http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/50208495#50208495
No AR15 used in school shooting!
Why ban them? I ask honestly. I don't own one.
27 December 2012
25 December 2012
Merry Christmas!
Today, no politics, no ranting about the Constitution, or the corruption of politicians.
Today I take care of Mrs. Crazed American, laid low by a cold, and try to get out to commune with the mountain this afternoon.
G-d bless all of you, Friend and Reader.
May this day be one of love, family and warmth. Remember your blessings and keep this day in a way that fills your heart with joy.
Pacem,
Crazed American, out.
Today I take care of Mrs. Crazed American, laid low by a cold, and try to get out to commune with the mountain this afternoon.
G-d bless all of you, Friend and Reader.
May this day be one of love, family and warmth. Remember your blessings and keep this day in a way that fills your heart with joy.
Pacem,
Crazed American, out.
24 December 2012
Business in the 21st Century, Part I
This is going to be the first in a series of posts, when I, your humble author, lays upon you a critique of modern business, as viewed through the lens of a small, buzz-word-centric, business in the "e-commerce" field, that heavily leverages long, run on sentences in it's official communications, and strives to be synergisitcally present in the social media paradigm, and leverage that presence into market driven action.
Horseshit.
Basically this is my treatise on how a cool, little company began to believe it's own hype, and eventually went from being special, to being effectively a mediocre mail order catalog company, with high turnover. It has to do with forgetting what made the idea special in the first place, losing sight of making each and every employee feel valued, losing sight of team building, taking 27 steps backward by trying to take things to the next level, and testing loyal and dedicated employees.
I will not include any specifics, this may or may not be a company I'm working for. I have worked for companies like it in the past, and the fundamental things to do wrong were done there as well.
Long story short, there are fundamentals that make a successful business and fundamentals to make an unsuccessful one as well.
Let these treatises serve as a cautionary tale to entrepreneurs out there. This is not a case of sour grapes, merely lessons learned. Identities will be changed to protect the innocent, or in this case brilliant and clueless alike.
Should be interesting and an excellent way for me to organize thoughts and perhaps branch out into a business of my own...
Horseshit.
Basically this is my treatise on how a cool, little company began to believe it's own hype, and eventually went from being special, to being effectively a mediocre mail order catalog company, with high turnover. It has to do with forgetting what made the idea special in the first place, losing sight of making each and every employee feel valued, losing sight of team building, taking 27 steps backward by trying to take things to the next level, and testing loyal and dedicated employees.
I will not include any specifics, this may or may not be a company I'm working for. I have worked for companies like it in the past, and the fundamental things to do wrong were done there as well.
Long story short, there are fundamentals that make a successful business and fundamentals to make an unsuccessful one as well.
Let these treatises serve as a cautionary tale to entrepreneurs out there. This is not a case of sour grapes, merely lessons learned. Identities will be changed to protect the innocent, or in this case brilliant and clueless alike.
Should be interesting and an excellent way for me to organize thoughts and perhaps branch out into a business of my own...
22 December 2012
hmmm...
Wrote a long, cogent post about the current state of the union.
Accidentally deleted it. Probably for the best.
So, I will report that I have installed a new-fangled digital antenna on my TV. Winegard flat antenna. Costco $29.99. Good stuff. I now have access to Telemundo in full HD. Everything (except for the local CBS affiliate) else comes in clearer with no digital interference.
All of that, and I was able to hide my antenna underneath an old map of Ft. Benning...
Miracles of modern technology.
We live in a golden age folks, live it up and never stop being grateful for what you have, no matter the circumstance.
Crazed American, out.
Accidentally deleted it. Probably for the best.
So, I will report that I have installed a new-fangled digital antenna on my TV. Winegard flat antenna. Costco $29.99. Good stuff. I now have access to Telemundo in full HD. Everything (except for the local CBS affiliate) else comes in clearer with no digital interference.
All of that, and I was able to hide my antenna underneath an old map of Ft. Benning...
Miracles of modern technology.
We live in a golden age folks, live it up and never stop being grateful for what you have, no matter the circumstance.
Crazed American, out.
20 December 2012
Cold Winds Blowing
I'm done ranting about politics for a while. I'm pretty sure you all get my drift.
Cold winds are indeed blowing. Literally. It's damn freezing cold outside. Ah, winter in the mountains is so spectacular. Looks as though Russia is getting it pretty bad with temps around -50 F. That's a cold day on Mars, for crying out loud.
Russian winters like that make me try to imagine what the German infantry on the Russian Steppe in 1941-43 must have felt like in the winters. Unimaginably cold, with little more than your wool uniform and a woolen greatcoat, if you were lucky. Fingers freezing to the steel of your rifle, frostbite, entire squads freezing to death at night, otherwise huddling together, trying desperately for any tiny bit of warmth. Fires were verboten, they only served to allow Ivan's artillery spotters and snipers to be able to get your range.
I've been cold, truly cold only a few times in my life. One time stands out, March of 1993 - two weeks before "spring break" at the small small Engineering School on the Hudson River in New York that I attended. I was a member of a club that went on occasional camping trips (some would call them Field Training Exercises). We road marched to an adjacent post - a lovely spot of rolling countryside called Camp Smith. It got brutally cold that weekend, a large cold front dropped in on us out of Canada. We loaded up into Marine Corps CH-53s (operation was firmly "Purple" - joint function with students from a small liberal arts and technical school from Annapolis, Maryland) and air assaulted into a remote airfield. Things unfolded nicely, some good training points, some excellent lessons learned. After the op we had a great AAR in a hanger, loaded back up into the 53's and headed back to Camp Smith.
We dropped into a nice LZ, and then road marched to a patrol base where we set up to laager for the night. For the day we had been the assaulting element. That night, we were OPFOR. The bad guys. There were about 50 of us, and our Platoon Leader got our squad leaders organized, while we got into a loose perimeter in the dark. Since we were supposed to be learning, we only six night vision devices for the whole platoon. Stumbling around in the freezing dark our squad leaders set up into our areas of responsibility, gave us sectors of fire, that we could barely make out in the dark, and told us to hunker down.
Once cooled off from the strenuous road march and the activity of setting up the patrol base, the cold really began to put it's fingers into us. I put on every bit of clothing I had. Fashioned a T-shirt into a hat, Wrapped up in poncho, poncho liner uniform, field sweater, field jacket, hell I then put on my wet weather gear hoping that the vinyl might reflect any bit of heat back towards my shivering body.
The PL began to send out patrols to harass some other organizations from our school, non-club members, some of the class company commanders had decided to field their companies out there. Our club members went out, a squad at a time to go agitate and create some excitement. A group of students from the small technical school in Maryland were attached to us. Great guys, intrepid and brave, sallied forth, executed a very nice probing action against one of the class companies, turned around to head back, and then got promptly lost.
As this was happening, I was so cold, I was almost convulsing from the shivering. My world shrank until all there was, a cold tiny cocoon of ice. Far away, movement registered to my ears, I became concerned that my chattering teeth would be a liability. Aside from the rusting of movement inf front of me the only sound I could hear were my teeth rattling. A Class company patrol was wandering, stumbling around right outside our patrol base about 100 meters from my squad's section of the line. Whispered instructions to hang tight and avoid detection were delivered. Soon, they passed. My squad leader and our Platoon Sergeant soon came up to me and told me to gear up. We had to go out and try to find our brave Marylanders. I thanked the two of them profusely.
Sweet Jesus, I was saved. Movement caused my body warm up. We went out into the cold night, ranged out into the night, looking - or should i say listening for our water-borne comrades. In order to allow our comrades to save face, we were told to keep out little patrol quiet, not be detected. I could have cared less, I was merely happy to be moving. Our comrades had a radio, we had a radio. They were unbelievably angry at themselves, embarrassed at being lost. They told us where they thought they were, we went there, no dice. We told them to remove their blank adapters and fire three rounds. An M16 firing a blank with no blank adapter is not a quiet thing. We, having taken a knee and removed our headgear to listen, could hear nothing, other than the distant chatter of small arms and artillery and grenade simulators from the other students. The must have been miles away. Finally our comrades were able to find a hardball road, outside the military reservation, and we were able to vector them back to the patrol base. Our squad leader asked us if we wanted to head back to the patrol base, or just hang out in the woods and see if we could mix it up a bit. I had no wish to go back and hunker behind the cold rock and enter back into the cocoon of ice. We patroled out until an hour or two before dawn, effectively conducting reconnaissance, identifying where the other patrol bases were, and even scouting ahead to find the LZ for the AM. Just as the sky began to lighten, the PL ordered us up and we headed to the LZ, to be picked up by NEw York Army Reserve UH1's for the quick hop back to school. Ah, school -where there were hot showers, and Green Girl Comforters, and radiators that put out loads of delicious heat.
It got below freezing that night. The water in my canteen had frozen solid.
I never want to be that cold again, but it was an experience that I will never forget, and I cannot imagine what those winters on the Steppe must have been like. I knew I was going home soon, I knew that the rifles of those arrayed against us projected nothing that could wound anything, save our pride. No one was trying to kill us, we were students, we were learning. I learned lessons that night, indeed.
Stay warm and toasty, friends.
Crazed American, OUT.
Cold winds are indeed blowing. Literally. It's damn freezing cold outside. Ah, winter in the mountains is so spectacular. Looks as though Russia is getting it pretty bad with temps around -50 F. That's a cold day on Mars, for crying out loud.
Russian winters like that make me try to imagine what the German infantry on the Russian Steppe in 1941-43 must have felt like in the winters. Unimaginably cold, with little more than your wool uniform and a woolen greatcoat, if you were lucky. Fingers freezing to the steel of your rifle, frostbite, entire squads freezing to death at night, otherwise huddling together, trying desperately for any tiny bit of warmth. Fires were verboten, they only served to allow Ivan's artillery spotters and snipers to be able to get your range.
I've been cold, truly cold only a few times in my life. One time stands out, March of 1993 - two weeks before "spring break" at the small small Engineering School on the Hudson River in New York that I attended. I was a member of a club that went on occasional camping trips (some would call them Field Training Exercises). We road marched to an adjacent post - a lovely spot of rolling countryside called Camp Smith. It got brutally cold that weekend, a large cold front dropped in on us out of Canada. We loaded up into Marine Corps CH-53s (operation was firmly "Purple" - joint function with students from a small liberal arts and technical school from Annapolis, Maryland) and air assaulted into a remote airfield. Things unfolded nicely, some good training points, some excellent lessons learned. After the op we had a great AAR in a hanger, loaded back up into the 53's and headed back to Camp Smith.
We dropped into a nice LZ, and then road marched to a patrol base where we set up to laager for the night. For the day we had been the assaulting element. That night, we were OPFOR. The bad guys. There were about 50 of us, and our Platoon Leader got our squad leaders organized, while we got into a loose perimeter in the dark. Since we were supposed to be learning, we only six night vision devices for the whole platoon. Stumbling around in the freezing dark our squad leaders set up into our areas of responsibility, gave us sectors of fire, that we could barely make out in the dark, and told us to hunker down.
Once cooled off from the strenuous road march and the activity of setting up the patrol base, the cold really began to put it's fingers into us. I put on every bit of clothing I had. Fashioned a T-shirt into a hat, Wrapped up in poncho, poncho liner uniform, field sweater, field jacket, hell I then put on my wet weather gear hoping that the vinyl might reflect any bit of heat back towards my shivering body.
The PL began to send out patrols to harass some other organizations from our school, non-club members, some of the class company commanders had decided to field their companies out there. Our club members went out, a squad at a time to go agitate and create some excitement. A group of students from the small technical school in Maryland were attached to us. Great guys, intrepid and brave, sallied forth, executed a very nice probing action against one of the class companies, turned around to head back, and then got promptly lost.
As this was happening, I was so cold, I was almost convulsing from the shivering. My world shrank until all there was, a cold tiny cocoon of ice. Far away, movement registered to my ears, I became concerned that my chattering teeth would be a liability. Aside from the rusting of movement inf front of me the only sound I could hear were my teeth rattling. A Class company patrol was wandering, stumbling around right outside our patrol base about 100 meters from my squad's section of the line. Whispered instructions to hang tight and avoid detection were delivered. Soon, they passed. My squad leader and our Platoon Sergeant soon came up to me and told me to gear up. We had to go out and try to find our brave Marylanders. I thanked the two of them profusely.
Sweet Jesus, I was saved. Movement caused my body warm up. We went out into the cold night, ranged out into the night, looking - or should i say listening for our water-borne comrades. In order to allow our comrades to save face, we were told to keep out little patrol quiet, not be detected. I could have cared less, I was merely happy to be moving. Our comrades had a radio, we had a radio. They were unbelievably angry at themselves, embarrassed at being lost. They told us where they thought they were, we went there, no dice. We told them to remove their blank adapters and fire three rounds. An M16 firing a blank with no blank adapter is not a quiet thing. We, having taken a knee and removed our headgear to listen, could hear nothing, other than the distant chatter of small arms and artillery and grenade simulators from the other students. The must have been miles away. Finally our comrades were able to find a hardball road, outside the military reservation, and we were able to vector them back to the patrol base. Our squad leader asked us if we wanted to head back to the patrol base, or just hang out in the woods and see if we could mix it up a bit. I had no wish to go back and hunker behind the cold rock and enter back into the cocoon of ice. We patroled out until an hour or two before dawn, effectively conducting reconnaissance, identifying where the other patrol bases were, and even scouting ahead to find the LZ for the AM. Just as the sky began to lighten, the PL ordered us up and we headed to the LZ, to be picked up by NEw York Army Reserve UH1's for the quick hop back to school. Ah, school -where there were hot showers, and Green Girl Comforters, and radiators that put out loads of delicious heat.
It got below freezing that night. The water in my canteen had frozen solid.
I never want to be that cold again, but it was an experience that I will never forget, and I cannot imagine what those winters on the Steppe must have been like. I knew I was going home soon, I knew that the rifles of those arrayed against us projected nothing that could wound anything, save our pride. No one was trying to kill us, we were students, we were learning. I learned lessons that night, indeed.
Stay warm and toasty, friends.
Crazed American, OUT.
19 December 2012
Letters
A passage from a letter from the Crazed American to the Libertarian Floridian Photographer:
"I've got a brand new Dicks Sporting goods down the street from the house. They had exactly one AR there prior to this tragedy. Over priced Bushmaster.
"I've got a brand new Dicks Sporting goods down the street from the house. They had exactly one AR there prior to this tragedy. Over priced Bushmaster.
My concern is the provisions of the ban, and how that might play out. Transfer and sale of existing weapons, for instance. Registration is something I cannot abide, and cannot support. Hell, I don't even own any "assault" weapons / modern sporting rifles, but I still won't do it. Closest thing I have is an M1 Carbine I bought from a Tallahassee Cop back in 1996. Jumping through a few more hoops for permits is one thing. If I have to tell Uncle Sugar what I have... that's not OK. If you need to know what happens after registration, please see The Country Located where Great Britain Used to Be (higher violent crime rate than the US), Australia, Germany in the 1930's, China, Russia, Armenia, et al.
As far as the NRA goes, I support their current stance, but their marketing sucks, and i think it might be time for a new EVP, Mr. LaPierre's too polarizing at this point... the Second Amendment Foundation is where it's at - Gottlieb and Gura argued McDonald and Heller in front of USSC - and won.
The People feel as though they have to do something. Gun Control is the low hanging fruit. I lived through the last ban and ended up buying a very nice Egyptian MISR-90 and a box of 30 rd magazines for under $400. It was new production and had all of the AWB features (no bayo lug, no pistol grip and had a 10 rd mag that came with it) ended up selling it cause I needed the money in college. If they enact a ban, and the political winds change (maybe with a continued Libertarian bent) the ban will go away. It's a piece of legislation, and it will get overturned, especially if they don't provide for a sunset - like the last one). Silver linings, perhaps this will galvanize the Pro RKBA community to get out there and really change hearts and minds.
At least, that is, until the economy goes completely unhinged.
18 December 2012
A thought on the Bill of Rights
So, according to most of the "gun control" proponents out there:
if this is true:
The Second Amendment applies only to muskets!
Then this must also be true:
Your computer (and modern telecommunications) cannot be used for purposes relating to the 1st Amendment, right? Your thoughts must be limited to Quill and Parchment ONLY!!!
Just musing...
if this is true:
The Second Amendment applies only to muskets!
Then this must also be true:
Your computer (and modern telecommunications) cannot be used for purposes relating to the 1st Amendment, right? Your thoughts must be limited to Quill and Parchment ONLY!!!
Just musing...
16 December 2012
READ THIS
Read this and tell me your heart does not BREAK for this woman:
http://anarchistsoccermom.blogspot.com/2012/12/thinking-unthinkable.html?m=1
Why can't people get heath they need??? It doesn't take government control - it doesn't take socialism.
It's just insurance... it should be easier to get health insurance than it is to get car insurance.
A powerful issue that will undoubtedly occupy our families and our nations for years to come.
May G-d give us the ability to reason, and help those who need, desperately, the help that exists out there.
Crazed American, out.
http://anarchistsoccermom.blogspot.com/2012/12/thinking-unthinkable.html?m=1
Why can't people get heath they need??? It doesn't take government control - it doesn't take socialism.
It's just insurance... it should be easier to get health insurance than it is to get car insurance.
A powerful issue that will undoubtedly occupy our families and our nations for years to come.
May G-d give us the ability to reason, and help those who need, desperately, the help that exists out there.
Crazed American, out.
End of an era, part 3456
This blog is going to see quite a bit more action in the next year. I'm finding Facebook to be, well, tiring. I've realized that I've used it as a crutch, and it more than smacks as a tad of addiction. So I'm weaning myself from it.
2013 is going to be a year of change. One of them is going to most certainly be a reduction in the amount of time spent on the "Social Media". Granted, this blog is considered to be "Social Media", but come on... Nobody reads this fucking thing. I know, miracles of modern technology and the stats feature of blogger's dashboard. This is nothing more than a public accessible journal.
So instead of posting to Facebook, I'll post here.
Today I had a WONDERFUL day. I took my wife and daughter to the Hobbit. 3d IMAX, baby. Well worth it. Added bonus, got to see the first 9 minutes of Star Trek Into Darkness. Can't wait for that one.
Then took my Daughter skiing. Her sixth day out, my eighth. Foot and a half of powder. She rocked it. Then home, dinner and a spate of building in Legotown. Tomorrow sees some home improvement work (continuing remod on a bathroom), then to see a show at a local museum and dinner with friends.
Tomorrow will be a good day.
Just wish I could sleep now...
Crazed American, out.
2013 is going to be a year of change. One of them is going to most certainly be a reduction in the amount of time spent on the "Social Media". Granted, this blog is considered to be "Social Media", but come on... Nobody reads this fucking thing. I know, miracles of modern technology and the stats feature of blogger's dashboard. This is nothing more than a public accessible journal.
So instead of posting to Facebook, I'll post here.
Today I had a WONDERFUL day. I took my wife and daughter to the Hobbit. 3d IMAX, baby. Well worth it. Added bonus, got to see the first 9 minutes of Star Trek Into Darkness. Can't wait for that one.
Then took my Daughter skiing. Her sixth day out, my eighth. Foot and a half of powder. She rocked it. Then home, dinner and a spate of building in Legotown. Tomorrow sees some home improvement work (continuing remod on a bathroom), then to see a show at a local museum and dinner with friends.
Tomorrow will be a good day.
Just wish I could sleep now...
Crazed American, out.
15 December 2012
Can't sleep...
To say that the events of today have shaken me is an understatement. Not necessarily the horrible fact that a literal madman went on a killing spree against his own family and a school, but also the immediate clamor for more laws to stop the problem. Today, I have heard the gamut, from the immediate banning of all guns, to the immediate rounding up and murder of anyone with mental illness. Both extremes are reprehensible.
As you know, the Crazed American is a strong proponent for the Second Amendment (and the rest of the Constitution, for that matter). I am a gun owner, and a concealed carry permit holder. I keep my guns secure and safe, and all who live with me are aware and knowledgeable of where the firearms are kept, and safety rules for their storage and use.
I believe that G-d (or whatever deity or creator figure you acknowledge) granted all human beings the right to be free.
Go ahead and ban guns. There are three hundred million of them here in the US. You know what that does to stop madmen, and people who decide to break the law? Flat fucking nothing. All it does is steal a right from those who are responsible and law abiding, and only wish to decisively defend themselves or engage in a hobby or sport.
How many laws did the shooter break before he entered the school?
If he was indeed mentally incompetent, he broke the law by touching the tools used to commit his perverse acts. He killed his own mother, by shooting her in the face.
He illegally gained possession of handguns (under 21 - illegal)
He broke a law by going into that school, armed.
He perpetrated the most reprehensible of all acts, the cold blooded murder of terrified children. As a man, as a father, as an American, as a human fucking being, I am sickened unto death of what that demon did.
Now tell me, a person, he'll bent on savagery and mayhem, is going to be dissuaded, how exactly?
In 1927 a man enacted the biggest school murder in history. He killed 45 people with bombs. Keep in mind this was long before the Federal Firearms Act of 1934. That means that monster could have bought Thompson sub machine guns through the mail. No InstaCheck, NCIS, no 4473, no background check. People bent on murder will murder. It may take them a moment longer to do it, but they will do it.
It boils down to freedom. Each and everyone of us has it. Most people claim to cherish freedom. We have to all understand that freedom isn't always pretty, it isn't always clean. Sometimes freedom can be disgusting, painful, bloody and awful - and that is just something's that can be considered art.
Guns are tools. They lack anima. A gun cannot commit murder any more than a car, or a hammer, the jawbone of a buffalo, or a rock can.
I leave you with this: in the 1930's a government banned firearms. Then it banned the mentally ill, and by banning I mean industrialized murder. It got worse from there...
As you know, the Crazed American is a strong proponent for the Second Amendment (and the rest of the Constitution, for that matter). I am a gun owner, and a concealed carry permit holder. I keep my guns secure and safe, and all who live with me are aware and knowledgeable of where the firearms are kept, and safety rules for their storage and use.
I believe that G-d (or whatever deity or creator figure you acknowledge) granted all human beings the right to be free.
Go ahead and ban guns. There are three hundred million of them here in the US. You know what that does to stop madmen, and people who decide to break the law? Flat fucking nothing. All it does is steal a right from those who are responsible and law abiding, and only wish to decisively defend themselves or engage in a hobby or sport.
How many laws did the shooter break before he entered the school?
If he was indeed mentally incompetent, he broke the law by touching the tools used to commit his perverse acts. He killed his own mother, by shooting her in the face.
He illegally gained possession of handguns (under 21 - illegal)
He broke a law by going into that school, armed.
He perpetrated the most reprehensible of all acts, the cold blooded murder of terrified children. As a man, as a father, as an American, as a human fucking being, I am sickened unto death of what that demon did.
Now tell me, a person, he'll bent on savagery and mayhem, is going to be dissuaded, how exactly?
In 1927 a man enacted the biggest school murder in history. He killed 45 people with bombs. Keep in mind this was long before the Federal Firearms Act of 1934. That means that monster could have bought Thompson sub machine guns through the mail. No InstaCheck, NCIS, no 4473, no background check. People bent on murder will murder. It may take them a moment longer to do it, but they will do it.
It boils down to freedom. Each and everyone of us has it. Most people claim to cherish freedom. We have to all understand that freedom isn't always pretty, it isn't always clean. Sometimes freedom can be disgusting, painful, bloody and awful - and that is just something's that can be considered art.
Guns are tools. They lack anima. A gun cannot commit murder any more than a car, or a hammer, the jawbone of a buffalo, or a rock can.
I leave you with this: in the 1930's a government banned firearms. Then it banned the mentally ill, and by banning I mean industrialized murder. It got worse from there...
07 December 2012
Infamy_DEC 1941
I just explained to my daughter that right now how everyone on the planet's live changed for better and for much, much worse.
It ushered in an era of intense technological and cultural change.
Our whole modern world took shape after 07DEC1941. Nuclear power and weapons, rockets, guided missiles, TV guided bombs, radar, employer provided health insurance were just the start. Women found employment, and the call to serve their nation was so strong that some committed suicide because they were found wanting, physically or mentally by the Armed Forces. It was a different time back int he 1940's. America was peopled by those made of a different, sterner, steely stuff. That generation founded one of the greatest success stories and victories in human history.
That generation of the planet earth did amazingly good things, and amazingly evil things. They brought to us industrialized murder. They turned war into an industry, and it never stopped.
Long story short people were people back then. I think it is useful for those of us today to look back on the experiences of those who were alive at the time, and imagine the fear that the Japanese Imperial Naval Aviators must have felt as they crossed the December Pacific from their task force to their targets on Oahu, wondering if the American Navy would be ready for them. Also, remember that right now, the US Navy was enjoying the last, peacetime sleep it would for the next four, long, bitter years that changed the whole world.
It started for us in Pearl Harbor, Hawai'i in December of 1941. We ended it in August of 1945.
We are well served to remember the events of the 1930's and 1940's. I remember and pray that we as a race have grown to the point where a war of that magnitude never visits us again. But knowing humanity as a student of history, I also realize that it will, I just hope that a force for freedom and liberty is around to take the fight to the enemy unflinchingly, and do what it takes to win. In wars of ideology, like the Second World War, there is no second place. Just ask the citizens of Stalingrad, Berlin, Dresden, Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki...
Peace should be the chosen course, but as humans we must understand the lessons of history and the ability to wage war against those who would kill or subjugate us.
Remember, dear friends,
Crazed American, OUT.
It ushered in an era of intense technological and cultural change.
Our whole modern world took shape after 07DEC1941. Nuclear power and weapons, rockets, guided missiles, TV guided bombs, radar, employer provided health insurance were just the start. Women found employment, and the call to serve their nation was so strong that some committed suicide because they were found wanting, physically or mentally by the Armed Forces. It was a different time back int he 1940's. America was peopled by those made of a different, sterner, steely stuff. That generation founded one of the greatest success stories and victories in human history.
That generation of the planet earth did amazingly good things, and amazingly evil things. They brought to us industrialized murder. They turned war into an industry, and it never stopped.
Long story short people were people back then. I think it is useful for those of us today to look back on the experiences of those who were alive at the time, and imagine the fear that the Japanese Imperial Naval Aviators must have felt as they crossed the December Pacific from their task force to their targets on Oahu, wondering if the American Navy would be ready for them. Also, remember that right now, the US Navy was enjoying the last, peacetime sleep it would for the next four, long, bitter years that changed the whole world.
It started for us in Pearl Harbor, Hawai'i in December of 1941. We ended it in August of 1945.
We are well served to remember the events of the 1930's and 1940's. I remember and pray that we as a race have grown to the point where a war of that magnitude never visits us again. But knowing humanity as a student of history, I also realize that it will, I just hope that a force for freedom and liberty is around to take the fight to the enemy unflinchingly, and do what it takes to win. In wars of ideology, like the Second World War, there is no second place. Just ask the citizens of Stalingrad, Berlin, Dresden, Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki...
Peace should be the chosen course, but as humans we must understand the lessons of history and the ability to wage war against those who would kill or subjugate us.
Remember, dear friends,
Crazed American, OUT.
05 December 2012
Spit, bailing twine, bubble gum, deficit, debt (add water and shake)...
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/20264712/detroit-councilwoman-to-obama-we-supported-you-now-support-us#.UL9ceqMvNRE.twitter
Detroit seems to think that since they voted to re-elect El Jefe, that they can now get some sweet, sweet bailout cash.
From where?
The US government is, if you couldn't tell, not exactly flush with funds.
This "fiscal cliff" that is coming - as the commentator and political philosopher Jon Stewart said - is completely self inflicted. Therefore, to the Crazed American, it is not an issue. There is a larger issue, the proverbial 800 pound gorilla in the room everyone refuses to acknowledge.
We're quickly approaching the point where all the revenue of the US will be completely subsumed by debt payments. This debt cannot be paid off, to say nothing of the unfunded liabilities, which by some estimates range from $40 TRILLION to $540 TRILLION dollars. The New Deal / Social Security model, with 30+ years of retirement, is over. People my age will NOT see it. There is now no way.
Expect the following: All 401K's will be seized (in one form or another) by the US Treasury. It will all be invested in US Government bonds. This will have the effect of cratering the stock market, but will be one of the only remedies if one of our foreign sources of capital (creditors such as Japan, Britain or China) either decide to stop lending, or run out of cash. It will attempt to be ameliorated with a portion of the new federalized retirement fund being allocated to a specific group of companies that will benefit. Also, do you think for a moment that there might not be just a speck of corruption that enters in there? The .gov will contribute to companies that play ball (ala Google) with surveillance or other programs the .gov finds useful.
Currency default is on it's way. The fact that the US Treasury is on the course to phase out pennies and nickels (and possibly dollar bills) means that the US Dollar might just be on it's way out the door. Or, if they decide to "keep the dollar" they'll change it's value, or "base" it on gold. No matter what happens, it WILL continue to inflate, at a steepening rate.
The Fed or the Treasury could start buying up mortgage securities in order to prop up the big banks (oh, wait that's already happening to the tune of $40 Billion a month).
No matter how you cut this stinking, rotten fruit, it's going to be unpleasant.
What can you do? As for this Crazed American, it involves reducing or eliminating debt, building a liquid cash reserve (both in bank and physical cash). If you still invest in the stock market, minimize your risk, and be ready to pull it should conditions change drastically. Also planting a garden, getting to know my neighbors and paying attention to local political issues is critical. Discussing with Mrs. Crazed American topics that range from losing a job, to getting stuck in a whiteout, to having to exist without one or more utilities.
I do not think we are headed for "Lord Humungus, Warlord of the Wasteland, face colanders and V8 Interceptors" time. A full blown collapse to the point of lawlessness isn't likely. The Government is well served to keep the power on and the water running. Critical infrastructure is listed as critical for a reason. Pockets of breakdown (riots, mass looting) are unavoidable, especially in the populated and truly desperate locations (such as Detroit, LA, Chicago, New York).
Of course, all bets are off if the .gov can't keep people fed, the lights on and the water running for more than a short time.
Long story short - when it comes to this bullshit "Fiscal Cliff": bring it, let's see what happens, and if necessary, and it pains me to say it...
Let it burn. Over the cliff we'll go, and as the Sage Mr. Stewart said, "...for a few seconds it'll feel like we're flying..."
Detroit seems to think that since they voted to re-elect El Jefe, that they can now get some sweet, sweet bailout cash.
From where?
The US government is, if you couldn't tell, not exactly flush with funds.
This "fiscal cliff" that is coming - as the commentator and political philosopher Jon Stewart said - is completely self inflicted. Therefore, to the Crazed American, it is not an issue. There is a larger issue, the proverbial 800 pound gorilla in the room everyone refuses to acknowledge.
We're quickly approaching the point where all the revenue of the US will be completely subsumed by debt payments. This debt cannot be paid off, to say nothing of the unfunded liabilities, which by some estimates range from $40 TRILLION to $540 TRILLION dollars. The New Deal / Social Security model, with 30+ years of retirement, is over. People my age will NOT see it. There is now no way.
Expect the following: All 401K's will be seized (in one form or another) by the US Treasury. It will all be invested in US Government bonds. This will have the effect of cratering the stock market, but will be one of the only remedies if one of our foreign sources of capital (creditors such as Japan, Britain or China) either decide to stop lending, or run out of cash. It will attempt to be ameliorated with a portion of the new federalized retirement fund being allocated to a specific group of companies that will benefit. Also, do you think for a moment that there might not be just a speck of corruption that enters in there? The .gov will contribute to companies that play ball (ala Google) with surveillance or other programs the .gov finds useful.
Currency default is on it's way. The fact that the US Treasury is on the course to phase out pennies and nickels (and possibly dollar bills) means that the US Dollar might just be on it's way out the door. Or, if they decide to "keep the dollar" they'll change it's value, or "base" it on gold. No matter what happens, it WILL continue to inflate, at a steepening rate.
The Fed or the Treasury could start buying up mortgage securities in order to prop up the big banks (oh, wait that's already happening to the tune of $40 Billion a month).
No matter how you cut this stinking, rotten fruit, it's going to be unpleasant.
What can you do? As for this Crazed American, it involves reducing or eliminating debt, building a liquid cash reserve (both in bank and physical cash). If you still invest in the stock market, minimize your risk, and be ready to pull it should conditions change drastically. Also planting a garden, getting to know my neighbors and paying attention to local political issues is critical. Discussing with Mrs. Crazed American topics that range from losing a job, to getting stuck in a whiteout, to having to exist without one or more utilities.
I do not think we are headed for "Lord Humungus, Warlord of the Wasteland, face colanders and V8 Interceptors" time. A full blown collapse to the point of lawlessness isn't likely. The Government is well served to keep the power on and the water running. Critical infrastructure is listed as critical for a reason. Pockets of breakdown (riots, mass looting) are unavoidable, especially in the populated and truly desperate locations (such as Detroit, LA, Chicago, New York).
Of course, all bets are off if the .gov can't keep people fed, the lights on and the water running for more than a short time.
Long story short - when it comes to this bullshit "Fiscal Cliff": bring it, let's see what happens, and if necessary, and it pains me to say it...
Let it burn. Over the cliff we'll go, and as the Sage Mr. Stewart said, "...for a few seconds it'll feel like we're flying..."
03 December 2012
Guess this was the wrong week to stop sniffing glue...
Above still needs no introduction.
The Dear Lord wouldn't give me a damn thing, if I couldn't handle it.
I meet your challenge, and will thrive. I think this week I will remodel a bathroom as well...
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