We are in the midst of the 65th anniversary of WWII. Sixty five years ago December 16, the Germans broke through the American lines in the Ardennes Forest which started the Battle of the Bulge. Why is 65 significant? Here's the math - an 18 year old in WWII would have been born in 1927 - making them 83 years old today. The average age for an infantry soldier in WWII was in his mid-20's, which would put their birth year in 1920 or so - making them 90 years old today. The 99th Infantry Division Association will have its last reunion this summer.
In 2009, a year that seemed marked by "celebrity" deaths, a couple of deaths went under the radar. For all of you Band of Brothers fans out there, 2009 marked the death of Darrell "Shifty" Powers, the sharpshooting woodsman in the 506th. 2009 also marked the death of Ed Freeman, the brave helicopter pilot that medevacked wounded soldiers out of the battle of the Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Really?
"According to the rules governing Members of Congress, I am precluded from intervening in any entity that is not a federal agency". - GOP Congressman John Shadegg
This quote is from a letter dated December 9, 2009 I received in response to a complaint I sent to Congressman Shadegg's office in regards to GMAC, our mortgage lender.
A little background: Congressman Shadegg voted for the October 2008 Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), which allocated $12,500,000,000 to GMAC and $49,400,000,000 to GM. GMAC is the only major banking institution to request additional bailout funds - in the amount of $5,600,000,000 in the beginning of November of 2009.
Apparently members of Congress are precluded from using the general public's version of the English language, as TARP certainly qualifies as an "intervention", and GMAC certainly qualified as an "entity that is not a federal agency", at least in October 2008.
REAL change is exacted at the primary voting booth.
This quote is from a letter dated December 9, 2009 I received in response to a complaint I sent to Congressman Shadegg's office in regards to GMAC, our mortgage lender.
A little background: Congressman Shadegg voted for the October 2008 Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), which allocated $12,500,000,000 to GMAC and $49,400,000,000 to GM. GMAC is the only major banking institution to request additional bailout funds - in the amount of $5,600,000,000 in the beginning of November of 2009.
Apparently members of Congress are precluded from using the general public's version of the English language, as TARP certainly qualifies as an "intervention", and GMAC certainly qualified as an "entity that is not a federal agency", at least in October 2008.
REAL change is exacted at the primary voting booth.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Why Not Ruth Chris, Moron?
I just ran across an Excel file on my computer that I made up when my identity was stolen (or at least a copy of my debit card) back in December of 2003. The clown racked up $481 at various Circle Ks in the Valley, $118 at Ray's Smoke Shop, another $85 at Ray's Smoke Shop at a later date, $62 at Buffalo Exchange, and $32 at Bill Johnson's Steak House. But apparently, the guy was charitable in the office, the card was rejected after going to Einstein Bagel early some Tuesday morning. Must've been buying some breakfast for his hungover coworkers from the killer party and smoke out he threw the night before.
Now, I like Bill Johnson's, but c'mon, dude. You have someone else's debit card and you spend only $32 at a steak house?
Now, I like Bill Johnson's, but c'mon, dude. You have someone else's debit card and you spend only $32 at a steak house?
Thursday, September 24, 2009
The Siegfried Line
A couple of years ago, I picked up the U.S. Army Atlas of the European Theater in WWII - it is full of official combat maps, and also has a couple of maps that were derived from captured German maps. Many of the maps show the exact path of the Siegfried Line (or known as the West Wall) - the line of tank obstacles, barbed wire, pillboxes, and trenches that lined the western border of Germany (see National Archives picture below of American troops advancing through a gate in the line - note "dragon's teeth" tank obstacles in background).
One particular map in this book is incredibly detailed - it actually showed the precise locations of pillboxes. Most pillboxes are now gone, but much of the dragon's teeth are still there.
The below map is from just south of Geilenkirchen, Germany. I inserted the two green arrows to indicate where the tank obstacles (dragon's teeth) were located. You can click on any picture to enlarge it.
On Google Earth (the program, not Google maps), many of the tank obstacles can still be seen today, and many people have uploaded photographs of the line. The faint jagged line in the landscape indicates where the tank obstacles were for the green arrow in the south. The jagged line in the picture below that indicates where the tank obstacles were for the green arrow in the north.
Note the town of Frelenberg - the shape of the town is relatively unchanged since the mid-1940's, other than some development to the south.
One thing that's interesting (maybe only to me), in my research on Google Earth with the Siegfried Line, the tank obstacles that are just south of Geilenkirchen are the first ones I've run across where it appears as though they've been removed recently. Either I can really see them, or there is no trace.
Most pillboxes have been dynamited, and the remnants carted off. Very few pillboxes along the line remain. The one we visited below in the Huertgen Forest appears as though it was dynamited, but the roof did not break apart when the walls caved in (in order to haul it away easier). In the close ups, you can see the air vents. This pillbox covered an intersection, and immediately across the road from it was a foxhole that most likely held a German machine gun emplacement.
However, I have been asked by a number of people why most of the tank obstacles still remain. After walking among the obstacles in summer of 2006, they are not merely sitting on the ground. Concrete ties them all together, and is reinforced with rebar. It is difficult to see what I am talking about, as most of the pictures I've seen from WWII, there's dirt covering the concrete that connect the obstacles, and now it's all overgrown with weeds and grass. The picture I took below kind of shows it - you can see the concrete connecting the obstacles (you can also see why they're called "dragon's teeth"). It's not as simple as bulldozing the things over, since they're all interconnected. Just outside of the picture to the left, while I was taking this shot, a German farmer was out driving his tractor around. Our friend Albert told us that the great majority of the line was built by civilian contractors.
Another angle.
While standing in this section of the Siegfried Line and seeing the farmer just going about his daily business, I couldn't help but think of how Germany is constantly reminded of how every time they see the remnants of this, that it was originally meant to preserve a way of life that was no way of life at all.
For more information, the history portion of the Army's official website at army.mil has the entire book online - The Siegfried Line Campaign, by Charles MacDonald. Click here for the link.
One particular map in this book is incredibly detailed - it actually showed the precise locations of pillboxes. Most pillboxes are now gone, but much of the dragon's teeth are still there.
The below map is from just south of Geilenkirchen, Germany. I inserted the two green arrows to indicate where the tank obstacles (dragon's teeth) were located. You can click on any picture to enlarge it.
On Google Earth (the program, not Google maps), many of the tank obstacles can still be seen today, and many people have uploaded photographs of the line. The faint jagged line in the landscape indicates where the tank obstacles were for the green arrow in the south. The jagged line in the picture below that indicates where the tank obstacles were for the green arrow in the north.
Note the town of Frelenberg - the shape of the town is relatively unchanged since the mid-1940's, other than some development to the south.
One thing that's interesting (maybe only to me), in my research on Google Earth with the Siegfried Line, the tank obstacles that are just south of Geilenkirchen are the first ones I've run across where it appears as though they've been removed recently. Either I can really see them, or there is no trace.
Most pillboxes have been dynamited, and the remnants carted off. Very few pillboxes along the line remain. The one we visited below in the Huertgen Forest appears as though it was dynamited, but the roof did not break apart when the walls caved in (in order to haul it away easier). In the close ups, you can see the air vents. This pillbox covered an intersection, and immediately across the road from it was a foxhole that most likely held a German machine gun emplacement.
However, I have been asked by a number of people why most of the tank obstacles still remain. After walking among the obstacles in summer of 2006, they are not merely sitting on the ground. Concrete ties them all together, and is reinforced with rebar. It is difficult to see what I am talking about, as most of the pictures I've seen from WWII, there's dirt covering the concrete that connect the obstacles, and now it's all overgrown with weeds and grass. The picture I took below kind of shows it - you can see the concrete connecting the obstacles (you can also see why they're called "dragon's teeth"). It's not as simple as bulldozing the things over, since they're all interconnected. Just outside of the picture to the left, while I was taking this shot, a German farmer was out driving his tractor around. Our friend Albert told us that the great majority of the line was built by civilian contractors.
Another angle.
While standing in this section of the Siegfried Line and seeing the farmer just going about his daily business, I couldn't help but think of how Germany is constantly reminded of how every time they see the remnants of this, that it was originally meant to preserve a way of life that was no way of life at all.
For more information, the history portion of the Army's official website at army.mil has the entire book online - The Siegfried Line Campaign, by Charles MacDonald. Click here for the link.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Three Things...
Here are 3 things that happened on this day in history in WWII.
1939 - Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand declared war on Germany.
1940 - Adolf Hitler planned Operation Sealion. The plan was for the invasion of Britain.
1943 - Italy was invaded by the Allied forces during World War II (link to the BBC article here).
1939 - Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand declared war on Germany.
1940 - Adolf Hitler planned Operation Sealion. The plan was for the invasion of Britain.
1943 - Italy was invaded by the Allied forces during World War II (link to the BBC article here).
Friday, August 21, 2009
Million vs Trillion
From World Magazine - August 15, 2009 issue.
Dollar signs
Dollar signs
It may have sounded significant when President Obama last week proposed ways to reduce government spending by $100 million. But with the federal budget deficit nearing $2 trillion, $100 million is less than meets the ear.
Jack Uldrich at jumpthecurve.net gives an example of the difference between 1 million, 1 billion, and 1 trillion in his futurist lectures. He asks readers and listeners to think about seconds going backwards . . .
• 1 million seconds ago = 12 days ago
• 1 billion seconds ago = 30 years ago
• 1 trillion seconds ago = 30,000 b.c.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Cash For Clunkers
The "Cash For Clunkers" program was supposed to last until November, OR until the allotted $1,000,000,000 for the program ran out. Why are we now being told something different?
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Hanks and Spielberg team up again to produce "The Pacific"
Hanks and Spielberg team up again following HBO's "Band of Brothers" by producing "The Pacific", out in 2010. See the youtube preview for it here.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Anne Frank
Today, June 12, 2009, would have been Anne Frank's 80th birthday. She is known for writing in her diary about German-controlled Amsterdam during World War II. She died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Weeks Following D-Day
Since the 65th anniversary of D-Day was just a few days ago, I just wanted to write a little bit about the weeks that followed D-Day.
In the weeks following D-Day, the Allies faced a challenge that they did not expect - the Norman hedgerows. In Normandy, hedgerows divided fields, were centuries old, generally taller than a man, were a tangled mess of roots and soil, had full size trees growing on top of them, and the fields they protected needed to be cleared of German resistance. The Allies assumed that the Norman hedgerows were similar to the English hedgerows, but they weren't. English hedgerows were much shorter in size. Aerial surveillance photographs of Normandy and western France didn't show the height of these hedgerows, since the photographs were typically taken at high noon, so there were very few shadows to utilize to estimate height.
Once the Allies broke out from the beachheads, they were confused as to how to root the Germans out of these formidable defensive positions. Tanks tried to climb over the hedgerows, but that left their belly exposed, and Germans were there waiting with their panzerfausts (translated "iron fist") and panzershrek bazookas. The Allied front lines were very disorganized, many times soldiers found themselves hurling grenades over the hedgerows at Germans just on the other side - and vice versa. The Allies couldn't just bypass the German forces, as it would leave their flank exposed. There was typically an "entrance" to a field in the middle of the hedgerow, and the Germans would set up their machine guns in order to meet anybody coming into the field with a vicious cross-fire. The Germans were experts at static defensive positions, and placed their weapons in extremely effective positions. So the Allies needed to find a different way to get into the fields without giving the Germans the benefit of the angles of fire. Enter American ingenuity. American combat engineers took the German-made tetrahedron defensive obstacles from the beaches (see picture), cut them apart, and welded them into a sort of crude plow to attach to the front of Allied tanks (see picture). This way, tanks could break through the hedgerow without exposing its vulnerable underside, infantry could follow behind under the cover of the tank, and clear the field of resistance. This worked with great success, but the time line that the Allied generals had for getting to Paris got pushed back for weeks.
For more information - just type "Normandy hedgerows" into a google image search - the results show many pictures from 1944 as well as present-day photos. Also, for more reading about the fighting in hedgerow country - read Ambrose's Citizen Soldiers.
tetrahedron beach defenses
hedgerow tank plow
In the weeks following D-Day, the Allies faced a challenge that they did not expect - the Norman hedgerows. In Normandy, hedgerows divided fields, were centuries old, generally taller than a man, were a tangled mess of roots and soil, had full size trees growing on top of them, and the fields they protected needed to be cleared of German resistance. The Allies assumed that the Norman hedgerows were similar to the English hedgerows, but they weren't. English hedgerows were much shorter in size. Aerial surveillance photographs of Normandy and western France didn't show the height of these hedgerows, since the photographs were typically taken at high noon, so there were very few shadows to utilize to estimate height.
Once the Allies broke out from the beachheads, they were confused as to how to root the Germans out of these formidable defensive positions. Tanks tried to climb over the hedgerows, but that left their belly exposed, and Germans were there waiting with their panzerfausts (translated "iron fist") and panzershrek bazookas. The Allied front lines were very disorganized, many times soldiers found themselves hurling grenades over the hedgerows at Germans just on the other side - and vice versa. The Allies couldn't just bypass the German forces, as it would leave their flank exposed. There was typically an "entrance" to a field in the middle of the hedgerow, and the Germans would set up their machine guns in order to meet anybody coming into the field with a vicious cross-fire. The Germans were experts at static defensive positions, and placed their weapons in extremely effective positions. So the Allies needed to find a different way to get into the fields without giving the Germans the benefit of the angles of fire. Enter American ingenuity. American combat engineers took the German-made tetrahedron defensive obstacles from the beaches (see picture), cut them apart, and welded them into a sort of crude plow to attach to the front of Allied tanks (see picture). This way, tanks could break through the hedgerow without exposing its vulnerable underside, infantry could follow behind under the cover of the tank, and clear the field of resistance. This worked with great success, but the time line that the Allied generals had for getting to Paris got pushed back for weeks.
For more information - just type "Normandy hedgerows" into a google image search - the results show many pictures from 1944 as well as present-day photos. Also, for more reading about the fighting in hedgerow country - read Ambrose's Citizen Soldiers.
tetrahedron beach defenses______________________________________________________
hedgerow tank plowFriday, April 24, 2009
Bomb Found in Berlin
Unexploded WWII bomb found at German museum site
BERLIN – German police say a World War II bomb uncovered during construction at the Neues Museum in central Berlin has caused evacuations and traffic jams.
Police would not confirm reports that the apartment of Chancellor Angela Merkel, who lives nearby, needed to be evacuated.
A Berlin police statement says the 220-pound (100-kilogram) unexploded bomb appears to be a type used by the Russians during the war. Officers evacuated a 985-foot (300-meter) area around the bomb Friday afternoon, disrupting nearby train and streetcar service.
The statement said experts were working to dispose of the bomb Friday evening.
Unexploded bombs from World War II are still found frequently in Germany. Disposing of them sometimes involves precautionary evacuations like Friday's.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Healthy Energy!
Have you been looking for a product that combines your daily recommended allowance for vitamins and minerals with insanely healthy energy? Are you concerned about your health?
If so, let me tell you about Verve! Verve is the insanely healthy energy drink that is taking the energy drink market by storm. However, there is a huge difference between Verve and your typical energy drink. Verve contains the eastern “superfruit” mangosteen, has other insanely healthy nutrients, and contains your daily RDA of Vitamins C, D3, E, B6, B12, along with many others. And, did I mention that it tastes great? Verve completely shatters the mold of the typical energy drink!
Verve is produced by Vemma Nutrition Company, based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Vemma is an acronym for Vitamins, Essential Minerals, Mangosteen, and Aloe. Vemma is currently sold in over 30 countries!
Vemma is also sold in a convenient fridge brick - 30 bottles of 2 ounce daily shots. Vemma is a liquid supplement, so there is no choking down 22 pills per day to get the same nutrition. It supports a healthy heart, creates energy, supports your immune system, supports your healthy digestive system, and is an extremely powerful antioxidant. Verve combines a daily dose of Vemma along with several natural sources of energy.
Both Amy and I have been taking Vemma for quite a while, but it’s only now that we want to tell you about it, since we now believe in it!
Amy’s story… Just after Jeremy and I were married in 2005, I started experiencing some health problems. Eventually, my doctor diagnosed me with IBS and GERD. I was getting monthly ultrasounds to track a couple of fibroid cysts on my ovaries, and by 2007 I had had candida albicans on and off for almost a year. Plus, I had no energy to keep up any type of exercise regimen, even a daily walk, despite all the caffeine I was drinking. Meanwhile, my hectic life wasn’t going away, and the frustration of not feeling my best while still having to perform at optimum levels was mounting. Then my dad gave me a bottle of Vemma. Without knowing that I was struggling with my health, he gave me the vitamins and minerals that my body needed to fix itself. I don’t remember how long it took for me to start feeling better, but I can tell you that eventually, my symptoms went away. I’m not even kidding—many of the complaints that I thought I was going to have to deal with for the rest of my life cleared up and I felt better than I had for years.
Then, as you know, I got pregnant last year. The only supplement that didn’t make me feel like throwing up was Mangosteen and Minerals. Many of the typical physical problems associated with pregnancy simply didn’t occur for me—even though the books assured me that I would have the same problems that I used to be plagued with! Heartburn, constipation, even morning sickness just didn’t happen.
Jeremy’s story… I have been taking Vemma and Verve for nearly 8 months. Prior to taking it on a daily basis, I had serious stomach cramps periodically, and since taking it, the stomach cramps are no more! Also, I might add that I haven’t been sick since starting on Vemma! I have more energy, and overall, I just feel better - not that I was even sick in the first place!
Vemma was rated the “Best Overall Superjuice” in Men’s Health magazine (December 2008 edition, page 100)! It has also been endorsed by Dr. Mehmet Oz in Esquire magazine (March 2008 edition, page 82), and is also the official energy drink of the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Coyotes.
TO ORDER VERVE: go to http://www.myverve.com/amykratz.
TO ORDER VEMMA: go to http://www.myvemma.com/amykratz.
Vemma and Verve have a 100% empty bottle satisfaction guarantee, but on top of that, OUR GUARANTEE TO YOU is that I personally will refund the tax and shipping if you choose to return Vemma or Verve for any reason.
We are looking forward to a new product called Vemma Next that Vemma will be rolling out in fall of 2009. It will be a blend for children from ages 2 through 12 that will taste like an orange creamsicle! For each case of Vemma Next sold, a case will be donated to various charitable organizations that help children.
Vemma also offers the opportunity to earn an income for simply sharing the word with others. When you visit our websites above, read up about how you can get paid! There are no fees to becoming a Vemma member. Whatever your goals may be, to simply earn enough to pay for your monthly product use all the way up to leaving your “day job” - let us help you - refuse to participate in the recession! Join us to ride the wave of momentum!
Contact us at jtkratz74@yahoo.com or amylynnkratz@yahoo.com.
If so, let me tell you about Verve! Verve is the insanely healthy energy drink that is taking the energy drink market by storm. However, there is a huge difference between Verve and your typical energy drink. Verve contains the eastern “superfruit” mangosteen, has other insanely healthy nutrients, and contains your daily RDA of Vitamins C, D3, E, B6, B12, along with many others. And, did I mention that it tastes great? Verve completely shatters the mold of the typical energy drink!
Verve is produced by Vemma Nutrition Company, based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Vemma is an acronym for Vitamins, Essential Minerals, Mangosteen, and Aloe. Vemma is currently sold in over 30 countries!
Vemma is also sold in a convenient fridge brick - 30 bottles of 2 ounce daily shots. Vemma is a liquid supplement, so there is no choking down 22 pills per day to get the same nutrition. It supports a healthy heart, creates energy, supports your immune system, supports your healthy digestive system, and is an extremely powerful antioxidant. Verve combines a daily dose of Vemma along with several natural sources of energy.
Both Amy and I have been taking Vemma for quite a while, but it’s only now that we want to tell you about it, since we now believe in it!
Amy’s story… Just after Jeremy and I were married in 2005, I started experiencing some health problems. Eventually, my doctor diagnosed me with IBS and GERD. I was getting monthly ultrasounds to track a couple of fibroid cysts on my ovaries, and by 2007 I had had candida albicans on and off for almost a year. Plus, I had no energy to keep up any type of exercise regimen, even a daily walk, despite all the caffeine I was drinking. Meanwhile, my hectic life wasn’t going away, and the frustration of not feeling my best while still having to perform at optimum levels was mounting. Then my dad gave me a bottle of Vemma. Without knowing that I was struggling with my health, he gave me the vitamins and minerals that my body needed to fix itself. I don’t remember how long it took for me to start feeling better, but I can tell you that eventually, my symptoms went away. I’m not even kidding—many of the complaints that I thought I was going to have to deal with for the rest of my life cleared up and I felt better than I had for years.
Then, as you know, I got pregnant last year. The only supplement that didn’t make me feel like throwing up was Mangosteen and Minerals. Many of the typical physical problems associated with pregnancy simply didn’t occur for me—even though the books assured me that I would have the same problems that I used to be plagued with! Heartburn, constipation, even morning sickness just didn’t happen.
Jeremy’s story… I have been taking Vemma and Verve for nearly 8 months. Prior to taking it on a daily basis, I had serious stomach cramps periodically, and since taking it, the stomach cramps are no more! Also, I might add that I haven’t been sick since starting on Vemma! I have more energy, and overall, I just feel better - not that I was even sick in the first place!
Vemma was rated the “Best Overall Superjuice” in Men’s Health magazine (December 2008 edition, page 100)! It has also been endorsed by Dr. Mehmet Oz in Esquire magazine (March 2008 edition, page 82), and is also the official energy drink of the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Coyotes.
TO ORDER VERVE: go to http://www.myverve.com/amykratz.
TO ORDER VEMMA: go to http://www.myvemma.com/amykratz.
Vemma and Verve have a 100% empty bottle satisfaction guarantee, but on top of that, OUR GUARANTEE TO YOU is that I personally will refund the tax and shipping if you choose to return Vemma or Verve for any reason.
We are looking forward to a new product called Vemma Next that Vemma will be rolling out in fall of 2009. It will be a blend for children from ages 2 through 12 that will taste like an orange creamsicle! For each case of Vemma Next sold, a case will be donated to various charitable organizations that help children.
Vemma also offers the opportunity to earn an income for simply sharing the word with others. When you visit our websites above, read up about how you can get paid! There are no fees to becoming a Vemma member. Whatever your goals may be, to simply earn enough to pay for your monthly product use all the way up to leaving your “day job” - let us help you - refuse to participate in the recession! Join us to ride the wave of momentum!
Contact us at jtkratz74@yahoo.com or amylynnkratz@yahoo.com.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
I Miss Real Country Music...
For those of you that know me well, you would know that I'm a big time country music fan. I've not listened to country for a couple of years, mainly due to the fact that KNIX and KMLE here in Phoenix have gone to a top 40 format. Seems like 50% of the time, when I turn the dial to these stations, either Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, or Taylor Swift is on. I don't want to hear Keith Urban singing about crying in his white zinfandel, Taylor Swift singing about lost loves at such a young age, or Rascal Flatts singing about well, just about anything stupid like they're so fond of doing. I'm a country traditionalist at heart, and to stomach the majority of so-called "country music" on the radio is next to impossible.
It just seems as though a lot of these new "artists" don't respect the tradition of the people who came before them, like Hank Williams, the Statler Brothers, etc... And to not respect the tradition of country music when you claim to be a country musician is not honorable, in my opinion.
I miss hearing George Strait and Randy Travis every time I turn on the radio. Strait's first hit, "The Chair", was released in 1981. I just can't imagine 20 years from now, listening to some of these pop artists they play on current country radio, but yet "Unwound" still sounds fresh to me. Strait keeps churning out hits. After seeing him in concert four times, I figured out a couple of years ago, that he could give two full length shows with just number one hits, and not repeat the same song. Strait doesn't need any lights or smoke to make a good show. Just get up there and perform good music. Plus, he lives what he sings. Very unusual for these days. There are still musicians that respect the tradition however - Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson, to name a couple.
I don't know, maybe I'm getting old, or just sentimental, but I just can't imagine kicking back with a beer on the back porch and listening to Keith Urban like I can listening to Strait.
Long live The Man.
It just seems as though a lot of these new "artists" don't respect the tradition of the people who came before them, like Hank Williams, the Statler Brothers, etc... And to not respect the tradition of country music when you claim to be a country musician is not honorable, in my opinion.
I miss hearing George Strait and Randy Travis every time I turn on the radio. Strait's first hit, "The Chair", was released in 1981. I just can't imagine 20 years from now, listening to some of these pop artists they play on current country radio, but yet "Unwound" still sounds fresh to me. Strait keeps churning out hits. After seeing him in concert four times, I figured out a couple of years ago, that he could give two full length shows with just number one hits, and not repeat the same song. Strait doesn't need any lights or smoke to make a good show. Just get up there and perform good music. Plus, he lives what he sings. Very unusual for these days. There are still musicians that respect the tradition however - Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson, to name a couple.
I don't know, maybe I'm getting old, or just sentimental, but I just can't imagine kicking back with a beer on the back porch and listening to Keith Urban like I can listening to Strait.
Long live The Man.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Luke Days 2009
Luke Air Force Base hosts an open house/air show called Luke Days every year - free to the public. There are many static displays of jets and planes. The world famous Thunderbirds perform at the end of the show. I had never gone, so Amy and I decided we would go and take Charlie. We met our friend Gerald there, and we all had a good time. We weren't able to stay for the Thunderbirds, but saw plenty of fun things! There is almost always some kind of plane our helicopter in the air at all times. Below are pictures from Luke Days.
F-16 flight line.
Amy and Charlie enjoying the show!
A "heritage" fly by. F22 Raptor, P51, A10 Warthog, and British WWII-era fighter.
Nose of B1 bomber in foreground, speck in the sky is an F22 Raptor. The Raptor was very loud, and Charlie slept through it (with the help of mom's hand over his ears).
Strolling along in the bomb bay of a B52 bomber.
Charlie and Dad in front of "Sentimental Journey", a WWII B17 bomber that still flies.
Charlie and Dad in front of dual .50 caliber tail guns of the "Sentimental Journey".
While we were going back to our car, we were treated to a dust storm off of the desert. I think we can all still taste the grit. Ugh.
F-16 flight line.
Amy and Charlie enjoying the show!
A "heritage" fly by. F22 Raptor, P51, A10 Warthog, and British WWII-era fighter.
Nose of B1 bomber in foreground, speck in the sky is an F22 Raptor. The Raptor was very loud, and Charlie slept through it (with the help of mom's hand over his ears).
Strolling along in the bomb bay of a B52 bomber.
Charlie and Dad in front of "Sentimental Journey", a WWII B17 bomber that still flies.
Charlie and Dad in front of dual .50 caliber tail guns of the "Sentimental Journey".
While we were going back to our car, we were treated to a dust storm off of the desert. I think we can all still taste the grit. Ugh.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Bailout Counter
2008
Bear Stearns - $30,000,000,000
Fannie/Freddie - $200,000,000,000
AIG - $150,000,000,000
Auto Industry - $25,000,000,000
TARP - $700,000,000,000
Citigroup - $247,500,000,000
Chrysler/GM - $17,400,000,000
2009 (proposed)
Economic Recovery Package - $789,000,000,000
Geithner Proposed TARP Overhaul - $1,000,000,000,000
Total: $3,158,900,000,000
Did anybody actually think the madness was going to stop after early October 2008 when TARP was passed?
Bear Stearns - $30,000,000,000
Fannie/Freddie - $200,000,000,000
AIG - $150,000,000,000
Auto Industry - $25,000,000,000
TARP - $700,000,000,000
Citigroup - $247,500,000,000
Chrysler/GM - $17,400,000,000
2009 (proposed)
Economic Recovery Package - $789,000,000,000
Geithner Proposed TARP Overhaul - $1,000,000,000,000
Total: $3,158,900,000,000
Did anybody actually think the madness was going to stop after early October 2008 when TARP was passed?
Monday, January 12, 2009
I finally updated my blog!
Charlie chewing on his finger.
We were blessed by a rainbow on Christmas Day!
Christmas Day
Charlie trying to eat the wrapping paper.
Charlie with Aunt Deb at Laughlin.
Mom and Charlie.
Charlie, his Uncle Marc, and his cousin Allison
A recent sunsetSunday, December 14, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
AZ Congressman Jeff Flake's Washington Post Editorial
A Way Out of the Wilderness
Well, we Republicans have just made history. Not the type of history we wanted to make, mind you, but history nonetheless. Not only did we lose the White House but, after losing our House and Senate majorities in 2006, we followed it up last night with even steeper losses in Congress.
In January, Democrats will enjoy lopsided congressional ratios not seen since the 1970s. Let's face it: We Republicans are now, by any reasonable measurement, deep in the political wilderness.
The temptation for Republican members of Congress today will be to assume the role of the post-Watergate Republicans of 1974 and accept minority status as a permanent condition. Indeed, the terrain is more difficult for us now than it was in 1992. Then, Republicanism was still largely defined by the Reagan years. Today the party is defined in the public mind by the Bush presidency. We've got a steep hill to climb.
Much of the backroom maneuvering and media speculation in the coming weeks will focus on identifying new standard-bearers for the party. This is important, and after a second straight drubbing, the House Republican leadership should be replaced. But the far more critical task is determining what standard these new leaders will bear.
I suggest that we return to first principles. At the top of that list has to be a recommitment to limited government. After eight years of profligate spending and soaring deficits, voters can be forgiven for not knowing that limited government has long been the first article of faith for Republicans.
Of course, it's not the level of spending that gets the most attention; it's the manner in which the spending is allocated. The proliferation of earmarks is largely a product of the Gingrich-DeLay years, and it's no surprise that some of the most ardent practitioners were earmarked by the voters for retirement yesterday. Few Americans will take seriously Republican speeches on limited government if we Republicans can't wean ourselves from this insidious practice. But if we can go clean, it will offer a stark contrast to the Democrats, who, after two years in training, already have their own earmark favor factory running at full tilt.
Second, we need to recommit to our belief in economic freedom. Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations" may be on the discount rack this year, but the free market is still the most efficient means to allocate capital and human resources in an economy, and Americans know it. Now that we've inserted government deeply into the private sector by bailing out banks and businesses, the temptation will be for government to overstay its welcome and force the distribution of resources to serve political ends. Substituting political for economic incentives is not the recipe for economic recovery.
Most House Republicans opposed the recent bailout and will be in a strong position to promote economic freedom over central planning as the Obama administration stumbles from industry to industry trying to determine which is small enough to be allowed to fail and which is not. Since timetables will be in vogue, perhaps Republicans could even insist on a timetable for getting the government out of the private sector.
There are, of course, other pillars of the Republican standard -- strong national defense, support for traditional values and the Second Amendment -- but these are not areas where voters question Republican bona fides. In any event, as we have seen over the past several months, economic woes tend to subsume other concerns. We shouldn't complain. We can now play our strongest hand.
In some respects, raising a new standard was made easier by yesterday's rout. The Republican Party is not bound by election-year promises made by its presidential nominee. More important, the party is finally untethered from the ill-fitting and unworkable big-government conservatism that defined the Bush administration.
This is not to say that it will be an easy transition. Congressional Republicans picked up some unattractive habits over the years in an effort to hold on to power. Whether it was relying on the redistricting process to help us choose our constituents, using the appropriations process as an ATM or passing legislation -- such as a generous prescription drug benefit and a bloated farm bill -- to pacify individual constituencies, these habits and voting patterns will be hard to break.
But there is reason for Republicans to feel optimism. Politically, America remains a center-right country, and America loves a chastened and repentant sinner. As surely as the sun rises in the east, the Democrats will overreach.
As long as we Republicans are willing to admit our folly, get back to first principles and work like there's no tomorrow, we've got 'em just where we want 'em.
In January, Democrats will enjoy lopsided congressional ratios not seen since the 1970s. Let's face it: We Republicans are now, by any reasonable measurement, deep in the political wilderness.
The temptation for Republican members of Congress today will be to assume the role of the post-Watergate Republicans of 1974 and accept minority status as a permanent condition. Indeed, the terrain is more difficult for us now than it was in 1992. Then, Republicanism was still largely defined by the Reagan years. Today the party is defined in the public mind by the Bush presidency. We've got a steep hill to climb.
Much of the backroom maneuvering and media speculation in the coming weeks will focus on identifying new standard-bearers for the party. This is important, and after a second straight drubbing, the House Republican leadership should be replaced. But the far more critical task is determining what standard these new leaders will bear.
I suggest that we return to first principles. At the top of that list has to be a recommitment to limited government. After eight years of profligate spending and soaring deficits, voters can be forgiven for not knowing that limited government has long been the first article of faith for Republicans.
Of course, it's not the level of spending that gets the most attention; it's the manner in which the spending is allocated. The proliferation of earmarks is largely a product of the Gingrich-DeLay years, and it's no surprise that some of the most ardent practitioners were earmarked by the voters for retirement yesterday. Few Americans will take seriously Republican speeches on limited government if we Republicans can't wean ourselves from this insidious practice. But if we can go clean, it will offer a stark contrast to the Democrats, who, after two years in training, already have their own earmark favor factory running at full tilt.
Second, we need to recommit to our belief in economic freedom. Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations" may be on the discount rack this year, but the free market is still the most efficient means to allocate capital and human resources in an economy, and Americans know it. Now that we've inserted government deeply into the private sector by bailing out banks and businesses, the temptation will be for government to overstay its welcome and force the distribution of resources to serve political ends. Substituting political for economic incentives is not the recipe for economic recovery.
Most House Republicans opposed the recent bailout and will be in a strong position to promote economic freedom over central planning as the Obama administration stumbles from industry to industry trying to determine which is small enough to be allowed to fail and which is not. Since timetables will be in vogue, perhaps Republicans could even insist on a timetable for getting the government out of the private sector.
There are, of course, other pillars of the Republican standard -- strong national defense, support for traditional values and the Second Amendment -- but these are not areas where voters question Republican bona fides. In any event, as we have seen over the past several months, economic woes tend to subsume other concerns. We shouldn't complain. We can now play our strongest hand.
In some respects, raising a new standard was made easier by yesterday's rout. The Republican Party is not bound by election-year promises made by its presidential nominee. More important, the party is finally untethered from the ill-fitting and unworkable big-government conservatism that defined the Bush administration.
This is not to say that it will be an easy transition. Congressional Republicans picked up some unattractive habits over the years in an effort to hold on to power. Whether it was relying on the redistricting process to help us choose our constituents, using the appropriations process as an ATM or passing legislation -- such as a generous prescription drug benefit and a bloated farm bill -- to pacify individual constituencies, these habits and voting patterns will be hard to break.
But there is reason for Republicans to feel optimism. Politically, America remains a center-right country, and America loves a chastened and repentant sinner. As surely as the sun rises in the east, the Democrats will overreach.
As long as we Republicans are willing to admit our folly, get back to first principles and work like there's no tomorrow, we've got 'em just where we want 'em.
Monday, November 3, 2008
It's almost over!
I'm thankful that this election season is almost over. If this Presidential election was any precedent, the media will start obsessing about the 2012 election sometime in March of 2010, and they'll tell us again that this is the most important election of our time. And then again, it will appear as if there isn't any other news in the whole world for that period of time.
My "official" predictions...
Obama wins presidency.
Democrats retain control of House and Senate, but Senate will not be filibuster-proof.
There will not be any coupons in the paper for "post election stress disorder" from psychologists like there was in 2004.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
More (!) pics of Charlie...
Charlie enjoying being liberated from most of his clothes.
Charlie and his dreaded "tummy time".
Charlie's first "hike" with Dad and Mom - up the mountains just east of our house.
Story time with Mom!
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