Don't be a fool and die for your country. Let the other sonofabitch die for his.
-- General George S. Patton
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April 30, 2005
What'll They Think Of Next???
How would you like to have eyes like those staring you down?
According to FoxSports.com:
Performance-enhancing contact lenses? Brian Roberts first tried on his newfangled contact lenses about an hour before the Orioles' last spring training game in Florida. He ripped three hits on a day his teammates groused about the difficulties of seeing the ball in the bright sun shining from a cloudless sky.
A longtime wearer of contacts, Roberts needed no persuading afterward to keep the new lenses, even if they make him look like some wild-eyed creature from a science fiction film. After a monster start — he entered the week hitting .444 with five homers — they might have to be pried away from him.
Plenty has been said about performance-enhancing drugs this spring. Well, get ready for a new wave of performance enhancers, only these do not cause side effects and are not subject to suspensions. Known as performance-enhancing contact lenses, they were designed to help hitters pick up the seams on the ball better and to protect the eyes from the sun.
"They're almost like wearing sunglasses without wearing sunglasses," Roberts says. "I could tell such a huge difference right away that I was willing to give them a shot." Seven years in the making by Nike and Bausch & Lomb, the lenses — which will be known in the retail world as MaxSight — are so new they have made their way only into a few major league clubhouses so far.
Roberts, the Orioles' leadoff hitter and second baseman, is the only player the Sporting News could confirm is wearing them in games. Reds center fielder Ken Griffey has tried them in batting practice and plans to break them out for real once he becomes more comfortable with them. Reds closer Danny Graves also is wearing them during pregame work. Red Sox pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Mike Timlin and Twins catcher Joe Mauer have been fitted.
Tennis player Roger Federer and several D.C. United soccer players have agreed to try them. The University of Miami has 20 athletes on its football, baseball, tennis and track teams wearing them. The lenses also come in gray-green for golfers, and a set for night use is in the final stages of development.
For the rest of the story check out FoxSports.com
Pretty impressive really. Technology is an amazing thing. So how long before the congressional hearing on eye enhancements in professional sports!??!?!?
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 07:36 AM | Comments (4)
April 29, 2005
American Service Member Sentenced To Death
According to the Washington Post:
Sergeant Sentenced to Death for Killing Two Officers in IraqAssociated Press
Friday, April 29, 2005; Page A06FORT BRAGG, N.C., April 28 -- A military jury on Thursday sentenced Sgt. Hasan Akbar to die for the 2003 murders of two officers in a grenade attack at an Army camp in Kuwait during the opening days of the Iraq invasion.
The 15-person jury deliberated seven hours after hearing a barely audible and unsworn statement from Akbar, 34, who said he was sorry.
"I want to apologize for the attack that occurred. I felt that my life was in jeopardy, and I had no other options. I also want to ask you for forgiveness," Akbar told jurors.
They chose between sentences of death, life in prison or life without parole.
The same jury last week took 2 1/2 hours to convict him of two counts of premeditated murder and three counts of attempted premeditated murder.
The sentence will be the subject of an automatic appeal. If Akbar is executed, it would be by lethal injection.
Akbar stood at attention between his lawyers as the verdict was delivered. He gave no visible sign of emotion.
Deliberations paused earlier in the day after the jury reached a verdict, only to have one member request reconsideration. A military judge sent the 15-member panel back to vote early Thursday evening on whether to reconsider their decision.
Akbar spoke for less than a minute, making an unsworn statement that could not be cross-examined. He spoke in such a low voice that even prosecutors sitting nearby had trouble hearing, with one lawyer cupping his ear.
Prosecutors have said Akbar launched the attack on members of the 101st Airborne Division in March 2003 at Camp Pennsylvania because he was concerned about U.S. troops killing fellow Muslims in the Iraq war.
Although the defense contended Akbar was too mentally ill to plan the attack, they never disputed that it was he who threw grenades into troop tents in the early morning darkness and then fired on soldiers in the ensuing chaos.
Army Capt. Christopher Seifert, 27, and Air Force Maj. Gregory Stone, 40, were killed in the attack, and 14 others were wounded.
The court-martial is the first time since the Vietnam era that an American has been prosecuted on charges of murdering a fellow soldier during wartime. Akbar will join five others on the military's death row at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
The last U.S. military execution was in 1961. Pfc. John A. Bennett of the Army was put to death after his conviction for the rape and murder of an 11-year-old Austrian girl.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the loss of an American service member is always a tragedy. The death sentence of Sgt Akbar is only different in the sense that he is a murderer. His life won't be lost in the service of his country but it will be lost for the senseless murder of his brothers in arms.
The punishment fits the crime. Some say an 'eye for an eye' and others say 'live and let live', but in this case I have to say that the jury made the right decision.
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 10:31 AM | Comments (6)
The Military Spouse
I received this in an email from a friend I am currently deployed with. He is about the same age as my Mother and is a SrA/E-4 in the Rhode Island Air National Guard. He is a great guy and a good friend. His patriotism looks well beyond his rank and age.
Military Spouses By Paige Swiney It was just another harried Wednesday afternoon trip to the commissary. My husband was off teaching young men to fly. My daughters were going about their daily activities knowing I would return to them at the appointed time, bearing, among other things, their favorite fruit snacks, frozen pizza, and all the little extras that never had to be written down on a grocery list.
My grocery list, by the way, was in my 16-month-old daughter's mouth, and I was lamenting the fact that the next four aisles of needed items would pass by while extracting the last of my list from my daughters mouth, when I nearly ran over an old man. This man clearly had no appreciation for the fact that I had 45 minutes left to finish the grocery shopping, pick up my 4-year old from tumbling class, and get to school where my 12-year-old and her car pool mates would be waiting.
I knew men didn't belong in a commissary, and this old guy was no exception. He stood in front of the soap selection staring blankly, as if he'd never had to choose a bar of soap in his life. I was ready to bark an order at him when l realized there was a tear on his face. Instantly, this grocery isle roadblock transformed into a human. "Can I help you find something?" I asked.
He hesitated, and then told me he was looking for soap.
"Any one in particular?" I continued.
"Well, I'm trying to find my wife's brand of soap."
I started to loan him my cell phone to call her when he said, "She died a year ago, and I just want to smell her again."
Chills ran down my spine. I don't think the 22,000-pound Mother of all Bombs could have had the same impact. As tears welled up in my eyes, my half-eaten grocery list didn't seem so important. Neither did fruit snacks or frozen pizza. I spent the remainder of my time in the commissary that day listening to a man tell the story of how important his wife was to him -- how she took care of their children while he served our country. A retired, decorated World War II pilot who flew over 50 missions to protect Americans still needed the protection of a woman who served him at home.
My life was forever changed that day. Every time my husband works too late or leaves before the crack of dawn, I try to remember the sense of importance I felt that day in the commissary. Some times the monotony of laundry, housecleaning, grocery shopping, and taxi driving leaves military wives feeling empty -- the kind of emptiness that is rarely fulfilled when our husbands come home and don't want to or can't talk about work. We need to be reminded, at times; of the important role we fill for our family and for our country.
Over the years, I've talked a lot about military spouses -- how special they are and the price they pay for freedom, too. The funny thing is, most military spouses don't consider themselves different from other spouses. They do what they have to do, bound together not by blood or merely friendship, but with a shared spirit whose origin is in the very essence of what love truly is.
Is there truly a difference? I think there is. You have to decide for yourself. Other spouses get married and look forward to building equity in a home and putting down family roots. Military spouses get married and know they'll live in base housing or rent, and their roots must be short so they can be transplanted frequently. Other spouses decorate a home with flair and personality that will last a lifetime. Military spouses decorate a home with flare tempered with the knowledge that no two base houses have the same size windows or same size rooms. Curtains have to be flexible and multiple sets are a plus. Furniture must fit like puzzle pieces.
Other spouses have living rooms that are immaculate and seldom used. Military spouses have immaculate living room/dining room combos. The coffee table got a scratch or two moving from Germany, but it still looks pretty good. Other spouses say good-bye to their spouse for a business trip and know they won't see them for a week. They are lonely, but can survive. Military spouses say good-bye to their deploying spouse and know they won't see them for months, or for a remote, a year. They are lonely, but will survive.
Other spouses, when a washer hose blows off, call Maytag and then write a check out for having the hose reconnected. Military spouses will cut the water off and fix it themselves. Other spouses get used to saying "hello" to friends they see all the time. Military spouses get used to saying "good-bye" to friends made the last two years. Other spouses worry about whether their child will be class president next year. Military spouses worry about whether their child will be accepted in yet another school next year and whether that school will be the worst in the city -- again.
Other spouses can count on spouse participation in special events: birthdays, anniversaries, concerts, football games, graduation, and even the birth of a child. Military spouses only count on each other, because they realize that the flag has to come first if freedom is to survive. It has to be that way. Other spouses put up yellow ribbons when the troops are imperiled across the globe and take them down when the troops come home. Military spouses wear yellow ribbons around their hearts and they never go away. Other spouses worry about being late for mom's Thanksgiving dinner. Military spouses worry about getting back from Japan in time for dad's funeral.
The television program showing an elderly lady putting a card down in front of a long, black wall that has names on it touches other spouses. The card simply says, "Happy Birthday, Sweetheart. You would have been sixty today." A military spouse is the lady with the card, and the wall is the Vietnam Memorial. I would never say military spouses are better than other spouses are. But I will say there is a difference. I will say, without hesitation, that military spouses pay just as high a price for freedom as do their active duty husbands and wives. Perhaps the price they pay is even higher. Dying in service to our country isn't nearly as hard as loving someone who has died in service to our country, and having to live without them.
God bless our military spouses for all they freely give!
God bless America!
Thanks Steve that was a great story and I am sure most military spouses and their military family members can greatly appreciate and understand the sentiment found here.
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 07:35 AM | Comments (2)
April 28, 2005
Great Quotes (Bumper Sticker)
I saw this on a bumper sticker yesterday and it has my vote for Bumper Sticker of the Year:
"If you can read this, thank a teacher -and, since it's in English, thank a soldier !!"
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 10:11 AM | Comments (3)
The Married Mans Harley Davidson
I got this picture from a friend in an email. I have seen it circulate before, but thought it was worth sharing and worth a laugh. For all of you 40-50 somethings in your mid-life crisis who never owned a motorcycle, here is your chance:
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 08:58 AM | Comments (4)
April 27, 2005
Paul Harvey RIDDLE
I got this riddle attached to an email from a friend. The answer came very easy to me so I decided to search the net and see if the statement about the kindergarten children was true. Needless to say it is false, but the riddle is still cool nonetheless.
When asked this riddle, 80% of kindergarten kids got the answer, compared to 17% of Stanford University seniors.What is greater than God, More evil than the devil, The poor have it, The rich need it, And if you eat it, you'll die?
So do you know the answer? No cheating, no looking it up on the net. Place your answers in the comment section and I'll reveal the true answer in a few days.
According to Truth or Fiction.com:
A simple riddle with a simple answer that was allegedly reported on Paul Harvey...and that Kindergartners answered more correctly than university seniors.The Truth
The riddle has been around for a long time, but there is no evidence that research was ever conducted on the comparative answers of Kindergartners and Stanford University seniors.There is also no evidence that this was reported on Paul Harvey.
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 11:22 PM | Comments (5)
April 26, 2005
55,000 Visitors And Counting
As you can see, the counter for my site is well over 56,000. Since I didn't catch it at the time it happened and I like to note each time the Slaughterhouse increases by 5,000 hits I thought I'd point out that at some point this weekend, the Slaughterhouse had its 55,000th visitor.
I'd like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who reads what I have to say and those of you who find the kindness to link to my thoughts.
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 04:52 AM | Comments (4)
April 25, 2005
Leading The Way (A Little Service Rivalry)
4/25/2005 - PHOENIX -- Ricky Rudd, driver of the Air Force Wood Brothers Racing No. 21, battles Joe Nemechek, driver of the U.S. Army car during a race at the Phoenix International Raceway. Nemechek came in 10th place, and Rudd came in 34th. (U.S. Air Force photo by Larry McTighe)
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 11:55 PM | Comments (2)
April 24, 2005
Look Up In The Sky...
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's SUPERMAN!!!!
OK, so I am a bit of a geek, but what greater pop culture icon is there than the last son of Krypton, who fights for truth, justice and the American way.
According to USA today:
The look of Superman literally rests on the broad and buff shoulders of newcomer Brandon Routh.This first look at Superman Returns— due in theaters in June 2006 — shows that the skin-tight costume stretches over only the actor's muscles and frame, without the augmented armored pecs or abs of recent movie superheroes.
Director Bryan Singer famously changed the fluorescent spandex suits of the X-Men into dark, leather-like uniforms for those movies — both of them smashes that sold more than $364 million in tickets. But on Superman Returns, he says, he wanted "something classic."
Tinkering too much with a hero's suit can aggravate traditionalist comic fans, who grumbled that Jennifer Garner's Elektra wasn't wearing her midriff-baring red suit in Daredevil or that Batman's armor had nipples in Batman Forever. They aren't likely to have much to carp about with Superman Returns.
Instead of reinventing the character's appearance, Singer — via e-mail from Australia, where he's shooting the film — says he wanted to remain faithful to the previous incarnations of Superman, from the Max Fleischer cartoons of the 1940s to the black-and-white George Reeves TV show to the Christopher Reeve movies of the 1970s and '80s.
Singer decided to keep the cape, the blue body suit, the red tights — even the V-cut opening of Superman's boots.
But Superman Returns makes a few subtle changes to the suit:
• The character's S insignia is slightly smaller and higher on his chest, and instead of being painted on, it's more of a three-dimensional plate.
• The insignia is added to Superman's belt buckle.
• Costume designer Louise Mingenbach preserved the blue, red and yellow motif, but the shades are slightly darker than the bright primary colors of the comics. Superman's yellow belt is more golden, and his cape is a deep scarlet.
The key to filling it out, however, depends entirely on the physique of Routh, 25, the Iowa native who was briefly on the soap opera One Life to Live in 2001. Singer says the Superman costume wasn't complete without Routh.
"I always had the general idea of the suit. However, when the conceptual art was evolving around the same time that I cast Brandon, I privately had paintings rendered with Brandon's face, which certainly brought it to life."
Superman's body is the key to his power, Singer says.
"With X-Men, although they had extraordinary powers, they also had physical weaknesses," he says. "The suits were for protection as well as costume. Superman is the Man of Steel. Bullets bounce off him, not his suit."
What does the movie's costume say about this Superman's personality?
"He's not afraid," Singer says.
So, what's the reaction? They didn't mess with the traditional too much.
I think it looks good. Granted, Routh could be just a bit larger or at least more cut.
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 08:27 PM | Comments (1)
Almost Time For His Dirt Nap
You may remember this post, A Dirt Nap Is Just What The Doctor Ordered. If you don't take a second to follow the link and read it then come back here.
OK, remember that scum bag? His attempt to escape was thwarted and now it appears his dirt nap may be just around the corner:
Soldier guilty of premeditated murder in deadly Kuwait grenade attackThursday, April 21, 2005 Posted: 11:53 PM EDT (0353 GMT)
Akbar, upper left, is led out of the Staff Judge Advocate Building at Fort Bragg after his conviction Thursday. FORT BRAGG, North Carolina (AP) -- An Army sergeant was convicted Thursday by a military jury of premeditated murder and attempted murder in a grenade and rifle attack that killed two of his comrades and wounded 14 others in Kuwait during the opening days of the Iraq war.
Hasan Akbar, 34, now faces a possible death penalty, which the 15-member jury will consider at a hearing that begins Monday.
Prosecutors say Akbar told investigators he launched the attack because he was concerned U.S. troops would kill fellow Muslims in Iraq. They said he coolly carried out the attack to achieve "maximum carnage" on his comrades in the 101st Airborne Division.
The verdict came after 2 1/2 hours of deliberations following seven days of testimony in a court-martial -- the first time since the Vietnam era that an American has been prosecuted on charges of murdering a fellow soldier during wartime.
Akbar stood at attention as the verdict was read by the colonel who headed the jury panel. The defendant chewed his lip but gave no other outward sign of emotion. Defense attorneys acknowledged that Akbar carried out the attack but argued he was too mentally ill to have premeditated it and was fueled by emotion.
Killed in the middle-of-the-night attack were Army Capt. Christopher Seifert, 27, who was shot in the back, and Air Force Maj. Gregory Stone, 40, who suffered 83 shrapnel wounds. The 101st was preparing to move into Iraq in support of the U.S. invasion when the attack occurred in March 2003.
"Sgt. Akbar executed that attack with a cool mind," prosecutor Capt. Robert McGovern said during closing arguments, cocking Akbar's unloaded M-4 rifle and pulling the trigger twice for emphasis. "He sought maximum carnage."
The prosecutor said Akbar planned carefully and stole grenades that would achieve maximum destruction in the brigade command section of Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait.
Defense attorney Maj. Dan Brookhart countered that Akbar was concerned the invasion of Iraq would result in the deaths of Muslims and that U.S. soldiers would rape Iraqi women.
He said the prosecution's depiction of Akbar as a cold-blooded killer ignored that the defendant was sufficiently mentally ill -- though not insane -- to be confused and fearful about the impending invasion of Iraq.
The defense lawyer scoffed at an Army psychiatrist's testimony that Akbar suffered merely from "the blues" -- not any serious mental problems.
"It doesn't make any sense. This guy doesn't have the blues," he said. "He is mentally ill."
Brookhart said Akbar's actions after the initial attack showed he wasn't intent on achieving maximum destruction. He said Akbar stopped his attack with a nearly full clip still in his M-4 rifle and three more grenades. He also noted the defendant didn't try to flee during the chaos following the attack.
Akbar, who turned 34 Thursday, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder. Jurors -- nine officers and six non-commissioned officers -- had the ability to consider lesser charges, but chose not to.
During Thursday's arguments, relatives of the victims cried when prosecutors showed pictures of the bodies on a large TV screen. When a prosecutor pointed at Akbar, nearly yelling that he was responsible, Akbar sipped from a coffee mug.
If sentenced to death, Akbar would become the sixth soldier on military death row at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He also could be sentenced to a life sentence.
The case was moved from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, home of the 101st, to Fort Bragg because the division still was in Iraq and Bragg is home of the 101st's higher command.
I sincerely hope he does become the 6th member of death row. He wasn't insane, he was a highly trained killing machine that lost track of his loyalties and attempted to set false values ahead of reason. Any sane member of the military knows that the "rape" of Iraqi women simply isn't on our global to do list.
It's just too bad that the families of the victims can't be part of a firing squad.
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 08:47 AM | Comments (2)
April 23, 2005
The Buffalo Theory
A big thanks to SMSgt Bill for this one. I agree, it sounds like a sound theory:
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 07:20 AM | Comments (3)
April 22, 2005
Hanoi Jane Gets What She Deserves
I received this article from Jack of the Conservative Insurgent:
Thursday, April 21, 2005 at 08:04 JST KANSAS CITY, Mo - A man spit tobacco juice into the face of Jane Fonda after waiting in line to have her sign her new memoir. Capt Rich Lockhart of the Kansas City Police Department said Michael A Smith, 54, was arrested Tuesday night on a municipal charge of disorderly conduct.He was released on bond and is due to appear in court on May 27.
Fonda covers a wide range of topics in "My Life So Far," including her 1972 visit to Hanoi to protest the Vietnam War, during which she was photographed on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun. She has apologized for the photo, but not for opposing the war.
Smith, a Vietnam veteran, told The Kansas City Star Wednesday that Fonda was a "traitor" and that her protests against the Vietnam War were unforgivable. He said he doesn't chew tobacco but did so Tuesday solely to spit juice on the actress.
"I consider it a debt of honor," he told The Star for a story on its website. "She spit in our faces for 37 years. It was absolutely worth it. There are a lot of veterans who would love to do what I did."
Fonda, who flew to Minneapolis Wednesday for another appearance on her book tour, issued a statement through Jynne Martin of Random House.
"In spite of the incident, my experience in Kansas City was wonderful and I thank all the warm and supportive people, including so many veterans, who came to welcome me last night," she said.
Fonda drew a crowd of about 900 at Unity Temple, said Vivian Jennings, whose Rainy Day Books of suburban Fairway, Kan, sponsored the event.
Jennings said the 67-year-old actress never got up from her seat and continued autographing books after the tobacco juice was wiped off.
"The important thing is that she was so calm and so gracious about it," Jennings said. "She was wonderful." (Wire reports)
Click the link below to view this article and related discussions on Japan Today
Not that spitting tobacco in the bitch's face will change the horrible things she has done, but at least it will allow Mr. Smith to sleep more peaceably at night!
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 06:58 AM | Comments (0)
April 21, 2005
Onestone
Be not offended for there is no intent to offend anyone, it is merely a joke, take it as a joke:
There once was an Apache Indian whose given name was "Onestone", so named because he had only one testicle. He hated that name and asked everyone not to call him Onestone.After years and years of torment, Onestone finally cracked and said, "If anyone calls me Onestone again I will kill them!" The word got around and nobody called him that any more.
Then one day a young woman named Blue Bird forgot and said, "Good morning, Onestone." He jumped up, grabbed her and took her deep into the forest where he made love to her all day and all night. He made love to her all the next day, until Blue Bird died from exhaustion.
The word got around that Onestone meant what he promised he would do. Years went by and no one dared call him by his given name until a woman named Yellow Bird returned to the village after being away for many years.
Yellow Bird, who was Blue Bird's cousin, was overjoyed when she saw Onestone. She hugged him and said, "Good to see you, Onestone."
Onestone grabbed her, took her deep into the forest, then he made love to her all day, made love to her all night, made love to her all the next day, made love to her all the next night, but Yellow Bird wouldn't die!
What is the moral of this story?????............................
...You can't kill two birds with one stone!!!
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 08:09 AM | Comments (2)
Military Humor
I received this in an email containing "Aircraft Humor". Most of the stories were silly anecdotes about civilian airlines. This one stood out to me as comical. Enjoy:
There's a story about the military pilot calling for a priority landing because his single-engine jet fighter was running "a bit peaked." Air Traffic Control told the fighter jock that he was number two, behind a B-52 that had one engine shut down. "Ah," the fighter pilot remarked, "The dreaded seven engine approach."
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 07:59 AM | Comments (1)
April 20, 2005
Re-Engaging Pep Boys
Today I received this in the comments of an earlier post regarding Pep Boys mistreatment of its military employees:
Hello, I just saw this on a search and was so glad to see the support. They still have not compensated me a penny and keep canceling meetings for settlement and depositions... COWARDS!!!!!!!I am now disabled and I've lost my home, but I will fight 'til my death to see justice for our Sailors and Soldiers. Some of my friends who served by my side and also some who died to fight for freedom so stupid ass Pep Boys can sell scooters and M&M's...
Let’s start it up again and email & write Mark Page. He was my friend and is a Vice President. He paid to move me as a store Manager from NH to Arizona to become a District Manager...... SO Mark Page needs to know people are pissed please help me, Mr. Eric Balodis
If you remember the original post it garnered about a dozen trackbacks from other great bloggers and got coverage in the milblog community. For those of you who aren't familiar with Mr. Balodis, here is the original post in its entirety.
**UPDATE** This story has been accused by some as being an Urban Legend. Not true. Take a look at UrbanLegends and you will see that the myth was that PEP boys was firing all military personnel. While that is simply not true you will however see that the law suit fired by Mr. Balodis is true and real. Please read the full story below.**Update** According to Survival Forum: A federal lawsuit alleges Pep Boys fired a store manager because of his military obligation.
OSCAR ABEYTA and IRWIN M. GOLDBERG
Tucson Citizen
March 15, 2003
Automotive supply chain Pep Boys fired a Tucson store manager because his military Reserve duties took him away from work, according to a federal lawsuit filed here.It may not be an isolated case. Several other reservists fired from Pep Boys in Tucson and Pennsylvania have contacted a military advocacy group with similar complaints.
Pep Boys' Tucson attorney, Todd E. Hale, declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing company policy not to discuss ongoing legal cases.
**UPDATE to the story that follows** Take a look at the Stars and Stripes
They published an article today that states that "A U.S. District court judge ruled last year that Balodis must arbitrate his claim instead of going to court. Depositions are scheduled for June. Regardless of the outcome, however, Balodis said that he has grown from the experience."Obviously there is some truth to the story. I am eagerly awaiting the outcome.
Automotive supply chain Pep Boys fired a Tucson store manager because his military Reserve duties took him away from work, according to a federal lawsuit that has been filed.It may not be an isolated case. Several other reservists fired from Pep Boys in Tucson and Pennsylvania have contacted a military advocacy group with similar complaints.
Pep Boys' Tucson attorney, Todd E. Hale, declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing company policy not to discuss ongoing legal cases.
In the Tucson case, Erik Balodis, then a store manager at the 7227 E. 22nd St. Pep Boys, was fired after being called to a U.S. Naval Reserve exercise in June 2002. Balodis, a father of two young children, was unable to find work for five months.
He eventually found work as a store manager at Big Lots in October 2002 but by then the family's finances were in ruins. In February, his family was forced to sell its four-bedroom East Side home and file for bankruptcy. Balodis, who is stationed in South Korea, now earns about $20,000 less a year, said his wife, Kathy. Under the federal Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act and Arizona state law, an employer may not terminate an employee who is called to active duty. In the lawsuit, Balodis' attorney, Andrea Watters, said Pep Boys fired Balodis because his duties with the Navy were keeping him from work. The suit says he told the company he was being called to training in June of last year. On the day he reported for duty, he was told by Pep Boys that we was being terminated for "job abandonment." The lawsuit indicates Balodis had worked 20 days in a row for the company without a day off before the termination. "On the surface it appears it would be a violation of section 4311, which is the section of the law that talks about discrimination," said Capt. Eric Davis, a mediator in the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve's Arlington, Va., headquarters. ESGR is a volunteer organization that works to help resolve employer issues with Reserve and Guard members. "If an employer makes an employment decision on the past, present or future military obligations, that sort of employment discrimination is illegal," Davis said.
The suit claims that, despite being an employee who was recognized repeatedly for his good work with the company, Pep Boys "demanded that he 'choose' his job over his military service." The suit cites a letter sent to the Naval Reserve by Pep Boys, dated Sept. 11, 2001, requesting Balodis "be exempted from any impending call to active duty as a result of the tragic and senseless acts of terrorism. ... While I recognize Mr. Balodis' commitment to protect and serve the nation, I must also make you aware that he holds a critical position in the Corporate Structure of Pep Boys."Court filings by Pep Boys, however, claim Balodis' termination had nothing to do with his Reserve duties. "Pep Boys consistently cooperated in accommodating those obligations," Hale wrote. "Pep Boys made the difficult decision to terminate him because his performance and judgment declined to an unacceptable level. His military service played no role whatsoever in the decision."
The filing made reference to three company memos regarding Balodis' performance and noted he had been demoted from district manager to store manager in February 2002. But Watters disputed the company's claims.
"I believe he was being set up for termination," Watters said. "The bottom line is, when they terminated him they issued a letter detailing why they terminated him which did not raise those issues."Other complaints
Balodis may not be alone in how he was treated by the Pennsylvania-based company. Two similar incidents were reported to Arizona's state ESGR chairman, William Valenzuela. Valenzuela said he spoke with two other Pep Boys employees who were called to active duty and terminated by the company at about the same time as Balodis. And he said he heard there may have been four others who faced a similar fate. He said Pep Boys is the only company he's heard of that has had that many termination disputes over military service here.
ESGR did not take any action with the other two Pep Boys employees because they had already contacted lawyers, which prohibits ESGR from getting involved, Valenzuela said. Davis said he received a complaint Thursday from Pennsylvania regarding a Reserve member who was deployed to Bosnia in May 2002. This reservist held a part-time job with Pep Boys and was told a drain plug was not put in a vehicle, Davis said. "This would have happened nine months prior to departure," Davis said. Col. Alan Smith of ESGR headquarters said his office has received 4,000 to 5,000 calls in the past couple of months and that, with the exception of the one case handled by Davis, Pep Boys hasn't been mentioned.Pep Boys has stores in 36 states. Aside from Arizona and Pennsylvania, no other states with Pep Boys stores have reported problems. Valenzuela said it's not unusual for companies to work through ESGR with the military to reschedule or postpone reserve training to accommodate work schedules. "During the time there's no war, the commanders can work with that," he said. "Right now the commanders can't work with that." He said he's seen an overall increase in termination complaints since the situations overseas have intensified, and the military has called up more Reserve units. "There's all kinds of call-ups going on right now, and there's some employers who are not going to go for it," he said.
In the vast majority of cases where service personnel are terminated because of their military service, he said a phone call or meeting to inform the employers of the law is all it takes to get the employee reinstated.
Family impact
Kathy Balodis has been packing up the four-bedroom East Side house where she, her husband and their two daughters have lived for three years.
"Our dream home that we worked so hard on," Balodis described it. With her husband off serving in Korea, she's had to do the packing by herself. They're supposed to be out by the end of the month, but she doesn't know where the family will be moving to yet. The family doesn't want to move, but after her husband was terminated by Pep Boys, he spent five months out of work. She said the family pretty much lived off credit cards during that time. Eventually he found work as a store manager at Big Lots, but their finances were in ruins by then. The Balodises put their house up for sale at the beginning of February and filed for bankruptcy two weeks later. "I'm trying to get qualified to buy a mobile home, but I don't know if that will happen with the bankruptcy. Maybe I can get some help from my parents, but if not, we'll be living in an apartment," she said, eyeing the boxes in her living room dejectedly. The sad part of it all, Kathy Balodis said, is that her husband was dedicated to Pep Boys and planned to work there until his retirement. "He gave 100 percent to the company, and when he had to give 20 percent to the military, they got rid of him. That's just not right," she said. Whether her husband gets a big settlement out of the lawsuit is not an issue for her, she said. "The main thing I want out of Pep Boys is for them not to treat anyone like they treated my husband."Other Pep Boys news
Pep Boys stock closed up 27 cents at $6.69 yesterday.
That came a day after the company disappointed Wall Street by posting lower-than- expected earnings for the fourth quarter ended Feb. 1.It showed sales falling from $508.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2001 to $482.7 million last year.
Pep Boys reported a loss of $1.83 million, or 4 cents a share, for the quarter compared with earnings of $3.68 million, or 7 cents per share, in 2001.
THE LAW:
Federal
A person who is a member of, applies to be a member of, performs, has performed, applies to perform or has an obligation to perform in a uniformed service shall not be denied initial employment, re-employment, retention in employment, promotion or any benefit of employment by an employer on the basis of that membership, application for membership, performance of service, application for service or obligation.State
An employee has a claim against an employer for termination of employment only if one or more of the following circumstances have occurred:The employer has terminated the employment relationship of an employee in retaliation for any of the following:
Service in the National Guard or armed forces as protected by (state law).
Needless to say I won't be frequenting any Pep Boys anytime in the near future. I only hope they have to pay out the nose for destroying Mr. Balodis's credit and his life.
We are a nation at war. Did you read that? A NATION. We are not a few military members in a mudslinging contest with the bad guys. We are a nation at war and it will take every member of this nation to win that war. That includes all active duty members, all reserve members, all corporations that employ members of the United States Military, every citizen or would be citizen of this great nation must do there part.
If all of this is proven to be true I will BOYCOTT PEP BOYS, Get the word out. Link to this, trackback, email the link and spread the word. This is the kind of treatment that the brave men and women of our military do not deserve. Let's make this huge (Perhaps a Google Bomb!?!?!). Please title your post that tracks back to this entry Exactly the same as my entry? Taking The Pep Out Of Pep Boys Thanks to Denita at Who Tends The Fires for the title.
I first caught wind of this from The War Room.
**UPDATE to the story above** Take a look at the Stars and Stripes
They published an article today that states that "A U.S. District court judge ruled last year that Balodis must arbitrate his claim instead of going to court. Depositions are scheduled for June. Regardless of the outcome, however, Balodis said that he has grown from the experience."Update: After further research I found a differing opinion on these events and discovered that this incident actually happened in 2002. Some of the text of this article may or may not be factual and may be based on biased opinion. Take a look at Break The Chain for another side of this story. I seek only fair treatment of our military members and the truth.-- SlagleRock
So, if you've read all of that and are interested in helping out (how couldn’t you be), the links above are your sources. Don't hesitate to write to Pep Boys directly, I did. Needless to say the cowards never sent a response. Let’s spread the word on this one, once again and see if we can get something going for Mr. Balodis. No service member deserves this kind of treatment, especially when their only crime is volunteering to preserve freedom.
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 12:15 AM | Comments (7)
Deep Thoughts
"And my time is a piece of wax, fallen on a termite whose chokin' on the splinters." -- Beck, Loser
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 12:00 AM | Comments (0)
April 19, 2005
Rope. Tree. Cargo Handlers (Some Assembly Required)
Thirteen Airport Cargo Handlers Charged With Stealing Military Mail By Terence Chea Associated Press Writer
Published: Apr 15, 2005SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Thirteen cargo handlers at San Francisco International Airport were charged Friday with stealing $200,000 worth of computers, cameras and other goods from mail bound for U.S. soldiers stationed in Japan, authorities said.
The 13 defendants, employees of cargo staffing company Aeroground, were arrested Thursday and Friday and appeared in federal court on charges of stealing and conspiring to steal U.S. mail, the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Francisco said."We will not tolerate abuse of our mail system, and we will make every effort to ensure that postal customers and our postal system are protected and not compromised," said U.S. Attorney Kevin V. Ryan.
Attorneys for the defendants could not immediately be reached for comment Friday. The 13 men, who range in age from 19 to 52, did not enter pleas during their brief court appearance, said Cynthia Caporizzo, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office.
The defendants handled mail at the airport for an airline contracted by the U.S. military to deliver mail to Okinawa, Japan. San Francisco-based Aeroground would not comment about their status with the company, said spokeswoman Jordan Goldstein.
Since November 2003, soldiers based in Okinawa reported more than 570 incidents of not receiving mail or getting mail missing items such as laptop computers, digital cameras, DVD players and videogame consoles, according to the complaint. The winter holiday season saw the highest number of reported losses.
After hearing about the reports, U.S. Postal Service inspectors, assisted by military investigators, conducted surveillance at an airport-loading facility where they allegedly observed workers hiding items under their clothes and taking them to a nearby parking lot. They also noticed the cargo handlers carefully reading customs declaration forms that detailed each package's contents and value.
After taking out the goods, the cargo handlers would tape up the packages and send them on to Japan, where soldiers would discover items missing, according to the complaint. Some packages never arrived.
Many of the stolen items were then sold, sometimes at flea markets. One undercover postal investigator bought 15 items from one of the defendants, Caporizzo said.
If convicted, the cargo handlers could face up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
Aeroground, which employs 1,100 workers at 25 cargo terminals at nine international airports, has cooperated in the federal investigation, according to Goldstein.
"This has never happened in the history of Aeroground," Goldstein said. "Aeroground takes these allegations very seriously, and that's why we're cooperating with the investigation."
What a bunch of ass holes plain and simple. I mean what more can I say? These people stole U.S. Mail that was intended for U.S. military men and women and their families.
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 04:05 AM | Comments (2)
April 18, 2005
Timbuktu And The Redneck Poet
The Redneck PoetA National Poetry Contest had come down to the final two contestants, a Yale graduate and a redneck from Texas. They were given a word, then they were allowed two minutes to study the word and come up with a poem that contained the word. The word that they were given was "Timbuktu."
First to recite his poem was the Yale graduate. He stepped to the microphone and said:
Slowly across the desert sand
Trekked a lonely caravan;
Men on camels, two by two
Destination Timbuktu.The crowd went crazy! No way could the redneck top that, they thought. The redneck calmly made his way to the microphone and recited:
Me and Tim a huntin' went.
Met three women in a pop up tent.
They was three, and we was two,
So I bucked one, and Timbuktu.The redneck won hands down
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 08:27 AM | Comments (1)
April 17, 2005
Dig That Ass....
Todays Humor...
A team of archaeologists was excavating in Israel when they came upon a cave. Written across the wall of the cave were the following symbols:It was considered a unique find and the writings were said to be at least three thousand years old!
The piece of stone was removed, brought to the museum, and archaeologists from around the world came to study the ancient symbols. They held a huge meeting after months of conferences to discuss the meaning of the markings.
The President of the society pointed to first drawing and said: "This is a woman.
We can see these people held women in high esteem.You can also tell they were intelligent, as the next symbol is a donkey, so they were smart enough to have animals help them till the soil.
The next drawing is a shovel, which means they had tools to help them."
Even further proof of their high intelligence is the fish which means that if a famine hit the earth and food didn't grow, they seek food from the sea. The last symbol appears to be the Star of David which means they were evidently Hebrews.
The audience applauded enthusiastically.
Then a little old Jewish man stood up in the back of the room and said, "Idiots, Hebrew is read from right to left ...
It says: 'Holy Mackerel, Dig The Ass On That Woman'"
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 11:22 PM | Comments (0)
April 16, 2005
How old do you feel?
I got this one from a friend. It starts, "Only a few Senior Citizens can make a perfect score on this one!" I am here to tell you that is BS, I got a perfect score and I am under 30. I will admit though I had a hard time with number 10 and ultimately guessed, but my guess was correct!
Enjoy!
Only a few Senior Citizens can make a perfect score on this one!Youngsters can try their luck.
The answers are below, but don't cheat.
01. After the Lone Ranger saved the day and rode off into the sunset, the grateful citizens would ask, "Who was that masked man?" Invariably, someone would answer, "I don't know, but he left ______ behind." What did he leave behind?_______________________.
02. When the Beatles first came to the U.S.in early 1964, we all watched them on the, ______________________show.
03. Get your kicks, _______________.
04. The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed____________________.
05. In the jungle, the mighty jungle,_________________________.
06. After the twist, the mashed potato, and the watusi, we "danced" under a stick that was lowered as low as we could go in a dance called the_________________________.
07. N_E_S_T_L_E_S, Nestle's makes the very best, _______________.
08. Satchmo was America's "ambassador of goodwill." Our parents shared this great jazz trumpet player with us. His name was, ____________________.
09. What takes a licking and keeps on ticking?__________________.
10. Red Skeltons hobo character was _______________________. and he always ended his television show by saying,"Good night, and_____________________________."
11. Some Americans who protested the Vietnam war did so by burning their_________________.
12. The cute little car with the engine in the back and the trunk in the front, was called the VW. What other names did it go by?___________&____________
13. In 1971, singer Don MacLean sang a song about, "the day the music died." This was a tribute to__________________________.
14. We can remember the first satellite placed into orbit. The Russians did it; it was called _____________________.
15. One of the big fads of the late 50's and 60's was a large plastic ring that we twirled around our waist; it was called the ___________.
Scroll down for the answers.....
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Answers:
01. The Lone Ranger left behind a silver bullet.
02. The Ed Sullivan show.
03. Route 66
04. To protect the innocent.
05. The Lion sleeps tonight.
06. The limbo
07. Chocolate.
08. Louis Armstrong
09. The Timex watch.
10. Freddy the freeloader, and "Good night, and may God Bless."
11. Draft cards (the bra was also burned)
12. Beetle or Bug
13. Buddy Holly
14. Sputnik
15. The Hoola-hoop
How did you do?
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 02:07 AM | Comments (11)
April 15, 2005
Hooked On Lezbonics Worked For Me
Lezbonics
1. What do you call a cupboard full of lesbians? ....
A licker cabinet.
2. What do you call an Eskimo lesbian?.... .... A Klondyke.
3. What do you call 100 lesbians with guns? ....
Militia Etheridge.
4. Why can't lesbians diet and wear make-up at the same time?
.... Because they can't eat Jenny Craig with Mary Kay on their face.
5. What do you call two lesbians in a canoe? ....
Fur Traders.
6. What is a lesbian dinosaur called ? .... A Lickalotapuss.
7. What do you call a lesbian with long fingers? ....
Well Hung.
8. Did you hear that Ellen DeGeneres drowned? ....
She was found face down in Ricki Lake.
9. How can you tell a tough lesbian bar? ....
Even the pool table doesn't have balls.
10. What do you call lesbian twins? .... Lick-a-likes.
11. What's the definition of confusion? ....
Twenty blind lesbians in a fish market.
12. What's the difference between a Ritz cracker and a lesbian?
One's a snack cracker, the other's a crack snacker
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 10:47 PM | Comments (0)
April 14, 2005
Do You Understand This Feeling???
I love you...but not because of who you are but because of who I am when I’m with you. --Author Unknown
Hopefully this is exactly how your significant other makes you feel.
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 03:54 AM | Comments (0)
April 13, 2005
Oh Hell No!!
H/T to MamaMontezz for pointing me to this story. (Or sort of a H/t, now I am all kinds of pissed off!)
You know, the world will never be perfect. Ever it is simply not possible. Even one day hundreds of thousands of years from now when man has blurred the lines between the races and the religions the world simply won't be perfect. I don't think any rational person ever really expects a utopian society but I do think that all good natured people expect relative harmony; a little order, morality and basic human decency. What the four boys in this story demonstrated was hate, and a total disregard for another human being.
I'm going to tackle this one piece by piece...
Witnesses: Disabled Girl Punched In Face, Forced To Perform Sex ActsPOSTED: 2:25 pm EDT April 12, 2005
UPDATED: 10:15 pm EDT April 12, 2005COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A 16-year-old disabled girl was punched and forced to engage in videotaped sexual acts with several boys in a high school auditorium as dozens of students watched, according to witnesses.
How in the hell does something like this happen? How in the hell is it ok to hit a woman, much less a disabled girl? How in the hell has our youth gotten so out of touch with reality that "dozens" of students watched these acts?
Authorities are investigating and no charges have been filed in the alleged attack last month at Mifflin High School. Four boys suspected of involvement were sent home and have not returned to class.
Ghee, you think? They haven't returned to class. The next time they attend a class it should be in the juvenile detention system. When I was in school had these douche bags returned to school they wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes.
Also, the principal, Regina Crenshaw, was suspended and will be fired for not calling police, school officials said. And three assistant principals were suspended and will be reassigned to other schools.Crenshaw had no comment Tuesday.
OK, I understand and fully agree with the firing of the Principal, but why is it that the three assistant principals will be reassigned? Either they were aware of the events in which case they are just as liable for the situation or they were oblivious to the events in which case they should have been left alone?? Which is it?
The girl was forced to perform oral sex on at least two boys, according to statements from school officials, obtained by The Columbus Dispatch.Part of the alleged assault was videotaped by a student who had a camera for a school project.
School officials found the girl bleeding from the mouth. An assistant principal cautioned the girl's father against calling 911 to avoid media attention, the statements said. The girl's father called police.
Her father said the girl is developmentally disabled. A special education teacher said the teen has a severe speech impediment.
I hope to hear of two things in this case:
1.) The tape is used to convict all four of these dirt bags
2.) Her parents never see the tape.
I have a daughter of my own and I promise you if something like this ever happened to her, I'd go to jail or go to hell. There is no way something like this could go unpunished. Like many things in our judicial system these kids will likely get a smack on the wrist and press on with their lives. What they should get is a 6'x6' cell with a 300lb gorilla named Bubba who has a penchant for young boys!
It just sickens me!
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 03:56 AM | Comments (5)
April 12, 2005
Torture Would Be To Kind
According to AP News a Florida Woman Sells Daughters for Car, Prostitution, Police Charge:
OKEECHOBEE, Fla. (AP) - A woman was arrested for allegedly forcing her 12-year-old daughter into prostitution and trading a 14-year-old daughter for a car. The 39-year-old woman was charged with aggravated child abuse and sexual performance by a child. Both girls have been turned over to the Department of Children & Families.The youngest girl and her mother were living out of their car, and would sell sex for food and an occasional shower at the men's homes, according to a report by Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office Detective K.J. Ammons.
The youngest daughter is three months pregnant, the report said; she was 11 when her mother first forced her to have sex with a man. The older daughter refused to be a prostitute and was allegedly sold for a car.
"She was sold to a man for a Mercury Cougar," Ammons said. "But he never gave the mother the vehicle." He was arrested in the case.
The youngest girl told detectives her mother took them out of school. "She said she was a good student and made A's and B's, and all she wants to do is go back to school," he said.
This woman is the lowest of the low. Her worth as a human being is lower than the excrement of an AIDS infested child molester.
But wait, the LibTards will crawl out of the woodwork to defend her and blame our government.
Give me a break people; she traded her first born for a car. Her youngest daughter is now pregnant and only 12 years old. This woman has taken it upon herself to ruin the lives of her children before they even got the opportunity to live. I only hope that both of these little girls are resilient and will be able to come back and enjoy the rest of their lives in a civilized manner free from the extortion of their C*nt of a mom.
As BC frequently says, "Rope. Tree. C*nt. Some assembly required."
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 11:39 PM | Comments (2)
April 11, 2005
50,000 Hits!
Today 11 April 2005 the Slaughterhouse hit the 50,000 visitors mark.
Thank you to everyone who reads regulary and my most sincere apologies for the slow posting since my arrival in Germany.
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 11:20 PM | Comments (3)
1st Anniversary
Today marks the first anniversary of my Slaughterhouse.
Blogging was a strange idea to me. As I started looking at the blogs of friends and family I couldn't imagine myself taking the time to share my thoughts with the millions of strangers in cyberspace.
Around the end of the first week of April 2004 Mamamontezz set up the basics of my site. She was responsible for the general color scheme, the set up and the banner. On 11 April I posted my first entry about the pro troop/anti-war sentiment in our country.
Initially my site was focused on the Presidential elections and exposing John Kerry for the fraud he was. In between Kerry bashings I focused on the military. To this day most of my notable posts have something to do with the Troops, Patriotism or our government. I do occasionally share silly anecdotes or other pictures when I just don't have time for a great post.
Not to toot my own horn but I'd say my site has progressed quite a bit in the last 12 months. Though the appearance has (and will) change with time, the Slaughterhouse is still the Slaughterhouse. A place where I can vent about all things that bother me and all things I feel are important in this world.
I'd like to say a big thank you to Mamammontezz, Delftsman and the many, many other great bloggers who taught me the value of blogging.
lagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 12:00 AM | Comments (2)
April 10, 2005
Nothing Profound Just A Little Humor
15 minutes hell, that would be like an eternity!!!
SlagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 11:25 PM | Comments (2)
April 08, 2005
It's A Midwest Thang... ...Ya'll
Here is another one from Canteloupe:
Because of misunderstandings that frequently develop when Easterners and Californians cross states such as Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, those states' Tourism Councils have adopted a set of informational guidelines. In an effort to help outsiders understand the Midwest, the following list will be handed to each driver entering the state:1. That farm boy standing next to the feed bin did more work before breakfast than you do all week at the gym.
2. It's called a 'gravel road.' No matter how slow you drive, you're going to get dust on your Navigator. I have a four-wheel drive because I need it. Drive it or get it out of the way.
3. We all started hunting and fishing when we were seven years old. Yeah, we saw Bambi. We got over it.
4. Any references to "corn fed" when talking about our women will get you whipped... by our women.
5. Go ahead and bring your $600 Orvis Fly Rod. Don't cry to us if a flathead catfish breaks it off at the handle. We have a name for those little trout you fish for...bait.
6. Pull your pants up. You look like an idiot.
7. If that cell phone rings while a bunch of mallards are making their final approach, we will shoot it. You might hope you don't have it up to your ear at the time.
8. That's right. Whiskey is only two bucks. We can buy a fifth for what you paid in the airport for one drink.
9. No, there's no "Vegetarian Special" on the menu. Order steak. Order it rare. Or, you can order the Chef's Salad and pick off the two pounds of ham and turkey.
10. You bring Coke into my house, it better be brown, wet, and served over ice.
11. So you have a sixty thousand dollar car you drive on weekends. We're real impressed. We have quarter - million dollar combines that we use two weeks a year.
12. Let's get this straight. We have one stoplight in town. We stop when it's red. We may even stop when it's yellow. Don't you dare honk at us.
13. Our women hunt, fish, and drive trucks--because they want to. So, you're a feminist. Isn't that cute.
14. Yeah, we eat catfish. Carp, too--and turtle. You really want sushi and caviar? It's available at the bait shop.
15. They are pigs. That's what they smell like. Get over it. Don't like it? Interstate 70, 80, & 90 go East& West--Interstate 29 &35 go North & South. Pick one and use it accordingly.
16. The "Opener" refers to the first day of deer or fishing season. It's a religious holiday. You can get breakfast at the church.
17. So every person in every pickup waves. It's called being friendly. You probably don't understand the concept.
18. Yeah, we have golf courses. Don't hit in the water hazard. It spooks the fish.
19. That Highway Patrol Officer that just pulled you over for driving like an idiot...his name is "Sir"...no matter how old he is.
Now, welcome to the Midwest. Enjoy your visit!!!
SlagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 04:37 AM | Comments (3)
April 07, 2005
45 Reasons To Re-Enlist (Or Not)
45 Reasons to Reenlist1. Yesterday sucked, today sucked, tomorrow is going to suck, and this seems to be a pretty solid forecast for the rest of my enlistment.
2. Spending 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year training for something that there is a 99.9% chance that we will never do.
3. WWWDWOA? (What would we do without acronyms?)
4. Taking simple daily tasks and breaking them down into nuclear physics before doing them.
5. Having to attend a brief prior to carrying out any task more complicated than picking my nose.
6. Being a personal servant (that's basically all I am) to any one of the 300 thousand people in the air force who out-rank me.
7. Being an adult and having somebody inspect me everyday to make sure I put my clothes on properly, and put my shoes on the right feet.
8. Having to wear a "cover," or hat, every time I want to go outside.
9. I love cleaning the same places over and over and over until either the paint comes off or my hands are bleeding.
10. Without the air force's influence and good teaching, I would never have realized that you can sweep water with a broom for hours every time it rains.
11. There just isn't that many jobs out there where you can rest assured that everyone you work for is just waiting to screw you over any way they possibly can.
12. If I got out, I would surely miss the idea of waking up every morning for a "meeting".
13. Getting to wear civilian clothes whenever I am on leave.
14. Getting to eat meat labeled "not fit for human consumption" or "for institutional use only".
15. Getting "random" drug tests every couple of weeks. I was "randomly" picked for every test for almost two years straight. Not many people can testify to taking about 50 drug tests in the past two years without having ever been caught doing drugs in my life.
16. Waking up every morning and going to a "staff meeting" where a piece of paper is read to me even though it is posted on the wall and on the offices internet, both of which I have access to. I guess I can't read.
17. Going to medical complaining of severe heart and chest pain and being told to come back during "sick-call" the next day.
18. I love the fact that my opinion has about as much influence as my sister's pet iguana's.
19. Because no matter how much I hate my job, I have to respectfully request to get a different one. Even then it is only if my "chain of command" permits.
20. You do not have to respect the person, you have to respect what they wear on their collar or sleeve.
21. I love the fact that the military wonders why we have so many people around the world that hate our country. I am sure that us being bullies and telling the world what they can and cannot do, then ignoring those rules ourselves has nothing to do with it.
22. I hate good food.
23. I love the “you are U.S. ambassadors" speech.
24. Spending time with my family???
25. Not only getting to do my own job, but getting stuck with as many additional duties as my chain of command wants to give me.
26. Having to change your computer password every two weeks to keep terrorists from hacking into our email or even playing an innocent game of solitaire.
27. When you get out you will only be 38-40. You still have your entire life ahead of you. Yeah, okay, I want my life to start at 38.
28. What? You are going on leave?
29. Oh, look...There's the boss. We better all stand at attention until he tells us we can move. Do they do that in the civilian world too?
30. Is that local time or Zulu?
31. I want to work somewhere that has total control of my paycheck so that they can take half if I mess up.
32. If I get in trouble out in town I would like to get woken up the next day at 6 am and have to stand in front of my boss, manager, assistant manager, and anyone else who has nothing better to do so that they can all chew my butt.
33. Can we be tested to make sure we are physically-fit every year only please make exceptions to this for enormously fat 30+ year old Tech Sgt's and above.
34. Where else can you pay taxes to pay your own paycheck?
35. You take an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and after that the Constitution doesn't even apply to you.
36. Because only during magic shows and air force working hours are the rules of logic suspended.
37. Because no-matter how stupid you are, you will eventually get promoted by accumulating points for not getting promoted.
38. Because where else can you get your teeth drilled and jacked up whether they need it or not?
39. Where else can you get given shots by people who claim to practice medicine that didn't even graduate from high school, and can't even pronounce the name of the drug that they are injecting you with?
40. Because if you've had enough military crap for one lifetime and you want to quit, you can rest assured that the air force will do everything it can to screw you over for the rest of your life.
41. Because it's fun to go to medical to get your eye checked out and have the tech point a light in your eye for ten minutes until you are blind and then to hear them say, "that was cool, let's try the other one."
42. Why did our parents even bother giving us first names?
43. IN what other job can you do things NOT the RIGHT WAY, but the "AIR FORCE WAY"?
44. Sitting around twiddling my thumbs all day long until about 4:00pm, even though I finished all of my work by ten in the morning is really fun to do every DAMN DAY...it builds character.
45. Who really wants to have any control over their life anyway?
Thanks go out to a great friend, Canteloupe for this one (didn't want his real name on the web). Stay true to yourself and everything else will just fall into place.
SlagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 11:18 PM | Comments (2)
April 05, 2005
Rhein-Main AB, Germany
As most of you know, I am currently on a Temporary Duty (TDY) Assignment in Germany. I am stationed at Rhein-Main AB near Frankfurt.
I just thought I'd share a little of the bases unique and interesting history.
In 1909, Count von Zeppelin used the area as a landing site for his lighter than air dirigible Z-II. Germany had planned the site for use as one of the most important European air terminals on the continent. In 1936, the base opened for commercial use. The northern part of the base saw use with airplanes and the extreme southern part near Zeppelinheim served as a base for rigid airships. The southern portion of Rhein-Main became the port for the Graf Zeppelin, its sister ship LZ-130, and until May 6, 1937, the ill-fated Hindenburg. The airships were dismantled and their huge hangars demolished on May 6, 1940, when the base was converted for military use. Luftwaffe engineers extended the single runway and erected hangars and other facilities for German military aircraft. During World War II, the Luftwaffe used the field sporadically as a fighter base and as an experimental station for jet aircraft. Allied forces bombed the base heavily in the latter part of 1944 and the beginning of 1945. Rhein-Main completed its drawdown April 1, 1995. The remaining units support more than 2,600 community members, 30 tenant units and maintain contingency facilities for spin-up use by transient airlift aircraft. No aircraft are permanently assigned to the base Officials in Ninth Air Force intended the base for use as a bomber base, but Rhein-Main became a principal European air transport terminal from 1947 to 1959. Rhein-Main was the main western base for the round-the-clock Berlin Airlift, Operation Vittles, from June 1948 to September 1949. In April 1959, U.S. Air Forces in Europe turned over the northern part of the base to the German government for use as a civilian airport. The Flughafen, Frankfurt Airport became the chief commercial airport for the greater Frankfurt area in April 1959. The rest of the base remained under control of USAFE. The base became the principal aerial port for U.S. forces in Germany. On July 1, 1975, the base was assigned to Military Airlift Command. Under terms of an agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany, only transport aircraft have been stationed at Rhein-Main since May 1975. On April 1, 1992, the base was reassigned to USAFE. The base functioned as a major hub for U.S. forces deploying and redeploying for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The base delivered increasingly larger amounts of humanitarian aid for Operation Provide Comfort, Provide Hope, Restore Hope, Support Hope and the longest sustained humanitarian airlift relief effort in history, Operation Provide Promise. On Dec. 20, 1993, base officials announced plans to draw down to half the size and reduce the active duty force by more than two-thirds. The United States 826th Engineering Aviation Battalion arrived at Rhein-Main in April 1945 and immediately began clearing rubble and reconstructing major buildings. Army engineers built new runways and extended and widened the existing runway. Also, they constructed new aprons and hardstands as well as taxiways leading to the new Rhein-Main passenger terminal completed in 1946. Air traffic into Rhein-Main increased in October 1946 when the air terminal at Orly Field, Paris, France, closed. Rhein-Main then hosted the Eastern Air Transport Service in January 1947.
Obviously that is a brief look at the 60 year history of this base. If I find more I will post it as well.
For more information on Rhein-Main AB check out Global Security.org
SlagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 11:41 PM | Comments (1)
April 04, 2005
The Weekend In Review
Ok, so what haven't I commented on???
First, the Pope. Pope John Paul II was a very influential man. Now, I am not a religious person at all, but I obviously understand the significance of the Papacy.
To the believers he was an inspiration and replacing him will be very difficult.
Now that the respect and niceties are out of the way....
Religious Fanatics
This weekend while sitting in the hotel bar (yeah I know real tough deployment) I overheard a woman explaining to her husband that the Popes passing wasn't due to illness or age it was sympathy for the suffering of Terri Schiavo.
It took everything I had to not burst into laughter. To each his own, I feel like people are entitled to their own religious views and practices, but when a person is that far over the edge.
Some people will never cease to amaze me.
If you've read my recent posts you know what I think of the Schiavo situation it is sad. But to think that the 84 year old Pope who was struggling with his health died for Terri, Wow, 'nuff said!
Instead of getting on an unecessary rant and saying mean things about people, I'll just say this...
Get a grip of reality people!
SlagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 04:42 AM | Comments (4)
April 01, 2005
Her Ordeal Is Over
As most of you (I assume) already know Mrs. Schiavo has passed. After nearly two weeks of neglect she has passed on.
It's not letting her go that bothers me so, it is how they did it. It would be one thing if simply unplugging a machine would instantly allow her to slip into and eternal slumber, but to deprive her of food and water for two weeks makes me sick.
I extend my condolences first to her husband as this must be a tragic day for him (I know this won't gain me any favor with the Uber Right Wing). I also extend my condolences to her parents. As a Father myself I cannot imagine what it must feel like to see the death of ones own child. I do however believe ultimately both families will live more stable lives now that Terri is gone.
There is no place for politics in this event. As most State laws reflect, the wishes of Mr. Schiavo should have been respected long ago.
However, we desperately need to find a more humane means of handling situations like these.
SlagleRock Out!
Posted by SlagleRock at 07:30 AM | Comments (2)