What a weird day.
I'm sitting here watching TV.
Story #1 Saddam is hanged.
Story #2 President Gerald Ford's solemn state funeral.
Story #3 James Brown's.....I don't even know what to call it...is it a funeral? Circus? Well since Michael Jackson is there it must be part circus.
Could there be 3 more different death events happening at once in the world?
Very strange.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Saddam is Dead
Yes. Dead.
I'm sure that is shocking to Saddam.
I don't understand him.
There weren't any weapons of mass destruction. So when he had no choice, why didn't he let our inspectors in? Did he really think he could win against the USA? When he was overthrown why didn't he disappear like the Nazi war criminals or Bin Laden. We can't find Bin Laden. Why didn't Saddam get out of there and go hide in Syria or Ft Lauderdale or something? Did he think he was going to come back in power? And during his trial he acted like he was still the dictator and that this trial wasn't already a done deal. Didn't he get the memo that he was going to be found guilty no matter what?
Then they executed him so fast. I wonder what his state of mind was the last day? I would think that he was incredulous that these little ants that he would like to crush and had crushed in the past were going to kill him.
One thing is for certain.
Saddam Hussein, wherever he is at this moment, now has a much clearer picture of right and wrong.
I'm sure that is shocking to Saddam.
I don't understand him.
There weren't any weapons of mass destruction. So when he had no choice, why didn't he let our inspectors in? Did he really think he could win against the USA? When he was overthrown why didn't he disappear like the Nazi war criminals or Bin Laden. We can't find Bin Laden. Why didn't Saddam get out of there and go hide in Syria or Ft Lauderdale or something? Did he think he was going to come back in power? And during his trial he acted like he was still the dictator and that this trial wasn't already a done deal. Didn't he get the memo that he was going to be found guilty no matter what?
Then they executed him so fast. I wonder what his state of mind was the last day? I would think that he was incredulous that these little ants that he would like to crush and had crushed in the past were going to kill him.
One thing is for certain.
Saddam Hussein, wherever he is at this moment, now has a much clearer picture of right and wrong.
Friday, December 22, 2006
A Warrior's Last Steps Home
This is an account that was posted on our company web board of a soldier's last flight home.
A Warrior's Last Steps Home
Last Monday I received a call from the Mortuary Affairs Office. I would have rather have been called by the IRS scheduling an audit for the past 20 years.
A Second Lieutenant had been killed in Afghanistan and we were to send a person to escort him home to his family and final resting place. This time it was not a stranger, it was a young officer whom I knew.
2LT Scott Lundell was a new officer in my previous unit. He was on his way to earning a Green Beret. He heard the sounds of the guns after 9-11
and instinctively this warrior's heart lead him to move towards those who were in danger. He put aside his personal aspirations of earning his Special Forces tab and volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan to train the Afghani Army.
His patrol was ambushed by vastly superior numbers. Undeterred, 2LT Lundell moved to counterattack. 2LT Lundell was always a natural leader. From serving as Student Body President, to serving his church on a foreign mission, to the battlefields of Afghanistan, 2LT Lundell always was a leader. His heroic actions saved many lives, yet cost him his own on that day.
I flew to Philadelphia on Thursday. It was my mission to escort and guard this father, soldier, warrior, husband, and hero on his final journey home.
It was a mission that I wished I had not been offered, but accepted with honor.
The phone rang at 0200. Wake up call, 45 minutes to shine my shoes, shower, shave, and put on my Dress Blues before my ride to Dover AFB arrived. The standard uniform for this assignment is the Army Class "A", but our commander ordered all members of the honor detail to wear the uniform reserved for our most revered occasions.
Sergeant Parsons greeted me as we entered Dover's Mortuary Affairs center.
There were two other's from the Army who were there to escort soldiers home and one Marine with the same assignment. We were lead into a small conference room and began our briefing of our duties and sequence of events.
On the table in front of me sat a stack of cases holding the awards 2LT Lundell had earned. Purple Heart, Bronze Star, combat Action Badge, Paratrooper's Wings.. and a small, black, velvet bag with the words, "United States of America" across the front.
I was instructed to open the green folder on my table and remove the top form. I then to opened the black bag and began to inventory the immediate personal effects of 2LT Lundell. Out of nowhere, somebody hit me in the stomach with a baseball bat. I felt sick. I could feel the fever coming on, I could feel the sweat begin to bead on my head, and my hands began to shake. This was now very real and very personal.
My unsteady hands removed his watch, his dog tags, a challenge coin he had received from the 3rd Special Forces, and finally a gold wedding band.
Through watery eyes I checked off each of these items on the form. I noticed Scott had a small plastic tag on his dog tag chain. I saw the familiar words emblazoned from the Special Operations Memorial in Arlington. It was the scripture from Isaiah 6:8. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
At 0500 I boarded a special van with 2LT Lundell and we drove to Philadelphia. We arrived at the Delta cargo terminal. The driver & I unloaded 2LT Lundell and entered the office to complete his paperwork to travel home. Once we had his affairs in order, the driver took me to the passenger terminal.
I entered the bustling crowd of people all trying to fly to various destinations and began looking for the entrance to check in. I'm not sure if it was my emotionally dazed look or full dress uniform that caught the eye of the Delta agent named Michelle. She quickly pulled me aside and asked if I was escorting. I told her that I was and she took me aside and checked me in for my flight.
She upgraded my seat to first class, told me my departure gate, instructed me to use the far left lane of the security screening, and then took my hand and thanked me. She told me she would come to the gate and help me get to the tarmac to pick up 2LT Lundell.
I walked to the far left side of the TSA screening and stood in line. Regulations require I remain in uniform, but the TSA could ask me to remove my jacket and shoes. I was told they may have a private area where I could remove my jacket and shoes, but did not see any place where this could transpire. An agent from TSA quickly noticed me and asked if I was escorting and I nodded. He opened the line and led me to a lane that was even further to the left.
The TSA agents x-rayed my carry on bag and were able to conduct their security search while allowing me to maintain my professional duties. The agent shook my hand and thanked me. It was painfully obvious to me that this was something they had done many times, yet they really went to lengths to make me feel comfortable.
Michelle met me at the gate and introduced me to Dan, who would take me down to the tarmac. The crew arrived shortly thereafter. The pilot came and shook my hand and told me if I needed anything to let him know. He asked if he could have the other passengers remain seated to allow me to deplane first. I told him it would be very helpful if he could and that it would save time because offloading 2LT Lundell is the first thing the baggage handlers would do.
Dan led me down the stairs and I inspected the cardboard shipping container that protected 2LT Lundell's wooden coffin. There was not doubt it was him. The formality of checking his name and the condition were part of my duties.
I knew it was him. 2LT Lundell was a man larger than life itself. He required an extra large coffin. It was large enough to hold his body, but not the character of his spirit nor the love he gave and received.
The baggage handlers were most professional, but unprepared for such a man. Two of them tried to lift the end of this giant. It took another handler and me to place the 500+ pounds onto the conveyor to load 2LT Lundell into the hold of the 757. Once on the conveyor, I stepped back and rendered a salute as I watched him load into the plane.
I boarded the plane and sat down. The flight was completely full, yet I felt totally alone. I suppose it takes a couple hours to fly from Philadelphia to Atlanta, but time for me was a cloud. I heard the pilot ask the other passengers to allow me to depart the plane first and the flight attendants reminded them of this as we landed.
As we approached the gate I saw an Honor Guard formed by the baggage handlers. I had never seen nor heard of anything like this. I was stunned that the airline would go to such lengths for a fallen soldier. They stood at attention holding the flags of the United States of America, the Army, Marines, Navy, and Air Force.
The plane came to a rest and I stood. Not a single person moved. Every
passenger paid tribute to a man that made it possible for them to fly safely that day. As I exited the aircraft I was immediately greeted by a Delta baggage handler who told me he was a former Marine. He explained that the employees who were veterans received special permission from the Department of Defense to form an Honor Guard so they may honor all of the fallen soldiers as they transport them home. He asked if I would participate in their ceremony and in a prayer with them.
We marched to the conveyor and 2LT Lundell was brought to us. We presented arms as he came down and then the Marine gave a short prayer. We
prayed for Scott, for his family, for me, and for the Lord's protection for all who place themselves in harm's way to defend our freedom. It took every ounce of my strength to maintain my composure as I thanked each of them for what they did that day, for their service to our nation, and for the ceremonies they will render for the hero's that will pass by them in the future. They gave me the short program and the prayer and asked me to give it to his wife. Each man had signed it: Fred Cadwell, James Davis, William Stearns, and Juan Farmer. I wished I had copied the prayer. A few short words, uttered in front of a few men, but heard by God.
2LT Lundell was placed on a special cart. Painted dark blue with the emblems of all branches of the military and these words, "All gave some, some gave all." "Delta vets honoring our own." We were taken to the employee lounge while we waited for our flight to SLC.
When the plane was inbound, we were taken to the gate. The driver parked the cart so nobody would see the precious cargo it carried. He took me upstairs so I could check in. The agent arrived and I asked her if it was possible to move me closer to the door. She said her computer was not up yet, but she would see what she could do. I stood watching the cart through the window. I doubted anybody would notice that one of the baggage carts was very different.
The pilot arrived and immediately walked over to me. He was a former officer in the USAF and his son flies F-15's out of Mountain Home Idaho. He also offered me any assistance he could provide. I told him how touched I had been with everything Delta had done. We shook hands and he went to go conduct his pre-flight checks.
The crowd around the agent at the desk was gone so I walked over to see if
she was able to move me closer to the door. She handed me a boarding
pass that put me at the back of first class nearest to the door. I thanked her and went back to watching 2LT Lundell. The baggage handlers came to move him to prepare to load. The gate agent opened the door and I went down to his cart.
I told the baggage handlers that they needed to get more people. So they brought two more men over. The pilot stopped what he was doing and came to assist as well. The pilot helped us load 2LT Lundell and then stood beside me and rendered a salute as he was placed into the hold of the aircraft.
As we flew to SLC, a gentleman tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a unit coin. He said this was from one grunt to another. He was the Commander of Dugway Proving Grounds. He knew why I was in my dress blues and what I was doing. It was a welcomed gesture of support. I felt I was not as alone on this part of the journey.
The pilot announced to the flight that they were bringing one of Utah's native son's home and that I was escorting him. He asked if everyone would allow me to please exit first. As we taxied to the gate the flight attendants repeated the request and said how privileged they felt to be able to do so and that they wished to thank all those who serve and have served our country.
Chicago was closed that day due to weather. I heard passengers say how only four flights made it out in the morning. Our plane was full of people who had rerouted to try to make their destinations. I heard several passengers mention they had less than 30 minutes to make their connections. I wondered if they would allow me to move to the door. I did not want to have to ask people to move so I could be first.
My concerns were abolished when the plane stopped. I stood and took a step towards the door. Nobody rose; everyone began to applaud at once.
These strangers were bound by a kinship we all shared. We all were part of bringing 2LT Lundell home to Utah.
The first person I saw when I walked down the stair to the tarmac was BG Wilson, the Commander of I Corps. It was his command that 2LT Lundell volunteered to go to war. His eyes looked like mine. We shared in the grief of the responsibility. He returned my salute and gave me pat on the shoulder and thanked me.
Behind him I saw 2LT Lundell's best friend from Afghanistan. He is a 1LT who was going through Special Forces training with 2LT Lundell. This 1LT was one of my ROTC students. I counseled with he and 2LT Lundell about this mission prior to their departure.
This 1LT had brought 2LT Lundell from Afghanistan to the USA. They had served together and they were close. 2LT Lundell's wife asked him to bring him home and to come to the funeral.
The Honor Guard now took charge of transporting 2LT Lundell. These were highly professional NCO's who I had worked with before. I was relieved to see them. They took a tremendous weight off of my shoulders.
They entered the cargo hold of the plane and removed the protective cardboard from the casket. They placed the stars of our nation's flag over the left shoulder and ran the stripes down past his feet. They brought him off the pane and placed him on a cart.
The cart was escorted by his family, the Honor Guard, and at least six airport police to a hanger. In the hanger, 2LT Lundell was taken from the cart and placed into the hearse.
After he was placed into the hearse I saw MG Tarbet. It was obvious that this was very personal to him. He looked like this was his own son. His
strength was only exceeded by 2LT Lundell's wife. I've never seen any two people so close to loosing a loved one handle it so well.
The ride to the mortuary was somber. Every police officer in the valley must have been there. I have seen the motorcade when the President of the US visited Utah and it was nothing compared to what I saw this time.
Every intersection was blocked for the entire 15 mile trip. Police were not leap frogging to get ahead to the next intersection, they were already there.
It was below freezing, yet there were officers on motorcycles.
When we arrived at the funeral home, the Honor Guard removed 2LT Lundell from the hearse and took him inside. Once inside, I followed the casket to a back room. CPT Wiedmeier was the Casualty Assistance Officer and he took care of the family while I went with 2LT Lundell. My job was easy compared to his.
The funeral home director and his staff only had a few minutes to try to make any adjustments if needed. We were told, "Viewable for Identification Only". This would most likely mean a closed casket and no viewing. SGT Parsons had told me they always down grade the condition to protect the family.
When the casket was opened there was opaque plastic covering his face.
I feared the worst. When it was removed, he looked perfect. The funeral home people set about their duties while I inspected his uniform. Everything was in order and they moved him to a viewing room.
CPT Wiedmeier broke away so he and I could take care of paperwork. I signed over 2LT Lundell's personal effects and his awards to him so he could present them to the family. When he left to do this, I met with the Director of the funeral home and had him sign the remaining forms accepting 2LT Lundell and verifying his condition.
The Honor Guard took charge of guarding 2LT Lundell until his funeral.
They would stand vigilant through the night and into the day until he was laid to final rest.
I found the 1LT who brought 2LT Lundell out of Afghanistan. His wife was clutching his arm. I thought how she must be thinking how easily the roles could be reversed and how it could be her husband instead. I talked with him briefly, offering encouragement and assistance. I'm sure those two spent the night holding each other closer than they ever have in their lives.
My wife picked me up and took us home. I thought we would hold each other as well, but when my head hit the pillow I went out. It was not that I was tired from getting up at 0200; it was that I was emotionally fatigued.
This was one of the greatest honors I've ever had. I wish to never do
this again, but would do so anytime for any soldier.
A Warrior's Last Steps Home
Last Monday I received a call from the Mortuary Affairs Office. I would have rather have been called by the IRS scheduling an audit for the past 20 years.
A Second Lieutenant had been killed in Afghanistan and we were to send a person to escort him home to his family and final resting place. This time it was not a stranger, it was a young officer whom I knew.
2LT Scott Lundell was a new officer in my previous unit. He was on his way to earning a Green Beret. He heard the sounds of the guns after 9-11
and instinctively this warrior's heart lead him to move towards those who were in danger. He put aside his personal aspirations of earning his Special Forces tab and volunteered to deploy to Afghanistan to train the Afghani Army.
His patrol was ambushed by vastly superior numbers. Undeterred, 2LT Lundell moved to counterattack. 2LT Lundell was always a natural leader. From serving as Student Body President, to serving his church on a foreign mission, to the battlefields of Afghanistan, 2LT Lundell always was a leader. His heroic actions saved many lives, yet cost him his own on that day.
I flew to Philadelphia on Thursday. It was my mission to escort and guard this father, soldier, warrior, husband, and hero on his final journey home.
It was a mission that I wished I had not been offered, but accepted with honor.
The phone rang at 0200. Wake up call, 45 minutes to shine my shoes, shower, shave, and put on my Dress Blues before my ride to Dover AFB arrived. The standard uniform for this assignment is the Army Class "A", but our commander ordered all members of the honor detail to wear the uniform reserved for our most revered occasions.
Sergeant Parsons greeted me as we entered Dover's Mortuary Affairs center.
There were two other's from the Army who were there to escort soldiers home and one Marine with the same assignment. We were lead into a small conference room and began our briefing of our duties and sequence of events.
On the table in front of me sat a stack of cases holding the awards 2LT Lundell had earned. Purple Heart, Bronze Star, combat Action Badge, Paratrooper's Wings.. and a small, black, velvet bag with the words, "United States of America" across the front.
I was instructed to open the green folder on my table and remove the top form. I then to opened the black bag and began to inventory the immediate personal effects of 2LT Lundell. Out of nowhere, somebody hit me in the stomach with a baseball bat. I felt sick. I could feel the fever coming on, I could feel the sweat begin to bead on my head, and my hands began to shake. This was now very real and very personal.
My unsteady hands removed his watch, his dog tags, a challenge coin he had received from the 3rd Special Forces, and finally a gold wedding band.
Through watery eyes I checked off each of these items on the form. I noticed Scott had a small plastic tag on his dog tag chain. I saw the familiar words emblazoned from the Special Operations Memorial in Arlington. It was the scripture from Isaiah 6:8. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
At 0500 I boarded a special van with 2LT Lundell and we drove to Philadelphia. We arrived at the Delta cargo terminal. The driver & I unloaded 2LT Lundell and entered the office to complete his paperwork to travel home. Once we had his affairs in order, the driver took me to the passenger terminal.
I entered the bustling crowd of people all trying to fly to various destinations and began looking for the entrance to check in. I'm not sure if it was my emotionally dazed look or full dress uniform that caught the eye of the Delta agent named Michelle. She quickly pulled me aside and asked if I was escorting. I told her that I was and she took me aside and checked me in for my flight.
She upgraded my seat to first class, told me my departure gate, instructed me to use the far left lane of the security screening, and then took my hand and thanked me. She told me she would come to the gate and help me get to the tarmac to pick up 2LT Lundell.
I walked to the far left side of the TSA screening and stood in line. Regulations require I remain in uniform, but the TSA could ask me to remove my jacket and shoes. I was told they may have a private area where I could remove my jacket and shoes, but did not see any place where this could transpire. An agent from TSA quickly noticed me and asked if I was escorting and I nodded. He opened the line and led me to a lane that was even further to the left.
The TSA agents x-rayed my carry on bag and were able to conduct their security search while allowing me to maintain my professional duties. The agent shook my hand and thanked me. It was painfully obvious to me that this was something they had done many times, yet they really went to lengths to make me feel comfortable.
Michelle met me at the gate and introduced me to Dan, who would take me down to the tarmac. The crew arrived shortly thereafter. The pilot came and shook my hand and told me if I needed anything to let him know. He asked if he could have the other passengers remain seated to allow me to deplane first. I told him it would be very helpful if he could and that it would save time because offloading 2LT Lundell is the first thing the baggage handlers would do.
Dan led me down the stairs and I inspected the cardboard shipping container that protected 2LT Lundell's wooden coffin. There was not doubt it was him. The formality of checking his name and the condition were part of my duties.
I knew it was him. 2LT Lundell was a man larger than life itself. He required an extra large coffin. It was large enough to hold his body, but not the character of his spirit nor the love he gave and received.
The baggage handlers were most professional, but unprepared for such a man. Two of them tried to lift the end of this giant. It took another handler and me to place the 500+ pounds onto the conveyor to load 2LT Lundell into the hold of the 757. Once on the conveyor, I stepped back and rendered a salute as I watched him load into the plane.
I boarded the plane and sat down. The flight was completely full, yet I felt totally alone. I suppose it takes a couple hours to fly from Philadelphia to Atlanta, but time for me was a cloud. I heard the pilot ask the other passengers to allow me to depart the plane first and the flight attendants reminded them of this as we landed.
As we approached the gate I saw an Honor Guard formed by the baggage handlers. I had never seen nor heard of anything like this. I was stunned that the airline would go to such lengths for a fallen soldier. They stood at attention holding the flags of the United States of America, the Army, Marines, Navy, and Air Force.
The plane came to a rest and I stood. Not a single person moved. Every
passenger paid tribute to a man that made it possible for them to fly safely that day. As I exited the aircraft I was immediately greeted by a Delta baggage handler who told me he was a former Marine. He explained that the employees who were veterans received special permission from the Department of Defense to form an Honor Guard so they may honor all of the fallen soldiers as they transport them home. He asked if I would participate in their ceremony and in a prayer with them.
We marched to the conveyor and 2LT Lundell was brought to us. We presented arms as he came down and then the Marine gave a short prayer. We
prayed for Scott, for his family, for me, and for the Lord's protection for all who place themselves in harm's way to defend our freedom. It took every ounce of my strength to maintain my composure as I thanked each of them for what they did that day, for their service to our nation, and for the ceremonies they will render for the hero's that will pass by them in the future. They gave me the short program and the prayer and asked me to give it to his wife. Each man had signed it: Fred Cadwell, James Davis, William Stearns, and Juan Farmer. I wished I had copied the prayer. A few short words, uttered in front of a few men, but heard by God.
2LT Lundell was placed on a special cart. Painted dark blue with the emblems of all branches of the military and these words, "All gave some, some gave all." "Delta vets honoring our own." We were taken to the employee lounge while we waited for our flight to SLC.
When the plane was inbound, we were taken to the gate. The driver parked the cart so nobody would see the precious cargo it carried. He took me upstairs so I could check in. The agent arrived and I asked her if it was possible to move me closer to the door. She said her computer was not up yet, but she would see what she could do. I stood watching the cart through the window. I doubted anybody would notice that one of the baggage carts was very different.
The pilot arrived and immediately walked over to me. He was a former officer in the USAF and his son flies F-15's out of Mountain Home Idaho. He also offered me any assistance he could provide. I told him how touched I had been with everything Delta had done. We shook hands and he went to go conduct his pre-flight checks.
The crowd around the agent at the desk was gone so I walked over to see if
she was able to move me closer to the door. She handed me a boarding
pass that put me at the back of first class nearest to the door. I thanked her and went back to watching 2LT Lundell. The baggage handlers came to move him to prepare to load. The gate agent opened the door and I went down to his cart.
I told the baggage handlers that they needed to get more people. So they brought two more men over. The pilot stopped what he was doing and came to assist as well. The pilot helped us load 2LT Lundell and then stood beside me and rendered a salute as he was placed into the hold of the aircraft.
As we flew to SLC, a gentleman tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a unit coin. He said this was from one grunt to another. He was the Commander of Dugway Proving Grounds. He knew why I was in my dress blues and what I was doing. It was a welcomed gesture of support. I felt I was not as alone on this part of the journey.
The pilot announced to the flight that they were bringing one of Utah's native son's home and that I was escorting him. He asked if everyone would allow me to please exit first. As we taxied to the gate the flight attendants repeated the request and said how privileged they felt to be able to do so and that they wished to thank all those who serve and have served our country.
Chicago was closed that day due to weather. I heard passengers say how only four flights made it out in the morning. Our plane was full of people who had rerouted to try to make their destinations. I heard several passengers mention they had less than 30 minutes to make their connections. I wondered if they would allow me to move to the door. I did not want to have to ask people to move so I could be first.
My concerns were abolished when the plane stopped. I stood and took a step towards the door. Nobody rose; everyone began to applaud at once.
These strangers were bound by a kinship we all shared. We all were part of bringing 2LT Lundell home to Utah.
The first person I saw when I walked down the stair to the tarmac was BG Wilson, the Commander of I Corps. It was his command that 2LT Lundell volunteered to go to war. His eyes looked like mine. We shared in the grief of the responsibility. He returned my salute and gave me pat on the shoulder and thanked me.
Behind him I saw 2LT Lundell's best friend from Afghanistan. He is a 1LT who was going through Special Forces training with 2LT Lundell. This 1LT was one of my ROTC students. I counseled with he and 2LT Lundell about this mission prior to their departure.
This 1LT had brought 2LT Lundell from Afghanistan to the USA. They had served together and they were close. 2LT Lundell's wife asked him to bring him home and to come to the funeral.
The Honor Guard now took charge of transporting 2LT Lundell. These were highly professional NCO's who I had worked with before. I was relieved to see them. They took a tremendous weight off of my shoulders.
They entered the cargo hold of the plane and removed the protective cardboard from the casket. They placed the stars of our nation's flag over the left shoulder and ran the stripes down past his feet. They brought him off the pane and placed him on a cart.
The cart was escorted by his family, the Honor Guard, and at least six airport police to a hanger. In the hanger, 2LT Lundell was taken from the cart and placed into the hearse.
After he was placed into the hearse I saw MG Tarbet. It was obvious that this was very personal to him. He looked like this was his own son. His
strength was only exceeded by 2LT Lundell's wife. I've never seen any two people so close to loosing a loved one handle it so well.
The ride to the mortuary was somber. Every police officer in the valley must have been there. I have seen the motorcade when the President of the US visited Utah and it was nothing compared to what I saw this time.
Every intersection was blocked for the entire 15 mile trip. Police were not leap frogging to get ahead to the next intersection, they were already there.
It was below freezing, yet there were officers on motorcycles.
When we arrived at the funeral home, the Honor Guard removed 2LT Lundell from the hearse and took him inside. Once inside, I followed the casket to a back room. CPT Wiedmeier was the Casualty Assistance Officer and he took care of the family while I went with 2LT Lundell. My job was easy compared to his.
The funeral home director and his staff only had a few minutes to try to make any adjustments if needed. We were told, "Viewable for Identification Only". This would most likely mean a closed casket and no viewing. SGT Parsons had told me they always down grade the condition to protect the family.
When the casket was opened there was opaque plastic covering his face.
I feared the worst. When it was removed, he looked perfect. The funeral home people set about their duties while I inspected his uniform. Everything was in order and they moved him to a viewing room.
CPT Wiedmeier broke away so he and I could take care of paperwork. I signed over 2LT Lundell's personal effects and his awards to him so he could present them to the family. When he left to do this, I met with the Director of the funeral home and had him sign the remaining forms accepting 2LT Lundell and verifying his condition.
The Honor Guard took charge of guarding 2LT Lundell until his funeral.
They would stand vigilant through the night and into the day until he was laid to final rest.
I found the 1LT who brought 2LT Lundell out of Afghanistan. His wife was clutching his arm. I thought how she must be thinking how easily the roles could be reversed and how it could be her husband instead. I talked with him briefly, offering encouragement and assistance. I'm sure those two spent the night holding each other closer than they ever have in their lives.
My wife picked me up and took us home. I thought we would hold each other as well, but when my head hit the pillow I went out. It was not that I was tired from getting up at 0200; it was that I was emotionally fatigued.
This was one of the greatest honors I've ever had. I wish to never do
this again, but would do so anytime for any soldier.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
The Lock Box
Remember when Al Gore was running for President? He had the Social Security "lock box".
I was reading an article the other day and it said that 100% of the Social Security trust fund is in US Treasury notes. Which really means there isn't one dime in the account. Because we loaned ourselves the money. I wish I could do that.
So not a penny in the SS account and we just spent $110 Billion in Iraq this fiscal year ending October 1st.
We are a nation that doesn't really ever look at ourselves for long. Maybe it's too painful. What we have are short term crises. Like SS. It was all the rage. The sky is falling etc. Well it is going to fall and as we plod along we've done nothing to fix it.
Same with our energy policy. Remember $3-4 gasoline. Crisis! And that was only a few months ago. Now that oil prices have fallen...it's what crisis?
And we have really fallen back asleep when it comes to terrorism.
Nothing has been done to secure our borders. Or nuclear power plants. Or water systems. Or the power grid. Or the ports. Nothing. We are now sufficiently far enough from 9/11 that we are back in our glorious stupor, wallowing in the mud until the next attack comes over here. Then the politicians will all look at each other and say...how could we have imagined that happening? How could we have prepared for it? Well the bad guys are imaging and preparing.
Enough negativity.
Merry Christmas!
I was reading an article the other day and it said that 100% of the Social Security trust fund is in US Treasury notes. Which really means there isn't one dime in the account. Because we loaned ourselves the money. I wish I could do that.
So not a penny in the SS account and we just spent $110 Billion in Iraq this fiscal year ending October 1st.
We are a nation that doesn't really ever look at ourselves for long. Maybe it's too painful. What we have are short term crises. Like SS. It was all the rage. The sky is falling etc. Well it is going to fall and as we plod along we've done nothing to fix it.
Same with our energy policy. Remember $3-4 gasoline. Crisis! And that was only a few months ago. Now that oil prices have fallen...it's what crisis?
And we have really fallen back asleep when it comes to terrorism.
Nothing has been done to secure our borders. Or nuclear power plants. Or water systems. Or the power grid. Or the ports. Nothing. We are now sufficiently far enough from 9/11 that we are back in our glorious stupor, wallowing in the mud until the next attack comes over here. Then the politicians will all look at each other and say...how could we have imagined that happening? How could we have prepared for it? Well the bad guys are imaging and preparing.
Enough negativity.
Merry Christmas!
Bin Laden Who?
Whatever happened to Bin Laden?
Remember? The guy who blew us up. Multiple times. And still wants to blow us up.
I just got done watching the video 9/11 Press for Truth, and I had all but forgotten about Bin Laden.
The Iraq fiasco is such a mess that we don't even worry about Bin too much. The media never talks about him.
It amazing to me what a free pass the media has given Bush. Yes they talk about Iraq and what's going on but I don't see this huge left leaning in the media. I think that they're pretty nice to Bush. Nobody really brings up the hard questions.
Watching the 9/11 video and some of Bush's statements like we will catch who did this (Bin Laden), they will be brought to justice etc, and then looking at the fact that no one either wants to find him or is even still looking seems very strange to me.
Another great point made in this movie is that in Watergate, we didn't accept the administration's story. Nixon said that he had nothing to do with Watergate and instead of blindly accepting it the reporters found out the real story.
What is the real story?
And where the heck in Bin Laden and why isn't he 6 feet under by now?
Remember? The guy who blew us up. Multiple times. And still wants to blow us up.
I just got done watching the video 9/11 Press for Truth, and I had all but forgotten about Bin Laden.
The Iraq fiasco is such a mess that we don't even worry about Bin too much. The media never talks about him.
It amazing to me what a free pass the media has given Bush. Yes they talk about Iraq and what's going on but I don't see this huge left leaning in the media. I think that they're pretty nice to Bush. Nobody really brings up the hard questions.
Watching the 9/11 video and some of Bush's statements like we will catch who did this (Bin Laden), they will be brought to justice etc, and then looking at the fact that no one either wants to find him or is even still looking seems very strange to me.
Another great point made in this movie is that in Watergate, we didn't accept the administration's story. Nixon said that he had nothing to do with Watergate and instead of blindly accepting it the reporters found out the real story.
What is the real story?
And where the heck in Bin Laden and why isn't he 6 feet under by now?
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Ahmadinejad And Thin Ice
By George F. Will
Newsweek
Dec. 18, 2006 issue
How gruesome was 2006? The year's most consequential person was Iran's president, who says the Holocaust did not happen and vows to complete it. Regarding his nuclear aspirations, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose manias are leavened with realism, treated the United Nations as a figment of the imagination of a fiction—the "international community."
Democrats, given control of Congress because of Iraq, vowed to raise the minimum wage. Nimble and graceful Barack Obama became the Democrats' Fred Astaire, adored because of, well, perhaps the way he wears his hat, the way he sips his tea. And the way he isn't Hillary.
This year's civil-rights outrage was "soaring" and "record" gasoline prices, a violation of Americans' inalienable right to pay for a gallon no more than they paid 25 years ago. By December the price of a gallon, adjusted for inflation, was 83 cents lower than in 1981. Kansas voters removed some skeptics of evolution from the state's school board. A fossil 3.3 million years old revealed that a little girl from the human lineage had arms and shoulders suited to climbing and swinging through trees.
In order to show "tolerance of people's beliefs," government workers in England's West Midlands were told, after a Muslim complained, to remove from sight all pig-related items, such as a tissue box featuring Winnie the Pooh and Piglet. But tolerance was episodic in Europe in 2006: In Sweden, police said the soccer fan who wore on his clothes a Swedish flag, which features a cross, "provoked some emotions." Indeed. He was beaten nearly to death by Muslim immigrants. Inspector Clouseau, call your office: French police denied that anti-Semitism was involved in the kidnapping and murder of a Jewish man by Muslim immigrants who demanded a ransom from a synagogue. Angry about those Danish cartoons depicting the prophet, Iran's bakers renamed Danish pastries "Roses of the Prophet Muhammad pastries." Although no one had complained, the human-rights director for the provocatively named city of St. Paul, Minn., had a HAPPY EASTER sign removed from city hall.
Two U.S. explorers went to the North Pole to study how global warming threatens polar bears. They had planned to go last year, but were forced to delay Project Thin Ice because of unusually heavy snow and ice. The "emerging hurricane problem," which, after Katrina, The New York Times identified as a consequence of global warming, did not emerge. The unusually tranquil Atlantic hurricane season was explained as a consequence of ... global warming affecting the Pacific. Two senators, Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia and Olympia Snowe of Maine, warned ExxonMobil that global warming is an undeniable fact, so the corporation should desist from its "dangerous" support of research by persons with doubts. The senators did not explain the danger involved in doubting the indubitable. There were dangers—disorder, sporadic violence—among those gathered outside stores in the predawn hours before the PlayStation 3 gaming console went on sale.
Great moments in government: The Florida woman who wounded with a shotgun the alligator that entered her house and attacked her golden retriever was given a warning citation for hunting without a permit. Compassionate social democracy: The Danish government continued to pay prostitutes to service the disabled.
Ancient Greece pioneered philosophy and democracy. Modern Greece this year gave the world a new wrinkle in creative accounting: It became 25 percent richer after its GDP was revised to account for such booming service industries as prostitution and money laundering. The intellectual fare served at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee included a course called the Social Construction of Obesity. (Fatness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder to whom society's power structure, always eager to foment new forms of discrimination, has given false consciousness.) Elsewhere in higher education, at Bucknell's "celebration of whore culture," a woman stripped on a trapeze.
In Tacoma, Wash., a judge asked those in her courtroom to cheer "Go, Seahawks!" Then she sentenced a man convicted of manslaughter to 13½ years. The chief executive of Eternal Image Inc., which announced caskets and urns with logos of all 30 Major League Baseball teams, called this "a way to make team loyalty a final statement." Red Auerbach, whose Celtics teams won seven championships without having a player among the NBA's top 10 scorers, died this year at 89. Romano Mussolini, who died this year at 79, son of Il Duce, had played jazz with Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington and Chet Baker.
Lillian Gertrude Asplund was 5 when her father smiled and said, "Go ahead, we will get into one of the other boats." He did not. Lillian never married, and retired early to take care of her mother, who never recovered from losing her husband. Lillian, the last American survivor of the Titanic, was 99.
© 2006 Newsweek, Inc
Newsweek
Dec. 18, 2006 issue
How gruesome was 2006? The year's most consequential person was Iran's president, who says the Holocaust did not happen and vows to complete it. Regarding his nuclear aspirations, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose manias are leavened with realism, treated the United Nations as a figment of the imagination of a fiction—the "international community."
Democrats, given control of Congress because of Iraq, vowed to raise the minimum wage. Nimble and graceful Barack Obama became the Democrats' Fred Astaire, adored because of, well, perhaps the way he wears his hat, the way he sips his tea. And the way he isn't Hillary.
This year's civil-rights outrage was "soaring" and "record" gasoline prices, a violation of Americans' inalienable right to pay for a gallon no more than they paid 25 years ago. By December the price of a gallon, adjusted for inflation, was 83 cents lower than in 1981. Kansas voters removed some skeptics of evolution from the state's school board. A fossil 3.3 million years old revealed that a little girl from the human lineage had arms and shoulders suited to climbing and swinging through trees.
In order to show "tolerance of people's beliefs," government workers in England's West Midlands were told, after a Muslim complained, to remove from sight all pig-related items, such as a tissue box featuring Winnie the Pooh and Piglet. But tolerance was episodic in Europe in 2006: In Sweden, police said the soccer fan who wore on his clothes a Swedish flag, which features a cross, "provoked some emotions." Indeed. He was beaten nearly to death by Muslim immigrants. Inspector Clouseau, call your office: French police denied that anti-Semitism was involved in the kidnapping and murder of a Jewish man by Muslim immigrants who demanded a ransom from a synagogue. Angry about those Danish cartoons depicting the prophet, Iran's bakers renamed Danish pastries "Roses of the Prophet Muhammad pastries." Although no one had complained, the human-rights director for the provocatively named city of St. Paul, Minn., had a HAPPY EASTER sign removed from city hall.
Two U.S. explorers went to the North Pole to study how global warming threatens polar bears. They had planned to go last year, but were forced to delay Project Thin Ice because of unusually heavy snow and ice. The "emerging hurricane problem," which, after Katrina, The New York Times identified as a consequence of global warming, did not emerge. The unusually tranquil Atlantic hurricane season was explained as a consequence of ... global warming affecting the Pacific. Two senators, Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia and Olympia Snowe of Maine, warned ExxonMobil that global warming is an undeniable fact, so the corporation should desist from its "dangerous" support of research by persons with doubts. The senators did not explain the danger involved in doubting the indubitable. There were dangers—disorder, sporadic violence—among those gathered outside stores in the predawn hours before the PlayStation 3 gaming console went on sale.
Great moments in government: The Florida woman who wounded with a shotgun the alligator that entered her house and attacked her golden retriever was given a warning citation for hunting without a permit. Compassionate social democracy: The Danish government continued to pay prostitutes to service the disabled.
Ancient Greece pioneered philosophy and democracy. Modern Greece this year gave the world a new wrinkle in creative accounting: It became 25 percent richer after its GDP was revised to account for such booming service industries as prostitution and money laundering. The intellectual fare served at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee included a course called the Social Construction of Obesity. (Fatness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder to whom society's power structure, always eager to foment new forms of discrimination, has given false consciousness.) Elsewhere in higher education, at Bucknell's "celebration of whore culture," a woman stripped on a trapeze.
In Tacoma, Wash., a judge asked those in her courtroom to cheer "Go, Seahawks!" Then she sentenced a man convicted of manslaughter to 13½ years. The chief executive of Eternal Image Inc., which announced caskets and urns with logos of all 30 Major League Baseball teams, called this "a way to make team loyalty a final statement." Red Auerbach, whose Celtics teams won seven championships without having a player among the NBA's top 10 scorers, died this year at 89. Romano Mussolini, who died this year at 79, son of Il Duce, had played jazz with Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington and Chet Baker.
Lillian Gertrude Asplund was 5 when her father smiled and said, "Go ahead, we will get into one of the other boats." He did not. Lillian never married, and retired early to take care of her mother, who never recovered from losing her husband. Lillian, the last American survivor of the Titanic, was 99.
© 2006 Newsweek, Inc
Thursday, December 14, 2006
My Co-Pilot
I just flew with a guy who was a Christian. Me too, so we have something in common.
Not exactly.
He told me he really liked this movie that Tim Robbins was in. I've never heard of it but he told me that he really didn't like Tim Robbins as a person because of his political beliefs.
He said, I'm very conservative.
I said, I'm very liberal.
I asked him what was one issue that Tim Robbins had that you disagree with. Well, he's a big supporter of the ACLU which supports NAMBLA. The man boy love association. The ACLU supports human rights and I doubt that there is one sane person on the planet who thinks it would be a good idea for a man to have sex with a boy.
He said that there wasn't any way that a Christian could also be a Democrat. I am still waiting to post the revision to my Bible that includes that prohibition.
He hates gays. Did you know that a gay person has a 20% less life span than a "normal" person. Yes that's what he said. And gays have up to 20 sex partners a night. Amazing. The stamina of those gays. This by the way is all propoganda from the likes of John Hagee and James Dobson. He has their hate memorized.
Since he hates gays so much, I wonder who cuts his wife's hair? Surley he doesn't watch TV or movies that have those gays in them. I wonder if he listens to Elton John music. How does he work with those male flight attendants who are gay? What about their diseases? You know, because they're all diseased. Maybe the night before they were with 20 sex partners. Ooooh. I bet he wants to strangle them. With rubber gloves on of course. How does he do it? It's OK for the right wing "people" to enjoy the "queers" as enteratiners, hair stylers, flight attendants, nurses or whatever serves their needs. But when they have to think of them as real human beings.....then it's time to fire up the transport plane, take them to a remote island and begin bombing.
He hates everyone.
I told him that Jesus was a very liberal person. I thought he was going to jump out over Montana. He didn't like that.
I'm reading a good book right now. It's about grace and truth.
You can't have all grace because you'll never strive to do the right thing or improve. You can't have all truth because that is way too harsh and God teaches about love. So you have to combine the two. Something few people do.
I asked him, what would your church do if an alcoholic came in and confessed. Well, he said, we would tell him that alcoholism is wrong and stop drinking immediately and if he didn't out he goes. You know, it takes a little more time and love than 10 seconds to help an alcoholic.
You know what usually happens to people like him? Things are seemingly perfect now and he can judge all he wants...but when the kids get older and start getting pregnant, on drugs, gay (now that's justice) or whatever, I sure hope that more of the grace kicks in for him.
Of course his church will also kick him out to the street.
Not exactly.
He told me he really liked this movie that Tim Robbins was in. I've never heard of it but he told me that he really didn't like Tim Robbins as a person because of his political beliefs.
He said, I'm very conservative.
I said, I'm very liberal.
I asked him what was one issue that Tim Robbins had that you disagree with. Well, he's a big supporter of the ACLU which supports NAMBLA. The man boy love association. The ACLU supports human rights and I doubt that there is one sane person on the planet who thinks it would be a good idea for a man to have sex with a boy.
He said that there wasn't any way that a Christian could also be a Democrat. I am still waiting to post the revision to my Bible that includes that prohibition.
He hates gays. Did you know that a gay person has a 20% less life span than a "normal" person. Yes that's what he said. And gays have up to 20 sex partners a night. Amazing. The stamina of those gays. This by the way is all propoganda from the likes of John Hagee and James Dobson. He has their hate memorized.
Since he hates gays so much, I wonder who cuts his wife's hair? Surley he doesn't watch TV or movies that have those gays in them. I wonder if he listens to Elton John music. How does he work with those male flight attendants who are gay? What about their diseases? You know, because they're all diseased. Maybe the night before they were with 20 sex partners. Ooooh. I bet he wants to strangle them. With rubber gloves on of course. How does he do it? It's OK for the right wing "people" to enjoy the "queers" as enteratiners, hair stylers, flight attendants, nurses or whatever serves their needs. But when they have to think of them as real human beings.....then it's time to fire up the transport plane, take them to a remote island and begin bombing.
He hates everyone.
I told him that Jesus was a very liberal person. I thought he was going to jump out over Montana. He didn't like that.
I'm reading a good book right now. It's about grace and truth.
You can't have all grace because you'll never strive to do the right thing or improve. You can't have all truth because that is way too harsh and God teaches about love. So you have to combine the two. Something few people do.
I asked him, what would your church do if an alcoholic came in and confessed. Well, he said, we would tell him that alcoholism is wrong and stop drinking immediately and if he didn't out he goes. You know, it takes a little more time and love than 10 seconds to help an alcoholic.
You know what usually happens to people like him? Things are seemingly perfect now and he can judge all he wants...but when the kids get older and start getting pregnant, on drugs, gay (now that's justice) or whatever, I sure hope that more of the grace kicks in for him.
Of course his church will also kick him out to the street.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
This Creepy Picture
This oil painting was given to me by my Grandparents. They can't remember where they got it.
Everyone hates this painting because it gives them the creeps. It is a very weird painting. The eyes follow you.
The guy who does my physical therapy is also a psychic or something and I had never told him about this painting and when I brought it home he said what did you bring in the house. I said, what? Since I really don't believe in all of that. He described the painting in detail and said there was a lot of energy coming form that painting.
I believe it.
It is a weird piece of canvas.
The artist is Hungarian and supposedly painted it in 1921. His name is Jeno Doman or Domyz or something like that.
I think that this painting has something to do with WWII and the Nazis. They stole it or it belonged to a Jewish family that something bad happened to.
So if anyone knows anything about this painting please tell me.
The Rabbi needs to go back to his original home and leave me alone.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
What is Wrong with Bush?
The Iraq commission's report headed by James Baker, George's daddy's friend, is out.
Bush is cool about most of the suggestions and at a news conference with Tony Blair today he said this...
"If we were to fail, that failed policy will come to haunt generations of Americans in the future".
Hello moron...we have failed...your policy is failed...you have failed us, the Iraqi people, the 22,000 maimed servicemen and especially the 2500 dead brave servicemen.
It's time for plan B.
If something isn't working and it hasn't been working for a long time....to continue to do it is insane.
it's like when you ask the Dr, "when I do this with my arm it hurts". And he says, "stop doing that with your arm".
Duh.
Same with Iraq.
Good grief.
When is the President actually going to wake up?
Bush is cool about most of the suggestions and at a news conference with Tony Blair today he said this...
"If we were to fail, that failed policy will come to haunt generations of Americans in the future".
Hello moron...we have failed...your policy is failed...you have failed us, the Iraqi people, the 22,000 maimed servicemen and especially the 2500 dead brave servicemen.
It's time for plan B.
If something isn't working and it hasn't been working for a long time....to continue to do it is insane.
it's like when you ask the Dr, "when I do this with my arm it hurts". And he says, "stop doing that with your arm".
Duh.
Same with Iraq.
Good grief.
When is the President actually going to wake up?
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Misleading News
Last night on the CBS news...please don't ask me why I still watch that...they had a story about US manufacturing.
The gist of the story was that we still made a lot of stuff and not everything was being made overseas. As a matter of fact they said or made it seem.....most of the stuff we buy is from the USA. We are a manufacturing powerhouse.
Maybe that's true. I don't think so. But the facts they presented were misleading.
The story was about Caterpillar...the company that makes those big earth moving things...yellow...that kids like to play with...or at least I did
The story said that the US exports some dollar amount of manufactured goods overseas which is I think twice as much as Japan imports to us.
I'm sure that's true.
But how much has that number changed in the last 20 years. I'm sure alot. I'm sure it's gone way down. And what about China...hello? Japan was the big exporter 25 years ago. It was a joke. Made in Japan. Now the joke is made in China. Not a word about China. Everything is made in China. Go to Wal-Mart. try to buy something that is made in the US other than a poorly made car or a Caterpillar. Well maybe not poorly made but certainly not one I want to drive. I don't want a Grand Marquis thank you. Even as a prize.
So what was CBS's motivation to mislead us last night and not tell the whole truth?
I wonder.
The gist of the story was that we still made a lot of stuff and not everything was being made overseas. As a matter of fact they said or made it seem.....most of the stuff we buy is from the USA. We are a manufacturing powerhouse.
Maybe that's true. I don't think so. But the facts they presented were misleading.
The story was about Caterpillar...the company that makes those big earth moving things...yellow...that kids like to play with...or at least I did
The story said that the US exports some dollar amount of manufactured goods overseas which is I think twice as much as Japan imports to us.
I'm sure that's true.
But how much has that number changed in the last 20 years. I'm sure alot. I'm sure it's gone way down. And what about China...hello? Japan was the big exporter 25 years ago. It was a joke. Made in Japan. Now the joke is made in China. Not a word about China. Everything is made in China. Go to Wal-Mart. try to buy something that is made in the US other than a poorly made car or a Caterpillar. Well maybe not poorly made but certainly not one I want to drive. I don't want a Grand Marquis thank you. Even as a prize.
So what was CBS's motivation to mislead us last night and not tell the whole truth?
I wonder.
Bush Insanity
I don't understand President Bush.
He's in the habit now of saying one thing very definitively and then a few days later saying the exact opposite.
He said, Brownie you doin one heck of a job, referring to Michael Brown the FEMA chief who was doing a deplorable job with Katrina. Days later he was fired.
Days before the election he stood steadfastly behind Rumsfeld the Defense Secretary and said he was doing great. A few days later after the election, Rumsfeld is fired.
A week ago, President Bush said we were winning in Iraq. Absolutely. Now, his appointee for Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says at his confirmation hearings that we're not winning. There's no way he would say that without Bush's approval.
So what's going on?
Bush's advisers aren't stupid. And Bush isn't even that stupid.
So why does he make such definitive statements only to contradict himself a few days later.
I don't get it.
He's in the habit now of saying one thing very definitively and then a few days later saying the exact opposite.
He said, Brownie you doin one heck of a job, referring to Michael Brown the FEMA chief who was doing a deplorable job with Katrina. Days later he was fired.
Days before the election he stood steadfastly behind Rumsfeld the Defense Secretary and said he was doing great. A few days later after the election, Rumsfeld is fired.
A week ago, President Bush said we were winning in Iraq. Absolutely. Now, his appointee for Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says at his confirmation hearings that we're not winning. There's no way he would say that without Bush's approval.
So what's going on?
Bush's advisers aren't stupid. And Bush isn't even that stupid.
So why does he make such definitive statements only to contradict himself a few days later.
I don't get it.
Monday, December 04, 2006
OJ
I know this is old news...but
I just don't understand OJ's book and interviews being cancelled.
Of course it absolutely should have been. But since when does corporate America react in this way? Especially a huge corporation.
Surely before they spent all of this money they did some market research, didn't they? I mean they gave the murderer 3.5 million dollars and paid to have the book written for him and then produced the TV special. So what were they smoking? And what pressure was so huge that they caved. I don't get it.
Even if they had no advertisers you would think they would still show the show. What, nobody is going to watch Fox again? Was it even on Fox? See I don't know and nobody does either. I know it is Rupert Murdoch or Richard or whatever his name is who owns the company I think. What he got a bad case of the conscience? I don't think so.
So, when money rules all and free speech is always paramount or at least they say it is...what really happened?
I just don't understand OJ's book and interviews being cancelled.
Of course it absolutely should have been. But since when does corporate America react in this way? Especially a huge corporation.
Surely before they spent all of this money they did some market research, didn't they? I mean they gave the murderer 3.5 million dollars and paid to have the book written for him and then produced the TV special. So what were they smoking? And what pressure was so huge that they caved. I don't get it.
Even if they had no advertisers you would think they would still show the show. What, nobody is going to watch Fox again? Was it even on Fox? See I don't know and nobody does either. I know it is Rupert Murdoch or Richard or whatever his name is who owns the company I think. What he got a bad case of the conscience? I don't think so.
So, when money rules all and free speech is always paramount or at least they say it is...what really happened?
Sunday, December 03, 2006
The Griswold's weren't home
I left the Bat Cave AFTER DARK to take pictures of the Griswold's $9,000 light extravaganza. But they weren't home so I took some pics of other houses on the fancy streets.
Maybe if I get enough courage to turn the alarm off tomorrow after dark the Griswold's will be home. But it is a full moon. I'll have to think about that.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
The Koran and the evil Muslims are taking over...or so says Donald Wildmon
Donald E. Wildmon
>Founder and Chairman
>
> November 29, 2006
> Please help us get this information into the hands of as many people as
>possible by forwarding it to your entire email list of family and friends.
> A first for America...The Koran replaces the Bible at swearing-in oath
> What book will America base it's values on, the Bible or the Koran?
> Dear Friends,
> Please take a moment to read the following TownHall.com column by Dennis
>Prager, who is a Jew. After reading the column, take the suggest action at
>the bottom of this email. After you have read it, please forward it to your
>friends and family.
>
>America, Not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath
>on
>By Dennis Prager - Tuesday, November 28, 2006
>
>Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the first Muslim elected to the United States
>Congress, has announced that he will not take his oath of office on the
>Bible, but on the bible of Islam, the Koran.
>
>He should not be allowed to do so -- not because of any American hostility
>to the Koran, but because the act undermines American civilization.
What? How in the world does that undermine American civilization. I think 11 million aliens, huge deficits, 1 billion spent in Iraq every 3 days, global warming, dependence on oil, Donald Trump, internet porn, record divorce rates, record teenage pregnancies, AIDS,etc. undermines our civilization more.
>
>First, it is an act of hubris that perfectly exemplifies multiculturalist
>activism -- my culture trumps America's culture. What Ellison and his
>Muslim and leftist supporters are saying is that it is of no consequence
>what America holds as its holiest book; all that matters is what any
>individual holds to be his holiest book.
>
>Forgive me, but America should not give a hoot what Keith Ellison's
>favorite book is. Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve
>America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only
>one book, the Bible. If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book,
>don't serve in Congress. In your personal life, we will fight for your
>right to prefer any other book. We will even fight for your right to
>publish cartoons mocking our Bible. But, Mr. Ellison, America, not you,
>decides on what book its public servants take their oath.
Where does it say that the oath has to be given on the Bible. Is that written somewhere? And since when do we think that any of our public "servants" actually upholds that oath? When did they stop doing that?
>
>Devotees of multiculturalism and political correctness who do not see how
>damaging to the fabric of American civilization it is to allow Ellison to
>choose his own book need only imagine a racist elected to Congress. Would
>they allow him to choose Hitler's "Mein Kampf," the Nazis' bible, for his
>oath? And if not, why not? On what grounds will those defending Ellison's
>right to choose his favorite book deny that same right to a racist who is
>elected to public office?
I would hope that we wouldn't elect someone who would use one of those books to be sworn in on but if we did so be it. Some people believe that taking an oath is against their religion. What about them. I guess they can't serve.
>
>Of course, Ellison's defenders argue that Ellison is merely being honest;
>since he believes in the Koran and not in the Bible, he should be allowed,
>even encouraged, to put his hand on the book he believes in. But for all of
>American history, Jews elected to public office have taken their oath on
>the Bible, even though they do not believe in the New Testament, and the
>many secular elected officials have not believed in the Old Testament
>either. Yet those secular officials did not demand to take their oaths of
>office on, say, the collected works of Voltaire or on a volume of New York
>Times editorials, writings far more significant to some liberal members of
>Congress than the Bible. Nor has one Mormon official demanded to put his
>hand on the Book of Mormon. And it is hard to imagine a scientologist being
>allowed to take his oath of office on a copy of "Dianetics" by L. Ron
>Hubbard.
>
>So why are we allowing Keith Ellison to do what no other member of Congress
>has ever done -- choose his own most revered book for his oath?
>
>The answer is obvious -- Ellison is a Muslim. And whoever decides these
>matters, not to mention virtually every editorial page in America, is not
>going to offend a Muslim. In fact, many of these people argue it will be a
>good thing because Muslims around the world will see what an open society
>America is and how much Americans honor Muslims and the Koran.
>
>This argument appeals to all those who believe that one of the greatest
>goals of America is to be loved by the world, and especially by Muslims
>because then fewer Muslims will hate us (and therefore fewer will bomb us).
>
>But these naive people do not appreciate that America will not change the
>attitude of a single American-hating Muslim by allowing Ellison to
>substitute the Koran for the Bible. In fact, the opposite is more likely:
>Ellison's doing so will embolden Islamic extremists and make new ones, as
>Islamists, rightly or wrongly, see the first sign of the realization of
>their greatest goal -- the Islamicization of America.
Again, what? Letting him use the Koran is going to embolden Islamic extremists? I would think the number of people who first of all know about this let alone care is right around zero. No one cares. Who cares? Other than crazy groups like this who want to raise money on the back of any cause, no one cares.
>
>When all elected officials take their oaths of office with their hands on
>the very same book, they all affirm that some unifying value system
>underlies American civilization. If Keith Ellison is allowed to change
>that, he will be doing more damage to the unity of America and to the value
>system that has formed this country than the terrorists of 9-11. It is hard
>to believe that this is the legacy most Muslim Americans want to bequeath
>to America. But if it is, it is not only Europe that is in trouble. (End
>Commentary)
This guy using the Koran is going to cause more damage to the unity of America and to our value system than the 9-1 attack? You have to be kidding me.
>
>Founder and Chairman
>
> November 29, 2006
> Please help us get this information into the hands of as many people as
>possible by forwarding it to your entire email list of family and friends.
> A first for America...The Koran replaces the Bible at swearing-in oath
> What book will America base it's values on, the Bible or the Koran?
> Dear Friends,
> Please take a moment to read the following TownHall.com column by Dennis
>Prager, who is a Jew. After reading the column, take the suggest action at
>the bottom of this email. After you have read it, please forward it to your
>friends and family.
>
>America, Not Keith Ellison, decides what book a congressman takes his oath
>on
>By Dennis Prager - Tuesday, November 28, 2006
>
>Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the first Muslim elected to the United States
>Congress, has announced that he will not take his oath of office on the
>Bible, but on the bible of Islam, the Koran.
>
>He should not be allowed to do so -- not because of any American hostility
>to the Koran, but because the act undermines American civilization.
What? How in the world does that undermine American civilization. I think 11 million aliens, huge deficits, 1 billion spent in Iraq every 3 days, global warming, dependence on oil, Donald Trump, internet porn, record divorce rates, record teenage pregnancies, AIDS,etc. undermines our civilization more.
>
>First, it is an act of hubris that perfectly exemplifies multiculturalist
>activism -- my culture trumps America's culture. What Ellison and his
>Muslim and leftist supporters are saying is that it is of no consequence
>what America holds as its holiest book; all that matters is what any
>individual holds to be his holiest book.
>
>Forgive me, but America should not give a hoot what Keith Ellison's
>favorite book is. Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve
>America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only
>one book, the Bible. If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book,
>don't serve in Congress. In your personal life, we will fight for your
>right to prefer any other book. We will even fight for your right to
>publish cartoons mocking our Bible. But, Mr. Ellison, America, not you,
>decides on what book its public servants take their oath.
Where does it say that the oath has to be given on the Bible. Is that written somewhere? And since when do we think that any of our public "servants" actually upholds that oath? When did they stop doing that?
>
>Devotees of multiculturalism and political correctness who do not see how
>damaging to the fabric of American civilization it is to allow Ellison to
>choose his own book need only imagine a racist elected to Congress. Would
>they allow him to choose Hitler's "Mein Kampf," the Nazis' bible, for his
>oath? And if not, why not? On what grounds will those defending Ellison's
>right to choose his favorite book deny that same right to a racist who is
>elected to public office?
I would hope that we wouldn't elect someone who would use one of those books to be sworn in on but if we did so be it. Some people believe that taking an oath is against their religion. What about them. I guess they can't serve.
>
>Of course, Ellison's defenders argue that Ellison is merely being honest;
>since he believes in the Koran and not in the Bible, he should be allowed,
>even encouraged, to put his hand on the book he believes in. But for all of
>American history, Jews elected to public office have taken their oath on
>the Bible, even though they do not believe in the New Testament, and the
>many secular elected officials have not believed in the Old Testament
>either. Yet those secular officials did not demand to take their oaths of
>office on, say, the collected works of Voltaire or on a volume of New York
>Times editorials, writings far more significant to some liberal members of
>Congress than the Bible. Nor has one Mormon official demanded to put his
>hand on the Book of Mormon. And it is hard to imagine a scientologist being
>allowed to take his oath of office on a copy of "Dianetics" by L. Ron
>Hubbard.
>
>So why are we allowing Keith Ellison to do what no other member of Congress
>has ever done -- choose his own most revered book for his oath?
>
>The answer is obvious -- Ellison is a Muslim. And whoever decides these
>matters, not to mention virtually every editorial page in America, is not
>going to offend a Muslim. In fact, many of these people argue it will be a
>good thing because Muslims around the world will see what an open society
>America is and how much Americans honor Muslims and the Koran.
>
>This argument appeals to all those who believe that one of the greatest
>goals of America is to be loved by the world, and especially by Muslims
>because then fewer Muslims will hate us (and therefore fewer will bomb us).
>
>But these naive people do not appreciate that America will not change the
>attitude of a single American-hating Muslim by allowing Ellison to
>substitute the Koran for the Bible. In fact, the opposite is more likely:
>Ellison's doing so will embolden Islamic extremists and make new ones, as
>Islamists, rightly or wrongly, see the first sign of the realization of
>their greatest goal -- the Islamicization of America.
Again, what? Letting him use the Koran is going to embolden Islamic extremists? I would think the number of people who first of all know about this let alone care is right around zero. No one cares. Who cares? Other than crazy groups like this who want to raise money on the back of any cause, no one cares.
>
>When all elected officials take their oaths of office with their hands on
>the very same book, they all affirm that some unifying value system
>underlies American civilization. If Keith Ellison is allowed to change
>that, he will be doing more damage to the unity of America and to the value
>system that has formed this country than the terrorists of 9-11. It is hard
>to believe that this is the legacy most Muslim Americans want to bequeath
>to America. But if it is, it is not only Europe that is in trouble. (End
>Commentary)
This guy using the Koran is going to cause more damage to the unity of America and to our value system than the 9-1 attack? You have to be kidding me.
>
That Being Said
I like language. I think it is facinating.
I took French forever and German for one year. German is impossible. And it was even harder for me because whenever I think in a foreign language, it's in French.
That being said.
OK, now the past few months or a year or so, I've heard this expression, "that being said".
Where did that come from?
Usually it's spoken by a CEO or political pundant. I don't think this phrase existed until recently and someone made it up and it caught on. I really hate it. They say it all the time on Big Brother. For those of you who don't watch 16 hours of TV a day like I do, Big Brother is a reality show on CBS each summer.
That being said, I hate that phrase.
I took French forever and German for one year. German is impossible. And it was even harder for me because whenever I think in a foreign language, it's in French.
That being said.
OK, now the past few months or a year or so, I've heard this expression, "that being said".
Where did that come from?
Usually it's spoken by a CEO or political pundant. I don't think this phrase existed until recently and someone made it up and it caught on. I really hate it. They say it all the time on Big Brother. For those of you who don't watch 16 hours of TV a day like I do, Big Brother is a reality show on CBS each summer.
That being said, I hate that phrase.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Kramer and my Thumb
First my thumb.
I don't care how much money I have....I would rather be healthy.
Everything is going fine and then my thumb goes haywire.
I have an infection on my right thumb next to the nail. It is red, swollen and really hurts. It hurt more when the nurse practitioner stuck a needle multiple times in it and then squeezed really hard. All with no anesthetic. Fun huh?
I'm now on my second round of antibiotics which makes me feel really tired. I really want my old thumb back.
Now to Kramer.
This is old news but I've been dealing with my thumb.
He used the word nigger at a comedy club. Who cares? I don't. I do care when someone would use any stupid word like that but what's with all of the hoopla? He's a racist. So are alot of people. The guys who he called niggers called him a cracker. Nobody said anything about that. Nigger is a bad word. So is cracker, fag, spic and the list goes on. Now the guys who he used that word on want money. Think of that. A black lady on TV said that if she had a dollar for every time she'd been called a nigger she'd be a millionaire.
And what's with the N word. Just say the word. The world isn't going to end. Everybody is so afraid to be labeled a racist. Please.
To discriminate because of someones color is stupid. But you know what? We're all human and we like to be with people like us. Go to any school cafeteria. The kids are by their choice segregated. The jocks sit together. So do the girls, boys, band people, druggies, black fingernail people and they usually are also separated by race. The majority of the black kids sit together and the white kids sit together.
They're not racist.
That's just human nature.
And Kramer is a racist and incredibly stupid for saying that in public.
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