct opposite message.
It's like the Non-Apology Apology. One of my favorites, right after the Red Herring and Kill The Messenger.
""To liberals, 'compassion' means giving less productive people the fruits of the efforts of more productive people."
I've puzzled over this viewpoint before this and been left still more puzzled.
It's as if the author of this statement doesn't believe ANY entity has the right to collect taxes. As if he's saying:
"It's MY money, you CAN'T have it ! Go tax someone ELSE, leave ME alone !"
Until, of course, there's a Hurricane and you expect the Goverment you affect to despise to come in and help out.
Do you recall something called the Irish Potato Famine?
All these people literally starving to death. The Brits having taxed them for centuries, collecting RENT on Irish ancestral lands... and the Brits did nothing to help.
Oh, sorry. They DID send around wagons to collect the dead and dying. That's something, anyway.
You'd think that acting to keep your workforce healthy would be a good investment. But why bother? Sure, hundreds of thousands will starve. 'But once the famine passes, the workforce will rebound, without our spending anything !'
This whole dependency on one crop having occured out of desperation because the Brits were stealing everything else.
Here's what evolved out of that famine. In a sense, that famine created the Democratic Party.
a) the Government HAS the right to collect taxes.
b) once the Government has collected the taxes, it's NOT your money, it's THEIR money. Stop moaning already.
c) if the Government collects taxes from the people, it's their obligation to help people when they are helpless.
Not stand around saying "that's awful. Let's all pray it gets better soon !"
So you see, it's not YOUR money once the Government has it.
And since the Government is an entity unto itself, it can spend it's money as it likes.
And if you get out there and vote, you get to help decide policy on where the Gov. spends it's money.
"it wouldnt be hard for a terrorist to switch out the chalk with something else"/Sarcasm Mode ON
You know what would be even better? Sure, put anthrax in the chalk writer, yada yada yada.
But think Marketshare !
Better would be to put Anthrax into vending machines. A uniform, some vending machine keys and you could put Ricin or Antrax into your basic instant coffee machine./Sarcasm Mode OFF
Ever drink from those machines?
No security on the ones on College campuses, is there?
Eating Anthrax won't kill you unless you have an ulcer. But it will make you deathly ill...
The next attack will NOT come where you are expecting it. Look up to the sky, and the terrorists will quietly poison the food supply.
If you use justifications like "chalk LOOKS like anthrax, arrest him !" then you've thrown away your civil rights.
"They better damn well be doing searches on everyone. Especially moraless pot smoking democratic teenagers. (Sorry to offend anyone, but the parent offended me)"
Excuse me? Do you have special info? Do you know for certain this teenager was moral-less, and a pot smoker?
Or do you just throw this stuff out for the fun of it?
I've heard that 'Republic' slant before.
Actually, America is a DEMOCRATIC Republic.
Pay attention, class.:))
In a true Democracy, every citizen is a member of the goverment and has a voice.
In a Democracy, citizens CAN elect Representatives to debate issues. Or they can carry signs and debate the matter any way they choose as long as it's lawful.
In a true Republic, the citizens are the Plebians and the goverment is run by Patricians. Citizens don't get a voice.
Instead, Representatives are selected, and if a Citizen has a problem, he talks to his local Rep.
A true Republican Representative can be elected, sure. But he can also be chosen, appointed, born to the position, selected by lottery, or heck, annointed by clergy.
A Democratic Republic specifically blends the two. Citizens have a voice, and their representatives can only be elected or very rarely appointed for a term.
I don't see how a thin layer of chalk interferes with your
using the public streets ! Walk on by, brother !
Listen, folks. Dissent is legal.
Back when Martin Luthor wrote up his 93 theses and tacked 'em to the door of the cathedral, he could have been thrown in prison or killed for his actions.
Yet, perhaps because of his actions we have MORE freedom today than our ancestors did.
I've read a lot about people saying this was defacing the street.
It's CHALK !
If he was using spraypaint, and costing the city money to scour it off, you'd have a point.
But chalk is a natural substance, sun and rain and wind will wash it away.
NO permanent effect.
Suppose there was a law that you can't pollute the air with your opinions unless you got a permit first?
After all, we all use the air, we don't want to have to walk by someone stating his opinion, adding to the street noise...
But of course, it's SUPPOSED to be Un-Constitutional to restrict a citizen's right to speak !!!
I have to say, I think chalk on the street comes pretty close to innocuous.
If the city has a specific ordinance against Political Speech done on sidewalks with chalk... I think the Supreme Court should look into that.
An unarmed man?
Who said anything about an unarmed man?
I just read it, I can't have forgotten...oh, yeah.
The man in question was carrying a rocket launcher?
That's not unarmed. Get to cover, turn and hit the trigger. BLAM !
Slashdot Mirror
I'm not a veteran. But I admire the dedication service takes.
I thought about signing up after High School. I got good scores on the ASFAB test.
But I was pretty sure that they wouldn't take me anyway. I'm too tall for submarine service, for example -- that was the program that contacted me.
Also, flat feet, overweight, poor eyesight...
And heck, I can support my country without wearing a uniform.
My Father was a volunteer cop back during WWII. I have his ancient Miranda card in a box somewhere. The plastic is falling apart !
"a separate issue (Cambodia) he's a liar"
I don't think this has been established. The SWIFT boats were assigned to patrol up and down rivers in that region.
It's been suggested that before GPS only the boat's navigator would have even known where they were...
Easy to slip across the border in the dark. And not surprising. There's stories about illegal sorties into Cambodia.
And honestly, in a firefight with bullets whizzing around, I'd have GUTshot the guy if I had to !
What HAS been established is that most of the vets saying these things are lying. On closer examination, they didn't serve with Kerry, some weren't even there that day, and one guy said he was repeating what his friends TOLD him.
Hearsay, your Honor.
Move to strike.
No.
When I get up in the morning, I duck under the lintel of the doorway into our living room.
It's Six Feet Seven Inches High. Measured it myself.
Now, true, after a day working on concrete, I'm down to 6'6".
I'm going to give you a thought problem.
Suppose you were to carry a backpack with an extra 80 pounds in it. All day.
Until you got really used to it. Until you could climb hills, stairs, lift and carry an EXTRA hundred pounds.
Climb up the hill, down the hill, up the hill, and you're finally only breathing deeply, not panting.
Wouldn't that build muscle?
Load-bearing muscle, but nonetheless...
You've heard the phrase "throwing your weight around"?
And it's funny how many people think fights are like Kung-Fu movies.
In fact, they're NOT. In boxing, for example, they call some heavyweights "tanks".
It really doesn't take much more than patience. I'm not gonna chase you. Just soak up anything you can do until you make a mistake. Which you will.
Dance around, wear yourself out.
Now, if you're secretly Hulk Hogan, then I'd have a problem.
Or Tyson, of course. Freaky ear-biter !
But on average, I don't need to look for trouble or worry about it much.
The last guy who got in my face was a prankster at work. I told him three times to cut it out.
He liked to put gook under the handles of the handcart I used. The first time it was, annoying. The third time I told him to stop. He didn't.
Until we had a deeper 'discussion'.
I filled my hand with the gook and smeared it down his shirt. He threw one punch which basically bounced off. I returned the favor.
He ran off screaming "that guy's a lunatic".
The previous one to that was in high school and they dragged him away by his heels. Another short punk who thought it was fun to throw wads of wet toilet paper at the big guy with glasses.
And then denied it. I later thought I should have checked to see if his hands were wet.
This stuff got old fast.
Finally he tried something right under my nose and I nailed him.
A teacher was standing right there, and just smiled and looked away.
After those events, the pranks stopped.
By the way, "fatass" isn't polite.
"Why bother talking about a militia, if the entire point of the amendment is to guarantee the people the right to bear arms?"
I think the FF just overlooked the fact that language changes over time.
For example, it was obvious to them what "Militia" means.
A "Militia" is a volunteer soldier group. We don't have those anymore.
Back in 1776, the prevailing attitude toward "professional soldiers" was profound distrust.
The ideal was that a Free Nation should be able to defend itself by calling up volunteers.
In a "Militia", you show up, you bring YOUR OWN gun, your own boots, your own stuff. You get chow, if you happen to like beans. And bullets, generally. That's it.
In an Army, even the Reserves, you just show up. You get issued a gun, boots, haircut, bullets, everybody the same.
(G.I.== General Issue)
So, when the Founding Fathers said "Militia" they meant that in need, people with guns should sign up for a year and fight.
Then, they go home. NO draft. NO stop-loss !
In fact, I just watched a documentary about the Revolutionary War. Turns out George Washington had to persuade his troops to re-up. He couldn't force them to extend their term.
When I was in college, an otherwise learned professor tried to teach the 2nd Amendment HIS way.
I informed him he was wrong. Militia does NOT mean ARMY.
He wouldn't bend. Because he is a fanatic anti-gun NUT.
And Anti-Gun Nuts despise the 2nd Amendment.
Despite the fact that the records of the Federalist Papers show the FF soberly expected the American goverment could get out of hand eventually, and guns would be required to restore Democracy.
Now, I'm a Democrat. And I own a Shotgun. And I like it that way.
I have a fanatical faith in the Consistution, and personal experience that dumb, reckless fools exist in the lower strata of our society who are barely held in check by fear of the police.
I think I have the right to defend my family from these idiots. And if there ARE idiots out there that think I don't, I think they should vote Green.
"Dole told CNN's "Late Edition" in relation to Kerry: "I respect his record. But three Purple Hearts and never bled that I know of. I mean, they're all superficial wounds. Three Purple Hearts and you're out."
Crewmate Sandusky said Monday, "I was there when he got wounded. I saw the blood. I don't care what Dole said.""
I saw that interview... and I wanted to ask:
Why would anyone believe Mr. Dole's opinion is an informed one?
Was Mr. Dole in that Swift Boat?
And the old trick "I respect his record" followed by the direct opposite message.
It's like the Non-Apology Apology. One of my favorites, right after the Red Herring and Kill The Messenger.
"The protestors show me that republicans work for a living and democrats and leftists don't."
... wouldn't the Unions be made up solely of Republicans?
That's so strange ! My uncle Richard quoted that same drek just last Tuesday !
I asked, "Don't most Unions skew Democratic?" You know, Unions made up of people with, um, JOBS !!!?
People who don't wear expensive suits to 'work' ? Who actually, you know, break a sweat now and then?
Because, if in fact Democrats and other leftists don't work for a living,
""To liberals, 'compassion' means giving less productive people the fruits of the efforts of more productive people."
I've puzzled over this viewpoint before this and been left still more puzzled.
It's as if the author of this statement doesn't believe ANY entity has the right to collect taxes. As if he's saying:
"It's MY money, you CAN'T have it ! Go tax someone ELSE, leave ME alone !"
Until, of course, there's a Hurricane and you expect the Goverment you affect to despise to come in and help out.
Do you recall something called the Irish Potato Famine?
All these people literally starving to death. The Brits having taxed them for centuries, collecting RENT on Irish ancestral lands... and the Brits did nothing to help.
Oh, sorry. They DID send around wagons to collect the dead and dying. That's something, anyway.
You'd think that acting to keep your workforce healthy would be a good investment. But why bother? Sure, hundreds of thousands will starve. 'But once the famine passes, the workforce will rebound, without our spending anything !'
This whole dependency on one crop having occured out of desperation because the Brits were stealing everything else.
Here's what evolved out of that famine. In a sense, that famine created the Democratic Party.
a) the Government HAS the right to collect taxes.
b) once the Government has collected the taxes, it's NOT your money, it's THEIR money. Stop moaning already.
c) if the Government collects taxes from the people, it's their obligation to help people when they are helpless.
Not stand around saying "that's awful. Let's all pray it gets better soon !"
So you see, it's not YOUR money once the Government has it.
And since the Government is an entity unto itself, it can spend it's money as it likes.
And if you get out there and vote, you get to help decide policy on where the Gov. spends it's money.
Or if you don't vote, you get to gripe endlessly.
"So who knows...(Though I hear Canada is nice this time of year...)"
Specifically, it's British Columbia that's mind-bendingly gorgeous.
I may be making a move there, depending...
"it wouldnt be hard for a terrorist to switch out the chalk with something else" /Sarcasm Mode ON
/Sarcasm Mode OFF
You know what would be even better? Sure, put anthrax in the chalk writer, yada yada yada.
But think Marketshare !
Better would be to put Anthrax into vending machines. A uniform, some vending machine keys and you could put Ricin or Antrax into your basic instant coffee machine.
Ever drink from those machines?
No security on the ones on College campuses, is there?
Eating Anthrax won't kill you unless you have an ulcer. But it will make you deathly ill...
The next attack will NOT come where you are expecting it. Look up to the sky, and the terrorists will quietly poison the food supply.
If you use justifications like "chalk LOOKS like anthrax, arrest him !" then you've thrown away your civil rights.
Stop it.
"if you try to vandalize anything I own (or someone else owns for that matter and I see you doing it) you're going to get your ass kicked or shot at."
So, now we see why you post as an Anonymous Coward?
I don't vandalize other people's property.
However, I caution you about resorting to violence so quickly. If, for example, you were to make a mistake...
Example: I see a drunk messing with a car. I chase him off. You come along and erroneously think I was trying to vandalize your car.
You take a swing at me. I am six foot seven inches and weigh over 300 pounds. I stomp your stupid posterior into the pavement, leaving a grease stain.
Now, we see by this example that courtesy and communication is the wise course, either online or in person.
Unless YOU are eight feet tall and weigh 500 pounds. In which case, you'd probably be lots more relaxed.
It's always the short kids that think they have something to prove...
"They better damn well be doing searches on everyone. Especially moraless pot smoking democratic teenagers. (Sorry to offend anyone, but the parent offended me)" Excuse me? Do you have special info? Do you know for certain this teenager was moral-less, and a pot smoker? Or do you just throw this stuff out for the fun of it?
I've heard that 'Republic' slant before. Actually, America is a DEMOCRATIC Republic. Pay attention, class. :))
In a true Democracy, every citizen is a member of the goverment and has a voice.
In a Democracy, citizens CAN elect Representatives to debate issues. Or they can carry signs and debate the matter any way they choose as long as it's lawful.
In a true Republic, the citizens are the Plebians and the goverment is run by Patricians. Citizens don't get a voice.
Instead, Representatives are selected, and if a Citizen has a problem, he talks to his local Rep.
A true Republican Representative can be elected, sure. But he can also be chosen, appointed, born to the position, selected by lottery, or heck, annointed by clergy.
A Democratic Republic specifically blends the two. Citizens have a voice, and their representatives can only be elected or very rarely appointed for a term.
I don't see how a thin layer of chalk interferes with your using the public streets ! Walk on by, brother ! Listen, folks. Dissent is legal. Back when Martin Luthor wrote up his 93 theses and tacked 'em to the door of the cathedral, he could have been thrown in prison or killed for his actions. Yet, perhaps because of his actions we have MORE freedom today than our ancestors did. I've read a lot about people saying this was defacing the street. It's CHALK ! If he was using spraypaint, and costing the city money to scour it off, you'd have a point. But chalk is a natural substance, sun and rain and wind will wash it away. NO permanent effect. Suppose there was a law that you can't pollute the air with your opinions unless you got a permit first? After all, we all use the air, we don't want to have to walk by someone stating his opinion, adding to the street noise... But of course, it's SUPPOSED to be Un-Constitutional to restrict a citizen's right to speak !!! I have to say, I think chalk on the street comes pretty close to innocuous. If the city has a specific ordinance against Political Speech done on sidewalks with chalk... I think the Supreme Court should look into that.
An unarmed man? Who said anything about an unarmed man? I just read it, I can't have forgotten...oh, yeah. The man in question was carrying a rocket launcher? That's not unarmed. Get to cover, turn and hit the trigger. BLAM !