Recently posted quotes:

"There is no distinctly American criminal class - except Congress." Mark Twain (1835-1910)

“Be thankful we're not getting all the government we're paying for.” -Will Rogers (1879-1935)

"Stability in government is essential to national character and to the advantages annexed to it." -James Madison (1751-1836)

"Liberty must at all hazards be supported." -John Adams (1735-1826)


Tuesday, August 31, 2010

A long standing RANT - Military Officers portrayed on TV

I was watching the “Closer” last night and once again TV did a terrible job of portraying a military officer. They can’t get it right. How can they be so stupid time and time again.

The guy playing the part did his job fantastically. He played it just as they had written it; he couldn’t have been better. The basic drawback is that I never met an officer that was that stupid and the guy playing the part of a major in the United States Army didn’t know how to wear the uniform. It is not easy to deck yourself out correctly; but, on the other hand, it is not very hard either.

The little catch is the epaulets. Epaulets, you know the epaulets. That’s right, those little decorative deallies up there on the shoulders where the put the officer’s rank and maybe a unit crest when appropriate. The epaulet is actually too long for its intended purpose and needs to be tucked under the collar of the jacket. If it was just a slight bit shorter, it would not matter – but it isn’t. Take a look at the rerun of this episode if you get a chance. You will see that not one soul on the set knew what was wrong with the epaulets. It wasn’t just one side either. The problem switched from side to side in almost every shot that the dunderhead was in. He must have gotten so tired of taking off and putting on that coat, that he just didn’t care any more. It is obvious that not one soul on the set of the show had ever served a day in the military service – they would have hid their head in shame. And a shame it is that not one soul on the set of the show had ever served a day in the military service.

Getting back to the portrayal - during my entire time in the service, I never came across an officer that acted as the dunderhead did in the script that was presented for our viewing. This almost always seems to be the case. The “part” played last night couldn’t see the obvious if it had a two-by-four and whacked him up aside his head. All things considered, it was as far from reality as it could be. It matched the Hollywood version we are lead to believe; but only that version. Where are the directors and producers who used to put forth a worthwhile product? It wasn’t always this way. What happened? Where did these guys go? You would think they could get it right just once. The military we see in the news these days absolutely does not fit this image – well except General McChrystal and his guys, but they were exceptions. It just really makes me mad.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Roger Clemens and the MLB Hall of Fame

There has been a lot of talk around the Austin area about how poor Roger is getting a raw deal. I don’t buy it for one minute. I have no proof, never will. I also don’t have a vote, but if I did – there would be no Roger Clemens voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. There also wouldn’t be any other “steroid period” (drug period) player voted into the Hall of Fame. They do not belong – just my opinion for what it is worth.

I visited the MLB Hall of Fame website and extracted the names of those players (players only) that have been inducted into the Hall since I saw my first major League Baseball game in the summer of 1951. I made careful study of those elected to the hall since that time. I could not find a druggy among them. Some were confirmed boozers and some probably worse. After all they had a lot to live up to in order to match or better the inaugural class (Ruth and the like).

As far as I can determine the “steroid period” (drugged period) player has stolen our pastime from us with falsely obtained records and performances. They were not real. There is a big bunch of them that would have most likely made the Hall on their own un-enhanced performance had they not have chosen the route they took; but that is no longer in question.

I counted, through the 2010 class of inductees forty-eight (48) members that I personally, with my on eyes, have seen play and not one of these guys deserves to be in the same lot with any one of the “steroid period” (drug period) players.

That’s my take. You are welcome to your own.

Friday, August 20, 2010

The Old Man in the Sea

While recently in Maui, I had a bout or two with the ocean. I somewhat whimsically called them encounters between myself and the Old Man in the Sea. This just seemed, at the time, to be the right way to categorize these situations.

The first time out the Old Man nearly did me in, or so I thought. His accomplice, the lava outcropping and coral attached to it near the bottom cut me up so bad that I had difficulty walking for the next several days. The Old Man kept bashing me up against it as I tried to hang on in an attempt to keep from going under.

Later in the week I just nearly succumbed to the Old Man having a real hard time just getting back to shore.

Each and every time out, the Old Man took something from me; monetarily not big losses, but still losses nonetheless.

I have completed writing the story and am currently in the edit//re-write stage. Should be finished real soon.

I am not sure to this day who really came out on top in the two encounters that took place. Although I am still walking around, this, in itself, does not truly make me the winner – I’m conflicted yet.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Sea Turtles – 01 Aug 10

I swam//snorkeled with the turtles - 3 of them. I had brought one of those Walgreen's (good to 35') cameras and took what I hope are good pix with it. They may come out, the water was pretty clear where we were, so they may be OK. Patsy stayed in the shallows to watch for trouble. We had tried the same area the evening before and it was really, really rough. This morning much calmer but still the undertow was hard to manage.

The Old Man in the Sea took a couple of skirmishes this time, but I still took the major battles and the WAR. I have some wounds to show for it. I was so tired when I arrived at the turtle sight that the waves knocked me around and I got some cuts on the coral, but I didn't draw any shark-like creatures. I also got some pix of the fish the turtles were after. They may or may not be good.

Lots of kids and adults in the area trying to get their own looks.

IT WAS GREAT!

I will provide an injury update later. I still on the TURTLE HIGH!