30 May 2007

Who Does What?

Today we had a little discussion where I work about President Bush and the job he is doing.

Unfortunately, half of the discussion was conducted by those who blame the President for everything and does not realize that he is not responsible for 90% of the things they are complaining about.

Who declares war? The congress.

Who passes the budget? The congress.

Who collects taxes? The congress.

Unless you live in Washington DC, you have two Senators and one Congressman. Can you name two of them?

If not, you are part of the problem.

There are plenty of things the President should catch heat for, things that he is directly responsible for doing that he has not done.

The borders, national defense, is the President's responsibility. He has not secured them.

The Executive is responsible for enforcing the laws, including the immigration laws. He has not done so.

This President has not vetoed bills that desperately deserved it, among them being McCain-Feingold campaign reform.

This President has plenty to answer for, but if you are going to complain about something, at least be informed enough to know who is responsible for what.

28 May 2007

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day!

Thank a veteran.

20 May 2007

Follow Up

My "vacation" is about at an end. Tomorrow I rejoin the workforce.

I did get the Suzuki up and running, but it will need a few miles under her wheels to be right again. It hasn't run for about 5 years now and is a bit stiff.

Sister and Brother in law are on their way back home, it was good to see them and we had a good visit.

14 May 2007

Between Jobs

My last day at the old job was Wednesday, I don't start at the new job until a week from Monday, so for these ten days or so I'm officially between jobs.

Being unemployed doesn't mean I have had nothing to do though. My sister and brother in law are in from Iowa, I haven't seen them for going on nine years.

My brother in law wanted to see the aircraft carriers, so Friday we went to Norfolk. Thanks to my retired ID card we were able to get on the pier to see the USS Harry S Truman up close. I was once again amazed by the size of the Nimitz class carriers, and of course Brother in law was thrilled. Wife and sister had a good shopping day at the Navy Exchange as well.

We went down to Darlington for the Dodge Charger 500 on Saturday, got rained out and went back Sunday. A good time was had by all. Sister says she's glad she went, but she won't be disappointed to never go to another one because she can see more and hear the announcers on the TV. Brother in law would rather see the races at the track, and by the time we were heading home on Sunday sister was already talking about "next time".

On the agenda today is a(nother) new starter for the mighty Rampage and the possibility of the Suzuki being re-assembled and fired up. I really hope these carberators work, they have been freshly rebuilt and the battery has been on charge all night. I'll know by the end of the day. If it does fire, tomorrow will be registration and license day and I will once again be on two wheels.

That's about it, a busy couple of days at the Refuge but a good couple of days at that.

Photo of Dodge Charger 500, 2006, at Darlington Raceway by Randall Stewart

08 May 2007

Young America

We have heard it all our lives, about how the world is going to hell in a handbasket and that young people just don't have what it takes anymore.

Our folks were wrong about us, and we are wrong about our kids.

For every car stealing punk, there is a Marine who patrols.

For every rapist, a Navy corpsman who treats the wounded.

For every gang banger, an Airman that fixes jet motors.

For every drug pusher, a Soldier who drives a tank.

For every bitcher, whiner, and complainer there is a college student that marches, not in protest, but in the ROTC.

Meet a young lady who gets it.

Good luck with your dreams Holly, you are going to do great.

DOD photograph, elements of the 22nd MEU in training at Fort Pickett, VA

03 May 2007

National Day of Prayer -May 3, 2007

I got this from Sketch, who had forwarded it via email. I should have posted it sooner, but I didn't check my email until late. One of the things that goes along with a night job.

Scripture: “Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.” -Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV)

Prayer: God of power and might, Lord of mercy and grace. You are creator of heaven and earth, and You reign and rule forever and ever. Your name is high above every other name, and there is no one who can challenge Your power.

Lord, You have compassion for the weak and You preserve those who defend the powerless. As our troops defend the powerless today in troubled places all around the world, let Your mighty hand of protection cover them, and preserve their lives.

Lord we ask that today would be a day of divine intervention and deliverances from death for our troops around the world. Surround them with Your favor as a shield, and guard their lives today as they guard the lives of others. Bless them Lord in the Land where they serve, and do not surrender them to the desire of their foes. Consider their lives precious in Your sight, and extend Your hand of grace, mercy and protection to them.

Make a testimony for Yourself today Lord, as You stand between those who seek to destroy, and those who serve to protect. Honor the brave hearts of our soldiers, and the heartfelt prayers of those who love them. May Your name be glorified by the testimonies of protection and deliverance that come forth from this day. For it is in God we trust. Amen.

I don't have an artist for the photo, it's labeled Sunset Soldier but no photographer information. If anyone can supply it, I will give credit where credit is due.

02 May 2007

Hammer's Meme

I found this at Hammer's blog (address below) and thought I'd give it a whirl.

Hammer's 500 meme
whenyouronlytoolisahammer.blogspot.com


1. What is the stupidest mistake you have ever made with money?
Getting married. Twice. Just kidding Honey!

2. Do you think taxes are unfair or do you think it's your civic duty?
Taxes are a civic duty to pay for the essential things that government is responsible for, such as the courts, law enforcement and the military. However, all governments go overboard when the common citizenry discovers that they can vote themselves money from the government's coffers. That's why I am a fan of the Fair Tax.

3. Do you take risks and possibly turn your life upside down for new opportunity?
I don't take as many risks as I probably should, it's safe but it's not very profitable at times.

4. Are you the alpha in your household? (Include pets)
Ha! I'm married. Next question.

5. Do you compromise with your significant other or does someone always get their way? Compromise is essential.

6. What curse word do you use most often?
Thanks to my Navy training, I am proficient with the F bomb.

7. Do you easily change your mind or are you dead set on most issues?
I know what I know, but one of the things I know is that I don't know everything. Show me a better way and I'm all for trying it out.

8. What famous person would you like to trade places with for one week?
Hugh Heffner.

9. If you could go back in time and tell one person off, who would it be and what would you say?
I can't think of one.

10. Were you a good student or did you do just enough to get by?
I have the ability to remember most everything I read, so I was a good student with minimum effort. I could have been on the honor roll if I had put forth a bit more effort. I wasn't good at math, though, which is funny given my occupation (electronics tech).

11. If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting out on their own, what would you tell them?
You are going to make mistakes. Learn from them. Better yet, learn from the mistakes of others. It's a lot less painful that way.

12. Are people basically good and honest or are most people opportunistic and predatory?
I think that most people want to do the right thing, but the ones that get the press are the ones that don't.

13. Is there somebody you wish you could go back and apologize to?
There's a whole list of them.

I'm Still Here

I have several things percolating in my brain right now, none of them have pushed their way to the front yet. Some of the things I have been thinking about lately are the culture of passivity that we have created, gun control, and soldiers and their philosophy of war.

My bare thoughts of the above are as follows, hopefully something fully fleshed out will appear sometime in the near future.

We teach our kids that it is never right to use violence, but when we do so we encourage them to become victims. We don't want our kids to be violent bullies, but on the other hand we don't want them to meekly submit to wrong either. Remember the quote about evil triumphing because good men do nothing.

Gun control means being able to hit your target. I don't understand why weapons training is not a part of the counseling that abused women get. I think it should be. Paper shields (restraining orders) are notoriously flimsy.

Most soldiers that I talk to would rather train than fight. Politicians start wars, not soldiers. No one I know hates war more than soldiers, I think that it is because they understand war in a way that those who have never served in one will ever know. I include myself in that category because, even though I spent 20 years in the Navy, I have never seen a shot fired in anger. Yes I was on carriers, but every time there was trouble in the wind I was either in school or on the turnaround cycle between cruises.

In other news, I start a new job around the middle of the month, so there are some changes in the wind at the Refuge. My old company is downsizing and I was among those who got the axe. But rather than think of it as a setback, I think that opportunity knocks. I ended up with another company that is in the same industry, with a more stable outlook, and best of all more money! Of course the wife has plans for it.

Stay safe, thanks for visiting.