RANT: If you are injured in combat, … you’re screwed?

Friday, March 23, 2007

http://www.lewrockwell.com/kwiatkowski/kwiatkowski178.html

Getting Screwed
by Karen Kwiatkowski

*** begin quote ***

If serving in a forward combat role in Iraq (and also Afghanistan), you are likely to be male. You are also lacking one or more of the following: a clear mission, quality leadership, the proper equipment, armor, and training, a functional and wise set of standard operating procedures for suppressing a hostile local populace that does not speak your language nor share your customs. When you make a mistake or crack under pressure, you will be thrown to the legal wolves. Unless, of course, you are a senior officer, in which case you have an excellent chance of being quickly promoted out of harm’s way.

If you are injured in combat, you will be rushed into the vast system of hospitals, where you will vie for the attention of an overworked, very frustrated, and yet anonymous and unaccountable set of health care professionals who are increasingly overburdened.

If you are female in uniform, and deployed to Iraq, you face all of the above plus a few more. Sexual harassment, pressure for sex from peers and superiors, abuse, rape and even the chance of dying because you cannot safely hydrate yourself for fear of being raped in the night on your way to the latrine – these additive challenges face our female volunteers.

And that’s all before they come home to Walter Reed or Smallville, USA.

*** end quote ***

I think that Americans should be universally ashamed. The treatment of their soldiers is inexcusable. I don’t think our soldiers should ever be deployed outside of the country. But, for the politicians, who profess to “support” our troops, this shows them for the liars that they are.

If I was congress critter, then I’d call every one of “my” wounded every week. Too many for me to personally call, now I’ll understand the problem. Just as I would insist on my attendance at every funeral. Too many, now I understand the problem.

Argh!


RANT: Nature gave us a Saint P’s day present

Saturday, March 17, 2007

A widow maker.

When I was on the First Aid Squad, that’s what we call a snowstorm that was heavy and hard to shovel.

Today we have an inch or two that’s frozen solid.

I did about 6 feet and now I’m resting.

Argh!


RANT: Why does NJ have duplicate road “authorities”?

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

NJ has the Turnpike Authority, the Garden State Parkway Authority, the Atlantic City Expressway Authority, the Delaware Bridge Commission, and the DOT.

If I was King of NJ, then I’d nuke ’em all.

Do we think that roads and bridges can only be done by the gooferment?

Even if it was true, why can’t we have just one DOT?


RANT: The NCAA and all the little schools

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

This years NCAA was interesting in that all the big leagues had extra teams become eligible. That sopped up the selection committee’s optional choices. Is it me or this is all a scam to extract money from a gullible public?


RANT: If there’s no victim, then there’s no crime!

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C258301%2C00.html

Michigan State Lawmaker Wants to Legalize NCAA Basketball Office Pools
Monday, March 12, 2007

*** begin quote ***

LANSING, Mich. — Filling out your NCAA basketball brackets?

If there’s cash involved, technically you’re breaking the law in Michigan.

*** end quote ***

Where’s the victim? Where’s the coercion? Where’s the harm?

Yup, the gooferment didn’t get it’s cut! That’s why it’s illegal.

Gambling is immoral except when the gooferment gets a cut.

The lottery is called a tax on stupidity because the biggest winner is the gooferment.

Argh!


RANT: AG steps on his tongue

Saturday, March 10, 2007

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/
news-11/117350711362280.xml&coll=1

http://tinyurl.com/ywmghx

AG has less objectionable plan for drunken-driving test
Saturday, March 10, 2007
BY ROBERT SCHWANEBERG
Star-Ledger Staff

*** begin quote ***

Attorney General to drunken-driving patrols: never mind.

In a quick about-face, the Attorney General’s Office issued revised procedures yesterday for police administering the Alcotest 7110 to suspected drunken drivers after 2 a.m. tomorrow , when daylight-saving time arrives three weeks earlier than in the past.

*** end quote ***

Oh I see, falsifying the “evidence” is not acceptable … ever.

Your gooferment in action!


RANT: The Guv and Karlagate

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Last couple of days 1015 has been properly dogging the Guv about his gift to his squeez. She “bought” a condo with his money supposedly. What is of “interest” it that she’s the head of a big state union. And, he “negotiated” with her “something”. He blocked pension and benefit reform by the legislature. And, she got a condo.

Now, he’s stonewalling with the “it’s a private matter”.

Sorry guv. It stinks.

Plus, what about a gift tax return? If it was a “loan” (with privileges), even if it was without interest, where’s the IRS?

It just shows that the political class places themselves above the law.

Argh!


RANT: DELL doesn’t deliver

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

I’m stuck with LUGGABLE that fails a lot with winrot. My “fixit” plan is stalled waiting for DELL to deliver the replacement drive. Argh! When I ordered it was supposed to ship, express, Friday 02MAR07. When I looked for the tracking number on Monday 05MAR07, the ship date was now Wednesday 07MAR07. When I checked today it’s now 12MAR07. Argh! Never buy another DELL?

Update thursday 08 Mar 07: DELL emailed me to say it’s delivered. Hmmm, and I’m supposed to be happy?


RANT: Red light cameras for nu jerzee

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Today on 1015, they reported that red light cameras are the latest revenue raising idea in trenton.

Argh!

Despite the fact that I was just in an accident caused by an illeagal left turn, I am still opposed to the automatic ticketing.

I’m less concerned about the camera. I am concerned about the gang in trenton finding a new way to rob us. I’m sure that they wouldn’t shorten the yellow to raise money.

We can have cameras on the roads, just as soon as they put them in the politician’s offices, homes, and hangouts.

Argh!


RANT: Yet Another abuse of the troops

Monday, March 5, 2007

http://alternet.org/waroniraq/48788/

60,000 Marriages Broken by Iraq, Including Mine
By Stacy Bannerman, The Progressive
Posted March 5, 2007.

*** begin quote ***

Congress has abandoned the troops for nearly four years. It is the soldiers, their families, and the people of Iraq that pay the human costs. The tab so far: more than 3,000 dead U.S. troops, tens of thousands of wounded, over half a million Iraqi casualties, roughly 250,000 American servicemen and women struggling with PTSD, and almost 60,000 military marriages that have been broken by this war. Including mine.

*** end quote ***

This an inexcusable abuse of our people in uniform. The costs of this “war”, (undeclared by Congress), like those of many others, is just conveniently “overlooked” by the political class.