Delftsman

MY LIVING WILL

Last night, my friend and I were sitting in the living room and I said to
her, "I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some
machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the
plug."

She got up, unplugged the TV, and threw out my beer.

She's such a bitch.....

H/T to Catfish

"Normal" Auschwitz

There are many photographs of the horror that was Auschwitz. But HERE ARE photographs of that time and place that are horror packed in that they are perfectly normal pics of normal people having fun and enjoying their lives...people like Joseph Mengela and Richard Baur (Commandant of Auschwitz)

That "normal" human beings can create such horror; it seems that we still have a long way to go before we can call ourselves truly civilized. The German people of the 30's and 40's weren't all that different than we are today. What frightens me is that call of 1945 that "We SHALL ALWAYS REMEMBER " is being forgotten, indeed there are many factions that state that the Holocaust never occurred, or if it did, it was on a far smaller scale scale than is being presented by an ambigious "Jooooish Conspiracy".

People, I KNOW it happened. My father was a victim caught up in the horror of those days. He is my link to those days....and his main statement about those days is simple: that IT HAPPENED, and we MUST NEVER FORGET.

IF we forget, we are doomed to repeat it. Don't believe that "it can't happen here"; I'm sure that if you asked the average German in 1939 about a hypothetical Holocaust, he'd deny any possiblity of it occuring in his homeland.

JUST FOR GRINS

Grandmas Don't Know Everything

Little Tony was staying with his grandmother for a few days.

He'd been playing outside with the other kids for a while
when he came into the house and asked her, "Grandma,
what's that called when two people sleep in the same room
and one is on top of the other?"

She was a little taken aback, but she decided to just tell
him the truth. "It's called sexual intercourse, darling."

Little Tony just said, "Oh, OK," and went back outside to
play with the other kids.

A few minutes later he came back in and said angrily,
"Grandma, it isn't called sexual intercourse. It's called
Bunk Beds.

And Jimmy's Mom wants to talk to you."

CIGARETTES AND TAMPONS

A man walks into a pharmacy and wanders up & down the aisles.
The sales girl notices him and asks him if she can help him.
He answers that he is looking for a box of tampons for his wife.
She directs him down the correct aisle.

A few minutes later, he deposits a huge bag of cotton balls and a ball of string on the counter.

She says, confused, 'Sir, I thought you were looking for some tampons for your wife?

He answers, 'You see, it's like this, yesterday, I sent my wife to the store
To get me a carton of cigarettes, and she came back with a tin of tobacco
And some rolling papers; cause it's sooo-ooo--oo-ooo much cheaper.
So, I figure if I have to roll my own .......... So does she.

CREATION

A man said to his wife one day, 'I don't know how you can be
So stupid and so beautiful all at the same time.
'
The wife responded, 'Allow me to explain.

God made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me;
God made me stupid so I would be attracted to you!

FOOTBALL SCOUTING REPORT*

> >>>Well folks, it arrived ... the 2007 football scouting report. The
> >>>following scouting report is making the rounds of Division I football
> >>>coaches:

> >>>Wayfron P. Jackson: 6' 6", 215 lbs. Wide Receiver.
> >>>Hottest prospect
> >>>from Texas in the last ten years. Loves rap music.
> >>>Will demand a
> >>>mini-cassette in his helmet. Currently holds world record for the most
> >>>"do you knows" during an interview (62 in one minute). Wayfron can
> >>>print his complete name.

> >>>Cletis Quinticious Jenkins: 6' 3", 220 lbs. Running Back. Set state
> >>>scoring record out of Triton High School, Dunn, North Carol ina. & Also
> >>>led the state in burglaries, but has only 9 convictions. He has been
> >>>clocked at 4.2 seconds in the 40 yard dash with a 19" TV under each arm.

> >>>Roosevelt "Dude" Dansell: 6' 1", 195 lbs. Running Back. From Tyler,
> >>>Texas. Has processed hair and imitates Billy Dee Williams very well.
> >>>Before he signed his letter of intent, he wanted the school to change
> >>>colors to chartreuse and pink. Listed his church preference as "red
> >>>brick."

> >>>Woodrow Lee Washington: 6' 8", 310 lbs. Tackle. From a 4th generation
> >>>welfare family. At 19 he's the oldest of 21 children.
> >>>Mother claims Woodrow and child number 9 have same father. He has a
> >>>manslaughter trial pending but feels he will be found innocent because:
> >>>"The dude said something bad 'bout my Momma." On his entrance form, he listed his I.Q. as 20-20.

> >>>Willie "Night Train" Smith: 6'4", 225 lbs. Quarter back. Born on an
> >>>Amtrak train. Birth certificate indicates he is 27 years old. Thinks the
> >>>"N" on Nebraska's helmets stands for "Nowledge,"
> >>>but still meets this school's stringent entrance requirements. Insists on > >>>wearing number 32 jersey since it matches his score on his College
> >>>Entrance Exam.

> >>>Tyrone "Python" Peoples: 6'10", 228 lbs. Wide Receiver. Has a pending
> >>>paternity suit and two rape trials, but hopes none of his other
> >>>9 victims will file charges. Tyrone had already signed letters of intent
> >>>with six other colleges but was also willing to sign with us.
> >>>Likes wild women and red Cadillacs. Thinks Taco Bell is the Mexican
> >>>Telephone Company.

> >>>Abdul Hasheen Abba Ali: 6'10", 305 lbs. Guard. Played high school ball
> >>>under the name Sylvester LeRoy Jones until he discovered religion.
> >>>Abdul thinks Sherlock Holmes is a housing project in Jacksonville.
> >>>Doesn't know the meaning of the word "fear." (Doesn't know the meaning
> >>>of many other words, either.)

> >>>Note: College track coaches intend to use several of the above signees
> >>>in their track programs. However, instead of using a starting gun at
> >>>track meets, the NCAA has agreed to use a burglar alarm... This, they
> >>>hope, will keep the runners alert.

CONSTITUTION DAY 2007

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America... Done... the seventeenth day of September, in the year of our LORD one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven.” —George Washington and the delegates

Two hundred and twenty years ago today, this Nation embarked on a grand experiment. While there are problems that threaten that experiment;for the moment, it's still working as our forefathers had hoped. If that grand foray into the unknown fails, it will be due to OUR lack, not theirs. WE are the ones that strayed from the wise path they left us to follow.

I believe that this day should be made a day of National reflection on where we have been and where we may be heading. Just maybe there is yet time to change the course we are heading.

The Father of our Nation warned us to beware of what is happening in this latter day; with contemplation on the sage advice of those that went before us, we can still avoid the final dissolution, but time grows short.

“Should, hereafter, those incited by the lust of power and prompted by the Supineness or venality of their Constituents, overleap the known barriers of this Constitution and violate the unalienable rights of humanity: it will only serve to shew, that no compact among men (however provident in its construction and sacred in its ratification) can be pronounced everlasting an inviolable.” —George Washington, First Inaugural Address

9/11

Tomorrow is a day of rememberance of one of the saddest days of our Republic, and it seems that all too many citizens are prepared to forget it. That would be a mistake IMHO. Cal Thomas says it better than I ever could (emph. mine-D):

“As we approach the sixth anniversary of Sept. 11, there are suggestions that we should begin to forget the worst terrorist incident in America’s history. Recently, a front-page story in The New York Times suggested it is becoming too much of a burden to remember the attack, that nothing new can be said about it and that, perhaps, Sept. 11 ‘fatigue’ may be setting in. ...9/11 forces us to be serious, not only about those who died and why they died at the hands of religious fanatics, but also so that we won’t forget that it could very well happen again and many of today’s living might end up as yesterday’s dead. That is the purpose of remembering 9/11, not to engage in perpetual mourning. The war goes on and to be reminded of 9/11 serves as the ultimate protection against forgetfulness. Terrorists have not forgotten 9/11. Tape of the Twin Towers is used on jihadist Websites for the purpose of recruiting new ‘martyrs.’ What’s the matter with some people? Does remembering not only 9/11 but the stakes in this world war interfere too much with our pursuit of money, things and pleasure? Serious times require serious thought and serious action. In our frivolous times, full of trivialities and irrelevancies, to be serious is to abandon self-indulgence for survival, entertainment for the stiffened spine... Not to remember 9/11, is to forget what brought it about.”

As you go through your busy day, stop and take a moment to remember.

Remember what happened on that day six years ago.

Remember that on that day, we were made aware that we are engaged in a world wide conflict with an enemy that is implacably set to destroy us and everything we stand for.

Remember those that died that day.

Most of all, remember those that died to defend us on foreign soil and those that continue to fight on those faraway shores.

Challenge

My hometown newsrag, The Indianapolis Star, has a feature called "Let it Out" which allows readers to opine on anything they should be thinking about. On Friday, August 31, 2007, a (IMHO) jackass/"progressive" (but I repeat myself) posited the following statement:

"I guess you could consider America the greatest country in the world when it would rather spend billions putting a piece of metal in space than aid those in need of jobs, food, and shelter."

I've heard this argument time and time again, ie: "why spend money on the space program when we have so many needs here on Earth ?", and usually it comes from a sincerely caring type of "progressive" that always bemoans any money spent other than welfare and other types of aid to "the poor"; whether here at home, or across the world.

I've had knock down-dragout fights arguments with family members over this issue.

My position is that the Space Program is the best thing that this country has done since first positing the idea of freedom of the individual. The fact is that every dollar that we have spent on space has returned tenfold to the good of our society in terms of new products, technology, and ability to help the greatest number for the lowest cost. I contend that money spent on space has helped more disadvantaged people than ANY of the "Great Society" welfare/Medicaid programs have.

WHY do I feel that way? Think about it. I'll wait.

You say you still think I'm talking out of my ass? Okay, YOU tell me of any major step forward in just about any area where it wasn't made possible by the space program within, at most, three degrees of separation.

NASA has a site that just touches some highlights of spin-offs, to include general areas such as:

1. Computer Technology
2. Consumer/Home/Recreation
3. Environmental and Resource Management
4. Health and Medicine
5. Industrial Productivity/Manufacturing Technology
6. Public Safety
7. Transportation

Those are main points, but remember that progress rarely develops in straight lines; many times, one piece of new technology often affects development in multiple other areas that you would not at first think connected.

James Burke has made a career of outlining historical "Connections" of progress through history. The fact is that the space program has exponentially increased the pace of those "connections" between various disciplines, to the betterment of the world in general.

Here is my challenge: Tell me any step of forward progress that hasn't benefited from/or been caused by the space program, within three degrees of separation, within the last thirty years.

That microwave you just used to pop some popcorn before an evenings stroll through the www? Space program.

That MRI that just alerted your doctor that he'd better treat you quickly before your (insert disease of choice here) has reached the stage that there is no treatment and you're soon to meet your maker? Space program again.

The PC/laptop that your're using to read this? Bingo! Space program.

Okay, let me have your best shot.

MTPP, the beginning of the end game

I am ANGRY, no, I am beyond angry, almost to the point of homicidal rage. What could possibly make me break out of my normally kind and gentle state of mind (stop snickering, BC)?

It seems that El Jorge has made an end-run around the American people and pushed through the Mexican Truck Pilot Program without any fanfare to alert the general public. Mark R. Taylor, a contributor of the site Family Security Matters has an excellent article on why EVERY American should be concerned about this program. Mr. Taylor points out that, under this program, we have literaly opened the floodgates of illegal immigration, and that is the LEAST of the faults.

The MTPP is set to begin on Sept. 7, 2007. I thought that this travesty had been put to rest last year, but apparently, I was sorely mistaken.... it costs thousands of dollars to get the permits for Mexican trucking companies to operate in the U.S. ---- now, just WHERE do you think that these companies will get the operating capital to get those permits? In Mexico? Can you say "narco-dollars" ? And do you honestly believe that the drug lords will part with that capital to try to get into a legitimate business? IF you believe that, please E-mail me, I have a bridge I would really like to sell you.

Even without those criminal and security concerns, ask yourself, what happens to an industry when a large group of new players are willing to work for a third of the usual going rate? Ask the thousands of UAW EXworkers after the Japanese auto plants took over production here in the U.S. It's been nearly impossible for the Independant Trucker to make a living under the D.O.T. rules and the lowering of freight rates over the last 15 years or so. This program will now make it that much harder for the Freight companies themselves to be competitive too; remember, something like 90% of all goods are shipped via trucks - do you really think that such a vital part of our economy should be controlled by foreign entities?

We should all contact our representatives in Washington and tell them that we the People will NOT stand for the MTPP to be allowed to progress. The time is short, and we need to act NOW.

Patriots, the time has come to get the ammo out of storage and loaded into magazines. The time is very near to show those in Washington that they are our SERVANTS, NOT our masters, and WE the People have decided that our servants have abrogated the responsibities that we entrusted them with and they must be replaced, by force if necessary.

Hoo-Ah!

One of my readers gave me a pointer to this, but I forgot who it was...but I still want to say thanks, and may the Corps live forever.

TOP COP

The LAPD, the FBI, & the CIA are all trying to prove that they are the
best at apprehending criminals. The President decides to give them a
test. He releases a rabbit into a forest and each of them has to catch it.

The CIA goes in. They place animal informants throughout the forest.
They question all plant and mineral witnesses. After three months of
extensive investigations they conclude that rabbits do not exist.

The FBI goes in. After two weeks with no leads they burn most of the
forest, killing almost everything in it, including the rabbit and they
make no apologies. The rabbit had it coming.

The LAPD goes in. They come out two hours later with a badly beaten
bear. The bear is yelling: “Okay, okay, I’m a rabbit, I’m a rabbit.”

Happy Belated Birthday

DogGONE it! I forgot that yesterday was the birthday of a very special group that I {B Co., 3rd S&T Bn,(attached 3rd Armor), 3rd ID 72'-75'} just happen to belong to...the "Rock of the Marne". The dog-faced men of the 3rd ID. 90 years young and still going strong.

Thanks to Black Five for the reminder!

And a hearty THANK YOU to my "decendents" now serving in Iraq; You're carrying on a proud tradition in the finest way possible.